Uploading this short chapter merely because it's my birthday and I'm feeling generous. This chapter is completely in Draco's point of view and it is quite short, but my next one I'll make extra long to make up for it. I'm hoping that you guys will review this one, because I'm feelings a bit down on reviews for this story.

Disclaimer. I do not own the Potter-verse.

Chapter 6

Looking back on it, swimmingly wasn't exactly how he would describe the morning he experienced with Hermione Granger, and of course, his loony mother. He couldn't remember if his gut feelings always went this badly, but he'd have to remember: He didn't want to make the same mistake anymore.

Draco Malfoy picked up his pace as he walked through the grand entrance of Gringotts with a polite nod to all of his workers who said hello to him. Mostly goblins, but there were some humans, and those were the ones who never failed to say hello. Probably because they were afraid of him. The tall ceilings above him, warm lighting and perfectly polished surfaces made him feel proud of the small renovations he'd made to the dreary building, though the golbins weren't happy, he really believed they were getting used to him.

His morning with Granger would have gone well, only he hadn't thought his mother would be home. He specifically remember her telling him she was going to be visiting some friends that morning. So when he walked into his dining room to see his mother sitting at her usual spot, eating her usual meal, he almost faltered and pushed Granger out of there before she was spotted, but they had gone too far, and before he could counter it his mother had spotted him and his guest.

He stopped at the foot of the table, far from where his mother was sitting. Her eyes had not been beyond curious. They had been positively intruding. He thought she was going to pop from all the assumptions she was coming up with in that prim head of hers.

He gave her a stiff nod. "Mother." Without waiting for an answer he put his hand on the small of Granger's back and brought her up beside him. She didn't object to his touching her, which he almost found odd. "This is Hermione Granger." She leaned into his hand for a moment, like she needed his support. He obliged her, pressing his palm firmly there, spreading his fingers into a fan. Her skin was warm against his skin in her low backed dress.

From her seat his mother absolutely beamed. "Miss Granger. I've read all about you dear."

Granger simply smiled, one he'd seen her use on people who made her uncomfortable but at the same time she didn't want to disrespect. "Oh, thank you?" He was certain that the question that undertoned her voice was not intentional. He ushered her to her seat, this time sitting beside her instead of at the head of the table, like he usually did.

His mother was oozing her smiles across the table. If her smile had been syrup it would have been slimming it's way slowly across the table right at the Gryffindor. He sighed. "Mother, are you going to eat?" He asked exasperated with his mothers incessant squirming and she looked at him impatiently before taking one bite of her toast and then looking back up at Granger. "You have gorgeous skin my dear." The compliment wouldn't have been that strange if it had been presented in a way that sounded less, well, desperate. Hermione gave another crooked smile. "I wasn't aware. Thank you."

For the rest of the morning, his mother bombarded the girl with questions about home life, compliments about almost literally every detail she could see on the girl, and made quite obvious comments about how she and Draco looked together, and so on. Draco had never been so embarrassed in his life. He had to send Granger away with an apology. He seethed at the thought. Giving out an apology! He should never have to give an apology over something that happens in his personal life. Business was a different matter, but what happened behind closed doors, in his own house none the less, should never been apologetic matters. His mother was officially crazy.

He stepped into his large, slightly dark office with a grunt, sitting down and seriously considering laying his head on his desk in dismay. However before he could, his personal assistant, Malcolm Baddock marched in with a big smile. The boy was a Slytherin, but he certainly didn't act like any Slytherin Draco knew. Baddock was a funny, and genuinely nice guy, plus he did his job well.

With a grin Baddock sat in one of the chairs in front of Draco's large dark wood desk. The boy had a stack of papers in his hand. "Morning Malfoy, sir."

At this Draco gave a tired nod. "What news is there now, Baddock?"

The younger boy held the stack in front of him, handing Malfoy the important papers first. "Those are all to be filed by you sir, I filled out all the information, all you have to do is read over them and then sign, then file."

Malfoy nodded. "Excellent. What else?"

Baddock gave another smile before it disappeared behind a copy of the mornings Prophet. "Now tell me sir," His voice was muffled slightly by the paper. "Should I call and demand they take down this bollocks? It is Rita Skeeter, so most people won't believe it anyways. Though the picture is a nice touch."

Draco sighed. There on the cover of the Daily Prophet was him and Granger dancing, twirling around the dance floor. He wasn't smiling, but there was a firm smirk planted on his lips, and Hermione was leaned in far too close in his arms to be just a friendly dance. "The only thing you need to do for me Baddock is make sure you bring me my coffee. Extra strength today, my friend."

The newspaper was down immediately, replaced by a shocked face. "You sly dog! It's true? You and Granger and fraternizing?" A grin spread across his lips. His green eyes dancing merrily.

Draco simply looked through the papers lazily as he spoke., his voice void of any real emotion. "No one is fraternizing with anyone Baddock. She and I simply danced."

"And left the party together." He pointed out.

Draco's eyes didn't leave his paperwork ."Yes, we did that too, though I'm fairly sure no one saw us go."

"But you two disappeared at the same time, and never returned either."

Giving a noncommittal shrug, Draco cast his eyes up. "That is clearly circumstantial." The boy gave him a disbelieving look.

"Come on Draco, tell me you took her home with you." He was on the edge of his seat. "You took the one and only Hermione prodigy-Granger home with you didn't you?"

Leaning back in his chair Draco let loose a smirk. "Why do you want to know so badly Malcolm?"

"Rumor is that Granger has had hundreds of offers for her hand and she turned them all down. That means if she went back with you, you've done what they all failed at." His mirth was barely contained now.

He smirked again, "First, she isn't a piece of meat, nor does she have the brains of one Baddock," He looked the boy in his pale green eyes, his own silver ones far more superior. "She wouldn't agree to marry some man she doesn't know, and she will not marry one who's after her fame and money."

Baddock gave a frustrated noise. "Get on with it! Did you or did you not shag Granger?"

At that Draco returned to his work, "My coffee Baddock." The boy went to protest but he looked back up, his eyes landing like daggers against Baddock's own. "Now."

With that the slytherin boy stood and left, making sure he gave a dejected sigh before he left, clearly disappointed by the little amount of information he had received.