A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, they're really encouraging. Thanks to the usual suspects in school as well, I did intend to write more in Ethics today but we had an exam essay question to complete in 30mins and then we spent the next 90mins discussing Joseph Fletcher and his love of love. Not sure how long it will take me to get the next few chapters up despite the huge amounts of ideas; although I finish school at 11am tomorrow I'm getting drunk tomorrow night and probably Saturday night as well. And then its off to Paris for three days on Monday. And Amsterdam the week after, but I promise to keep writing and get chapters up as often as possible! Enjoy!

"Alexander Malfoy – Granger?" Blaise Zabini glanced up at his previously thought dead friend's son as he took the register of the first year potions class.

"Yes, sir."

"Elizabeth Malfoy – Granger?" No reply, silence hung in the echoey dungeons. "Alex, do you know where your sister is?" Blaise caught the worried looking eleven year old's eye as he shook his head nervously – he was so similar to Draco at the same age yet he possessed so many qualities that Draco had never known or at least had the decency to show – humility, honesty and more importantly the ability to love, as he clearly did his sister.

Just as Blaise was about to mark the young girl absent the heavy wood door clanged open and Lissy ran into the dungeon, wild blonde hair flying all around her as she slid to a halt in front of Blaise's desk. "Sorry, I'm late Professor."

"Don't let it happen again." Blaise nodded and continued down the register. Lissy turned to join Alex at their work bench, winking at a grinning James Potter as she did. He alone knew where she had been.

"What's going on with you and Potter?" Alex hissed as Lissy pulled out her Potions making kit and parchments.

"Nothing. Has Zabini given us any instructions yet?"

"No. Why were you late?"

"Got lost."

"Oh, sure. I'm not stupid Liss, you were up to something."

"Mind your own business."

"Lissy!" Alex snapped causing most of the students sat near them to turn and stare at the pair as did Blaise.

"I think you two have disturbed my lesson quite enough today, detention both of you." Alex and Lissy both groaned and gave the professor glaring looks so reminiscent of their father that he nearly laughed in shock.

Lissy flounced into the Gryffindor common room and threw her bag down on the floor, collapsing onto a sofa with a loud huff. Milla glanced up from her advanced potions and raised an eyebrow at the younger girl. "Something wrong Lissy?"

"Zabini. Made me and Alex clean the entire Potions room without magic. That's house elf work…ugh." Lissy pouted and Milla giggled.

"Why were you in detention anyway?"

"I was late and then Alex shouted at me so he shoved us both in detention, and expects an essay from both of us by tomorrow."

"That was a little harsh."

"I think he has a grudge against us or something. He always watches us and doesn't let us put a toe out of line."

"Strange, he's normally quite relaxed most of the time." Milla's younger brother Ed chimed in. "Maybe you've done something to upset him." He shrugged.

"Yeah, that or he knew your parents and they were enemies…"

Draco walked lazily down the stairs into the basement, his shirt still unbuttoned as he jabbed his wand tiredly in the direction of a cupboard, a navy blue mug flying out and filling with steaming black coffee as he grabbed some fruit and pulled Lissy's brief letter off the front of the fridge. Sitting down at the table he began to read it as he consumed his meagre breakfast. Scanning the letter he nearly spat out his coffee at his daughter's mention of the potions master. Zabini was working at Hogwarts? Draco chuckled and made a mental note to at the very least write to Blaise as Hermione drifted quietly in the kitchen; her loose red and gold kimono floating around her as she barely looked in Draco's direction, instead quietly pouring milk over some cereal and studiously reading the Daily Prophet.

"Are you going into the office today?" Draco questioned, sensing that he still wasn't in Hermione's good books.

"Yes." Hermione swallowed the remainder of her orange juice. "I have to work on the new batch of Wolfsbane potion." Draco nodded and the rest of the meal was conducted in eerie silence that reminded Draco horribly of meal times at the Manor.

"Accio tie and jacket." He finished dressing and shoved his wand in a pocket. "I'll see you later then." He bent down and kissed Hermione on the cheek before running up to the hallway to apparate. Hermione burst into tears as she heard the crack that meant Draco had left. She hated it when they fell out, normally it was over the stupidest things and they were both to blame but this time Draco had seriously threatened the fragile relationship she had with her once close friends and no matter how much she loved him it was taking a lot of will power not to walk out on him. Oh don't be so stupid. She thought to herself as she wiped away the tears with the sleeve of her kimono. Draco and Harry can't help the way they feel about each other. Hermione choked hysterically. But for once would they just grow up and forget about it so that I can have a little peace.

So many feelings

Emotions running away with me

And there's no way around it

I want things back how they used to be

Taking a deep breath Hermione stood up and walked purposefully up to their bedroom to dress for work – flared charcoal trousers and a fitted white shirt with a jacket that matched the trousers, high heeled boots completing the chic yet appropriate ensemble. Minutes later she was walking into the development laboratory in the MG Potions office, not bothering to inform Draco that she had arrived.

Draco leant back in his chair, propping his feet up and swore under his breath. One of the secretaries had told him that Hermione was busy in the labs and she hadn't even bothered to let him know she was there. This wasn't one of those simple mistakes he'd made before, or one of the larger ones, it was going to take a supreme effort on his behalf to make it up to Hermione. Sometimes he couldn't comprehend why she had ever come round to the idea of there ever being a relationship between them…love was a strange thing but it could never solve all their problems.

I've done other things

I have made mistakes

Nothing ever smells of roses

That rises out of rain

He smirked slightly as he began to contrive a plan to make good his recent mistakes. Reaching for a quill he began to scribble a quick note to Ginny and Harry, Ron and Lavender. That done he sent two office owls off and called his secretary in.

"Look, Elisa, do you think you could make sure there's a problem here that Hermione has to solve until about eight o'clock this evening? I'm trying to plan something a bit special back home, I've fucked things right up and I need this little favour."

"No problem Mr Malfoy." The young woman smiled and went off to dream up a scheme to keep one of her bosses stuck upstairs for the remainder of the day.

Harry poked his head round the side of Ron's office, a quizzical expression on his otherwise handsome face. "Ron? Did you just…"

"Get a letter from…"

"Malfoy?"

"Yeah." They both chuckled and Harry sat down opposite Ron. "So…do we go?"

Ron raised his eyebrows and glanced down at the letter again, amazed at what Malfoy had written.

Harry, Ron, Ginny, Lavender

I've screwed up big time and even though I know we can't really get on I want to make the effort for Hermione because if we have anything in common it's loving her. I know you can't forgive me, I understand. Even Hermione doesn't forgive me entirely, there was no excuse. But give me a chance to show you why Hermione cares about me. I want to surprise her tonight, come to dinner around seven thirty, someone's going to keep Hermione occupied at the office so I can get everything ready. One chance, please.

Draco Malfoy,

8 Sandringham Square

Chelsea

London

"Well?"

"For 'Mione…"