Draco sent a message the next morning to say that they had arrested someone for the murder and that the funeral had been scheduled for the following day.

"I'm going to be rushing round so you probably won't hear from me," he'd written.

Hermione had shuddered; his words were so close to those that Abigail had used. She just told him that was fine and told herself to stop being over dramatic. This was definitely Draco now, and his reasons for not sending messages were perfectly legitimate.

Ginny and Blaise seemed to be continually fussing around her, keeping her busy, making sure she was eating and generally looking after her. Hermione found it amusing and annoying in equal measure. It wasn't like she'd been under a death threat or anything! It was just a misunderstanding created by a desperate woman.

Blaise had insisted that she and Ginny ate at his house and he even cooked.

"That was delicious!" Hermione said, after eating a healthy plate full. "But now I'm really full!"

Blaise grinned. "Bet you didn't think I'd be able to cook?"

"Yes – you have surprised me," Hermione agreed.

"I wonder how the funeral went today?" Ginny asked, glancing over at the parchment as if some words would suddenly appear.

"Mmm," Blaise looked over as well. "Pretty awful, I would imagine."

They all cleared up, magic making it a quick and easy task. They chatted amicably for a while and Hermione felt the most relaxed and happy she had for quite a while. As if he could read her mind, Blaise asked her a question.

"Are you feeling better now, Hermione?"

"Yes, thanks. I was just thinking how relaxed I feel," she smiled at Blaise. "Thank you for looking after me – both of you."

"You're welcome," Blaise said.

"In return for our efforts I expect no messing around from you when Draco gets back," Ginny said.

"Messing around? What do you mean?"

"You've obviously missed him – so you should be making that obvious to him."

Hermione sighed. "I've already told him I've missed him! Stop trying to play cupid!"

"Cupid?" Ginny frowned and Hermione groaned. Of course Ginny wouldn't know what cupid was.

"It's a Muggle myth. There is a character that is supposed to make love matches. It's a little cherub with a bow and arrow. If her arrow hits you then – boom! – you're in love!" Hermione found herself giggling towards the end of her explanation because it sounded ridiculous.

Ginny and Blaise were staring at her incredulously. "Are you serious?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah – it's a bit silly."

Ginny smirked. "Well, if you ask me, Cupid has already aimed her arrow and hit target."

"Oh, please!" Hermione protested. "I am not in love with Draco Malfoy!" Hermione nodded her head forcefully. She could say this without feeling embarrassed because she really wasn't in love with him. That was too big a leap! She liked him and she had missed him but she certainly didn't love him. She waved her hand at Ginny and Blaise. "You two can't accuse me anyway! You're stuck together like glue lately."

"And?" Ginny asked.

"So, are you going out?"

Blaise gave a deep chuckle. "I'm working on it," he said and both girls turned to stare at him. Ginny's eyes were wide and she bit her lip, making Hermione laugh.

"Not so good when it's your love life being discussed, are you?" she taunted her friend who snorted at her.

"Alright! We'll leave you alone – for now."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Hermione felt a little groggy the next morning, the couple of glasses of wine she'd had at Blaise's taking affect. She arrived at the hotel a little later than usual but still early. She had a large briefcase with her and another bag of leaflets she'd been checking. She used her wand to carry them up to her office and then kicked open her door, manoeuvring the bags into the room in front of her.

"What time do you call this?" A voice said and Hermione stepped into her office to find Draco leaning back in her chair, his hands behind his head and his feet on her desk. She stared at him for a few seconds, not quite believing he was actually sitting there.

"Draco!" she managed. She totally forgot about the bag of leaflets she had suspended in mid-air and it came crashing down, spreading its contents all over the floor and making Hermione jump backwards.

"Merlin!" Draco jumped up from her seat and walked over, looking at the floor. "Nice to see things are the same around here. You're still as clumsy as ever!"

Hermione bent down and began picking up the leaflets. She glared up at him. "I'm not clumsy! You startled me."

