Disclaimer: Only the plot belongs to me!

A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first ever fanfiction story, so I hope you like it! All comments, suggestions, criticisms are welcome! Anything that can help me improve (: Enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

"Draco Malfoy, explain yourself."

Draco walked out of the bathroom, clad in a towel around his waist and another smaller towel in his hand drying his hair.

"Ah, there you are. I was still wondering when you would show up. Uninvited, I must add." He raised his eyebrows, staring at the woman standing in front of him. Before she could retort, he cut in. "Besides, it's a dress. Is it not obvious enough? Sometimes I wonder where that brain of yours went to." He snickered and walked into his room to get some clothes to put on.

"Of course I know it's a dress, but there's practically nothing to put on!"

Draco appeared at the door in a pair of black trousers.

"That's the point."

"That's the point? What do you mean 'that's the point'? I don't see any point here, Malfoy. You want me to wear this to the Winter Solstice dinner tonight?"

Draco grinned like a child standing in a candy store and nodded enthusiastically.

"No, absolutely not. I will not wear this. This is what those women who throw themselves at you wears, Malfoy. I am most definitely not one of those women."

Draco's smile dropped. "That's why I hired you in the first place, Granger." He rolled his eyes and went back into his room.

Hermione Granger huffed in annoyance and threw the dark blue glittery dress – no, piece of cloth - that she had received in a parcel from Draco's eagle owl that morning onto his couch.

"You hired me because I'm not after you or your money. You also hired me because I don't try to kiss your ass and I actually have a brain and the capability. But you're trying to turn me into one of those pea-brained excuse of a woman!" Hermione cried.

Draco appeared at his door again, this time buttoning his white shirt.

"Seriously, Granger. It's just a dress. Besides, you should show some skin once in a while. I bet they're all yellow and shriveled up from the lack of sun."

Hermione crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Says the pale ferret."

Draco made a dramatic gasp. "Hey, this skin…" he gestured to himself, "is flawless. You've been my personal assistant-"

"Financial consultant."

"-for almost three years now. It's about time you showed something above your knee and from your elbow up. No wonder you're still single."

"Well that's the proper attire to work! Besides, I'm still single because there's no one out there who interests me."

Draco snorted. "Well it's rather hard to interest you, isn't it?" He finished buttoning his shirt, and turned to go back into his room.

Hermione stomped her feet childishly and followed him, leaning against his doorframe. "They don't interest me because their reason for being interested in me is because I'm Hermione Granger, and I'm working for you!"

"I don't see the connection between you being you and you working for me. You were the one who accepted my offer of being my personal assistant two and a half years ago." Draco replied from the walk-in closet, pulling out a belt and tying it around his waist. He then turned around and pulled a random tie off the tie hanger.

Hermione rolled her eyes and walked up to him. "Financial consultant." She pressed. "Me, being me, as much as I hate to say it, is extremely efficient and org-" she smacked him on the hand and glared at him, snatching the tie he picked away. She threw it carelessly on his bed. "You're having lunch with Narcissa today, and I have to supervise the decorations for the ball in the ballroom." She went around him to his walk-in closet and took a green tie out.

"What!" Draco exclaimed. "No. Arrange a lunch meeting or something. I am not going to have lunch with her. I will not have lunch with her. I'm seeing her tonight already!"

"Draco!" Hermione shook her head at the blonde in front of her. Putting the tie around his neck, she proceeded to tie it for him. "You've not had lunch with her for a month! She's your mother, and it's obvious that she loves you dearly. You can't possibly be so heartless and leave her alone in the manor with those elves of yours! She might suffer from depression or something due to the loneliness! It's just a lunch, nothing is going to happen…?"

She's standing so close. Was the first thought that entered his mind when she started to tie the tie for him. Her unique floral scent drifted into his nose as he looked down at her while she blabbered on, tying the tie as if it was a normal thing to do for their boss. His eyes travelled from her long curly eyelashes to her freckled nose, then to her full and plump lips. They moved, but whatever she was saying went unheard by him. Many times a day since a year or so ago, including now, he wondered how those lips would feel like against his own. No, he had to control himself. If he kissed her, or even showed the slightest affection towards her, she might run. She might freak and leave the company, leave him, and never return. He knew she did not return the feelings he had for her. She chose to remain single, after the traumatic heartbreak she received from a certain Ronald Weasley choosing career over girlfriend, and showed no intentions of dating again. He sighed. Hermione Granger may be his personal assistant, she may be his financial assistant, but she would never be his. Really? Keeper for Chudley Cannons instead of this… this… amazing, beautiful, gorgeous, independent, smart, incredible… and the list goes on… girl.

