Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters.

The next morning as she walked into work Hermione had the strange feeling that someone was watching her. She looked up from her morning croissant and coffee and found her suspicions confirmed. In fact, it seemed everyone was watching her. She shook her head, gave an uneasy smile and continued to her floor. After depositing her things she went to her first patient and quietly sat in the chair next to the bed.

"Hello, are you going to read me the paper? I do love hearing the news," the young man in the bed told her seriously.

Hermione smiled sadly; they went through this every day. "Yes I'm going to read you the paper. Just sit back and listen."

She began reading the front page and looked up every now and then to see the young man's happy grin. The news was the usual fare of ministry business, petty crime, and the ever present article of fluff about Harry. However, she came to the seventh page and the paper dropped to the floor as her hands flew to her mouth. There in bold print was a headline reading: 'Famous Partner in Foi Du Saint Draco Malfoy caught in passionate embrace with recently single Hermione Granger.'

"Oh my God."

Above the article, which speculated the pair's involvement with each other, was a large photograph which continuously replayed the previous night's kiss. Struggling not to lose her precariously held control, Hermione calmly called one of her colleagues over.

"If you wouldn't mind sitting with Mr. James, I have something I need to take care of."

The younger witch grinned. "Oh so you've seen then. Good for you I say" Hermione shot her a frigid look and the grin fell away. "Of course I'll sit with him, no problem."

"Thank you," Hermione said tightly. She rose from the chair and walked from the room, ready to breathe fire at anyone she came across who dared mention the article.

It took some time to work through Draco and Blaise's people and find their offices, but considering the picture and Hermione's temper and determination she eventually located them. When Draco's secretary wouldn't let her in the anger she'd been building up burst forth and the poor woman was shaking when she ushered Hermione into the neutral toned office. Draco was leaning back comfortably in his chair speaking into his phone in the dulcet tones of French that Hermione was becoming rapidly used to.

"Oui. Nous sommes prets. Oui, j'ai les models. Ouais, bien. Jet e parlerai plus defunt. Au revoir."

He hung up the phone and picked up the paper. "I take it you've seen this then."

Hermione sat in one of the plush chairs in front of the desk with a sigh, "Of course I saw it, how could I miss it?"

The tone of voice had Draco bristling. "I thought we agreed no regrets."

"I know we did, but how can I not with that article?" She was up and pacing. "It hasn't even been a week since I broke it off with Ron. Just because I don't want to marry him doesn't mean I want to hurt him!"

"You think I don't know that? You're not the only person in that picture Hermione. I've got my and my partner's livelihood on the line if public favor turns against me! You think that's what I want?" He slammed his hand down on the table and she saw the physical battle to reign in his temper. She sat back down and dropped her head into her hands.

"You're right, I'm being inconsiderate. I'm sorry."

"No, I understand where you're coming from. This isn't an ideal situation for either of us, but we'll manage it."

"How exactly do we manage it is the question."

"We either say that it was a one time thing, or we keep seeing each other and deal with the damage control. Which we do is largely up to you Hermione."

"Damn it, I think we both know that we want to keep seeing each other. But it's not the general public I'm worried about, it's the Weasleys. How am I supposed to explain to the people who have become my second family that I'm seeing the man who was once my worst enemy days after dumping their son?"

"I don't know what to tell you there, but I do know that the worst thing to do would be to hide. If we're open and unashamed everyone will most likely go easy on us."

"Ok. I need to talk to Harry, and the Weasleys. I should go."

Draco rose and walked her to the door, opening it for her. "Try to remember what I said about regrets."

"I will. Bye."

When she had left Draco dropped into his chair and let his head fall to the table. That was how Blaise found him minutes later.

"Getting acquainted with the oak are we?" He drawled as he took a seat.

"I'm an idiot."

"I was under the impression that that little piece of information was well established but do enlighten me," he said wryly.

Draco raised his head and frowned. "Ha ha. It's that damn article in the Daily Prophet."

"Ah, is fair lady not too thrilled with the press coverage then?"

"Would you be? I should have known something like this would happen, after all the business is relatively high profile. I just can't imagine how somebody could've gotten the picture."

Blaise shrugged. "We're wizards Draco, with a broom, a spell, and a camera nearly anything is possible."

"I know, I do. It's just that I've hardly gotten settled back here and she falls into my lap. We've been reacquainted for less than a week, she's barely learned to trust me for the first time, and I've already dropped her into the center of controversy."

"Hey I think you're giving yourself a bit too much credit. You're relatively famous but she's just as high profile in a lot of respects, and she's the one who broke off the engagement. So really you're equally at fault."

"You're not helping very much, you realize that right?"

Blaise flashed a winning grin. "I do, but just try to keep things in perspective. It's up to you to decide if this woman you hated for six or seven years of your life is worth the bother. But I think we both know the answer to that." He rose and headed for the door. "Just don't let that pretty face distract you from the launch."

"Yeah yeah, when did you become my mother?" Draco asked with a laugh.

"Excellent question. You know when we walked into that bar I knew there would be fireworks; I just never expected they'd be this big."

By the end of the day Hermione had developed a raging headache. It didn't take long to discover that someone in the wizarding world had leaked the information printed in the Daily Prophet. An article, obviously omitting the picture, had been published in the muggle newspapers as well. It described the plain, unknown girl that the famous fashion designer Draco Malfoy had been wrapped around the night before and speculated as to why the attractive bachelor would be running around with such a reportedly unremarkable girl.

