A/N Sorry about the length of time between postings. I've been really busy with the kids. I hope you like it. Happy reading and don't forget to review!

Hermione's birthday

Later on that afternoon Hermione was lying comfortably in Draco's arms. They found a quirky little inn off the beaten path and checked in. She found that it was even better without the cloud of alcohol fogging her brain. She was snuggled against his chest inhaling the clean raw scent of him. His right hand was twirling around a strand of hair that had broken free from the twist it had once been in. Their clothes were strewn around the room leaving an erotic trail to the bed. The inn they had found was much nicer than the one they had last night. It was almost like being in someone's country cottage. The bed was a massive king size with an oak carved headboard. It had a fireplace that used natural gas so Hermione turned it on to warm the room up a bit. Draco looked at the small clock on the nightstand and sighed.

"What?" she asked.
"It's nearly 3. Don't you have to get back to the office?" he wondered.

"I suppose." she said kissing his chest lightly. "Or I could tell them I met you for a meeting. As long as I'm back by dinnertime."

"You are so incredible." he laughed.

"I could say the same for you." she replied as she craned her neck so that her lips met his It was so easy and effortless kissing him. Her lips fit like a puzzle piece against his. Draco deepened his kiss, pushing her onto her back and lying against her bare skin with his.

"I never get tired of that." he smirked into her mouth. She smiled back and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.

"Do you think it could have been like this for us? You know if we'd made different choices…" she asked. He stopped kissing her collarbone and looked into her deep brown eyes.

"I don't know." he replied. "Maybe."

"It would have been nice though." she sighed.

"Yeah but it would have been more complicated." he reminded her. "Can you imagine the reaction Potter and Weasley would have had to that news?" he said laughing.

Hermione laughed back.

"You know it might have been worth it." she said laughing.

"And after they murdered me what would have become of you?" Draco smiled.

She shrugged.

"Besides, you wouldn't have your kids and I wouldn't have my son."

"Good point." Hermione sighed. "I just feel so much more alive than I have, do you know what I mean?"

"Hermione, I had to pinch myself last night to realize that this wasn't a dream. You have no idea what having someone like you means to me."

"Someone like me?" she asked, sitting up slightly.

"Someone who isn't into money, who is here because she wants to be here." he said quickly before she got the wrong idea.

She settled back into the bed and pulled the covers over the both of them. The room had a chill to it that the fireplace wasn't winning against. It was an old building probably poorly insulated.

"That's better." she said nestling into his chest again.

"Yes it is." he replied before laying his chin on the top of her head and dozing off for the second time that afternoon.

Meanwhile back at the ministry Ron was looking everywhere for Hermione. Harry watched him pace her office, leaning against the door frame.

"She probably had a meeting." Harry told him.

"Kingsley didn't know of any, and there's nothing written in her planner." Ron fumed. His face was bright red. He had come to apologize to her and she wasn't even there.

"Maybe she rescheduled with Malfoy." Harry said. "After all she was so upset about looking unprofessional."

"Maybe, but she could have told someone where she was going. I don't trust that prat, even if he did supposedly save her life…and I'm not sure if that's true." Ron seethed.

"Why would she make that up?" Harry asked. "I mean of all the things to lie about it doesn't seem likely that she would protect him after all he put her through in school."

"Yeah, well who knows what's in her head these days." he huffed. "Do you know how long it's been since we…?" Ron raised his eyebrows in a suggestive way.

"Too much information." Harry said. "Would you like me to talk about my sex life with your sister?"

"Uh, no." Ron said making a face.

"Well Hermione is like my sister." Harry told him.

"I know that. But you have no idea how frustrated I am." Ron accentuated the point by pounding on the mantle of the fireplace.

"Talk to her about it. Maybe she is depressed about Rose going away to school." Harry said.

"It's been longer than that." Ron mumbled.

"Well talk to her then. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it."

"You're probably right." Ron said. "And I don't know why I'm so worried about Malfoy. I know Hermione would never be alone with him more than necessary. Saving her life or not he's still a wanker."

Harry nodded.

"Let's skive off early." Harry said. "Take Lily and Hugo for a broom ride."

Ron nodded.

"I'll just leave Hermione a note letting her know I'll be at your house."

Ron wrote quickly and left it on Hermione's desk.

"Let's go." Harry said patting his best friend on the back.

Hermione arrived back at the office around five o'clock. She found the note from Ron and headed off towards Harry and Ginny's house. She checked herself for Draco's scent before using the floo to get to Harry's house. She arrived in the living room to find Ginny sitting on the sofa reading a book.

"Hi Hermione!" she said happily.

"Hello Gin is Ron here?" she asked timidly.

"They took the kids for a broom ride. Have a seat. Are you hungry?"

"Not really." she admitted.

"At least let me get you something to drink. You look flushed." Ginny said getting up and heading to the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a glass of iced tea.

"Thanks." she said sipping the tea.

"Are you feeling alright?" Ginny asked.

"Just fine…why?" Hermione said, suddenly wondering if there was a mark deepening on her neck or collarbone.

