AN- uh...hi? lolz. i KNOW i did it again, im SORRY, im terrible, i know. things happen. so on with the show! and, to make you feel better, i have the next chapter already formulated and i'm about to go and start it! yay! i dont know when for sure im going to upload it, definitely in less than a month! lots less!

read on!

Hermione sat at her desk, tapping her quill pensively. Sandy hurried in, looking at the bundle of papers in his arms. "Right, boss, there's today's mail, and the paper, some more stationary you ordered, and some drafts that need to be approved." He set them on her desk. "Anything I can do for you?"

"No, thanks Sandy."

"Oh, there is something in there from the French Association, marked posthaste."

"Oh! Right then. Thanks Sandy!"

Smiling, Sandy left. To be truthful, Hermione was feeling very tired for no particularly good reason (At least, not one she could think of) and had the annoying feeling that she would have a headache by later in the day.

Rifling through the mail, she searched for the letter from the Association. Finding the square, beige envelope, graced by dark blue embossments and script, she slid her fingers through the seal. She began to skim it, until her eyes came across the name 'Gabrielle Delacour". Going back and rereading it, she discovered some valuable information.

The French Association needed to send someone on a week-long assignment, and had selected Gabrielle. The assignment was in a few weeks.

Hermione pushed the rest of her work aside. "Sandy?"

"He stepped out." Draco said, charging into her office. "Listen, Gabrielle just wrote me a note saying-"

"Yeah, I got a letter from the Association, they're sending her over for a week, isn't that lovely?"

"Yes, I'm a bit excited about it."

Looking at Draco, Hermione saw a wonderful, inexplicable emotion written across his face. It was like looking at a puppy. Instantly her promise to help Gabrielle in any way possible was intensified. Fighting the urge to collapse in a sentimental puddle, (now she really DID feel like Draco's mother) she shuffled some papers on her desk. "Well, if Sandy is out there I can get a mirror to her…"

"What did you need boss?" Sandy said, stopping in her doorway.

"A mirror, please."

Nodding, Sandy left and came back with two gilded hand mirrors, one gold and one silver. "Is it on continent?"

"Yes, just to France, thanks Sandy." He handed her the silver mirror and left with the gold. Hermione pulled out her wand and tapped the surface. Clearing her throat she enunciated "Gabrielle Delacour, Paris, France."

Meanwhile, on a desk in the French Association, another hand mirror shone rays of blue. Amandine LeClerc picked it up, looked at it, and then ran down the hall. "Gabrielle, a mirror call for you."

"Thank you, Amandine." Gabrielle said, taking the mirror. "Accept call."

Hermione looked back at the mirror, laying flat on her desk. A blue vision of Gabrielle's head floated in the rays of blue shine above the mirror. Draco sat in one of the chairs opposite her desk. "Gabrielle! Hello!"

Gabrielle smiled brightly. "Hello, Hermione how are you?" Draco coughed discreetly. Her head swiveled and she grinned. "And Draco, too." Draco smiled a lopsided smile. She glanced back at Hermione. "Did you get the letter my boss sent you?"

Hermione grinned. "Yes, I think it's fantastic. What do you need? Passport, visa, housing?"

"Well…" Gabrielle seemed to be thinking. "I need my passport to be updated…and…" she glanced at Draco, blushing a bit. "Housing would be appreciated."

Draco smirked. Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at him. Hermione looked at Draco. "Do you think your father would…?"

"I'm sure he would let her stay."

"We just have to ask."

Gabrielle glanced between the pair. "Would it be best if I asked him?"

Both of them looked down at her floating head. "Well…" they each began.

Gabrielle gave her signature wry smile. "I am unsure as to who is the more knowledgeable about this subject…"

"What?" Draco said. Hermione fought a surprised blush.

"I only mean because Hermione is a…a transplant into your household and might know better how to operate on such a situation. And then there is you, darling, his son."

"I think Gabrielle should ask. There is no way he wouldn't accept, and it would be safer for the both of us."

"Right."

"Safer?" Gabrielle said, faltering a bit. "What do you mean, safer?"

"Oh, nothing, don't worry love. I will be mercilessly mocked and Hermione…well, same fate for her."

Internally, Hermione was thinking of how that fate would be altered. Quite a bit. "Yes, you have nothing to fear, Gabrielle."

"Good. Well, this Saturday I am coming over to have dinner with you, correct?"

"Yes…ah, are you planning on asking him then?" Draco said, leaning forward.

"I think it is as good a time as any." Hermione said. "And we will all be there."

"Right." Gabrielle said, nodding decisively.

