Chapter 26: Mother Daughter Time

"How about we go shopping, get you a dress, and then I'll answer whatever questions you may have to ask?"

"Really?" Rose asked screwing her eyes up unsure on whether to believe her mother, however in hindsight her mother had never lied to her before, so why would she now? When Hermione nodded, Rose perked up, jumping out of bed, "Cool- I will hold you to that"

Laughing the older woman stood up; finishing the remainder of the orange juice she had in her hand, "Of that I have no doubt Rosie." She continued laughing as she walked to the door, "You have a shower, I'll go and get some breakfast sorted for you, and then when we're both done we'll go to Diagon Alley" Hermione left her daughter a smile still resting on her lips as she descended the stairs.

-1 hour 20 minutes later-

As soon as they were both ready they were walking down Diagon Alley in seconds, Hermione was glad they had made good time in leaving the Manor seeing as though it appeared not many Witches and Wizards were visiting the usually busy street. Meaning they were much less likely to be stopped by someone hounding them for an interview about some supposed sordid affair with Draco.

There first stop was to go to Pansy's Robes, and upon entering the owner was flicking through paperwork, glasses perched carefully on her nose, while a dark haired girl sat next to her flicking between the pages of a glossy version of Witch Weekly, reading intently the pages within.

Hermione politely coughed, understanding that it was all most second nature for Pansy to hear the bell of the door at this time of the year. The ex-Slytherin lifted her head, shocked to see the ex-Griffindor and mini-Hermione stood in front of her, "Granger..." she cautiously took the glasses perched at the end of her nose off, "How may I help you?"

Hermione rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders as she stood in front of her, "Actually, it's Rose, we need a dress for tomorrow" the brunette bit her lip slightly, "I know it's really short notice"

"That it is." Pansy's eyes narrowed, "However, I'm sure I can do something, what colour scheme were you thinking?"

"Anything really" Rose's meek voice answered.

"Violetta" Pansy turned towards her daughter, who seemed to be intently reading the paragraphs in front of her, but hadn't turned the pages in a while, suggesting she was in fact listening to the goings on in front of her. "Why don't you show young Rose is it?" The strawberry blonde girl nodded her head in silent agreement with Pansy. "... Around the selection of dresses- see if she sees anything that catches her eye?" Hermione went to follow the two young girls but was stopped by Pansy's hand on her arm, "Can we talk?"

The pair waited until their daughters were out of earshot, before Hermione turned expectedly towards Pansy, raising her eyebrow, "What did you wish to discuss?"

"A certain blond man"

Hermione rolled her eyes, of course Pansy would want to discuss Draco, "Look Pansy, I don't wish to sound rude, but I have nothing to say about it, only that nothing is going on."

"I know." Pansy admitted, "Trust me I know not to pry where Draco is concerned. However, I just want you to know, I've told him I'll help him, well you really, with whatever it is. But I just ask that you don't hurt him"

It was Hermione's turn to furrow her eyebrows, "I'm not sure what exactly you mean by that"

"He's said there is nothing intimate going on between you both, at least not yet, I just ask that if anything does happen, you give him fair warning of what you want. He won't take advantage of you, but I don't know you, so I can only say, I hope you don't take advantage of him."

"I-" Hermione was dumbstruck on what to say, "I'll never intend to hurt Ma- Draco, I can't predict the future though. He's been really kind to me, and I'm not overly used to it, from any man to be frank, so I'm not sure how to react." It was then as if a light bulb went off in her head that Hermione realised something, if she wanted to talk to anyone about what was going on Pansy was the perfect person. "Pansy, can I ask you something?" The dark haired girl turned her head from looking towards the young girls, nodding her head. "What would you do if you were in my position?"

The other woman pursed her lips, "That depends what position you are in exactly."

Hermione's chin dropped to her chest, as she heaved a heavy breath, "I'd rather you didn't tell Draco what I'm about to tell you," Pansy nodded her understanding, "Well you see, I've become accustomed shall we say, to seeing him every day, the little things he does, how he touches my arm when he's offering me support, how he rubs little circles on my hand as we talk. Just him being him, and I'm scared of loosing that."

"Why would you lose that?"

Hermione shrugged, she hated showing weaknesses but she needed to air them, "I don't want to be another passing fancy to someone"

"I'm sure to Draco your more than that"

"It's selfish of me, but I'd rather not have to venture to find out."

"That's not very Gryffindor like-" the rest of Pansy's sentence was cut off as low and behold the man in question waltzed with that Malfoy swagger into the building. His head jerking back slightly at seeing who Pansy was talking to, as he slowly blinked, looking from one woman to the other, wondering what was going on.

"Pans, Gr- Hermione" He nodded his head slightly in greeting to both before seating himself in a plush armchair waiting until it was his turn to be seen to by the owner. He didn't have to wait long before his old school friend came sashaying up to him, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek, before his eyes flickered to Hermione who was stood talking with the elder of the Zabini children and her own daughter. "What was that about?"

"We were talking about girl stuff, shoes to match the dress you gave her to be specific, and she's come in looking for a dress for Rose for tomorrow." Pansy stated aloofly, waving her hand in a dismissive manner. "What can I do for you Drake?"

He shook his head turning from staring at Hermione, "Do you have the prototype of the designs Mother brought in the other day?"

