When we arrived at the Potter's, dinner was just about ready.

Ginny came rushing towards us offering a warm welcome seconds before James came toddling in.

"Oh! There's the cutest little boy I ever did see!" James smiled wide and I lifted him up in my arms.

"Mi! Mi!" He chanted as he snuggled into my chest.

"Yes, Auntie Mi is here." He seemed to notice Draco then and got shy. "James, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Auntie Mi's partner, Draco Malfoy." I wasn't about to explain boyfriends to a one-and-a-half-year-old. Partner served double purposes. It could mean a partner in life, or in the office. It was a win in my book and from the smile on Draco's face I could tell he found it amusing.

Just then, Harry came running down the stairs. "There he is! "James, you were supposed to be at Nana and Papa's fifteen minutes ago." He grabbed the toddler from my arms. "Say bye to your new friend."

James let out the sweetest little "bye" before Harry whisked him off.

"He'll be right back. He was supposed to take James to my parents before you got here, but something held him up at the office." She gave us a brief glare, telling me Harry told her exactly what he had seen. "Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. Let me get you some wine and we can sit."

Ginny went to the kitchen while I showed Draco the sitting room. "Feels a little weird to be here actually. Not because this is Potter's home, but because I think I visited once when I was very little."

"I forget sometimes that you were related to Sirius. Harry was a little unsure about living here but, ultimately, he only knew the house as his Godfather's and there were a lot of memories made here that weren't altogether unpleasant despite the dark cloud over us at the time. He and Ginny have done a lot of work to make it a more pleasant home to raise their children."

Draco nodded and before he could respond, Ginny appeared with our drinks just as Harry stepped in from the floo.

We readily accepted the drinks and I saw Draco discretely wipe his hands on his pants. I thought it was cute that he was nervous. We were sitting on the couch together so I slipped my free hand in his for support.

Harry was the first to speak. "So, did you two make some good progress on the case today?"

Ginny's hand met the back of his head and he looked sheepish. "Absolutely not! We invited these two over for dinner. Not to work some more." She turned to Draco. "Really, we invited you over to get to know you better. You've captured the attention of our best friend and we want to know you better. Harry knows a bit more than I do, but being we were in different grades, I really don't know much about who you were then, or who you are now."

Draco told her of his adventures since the war. Going through training, his betrothal to Astoria, his time in France, her cheating, and his move back here.

"Wow, it sounds like a lot. Now that you're here, do you plan to stay?"

It was a question that had been on my mind too but hadn't yet asked. Draco wasn't tied down and while he had stayed in France for six years, he still moved. Was he the adventurous type that would want to continually be moving every few years? Would he get bored staying in London? What would that mean for us?

"Yes, of course. Not just because of Hermione here, though she is reason enough, but I came back because I missed home. My mother is my only real family now and I know she was lonely. Plus I do have friends here, too. I didn't make any great connections in France and the people are just different. I'm really happy that the position opened up that allowed me to transfer." He grimaced as the words left his mouth.

Of course, the position opened up because Ginny's brother was an idiot. Draco didn't have any way of knowing how bringing up her brother's transgressions would go over.

She waved her hand. "Ron's stupidity is your gain. Between you and me, you're much better for Hermione anyways."

"Um, you know I'm right here. Right?"

Ginny patted my knee. "Yes, yes. We're talking. We'll come back to you." She turned back to Draco and I just shared a look with Harry who shrugged. He knew his wife wasn't about to be controlled. "Hermione needs someone that will challenge her. Someone who will stand up to her and make her think from different directions. From what I've heard, you are more than capable of holding your own with her. In a respectful way of course. Because if I ever find out you've been disrespectful, well, let's just say I have six brothers and they are all terrified of me."

And there it was. Be nice to my friend or I'll be after you.

"I'm not sure what to make of that but I think I'll just say thank you. I've found Hermione is absolutely fascinating to talk to and our debates are something I look forward to. She challenges me every bit as much as I challenge her and I'm better for it. As you seem to have picked up, I'm a rather intelligent man. I know better than to let this one slip through my fingers, especially by doing something to hurt her."

"Good. Now that that's settled. Let's eat."

Draco helped me off the couch and we headed towards the dining room. Dinner flowed nicely. Draco seemed to be getting along swimmingly with Ginny and he and Harry were even being friendly. The night went way better than I could have hoped. He was affectionate, but not overly so, and polite. Once quidditch discussions began, you could hardly tell there was any former rivalry at the table.