Draco bent down and grabbed Hermione's hand. She glared at him again but he just lifted his wand and suddenly the leaflets all rose from the floor and swirled into a neat pile on the edge of Hermione's desk. He gave Hermione a superior look and shrugged. "Did you forget you're a witch?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Merlin, he was annoying! Why had she missed him so much? Without really considering it, she reached out and gave him a shove that made him overbalance and end up sprawled on the floor. It immediately made her laugh and she stood up, chuckling to herself.

Draco jumped to his feet, athletically. "Very amusing, Granger."

"I've been back in your company for less than three minutes and you've managed to insult me twice, wind me up and annoy me! You deserved a shove!" Hermione pushed past him and sat down at her desk. "And you've left marks from your shoes on my desk!" She glanced up at him, to find him watching her with a large smirk on his face.

"I can tell you've missed me," he said and Hermione huffed.

"About as much as I'd miss a dose of Dragonpox."

Draco laughed, his shoulders shaking and Hermione found her lips curving up at the edges as she fought her amusement. Despite his ridiculous and relentless teasing, she was really glad he was back and seemingly back to his usual self! She looked up at him, both of them grinning at each other.

"If you think I'm going to let you work today, then you're mistaken," Draco said. "I need your undivided attention."

"Oh – I have to work today…I have a meeting later and some contracts to sort…"

"Cancel the meeting and sort the contracts tomorrow," Draco reached over, grabbed her arm and pulled her to standing. "Today is Draco day." He wriggled his eyebrows at her and she knew she was going to give in.

"I can't cancel the meeting but maybe the contracts can wait…"

"That'll do – put your coat on. I've got something I want to show you."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

They apparated, Hermione squeezing her eyes shut and hoping it would be over soon because she hated the sensation.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing in front of a large house. It only took her a moment to realise it was Draco's new house. The ground floor looked almost finished, glass already in some of the windows and a lovely double front door. The bricks were a light cream colour, with honey coloured wood on the window frames and door. The first floor was still missing glass and third floor had a roof but it was obviously still a work in progress.

Nevertheless, Hermione already liked the overall look of it. It was so different to the monstrosity that had stood in its place beforehand that it made her feel a huge sense of relief. She would never have to see or go near that horrible building again.

"What do you think?" Draco asked.

"It's lovely - I love the wood." She turned to him. "Are we allowed to go inside?"

"Yes - but only on the ground floor." Draco walked to the double door, waved his wand at it and turned the handle.

Inside was no less impressive. The hall wasn't on a grand scale and Hermione liked it because of that. Draco took her through a door on the right, which opened to reveal a large kitchen. To one end, with full length windows were sofas and small tables. On the back wall was a large, round, wooden table. Draco walked to the kitchen and began opening doors.

"I haven't seen this finished," he said, almost to himself. "They've done a good job."

"It all seems to have been done quickly," Hermione commented.

"Well, magic helps of course. I think pulling the old house down was the most difficult."

"However long that took, it was worth it!" Hermione said and then glanced over at Draco, wondering if she'd offended him.

"Don't look so worried - I agree," he said.

He lead her back through the hall and through another door. This lead to a long corridor with several door off it. At the far end there were double glass doors, where Draco stopped and entered. The room was full of glass, with full length windows like the ones in the kitchen. On the walls were several large pictures and, as Hermione stepped around the corner of the 'L' shaped room she saw musical instruments also displayed on the walls and several music stands. There was a chaise longue but the main thing was a large object by the windows, covered by a black sheet.

"This is the music room - do you remember it on the plans?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, it's turned out lovely."

"I'm really pleased with it."

Draco went over to the large object and pulled the sheet away to reveal a full size, white piano. It was gorgeous with a kind of shimmer to its finish, the large lid already lifted to reveal the workings.

"Wow!" Hermione said, joining Draco by it. "It's beautiful!"

Draco nodded. "Yeah - so it should be for what it cost me! It's one of the most expensive items in the house."

"Will you play it, please?" Hermione asked. She wanted to play it herself but felt a little shy about it.

Draco looked over at her. "I haven't got any music here..."

"You must remember something."

