Upon returning from France, Hermione and Draco settled into a comfortable schedule, dividing their time between work and their friends. Winter months melted into springtime.

Around the beginning of April, Hermione was preparing to leave for Monte Carlo to oversee the nightclub project VERSACELF had been working on so laboriously for so many months.

As she carefully shrank her clothing and placed the small items neatly in her suitcase, Hermione took a moment to reflect on her relationship with Draco. Ever since they returned from Elba and Paris, he became the boyfriend Hermione had dreamt of. He was charming, funny, fantastic in bed, and she felt as if they were on the same intellectual level-for once. She smiled to herself as she went to her jewellery box to pick out some items to bring on her trip. She gingerly fingered a silver chain that Draco had given her last month on a trip they had taken to Greece. The delicate chain had small opal pendant that Hermione had found in a small shop in Mykonos. She placed the necklace in the velvet jewellery bag and returned to packing her clothing. She was leaving in less than five hours.

~*~

"So you mean, this whole time, you've been running around with Granger just so you could get a few invites to all the fancy parties? This is low, Draco, even for you. You know people would have seen you as different from your father soon enough--did you have to get the wizarding world's princess involved? What are you going to do when she finds out? You can kiss the good graces good-bye!"

Draco was lying on his sofa staring at the intricate moulding on his ceiling. Across from him sat the one person who always killed the mood--Blaise Zabini. Now, the Zabini's were some of the most notorious dark wizards after the Malfoy's, but their daughter was wise enough to disappear before the name Zabini had become a staple in Knockturn Alley during the war. Blaise, now in her late twenties, sat in front of Draco, wide-eyed and furious.

"Blaise," drawled Draco, I honestly do not know why you are in such a tizzy over all of this. You never liked Hermione while we were at Hogwarts, what makes you feign sympathy for her now?"

Shaking her head, Blaise rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at Draco, hitting him square in the face. "You fool! Don't you understand, even to this day, that everything I was at Hogwart's was a façade? Are you that dense? My word, Draco, Hermione might not be on my top ten lists of people whose ass I want to kiss, but she's a very influential person in the wizarding world! I would never be stupid enough to piss her off. You have to end this, Draco. Now. The further you get into this relationship, the harder the fall is going to be for both of you!"

"Both of us? Are you deaf? Did you not hear me say that I AM USING GRANGER? I feel nothing for her other than friendship, if that. Sure, she's a bit smitten with me, but who wouldn't be, right?" He flashed a smile at Draco, earning him another pillow in the face.

"Don't give me that, Draco. From the way you talk about her in your letters to me, you would think you were ready to bloody propose to the girl!" Blaise studied Draco's face. It was drained of any emotion, except for a look in his eyes that made her question his intentions again.

"I don't care what you say, or how many times you say it. You're falling in love with her, and when you realize it, she'll have dragged your name through the mud much more than your family ever did." Blaise stood up and straightened out her skirt. Draco looked up.

"Where are you going?" Blaise grabbed her purse, and gave a wave.

"I need to find a place to live. After all, I am back in London, and I'll be damned if I stay at the manor. Be a dear and see if you can get me job at that fancy company of yours." She winked and was gone in a flash.

Draco laid back down on the couch rubbing his temples. Blaise was an old friend. He had helped her hide out until he war was over and they wrote to each other constantly. And now his oldest friend was telling him what a gigantic prat he was, and this time, it wasn't to praise him, but literally condemn him in a way.

'I am not going to let this get to me. Just a few more months, and I can stop pretending.' He got up and checked his watch. It was time for him to head to Hermione's to see her off.

~*~

"I'll miss you," whispered Hermione as she enveloped Draco in a hug. Hermione was never a very openly passionate woman, but for some reason, she felt the need to reassure him that she cared.

Kissing the top of her head, Draco pulled her in and closed his eyes. 'If it was a different time, perhaps I could see this being real,' he thought as Hermione pulled away and picked up her bag.

"I'll own you or call once I arrive in Monte Carlo. I shouldn't be more than a few days." With a wave, she was gone.

~*~

The few days actually turned into a few weeks. It had been three weeks since Hermione had left and she called or owled every night. She was staying to oversee the decorating and purchasing of furniture for the new club. She hardly trusted anyone, especially with such a big client. She also had the terrible tendency to let her work consume her entirely.

Feeling somewhat restless in the office, Draco grabbed his cloak and told his secretary to hold his calls until the afternoon. He went off to walk off his thoughts in Diagon Alley.

As he was browsing through some outdoor vendor stands, he ran into a most unexpected acquaintance.

"Well, well. It's been ages, darling. And here I heard you were cavorting around with Granger."