The evening ended after a lovely dessert. The Potter's still needed to pick up James and didn't want to disrupt his bedtime too much, so we left while it was still fairly early.

When we arrived at my flat, I was feeling a little nervous about the conversation about to be had. It seemed like a big step in our relationship.

"Tea?" I asked as I headed towards the kitchen. He agreed and followed me in.

"Well, that went well." There was a note of surprise in his voice as he leaned casually against my counter. His ankles were crossed in front of him and his arms held the counter on either side of his waist. He looked entirely too relaxed and, dare I say, sexy standing there with his hair slightly tousled and his tie undone.

I had to shake my head to clear it and handed him a mug. "Yes, I agree. We still have a few things we should talk about though."

He took a gentle sip. "Ah, yes. I hope you have forgiven me for my transgression earlier."

"Of course. Just to be clear, it wasn't that I didn't want to kiss you. I just value my position and the respect of our team. I'm afraid flaunting a relationship in the office will harm that."

I didn't add that after everything with Ron, I didn't want to deal with the embarrassment of going from some displays of affection to complete disdain overnight. At least if we maintained a professional demeanor and something went wrong, we could continue that professionalism. Even if word of our relationship got out, there would be less of a chance of gossip.

"I don't disagree. My apologies for getting carried away. Maybe it's greedy of me, but perhaps if we could see each other a bit more often outside of work, it won't get so pent up?"

I thought that over. "That sounds fair. However, if we are to be together more frequently, we should discuss what our thoughts are on being spotted together off the clock."

"Darling, if I could wear a big, flashing sign that said, 'I'm dating Hermione Granger.' I would. I really don't care who knows it. Though I would appreciate telling Blaise and my mother before we go public. I don't want them finding out via the tabloids."

My blood ran cold. "Your mother?"

In two quick strides, he was standing next to me, his hands on my waist. "Don't worry a second about her. She will be just fine. Mother was never the arrogant asshole that my father was. She has a kind heart and soul and, above all else, she loves me. If I tell her you make me happy, that's all she will need to hear to support us." I worried my bottom lip and Draco pulled it back with his thumb. "Trust me."

I had no choice but to nod. The conviction in his voice left little to doubt.

"When would she like to meet?"

His expression turned sheepish. "Well, she has invited us for dinner at the manor Saturday." I froze once again. That place held far too many horrors for me to consider stepping inside, "I told her that was completely out of the questions. I suggested that she and Blaise come by my place for dinner instead. Then it's a more neutral territory anyway."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "You're sure about this?"

"Never been more sure of anything. It's been three weeks and I know that's still early in our relationship, but I am in this for the long term. Waiting will only make things harder later."

He was right and so I conceded. Our close proximity was beginning to cloud my mind and by the time his lips touched mine, I was ready to beg for it. He lifted me on the counter as I wrapped my legs around him.

When we finally broke apart for air, I leaned my forehead against his. "Draco Malfoy just snogged me senseless in my kitchen. Who would have thought?"

"Oh, trust me, I have thought about it enough for the two of us. Maybe not your kitchen exactly, but the snogging for sure."

I giggled. I was definitely getting used to flirty Draco and I liked it. Almost as much as I liked snogging Draco.

It was interesting because I could still see his insecurities reach the surface occasionally, but I was also learning to read him. So, despite his bravado and ability to look unphased, I could now see the subtle changes in those glorious gray eyes of his. This little detail made my heart skip a beat

Draco left a short while later. We did still have to work in the morning after all. I went to bed that night thinking about our relationship thus far. Really, it had been better than I expected. I love being able to have detailed conversations with him and he challenges me in ways that no one else does.

Over the course of our work relationship, I had thawed towards him considerably and felt we had become quite close. However, our personal relationship has taught me that there is a lot more to learn about the Slytherin Prince himself.

With every piece of information he is willing to share, I find myself eager for the knowledge. Instead of dreading the meal with his mother and best friend, I was looking forward to it a bit. Sure, meeting your boyfriend's mother for the first time, especially when you were tortured in her house by her deranged sister, is intimidating to say the least. But I trusted Draco and if he said she would support us, then I believe him. That left me anxious to meet the woman who lied to Voldemort himself for a chance to save her son.

When I finally drifted off, it was with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart.