Thanks to everyone who is still reading this story and showing love on this. This chapter is a must for the storyline to pan out. Stick with it, I promise I have more in store for these two lovebirds.

-o-o-o-

They walked at a slow pace towards the Three broomsticks. Hermione was clinging to his arm in a way she usually didn't, and Draco tried not to read too much into it, it was probably just because she was still coming down from their recent activities.

The sun had set and dim streetlights illuminated their path. Hermione admired the trees, she'd always loved autumn the most; something about the leaves changing colour and the comfort of being wrapped in wool scarfs. She had her arm looped around Draco's.

"When are you leaving tomorrow?" she asked, looking down at their moving feet, listening to the sounds of their shoes crushing leaves.

"After our morning meeting with McGonogall. I have to be back in Paris by noon we need to finish some paperwork and organize before a meeting with the Ministére des Affaires Magiques on Monday." Draco explained. "And you?"

"Harry is away on an auror mission, so I've promised Ginny a girls night," she explained. Wondering if she should tell Ginny the truth about what she'd been up to this weekend or not.

"Ah, girls night. Sounds fun," he said trying to not sound sarcastic.

Hermione sighed; she wanted to know when she would see him next. But the words got stuck in her throat and never escaped her lips, she was afraid his answer would be too painful.

"Yes, it'll be nice, we'll probably end up watching Titanic, there's nothing like Leonardo DiCaprio to get you through a girls night," she said without thinking.

"Leonardo who?"

"It's a muggle actor," she clarified and gestured dismissively with her hand, knowing he'd probably never seen a single muggle film.

"I see," he answered calmly as he wondered about that Leonardo muggle; already not liking the guy.

They walked in silence and Draco pondered if he should ask her to come visit him some time, but he figured she'd be busy with passing her new marital reform, she had spoken of the importance of it. He reminded himself he'd already crossed too many lines, the ones she had made up for him clearly in the beginning of their encounters. As far as he knew, she wanted the same rules to apply. He'd done enough of messing up things for her in the past; he wasn't about to do that again.

The Three broomsticks were filled with people celebrating All Hallows eve. "Fancy a beer?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded in reply.

They were lucky to find an unoccupied booth; three very drunk older gentlemen were just leaving as they searched for somewhere to sit.

Hermione took a mouthful of beer and crossed her legs, looking around at the restaurant. There were no familiar faces around, she figured Neville probably flooed home to Hannah after the festivities at Hogwarts.

"You know, you should hold onto that uniform. It might come in handy another time," Draco cooed and winked at her as he placed his pint on the table.

Hermione's cheeks flushed pink. "I'll pack it in my suitcase then," she said, not able to hide her smile. "How long are you staying in Paris?"

Draco leaned back, gripping his pint again. "Not sure, it depends a lot on the progression, so far the French ministry has been a bit … reluctant to cooperate with Britain, and even less so with a free agency with a former death eater at the helm," he said, his face hardening at the last part.

"I see, I hope Monday's meeting goes well," she cooed and took another sip of beer, thinking again about how his former Death Eater status worked against him. She admired his determination in not letting it stop him from doing all the good work he did.

"Me too."

"How did your father take it? You starting D.M Unity?" she asked, not able to hinder her curiosity, they never did discuss family for obvious reasons.

Draco's eyes darkened and he tapped his fingers against the glass. "Oh, you can imagine. He didn't take it well, but I really can't be bothered. My father's too stuck in his ways, and I'm rather tired of it," Draco drawled, being honest. Hermione had a hard time picturing Draco going against his father. She'd always figured he'd do anything to live up to Lucius' expectations.

"What is it your parents do again? Teeth is it?" Draco didn't mean for it to sound condescending.

"They're dentist," she stopped, contemplating telling him or not, but the beer made her less worried about sharing. "I did a memory charm on them before the war, arranged for them to move to Australia. I didn't find them in time, it's irreversible at this point," she said, her eyes fixed on the pint in front of her. The corner of her eye twitched as she struggled back a sob.