Pansy nodded as she retrieved a key from behind the desk, "Rosemary finished with it yesterday," she beckoned him to follow her with a flinch of the head before heading back to the hidden room just next to the changing rooms, bypassing Hermione, Rose and Violetta as they went.

As Pansy parted the hanging dresses hiding the door, Rose nudged her mother, "Look, it's like the entrance to Narnia!" causing Hermione to laugh.

When Pansy reappeared out of the hideout she held what looked like a muggle suit bag, "Try it on" she insisted of her blond friend, "You've got a willing audience to give their opinions"

Draco narrowed his eyes, but Rose spoke before he could say anything, "Is that the new Puddlemere kit for next season?" she asked intuitively looking between him and the bag.

He nodded, "I believe it is. Are you a Quidditch fan?"

Rose nodded enthusiastically, "Da-" she rubbed her neck uncomfortably, "Dad always tried to get me to support Chudley Cannons, but everyone knows, Puddlemere will win the championship this year"

The blond smirked, "Do you play Rose?"

The young girl looked between her mum and the blond, "Mum says it's too dangerous, so I'm not supposed to, she never trusted," she stopped herself, "No one has ever been allowed to teach me, she says I'm too young."

"Your mother knows it's not too dangerous, perhaps she would allow me to teach you?" Both himself and Rose looked expectedly towards Hermione, "She after all knows I'm not a bad flyer or teacher, don't you Hermione?"

-Back at Hogwarts (1999)-

Draco removed the scarf that he'd blindfolded Hermione's eyes with, which on seeing what was in front of her she shook her head violently, eyes widening like saucers.

"Draco seriously I don't want to learn to fly"

"We agreed, you taught me how to cook at least a half decent meal, and I would teach you something, and then we'd show each other a dance or two, I'd show you the true Wizarding Waltz, and you show me what you called Latin dance you were doing the other day in the common room."

Hermione sighed, folding her arms over her chest, "Honestly I don't mind teaching you how to dance, or to not give yourself food poisoning, but I would just rather not learn to ride a broom."

"You promised you'd let me teach you something, my decision, as a thank you"

She adamantly shook her head, "I don't need to be thanked it was my pleasure"

"Do you just not trust me?" he questioned seriously arching his eyebrow at her in question

"Draco, I-" she breathed heavily through her nose, "I do trust you" she sighed, "I'm just not comfortable in the air"

"I'll keep you safe, I'll hold onto you, make sure nothing happens"

"You're not going to let this drop are you?"He shook his head, "Fine! I'm not happy about this, but if it keeps you from nagging me I'll accept, but as soon as I say I want to go back down to the ground we do, okay?" she was definitely not having some of her own terms laid out if she was going to do this.

"Whatever you say Princess" his right arm hovered over the broom that lay on the ground, while his left reached out to Hermione, as her dainty hand touched his the broom sprang to life into his other hand, he carefully straddled the broom so one leg was in each side of the piece of wood, before gently tugging Hermione in his direction. He watched as she paused, taking a huge breath for courage before her right leg came into contact with his left leg. "Now simply step to straddle the broom, like you would a man."

He knew his comment would earn his a hardy slap on the chest, which she didn't deny him, but it at least made the tenseness that was wracking her body to disperse. "Don't make comments like that"

Draco simply nodded his head, "I'll try not to, if you let the tension leave your body"

"I'll try" she shot back, "But I'm not in my comfort zone"

"You like to be in control" it was a as much a statement as it was a question, which caused her to go red, "I don't mean like that." He muttered quickly realising his slight innuendo too late. "Place your hand just below mine on the broom handle" she did as he bade; now shaking ever so slightly. The shaking stopped as Draco's hand rested gently over hers, "I've got you remember" he whispered in her ear before gently tilting her hand forward so the broom rested in mid-air. "Now slowly sit down" expecting to fall to the floor Hermione cautiously started squatting and was surprised to find the broom much closer than she thought, so she was now sitting on it, her feet still on the floor. "Were going to rise in a minute, but I need you to do this." She nodded concentrating on what Draco was saying and keeping her breathing in a regular rhythm.

"What do I need to do?" she queried softly.

"Grab the handle with both hands firmly, but not too tightly that you freeze up, just enough so you feel comfortable to hold on" she nodded shifting her other hand to grab the handle. "After three I want you to gently push off from the ground" She sucked in a shocked breath, "You can do it" he whispered against the shell of her ear, "One, two, three" Hermione did exactly as he asked, and was shocked to feel her feet connect harshly with the floor her eyes screwing shut as she felt herself rise, and her feet unable to touch the floor as she tried to reach for the grounds safety.

"Malfoy, I don't think I can do this" she whispered her eyes still closed tightly.

"You've done it, open your eyes" she shook her head

Draco removed his hand from the handle and gently placed it on her stomach, watched as she sucked in a lung full of breath at his touch before her eyes carefully opened. She was surprised to find herself only just off the ground; Draco's feet she noticed as she peered down were still touching the floor. "All you needed to do was believe you could do it" he pressed on her abdomen slightly before saying, "Shall we go higher?"...

A/N: There we go another chapter, two in a week, I'm spoiling you. Please if you are reading this you must have read the chapter, so let me know your thoughts in a review, anonymous reviews are accepted as well :) Scorpio219 -x-