A/N: Hey all! Thanks for the reviews! You all rule! Anyway…. Onto the chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I only own the plot and characters I create, nothing more!

Chapter Eight: No Strings Attached

Hermione sat down on her white lounge and stared blankly at the floor. Her cat curled up beside her and meowed at her. Hermione stood up and carefully allowed the black owl to crawl onto her arm.

"Go back to Ron. You're his owl, not mine," whispered Hermione as she opened a nearby window.

The owl flew off her arm; it wings gliding through the air and flapping every few seconds. Hermione closed the window and spotted the letter Luna had given her laying unopened on the coffee table. With a deep breath she walked over and opened it.

Miss Hermione Granger,

The Australian Ministry of Magic's Wizarding Business department has come to notice the success of your business: Muggle Magic Weddings. We are offering you to open a store here in Australia. You have the choice as to what state and town you wish to have your store in. We will allow you six months to reply and organise anything that needs to be.

Sincerely,

M.A. Cooke.

Mistress of Wizarding Business Department

Hermione folded the letter, actually smiling. She closed her eyes and was gone with a crack, reappearing in Harry and Ginny's lounge room.

"Harry! Ginny!" cried Hermione running into the kitchen where the couple were making their dinner.

"Hermione," cried Ginny looking up at her, "Are you okay?"

"Perfect! Guess what the Australian Ministry have offered me?"

"What?"

"The chance to open up a wedding store there, in any state and town of my choosing!"

"Oh my, Hermione that is huge!"

"I know, it's the start to my lifetime dream of owning stores all over the world!"

Ginny and Harry smiled… but then Harry frowned, "What about mine and Ginny's wedding?"

"Don't worry I am going to wait till after your wedding when I will accept. I have until October. And it is May so don't panic."

Again Harry frowned, "You seem really happy, I mean other than this why else are you happy?"

"Oh… well I did the right thing, with Ron. I broke it off with him engagement and relationship, other than friendship."

Harry and Ginny nodded.

"You did the right thing Hermione," said Ginny softly, "He'll get over it and you."

"I hope," sighed Hermione.

"What made you do it?"

Hermione didn't answer, as vivid images of just two hours ago flew through her mind. His hands running over her body making her feel as if she were on fire. Quickly she shook her head and answered, "A lot of thinking."

"Right," replied Harry not believing her.

"I'd better go," smiled Hermione, "See you later."

Without waiting for their reply, Hermione left.

O

"Draco!" snapped his mother entering his bedroom, "Your back."

Draco sat upright on his bed, where he had been laying remembering the amazing thing he'd experienced two hours ago, "Yeah. Why?"

"What is this all about?" asked Narcissa holding up the note she'd found, "I know whom it is from!"

"She needed to confirm something… you know to ensure the wedding really is cancelled."

"Draco it is after business hours. The girl hates working after business hours."

"I know. But she really needed to confirm the information."

"DO not lie to me! What did she want?"

Draco stood up off the bed glaring at his mother, "What's it to you? We had sex! There now you know! She needed to get over her obsession with me, and we talked then we winded up making love."

"Making love? You called it making love? Draco you love the girl!"

"No I don't. But I know it wasn't just plain sex Mum."

"Do not do this, not now. Your father and I are going to find you a nice French girl to marry. Stop seeing that girl. She doesn't belong with you and it would be a mistake to continue having any sort of a relationship with her."

Draco glared at his mother as she stormed out of his room. Draco knew he would have to see her again, need her again. The question was, why? He barely knew her… yet he wanted to know her.

O

The week past rather quickly for Hermione who'd spent it on cloud nine. Though she enjoyed her work a lot it was a pleasure to have the weekend. The letter from the Australian Ministry was hidden safely in her bedside draw at her home. She'd told Luna about the letter and mentioned to Luna she would leave Luna in control of the business in Digion Alley when she moved to Australia to get that business up and running. Luna was extremely happy naturally but also sad that Hermione would be moving away for a long time.

Hermione sat down in her lounge room going over a list of people Harry and Ginny had sent her of the people going to their wedding. It ranged form over forty Weasley's to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon; Harry refused to invite Aunt Marge.

"Okay… Vernon and Petunia will have no choice but to sit with other witches and wizards… they can't be magicphobic all their life."

"But some muggles are. You can't change that."

Hermione spun around on the floor, where she was sitting with all the paper work from Harry and Ginny's wedding plans. Standing by her front door was Draco.

"Malfoy… what are you doing here?" asked Hermione in surprise.

"Came to see you."

"Oh. Okay. Why?"

"I don't know. I just wanted to. Is that so wrong?"

