Hello, lovelies. Thank you for being so patient and waiting for this chapter. I gotta tell you, something felt mighty weird to me last week and I had to keep reminding myself it was because I hadn't and wouldn't be posting until this week. I hope you enjoy this dose of fluff with all of my thanks and appreciation to my alphabet of MissyJAnne85 & Caitlincheri28.

You can find the updated Spotify playlist here... Enjoy!

Hermione sat frozen to her chair for approximately three seconds with Luna, Ginny and Neville demanding to know what was going on. She couldn't answer them, didn't know how. How did you tell your best friends that someone was actively hunting you for being in love with the wrong person?

She just shook her head at them and pulled her wand from her arm holster, beckoning the others to do the same.

"Rodolphus Lestrange is out there somewhere, disguised as I don't know who. Let's get out there and help Harry and Draco round him up. One against six are good odds if you ask me!" Hermione took off, running through the startled diners and out into the cold street.

She looked left and right, hearing and feeling her friends at her back.

"Should we split up, or stick together?" Neville asked.

"Let's split up. You go with Luna. Ginny with me," Hermione directed. They paired off and moved in opposite directions, looking for anything untoward on the busy Saturday afternoon in Hogsmeade.

Students of Hogwarts and witches and wizards alike meandered through the town, creating a task almost impossible for them. Hermione had no idea who she was looking for. She didn't see who Rodolphus was disguised as, man or woman, tall or short, thick or thin. She was working blind, just hoping for something suspicious to leap out at her.

Up ahead, there were several loud cracks. Hermione glanced back at Ginny, and the two took off at a run towards the sound. Several Aurors had Apparated into the town square. Hermione recognised Dawlish as he spoke with Harry. Draco was standing off to the side, his eyes sharp and wary of his surroundings. When he saw Hermione, she could feel the heat of his glower from a hundred metres away. He stalked towards her and took her by the arm.

"Are you mad?" He whispered harshly. "Why the fuck did you leave the tea rooms? Potter and I were chasing him away from you, and you just—" he waved his hands in the air, "decided to take a walk? Turn yourself over as bait?"

"Wait just a second!" It was Ginny, watching the exchange with confusion etched into her brows. "Are you saying that Lestrange is out here looking for Hermione?"

"Yes!" Draco snarled.

"No!" Hermione said at the same time.

Ginny looked back and forth between the two of them before Hermione conceded.

"Yes, alright. He seems to have a bit of an issue with me. Doesn't like the idea that I sully his nephew's sheets. But, really, Draco," Hermione turned her attention back to him, "I can take care of myself. I think I have proved that sufficiently over the years!"

"Not the point," he said, his eyes dancing to a dangerous tune.

Hermione watched him carefully for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I'm alright," she told him. "You can see that I am, right? We'll be more careful in the future. What's happening anyway?"

"Bastard disappeared after I spotted him. Potter and I chased him for a bit, but he Disapparated a minute later. I guess Potter is giving the Aurors some kind of report now."

"Well, I guess if there is one positive from all of this, is that the DMLE will take the threat seriously now. Mum and Dad are sure to be well protected, too."

Draco squeezed her tightly against him for a moment longer before releasing her. Ginny took her hand as she spotted Neville and Luna on the other side of the square. People were jostling each other to get a good look at Harry Potter conversing with a team of Aurors. Somewhere in the crowd, a camera flashed.

Harry scanned the crowd, looking for Malfoy and spotted him with Ginny and Hermione. He made his way over to them.

"Law Enforcement is going to do a sweep of the area and attempt to conduct a trace. It's unlikely that your uncle left anything traceable behind, but you can never be too sure. I think we rattled him. We might get lucky."

"But probably not," Draco countered. "He's a fucking slippery bastard, and he's managed to avoid arrest so far. He'll likely keep doing so. Are the Aurors going to up the ante on protection spells for Granger's parents?"

"We'll see what happens in the next twenty-four hours. The chase will be on for Lestrange until then. If somebody finds something, we will know more. For now, I'll be escorting you all back to the castle along with a couple of others. The fun afternoon is over, I'm afraid."