Pansy Parkinson eyed him gleefully as she walked closer to him. Her blond hair now straightened her clothes more demure. This certainly was not the Pansy he last saw when she was working as a call girl for high society wizards. He felt an unexplained attraction as she glided across the cobble-stoned street so effortlessly in four-inch heels.

Placing a chaste kiss on his cheek, she smiled. "So, what brings you out of your fancy office in the middle of the day? Granger lost your leash?"

"I know of no such leash. And I was feeling restless in the office, so I thought I would get some fresh air." Pansy raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Restless? Or just plain randy?" Laughing, Draco began to walk, and as predicted, Pansy followed his stride.

"Randy? Hardly. You're looking well. Done playing around are we?"

Pansy just shrugged, "It wasn't my calling. I actually opened a shop down by Knockturn Alley." Seeing Draco's look, she playfully swatted his arm, but not before she let her touch linger, "Wipe that look off your face, it's perfectly legitimate. I sell intimate apparel for the well-to-do."

"So you see knickers? Well, not far from your last job..."

Feigning a look of disdain, Pansy stopped walking. "Be nice Draco. Can't you say something nice to your old school chum? I'm sure Potter and his gang of merry do-gooders haven't polluted that wonderful mind of yours too much."

"Shut it, Pansy. What is it that I can help you with? Or is our conversation over?"

Pansy shifted her gaze down as a coy smile played on her lips. She leaned forward and kissed Draco's cheek, "This is just the beginning," she said as she gave a wave and walked down towards Knockturn Alley.

~*~

"What do you mean you don't have a moment to spare? Three weeks and you've completely forgotten about your friends!"

Ron Weasley fumed as he paced around his living room. An image of Hermione floated in the fireplace, her expression hard to read.

"Ron, don't be like this! If it's any consolation, I haven't spoken to Harry or Draco or Ginny in the last few days either." Hermione sighed. Here she was in beautiful Monaco and her best friend was yelling at her through the fireplace. Placing her parchment down, she began to plead with Ron.

"I don't want to miss such an important ceremony, but this is my work, my life!"

Ron stared at Hermione's image and frowned. "Whatever. Harry and I are joining the International Federation of Wizards Council and they're throwing us a grand party and you can't take one night off to come and be there for us. You're too consumed by your work. I'm surprised Draco hasn't strayed after you promised to be home in a few days. You're into week four now aren't you?"

Hermione was shocked. Ron had never spoken so harshly to her. Before she could respond, she heard a door slam and saw Harry's face appear.

"Well, 'Mione, nice of you to drop by. Are you home yet? Did Ron tell you about the IFOWC promotion they gave us? Isn't it brilliant?! I just can't wait to see my new office it's going to be so--" Harry trailed off. He noticed Ron's sulking figure on the sofa and Hermione in tears.

"Did you two have a go at it? Well, what was it about? I haven't seen you two fight in much too long!"

Ron got up and pointed towards the fireplace. "If you must know, our dearest and bestest friend has decided to extend her five day trip to Monte Carlo into a few more weeks, so she won't be here for the induction ceremonies. Apparently our success is just going to infringe on her life."

"Ron Weasley that is not what I said!" Hermione glared, wishing she could hex him via floo.

"Oh, well, then, why aren't coming?"

Harry looked at Ron, then at Hermione's image. "You're not coming? Not even for a few hours? You can apparate back you know. Come and see us, see Draco! He's been trying to come to supper now for the last three weeks pining over your absence."

At the mention of Draco's name, Hermione's face softened. She missed him terribly, but she did have work to do.

"Look, I'll see about it, alright? I'll have Trilly wiz-fax me the details. I'll try, but no promises."

"Your promises are worthless anyways. I'm done with this conversation." Ron stalked out of the room in a huff, leaving Harry sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace."

"Oh, harry, please don't be cross with me. Please understand."

Harry was silent for a moment. "Do you remember when Dean was accepted into the accelerated honours program when you were dating?" Hermione nodded her head.

"He was so proud. He loved you, you know? Of all the people he wanted to please, it was you. We had that party for him, even Dumbledore came by. He waited all night for you, he did. Sat by the steps waiting to hear you come in through the portrait hole. You were working that night. An essay of some sort that wasn't due for another three weeks. That's when he strayed, that's when he lost hope."

"What are saying Harry?" Harry looked up and gave Hermione a weak smile.

"This isn't the first time you've let your work consume you. Don't give us a reason to stray. This is important, especially to Ron. You know perfectly well that there are two teams of perfectly capable designers in Monte Carlo with you. If you don't make the effort now, how do we know you'll make it later? And as for Draco, in case you were wondering, he hasn't strayed, not to my knowledge, but he's not going to be second place in your life Hermione, and neither are Ron and I. Good night." Harry flicked his wand over the fireplace, watching Hermione's tear stained face disappear.