Draco stared at her for a moment and then sat at the stool. He placed his hands over the keyboard and then played a few random notes, testing the keys. The sound of it was lovely, with a deep rich tone that reverberated around the room.

Suddenly, he started playing and Hermione listened, trying to recognize the tune. After a few bars, she decided she didn't know the tune but she really liked it. It started way down the notes, a little repeating tune. Now Draco played a scale, his fingers moving skilfully across the keyboard. The following notes were sweet and delicate, with Draco playing the original low notes underneath. Hermione watched him, fascinated by his concentration.

As the tune repeated, it flowed along until the song ended, with just the low notes being played to finish. Draco looked up at her so she smiled widely at him.

"It's lovely," she said. "What is it? I've never heard it before."

"I wrote it," Draco said this quickly.

"Really? You wrote it?"

"Yeah - are you impressed?" Draco smirked at her.

Hermione stepped backwards and nodded. "Yes, I am! It was beautiful. You really are full of surprises!" She moved around the piano and gently pushed him along the piano stool so that she could squeeze next to him. "I think it would be amazing if you played that at the charity evening."

Draco shook his head. "Amazingly self indulgent!"

"Not at all - I think it would go down really well."

"It's not going to happen, Hermione." Draco looked at her, their faces now close. She could see the slight stubble on his chin, the little flecks of silver in his eyes. He suddenly narrowed his eyes, "unless..."

Hermione pulled back slightly. "Unless what?" Her voice portrayed her apprehension at what he might be about to suggest.

"Well, the owner of Silver and his beautiful and talented fiancée could play the song he's written together. That'd bring the house down."

Again, Hermione ignored the majority of his sentence, focusing in on one part. "Fiancée? I thought I was just your girlfriend!"

"Fiancée makes it more interesting, don't you think?" Draco raised his eyebrows innocently.

"Merlin! As long as it stops there! I don't think Harry or Ron would survive being told I'm actually Mrs Malfoy!"

Draco laughed. "There not the only ones!" he joked and Hermione dug him in the ribs.

"Wouldn't your fiancée have been bought a huge, diamond ring?" she asked, teasingly.

Draco turned on the stool to look at her. "I suppose she would. I never thought of you as one of those girls." He said this in a certain tone.

"One of those girls?"

"Money grabbing, materialistic, manipulative..."

Hermione sighed. "You know I'm not like that but if you want people to really believe this, then we have to do it properly. Even the little details."

Draco smirked at her. "Even the little details?" he asked, his voice telling her exactly what little details he had in mind.

Hermione groaned. "I don't think they'll expect a public demonstration of what we'd get up to in bed!" she said. She waved her hand at him. "We can just get a cheap ring." Draco's expression changed and Hermione stared at him. "What have I said?"

Draco hesitated, blinking rapidly. "I have a ring we could use."

Hermione's eyes widened. "You just happen to have an engagement ring lying around? For fake engagement emergencies?"

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Granger."

Hermione laughed. "You have to admit that it's slightly strange."

"I was going to ask someone...once...a long time ago." Draco said this hesitantly. Hermione had no idea what to say, so she just stared at him. He shrugged. "But we can get another one if you want to."

"Well, that depends on how much it would bother you," she said this gently.

Again he shrugged. "It won't bother me - it was a long time ago."

Hermione was dying to ask him for more details, who he had been going to ask and why he had changed his mind but she bit her tongue. She knew him well enough to know that he'd only divulge this information when it suited him, if at all.

"We haven't talked about anything yet," Hermione said.

"Anything?"

"Abigail, New York, your friend..."

"I know - I just wanted a break from it. I hoped we could enjoy ourselves and forget about it all for a day or two."

Hermione reached over and squeezed his hand, before her brain stopped her. "I really missed you." She took a deep breath as she said this and tried not to blush.

Draco's face broke into a smile, that was so warm and sweet, that it made her breath catch in her throat. "Really?" he asked, quietly. "I thought I was just an annoyance."

"You know that isn't true. I hated it when I thought you were just going to leave the hotel, out of blue, like that."

"I wouldn't do that."

"And when I told you I didn't want you to go, your answer was so cold. Like the Draco I remember from school."

"It wasn't me."

"I know."

Draco reached over and covered the hand that she'd placed on his moments before with his. He squeezed her hand, now trapped in between his own. "Then stop thinking about it because it won't happen." He looked around the room. "Although, I will have to leave your hotel."

Hermione nodded but couldn't force a smile. Of course he was going to leave, she'd know all along he was going to leave and why would he want to stay when he would have this beautiful house to move into? That didn't stop her suddenly made her feel forlorn. She looked down at the keys of the piano, to cover the expression that she couldn't keep from her face.

She was so glad he was back but it was a strange kind of happiness because she wasn't sure where she stood. His messages whilst in New York had been affectionate but now he was back, things seemed to be continuing as usual. She wasn't complaining about that either, she didn't want, or expect Draco to return and be gushing all over her. It was just that when he did leave the hotel, where did that leave her? They were friends purely because of that, so did their friendship end when he left? She didn't want that to happen but how did she broach the subject?

"Are you okay?" Draco asked and she nodded, without looking up at him. She saw him frown, out of the corner of her eye. "You're such a bad liar," he commented. "You can't even nod your head convincingly!"

Hermione turned to look at him and shrugged. "I'm fine. Thanks for showing me your house."

"As you'll probably be spending a lot of time here, it only seemed right that you were the first one to see it." These two bits of information jangled around in Hermione's brain - that Draco thought she'd be spending a lot of time at his house and that she was the first one to see it. "Now you look strange again? Don't tell me everything's fine because I can tell it's not."

"It was just what you said...about me spending a lot of time here..."

"Well, you'd expect my fiancée to spend a lot of time at my house, wouldn't you?"

"I suppose so. No-one's going to know if I actually come here or not though, are they?"

Draco grinned. "No, you're right - that's true." He shrugged. "You've caught me out, okay? That was just my excuse to keep inviting you."

He looked at her, amusement making his eyes sparkle, his words giving Hermione tingles. Here he was, flirting with her again.

"You don't need an excuse," she answered, smiling gently at him. She wanted to say something else but somehow she was able to say things to Draco by message, that she couldn't say in person.

Draco reached out and gently touched her hair, his eyes following her fingers. Hermione felt like leaning into his hand, her eyes glued to his face. It was a strange feeling, not because it was Draco - that had stopped being weird a while ago - but their relationship was different to anything Hermione had ever experienced. She was attracted to him, she didn't respond to someone's kisses the way she had if she was attracted to them. Yet, the most predominant feeling she had for him was an affection, a kind of connection.

She suddenly realised what it was like - it was like the feeling she had with Harry. Their history and what they had gone through together meant they were connected in a special, unbreakable way. As strange as it seemed, she felt this same connection to Draco. Yes, he'd been on the other side during their school years; yes, he'd been their enemy but nevertheless, he had been there. He knew what had happened and how they had all been. If he hadn't changed, then there was no way she'd feel any connection with him, but he had changed and a lot.

She covered his hand with her own, pushing it flat against her cheek.

"Maybe it won't be so bad, pretending to be your girlfriend," she said.

Draco pulled her into a hug and she was glad he hadn't tried to kiss her. It wasn't the right time for that - having being apart, Hermione just needed his company. She just needed him around her. Anything else that happened between them could come later.

Well, I'm trying to strike the right balance between them falling for each other (which they are, of course) yet also becoming dependant on one another and proper friends. It would have been so easy to write some romantic reunion scene and have them gushingingly reunited but I didn't want to do that and I really don't think that Draco would ever be like that - even with someone he is falling in love with. This is Draco Malfoy after all - he would have his own unique way of being romantic but I really don't think it would be hearts and flowers. His gesture of showing her his house is his version of romance.

Anyway, hope it was right and came across realistic. I still think the story needs them to be bouncing off one another and fighting, albeit in an affectionate way. I'll stop waffling and let you give me your opinion instead! x