"I guess this means you're back on Auror mode, no longer in boyfriend mode," Ginny pouted.

"I'm afraid so," he told her with a sad smile.

Ginny sighed sadly and squeezed Harry in a tight hug before stepping back. "It was fun while it lasted, I guess," she shrugged, falling into step next to him while they made their way to the centre of the square, joining a few other Aurors. Two were waving their wands over the area, another three had darted off to conduct a thorough search through Hogsmeade, and the last two were standing in wait to escort them back to the castle. Luna and Neville joined them, their expressions quizzical.

"Mr Malfoy, I have some questions for you, if you'd please just step away with me?" Dawlish had appeared in front of them, his expression one that gave Draco little choice - though he'd have answered any question the Auror asked anyway.

"Certainly," Draco replied stiffly, squeezing Hermione's hand in his and bringing her with them. There was no way he was letting her out of his sight until they got back to the castle. Maybe not even then.

"Alone, if you will, Malfoy. I need to make sure that your story lines up with my colleague's."

"My uncle could be disguised as anyone right now, Auror Dawlish, and he has his sights set on Miss Granger. You'll forgive me for keeping her by my side at all times," Draco insisted.

"Draco, really, it's alright," Hermione smiled. "I'll be with Harry. I'll be fine!"

Draco looked down at her and pulled her closer to his side. His intention was perfectly clear.

Dawlish cleared his throat. "Right then, Mr Malfoy. Please tell me in your own words what occurred this afternoon."

"Refreshments had just been served to us—"

"Where were you and who were you with?"

Draco tried desperately not to be annoyed with the Auror. "Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and I were trying to enjoy an afternoon together at Madam Puddifoot's insipid tearooms. Our orders were delivered to the table, and Granger had just made a rather embarrassing comment about me to her friends, so I looked away and out of the shop. There was a man, about thirty years old, peering in through the window. I thought this very odd, as the tearooms are notoriously used by young couples and on a Hogwarts weekend, they're full to the brim of teenagers. Initially, I didn't pay too much attention, until the man's eyes caught mine. He turned away, nearly running, and that was when I noticed his limp. The same limp my uncle sustained during the war. That was when I alerted Potter to the threat, and he sent his Patronus to your lot."

"And then?" Dawlish questioned, leaning in.

"And then Potter and I ran out of the tearooms and gave chase. Once Lestrange realised we were onto him, he Disapparated pretty quickly."

"And you have no idea where he might have gone?"

"None," Draco confirmed.

"And you wouldn't lie to protect your uncle, would you, Malfoy?" Dawlish all but sneered.

Draco looked down at Hermione, whom he still held clutched to his side, and back to Dawlish's face, so close to his own.

"My uncle is a raving lunatic. He sent me a decapitated rat in the mail, the word 'Mudblood' inscribed on its side. And do you know why, Auror Dawlish? He did it because he is insane. He did it because he wanted to get under my skin. He did it because I love someone who he deems unworthy." Draco's fingers twitched against Hermione's waist. "I want my uncle put away just as badly as you do, if not more," he seethed. "I will not let him hurt Hermione. So no, I would not lie to protect him."

Dawlish stepped back a pace or two during Draco's little speech. He cleared his throat again now. "Very well, Mr Malfoy. Your story matches with Potter's sufficiently. Thank you for your time. I will be in contact with you in the future if the need arises. I trust that you will do the same with me. Good day to you both," Dawlish nodded and left them to round up his team.

Hermione leaned further into Draco's side and squeezed him tight. "You didn't need to say all of that, you know, but I'm glad that you did," she smiled up at him. Dawlish's interrogation had unnerved her. The idea that the Ministry wasn't willing to completely accept Draco's word was infuriating, if not understandable. The fact that Rodolphus had been so close to them, to her, was more than rattling, but she wouldn't let Draco see that. "Let's get back to Hogwarts and try and salvage some of this day!"

"I am never letting you out of my sight again," he told her. "And we're definitely getting out of here for the Easter holidays. Pick somewhere you've never been, but have always wanted to go, and I'll organise a way to get there."

