A/N: I know in the last chapter I ended their fight a little fast, but I decided to do that because I wanted them to be getting along for this next part :-)

And don't worry, there will be plenty more fights to come. It is Hermione and Draco, after all!

Also, I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to JK Rowling.

The next morning Draco woke up Hermione with a kiss. He was already eager for more, and she was more than willing to oblige. In fact, she nearly ripped his hair out while screaming his name. He didn't mind one bit.

Afterwards the two of them lied there without a care in the world. It wasn't until they heard Sophie and Phillip knocking on their tent that they finally got up and got dressed. When they got outside their comrades were still standing there, smirking at them.

"Pretty strong shield charm. Must have been some night," said Phillip.

"Now, Phillipe, do not go jumping to conclusions. Maybe zey just wanted some privacy to talk. After all, zey wanted to 'cool off'. Zey are boz steell so angry at one anozer." Sophie and Phillip burst out laughing.

Hermione wasn't amused. "Well, there's no reason to be rude about it."

For breakfast the four of them went back to the pancake house, where Sophie did another complicated knock for the door to open. By day the building was, in fact, a pancake house. But only for wizards.

Sophie ordered a large stack of blueberry pancakes, which she smothered in her Purple Polly Flower sap. Draco was not blind to how she kept feeding Phillip bites, and how gladly he accepted them.

All Hermione noticed was how the wizard, Patrick, was glaring at them from a table across the restaurant. "So what happened with Patrick last night?" she asked Sophie.

Sophie stopped mid-bite and turned just in time to catch Patrick's evil eye. "Oh," she said, turning back around. "Yeah. Zat deed not 'appen."

"Aw, why not?" asked Hermione, still not noticing how focused Phillip became on his food. "I thought you wanted it to happen. And it certainly seemed like he was willing."

"Yeah … 'e was," she said, glancing sideways at Phillip. "I just was not feeling eet. Zat ees all."

"Bummer," said Hermione, taking a sip of her coffee. "Well, you'll find someone soon. I'm sure of it."

"So am I," said Draco with a wide grin, his eyes darting wildly from Sophie to Phillip. Both tried to avoid his stares but eventually he caught Sophie's eye. One look was all he needed to confirm his suspicions. He immediately started laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked a naïve Hermione.

"Oh, nothing," he said, patting her head dotingly.

She swatted his hand away. "What's with you?"

Before he could 'out' their comrades, Mr. Ollivander's owl swooped into the pancake house and dropped five letters on their table. Sophie screamed as a red one fell right between her and Hermione.

"It's another Howler," said Hermione, looking closely at it. "With both our names on it." Sophie threw her hands over her mouth and squealed. "Sophie, why does this Howler have both our names on it?"

Phillip laughed and gave Sophie a nudge. "Come on, Soph. It's time you told Hermione what you did."

"Oh! I am so sorry, 'Ermione! But … last week, just after we found you and Draco keessing I went back to our tent and wrote a letter."

Hermione's heart slowed immensely. "A letter? To who?"

Sophie bit her lip and looked to Phillip for some help. He didn't give it to her. Taking a deep breath, Sophie looked back at Hermione and said, "To Fleur." And Hermione's heart officially stopped. "I am so sorry, 'Ermione. I cannot say zat enough. I even contacted Mr. Olleevander zrough the Floo and tried to stop eet, but eet was already deleevered."

Hermione grabbed onto the table to keep herself from toppling over. Draco tightened his grip on her shoulders. Gulping, Hermione stared down at the red envelope and said, "But Fleur is staying at The Burrow this summer, so Mrs. Weasley can help her with Victoire while she's pregnant and –"

"I know …"

"What if she opened it while she was in the room? What if Ron was there? Oh Merlin, what am I going to do?"

"Well, you can start by opening the letter," said Draco, reaching down and grabbing it. "You've spent so much time talking I'm surprised it hasn't blown already."

He opened it up and threw it on the table. Hermione closed her eyes as tightly as she could while the Howler rose into the air and began to … well, howl.

