Author's Note: Well, here it is. It's not long…and I know you've waited an age for it, but here's the next chapter. I did manage to get a cute Dramione 1-shot up on Christmas, called Christmas Covers, but this chapter has been fighting me tooth and nail, so I'm going to just leave it here and go work on the next one.

Chapter 32: Stumbling

Hermione had offered to come up with Valentine's Day plans for them—she really didn't need anything fancy, just a day with Draco—but he had insisted that he already had everything worked out and that he wanted to surprise her again.

She couldn't help but admit that it was nice to be with someone who wanted to plan things. To surprise her. To make her feel special. She didn't have to handle all the romance herself. She glanced down at herself, sensibly dressed in trousers and a sweater. She pulled on her jacket, knowing Draco would be by momentarily. She'd ran a hand self-consciously over her hair. She'd finally tried the potion Narcissa had sent. She had to admit, her hair felt sleek and fine. She wasn't convinced she liked the reflection she'd seen in the mirror though. Her hair was shiny. It hung demurely at the sides of her face. She supposed it might make her more conventionally pretty, but…it didn't feel like her.

She was saved from further musings about the acceptability or lack of acceptability of her hair by a knock at the door. Opening the door, Draco was there, waiting for her. He had a small, heart-shaped box of chocolates in one hand, and a single rose in the other. He'd been studying Muggle popular culture as best he could—observing the store windows and television—and had determined that these were the appropriate gifts for this holiday. He'd been aghast at the cost of a bouquet of a dozen roses like Hermione deserved, but a single rose presented well would do in a pinch. It wasn't so different from the wizarding world, although later, when he and Hermione sampled the chocolate, he would declare that it wasn't nearly as good as Honeydukes and that he'd get her proper chocolate…in another 5 and a half months. And flowers that sang.

For the moment however, Draco held out the items in his hands, his mouth half-open, staring at Hermoine's hair.

"It'll wash out…in a few weeks…I think," she said taking the rose and chocolates he was handing her.

He reached out a now free hand and tenderly ran a finger over her hair and across to her cheek. It was soft. Her hair hung down against her skin. But…she just didn't quite look like herself. Maybe it was the uncertainty on her face more than any actual change to her hair. "If you don't like it, it will slowly turn back to the way it was and you'll look like yourself again in a few weeks. It's nice. But you look better with a smile on your face. You look like my Hermione with a smile on your face and your hair sticking out in every direction."

Hermione's face broke out in a grin and she kissed him (rather too enthusiastically for standing in the doorway). He'd rather have her comfortable with her appearance than meeting an artificial beauty standard. Just the sort of man she'd always hoped for. They did exist. Who knew?

Draco thoroughly enjoyed kissing her, lips on lips, teasing tongues and teeth. When they came up for air, Hermione asked him, "I don't suppose you'd rather stay in than go out, would you?" There was a teasing glint in her eye.

"I'm tempted, but I have gone to all the trouble of planning a Muggle Valentines Day for you, you know. It'd be a shame to waste my hard work. Still…" He looked a little longingly over her shoulder at the couch.

"Oh no, can't waste your hard work," she echoed. "I'll put this in water and we can go," she said, grinning.

A few minutes later they were under way. As might have been expected if he'd really stopped to consider it, Draco's careful planning did not go quite…well, according to plan.

There had been signs posted at the library advertising ice skating on Valentines day. The location appeared picturesque. Theresa had given him the impression that it was easy and commonly done, and had looked at the posters with a bit of nostalgia. It had seemed so straightforward. Surely it was something Hermione had probably done before, and he could pick it up without a problem. His bruised rear and aching legs would soon beg to differ.

He should have known it was doomed when they checked out their skates and Hermione looked at him in surprise. "I didn't know you could ice skate."

"Can't everyone?" he said, nonchalantly, feeling a faint stirring of dread in his stomach. Maybe this was a bad idea. He eyed the leather skates dubiously, looking at the sharpened blade on the bottom. They were surprisingly heavy.

"I haven't done it since I was a little girl. But I'm sure it'll come back to me."

When they were both laced up, Hermione rose to her feet. She took a few practice steps carefully and turned to Draco, still sitting on the bench. She held out her hand. Unsteadily, he came to his feet. He took a couple of steps. His feet felt heavy, but this wasn't so bad.

"Come on, let's get out on the ice," Hermione offered, still holding his hand.

What followed was probably one of the most embarrassing mornings of Draco's life. After the first time he fell on his ass, Hermione told him it was completely normal. The second time, she suggested he try hanging onto the wall and they go along the outer ledge. The third time he fell, she did her best not to laugh, but failed. The sight of Draco Malfoy, red-face, and splayed out across the ice was just a little too much for her. His hair hung in his eyes, and he glowered as if he could melt the ice with his stare.

"Do you want to go?" she offered.

"No. I'm going to do this," he said, gritting his teeth and getting up again. He was going to get this right.

Hermione wasn't any great skater, but she could manage one around the rink without falling from the time she stepped on the ice that day. She might over balance from time to time and have to steady herself out, but she managed to keep her feet.

After about another half an hour's worth of attempts, Draco managed to go once around the rink without falling or holding onto anything. They stayed on the ice a little longer, just so Draco could prove to himself that he could, before gladly surrendering their skates and finding somewhere for coffee and sandwiches. Happy Valentines Day.

Monday morning found Draco ready for his first day getting paid to work at the library. He'd still have to work at the restaurant tonight, but at least he'd put his two weeks notice in. Soon, he'd only have to work days.

He was just finishing his coffee when there was a knock on the door. He found Hermione there. "Don't you have to meet with Belby?"

"I do, but, I wanted to wish you luck. I've packed a lunch for you," she said, holding out a brown paper bag. "Sort of a good luck on your first official day thing. I don't know what's really traditional, but I thought you might like this, so I went ahead and did it."