"Not going to happen, Malfoy," Hermione said.

Draco started to protest, but she talked over him. "I mean—sure, let's go. I'll pick somewhere, but we'll travel like Muggles. Tell me that your uncle will be able to trace us that way? No one in the Magical world will have a clue where we are. All I'll have to do is figure out a Passport for you, and we'll be safer than ever."

Draco pondered for a moment as they waited for Harry to make the final preparations for the escort.

"Deal," he said finally.


In the end, Hermione created two copies of her passport and magicked some fake information onto them both, keeping the photographs correct. She was hoping it would be enough but was prepared to Confund any official who might question them if need be. It would be a necessary evil that she hoped to avoid.

Hermione considered booking them plane tickets, certainly around Europe they were cheap enough, but she didn't know how Draco would react in an aeroplane, so she played it safe and booked train tickets. She hoped to make it look as though they travelled from London to Paris, ending their destination in the City of Love. This was not her intention, from Paris they would travel to Belgium - Brussels to be exact, and she hoped that all of these things in combination would be enough to keep them well hidden from any witch or wizard attempting to locate them.

Draco was impressed but thoroughly annoyed with the time that the travel would take.

"If we'd just taken a Portkey, we'd have been there ten hours ago, Granger. Surely this way of travel leaves more of a mark than a Portkey."

"And to organise an illegal international Portkey you'd have done exactly what? Contact an old family acquaintance that Rodolphus or your father might just as easily sway to give up our location?"

Draco harrumphed and sat back in the stiff leather chair of the train carriage.

"Just relax," Hermione encouraged him, curling into his side. "Watch the countryside flash by, and we'll be there before you know it!"

Draco checked his wristwatch but otherwise said nothing as Hermione snuggled into him. He cradled her head on his chest and tried to ignore all the other travellers who walked by, while simultaneously checking them all to see if they could be his uncle in disguise. His stare intimidated many, but he soon noticed several young women who passed by them frequently, their eyes either watching him with interest or glancing at the woman half-asleep on him with dislike.

Hermione startled him when she spoke. "They're not dangerous," she told him as one particular teen walked by for the fifth time. "They're just checking you out," she told him with a little giggle, sitting up straighter.

"They're what?"

"Checking you out," Hermione reiterated. "Don't tell me you've gone and forgotten just how damn good looking you are, Malfoy. You usually love to remind me about it!" She poked him playfully in the chest.

In response, Draco pulled her the rest of the way into his lap and leaned his forehead against hers.

"And you then? What are they staring at you like that for?"

"They're trying to figure out if we're together, or if you're simply accommodating a fellow passenger."

"Well, then, I think we should show these Muggle girls just exactly how accommodating I can be," he grinned devilishly at her and lowered his lips to hers.

Hermione grinned back, feeling his smile against her lips and more than willing to lean into the kiss. She felt like she had taken the correct steps to keep them safe for at least this much of the journey. She was relaxed, and she wanted him to be as well. The sweet kiss, safe for a public display quickly turned into something more. She was already in his lap, her feet awkwardly flung over into the seat of her own chair. She couldn't get much closer than she was, but she tried. Her hands slipped into the silk of his platinum hair, and she pulled him to her with a strength she didn't know she possessed.

Draco growled low in his throat, the primal sound shooting straight to her core, the vibration of it doing strange things to her lips.

Someone walked by, a familiar girlish perfume cloying through the air indicating that it was the same girl again. Distantly, Hermione heard her startled exclamation at the sight. It made her grin and pull on Draco's hair more possessively. Watching the girls pass by had been entertaining, she wasn't a jealous woman by nature, but she was more than happy to show these women that Draco was hers. She carried on kissing him just as she had been until a much more gruff sound pulled her away from his lips. Hermione looked up sheepishly into the face of a train guard. His look of irritation suggested that he had cleared his throat more than once in order to get their attention.

"Sorry," Hermione squeaked, scrambling to slide back into her seat.

