Draco and Hermiones pov. If it seems boring, don't worry. It'll get more juicy quite soon. I just don't want to force it. Thanks for reading. Review please, so I'll feel inspired. Excuse any errors. I'll go back and edit any small mistakes, but if I miss them, I'm sorry!

Chapter 7

Hermione Granger did not generally approve of people meddling in her life, though she had somehow taken to Malfoy's meddling better than she could have hoped, she was still seething at the thought. The more she thought about it the more she became dreadfully confused. Why would he come to her rescue like such anyways?

It wasn't like he held her any such obligation. So what if the media would have had a frenzy out of her being there alone, and so what if seeing Ron with another woman after only a month after they were together made her feel like hurling? Especially so what to that last bit! It definitely didn't hurt her! Not one bit!

She hadn't really thought about the consequences, she simply saw him sitting there, obviously alone, and went for it. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

This was something that Hermione Granger did not do. She did not do such rash things.

The only reason she went through with the whole fantastically absurd idea, was because Malfoy seemed to be amused by the idea himself, and therefore pleasantly surprising. No matter how she looked at it, it didn't make sense that he would just willingly agree. Sure, he wasn't the same meddlesome, rude kid that he'd once been, but Draco Malfoy was still far from kind to her. This was a fact that had her pacing around her apartment like a mad person.

Oh well. She'd just be late for work today. Sighing looked through her closet. She decided to with her favorite white button up blouse, black skirt and red heels. She almost didn't notice that she had originally began putting them on the wrong feet before she straightened herself out.

"What were you thinking!" She scalded herself aloud, grabbing her bag and wand before apparating to work, completely forgetting her coat and scarf.

Normally she wouldn't apparate straight to work, but then to a coffee shop and sometimes even to see Ginny for a moment, but she was really running late. Far too late considering it would be the day after the ball. She could practically already imagine the papers scandalous news about her. Arriving late wouldn't help whatever rumors were no doubt already being made up about her at that very moment.

She attempted to walk through her department without taking note of the whispers her eternally gossiping coworkers were whispering as soon as she appeared, but she wasn't sure she really pulled the look off that well. She was mostly sure about this because of the obvious look of gloom cast upon her loyal and supportive secretary's face, who was out of her seat and already following Hermione before she was even called for, papers in hand.

Shutting her door as soon as Susan was in, Hermione turned to her friend. "Well, those girls will never shut up it seems." She gave a wobbly grin, putting on her most amorous face to hide the fact that her tummy was shifting and her bones were suddenly feeling frail. She had never taken the spotlight as well as Harry and Ron had, though she had gotten better with the years. At least now she knew exactly what smile to give and that if she didn't know what to say just grin and wave.

Susan gave a sympathetic but kind glance as Hermione walked around and sat behind her desk. She waited not another minute to get down to business. "Good thing is that the Minister has already send down his praises for a job well done at the ball last night." She smiled softly, her hazel eyes down casting as if she wasn't sure that Hermione was well enough for the attention even from her.

Hermione put on her most Gryffindor face. "That phrase is always followed by an 'and the bad news is'." Hermione supplied lightly as Susan seemed to be stuck right there, unsure of how to continue. Not that she blamed the girl: Susan always seemed too nice for her own good.

The girl looked up before setting a stack of papers on her desk, a top them a copy of the prophet. "I wasn't sure what to do about this one."

Hermione picked it up, reading over it with a stomach full of pixies. She read aloud for the first time in what felt like, well, at least 5 years. " 'The one and only Hermione Granger, golden girl of the ministry, and the famous, not to mention handsome, Draco Malfoy, we're seen leaving the annual Ministry's profitable ball last night, late within the evening. After a night filled with lustful glances' "- her voice pitched higher at that last part. That Rita Skeeter would pay! - " ' And laughter, the two joined hands and seeming left to get some air. The two were not spotted again for the entire night. One could come to wonder if the seemingly innocent, recently dumped ' " again her voice quivered despite her attempt to keep it together.- " 'Granger doesn't have her sights set on the wizarding worlds' most eligible bachelor? ' " She looked up to see that Susan had taken a liking to the large plant in the corner of her room, her eyes holding it like she were afraid it would disappear.

Setting the paper in front of her she sighed. "Susan," At which she jumped, looking back towards Hermione with evasive eyes. "I would like you to owl Ginny Potter for me. Tell her I would like to speak with her as soon as possible, and for her to owl me back with a time and place that is convenient for her. Thank you."

"Yes! Of course." She started, shaking slightly though Hermione wasn't sure why and turning quickly exiting the dreary atmosphere of room.

