Summary: Hermione has left the Wizarding World for Muggle France. After two years of living a life without magic, two former Slytherins appear at her doorstep offering their services to be her own personal bodyguards. The past resurfaces and Hermione is reminded of what she truly is.

A/U.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: Thanks everyone. :D

EMBERS

III

"Hermione! Chéri, where are you?"

Blaise and Draco exchanged a panicked glance before quickly switching of the television and hastily positioning themselves on the couch. "Accio luggage." Draco hissed, waving his wand in the direction of the bottom staircase where they had left their trunks. They zoomed out from the other room and into the sitting area, landing with a soft thud beside either of them. The sound of heels clicking echoed dangerously close. Draco slipped his wand in his pocket.

"I'm here Aunt Fiona!" Hermione called out, entering the room frenetically. Judging from the stain on her dress, she had just finished preparing dinner. Blaise motioned for her to sit beside Draco. She refused. Draco could care less. They could always obliviate this aunt of hers if she ever came close to suspecting anything. Draco was a pro when it came to memory charms.

A petite woman in her mid-forties walked in wearing a bemused expression on her fully made-up face. "Whose car is that outside – oh."

"Good evening Mrs. Granger." Blaise greeted, plastering on his most charismatic smile. Fiona practically melted at his feet. Draco had to hand it to his friend, he was an expert when it came to charm.

"Hermione, dear. You never told me we had guests." Fiona admonished her niece lightly.

"That would be my fault Mrs. Granger," Draco said, rising to his feet. "We came unannounced. I'm Draco Malfoy, by the way. And this is my friend, Blaise Zabini."

"A pleasure to meet you. Please call me Fiona. Mrs. Granger makes me feel so old." Fiona said with a smile. "Why don't we talk over dinner?"

"Sure, why not?"

They transferred into the dining room. Dinner was already set. They took their respective seats around the rectangular glass dining table with Fiona sitting at the head. "This looks delicious, Hermione."

"I just ordered it from Lepicurien." Hermione admitted. "I didn't really have time to cook."

"Quite alright dear. I adore their food." Fiona gestured for them to begin eating. Blaise did not need to be told twice. Draco rolled his eyes at his friend's enthusiasm and waited for Fiona to begin bombarding them with questions.

"So your friends of Hermione?" Fiona asked with a smile. "I noticed your accents, so I suppose the both of you are old friends of hers from London."

"Actually Fiona, Hermione and I have something to tell you." Draco began. He locked eyes with Hermione. She had frozen mid-bite. Her eyebrows were knitted together with worry.

"I'm her boyfriend."

Fiona looked surprised. But only slightly so.

"And here I thought you were gay." She told Hermione. Blaise almost spit out his wine. Draco had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

Hermione was red in the face. "Wherever did you get that presumption, Auntie." She stated blandly.

Fiona shrugged. "Well, you always turned down all those gorgeous male models who tried asking you out."

"They weren't very bright." Hermione pointed out. "You don't need intelligence when your looking for a good lay."

Blaise's shoulders were now shaking from suppressed laughter.

Hermione blushed. "That's because I met Draco. I mean, I met him online."

"Online? Well that's interesting."

Draco chose this moment to take a bite.

"So tell me, does cybersex really work?"

Draco choked.

"We haven't -- "

"Yes." Hermione said at the same time. She shot him a murderous look that told him she had had enough of her aunt's blatant comments about her seemingly non-existent sex life.

"And this is the first time you've met?"

They nodded. "Do you have any place to stay?" Fiona asked. "Because we have spare bedrooms."

"We wouldn't want to intrude." Blaise said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "We could always find a place nearby."

"Oh please. This house is too big for just Hermione and me." Fiona said with a wave of her hand. "The two of you can stay as long as you like. Just as long as you pick up after yourselves, it won't be any problem at all."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you." Blaise said warmly.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you but I am exhausted. My meeting was chaotic." Fiona stood and bade them all good night.

"You," she pointed at Draco. "Will stay in Hermione's room. It's time my niece release some of that pent-up tension of hers."

The minute Fiona was out of earshot, Blaise burst out laughing.

This is going to be a total nightmare. Hermione contemplated with some agitation. Rooming with Malfoy! She couldn't imagine anything worse. It was just like her aunt to throw her into another uncomfortable situation such as this.

Fiona Granger was adored by all. Despite her older age, she did not go without her own set of young male admirers. In fact, she had brought home a few on several occasions. Hermione shuddered at the thought.