"Tickets and passports?" The burly Frenchman requested, sticking out his hand.

"Yes, right, of course," Hermione stammered, reaching for her bag which was tucked under her chair. Carefully, she turned away from the guard. It was all they needed for him to see her elbow-deep in a small handbag. A moment of rummaging later and Hermione procured their travel documents and handed them over for inspection. Hermione felt her heart beating quickly in her chest and Draco's nervous energy at her back. She put her hand just above his knee and squeezed, hoping to confer a sense of calm in him.

"Looks fine," the guard told her, handing everything back.

Hermione thanked him, and he moved along a few rows to the next set of people.

"Everything alright, then?" Draco checked as she put their documents back away.

"Seems the spells worked just fine," Hermione grinned. "Nothing to worry about except the tent in your pants," she winked at him.

"For which you are entirely responsible, witch!"

Hermione grinned at him and settled back into her seat, checking to see how much farther they needed to travel before arriving in Brussels.

"So. I never did ask you — why Brussels?"

Hermione looked at him incredulously. "Why Brussels? Draco Malfoy, I'm shocked! Didn't you know that the way to a woman's heart is through delectable Belgian chocolate? And I intend to eat my fill of it while we're here."


Finally, Hermione wheeled her Muggle luggage through the door of their dingy hotel room, Draco just one step behind her. He'd been muttering under his breath since they entered the lobby.

The moment the door closed behind them, he looked up and took in the small, modest, and admittedly, not the cleanest room.

"Oh, fuck no, Granger. We're not staying in this hovel. The Shrieking Shack is more inviting than this!"

"Draco, calm down," Hermione pleaded. "We're flying under the radar, going incognito."

"It's an incog-fucking-no in my book, Granger. I've bought enough Galleons with me. We can exchange them to Muggle money through the local Gringotts. That way I won't be making any withdrawals, no one will know we're here!"

"And if someone recognises us?" Hermione tapped her foot impatiently.

"We'll go in disguise. You can change your hair, and I'll make my nose less pointy!"

Hermione giggled despite herself. "I still think this is the best option for us to remain in hiding!"

"What name did you book the room under? Maybe it would be better if we changed the name on the pass-thing and went somewhere else—another dead-end trail." Draco exclaimed, stumbling his way blindly into a way to get out of this hell hole. "Yes, that's it. If anyone following us finds this place, they'll think this is where we're staying and won't come looking for us under different names anywhere else. It makes perfect sense, Granger."

Hermione looked at him sceptically. Despite his reasons behind a change of venue, he had come up with a pretty sound plan.

"Ok, good. Fine, let's do that. But let's set up some wards on this room. At least something to notify us if anyone other than the housekeeping comes investigating!"

"You've got yourself a deal, Granger!" Draco smirked, bending to kiss her soundly on the mouth before taking his wand and beginning the wards on the room. Hermione joined in, and when they were done, Draco wasted no time in wheeling his bag straight back out and into the hall.

"Wait," Hermione said, bringing him to a halt. She flicked her wrist and shrunk their luggage to a size where she could easily slip them in her beaded bag.

Draco looked at her quizzically.

"If anyone is watching, we wouldn't want them to know that we don't plan on staying here," she told him. "Plus, this is much easier to get around with on the cobblestones!"

Draco smiled, kissing her on the cheek and slipping his hand into hers. As he laced their fingers together, Hermione started to feel like she was on some sort of bizarre holiday with a lover instead of a week-long hideout. She didn't mind the transformation at all. Especially if it put Draco in high spirits. Maybe he was starting to feel a little safer as well, now that they were completely out of their home country.

"Any idea where the Belgian branch of Gringotts is located?" Hermione asked, suddenly unsure.

"I'm willing to bet that it's in their version of Diagon Alley, which is called Heksenweg, and lucky for us, it's located right here in Brussels," Draco said as he marched down the stairs, two at a time. He was very eager to get out of this establishment.

"Right, and how do we find that?" Hermione asked, dubious.

