Draco

The arrival of the traveling merchants was unexpected, though not entirely unpleasant surprise. But maybe Draco was just in a good mood. Their cart was substantial, though the inside had clearly been altered with an undetectable extension charm, and goods lined the oak siding. One merchant hung over Draco's shoulder, hovering even as he assured the lord that each item he picked up was the highest quality that could be found. Everything was "the best." The other, a burly Bulgarian stood in the corner with his arms crossed, watching Draco with open distaste. Draco greatly preferred the latter of the two blokes.

He was inspecting a delicate necklace, idly wondering if Hermione might not like something shiny (Astoria always seemed to like the random baubles his mother had chosen), when the bird flew into the small space at a dead sprint. She was smiling brightly, so large that it had to hurt. He smiled back, though he was surprised at this outward and frankly dangerous expression of affection and then she blew by him, skidding to a stop in front of the burlier merchant.

"Viktor!" She squealed as he caught her up in his arms with ease. Draco watched aghast as the Romanian lifted the small omega.

"Hermyninnie!" He gasped with equal glee, final setting her down after way too long in Draco's opinion. "Why arrre you herre?" He demanded, an unnatural smile on his pointed, angry face.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" She laughed, pushing his shoulder lightly. Draco did not like how comfortable these two were with touching each other.

"Ivan vas going to London and I have trrryout zerrre so I kame along." The older man explained. Way older, frankly way too old for her. What was Hermione thinking, he couldn't even pronounce her name properly.

"Astoria's here getting engaged," Hermione explained in a rush, Viktor nodded as if this explained everything. Hermione smiled up at him, positively giddy. She still hadn't noticed Draco. He let the necklace in his hand clatter down onto the counter as he left, suddenly not in the mood to be around other people.

…

Hermione

When Hermione reluctantly left Krum's side to go finish the never ending list of chores she had to do. Unfortunately before she could get ten yards, Draco materialized from behind a bush. This was getting a little creepy. Fuck buddies weren't supposed to stalk you, right? Because that's what they had to be, for her sake.

Draco was looking decidedly pissed even though she had no idea why he would be.

"Did you notice me at all or we're you too caught up with you Bulgarian playmate in there?" Draco snapped. His tone cold and wow that was harsh. She hadn't seen Viktor in years, excuse her if she had missed him lurking in the corner, she was a little excited.

"Excuse me? Krum is just a friend." She snapped, irritated with him already.

"You expect me to believe that?" He hissed and then laugh harshly. She really didn't like that.

"Draco you don't have the right to be acting this way." She snapped. They hadn't agreed to be exclusive, they hadn't agreed to anything at all.

"Excuse me?" His eyes bugged out of his head, as if she was the ridiculous one.

"Did you forget our deal, did you forget about your fiancee?" She reminded him. They had just discussed it the day before, what the hell, did he have the memory of a goldfish?

"That wasn't a deal, that was you barking out orders." He argued.

"We're not together Draco. I can do whatever I please." She snapped angrily. His eyes flicked down and he paused, his body language changing instantly. That wasn't okay. Shy, timid Draco was not a Draco who she wanted to fight with. She wanted to fight with asshole, domineering Draco. That was a Draco she was ready for.

"What if I want that?" He murmured, almost too quietly for her to hear. He shuffled, scuffing his feet.

"What do you mean?" She demanded.

"I want to be together. I want that." She felt herself deflate but there was was no way he meant that. Whatever he said while drunk, there was no way… he couldn't even be willing to… she wasn't worth that.

"We can't." She reminded him.

"I think you're scared. You're scared of exploring what is between us and you're scared of how amazing all of this feels. " He looked up, catching her eyes with a piercing silver gaze.

"I won't be your whore Draco." She looked away, feeling like she was burning.

"How dare you! Do you really think so little of me? You're a coward Hermione Granger." He accused. That hurt more than it probably should've.

"So what if I am? That's how I've made it this far, right?" She defended herself. She was cautious or she died. That's been her whole life. She was already risking so much, her job, her life, did she really have to risk her heart too?

"You don't have to do that with me, I'm not asking for anything, just try being with me, whatever that means, I won't be able to live the rest of my life wondering. " He pledged. She didn't want pledges; she didn't want anything.

"Then forget about me." She suggested, crossing her arms over her chest She should walk away. She should be done. But she couldn't. She just couldn't.

"I can't and I won't." He argued. His tone firm. Why was he so goddamn stubborn? Why were they both so stubborn?

