20 Chapters in 31 days? You could consider me impressed with myself. I hope you enjoy it!

Draco stood off to the side at the graveside service for Theodore Nott, his hands buried in the pockets of his khaki trench coat. He watched Blaise as he stood like a pillar, arms around Pansy as she sobbed uncontrollably while the other wizards in attendance slowly levitated the coffin down into the grave. Draco recognized many in attendance from his childhood, most of them death eaters trying to live quiet lives but with their same, toxic ideals. The group of fifty or so wizards and witches congregated around the six foot hole in the ground only conversed with each other, held affairs with each other, and rarely ventured out into public since the war ended. Once the service was over, those gathered disapparated away. Some of them acknowledged Draco with a curt nod, which he returned. Others sneered and whispered.

Pansy and Blaise were the last to leave, spotting Draco as he stood away from it all. Blaise removed his designer sunglasses and grinned at his friend. He couldn't help but smile back as he watched him walk over, Pansy's arm linked with his. "Malfoy," Blaise greeted, extending his hand.

Draco grasped his hand with his and gave it a firm shake. "Zabini."

"You look good, mate!" Blaise exclaimed. "Granger's clearly done a number on you. Though I'm not surprised - she was pretty good lookin' by fifth year."

"Is he drunk?" Draco asked Pansy, who just rolled her eyes. "No - seriously."

"No," Pansy groused, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. "This is Blaise…all day long."

"All night too, depending on who you ask," he said with a wink.

He didn't know what else to do but shake his head. Blaise was always the one with the carefree attitude, even when the world around them appeared to be on the verge of collapse. As a teenager, he found his attitude irresponsible and ridiculous. Now, it was almost humorous, and dare he say enjoyable. He reached out a hand to Pansy, placing it gently on her shoulder. "I'm truly sorry about Theodore," Draco said.

Pansy blew her nose in the handkerchief. "Thank you," she said through a sniffle.

"How long are you both staying?"

"I don't know," Blaise said. "Pans is staying with her mum for a bit. I on the other hand wouldn't mind a change of scenery. Mum bitches all the time that she never see me. May as well get her off my back for a bit."

Draco nodded. "My mother would certainly enjoy seeing you."

"I'm certain that could be arranged." Blaise looked at Pansy, unlocking his arm to give her another hug. "You want me to take you back to your mum's?"

She nodded, saying nothing.

"I'd love to come by," Blaise said. "Visit a bit. That is if Granger wouldn't mind."

"I don't think she'd care," Draco said. He wasn't sure what she'd think, to be honest, but despite the day's events, Blaise was still himself. He was sure once Hermione got to know Blaise a bit she'd enjoy him - or at the very least, be amused. He gave Blaise his address and told him to floo over later. Draco extended the invitation to Pansy, but as he predicted, she declined. "I'll see you a bit later."

Blaise nodded. "Thanks for coming. I know…with everything…"

"Don't mention it," Draco replied. "Call me if you need anything, Pansy."

Pansy stared at him, barely registering a nod letting him know she heard him. The three said their goodbyes before disapparating to their respective destinations. Apparating into his living room, he found Hermione sifting through books of invitation templates while his mother pointed out which ones she favored on each page. Their wedding was now going to be on October 21st, and while it pleased his mother immensely that they were going to shorten their engagement, it also sent her into a bit of a planning tizzy.

"Draco dear!" his mother exclaimed. "You're back already."

Draco discarded his coat. "It was a short service. Blaise may come by later…if that's alright?"

Hermione looked at him. "Why are you asking if it's ok if you've already told him he can come by?"

She had a point. Shrugging his shoulders, he draped the coat over the back of a chair and picked Z off of the sofa, scratching her between her ears as she purred. "I just…"

"It's fine," Hermione said, stifling a laugh.

"He's pretty harmless," Draco replied. "Though he mentioned something about you looking hot after fifth year, so you know, don't stand too close to him." Narcissa and Hermione broke out into giggles, and Draco wasn't amused. "I'm being completely serious."

