A/n: Wow you guys are so lovely! Thank you for the wonderful reviews, some great ideas in there that I fully intend to use, my brain is buzzing which means (lucky for you lot) I've updated earlier than usual. Some wee rare dark moments in this chapter as we see a new side to Draco. He looses his cocky facade a little - i thought it was about time but have no fear he's still as quick witted as usual. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5

Stalking

Hermione double-checked the piece of paper in front of her. Yep, she'd definitely read that right. She frowned as she walked out of the entrance to St. Mungos and it disappeared back into a disused department store. What an odd place for a meeting and what an even stranger coincidence that she was to visit The Worlds End pub twice in a week without having ever stepped foot in it previously. Walking the short distance down King's Cross Road she put away her healers robes and hopped on the tube. She proffered it to apparition sometimes and the short journey from the hospital to Charring Cross and Diagon Alley gave her time to think about things. It was fairly quiet on this Friday afternoon, giving no hint that in a few hours time it would be packed to the brim of commuters heading home. Hermione watched as a young couple got on hand in hand giggling excitedly to each other. They sat down opposite her and Hermione sighed. She'd been like that once. Truth be told she was still reeling from the events of the other day. Hermione knew something was off the minute she walked into the flat that evening and when she saw the trail of clothes from the living room to the bedroom she wasn't surprised that when she caught Ron on top of another girl. She'd told him she wanted a divorce and left, not staying around to discover the blondes identity, in fact she barely looked at her at all. Now to find out it was in fact Luna Lovegood was like being slapped in the face. They'd been good friends once. Luna had been there for her during those awful years when she and Ron had been fighting. Luna knew everything they'd been through: all the unpleasantness, all the devastation, all the hospital visits… Hermione was shattered when, just after she'd caught Ron the first time with Lavender, Luna decided to extend the Quibbler to a European market and moved to France. Hermione retreated into herself for a while after that and lately she'd been so overwhelmed with work and trying to be perfect for Ron that she supposed she hadn't kept in touch as well as she should have over the last few years. But she just couldn't believe Luna had done something like this. She supposed it was wishful thinking to wonder if Ron was lying. After all why would he, this just made him look worse. Cheating was bad enough but cheating with your wife's best friend was just sickeningly cliché. The young couple got off and the tube rumbled on, it's rattle drowned out by Hermione's thoughts.

She shook her head; she needed to put all this out of her mind for at least a few hours and focus on the one bright spark in her life. The children's ward. The meeting with this benefactor was crucial. They had to iron out all the formalities and then it really would be happening. It was just strange and a little unsettling that it was taking place in the same pub she'd gone to after she found out about Ron. Also she couldn't get out of her mind the last person she'd had a meeting with there. His stormy eyes and infuriating smirk had haunted her dreams the last few nights; she couldn't deny it.

"I should really send him some sort of thank you gift." She thought. "Maybe I could bring him a bottle of whiskey…"

She tried to ignore the fluttering of something deep inside her as the idea of seeing Draco Malfoy again sent a shiver down her spine. She hated to admit it but she was attracted to the prat. Shaking her head she decided against it. Clearly she couldn't trust herself right now, she had too much going on in her head, and she'd most definitely do something foolish. No. Better to send the whiskey and owl him a thank you note.

"The next station is Charring Cross." Said a polite female voice "Change for the Bakerloo line and National Rail services. This is a northern line train to Mordent."

Hermione smiled, she really did like the tube. It was so complex yet organised. It reminded her that Muggles really did have good ideas and weren't the simple people wizards often mistook them for. I mean really, she'd like to see Ron try and find his way about the London underground. She got off at Charring Cross and made her way up the escalator through the barrier and out into the afternoon sun. There was still a cold November chill in the air but all in all it wasn't a bad day. She was typically early so strolled along the busy street watching people pass yammering on mobile phones, briefcases in hand clearly on their way to a working lunch. As she turned onto Charring Cross Road she saw the tell tale signs of Wizarding London once more. Dotted about looking equally busy were people in robes or odd mismatched muggle clothing obviously trying to blend in and soon enough she was face to face with the Leaky Cauldron. She kept her head down as she passed through. Even now years on from the war she was usually recognised around Diagon Alley and wasn't quite alright with perfect strangers hugging her bestowing their thanks. It was quite uncomfortable really. She passed this time through the pub without incident and into the usual hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Like she had last time she turned down the quiet side street and passed by the disused cauldron shop. The Worlds End pub looked just as dreary as before but somehow that comforted Hermione. Like it was living proof of her unbelievable night with Draco Malfoy. Opening the creaky door she stepped inside and was given a polite if not slightly stern nod from the same weary looking barman. She looked around. She wasn't exactly sure whom she was meeting, Matilda hadn't said in her instructions but there was only one shabby looking couple in a booth near the back at this time of day. Her benefactor obviously wasn't here yet but that was all right; she was fifteen minutes early. Selecting a booth near the front of the bar next to the cobweb filled bookcase she sat down. It was surprisingly comfortable. She took off her coat and straightened her high collard cream lace blouse and pencil skirt. They were Ginny's and a little tight but she didn't have any other smart clothes at Harry's. She wouldn't normally wear something so frilly under her robes but she wanted to make a good impression so it was either that or an old jumper Molly Weasley had knitted. She reached into her bag for a compact mirror and checked herself over. Her light make up was still intact and her hair seemed to be behaving itself today gathered neatly in a half up, half down style. She was just satisfied with herself when she heard a little tinkle at the door. She was about to close the mirror when a sense of Déjà vu hit her upon hearing an unmistakeable drawl.

