The warm rays of the morning sun hit Hermione's sleeping figure. She began to stir in her sleep, faintly aware that something was not quite right this morning. Slowly opening her eyes, she pushed the covers away from her face and sat up to stretch.

"You're an awful sight in the morning Granger."

Hermione bolted right up and was once again, to her dismay, face to face with Draco Malfoy.

'Damn,' she thought.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY BED?!!!"

Draco got up and sat down on the settee at the end of her bed. He pouted and leaned towards the bed.

"You mean you don't remember last night at all? After all that time screaming my name I would think you would be a lot less cranky in the morning."

Hermione got up and grabbed her robe. She hated herself for sleeping in her underwear.

"Nice knickers you've got. I am a bit put off that you don't sleep in the nude."

Hermione marched over the grabbed his arm and dragged Draco to the sitting room and pushed him down on one of the couches.

"How did you get in here? No one can apparate into my room! There are wards everywhere."

"Your lovely housekeeper, Mrs. Castleton I believe was her name, let me in. I told her you were expecting me for breakfast and that you just forgot to tell her last night. She was kind enough to send breakfast up. She said you'd need a nice strong cup of coffee, so I took the liberty of pouring yours already." Draco handed Hermione a cup. She looked at it, " Don't worry, I didn't poison it."

Hermione sat down on the couch and took a sip and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and faced Draco.

"Why are you here? You never answered my question."

Draco took a cup of coffee from the table and poured himself a mug, "Well, I thought you and I need to make amends. It is a bit unfortunate that two intelligent and able-minded individuals have to continue such childish antics at the workplace. I came here to make peace."

With narrowed eyes, Hermione stared at Draco. 'Peace? This stupid git wants to make peace?'

Draco watched Hermione. She looked absolutely incredible, despite the mussed up hair and a face sans make-up. 'Perhaps getting to know her better won't be completely unfortunate,' he thought.

"Very well, I accept you peace offering on one condition."

"Well, if it's to invite me to bathe with you, I hate to break it to you but I already took a shower this morning."

"Shut up," said Hermione as she got up from the couch. "See, this is why I can't stand you Draco Malfoy! Your stupid insinuations and your bloody awful attitude! I cannot fathom being your friend if you keep being such a prat!"

Draco thought for a moment before speaking, "You're right. But it's so much more fun when we bicker. Gives us an old 'married couple' look."

The thought of being married to Draco Malfoy caused Hermione to choke on her coffee.

"Look, Malfoy, I accept your offer of peace. I will do my best to be civil around you. Now please leave my room so I can get ready in peace."

"Is that an invitation to stay for breakfast then?"

Sighing, Hermione began to walk towards her bathroom. "Stay if you want. You may wait for me in the den. I'll be down in a moment."

Draco smiled as he carried his cup of coffee out of her suite. 'Phase One of Wooing Hermione complete.' He chuckled as he made his way down the stairs.

*~*

Ron Weasley stood outside the front door of Stoneybrooke, the name Hermione gave to her estate. He admired the simplicity and elegance of Hermione's home, despite it's monstrous size. He never understood why she insisted being in this place by herself, but Hermione was always the independent type.

He pressed the giant lion doorbell, 'Always a Griffyndor,'he thought as he waited to for the door to open. A tall man opened the door and gave him a warm smile.

"You must be Mr. Weasley. Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy are waiting in the den."

'Malfoy?' Ron stepped into the vast front hall and dropped his bag. The butler immediately levitated it up the stairs to what Ron assumed was his room. A short woman appeared shortly.

"Mr. Weasley! Ms. Granger is this way." He followed the woman down a long hallway and through an arched doorway.

The sight before him was something Ron never thought he would see. Hermione and Draco Malfoy sitting on a couch TOGETHER….LAUGHING.

Hermione looked up and ran up to give him a hug. "Ron! You're here! Draco was just telling me the most interesting story about how he happened upon Pansy working at that awful brothel, Madame LaReau's, a few weeks ago. Imagine Pansy Parkinson selling herself for spare change…but I'm not completely surprised."

Ron just stood there staring at Draco; Draco walked up and shook his hand.

"Good to see you again Weasley. It's been a while. Come sit and have a chat."

Ron went over and sat on a chair facing Draco and Hermione.

"I don't know where to begin. Last night Hermione was telling how much she wanted to castrate you and leave your goodies in the middle of Diagon Alley for everyone to see just how 'inadequate' you were, and now you're here having drinks in the middle of the afternoon and laughing together. I must be in the wrong house."

"Oh," said Hermione as she sipped on her drink, "Don't be stupid Ron. We still really hate each other, but thought it would be nice to be a bit civil to one another since we're working together. And Draco isn't that awful when he's not sneaking peeks up my skirt."

Ron just shook his head and picked up a glass that magically appeared in front of him.

"I won't ask questions, but I can't wait to tell Harry. So, what are we up to for today? I'm starving."

*~*

After a short lunch, Draco headed home and Ron was walking up the stairs towards his room. He paused outside his door and turned to walk down the hall to see what Hermione was doing.

He opened the door and found hermione hard at work on what looked like a wedding dress.

"Blimey, don't tell me you and Draco are getting married!"

"Oh, hello Ron. No, this is the prototype of Parvati's dress. I'm making a sample dress for her fitting on Monday. So, come sit and tell me all about Iceland."

"Iceland was boring, tell me all about Draco."

Hermione pinned the fabric she was holding to the mannequin and stretched out on the floor.

"What's there to tell? Harry enlightened me the other day by telling me to grow up and get over this little tiff Malfoy and I have had for all this time. He pissed me off this morning then we made peace and that's that. I have to admit, he's not so bad when he's being civil."

"Well, I hope it's for good. I mean, harry and I made amends with him years ago. He's quite a guy really. Just watch out, I heard he loves brunettes."

Hermione shook her head, "don't be silly. Malfoy and I have a working relationship. I still loathe him, but I can be nice. It's nothing more than that. Why don't we go and do a bit of shopping. I can show you around our new store in London."

"Alright," said Ron as he and hermione got up.

Hermione grabbed her purse in her room and paused to think about what Ron had said about Draco and brunettes. 'Malfoy? Ever thinking about liking me? That's ridiculous. I don't like blonds anyway….but he does have such a great arse….damn it! No more dirty thoughts about Malfoy! Get out of my head!' Hermione shook off the mental picture of Malfoy's ass, and grabbed her coat.

'I've been single far too long if im looking at Malfoy's ass.'