Narcissa stood up, gracefully walking over to her son in her burgundy dress robes, placing her hands on his face as she kissed his cheek. "That's what's so funny, dear."

Draco scowled, placing Z down on the ground. "It really isn't funny."

Hermione rolled her eyes, shutting the book of invitation samples. "It really is." She looked to her future mother-in-law and smiled weakly. "Just pick an invitation," she said with a laugh. "I trust you."

Narcissa frowned. "Have you at least decided on colors?"

"I think anything fall will look lovely," Hermione said. "Burnt oranges, deep greens, dark reds…I think they'd be really pretty, don't you?"

"I think they sound darling," Narcissa replied. "Finally - something to go with."

Hermione laughed, standing to her feet. She handed Narcissa her invitation book and smiled. "I just want to get married. As long as Draco's at the other end of the aisle with a minister - I'm good."

Narcissa smiled. "Sounds reasonable enough. Draco?"

He pulled the knot of his black tie loose. "I'm sure I could be persuaded to stand at the end of the aisle."

Hermione's eyes went wide as she walked closer to Draco. "Persuaded?" Grabbing his tie, she pulled on it slightly as he smirked at her. "Need I remind you that it was you who asked me to marry you."

"I'm all for reminders," he teased, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You're incorrigible," she sighed, playfully shoving him away as he dipped his lips to her neck. "For the love of Merlin, Draco! Your mother is still in the room!"

Narcissa hardly contained her snort, collecting her wedding planning materials. "Yes, please Draco, listen to your fiancée."

Laughing, Draco looked up at his mother and grinned. "Sorry, Mother."

She waved a dismissive hand at her son, a glint in her eyes. "You're not sorry one bit."

Hermione squirmed around in his grasp, her back to Draco as his arms stayed wrapped around her. "He's awful, isn't he?"

"He is. You could do better, Hermione. I know plenty of eligible wizards who'd love to steal you away."

Draco's jaw dropped as Hermione bent over, dissolving into giggles as Draco's arms were the only thing keeping her upright. He looked at his mother, instantly realizing where his smirk came from. "Mother - did you just make a joke?"

Narcissa stared at her son, tilting her head to the side. "Maybe. Hermione, dear," she said, redirecting her conversation as Draco stared, slightly dumbfounded. "Find out what day works best for Ginny next week and we'll go dress shopping."

Hermione reigned in her giggles and nodded. "Sounds great. I'll owl you with her answer."

Narcissa approached to the love struck pair and kissed them both on the cheek. "Give Blaise my love," she instructed Draco before disapparating out of the room.

Letting go of Hermione, he unfastened his cufflinks and placed them in his pants pocket, rolling his sleeves hastily up past his elbow. "I'm not sure if I like the effect you're having on my mother," he said, feigning a hurt tone of voice.

Hermione turned around, grabbing his tie again as she pulled his lips to hers, standing on her toes so she could meet him half way. "You wanted us to be friends," she whispered before kissing him.

"Not if you're going to make fun of me," Draco replied.

"That's just an added benefit," Hermione teased, kissing him again before pulling away. She began to straighten up the living room, much to Draco's amusement. "What?" she asked, folding up a blanket she was using earlier before draping it over the back of the couch. "Why are you staring as if I've lost my mind?"

"What are you doing?"

"You said we're going to have company - we've let the house go completely since Jori's been helping Harry and Ginny - so obviously, I'm cleaning up."

He pulled his wand from his pocket and held it in front of her. "This is a wand," he informed her. "I'm pretty sure you own one. I'm also quite positive - though correct me if I'm wrong - you were at one point in time, labeled the brightest witch of our age, yes?"

She sarcastically placed her hands on her hips, pursing her lips together. "You're trying to never get laid again, aren't you?"

"You can't say no to this," Draco said confidently, motioning to himself with his wand. "Now - back to the wand, something you indeed own because yes - you are in fact, a witch. Which means you can do this." With a flourish of his wand, he wordlessly cast a spell that put the entire house back in perfect order. He placed his wand back in his pocket and smirked. "I don't know what it is about you and Harry…maybe it's that you were muggles before you realized you had magic…I don't really know. I enjoy doing things the muggle way, but both of you have the initial instinct to think like a muggle. I find it amusing."

