Well this story is becoming much longer than I planned. When I started I thought it might be shorter than my others but it has a life of its own and I really don't want to end it too abruptly. So onto chapter 36 and I'm thinking about another 4 chapters to go unless you all demand more of course...

Draco threw the newspaper he had just fetched onto the worktop angrily.

"Look at it! Even the picture of us has been manipulated!" he snapped. Hermione picked the paper up and looked at it in disgust. The larger picture was of herself and Draco going into the Mansion but Draco was right because instead of them walking separately in, it looked as if Draco was holding Hermione around the waist. The smaller picture showed Draco and Daphne but Hermione hardly glanced at it because she already had that image burned into her brain. She didn't read the small writing as the headline said it all.

"Mulit-millionaire lives up to his playboy image at Durand Enterprises 25th Anniversary ball," Hermione read it out. "Eeurrgh!" She read the next line under the headline. "Has notorious playboy, Draco Malfoy really got over Astoria Greengrass? He arrived with the ever famous Hermione Granger but did he leave with her? He was seen getting very friendly with Astoria's older sister Daphne so who exactly has the glamorous, rich and handsome playboy's heart? If he really is back to his playboy ways what does this mean for his thriving business?"

Draco groaned loudly. "Okay, I don't think I need to hear any more."

"Sorry. Ron and Harry are going to go mad when they see this!" Hermione said. She placed a large cup of tea in front of him and some toast. "Do you think it will affect our application?"

"Who knows? What about Monsieur Durand? He might be revising his opinion of dealing with us right now over his eggs and bacon!" Draco took a large gulp of tea. "I'm gonna kill those conniving, scheming bitches!"

"We need some emergency repair tactic," Hermione said.

"Mmm. Let me know when you can think of one," Draco said, miserably. Hermione came around the table and put her arm around his shoulders.

"Don't look like that. We'll think of something," she said, kindly.

"Oooh! The Gryffindor speaks!" Draco said, sarcastically and Hermione stood up looking annoyed.

"How did my being understanding and helpful end with you insulting me?" she snapped and went to walk away but she felt Draco's arm slip around her waist and the next moment she was sitting on his lap.

"Sorry," he said. "I'm being a grump and the last person I should be taking it out of is you." His eyes did that wonderful melting into hers again and Hermione stopped struggling and sat still. "But if they mess this up for us I'll kill them and I'm not exaggerating!"

There was a loud knock at the door and they both stared at each other for a moment. Hermione jumped up nervously, wondering who it could be. She looked down at Draco. "Maybe you should cover up a bit," she said, indicating his lack of clothing. He had his suit trousers on but no shirt. Draco just frowned.

"Why? You've just spent the whole night lying right next to me like this," he said.

Hermione sighed loudly. "Well, just stay out of sight."

She answered the door, opening it cautiously. She almost dropped to the floor when she saw who was standing there. Ron!

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed part of her really happy to see him and the other really conscious of the fact that a half naked Draco who had obviously been here all night was just in the next room. Ron raised his eyebrows at her.

"Hey, nice to see you too, Hermione!" he said, sarcastically and she realized she was being extremely rude.

"Sorry! I was just surprised!" she said and she gathered him into a hug. She stepped aside and followed him in, hoping desperately that Draco would remain in the kitchen. Ron waved a newspaper at her and Hermione immediately defended herself. "If you're here just to give me hassle about Draco then you may as well leave now! It's a long story and I have a very good reason why I'm spending time with him so I really don't need you here to yell and shout at me!"

Ron sighed and folded his arms. "I think you'll find it's you who is shouting at me, actually," he pointed out and Hermione realized he was right. "Actually I was here to make sure you are okay?"

"Oh."

"I mean, it says in here that you went with Ferret face but he ended up snogging bloody Daphne Greengrass. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Ginny and Harry would be here as well but they have an appointment to check the baby," Ron said all this calmly and Hermione felt awful for yelling at him.

"What's the matter with the baby?" she asked.

"Nothing, it's just a routine check," Ron answered. "So?"

"So what?"

"So, are you okay? Did Ferret face leave you devastated or what?" Ron's phrasing was amusing and Hermione had to smile at him.

"If you mean Draco," she pointed out his name. "No, he didn't leave me stranded. He was under a curse when he kissed Daphne. It's a long story but I'm fine."

"Is this still to do with the potion?" Ron asked and when Hermione looked at him shocked he shrugged. "Ginny told us some bits and bobs – don't be mad at her, she was just preparing me and Harry so that we wouldn't hit the roof when we found out about Ferret...Malfoy." Ron corrected himself just in time but still received a glare.

"Well, thanks for checking on me," Hermione said. "I miss you."

Ron winked at her. "Sorry, happily married man and all that now, Hermione."

"Ew! I meant I miss your company!" Hermione said then she realized Ron had been teasing her and she hit his arm."So, what is the story with you and Malfoy?" Ron asked and when Hermione shook her head he held up his hands. "No, I want to know, really. I promise to be supportive."

"We're working together, spending a lot of time with the potion and...well we're friends," Hermione as always had a problem putting her relationship with Draco into words. It didn't help that he was in the next room listening. "Good friends but that's all. He really has changed, Ron."

Ron was about to speak when the kitchen door opened. Hermione turned to glare at Draco who was still half naked but he ignored her and addressed Ron who was staring at him, his mouth wide open.

"Weasley," Draco said with a nod.

"What the?" Ron spluttered. He turned to Hermione accusingly. "Friends? Really?"

Hermione sighed and glared at Draco again who smirked at her, amused. "Yes friends. You've seen the pictures, Ron. I left the ball in a hurry and Draco came here to explain about being under a curse. He spent the night on the couch."

Ron looked over at the couch suspiciously. "Does he always walk around half undressed in your flat?"

"He can answer for himself," Draco answered. "And no I don't usually walk around like this. I wasn't planning to stay here, I don't have any clothes with me. Not that I owe you and explanation for anything!"

"Draco!" Hermione said. "Ron, look this is all a bit awkward..." she was stopped mid sentence by another loud knock at the door. The three of them stared at one another before Hermione once again went and opened the door. This time she flung it open, expecting it to be Ginny or Harry but as she did so she was blinded by the flash of a bulb.

"Miss Granger...we'd like to hear your side of the story from last night. How did you find out about Draco and Daphne? How are you feeling?"

Hermione stared at the reporter, dazed. Before she could form any sort of an answer Draco was behind her, still shirtless.

"No comment," he said and tried to close the door.

"Mr Malfoy – have you spent the night here? Are you and Hermione in a relationship? Why were you kissing Daphne Greengrass?" The reporter had his foot in the door and Draco couldn't shut it.

"No comment," he repeated. "Please leave now."

The reporter lowered his camera and lowered his voice. "Look Malfoy, I can write this up good or bad. Give me a few answers and I'll leave you alone."

Draco almost snarled at him. "You'll leave me alone anyway."

"You've spent the night here," the reporter indicated Draco's naked torso. "You can't blame our readers for putting two and two together..."

Hermione could see this situation escalating and Draco wasn't helping. The reporter was right, he'd been greeted at Hermione's flat with a half undressed Draco Malfoy who had obviously been here all night, no-one could blame anyone for jumping to entirely the wrong conclusions. And that was when an idea came to her. She didn't have time to ask Draco and she knew she was taking a risk but she also knew that this might be their lifeline to redeeming Draco's reputation and ensuring Monsieur Durand was still willing to do business with them.

"They can put two and two together," Hermione said. "I would have thought it obvious whom Draco is having a relationship with – after all he hasn't just spent the night at Daphne Greengrass flat, has he?" The reporter was scribbling like crazy obviously delighted that Hermione was willing to talk. Hermione felt Draco applying pressure to her arm but she ignored him. "That was a silly joke that has been blown out of all proportion. Draco and I are very happy and what happened last night was just a silly misunderstanding."

"Can I quote you on that?" the reporter asked.

"Yes, please do," Hermione confirmed and she received another squeeze on her arm from Draco. He wanted her to shut up but she hadn't finished yet. The next step she was going to take was drastic and would take some sorting out at a later date but right now they needed to appear free from scandal and that meant drastic measures. "We are going to announce this properly of course but if you promise me a favourable news item I can allow you an exclusive."

The reporter nodded eagerly. "Of course. You can proof the story if I get an exclusive."

Hermione tried not to gape at this offer. She'd managed to manipulate the situation from one where the reporter was about to write a gossipy, incorrect and scandalous story to one where she would get to check what he printed before it went to press. There was a price of course and it was a big one but she'd started this now and she couldn't back down.

"As I told you we're very happy and I'm afraid Miss Greengrass didn't handle Draco's short engagement to her sister being cancelled very well. That all ended very amicably, Draco and Astoria are still friends but unfortunately I think Daphne wished she was the one who might pick up the pieces and end up with Draco. Unfortunately, the attraction wasn't mutual and I think Daphne and her friend Pansy Parkinson were trying to drive Draco and I apart," Hermione was aware of Draco standing tensely behind her but she continued, making sure she managed to restore Draco's respectability whilst destroying Daphne's and Pansy's. "Of course, it wouldn't work. Draco and I are inseperable and it's a shame that Daphne can't accept it in a dignified manner."

"And the exclusive?" the reporter prompted and Hermione could feel Draco's tension behind her. He was obviously wondering what the hell she was about to say. Hermione wished she could watch his face as she said the next line.

"Draco and I are happy to announce our engagement. We intend to do it officially in the next few days but there you go, you have an exclusive."

The reporter's eyes nearly popped out of his head and he scribbled furiously. "Fantastic! Congratulations! Can I have a proper picture? If you could put a shirt on, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco was standing like a statue behind Hermione but she was afraid to turn around. She had no idea how he would take her false announcement and she didn't want to face him until she had to. He seemed to move in slow motion to get his shirt before posing with Hermione for a picture. Hermione insisted it only showed their heads and necks as she was still in her nightclothes. The reporter seemed happy and he promised to send his story to Hermione within the next few hours for her to review. She shut her door and nervously turned to face Draco. What she had forgotten about was Ron who was now also standing behind her in the small hallway.

"I thought you were just friends," he said, accusingly.

"Yeh, me too!" Draco said and Hermione turned to him. He was staring at her incredulously.

"Sorry! I thought it would redeem your reputation," she tried to explain.

"Are you telling me you made it up?" Ron asked.

"Yes but now we all have to go along with it. For a while anyway," Hermione bit her lip nervously and studied Draco's face anxiously. His face relaxed and then he smirked at her.

"Looks like I better go shopping for another engagement ring, doesn't it? Do you think one day I might actually get engaged for real?"

Hope you liked it and Hermione's latest idea! I am going to start resolving stuff soon and I do have planned a nice big dose of romance of course! Thanks for the reviews so far. x