As he stared at her cute button nose, his mind drifted to the day his life changed completely.

Draco winced as the porcelain teacup clattered against the kitchen table.

"No, you are joking, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "As much as I wish I am, Potter, it is unfortunate that I have to say no, I am not joking."

"Malfoy, this is not a joke! You-"

"I said, it wasn't." Draco hissed, feeling himself getting annoyed. Really, he felt the obligation to inform his beloved partner of his decision and there he was, sitting opposite him, claiming it all to be a joke. He mentally scoffed.

Harry slammed both hands onto the island between them and closed his eyes, taking a deep, calming breath. "Alright. Malfoy, you're telling me, that you decided to resign your position as an auror?" Harry lost his cool. "This is ridiculous, Malfoy! As much as I hate to say it, you are a brilliant partner, exceptional to work with, and you're resigning? If this is about that acc-"

Draco rudely cut him off. "No, it is not about that. If you dare mention it again, I will personally throttle you to death and mangle you to pieces and feed your body parts to that orange furball Granger calls a cat."

Harry sighed. "Well, if it's not about that, then what is it? From what I gathered and what it looked like, you loved your job as an auror."

"I have my duties as a Malfoy, and it is about time I started a family business to keep the galleons running. Lucius' death in Azkaban was… unexpected, and as Head of House I have to take charge."

Harry rolled his eyes. "That's it? You could have taken leave, start the business, make someone reliable or whatever in charge, and return to being an auror! Now I have to bloody work with the trainees! I-"

"That's incredibly selfish of you to say, Harry."

A new voice interrupted their conversation. The men turned their head to see Hermione Granger, sporting a bit of dirt on her nose, dressed in muggle clothing, holding Crookshanks – yes, the orange furball she called a cat-, frowning at Harry. Seeing Draco in Harry's kitchen had become a norm to her. Out of all the rare visits she made to Grimmauld Place during her school holidays, she had seen him working with Harry numerous times. They had been so caught up in their conversation that neither heard the floo.

"Will everyone stop cutting me off today?" Harry called, exasperated as he rose from his seat and rushed over to Hermione, engulfing her in a tight hug, despite his annoyance. "Hermione! You're here! I missed you so much! How're you?

"I'm fine, Harry." She replied, still holding the disapproving look on her face.

"Granger." Malfoy gave a polite nod, which Hermione returned with a small smile. "Dirt on your nose," he casually informed, trying not to show how adorable he thought she looked.

Hermione's eyes widened as she reached up to wipe the dirt off. And… was that a blush? How cute.

She turned back to her best friend. "Harry, Malfoy has to take care of his family. It's not wrong for him to resign as an auror and start a business. How can you be so selfish and try to tell him otherwise because you don't want to partner with a new trainee?"

Harry had the nerve to sport a guilty look. "Well… I… Uh… How's your internship going?" Trying terribly to change the topic.

'Internship?' Draco thought as he raised an eyebrow, his presence in the kitchen went forgotten by the two best friends. 'Ah, so she has graduated. Just in time…' He smirked.

Hermione sighed and put Crookshanks down on the ground and moved into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea. "Horrible, I must say." She replied, letting him change the topic. "I'm a bloody finance student, not a porcelain vase for them to see and touch. My boss is constantly trying to harass me, and I'm using all my willpower to prevent myself from pulling out my wand and hex him." She then proceeded to mumble under her breath, and Draco caught a few words like stupid muggle, and couldn't help but feel amused.

"I really don't understand you though, Mione'. You've got Outstandings for all but Potions for your NEWTS, you've been offered every single possible job out there unrelated to Quidditch, and you chose to pursue accounting and finance in a muggle university? Sometimes I wonder if there really is a brain in that bush head of yours."

