Neither of them mentioned what happened and Hermione was glad. She was wondering just what was happening because the way she was reacting to Draco told her one thing but as soon as she thought logically about it she knew she couldn't really be attracted to him. So, what was it then? Lust? Some silly school girl infatuation because he was a good looking man? No! Hermione Granger did not think like that.

So why was she standing in front of the mirror having tried on four outfits already and had her hair in various styles? It was just a village fete and there was no-one to impress so why all the fuss? Hermione lowered herself onto her bed and bit her lip. There was someone to impress, wasn't there? She had to admit it - even if it was only to herself - she cared about what Draco thought of her. She wanted him to see her and do a double take. Just lately, he'd had the upper hand because she'd been fighting her attraction to him. She now wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine and without being big headed, she knew she could do so.

She removed the rather sedate, lacy dress she was wearing and rummaged through her wardrobe again. She pulled out various items, holding them up and then dismissing them. Her wardrobe was smart, pristine, expensive but not particularly sexy. She pulled out a hanger that had several skirts on it and something caught her eye. It was a dress that she'd had a while but had hardly worn. Hermione hardly ever did this, she spent money on her clothes but she really got her wear out of them. She'd bought this dress on a whim, one summer evening when she was going on a date. The date was a disaster and she'd hung the dress in her wardrobe and forgot about it.

She took it off the hanger and before she'd even slipped it over her head she knew it was right. It was almost navy blue but not quite with a gorgeous blue, green pattern on it. The shoulder line was low with a band that almost slipped off her shoulders. It was fitted around her bust and then narrowed in at the waist before falling in soft waves around her legs. The hemline was beautiful with lovely flowing lines.

She looked at herself and nodded. This was perfect - just slightly more flirty than her usual choice but still tasteful and elegant. She put on some silver sandals with a little heal and a silver bangle. That was it! It didn't need any other jewellery or accessories and suddenly, her hair which had looked like it needed pinning up to make it different, appeared to flow smoothly down over her shoulder and back.

She touched up her light make up again and headed downstairs. Draco was in the garden, sipping a glass of wine and gazing across the fields. Hermione spotted him through the window so she went and grabbed a glass and headed outside. She remembered her wish that she could make him look at her the way she found herself looking at him lately and she wasn't disappointed. Draco's eyes widened as she approached him, his eyes gliding over her body and down her legs. Hermione had been looked at like this many times and she pretended not to notice.

"Hi - could you fill my glass up please," she said, putting it down in front of him.

Draco's eyes were on her legs again and when he did look up he lifted one eyebrow. "I knew I was right."

"About what?"

"About you being sexy."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I suppose that counted as a compliment?" she said. "Thanks, but it's just an old summer dress." She didn't bother telling him that she'd spent an hour trying to chose what to wear.

"That may have been true when it was on the hanger but not now," Draco commented. "You look bloody amazing."

Hermione had hoped for him to notice her but she hadn't expected this response.

"Thank you." She sat down and took a sip from her glass but she knew Draco was still staring at her. She lifted her eyes to his. "You're staring."

"You're gorgeous." Draco said this flippantly and without a hint of embarrassment.

Hermione inhaled and then didn't feel that she could breathe out again but she was determined not to act like a dithering idiot around him because she had long since gone past that. Men frequently found her attractive and she'd grown quite confident at taking compliments and not being embarrassed. This wasn't just any man though was it? And she wasn't entirely sure he meant it - she could imagine that compliments just rattled off his tongue without him really meaning them. She was sure that plenty of his girlfriends would have expected nothing less.

"Gorgeous?" she questioned him. "I've put a dress on and now suddenly I'm gorgeous?"

"It would seem so."

"I don't believe you mean it." She gave him her best smile. "But thanks again for the compliment."

Draco was grinning at her. "That little, nerdy bookworm would be so proud of her grown up self."

"How so?"

"Confident and self composed when paid an outrageous compliment by a very sexy man..." Draco left the end of his sentence open, managing to compliment himself as well as Hermione.

"Self praise is no praise," Hermione quoted at him. He flung his arms out extravagantly.

"You praise me then!"

"You can't ask! You have to wait for someone to feel that you deserve it!" Hermione gave a little chuckle, finding their exchange highly amusing.

"So you don't you feel that I deserve it?" Draco pulled on his collar in a sophisticated manner that was also very obviously tongue in cheek.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, okay - you look very handsome," she said, obediently but with very little feeling. "Oh - and well done on complimenting someone with a far less worthy lineage than you!"

Draco made a mock show of indignation. "That was hurtful! You know I don't think like that now!" He winked at her before continuing. "We should go now or we'll be late - let's go and give a few village men a aneurysm."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Hermione had received a rewardingly appreciative look from Callum as they met them but he was a perfect gentleman who was obviously very happy with Helena. Draco was holding her hand again and she had no idea if it was just for show or if he actually wanted to.

