Disclaimer: ….you know the story. I don't really want to talk about it….

A/N- Awww!!!! Thanks guys! I know the last chapter was really really short, but I'm trying to get back into it. I have the story mapped out finally. (I was just kinda winging it before) And when I say mapped out…I mean I have the basic plotline in more details then I did before. :p This chapter will definitely be longer- it'll probably a little more serious, too. (I need to actually tell the story instead of just messing around and having fun like I've been doing- I know you guys want to know what the heck is going on.)

-----------------------------------------------

Chapter 6- The Negotiations Commence

Draco waited for a response for a couple minutes before he turned Hermione around to face him. He didn't expect Hermione to be smiling. He thought that she would be furious with him after…what happened. "What are you smiling about?" he asked warily.

Hermione let out a short laugh and said, "Did you say 'our' future?" Her voice cracked at the end as she started laughing.

Draco frowned. He had been expecting resistance…but not laughing. "This is a very serious issue. I don't see what's funny about it."

Hermione stopped laughing as she realized that he was serious. "Umm…there isn't going to be 'our' future. Just 'my' future and 'your' future, hopefully never coming close to one another." She smiled sarcastically and moved to open the door for him, "Thanks for the offer though." With a gesture of her hand she dismissed him through the open door. Draco relaxed as she started acting how he planned her to. He had more cards in his hand than she did; it was just a matter of time before she knew it. He smirked as he moved towards the door. Instead of going out, he pushed his body against Hermione's, effectively pinning her against the wall. He grabbed her hand as she instinctively reached for her wand, bringing it towards his mouth instead.

"Now, let's talk about our future," Draco whispered as he brought her index finger to his mouth. He lightly kissed the tip of it, "Shall we?" He kissed the tips of all her fingers, and then returned his attention to her index. The muscle worked in Hermione's jaw as she tried to fight off both the urge to kill him on the spot and also the urge to jump him and have passionate sex with him with the door still open, all because of her traitorous fingers. She scowled at her fingers as she contemplated the best way to kill him. He had taken her index finger into mouth and was now sucking gently on it, all the while staring into her eyes. The passion burning in them made all her thoughts disappear and her to whisper, "What?"

At Draco's smirk, Hermione mentally slapped herself for showing him how weak she was to his charms. Blinking a couple times to clear her head, she said in a stronger voice, "Tell me the plans you have for 'our' future so I can shoot them down and we can get on with our own separate lives."

Draco smirked and stepped back from Hermione. Hermione mentally slapped herself again for missing his body pressed up against hers. Slowly, still gazing into her eyes, he lowered himself onto one knee. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, "You've got to be kidding me."

Draco ignored her comment before he continued, "Hermione Granger, will you-"

Hermione cut him off and in a deadly voice, "Stop. Now, I want you to think VERY carefully about what you're about to ask."

Draco glared at Hermione, "May I continue?"

"I suppose," came the response.

He let out a long sigh and continued, "Will you marry me?"

"No."

"….you're supposed to at least pretend you've thought about it. A moment's hesitation, at least?" Draco mumbled as he stood back up.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry- I forgot you're not used to rejection," Hermione said sarcastically, "Hmm…let me think about this for a minute….NO."

Draco let out a frustrated sigh, "You're going to marry me one way or another. Can we please just do this the easy way?"

"Oh, no. I'd rather play hard to get," Hermione stately dryly. "Draco, I want to be nice about this-" Draco's lips quirked up at the sides, even though he was trying to not let any sign of his amusement show, "-and don't give me that look, I happen to be a very nice person-" Draco's lips turned up more, "-oh shove it!" By this time, Draco's was actually smiling. "Anyways," Hermione continued, glaring, "I'll just put it bluntly- I will NEVER marry you, Malfoy."

"But what will the entire witch community think when you, Hermione Granger, the role model to all of their young children and not yet married, have a baby?" Draco tsked, "Surely, mothers would not want their children looking up to such a witch. Which would mean the magazine would not sell as well, since many young girls get it just to read your inspirational column. The magazine would be upset at the lowered profits and, in turn, you would be out of a job. And poof, there goes the reputation of the virgin, goody two-shoes that is the Golden Girl," Draco finished, his voice was calm, yet still threatening.