Hermione huffed, though it was hard to be irritated as he had a point. "You realize that I'm considered the brightest witch of our age because I don't think like a witch first, right? It's my logical thinking ability that makes me inferior to the rest of you."

"Wow. The eleven year old version of you just…" Draco put his hands to his mouth, spraying his fingers in her direction. "Just…wow."

"The eleven year old version of me completely hates your guts right now," Hermione snarked.

"Well at least that part of you is consistent," Draco said, closing the gap between them, resting his hands on her hips.

Hermione bit her lip as she stared at Draco. It was hard to find him infuriating when he looked handsomely disheveled in his dress clothes. She arched her back a little bit, looking up at him as he stared at her. "How was the funeral?" she asked, tugging his tie gently.

He shrugged. "It was a funeral. I stood off to the side…didn't get too close."

Hermione stretched her arms up so that her hands were braced against the back of his neck. "You alright?"

Draco shrugged, his face indifferent. He felt fine for the most part. Theodore Nott was a friend at one point in time, but he wasn't a part of the life he had now, and had he lived, Draco doubted that the two would have ever found a way to exist as friends after their altercation in Diagon Alley. "I'm fine," he said, squeezing her hips before sliding his hands up her back. "I'm kind of glad that Blaise seemed so…normal. I honestly wouldn't have invited him here if I thought it'd be a bad idea."

Hermione smiled. "I trust your judgment," she said. "Besides - he thinks I'm hot."

Draco groaned as Hermione giggled again, wrapping her arms up around his neck before jumping into him. He instinctively held her against him, burying his face in her shoulder as she laughed. "You might be the death of me, Granger."

"Please. You've survived worse," Hermione said as she smacked his cheek with her lips. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and get ready for our visitor."

Draco kept a hold of her. "Get ready?"

"You know…shower…put on my face," Hermione clarified. "Your mother ambushed me this morning with wedding plans. I barely had time to put on what I'm wearing. I've never been in the presence of your mother without my makeup on now that I think about it." Panic crossed her face as she slapped a hand on his chest. "Merlin - she probably thought I looked atrocious!"

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "You look beautiful."

"Please," she protested.

"She could care less," he promised, kissing her one more time before putting her down.

"Are you going to change?" Hermione asked.

"Nah," Draco said. "I'm comfortable."

Hermione kissed her fingers, pressing them to his lips before walking away. Draco was the only person she knew who was as comfortable in a pair of dress slack as he was in a pair of pajamas. Of course, imagining his upbringing, she hardly figured he was the type of kid that ran around in play clothes. Hermione's spent her summers growing up in nothing but sundresses her mother made for her with all sorts of different floral prints and chunky buttons to fasten the straps. From what she knew of his childhood from him and his mother, she didn't even know when Draco had the time to play, or if he did at all.

Draco wiped down the counter tops in the kitchen with one hand, holding a beer in the other. When Hermione was anxious, nervous, or needed to clear her head, she reorganized her books. When Draco felt the same way, he cleaned the kitchen. He wasn't sure why, but he remembered it starting back when he was at University. The girl he was dating had a house that was always well kept except the kitchen, which seemed to live in a consistent state of despair. The amount of time he spent cleaning her kitchen at times as a surprise for her when she'd return home was often times enough in order to clear his head.

The morning in general was awkward, though he didn't feel nearly as uncomfortable as he thought he would when the mourners stared at him before disapparating. He felt sorry for them, living their lives in near solitude. Of course, that was almost him at one point, before he decided to pull his life together. Draco thought about what his life would have been like had he not made amends, thus becoming friends with Harry and Ginny, or how empty he would feel without all of his adventures with James, and soon, Albus. The past eight months with Hermione in his life…the notion that he would have missed out on the one thing he never thought possible for him physically pained his heart.