The village fete was busy and Hermione enjoyed exploring the stalls and games. They bought an ice cream and ate it by the small stream. If it wasn't for the real reason she and Draco were here Hermione could have imagined nothing more perfect. The spring sun was warm and Hermione stretched out on the grass.

She didn't have long though before Draco dragged her onto the bumper cars. They spent the entire time trying to ram Helena and Callum and giggling like children. After that, Hermione and Helena wandered off for a while to look at a couple of perfume and trinket stalls.

"You've got an admirer," Helena whispered to her and Hermione frowned.

"What?"

"There's a man over there who's checking you out," Helena grinned. "Don't look or he'll know I've told you." Helena chuckled. "Poor guy doesn't know that his competition is Drew!"

Hermione sneaked a glance behind her but she couldn't see anyone. She felt slightly uneasy that someone was watching her but it could just be what Helena thought. Nevertheless she knew she should mention it to Draco so as soon as they were all back together so she engineered it so that they got ten minutes alone.

"Got an urgent need for me?" Draco joked as they took a walk and Hermione sighed.

"No - Helena said that someone was watching me - a man," Hermione explained.

"I warned you what that dress might do," Draco was still joking but Hermione huffed at him.

"Draco! What if someone knows we are here?"

Draco straightened his face. "It's okay - I know what you mean. Can you remember what he looked like?"

"I didn't see him by the time I turned around he had gone."

Draco frowned. "We should stay together and just keep a look out. It's probably nothing - just someone admiring your legs."

"Will you stop going on about my legs!"

"Which part would you like me to go on about then?" Draco asked, looking her up and down.

"I'm scared." Hermione's words stopped him in his tracks and he sighed.

"I know - I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

The live band were good and Hermione tried to relax again. Callum dragged her up to dance and she reluctantly gave into him. It was a lively tune and she laughed as Callum twirled her under his arm and back again. The band changed tunes and Callum grabbed both of her hands and they danced together around the floor. They went back to their table to find it empty because Draco was dancing with Helena.

"I'll go and get us some more drinks," Callum said, leaving Hermione to sit on her own for a few moments. She watched Draco dancing with Helena and smiled. It was lovely to see him so relaxed and enjoying himself. For a moment, she could imagine them staying here - never returning to their old life. It would be easy enough to not go back to all the stress and hassle.

She let her eyes wander around and they fell onto a table not far away where two other young couples were. She wondered where they lived - the village wasn't only full of old people then? That was when she saw him - a middle aged man, sitting alone at a table by the entrance. He was inconsequential enough but he was staring straight at her. As her eyes moved to him, he looked away quickly, gulping his drink.

Hermione frowned and turned away feeling uneasy. He could have just happened to be staring her way, of course. He could be admiring her? She glanced, very quickly back at him and he was looking in the other direction but this didn't reassure her because there was something about his demeanour that was wrong. It was if he was purposely looking away from her - it didn't seem natural.

"Are you okay?" Helena's voice broke into her thoughts and Hermione gave a little start. "Sorry did I startle you?"

"Yes - no - it's fine. I'm fine," Hermione stuttered. She gently pulled Helena down to sitting. "Don't glance over immediately but when you can look over by the entrance. There is a man there with dark hair. Is he the one you saw looking at me earlier?"

Helena made a show of straightening her jacket which was on the back of her chair so that she could have a good look. She turned back to Hermione. "No. That's not him. Why?"

"It's not him?" Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "It's just he was staring at me."

"Who was?" Draco asked, overhearing the last part of the girls conversation.

"No-one, it's nothing," Hermione nodded at him reassuringly.

Helena completely misinterpreted their exchange. "Oh don't worry Drew. Even if Harriet might have some admirers, she only has eyes for you!"

Draco smiled but Hermione could tell he wasn't relaxed and he kept glancing around. Helena and Callum went up to dance and Draco leant forward. "What's going on? Have you seen the man from earlier?"

"No. There was someone who I thought was watching me but I'm being paranoid because when I asked Helena she said it wasn't the same man as earlier," Hermione explained.

"Maybe we should go home," Draco said.

"No. It's nothing - I'm just being over cautious." She stood up, determined to not end the day feeling like this. "Come on - I want to dance with my husband."

She thought that Draco was going to refuse for a moment but he then took her outstretched hand and let her lead him to the dance floor. It wasn't until Hermione was actually standing facing Draco, holding hands that it struck her that she had volunteered to dance with him. Why had she done that? Dancing meant touching and holding each other! What had she been thinking? Draco took her hands and they began a slightly awkward, shuffling movement. It didn't feel natural and Hermione felt embarrassed not quite sure where to put her feet, hands or eyes.