"Well, then, is that everything?"

"I think so…" Gabrielle said.

"Then I am going to go and see about your passport."

"Thank you SO much, Hermione! I really truly appreciate this!"

"Oh, please, it was my pleasure! I look forward to seeing you."

"Bye, love." Draco said.

Gabrielle grinned and blew him a kiss before cutting off the connection. The pair sat back.

"Well, then. I suppose I should get to the passport division and you should…well, I don't know what you should do, actually."

"I should get back to work." Draco said, standing then eyeing her. "But…I really don't feel like it."

Hermione grinned. "Fine. Go stare aimlessly at her picture and wish it was Saturday then. I am going to do something productive."

"Alright. When you've finished, if you aren't busy, come visit me. I get very bored you know, and perhaps father will make one of his infamous random appearances."

"Sounds like fun." Hermione said, grinning. "I just have to pop down to the passport office and arrange a few things."

"You make it sound easy but you look a little ill…" Draco said, grinning.

"It depends who is in charge down there. If Rose is at the desk, I will be in and out in no time. There are, however, a few stricter people, and in this case, even though I am the head of the department, rushing a passport is not something I can sail right in and do."

"Understood. Well then, off to your task, then come and make sure I'm still breathing."

"Done."

PAGE BREAK

Siegfried Shires, an elderly man with enormous round glasses and a very stern demeanor, looked down at Hermione from his perch behind a large desk. "And why is it that we should be rushing this passport?" he said suspiciously.

Hermione gulped. She shouldn't feel that nervous, she was, after all, his boss. It still felt as if she was being interrogated by one of her old professors. "Well…it happens that Miss Delacour…"

The papery man leaned forward seriously. Hermione nearly panicked. Any number of reasons dashed through her head, none of them good. It wasn't as if she could casually say 'she's my boyfriend's son's girlfriend.' Partly because…

Item one, Lucius was not her boyfriend.

Item two, even if he was her boyfriend you can't call Lucius Malfoy your boyfriend! You have to use something more…LUCIUS.

Item three, that is just plain awkward.

"Well, you see, Miss Delacour is coming here shortly from France on an assignment, and will be living with me for the duration of the matter."

"Very good then, Miss Granger, we will have her passport done as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Mr. Shires." Hermione politely made her way out of the office and, as soon as she was able, skittered down to Draco's office. As she leveled with his desk, she said "Alright, it is in the system, her passport will be done as soon as my poor department can manage."

"Fantastic, thanks!" Draco said, leaning back in his chair. "So Gabrielle is talking to father at dinner…I wonder how it will go over…"

"I am willing to bet that it will be fine. You know him. The worst that will happen is him making fun of you, which he does anyway."

"You have a point. Either way, we should make sure he is in a good mood..."

Hermione nodded, thinking about the possible insinuation in that statement. She had no idea what Draco knew. He had kept a careful distance from the subject of her dance with his father, though she was positive he had made some small conclusion. "Right. Well, then, I suppose I should go back upstairs. Not that I look forward to it. Do you know, right after you left, Sandy came bustling in with a memo, apparently Fifi Lafolle, that romance writer, you know, Enchanted Encounters, has an Italian soap opera wireless miniseries based on her novels. The rather melodramatic lead, Ludovica Abandonato is visiting, along with the rest of the cast, but as the main character she, of course, has to see me."

Draco laughed. "I'm dreadfully sorry. What happened to her counterpart?"

"Draco. It's a soap opera. She has four counterparts."

He winced. "I do not envy you."

"It is going to be a long day."

PAGE BREAK

And a long day it was. The actress was beyond diva and burst into tears at least twice because of jet lag, which was ridiculous because it was a mere few hour's difference between Italy and England, besides which they had traveled magically, so honestly Hermione had no idea why the actress was so upset.

After that travesty, she went home in search of sleep. Unfortunately, those dreams were put on hold as Lucius was apparently in a rather playful mood and decided teasing would be the best use of his time that evening. During dinner his biting comments across the table kept the conversation lively, and even Draco fell to snickering a few times. After dinner, they each went their own ways, Lucius going straight to the library and Draco to his room. Hermione, however, waited until Draco's door had shut, then stole to the library.

The door was cracked open, and she slowly poked her head through. Lucius was standing at his massive desk, looking over a few papers. Smiling, she pushed the door open and silently made her way across the floor.

Glancing at her, the corner of his mouth twitched up. "Sneaking in to see me?"

Hermione laughed. "Something like that." Walking around to join him, she pressed her shoulder into his side. Laughing softly from the back of his throat, he moved his arm around her shoulders.