He smiled. She was babbling. He leaned through the doorway and kissed her. "Thank you."

Hermione flashed him a smile and left.

Draco began the trip to the library. He found Theresa was at the checkout desk when he arrived. She gave him a rundown of the procedure for checking into work and checking out again, where to track his hours, and gave him the manual for the checkout desk, beginning to explain his duties. He wished he'd brought paper and a pen.

She stayed at the desk with him for an hour or so. There were few patrons, so after he'd had a little practice, she went off to her other duties. "I'll check back in a while."

Draco waited at the front desk, inspecting the various drawers and learning where things were. At least no one was going to spill food on him here. He did wince at the thought of doing a full 8 hours here and another 8 on his feet tonight at the restaurant. But soon, that would be over. His evenings would be free to spend with Hermione.

The desk didn't stay quiet for too long. Before Draco realized what was happening there were over a dozen small children and a harried looking teacher standing in front of him. Before long, he was doing his best to scan books out as quickly as possible, and stifling a groan at the look of the children's reading room. Books. Books everywhere. He couldn't decide if he wanted Theresa to come back immediately an assist him, or whether he was hoping she stayed busy wherever she was until it all calmed down again.

Hermione had come home from the joke shop early. She knew Draco would have hardly any time between the library and the restaurant and she wanted to surprise him. She had a hearty sandwich and a side of green beans waiting for him. Wine would have to wait until after his shift.

She stuck a note on his door urging him to come over when he got home. She hoped his first day at the library wasn't too hair-raising. Her own day hadn't been bad. They were able to replicate the functionality of James and Sirius's old mirrors, which was in itself a good product, but so far, they hadn't been able to create any sort of network that would allow any mirror to call another. They'd just have to decide whether that was good enough. Things were starting to come together.

Next week, she'd be starting the Wolfsbane potion.

She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Belby and George had both been surprised to see her change in appearance today. Belby had stared for a moment but not commented; witches often changed their appearance at a whim in his experience, and often wanted you to comment on it, so he didn't. George had pretended not to recognize her and spent the better part of five minutes pretending to look around the workshop for her; it was good to see him laugh.

Draco ached all over, and he was exhausted, but rather than stumble back to his own flat when he entered the building, he went back to Hermione's. He'd choked down a quick supper she'd prepared earlier before his shift. He was ready to collapse now. It had been a long, long day.

He knocked on the door. "Wine?"

She chuckled, looking at him. "I did promise. Come in," she said, gently tugging his hand and leading him to the sofa.

He removed his shoes and tucked them carefully out of the way under the end table before allowing himself to sit sideways on the couch and put his feet up. No shoes on the furniture.

Hermione reappeared with a glass in each hand. "So, tell me about your day."

"Where do I start?" He raked his fingers through his hair. "The grubby children leaving sticky jam prints on the books the left on the floor? The couple who ordered dish after dish at one of my tables and then complained to the manager that it was all terrible and cold and that they shouldn't have to pay for it?" He rubbed his temples and then reached for the glass she offered.

Hermione chuckled and settled herself into the recliner, ready to listen attentively and sympathetically, and to save any amusement at his discomfort for laughing alone later. She sipped her wine as she listened. Who would have ever predicted a few years ago that there would come a time when she wanted to hear the sound of his voice?

Tap.

Tap.

Tap. Tap.

Hermione's eyes opened and she looked around for the source of noise that was not her alarm clock.

There was an owl at her window. Hermione pushed back the covers and got up to let it in. She recognized the handwriting on the envelope as she took the letter. "Go ahead. There's water and food in the other room," she instructed it. The owl hooted softly and flapped off the window ledge and through the flat.

She was up now, she might as well stay up. Hermione shrugged into her bathrobe against the morning chill and took her letter with her into the kitchen to start the coffeemaker.

She opened the letter.

2-25-98

Hermione,

I promised I was going to try to be a better friend this year. I'm trying not to screw it up. Do you want to get together this weekend? I can bring Teddy if you want to see him. You wouldn't believe how much bigger he's gotten in just the last couple of months.

Harry

Hermione pursed her lips. Oh Harry. She hadn't seen him since he'd come over for New Years. Even though she and Draco had agreed that they were both comfortable telling their friends and family about them…the only one they'd specifically told was George, and he seemed unlikely to spread the word around, which was just fine with them.

This was probably be as good a time to tell Harry as any. Narcissa could wait until she was back in the country. She summoned some parchment and an everlasting quill to her and began to write back to her friend.

She looked the letter over once for errors and sent it back off with Harry's bird, which seemed to have finished at the water bowl. It wasn't Hedwig, but no owl would be Hedwig. She took a steadying breath. Would there ever be a time when they weren't reminded of everything they'd lost?

Next up would be telling Draco that Harry was coming over on the first weekend since his job at the restaurant had ended. She winced a little at that. Well, they'd cross that bridge. She and Draco could enjoy a proper date night on Friday and have Harry and Teddy over on Saturday. It would be okay. She was fairly sure of it. This time, she was going to be planning their date night. Dinner and a show. She was looking forward to it. She hadn't been to a show in so long…not since she'd gone with her parents, years ago.

Sipping her coffee, she supposed it was time to get dressed and start her day. There was a long day of brewing ahead of her, and then she was going to help restock the joke shop. She and George were still at an impasse on the mirrors. They wanted to release the mirror's now that they were working at least at the same level as a walkie talkie, but…it seemed like such a defeat. Setting them up as the wizarding equivalent of mobile phones would be such a worthwhile achievement. There had to be a way to do it. They just weren't there yet. But they'd get there.

Hermione emptied her coffee cup and went to get dressed and face her day.