Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: There is an M rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically what you would expect from most romance novels nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Music speaks to my muse.
This chapters song was: No Such Thing, John Mayer
Lyric of choice: Welcome to the real world, she said, condescendingly.

Grammarly is my beta: 7-17

Charmed to You

Chapter 27
Life Gets In The Way

Hermione sat drinking tea with Ginny who was looking rather sheepish. It was the first visit the two friends had had since Hermione returned from Australia and Ginny was telling Hermione about the fight that Greg and she had had with Draco.

"He was really livid, Hermione," Ginny said softly. "He pointed out to Greg that if the situation was reversed and he had kept Greg from showing up to work things out with me it would really cross a line."

Hermione looked up and ducked her head. "But Greg didn't stop him, you and I did."

Ginny shook her head. "No, I did. I told Greg to not let him show up. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do but after talking to Draco-" Ginny looked away and then said firmly. "I won't do that again, Hermione. He was right, he is your husband and he should be allowed to show up and figure things out if you are that upset, even if that means you hex his man bits."

Hermione giggled and then shook her head. "I wouldn't do that."

Ginny shrugged. "So what did happen exactly anyways?"

Hermione sighed and then softly repeated the conversation she had walked in on between Dean and Draco.

Ginny looked at Hermione horrified. "And you just believed what he was saying? Hermione anyone with half a brain knows he cares for you, deeply."

Hermione ducked her head rather ashamed. "I know," she mumbled.

Ginny was shaking her head now. "Plus you know his history, he's a guarded person under normal circumstances, add love into the mix and he is going to have to really work through all of that in his head. Dean shouldn't have put him on the spot like that."

Hermione flinched. "But it was just his tone, it was so cold Gin."

Ginny glared at her. "And because you didn't like what your husband said to a coworker you decided to not speak to him for a week and leave the country? What do you call that, Hermione? Warm?"

Hermione flushed. "He said it was cruel of me. Especially coming here knowing he knew how upset I was."

Hermione didn't say more than that, she was pretty sure if she told Ginny about the ring and the fact that Draco felt her emotions her friend would be horrified by her selfishness. She hadn't thought about that at the time but now she felt terrible, knowing he could feel her heartache but not come and talk to her about it. He was right, she had been cruel.

"I think what really smarts is that I was angry and hurt for something I am doing too. I don't exactly wear my own heart on my sleeve do I?"

Ginny gave her a long look. "No, you don't."

"But he is like two different people sometimes Ginny, one is so amazingly loving, the other is so cold."

Ginny sighed. "Hermione you two didn't date, you are still learning about one another and also falling for each other at the same time. It's bound to be complicated. He's probably just as confused as you are and you really need to remember the way he was brought up. Greg says that Draco is terrified of showing emotions. I don't know all that happened to him in the war, but I think it's safe to say having Lord Crazy in your house probably would have a negative affect on you." Ginny shuddered.

Hermione made a face and then nodded. "He told me that it was a defense mechanism, not showing emotions, not feeling emotions and that when Dean put him on the spot like that he just lashed out."

Ginny was thoughtful for a moment and then said quietly. "Greg does that sometimes, he is getting better at it, but they had to play politics their whole lives, Hermione. Nothing was ever straightforward or simple in Slytherin, especially after the return of Voldemort. Showing any thing as strong as love was dangerous. It really did make you weak, because if you loved something it could be used against you. That's why Greg showed no outward interest in me, it wasn't because I was a blood traitor, it was because his crush on me could be manipulated to get him to do things, probably horrible things." Ginny looked up tears in her eyes. "You should have heard the things that the were said to me about Harry the year you were gone, how I was tormented by the death eaters that were at the school. No one in Slytherin dated, Hermione. Bloody hell Greg said he was afraid to even own a familiar. Can you imagine? Too afraid to own an owl because you might be forced to watch the poor thing be tortured if you screwed up or refused to do something?"

Hermione looked at her friend in horror. "I hadn't thought of it to that extent. So you think part of his problem might be fear for me? That loving me would make him weak because I could be used against him?"

Ginny shrugged sinking back into her chair looking weary. "I don't think that's far off the mark, Hermione. It pains me to say this, but maybe you should be patient with him. Don't not call him on being a prat, by all means, scream at the man, but maybe you need to understand that what he says might not really be what he means. It could be an act to protect himself because I agree with my husband, Draco Malfoy is falling in love with you. He's just going to take his sweet time with it."

Hermione shook her head, half exasperated and half elated at what Ginny was saying. Draco was falling in love with her! But then she thought about it a bit more and shook her head, he really was going to drag this out. She looked up at Ginny and said simply. "He really can be a prat though."

Ginny giggled and they changed the subject.

OoOOoOOoooOoOooO

Draco watched Hermione as she pushed her salad around on her plate her face a bit pale and dark circles under her eyes. Her mood seemed melancholy. Or she was just tired because all he had gotten off of her from his trusty mood ring since around noon was exhaustion.

"Are you not sleeping well?"

She looked up distractedly. "No, I slept fine; I even went to bed early last night. What time did you get to bed?"

Draco grunted in annoyance. "Two in the morning and I was up at six while you snored away a bed."

Hermione gave a small smile and shook her head at him. "I don't snore, Draco."

Draco grinned at her, no she didn't, but it was still amusing to tease her. "Is there a problem at work that is taking up your energy?"

She shrugged and then sighed. "Just obstinate old wizards who are not able to see that time does not stand still."

Draco smirked and lifted his wine glass to his lips. "You just described all purebloods, love."

She rolled her eyes and then slumped in her seat looking a bit dejected. "I honestly am not sure how Kingsley puts up with them all, they are fighting everything he is trying to do tooth and nail. They just don't understand that the Muggle world is advancing, rapidly, and we have to keep pace!"

Draco raised his glass in a salute and said mockingly. "I couldn't agree more, baby. But what specifically is causing your current frustration?"

Hermione shook her head. "Muggle wars are forcing a large amount of wizards to become refugees in other nations and it is becoming a problem with the laws of international secrecy. Wizards have never been very good at blending in with muggles."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "I had read something about that in the Prophet."

Hermione shook her head wearily. "Muggles have cameras on their mobile phones now and something called social media. I don't really fully understand it yet but it has to do with the internet. I am heading to a class about it with the Muggle Relations department and the Magical Law Enforcement office. A lot of us will be taking classes on all of this. I believe your company is setting that all up with Kingsley?"

Draco sat back his face going thoughtful. "We had discussed doing that, yes, although he hasn't gotten back to me."

Hermione snorted sipping her water. "Well, I expect he will. Things are progressing quickly and the Ministry cannot keep up. TheMugglee Technology department says they are at least five years behind current Muggle trends."

Draco nodded setting down his glass. "Now that I knew. Dean just came back from a muggle convention in New York and another in San Francisco. He says everything we have will be out of date in six months. We have tripled our staff and are replacing all of our technology next month. I would never have thought muggles could invent and change things so quickly."

Hermione rubbed her head wearily. "I know, and I think this is just the beginning. It's like the bronze age and the enlightenment at once, these computers are taking over!"

Draco laughed. "All the better for us, love."

She gave him an annoyed look. "For you, I am sure you are raking in the galleons."

Draco nodded and then frowned at her. "Speaking of galleons, you have not been using the money in our vault or the joint accounts we have set up in the Muggle bank."

Hermione looked up at him confused. "Of course not, why would I?"

Draco sat back trying to determine if she was being obstinate or simply didn't understand why this was a problem. "Is this a Muggle custom? Not using any of your husband's money?"

She frowned thoughtfully and then shrugged. "Well, no, I don't guess so. But I make a very good salary, it never occurred to me to spend your money when I could spend my own."

Draco shook his head. "Hermione, you are insulting your husband every time you walk into an establishment in Diagon Alley and don't use my vault."

She looked shocked and indeed his ring burned with her surprise. "What? How?"

Draco gave her a weary look. "By refusing to use my money it's seen as an insult. You are the first witch married to a pureblood I have ever known to do this. My mother has heard about it from all of her friends, it's the talk of society right now."

Hermione frowned flushing. "But- Draco I make my own money!"

"Yes, and that's fine. I have no problem allowing you to continue working."

She gave him a dangerous look and his ring burned with her resentment. "Allow me to work? You have no bloody say in the matter!"

Draco sat back working to control his temper because he was going to loose this battle if he wasn't very careful of his tone and wordage. They glared at each other for a long moment and then Draco sighed; Hermione was never going to understand this.

Wearily he dragged fingers through his hair. "Hermione, can you not appreciate that you are unique? That we as a couple are unique? Even Ginny is no longer working."

Hermione sat back and then frowned, he was right, Ginny had quit her job when she married. "But, I love to work."

Draco sighed heavily. "I know you do, and I would never ask you not to do so, even when we have children I will be as accommodating as I can over this. But you have to spend my galleons and not yours."

She sat back looking resentful, although his ring burned with anxiety. "Is it really that important?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, Hermione, it is. So please, make an exception to your incredible independence and act like we are married."

She glared at him. "I do act like I am married! That was uncalled for, Malfoy!"

He snorted rubbing the bridge of his nose. So he was back to being Malfoy? "Actually I think it is not. You have attended two Ministry functions stag without even informing me so that I could accompany you."

Her jaw dropped. "They are work functions."

Draco nodded. "Yes, work functions that require a date and you have a husband. Yet you go alone!"

She crossed her arms in resentment, although his ring burned with embarrassment. "I forgot to tell you," she said sullenly.

Draco frowned. "Well please try to remember in the future."

She bit her lip and then nodded. "And spend your galleons?"

Draco nodded his face tight, Merlin she was difficult. "Yes, bloody spend my galleons, not yours."

"Well, what should I do with mine then?"

He gave her a long look considering the question and then shrugged. "Donate it to charity, put it in a vault for our children, give it to your family, I don't really care. But don't put it in my vault and don't spend it instead of using Malfoy galleons. We are odd enough as it is, Hermione, you are utterly shocking my mother."

Hermione was silent for a long time before she nodded and her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine, I will donate my salary to charity."

He nodded and rolled his shoulders. "Thank you." He said earnestly because he could feel how difficult this was for her.

She nodded and then set down her fork. "I am going to head to bed. Your acting like a prat and you really annoy me when you use that superior tone on me. But this isn't something I want to argue with you over. It's easy enough to use your money and not mine if it is really that important."

He flinched and then gave her a sheepish smile. "I am a prat, love. And I really do understand that this makes no sense to you, so thank you for giving in on this, it's appreciated."

Hermione gave him a small smirk before she rolled her eyes. "Was there anything else?"

Draco sighed. "I will have my secretary contact yours tomorrow so that we can sync up our diaries. There are a few dinners and events that we need to be attending together."

Hermione nodded looking utterly woe begotten for a moment. "I should have done that, I am sorry." She chewed on her lip for a moment before she said. "There is a dinner for a delegation from Kenya next week that I will be attending and something for the Muggle Prime Minister next month."

Draco nodded and gave her a small smile. "Hermione-"

But she cut him off her tone weary. "Draco, I am tired, and you are right. I married into one of the oldest and most prestigious pureblood families; I should have considered all this. I will speak with your mother."

Draco sighed rubbing the back of his neck. "It's usual for women in our family to be involved with various charities and organizations. Do you think you can fit a few of those in?"

Hermione bit her lip and then nodded slowly. "Yes, of course. I would be happy to. I will have lunch with her tomorrow and sort that out. Goodnight, Draco."

Draco frowned watching her walk away, it was going to be a long night before he fell into bed next to his wife he was looking forward to the weekend so that he could just spend the morning in bed with her. He had to admit, they got along far better when pureblood politics and Ministry intrigue was not in the mix.

Pushing that annoyance aside he quickly sent an owl to Dean giving him a heads up about what Hermione had told him and got to work finishing a project he was working on for the American Ministry.

He would be glad when they hired a few more people to help out at work, he was buried and it was seriously cutting in on his time with his wife. He would have to have a talk with Dean at some point this week. He simply couldn't continue putting in this many hours away from home. There had to be a compromise. If Hermione had a mood ring for him she would be storming back in to demand what was the matter with him.

He was suddenly rather depressed at the thought that he had a fourteen hour day tomorrow and wouldn't be able to have dinner with her. Bloody hell he was in trouble.

Giving things up for a bad job Draco tossed down his quill and stormed off to find his wife, who he knew was still awake thanks to his ring, she was uncomfortable and he knew just how to fix that.

If Hermione thought it was unusual that her husband showed up and stripped and then spent two hours worshiping her body before they fell asleep sweaty and sated she didn't say so.

Draco at least finally fell asleep with his wife happy in his arms, he figured the extra two hours of work he had added for himself tomorrow was well worth it. He made a mental note to work harder at going to bed when she did, he liked falling asleep with her.

Notes:

Up next:
Tea, girl talk, shopping with Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Malfoy...