"Severus, I have a serious problem. I can't stop thinking about that bloody woman!" Draco was pacing the front of the shop, his tone more than slightly distressed.

"I don't suppose you're talking about the hag that ordered five liters of poison." Severus sighed wearily at the younger man, who had woken him with his slamming of ledgers under the pretense of working.

Draco stopped mid-step. "No, no. I forgot about her the moment I sent a notice to Harry about it. I'm talking about Gwendolyn."

The corners of Severus's lips turned up. "I told her she should wear less revealing clothing."

Draco fixed a light glare upon Severus. "Merlin, Severus, she shows less skin than Ginny. No, it's not the dresses. It's the way she comports herself."

Severus held back a snicker. "You mean it's because the way she flirts with you has nothing to do with your money."

Draco blinked at Severus. "What?"

"You like that she treats you as if you were normal. Thinking about it, that's probably why she fancies you, because you handle her as a peer."

Draco slumped against the shop's counter. "She doesn't fancy me."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yes, because Ginny and Hermione laugh at your bad jokes and make sure that your favorite scones are always at tea."

Draco shook his head. "You're a bastard."

Severus laughed as he hoisted himself out of his chair. "Not quite, Draco. Now, get back to your accounting. I am going back to bed."

Draco had barely sat back down with his ledger when the bell of the front of the store rang, shocking him out of his chair. Hermione rarely woke before seven, and no one else had a key. Draco leaned back so as to see around the shelves of potions. "Gwendolyn? How did you get in here?"

Gwendolyn was more professionally dressed that Draco was used to, and she was quite surprised to see him. "Oh, all shop locks are keyed to registered Healer's sigils, so that a Healer can always get in if there happens to be an emergency. I just came to drop off a book for Hermione." Gwendolyn waved a tome before him. "I can't stop by after work today, so I thought I'd just slip in."

"Oh, I'll give that to her for you. Have a great day, Gwendolyn."

Gwendolyn smiled, handing Draco the heavy book. "I'll see you tomorrow, Draco."

Gwendolyn rubbed at her forehead, reaching for the strongest tea on the table. She had known this would be a bad meeting the moment Ginny had walked in alone. Harry arrived a good eight minutes later, and the red-haired woman turned his apologies away. When Severus had mentioned bringing in the Auror in charge of their case, all hell had broken loose. Gwendolyn agreed with Severus. It was indeed time for such measures, but Hermione had come close to tears at the mere thought of exposing her torture to the world.

Neville's stammering objections had been the first to follow. Though he had matured beyond the nervous wreck Severus remembered from Potions Class, his confidence was far from whole. Ginny was quick to reinforce them with her furious arguments and Draco watched as Gwendolyn become even more exhausted.

It was Harry who finally stood up for the suggestion. "Severus is right. Those bastards did it to us, seasoned war heroes. Who else will fall victim to them if we do not get them put away? We need to work with the Aurors." Harry's smile suddenly turned mischievous. "We might even do a bit of investigating on the side, like we did in the old days."

Draco waited behind until everyone but Gwendolyn had left. "Quite the words flying today."

Gwendolyn sighed weakly. "That was awful. We really need the Aurors in on this, everything just turned into this mass of hysterics." Gwendolyn huffed. "There was a reason we laid back on the business part a while ago."

Draco offered Gwendolyn his arm. "Would you like a break from all this horrid business? I feel like doing something entirely Muggle, to get away from it. We could go to the movies."

Gwendolyn quirked a smile at Draco. "That sounds absolutely delightful."

Draco hid his surge of exultation. "So, I'll see you at the Manor. Seven, maybe?"

Gwendolyn frowned questioningly at Draco's retreating back. Somehow she had pegged him as chivalrous. Or perhaps this was how he displayed chivalry – allowing her to keep the privacy of the undisclosed location of her flat.

"Darling, are you going on a date?"

Gwendolyn poked her head out of her bedroom. "Is it that obvious, mom?"

Gwendolyn's mother smiled. "Only because I know you."