"I'm starting to think you're stalking me Granger."

OOO

A sly smile formed over Draco's lips as she snapped the compact closed. He started into a pair of bemused chocolate eyes as he leaned casually against the booth.

"Malfoy?" she said puzzled "What are you doing here – again?"

"Well being a master of deduction I would assume I'm here to meet you…" He drawled.

"What? No I'm here for a meeting with-"

"A benefactor for St. Mungos?" He finished and she blinked up at him. "Yes well it was my mother you were supposed to be meeting but she's passed the project on to me. Now why are you here? I thought I was supposed to be meeting that old crone Matilda Lyons?"

Hermione gave an indignant huff.

"That old crone is my boss and very nice woman actually." She snapped "And she sent me here in her place."

"Why?" He asked curiously "I thought you were just a healer?"

"For your information Malfoy I am as you put it 'just a healer' but I also put together all the proposals for the new wing…it's my project so Matilda thought I should see it through." Hermione told him haughtily. He smirked at her.

"Well there goes my stalking theory." Draco said taking a seat and despite herself the corners of Hermione's mouth twitched into a half smile. "I must admit, I'd rather discuss boring financials with you than with your beloved boss."

"And I'd rather meet with you than your mother – I guess we both win." She retorted.

"It would seem so." He said playfully. Draco looked her over eagerly. He couldn't believe his luck. He'd hoped during this process he might run across the feisty brunette but now it would seem he'd be working with her quite closely.

"Do you like my choice of venue?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye. "I just haven't been able to stop thinking about the place since the other night."

Draco watched a slow blush appear on her cheeks at the memory of their last meeting.

"I suppose it has its charm." She threw back at him "Amidst all its faults."

"Faults?" Draco said arching an eyebrow.

"Yes faults." She replied twirling a curl round her finger. He was sure she was playing with him now. "Well it gives this air of being unchanged…like no one's touched it in decades…hence all the cobwebs and creaky seats but I can tell it's been tended to. The tables clean and the brass is polished and these cushions have definitely been replaced over the years. Whether it wants to portray it or not it's different. But that doesn't mean the barman isn't still rude and a little arrogant."

She finished with a smirk of her own and Draco gave a little chuckle.

"But still charming?"

"If you really twisted my arm…then I'd have to say yes." She said playfully "Odd place for a business meeting though."

"I enjoyed myself so much last time I was keen for a repeat experience." He told her and again he noticed her cheeks gain a rosy hue. He found it quite attractive actually.

"S-surely that all depends on the company?" Hermione asked.

"Oh absolutely." He assured her and was caught up once again in those warm eyes. A surge of lust ran through his body and it took all his self-control not to reach across the booth and close the gap between them. With great difficulty he tore himself away from those chocolate orbs.

"Would you like a drink Granger?" He asked.

"I wouldn't mind a pumpkin juice." She said "But here let me pay you took care of the tab the other night."

"Nonsense." He told her "So tequila then."

Hermione opened her mouth in protest but he was already on his way to the bar. The sullen barman wandered over to him.

"You again." He said gruffly.

"Ah nice to see you too." Draco added sarcastically "One Glenmorangie, tequila, no tonic and a pumpkin juice."

Mumbling to himself the barman set about his task and Draco watched Hermione from the other side of the room. He had to admit it now – he wanted her. As much as he didn't want to, as much as he knew it was a bad idea, he did. It was plain and simple. And he knew from the other night and all her playful banter she wanted him too. He studied her in her tight cream blouse as she rummaged in her bag for paperwork. Did she have any idea of how stunning she looked? The barman deposited the three drinks in front of him and he carried them swiftly back. Leaning deliberately close to her he placed them on the table before sitting down opposite her again but he didn't miss her slightly ruffled demeanour.

