Author Note: Well over a hundred followers! That's awesome! I'm so excited to see that kind of activity for this story, considering I didn't think it was going to do anything at all. Thank you so much! Onto the next chapter, let me know what you think. It's a little more fluffy this time around.

A special thanks goes to: HarryPGinnyW4eva, booklover19a, zoesheppard, LightofEvolution, Legolas' Girl 31 and pgoodrichboggs for the wonderful reviews.

Another special thanks goes to: rebekahsdaniel1, booklover19a, GBFSAAF02, zarayalove, lola19760, mellarky, monicasa1991, kopyska, fictionlover4, ElleGS, jennykittogreen, soareedustwdgirl29, fuzzy6, WhiteFrostRose, irishgirl5307, cardosonatercia6 and katief84 for becoming followers to this story.

Chapter 10:

Hermione moved across the kitchen to take hold of the envelope Draco had brought with him. Kingsley had given it to him in assurance that it would reach her. Her fingers brushed across the rough material before turning it over to break the seal and pull out the contents. In the process, the smell of food caused her stomach to grumble loudly. "You really must be hungry." Draco commented with a hint of laughter to his voice.

"I am, plus that smells really good." She replied turning the glossy paper around.

Her eyes widened and her breath escaped her lungs. A photo of her parents was in her hands. A photo she thought burned in the fire with everything else she owned. A small piece of paper was attached by a paperclip. The handwriting was that of Kingsley himself. "Hermione...something wrong?" Draco asked noticing her blank stare.

"They recovered this from the fire and I restored it to its original state. I hope this brings you a little peace of mind.

Kingsley." She read aloud and then turned the photo over to show her curious friend from across the kitchen.

He was relieved that it wasn't any bad news concerning her safety, there was enough problems with that as of late. Harry not telling her from the start caused a rift and he was caught in the middle. He also had to find a way to figure out if his Aunt Bellatrix was indeed dead to rule her out as a suspect. "Isn't that a good thing?" Draco asked.

"Of course, I thought this was lost to me."

She held it close to her chest for a moment before walking it back to the room she now was staying in. It felt weird to be staying there, considering there was an obvious attraction between them. Walking back out of the room with nothing in her hands, she noticed Draco bent over to get the pan out of the oven. His backside right for her viewing and noted that it was indeed a great view. "What did you make?" She asked out of curiosity.

"You would be proud, considering it's made more for muggles than anything else. It's lasagna."

"I'm impressed. Never thought you'd do anything muggle related."

He raised an eyebrow at her while closing the oven door, not really wanting to believe what just came out of her mouth. She was a muggle born witch and the fact that she never though he'd do anything muggle related was contradicting everything he'd already done for her. He watched her curl her bottom lip inward, as she always did when nervous or uncomfortable.

Draco took it upon himself to close the distance between them, taking her hands into his. "If I didn't do anything muggle related, then explain my attraction to you." He asked leaning in a little closer than before.

"For once, I don't have an answer. The logic is all wrong."

"Is it?"

She found herself up against the edge of the counter, her lower back pressed into the rough surface. The desire swirled in his beautiful blue-gray eyes, tightening her center. Hermione knew that their budding relationship would never be accepted by his family. To her, it may not even matter if whoever wanted her dead succeeded in doing just that.

December 9th, Ministry of Magic

Draco walked down the hall after completing his first day back since taking Hermione in. There was talk of the Christmas party that would be taking place the following week. It was always a festive event The Ministry held every year. Of course, he never attended. He never had a desire to, until now. He thought about taking Hermione for two reasons. One, to keep an eye on her and two, to be the one at her side while she flaunted how beautiful she really was.

"Mister Malfoy, a word please." Kingsley stated as he passed his oversized office.

"Of course, sir."

He stepped into the large room, watching the Minister get seated back into his chair. It's been two days since Hermione saw the photo they recovered from the fire. During that time, the entire Ministry has been made aware of the death threat concerning Hermione. There were people diving deeper into research, trying to determine where the letters are coming from. "How is she doing?" Kingsley asked lifting his head up from the desk.

"She's bored and has probably clean my apartment twelve times in the last two days."

"I figured as much. There might be something we can do about that."

"What do you mean? She can't come back here, it isn't safe. I don't trust anyone, especially if there is someone on the inside against us."

Kingsley's eyes searched Draco's. There was so much passion behind them, more than he ever had seen before. He understood there were genuine feelings there, at least on his end. "I understand your concern, Draco. I wasn't asking for her to come here."

"Then what are you asking for?"

"Rubeus Hagrid sent a letter yesterday. It states that he needs someone to fill in for him for the next couple of months while he takes care of some personal requirements."

"You want Hermione to do this?"

Draco thought about what Hagrid was asking. Hogwarts would be a fortress and would no doubt be able to keep her safe. The problem would be letting her go. He had grown quite fond of her company over the last few days and didn't really want her to leave. The thought of her being protected and being able to teach students like they once were made him rethink his selfishness. "It would be quite beneficial. Not just for her; but for you as well. You can't spend every waking moment watching over her."

"When does he need an answer by?"

"Monday."

"I'll pass the message onto her. I won't force her if she doesn't want to."