Draco raised his right eyebrow at her, and checking that the coast was clear, he pulled his wand. Laying it flat on his palm, he whispered, "Point Me, Heksenweg". A rough map of Brussels appeared before them, indicating a red spot for Heksenweg and a blue spot for where they stood. According to the map, they were within walking distance. Once they arrived, it would just be a matter of locating Disillusionment charms and finding their way inside.

Together, they worked their way through tourists and locals alike to find their way to Brussels Centrum. Their map had indicated that the entrance to the Wizarding Underground could be found by the popular tourist attraction Manneke Pis.

"Any idea what that is?" Hermione asked him as they walked through the bustling town centre. The town was absolutely riddled with chocolate shops, and Hermione could not wait to sample something from every single one, but Draco kept pulling her along, determined to find them a better hotel.

"I speak three languages, Granger. Dutch isn't one of them. Your guess is as good as mine," he told her, pushing through the crowd.

Within moments, they found the source of the tourist frenzy. A small area was fenced off from the Muggles, displaying a water fountain and behind it, a small bronze statue depicting a young boy relieving himself into another fountain.

Hermione giggled, Draco rolled his eyes.

"You don't like it?" She asked, jabbing him in the ribs with her elbows.

"It's undignified and uncouth, Granger. Now help me look for the wards."

"It's funny, and it's art," Hermione countered. "There," she said, pointing to the other side of the fence. There was a small shimmer against the gate on the opposite side, and Hermione saw a witch slip behind it, tapping her wand against a stone in the wall as she did.

"Let's go," Draco said, taking her hand. "Did you see which stone she hit?"

"Not exactly which one," Hermione admitted, leaning against the wall casually. "But it was somewhere around here," she said, her wand subtly tapping stone after stone. On her third try, she felt the wards fall, and she pulled Draco through the barrier.

The Magical centre of Brussels was alive and buzzing. There were no other words for it. Witches and wizards spoke in English, Dutch and French all around them. Hermione couldn't figure out how they all knew which language to speak to whom, but she hoped that whoever she came across would be fine with English. Her Dutch was non-existent, and her French was rusty at best. Thankfully, one of the languages Draco did speak was French. Draco stopped a young man who was passing them by, his arms laden with bags.

"Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous me dire où se trouve la banque?" He asked, his accent perfect. Hermione felt her knees go weak. Rusty as her French was, she understood enough that he was asking for directions to the bank. Aware of how utterly mundane the question was, the sound of the accent still had her squeezing her thighs together. Merlin, she hoped they found a hotel room soon.

The wizard barely stopped in his tracks but pointed a finger in the direction they should go. Draco thanked his retreating back and pulled Hermione to his side, heading north.

They took their time, meandering through the streets, taking in the different apothecaries, sweet shops, bars—so many bars, the Belgians seemed to enjoy their beer. Draco lingered longingly by the Broomstick store.

"Later," Hermione promised him. "We can look later. First, let's exchange the Galleons into Euros before you go and drop them all on the latest broom and leave us to sleep on the streets instead of a lovely plush bed."

Draco smirked down at her. "I think you underestimate just how much gold I brought with me, Granger."

Hermione groaned. "You're such a spoiled little rich kid," she said. "Don't you have a perfectly good broom back at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, but it's not here. We could go flying!"

"You know that I loathe flying, Malfoy. Come on." Hermione tried her hand at distracting him. She walked her fingers up his arm, landing on his shoulder. "I want to find a hotel room with an acceptable bed so I can have you in it," she winked.

Draco all but ran to the bank, pulling her in his wake. Hermione laughed in delight, trailing along behind him. Her shorter legs working twice as hard as his.

They found the bank. It towered above them just as Gringotts in Diagon Alley did. They stopped in a dark alley and took a moment to change their appearances to something completely other than themselves. Draco charmed his hair brown and added some blue pigment to his eyes. Hermione tried in vain not to laugh. She transfigured her curly brunette locks into silken raven lengths, her eyes turned green, and she conjured a pair of sharp, slim rectangle glasses to complete the look.

"Do I need to do anything else?" She asked him.