"Well… considering the fact if your parents found out… they would probably kill me a-"

"My mother knows. But that's not going to stop me."

"Stop you from what?" replied Hermione as she labelled Vernon's name in next to Professor McGonagall – Hermione knew only McGonagall could get Vernon to behave.

"Seeing you."

Hermione looked up at Draco frowning, "Why do you want to see me? I thought you only wanted one thing from me."

Draco sat down beside her, leaning his back on the wall behind him, "So did I."

"What?"

"I thought I only wanted a shag from you Granger, but obviously I feel there is more than that there."

Hermione placed her quill in the tray she had for her quills, "Okay, so you are telling me that you believe that there is more than sex involved here?"

"To put it simply, yes I do."

Hermione looked Draco in the eye and shook her head, "Then we have to keep it only physical."

Draco looked at Hermione in shock, "What?"

"You heard me."

"Granger… what about Weasley?"

Hermione stood up and sat on the lounge sighing, "I broke up with him."

Draco stood up and moved over to where Hermione sat. He sat beside her quietly and nodded.

Hermione turned to face him, her fingers playing with the beads on the bracelet she was wearing, "You confuse me Malfoy. One minute all you want is to screw me… now here you are wanting more."

"I want to get to know you."

"No… you can't. Your parents hate my kind."

"Who says they have to know?"

"Malfoy they are probably finding you a new wife! I am not going to… I don't know fall in love with you and then just be your mistress."

"They are… a French girl."

Hermione stood up and walked into the kitchen. She yanked open her fridge and pulled out a tub of yoghurt. Draco ran in after her to see her opening the tub and taking a spoonful of it.

"Gr… Hermione."

"You should go Malfoy. Your mother has probably found you a new wife already."

Draco walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "When is your birthday?"

"Why?"

"When is your birthday?"

Hermione sighed and placed the spoon in the tub of yoghurt. She didn't have a clue as to what game he was playing, or if he was serious. She looked him in the eyes to see him starring at her intently, "September 19th. Why did you want to know?"

"See, already I have learnt something new about you. Mine is June 5th. Now you know something about me."

"What is the point of all this, Malfoy?"

"My name is Draco. Please use it."

Hermione glared at him but looked at the floor, "Why are you doing this?"

"I told you. I want to get to know you. Why should what my family thinks matter? So what if I get married, we can still be friends!"

"Friends? After what has happened Mal-Draco? Oh I sure that will work out!"

"Why does it always mean that when people bloody shag, Hermione they have to be a couple?"

"Well can you even see us as just friends? Seriously Draco, can you?"

Draco sighed and looked Hermione in her eyes, "No… I can't."

He let go of her and stepped back away from her, "I barely know you."

"We shouldn't have done it. Now look where it has led us too."

Hermione stepped past Draco, only to have him grab her by the arm and pull her close, "One last time… I swear that will be all."

Hermione nodded and led him to her bedroom, shutting the door behind them…

O

Mr and Mrs Malfoy,

We have considered your proposal and are happy to say we accept. Our daughter Destinee Evelien is busy with her work-study at the moment but will be at England in six months. We cannot wait to meet you when you visit in three months.

Sincerely,

Gisela and Boden Forest.

"They have accepted," smiled Narcissa, "Sure she wasn't the pretty sister we were after, but she will do."

"She will. Won't it sound lovely? Destinee Evelien Malfoy?"

"Hmm," murmured Narcissa, "But Leala Paige Malfoy sounds nicer. Pity."

Lucius nodded, "We can't do anything about that. Destinee will be a fine person to add to the Malfoy family. We shall inform Draco tonight."

O

Harry folded the Daily Prophet up and looked over at his pregnant wife who was pushing her untouched food around on her plate with a sick look on her face. She looked up at Harry and half smiled.

"I hate being pregnant sometimes," said Ginny pushing the plate away, "Why did I cook for myself?"

"I have no idea," replied Harry, "Did you get the feeling Hermione broke up with Ron for another reason?"

"Does it matter? She did it which is what everyone wanted."

"I know. But Hermione is hiding something. She normally doesn't do that."

"Well what could she be hiding?"

"She mentioned she liked someone else physically the other day, you know the day she broke up with Ron."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Who?"

"I don't know."

"Then we should find out."

"Why? What would be the point in that?"

"Finding out who Hermione likes!"

"Women… always about gossip," chuckled Harry earning a piece of scrambled egg landing on his glasses, "Hey!"

"You are lucky I didn't spew on you," muttered Ginny as she ran off to the toilet a hand over her mouth.