"SOPHIE ANNE LABELLE, I AM SURPRISED AT YOU!" Sophie gulped. "STEECKING YOUR NOSE EENTO OZER PEOPLE'S BUSEENESS EES VERY UNLADYLIKE! I AM AWARE OF RON AND 'ERMIONE'S ARRANGEMENT FOR ZE SUMMER AND NOZING YOU SAY WEELL MAKE ME ZINK ANY LESS OF 'ER. YOU ARE JUST LUCKY I GOT YOUR LETTER WHEN MRS. WEASLEY WAS OUT OF ZE ROOM. EEF SHE SAW EET BEING DELEEVERED BY ZAT MR. OLLEEVANDER'S OWL SHE WOULD 'AVE INSISTED ON READING EET. SOMETIMES ZE WOMAN CAN BE SO NOSY. MAYBE ZE TWO OF YOU ARE RELATED!

"AND AS FOR YOU, 'ERMIONE." Now Hermione gulped as the Howler turned towards her. "I FEEL ZE NEED TO REMIND YOU 'OW MUCH RON LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU. 'E 'AS ZOUGHT OF NOZING ELSE SEENCE ZE DAY YOU LEFT. JUST REMEMBER, ZERE EES NO ONE BETTER ZAN A WEASLEY. ZEY ARE ZE KINDEST, MOST LOVING AND LOYAL FAMEELY I 'AVE EVER 'AD ZE PREEVILEGE OF KNOWING. YOU WOULD BE WISE TO REMEMBER ZAT. NOW, BOZ OF YOU STOP ARGUING AND ENJOY YOUR SUMMER! LOVE FLEUR."

The letter burst into flames. Only Sophie was smart enough to move her food out of the way before ash came raining down on the table.

"Well, that wasn't so bad," said Phillip, wiping ashes off his omelet.

Hermione didn't hear him. She was too busy staring mindlessly at the place the Howler had once been. Ron wasn't following through with their break. He was only thinking of her. But there was still two months left in the summer. Maybe … there was a chance … No. She knew the truth. Ron wasn't going to do anything. Not unless he found out she was, and then it would just be out of spite. There had to be another way to ease her guilty conscience.

"WHAT?" They all looked at Sophie, who was reading their letter from Mr. Ollivander with her jaw on the floor. They all waited for her to say something more, but she never did.

"Are you going to tell us what it is, Soph?" asked Phillip, trying to catch a peek over her shoulder.

"Eet ees our new assignments. Zey are not what we zought," she said, handing the letter over to Hermione.

She took it and started to read aloud. "Effective immediately, you will be splitting into two groups. Sophie Labelle will be traveling with Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger will be traveling with Phillip Prior. Your assignments will be delivered to you in exactly one hour."

"Um, yeah, about that …" started Draco.

"Zis ees unbelievable. I am going to complain right now!"

Sophie jumped up from their table and darted for the back of the room, where the fireplace connected to the Floo network was located. Phillip ran after her. After pulling out some money and leaving it on the table, Hermione and Draco followed.

"Uh, Hermione. I should tell you something …"

"In a minute, Draco," she said entering the back room. Sophie was already sticking her head into the green flames and yelling at the person on the other side. Phillip stuck his head in next to her.

"I cannot work wiz Draco! Eet ees un'eard of! What 'appened to our oreeginal pairings?"

A pause. Phillip stuck his head out and said, "Certain circumstances have led him to believe these new pairings will be more affective." He stuck his head back in.

"What circumstances? I refuse to work wiz 'im!"

Another pause. Phillip came out again. "He has switched it. Sophie and Hermione. And me and Draco."

"Oh," said Sophie sounding positively delighted. She took her head out of the fire, turned to Hermione and asked, "Does zat sound alright, 'Ermione?"

"Sophie!" shouted Phillip, sticking his head back in the flames. "I am sorry, Mr. Ollivander but I, also, cannot work with Draco. He is rude and arrogant, and we do not work well together. At all."

"Thanks a lot guys. Way to make me sound like a prick." Sophie and Hermione exchanged a look. Draco didn't catch it.

After winking at Hermione, Sophie put her head back in the flames to hear Mr. Ollivander's answer. She came back out slowly. Glancing sideways at Draco, she said, "'E says eef no one can work wiz Draco zen 'e weell 'ave to be replaced."

Hermione rolled her eyes before going over and sticking her bushy head into the flames. "Mr. Ollivander, I have no problem working with Draco. There's really no need to replace him."

"While that may be fine for you, Ms. Granger, I'm afraid Mr. Malfoy has requested not to be paired with you. Therefore, I can only assume –"

No one heard what he said. Hermione, Sophie, and Phillip had already taken their heads out of the flames and turned to look at Draco, who was nervously brushing a hand through his hair.

