Endless pacing wasn't particularly helpful, it did nothing towards solving any of the myriad of problems Draco spent most of his day worrying over. Endless pacing did, however, afford him a chance to get rid of some of that restless energy he found himself constantly brimming with of late.

He had pressing, international-sized battles demanding his attention, but Draco just couldn't seem to stop himself from getting mired in this endless tit-for-tat of petty sniping and one-upmanship. It was all HER fault, of course. All his problems seemed to start and end with Hermione Granger. She was the distraction, the one who filled his thoughts when he should really be busy with other things. Critical domestic things-that-had-the-potential-for-global-results. The two biggest problems he could ever be saddled with had somehow managed to arrive within days of each other. He was just one man (admittedly, one above-average man) and this was one tiny, otherwise unremarkable island. Draco sighed. He always managed to get the rough end of the stick. And he was well on his way to completely ruining both deals.

He didn't want one or the other. Draco wanted to finally be hero who saved the day and got the prize at the end. Solving this highly volatile political situation would not feel like an achievement if it caused him to lose the girl. There was something about her that just got to him. Of course, it didn't stop him – or even her, for that matter – from acting like a complete fool.

Yes, she had been presumptuous and entirely unwarranted in her condemnation, but he still felt like an arse for rubbing her nose in it… Really, he didn't know what he was thinking these days, except that he wished that someone else could deal with his problems while he dealt with Hermione. Her reappearance had confirmed that she still… affected him. She still had the ability to cloud his mind and completely destroy his level headedness. He felt unhinged around her; blindly hopping from one emotion to another…

Hermione was feeling a similar level of frustration and confusion. Which is why she was standing outside his suite of rooms, hand poised to knock on the door, silently running through an apology she had prepared in her head. She really did feel bad about the Elf episode… Fools rush in, and Hermione felt, with that last piece of brilliance, she had just proved herself the queen of the whole bunch… or whatever the actual title would be, given that every second was just that little bit closer to a wedding with the Prince-of-all-Fools. And yet, there she was, wasting precious minutes standing frozen outside his room. Taking a deep breath, and then hesitating only briefly, Hermione knocked on the door.

The few moments before the door swung open seemed to stretch into forever. Then, suddenly, Draco was glaring down at her from the doorway.

"Hermione? It's practically the middle of the night…"

Hermione bristled at the note of disapproval in his voice, "Don't pretend I woke you. No one would be able to sleep in robes starched that firm."

He neither moved not made any attempt to speak, but simply continued to stare down at her, not giving an inch.

"I, uh… there's something I wanted to tell you…"

An eyebrow lifted, "And it couldn't have waited until tomorrow?"

"It couldn't."

Draco waved a hand. "Well, then, by all means - tell me."

"Listen, I don't know why you insist on this silly marriage when you know it will make neither of us happy and there are far more suitable women who would jump at the chance. I don't like being cooped up here, you frustrate me, I'm sick of your attitude… but what I really came here to say is that… is that I'm sorry."

Ignoring the movements she could see out of the corner of her eye, Hermione continued to deliver her apology to the carpet.

"I acted appallingly, like the spoilt brat I always accused you of being. It solves nothing and it only reflects badly on me. I'll try my best to act in a manner befitting your position and I accept–"

Strong hands grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled Hermione over the doorsill and then pushing her against the wall. Narrow lips slanted over hers and a hand began caressing her hip. And then, just as suddenly, they were removed.

Draco was bent double, hugging his abdomen. His eyes watered and he was panting in pain. Hermione stood staring intensely down at him, an expression of displeasure twisting her features.

"You'll get more than a sucker punch next time. If you even think about doing that again without my expressed permission, I swear you'll be less a pair when you wake up the next morning."

"Hitting's no fair." Draco wheezed. "If you had any sense of decency at all, you'd pull your wand on me."

Ignoring that remark seemed to Hermione to be the most mature option, right after heading to the door and slamming it one her way out.

"Wait –" Draco's voice stopped her mid-stride. "I'll admit I shouldn't have done that, but we've both said and done things we possibly would want to rethink."

Hermione was slow to turn around, but when she finally did her head was high and her shoulder squared. Draco's eyes settled on her set jaw and he winced as he straightened to his full height.

"You're right. This endless antagonism is getting us nowhere. Neither of us look set on changing our minds, and yet seeing as I have the upperhand," Hermione sent an icy glare for that, which he shrugged off, smiling, "It would seem we're stuck with each other. And, that being the case, we really should make this arrangement bearable for both of us."

"I still don't agree with any of this, I'd like to add. But I do recognise that you've wedged me fairly between a rock and a hard place. So for the moment I'm agreeing to stop disagreeing so indecorously."

"Indeed. Do you suppose we could frame the conditions of this peace treaty in the morning?"

Hermione held his stare seriously precisely for several beats, gave a curt nod and did not quite slam the door on her way out.

Leaving Draco to pace.

I have no comment to make at this time.