Chapter 12

"Do I work for you?" Hermione demanded as she reentered the Quidditch shop.

Draco was pulling on his jacket when she asked, and he stared at her in shock. "Why would you think that?" he wondered. "Where are the girls?"

"Answer the question."

Sighing, he took hold of her arm and led her to the back office. "Why do you think you work for me?" he asked.

She looked around the office, noticing the personal touches that could only be Draco's - old team photos, banners of his favorite teams, a picture of him holding Alex after she had been born. "This is your office," she stated. "And Adrian told me that you own Diagon Alley. How do you own Diagon Alley?"

He sat on the edge of his desk. "I don't own it," he replied. "After the war, when I still had the Malfoy money, I helped rebuild the alley. I only own this place, the bookstore, and the apothecary. You don't work for me, Hermione. You got the manager job because you're the best candidate. It's not because we're friends."

"Not at all?" she asked.

Draco smiled. "I don't know. Maybe a part of me picked you for it because we're friends," he admitted. "Is it so wrong that I just wanted you working across the way so I could hang out with you every day?"

"Sure, but now it'll look bad if you're keeping me from doing my work," she pointed out.

While she intended it as a joke, Draco didn't take it that way. Scowling, he shook his head. "Then don't take the job," he said. "I'm sorry that you think this has just been handed to you, or that you think you didn't work hard enough to get it. I didn't want you to know about my businesses, and maybe keeping that from you was wrong. But that was my choice."

"I'm sorry," she whispered, standing in front of him. "I didn't...I don't want you to feel like you have to hide things from me though. It doesn't matter to me if you own this place or just work behind the counter. You did a great thing helping to rebuild the Alley. Don't be ashamed of your hard work."

He placed his hands on her waist, drawing her in closer. "I'm not ashamed," he told her. "I was, however, convinced that you would once again remind me that I always rely too heavily on my family's money. Which seems odd, doesn't it? Considering they cut me off so long ago."

"I said some really horrible things to you back then," she admitted. "I was pregnant and crazy, and my marriage was starting to crumble. You were the best friend I had back then, and I pushed you away because you were right about everything. You've got this great life. You're successful and happy. All I've got is stretch marks."

"And two kids who adore you," he reminded her. "Don't forget that."

Nodding, she smiled at him. "I haven't forgotten," she assured him. "I don't know that I could have gotten through the divorce without them. On the other hand, maybe it wouldn't have been so difficult if I didn't have them to worry about. I wouldn't feel so guilty."

"Guilty about what?" he murmured, holding her close.

Sighing, she shrugged. "Everything," she replied. "Leaving their father, taking them away from their father, taking them away from the only home they've ever known. And then there are the things that might happen in the future. Like getting married or having another baby."

Beneath her shirt, he gently stroked her back. "Is that something you want?" he wondered.

"Maybe," she murmured. "If I met someone who loved my daughters as much as he loved me."

He nodded in agreement. "That does sound important," he replied. Hermione stared into his eyes as he licked his lips. "Can I confess something?" Hermione nodded, and she was sure that Draco could feel how hard her heart pounded. "I had, um, feelings for you. For a long time, I had feelings for you. Honestly, I hated Marcus because he got to be with you."

Smiling, she moved her hands from her sides to rest on his chest. "I knew," she told him. "Do you think you might still have feelings for me?"

"Would saying yes get me slapped?" he asked. Laughing, she shook her head. "Would kissing you getting me slapped?"

Shrugging, she stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. "You're not going to slap me for that, are you?" she joked. Shaking his head, he kissed her softly. "We're supposed to be getting ice cream."

"Right, yes, ice cream," he replied, kissing her again. Her hand cupped his cheek, holding him in place. "This is better than ice cream though."

"It is," she agreed as his hands slid further up her back. "But the girls."

Sighing, he pulled away, realizing she was right. "Okay, yeah. Let's get ice cream," he said. "By the way, where are they?"

Her cheeks turned pink. "Outside with Adrian," she admitted. "Lex doesn't like him very much."

Taking her hand, he began to lead her to the door. "Maybe we should rescue her," he suggested. They entered the shop when Draco thought twice about the newest development in their relationship. "Do you think they'll be okay with this? I mean, I don't think we're together now or anything. Yeah, I want to be, but if you're not comfortable with that-"

Hermione smiled at him and held his hand tighter. "They love you," she assured him. "I'm sure they'll be fine with it. I do think it's best to ease them into it though. Marcus is planning to tell them about Katie, and I don't know how they'd handle their parents dating other people."

"So the rumors are true?" Draco asked, feeling sad for the girls. Hermione scowled and nodded. He let go of her hand as they walked outside. "Are you alright?"

Hermione shrugged as Emma ran to Draco. Leaning down, he picked her up, and the little girl's arms wrapped automatically around his neck. "Ice cream now, Mr. Draco?" she inquired. "What are you going to get? Daddy always hated chocolate, but I like it. You like chocolate, don't you, Mr. Draco?"

"You bet I do," he replied. "Do you think you might want to share with me? I don't know that I can eat the whole thing myself."

Alex scowled as she joined them, Adrian a few steps behind her. "Please make him leave," she moaned, hugging her mother's waist.

Adrian smirked at the little girl's comment. "I'll be going. Just thought I'd say hi to Draco," he said. "It's been awhile."

Warily, Draco accepted his handshake while keeping a tight hold on Emma. Adrian had always been closer to Marcus, and often sided with his best friend. Since their falling out, Adrian had just as effectively cut the younger wizard from his life as the Flints had.

"Good to see you again," Draco said guardedly.

Amused, Adrian nodded. "Things look like they're going well," he mused, taking in the picture before him. "Finally got what you always wanted, eh, Malfoy?"

Hermione glowered, removed Alex's arms from her middle, and held her daughter's hand. "We're going now," she stated. "Adrian, as always, it was...interesting to see you."

It wasn't until they neared the ice cream shop that Emma asked, "What did Uncle Adrian mean?"