Finishing his beer, he set the empty bottle on the windowsill as he drizzled soap against the stainless steel sink. He scoured the basin with the sponge, thinking about how excited his mother was when she flooed over to his house almost as soon as Hermione popped over the other day to tell her she wanted to move the wedding date.

"Marvelous!" Narcissa exclaimed with delight, before surveying the damage on the counter. "Draco, dear, what in Merlin's name is happening here?"

"Sugar shock!" James exclaimed, holding a spoonful of his ice cream creation towards Narcissa. "Miss Narcissa, you want a bite?"

She eyed her son, Hermione standing in line with his mother giving him the same look. "Ok – that's just frightening," Draco said.

Hermione laughed, linking an arm with her future mother-in-law. "We think October 21st is a brilliant day for a wedding, don't we?"

Narcissa nodded, beaming as she held her hand over Hermione's arm. "What do you think, dear?"

"I'd marry her right now if she wanted," he replied.

"Does this mean you're gonna kiss more?" James asked, slightly disgusted at the thought. "Cause kissing is super gross."

Hermione scrunched her face playfully at James, letting go of Narcissa as she casually walked around the kitchen island. "Oh really?" she asked.

James nodded. "Super gross," he reiterated. Hermione quickly snatched James off of his stool, showering his face with kisses as he squealed and squirmed. "Aunt Hermione!" he exclaimed. "It's so gross!"

Laughing, Hermione placed one final big kiss on his cheek before setting him back down. "I can't believe you think kisses from me are gross. My feelings are truly hurt."

"Well…" James trailed off. "You kissing me is different. It's like Mummy and Daddy kissing me. But grown-ups kissing? Gross." He shivered a bit for added emphasis. "Mummy and Daddy kiss all the time. I think Daddy just does it so Mummy stops yelling at him when he doesn't use his listening ears, but I told Mummy the other day that I looked in the store and they don't sell listening ears, so I don't know where she thinks Daddy's gonna find them at. Maybe Uncle George can make some…"

Hermione and Draco looked at each other, completely amused before looking at Narcissa. "This child is quite comical," Narcissa remarked.

"Hilariously comical," Draco agreed. He reached a hand out to Hermione and she grabbed it, letting him gently pull her towards him. "An October wedding," he said softly, a genuine grin across his face.

She nodded, flashing a smile back at him. "I love fall – it's my favorite season."

"I never had a favorite season – but it appears that I'm about to," Draco remarked, tucking a wayward strand of her shaggy brown hair behind her ear.

Draco was so lost in thought he didn't hear the pop of the floo, or the footsteps approaching the kitchen. "She's got you all domestic too – fuck Malfoy, you must have it bad."

He practically leapt out of his skin, smacking a hand to his chest as he spun around, snarling at Blaise. "Fuckin' hell!" he yelped. "You're a real bastard, Zabini."

Blaise laughed, slapping his thigh with his hand as Draco stared at him, completely irritated until he too couldn't do much else but laugh. "Sorry, mate," Blaise said, regaining his composure. "It was too easy. Plus – you were physically cleaning something. I thought for a minute I flooed into the wrong establishment."

He grabbed a damp dish towel from the counter and wadded it up before chucking it at his friend. "Ass."

"Maybe. Speaking of ass – where's Granger? Word on the street is that she's quite the looker now." Blaise wiggled his eyebrows with a playful smirk on his face.

"I will hit you," Draco said, smirking. "I will hit you and not regret it. And since when do you take an active interest in anything that isn't pureblood?"

Blaise shrugged, taking a seat at the kitchen island. Draco retrieved two bottles of beer out of the fridge and slid one across the counter to his friend. "All the hate really wasn't worth it," he stated, matter of factly. "I don't think it hit me until I saw the school in ruins after it was over. The one place I felt safe at was completely demolished by bigotry." He took a swig of his beer. "Besides – when I got to Italy and saw all of those hot muggle Italian women…well…let's just say they are fantastic in the sack."

