Review offering insight to the story:

"That was the best chapter in this whole story so far. Just the emotion that Draco percieved was just fantastic and it wasn't too cliche'd, it felt real, so it was not like your really tried to push it or anything, it felt natural. Most of the Blaise/Draco friendships people write they are open with eachother, and they can talk about nearly everything, though some can work, i think the way you wrote that Blaise and Draco didn't talk well about their feelings unless it was with Ginny or Hermione. And i was really glad that i got to read a different view of them. The Blaise and Winnie scene was so cute, and gahh, Blaise would be an awesome Uncle, and so would Ginny for Aunty wise. The flashback scenes were so explained that i could picture it happened, the coffee shop scene where Hermione was yelling at the worker for not getting the ingredients right, was great
she does have a bit of a temper problem, and when Draco wrapped his arm around her, and oh it was so cute, that would be like a cute kinda-first date sort of thing. The flashback where they go to the cinema's, i just love how Draco explained to Hermione how him and Blaise rented a video and they took all the time to put it together and it sucked and Blaise was all pissed, i could definetly see that happening. Blaise and Ginny are cute together too, do they have children in this story too? i will have to go back and check. But they are cute together too, so adorable. Ginny with pretty much anyone is cute, except for Harry...okay not the point. And the ending was superb, sorry if the review was too long, but i like to say what i like best...and this was the
best chapter in the story so far... Update soon -Rachel" - laugh.live.learn of FanFiction net.

Thank you to the following reviewers: HRInuyashaFan16, Laendra, Aperira, blondiexoxo, mysterystar, mrivera, Hoshi-chan1, Avanell, ginsensu, monte-carlo, Swimming-Gal, LadyAkina, CrypticSarcasm, livngvendetta, dragoneyes5000, bethygirl94, Ms. Anna, sandpaw, DracozSlytherinPrincess, niic smiles, Zarroc, SeanEmma4Evr, wasu, Jenn, TheSlayerettes, quiet-mg andespecially galloping-goose (Zeus), CrystalizedHeart (Mel), perfectedhell (Ange), laugh.live.learn (Rachel) and mskiti (Melanie, aka Tabi).

Note: Interludes are insight into the world involving Hermione and Draco. They will range widely throughout the years, from the beginning until the very recent. I thought it might better familiarize you (the reader) with the relationship and family Hermione has with Draco and Winnie. They're all quite sweet and, basically, eye opening. I hope you enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed writing them. The next chapter will pick the story line back up, getting back to the mystery and drama. Enjoy:D

Secret Life
Interlude
-I Love You-

Mid - 1998

Draco sat at his desk in the extra bedroom of his loft, papers spread out around him and his brow furrowed in concentration. He could hear the clank of the dishes as Hermione cleaned up after dinner. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing the palms of his hands into his eyes, frustrated. The business asking for his assistance just didn't look promising. He'd done the research, people didn't like Death Eater fanfare. They didn't want clocks that looked like Death Eater's and let out a cry to wake them up. It was too early to joke about and he wasn't going to back anything that kept the mask of a Death Eater alive. It was too bad though, because the man behind it all was a good bloke who honestly thought people would see the hilarity behind it.

He felt Hermione's hands on his shoulders, kneading away the tension and he sighed, content with her ministrations. His hands dropped from his eyes and he leaned his head back to see her. Her eyes were on his papers, running over the words of the loan proposal. He watched her expressions go from curious to mildly disgusted and he knew now that there was no way he would back the project. Hermione had been part of the war and she had seen the worst of it. If she couldn't stand the idea of a Death Eater clock or anything else like it, then the rest of the war heroes wouldn't be able to either. He could hardly stomach seeing the clock or hearing its cry, it often spread shivers down his back and made his hand itch for his wand.

She made a harrumphing noise and then returned her attention to him, smiling lightly. "Dishes are done and the kitchen is clean," she told him, nodding. "Took me a little longer than I thought. I guess I'm still used to making food for large groups of people, rather than just two," she said, shrugging.