"It's great of you to worry, but Ron already said that he would marry me. Everyone will assume that it's his child."

"Mhmm…have you forgotten something?" he asked smugly.

Hermione scanned her brain to see if she had missed anything. "No, it will work perfectly," she replied confidently; although, she was still scanning her brain, trying to find something she was missing.

"Yes, that would work perfectly," Draco started, "except that you forget that I am a pureblood."

"What does you being a pureblood have to do with anything?"

"It has everything to do with this everything!" Draco exclaimed. "I thought you were smarter than this."

Comprehension finally dawned on Hermione as she looked up at Draco. She looked at his Malfoy signature blonde hair and silver-blue eyes. Her baby would be a miniature Malfoy running around. Marrying Ron wouldn't fool anyone. Hermione let her face slip into the mask of indifference that she had perfected during the war. She had not thought that she would ever have to use it again, for she didn't think she would ever be tortured or have to kill anyone ever again. Her face was void of all emotion, except the slight hint of defiance held there. Even if the torture was greater because of that defiance, she always showed it. She never liked to let any Death Eater think that he or she had won any type of victory over her. Draco almost shivered at the cold hatred that was emancipating off of Hermione's still form. "Your blackmailing isn't going to work. There are a ton of single mothers out there nowadays. Times are changing, my reputation will be fine," she said coldly.

Draco leaned forward, bringing his face just inches from hers, "Ah, I'm not blackmailing you. That comes later in the plan; please don't make me go that far. So what do you say? Marry me?"

"The answer's still no," Hermione stated flatly, eyeing Draco's lips with hunger. Draco smirked as he leaned in still further towards her.

"Think about it," he whispered softly, his breath tickling her lips, "great sex, more money then you could ever possibly want, and a gorgeous, ridiculously powerful husband." He closed the distance between their lips and slowly started massaging his mouth against hers. This kiss was not as wildly passionate at the ones at the party had been, it was meant to seduce. And, however much Hermione wanted to admit it, it was working. She felt her resolve weakening and, when his tongue entered her mouth, she couldn't remember what they were arguing about. Realizing how weak she was, she suddenly pushed his back.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to focus her mind. In all her training for the war, she had excelled at everything. She hated feeling weak, which is exactly what Draco made her fell like because she couldn't resist his perfect lips or his gorgeous body. "Great sex? If it's anything like the party, I wouldn't want it for the rest of my life," she laughed as Draco seemed taken back, "I have more money then I could ever possibly want. War Heroine," she stated pointing at herself, "Remember?"

Draco had to fight back the smirk that was threatening to spread- she hadn't said anything about him being gorgeous and ridiculously powerful. Her face had relaxed and it now showed all her emotions, which Draco couldn't decide if it was a good thing or bad. Now that he had gotten her out of her well-practiced mask, he was scared to play the next card in his hand. "Since you still won't marry me, I'm going to have to move to the next part of my plan."

Hermoine laughed, "Do you seriously have a plan? You are more messed up than I originally thought." At Draco's silent stare, she muttered, "Sorry, continue."

"You're not going to like it, but this is the blackmailing part."

"Oh, joy. Let's find out what dirt Draco Malfoy has on Hermione Granger," Hermione said sarcastically, sitting down on the couch.

Draco smirked, "I don't have any dirt on you. I just happen to share something with you, that I might be inclined to take all to myself if you don't cooperate with me."

Despite Draco's words, Hermione laughed. "You find humor is the strangest of things. I just threatened to take your child away, and you're laughing!" Draco said, staring at Hermione incredulously. At his confused tone, Hermione started to laugh harder. "What kind of mother are you? Don't you care?" By this time, Hermione had fallen off the couch and was rolling on the ground, tears coming from her eyes. Draco let out an exasperated sigh and sat on the couch, staring down at Hermione, who was starting to get control of herself. And to think, that he had thought she would slip back into her mask.

"Do you honestly think," Hermione stopped to chuckle, "that you could take away my child?"

Draco looked down at Hermione as she laid on the floor waiting for an answer from him. Her hair could still be defined as 'bushy', although it has always just looked like she had slept in braids to him. (a/n- lol, that's what they did with Emma Watson for the movies! teehee…) She was absolutely beautiful, especially now with her hair spread on the floor around her (a result from rolling on the floor laughing) and her eyes bright with laughter. His eyes traveled down her body. She had always been thin, but he never realized how toned her body was. Her six-pack was clearly defined through her tight shirt and her legs were well-muscled from strenuous work-outs. She had obviously gotten her body into perfect shape during the war. Draco, unable to restrain himself, climbed down on top of Hermione. His knee settled between her legs, separating them. Holding himself up on this hands he said, with amusement in his voice, "I thought you were going to much more violent than this."

"What?" Hermione asked surprised.

"My blackmailing you, sexually assaulting you, and threatening you. You're taking it all very well," Draco grinned down at Hermione.

"I'm not really taking you seriously, to be honest," Hermione said laughing, "And I really don't mind you sexually assaulting me. I'm kind of enjoying it, actually," she finished, smiling at him impishly.

Draco smirked, "I knew you wanted me," he said, lowering himself to meet her lips. "You're convenient," came the response. After a few small pecks, Draco pulled back, "And I'm being serious, by the way, you shouldn't take any of my threats lightly."

Realizing she hadn't gotten an answer the first time, Hermione repeated her question, "Do you honestly think you could take my child away from me?"

"No, I know I can," Draco replied without hesitation, "But I'd rather keep mother and child together." Draco leaned back down to kiss her senseless before she could argue, but his lips met with air. She was gone. What the hell? he thought to himself.

"I think you underestimate my powers and influence in the magical community," Hermione said, standing behind the couch. Her eyes were burning with rage. Draco's head snapped up when he heard her voice. How the hell did she get back there? He didn't have time to voice his thoughts before she continued, "I could kill you, and no one would call me to trial. I could torture you, and no one would think twice about it. I could keep you locked up as my slave, and no one would even mention it to me. I would love to see you try to take my baby away from me."

Draco had stood while she had been speaking and was now leaning across the coach, facing her. "Keep me locked up as your slave?" he murmured smirking, "I like that. But, however good that sounds, I don't think you have quite that much power," he said in a resigned voice.

"Well, ok, I give up! I don't have that much power, but I have more than you," Hermione's voice lingered off at the end of the sentence. Draco raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue. Hermione sighed, "All joking aside Malfoy, there are five reasons, off the top of my head, that you wouldn't win any kind of legal action taken to get my kid."

"Our child," Draco corrected.

Hermione just glared, "Number one- I helped defeat Voldie, numberless amounts of Death Eaters, and overall helped win the war and keep the world safe. No one even knows what side you were on; although, most suspect that you were with Voldie. Number two- If that's not enough, I'm best friends with the two most powerful wizards- don't give me that look, Ron happens to be extremely powerful- who are also war heroes. Number three- As you yourself stated earlier, I am a role-model to young witches. What are you? A role-model to all traitorous Death Eaters and party boys?" Hermione put two fingers on his lips to stop him from interfering, "Number four- I'm an auror. Aurors happen to be very influential in the Ministry, if I wasn't before. Number five- I'm the mother. Whenever possible, the child is left in the care of the mother."

Draco opened his mouth and drew her fingers into it. He sucked on them briefly, "You will marry me. It's only a matter of time."

"Are you ever going to leave me along if I say no?" Hermione asked, exasperated.

"Never," Draco replied simply.

"Why the hell do you want to marry me so badly?" Hermione finally asked the question she had been avoiding the whole time.

"I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you," he replied with a smirk.

"I'll find out eventually. So, I can't be rid of you until I agree to marry you?" She clarified.

"Nope."

"Hmm…how about a compromise?"

Draco didn't like the twinkle that had appeared in Hermione's eye as she looked at him. Reluctantly he asked, "What did you have in mind?"

"A duel. If I win, you have to leave me alone. If you win, I'll marry you."

-----------------------------------------------------------

A/N- So yeah, there's the next chapter. I don't really like it…but Angel does. So if it's really bad you can blame her, cuz she's the one making me post it. I was going to rewrite the entire thing.

Also- if you want to send in ideas of other stories you want to see written, I'd more than happy to try and write them: even if they're smutty (I know there are some of you guys out there) cuz writing that doesn't really bother me. I need to hone my skills with that as you can tell by the first chapter- it was my first smut scene.

Love- Shadow