Oh, Merlin it felt good, just standing there with him. She was still uncertain about what was happening between them, they still maintained their non-labeled mutual feelings. But she liked what was going on, so it was okay, right?

She slid her arm around to his other side. "What are you doing?"

"Looking at some papers before you and that boy come in." He said, then looked down at her. "Well, came in, I suppose it is now.

"Are you saying you don't want me here? I can leave…" Hermione said playfully.

Lucius looked down at her, eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything, footsteps could be heard from outside the door. He released her and she moved to stand in front of her normal chair.

"So much for that!"

Lucius sighed comically. "He always ruins everything."

Hermione burst into giggles as the door opened.

"Sorry I'm late," Draco began.

"Writing love notes, Draco?" Hermione said.

"Possibly."

"I believe tonight we will need the brandies immediately."

PAGE BREAK

Friday passed, and then, inevitably, it was Saturday, and Hermione was extremely excited. Gabrielle would be arriving in a few hours, and Hermione and Draco had concealed themselves in one of the drawing rooms to keep Lucius from getting suspicious about all the bouncing and grinning going on.

"So," Hermione began, "How do you think this will go?"

"I think we will be granted very little mercy, especially me, because she is MY girlfriend after all."

"Yes, something revolving around sleeping together?" Hermione said teasingly.

"Shut up. But he will give her a yes instantly, that is certain."

"Of course. Will she know how to begin though?"

"Maybe…I think you should take her aside and ask about it before dinner."

"I can say that I need to show her something about the Ministry's foreign policy…I clumsily left it in my room!"

"Something like that, yes. This should be a fun evening." He said, grinning and staring at the carpet.

"Aw, Draco, you're so excited! Did you miss her?"

"No! Shut up!"

"No! Yes you did!"

"I haven't seen her in person in a week. And…I like having her here."

"You are SO CUTE!" Hermione squealed.

"…I'm leaving."

PAGE BREAK

The three (human) members of the Malfoy Manor stood around the front door as it swung open, revealing a smiling Gabrielle. After the small chorus of hello's, she stepped into the house and Draco gave her a kiss. Draco tossed a meaningful glance Hermione's way. Nodding undetectably, she put her hand on Gabrielle's elbow. "Can I talk to you? I hate bringing work into this, but there was a statement sent to me that I wanted to quickly show you, it's just upstairs."

"Of course!" Gabrielle said brightly.

"This won't take but a moment." Hermione said pleasantly to the father and son, escorting Gabrielle up the stairs. Once they were out of earshot, she said "So, Draco and I were wondering how you were planning on asking Lucius about staying here, we wanted to know if you were going to need any help."

"Yes, I was unsure about how to move around that subject, do you have a suggestion?"

"I have a few, actually. Draco and I can try and set you up, give you a jumping off point, you know, and then you can merely ask. We are going to be there for your safety net. I recommend you ask towards the end of dinner, does that sound okay?"

"That sounds wonderful, thank you so much!" Gabrielle said, smiling. "I think that we should probably go downstairs, though, and get this going."

"Sounds fine to me."

They turned around and began chatting about Fleur and Bill's son. As they descended the stairs, laughing, they could hear the quiet murmurs denoting that the Malfoys were in the dining room.

Upon entering, Gabrielle was instructed to sit in Hermione's usual chair while Hermione moved around the table to face her. Draco and Lucius seated themselves, and Lucius started up a spirited conversation about work and Draco and Gabrielle's relationship. Gabrielle could hold her own, Draco simmering every now and again and Hermione inserting her own thoughts into the conversation.

Finally, dinner was closing and Hermione caught Gabrielle's eye, and then Draco's. "Well, Gabrielle, I heard you have a new assignment coming up?"

Gabrielle looked at her, focused. "Yes, actually, I am coming here for a week to stay and get some work done for the Association."

Lucius sat back, angled so he could look and Gabrielle better. "Really?"

"That's right, I have your passport ready in my office." Hermione said, pretending to remind herself.

Gabrielle grinned. Draco said pensively "So, you will be working closely with Hermione, right?"

"For a little while, if she can spare the time."

"Of course!"

"I hope I am not being too hasty in asking, but do you have a place to stay?" Lucius said, in his lower, planning voice.