"I said pumpkin juice." She said arching an eyebrow.

"And I said tequila. Now you have both." He added with a smirk "It's compromise Granger, if we're going to go into business together you'd best learn the meaning of the word."

She scoffed "I don't think you've ever compromised in your life Malfoy."

"You're right." He said leaning closer to her over the table. "I always get what I want Granger."

Hermione's eyes widened a little at this but frustratingly she kept her cool and leaned back casually in her seat.

"Well we'll see…" She said nonchalant "I think you'll find I can be quite shrewd when it comes to business."

In another moment of Déjà vu he raised his whiskey.

"To getting what we want then." She clinked her glass against his and without so much as a grimace this time drained the tequila.

OOO

As the time passed they discussed their business over lunch, which was surprisingly tasty in the dreary little pub. By the time they'd finished they were sitting side by side in the booth looking over Hermione's documentation. Hermione was almost shocked to find that she was enjoying herself again. As it turned out Draco had some pretty good ideas for the children's wing. He was happy not only to give the majority of the money but also to consult on all the different aspects of building it. He gave her useful advice on the floor plan and offered his services in finding a good magical contractor. He also expressed an interest in visiting St. Mungos to as he put it 'get a better idea of what we're working with' and maybe he added slightly bashfully meet some of the children. By the time they'd finished discussing it – three tequilas later – Hermione's mind was swimming with the amount of galleons he was offering and all the details he was suggesting. She closed the booklet when they were finished discussing the last points. Suddenly she was acutely aware of how close he was. Their knees were brushing together lightly under the table and his arm was draped casually behind her in the back of the booth. She felt herself grow hot and unbuttoned the first two buttons on her blouse. Draco's jacket was long discarded and his silk grey tie hung loose around his neck. His hair was ruffled from running his hands through it when he'd been talking animatedly earlier about all his ideas. Hermione decided she liked it like that very much. It was all she could do to stop herself reaching out for a silky lock. He was still yammering on about signing paper work but Hermione wasn't listening, she was too busy concentrating on the fact that he'd shifted and he was now even closer than he was before. Their legs brushing together well past their knees. She rolled up the sleeves on her blouse. Merlin it was warm in here. Deciding she needed to control her hormones and stop acting like some blushing teenager she turned to face him straight on. That's when she noticed he'd stopped talking, his eyes fixed on her right forearm. He was staring with a strange sort of pain in his eyes at the little collection of light scars. You could only just make out a few letters an M, a distorted U, what sort of looked like a B and perhaps an O and finally quite a distinct D. He looked away from her with a shame filled haunted expression. There was suddenly a tension between them. He shook his head sadly and without thinking Hermione took his hand in hers, running her thumb over his knuckles soothingly.

"They're only scars." She said softly trying to ease his panic "We all have them."

She turned his arm over and gently pushed up his sleeve, he winced. Hermione stared at the dark mark distorted on his arm with ugly old incisions across it, he'd clearly tried to score it out. Her heart gave a pang of pity.

"Mines isn't a scar." He said darkly, his eyes full of that same look he'd had all through their sixth year "I chose it." He added bitterly.

"I don't think you did…Not really…" She told him "Merlin if we all had to answer for what we did at sixteen Harry would be in Askaban for using that sercumsemptra curse on you and I'd married to Cormic Mclaren."

He swallowed hard and remained silent but she thought she saw his expression soften. He interlaced his fingers with hers and with his other hand reached out to trace the little imperfections on her skin. Hermione didn't stop him.

"I still have nightmares about that night you know…" He said quietly.

"Me too." She admitted and she found herself face to face with those stormy grey eyes.

"I should have stopped her." He choked out "I should have killed her…"

"You were just a boy..." Hermione assured him placing a soft hand on his cheek.

"No more so than Potter and he faced up to Voldemort himself."

"Bellatrix Lestrange would have killed you without hesitation. It wouldn't have mattered if you were her nephew."

"I should have at least tried!" He roared suddenly his face twisting in pain. "I knew it was wrong, all those things I saw in my house that year…everyone he killed and his cronies tortured in my bloody front room…and I just sat there. I just sat there and listened to you scream Granger…you screamed for hours and all I could do was thank Merlin it wasn't me." Hermione paled at his frank admission but there was more to come "Now everytime I close my eyes I see you screaming, covered in blood on my floor and I wish it had been me instead. Then maybe I might be able to look myself in the mirror. Then maybe I could get you out of my head because for the last few days its been fucking impossible." He finished exasperated. She could tell he'd been shocked by his own honesty.

