Disclaimer: It all JKR's but for the plot and a few newby characters.

A/N: And so it continues through Draco's eyes...

Thanks for your reviews, I have taken your critiques on board and hope this chapter is much to your enjoyment!

Chapter 8

Draco had woken to find Carla still in his bed on Saturday morning. It didn't bother him, he figured their arrangement warranted the frills without meaning anything and he secretly relished at the feeling of another in his bed. He reached across to his bedside clock, it read 11am. His incessant shuffling of the sheets made Carla stir as she leaned across him, placing a hand on his bare chest, kissing his arm lightly.

"What's the time?" She murmured with her eyes still shut.

"Eleven," he stated, staring at the ceiling through his heavy lidded eyes.

"Shit! Really?" she grumbled. "I better get up. I promised my cousin I'd turn up to lunch today."

"Hmmm," was all Draco had offered. He hadn't planned his day so was content to simply stay in bed a little longer. He instantly turned over to face Carla, kissing her neck, as he moved his hands across her bare stomach under the silk sheets.

"I don't have time for a morning round," she firmly stated, pushing his hands off her and moving to get out of the bed. He grabbed her arm gently, pulling her back and lifting himself over her, weight on one elbow, as he scattered kisses along her collar bone, across her décolletage, over to top of breasts while his right hand roamed down to her thigh.

"Come on Draco, I really need to have a shower," she pleaded.

"Just a little longer, I'll come to lunch with you," he mumbled between his kisses. He was more than willing to compromise in his current state.

"You really want to come to lunch?" She inquired, sounding surprised, submitting to his ministrations nonetheless.

"Hmmm, sure," he managed to let out, before forgetting the whole discussion as he became immersed in more pressing activities. And, that was how Draco found himself in front of the Weasley residence, relieved to see that Blaise was also in attendance as he scolded himself for thinking with his lower half.

Draco was pleasantly surprised at the tastefulness of the Weasley house. It had that lived in feeling of a home, but at the same time exuded a modernity that was contrary to his perceptions of how a Weasley lived. He figured Carla's cousin was responsible, until he found out it was Luna Lovegood. He was surprised that she and Weasley had ended up together; he had always presumed that he and Granger would tie the knot. In any case, he didn't give it much further thought until he entered the backyard to see Granger, laughing with Potter, looking relaxed and effervescent, which only served to add to the dimensions of her personality he had encountered. He was rather surprised that there existed a middle ground between her involuntary vulnerability, and her anal retentive, control freak persona. He had noticed her discomfort at his presence. In fact, had Blaise and Carla not been there, he would have run for the door himself, contrary to his façade. But, being the well trained socialite that he was, he looked to the positives of being here, namely: that Hermione Granger did not like it one bit.

He was unduly plagued by the closeness Granger and Potter seemed to share, even after all these years. Potter was certainly rather protective of her, despite their playful interactions.

"So, Draco, finally found monogamy?" Blaise goaded, his mouth forming a knowing grin.

"Not quite," he retorted, looking over at Carla who was chatting with her cousin. She certainly possessed all the qualities he liked in a woman, but there was no emotional link which would drive him to be exclusive. "More like my sexual counterpart, for now," he remarked giving a light laugh at Blaise's facial expression.

"When are you going to move on from the physical Draco? Trust me, the sex is much better with someone you love?"

"Hey, I'm not discounting your theory, it just hasn't happened," he shrugged.

"Think Granger and Potter are together?" Blaise questioned, looking over at them talking to Padma.

"Might be," he said as he eyed them curiously.

"Only one way to find out," he grinned as he walked away to join his fiancé. Draco moved to approach Carla, circling his arms around her waist from behind. He didn't know why he did that, he was surprised with himself, and Carla just looked at him strangely.

"What?" he whispered in her ear defensively. "Can't I give you some attention without you worrying about what it means?"

"It's not what I think Draco, it what everyone else will think. We work together! People talk Draco," she reprimanded, gently removing her hands from his hold on her.

"So, let them." He grinned. "I'm going to get a drink, want one?" he offered, changing the subject.

"No thanks." He merely shrugged, and headed for the kitchen only to see Granger battling it out with the refrigerator door. He inwardly chuckled at the sight of her holding so many bottles. She was stubborn in every sense of the word, to the point of defying common sense. Knowing that she hadn't seen him he thought he would surprise her and the fright was written all over her determined expression. He celebrated at his achievement.

As he took a bottle from her, he couldn't help but notice the smoothness of her hands, it was rather intoxicating. He took a large swig of his drink, letting his stomach flutter at the feeling of the cool butterbeer as it settled. He noticed her shoes, a new habit of course. She was still stuck on the flats, he noted, but they were rather glitzy – a black glow mesh. He raised an eyebrow at their fanciness before averting his eyes to meet her inquisitive stare. He figured it was a good time to throw her off a little; he took pleasure in goading her defensive side, and what better way to do it than question her relations with Potter and Weasley. She was not impressed to say the least, but he detected a hint of anxiety before she snapped at him, sending them on a strange banter filled with innuendo that he really hadn't planned. Her bluntness brought him back to reality as he processed what he had said, deciding to run with it. He was not going to back down now, he was finding this rather entertaining, albeit confusing.