Gabrielle turned fully to Lucius, turning on her doe eyes and amping her accent. "No, I do not 'ave anyssing planned…I did not know eef eet would be too…brash to ask eef I could stay 'ere…"

"Nonsense!" Lucius said, smiling in a satisfied way. "Of course you must stay here, you are, after all, Draco's girlfriend." Draco and Hermione, who had been exchanging triumphant glances, now began trading 'here-it comes' glances. "And we have plenty of rooms." Draco glanced up sharply at his father, who, in turn, was giving him a long, mildly mischievous look. "I believe that there is a room free right next to Draco's, if that is acceptable."

"Oh, that is fine! Thank you, so much."

Draco was giving his father a wary look. Hermione was beaming at Gabrielle. "Now," she said, "that's all well and good."

"Yes, indeed." Gabrielle said brightly, effortlessly back to normal.

"Well, I think, since dinner is over, we should do something!" Hermione said.

Gabrielle clapped her hands together. "What about a game of hide and seek?"

"Indeed!" Hermione's face brightened.

"What?" Lucius said. Draco was scratching his cheek, expression reading that he knew if he put up a fight he would be squashed.

"Hide and seek." Hermione said, looking at him. His eyes narrowed, he did not like the looks of her sprightly smile. "You must know what it is!"

"Yes, and in this gaudy house, what a perfect place to play!" Gabrielle said, standing up in excitement.

Draco rose slowly, winning a grin from Gabrielle. "Come on, Lucius," Gabrielle said, grinning at him. Hermione was standing as well, looking as if she was about to dissolve with laughter. "You are playing whether you like it or not!"

"I refuse to hide!" Draco said.

"Fine! I like hiding better." Gabrielle said, grabbing his hand and swinging it back and forth.

"All the better to jump out at people, eh?" he said, smirking at her.

"You have no idea how high Fleur can jump."

"Come on, Father. Us against them."

Lucius rose, eyeing the three of them. "This is absolutely ridiculous, you know."

"We do." Hermione said, smiling impishly.

"Fine, fine." He crossed over to Draco, but not before pausing behind Hermione. As she felt him come up behind her, she turned her head; smiling. "And, my dear, I will play viciously. I will find you." He took solace in her shiver at his low voice.

"Count to fifty!" Gabrielle called, and she and Hermione took off out of the room.

PAGE BREAK

While the girls ran about the house giggling, Draco and Lucius stood in the hall outside the dining room. Draco perfected his sleeve and mentioned to his father "Right, so each man after his respective partner."

Lucius stared acidly at his son, who glanced up from his wrist. Draco looked at him incredulously. "What?" Lucius made a contemptuous noise and turned his gaze down the hall. Unbeknownst to Draco, his father's lips twitched several times before he could regain control.

PAGE BREAK

Hermione had hidden herself in a parlor on the second floor. Gabrielle, with a rather mischievous backwards glance had gone in the opposite direction, towards the library. Which happened to be, if you cannot recall, across the hallway from the bedrooms. Hermione, however, was playing it safer.

For awhile, as she obscured herself behind a sofa, she began berating herself. She felt ridiculously childish. Shaking herself, she grinned. All work and no play…

Mere moments later, the door to her parlor swung open. Hermione could practically feel Lucius' smirk radiate through the air. Oh dear.

"Come now, Hermione…" he began, standing near the couch but apparently not noticing her, facing the other way. She grinned, formulating a plan. It would work if she was quiet enough… "Why not admit defeat? And besides…this is childish…you are much more suited to ah…big girl games…"

Oh, yes. This plan was going into action. Creeping forward and then standing, in the same moment sliding her arms around his neck so she was pressed to his back she whispered "Oh am I?"

He chuckled. "But of course." Lucius turned within her arms, putting his own hands on her hips and leaning in.

Hermione felt a little giddy, and for some reason, inexplicably unsure. She pulled back just a little. "Are you sure about this? I mean…Draco and Gabrielle are-"

"Doing the same thing?"

"Oh. Well, I mean…"

"Draco is smarter than he looks."

"Does he know? Do you mind?"

"Is this some sort of questionnaire?"

Hermione sighed and smiled, playing with the ends of his hair a little bit as he raised his eyebrow. "I don't know."

"Well in that case can we move on?"

Still smiling but not looking at his eyes, Hermione said "I suppose…"

He laughed deep in the back of his throat, making her shiver, and lifted her chin up so she was looking at him right before he kissed her.

Laughing a little herself, Hermione mentally rolled her eyes then gave into the fact that he was Lucius and that was the way it was done.

AN- btw, for SOME REASON i keep using Italian names...and i know last time i made an error in the names, but i got those names (and these) off a website, so maybe it was gisted. if they ARE incorrect, please let me know! so thanks for being patient with me! PATIENCE IS REWARDED I SWEAR!