Draco frowned. "You look like a female Potter and entirely unlike yourself. I fucking hate it. Let's get this over with."

"Wait," Hermione tugged on his arm as he turned to leave. "I think you should do something more than your hair and eyes. What about making yourself appear a little shorter?"

"Should I just chop my feet off at the ankles while I'm at it, Granger?" Draco rolled his eyes and walked into the bank. Hermione trailed along behind him, a small smile on her face.

Thirty minutes later Draco and Hermione emerged from the bank, with Hermione's beaded bag full of paper Euros, weighing a whole lot less than the gold Draco had bought with him.

Vowing to come back to Heksenweg the next day to indulge in their fancies, they moved back through the beautiful city of Brussels to find a hotel that Draco deemed suitable enough for them.


"This one is fine, Draco. We've already been in and out of three that were more than adequate. Just because we have the money, doesn't mean that we need to spend the money. Let's just see if they have a room available for the week."

Draco dragged his feet but allowed Hermione to lead him to the reception desk of the Hotel Le Plaza, Brussels. After a brief conversation with the concierge, they secured a room with a view for the week with a large down payment of their euros.

When the door to their room was thrown open for them, Hermione sighed in wonder. If Draco didn't think this room was good enough, with all of its plush furnishings in rich golds, creams, and burgundies, she thought she might scream. The view alone was worth the price they'd paid for the room.

"How do you find the room?" The server asked them, setting their luggage by the bed.

"It will do," Draco replied.

"It's perfect," Hermione gushed.

Draco watched her with a smile and subtly slipped the door boy a tip.

With the staff gone, Draco moved behind Hermione who was staring out of the window at the sprawling city below.

"Are you happy?" He asked her.

Hermione leaned back into his chest as his arms encircled her waist. She hummed her approval and closed her eyes, completely content with her current situation.

"Tell me more. What is making you happy right at this moment? Be specific."

"Hmm," she pondered, turning in his arms and tipping her face up to stare at him. This view was even better than the one outside, she thought. She leaned into his hand as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "You touching me makes me happy."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes, every time we touch, I get this feeling, and every time we kiss, I swear I could fly."

Hermione watched his face for a moment, seeing his love for her in his eyes.

Draco couldn't find the words to reply to that. Nothing in his vocabulary seemed to do it justice.

Hermione rested her head on his chest. She could feel his heart beating fast under his shirt. He rested his head on top of hers, her curls tickled his face, but he didn't care.

They stayed locked together for a few moments until Draco finally found words to respond.

"I will always need you by my side, Granger. When we touch, all I feel is static. Like my whole body is alight, and when we kiss… even after we stop, I still feel your touch in my dreams. I can't let you go, Hermione. I won't let you go. I need you in my life."

Hermione reached up and brought his lips down to hers. When they broke apart, she spoke again.

"We've already been through so many good and bad times. Right now, it feels like your arms are my castle—your heart is my sky. You wipe away my tears when I cry. I need you in my life, too, Draco."

"Pleased to hear it, Granger," he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "I have no intention of letting you go."

"Good," Hermione nodded. "Now please take me to bed," she smirked up at him.

"With pleasure," he replied, capturing her lips with his, picking her up and walking with her towards the bed.


Draco and Hermione spent the next few days thoroughly enjoying their hotel suite and making full use of the room service menu. While Draco wished the food would be able to appear without the help of a server bringing it to their door, the novelty of not having to leave the room was something he really enjoyed.

After the first few days had passed, they ventured out to explore the city, take in the sights, and enjoy the local culture and cuisine. On more than one occasion, they had wiled away the afternoon in a delightful bar called Delirium, their beer menu bottomless. They had also been back to Heksenweg twice, Hermione barely managing to convince Draco not to buy the most recent model of broom from the Firebolt collection. They had spent hours in the apothecary, relishing the difference in variety from the one in Diagon Alley.

