Ginny and Blaise left soon afterwards, leaving Hermione and Draco alone. As Draco saw them out, Hermione went upstairs to get changed as it was getting late and she wanted to try and relax. As she walked up the stairs her mind was running over what Draco had said. Tonight had been weird because nothing had actually happened between them and yet she felt as if things had changed.

She trod on something at the top of the stairs and bent down to pick it up. It was several bits of small parchment covered the beautiful, scripted writing that she recognized as Draco's immediately. Presuming he had dropped them by accident she passed her own bedroom door and went along to Draco's. She opened it and intended to put the bits of parchment onto his bedside table when something caught her eye.

There was a small toiletry bag on the table which was open and poking out of it was a photo. It was a photo of the same girl that Hermione had seen in Draco's bedroom at the Manor only this time, Draco was with her. They were smiling at the camera, standing close to one another and nudging each other on the shoulder, moving as all wizard pictures did. She picked it up, without thinking and stared at it. She couldn't imagine that Draco was the sort of person to have hundreds of snap shots but he'd taken the trouble to bring this one along with him. Hermione studied the girls face, still sure that she had seen her before but she just couldn't think where. She didn't want to be feel jealous because she didn't know who this girl was or what she meant to Draco but she couldn't help it. Although she was officially Draco's wife she also had to acknowledge that she didn't have the same rights as a real wife. This didn't make her feel any better though.

"I'd like to think you could have just asked me," Draco's voice came from behind her and she jumped out of her skin. She quickly put the photo back but it was obviously too late and she turned round her face red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, it's not like it looks," she mumbled.

"What is it then? Because it sure looks at lot like you going through my things," Draco's words were harsh but his face wasn't showing any anger.

"I found some bits of parchment on the stairs; I was putting them back in your room..." Hermione's voice trailed off as she realized it was a feeble excuse, so she changed tactic. "And then I was going through your things." Her confession made her shoulders slump and she waited for Draco's reaction. He stared at her and then shook his head.

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

"Nothing. I don't want to know anything," Hermione stuttered. "It's none of my business."

Draco walked over and took the photograph from his bag. He waved it at Hermione who blushed again. "She's my girlfriend," he said and Hermione's eyes widened in shock and Draco shook his head. "I mean, she was my girlfriend."

"Oh," Hermione couldn't think of any other response. She lowered herself into the chair beside Draco's bed because she felt a bit wobbly.

"I broke up with her as soon as this whole Marriage Law thing reared its ugly head," Draco explained.

"Right." Again Hermione didn't know what to say.

Draco raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Anything else?" he asked as if he'd completely sorted the situation.

Hermione wrung her hands together. "What's her name?"

"Why? It doesn't matter."

"But you only broke up because you had to marry me," Hermione said. "So...well...you don't just switch off your feelings for someone do you?"

Draco sighed. "No, I'm not going to lie and tell you I was happy about it because I really wasn't."

"Right," Hermione repeated.

"We did break up, Hermione. I haven't been sneaking around seeing her behind your back; you must know that as I'm here all the time with you."

"I know."

Draco stared at her obviously expecting a bit more of a response. "I need you to be okay with this, Hermione. What else do you want to know?"

Hermione shook her head and looked up at him. "So, if it hadn't been for the marriage law then you two would still be together?"

"I suppose so, yes," Draco answered.

"The first day at the Ministry, you said that I shouldn't expect you to be the dutiful husband," Hermione reminded him. "So why haven't you just been seeing her anyway? We both know this isn't a real marriage."

Draco ran his hand through his hair. "Didn't I say that about ten minutes after we'd been re-introduced? You can't possibly think that I would want to act that way now? I'm married to you, real or not and you're having my baby. I'm not such a pig that I would even consider asking you to tolerate me seeing someone else!"

Hermione shrugged. "I know you're trying to be nice but I just don't want you to be here with me because of a duty when really you want to be with someone else. I'd rather we were honest with each other." She rubbed her forehead. "Look Draco, I was totally out of order looking at your stuff. I really am sorry, so I'm just going to go to bed before I embarrass myself any further." She tried to stand up but he gently pushed her down again.

"To quote Ginny Weasley - stop being bloody stupid," he said. He took her by the shoulders. "Why can't you ever say what you mean?"

"I do mean it," Hermione said.

"No you don't! You'd honestly let me see Daniela?" Draco demanded.

"If that's what you want."

"You wouldn't fight for me at all then?" Draco let go of her shoulders and stood back a bit, his voice low and his eyes questioning. Hermione stopped in her tracks and she let her eyes wonder around his face, taking in his features as she formulated an answer. She looked down at her feet and decided that enough was enough. Draco was right! Here she was again being ridiculous and practically sending him off into another woman's arms instead of holding onto him for all she was worth.

"Did you love her?" She held his gaze and her breath, trying to judge his response.

Draco put his head to one side. "It doesn't matter whether I did or not. It's over and that's it."

"Do you love her?" Hermione pressed him, not willing to accept his non-committal answer. She purposely changed the tense of her question. "Right now, do you still love her?"

"No."

"Because if you do, then I we have to change how things are between us. I can't accept you here being all flirty and caring if you would rather be somewhere else..." Hermione almost ignored his answer, she felt it so necessary to get her words out.

Draco knelt down in front of her, taking both of her hands in his. "Hermione, I said no," he leant closer. "I don't want to be with her or anyone else. I want to be here with you." He put his head to one side and gave a small smile. "You have noticed I'm being flirty then?"

Hermione watched the handsome face in front of her and took a deep breath. "Yeh, I noticed."

"Move over," Draco said as he slid onto the seat next to her. There wasn't really enough room and although Hermione shuffled as far over as she could it still left them squashed against each other. Draco put his arm around her shoulder because there really wasn't anywhere else for him to put it but it felt nice and he smelt delicious as always so Hermione didn't protest.

"I'm supposed to hate being married to you," Hermione said. "I'd got myself all prepared for it..."

"Sorry to disappoint." Draco winked at her.

"Does she...Daniela...does she...does she still love you?" Hermione wondered why she always had to put herself through things instead of just leaving the question unspoken.

"I don't know and I told you it doesn't matter. It's over and she's accepted it."

"It's just I can't imagine anyone managing to get over you..." Hermione's heart was racing because this was the most she had said to him and she saw his expression change. Her stomach did a huge flip as Draco's eyes darkened and he slid his arm around her waist.

Hermione was sure she was having palpitations because they were now pressed against each other; he smelt like heaven, she could feel his warmth and she was melting against him. She wanted to tell him she cared about him, that she couldn't imagine living without him, that she would do anything to stop him dying but she couldn't so instead she willingly leant in and placed her lips on his. She knew he was surprised because just for a moment he hesitated before his lips moved against hers and he pulled her really close, pressing her into him. Their lips were dancing together and Hermione felt a wave of desire wash over her as he gently deepened the kiss.

And then suddenly things were frantic because Hermione's self control snapped and she knew that she wanted him and she wanted him now. Without really realizing it was happening they were suddenly on the bed, half undressed and Hermione's brain ceased to function as Draco's lips and hands continued to explore her body. His now naked skin was smooth and warm and she willingly returned the favour, savouring his amazing body, wanting to touch every part of him. They were fusing together, their movements heated and Hermione couldn't hold back her moans of pleasure as Draco kissed her all over.

Sorry for the delay - I hate it when authors keep apologizing for late updates but I hope you can forgive me because I do try to update regularly. Some of the delay was in getting this chapter right because I've tweaked it a lot so that it seemed natural and the right pace. Anyway, let me know what you think as always. x