Chapter 10.

The next evening, as Hermione sat at her kitchen table, Crookshanks wound himself about her ankles, purring quietly. She sat, chin in hand, staring out the window above her sink. As she stared at the scenery outside, she yawned and rubbed at tired eyes. She spent the night before tossing and turning, not falling asleep until the sun began its climb in the sky. Though she spent her entire night consumed by thoughts of Draco, she still wasn't sure where she stood with him. She had realized in the early hours of the morning, that her slight attraction to the man was slowly turning into something else. The Draco she knew now wasn't the same Draco she attended Hogwarts with. And she was curious to know the adult Draco. Very curious.

Deciding she deserved a night to herself, to just not have to use her brain for awhile, Hermione gathered her hair into a messy bun and grabbed her apron. Using her wand, she started both her coffee pot and the record player in the corner. Humming under her breath she gathered the ingredients to make a simple vanilla cake. She preheated the oven just as she heard the fire in her living room burst to life. Glancing over, she saw the green flames and waited for whoever was floo'ing to arrive. She wasn't worried, she had set the wards to only allow a select few access to the private network.

Smiling when she saw Harry step towards her, she greeted her friend. 'How's it going?'

Her bespectacled friend crossed to settle at the counter, before he replied: 'it's going.' He gave a light laugh before saying, 'Ginny spent the day completely useless.'

Hermione gave him a slightly embarrassed look. 'We may have gone hard last night.' She said as she measured out the sugar she needed.

Harry laughed, and helped himself to a mug of coffee. Taking a sip of the black liquid, he grinned at her. 'I'll say. You look okay though.'

'I had time to sober up some before I went to bed.' She gave as an excuse, shrugging her shoulders. 'So I think I pulled through better.'

Nodding along, Harry studied her movements. She had been baking long enough that she no longer needed to use a recipe. Glancing up, Hermione smiled when she saw him watching her hands. 'Don't you ever get tired of baking?'

'Nope.' She responded with no hesitation. Mixing the pale batter together, she told her friend, 'It's kind of like coming home, I think. Like, no matter what, I know what I need. How it's done. It's comfortable to do.' She blew hair out of her eyes, and looked at him. 'Does that make sense?'

'Yeah.' Harry agreed. He watched as she poured the batter into a greased pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. 'That's how I feel when I get a chance to fly.'

Slipping the pan into the oven, Hermione gave her oldest friend a look and pretended to shiver. 'I still think you're crazy. I get in school - the thrill of it.' Shaking her head, brown curls tumbling lose down her neck, 'but a grown man, flying around on a broom.'

'Hermione, no.' Harry laughed. 'I don't know if I can have this conversation with you again. I wish you'd let me take you up sometime, or Ginny.'

'I'm a firm believer of keeping both feet on the ground.' She laughed, falling into an easy banter with her dearest friend. Pulling out a bowl to prepare a batch of frosting, she decided to ask Harry about his relationship with Ginny. If anyone would get her feelings, it'd be him, right? I mean, he had to of been hesitant to start a relationship with her. They had their share of history too. 'Was it hard to admit you had feelings for Ginny?'

'What do you mean?' He asked, catching her gaze with his earnest green eyes.

Avoiding his eyes, she stirred the confection in her bowl, and tried for an airy tone, 'when you first realized you had feelings for her.. was it hard?'

'Because of our history? Or because she was Rons sister?' He asked, his stare turning curious.

Shrugging delicately, Hermione tapped her spoon against the lip of the bowl. 'Both.'

Harry sat silently while she finished her frosting. After she covered it, and put it in the fridge to keep cool, he said her name. 'Hermione.' Fidgeting around the kitchen, she tidied up after herself. 'Hermione, look at me.' Meeting his eyes from across the room, she frowned and tugged at her bottom lip. 'Talk to me?'

'Oh, Harry.' Releasing a heavy sigh, Hermione leaned against the counter adjacent to his. 'I'm so lost.'

Hermione saw him cross his arms, settling them against his chest. 'What are you trying to find?' Good question, she thought, and shrugged. 'Okay. Is it work? I know you've been busy with that Zabini wedding.'

'No. Not really.' Hermione studied the lines in the linoleum flooring of her kitchen. 'That's actually been pretty smooth. I've surprisingly grown fond of both Blaise and Pansy.'

'Ack.' Hermione felt his nudge, and cracked a smile. Knowing that as much as Harry complained about them, he didn't have a serious problem with either or. What about Draco though? If she were to acknowledge her feelings for him, and act upon them, would the man beside still be there? 'So, it's not work. Have you decided to hire some part time help or not?'