Hermione placed her teacup on the kitchen island calmly and gave Harry a hard smack on the arm. "Firstly, this," she said, pointing at her head, "is no longer a bush head, as you so nicely put it. Secondly, I have all the reasons for attending a muggle university. My parents wanted me to attend that university after I recovered their memories in Australia. It is the top university in Australia, and it also offers the best Business course. My parents wanted to remain in Australia, so I decided if I studied University there, I could spend some time with them and make up for the fact that I obliviated them. Also, I am a woman, and if I want to be successful in my life, I need to be able to manage my money and make sure I am rich enough to sustain myself till I die! I'm not going to depend on my husband for… money." The last word came out as a whisper, as her face morphed from that of seriousness to… was that sorrow?

Draco stared at her, wondering what in the hell happened to her. She was fine until she mentioned… husband. He felt himself get confused. Why would Hermione Granger, of all people, turn sorrowful because of the word 'husband'?

Harry sighed and gave Hermione a hug. "C'mon Mione'. Please don't make me start the Ron-is-not-worth-your-tears lecture."

'Ah, Weasley.' Draco spat in his brain. 'Of course, who else other than the stupid freckled red haired man.'

"It's not your fault that he broke up with you to pursue Quidditch. It's his loss and his misjudgment, but you know him. He's living in all the glory and fame now, but one day he'll regret his decision."

"And his stupidity." Draco added, finger circling the brim of his teacup, looking bored. Harry and Hermione's heads snapped towards his direction, suddenly reminded of his presence in Harry's kitchen.

Hermione frowned. "Ron's not stu-"

"Don't try and argue with me on that one, Granger." He drawled. "Weasley is extremely stupid to let you pass for his failing career. Chudley Cannons? Really? Everyone knows that's the worst team out there now. Every man needs a capable woman in their life…" Hermione's eyes widened as she watched the blonde pick invisible lint of his suit. Was that a compliment he just gave? Capable?

'He thinks I'm capable?' Hermione thought. 'The World has gone mental.'

"So, Granger. Now that you've graduated and you hate your internship." He looked up from his suit and into her brown chocolate orbs. "How about a job as my financial consultant in Malfoy Potions Incorporation?"

Draco was about to finish his walk down memory lane and reminisce about Hermione's adorable gaping-like-a-fish reaction, when a snap brought him back to reality.

"Honestly, Draco, are you even listening to me?"

He smirked at the woman in front of him. "Obviously not." He walked out of his room and into his study to retrieve his documents.

Hermione followed after him. "Draco! She's your mother!"

Draco rolled his eyes and held up a hand, effectively silencing her. "Fine, I will go to lunch with her, if you insist."

Hermione smiled, looking smug.

"Under one condition."

Her smile fell as her eyes narrowed in anger. Of course. Trust the amazing bouncing ferret to come up with some evil Slytherin idea. How could she be so naïve?

She huffed in annoyance. "I must go with you. Again."

Draco grinned like a child. "You know me so well," he said, patting her on the head as he passed her on the way out of his office. "Come now, Granger, or we'll be late for the meeting. And don't forget your dress. Don't leave it lying around like a piece of rag. I spent time and galleons on it."

"I'm not going to wear it!" She shouted from his study, only to receive the sound of disapparition as a reply.

Hermione groaned and banged her head on the wall multiple times, wondering why she accepted his offer all those years ago. Not that she was complaining about her job… her pay was rather high, there were normal working hours, she gets to sleep and eat well, and Malfoy never lets anyone ogle her- not like anyone could, since she covered herself up pretty well- and she liked her job very much. It's just the fact that she could never figure out how he manipulated her into being more like his personal assistant cum financial consultant made her feel like pulling her hair out in frustration. Again, not that she was complaining. Being his personal assistant had its perks and lurks, and the challenges he posed while being his slimy Slytherin self was rather enjoyable for her to bust.

True, Draco Malfoy was a Deatheater. He was an evil incorrigible git. He was meant to kill Dumbledore, but the kind-hearted The-Boy-Who-Lived went to the Malfoy family's trial and gave his word that Draco and Narcissa Malfoy are in fact, harmless. Narcissa Malfoy was released because she saved Harry's life in the Forbidden Forest, and Draco Malfoy was released because he was not given a choice when he was younger and was threatened his and his family's life if he did not fulfill his task. Everyone deserved a chance. However, Harry spoke no words for Lucius Malfoy, knowing that even if he bothered to try, he would still be put in Azkaban.