"You requested not to be paired with me?" asked Hermione, climbing to her feet. "Why? When?"

"I was trying to tell you," he said. "It was the morning after we fought. I used my broom to fly to the closest Floo network and requested not to be paired with you."

"Why didn't you just use Sophie's Floo?"

Draco shrugged. "I suppose I was trying to be sneaky about it."

"Well, it certainly was sneaky. And why did you wait until now to tell me?" She held her hand up. "Wait. You didn't tell me. I had to hear it from bloody Mr. Ollivander!"

"I was angry. And I did try to tell you."

"Trying to tell me one minute ago doesn't count!"

"Doesn't count? Of course it counts! You're the one who went and stuck your bloody head in there before I could say anything!"

"You should have said something to me the day you did it!"

"But I was giving you the silent treatment! Telling you would have devoid the purpose!"

"Silent treatment? Now that's rich! I don't remember anything silent about those few days! All I remember is harsh words and criticism!"

"Well, the silent treatment was my plan! But then you kept bloody pissing me off!"

"You can't get mad at me, Malfoy! I'm not the one who did something stupid!"

"Oh, so it's Malfoy again? Well, that's bloody fine, Granger!"

Sophie and Phillip stuck their heads back in the green flames to drown out the noise. "Sorry Mr. Olleevander. Lover's quarrel." She smirked.

"Yes, that's what I was afraid of," he said.

"Zere's really nozing to fear. Zey fight a lot, but zey are a good team." She nudged Phillip.

"Uhh … Yeah. A great team, Mr. Ollivander. As are Sophie and I. Your original plan really was the best."

"Alright, fine, Mr. Prior, Ms. Labelle. If you can get Mr. Malfoy in here to tell me he's fine with working with Ms. Granger, I will approve it."

Sophie and Phillip both took their heads out of the fire and turned around. "Eww," they said in unison as they caught sight of Hermione and Draco snogging against the wall.

"Oh, sorry guys," said Draco, turning to them and winking. Hermione blushed and shyly covered her mouth.

"Draco, Mr. Olleevander wants you to approve your working wiz 'Ermione."

Draco gave Hermione one more kiss before walking over to the fire and sticking his head in. "That's perfectly alright with me, Mr. Ollivander. Sorry for the confusion … Uhuh … Yes sir. I won't do it again … Yeah … Oh, nooo … Haha, you're a riot, sir … Yes, yes. We'll be ready in an hour … Thank you, Mr. Ollivander. Goodbye." Draco took his head out of the flames, turned around, and smiled at the rest of them. "All settled. Shall we get packing then?"

They all headed back to their tents. Mr. Ollivander's owl was still swooping over their heads, so they each took the time to read their letters, even Draco. He still didn't write one, though.

Just before they had to leave, Hermione sat on the couch re-reading her letter from Ron for the fifth time. She'd written a response, but it really didn't do his words justice.

Dear Hermione,

I am an absolute git. Don't even try and make excuses for me. As smart as you are, nothing you come up with can justify the way I've acted. I've been so convinced the only reason you went away this summer was to put some distance between us before dumping me, but everyone says that's rubbish.

I get it. You wanted to find yourself. And, without you here, I've realized how much I needed to do that exact same thing. I've quit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I gave George my letter of resignation last week. In three days I start my training to become an Auror. As always, you've helped me do exactly what I needed.

You always know what's best for me. That's why I needed to write to you now and tell you how much I need you. I don't want to lose you because, really, I am nothing without you. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. I love you, Hermione. I know I don't say it enough. Every day I regret not saying it to you the day you left, but I really thought that was goodbye. And I wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

When you get back the two of us are going to make it work. Take as long as you need to think about marriage. I'll wait for you. Because that's what you do for someone you love. You wait for them to be ready to take the next step, and then you take it together. We're a team. Always have been.

Now, stop wasting time reading my jargon, get off your arse, and go do whatever it is Mr. Ollivander has you doing. I'm sure it's not nearly as cool as the image I have of you wrestling dragons for their heartstrings in my head. You're probably just shaping wands or something. Either way, I'm sure you're great at it.

Anyways, I'm going to stop babbling now. I really do miss you.