'I was actually thinking about putting an ad in the Prophet this week.' She told him, 'I don't like how often the shop has been closed the past few weeks.'

'The whole two times?' Harry asked, grinning. He brought his mug to his lips, and tried to conceal his smile.

'Yes, the whole two times.' Scoffing, Hermione laughed. 'Can I get your opinion on something.' She asked, her tone turning serious.

'Anything.' He said in a tone that matched hers.

Turning her head, she met his steady gaze. His emerald eyes focused on her. 'So..' she started slowly, trying to read his expression. 'I've been spending some time with Malfoy.' She saw the flicker of surprise before he schooled his features.

'Really?' Harry narrowed his eyes, and ran a hand through his messy black hair. 'I'm not sure what you want me to say..'

Shrugging, she told him, 'I'm not sure what I want you to say.'

'How did that start?' She studied his face, saw that he was trying for a look of nonchalance; his eyes gave him away though. They sparkled with the curiosity of unasked questions.

'Remember I told you he came in Zabinis place for that tasting?' When he said he did, she continued. 'Well, since then, we keep running into each other. Each time it happens.. our casual encounters turn into something.. something more.'

'Er.. and when you say something more..?' Harry cleared his throat and raised his brows at her.

'Merlin, no.' Glaring at the man, she shook her head. 'I'm not a tart, Harry.' She deadpanned.

Holding his hands up, he gave her a charming smile, eyes bright behind his glasses. 'Hey, just trying to paint a picture here.' Frowning at his phrasing, he shook his head and laughed, 'a tart?'

'Yes. Something I am not.' She rubbed at her arms, and jumped when the timer sounded. Putting on a pair of protective mitts, Hermione pulled the finished cake from the oven and stuck it with a wooden skewer. When it came out clean, she flipped the cake, and tapping her wand against the bottom of the pan, transferred it to a waiting plate. 'I like him, Harry.' Hermione said softly, hesitantly. Glancing up, she could see him shifting through his thoughts. While, yeah, her and Draco had their share of issues, it was nothing compared to the relationship Harry had had with the man. It had died down these past years, she noted. That could have been due to lack of contact though. Finishing her internal musing, she waited for him to say something.

When at last he did, his words surprised her. 'I know. Or we wouldn't be having this conversation. And honestly,' he paused, and rubbed at the dark stubble lining his jaw. 'I'm not surprised. You're well suited for each other.'

Blinking at the man, Hermione heard the clock in her living room chime the hour. She counted along with the seven strokes, turning his words over in her mind. Well suited? She knew he was right. They were intellectually matched, and she knew they shared common passions. 'Do you think it's.. naive of me?'

'How so?' Crossing the room, Harry topped off his coffee mug before settling at the small table situated against the far wall. Placing an ankle against the opposite knee, he leaned back, waiting for her to explain.

Letting her hands stir the air momentarily, she grabbed a sponge from the sink, and began rubbing the counters with newfound vigor. 'Ignoring the whole blood status situation,' she ignored Harry's frown, and continued, 'there's our whole past. It's not like we were ever friendly in school. The opposite, actually.'

'Yeah, I know. I was there.' Harry interrupted her with a playful grin.

Rolling her eyes, she wrung out the sponge, and moved to scrub the top of the stove. 'I mean, would it be terribly wrong if I over looked our more.. troublesome past?'

Thinking, Harry started tapping a beat against the wooden table top, his fingers a staccato rhythm in the quiet kitchen. 'No, not if that's what you want to do.'

'Of course, these feelings of attraction could be strictly one sided.'

'Of course.'

'But then, he wouldn't have kissed me, would he?' She asked him, turning to face him fully.

'What?' Harry sat forward, his brow creased. 'Malfoy kissed you?'

'Barely.' Sighing, she collapsed into the chair across from her friend. Closing her eyes, she lay her forehead against the cool wood, and quietly voiced her biggest fear. 'Would we be okay? If anything were to become between Draco and I?'

'Hermione?' Waiting until she met his gaze, Harry smiled at her. 'We would be okay no matter what you choose to do. Romantically, professionally, whatever. I'm always going to be in your corner.'

Smiling, despite the tears that sprung to her eyes, Hermione lay a hand against Harry's forearm. 'Thank you.' She hadn't realized it until then, but the relief his words caused had her realizing she had a fear of abandonment. Frowning at the realization, she filed it away. Intending to dig deeper later.

