Once she had apparated home, Hermione rushed to change into jeans and a dark blue jumper. Her hair was hastily gathered into a messy bun at the nape of her neck and she was ready to apparate to Harry and Ginny's house.

She managed to get just inside the gate when a squeal erupted from behind the glass pane of the front living room. The front door flew open as Ginny rushed to greet Hermione, her large stomach getting in the way of the welcoming hug. Add to that the two little boys running to hug a leg each and Hermione was at the mercy of the Potters until they saw fit to release her. Eventually the boys ran back into the house and Ginny and Hermione followed.

The two friends detoured into the kitchen while the boys played happily in the front lounge room and Ginny proceeded to grill her friend about anything and everything as she finished preparing dinner.

"So, anything new? How's work? How's your little cottage? Is Crookshanks still grumpy?"

And the questions continued until there was nothing else to ask about.

Hermione took a deep breath and said," Work is fine, busy as usual. The house is great, still lovely and quiet. Crookshanks is as he usually is. He enjoys the garden and doesn't try to catch the birds so that's good. And…..IsawDracoMalfoytodayandhadcoffeewithhim."

She cringed back from her friend and closed her eyes as she said the last part quickly and waited for the explosion. And waited.

After another full minute Hermione opened her eyes to find Ginny staring at her with her mouth hanging open. Then a huge grin lit up her face as she gathered Hermione into a tight hug. She released the brunette and went back to making dinner.

"Oh that's excellent! Finally you've got a man in your life! Oh I wish I wasn't pregnant, otherwise we could celebrate with some champagne! From what I hear he's a bit of a ladies man but hey, anything to get you back in the game. And I've seen pictures of him in Witch Weekly. He's one hot man."

Hermione held her hands up to halt the congratulations.

"Whoa! Wait a minute. I only said I had coffee with him. It's not like we were snogging in the middle of the street or anything. I just happened to be at an art gallery in London and I bumped into him and he asked to have coffee with me. That's it. I'm pretty sure nothing will come of it anyway."

The disappointment must have shown on her face.

Ginny laughed and said," Oh but you want something to happen don't you?! I can see it on your face. I bet that an owl will arrive any moment just begging you to have dinner with him tomorrow night."

As if by magic they heard a tapping on the kitchen window. Both women turned at the same time. Hermione gasped as she saw a large black and silver owl knocking its beak against the glass. Ginny laughed out loud and rushed to let the creature in. It flew the short distance to Hermione and landed on the table next to her and held its leg out for her to untie the note attached with a piece of string. With shaking hands she unrolled the parchment but before she could read the message the owl ruffled its feathers in impatience.

"Oh! You want a treat do you? Well here you go."

Ginny grabbed the box of food and offered the animal a small morsel. Almost immediately after swallowing the biscuit, the owl spread its wings and flew back out of the window.

Hermione stared after the receding shadow until Ginny cleared her throat.

"Well? What does it say?"

Her friend snapped out of her trance and looked down at the note. She took a deep breath and read aloud," Dear Hermione. I enjoyed our coffee date today and would love it if you would join me for dinner tomorrow night, at 7 o'clock. I'll pick you up. Draco,"

Hermione stared at the elegant writing before her. He had lovely penmanship. Much nicer than mine, she mused to herself. It was probably something his parents made him practice till it was perfect. Heaven forbid a Malfoy should give a bad impression just because of his handwriting! Her mind drifted on to wonder how awful it had been to grow up in such a rigid and exacting household. Her upbringing was so different to his. Part of that was due to being muggle born but even after she got her letter for Hogwarts her life had continued on in the same almost mundane way it always had. Her parents didn't treat her differently just because she was a witch. They were the same dentists they had always been and nothing would change that.

A feminine hand waved vigorously in front of her eyes, snapping Hermione out of a day dream once again.

"Hey! What's with you? You're all scatter-brained today. I thought I was meant to be the one with the muddled thoughts due to 'baby-brain'. Why don't you go and see what the boys are doing and I'll finish dinner. Maybe getting some food into you will help collect those thought fragments and then I can get an answer out of you about this note."

Hermione shrugged and did as she was bid. She located James and Albus in the lounge room, quietly playing with their toys. She didn't want to disturb the rarely peaceful children so she sat on the couch and grabbed a random magazine from the coffee table and read till the food was ready.

As they ate Ginny regaled her friend with what the boys had done recently and how their magic was beginning to manifest as they got older.

"Albus was sitting across the room rom his toy box and suddenly decided he wanted his favourite teddy bear. Somehow he managed to magic the whole box across the room. Luckily it landed just next to him and not on his head but he still had a terrible shock. And so did I, when I heard the crashing sound from the kitchen."

Ginny smiled fondly at her younger son as he ate his food, unaware that he was being discussed. James was already finished and his head was drooping slowly onto the table as sleep fought to overcome his senses. Hermione interrupted her own meal to scoop the young boy up and carry him to his bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow. She tucked the blankets around his small form and gently caressed his hair as she listened to his steady breathing.