Having finished buttoning up her white Oxford shirt, Gwendolyn stepped out of her room and did a little twirl. "It's actually a not really a date. This acceptable?"

"As always, darling. Have fun on your not-a-date."

Draco was waiting by the gate when Gwendolyn Apparated. His lips twitched into a small smile, but he looked both exhausted and harried. Gwendolyn folded her arms, her look accusatory. "You look like you got attacked by a kappa."

Draco chuckled. "I know, Gwendolyn. I'm in no state to go out." He adjusted the cuffs on his own white Oxford shirt. "I've got a television inside if you still want to watch a movie."

Gwendolyn smiled and took his offered hand. "I'd like that. Although, I thought wizard families didn't own televisions."

Draco brightened instantly. "The Malfoys only had the best, and my mother was positive that they would be the next thing to make an appearance in the wizarding world." Malfoy Manor was impressive in its grandeur, with rooms that were large and cold. Gwendolyn moved instinctively closer to Draco. It was no wonder that the others felt uncomfortable here, even before the incident. Gwendolyn's eyes went to Draco's hand. She had been here only moments, and she felt unsafe. How could he bear to live here? Suddenly, Gwendolyn realized why Draco looked so unwell. The silly man had been worrying, and this place had only made it worse.

Draco led her through halls with high ceilings and rich carpets into what Gwendolyn could not help but think of as a family room. It was small and homely, a distinct contrast to the rest of the house. Gwendolyn grinned at the large entertainment center that was the focal point of the room. When Draco demonstrated his lack of knowledge when it came to DVD players, Gwendolyn held back her amusement and assisted him in loading the disc.

Gwendolyn could have sworn Draco's hand lingered on hers when she pushed his aside to demonstrate how to start the machine. The system finally worked out, the two moved to the couch, where it took a great deal of Gwendolyn's self-discipline to not lean into Draco. At a particularly uneventful part of the movie, Draco's arm made its way around Gwendolyn's shoulder. She turned to comment, and before a sound had left her lips, they were covered by Draco's. A jolt of panic passed through Gwendolyn, and was overwhelmed by elation.

Only when they needed to break for air did the two part. Ignoring the car chase in the background, Gwendolyn pulled back to examine Draco. His smile she understood, but the mischievous glint in his eyes? Gwendolyn suddenly found herself being straddled, a position that sent a shock of pleasure through her. Then they were kissing again, Draco's hands making their way to her back.

Gwendolyn was unsure as to when their shirts had come off, or to where they had been tossed. It was a little difficult to notice details like that when Draco was nibbling and kissing his way down to her navel. Feeling the touch of his tongue on her skin, Gwendolyn pulled Draco's mouth back up to hers with a growl, fingers feeling and brushing at his muscles. Another growl, and Gwendolyn pushed Draco down onto the sofa, her kisses drawing harsh gasps from Draco.

The movie was well beyond over by the time they had wound down and were just cuddling. Gwendolyn dozily glanced at the clock on the sound system, and the time it read shocked her into falling off of the sofa. "Shit!" Gwendolyn jumped up and went searching for her blouse. Draco watched her with a feline smile as she attempted to explain. "You see, I'm living with my mother to keep her company, and she's more than a little prudish." Gwendolyn snorted contemplatively. "There's a reason my middle name mean chaste."

Smile widening, Draco stood up. His hand went to Gwendolyn's cheek, and he gave her a kiss. His fingers started undoing her buttons. "You're one button off, Gwendolyn." Gwendolyn forsook buttoning her blouse and pulled Draco closer for another long kiss.

Finally, Draco pulled away. "You'll want to fix your hair before you leave, love. And maybe we should locate some bruise balm." Gwendolyn's hand went to one of the love-bites Draco had left her with, another expletive flying from well-snogged lips.

A/N: I was really tired when I started writing this, and had an AVPM moment when I hit Draco's 'It's the way'. (For those who aren't entirely HP geeks, AVPM is A Very Potter Musical. Check it out on Youtube)