"Then I guess we're at a standstill." She snapped, it was his turn to budge.

"You don't have to think so hard, no one ever has to know, it's our business. Whatever we do won't change that." He was wrong; he was so very wrong.

"That's not how Astoria will see it." She reminded him. She remember Astoria standing at her mirror, desperate to matter. She couldn't do that to her. Or could she?

"When was the last time you went for what you wanted? When was the last time you stopped thinking of Astoria for five seconds and thought of yourself? Don't you think you deserve to be happy?" He pleaded, cradling her the sides of her face in his hands. She felt vulnerable and small and cherished. All of the things that she wasn't allowed to feel.

"Yes I deserve to be happy." She agreed without thinking, unable to ignore the way that he was looking at her.

"Then let me make you happy, come to my room tonight, seven thirty, just like we planned. No pressure, I just want to spend time with you. " He suggested, gently tracing her cheekbone with his thumb.

"I don't think that's a good idea." She said slowly.

"Stop being so goddamn rational all the time." He snapped, his tone softer than his words, almost fond. "This is not rational. We do not have to be rational. Just let yourself stop thinking and stop distancing yourself from this. You feel something for me, I know it." He stated with confidence. He didn't know shit. She was mysterious, a closed book, totally secretive.

"What if I don't want to have feelings for your Draco? What if I know better?" She challenged.

"It doesn't change what you're feeling. I can see it. I can smell it. You care about me." He insisted. He wasn't wrong but that didn't matter. She couldn't have it. Something flickered in his eyes as he saw something he didn't like on her face.

He kisses her suddenly, his lips meeting hers in a gentle push pull. She met him half way, leaning into his frame. He was warm and her nerves sung as he ran his fingers through her hair, soft and gentle and cherishing. Fuck that felt good. She wanted this, she wanted it so goddamn badly that it hurt deep in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to cry or never leave this spot or run away because it was too much. She couldn't process it. She couldn't compartmentalize. She was already in too deep..

"Tell me you only felt that on a physical level and I'll believe you're don't want more." He whispered against her lips, not even opening his eyes.

"Of course I fucking want more!" She shouted, pushing him away with zero concern for witnesses or getting caught. He made it impossible to think.

"Then let yourself have it." He suggested, as if it was just that simply. And maybe it was. Maybe it could be. Maybe it had to be.

"Fine." She answered, the word slower and more careful than it had a right to be.

"What?" Draco asked, freezing. He clearly couldn't believe that that strategy had worked. She couldn't quite believe it herself. She was an idiot, but at least she got to try being selfish out for once.

"Yes, fine, you're ridiculous cheesiness wore me down." She snapped, refusing to give him the satisfaction. He won but that didn't mean that he got to know that he won. He clearly disagreed with him.

He whooped, cheering and throwing his hands into the air.

"You're a child." She hissed.

He whooped again.

"And you're drawing way too much attention." She pointed out.

He whooped again.

"Shut the fuck up Draco."

...

Convincing Draco to wait until this evening had been like talking a child out of eating their slice of birthday cake. Luckily, she had the excuse of her extra shifts in the kitchen to focus him. The flu was still flying through the palace and help was still needed Today was just food prep, thankfully. It was probably a bad idea to try to be anywhere near Draco in a professional capacity. She'd just end up smiling too much, or blushing or god forbid giggling. Ginny was waiting a little ways down from the kitchen with a huge smirk on her face. Ginny made the same face every time she had a secret since she was seven years old.

She met the other girl, who merged smoothly, walking with her down the hallway. There was mild traffic, but now where as bad as it usually was. There were some good things about the flu after all. Ginny's telltale smirk faded and Hermione guessed that she'd have to wait to be let in on the secret, but how juicy could it be, really? Ginny sniffed, maybe she had the flu, she probably shouldn't be working. They had reached the kitchen and just as Hermione reached for the handle, Ginny yanked her back, tugging her into a side hallway.

"Mione." Ginny snapped, glaring at her. Hermione leaned back, feeling a little confronted.

"What?" Hermione demanded. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"You can't go in there." She ordered. Her expression a little bit patronizing, even though that wasn't fair. Hermione was older, more knowledgeable.

"Why not?" She demanded.

