Draco was woken abruptly at seven, only to be staring his guilt in the face. He had not spoken to his wife in a week, and had a constant crick in his neck from sleeping on the sofa. Hermione stood over him, wearing her pyjamas and a snooty look – she would have been menacing, were it not for the extreme bushiness of her hair.

"Get up." She barked testily. "We're going to Hogwarts to do some research. I wrote to Professor Dumbledore and we've go the library to ourselves."

"Do you think I might be able to visit Professor Snape? I haven't spoken to him in a while, and we have a lot to catch up on."

"Yes, as long as you aren't there for hours." Hermione had gone into the kitchen and was waving her wand at various appliances; Draco spotted some toast fly into the toaster and felt his stomach grumble. He stretched his arms above his head and smiled.

"What's for breakfast?" Hermione spun around with a plate in her hand, shot him a filthy look and then padded back into her bedroom.

"Whatever you make for yourself, I suppose." The door shut with a slam.

She appeared an hour later, hair done and her cloak fastened to her chin. Draco was also ready, and they set off for Hogsmeade. The walk up to the school was conducted in silence, and Hermione ensured that she was sat nowhere near him in the vast library. Draco didn't have complaints about any of this; he didn't want to encourage Hermione's ire any more than he already had! He began flicking through the ancient tomes, but after three hours was already bored. His stomach rumbled loudly (he had been unable to make himself any breakfast) and he thought longingly of the tea and biscuits that probably awaited him in Snape's office. He set off to find Hermione. Her head was bent so low over her book that her nose almost brushed the page, and Draco snorted when he wandered over to her.

"What do you want?" She demanded. "If you're only going to laugh at me, I'm not interested."

"I just thought I'd let you know that I'm having a tea break. I'm going to see Professor Snape. Would you like to come with me?"

"I'd rather eat a whole packet of Ton-Tongue Toffee! You go alone, and don't take too long either; we have dozens more books to get through!"

Draco left the library shaking his head, wondering how Hermione had ever managed to get anything else done. How had the girl who was so obsessed with studying and research found the time to defeat Lord Voldemort? It just didn't make sense, and he decided to ask her when they went back to the flat tonight – if she would stay in the room with him for longer than five minutes, of course.

Professor Snape greeted him with the customary handshake, and beckoned him into the familiar office. The anticipated tea and biscuits lay waiting on the desk, and Draco had to fight the urge to pounce on them; his hand shook as he greedily took his cup of Earl Grey and four shortbread biscuits. They talked pleasantly for a while, about work, Draco's parents, and former pupils, until they finally came to the subject of Draco's marriage.

"Now Draco," Snape said casually. "I was extremely surprised to hear of your nuptials in September. Such a curious choice of bride, especially as you used to loathe one another."

"You must have been just as stunned as I was, sir. It was not through choice that I ended up married to Hermione." Snape raised an eyebrow at Malfoy.

"Really? Am I to understand that this was your father's doing?" Snape smirked as he traced his mouth with a finger, "Of course…after finding out that Hermione is the heiress to the Divits' fortune, she must have seemed a tremendous catch for you."

"Yes, I do think that was the case. He and Hermione's father, Felix Divitis, drew up an ancient marriage contract. And so, in accordance with tradition, I was informed only minutes before the ceremony." Draco thought about dunking his biscuit into his tea, (as he had become accustomed to doing at Hermione's) but knew that Professor Snape would not take kindly to it.

"Most unfortunate. How are you and Miss…Mrs Malfoy getting along?"

"Better than we used to, I must say. We have managed to form…an alliance; of sorts…We are trying to combat this marriage."

"You are seeking a divorce?"

"Yes. Our contract is quite unusual…" He wriggled his left hand to show the Professor his finger. "My father has added an element of control to our marriage." He explained to the Professor about the scar, and he seemed somewhat repulsed.

"My sympathies, Draco."

"Sympathies? No, I wouldn't say it was as bad as all that, except…" Draco looked at the door hesitantly, before letting out a gentle sigh. "Except we had a bit of an argument, you see."

"Ah. What did you do?" Draco blushed, which caused Snape's faint smile to grow.

"Well…uh…I might have said that I…that I hated her." Draco rubbed the back of his neck. "And I said that she had horrible hair and…teeth." Snape laughed; a gruff barking sound that Draco hadn't heard since he was a child.

"You do have a way with words, Draco; you must have inherited it from your father."

"What do I do, though? She won't speak to me and, even worse, wouldn't make me any breakfast – I can't cook, Severus!" His childish whining only seemed to amuse the potions master more, as he began spluttering into his teacup. Draco folded his arms moodily; this was not the behaviour he expected from his godfather and former professor.

"I apologise. It is just strange how this is the second generation of Malfoy men that I am giving marital advice to. Your father used to drop in on me, lamenting that he had been kicked out of the bed or bemoaning the fact that Narcissa was avoiding him. Would I be right in saying that you are sleeping on the couch?"