At nine that night Hermione was on the phone in Harry's apartment speaking to her mother, who had evidently seen the article and wasn't pleased.

"Yes mother they are talking about me," she said, closing her eyes and rubbing her hand over her face. "Yes he's the same Draco Malfoy from school"

Harry looked on and suppressed a laugh; Hermione shot him a death look.

"I know he was horrible to me mother, I was there. He's admitted his past faults and he's taken the time to fix them… Yes I'm sorry for the tone mother; I shouldn't take my frustrations out on you… Yes I realize this is awfully soon after Ron… No I have not slept with him! Mother whether you like it or not I am twenty-five years old and I don't have to share every detail of my life with you."

"Bad move," Harry said under his breath.

"Yes I know, twenty-four hours of labor, I know mother. I'm sorry. If anything significant occurs I'll call you. Yes I intend to keep seeing him, you may find my name in the papers again, he's rather famous in both worlds. Yes, goodbye mother."

Harry laughed silently as she put down the phone and it immediately began to ring again. "Please pick it up. I've had so much fun watching the show so far."

Hermione turned and glared. "I'm glad you find this so entertaining, one of us has to I suppose."

"Oh come on Hermione, don't be like that." Harry replied, sitting down at the kitchen table with her. "It may not be a lot of fun but you have to see the humor in the situation. If someone had told you a few years ago that you'd be fending people off because you got caught with Draco Malfoy you would have laughed in their face."

"You're right, I know you are. It's just aggravating. I don't know what I've gotten myself into."

"It would seem you've gotten yourself into a mess, but you've gotten me out of several before. I have all the faith in the world you'll be able to get yourself out of this one. Plus you're having fun. It's about time you had a bit of that, even if it is with Draco Malfoy."

"Thanks Harry, I think you're right. But right now all I want to do is go to bed." She rose from the table and headed for the guest room she'd been staying in. "And Harry do me a favor?"

"Yeah?"

"Leave the phone off the hook." Harry's laughter chased her down the hall as she sought the relief of a good night's rest.

Two months and numerous dates later Hermione and Draco were the darlings of the media. It seemed that everywhere they went in the muggle or wizarding worlds there was a camera. They were regularly featured in magazines and papers, and it seemed the only place they could find refuge was Draco's apartment, and only then with all of the blinds closed tight.

One night as they walked hand in hand down the street Hermione saw the one person she'd been hoping to avoid for some time. Ron Weasley strolled out of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and stopped in his tracks when he saw his ex. Draco felt Hermione tense almost automatically and waited to see what she wanted to do. Unfortunately their decision was made for them as Ron walked purposefully forward to meet them.

"Hello Ron," Hermione said as calmly as she could.

"Hermione," he replied curtly. "You and Malfoy just out looking for the cameras I expect."

"Watch yourself Weasley," Draco answered.

Hermione squeezed Draco's hand and hoped that he took the hint. "You know we haven't asked for the press coverage Ron. We can't just stay inside all the time."

"It'd be better for all of us if you both just disappeared," the redhead said cruelly, his face twisting in a sneer.

"Ok, that's it," Draco said, taking a step forward.

She put a hand on his chest. "Please Draco; let's not make an even bigger scene. As for you Ron Weasley, I was right. If this is what you think of me then you never knew me at all."

"You're right, I don't know you. Because the Hermione I thought I knew wouldn't be with the man who claimed she wasn't fit to walk on the same planet as him. She wouldn't be with a man whose favorite nickname for her was Mudblood!"

"I always knew you were an idiot Weasley but this takes the cake. If you really knew the woman Hermione is you never would have let her go so easily. As for me, I haven't called her a mudblood in years. I've made amends, I've admitted my mistakes. Have you Weasley?"

Ron shook his head. "I'm done with this. And as for you Hermione, if this is what you want, then I'm well rid of you."

He pushed past them and Hermione did her best to hold Draco back. "Just one punch," he said grimly. "That's all it would take."

"Draco no, please just let it go."

"I will, but only because you want me to. Come on; let's go back to my place. At least no one can bother us there."

A few hours later Hermione woke up on Draco's couch after having fallen asleep during the movie they were watching. She quietly slipped out of his arms and gathered her things. As she bent to pick up her bag Draco reached out and grasped her wrist.

"What time is it?"

"Late." She bent and kissed him softly. "You should go get in bed, I really should be going."

Draco frowned. "Sejour."

"In English please," she said with a smile.

"Stay."

Hermione shook her head. "I shouldn't, I really shouldn't."

He pulled her down for a long, lazy kiss. "Sejour, Hermione. Sil vous plait. Sejour avec moi."

She gave in. "Oui."

Draco smiled. She kicked off her shoes, set down her bag and settled back into his arms. As she drifted off he kissed her forehead softly.

"Goodnight ma belle petite sorciere."

Author's Sidebar: Okay so the loose translation of the French in this chapter is: Yes we're ready, yes we have the models. Okay good. I'll talk to you later & Stay with me. Draco calls Hermione his beautiful little witch. Sorry if you don't like the characterization of Ron. If you've read any of my other stuff you'll know I'm not all that fond of him at times.