Ginny and Blaise had gone home leaving Draco and Hermione alone. Hermione was so pleased with how the afternoon had gone because they had had fun. To see Draco laughing like he had was incredible and refreshing. Hermione felt like his barriers were dropping one by one. The only small niggle in her mind was that Draco wasn't the only one with his barriers dropping because ever since he had told her he was dying she had felt this connection to him. The fact that he had told her about his condition had opened up all sorts of feelings for her.

"Daydreaming again, Granger?" Draco's voice broke into her thoughts.

"Will you stop calling me Granger!" Hermione snapped. She shouldn't forget that there was still a lot of the old Draco there too and that part was just as annoying as ever! Draco smirked at her.

"So where did you go earlier?" he asked.

"Oh yes! I couldn't tell you in front of Blaise and Ginny," Hermione said.

"Blaise knows," Draco said.

"Oh okay. Well I went to see a friend of mine..."

"A male friend?" Draco asked and Hermione looked at him.

"Yes but what difference does that make?" Hermione asked.

"What sort of a friend? You have remembered you're a married woman now haven't you?" Draco wiggled his eyes at her and she rolled her eyes.

"Only on paper, remember?" Hermione reminded him. "Do you want to hear about this or not?"

Draco nodded so she told him about Abraham and what he had said. At the end he nodded slowly.

"I suppose it's worth trying," he said.

Hermione sighed at his dejected tone. "Positive thinking, remember?"

"I'm not good at positive thinking," he pointed at himself. "Slytherin house, remember?" Hermione glared at him and then threw herself full length onto the sofa. She felt really tired as she had slept so badly and now eaten a large lunch. She yawned and stretched.

"Any further news from the Ministry?" she asked. "Are you going back tonight?" The expression on Draco's face changed and Hermione sat up to look at him, concerned. "What? What is it?" she asked.

"No, I have to stay here," Draco answered but his curt reply just made Hermione suspicious.

"Why? I thought they needed everyone in to search for the attackers?"

Draco sighed, obviously realizing he was going to have to tell Hermione. "There was another round of attacks last night. That's why I was awake when you got back because Potter apparated here again to let us know. Ginny and Blaise heard from Ron so they came over," Draco pulled a face. "Of course, they all turn up and I'm asleep in bed, you're off on your own and no-one knows where!" He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you can imagine how well that went down! That's why I shouted at you."

"More attacks?" Hermione felt a horrible sick feeling in her stomach. "But how? I thought everyone was under protection?"

"Yeh, well it would seem we've underestimated them because they managed to overpower the Aurors guarding the couples." He paused and Hermione knew bad news was coming. "Two of the couples managed to escape but another three didn't."

"Three more? Dead?"

"Yes."

Hermione put her head in her hands and Draco remained silent, letting her deal with this shocking news. Eventually she raised her head, her eyes red.

"Neville?"

"He's fine."

"What are they going to do now to stop them?" she asked but Draco appeared to be reluctant to tell her and she sighed. "I'm don't need protecting from the truth."

"We've been authorised to use any curse we need to," Draco said and he watched Hermione's face as she read between the lines of what he had said.

"They're letting you use unforgivable curses?" she asked. "Even the Killing Curse?"

Draco nodded. "We have to fight fire with fire, Hermione. Obviously, we don't want anyone else murdered but there is also the wider picture. The fewer couples there are the less likely it is that we will find the couple who will have the child we all need."

"I know, it's just a bit shocking."

Draco gave her a smirk and she appreciated that he was trying to lighten the mood. "The good news for you is that you will now have my undivided attention and protection until we find out who is doing this. Something many women would pay hundreds of galleons to experience."

"Oh, please!"

"The bad news is that I refuse to sit here doing nothing until someone else can solve this, so if it drags on I'll be taking you with me into the office. It's gonna kill me being a bloody bodyguard when I could be out there sorting this out!"

"Sorry," Hermione said.

"I'm not moaning at you! I'm just not good at being a bystander," Draco explained.

"See! That's what I mean! You should understand why I hate being baby sat!" Hermione waved her hands at him. "But this is so awful! And it makes absolutely no sense at all, why on earth would any wizard want to sabotage this?"

"Good question and I don't intend to sit and do nothing while I'm babysitting you," he grinned, using this term of phrase to annoy her. "So I thought that we could spend some time together submerged in your favourite pastime."

"Which is?"

"Books or more precisely documents. I'm going to bring a load of paperwork home from my department and we need to examine them in minute detail. Try not to be overcome with excitement, Granger, I know that probably sounds better than sex to you." Draco smirked again and she glared at him.

"Firstly, I do not like you calling it babysitting! Secondly, I do not think that books are better than sex..."

"Depends who the sex is with," Draco interrupted her. "I mean, I would imagine anything would be better than sex with Weasley but obviously you can do a direct comparison..."

Hermione managed a smirk of her own. "Comparison between sex with Ron or you, do you mean?" she deliberately twisted his words knowing he'd hate her even daring to compare them. "I'm probably the only girl that can do that comparison, aren't I?"

"Huh! As if that is even worth doing! I mean, sex with Weasley or me? Come on!" Draco responded as she had expected and she chuckled. She put her finger onto her lips as if she was thinking really hard.

"Well, let's take a point at a time. I mean technique, deliverance, overall performance..." she let her voice trail off and Draco snorted.

"You're not funny, Granger."

She pointed her finger at him. "THAT was going to be my third point! Stop calling me Granger! Not only is it insulting to address your wife that way but it isn't actually my name!"

"What shall I call you then? How about darling?" Draco asked, sarcastically. "Sweetie? Cutie Pie?"

"Grrrr! You're not funny and you're getting on my nerves," Hermione tutted at him.

"Why are you smiling then?" Draco asked, leaning back in his seat and putting his hands behind his head. His eyes were dancing in amusement and his hair was messed up from lying on the sofa. His body was stretched out, his long legs in front of him, his top stretched across his muscles and the smallest bit of toned stomach was peeking out from below his top which had ridden up slightly. Hermione tried not to stare at him because being gorgeous shouldn't let him get away with being annoying. The trouble was that sometimes it did and right now was one of those times. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced her next words out before she went all gooey and pathetic.

"It's a grimace."

"Soon you'll be trying to tell me that the kiss you gave me earlier was actually a slap across the face!" Draco gave a quick comeback, continuing to smirk at her.

Hermione half closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, wishing he hadn't brought that up. "Well now I wish it had been a slap across the face!" she said.

"No you don't."

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't and neither do I." Draco's smirk had gone he was watching her closely.

"With everything that is going on, it was just nice to see you laughing." Hermione provided an unnecessary explanation to cover her embarrassment.

"I must remember to laugh more often then," Draco said and she looked over at him trying to decide if he meant it how it sounded. He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "If that's the reward I get..."

This chapter was just a bit of banter...let me know what you think...x