Draco met her at the train station after she'd said goodbye to her friends.

"You look like you're worried I'm going to lock you in a dungeon for the next month." Draco told her softly taking her trunk.

Hermione laughed nervously and shook her head; "I've never lived with a boy, not really, unless you count being on the run with Harry and Ron. Are we, are we going to, to, there?" She whispered the end.

"No." Draco's eyes became as hard as stone and after a moment he sighed, "It's the seat of our family so the manor will always be a Malfoy property, though you can redecorate it when you become Lady Malfoy and remove or add portions to it the house itself cannot be destroyed or sold. I have no intention of ever actually making you step foot there again though."

"Where would we live?"

"The Manor might be the seat of the family and the main residence for generations of us but it is not by far our only home, not even our only home in England."

"Right." Hermione whispered nodding.

"I'm brining you to my favorite. The one I'd always hoped to live in until taking on the mantle of my name and moving into the Manor with my family after my parents had chosen to leave. Mother has already left the manor of course and lives in another property. None of us have been back since, well since Aurors arrested father and cleared it out of the Dark Lords presence."

"I didn't know."

Draco shrugged. "It's maintained and stasis charms placed to protect everything for future generations, mother and I have mostly bad memories there now and I'd never bring you there and if I married a muggle I imagine she'd be very uncomfortable in a home that had not only seen many other muggles or muggle borns hurt but had portraits calling her names and that was a fully magical home."

"Magical home?"

Draco shrugged, "Some rooms don't have doors, some have magical protections or hidden passages or other magic working constantly."

"Right. So where are we going?"

Draco smiled, "My favorite home near the Wizarding town of Holloway. We'll take a train to Portsmouth. I've never been on a muggle train."

Hermione smiled at him and then frowned, "Why are we now then?"

Draco shrugged, "If I marry you or a muggle I'll have to learn about all of this muggle stuff anyways so I've been trying to start since the holidays began. Ernie says most muggles wouldn't like apparting and since the house is locked to all floos but the central one in the seat of Malfoy I don't want to bring you that way. He says muggles sometimes like the train and you can see the town or whatever." Draco shrugged, "Besides, I've never been on one."

Hermione laughed and followed him as he found them the right platform. He'd gotten them a first class compartment and seemed to sigh in relief as they sat.

"To many muggles for your comfort?" Hermione asked quietly.

"To many people period." He groaned.

Hermoine laughed, "I didn't know you didn't like crowds."

Draco shrugged, "I was raised around a very select group and number of people. I like the crowds at the zoo I guess because its part of the experience but I prefer the quiet and I'd like to hex the pushers and idiots who don't watch where they are going."

"Right." Hermione nodded chuckling at him.

They talked easily for the entire journey and Hermione felt herself relaxing. It was a feeling that lasted as they left the train and walked through the town. Draco had sent her trunk ahead so they didn't need to worry about it. Hermione had never been to Portsmouth before and had a nice time looking around. After lunch in a small but delicious restaurant Draco led her out her to a tiny, shabby looking ferry dock. Or it was shabby until they passed under a Stone archway and everything transformed to a beautiful little marina.

Draco led her onto a small ferry and pointed out things as the ferry took them to the Isle of Wight and the little town of Holloway. It was like a larger Hogsmeade with tiny shops and friendly people, it had a town square with a market and a bookstore. Draco showed her around, again having sent her trunk ahead so they could wander around unencumbered. As the sun just started to set he led her to a carriage pulled by a huge winged black stallion.

"His name is Prince." Draco told her. "He's an Arabian Black Kingsbred, it's an Arabian horse bred with a Thestral."

He settled her in the carriage and pointed out various marks as the carriage drove them away from the town and up to massive silver gates. The gated disappeared as they rode through, reappearing after as the carriage rode through a wooded path and up to a mansion, not so large or imposing as Malfoy Manor had been but not by much. It reminded her of what she'd always envisioned Pemberly Park as being like.

As they arrived an older slightly stooped wizard stepped up to help Hermione from the carriage.

"Bainbridge this is Hermione Granger, Hermione our Steward Bainbridge."

"Lord Malfoy, Miss Granger." He bowed. "The house has been opened and is ready for you. If there is anything you need please contact me and I will apparate immediately."

"Thank you." Draco nodded.

"What?" Hermione whispered as he led her inside.

"My father was Lord Malfoy, I was Young Sir." He told her. "It's strange I guess." He shrugged. "I never expected to become the family head before thirty or forty when my father felt it was time to pass over and become Master Malfoy."

"Master?"

"It's a Lord who is no longer head of the family name. He's passed the duties and such on. Now because he's in Azkaban the title immediately falls to me and he's the Prior Lord Malfoy."