True to her word, Hermione had dragged Draco in and out of various chocolatiers, sampling different chocolates until her stomach hurt and she needed to guzzle down bottle after bottle of water. On one of these trips, they had stumbled upon a tiny little cafe with just two small tables for patrons to sit at. The warm, sweet scent was enough to lure them in. Behind the counter, there was an array of confections on offer, but the smell that had enticed them in was the steaming hot chocolate fountain next to the register.

Hermione's eyes had grown wide watching the ebb and flow of the thick, velvety, deep brown chocolate of the fountain as Draco purchased two small cups.

They took a seat at one of the tables vacated while a petite woman poured their drinks and brought them over. Hermione bent over her cup and inhaled deeply before bringing the small teacup to her lips. As she sipped, her eyes rolled back in her head.

"Oh my," she said, licking her lips. "I think I just died and went to heaven," she sighed. "Mm, this hot chocolate might be better than sex!"

Draco had been enjoying watching her enjoy the chocolate, but when she said that, his jaw dropped.

"There is no way that this tiny little cup of chocolate is better than sex. With me," he added incredulously.

"Try it," she urged him, her eyes darting from his mouth to the hot chocolate.

"Fine," he said, picking up the cup.

Hermione watched him closely as he tipped the cup to his lips. Moments later, his eyes widened, and he set the cup back down on the saucer.

Hermione grinned at him. "Well?" She encouraged.

"It is not better than sex," he said, "but maybe you should give me your cup, too? Just to be sure."

Hermione giggled, and Draco felt his heart flutter at the sound. She was more than he could have ever imagined during all those years he thought of her. He had thought that he loved her back then, but he hadn't even scratched the incredible surface that was Hermione Granger. This week, she had left school behind; the books, the exams, and all of her stress and cares. This week, she had been light, carefree, and alive. She had been free of all of her usual constraints. Just a girl on holiday with her boyfriend, exploring a new city.

In return, Draco had let his guard down, laughing and joking with ease, making Hermione fall in love with him all over again every day. He splashed money around, and she reprimanded him for it, but they had a truly fantastic time together, and it was with regret that the week had to come to an end and they would return to Hogwarts.

Hermione observed Draco over the cup of hot chocolate that she absolutely refused to hand over. This week away from school and their everyday stress had been a godsend for him. He laughed, joked, and he spoiled her rotten, simply because he wanted to. He was generous to a fault. If she had even paused to look at something, he had offered to buy it for her—regardless of what it was, and often it was something she had no interest in. The attention he lavished on her, his whole demeanour this week was upbeat, and Hermione was strongly reminded of why and how she had fallen in love with him.

Cup empty and with a sigh, Hermione announced that it was time that they get going. They needed to get their luggage packed, check out of the hotel and start the long journey back to Hogwarts. They would arrive at Kings Cross a little earlier than she'd like, but that was better than being late, she reasoned.

During the weeks before the Easter break, they had encouraged rumours through the school that they would be staying at Hogwarts. Their parents were both under the impression that this was the case, too. So while they would need to be back on guard the closer they got to London, they hoped that their false trail would keep them safe.

In the end, all of their cleverly laid plans were wasted.

They glided back into their hotel lobby, hand in hand, laughing together as they made their way towards the elevator and their room.

"I wish we'd found that little cafe a few days ago," Hermione was saying as she slid the room key into the door. "I'd have loved to have more than one cup of that hot chocolate," she laughed, pushing the door open.

She stepped into the room, but Draco pulled her back sharply.

"What?" She asked, startled.

Draco pushed her behind him and took out his wand. Panicking, Hermione did the same.

Step after quiet step, Draco and Hermione crept through the entryway. Sticking his head around the corner, Draco visibly relaxed. His wand dropping and shoulders relaxing.

"Hello, darling," Narcissa's voice chilled Hermione's blood. How had she found them? "Enjoying your little holiday?" She asked as Hermione made herself visible.

"How did you find us?" Draco asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"I have many friends in many cities, my love. You and Miss Granger were spotted more than once. And if I can find you, just imagine how easily your uncle could have. Really, I am disappointed. I thought that you had called things off with Miss Granger?" Narcissa picked at a loose thread on the seat she was occupying.