He nodded. Draco turned heel and left the office. His mind was cluttered with all the new information and had absolutely no clue how to bring it up to Hermione. He didn't know how she would react to it either.

The entire trip back home, he thought about all the ways he could bring it up to her. It also reminded him that he needed to see his mother soon about the death of his aunt, also knowing that it would bring up more questions as to why he wanted to know such things.

XxXxXxXx

Hermione finished cleaning the living room and stopped to stare out the large window that overlooked the city. The view was no doubt breathtaking and envied Draco a little, because he could see it every single day. Turning her head, she could see the report he had shown her a few days ago about the Chimaera sighting. Deciding to take a closer look at it, she sat down on the edge of the cushion and began to read.

The witness stated that she heard painful ear piercing cries and the wingspan of said creature was larger than anything she had ever seen before along with a noticeable serpent tail. The key point to the report was that that witness said she saw a cloaked figure riding the beast, which is completely unheard of considering they were a level five on the dangerous creature scale.

Hearing the unlocking of the front door, she immediately closed the report and stood up from the sofa just as Draco walked into the kitchen. He hung his coat up and sat his case down on the floor beside the door. The look on his face alerted her instantly to something wrong. She wondered if there was a new development in locating the person that wanted her dead. "You look frazzled. Did something happen today?" She asked stepping into the kitchen to greet him.

"Something like that..."

She was stunned to see him just walk passed her without so much as a touch to her cheek. He collapsed onto the sofa with his head back against he oversized plush top. Hermione followed after and sat down right beside him. The curiosity was eating away at her; but didn't want to push the issue either to upset him further. "Was there news with the death threat?" She asked softly.

"No...I...just...I don't know..."

He ran a hand over the top of his head and then turned to look at her. She sat there with her leg crossed under the other with an attentive look upon her face. How could ever say no to that face? His attachment to her was unhealthy and would only tear him to pieces later on down the road. The fact that he cared this much for her already was a problem, no just for him; but for his family. They would never accept that he liked a muggle-born witch. It went against everything they ever taught him growing up.

It didn't matter, he wanted her and now he had to tell her about the job and risk loosing her completely. "Draco...please tell me what's going on..." She pleaded, placing a hand over his. Her touch was driving him crazy, clouding his judgment.

"Spoke to Kingsley right before I left. He got a letter from Hagrid asking for someone from your department to fill in for him for the next couple of months."

"What does that have to do with...oh...I see...he wants me to do it, doesn't he?"

He didn't know why he was surprised that she caught on as quickly as she did; but somehow she managed to surprise him. Hermione didn't need a confirmation from Draco to know that was what Kingsley wanted. She could see that the man in front of her was not happy with the suggestion. The look of loneliness returned to his eyes. It was a familiar look that she had seen several times over the years.

She shifted her body upright, placed her hands on the sides of his face to get him to look at her. "How long do I have to decide?" Hermione asked sliding a little closer to him. His hands unconsciously moved to her hips, rubbing the exposed skin back and forth. "Until Monday. Hermione, going there will keep you safer than I ever could by myself. You know this."

"Maybe...maybe not. I'm not going to think about it right now."

"Hermione...don't be stubborn..."

Ignoring his statement, she leaned into him further. Her skirt sliding up her leg a little more. He could see more of her creamy flesh. Her lips brushed against his once, sampling a single taste and then captured them fully. She didn't want to think about leaving at that moment. Her heart was living in the moment presented to her currently and was desperate to keep it alive for as long as possible.

In the last two weeks, Draco had become something to her and was quickly proving her theory of never being able to care about another man again wrong. His tongue probed her mouth, then nipped at her bottom lip. A hand curled around the side of her neck while the other slid up her leg, under skirt. A pleasant moan escaped her throat as his lips left her to leave warm open mouth kisses along the shallow of her neck.

The warmth between her legs was building and not just because his hand was ever so close to touching her most sacred of places on her body. Her breathing hitched the second his fingers brushed across her clit through her panties. He leaned her back and crawled between her legs to recapture her lips. Her hips lifted up a little, rubbing against the bulge in his pants.

Her heart was pounded against the inside of her chest and every kiss he placed on her body sent liquid heat straight to her core. He slid his hand up her leg once again, pushing the apendenge down while doing so. Moving her panties to the side, his finger came in contact with his clit. Another soft moan left her lips while she pushed herself closer to his touch.

Draco hesitated only for a moment before slipping a finger into her slick folds. He noticed immediately how wet she had becoming during their heated session of kissing. He also noticed how her walls seemed to clamp around his finger. A smile curved his lips, while his thumb ran circles around her sensitive nub.

A pounding on the door, startled her. He silenced her with a kiss, doing his best to ignore the interruption. He wanted her in the worst way. The pounding became more insistent. "Maybe you should get that." Hermione stated.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!" Pansy's voice shrilled through the wood of the door.

"Are you fucking kidding me..." Draco grumbled sitting up from the couch to let Hermione escape to the room she occupied.

He wasn't in the mood to deal with his ex-girlfriend, especially when he was in the middle of pleasing another woman entirely. He could only imagine how Hermione was feeling now after hearing Pansy's voice. Swinging the door open, he could see her standing there in her expensive fur coat. "What the hell do you want?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest.