Previously: Deciding to leave her to have a pleasant nap, he penned a note on a spare piece of parchment he found lying about, kissed her forehead before he left the office. Much to the surprise of the ladies in the office, who hadn't realised exactly who had entered Hermione's office.

Chapter 19: Misunderstanding

-HG-

Stretching her muscles, Hermione cautiously cracked open one eye, and then the other, breathing heavily through her nose, before a large yawn made its way through her mouth. Attempting to stretch her arms above her head she was surprised to make contact with an arm of hard leather, and that's when it hit her; she'd fell asleep for the second time that day in her office. She blamed the lack of sleep and constant thoughts whizzing through her head, now she had a nice kink in her neck, and had got no work done again. Deciding she was unlikely to get much work done in her office and considering it was close to four in the afternoon, she got up with the intention of collecting a few of the files she needed to get through and go take them home.

The closer to her desk she got, the more she realised that she hadn't opened the box Draco had given her, not only that he had been here, she'd been less than forthcoming with him, and he had been as patient as a saint with her, even giving her a massage.

Why couldn't she find a man that treated her like that? Oh wait she did, but nothing would ever happen between them, she wouldn't let anything happen she was just on the rebound, he was there. Just because he was caring, loyal, protective, intelligent, cunning, and some may even say sexy.

She was anything but interested in him...

When she opened the box her breath caught in her throat.

Slowly picking up the parchment with one hand, she slowly ran a fingertip down the black material underneath with her other hand. Lifting the black dress out, she immediately recognised the second and emerald green dress underneath.

"I thought you would need a dress for the ball, so I took the liberty of getting the one you saw in Pansy's Robe's. The dress on top, is just a gift, wear it whenever you want. I'll speak to you soon.

Draco x"

The note was short, but not too short, she could see it wasn't rushed, that he had seemingly taken his time- a sharp contrast to other notes he had left her. Folding the black dress back up, she pulled the emerald one out, biting her lip as she held it up to her neck. She knew exactly how much it had cost, and knew beyond anything that the other dress would have been another top end dress, probably the same in price, so folding it back, she replaced both into the box, deciding she couldn't accept such an expensive gift.

Grabbing the box and the paperwork she needed she headed out of her office, instead of using the Ministry's floo network as she usually would, she walked casually to the apparition point, before the pulling sensation behind her navel brought her outside his Wiltshire Manor.

The gates to the old manor creaked open as she stepped towards them, and she began her walk to the front door. Seconds after the doorbell rang a small house elf that Hermione didn't recognise appeared opening the door for her to step through.

"Hello miss. Welcome to Malfoy Manor. How may Tinie be of assistance?"

"I'm here to see Draco."

The elf gave a tiny squeak, "Master Draco has asked for any visitors to be taken to his office, Tinie will gladly show you the way." Before Hermione could reply the miniscule elf was walking towards the stairway, leaving her to trail behind.

On the second floor Hermione turned towards the right wing looking down the corridor out of some form of habit, and was surprised to see Draco's naked back to her, him just dressed in a towel, his head bent forwards of his front. Wondering what he was doing she was about to call to him, when a feminine hand grabbed his right forearm, the fingers dancing on the damp skin. Before a head of black hair became prominent as the woman looked behind Draco, before ducking back behind his frame.

Draco's head whipped round, his steel irises immediately seeking Hermione's chocolate orbs, and for a few seconds they connected, before Hermione's sight dropped to the floor. She could see him still looking at her, and she heard him say her name, but she simply turned towards the stairs again, walking up them towards his office.

His clipped tone reverberated off the hallway, making its way to her ears; "Leave Katie, NOW" the black haired girl tried to reply but Draco just pointed to the stairs, leaving her to make her own way out. Whilst Draco went into his room to change into some clothes.

-DM-

Rushing around his room, Draco towelled his body of the excess water from his body, grabbing a pair of green silk boxers, and a pair of pinstriped black trousers, he quickly put them on, before putting his socks and shoes on. On his way out of his door he grabbed the crisp white shirt hanging on the back of the door, he hastily threw it over his shoulders, not bothering to either do up the buttons or dry his hair, before he was sprinting up the stairs and bursting into his office.

"Sorry about tha-" he cut off the moment he noticed Hermione wasn't in his office, the box she had been carrying was perched on his desk, walking over to it, there was no note attached, and looking inside he realised both the dresses he had given her were still inside.

