It's Update Weekend here at Casa Naomi! Just like every weekend, of course. Despite school piling up, I'm managing to keep writing a bit - I finished Chapter 7 and planned 8 and 9 while babysitting today, and I can't wait until we get there! Which will be about a month if I keep posting at this rate. I'm sorry if it's not fast enough for you, especially since you know I have the chapters waiting, but I don't want to update this in 3 days and then not do anything for another month to give myself time to write stuff. Wouldn't you rather have dependable but more spaced-out updates? I hope so. Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, you've all been so nice :) But remember, criticism can help too. If you're tactless and rude I'll be upset for a minute and then decide you're not worth it, but if you help me I'll be very grateful, so anything that you think needs improving, just speak up!

DISCLAIMER: Copyright (probably. unless trademark? registered trademark? whatever...) J.K. Rowling

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

'So are you clumsy now as well as a know-it-all?' Malfoy smirked as Hermione dived under then table and emerged, red-faced, with the offending fork.

'Do you mean I'm… staying the night?' she asked haltingly. All the confidence she had gained from Malfoy's trust in her had fallen to the floor along with the fork.

'Of course, where else would you go?' Draco said nonchalantly. 'More wine?'

Hermione shook her head. She hadn't had wine as good as this for a while, and, combined with the overall shock of everything, it was going to her head a little. 'I could go to a hotel, it's no trouble, really.'

Draco laughed, but not unkindly. 'Do you have enough money to go to a hotel? It would definitely not be a very nice one, even if you did have enough. And I doubt that you would be able to afford more than one night anywhere, so it wouldn't be a very sensible solution. Moreover, I have surprisingly enjoyed your company over dinner tonight, now that we're both grown-up enough to leave the past behind us, and we'll need to set out early tomorrow on the trail of this elusive Miss Caster.'

They were all very sound reasons in Hermione's view. She ignored the bit about money because he was almost spot-on. Although she hadn't squandered her earnings on firewhisky with the majority of the other girls, Madame Moreau took an extortionately large share of their wage as 'living expenses', and her savings were pretty meagre. 'I am glad you agree that we are 'both grown-up enough to leave the past behind us',' she said slowly. 'When I saw it was you in the bedroom I felt cold all over, because I thought it would be exactly how it's always been between us. I knew I wouldn't be able to take any more name-calling and verbal battles.' Draco smirked. She looked straight into his eyes, and he was surprised by the emotion in them. Everything she was saying was so heartfelt, so utterly true, that he felt himself moved by it. 'I'm so grateful to you, for helping me out,' she said, not at all ashamed. 'But don't think that I'm only helping you to return the favour. If there's Death Eater activity still going on, I want to stop it in any way I can. And if that includes helping Tilly along the way, well, that's even better.'

'I know,' Draco smiled. A genuine smile, no trace of the trademark smirk. 'I know no one could ever make you do this if you didn't want to.' He stood up abruptly. 'Would you like some dessert? I have ice cream and…' he searched through a cupboard which Hermione supposed must be enchanted with a cooling charm. 'Well, just ice cream really. Unless you want to finish this tiramisu?' He held out an unopened tub of chocolate ice cream and the remnants of a store-bought tiramisu.

'No, really, that pasta filled me up…' Hermione refused.

Draco grunted. 'Whatever. You're far too thin, you obviously haven't been eating enough in that place, and you're going to have some. In fact, have all of it. I can get some more tomorrow,' he said, handing her a spoon.

'I'm not going to eat this all on my own!' Hermione was mildly outraged.

'Fine!' Draco rolled his eyes and got a spoon for himself. 'Let's go next door, you can find a book. You like books, right?'

Hermione swatted him with her spoon.

An hour later, Draco looked up from A Briefe Historie Of Squimean Gulch (Being A Remarkable Account Of A Rare Place Worthie Of Wizarding Attention) to see Hermione's head lolling on the arm of the couch, one hand resting on her cheek while her spoon was held loosely in the other. He shook her awake, gently.

'Hmm?' she blinked sleepily. 'Oh, right. What time is it?'

'Past one o'clock. I'll show you my room, would you like a bath?'

Hermione shook her head. Keen as she was to submerge herself completely in hot water, without a time limit or a maximum temperature of about 15º, all she wanted now was to sleep. She let Malfoy take her hand and guide her into his bedroom.