Laughing, Draco popped the top off of his beer bottle and shook his head. "You realize you're a whore."

"Mum always said 'stick with your strengths.' She collects husbands; I collect women who want nothing more than sex. It works for me," Blaise replied. "I tried getting Nott and Pans to loosen up a bit in Italy – but you know Nott. Pans of course, completely warped with the idea of marrying you, leached herself onto Nott to somehow compensate for the loss, even though all they ever did was bicker."

Draco sighed, scratching the back of his head. "I was never going to marry Pansy. Regardless of what happened…marrying her was never an option."

"You probably should've have dated her those final years in school then," Blaise teasingly stated.

"Dating is different. It wasn't some kind of declaration of my intentions. Who decides to marry someone at fourteen? Honestly?"

"I didn't say it made sense," Blaise replied. "But Pansy was and might still be a bit head over heels for you. She won't shut the fuck up about you marrying Granger. I of course, can't really believe it either, but whatever makes you happy, mate. You of all people deserve it."

He exhaled through his laugh, holding his arms against his chest. "I don't know about that – "

"Seriously, mate," Blaise interjected. "You could have easily been one of those blokes skulking back into the shadows after the funeral today. But you aren't. I mean…you live in a muggle residence for Merlin's sake. It's pretty nice from what I can tell, too. Not that I'm shocked. You go out and about and do your business with I assume, minimal heckling, and you're bloody engaged to Hermione Granger. Of course, I could've predicted the Granger part."

"Bull shit," Draco spat.

Blaise barked out a laugh. "I think had you not been fearful of your crazy old man, you two could have turned some of your spats into some pretty hot shagging," he mused. "She used to press your buttons and you could never figure out why – and I'm telling you – it was just unresolved sexual tension."

"You're mad," Draco argued. "I think Italy has warped your mind."

"Draco! Can you come up here please!" Hermione's voice called out from upstairs.

He put his beer down and rolled his eyes at the smirk on Blaise's face. "Sure, dear, hold on a sec!" he called up to her.

"Sure, Dear," Blaise teased. "If you want, I'd be more than happy to assist."

"You're just doing this now to irritate me, aren't you?" Draco asked, facing him as he stood on the landing.

"Absolutely."

He muttered under his breath, Blaise's laugh fading away as he jogged up the stairs and towards their bedroom. He found Hermione standing in a pair of skinny jeans and nude colored bra in the closet, searching for what he hoped for was a top of some sorts. "Blaise is here," he said.

"I thought I heard someone down there with you," Hermione said, ruffling through a drawer until she found what she was looking for – a long sleeved, plain black shirt. "How is he?"

"Pushing my buttons as usual," Draco said. "He's lucky I know he's joking."

She flung her arms through the sleeves and pulled the shirt over her head as she turned around, smiling at Draco. "Am I presentable enough to meet him?"

"You've met him," Draco reminded her.

"It's different," Hermione protested.

"You're completely clothed now, so yes," Draco teased, stealing a kiss from her lips. "You're hair's getting longer," he commented as he brushed a few strands back in place.

"It's getting trimmed tomorrow," Hermione said. "Growing it out is such a pain. Plus, I much like me without the bushy haired look. I think short hair…I feel like it looks a bit more sophisticated, you know?"

Long hair, short hair, no hair – none of it mattered to Draco. He loved her regardless, though he knew that wasn't the answer she was looking for. "Very sophisticated," he agreed instead, grabbing her hands and giving them a squeeze. "I also like those headband things you wear."

She laughed. "That's not what you said the other day."

"I said I didn't like that you left them all over the damn place," he corrected. "When they're actually in your hair, they're rather fetching." He pulled at her hands and walked backwards out of the closet. "Come on downstairs – we may as well get this over with."

"You act as if I'm about to meet my maker."

"Blaise may meet his if he doesn't watch his tongue."

She linked an arm with his as they walked in tandem down the hall. "Oh Draco...it's all in good fun."