"Prior?"

"He can't be a Master in society while there and the name would have to be built up, it's all kinds of high wizarding society stuff, I'm sure you read about some of it in History of Magic. Most of its not followed anymore, like your muggle Queen, she's still Queen but the government runs things. The families are still Lords, respected and held as above others but more figureheads of wizarding society."

"Right."

Draco led her through the house and stopped in a large and beautiful room.

"This is the Lady's master suite, the bedroom is through this door," he told her leading her through it and then through one on the opposite bedroom wall, "This is my suite." Draco sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "We're supposed to share our room like we'd actually just gotten married but I can sleep in the guest room."

Hermione swallowed and then shook her head blushing, "I think we need to follow the rules Draco." Her heart was racing, "It's only right to try this properly so there wont be any doubts later."

Draco sent her a tentative smile and nodded. "Supper then?" Hermione nodded and followed him out and down to a small dining room. "We have a formal dining room you saw earlier but this is the family dining, it's for when we don't have company." He explained.

Dinner was quiet as they were both nervous.

It was over desert he finally couldn't stop himself, "Why did you send me the letter?"

Hermione blushed, "I don't know. I don't even really like you. I mean, you're you and made my life miserable in school but…" she sighed, "for some reason when I think about everything the last few months and how strange it is and you're the strangest but also… the most familiar. You are different but still… you, I guess." She sighed again, "I don't know, I told you, I might not ever forget who you were or ever not want to hex you… or break your nose again." Draco smirked at that making her chuckle and then sigh, "I just couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to smack that smirk off your face or how nice your real smile was or how you treat your mum or the way your eyes were at the zoo. Or how much I might actually like bickering with you."

He nodded and then laughed, "You are as disturbed as I am Granger."

Hermione snorted, "Thanks Malfoy."

"You know, I was particularly mean to you more than any other muggle born because I fancied you and hated that."

"That's what Daphne told me." She blushed, "She said you realized it after I hit you."

"I was so surprised and angry and while I was ranting I thought, damn I really want to kiss that witch." He laughed. "You have no idea how jealous I was at the Yule Ball. I could have shook Weasel's hand when he chased you off and away from Krum. I was beginning to think I'd have to do something but I knew Krum would squash me like a bug. Of course the git made you cry and only I was allowed to do that so I hexed him instead."

"You hexed Ron?" She hadn't heard about that.

"I was careful not to let anyone see, god forbid they realized it was over you."

Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes at him, "Somehow I think your friends already knew."

"Yeah but they'd never say and no one else knew."

It grew late as they talked and finally she yawned. Draco led her up to her suite to get ready for bed. Nervously she paced the door to the bedroom but finally slipped in, grateful it was empty. She hid under the covers hearing Draco tiptoe in and the bed dip as he got in next to her.

They both lay awake a long time just listening to each other breathing. Finally exhaustion claimed them both.

When Hermione woke up she found herself warm and comfortable and her head resting on a pale chest, it was the hand gently cupping her breast that really made her blush though. She shifted and heard Draco groan but knew exactly when he woke up as his arm flew off her body and he cursed making Hermione giggle.

Draco laughed as well easing all of the tension from the room and Hermione finally sat up, blushing a little as her eyes roaming his very fit, slender upper body.

Hermione stretched and heard Draco groan again, "Are you ok?"

"That is the tiniest top I have ever seen." He groaned as the delicate strap slipped over her shoulder. Hermione blushed as she pushed it back up.

"It's just a camisole Draco. I always sleep in them." She blushed getting up and Draco's eyes roaming her long bare legs.

"What are we doing today?"

"What would you like to do?"

"I'm not sure, I was hoping to get some research done while I was here but I've written my NEWTs so I haven't any studying to do."

"I do so you can research while I study. Really you can do whatever you like, I was hoping to take you out tonight but other than that well, we'll just go about our days and see what it will be like to be together and married."

"Right." Hermione blushed. "I'm going to shower then." She frowned at him, "Aren't you getting up?"

Draco nodded, "I'll meet you in the breakfast room, you remember where it is?"

Hermione nodded, "Why do you have a family dining and separate breakfast room?"

"The breakfast room has the best light in the morning" he shrugged.

"Right." Hermione nodded going to her suite to get ready for the day.

Draco sighed as he watched her go and finally got up cursing his body. He'd need a very cold shower this morning and thank goodness she hadn't hexed him for his sleeping wandering hands.

The days passed easily for the young pair as they bickered and worked or explored together. Every night for a week they'd go to sleep on their own sides and wake up curled together.

