A/N: I'm back! After a long hiatus and some real world problems I've finally found the time to sit down and get back to writing again. I do very much apologize to anyone who has been with this story since the beginning and I will try very hard to get the chapters out to you faster now. I do hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did and please forgive me if its not as good as the previous 6 as I'm still shaking off the cobwebs and getting back into writing again. Reviews as always are appreciated! Tell me what you think! Tell me what you want and if the circumstances are right and I can work it in I will do my best! Thank you all!

As Draco sat on his bed later that evening watching as the clock on the wall slowly ticked away he continued to wonder not for the first time that evening how Hermione Granger of all the people in the world was getting the better of him. He rolled the time they had spent together over the last few days over and over in his mind as if it were a piece of putty that he could mold and shape. What was she doing to him? What was he doing with her? The christmas holidays were soon to end and with only a few days left he found himself thinking of more and more things they could do together. As sleep continued to elude him and lonesomeness was quickly enveloping him he stood and walked over to his desk in the corner of the room and quickly began to scribble a note.

Sleep eludes me. Are you awake? D

He quickly rolled up the note and walked over to his owl's cage in the corner of his room. Opening the cage he slipped the note into the leather pouch attached to the owl's foot and walked it over to the high window in his room that sat level with the ground outside. Opening it he quickly pushed the owl out the window and on its way to the Gryffindor towers. The bird quickly swooped through the grounds and up to the Gryffindor girls dormitory windows.

Hermione looked up from the book she had been studying by wandlight as she heard the light tap, tap, tap on the window just above and behind her bed. Quickly she looked around to ensure that Pavarti and Lavender were asleep in their beds with the curtains drawn and after confirming they were, she quickly opened the window as a small, Scops Owl hopped down off of the sill and onto her bed holding out its leg. Confused as to who would be sending her a letter this late at night and not recoginizing the light brown owl with a sharp, black arrow-shaped forehead above his black beady eyes, she quickly opened the pouch and removed the note from Draco and read it. Butterflies began to stir in her stomach. Odd enough that Draco would deem to send her a note at all but in the middle of the night? After reading it, she debated for a moment as whether or not to send him a reply at all with as late as it was. Before she could stop herself, she pulled out a quill and parchment to write him a reply.

Yes I am. I was studying. Why can't you sleep? H.

Hermione grabbed a treat from the jar she kept beside her bed for other owls that she recieved and fed it to Draco's owl while she put her response back in the pouch on its leg and sent it back off through the open window. She quickly put a warming charm on the window to keep the cold air out as she waited for Draco's reply. She tried to go back to studying but couldn't concentrate as she would constantly look out the window every time she heard a noise, looking for any sight of Draco's owl flying in. After only a few minutes, she spotted his owl flying back to her window. She felt her heart leap at the sight of it and quickly gave it an additional treat as soon as it landed on her bed to reward it for such a quick return. Quickly unrolling the note Hermione read,

I was thinking about our time together. You played an excellent game of cribbage earlier and I'm a man of my word so we will continue our...well what is this exactly? D.

Thank you. You played very well too. Some of those points you called I never would have seen. Im not quite sure what to call our meetings, although they are quite nice. Escapades maybe? -H

Escapades...I like that term. It suits us I think. I want to see you again tomorrow. Where would you like to go? What would you like to do? D.

I haven't put much thought into it actually. I know it is my turn to choose but I am honestly out of ideas. -H

You? Out of ideas? I find that hard to believe. You who's never at a loss for words, who always has an answer for everything? D.

I am highly logical, there's a difference and I don't see you coming up with any ideas. What about something muggle? Get out of your comfort zone to see we aren't as bad as you think. -H

I'm a pureblood! I don't know what muggles do for fun. D.

Well, I know you don't know what muggles do. Have you ever been to a mall before? -H

What is a mall and why would someone want to go there? As long as there isn't a chance we'll be seen together then I'm intrigued. D.

I highly doubt anyone other than a muggle born would spot you and even then, its highly unlikely. If you like Hogsmeade, you will love this. -H

Then I look forward to it Ms.G I'll see you in the Great Hall for breakfast and then we can leave from there. Sleep well H. D.

You too. I will see you at 8 am. -H

As Hermione watched Draco's owl fly away one last time she couldn't help but suddenly feel alone again in her dormitory. She quickly put her books away and laid back on her bed not for the first time that night wondering what she was doing escapading around with Draco Malfoy of all people. She couldn't deny that she had enjoyed his company and believed that he had enjoyed her's as well. She finally whispered "Nox" to her wand and watched as the light went out before placing it on the nightstand and turning over. She finally fell asleep to the thought of Draco and her sneaking off on the train tomorrow to go to London for what was sure to be an interesting day.