Draco nodded, not sure what to say. She didn't come right out and admit it, but she missed her friends Potter and Weasley. They were away on another mission and hardly ever saw her anymore. She kept in contact with Weasley's mum and sister, who usually kept her up to date with all that was happening but it was obvious that it bothered her that her own best friends couldn't tell her themselves. Her hands had stopped massaging and were now simply resting on his shoulders, partly holding his shirt. He covered her hands with his palms and stared up at her, the top of his head brushing her stomach. "What d'you want to do tonight?" he asked, softly.

"It's already late," she replied, half frowning. "And you have work to do. I should probably be getting home anyway. I have to be up early for work." She sounded upset and he knew she didn't really want to go. Part of her wanted to go back to the adventures she was used to in school. Working every day and going to bed early still felt like penance for her.

Standing up from his chair, he moved around it, wrapping his arm around her waist and leaning his head against hers. "What's another hour or two?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. "Com'on, we'll take a walk down to that ice cream shop you like. It doesn't close for another hour." She looked on the brink of saying yes and he turned, pressing a kiss against her temple. "Or we could go dancing, if you like," he offered, trying his best not to frown at the idea. She chuckled, knowing his thoughts on dance clubs. His hand slipped beneath her shirt, brushing against her stomach and making her shiver as she leaned back against his chest. "A movie wouldn't be bad either. I heard there was a good one playing down the road," he said, kissing down the length of her neck, enjoying the little whimpering sounds she was making as she bit at her lip.

He was tired and overworked, but he wanted her to feel better about everything. He didn't mind having to pull her out of a funk whenever Potter and Weasley were mentioned. It wasn't a constant thing, but sometimes she got away from herself in thinking about how they ignored and forgot about her all the time. And part of him was almost happy for it, because then he'd have these moments, where she was all his and he was reminded that he meant something in her life. He worried sometimes, that if they were around, they might take all of her attention. He was also concerned that if they found out about their relationship, they might try and talk her out of being with him. He knew they were stable, had no doubts that she wanted to be with him as much as he did her. It was just a matter of actually saying it. Those three words alluded them both and though he felt it, he was beyond scared of saying it.

Love was such a strong emotion, such a lasting commitment. And while he had no plans of leaving Hermione at any time and never really considered it ending in the future, he did worry that perhaps she wasn't ready for that. They hadn't even met each other's friends and family. They lived a life where everything was kept secret and behind the scenes. Sure, they could enjoy the spoils of London together, but that was because most of the people that knew them were in the Wizarding community and they only ever saw them at work. They were becoming well known separately now and he was a little worried that if people paid too much attention they might just spoil the comfort level between them.

Hermione's arms lifted, wrapping back around his neck as she turned her head to one side, revealing more of her creamy neck to him. "You're tired," she pointed out, "I can see it in your eyes."

"Yeah," he replied, seeing no point in lying, before he trailed one hand down the back of her arm, over her side and settled it over her lower abdomen.

"You have a lot of work," she reminded, sounding breathy and distracted.

"Lots," he admitted, kissing across her chin and hovering just in front of her mouth. "I have a few connections over at The British Library museum, I know you always wanted to go there. I could ask them to open it for an hour or two and we can go exploring," he offered, staring into her dark brown eyes, which were now looking a little teary.

She turned in his arms, hugging him tightly and pressing her mouth to his in a rough, passionate kiss. He could feel her tears against his face, and opened his eyes to see her. She pulled back an inch or two, let out a small laugh and then wiped her face quickly before reaching out to brush away the tears that had slipped onto his cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered shakily.

"For what?" he asked, his arms settling around her waist and holding her close.

"You always do this, Draco, you always make it all seem so..." She shook her head. "You make me feel better no matter what the circumstance and it's a lot to ask when you have enough on your plate. But you... you just, you go out of your way and you really like to, don't you."

He half smiled, shrugging lightly. "'Course I do. How often do I do anything I don't like to?"

