:: Chapter Sixteen: Again ::

"Alright, well I have to head into the office for a while to work on some paperwork that's due on the Marsters case." Harry said kissing Hermione on the cheek and grabbing his coat off the rack.

"I thought you finished that case."

"The case is finished, the paperwork isn't."

"Are you going to be home for Christmas?" Hermione asked softly.

"I should be. I'm not sure." Harry said biting his bottom lip.

"Oh, well my parents invited us to come to their house for Christmas. If you're here of course."

"Sounds like fun. I'll see if I have to do anything. I really must get going."

"Bye." Hermione said as he apparated to the ministry. She sighed heavily flopping down on the couch. She leaned her head back on the back of the couch. "Why did I get myself involved in this mess?" She asked herself aloud. "Being an Aurors girlfriend stinks." She pounded her head on the couch.

"You're going to hurt yourself that way." A masculine voice said coming from the doorway. However the door was closed. Hermione must have been unaware of the popping noise that apparation came with.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione turned on him. "You know you shouldn't be here."

"Afraid Potty is going to walk in at any moment?" Draco smirked. 'Ah the infamous Malfoy smirk.' Hermione said, smiling to herself.

"He's at work."

"And that requires you to beat yourself with a couch?"

"No, its just he job can be quite difficult to work around."

"Oi, the Auror."

"Oi, the Death Eater." Her words caused him to cringe. "I'm sorry. It's just weird to think of Malfoy and a mudblood on the same side."

"I stopped being a Death Eater that day at the manor." He came and sat next to her on the couch.

"Why are you living in London? You probably have that whole manor to yourself don't you?"

"I would've. Had I not ran. I ran away from that place so fast. I lost my wand that day, I lost my father, and I lost you. I lost everything and I had nothing I wanted to save." Hermione's thoughts drifted to the wand in her desk drawer.

"You've been living as a muggle for the past two years?" She asked suspiciously.

"You saw my flat, there's nothing magical there."

"That's ironic. A pureblood living life as a muggle, and muggle-born living life as a pureblood."

"It's not as bad as I thought." He smiled softly, causing her to smile as well. "What? You actually thought I couldn't handle it. A Malfoy not being able to handle a simple challenge such as this?"

"It's not that. That's the first time I've seen you smile, a real smile." He blushed.

"Oh."

"It's not a bad thing. You can be quite adorable when you want to."

He smirked wickedly. "When I want to?" He questioned her. She rolled her eyes.

"All the time."

"That's my girl."

"Your girl. You forget Mr. Malfoy, I'm already taken."

"I told you I could handle challenges. And incase you weren't' aware, I always get what I want."

"I don't think so."

"And why is that?" He asked.

"Because how can you always be right if I can twist your decisions into anything I want?"

"Because. I can." He pouted. She laughed and kissed him softly.