The next morning Draco woke up early and put on his most comfortable clothes before heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He quickly found Hermione sitting at one of the tables by herself reading the daily prophet. He quickly walked over and sat across from her saying, "Good morning."

"Good morning." Hermione answers, folding up the Daily Prophet. "How did you sleep?

Draco smirked as he thought to himself restlessly before answering, "Well. Now tell me about this "Mall" that were visiting."

Hermione laughed. "A mall is a building with a lot of stores and restaurants inside of it. its like Hogsmeade in a building."

"Muggles make buildings that big? Just to hold stores and restaurants? Seems like a waste to me. Where is this Mall?" Draco asked before plucking a strawberry out of the fruit tray and popping it into his mouth savory the sweet flavor while eyeing Hermione.

"It's really not," Hermione answers matter-of-factly "It actually takes up less space than having the buildings separated and I already checked the busing schedule. We can catch a bus from Hogsmeade to the city. First we need to exchange some of your wizarding coins for muggle money."

"Whats wrong with Galleons? Their perfectly good gold." Draco asked as he plucked another strawberry to eat.

"It's wizarding money, is what's wrong with it." Hermione answers. "Muggles don't even know what they are and will think they are toy coins. No one will
let you buy something with Galleons. Muggles have their own money." She said, taking a grape and putting it in her mouth.

"Fine. Lets go then. I want to see this place that you deem interesting enough to take us too." Draco replied before standing up and turning around to walk toward the front of the Great Hall. "Where can we change Galleons for muggle money anyways? I've never had a reason to before."

"See, that's what the issue is." Hermione says in thought. "The only place I know of is Gringott's. That's all the way in London and there's a mall in London but the only to get there...surely we would get caught."

"What?" Draco asked pushing open the main doors to the castle grounds and slowly walking down the path to Hogsmeade. "What are you thinking?"

Hermione was thrilled that he was so interested in muggle lifestyles. Well maybe interested wasn't quite the right word. "It's the train. Unless you think we can floo without raising suspicion or if you know someone who can apparate." She said, rushing to keep up with Draco as they followed the path out of the grounds and into Hogsmeade.

"Floo? Really Hermione you've got to remember who your talking to here. I wouldn't trust the floo network if my life depended on it. We'll take the Knight bus of course." Draco replied with a look of distaste at the thought of using such a crude method to travel.

"The Knight bus? But surely someone will see us, won't they? I mean were not exactly supposed to be traveling this far from school anyways..." Hermione replied with suspicion, know that Draco already had a plan.

"Money Granger. Money solves all problems its just a matter of having the right amount and believe me I have plenty. Let me worry about getting us there you just worry about keeping me out of trouble. Muggles aren't exactly the type of people I hang around so this is uncharted territory for me." Draco said with a smirk as the thought of Hermione Granger being the one to keep him out of trouble made him laugh out loud.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing, just the thought of you being the one to keep me out of trouble is all. No one normally tries to keep me out of trouble, usually they just duck and run for cover hoping that I'm not coming after them." He winked at her as he said this and they entered the streets of Hogsmeade.

"What about Crabbe and Goyle?" Hermione asks, "They seem to play the bodyguard role fairly well."

"What makes you think I need bodyguards, Miss Granger? I can take care of myself. Come on, I know a nice side street where we can wait for the Knight bus to show up."

"That's why Moody turned you into a ferret." Hermione mumbles under her breath to herself.

"What was that?" Draco asks, turning around at the sound of her voice, but unable to make out the words she had said.

"Nothing." Hermione answers, "I was agreeing with you." She said with a hint of a smile.

Draco led them down a quiet side street in front of houses with thatched roofs before pulling out his wand and Hailing the Knight bus. After a few minutes wait it came to a hurried stop in front of them as if it couldn't wait to be on its way again. As the door opened and a man came out with the words already rolling off his lips, "Hello and welcome to the Knight bus, the safest way to travel. My names Stan Shunpike and I'll be your conductor this morning. Where are you...Hey aren't you two alittle young to be traveling alone?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Draco quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of galleons and dropped them very heavily into the conductors hand. "I'm sure this will cover the cost of our speedy and questionless arrival at the Leaky Cauldron since I'm SURE it was the next stop you were going to make, wasn't it?"

