When Georgiana got inside the common room, Draco was sitting in his usual spot, reading a book. Walking over and sitting down next to him, Draco didn't even look up from his book as his left arm snaked around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. Georgiana felt all the tension in her body relax as she stared into the fire, listening to Draco's heart beating while he just continued reading on, as if he didn't have a care in the world.

After a while, he closed his book, leant over and kissed her forehead in greeting. "You alright love?"

"I am...are you upset?"

Draco tilted Georgiana's face to his and shook his head. "No...I didn't want to make anything uncomfortable for you, so I thought it would be easier to leave and give you some time alone with Weasley. Is everything okay?"

Georgiana nodded. "This all seems a bit surreal to me. I understand my Grandmother wanting me to keep my options open...but it all feels so strange."

"To be dating more than one person at a time?"

Georgiana sighed, but nodded...burying her head into Draco's chest as she felt his amusement rumble underneath her. "I'm sure it does feels strange...but it's what your Grandmother has insisted upon. It's not ideal, but the alternative is not being able to spend anytime with you and I'd rather deal with having to share your attention...if not affections."

Georgiana groaned unhappily. "Yeah...do you want me to share with you..."

"The particulars?" Georgiana nodded and Draco thought about that question honestly. Did he want to know if she kissed Weasley, or any other wizard for the matter? Did it really make a difference as long as she still continued to date him? As long as she wanted him in her life...what she did with the other wizard's was of little concern to him. He knew Georgiana wouldn't be sharing intimacies and as such...chaste kissing was probably all that would be happening, so that really wasn't a huge issue for him...at least not at this point.

"How about we make a deal, okay?"

Georgiana sat up and gave Draco a wary look, but she nodded and said, "What kind of deal?"

"I don't need to know the particulars, Princess. The only reason I would ask you to share with me is if someone tries to hurt you or use you in any way. If that happens, I need to know so I can take care of it. Otherwise, I trust your judgment."

"You don't think I can take care of myself?"

Draco shook his head emphatically. "On the contrary, however, your family would expect me as a serious suitor to not only respect your honor...but to defend it to the best of my ability. It would be required of me if we were formally courting...and in my heart I'm already there...so I would hope and expect you to share those things with me. It's my way of showing your Grandmother how serious I am Princess."

Georgiana sighed as she allowed herself to be pulled back into Draco's arms...her sigh of pleasure making Draco smile inwardly. "Fine...you're right I suppose."

"I may remind you of that later, when you're angry at me for some reason."

Georgiana giggled and it was Draco's turn to sigh in pleasure. "I would very much like to kiss you, if I may."

Georgiana's cheeks blushed but she lifted her head up in an unspoken offering, which Draco responded to without words...his lips locking onto Georgiana's and gently probing with feeling.

For Georgiana the butterflies were back with a vengeance, and she couldn't help the breathy moan that escaped her lips as Draco's arm pulled her into his body a bit more firmly. He kept the kiss relatively chaste...no tongues despite very much wanting to deepen the kiss. After a few moments, Draco pulled away with an unhappy groan, his forehead touching Georgiana's in an unspoken submissive gesture.

"We need to stop, love." Draco whispered out almost as a plea.

"I know, but I don't want to." Georgiana whispered and Draco groaned again.

"Please understand that there is nothing in this world I want more than to kiss you, touch you and be with you...but you test my control Princess. And I'm trying my best to be the gentleman my mother raised me to be."

"What if I don't want you to be a gentleman, Lord Malfoy."

Draco's eyes darkened at the playful look on Georgiana's face, her eyes alight with mischief. "You're a wicked witch, my love. Trust me when I tell you...when the time comes that I get to make you mine in every way...I won't be a gentleman...I'll be making you scream for me."

Georgiana's breath hitched as her cheeks and eyes darkened with need. "That's a lofty promise to make...my Lord."

"Trust me...I plan on fulfilling every promise I make to you, if you'll allow me to do so." Draco's words were whispered huskily into Georgiana's ear, and Draco could feel her breath quicken against him.

"Draco..." Georgiana whispered out in want...causing his arm to tighten around her waist as he pulled back and their eyes locked and held...both blazing with the same emotions.

"I'm going to walk you to your room...and kiss you goodnight...and you are going to get your beauty sleep and in the morning, I'm going to walk you to breakfast and then we are going to go study in the library. How does that sound?"

Georgiana smiled widely, her hand running through Draco's soft silky locks of hair as he hummed in pleasure. "That sounds perfect."

Draco nodded and stood up, bringing Georgiana with him...walking her to her door and kissing her chastely goodnight. With a wink and a smirk, he was gone and Georgiana was left feeling like she wanted to scream out in frustration...this was going to be the longest year of her life.

When she went into her room, she took her enchanted mirror and called out for her mum...and it didn't take long for Eloise to respond.

"Hello, little dove...how was your date today with Lord Malfoy?" Eloise asked kindly, sensing her daughter needed to talk.

"It was perfect mum."

Georgiana explained to her mother what Draco had done, and where they had gone...she then told her mum about Ronald showing up and how Draco had handled it. She also shared with her mum about what had happened earlier, and how different Draco made her feel when she kissed him than when she'd kissed Ronald.

Eloise's listened and when her Daughter was done speaking, decided to give her opinion.