So Narcissa and Draco were released with no charges, and Narcissa proceeded to travel to France for some time alone, and according to Draco, to 'think through her life', and Draco became an auror after three years of training along with Harry, while Ron became a professional Quidditch player and Hermione went to Australia to study.

Hermione sighed and went to pick up the dress Draco sent and held it up in front of her. It was a blue glittery one-shoulder long sleeved dress, reaching a little above mid-thighs. It's not that she had no figure to show, it's just that she hated showing so much skin and make herself feel self-conscious. Draco Malfoy always had a way for her to feel so annoyed.

She picked up the box she brought along with her and sat down on his leather couch, placing the dress back into it gingerly. Over the years of working together, she had come to understand Draco Malfoy really well. She knew what he liked and what he hated, what annoyed him and what made him grin like a cute five-year-old boy. He had never flashed that cute grin to anyone though. Only to her.

A few months after she started working as his financial consultant, giving him advice on the funding of the company, she turned into his personal assistant, or secretary, whatever. She took care of his schedule, his attire, his meals, everything. She followed him everywhere – business meetings, meals with clients, travelling – her presence was required as she was the financial consultant, so her coworkers never questioned why she had the privilege of meeting rich bachelors and have expensive high-class meals with huge clients. It was just the way it worked. If you wanted to look for Hermione Granger, all you had to do was look for a blonde head and you would see her beside him. For those who didn't know, they would suspect that they were a couple.

Sometimes she felt like his Mother, nagging him to take his meals amidst the work he was doing, or massaging his often-aching shoulders. Ginny used to tell her that she's caring way too much for her boss, teasing her that she's falling in love with him, at which Hermione flat out denied.

Hermione thought that a boss should not be looking at their financial consultant the way he looked at her. Nevertheless, she also thought that a financial assistant's heart should not be fluttering by just looking at her boss work.

Everything became clear to her when he almost blacked out from chest pains one fateful day before an important meeting with a major client. Knowing how important the meeting was, Hermione had no choice but to call for Blaise Zabini, Draco's best mate, and also the Head of Department of Research and Development, to take him back to his apartment, and let her handle the meeting. She had never felt so worried and anxious in her life, not even for Ron or Harry. She made sure she cut short the presentation, going straight to the point, discreetly rushed through the signing of the contract, and immediately after the meeting, apparated to Draco's apartment to see how he was doing. Let's just say, Mr. Desmarais was thoroughly impressed with her. The relief of seeing Draco resting in bed looking fine brought tears to her eyes, and that was the day Hermione Granger knew she was in love with her boss.

She knew the way he looked at her, she caught the way he stared at her lips a few minutes ago, and she had a feeling that he returned the feelings. Hermione never missed the small smile on his lips after she turned away to return to her office after him winning a small argument, never missed the way his eyes lingered on her at every ball, never missed the way he spaced out every time she stood too close to him. She used to find excuses for these small actions – he was feeling smug, hence the small smile; he was thinking what excellent taste he had in picking the gown for her; or he was thinking of other witches who could be standing that close instead of her.

When they were with other people, he would turn into 'Malfoy' and be the cold, cool, authoritative person. But when they were alone, he would turn into the childish Draco Malfoy she knew so well. She told herself to wait and see if Draco would do anything about the feelings, but he never did. Ginny told her that it was her own fault for telling him before that she had no intentions to date again. It probably killed all of Draco's hope for asking her out. Hermione sighed and bit her lip. Her Gryffindor courage seemed to abandon her when it came to confessing her feelings. Or perhaps she was just afraid of the results. What if she had been wrong about what he felt?

She closed the lid of the box and glanced at the clock. She had fifteen minutes till the meeting starts. Mentally running through the documents she needed for it, she stood and apparated to the office.

Hermione rubbed her temples and sighed as she through the halls back to her office. The meeting was finally over. The testing of the new potion products was a mess. The developments of new potions were slow. Proposed budgets for the ingredients were over the top. In other words, Hermione was exhausted.

"If I'm this tired, Draco must be dead beat, he looked really pale." She thought to herself, and decided to give him a pepper-up potion before they went for lunch with his Mother.

She walked into her office and yelped as she spotted who was seated on her chair.

"Ginny!" She exclaimed. "You gave me a scare."

Ginny Weasley grinned and stood from the chair, pulling Hermione into an embrace. "Mione'! How're you?"