This was what she was missing, a family of her own. She had a house and a cranky cat and a job she loved but she wanted more. Perhaps Draco was the answer to her problem? She shook her head to try and dispel the thought but it remained stubbornly rooted in her brain. A vision of a little girl or boy with honey coloured hair being swung up into the air by her blonde daddy appeared before her. Hermione sighed and turned to go back to the dinner table as Ginny came through the doorway carrying Albus. Once he was in his bed the women returned to the table to finish their meals.

As soon as the dishes were done and everything was cleared away they retired to the lounge room to chat over a cup of tea. Ginny was bursting with trying not to pressure Hermione into talking about Draco but her inquisitive and slightly aggressive nature took hold and she spent the better part of an hour interrogating Hermione about every detail of her time spent with the man in question.

In the end Hermione had to plead extreme fatigue to get out of the house. Even then Ginny followed her to the garden gate, peppering her with questions. Hermione hugged her friend quickly and said," Look, I've got to go but I promise to visit and tell you all about our dinner date alright?"

And with that she apparated on the spot and appeared at her front door. She let herself in and immediately went to her stock of paper and pens to reply to Draco.

"Draco, dinner sounds great! I'll be ready at 7. Hermione"

She turned to the perch where her owl usually sat during the day time only to find it empty.

"Now where did you go?" she muttered to herself. Hermione wandered over to the kitchen window and opened it, wondering when her pet would return. As she turned away from the opening she heard a rushing of wings and turned to find her owl standing on the window sill with a mouse in its beak.

"Well this is an evening of coincidences," she mused thinking to when the owl had appeared at Ginny's window just as they were talking about it a possible invite from Draco.

At sight of the letter the animal ruffled its feathers in annoyance but dutifully held out its leg for the missive, barely waiting for Hermione to tie it securely before taking off into the night again. She leant against the counter and smiled, thinking that by this time tomorrow night she would have just finished her date with Draco. The thought jolted her into action.

"What am I going to wear?!"

Hermione ran into her bedroom and started rifling through the wardrobe, much to the aggravation of Crookshanks who had been reclining on her bed quite peacefully before his mistress burst into the room. His meow went unheard as Hermione muttered to herself while she looked at one thing or another before discarding it onto the floor.

Normally at this time of the evening she would be calmly selecting her work outfit for the next day but all she could think of was her date. She didn't even know where they would be going. Knowing Draco and his upbringing and current lifestyle it would no doubt be fancy but just how fancy? Should she wear heels or go for comfort? Pants or a dress? Hair up or down?

Hermione crossed her arms as she surveyed the mess she had made. A couple of dresses were still on their hangers and swayed gently on the clothes rail after her frenzied attack on the contents of the wardrobe. A glimpse or bright red caught her eye as the clothes moved back and forth. Hermione parted the garments and found herself standing in front of a beautiful scarlet silk dress. She grabbed the hanger to view the outfit in full and a smile spread across her face. This was perfect! She was sure to make an impression on the calm and collected Malfoy. She chuckled to herself she got ready for bed but knew that sleep would be kept at bay by the tingling anticipation running up and down her body.

Draco sat at his desk, reading a large dusty book on rare medical diseases. His eyes skimmed rapidly over the faded text, jumping over things he already knew about or were not important to the case he was currently handling. He was a qualified healer but early in his studies he knew he could never actually practice publicly as a healer, or anything really, without being closely scrutinised.

It might have taken only a couple of years for the interest to wane and then he could get on with his chosen career with minimal interruptions but he decided to practice his craft in private and just get on with his life. It was easier and St Mungos were always happy for him to help even though he rarely met his patient in person.

A voice floated in from the entry hall.

"Draco dear. Are you home?"

His head snapped up at the sudden noise and then he groaned as recognition of the owner of the voice settled over him. What was his mother doing here?

She had moved to Paris shortly after the war, when his father died in Azkaban. She seemed to think a change of scenery was in order and Paris suited her just fine. Now that he thought about it she had never said the change would be permanent. He ran his hand through his hair in worry as he considered her moving home to the Manor. Just as he had managed to attain some level of a life with the tantalising prospect of romance, his mother would move back into the Manor and ruin it all.

The sound of her footsteps were getting closer as she made her way to the study, seeming to know where exactly her son would be at this late hour. Draco stood up from behind the desk as Narcissa appeared in the doorway. When she spotted him she held her arms open and walked toward him saying," Draco! Oh it's so good to see you again."

She gathered him into a hug, surprising him greatly. 'She must really have missed me to hug me this way', he thought as he broke the contact to lean against his desk. 'Or she wants me to do something for her'. His eyes narrowed at that thought.