"You just look different…I don't know what it is, almost glowing." she laughed.

Hermione blanched.

"I'm trying some new beauty charms." Hermione lied.

"So working late again?" Ginny mentioned nonchalantly.

"Yes…why do you ask?"

"Just heard you were out late last night." Ginny said sipping her tea.

"Oh Merlin, what has Ronald said?" Hermione asked angrily.

"Just that you didn't come home until almost morning." she said not looking at Hermione.

"Ginny, I'll tell you what I told Harry and Ronald. I took some sleeping potion to help me sleep. I took too much. I slept through a meeting, in my office, on my sofa. End of story. I don't know why he is making such a big deal about it. It's not like I do it everyday." she said defensively.

"I think that's why it was a big deal." Ginny said. "But I can understand about needing the potion. I get so exhausted sometimes."

"How long do you think they will be?" Hermione said checking her watch.

"They should be back soon. But I'll warn you, Ron is mad that you didn't let him know where you were this afternoon." she warned.

"This is getting old. I had to reschedule my meeting with Dra…Mister Malfoy. I missed it last night and needed to talk to him about his project."

"I can't believe you are working with him." Ginny said shaking her head.

"It's not too bad." Hermione smiled to herself.

"Oh, before I forget…" Ginny said reaching on the side table and pulling out a small gift bag. "Happy birthday."

"Oh Ginny!" Hermione said happily. She had almost forgotten it was her birthday. And it had been one of the best of her life.

She dove into the bag and pulled out the tissue paper. It was a bottle of her favorite perfume.

"Oh Ginny thank you so much. You must have had to go to London to get it." she said spraying herself with the feminine floral scent.

"I felt like a fool. I didn't know only certain Muggle stores carried it. I kept going store to store asking for 'Amazing Grace' and the sales people would gawk at me oddly." Ginny grinned.

"Thank you so much for this. I was almost out." she said.

"That's from Ron and me. I think Lily is making you something so be prepared."

"I'm sure I'll love whatever it is." Hermione beamed.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you…Hugo is spending the night over here. I think Ron has something special planned." she winked at Hermione.

Hermione's mouth fell open.

"Oh…well he is?" she tried to cover the feeling of disappointment at that thought. She used to love having these special nights with Ron. But now…now she knew how it could be, and she didn't know if she could fake it for Ron.

"Yeah…I think I hear them coming now. Don't tell Ron that I told you okay? Act surprised."

Hermione nodded as Ron, Harry, Lily and Hugo ran into the living room.

"Mum!" Hugo cried running up to her and throwing his arms around her neck and kissing her face. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks sweetheart." Hermione said warmly.

"Where were you this afternoon?" Ron said darkly.

"Working." she replied just as coldly.

"With?"

"Mister…oh for the love of Merlin's pants…Draco. I rescheduled with him for this afternoon. I went to lunch by myself first."

"Oh…" Ron said his face going red.

"Well shouldn't you be going?" Harry said encouragingly. He winked at Ron. Hermione felt queasy.

"Yes, see you tomorrow Hugo." Ron said. Hermione looked surprised.

"You don't mind do you Hermione? Lily wanted to spend the night with her cousin." Harry said.

"No, it's fine. See you tomorrow sweetheart." Hermione said kissing Hugo.

"Bye mum." Hugo said running upstairs after Lily.

"Happy birthday Hermione." Harry said with a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Thanks Harry." Hermione replied dully.

Ron put his arm around his wife and stepped into the now green fireplace flames. The scene whirled around them and soon they were home. Hermione was not surprised to see the dozens of candles placed around their house.

"Do you like it?" he whispered.

"It's lovely." she said.

"There's more." he told her. He placed both hands over her eyes and pushed her towards the kitchen. When they entered the kitchen he removed his hands. On the dining table was a lavishly cooked meal. Lobster in cream sauce over pasta, one of her favorites. There was an open bottle of white wine on the table.

"Surprise." he said softly.

"Oh, it looks wonderful." she sighed.

"I hope you're hungry." he said pulling out the seat for her. She sat down and he lit a few more taper candles and pouring both of them a glass of the wine.

"Happy birthday honey." he said as he sat down and raised his glass to her.

"Thank you." she said drinking the wine.

He placed a large scoop of the pasta on her plate before running over to the warming oven and taking out some crusty Italian bread. He handed her the bread.

"You are quiet tonight." he added. "Everything alright."

"Fine, just fine." she lied.

"You don't look like yourself." he noted.

"I'm just fine. Trust me." she said before realizing the irony in her statement. Trust her…yeah, good idea.

"Okay, I just hope you are not coming down with that flu that's going around. The healers are having a hard time keeping up with all the cases at the ministry." he said taking a bite of his pasta.

"I'm not." she said dully. She ate energetically realizing that she was suddenly very hungry.

Most of the meal was eaten in silence. Ron threw her looks of sadness and confusion but she avoided his gaze.

When they were finished he produced a small white birthday cake adorned with blue roses. There was a single candle on top. He lit the candle and placed it in front of her.

"Make a wish." he grinned. She thought for a moment and blew the candle out.