All of a sudden, Malfoy was shouting at Hermione and she awoke. She sat bolt upright and swung her legs over the side of the couch, ready to fight.

Malfoy was looming above her.

'WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY DREAMING ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE WITH POTTER WHILE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MARRIED?!!!!!'

'Malfoy, what are you talking about? I wasn't dreaming about my love life with Harry, because there has never been one!' she snapped and stood up, which forced him to back away.

'Well, then explain why you suddenly cried out, "Harry, no! I love you!"' Malfoy hissed.

'Well, he is one of my best friends, so I do love him,' she said, 'like a brother.'

'Oh, well, fine. I suppose that does explain it,' huffed Malfoy.

Hermione smiled. 'You were jealous, weren't you?' she asked.

'Me? Why on earth would I be jealous? It's not like I care about you, Granger,' he defended.

'Oh really?' Hermione asked. 'Then why did you get so upset?'

'Well, it's because-'

Hermione cut him off, 'Exactly. You haven't got a reason, other than the one I suggested. I'm leaving now. Good bye.'

She started to stalk away. Just as she reached the doorway, Malfoy grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the room. Hermione yanked her arm away.

'What do you think you're doing?!' she demanded. 'Don't you dare even think about pulling me about like a dog again!' she yelled, inches from his face.

'I never meant to treat you like a dog!' he shot back.

'Oh, really?'

'No. I only meant to treat you just like the lowborn witch you are,' he spat.

'What?!' Hermione put her face directly in front of his. 'I am NOT lowborn. And if you haven't forgotten, you daughter isn't pureblood, so perhaps you shouldn't make such comments in this house, or anywhere for that matter. And-'

'Mummy, don't yell at Daddy, please.'

Aria had just come in.

'Shit,' Hermione breathed out, spinning around.

'Language,' Malfoy whispered mockingly in her ear. Hermione shivered as his breath tickled her neck.

'Just because Daddy's being cranky, you shouldn't yell at him,' the little girl piped up boldly.

'I thought we had taken care of that earlier,' Malfoy muttered, walking across the room and sitting on the couch.

'Well?' Aria said.

'Well, what?' asked Hermione.

'Aren't you going to go sit on Daddy's lap?'

'Why would I do that?'

'You always do when Daddy's upset,' Aria replied glibly.

'Wha-'

'Mummy doesn't need to do that,' Malfoy said quickly. 'I'm perfectly happy as I am, thank you.'

Hermione smirked, and then immediately pasted on a sympathetic face. She walked over to the couch and seated herself sideways, sitting on Malfoy.

'Are you sure, love?' she asked, her voice saccharine sweet. 'I could always get up.'

'Wha-you-no, I'm much better now that you're here,' he said, his voice changing.

He just went from confused to seductive – to something else, Hermione thought.

'Yay!' Aria squealed, and ran out of the room again.

Malfoy snaked one arm around her, hand on her waist, and placed his other hand on her thigh, and looked into her eyes.

Alright, perhaps I should stop now that he's going along with it so...charmingly. Or maybe I should just stay here – No! Wrong! I do not like sitting here, gaz-staring down Draco. And besides, he'll probably laugh at me any moment.

'Aww. Look at you two,' said an oddly familiar voice.

Hermione jerked her head around.

'Ginny,' Hermione said, blushing furiously, as she started to get up off of Draco's lap.

'Honestly, Hermione, blushing for sitting on your own husband's lap! You don't have to get up," Ginny laughed.

'What happened to "alone" in this house?' Draco muttered, remembering Dumbledore's letter.

'I was just going to get up and offer you a drink,' Hermione covered up, still seated.

'Why?' Ginny asked. 'You've never offered me a drink since, wait, never.'

'Well-I,' started Hermione.

'Draco turns your mind to mush now and then, I know,' Ginny laughed, rolling her eyes.

'I do not,' protested Draco, adding, 'as if anything could,' under his breath. 'And anyway, why did you just show up?'

'Just "show up," honestly, I'm here to get ready with Hermione for the fancy party we've got to go to for all the Aurors at the house of Pansy, "that skanky whore who can't keep her yanky paws off my man" ' Ginny finished, obviously mimicking something Hermione must have said.

'If she's such a whore, then why-' Draco got cut off when Hermione placed her fingertips across his lips.

'Draco,' she hissed.

Hermione quickly disentangled herself from his lap and escaped with Ginny into the hallway. Ginny obviously knew the way to Hermione's bedroom, so Hermione just followed.

'So, what are you planning on wearing?' asked Ginny as they entered the room.

'Umm...'

'I'll help you choose. I've got something in mind already,' Ginny said, as they walked into the closet. She ran her hand along Hermione's robes and pulled out a set in red silk.

'Put these on,' she ordered. Hermione slipped into the robes and Ginny zipped her up the back.

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror.

'Hmm. Not good enough,' Ginny commented thoughtfully. 'Go and brush your hair while I find something else.'

Hermione slipped the robes off, and went in her slip to brush her hair at the vanity. Just then Draco came in. He caught sight of Hermione, and looked her up and down, making them both blush, and Hermione's heart beat faster.

'I'll just leave,' he said, going back out into the hallway.

Ginny came out of the closet, carrying a set of robes.

'Alright, I've got these nice black-'

'Ginny! You stole my red robes,' Hermione laughed.

'I thought I might as well...' Ginny said.

'Well, they look good on you, so don't worry about it.'

'Not that I was going to worry anyhow. Now put these on,' Ginny ordered.

Hermione pulled on the robes.

'You look beautiful!' Ginny squealed. 'Those robes are perfect for tonight. Very classy.'

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror.

'I do look good, quite good,' she agreed.

Ginny waved her wand and Hermione's hair and make-up were done. She did the same for herself.

'Okay, I've got to pop home to make sure Harry doesn't wear a T-shirt and jeans or something crazy like that, and I'll take both Aria and my kids to Mum's house.' Ginny Disapparated.

Hermione went out of the room, and almost ran into Draco, who was mysteriously already wearing dress robes.

'Shall we?' she said brightly and smiled uncertainly.

'Whatever Granger,' Draco muttered, and Disapparated.

'Well of all the nervy imbeciles,' Hermione said, and she too disappeared with a pop.