"Please stop mocking me, sir! What did you tell my father to do? What will stop Hermione from acting like this? I won't be able to survive without any lunch or dinner…It's been a week already!"

"Appeal to her better nature. Apologise, simper, schmooze in that dreadful way you Malfoys have; it should come easy to you, it did to your father."

"What do you think about flowers? Would they work, do you think?"

"Draco, flowers alwayswork. Have you never leant anything from observing your parents?"

Draco stayed for a further fifteen minutes, before he became anxious that Hermione would be waiting for him to return. He thanked Severus for the tea and biscuits, said that he would write to him, and promise that they would go out for a drink one evening. Just as Draco was leaving the office, Snape smirked at him with a malicious glint in his eye.

"I'll be writing to your father, to say that I have spoken to you." He drawled. "I'm sure he will be pleased to hear that you are, what is the expression…henpecked. In fact, he will be even more delighted to hear how very much like him you are." Draco gaped at him, just as he shut the door in his face.

Thankfully, Hermione was not waiting to berate him for being too long. She was stood outside of the library, books in hand, seemingly ready to leave. Draco beamed at her warily and presented the flowers (that had been transfigured from a mop) with a flourish. She looked cautiously at the pink tulips but took them, sniffing them tentatively.

"They're lovely…but out of season." Draco looked wounded for a moment, before she smiled. "Thank you." As they walked down to Hogsmeade Draco offered her his arm and she took it, which made him beam – he certainly had managed to 'schmooze' like his father.

"Have you found anything of use?" He enquired carefully, looking down at her.

"Yes, well, I think so. A few books about defensive spells, anti-curses, that kind of thing. There's something I want to do though…I'd like to tell my boss, Zachary, about our problem." Draco nodded thoughtfully. "He might be able to help us…working for the ministry and all. I thought we'd go now, get it over with."

"That's a good idea. I told Professor Snape…he said he would assist where he could." Hermione gasped as Draco seized her hand and fell to his knees in front of her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, almost dropping the flowers in shock. "Have you lost your mind?"

"I want to apologise properly, for the way I treated you last week. I didthink those things about you, when we were at school, but I don't anymore. I only said them to annoy you. I'm sincerely sorry." Hermione sighed and avoided his eye, feeling quite awkward that Draco was on bent knee before her – it seemed ever so melodramatic.

"It's alright…just stand up…please." Draco clambered to his feet and they started walking again; Hermione smiled wryly. "You've been taking advice from Professor Snape, haven't you?" Draco gawked at her, wondering how it was that she knew. He asked her. "Well it's obvious, really. You don't have enough cunning, or styleto think up something as dramatic as that on your own."

"What do you mean? I have style, and that must be the first time I've ever heard of Snape being described as having any."

"Of course he has style." Hermione replied, laughing. "Didn't you ever notice his entrance into the potions classroom?"

Zachary and his wife Melanie lived in a small terraced house in Finchley; Draco looked quite dismayed to find that such an important ministry official lived in a very muggle area. They were hustled inside by Melanie, who was blonde, curvy and seemed very happy for them to be there.

"I'm so sorry to call on you so suddenly, Melanie. It's just important that I speak with Zachary sooner rather than later…"

"That's quite alright. Gobstones has been cancelled this evening; Marvin has got the flu!" Zachary was sat in the small kitchen, shovelling a pie into his mouth and watching football on the television. Melanie turned the TV off as Zachary put down his fork and came over to shake Draco's hand.

"I've heard lots about you. None of it good, but I suppose it all counts, eh?" Hermione smiled apologetically at Draco, as they took a seat at the kitchen table. Melanie made them all a cup of tea, before bustling out to "finish her cleaning".

"Why can't you be like that?" Draco whispered, causing Hermione to swat him.

The atmosphere in the kitchen became instantaneously business-like once Melanie had left the room. Zachary looked analytically at them, before rubbing his hands together.

"You have a problem and need my help. Am I right, Bossy?"

"Yes." She replied, ignoring Draco's smirk at her nickname. "Draco and I do, indeed, have a problem, and your assistance would be…beneficial." For Hermione explained their situation, with regular input from Draco. Zachary was gob smacked, and he thumped the table, causing the teacups to quiver.

"That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard! And the ministry just let them get away with it? You know, I've been telling you for ages that this country is going to the dogs, Bossy! You need to make a stand, show 'em who's boss!" Hermione grinned at him, and Draco found that he too had a smile for the man.

"So you want to help us beat them?" She asked. "You want to be involved?"

"Of course! I'll do whatever you like, dig up information on Lucius or your father, look at how the contract stands on the legal side of things, find you the best lawyer…anything."

"Well, we do need a lawyer but…I was hoping that youwould act for us." Zachary looked taken aback.

"Me? I'm just a sod who got lucky, managed to worm his way up through the ministry. I don't know anything about a court of law."