Hermione pulled back from the hug. "Exhausted. How about you? Aren't you supposed to be at St' Mungo's?"

Ginny gave a small wave of her hand. "No, today's rather free, so I got a long lunch, so I thought I'd come over and find my b-

"Aw Ginny, I'm sorry! Draco made me have lunch with him and Narcissa in the manor."

Ginny blushed and glanced behind Hermione where the door was, slowly and discreetly inching towards it. "Uh, Hermione, I meant to say my boyfriend." She whispered.

Hermione blinked. Double blinked. Triple blinked. "Boy… what?" Hermione snorted. "Ginny, this company is full of Slytherins. I'm not sure if anyone here is up to your standard…" her voice died down as she realized Ginny looked too embarrassed to be joking. "No way…" she whispered, running through the list of males in the company in her brain. Department of Health Potions, no… Department of Truth Potions… No either… Department of Beauty Products… Definitely not, that department was strictly female, Department of Research and Development… Hermione gasped.

"Please don't tell me it's-

A cough interrupted her, and Hermione, side facing the door, spun around to look at the intruder. She yelped again in shock as the person whose name she was about to say stood leaning against the doorframe to her office.

"Theo!"

Theodore Nott rolled his eyes. "No, Granger. I'm not dating Weasley." He paused, and then shuddered. "Now that image would take a while to erase…" he muttered.

"Oh… then, uh, yes?" she asked. Theodore Nott was in the Department of Research of Development. A rather good-looking man, black hair, brown eyes, strongly built, with a rather good sense of humor and working attitude, which was close to the type of man Ginny liked!

When Hermione first entered the company, she felt like she had intruded Slytherin territory. They were everywhere. The most shocking news to her was that Pansy Parkinson was named the Head of Department of Beauty Products. Perhaps Snape favored his students for a good reason… She remembered thinking all those years ago. Or perhaps he favored them because they really did excel in potions making, or the Dark Arts, whatever.

"Miss Weasley, Zabini asked me to tell you to wait in his office, he would be back shortly from stocking up some potions. He said and I quote, 'Sincerest apologies, my dear love.'" Theo said and made a fake gagging noise.

Ginny gave him a small smile and nodded.

Hermione gasped.

"Zabini? You're dating Blaise Zabini?" she shouted at her best friend. She whirled to face Theo. "She's dating Zabini?"

Theodore shrugged.

"This is not acceptable! He's… Isn't he into blondes? L-like Malfoy! I thought he was gay!" She shouted at Theo.

Hermione turned back to Ginny and gave her an incredulous look. "Ginevra Weasley, you kept this from me because?" she questioned and raised her bag and gave the redhead a hard smack with it.

"Ouch! Hermione!" Ginny jumped and backed towards the door.

"When did this happen?"

"The last… Ball?"

"The last ball." Hermione repeated, taking a deep breath. "Well, that's not so long ago."

"The last winter Solstice Ball…" Ginny squeaked, her eyes squeezed tight as she held out her hands, in hope to protect herself from the smacks about to come.

"The last…" The corner of Hermione's mouth twitched, indicating that she was beyond mad at her friend for keeping such a huge secret. "The last winter Solstice Ball. Ginny, that was a whole bloody year ago!"

Theo, having delivered his message, felt like he was not exactly welcomed in an obvious girl moment, hence decided to silently slip away.

"And here I was thinking I'm the one to blame because I held you back from dating!" She hit Ginny with her bag and missed as Ginny jumped out of the way.

"Here I was thinking my constant 'I'm not going to date any random guy' rambles were rubbing off on you!" Another smack.

"Here I was thinking Zabini was gay!"

Hermione froze as this time an arm blocked her smack. A very muscular and chocolate-colored arm. An arm that belonged to the one and only Blaise Zabini.

"Now, Granger. Don't need to turn into a murderer because of a secret my girlfriend kept from you. Besides, I'm not gay. What gave you that thought?"

Hermione spluttered. "Y-you… You're always… I've never seen you with anyone! You're always with Draco! Staring at him, lost deep in thought, then you frown, and then you sigh and shake your head, looking all worried and uneasy and all, as if he's someone you could never have!"

Blaise snorted and smirked. "What an interesting deduction you got from that observation Granger." He moved from her side to Ginny, putting an arm around her waist and giving her a peck on the lips.