The two of them descended down the stairs, and Hermione felt a few butterflies gather in her stomach. Blaise looked up at them as they reached the bottom of the stairs, and he stood up to his feet like a gentleman. She felt Draco let go of her hand and wrap his arm around her waist. "Blaise," he said. "I believe you remember Hermione."

Blaise nodded holding out his hand to shake hers, which she accepted politely. "Hi," she said, smiling warmly.

"The paparazzi pictures in Wizard Weekly don't do you justice, Granger," Blaise complimented.

She felt her cheeks blush. "Thank you."

Blaise wiggled his eyebrows at Draco, who was shaking his head at his friend. "I can't believe you got someone this gorgeous to agree to marry you."

Draco barked out a laugh. "That much I'll agree with."

Hermione placed a hand on Draco's chest, giving him a reassuring pat as she looked at Blaise. "I'm truly sorry about your friend," she said, giving Blaise her condolences.

Blaise waved her off. "It is what it is…but thanks, Granger. I appreciate it."

The three of them took their conversation into the living room, where Hermione sat and laughed until her side hurt at the stories Blaise recounted from his youth with Draco. Apparently, though it was frowned upon, the two of them managed to find a way to be kids and have fun when their parents weren't looking. Hermione marveled at how similar her experience at Hogwarts was with theirs as they talked about congregating in the Slytherin common room with friends, gossiping about what they thought was going on not only in Hogwarts, but with the wizarding world during Voldermort's rise. The only difference being while Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked about what to do to stop it, Draco, Blaise, and others with death eater parents talked about what could possibly happen if Voldermort actually succeeded with his plan.

"It was kind of a 'beatings will continue until morale improves' type of an environment," Blaise half joked. "At some point, it just becomes easier to follow than fighting it."

"I can't imagine," Hermione said, clutching Draco's hand with both of hers. "Did you have to take the mark too?"

Blaise shoved his sleeve up, showing the same stain Draco wore on his arm. "Lucky for me, I'm so dark it's hard to make out unless it's activated – then it just looks like a skin disease. Albino over there – not so lucky."

Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm not that pale anymore."

"You do have a fair bit more color," Hermione agreed. "But you're still pretty pale."

"You're supposed to be on my side," Draco teased, nudging her with his arm.

Hermione rested her head on his shoulder, looking at Blaise. "So pale," she mouthed, causing both of them to burst out laughing while Draco let out an unbearable groan.

"I don't know if I like the two of you being friends," Draco announced, moving his arm so it was draped around Hermione as she sat somewhat snuggled up to him.

Blaise grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I'm only sorry we weren't friends sooner, eh Granger?"

Hermione returned his grin. "I'm sure we can make up for lost time."

"I don't like how any of this sounds," Draco stated, his voice feigning worry. "I don't like it at all."

The three of them continued to visit with one another, the trio thoroughly enjoying each other's company, and as the clock neared six o'clock, Hermione invited Blaise to stay for dinner. He politely declined, telling them he promised Pansy he would take her to dinner with his mother in a bit. "I figure I'll take care of her a bit…before I forcefully snap her out of this funk," Blaise stated, hugging Draco as they said their goodbyes by the floo. "I miss the old Pansy. She was much more fun when she was a bitch."

Draco nodded. "She definitely kept it interesting."

"That's the best part about her," Blaise agreed. He turned to Hermione and opened his arms. She hugged him as if she were saying goodbye to an old friend, laughing as he squeezed her tight. "You, Granger, are by far the best surprise I've encountered in recent memory."

"I would say the same about you," Hermione said, letting go. "But Draco already won that prize."

"I'm perfectly fine accepting second place – just this once, of course," Blaise teased.

"Of course," Hermione repeated. "If you decide to hang around London for a while, we'd certainly love to see more of you." She smiled as Draco pulled her back to him, giving her a one armed hug of gratitude.

Blaise nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I'll probably know more as the week goes on. I'll owl Malfoy here and let him know." He shook his friend's hand once more before donning his coat. "Give your mother my best."