She awoke many hours later, with sunlight twisting in through the wooden slats of the blind. She rubbed her eyes groggily and got out of bed. Her feet landed on a soft carpet, forest green and gorgeously thick. Her petticoat and cardigan were draped over the wing-backed chair in the corner opposite the low king-sized bed. She blinked. She blinked again. Something wasn't right. 'What are you wearing?' her brain asked her body. 'Bleuuuuugh,' her body replied. She looked down for herself. A simple white shirt, long enough to skim her thighs. She patted her chest. She was still wearing her bra. Sighing, she walked over to the bathroom. She opened the door. She could hear Malfoy whistling in the kitchen. She shook her head and tried the other door. This was more like it. Marble gleamed blackly at her, and she sat down on the toilet. Washing her hands and splashing the cold water on her face helped her to wake up a bit. Stripping down, she locked the door and started to run a bath. The tub was magnificent. She admired it as she watched the water steam down, experimenting with likely-looking bottles of crystals and bubbly liquids. Malfoy likes his creature-comforts, she smiled.

When the water – or at least, the bubbles – had reached a satisfactory height, Hermione slipped in. She hissed sharply at the heat of the water, but it was delicious to her dry, cold skin. She rested her head on the curved edge of the handsome freestanding bathtub, and sighed.

Draco whistled as he prepared breakfast – or rather, brunch. He hadn't wanted to disturb Granger, despite his being an early riser. Ok, so he had lied a little about wanting to get an early start on the Caster girl. But it was justified, seeing as it meant Granger was now getting a good night's sleep in a proper bed, with a proper bathroom and no one to share it with her. He flipped a pancake cheerfully. He rather liked being a knight in shining armour, sweeping to the rescue of damsels in distress. Especially damsels in distress who have grown up considerably since their schooldays.

After what she thought was probably sufficient enough time for anyone to remain in a bath, Hermione climbed out and reached for a towel. She wrapped it around herself, and used a smaller towel to scrub her hair dry. She felt cleaner than she had since she could remember, clean all the way through. Her glance fell on the white shirt. She couldn't go about in that all day, and walking about London in a dirty petticoat and a holey cardigan was not going to be practical. However, she slipped the shirt back on as she left the bedroom to greet Malfoy.

'Merlin, Granger, I was about to check if you were still alive,' Malfoy looked up from the stove, and swallowed at the sight of Hermione in his shirt, which was just a little too short to pass for a dress, wet-haired and utterly relaxed.

'How long did I sleep? I'm sorry, I probably spent too long in the bath, are we going to be late for finding Tilly?' she said, apologetically. Her mood changed at the sight of the frying pan. 'I love pancakes!' she said delightedly.

'It's 12:45, and I lied about setting off early. We have to wait here until 2pm before we can go anywhere, because I have another Auror coming to meet me here before we set off,' Draco replied carefully.

'What's with the sudden bout of honesty? You really have changed since school,' Hermione laughed.

'What sudden bout of honesty? I've just said I lied to you.' Draco was confused.

Hermione giggled again. 'But you were honest about lying, that's what matters.'

Malfoy shook his head and gestured at a plate on the table. 'Eat, before they get cold.'

Hermione tucked in to the best breakfast she could ever remember. Pancakes, bacon, syrup, all the butter she could stomach. 'Even if I am thin, I'll have to watch it if you keep this up.'

'Well since you seem to be taking such an invasive interest in what I'm feeding you, why don't you cook?' Malfoy retorted.

'I'd love to! I love cooking,' she smiled. 'But, I'd have to go to the grocery store first. And…' she hesitated. Draco looked at her expectantly. 'And I'd look a bit strange if I went in this shirt, or in my other clothes,' she admitted. 'You don't happen to have any women's clothes, do you?'

'Yes, Granger, I have longed harboured a secret passion for drag,' Malfoy drawled. 'Don't be ridiculous. I'll go down to Diagon Alley after brunch and get you something at Madam Malkin's.'

Hermione smiled. 'Normally I would say no, Malfoy, you really don't have to. But, admittedly, you do. At least let me give you money for it. I know it probably wouldn't mean tuppence to you, I mean, you're still rich, right?' Malfoy scoffed. Duh. 'But I haven't had a chance to buy anything in a long time, and I really want to buy something for myself.'