"Exactly," she told him, nodding. "You don't like dancing, you hate crying, and you've never been one for putting off work. But the minute you think I'm upset, you go out of your way to change that. And I... I just..." She sighed, staring up at him with damp, shining eyes. "I love you for that," she breathed, her mouth quivering with her words. "We don't have to go out though, I'd rather stay in with your for awhile, okay? I'm kind of... I'm tired too, and I'd rather just cuddle on the couch for a little while," she told him hastily, as if trying to save herself from the embarrassment of not having the words returned.

He stared at her, mildly surprised and told his mouth to work. She looked a little scared, as though she wanted to take the words back. She didn't wait for him to reply, instead taking his hand and walking him toward the couch. He sprawled out and wrapped his arms around her as she laid down facing him, her head tucked beneath his chin and her hand drawing random shapes on his shoulder. He could smell the soft scent of her shampoo and he was reminded of how he woke up to the scent nearly every morning, as it seemed embedded in the pillow covers. It always made him smile when his eyes first opened.

"Do you ever wonder what things would be like if we hadn't met again at the coffee shop?" she asked quietly, shifting a little closer.

Draco's fingers absently moved around the small of her back, as he thought it through. "Not really, no. I think... I think we were supposed to see each other." He moved, his arm wrapping around the back of her waist and picking her up. He smiled up at her as he lay on his back and she stared down at him from her position sprawled atop him. He reached up, brushing her curls back over her shoulder. "I was destined to save some poor coffee shop vendor," he told her, smirking.

Rolling her eyes, she smiled at him. "He caused his own danger," she told him, her brows lifting to prove her point. "Personally, I think he was ruining my drink on purpose. Just to rile me."

"Yes, it was a conspiracy of colossal proportions," he told her, amused.

She frowned at him, though the twinkle of laughter in her eyes put off any annoyance.

"Do you wonder?" he asked, his eyes running over the plains of her face, taking in the light sprinkle of freckles running across the bridge of her nose. The tips of his fingers trailed up and down the side of her face, barely touching her soft skin.

"Yes, and I'll have you know," she said in a pointed way, before sighing, "that I don't think things could be any better than they are now," she told him, her voice soft and her eyes falling to stare at his chin rather than his eyes, a way of avoiding vulnerability, he knew.

"Even with all the work that goes into everything?" he asked, his voice so quiet he wasn't sure she heard him. "The lack of your best friends, the constant workload, the secrecy," he whispered.

She lifted her eyes and stared at him seriously with a small smile, "Yes," she breathed. "I know it's hard. Avoiding people, being careful what we say, who we talk to, and then there's our work." She sighed, worrying her lip for a moment. "I work all day and you spend the majority of your nights at your desk. But..." She shook her head, her wild curls slipping over her shoulders and pooling on his chest. She exhaled, the sound shaky and emotional. "I love you, Draco. I've never said it outright. I mean, I know I just said that I loved you for doing what you do, but that wasn't the same. Because... I just, I love you," she told him, nodding, her eyes moving around nervously. "It's a collection of things, and a bunch of moments that just sort of melded together and one morning I just woke up thinking of your face. And I thought... I thought, 'What if one morning I wake up and I don't think of him?' and that thought scared me, and..." She closed her eyes, tears slipping out the side while her hand came up to cover them. She blew out a thick breath, shaking her head slowly.

Draco found his own eyes a little misty and blinked furiously to get rid of it. He reached out, trying to pull her hand from her face but she made a noise and wouldn't let him. He chuckled lightly, tugging at her hand again. She still wouldn't budge so he cheated and tickled her side until her hand jumped away from her face in response. She frowned at him, but her teary gaze and shaking chin threw the expression off.

Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers, his eyes open as he watched hers fall shut and her face relax. Using his thumbs, he cleared the damp trails from her cheeks. Threading one of his hands in her hair, he used his free arm to haul her up closer before he sat up, moving her so she was sitting comfortably in his lap, their mouths still connected in a thorough, breathtaking kiss. He watched her reaction, enthralled with the way her brows lifted and her mouth parted for him, her lips raw and pink from pressure and the skim of teeth. He could feel her panting breath against his mouth, taste the strawberry flavor of the juice she had earlier, see the deep seeded love in every turn of her face.

She was hardly an inch from his mouth now, her eyes closed as she tried to catch her breath. She was beautiful, more than beautiful really, entrancing. Everything came together in his mind, the way she smiled that first day he saw her since the war, the ring of her laughter, the soft texture of every inch of her skin. His eyes fell closed and for a moment he could see every morning that he woke up with her in his arms, the way she fit so perfectly, how she turned over and stared up at him sleepily, that mischievous smile on her face as she rolled him onto his back. The smell of her hair invaded his senses, the taste of her rolled across his tongue, and he was completely and utterly enveloped with her.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and she was suddenly resting her head on his shoulder, her face pressed up near his throat as she left small, lingering kisses against his skin. His hands skimmed up her back, fingers splayed out and stopped beneath her shoulders, wrapping loosely around her shirt and holding her close. Being together was one thing, they could keep it secret and hold it tightly. But loving each other, one day that would lead to more. Possibly marriage and children and a home together. Could they even have that? Or were they bound to hide themselves away forever?

"I want to meet Ginny," he told her suddenly, and it sounded so completely out of the blue that he nearly laughed.

Hermione sat up, looking at him curiously, her hair falling to one side. "What?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she slowly shook her head.

"Ginny, your best friend. I know I've met her before, but I want to meet her again. As... as your boyfriend. I want you to tell her. And," he nodded, a smile curving his lips, "and I want you to meet Blaise. He's my best mate and he's known for awhile that I've been dating someone, but I never told him who. I think at least they should know," he told her, hoping she didn't laugh or say it was a bad idea.

She stared at him awhile, her eyes looked far off though, as if deep in thought. It felt like eternity before she finally answered him, nodding slowly. "Yes," she said, smiling lightly. "I think that's a great idea." One of her hands came up to his face, palm sliding down the side and resting against his neck. "Why the sudden introduction to friends?" she asked, sounding both amused and curious.

He stared at her, his hand reaching out to hold her head, fingers threaded through her hair. "Because I love you too, and I don't want this to turn into something pointless. I'm all in, Hermione. I don't want us to hide forever. I think we should start small, I'm not running to the newspaper or anything," he said, chuckling lightly. "I just... If we're ever going to have a future, we have to acknowledge the present, right?" he asked, staring up into her teary eyes.

She sniffled, nodding slowly, before she blinked quickly. "Say it again," she whispered, leaning in.

"Which part?" he teased, a smirk pulling at his mouth.

She guffawed, shaking her head and leaning in to kiss him. He stopped her when she was just a hairs breath away from his mouth. "I love you," he whispered, taking her mouth the second the words were out and final. His arms wrapped tightly around her body as he stood up from the couch, carrying her easily. Her hands ran through his hair, tugging lightly and sending shivers down his back as her nails scratched lightly at his neck. He backed them up toward the bedroom, and she broke away, glancing back and laughing.

"And just where d'you think we're going?" she asked, a brow lifted with amusement.

"It's late, your tired, I'm putting you to bed, of course," he told her, leaning in to capture her lips quickly.

She smiled, nuzzling her nose against his. "I'm not tired anymore," she told him, softly.

"I can solve that problem," he told her, smirking as he walked the rest of the way into the dark bedroom and leaned her down on the bed. She giggled against his mouth before he smothered it with an embrace of his lips. She sighed against him, her legs wrapping around his waist and pulling him closer.

"This is real," she whispered against his cheek as he kissed across her face.

Staring down at her moonlit form, his face was serious but adoring. "Very real," he agreed.

A/N I hope you enjoyed this, I'd really love to know what you think of it all!

Thanks for reading,
Much Love,
-Amanda