Draco moved gracefully, which was no surprise and after a few moments he put one arm around her waist and pulled her closer. This, at least, meant that Hermione no longer had to worry about where to put her eyes because all she could see now was Draco's shoulder. Her one hand was now flat against Draco's chest, the other one holding his outstretched hand and together they swayed to the flowing music.

The music changed, slower now and Hermione was about to move away to sit back down when she felt Draco's hand slip lower into the curve of her back. Their arms relaxed, allowing Draco to move them even closer and then Hermione did something, acting purely on instinct. She placed her head on Draco's shoulder and closed her eyes.

Their surroundings seemed to fade a little as Hermione got caught up in the moment, her body millimetres from Draco's, the gentle, now smooth sway in time with the music, Draco's warmth under her cheek. She was no longer thinking about where her feet should be or if she should place her hands on him because the awkwardness had gone leaving a natural, flowing movement they both seemed to go with.

The music stopped and the singer started to make some announcements about who had won a prize draw from earlier. She and Draco returned to their seats and Hermione tried to gather her thoughts about the feelings that seemed to overtake her as soon as she got anywhere near Draco.

"He's here now," Helena said, quietly as Hermione sat down.

"Sorry?"

"Your admirer from earlier today. I've just seen him," Helena explained.

"Oh." Hermione looked around as discreetly as she could. "Where?"

"Well, funnily enough I've just seen him over by the bar with the guy you pointed out - the one with dark hair who was sitting by the entrance when we got here..."

Hermione sat up abruptly. "Hold on - the man I saw who was staring at me is now talking to the one you thought was admiring me earlier?"

Helena nodded. "Yes, what a coincidence!"

Hermione felt her blood turn cold and she turned rudely from Helena to grab Draco's arm.

"We might need to go," she whispered urgently.

"Why? What is it?"

"The man who was at the market earlier is now talking to the one I saw staring at me when we got here!"

Draco looked around but Hermione shook her head. "You won't see them - they're over by the bar but I can't believe it's a coincidence."

"Me neither," Draco agreed. "We should go - make an excuse."

Hermione did as he said, telling Helena that she was feeling unwell. Helena gave her a strange look but nodded and smiled, saying she hoped that she felt better soon. Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and lead her out of the marquee, across the village square and towards the lane to their cottage. As they turned a corner the throng of people thinned and Hermione became conscious of how vulnerable they were, heading down the dark lane.

"We should apparate," Draco said, as if he'd read her mind. He stopped and pulled her into a shop doorway, glancing around before apparating them back to the bend in the lane by Callum's cottage. Hermione didn't question why here and not right outside their own home, trusting his had a reason. She followed him around the bend and Draco put his finger to his lips to indicate for her to remain quiet. That was why he hadn't taken them straight home - incase someone was waiting for them there. He kept to the edge of the lane and she followed him. As they got within sight of their cottage Draco stopped suddenly causing Hermione to walk straight into him.

"Ooh!"

"Do you know anywhere else we can go?" Draco's voice was an urgent whisper.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, puzzled, rubbing her head where it had hit his back. Draco pulled her round him and pointed ahead. As her eyes came into focus she gasped. Their little cottage was black, every window broken, the roof almost gone. It was as if the place had burnt down but with no flames or smoke. It was obvious that this was magic and it was also obvious that someone had hoped for the cottage to be occupied. She felt Draco pulling on her arm.

"Hermione? Do you know anywhere else we can go?" Draco pulled her behind a tree. "They're onto us - we need to leave here right now."

"Err..." Hermione couldn't get her brain in gear, the reality of what was happening not sinking in properly.

"Hermione!"

"I don't know any other safe houses," she started to say and then stopped. A thought had come to her about The Ministry providing a safe house for a young wizard who had seen Avada Kadavra being performed and who was being threatened. She had helped with some legal details and Harry had sorted out a place for him to stay during the last few days of the case. The address wasn't one she was familiar with but she knew it was something to do with a colour.

"Let's go to the Manor for now..." Draco started to say.

"No! That's ridiculous! They're bound to still be checking there," Hermione said. "I do know another place but I can't remember the address..."

There was a sharp noise over by the cottage and they both stiffened. Draco looked around the tree. "Let's just go to..."

"Aqua Bay...Lime House, Aqua Bay..." Hermione remembered. "I remember thinking that it was all shades of green!"

"Can you apparate there, only knowing the name?" The urgency in Draco's voice was unmistakable.

Hermione answered equally urgently. "I have no idea but we don't have any choice but to try do we?"

Draco shook his head and stepped close, holding her tight. She thought desperately of Aqua Bay repeating the name over and over as she turned on the spot, clinging to Draco.

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