Their eyes locked together a mixture of pain and passion and desire. He looked so broken and so alive all at the one time. Her hand still burned against his cool cheek and she could feel his breath against her neck again. Without thinking she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Instantly it felt as if a jolt of electricity passed through her as he kissed her back. It was wonderful. She felt a rush similar to the one she'd felt the first time she'd held her wand. In a fit of passion she opened her mouth granting him access to explore and he buried a hand in her chestnut curls. She kissed him harder and wrapped her arms around his neck as their tongues battled exquisitely for dominance. It was as if all their years of sparring had been training for this moment. She pressed herself closer to him, wanting more as he kissed her fervently, she was practically sitting on his lap. Their kiss deepened and Draco groaned into her mouth. Suddenly he grabbed her shoulders and broke them apart panting.

"Married." He said breathlessly.

"What?"

"You're still married." He said disappointment evident in his voice.

"I filed for-" She began but then stopped scooting away from him embarrassed "No you're right. I'm sorry I don't know what I was thinking."

She flushed and started to gather everything into her bag. As she went to stand he grabbed her arm.

"I didn't mean to tell you all that." He said softly "It just came out."

"I didn't mean to kiss you." She replied and he smiled "It just happened."

"I guess we're even then…but just so you know that was a great kiss Granger." He said his sadness gone and a boyish grin appearing on his face.

"It…I…well…we shouldn't…" She babbled, her mind fuzzy, he was still touching her. Gently pulled her back to the booth and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Go out with me." He said a note of pleading in his voice.

"I can't."

"You said yourself you filed for divorce. Go out with me."

"I can't." She repeated stronger this time.

"Granger…H-Hermione. I know this is weird. It's messy and idiotic and all kinds of fucked up but have dinner with me." Draco asked again.

"I just had lunch with you…" She said with a small smile.

"This was work, it doesn't count." He retorted "Look no matter how many times I tell myself I don't, I have to admit I find you attractive and I think after that it's pretty evident the feelings mutual. And as I said I haven't been able to get you out of my mind since the other night." She bit her lip "Now I get you're still married so I'll make a deal, no funny business till all the paper work goes through. No matter how much you beg."

"I would not beg." She huffed and he smirked.

"It's just dinner."

She paused trying to avoid those hypnotising eyes. This was insane. She couldn't have a date with Draco Malfoy. The idea was preposterous. But then if you'd asked her half an hour ago if she'd have kissed him she might have said the same thing.

"Just dinner?" She asked marvelling at her mouth moving of it's own accord when she knew she should be running for the hills.

"Just dinner." He assured her and she gulped.

"Fine."

"Excellent." Draco said "Tuesday?"

She nodded hesitantly.

"Shall I pick you up?"

"I think Harry would have a heart attack." She told him and visibly paled. He'd obviously forgotten about Potter "Why don't I meet you here?"

"That's probably a good idea." He admitted. "Shall we say eight?"

"Alright." She agreed shyly.

"It's a date."

"I thought it was just dinner."

"Semantics." He said with a sly smile and Hermione could feel the heat rising between them again. God damn it he was right. She did want him. She had to move away before she kissed him again. If she didn't know any better she'd have sworn he'd slipped her a love potion as a joke. She stood up abruptly breaking the spell between them.

"I'd best get back to work." She spluttered out.

"Yes be sure to record all the minutes of our meeting." Draco told her a hint of mischief in his voice. She rolled her eyes and put on her coat.

"I'll see you Tuesday." She said quietly and he stood up and adjusted the collar on her coat. He was deliciously close now. He leant in his mouth only millimetres from hers.

"I'll be there." He growled. Her mind froze as she took in a whiff of his wonderful scent. Oh god he was going to kiss her and she was going to let him – so much for no funny business. "I told you I always get what I want Granger."

With that he pulled away slightly and left a light kiss on her cheek that must have looked to any outsider as purely platonic. Still it made her head spin. With great difficulty she bid him farewell know she'd be counting the minutes till Tuesday night.

A/N: Well how are we feeling after that? I thought we'd seen how the war and life had affected Hermione but not really how it had affected Draco. It would seem he's got a whole load of unresolved issues! Also I know Bellatrix doesnt carve the word mudblood in her arm in the books but it's just such a haunting scene in the film I took a little artistic liscence. I also needed a physical reminder to prompt Draco's admission and thought that was pretty good considering what we saw with Narcissa in the last chapter. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, hope i've temporarily banished those midweek blues. Expect another sometime at the weekend! Oh and dont forget to review :) x