A week to the day after she arrived Hermione was curled in the library trying to complete her Animagus training when Draco came inside. The rain had stopped so he invited her to go to town with him. It wasn't until they were on the way back the rain started up again. Hermione slipped in the damp grass getting into the carriage and took Draco down with her. They both laughed and Draco helped her up but slipped knocking into the side of the carriage with her in his arms. They laughed again but hers was stolen when for the first time he kissed her.

Hermione gasped and his tongue invaded her mouth. Draco ignored the carriage and apparated them to the stoop, shoving open the door and pushing her inside while still kissing her. It was more than he'd dreamed having her in his arms, more than he dared to dream having her in his life. She fit so easily in his routines, as easily and perfectly as she now fit into his arms. He felt her tug at his wet shirt and then it vanish as her perfect little fingers began to explore. He tugged her hair, tilting her head back and let his own free hand roam her body. He took control again, walking her backwards into a sitting room and to a couch. He began to take off her clothes and kiss the exposed skin while she moaned his name. He couldn't take her fully, the magic wouldn't let them go all the way but neither of them could stop the passion building and he'd hear her scream his name.

A little later Hermione lay panting and naked in his arms on the couch. Draco had kept his slacks on though her tiny delicate hands had undone them and they were now damp with the way he'd exploded in those hands as well as from the rain. He used one spell to clean them and one to dry their clothes before handing them to her.

"What was that spell?" Hermione asked with a blush as he handed her dry clothes over.

"The drying spell?" He asked pulling on his shirt and lighting the fire in the hearth, the room was cold and he could see the fine trembling of her shoulders.

"The other." She blushed again pulling on her clothes; she recognized it from the alcove with Blaise.

"It's uh." Draco blushed, "It's for men, when ah, it vanished evidence of our, it just cleans things up after we've had a really good dream or fooled around with a witch like this."

"Oh." Hermione blushed, "That." Then she blushed at the knowledge Blaise had enjoyed the experience as fully as she had. She'd thought Draco was the only boy she'd been able to affect like that, well him and Ron, she'd used her hand on Ron before just like he had her but it hadn't felt like this then, with Draco it had been… more and she wanted more but thinking of Blaise made her feel a little guilty so she shook off all thoughts and pulled Draco to his feet. "Come on, you should finish your potion."

"Right." Draco smirked at her and pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

The next three weeks went much like the first, they never had any major arguments but they bickered about almost everything. Hermione didn't mind, the bickering often led to kisses and kissing usually led them to other things and instead of going to bed on opposite sides at night, they curled up together.

When the day of departure finally came Hermione found she didn't really want to leave. She loved this house, the view of the cliffs from the library, the golden hue the breakfast room turned on a sunny morning. The little wizarding town, which had everything she could need, including a wonderful little bookshop.

Draco found her on the window seat in the library with tears on her cheeks.

"Mi?" He asked frowning.

Hermione wiped her cheeks, "I didn't expect to not want to leave so much." She admitted quietly.

Draco pulled her into his arms, "You can always come back." He kissed her thoroughly and then rested his forehead against hers with a sigh, "Even if its just as friends Mi, you can always come back. Promise that ok? If you choose Blaise I know it will be anyways but if it's the Durmstang, promise we'll still have our fights?"

Hermione nodded and hugged him tightly, "We'll be friends, no matter what."

Draco kissed her again and stepped back, "We should go."

Hermione nodded and wiped her eyes again. She'd have a week to adjust to all of this before it was time to meet with Kiril for their month together but she didn't want to think about that yet, she'd tried not to think about Blaise or Kiril at all with him, not that he made it easy since he talked about Blaise a lot. They'd even had lunch with the other wizard twice. Draco had put his hand on her back or taken her hand but never anything more, Hermione thought it was part respect for his friend and part his upbringing. Draco would hold her hand or kiss her temple but he wasn't very open with any other public form of affection.

They returned the same way they came and Hermione was sure it was to extend the return by the length of the train ride more than Draco's desire to take muggle transportation and deal with the crowds again.

At the station he kissed her, on the mouth, surprising her. It was a gentle brush of lips, "I'll see you in ten weeks." He whispered.

"Good luck with…" Hermione licked her lips and swallowed, "Lori."

Draco nodded, "Daphne thinks Ernie did well finding her for me and her brother is a muggle born so she knows some about our world." He shrugged and sighed before kissing her again. "Good luck with Blaise."

Hermione gave him a wan smile, "Kiril, I don't see Blaise for six weeks."

Draco shook his head at her, "I'd rather it be Blaise."

Hermione laughed and pushed his shoulder making him smirk. Finally they parted and Hermione went back to the burrow. She spent the entire week trying to discern how she felt about Draco, one thing was sure, she'd be happy with him, they fit well together, he was sexy and witty and easy to be around even if he did annoy her often, she cared about him and lusted for him but did she love him?