Turning back around he dashed out of the office, taking the stairs two at a time, with his large strides, and as he got closer to the main door he could see Hermione's silhouette down the pebbled path. Pulling the door open with almost enough force to bring it off its hinges he called her name again. She ignored him, continuing to walk.

Making it to the bottom of the steps leading to the door, he shouted her name louder, causing her to stop but forgo turning around to meet him.

"What?" she shouted back to him, her back to him, as she brought a hand up to her eyes making sure she wasn't unknowingly crying!

Hermione heard the crunching of the pebbles as he walked towards her, and as he touched her shoulder, she flinched moving forward, and she heard him sigh.

"It's not what it looks like." He whispered so low that she almost didn't hear him, almost.

"What recreational things you get up to is no concern of mine. Like you've said you're the most eligible bachelor in the country of course it wouldn't be hard for you to find someone interested in you."

"It's not like that." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Will you look at me?"

"I just came to thank you for the dresses, but that I can't accept such a gift." She said as she continued to be turned away from him.

"Princess, look at me." She slowly turned around only to be immediately drawn to his naked torso.

"I-" she looked up into his eyes, and paused.

"Can we go inside, it's quite nippy out here" to emphasis his point he pointed to the extremely pointed nipples and goose-bumped covered chest he had.

"I've got work to do, I have to make dinner for myself and Rose, I really need to get going."

As if on some sort of timer, the heavens suddenly opened and the pair was caught in the middle of a rare Wiltshire April shower. Draco was the first to react, grasping Hermione's hand he began trailing back to the house, the rain getting heavier and heavier the closer they got causing him to break into an almost sprint until the doors.

Once in the hallway Hermione finally found her voice again, "I really need to get this work done Malfoy" he simply nodded, reaching out to remove some loose hair which had stuck itself to her face.

"Let me explain what happened and then you can go do your work. And don't worry about dinner; I'll take the pair of you out, you and Rose, me and Scorpius. Please."

Hermione sighed running her hands over her face, "Why are you so insistent that I let you explain?" she paused looking him square in the eye, "And do you really think, us going out in public together, is a really wise choice after that article?"

"We'll eat here, I'll cook, my mother's out anyway, I'm sure Scorpius would love to see Rose, and Amando is also around tonight, it'll be good for them to mix before they go to Hogwarts."

Breathing heavily through her nose, she continued to look him straight in the eye, "You're evading my question" she stated.

"You want to know why I want to explain?" she nodded, "I don't want to see that look of utter disappointment when you look at me, the same one you get when you talk about that git of an ex-husband of yours. I want to prove to you that not all men are as callous, as to one minute be kissing you, before turning round and kissing someone else. I want to explain to you that first impressions aren't always what they seem."

"And while we're on this subject, Katie was sent round by yet another company looking for Malfoy and Son investment, to use her womanly charm to get me to do anything they wanted. She was sent to the office by Tinie, whilst I had a shower after playing Quidditch with Scorpius and Amando, but she took it upon herself to try it on with me instead. That is what you saw, me telling her to leave it, before she lost all chance of an investment. She didn't take too kindly to me telling her that she certainly wasn't what I was looking for."

Hermione's mouth opened in realisation, and her eyes turned towards the floor; "See we are not all like Weasley!" he hissed.

She ran a hand through her damp hair, "I don't want to argue with you Draco, I'm simply too exhausted. I just came to give you back the dresses. I really don't care what you get up to in your own time. What would it matter to me? We've kissed that's it. There are absolutely no emotional entanglements here; we're just two people, just us; Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy." She looked up at him, "We're friends I don't want anything to come between that, but I really need to get going."

Just as she was about to leave, Draco finally spoke up, "What if the reason I wasn't interested in Katie's advances was because I had my eyes set on someone else?"

"Draco please." She turned so her back was to him.

"Have dinner with me."

"Draco-"

"Please."

A/N: I know, I know, another update, I thought I'd give you an extra one, as a christmas/ new year treat. When the next one will be up, I have no idea. Anyways, you know the drill please leave a review, let me know how your feeling about the stories progression, it's always greatly appreciated.

Now I have two questions for you [Answers in reviews please]:

1.) Should Hermione accept his dinner invitation?

Also

2.) Should Draco divulge his plan to Hermione?

3.) I know I said two questions, but I thought I'd get your thoughts, what do you think should happen next? Take their relationship up another level? Another spanner in the works? Anything. Let me hear any thoughts you have, or even what you think may happen.

Scorpio219 -x-