"Yes of course young master. Thats exactly where we were headed next, Wasn't it Ern?" Stan quickly stepped back onto the bus and made space for Draco and Hermione with a look of utter shock on her face to step aboard and then the bus was off. They took two rather old and battered looking armchairs at the back of the bus for privacy. Hermione watched as Stan counted the galleons out in his hand and then quickly slipped all but three into his pocket while putting the rest in the counting box at the front of the bus.

"You just bribed him! Draco thats...thats...well..."

"Naughty?" Draco laughed while picking up a copy of the Daily Prophet that Hermione had set on the small end table between them and began to read the front page. "Hermione you have to realize that though that may have been bribery, was it really so bad? Did you see the way he counted the money? Thats probably more than he makes in a week. Now I've guaranteed our quiet, unnoticed travel and helped him out a bit, haven't I? Stop worrying so much and just try to enjoy yourself. We only have a few days left before term starts again and I'd like to enjoy it."

Hermione shook her head in disbelief and then sighed. What was the point in arguing with him? Draco was going to do what he wanted to do and Hermione was along for the ride. She silently chided herself as she sat and looked out the window watching the countryside pass by them in a blur so fast she couldn't focus on anything outside for very long. What was she doing hanging around with Draco anyways? This may have been a bad idea but she had no one to blame but herself. She sat back in her chair and watched Draco read the paper in silence. They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron much faster than she expected.

They stepped off the bus and Draco flipped another Galleon and said, "We'll be back here at 8. Don't be late." He quickly turned around and walked into the Leaky Cauldron as if he owned the place with Hermione following closely behind him. Without a look at anyone, Draco stepped through the back door and into the alley that lead to Diagon Alley. Tapping his wand against the bricks, Hermione watched as the gateway opened and they quickly stepped through hearing it shut behind them. As they made their way up the street Hermione always enjoyed admiring the shop windows and seeing the things the magical world had to offer.

"See anything you like?" Draco asked as they walked toward Gringotts.

"This and that." Hermione replied before climbing the steps next to Draco as they quickly made their way inside the massive wizarding bank.

Draco made his way up to one of the goblins sitting at a desk in the long row of desks. "Jeeves, I need to make a withdrawal and I need it in muggle money."

The pale, hairy goblin looked up quickly and replied, "Yes of course, young Mister Malfoy. How much would you like? I'm sure this will be coming out of your private vault?"

"Yes and my father need not know anything about it either. What's the current exchange for Galleons to muggle money?" Draco asked with just the smallest look of distaste on his face. Hermione was happy to see that his was keeping his disdain for muggles to himself for the most part. They might just have an enjoyable day after all.

"Five pounds to the Galleon at the moment, young sire. How much would you like? I can bring up your balance if you'd like." Jeeves began to reach into his desk to grab a docket before Draco replied,

"That won't be necessary. I think two hundred galleons worth will suffice." Hermione's eyes went wide at the amount as she tried to cough back her shock. Did Draco realize how much a pound was? There was no way he would need that much money.

With the quick skill of any banker Hermione had ever seen, the Jeeves quickly pulled open his drawer and started counting stacks of notes for Draco. She watched as the goblin meticulously counted the stacks twice more to ensure accuracy and then handed them over to Draco. "Have an excellent day young sire."

"I will." Draco replied as he folded the stack of bills and placed them in his pocket before turning to go.

As they stepped out the front door of Gringotts, Hermione had a flood of questions, "Your own vault? And how do you know he won't say anything to your father? And what are you thinking carrying around that much money? Its ridiculous!"

"Why not? And I know he won't say anything to my father because he knows better. If he wants to keep his job he'll keep his mouth shut. Privacy for their vault owners is one of the things Gringotts prides itself in no matter what age they are. You don't think they go running around telling everyone how much Potter has in his vault do you?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow as they walked back toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ok fine I can understand that but why so much? Thats a thousand pounds Draco!" Hermione demanded in a hushed whisper as if she was afraid of being overheard by someone passing them.

"I like to be prepared in case I see something I want and not having enough money on my person is no excuse when I know I have enough." Draco replied as the walked back through the Leaky Cauldron and back out into London. "Shall we?" Draco asked as he held out his arm to a still flustered Hermione.

"Fine." Hermione sighed in exasperation knowing that he would have an excuse for whatever argument she came up with. She laced her arm through his and they proceeded to walk down the sidewalk toward the center of London.