"Hey Red." He murmured against her lips.

"Hey Blaise." Ginny murmured back, looking so flustered as if she had just received her first kiss.

Hermione gaped.

Ginny gently pushed Blaise away and looked at Hermione.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry for keeping this from you. I should have told you about this, but I thought you wouldn't like it as, well, he's your colleague and things may be awkward between the two of you, but he convinced me to tell you today since we would be attending the ball together later. Please don't be mad?"

Hermione sighed and say down in one of the chairs she had and rubbed her temples again. Gosh, how she hated headaches.

"Ginny, I'm sorry for over-reacting. I just didn't expect you to tell me this way, you know? Besides, the meeting tired me out, I wasn't thinking straight. As long as you're happy, Ginny, I'll support you all the way."

Ginny smiled and gave Hermione another tight hug. "Thank you, Hermione. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Do Harry and Ron know about it yet?"

"I invited Blaise to the Weasley Christmas dinner, and they'll both be there. I have a feeling that they'd have a worse reaction than you though, Mione'."

Hermione smiled. Blaise took Ginny's hand and handed Hermione a glass vial.

"Pepper-up potion, looks like you need it."

Hermione thanked him gratefully and quickly gulped down the potion, immediately feeling the effects. "Could you give me another? I think Draco would love to have one too."

"No, he's fine. I just went to see him moments ago." Hermione looked at him quizzically. "Besides, he hates pepper-up potions."

Blaise playfully knocked Hermione's head. "Hello? Hermione Granger? Where did the Hermione Granger that understood Draco Malfoy most go to?"

Hermione swatted his hand away. "Whatever, Blaise. You know I'm tired. Have fun at lunch! I'm going now. Love you Ginny, and see you both tonight!"

As she walked out of the door to her office, she paused and turned. "Oh, and you treat her well, Zabini, or you'll be at the receiving end of my wand."

Blaise slightly paled, and his grip on Ginny's hand tightened a fraction. "Hermione!" Ginny wailed, exasperated and embarrassed. Hermione just laughed and walked out the door and into Draco's office, which was right beside hers and found him resting on his chair, eyes closed.

"Draco. Are you feeling okay? You looked a bit pale during the meeting just now." She said softly, hoping not to startle him.

"What time is it?" he asked, eyes still closed, ignoring her question.

Hermione felt odd. Him avoiding the question meant that he wasn't feeling okay. Brushing the feeling away, she replied, "It's twenty past twelve."

"Exactly?"

"Yes, exactly." Hermione answered, wondering why he asked such a random question.

Slowly, but still without opening his eyes, Draco turned his chair around, facing the glass cabinet where his documents were stored, so that Hermione could not see his face. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his reflection for a while, blinking a few times, then turned back around, smiling at her.

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just having a headache." He stood, replying her previous question. "Let's go have lunch in hell."

Hermione looked at him with suspicion. Something was obviously off about him, and she doubted that it was simply a headache. Knowing him, he might blow his top if she pestered him about it, so she decided she was going to ask Blaise about it that night. Giving him a not-so-teasing smack on the back when he passed her out of his office, she scolded, "Not hell, Draco! Your home!"

Hermione Granger had been to Malfoy Manor a good number of times, but she still could not stop the shiver from running down her spine when she apparated with Draco onto the doorsteps. Just by simply being near the manor got her jittery with nerves. She remembered the first time she was invited to the manor for a ball to celebrate the opening of Malfoy's Potion Incorporation. As Draco was the host, he was inside the manor welcoming guests, so Hermione had to apparate to the apparition point outside the iron gates alone.

She remembered feeling her blood run cold as she stared fearfully at the manor. The memories of being dragged in by snatchers, the memories of Bellatrix's torture, the memories of the death of Dobby, the memories of the war… everything flooded into her mind in that instant as she looked at the manor, and she felt herself sway on the spot, only to be stabled by none other than Blaise Zabini himself.

"Scared, Granger?" she remembered him saying.

In response to that, she had took a deep breath, stood taller, held back her shoulders and lifted her chin a bit higher, "Of course not, I just can't apparate well in these heels."

Blaise rolled his eyes and smirked, offering her his arm to walk her through the metal gates all the way to the front door, which Hermione was grateful for, not that she would admit it. She would probably have apparated directly back home and scold herself for being stupid and accepting Draco's offer for a job. What the bloody hell had she been thinking?

A polite conversation was made as they walked through the Malfoy gardens leading to the front door. Draco told her that the Narcissa redecorated the interior of the manor upon her return from France, but she didn't believe him. Blaise's humor helped to calm her down a bit, though she had doubts about his confirmation of Draco's words. She was too nervous to ask herself why she was suddenly so untrusting towards these Slytherins when she trusted the most evil of them all to give her a high-paying and honorable job.

She remembered standing outside the tall black double doors of Malfoy Manor.

She remembered thinking why it was so quiet.

She remembered the door being pulled open by an elf.

She remembered her jaw dropping and gasping loudly.

She vaguely remembered Blaise chuckling with a humorous "I told you."

She remembered pinching herself.

The interior manor, as Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had claimed, definitely did not look like it did when she last entered. There was not single furniture that was black in the house: huge crystal chandeliers lighted the ceilings; black wooden floors were replaced by clean, white marble; and the furniture was of rich mahogany wood, beautifully sculpted and carved to intricate details; the hallways were filled with beautiful portraits of the Malfoy ancestors, portraits of sceneries, and even some famous muggle work. In short, Hermione was awestruck.

Now, as she stood outside the Malfoy Manor with Draco Malfoy waiting to be received, she couldn't help but feel the excitement start to bubble inside her in anticipation of the ball. Knowing Narcissa Malfoy, she would outdo herself and make this year's Winter Solstice Ball an even better one than the last.

The massive double doors were pulled open and the duo was greeted by a small houseelf.

"Greetings, Master Draco and Miss Granger."

"Hello Trinky" Hermione greeted and smiled.

"Mistress has ordered Trinky to tell Master to go to her chambers, sir, and bring Miss Granger to the dining hall."

Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow and Draco merely nodded.

"Sorry, you'll have to wait a while." Draco said to her.

Hermione nodded and smiled and followed the elf away as Draco left to his mother's chambers.

"Mother, you wanted to speak to me?" he called once he arrived outside his mother's double doors.

"Yes, come in, Draco." Narcissa called.

Taking a deep breath, Draco pushed a door open and found her sitting in front of her dressing table.

"Mother." He greeted.

"Draco, son…" she said softly, turning to face him.

The warning bells in Draco's head set off. His mother only called him 'son' when she wanted him to do something. He only hoped that the something was not what he thought it was. He watched his mother pull open a compartment in her dresser and retrieved a small velvet box. He recognized it immediately and blanched.

"Tonight, son. I want you to do it tonight."

Draco pursed his lips. "No."

"Draco! You've waited long enough!" Narcissa scolded. "When better to do it? Tonight is perfect. The ball, the guests, the atmosphere…"

"No."

Narcissa sighed and sat down at her dresser. "Are you going to wait until I'm old and frail and dying then you're willing to do it?"

"No, mother. Not now, not tonight, not ever! I'm not going to do it."

"Why not?" Narcissa Malfoy asked. "Miss Granger is an incredible woman, and you love her! Why never?"

"I've told you this many times, mother. She doesn't love me the way I do her. You can't just give me Grandmother's ring and expect me to propose to her tonight! We're not even together!Why don't you understand?" Draco exclaimed.

"Do not raise your voice at me, Draco. Your obvious feelings towards her has been going on for years, Draco. Years. Yes son, you've told me many times, and you're always telling me the same reason! If you really love her, you will make an effort for her to love you back!"

Draco narrowed his eyes at his mother. "Do not doubt my love for Hermione. I love her more than anything else in this world."

"Then why, Draco? What is the real reason that's holding you back from confessing? The Malfoy family needs an heir!"

"I know the family needs a fucking heir, mother!" Draco seethed. "You think I don't know about my duties to this family? I know I need to produce an heir, but the person I produce it with will not be Hermione, and it never will be. I won't let her suffer." He then stormed out of his Mother's room, furious. Narcissa frowned.

"Suffer?" she echoed after him. "Draco! Draco, come back here and explain!"

the only response she got was feet stomping down the hallway.

Narcissa sighed and shook her head in disappointment. If her stupid son was not going to do something, she would do it for him.

Using the Slytherin way.

A/N: Thank you for reading! What do you think of BlaisexGinny? Next chapter will be up soon, hope you liked it! Please review! :)))