Draco regretted his question when he saw the look on her face. When she explained he acknowledged yet another reason for why the war had changed Hermione, another battle scar, just not as visible as the one on her wrist.

He remembered how he along with Dolohov and Jugson had been sent to her family home, they hadn't been able to find anything that linked to Hermione. Her parents were impossible to track.

"I'm sorry to hear that. If it's any consolation, the idea was for us to track them and use them to lure you and Harry out." Draco stated, admitting too his own part in it.

Hermione choked on her beer, and coughed it away. "You mean, if I hadn't, they-" she struggled to form a sentence, meeting his grey eyes.

"They'd be dead," Draco concluded and didn't look away from her gaze. "You saved them," he continued, wanting to make sure she understood the importance of her actions. Her lip quivered and Draco felt uncomfortable with such display of emotions, but it also did something to his body, he wanted desperately to hold her. He walked over to her side of the table and sat down next to her. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

Hermione was surprised at his reaction, and when his arms wrapped around her she realised how nice his shoulders was to lean on.

Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Thanks."

Draco felt he didn't deserve it.

-o-o-o-

Draco could tell Hermione was still processing the information, and he hesitated when they reached her door. Had it not been for his side in the war, she would still have her parents, the fact that had him guilt ridden.

Hermione noticed his apprehension, her hand resting on the doorknob. "I need a cigarette, and I, I'm too tired for any fun, but we could just, sleep?" She was fidgeting nervously at the hem of her coat, expecting him to not want to stay on those terms.

"Have a cigarette to spare?"

Hermione's lips curved into a smile as she pushed the door open.

-o-o-o-

Draco inhaled the toxic smoke into his lungs, enjoying the rush of nicotine and deciding he needed to up his workout regime after this weekend.

He watched as Hermione's curls caught in the light breeze. She was leaning against the railing of the balcony, her head deep in thoughts.

"Still spending as much time with Potter and Weasel as you did back at Hogwarts?" he asked while looking at the castle and remembering the three of them as inseparable. Only moderately prying for information on her situation with Weasley. He was pretty sure they were not seeing each other still.

Hermione didn't care to reprimand Draco in the use of his favourite nickname of her former lover.

"No, not as much I suppose, they both have their jobs as aurors, it keeps them pretty busy. And my relationship with Ron is a bit strained, I mean, our breakup was mutual in most ways, and also not. He had a hard time grasping I had changed, and I didn't like that he couldn't understand that I had, and … there were things I needed from him that he couldn't provide," she said, thinking she needed to stop drinking alcohol around Draco because it made her too talkative.

"I see." Draco nodded slightly. "What exactly was he unable to provide?" Draco asked smirking devilishly, certain of what she must be referring to. He couldn't imagine the Weasel ever satisfying her true needs.

She blushed and he found it endearing. "What I wanted in the bedroom, for one," she answered truthfully, her eyes glued to the cigarette in her hand.

"Hmm, interesting."

"Oh, really, it's interesting? How so?"

It was interesting because Draco now knew for sure she was not seeing Weasley anymore, it made him happy in ways he didn't think was smart to admit aloud. He kept that part to himself.

"Do you find me able to provide what Weasley could not?" he asked and turned so he was leaning with his back to the railing. Draco was curious to know. She was very shy about her wants and needs in the bedroom, she never really told him if he didn't demand it during. He wished he could use legilimens to find out her darkest desires. He'd be very happy to oblige whatever they were.

Hermione puffed on her cigarette to stall before answering. "Yes."

The one worded answer made Draco feel very good about himself, and Hermione could tell by the smug look on his face. "Gloating is not a pretty look on you," she said trying her best to look serious and punched him lightly in the stomach. Draco found it comical how her 'punch' felt more like a pat.

"I always look pretty," he said trying to sound as offended as possible.

Hermione laughed and shook her head. "I swear to Merlin," she mumbled under her breath.

-o-o-o-

"Ooch," Draco groaned when he was gutted in the stomach by a knee. It effectively woke him from a very pleasant dream involving whipped cream and Hermione's naked body.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean too, I just tried to get out of your hold, we have to get ready for our meeting with McGonogall," she said and Draco thought it was too many words strung together this early in the morning.