O

Again she was crying out as she reached her climax just as Draco collapsed on top of her again. He rolled off her and pulled her body close to him. Both were breathing heavily as their heart rates calmed to a normal rate. Draco ran his hand slowly up and down Hermione's arm.

"So that was the last time," whispered Hermione looking up at him.

"Only if you want it to be… we can just keep this as a physical thing… no strings attached."

Hermione sighed and looked up at the ceiling, "I don't know… this really isn't like me. It's like you bring this hidden person inside of me out."

"I'd say that's a good thing."

"Yeah because you experience that side of me. No one else does."

"Then how about it. Don't you enjoy letting the bad Hermione Granger out?"

Hermione sighed once again. If it remained no strings attached she could then avoid all fear of somehow falling in love with Draco Malfoy, though she doubted that would ever happen. But if she somehow did, then what? It's not as if they could be together, could they? He was bound to be set up with some other woman. But why not take the offer while she could? He was worth it… physically that was.

"Okay then. No strings attached."

O

A month passed and Narcissa still hadn't informed her son of his new soon to be wife, that was simply because he was never home. If he wasn't at work, he was out somewhere. Narcissa glanced at her watch and saw it was 7am on Sunday morning. Just as she started up the staircase towards Draco's room the one she was looking for apperated on the staircase looking rather messy and tired, as though he hasn't slept all night.

"Draco!" cried his mother, "What have you been up too?"

"Oh, out. Did you want something?"

"Yes, in two months we are travelling away to meet your new fiancée in France. Her name is Destinee."

Draco's face paled, "What?"

"You heard me. Oh and I hear Pansy and Blaise have moved in together. They will be engaged soon I hear."

"Mum I am not ready to marry any woman!"

"Well make yourself ready. I won't have you sleeping around!"

"I am not sleeping around… and I am kinda seeing someone!"

"Is it her?" demanded Narcissa, her eyebrows raised, only to narrow when Draco looked away at the floor, "Damn it Draco! Tomorrow is your 22nd birthday and here you are sleeping with the mudblood wedding planner!"

"Don't call her that."

Narcissa threw her hands up in disgust and looked Draco in the eye, "You have two months to live this out. The night before you leave with your father and I for France, you end it. For good. Don't get attached to her Draco."

Draco sat down on the stairs as his mother stormed down them, muttering angrily under her breathe.

"When do we leave?" he called out.

"August 5th," was his mother's cold reply.

He'd gotten attached. He knew you it. He knew she hated eating Brussels sprouts; her favourite muggle movie was The Notebook, her favourite colour was aqua, that her and her father were close and that she was to be godmother to Harry and Ginny's child due in November… that was now five months away. He'd gotten to now her, when he shouldn't of. What was he going to do?

O

Hermione hung her last shirt in the cupboard and hummed a little as she changed the sheets on her bed from white ones to beautiful cotton aqua ones. Her cat purred in his basket, seeming as though he knew his owner had been extremely happy for the past month or so. She smoothed the sheet, folded the top back a little and tucked in the blanket on both sides. She than threw the quilt on, straightened it and smoothed it, just as someone called her name from the lounge room.

"I'll be there in a moment!" called Hermione placing the pillows on.

She gave the neat bed a glance over and smiled satisfied. Running a hand over her three-year-old blue shirt she exited her room and walked down the hall to see Ginny sitting on the lounge closest to the television. In her hand she held a black t-shirt… Draco's t-shirt.

"Crap," whispered Hermione before saying cheerfully, "Hey Ginny!"

Ginny smiled up at her, her shirt clinging to her rounded tummy, "I take it this is lover boys?"

"Yeah… he left it here."

Ginny smiled and placed it on the lounge beside her, "I was wondering if you remembered that tomorrow we are going to that muggle wedding dress shop?"

"I sure do," nodded Hermione, "Your dress will need to be altered a few times considering you are pregnant."

Ginny nodded, "I know. I have been in contact with everyone and they said they would meet us outside the shop at midday. Is that okay?"

"I have the whole day freed up for it. Also I have gotten in contact with that chef you want to cater for your wedding and he will do it. The flowers I am still working on. But everything seems to be in good working order."

"So seeing as you are going to Australia in October… will you be here for when the baby is born?"

"Definitely. I would not miss the birth of my godchild."

Ginny grinned, "Good then… so who is your lover?"

"Wouldn't you just like to know?" chuckled Hermione sitting down across from Ginny.

"Yes I would. Come on Herms! I am your bestfriend! You can tell me!"

"He likes cuddles, which I never expected… hates pumpkin with a passion… he's someone I never pictured he could be. But you know, it's completely physical."

"Doesn't sound like it is to me."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "It is. So how is Harry?"