"You reek of alpha and while Astoria may not have been able to smell it, someone in there definitely will be, and that will not end well for you." Ginny hissed. Shit, she sniffed her blouse on reflex but she didn't smell anything. Was she already adjusted to Draco's scent. That probably wasn't good, even if the omega side of her was preening at the thought of smelling like her alpha.

"Really?" She asked, not sure that she believed it.

"Yes really, I came very close to panting from the scent on your clothes." Ginny snapped, looking a little disgusted at herself. Hermione wasn't thrilled with the imagery either.

"Fine, okay, I'll freshen up." She responded neutrally, holding up her hand sin surrender. She hurried to the nearest lavatory, ignoring Ginny's shouted demand.

"And don't think you're getting out of this without an explanation Mione. You owe me!" She called. A few lower servants turned to look at her but she merely raised an eyebrow and gave them her best scornful look. Draco's strategy worked well. They scampered away before they could see her gold band. Maybe she should try cool dislike more often, especially since she knew that it was totally possible to be a marshmallow underneath at the same time.

Draco

Draco had developed a new hobby. When he was bored, which he figured must be symptom of being in a relationship He had to find some way to occupy his time that wasn't trying to get into multiple witches knickers. Now it was just one! Who also happened to spend most of her time working. Which he didn't approve of. She should be with him, as often as possible. Hermione disagreed, saying something about responsibility and reputation. Eh.

As a result, he had too much free time on his hands and found himself wandering far too often. After too many near misses with Astoria, he started using the hidden corridors throughout the castle. Their official purpose was escape routes in the event of an invasion. Their less official purpose has been spying hide outs. He was certainly helping them live up to both. He was avoiding the invasion of the Greengrasses and spying all the while.

People watching nobility was boring. He already knew most of their secrets, and the ones he discovered were just gross. He really didn't need to know that Lady Greengrass bit her finger nails in private. Surprisingly, Draco found himself watching the servants. They were people who had no connection to him, whose lives didn't affect him, and that's what made it all the more interesting to watch.

One of the Weasley boys had been slipping off to escape with his fiancée approximately every thirty minutes, though he couldn't really blame him. She lived in a nearby village and was the daughter of a highly sought after jeweler, and she was the most in your face beautiful person that he had ever seen. Blaise's red head was still hiding the O on her wrist, but eventually her mother was going to figure it out and who knew how that would turn out. Omegas didn't tend to take well to leadership positions well and it was no secret that the Weasley women were supposed to run the Greengrasses' kitchen. His own cook was an asshole who kicked the house elves and drank too much. The moment he could he was firing him, unfortunately, he was his mother's cousin, so that man wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

A blonde maid was positively in love with the youngest Weasley, but the man was too much of a dunce to notice. He was going to start screaming if something didn't happen soon.

Hermione's dark haired friend, whose name he should probably learn, spent a suspicious amount of time outside of the stables. He should probably look into that. He doubted Hermione would be friends with a spy though. At the moment the stable boy was walking steadily towards that infuriating Bulgarian. The merchant was chatting up Astoria's assistant, a delicate pretty beta that, according to Blaise, spit fire well enough to keep up with Hermione. He wasn't convinced that it was possible. The stable boy arrived and immediately turned red, his whole body stiffening. Somebody didn't like what he was seeing. The stable body waited impatiently, literally a meter from the other two, just glaring. This was more entertaining than he imagined. After a while, the stable boy huffed audibly and slipped away, just in time for the bird to notice and watch him leave with a strange blend of confusion and shock on her face. Maybe he should watch these two more often?

That didn't exactly matter now though, because it was near supper, and then he had a date with his omega, which felt fucking great to say. He grinned, emerging farther down the corridor when the coast was clear and hurrying to his dining room. Things were good. Things were very good.

Hermione

"Hermione, you're almost done with the herbology texts I assigned I trust? I need your analysis tomorrow." Minerva asked as she walked by whilst Hermione headed back to the kitchen.

"Of course I'm only adding some finishing touches tonight." She called back. Minerva nodded and rounded the corner as the blood drained from Hermione's face. She had not started, with everything going on with Astoria and Draco it just felt like things were slipping through the cracks. It was frustrating. Everything was frustrating. God she had to relax.

A/N: Hey guys, I know this ones a little short, but I hope you'll forgive me for it. There's a lot of cameo stuff going on in the background and Hermione and Draco are finally on the same page, somewhat.

Do you think Hermione and Draco will stay on the same page?

Will Hermione get a chance to relax?

What's going on with Harry and Katie?

How much will Krum fuck things up?