"Don't be ridiculous! You know more than the whole Wizengamot put together! Please Zachary; you're the best chance we'll get." Zachary hesitated a moment before beaming at them both.

"You're on! And I don't expect to be paid neither, well, not in galleons anyway. Maybe you can just get your paperwork done a bit faster? Speak to Arthur about all the junk…"

"Of course." Hermione replied. "And I'll be sure to get the junk mail issue sorted; I don't have the nickname 'Bossy' for nothing!"

Melanie came back into the kitchen, bringing with her a smell of flowery perfume made Hermione sneeze. Draco seemed to be looking at her longingly, and Hermione nudged him with her knee.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you!" She said perkily to Draco. "Ever since I read about you and Hermione getting married, in fact! Hermione is a dear friend of ours, and we're so pleased for her." Hermione smiled weakly. "I'm just glad that Hermione will have the chance to experience what we have, aren't you Zachary?"

Melanie's husband looked at Hermione for advice, and Hermione nodded covertly – she didn't want anyone else to know about their secret, particularly as Melanie was known for being a blabbermouth.

"Oh…uh…yes, Mel. I mean, I'm lucky aren't I? I have a beautiful bird, nice home, good job, an excellent broomstick…man can't ask for anything else, can he?" Draco was nodding enthusiastically.

"Do you bake?" He asked Melanie.

"Does she bake? I tell you, she's the best! I've never tasted cakes as spectacular as hers, honestly son!"

"Maybe you could give Hermione some recipes…" Draco suggested, earning another nudge from Hermione.

"I'd love too! I have an excellent one for apple pie, if you like! Oh, and rhubarb tart would be lovely for you I think! Goes really well with a cool drink of lemonade!"

"What's your secret of success?" Hermione asked quickly, trying to stop her ramblings about recipes. "Why has your marriage lasted for so long?"

"Well…" Melanie started thoughtfully. "I think it's getting everything balanced, really. I do all of the housework and cooking whilst Zachary goes out to work, so we both do our fair share! I'm not suggesting that you do the same, oh no, Zachary would killme if you left his team, but perhaps you should always strive to keep things equal! It's worked for us."

"And you?" Draco asked Zachary. "What do youthink?"

"Knowing when to keep your gob shut." Zachary said cheekily, causing Draco to laugh and the women to huff in indignation.

Both Hermione and Draco collapsed onto the sofa when they returned to the flat, exhausted from their hectic day. Hermione grabbed the television remote whilst Draco used accioto summon a bottle of wine and two glasses. It didn't take long before Hermione was asleep, her head resting on Draco's chest and his arm slung around her. Draco watched her sleeping soundly, amazed that she could actually be so relaxed around him to fall asleep in that way. He tried to close his eyes and sleep, but as too aware of the fact that she was with him – he wanted to know what she was thinking. It would have been easy for him to find out, having been trained in Legllimency and Occlumency by Snape, he knew that her defences were low whilst sleeping; she wouldn't even know that he had been in her mind. It was only a sudden rush of tenderness that stopped him, an impulsive feeling that he didn't want to force his way into her privacy. If she wanted him to know what she was thinking, she would have told him; he would not use her precious mind to force her to do something she didn't want to.

It took barely a second for Draco to piece it all together; a flash of insight that hit him as he thought. He would not use her precious mind to force her to do something she didn't want to do. It all suddenly made sense, as though someone had painted it in six-foot letters on the wall – Occlumency was the answer to their problems. His heart pounded as he began to gently shake her, wanting to wake her up to share in his excitement. Her eyes flickered open and she frowned at him.

"Sorry…I…" She yawned. "I didn't realise I had fallen asleep." Draco grinned at her.

"It doesn't matter! I'm glad you did, because I know what we have to do!" Hermione stared at him blearily, rubbing her eyes and licking her lips.

"Do? I don't know what you mean."

"To fight the curse! To get rid of the pain! It's so easy, Hermione, it's Occlumency!" Hermione smiled at his eagerness; it struck her sometimes how very much like a child Draco was.

"So you're suggesting that we can use Occlumency to block the pain from affecting our minds…"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. It makes sense, more sense than Imperius did." He watched as she ran an anxious hand through her hair, looking dubious at his idea.

"I just don't see how that could help. Occlumency deals with memories, thoughts…I've read about it."

"You may have done. But you must have skipped the passage on human biology, because the mind controls the whole body! You said that the pain is imbedded into our minds, so why not use Occlumency to expel it?" Hermione hesitated, and Draco gave a sigh. "It's the only idea we've had, so why not just attempt it?"

"Fine." Hermione replied. "I can't see there being any harm in it."

Hermione was adamant that, as they were going to attempt Occlumency, not a moment should be wasted. So Draco found himself making an appointment with Professor Snape for the following evening. Hermione had wanted him to make it for the morning, and was a little disgruntled when he reminded her that she had work and Professor Snape had classes to teach. Draco wasn't certain why, but he could feel it this time; he knew that it was going to work. And soon, they would be free of the curse.