Love always (And to the Underworld and back),

Ron

P.S. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't have help with this letter. Ginny and Fleur insisted on proofreading. Even now they're chasing me around the room while I try to write this. Hopefully, I can attach it to that bloody owl before they -

Hermione sighed. His letter was, without a doubt, perfect. Right down to the bloody P.S. For the first time since she'd known him, Ron finally said all of the right things – even if he did have some help. She couldn't feel like a worse person right now, especially when Draco came up behind her and started kissing her neck.

"Weasel have anything interesting to say, for once?" he asked.

"No," she said, stuffing the letter deep into her backpack.

As a new regular habit, Draco slid over the back of the couch, put his head in Hermione's lap and pulled her down for a kiss. Only, this time, it felt a little forced. Releasing her lips, Draco looked into Hermione's eyes and asked, "What now?" He was lucky her eyes were so expressive because that was how he knew he'd said the wrong thing. "Sorry. That didn't come out right. What I meant to ask was what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she answered, looking back towards her backpack.

"Well, that's a lie if I've ever heard one. Did Weasel say something?"

Yes, he did. Many things. And all good. "No, of course not. It's not always about Ron, you know," she said, pushing him off of her and jumping to her feet.

"Then enlighten me," he said, jumping up after her. "What is it about?"

That's when Hermione realized the letter from Ron really wasn't the only thing bothering her. There was something else. "It's about you," she said half-honestly. "We'd been in a fight for less than six hours when you decided to punish me. How do I know the next time we fight you won't do something worse?"

"Who says we're going to fight again?"

"Look at our track record, Draco! It's bound to happen sooner or later. In fact, it's starting to happen right now!"

"I'm not the one who's fighting. That's all you."

Holding her mouth tightly shut, Hermione took several deep breaths through her nose. When she was calm she looked at him and said, "You're right. I'm sorry. Just … promise me you didn't do anything else stupid while you were mad at me. Sophie kind of put me on edge."

"Am I really that much of an embarrassment?" he asked, only mildly offended. He didn't want anyone he knew to learn about the two of them either. But, at the same time, he was a catch. Why should she care what Weasel knew?

"It's not that." It completely was. "But if Ron does happen to find out about us, I think it should come from me. So promise." Hermione crossed her arms and waited for his answer.

Draco grabbed her by the waist, pulled her close, and gave her a cute smirk before leaning down and kissing her. He pulled away slowly, looked deep into her eyes, and said, "I promise, Hermione. I didn't do anything else, nor will I if - when," he corrected, "I get mad at you again."

Satisfied with his answer, Hermione threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss back. "Good." She smiled. "Now, shall we go?" she asked, picking up her backpack.

"You go ahead. I need to call Ruskle here for a moment. An update, you know."

Hermione nodded, not even questioning it before leaving the tent and casting an imperturbable charm on the entrance. She was definitely trying to make amends; Draco had to give her that.

As soon as she was gone Draco called for his house-elf. The moment he heard the 'Pop!' he asked, "Did you get it?"

"Ruskle is sorry, Young Master. He was unable to get your letter back."

"Ugh. Are you kidding?" The elf shamefully shook his head. "But I gave you this task two days ago."

"Ruskle is a disgrace to his Master. He must be punished immediately."

Before the elf could beat himself silly, Draco held his hand out and said, "No, Ruskle. That won't be necessary. But, at least tell me he hasn't read it."

"The red one has not read it, Sir."

"How is that even possible?" he asked, slightly disappointed.

"Ruskle put it in his bag, Sir. So that he might stumble upon it. Young Master did ask Ruskle to be discrete. But the red one has not looked far enough into his bag to find it yet."

"And you haven't been able to get close enough to take it back?"

"No Sir. Whenever Ruskle gets close enough, he cannot find it in the time he is given."

"Well, keep trying. Whatever happens, you cannot let him read that letter. It is a matter of life and death." Literally. If Hermione found out about what he'd done or – worse - how he'd lied to her about it, she would not hesitate to kill him.

"Ruskle will make sure the red ones eyes never come upon it, Sir," said the house-elf devotedly.

"Good," said Draco, glancing at the tents entrance. Hermione's silhouette shined through the fabric. He smiled. "And stop reporting to my mum about me and Hermione. Her letters are starting to get frightening."

"B-but Ruskle cannot lie to his mistress, Young Master."

"Don't think of it as lying. Think of it as … morphing the truth a bit. Say we work together amicably," which was true … most of the time, "but our relationship does not extend beyond that."

"B-b-but –"

"Ruskle! You will do this one favor for me or, by Merlin, I will not call you here again! Do you hear me?"