Draco stood up from the table and started clearing their plates away. 'Well, you make a good point. But I absolutely insist on getting this for you, despite your audacity in assuming I would in the first place. Because although it won't mean 'tuppence' to me, whatever that is, I can appreciate that you want to buy something for yourself and so I want to buy something for you so that you can buy something for yourself, you see my logic?' He seemed pleased with himself.

'I don't get it…'

Draco rolled his eyes. 'Honestly woman, you're supposed to be clever. If I get you a robe now, it means that you'll have something to wear to go shopping in, and then you can get something utterly frivolous that you absolutely don't need. A book, for instance. And then you'll be much happier.' He sat back down in his chair as if he ought to be congratulated for such a wonderful idea.

'Still as arrogant as ever, I see,' Hermione huffed, but her eyes sparkled. 'Do you have a quill and parchment?'

'What for?'

'No reason...' Draco raised his eyebrows as he handed her a small scrap of parchment, a quill and a pot of ink. He leaned over to see what she was writing, but she covered it with her hand. It looked like numbers. She went into her room to fetch her wand, and came out a few minutes later.

'It's blank,' said Draco, taking it from her.

'I've charmed it so you can't read it, silly. Give it to Madam Malkin, it's my measurements.'

Draco looked at her slyly. 'Why can't I read it?'

'Don't be ridiculous,' she said, but Draco saw her flush before she turned her head away.

'Don't open the door to anyone, I'll let myself in,' he called back as he closed the door. Hermione settled down on the couch to continue I Married A Manticore! And Other Foolish Tales Of Woe. Malfoy had a strange collection of books.

It was 1:45 when Draco returned with three paper parcels and a dress bag draped over one arm. Hermione looked up.

'Aren't you excited to see what I got? You have to change quickly, she's coming any minute now,' he said, thrusting the packages into her arms.

'Who?'

'The Auror we're working with on the Caster Case, silly. Put them on,' he said, pushing her impatiently towards the bedroom door and closing it behind her.

Hermione undressed, and gasped as she opened the parcels. 'Draco Malfoy!' she yelled through the door. 'Why did you get me underwear?'

'Am I mistaken in thinking that you wear underwear, Granger?' he replied, his voice scarcely covering his amusement.

Hermione stuck her head round the door. 'I already have underwear, you know.'

'I know very well,' Malfoy smirked back.

'You're such a pervert!' she snapped angrily. Malfoy smirked all the more.

She reluctantly pulled on the underwear, secretly feeling glad that it was simple, clean and not intended to arouse. As she opened the dress bag, she gasped. Malfoy had chosen well, she had to admit. It was a perfect robe, as simple as their school ones but smart, resting just below the knee to blend in with Muggle fashions should they need to venture in to Muggle London, in a beautiful green colour a few shades darker than the carpet. It had a round neckline, almost too low for a day dress but not quite, and fitted elbow-length sleeves. Under the dress, in the same bag, she found a cream wool coat with big black buttons. It fitted perfectly, and it was only a little longer than the dress.

When she re-entered the living room, Draco looked up and stared. He had chosen well, but he didn't like her expression, or the way her foot was tapping the floor. 'Don't you like it?' he asked sheepishly.

'That's a stupid question, of course I like it. How could I not? Only, you didn't have to also get me a coat, and underwear, and shoes!' she said thrusting the new pumps in his face.

'Oh come on Granger. It's cold outside, we'll be travelling a lot, ergo, you need a coat. The only underwear you have is ridiculously tarty, and probably dirty as well, and the top bits of your shoes are peeling away from the soles. In short, your wardrobe is a mess.'

Hermione flinched. 'You don't have to be so blunt about it.'

'You don't need to refuse my generosity so rudely,' Malfoy retorted instantly, but he felt a pang of guilt at the look on her face. 'Maybe I just think you deserve to wear something nice for a while?' he said, more gently.

'I think your former opinion is more likely, but thank you all the same. It's very kind of you,' she replied, a trifle haughtily, but she knew Malfoy knew that she was pleased.

There was a knock on the door, and Draco opened it.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Who is at the door? Chapter dedication (it's all I can give...) to correct answers!