After his relationship with Astoria broke up after only two years of being together, Narcissa had made it her mission in life to find a pure blood witch for her son to settle down with and marry. Especially after his father died, she seemed to be desperate to make sure the Malfoy name would continue.

Draco had tried to please her and get along with the different women but he honestly couldn't stand most of them and a couple had only to open their mouths and speak a couple of sentences for him to know he would dislike them immensely. The problem was that he was no longer the 'pure blood' advocate he had been moulded into. He couldn't tolerate the things the people from his parent's world would say any more or how they sneered at others who they deemed to be less than themselves.

After the last girl had thrown her drink in his face at a very public venue after he lost his temper and said what he was thinking instead of keeping it locked away, Narcissa had seemed to give up. There were only so many pure bloods out there anyway and she had run out of suitable matches. The year had been blessedly quiet on that front and Draco had begun to think his mother had given up trying to fix his love life, but now with this surprise visit he didn't know what to think.

He crossed his arms over his chest and said," Not that I'm not happy to see you mother but I do need to ask. Why are you here so suddenly? I thought Paris was the second love of your life and that you were happy to stay there forever."

He was repeating the exact words she had used the other day in a letter to him. He didn't believe a word of it. It was too much of a dramatic statement to be true, especially coming from the woman now sitting before him. The dark leather of the Chesterfield armchair highlighted the still beautiful woman's pale blonde hair and pale skin. She seemed to glow in the semi darkness of the study. He noted she was rather simply dressed but she still looked like she had stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine. She crossed her legs and leaned back into the chair, clearly thinking over what she had to say. Her eyes were sizing him up and she suddenly spoke, obviously throwing any games that she would try to play out of the window.

"Well I did say that didn't I? But even a lover grows tiresome after a while so I thought I would spend some time with my only son. I wanted to make sure you're happy and not slouching around, cloaked in loneliness. You need to go out and meet people Draco! Otherwise you'll become a bitter and twisted old man and we can't have that can we?"

She smiled sweetly at Draco as he took in her words.

"Well, as a matter of fact I have been out and meeting people. I had coffee with a young woman today and we're possibly having dinner together tomorrow night. I was going to bring her here but perhaps that won't be the smartest thing to do any longer."

As soon as the words left his mouth he wished he could call them back. He hadn't meant to say quite so much and now he was sure his mother would ask about the woman in question. Dammit! He had been hoping to keep Hermione to himself for just a little while longer. He wanted to savour being with her before others found out and the inevitable storm hit the papers. Not to mention the reaction from Narcissa.

She leant forward in the armchair with an eager look on her face. Draco knew her mind would be racing with the faces and names of all the pure blood women they knew. Before she could open her mouth to ask he held up a hand and said," Mother. Before you can say a thing, the woman I met up with isn't a pure blood. She's muggle born. She's incredibly smart and witty and so magically talented that most people would swear she's a pure blood. Or just those that hold the old prejudices anyway. Most people now realise and accept that magical ability doesn't discriminate based on which family you happen to come from. Furthermore, I really do like her and nothing you say or do will make me change my mind."

He clamped his mouth shut and waited.

Narcissa looked stunned for just moment before the cool, calm mask settled over her face once again. The words she spoke surprised Draco, rendering him speechless.

"Yes yes! But what is her name? You didn't tell me her name."

It took a moment for Draco to speak. His mother had bypassed everything he had said without much comment only to ask for a name? Maybe he wasn't the only one who had changed over the years.

"Her name is Hermione Granger. And she seems to want to spend time with me."

Narcissa settled back into the chair. She had only ever wanted happiness for her son. He had been through so much darkness that it was about time he had some happiness. The expression on his face as he said Hermione's name was enough to make Narcissa say," Well then. I hope me being here won't hurt your plans too much. The Manor is quite large enough for me to disappear so your date can happen in peace and quiet."

She stood from her seat and placed her hands on Draco's shoulders.

"I hope she's the light in the darkness for you Draco. The two of you will make a good match, I'm sure of it."

She kissed his forehead and turned to leave the room. She paused in the doorway and turned to favour her son with a smile before making her way upstairs to a suite of rooms that she could make her own for the duration of her stay.

Draco stared at the doorway for some time. A slight tapping on the window shook him from his day dream. A snowy white owl was waiting outside, a note clearly attached to its leg. He hastened to let the creature in and watched as it landed in the middle of his desk. The owl held its leg out for him to take the note and took off back into the night as soon as he held the paper in his hand.

He walked over to the fireplace and leant against the mantelpiece as he undid the thin blue ribbon that fastened the roll of paper. His eyes skimmed over the short message and a grin bloomed across his face.

"She said yes", he muttered to himself.

After a moment he moved back to his desk to resume his reading. It was late and he should get to bed but he knew that the case he was working on would nag him back into the study again. Combine that with the tingling excitement that moved over his skin and he knew he wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight.