A/N: Here it is, chapter three. I know it's two years late, and I deeply apologize for that. College is slowly killing my insides. Anyway, here it is. I hope it's vastly improved in writing quality. 3

Hermione awoke the next morning after a fitful and restless sleep. She kept thinking about Draco coming to her flat and asking for her help. She was actually nervous about their meeting on Friday, which she then realized was the day after tomorrow. Bugger, Hermione thought. I'm in this for the long haul aren't I? I've gotten myself into another predicament that involves Malfoy and my heart. No, I'm a rational witch; I can separate my emotions and my interactions with him. I helped defeat Voldemort; I can stop myself from falling for Malfoy again. She sighed.

She hauled herself out of her bed and wandered over to her bathroom to get ready for work. She pulled off her pajamas and slipped into a deliciously hot shower. There, this should help me relax. She was wrong however. All she could think about was Malfoy ravaging her against the wall of the shower. Damn it! She cranked the shower water to the cold side. Merlin! I did not want to think about that! I do NOT want him that way! We are, well, I don't know what we are. We are not friends and we are certainly not together; so none of those can lead to romance of any kind.

Hermione was finally able to get herself clean without being distracted by thoughts of a certain Slytherin, so she got out and wrapped herself in a towel. Hermione grabbed her wand and charmed herself dry. She then walked over to her closet and picked out a simple black a-line skirt and aquamarine cardigan. As soon as she was dressed, she charmed her hair into a loose bun on the back of her head and appraised her looks. Since Hogwarts, Hermione's hair had remained the same unruly mess of curls and frizz; her body however, was another story. After the war, she started to look like a woman. From living on the run from death eaters, she was lean, but not too skinny. She had curves, but she wasn't too voluptuous. Hermione liked how she looked. If I could only change my hair, she thought. Once she finished appraising herself, Hermione grabbed her wand and her purse and the apparated to work.

"Granger."

She looked up from her work with a murderous look in her eye, "Malfoy. Who let you in here?"

"I did. The front desk told me where your office was."

Hermione sighed, shook her head and continued to work while he looked around her office. "You would think they would give a top researcher such as yourself a bigger office; it's so small and dingy."

Not bothering to glance up when she spoke, she asked, "Unless you have some ulterior motive for coming here, I suggest you stop insulting my office and be on your merry way."

He didn't say anything and started to pace around her office. Hermione continued with her work for several minutes until the sound of his insistent shuffling broke her concentration.

"Malfoy! Why are you distracting me from my work? Is there something that you want? Because if there isn't I suggest you leave before I shove my quill through your temple!"

"Well aren't we testy today Granger? I just wanted to see if you wanted to go out to lunch and talk about our grand scheme."

"We're going to lunch the day after tomorrow; can't you wait to scheme then?"

"No, I think we'd better start planning now."

"Malfoy, I'm in the middle of a very important rune cipher! If I don't solve this today I'll get really behind when I leave on Friday."

"Well, finish your rune and then we'll go; I can wait," he said as he transfigured a chair out of a handkerchief he had in his pocket. "Please, take your time."

Hermione observed him as he sat down. What is he up to? She wondered. Oh well, I guess I'll find out at lunch. She continued to decipher her runes.

After a few minutes Malfoy let out a sigh which Hermione ignored. Five minutes later, another sigh, this one causing Hermione to look up from her cipher and glare at Malfoy. Just as Hermione got back into her runes he asked, "Are you deciphering every bloody rune known to man?"

"No, because we would already know what they mean," she retorted with a smirk.

"Don't you smirk at me, that's my trademark, get your own."

"Since you have completely broken my concentration, we can go now. But you're paying."

"A lady never pays when she is in the company of a Malfoy."

"So I'm a lady now? When did I get this upgrade?"

"Can you ever accept something at face value?"

Hermione scoffed, "When the offer is from a Malfoy, never."

And with that, they walked out of the ministry offices and dissaparated to muggle London.

"Would you please just make a decision so I can get back to work sometime this millennium?" Hermione pleaded.

"Because the runes are going to walk out of your office if you're late. I'm so sorry I want to find a place that is acceptable."

Hermione sighed. "It's not life or death Malfoy. I would be happy with haggis right now if it meant that we stopped wandering aimlessly around London. "

Draco stopped mid-stride and stared at the restaurant across the street. "Granger," he barked. "What is that place?"

Across the way was a small sushi bar in the shape of a sushi roll. "Ooh! That place has the best spicy tuna rolls in all of Britain. Have you ever had sushi before?"

"What is sushi?"

Hermione turned and stared at Draco. "Are you serious?"

"Of course! A Malfoy never kids."

Hermione sighed and shook her head. "Sushi is difficult to explain… it's raw fish with rice and other things wrapped in seaweed. I know it sounds revolting, but it is a lot better than it sounds."

"I'll take your word for it." Draco started walking again with Hermione keeping pace beside him.

They walked a few more blocks until Hermione started to smell the heavy aroma of Indian spices. "Ooh, that smells amazing! Can you tell which way it's coming from?"

"I think it's coming from around the corner. I'm willing to eat whatever that is if it smells that excellent."

They continued on around the corner and found what had to be the tiniest Curry restaurant in all of London. As they went inside, Hermione realized that it was a carry out place. "Uhh… Malfoy? There's no seating, we'll have to take it somewhere else."

"That's fine, I do believe that St. James Park is near here; we can eat there."

"Marvelous, I haven't been there in ages!" Hermione smiled and turned to face the menu on the wall. When she was ready, she glanced at Draco to see if he was ready yet, and judging by the perplexed look on his face, he was far from ready.

"You've never had Indian food either? Merlin, Malfoy, what do you eat?" She received this statement with a glare. Hermione sighed. "Would you like me to order for you?"

Draco replied with a mumbled "yes please", and started looking at his shoes.

At the park, they found a lovely bench underneath a large shade tree away from other people taking their after luncheon walks, and enjoyed their lunch.

"So, what scheming do you have in mind?" Hermione queried

"I'm still not entirely sure about this whole thing. How am I going to trap my wife in an affair that I don't even know she's having?"

"Malfoy, you and I both know how she acted in school towards Knott. She has to be seeing him behind your back, there's no way she's not."

"I'm sure you're right, but how come after five years there have been no rumors, no whispers at parties?"

"You're not the only one with deep pockets in the country. Pansy comes from stocked bank vaults as well, and money can buy silence."

Draco sighed. "Very true."

After several moments of ponderous silence, Hermione spoke. "I have a question: what set you off this time?" Draco gave her a puzzled look. "I mean, what caused the fight? I'm sure it couldn't have just been something small that brought you here, could it?"

He thought about it for a moment. "It wasn't that out of the ordinary, it's just these past few weeks, she's been hounding me for an heir, and I'm sick of it."

Draco continued to eat his lunch while Hermione chewed thoughtfully, until her eyes grew wide and she forcefully laid down her fork. "Oh my god!"

Draco jumped at her sudden outburst. "What? What's the matter?"

"Think about what you just said."

"That she's been hounding me for an heir?"

"Yes, but think about the amount of time you said."

"A few week- sweet, merciful Merlin, she's pregnant."

"Exactly! That's why she's needed you to bed her so desperately; she needs you to think it's yours!"

Draco sat wide eyed on the bench, staring out at the vast greenery of the park. "But how can we know for sure? She could just be particularly annoying."

"There are these magical things called pregnancy tests."

He glanced sidelong and her. "I know that, Granger, but you can't exactly have someone pee on a stick without their knowing it."

"For someone who touted the awesomeness that is being pure-blooded, you certainly think like a muggle sometimes. There are potions," she smirked.

"Hey now, what did I saw about smirking? And yes, I know there are potions, but it's a little difficult for one to go around attaining someone else's bodily fluids for testing, which is why we'll need a private investigator."

Hermione shook her head. "No, we won't need one. Think about it, who has the most access to her person? You do. Who has access to all of her bank accounts? You do. You can get closer to her secrets than anyone else can. And you're a Malfoy, your name can get you places. It can get you into the pockets of the people she's paid off, and it can get you the respect you need from those people so they tell you what she's hiding. We don't need a private eye for this, we need you."

"This is why you're the smartest with of our age, Granger."

Hermione blushed. "You would have thought of it… eventually." She said with a grin.

"Harpy."

"You know it. Anyway, as much fun as it has been scheming with you, I do believe I have to return to work before I'm fired."

Draco nodded. "Where do we go from here, now that we don't need to hire someone?"

"We can figure that out later. Do you want to just keep our scheduled meeting for Friday, but plot by ourselves?"

"That would be good. But let's go somewhere in muggle London, I don't want to be spotted and used as ammunition that I'm violating the pre-nup."

"Good. Meet me at my office at noon?"

"Perfect. See you then," he said with a nod, spun on his heel, and aparated.

What have I gotten myself into? Thought Hermione.

A/N: There it was. I hope you all enjoyed it! Reviews are appreciated.

3 and hugs