Whenever an opportunity rose, Fiona would take the liberty of setting Hermione up on a date. She would almost always never show up for it. It didn't matter that every man that Fiona had chosen for her was picture-perfect: a hotshot movie producer, a rising musician, or a fledging businessman. Anyone who was interested in her in that way immediately got the boot from her. She saw a pig in every single one of them. A cheating jackass. A lying bastard. A disaster waiting to happen. She had Ron Weasley to thank for all of that. Hermione Granger vowed never to fall in love again.

She found life so much easier that way.

"This way!" She called out from behind her, trudging up the steps leading to the villa's second floor. She heard a whoosh of air and knew that the two wizards had their luggage floating safely behind them. She came to a stop on the first door nearest to the staircase. She threw it open. It was the guest room. It was simple enough. With a queen-sized bed, plasma TV, a small fridge, a closet, and a bathroom.

Blaise's eyes lit up at the sight of the television. "Thanks Hermione." She nodded and waited for Draco to walk in as well. He didn't budge.

"You're welcome to stay here Malfoy." Hermione told him.

"Your aunt's expecting us to share a bedroom." Draco stated indolently.

"She wouldn't have to know."

Draco sighed. "I don't bite, Granger."

Hermione graced him with a dubious look. "Seriously?"

"Look, we won't be able to protect you if your all the way down the hall."

"I can protect myself."

"Then our presence here would be utterly pointless now, wouldn't it?"

"That's what I keep telling you."

"Case closed Granger. I'm sleeping in your room and there's nothing you can do about it." Draco said bluntly, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Suit yourself." Hermione huffed, stomping down the hall towards her bedroom.

"No couch?" Draco asked with a frown upon entering Hermione's bedroom. It was almost as simple as the guest bedroom. Change the queen-sized to king-sized and add a desk with a laptop and a sliding door leading to an outside balcony and it was exactly the same.

"Do you see any?" Hermione snapped.

Draco raised his hands at her. "No need to attack me. I'm sure the bed's big enough for the both of us." He said listlessly. "Unless you'd rather I sleep on the floor." She shot him a skeptical look. "If that's what you wish, I'll do that."

Hermione was surprised. Was Draco actually being a gentleman? It was shocking, to say the least. "No. The bed will be fine." She mumbled without looking at him.

He nodded before disappearing into the bathroom to change.

It was quite ironic, Draco Malfoy being the first guy to sleep in her bedroom. A few seconds later, he reappeared. The sight of him left her a bit staggered for a moment. He was dressed in nothing but a pair of grey flannel pants, leaving his upper body completely exposed to her. Merlin, he was toned. Yes. She thought, briefly recalling to his playful banter with Blaise about modeling. He could definitely be a model.

"Something wrong Granger?" Draco asked, staring at her oddly.

"Ah – erm, I just noticed you're wearing Calvin Klein sleepwear." Hermione hastily said. This much was true.

Draco shrugged. "Muggles actually have good taste in clothing. Robes were getting tedious." He flopped onto the bed and turned on the TV. Hermione tore her gaze away from her bed, still quite unbelieving that Draco Malfoy was lying there half-naked and hurried into the bathroom.

She needed a cold shower – fast.

She did so quickly and wandered over to her walk-in closet. Hermione realized with horror that she did not have any appropriate sleepwear available. Fiona had bought majority of her clothes and a good lot of them weren't exactly – conservative. Having slept alone for the past two years, Hermione hadn't really minded them. In fact, she had gotten used to wearing them.

It was only now that she realized how appalling they all looked. He'll think I'm trying to seduce him! Hermione thought horrified. There was not a single pajama in sight. She considered wearing a pair of slacks to bed, but that would just be ridiculous and downright uncomfortable. With sigh, she selected the least dreadful out of all of them: a white number that ended mid-thigh. It showed a bit of cleavage. But at least it wasn't sheer.

She breathed in deeply before pulling the door open. To her luck, Draco was too engrossed in an episode of True Blood to notice her exit. Hoping to distract him as little as possible, she tiptoed hurriedly towards the bed.

"What on earth are you wearing Granger?"

Hermione froze. She felt herself turn bright red.

Draco was giving her a onceover. She fidgeted.

"Not bad, Granger." Draco said with a smirk before turning his attention back onto the TV. Hermione dashed towards her side of the bed and dove underneath the covers. Draco barely glanced her way again.

Thank god. Hermione thought relieved. Soon, exhaustion took over and she found herself drifting off to sleep.

TBC


A/N: Review please. Thanks!