Hermione looked down at the paper. "What did you get yourself into?" She asked herself, her voice drooping. She quietly watched as she and Draco from last night danced merrily around the dance floor, both portraying looks as if they were the only two in the room. She was surprised by just how unDraco-like his eyes were and his smirk was even slightly different. To think he was still the same pompous boy who continuously called her a mudblood, despite all the years of peace that kept that word buried. How could he have so easily put her to bed in his house just the night before?

How strange her life was becoming.

Going home for lunch, though he couldn't fathom for what reason, Draco prepared himself to confront his mother. He knew she'd be waiting for him. It was the sole reason he never went home for lunch, but he seriously needed to have a talk with her about controlling herself.

Heading to one of the many cozy dens in the Malfoy manor Draco nodded politely to the portraits of his ancestors that were all so very smugly gazing down at him from their perch on the wall, daring him not to be curt. He found them all more pompous than he'd have liked. Entering the den he spotted his mother immediately. He knew she'd be there. It was her favorite room in the house. She was sitting on the small stool at their beautiful large black piano, in a fine dress. Her eyes were wistfully gazing out the window.

He pitched a soft cough and she shifted her attention to him her expression phasing quickly from blank to a big smile. "Draco my love, you're home for lunch?" Her voice was sweet as she remained perched. Typical that she make him come to her.

He did just that, reaching her in a few long strides. He bent down and placed a tiny kiss on her cheek. "Mother."

Her cheeks had hallowed out, her skin dulled and her beautiful blue eyes had lost their luster in the passing years. He was watching as she was slowly overtaken by her grief and father-time. "Have you brought that wonderful girl?"

He sighed. "That's what I've come to speak to you about."

Sliding to the edge of the piano seat she smiled up at him. "She's quite a catch."

A small smirk touched his lips. "I disagree, however that isn't the problem mother," He noticed that her smile immediately fell and she gave him the look of a spoiled child who knew they weren't going to get their way. "I do not want you to get the wrong idea. Granger will never be anything more than a wretched muggleborn with a boorish attitude."

She looked offended though he wasn't certain why. "She's hardly boorish, besides," She grinned, "If that were true, why'd you sleep with her last night?"

He drew back appalled. "Mother!" She sniggered. "No need to deny it, I know that she stayed over night. The house elves were whispering about it this morning before you came in for breakfast."

Heaving a mighty sigh, he rolled his shoulders, squeezing the muscles in his neck. "Mother why do you always jump to conclusions? She simply fell asleep in my bed! Come on! Don't be crazy!" He gave a sneer. "You're talking about Granger! You remember her from Hogwarts! She was ghastly!"

She shrugged. "Times change, and don't tell me that nonsense Draco! A woman in your bed and you weren't sleeping together!" She shot him a look that clearly said, oh please!

Looking around the room absently he rolled his eyes. Yes! Alright so what if it sounded bad? It's not that like it isn't the truth! His mother of all people should believe him right? "Well, yes...Technically we slept together...But it was just that. Sleeping! I didn't touch her!" Shivers shot down his spine at the thought. "Ugh! It's Granger!" He repeated again, like it was the most influential piece of evidence he had.

"Draco..." Patting down an invisible flaw in her hair she used the tone he knew she only reserved for idiots or children. "You can't honestly tell me that the girl isn't attractive."

"She's a muggleborn mother. A mudb..."

She cut him off before he could begin. "Don't you dare Draco. That was a long time ago. You know better than to say such crude words. Things aren't the same as they once were. I know that we're still purebloods, but we can't adhere to those outdated antics. Besides, if you had to choose a muggleborn, at least she's pretty and famous."

"Pretty?" He wretched, scrunching up his nose. "I'll admit, the know-it-all's not as ugly as she used to be, but pretty is a bit far. If anything, the years have merely made her tolerable."

Giving him an pretentious gaze, she stood, "You are a wonderful person Draco, but you are a terrible liar."

Shaking his head he turned away and without another word he left back for his work. What a dead end conversation.

What didn't his mother get about Granger not being attractive to him. I mean, sure she happened to look fabulous in that dress, and her body seemed to be the most beautiful he'd ever seen, but that didn't change anything. She was still the same girl, and he was still the same man! They were not going to go down that path. He had simply agreed to dance with her, and after that, well, he couldn't just let the Weasel tear her apart could he?

Who cares if Granger wasn't a kid anymore? Who cares if he didn't really hate talking to her, or that he found her freckles cute and her big eyes enticing. Nothing so useless as physical attraction could change his mind. He wasn't some oversexed teenager. He was grown. He'd had his fair share of women and he knew what it felt like to be attracted to someone! He didn't care that she was enchanting and dangerous territory or that maybe she could be an exciting lover, if she were as bossy and assertive in bed as she was in her everyday life. He still wouldn't go for it! Never ever!