"We can be late," he murmured against her neck, already placing kisses. He was a man who was never late, but having a naked Hermione in bed apparently changed that. He wanted to savour their last morning together. He pulled her closer, locking one of her legs between his, feeling her naked breasts against his chest.

"No we can't. She's only seeing us this early on a Sunday as a favour to you, so you can get back to Paris in time," she said feeling like a hypocrite as she rejoiced in the way his arms wrapped around her body, the softness of his skin, the huskiness in his voice. She kissed him on his lips, he responded immediately and she was on her back with him on top in less then two seconds. His fingers tracing down her body, around her breasts. His tongue found hers and, oh god she loved that tongue, her body responded and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her body evidently betraying her mind.

"Draco!" she protested between kisses when he kneaded her breasts, and she released him from her legs.

He groaned loudly and rolled off her reluctantly, his glorious body on full display on top of the sheets. She sighed, wanting nothing more than for him to ravish her, she almost gave in.

When they were dressed Hermione suggested they'd walk to Hogwarts, and Draco looked crossed.

"If we have time to walk, you could at least have let me make you cum once," he complained as he pulled on his dragon hide gloves.

"I suppose your right." She frowned. The look of disappointment in her face so evident that Draco found it comical. He'd expected at least a shove and a glare for being so crass. Maybe he'd been a bad influence on her. He grinned and extended an arm as they left her room.

Their meeting with McGonogall went well, that is when the Headmistress got over her shock at seeing red bite-marks and hickeys all the way down Hermione's neck as she unwrapped her coat. Draco fought back a chuckle and took a few good seconds to admire his work, earning a stern glare from Hermione. Their role-play from last night had come full circle. Two students shagging and being called out by the professor, Draco found it hilarious, Hermione not so much.

She gave him a good scolding as they exited McGonogall's office.

"You should have told me to glamour it before we went," she blamed. And Draco couldn't stop laughing, it was the kind of laugh that left your stomach muscles sore. "It is not funny Draco!"

"It kind of is," he said between laughs before he collected himself. Hermione was smiling and shaking her head at him. She never knew he had such a contagious laugh.

"I forgot, and I couldn't see it when we walked here because of your coat," he defended. Hermione rolled her eyes at his weak excuse.

He had in fact forgotten to tell her to glamour it, supposedly he enjoyed looking at his love marks too much, and when they left her room it hadn't occurred to him. Draco really wasn't sorry about it, a part of him wanted for everyone to know she was his. The only problem was she was not; a fact he ignored to the best of his efforts.

-o-o-o-

Way too soon they were standing with their suitcases outside of the Tree broomsticks. It was a moment Hermione dreaded. Last time they had parted ways it had been easy, light, and it had taken them three years before they met again. In these four days he had managed to make her feel more like herself than she ever had with Ron.

As much as she needed time to comprehend just what all these butterflies were about, she also wanted for him to be hers, but she believed that to be impossible. It wasn't like they could just be a couple walking about London hand in hand without causing headlines, not to mention his parent's views of people like her or her friends views of people like him. The hardest fact to grasp was that he most likely didn't want it to be more; she had concluded that already when the first signs of her infatuation had reared its ugly head. She still had no idea where he stood with Astoria.

At that moment she hated their past, she hated the prejudices that still roamed in the wizarding society and she hated how cowardly she went about the whole thing.

Draco studied her, deliberating what would be the right thing to say. He could see she was deep in thought, and he was annoyed that her eyes gave nothing away, they usually did. If she wanted them to make plans to meet again, surely she would just say so, right? He convinced himself she would, because when had Hermione Granger not gone after what she wanted in life? The latest one being the Minister post.

He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. A show of affection he hadn't planned on. "Good luck with the reform, I'm sure the Minister position will be yours in a heartbeat," he said, waiting for a sign, any sign from her to make plans and he would take it.

She didn't give him any.