'I think you'll have a situation on your hands, if you do decide to spend more time with Hogwarts favorite ferret.'

Raising a brow at the nickname, Hermione admonished the man. 'Really?'

'What?' He shot her a quick grin, 'I couldn't resist.' Rolling her eyes, she asked what he was talking about. And frowned at his one word response. 'Ron.'

x X x

Standing on the back porch of his safe house, Draco scanned the work around him. The entire porch, front and back, and been torn out, a new one made of polished oak lay in its place. He watched as Erik Dugan instructed two of his crew towards the front of the house, gesturing to a pile of drywall stacked by a fallen tree. He heard the laughter of the hired landscapers drift around the side of the building. The two Irishmen were currently tasked with the elusive pond. They had spent the better part of yesterday and all morning so far clearing away the muck that coated the service.

Both the front and back of that house had been cleared of garbage, and the overgrown yard had been cut. He was about to slip through the back door when Dugan called his name, and crossed to him. 'Mr Malfoy. Could I have a word?'

Letting the door fall shut at his back, Draco nodded. 'Of course.' Looking at the dark haired man, he asked, 'what's up?'

'I wanted to run an idea by you.' Erik looked at the man, and ran a hand through his short hair. 'I was thinking, this house is already set up with the proper electric converters. Any chance you want to leave it?'

Running the idea through his mind, Draco thought about it. 'I've heard that it can interfere with ones magic.'

'I don't know how that rumor got started.' Shaking his head, the man scowled. 'I've never noticed it affecting my own, I've got electric wired through my home.' He explained. 'And have installed it in more then a dozen establishments this year.'

'I don't know, Dugan.' Draco said. What was the point of electric, honestly. Yeah, he knew it would be used to keep the house alight. But they could accomplish that with candles and oil lamps. Like it's always been.

When Draco stated as much, the head of his construction team gave him a disappointed look. 'It can be so much more though. Imagine, not having to keep up on your house wards.' House wards were an often forgotten about bit of magic, they were elected charms one could use on their home. Making sure the oil burning in the lamps kept fresh, and the ice boxes in the kitchens cool, and all sorts of other boring tasks one had to deal with when owning their own home. 'I personally think electricity is going to catch on in our community within the next few years no matter what. Why don't you help it along?'

Sucking at his teeth, Draco looked at the man with narrowed eyes. Electricity was huge in the muggle world. If he helped bring it to theirs.. 'How would we go about it?'

'Honestly, with this house, we wouldn't need to change much. A couple of the outlet covers need replaced, and I'd want to replace some of the upstairs wiring.' Shrugging, he shot Draco a grin, 'I've got an inside at the closest electrical company, they can send the power through.'

'Is that how it's normally done?'

'Yeah. You would send a monthly fee, and they'd keep you hooked up.'

Fingers in the pockets of the dark jeans he was wearing, Draco thought about it. As long as it didn't interfere with anyone's abilities, he couldn't find a problem. It honestly seemed like a good call. He knew a lot of businesses were cropping up that used it. Both the Eagles Nest and Vanilla Dreams used electricity. 'If it doesn't work out, how do we remove it?'

'You'd just have to contact the electric company, and they'll shut it off.'

'That easy?' When Dugan nodded, he agreed. 'Set it up.' Clapping a hand to the younger mans shoulder, he started inside. 'Good idea.'

Walking through the first floor of the house, Draco smiled. The spacious level was filled with the noise of construction. A radio had been set up in the kitchen, where a man was installing a new counter top, the old one was worn away and cracked. And so, wand in hand, he lined the heavy wood up with the counters beneath, and started on a sealing spell. Walking down the hall that led to the front door, Draco paused in the open doorway to what would be the living room. It was a great room, he admired to himself. There was a large bay window at the front of the room, overlooking the long drive and the soon to be pond, letting the morning light flood across the floor. The room was currently being used for storage, he saw stacks of drywall and two-by-fours were stacked neatly along the walls. A pile of paint cans were organized in the corner near a large stone hearth. Stepping aside when drywall was summoned to someone upstairs, he glanced out the window just as Harry Potter was walking up the long drive.

Scowling, he shoved his hands in his pockets. What does scar-head want? Meeting the wizarding worlds savior on the porch, Draco greeted the man. 'Potter.'

'Malfoy.'

Rocking back on his heels, Draco eyed the slender man, he doesn't look like he's going to punch me. Granger must not have sent him. Not that he was expecting her to send anyone. They had separated the other night on amicable terms he thought. 'What can I do for you?'

'Kingsley told me about this place.' Harry looked at him with guarded eyes, and gave him a nod. 'I just stopped by to show my support, I guess. If you need anything, let me know?'

Since when has Potter just stopped by to show his support? Not that he really knew the man, could be something he did all the time. Raising pale brows, Draco thanked him. 'It's slow going, but I think it's under control.'

'Good.' Potter had an uncomfortable look on his face, like he had eaten something rotten. Clearing his throat, the darker man looked at him. 'Listen. Uh- I know we don't like each other. But, from what I hear, we've got a common connection..'

Smirking when the man trailed off, Draco stared at him, watching him fidget. Jerking a shoulder, he looked out at the yard before him. The Irishmen seemed to have made a headway on the pond finally, he noticed. At least you could tell there was one, as unattractive as it was. 'I assume you're talking about Granger?'

Grunting his agreement, Harry also watched as the pond was uncovered. 'Yeah.'

'Not that it's any of your business, Potter, but, yeah.' He watched his childhood foe bob his head, as if he already knew how Draco felt. Scowling at the thought, he shoved his hands into his pockets, and asked him: 'is this when you tell me to go away?'

'Huh?' Confusion laced Potters tone, causing Draco to glance at the man. 'No. I trust Hermiones judgement. If she says you've changed. You've changed. I mean - I was going to do the whole big brother threaten thing. 'Mione doesn't have brothers, so it seemed right.' Narrowing his green eyes, he added as an afterthought, 'not that she needs someone to threaten for her. She's tough.'

Chuckling, Draco agreed. Shaking his pocket, he listened to the galleons he had on him knock together. The quiet jangle calming his unexpected nerves. 'I think it goes without saying. Not that I'm aiming to hurt her, or anything.'

'I hope not.'

'She talked to you then?' When Potter nodded, Draco felt a strange lightness overtake his chest. That's good, he told himself, girls like to talk. Draco gave a short bark of laughter when he realized he lumped Potter in the 'girls' category. When the dark haired man met his gaze with a raised brow, Draco shook his head. 'Well, er- thanks for coming out.' He awkwardly said.

Harry nodded once, and bid him goodbye. Saying, before he left, 'just so you know, Hermione has been through enough. Don't add more weight to her shoulders.'

Scowling when Potter left, Draco shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. Why does everyone assume he was going to do something regrettable. 'Mr Malfoy!' The voice carried across the yard, and when he heard his name, he thought to himself, oh yeah, that's why.

x X x

Knock, knock.

Hermione glanced at her front door, a frown displayed across her face. She wasn't expecting anyone. The only people who visited would have used the floo anyways. Crossing to her front door, she glanced through the peep hole of the door, and saw a shock of pale blonde hair. The owner stood looking at the ground, one hand braced against the doorframe. The shockingly pale hair could only belong to one person.

So, taking a deep breath, Hermione ignored the upbeat of her pulse, and opened the door. 'Draco?'

The man looked up, tracing her face with his eyes, and smiled. 'Hey.' She watched as he ran a hand through his hair, halting halfway when he took in her appearance. Cocking a brow, and a tilted smile at her, he said, 'you know, I see you in green more then red. You sure you weren't placed in the wrong house?'

Glancing down, she mentally cursed. She had forgotten her attire for the evening consisted of nothing more then a pair of forest green sleep shorts, and a thin gray tank top. Ignoring the flush that had bloomed across her cheeks, she meekly supplied: 'I wasn't expecting any visitors.'

He nodded at that, and studied her face. 'I hope I'm not interrupting.' Standing straight, Draco smiled when she shook her head. 'You know, Granger. Where I come from, people usually invite their company inside.'

Narrowing her eyes, Hermione challenged him. 'Even if they show up uninvited?'

The tilted smile came back, there was a sparkle in his dark silver gaze that accompanied it, and he took a small step towards her. They didn't touch, but Draco stood close enough to share the air they breathed. Hermione felt his warm breath against her forehead when he answered her in a gruff voice. 'If they're happy to see them, yes.' Staring at him with dark eyes, Hermione chewed on her bottom lip. She watched as Draco raised a hand between them, her breath catching when he tucked a loose curl behind her ear. 'Invite me in, Granger.'

Stepping back, Hermione held the door open for him, and ignored the fluttering that had started in her stomach. 'Come in.'