"You do the same," Draco replied, both he and Hermione giving him a final wave before Blaise disappeared into the floo. "I forgot how much I missed him," he admitted out loud. Hermione could hear the sincerity in his voice. She imagined it wasn't easy living a new life with hardly anyone from the past. Retreating back to the couch, she curled her legs back up underneath her. Draco looked at her, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his pants. "Did you mean it?"

Hermione stared at him. "Mean what?"

"That you'd like to see more of Blaise."

"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed. "I rather enjoyed his company – didn't you?"

Draco nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "I did – I just wasn't sure how you would feel about people from my past returning, I guess."

"You're friends with Harry and Ginny – I don't see much of a difference, really, with Blaise that is. He doesn't seem tangled up in the horrendous upbringing the two of you encountered…and I think it's good for you to have one of your childhood friends back in your life."

He collapsed on the couch next to Hermione and leaned into her, resting his head on the top of chest as she lightly raked the back of his neck with her nails. "I hope he sticks around," Draco admitted. "You think Harry and Blaise would get along?"

Hermione nodded, though Draco couldn't see her. "I don't see why not. He's pretty forgiving when people deserve it."

"He is," Draco agreed, exhaling a rather large sigh. He looked up at her and she smiled. "You're the first person I've ever felt truly comfortable around." His confession was out of the blue, but at that moment, seeking comfort from her, he realized he'd never been able to do this with anyone else – not even his mother. "I don't feel ashamed to let my guard down around you."

"Maybe you aren't as emotionally damaged as you claim to be," Hermione teased, her hand moving to massage the back of his scalp.

"Maybe it's just you," Draco countered, sneaking his arms around her middle.

"As long as it's only me," Hermione said with a wink. Draco yanked Hermione with him as he flung himself so his back was on the couch, Hermione yelping his name in the process as she was perched on top of him. She saw the mischievous look on his face as she shook her head. "You're ridiculous!" she chided, playfully swatting his chest with her hands as he slid his hands underneath her shirt and up her back.

He kissed her, laughing as she attempted to resist before giving in. He chuckled as he bit her lower lip, hearing her mutter how terrible he was with little conviction before she deepened the kiss, pulling on his disheveled tie as if it was a lever to pull him even closer. "It's only you," Draco whispered as they broke apart.

Grinning, Hermione gave him a good hard kiss on the lips before prying herself out of his arms. "I'm starving. Let's order Chinese."

Draco grabbed her hand just before she could walk out of his grasp and pulled her back on top of him, eliciting another squeal from her. He loved it when she shrieked like that – on one hand it was incredibly shrill and quite possibly the girliest thing he'd ever heard in his life, despite of course the fact that she was a girl, but her whole face lit up even if she tried her best to act as if she was being completely put out. He nibbled at her neck as she feebly protested. "How about I just order you instead?" he teased.

"Funny," she said. Her stomach growled loudly, causing her to laugh. "See!" she whined, pushing herself off of him, pulling him off the couch as she stood up. "I told you I'm starving."

He rolled his eyes dramatically as he snagged the muggle phone from the end table. He had the number to the Chinese place memorized as often as the two of them ordered in from the small Asian restaurant a few blocks away. Draco stared at her as he waited on hold, shaking his head at her cheeky grin. "Just so you know, we're totally shagging later."

"As long as you feed me first, I'm not entirely opposed to your plan."

"Not entirely opposed?" Draco repeated. "What the bloody hell does that mean?"

"It means order food!" Hermione exclaimed, laughing as she sauntered towards the stairs, throwing him a sarcastic smirk over her shoulder at him. "And if it doesn't take you forever to accomplish, we could probably shag while we wait. So as you can see, I'm clearly not entirely opposed to your plan – I'm just tweaking it."

She stripped her shirt and dropped on to the floor, followed by her bra as she disappeared out of his eyesight. The moment he heard Mr. Chang answer the phone, he rattled off his usual order so fast with his address that he didn't bother asking for him to repeat it back. In a flash, the phone was clicked off and thrown against the sofa as he darted upstairs, stepping over Hermione's clothes along the way.