Last Time: "Okay, let's get this over with," he glared at Hermione and then stalked out of the room.

Grudgingly Hermione followed with equal anger in her stride. Suddenly she turned around grabbed their wands back and stomped out again without as much as a goodbye.

Chapter 2

Draco had acquiesced quickly to what Simon was saying because he desperately wanted to get as far away from the Dark Lord as possible and at the moment being separated by an ocean really appealed to him. But now, as Hermione drove them to the airport, the effect of what he had just sentenced himself to started to sink in and he felt sick to his stomach. Married? To Granger? That was the most absurd thing he had ever heard, he almost laughed. Then he almost cried when he realized that he was going to have to live with her for the next couple of weeks. They were going to tear each other to pieces, she was the most annoying person he had ever met and unless she'd had a personality transplant in the last couple of years he didn't think the next few weeks were going to be very pleasant. She was always so irritating, knowing every little detail that no one in their right mind should know much less remember. Then she had been best friend with Potter and Weasel. That had not helped her much in his book: Harry, Mr. Perfect, and Ron, the mudblood lover. MudBlood! He had almost forgotten. That was the main reason they had never associated while at Hogwarts. Even when he was Head Boy and she Head Girl, they never spent more than 10 minuets together to plan the prefect patrols and other activities. They just didn't get along. It was that simple. Oil and Water, that's what they were-Polar Opposites. He sighed; this is not going to be fun. Then once again he remembered the whole reason he was in this situation, he was on the run. Again he felt that this was a welcome alternative to the Dark Lord's fury. Dang, his thought line was going in circles. His own head annoying him Draco decided to start a conversation.

"So Granger, how's life been treating you?" he said with his trademark sneer.

Hermione was so surprised by what he said that she just turned and gaped at him almost crashing into a car but gaining her senses in time to swerve.

"What was that?" Hermione asked, not sure she'd heard correctly.

"I said, 'how is life treating you.' Obviously not too well I mean-from top of her class to unable to drive some cramped muggle transportation unit without almost killing the passengers." He said keeping his tone perfectly congenial and yet cutting all the same.

Hermione took the bait, "Excuse me, I don't need you criticizing my every move. I don't see you driving. Can you even drive, or is it below you? Not even worth your high and mighty attention," she said sarcastically. "This is going to be hard enough without us fighting all the time, so if you wouldn't mind, would you please refrain from all communication with me, and I think we'll be fine."

Expecting a come back, but not such an outburst, Draco was stunned for a moment. He was even more stunned when he found that he actually agreed with much of what she said. He didn't ever learn how to drive because he felt it wasn't necessary and he also wanted an arrangement to keep them from fighting all the time. He smirked, "It took you long enough to catch on to my master plan."

"Your master plan? I recall that you were the one who started the conversation a moment ago," she retorted.

"Yes, just so I could propose it," he said as if it were obvious.

"Oh no, I'm not going to let you take all the credit when I'm the one who actually said it," she said severely annoyed by his arrogance.

"Just because you get a good idea doesn't mean that no one else has ever gotten it," he replied.

"Is that so? I was under the impression that only I could come up with good ideas, but perhaps I'm wrong," she said sarcastically catching him off guard. He'd never realized that she had a sense of humor. He had always been so preoccupied with how bossy she was. That certainly hadn't changed.

"I believe you are most certainly wrong because, you see, I am always right," he stated as if it were fact. And she couldn't help burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. Before he knew it he was also laughing and they were driving into the car garage at the airport.

"Ok, this is one of the most dangerous parts because there could be people who recognize us. But we have to get into character now or things could go wrong. So just cross your fingers that we don't bump into anyone we know Ok?" she asked before they got out of her car. Draco nodded his assent and stepped out of the car opening the trunk so he could get their one carry on, Hermione's duffel bag. She followed him around locking the car as she got out. Draco easily swung the bag over his shoulder and shut the trunk and then turned to Hermione, giving her a wry smile and pulled her closer, "Let's get this show on the road," he whispered into her ear which was now close to his mouth because she was about 6 inches shorter than him. She stiffened a bit as he wrapped his arm around her waist, but quickly relaxed into his half embrace so that they would seem like a typical newlywed couple. With that they strode on through the airport.

At first Hermione was uncomfortable to be so lovey-dovey with Draco, however, she realized she would just have to get used to it for the time being and so they walked in a pretended companionable silence both wondering what the next few weeks would hold for them: constant bickering and faked smiles. They continued this way until they reached the check in counter. At the table was an older woman with graying hair in a loose bun and too much make up on. She smiled and said, "Aww you two are so cute. Are you newlyweds?" Here it goes, their act had now officially begun. Draco looked down at Hermione affectionately and gave a smirk that only she knew didn't have anything to do with "how in love they were" but rather a challenge. She looked back lovingly and then replied, "Almost a year. We're moving to the states for work. But none of that matters as long as we're together." Draco raised his eye brows and she gave him a smug smile and then snuggled into his arms. She was definitely winning this round but Draco wasn't going to be taken down that easily. "She's a bit worried about being so far from her parents, but she knows everything'll be fine with me there to take care of her." Hermione had to stop herself from rolling her eyes, even now he couldn't stop being full of himself. She put on her sexiest voice, "Oh I have every confidence in your abilities to protect me." Hiding his mild surprise he replied, "Not to worry I'm perfectly capable of handling whatever stands in our way." "Oh aren't you two just the cutest pair I've ever seen!" The old woman squealed interrupting the two's battle for who could be more "romantic". "Oh thank you." Hermione said, "Well we better be off or we'll miss our flight." "Oh yes, here you are," the woman said handing them their tickets, "Have a wonderful flight."

"That was fun." Draco whispered once they were out of ear shot. "Oh yes, delightful." Hermione countered as they went up an escalator. "We're at gate 23." Hermione said looking at the tickets. "Right over there." They walked to the gate and got their boarding passes. They both had brought reading material for the long wait to board the plane. (Draco had taken a wizarding magazine, which was charmed so that it looked normal to muggles, at the auror office and Hermione had brought along a book.) They sat and waited, tensely reading their materials while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. After about an hour of waiting, coach, which Draco was not very happy about, was finally about to board. They stood up and stretched about to enter the freedom of the plane when…"Hiya! Hermione is that you?"

A/N: Oh cliffie. I'm sorry i know it's mean but i just couldn't resist. I'm sorry it took so long for the update. It just all came in bits and pieces. A paragraph one weekend, another the next. But finally it all came together this morning when i was working on it. Thanks to all of my amazing reviewers. You're why i keep on going- you know besides the fact that i love to write. Also, I cannot forgetmy amazing betas One last elf and True slytherin witch. You guys keep me sounding intelligent and help everyone stay in character. Ok, until next chap. Oh and i'm working on several other stories that are really cool right now so if you get the chance i'd love for you to read them too. I'm trying to keep them diverse and different with intersting plots so input is much appreciated. I'll try and get them up in the next week or two. Anyway, Please R/R. ;)

One White Tulip