Hermione sat up in bed the day after Boxing Day and smiled. Being with the guys at the Quidditch match yesterday had been more fun than she had expected. She knew Draco had apologised to Harry but she had expected them to be uncomfortable around each other for a while due to their past. But they had sat, side by side, for the entire match, drinking ale, laughing, and cheering. They even made plans to watch the next match together. She was beyond happy that her two friends were getting along and hoped it would continue.

At one point when Harry and the Malfoys had been invested in the game, Hermione pulled Severus to the back of the box and cast a Muffliato around them. He cocked an eyebrow at her casual use of one of his spells, but she just shrugged. He was mistaken if he thought she wouldn't use such a handy spell just because Harry had found it.

"I need your advice," Hermione said.

"And what makes you think I want to help you?" Severus asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"Because you never pass up the opportunity to give people your opinion, wanted or not."

"You ask for my advice then insult me?"

"It's not an insult, just an observation. Now, will you help me? Or should I just ask Lucius instead?"

He glared at her just like she thought he would. She knew he wouldn't turn her away when she goaded him with getting advice from someone else. "I supposed I can assist you."

Hermione told him about the offer Kingsley had extended to her and Draco, leaving out the parts pertaining to the law. Instead, she said that Professor Vector had approached Kingsley about having them work for the Ministry.

"Why are you asking me what you should do?" Severus asked when she had finished. "I'm not your head of house."

"Because," Hermione responded, "you're my friend and I know you will be honest, regardless of my feelings. And you did tell me to come to you anytime I needed someone to talk to. So what do you think?"

"If you were to take your Potion's N.E.W.T. today, I think you would receive an O. You can follow directions well enough. The other Professors have mentioned that they were surprised you returned because you could have passed their subjects without finishing the school year."

"And would you say the same thing to Draco?"

"No." Severus paused and lifted his finger under her chin to close her open mouth. "Draco could have passed his Potion N.E.W.T. in fifth year."

"You are such an arse!" Hermione said, but grinned at him.

"I think you are both up to the task, so I recommend taking the offer you were given."

"Thank you, Severus."

As Hermione and Severus moved away from each other, she saw that Lucius was watching them, but he didn't ask her about it beyond inquiring if she was alright. When she told him she would talk to him about it later, he had studied her face before giving her hand a squeeze and returning his attention to the match. Hermione had been thankful he didn't push the subject. The game was still going after four hours when Hermione bid the men goodbye. Lucius had walked her to the Floo in the suite before kissing her hand and helping her into the fireplace.

Stretching, Hermione got out of bed and went through her morning routine while making a mental note of everything she had to do that day. She wanted to talk to Draco and then she needed to start revising as soon as possible if he decided to take the offer as well. A wave of anxiety washed over her at the thought of sitting the exams so soon, but she pushed it away, remembering Snape's words from yesterday. If he thought she could pass them, then she knew she would. He didn't give out compliments often and wasn't one to sugar coat things.

Hermione had just stepped through the kitchen door when she stopped. In front of her, heads on the table with matching pools of drool, were Harry and Draco, an empty bottle of Firewhisky between them. Closing the door as quietly as possible, Hermione made her way to the potions cupboard and pulled out two hangover draughts before preparing tea for the boys and setting it in front of them and starting the toast.

"Harry, Draco," she called, shaking them gently. Two matching groans of pain escaped them and she bit back her laugh. "Hangover cure and tea are in front of you."

Harry blindly reached around for the vial before Hermione noticed he didn't have his glasses on and, taking pity on him, grabbed it, took out the cork and handed it to him. She turned as Draco started muttering, his volume and panic getting louder.

"I can't see. Why can't I see? What is going on?"

That explains where Harry's glasses went to.

Hermione reached over Draco's head, pulling the glasses off of his face and handing them to Harry. Draco gulped down his potion before sighing when it kicked in. They were both draining their tea when Hermione placed the toast on the table and started questioning them.

"What happened to you two?" she asked.

"The match lasted another three hours after you left. To celebrate the win, we decided to come back here and have a drink," Harry explained. "But somehow we ended up drinking the bottle."

"Somehow?" Draco said, incredulously. "Potter thought it would be a good idea for us to apologise for everything we did to each other at school and take a 'shot of forgiveness' after."

"You two are idiots," Hermione said, shaking her head. "But you had fun?"

"Top night!" Harry and Draco said together before laughing at some joke that was only funny to the two of them.

"I'm happy you've buried the hatchet, but—"

"What's a hatchet?" Draco asked. "And we buried something?"

"Muggle phrase," Harry said. "Means we made peace with each other."

"Oh, you mean 'repaired the wand', got it."

"Anyway," Hermione said, stopping them before they got side tracked. "Harry, I have a few things I need to talk to Draco about. Do you mind?"

Harry drained the last of his tea and stood up. "I need to go shower and brush my teeth anyway. See you later, Malfoy."

"See you, Potter. Thanks for last night." Draco said. Once Harry was gone, he turned back to Hermione. "I had no idea he was so much fun. What did you want to talk about?"

"I'm glad to see you two getting along." Hermione smiled at him. She had always thought Harry and Draco would be friends if they would get over their house and blood prejudices. "I wanted to talk to you about this law and working for the Ministry. I talked to Severus yesterday and he thinks we are ready to sit our N.E.W.T.s but I wanted to see what you were thinking."

"I think I want to do it. I still need to talk to my father about it, but it seems like the logical way to move forward. I would be off probation and working at the Ministry will improve my image."

"I'm sure it will. But you no longer being a slick-haired git helps that too."

"Your words cut deep, Granger."

"Get home, Malfoy. I'm sure Lucius is worried about you."

"I should get home. But Joe popped over last night before we were too far in our cups to make sure we were safe. I'm sure Father sent him."

"Good. Let me know when you talk to your dad and I will send Kingsley an owl with our decision."

Hermione,

I wanted to invite you to go out to dinner with me on New Year's Eve, but Draco mentioned to Severus that he was going out to Diagon Alley with you, Harry, and a few other friends to ring in the new year.

How do you feel about coming over to the Manor the next day? We can spend the afternoon in the library and have dinner on the balcony overlooking the gardens. It's charmed to stay warm all year round. I want to be with you as we start a new year.

Yours,

Lucius

Hermione smiled at Lucius' invitation. It didn't matter how many times they'd written each other, his handwriting never ceased to produce butterflies in her stomach. The way he just casually dropped that he wanted to be with her made her heart melt. She'd always wanted to be with a man that appreciated her, wanted to spend time with her, and saw her as more than a bookworm. Summoning her pen, she wrote him back

Lucius,

I was not aware that I had plans for New Year's Eve, but Harry is notorious for forgetting to tell me things until the last minute. At least now I know I need to pick up some Sleekeazy's today or tomorrow.

I would love to spend New Year's Day with you at the Manor. I'm itching to get my hands on all your books. So much knowledge just waiting for me to discover it. And spend time with you as well. Dinner sounds lovely. Is there anything I can bring?

Love,

Hermione

She was down in the kitchen teasing Harry about making plans for her without talking to her when Joe appeared next to her with a pop. Harry yelped and toppled sideways out of his chair. She greeted the elf who bowed low to her. Putting a small box on the table, Joe snapped and it enlarged.

"Master Lucius is hoping you's be liking his gift," Joe squeaked out.

Before she could answer him, he'd disappeared with another pop. She didn't know why Lucius was sending her a present, but she decided it was probably something she'd have to get used to if she was going to be with him. He seemed like the type of man that liked to shower his partner with gifts. Opening the box, she grinned.

"What did he send you?" Harry asked, coming around to look in the box.

"A few bottles of Sleekeazy's, a new jacket, and," she stopped, taking the jacket out of the box to see what was below it," a new dress and heels."

"Merlin, Mi! I'm surprised he didn't send you lingerie to go with it."

Hermione was still looking through the box and blushed as she took out a voucher with a note attached. She'd thought he'd sent her the outfit to wear to his house but he told her wanted her to come over in her casual clothes and instead wanted her to have something new to wear out with her friends.

"He said he didn't know what I preferred so I should pick it out myself."

"You're not planning on taking me with you to buy it are you?" Harry looked half scared, half disgusted.

Hermione laughed. "Absolutely not. There are some things I don't think we need to do together. I'll owl Ginny and Luna."

New Year's Eve 1998

Hermione was a little tipsy as she wrapped her arm around Draco's shoulder. It was five minutes to midnight and whilst she'd been having a great time with her friends, she wanted to see Lucius. Knowing that she had to marry him soon had changed the way she looked at him, looked at their growing relationship. By the end of the next year, she'd be his wife. Shouldn't they start the new year off together?

"Draco," she yelled in his ear, "I'm leaving. Tell everyone I said goodbye?"

"No way," Draco said. "You're too drunk to Apparate and the Floo network will be packed. Why do you want to go home anyway? I thought you were having fun."

"I am. But I want to be with your father. And I'm tipsy, but not drunk. I'll be okay."

A huge grin broke across his face. "He'll love that. But you're still not Apparating. Joe!"

Joe appeared before them and screwed up his eyes, the noise of the Leaky Cauldron obviously loud in his large ears.

"You's be needing me, Master Draco?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, can you take Hermione to the Manor? She wants to see Father," Draco told him.

Joe's eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically, holding his hand out to Hermione. She turned to Draco and thanked him before taking the elf's hand and allowing him to take her away from the pub.

Lucius was lying on a chaise lounge in the Conservatory looking at the stars through the glass ceiling when he heard the pop of one of his house elf's next to him. Turning to see what the elf might need, he was shocked to see Hermione holding Joe's hand. He had just been wishing that she was with him, bringing in the New Year with him.

"Hermione?" he asked, standing up and wrapping his arms around her. He heard Joe leave. "What are you doing here?"

She blushed then shrugged her shoulders. "I wanted to start the new year off next to you."

"Is that so? I was just wishing for the same thing."

He stepped back from her and held her out at arms length, looking at how the outfit he'd picked out looked on her. The new jacket fit her perfectly but hid most of the cocktail dress. Turning her, he slipped it off her shoulders and tossed it behind him. He pulled her tamed hair to the side and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck. She moaned and he held back the urge to bend her over and fuck her right there. They weren't at that point in their relationship yet but it didn't mean he didn't want her.

"Turn around, love," he whispered in her ear. "Let me see how you look."

She was grinning as she turned around twice before stopping to face him. He'd picked out a short, silver sequined dress that clung to every curve of her body. Salazar praise the Muggle who invented the miniskirt or whatever the hell the style was called. The damn thing ended about an inch past her arse and paired with the heels he'd picked out, her legs seemed to go on forever.

"Thank you again for the present, Lucius," she said. "This entire outfit was perfect."

"I've never seen a woman look so sexy in a dress. I'm honoured you wanted to spend the rest of the evening with me. Would you like to dance?" He held his hand out to her.

"There's no music."

He flipped his wrist and a soft waltz filled the room. She took his hand and he led her to an open space near the back window. He pulled out his wand and cast a lasting tempus charm to hover near them so they could countdown to midnight. Two minutes to go. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close. It wasn't the way he was taught to dance, but he wasn't going to turn down the chance to hold Hermione. To hold his witch.

Because that is what she was. In the last two months, he'd come to feel more for her than he'd ever felt for another woman. He didn't love her. But he did care about her. He wanted to be with her more. Each time he saw her, each letter they exchanged, his desire to be with her grew.

The countdown was at fifteen seconds. They stopped moving and he tilted her head up, staring into her eyes. A small chime sounded from his wand.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers. She tasted like firewhisky and chocolate and he was pretty sure it had just become his favourite flavour. He pulled her closer to him, wanting to feel as much of her as possible. She fitted in his arms perfectly. Breathing hard, she broke the kiss and looked at him.

"Happy New Year, Lucius," she whispered.

"Happy New Year, Hermione."

They made their way back to the chaise and he pulled her down to lay next to him, his arm around her shoulder. She snuggled into his side and sighed.

"Lucius," she said quietly a few minutes later.

"Yes?"

"Can we stay here tonight? Sleep in here?"

"I thought you weren't ready for that."

"I'm ready for sleeping but not sex or going further than a few kisses. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is, Hermione. Why don't we change into pyjamas and then we can sleep here?"

Lucius regretfully left her to Apparate to his bedroom and change. He'd sent Joe to collect something for her to wear and he wasn't sure he liked the smirk his elf had given him. He took longer than normal to get ready for bed, not wanting to Apparate back into the Conservatory while she was changing. Well, he wanted to see her change, but he wasn't going to. He respected her too much for that, even if his cock was half hard at the thought of holding her in his arms all night. Glancing at his watch, he thought ten minutes was plenty of time and he turned on the spot.

Hermione was standing at the back window when he appeared in the room and he grinned at the outfit Joe had picked out for his witch. Even from the back, he could tell she was wearing an old Slytherin shirt that came down a little bit longer than her dress had. He prayed she had shorts on under it because he didn't know if he would get a wink of sleep if she was only in a shirt and knickers.

"Joe thought it would be funny to put me in one of Draco's shirts," she said, turning to face him. "You have quite the cheeky elf there."

"He likes making me happy," Lucius explained, walking towards her. "He knows seeing you in my house colours would drive me mad."

"He tried to make the chaise larger for us, but I told him I wanted to cuddle with you all night. He brought blankets and pillows for us."

She was clearly nervous and letting her mouth run away from her. He wrapped her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her head. "I don't know what has you so nervous but I promise I'll behave and keep my hands to myself."

"I just feel like I'm forcing my presence on you. I just showed up and interrupted your evening. And now I'm taking you from your bed to sleep on a small chaise an–"

"Hermione," he said forcefully, cutting her off. He tipped her head back so she was looking at him. "I was in here thinking about how much I wished you were beside me. If I didn't want to sleep in here with you, I'd tell you. Just like I expect you to tell me when you don't want to do something." He led her over to where Joe had made the chaise up with sheets and a thick blanket. "Now let's go to bed so I can hold you in my arms. In the morning we can talk more about it if you want to over breakfast."

"Okay," she answered, clearly relieved.

Lucius laid down on the chaise first. He turned so he was on his side, pulling the blanket up he nodded and Hermione slipped under it and wiggled until her bum was pressed against him. She rested her head on his outstretched arm and he wrapped the other one around her waist, holding her tight. It had been years since Lucius had slept with a woman in his arms but he didn't think it had ever felt this good before.

Just like their Arithmancy numbers, they fit together perfectly.

A/N: Not going back to Hogwarts means more Lumione time!