"He did," Hermione responded, her eyes conveying a warning. "After a month we decided that the decision to be apart wasn't really working for us."

"A month? Is that all?" Narcissa tutted. "Oh, Draco. I thought you could have done better than that. Nevermind, I've organised two international Portkeys. One will take Hermione back to Hogwarts, and the other will return you home with me. This is quite the end of things, Draco," Narcissa stopped her idle fiddling to fix her son with a stare that could rival Medusa. "You will finish the rest of this school year from the Manor. Be thankful you've had this week together because it's the last you'll have. Say your goodbyes, Draco, and pack your luggage. We leave in five minutes." Narcissa slid a polished button across a side table towards Hermione.

"Like hell we do, mother. I've had enough of this bullshit. I am with Hermione— I love her. You cannot come between us, not anymore!"

Narcissa smiled demurely at her son before flicking her eyes over to Hermione. She stood, smoothing her already perfect green robes.

"Do see sense, Miss Granger. Believe it or not, I actually find you very agreeable. I understand why my son feels the way he does. Surely by now, he has filled you in on the many reasons why you cannot be together. Not the least that there is no way he can marry you. I'm surprised, really. I thought you were a clever girl with a sense of life preservation. Is a teenage romance with no hope of a future really something you are willing to die for?"

Hermione stared incredulously at the elegant older woman, who was standing in front of the armchair, all pristine robes and superior expressions. Hermione might be imagining it, but did Narcissa's eyes hold a little bit of understanding behind their haughtiness? She did confess to liking Hermione, maybe she wished that the situation wasn't how it was?

"Do you think that I meant for this to happen?" Hermione asked, feeling suddenly bold. "I wasn't ready for my heart to fall the way that it did, but I can't deny it, Mrs Malfoy. I won't deny it. You can take your son away from me now, but that won't change any of it. Yes —I would be willing to die if it meant having Draco by my side, but we will find a way so that it won't come to that."

Draco took Hermione's hand in solidarity. "Look at us, mother. Really look at us. Tell me what you see. I'll tell you what I see; I see two people who could have it all. We're so fucking right for each other when everyone tells us it should be wrong."

Hermione could feel a tremble in his hand. All she could see on his face was an impenetrable calm. The storm of emotions was hiding well under the surface. Is this how he always is with his parents? So perfectly schooled? She wondered sadly.

"Draco, darling. You must start to see things. This just cannot work!"

"We will find a way around those curses, Mrs Malfoy. I know we will," Hermione said with a tremor. She wished she was able to be as calm as Draco, but she had far less practice.

Narcissa had the audacity to chuckle, albeit quietly. "I see you have lost yourselves entirely in a world of fantasy," Narcissa retook her seat and looked at Draco and Hermione as if she were addressing small children. "The only person who has any hope of breaking those curses is the head of the family, and my darlings, you'll never have Lucius' approval for this match."

Draco squeezed Hermione's hand that much tighter. She nearly winced but refused to give any such satisfaction to Narcissa.

"If we don't try, mother, we'll never know," Draco insisted. He leaned down and whispered in Hermione's ear.

With a nod, Hermione dropped his hand and waved her wand. Their belongings started to gather themselves from around the room, folding neatly and lying flat in their trunks.

A ghost of a smile flitted triumphantly across Narcissa's face.

Hermione shrunk their luggage down and slipped it into her beaded bag. The victory left Narcissa's face as she contemplated her son and his lover.

"If we never try, then we'll never know," Draco repeated. "Love is love, mother. Please don't hate me for it," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. Taking Hermione's hand, he lunged for the button on the table with incredible speed. The Portkey was in his hand before Narcissa could move. As it started to vibrate, Hermione touched a finger to it.

"I'm sorry," she told Narcissa just before she felt the pull from behind her navel and the Portkey whisked them away.

This weeks song choices are:

Every Time We Touch - Cascada

Love Don't Hate It - Duncan Laurence

A shout out goes to Ribbonofsunshine for her excellent skills in the French language. Thank you, darling.

I'll see you all again in two weeks, right before Christmas!