"Oh you know. Busy working today. Oh! Mum and I have started the baby nursery! We are painting it a pale green, you know neutral. It's so adorable Herms!"

Hermione chuckled then remembered something she brought a few days ago, "Wait here! I have something for you."

Hermione stood and ran down to her bedroom. She grabbed a box from her cupboard and ran back to the lounge room before handing it to Ginny. Ginny lifted the lid and gasped.

"Oh wow!" she whispered pulling out a white book with Babies First Year written in gold writing. The book was tied up close with golden silk ribbon. Ginny looked up at Hermione smiling, "Oh Herms, its beautiful. I love it!"

Hermione smiled and leant down to hug Ginny.

"Your welcome."

O

Draco sighed as he signed his name out for the day. He was dead tired after a ten hour shift at St Mungo's and having no sleep the night before… well hardly any. But still he wanted to go see her. He just couldn't go a day without doing so. Smiling at the nurse and headed for the elevator to go to the apperating area of the hospital.

"Draco!"

Draco stopped walking and spun around. Running towards him was a grinning Pansy. Behind her walked a half smiling Blaise.

Draco smiled as he hugged his bestfriend and shook Blaise's hand afterwards.

"How are you?" asked Pansy-taking hold of Blaise's hand.

"Tired actually. And you two?"

"Well we are ecstatic really."

"Why?"

"I'm pregnant! Two weeks along!"

Draco grinned and hugged Pansy, "Congratulations! I'm really happy for you both!"

"And we got engaged today," added Blaise, "But I hear you have a woman in France?"

Draco's smiled dropped, "Oh yeah. Someone called Destinee."

Pansy sighed, "Your parents are all about arranged marriages. How can they keep doing this to you?"

"I wish I knew? But I should get going. I'll meet up with you… tomorrow? Both of you?"

"Sure. The café in Digion Alley?" suggested Pansy.

Draco nodded and hugged Pansy bye and shook Blaise's hand before leaving to head for Hermione's.

O

"Yes… that's what they want. Will they stay fresh in the tent?" asked Hermione to the person on the other end of the phone. She jotted notes down as she went, "Uh huh… good, good. Ah 250 lots of 6. The 21st of September. I'll have a van come and collect them at 9am… okay great! Thankyou for your service once again Janise. Bye."

Hermione squealed in delight and punched in her cousins phone number and waited for him to answer,

"Hey Jerrell its Hermione… good thanks and yourself?" Hermione tapped her pen on the paper and chuckled at something her cousin said, "Yes I do need your service… the 21st of September at 9am… Harry and Ginny's wedding… well you know where the Burrow is don't you? Remember when Ginny's parents renewed their vows last year?"

Jerrell made a noise of remembering, "Yeah… well they need to be taken there… its only an hour drive from the flower shop to their place… oh no from there they will be taken to where they are to go, some to the church and others will remain at the Weasley's. No the reception is in a tent in the field where they fly to play Quidditch… don't ask to confusing to explain… okay… so you can do it then?"

Hermione glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly 9pm, "Okay great… thanks Jerrell… okay… thanks… bye!"

Hermione hung up and wrote down the new information then slipped the page into the Weasley-Potter File and placed it to the side. Their's was the only wedding Hermione had seeing as she was heading to Australia. This also allowed her more time to help her employees out with their weddings when needed.

"Hey there."

Hermione smiled and turned around, but frowned, "Draco you look dead on your feet!"

"I feel it," he admitted sitting down on the lounge.

Hermione walked over and sat down beside him, entwining her fingers with his, "Go home and get some rest."

Draco shook his head, "It's the last place I want to be."

Hermione sighed, "Well then… you can sleep here for tonight and go home in the morning because I have to go to work."

Draco looked at Hermione and smiled. He leant forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Hermione stood up and pulled him up with her. She led him down the hall and pulled the blankest back on her bed. Draco pulled off his work robe, shirt and pants to be only in his boxers. He slid into the bed and looked up at Hermione.

"Join me?"

Hermione shook her head, "No strings attached remember? I'll sleep on the lounge. Plus I have some more work to do."

Draco sighed. He had to tell her about Destinee sometime didn't he? But for some reason he couldn't bring himself to do it… he just couldn't because he knew, strings were becoming attached.

"G'night Draco," whispered Hermione turning off the light.

"Night Hermione."

Hermione shut the door and headed down the hall, "No strings attached," she repeated the reassure herself that, that was how it was.

When really, deep down she knew it was becoming a lot more.

A/N: There we go. Another chapter. Review! Oh and VBspikergirl9 I didn't get your email... I don't know why either... I'll email you.

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