A/N: Okay, seriously, now there's only 2 chapters left. I had too much stuff to say about things and bits and bobs to add in here and there. This chapter is a bit short, but its cute.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I don't make money from this fic, and I am just a fan.
May 2, 2003 London, England - Draco and Hermione's Flat
Hermione and Draco collapsed on the couch in their little flat, glad to be home after a week of excitement, relaxation, and joy. They'd taken an international portkey home, as Draco couldn't handle another plane trip. The Grangers weren't due to be back in England the following weekend to give Draco and Hermione a bit of time to get the house re-furnished.
Draco had decided to pursue an actual career as a Healer, specializing in mind healing and memory charm removal. As such, there was a bit more training he had to undergo with St. Mungo's that was set to begin on Monday, and Draco couldn't be more excited. Hermione was ecstatic for him, knowing by the way he talked about it that it was truly his passion.
Hermione, on the other hand, was tiring of her endless research. She was thinking about transferring to a desk job, or asking about a librarian position with the Ministry. She eyed a small pile of mail on the table beside the owls' perch; they'd had Ginny and Harry look after their birds while they were gone, and they'd collected the mail that had been sent their way during their vacation. Hermione pulled herself up and padded over to the small pile, sifting through the verification letters until she found one from Jacob Macmillian that caught her eye. She grabbed it and started opening it as she returned to the couch, resting her head against Draco's shoulder and curling her feet under her. She pulled the letter from the envelope and held it so that Draco could read it, too.
"I'd like to meet with you to discuss advancement opportunities?" Hermione quoted from the letter. She turned, looking up at Draco. "Do you know anything about this?" Draco shook his head, shrugging.
"Well, I suppose Jacob knows how burn-out you must feel after all that research. And you have contributed a ton the hospital. I'd say the higher-up have taken noticed of my pretty little witch." Draco said, wrapping his arm around her and kissing the top of her head. "You should probably meet with him Monday. Would give us something to talk about Wednesday night." Draco grinned slyly and Hermione's eyebrows furrowed.
"What's Wednesday night?" She asked.
"Mum and Dad have invited us round for dinner. Mum was quite interested to hear about the completion of the live trials, and Dad would be more than happy, I'm sure to discuss pros and cons of any higher positions you may be offered. He is a businessman at heart, you know." Draco said. Hermione sighed. She hoped the dinner would be as relaxed as the last time they'd had tea with Narcissa and Lucius. She could only wait and see, she supposed.
May 7, 2003 Wiltshire, England - Malfoy Manor
"So he offered you his job?" Draco asked before taking another bite of an exceptionally prepared Shepard's pie.
"Essentially, yes. Jacob is moving up to the Board of Directors and they asked him to choose his successor." Hermione supplied.
"Did they give you any numbers to go on as to a raise in pay grade?" Lucius asked, looking rather suspicious. Hermione nodded.
"Usually, I have a firm rule about no business matters at the table," Narcissa said, giving her husband a knowing smirk, "but I will make an exception this one time, as my curiosity can't handle it. Do you have the paper, Hermione, dear?" Narcissa asked. Hermione nodded, turning to retrieve the paper with the pay grade information from her bag on the back of her chair. She found it and offered it to Lucius, who scowled and handed the paper to his wife, who looked equally disgusted. Draco frowned, reaching for the paper from his mother. He'd yet to see it, as Hermione had wanted to tell them all as one. His eyes widened.
"Those cheap bastards. They can't do that, can they?" Draco asked. Hermione would only be getting a galleon more on the hour, and they were cutting her hours and disallowing overtime. Hermione had been getting close to sixty hours a week before, and now she was limited to forty. Draco quickly did the math.
"They aren't giving you a raise at all! They're just cutting your hours and making up the difference!" Draco said, fuming.
"They can try to pull this kind of stunt with other employees, but they will absolutely not mess with the financial affairs of my potential daughter-in-law. I will make a point of stopping by St. Mungo's tomorrow and checking on the usage of the Malfoy charity account." Lucius said darkly. Hermione wasn't sure if she was more surprised by him acknowledging that she may one day marry his son, or by the clear threat of revoking the money used to fund several wards over her pay.
"It's really not that big of a deal, Mr. Malfoy. One hundred and twenty galleons is quite enough to pay the bills and keep me fed." Hermione said, softly.
"It is quite the 'big deal', Hermione, as your current immediate supervisor, Macmillian, makes one hundred and sixty galleons in the position you've been requisitioned for; I also might add that you have quite a bit more experience in the Research and Development department, as well as in leadership in general, than Macmillian ever has done. Any reasonable employer would at the very least match their current employee's salary." Lucius said. He always had a habit of sticking his nose into other people's business, but this time, Hermione thought, it proved right useful.