It wasn't until they were seated at the dining table that his curiosity got the better of him as he eyed Granger and Weasley. There had been something there, he speculated. Draco realised that any exchange that had occurred between himself and Granger was always in private and he watched her as she spoke to the pretty brunette next to her. Her demeanour was open, her face lit up with interest at the exchange between them. He noticed her eyes changed colour with her mood, it was a rather intimate realisation and he did not like that he had noticed this characteristic.

Draco was not in the mood to discuss business, but Carla had jumped in at the opportune moment to discuss Granger's magazine. He was rather pleased she had prolonged the topic Granger so clearer wanted to avoid. Never one to miss an opportunity, he figured he may as well press the issue a little more, not believing a word she said as she excused her department's indecision; her indecision. He knew it was only a mater of time before she caved; he just had to find her weakness.

"This is great champagne Luna," he commented after taking a drink. He knew how to dish out the compliments in a social setting.

"Oh, thanks Draco, it's the same one that was served at the ball. I just had to ask one of the barmen for the name." She remarked, her smile spread from ear to ear. He noticed that Granger had abruptly put down her flute.

"You're not a fan of champagne, Granger?" he questioned innocently. She shot him a glare and he could not help but smile.

"No, it's lovely Luna," she tried to reassure, ignoring him completely. He noticed Luna only offered a small smile of recognition.

"It can be an acquired taste," he continued glancing at Granger curiously.

"Yes, once you're hooked though there is no better summer refreshment before a meal." Luna agreed.

"Personally, I prefer a butterbeer any day," Ron added.

"Or, a mature firewhiskey," prompted a jovial Blaise.

The conversation continued to general dining chit chat, Draco paid Carla excessive attention, raising the eyebrows of her cousin and Blaise in particular. He was in an unusually affectionate mood and she seemed to adjust to the idea, responding particularly when Granger's gaze would fall on them. Granger's expression was inscrutable as she conversed with that Keira woman and Weasley, lighting up with laughter occasionally. The discussion turned to Quidditch, as Potter and Draco conversed about the English team's progress and upcoming tournaments. He and Potter had reached an understanding a few years back: simply put, they would be civil.

The drinks kept flowing and the noise level of the lunching folk became increasingly rowdy. Even Granger had submitted to a few drinks. He desperately needed the bathroom and excused himself as the hosts began to clear the table. As he exited the bathroom and progressed down the hallway back to the kitchen, he noticed Granger approaching from the opposite direction. She appeared startled by his presence and shifted her direction into one of the rooms as if it were her destination. He knew she was uneasy from their previous encounter but after a few drinks he was feeling rather devilish. He entered the study she had walked into, gently closing the door behind him.

"Hello Granger. Aren't you just the antisocial one today?" he said sardonically. She turned to face him, a look of uncertainty on her face.

"Actually, I just wanted to make a phone call," she prompted.

"Well I don't see a muggle phone in here," he replied after scanning the room.

"I was checking whether this room had one."

"Come on Granger, you need to do better than that!" He chuckled. She moved to pass him to reach the door, her face puzzled, perhaps at her pathetic cover up. His hand brushed hers; his special awareness was a little off, it seemed. She retracted her hand immediately, looking up at him, a deeper pigment setting in her eyes.

She went to open the door, but he reached his arm out and shut it again.

"Malfoy, can you let me pass? I am not in the mood for your heckling." She sighed in defeat.

"Actually Granger, this is the perfect opportunity to clear a few things." She opened her mouth to interrupt but he held up his other hand to stop her. "Hear me out first, Granger." He leered, regarding her expression, it was one of impatience.

"Well, what exactly is it that you want to discuss?" She demanded, her defensive mode setting in.

"What you are doing now. Why do you get all defensive around me? You are not being professional by letting your feelings in the way of your work."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She stated, dismissing his comments.

"Fuck Granger, you are insufferable. Just because I saw you drunk one night at a stupid Ministry function that was so boring it would drive anyone to the drink, you seem unusually bothered by it."

"I don't see why you care." She was a stubborn one.

"I don't. But, I do care about how it affects my business prospects. Come on Granger, you know my offer is too good to refuse!" He was exasperated now, his hands by his sides, stiff as a board. He could see her mind reeling behind her eyes. "Is it because poor Hermione Granger was in such a state that she had to be helped?"

"No, I am grateful you helped, it's not that." He could tell there was some truth to her words but he could not read between the lines.

"So what exactly bothers you about me Granger? We are not in school anymore, or real enemies, at that." He took a step forward, closing in on her so he could read her expression. He could tell she was at an impasse about whether or not to divulge further information. Granger's walls were crumbling.

She sighed in relent looking directly at him. "Ok, you want to know the truth? Fine. I don't like how you always get what you want, how you can easily just put your foot in everyone's business and take a piece of their pie. I don't like that I was an emotional wreck in front of you at the ball, or that you put me in that state in the first place. And, most of all, I don't like how you make me feel insecure and uncertain about myself, but at the same time, you distract me to no end!" She exhaled loudly, her arms falling limp, her head turning to look away from him.

To say that Draco Malfoy was stunned at Granger's proclamation was an overwhelming understatement. He stood there, lost for words. He certainly hadn't expected this. They were so close to each other that it was noticeably awkward and the energy in the room disturbing to both. She reached to open the door once again, he let her. She walked out. He hadn't moved.

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