"Passion is wonderful sweetheart, but it fades over time without other things to bolster it properly. Commonalities, interests, goals...but it's good that you can recognize the difference in how you feel for both men. I must say I'm impressed with both Lord Malfoy and your Mr. Weasley. I wanted to let you know that your grandmother received a communique from Lady Malfoy...Draco's Mother, about the re-establishment of the family's formal title. It's been approved and as of next week, your young suitor will bear the formal title of the Duke of Berkshire once again. It will allow Lord Malfoy to take up his familial seat in the House of Lords, should he wish it. I'm sure there will be some formal invitations for he and his mother as the season approaches. How do you feel about this?"

Georgiana sat there in shock. She knew this was a possibility, but now that the deed was done...she felt herself oddly pleased and excited. "I don't know what to say, mum. Draco didn't tell me anything about this though."

Eloise shrugged elegantly. "Perhaps his mother hasn't let him know yet...or perhaps he wanted it to be a surprise. I do know that Lord Asterley and his wife are having a gathering at their home next month for one of their patronage's...I'd imagine since this would be the first official event for Lord Malfoy and his mother, they will likely receive an invitation. I was planning on attending, I'm not sure what your father's plans are."

"Draco told me he needed special permission from the Headmistress to leave Hogwarts on the weekends."

Eloise nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps I can write your Headmistress a letter, as I think it might be prudent to allow Lord Malfoy the opportunity to attend these functions as etiquette dictates. If he is truly sincere in his desire to formally court you, sweetheart...this would be the first step in that regard."

Georgiana nodded. "I agree...thank you mum for offering to do that."

"Well...that is what I'm here for little dove...to make sure these things get taken care of. Don't you worry...we will make Lord Malfoy a suitable aristocrat so even your Grandmother can't take issue."

"I'm more worried about dad, actually."

"Leave your Father to me."

"How are things with dad?"

Eloise smiled softly. "Better, surprisingly enough. When you'd disappeared, it was very difficult on all of us, but your Father was especially angry. He's never been on board with your magic, it's true...but his anger and guilt was very difficult to deal with...but since you've returned, Phillip has had a change of heart about many things...your magic...our marriage. I know we haven't always had the best marriage, but the one thing your Father and I have always agreed upon, and that's our love for both you and James and just wanting you both to find happiness. Phillip will never force a formal arrangement on you, he wants you to marry for love. That being said, he expects you to be wise with that decision...you have a duty sweetheart, and you need someone to stand with you who understands that duty and supports it."

"I know mum." Georgiana said wistfully. "I just didn't think it would be this hard."

"Because you have genuine feelings for both young men?" Hermione nodded at her mother in the mirror and Eloise sighed softly. "Then let me ask you a simple question...if there had been no prejudice, no Dark Lord...and you had been able to attend Hogwarts as Georgiana, and not Hermione...do you think Lord Malfoy would have acted in a more welcoming way?"

Georgiana thought about it for a moment, before she sighed sadly and shook her head. "His father would've never allowed Draco to pursue a friendship with me. I'm still Muggle-born despite my heritage, mum."

Eloise's hummed in agreement. "I would tend to agree with that as well. Things have a way of working how they're meant to sweetheart. Lord Malfoy hasn't made good choices, that is true...but I do think that he is remorseful for his choices and wants to make amends."

"I believe that too, mum."

"Well then, perhaps it is good that you both are being forced into taking this slowly. Getting swept up in passion is exciting...but the true test of his commitment to you will be evident in the steps he takes to prove his worthiness."

"He told me tonight that he'd rather not have me share any particulars of the dates I go on with other wizard's...unless they hurt me or try to use me in some way. He said it was his job to protect my honor as it would be if we were formally courting, as in his heart that's where he's at. It took me by surprise, mum...I wasn't expecting Draco to take this all so well."

Eloise smiled slyly, suitably impressed with how Lord Malfoy seemed to be handling this situation. "It would seem his heart is in the right place, and I must say I do agree with the sentiment. As a suitor, and a serious one at that...it would be his right to protect your honor from being besmirched."

"I know." Georgiana said softly. "This all seems so surreal."

Eloise's laughed. "Oh little dove, I'm sure it does. I honestly never expected you to be able to attend school as you are now...and I for one, am glad you are. It will serve to show you exactly what challenges you will face in the years to come should you choose to not take up your Father's mantle and have a life in both worlds. But understand this, should you choose to succeed your Father...it will be far more difficult to move seamlessly between worlds. The expectations on you and whomever your with, will be tremendous."

"That's what I keep thinking about...is it wrong of me to think that I'd rather not be Queen."

Eloise smiled and shook her head. "No, it's not. I would have never chosen this life had it not been chosen for me by my father. But I can't regret any of it because I have you and James...you both are my whole life...and I wouldn't change that for anything."

"I love you mum."

"And I love you my little dove...you've always been my greatest achievement you know. Of all the things I've ever done in my life, raising you into the extraordinary woman I see before me is the greatest of them. Just stay true to your heart, and all will be as it should be."

"I'll try. Goodnight mum."

"Sweet dreams."

And with that the mirror went blank and Georgiana sat back against her pillows and sighed deeply...going over her mother's words again as she got ready for bed. Her mum was right...if she were to decide to become Queen, her life in the Magical world would suffer greatly, and that was something Georgiana wasn't sure she was ready to let go of.