"So not only are they not increasing my pay, they're actually cutting the pay for the position?" Hermione asked, beginning to understand why Lucius and Draco were so angry.
"I'm going to walk in there tomorrow and demand higher pay or I will leave the hospital outright." Hermione huffed.
"I'll be going with you." Lucius said. Hermione frowned.
"I don't need your help." She said, tensely.
"Oh, I never doubted that for one minute, Ms. Granger." Lucius said, a light, mischievous twinkle in his eyes that reminded Hermione of Draco's when he'd been stewing on a plan. "I merely have certain assets that can provide the leverage you may require during your negotiations." He said carefully, then grinned at her. She smiled back, feeling the most Slytherin she ever had.
"The day has come." Draco whispered, smiling into his plate. "Hell has frozen over. What's that noise? I think it's the sound of flying pigs." Hermione smacked Draco's knee gently under the table, but giggled.
"I've been waiting for this day for far too long, Draco. I know what you mean." Narcissa smiled.
May 8, 2003 London, England - Draco and Hermione's Flat
"So then your father said, 'If you are quite certain you're prepared to lose such an excellent asset such as the mind of one Ms. Hermione Granger, I'm sure you will have no problems losing the assets that I provide to the hospital, as well.' Draco, you should have seen the man's face! He went pale, looked like he'd seen the Fat Lady starkers. Started stumbling over his words and everything. Needless to say, I was given a pay raise, no questions asked. Two galleons more on the hour, and unlimited paid vacation time." Hermione's cheeks were flushed as she brought Draco up to date on what she and his father had done about Mungo's. Draco grinned, quite proud of his woman.
"That's amazing, Hermione! I'm so proud of you for standing up for yourself. And even more proud that Dad stood up for you as well." Draco beamed.
"He's not a bad man, after all, I suppose. Well. Not entirely at least. I see a lot of him in you, you know?" She smiled.
"Did I tell you Lockhart called me Lucius when I reversed the Obliviate charm? Because that happened. I think a lot of people see a lot of my father in me. Perhaps it's the hair. Maybe I should cut it?"
"If you cut your hair, I'll leave you." Hermione mock-threatened. "But you know I don't just mean your looks. You're both insanely mischievous, cunning and intelligent beyond belief. And, surprisingly, it seems you both have a bit of a soft spot for the 'damsel in distress' mentality." Draco snorted.
"Hermione, you're no damsel in distress. More like a woman feigning frailty to throw off her attacker. Are you sure you weren't meant for Slytherin?" Draco teased.
"Oh, sod off, you. You're just upset that you can't get anything past me." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Do that again, and I'll have to do something about that tongue." Draco smirked. Of course, Hermione stuck her tongue out again at the challenge in his tone. She squealed as he grabbed her, pinning her against the wall and pushing his body right up against her. He scanned her face, watching for signs of discomfort, but only found that fiery rebellious spark in her eye. He grinned, then kissed her. It had been quite some time since they'd kissed like this. Hermione's arms wound around Draco's neck while he allowed his hands to settle on Hermione's waist, pulling her closer against him as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Hermione decided she needed to be closer to Draco, and lifted one leg, wrapping it around Draco's hip. Draco moaned at the feeling of her heat against him and slid his hands over her ass, grasping it gently and earning a little moan from her, before lifting her so that both of her legs were wrapped around his waist, pressed against his growing erection, and she was pinned against the wall. Their mouths finally broke apart, but Draco didn't relent. His mouth found her neck and began kissing, nibbling and sucking at intervals all along her neck and collarbone.
"Draco," Hermione panted. He could hear reluctance and desire warring in her voice. She struggled lightly and Draco immediately set her on her own two feet. His lips found her forehead.
"It's okay, love. I understand." He smiled at her, showing her that it truly was fine. She kissed him again, much sweeter and softer than before.
"Still." She said, her eyes sad. Draco kissed her a bit rougher, until her hair was wild, a blush crept over her cheeks, and the spark in those sad eyes returned.
"Still. There's the girl I love. Sex isn't everything, Hermione. I don't need it to love you. I never have." Draco whispered, kissing the top of her head before pulling away. "Now, seafood or stir fry?" he asked, moving toward the kitchen.
"Seafood stir fry?" Hermione asked hopefully. "Harry and Gin are due over tonight. You'll want to make a bit." She said. Draco groaned, knowing how much Harry could put away. Hermione giggled and followed her boyfriend into the kitchen to help him prep the meal.
