They took their time the next day. Hermione didn't rise until after noon, and by the time she did, Draco had ridden his bicycle into the village and returned with brunch. He had tea waiting for her once she emerged from her room.

The prospect of returning to London weighed heavily on them both and they spoke very little. How could they go back? With Draco's upcoming case, and Hermione's impending job and house hunt, this weekend escape was probably a one-time thing. Could they be friends in the city that broke them?

"Earth to Granger," Draco said, nudging her shoulder. She was leaning against the counter, clutching her empty teacup. She smiled. "You appear to be in a daze."

"This whole weekend has been a daze," she said. "I don't really like the thought of going home."

Draco nodded. "And yet, we must."

"We must."

"You have a new apartment to hunt."

"Indeed," she sighed.

"Will you move back to Wizarding London?" he asked.

"I'll be moving somewhere I can afford, which, unfortunately, may only be up the Ministry's arse." She huffed. Draco raised an eyebrow.

She quickly explained. "That is to say that I think Kingsley would get me into... Flamel House, if I was in dire straights. Which I may be, if I can't find a job fast enough."

"But that place is for witches who have gone absolutely mental," Draco protested, setting down his mug. "We're talking actual basketcases."

Her head snapped up. "Isn't that what I am?" she asked forcefully. He took her mug away and grasped her face between his hands gently. He looked her dead in the eye.

"You are not a basket case," he murmured. "You are not mental or crazy or psycho, or even slightly deranged. You're having a shit time. But you don't belong in a madhouse, all right?"

"All right," she agreed softly.

He pulled her against his chest and she buried her face under his chin. She would miss this place against his chest, where she could put an ear to his chest and hear his heart. Once they left, the spell would be broken; whatever mysterious force that allowed them to understand each other so intimately would dissolve. That's what she expected, anyway. They both had lives that they had built without the presence of the other. It would be impossible to fit this little slice of mercy into her daily struggle. She just couldn't pencil him in. Where would he fit? 'Friend' was too specific a word for him. He was not a hero or a partner or a savior; they were just… kindred.

"I can feel you thinking," he whispered.

She laughed silently.

"If… if you can't find anywhere else… to live, I mean, then… you could live here. Temporarily, until you found something better." His voice rumbled beneath her ear. Hermione closed her eyes and smiled.

"I can't," she said. "I'd get bored without you here to pester me."

"I could get you a cat."

"I think I prefer snakes," Hermione giggled.

Draco chuckled. "Oh, really? Shall I wrest an Anaconda from the Amazon to be your housemate?"

"If you like, though I'm sure he won't cook quite as well as you."

Draco shook with laughter. When she finally pulled away, Hermione pretended not to notice the blush in his cheek. She washed their mugs, while Draco prepared the cottage to be left unoccupied once more. She scurried to his room while he was doing up the shutters outside, and knicked the severe portrait of Draco off the wall. She stuffed it in her bag, at the very bottom; she was sure that he wouldn't even know it was gone.

She nearly forgot her wand from beneath her mattress… she wasn't sure that she really would have missed it.

Once the furniture in the cottage was covered with white sheets, they gathered their travel bags and departed for Hermione's flat, via side-along apparition.

They arrived in Hermione's flat with a jolt, only to be met with a wand trained on them. Draco stood slowly, grasping Hermione's arm to help her stand. Before them stood a man with hair the color of deep russet. Ron.

"You let go of her!" Ron bellowed at Draco. Draco held up his hands.

"I was just helping her up," Draco said.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Hermione said, crossing her arms. "How do you even know where I live-oh, for Merlin's sake! Put that away." She gestured to Ron's wand. He sheepishly stuffed the wand up his sleeve and scowled.

"What are you doing with him?" Ron asked.

Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Mate, we're just coming back and it's been a long weekend-"

Ron's face paled, forcing his galaxy of freckles to stand at attention. "You went on holiday with the heir of Slytherin?"

"I went on holiday with Draco," Hermione corrected.

"Why?" Ron asked, almost desperately.

"That isn't your business," she said.

"I mean, for all I know, you went on a tour of all the nude beaches in France! Doesn't change who he is." Ron jabbed his finger into Draco's chest.

"How did you guess?" Draco exclaimed. "Our favorite was Cap d'Agde, wasn't it?" He looked at Hermione with a twinkle in his eye. She bit back a laugh.

"I quite liked that one, though I think I do prefer the feeling of the fine granules at St. Tropez!" she took his arm. "It has done wonders for your skin!"

"And yours," Draco said with a wink.

Ron stamped his foot on the floor so hard that the board beneath his boot slightly splintered. "You cannot see him."

Hermione stepped forward and pointed a finger in his face. "You can't stop me," she whispered.

"I'll go to the Prophet. You'll both be humiliated," Ron seethed.

"Give my regards to Ms. Skeeter," Hermione said.

"And mine," Draco added.

Ron huffed, turned on his heel, and exited the flat with a resounding slam of the door. It bounced so hard that it popped open again. Draco breathed out heavily.

"Merlin, Hermione," he said, shutting the door and locking it tight.

"I don't know what to say," Hermione breathed.

Draco leaned against the door frame and toed at the ground. "I've created something of a mess for you," he said. "I'm sorry for taunting him, but I just couldn't believe he was here."

"We shouldn't have left," she said. She wrapped her arms around her waist and shook her head. She looked exhausted.

"Let's go back right now." Draco smiled sadly.

She shook her head and smiled back.

"Unfortunately, I have a feeling that we'll be tomorrow's front page story. We can't avoid notoriety now."

Draco stepped forward. "I don't really care. I just… I don't want to step back after this weekend."

Hermione stepped closer too, so they were nearly nose-to-nose. "What do you want?" she asked.

Draco looked down at her lips and leaned down hesitantly. At that moment, before he could get any closer, green light burst from the fireplace, carrying Ginny out with it.

"Oops! Pregnant lady must pee!" Ginny looked between Hermione and Draco, made a swirling motion with her finger, and ran to the bathroom. Draco sighed and stepped away from Hermione.

"I'll see you," he murmured. He apparated out of the flat, leaving Hermione alone with the sound of Ginny singing in the bathroom.