"Y-yes Young Master. I will do as you please."

"Good," he said, relaxing a bit. "You are dismissed."

Pop!

As soon as he was gone, Draco picked up his backpack, took a deep breath, and walked outside, appearing completely cool to the untrained eye. Even though he was cursing on the inside. Why had he done something so stupid? Clearly, he was too impulsive. But, then again, if he wasn't impulsive he never would have kissed Hermione in the first place, and that made it all worth it.

Outside, she was waiting for him with a smile. Her soft hair fell loosely at her shoulders in perfect ringlets. He went over to her, pulled one, and let it bounce back into place. "Oh, you like it?" she asked. He nodded, doing the same thing over again. "Sophie gave me this potion to use. I've been a bit lazy about it, but it really is easier than having to put my hair back all the time."

"Smells nice," he said, moving her hair to the side and sniffing around the nape of her neck. Sometimes he loved to just breathe her in.

Hermione giggled. "Draco, stop that. It tickles."

"Does it turn you on?" he asked, nuzzling up against her.

"N-no," she said, a shiver running from her neck to her spine, and all the way down to her toes.

"'Ave you two steell not packed up your tent?" asked Sophie, walking over from Merlin knows where. Phillip was just behind her. "Stop 'orsing around. Mr. Olleevander weell be contacting us any meenute."

Draco grunted as Hermione pushed him away. She took out her wand and went to work on dismembering their tent.

Narrowing his eyes at Sophie and Phillip, Draco walked over to them and asked, "Where have you two been?"

"Nowhere," they answered in unison.

Draco leaned forward and plucked a twig out of Sophie's hair. "Nowhere huh? I highly doubt that." He winked at them before walking back to help Hermione. They both glared after him.

When the tent was all packed up and everyone was ready for departure, they all sat around in a circle, waiting for Mr. Ollivander's instructions to arrive.

"Do you zink we are going to be separated for ze rest of ze summer?" asked Sophie, a little downhearted.

"I'm sure he won't have all four of us together again, but maybe we can request to mix it up a bit," said Hermione, smiling at the moping witch.

Sophie immediately perked up. "Yes! Great idea! We must request to work togezer for at least a week! Sophie and 'Ermione togezer again!" She jumped forward with her arms held wide and gave Hermione a big hug.

"I don't think that's true," said Draco. Sophie immediately shot him a look. "Not about mixing it up, Sophie. I mean about the four of us working together. If he really does want the heartstrings of dragons he's going to have to put us all back together. It's too big of a job for just two people. If he wants it done right, meaning no death, we'll need all four of us."

"If not more," laughed Phillip.

"We are not calling Annaleigh and 'er group! I would razer die by ze talons of a dragon zen ask 'er for 'elp!"

"But if we did call them, chances are Daniel would come too. They say third times a charm," said Hermione with a wink.

Sophie and Phillip exchanged a look. Draco grinned widely. "Zat ees not necessary. Eet ees obviously not meant to be."

"Aw, why not?"

Right when Draco opened his mouth to, once again, try and out their comrades, Mr. Ollivander's owl swooped in and dropped two letters. One between Sophie and Phillip, and the other between Hermione and Draco. Sophie and Draco each grabbed their respective letters and read their instructions.

"'E 'as setup a portkey for us about a mile away from 'ere. Eet ees going to take us to Alaska. Ees eet cold zere zis time of year?" she asked, throwing down the letter. "Because I 'ave not packed for ze cold!

"I'm sure it's fine,' said Hermione, peeking over Draco's shoulder to see where they were going. "Looks like we're flying. He wants us to find some mythical tree in the wizarding part of the Grand Canyon."

"So zis ees really 'appening?" asked Sophie, her eyes already glossing over. "I cannot believe zis ees really eet. Oh, 'Ermione!" She jumped into the other witches arms, crying into her shoulder while Hermione patted her on the back.

"It's alright, Sophie. This isn't goodbye. We'll see each other again."

Draco and Phillip were more interested in watching the two girls hug than saying goodbye to each other. Though, they did each give a cordial nod.

When Sophie finally let Hermione go she was full on weeping. Even Hermione was a little teary. After each shared a civil hug with the witch or wizard it didn't work out with, they all took out their brooms, waved goodbye, and flew off in their opposite directions.

While Hermione was a little sad, Draco was relieved. Now the summer fun could really begin.