"Hi!"

Draco glanced up and smirked as he saw his lovely witch walk into Severus brewing room, dressed in those blasted trousers again. His heated gaze purposefully lingered, before his eyes locked with Hermione's and she was smiling mischievously at him.

"Hello," his voice was husky and he licked his lips for effect, getting the blush he was looking for before turning his attention back to his cauldron. "Are you here to tempt me, or brew with me?"

Hermione huffed, but her eyes sparkled as she came over to his workbench and replied impishly, "I'm great at multi-tasking."

"Oh?" His raised eyebrows held a mocking edge to them, but were diffused somewhat by the lifted quirk of his lips. "So you wouldn't mind grabbing me a silk string, would you?"

Hermione glanced at Draco's cutting board, where he was dicing up Moly Plants perfectly.

"Dreamless sleep?"

He nodded.

Hermione went into Severus cupboard and got the item for Draco, bringing it back to his work station. She noticed he had his potions book open to Wit-Sharpening Potion.

"What are you thinking?"

Draco finished up his chopping before he gave her his undivided attention.

"There are several parts of wit-sharpening potion that allow the drinker to have a clearer ability to think properly, and as you know it is an antidote for the Confundus Charm. Dreamless sleep has addictive qualities as everyone knows, so I'm trying to combine the basics of both potions to see if I can fabricate something less addictive."

Hermione just gaped at him and Draco chuckled, amused.

"Close your mouth, Princess. You'll catch lacewing flies."

"Prat."

"Of course," he hummed as he started preparing the scarab beetles. "I should be done with prep time here in a bit, and then I just have to wait the hour before I can bottle my finished product."

"Don't you have to get special permission to brew Dreamless Sleep?"

"Severus brews for the Mind Healers at St. Mungo's but this is part of my apprenticeship studies. I'm modifying six potions trials and hopefully of those...two will be approved and patented by the time I'm done with my Mastery."

Hermione shook her head, even as her heart fluttered at how sexy Draco was when he was discussing academics.

His self-satisfied grin told her he knew she was turned on by his intelligence.

"Have you given any thought to that Mastery you were discussing over Yule?"

Checking Draco's beetle chopping technique, Hermione hummed in the affirmative. "Some. Charms and Runes have always been my best subjects, so it does seem like a natural progression to be the first to develop anti-animagus wards."

"Well. If anyone can do it, it'd be you Princess."

Hermione smiled and blushed again, pleased at Draco praise of her abilities.

"Are you really thinking about getting another Mastery in Charms?"

Draco nodded. "I am." He then gazed up and noticed Hermione's thoughtful expression. "What's that look for?"

"Huh?"

"That look?" He pointed at her expression with a frown. "You look as if your unsure about something?"

Hermione bit her lip, contemplating if she should tell Draco what she'd been thinking as of late. Her thoughts had been more focused with him lately, and even though her emotions were somewhat unpredictable, she could definitely tell he grounded her magic and settled that sense that had her feeling off.

But would that change permanently once they were bonded?

And therein lain the crux of her inner musings as of late.

"Theo mentioned to me before Yule about the bonding process a Sorceress would likely have with her ancillary. I hadn't given it much thought until recently, because I have noticed my magic feels more stable when I'm with you."

Draco nodded again, wondering just where Hermione was going with this.

"Did you know we'd be essentially married when the bond manifests?"

"I suspected something to that effect, why? Are you not happy with the idea?"

Hermione looked down and shuffled her feet, unsure how to verbalize her feelings. Draco however, wasn't going to allow her to wallow as he moved over and wrapped an arm around her waist while the other tilted her head up so he could see her face.

"Yes, we will be bonded and from what limited knowledge there is on Sorcery...I suspect an ancillary bond is higher than even a soul bond."

"Soul bonds are very rare."

"They are," Draco paused and then his expression cleared as he considered the options and then went on, "you're worried that if an ancillary bond is anything like a soul bond—once the bond is sealed will mean we won't be able to be away from each other for any great length of time?"

Hermione was amazed at how smart Draco was sometimes.

That was it exactly.

"Yes. I don't want to stop you from following your dreams, but I would like to be included in that too. I have no idea what our parental units are negotiating for our future. I don't want to be exclusively a stay at home witch, but I do want a family and I do want a career."

Draco sighed and pulled her into a soft kiss. "I get that. But love, we don't know what to expect. Maybe instead of looking for trouble, we just deal with what comes. I know how you like to prepare for every case scenario, but in this one instance—I don't think we have a choice. If you want to do a Charms Mastery, we can talk to Severus together. It's not completely unheard of for a Master to take on two apprentices simultaneously. Whatever happens, we will make it work."

"You really believe that, don't you?"

He chuckled and said, "We don't exactly have a choice."

"Nice."

"It is, what it is. And for myself? I'm rather chuffed with the idea that I get to be bonded to you in such a manner."

Hermione stared up at Draco stunned.

Did he really just admit he was excited for them to be bonded?

His laughter at her expression caused Hermione to pout, but he just kissed it away and then moved back to his brewing.

After silently working together for the next hour—Draco's final potion was bottled and labeled and his station cleared. He grabbed his book bag and led them out of Severus office.

"What would you like to do with the rest of our afternoon?" He asked. "Hogsmeade?"

Hermione shrugged, "I wouldn't say no to Honeydukes and dinner at the Three Broomsticks."

"Fine. Let me put this away and grab a few things and we will head on down."

"Okay."

Hermione followed Draco into Slytherin, where thankfully...the common room was empty. She waited until he returned a few minutes later in his overcoat, gloves and scarf. He wrapped his scarf around her neck and pulled her into a kiss, which deepened instantly. After a few moments he pulled back with a wicked smirk and then pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Her shock was palpable, as she stared at the gift.

"Open it witch."

"You got me a gift?"

"What was the first clue?" He snarked and she pushed his chest playfully as a rebuff.

"Git."

"Swot."

"Prat."

"Know it all." He chuckled and then demanded, "open it Princess."

Hermione narrowed her gaze as she took the box and did as requested—her eyes widening at the pretty sapphire earrings.

"What is this?"

"I think they're called earrings?" He bit back with a smug grin. "They go in your ears and you wear them."

"Draco!"

"Don't Draco me witch...I'm allowed to spoil you with gifts as your intended. They are demure, dainty and exquisite. They are also your birthstone, if memory serves."

"They are." She swallowed heavily as she gazed down at the goblin silver and tear drop blue sapphire earrings.

"Will you wear them for me today?"

She sighed and nodded, taking them out one at a time and placing them in her ears. When she was done, Draco smiled pleased with himself—as he cupped her cheeks and kissed her one final time.

"Happy Valentine's."

"But I didn't get you anything."

Draco just shook his head and gave her an incredulous look. "Princess, you don't need to get me anything but your time and attention. Well, that and a snog here and there."

She did smack his chest then and laughed at how open and adorable he was in that moment.

"You're incorrigible Draco."

"Yes, and you're stuck with me."

"Apparently."

He took her arm within his and they headed out of the Slytherin Common Room together—making their way into Hogsmeade, blissfully taking in the clear day and enjoying each other's company.

Completely unaware, they were being watched.