Chapter 30:

Hermione gently placed a free hand onto the blond's chest, "Really, you don't need to"

Draco nodded, "I know I don't but I don't wish to keep anything from you, if anything is to happen, I want to be truthful from the onset," he paused absentmindedly drawing a pattern on the hand she had rested on his chest, as he kept his larger paw over hers. "I know you detest liars." He paused taking a deep breath bringing his eye sight back from his hand resting over hers, to her own brown gaze, "Most of what you have ever read about me is true, some people have claimed to have had sex with me, some of those have, but the majority have not. I was completely monogamous in my relationship to Astoria, and have been discreet since her death."

The final portion of the sentence caused Hermione to pull her hand away slowly, biting her lip hesitantly, which in turn caused Draco to stop his speech as he assessed her mannerisms. "What are you thinking?" She shook her head in reply, dropping her gaze ever so slightly to his chin. And as Draco tilted his head more, she followed his chin, stopping only as his fingers softly held her chin, "Look at me" she shook her head again, an internal battle waging in her mind as she tried to stop any show of emotion on her face. "Tell me" he softly commanded, "Did I say something wrong?"

Scraping every last piece of her pride, strength and dignity she could find, Hermione turned to face him, "How often?" she didn't let a single emotion show through on her face as she asked the two worded question.

"How often what?" Draco asked confused.

"How often do you rendezvous with these girls?" she paused before saying quietly, "You said you wouldn't lie to me"

Rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort he answered, "Monthly? Sometimes weekly, or more often depending upon the social calendar."

"How often is more than once a week?"

"Two or three times a week?" He relented uncertain as to the path the questions were taking.

Hermione processed the statement, making a few calculations in her head, "And this week?" There was a second of static pause, "What number was Katie? Did I interrupt the pair of you?" While Hermione was unrelenting in her barrage of questions the blond could detect a hint of hesitancy, as if she was scared of the answer "Because I didn't give it, did you get it elsewhere?"

"I- NO"

"Are you sure, as you like to tell me, you're the most eligible bachelor in the country, may be even the Wizarding World, it wouldn't be hard to find someone to tickle your fancy"

"You are not listening to me!" he huffed back undignified. "Why would I?" He shook his head, "Is that what you think of me?" Draco was having a hard time sorting his thoughts, causing him to have the onslaught of a developing migraine- though whether that was a combination of both the alcohol he had consumed and/ or the questions he didn't know.

He stood up from the sill he had been sat staggering slightly, before stalking away from the brunette who was muddling his thoughts up, "When you decide to listen to me, find me" and with that he was gone from the room, the velvet bag the only reminder he had been there at all- except the tumbler of firewhiskey.

-Sunday morning-

Needless to say, Hermione and Draco didn't speak of their argument that night, nor the morning after, in fact they did not speak at all- when Narcissa and a reluctant Lucius came to collect Hermione and Rose to go to the Quidditch, the former was dubious of attending, and she had a niggle of a feeling that she needed to speak to Draco.

When they arrived at the stadium her daughter seemed content to chat with the other children present, leaving Hermione to stand to one side, one Gryffindor in a sea of Slytherins that was until she was noticed by Daphne as she appeared with two younger, clearly Quidditch enthusiastic boys in toe.

Daphne made her way towards Hermione, her head to toe Puddlemere fan boys stayed back next to the still attractive, if slightly older Wizard who the brunette recognised as Terence Higgs, who was himself holding a baby girl in his arms.

"Hermione?" Daphne beamed, pushing her glasses to rest more at the top of her nose, "It's been too long"

Hermione nodded mirroring the other woman's smile, "It's not been that long Daphne, we saw each other this time last year"

They quickly embraced, before the ex-Slytherin shrugged her shoulders, "A lot can happen in a year" the smile slowly slid off Daphne's face, "How are you?"

A watery smile took form on Hermione's face as she glanced fondly at Rose chatting with James Potter who had appeared out of thin-air, "I'm okay, I've got Rose and that's all that matters" she looked back at Daphne, "And thank you, Dra- Malfoy told me what you did for us, the pair of you," she signalled towards Terence.

"He didn't take much persuasion, your ex does not have a good rapport with many of us, actually- I'm not sure any of us like him." Daphne summed the mutual Slytherin hatred of Ronald Weasley up forgoing the sugar coating. "How's Draco anyway?"

Hermione flinched ever so slightly, "He is good; at least I think he is." Daphne raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow behind her glasses, "We had a slight disagreement, or should I say over reaction on my account, he left frazzled."

"You are still staying with him, are you not?"

"As awkward as it is, yes. Rose doesn't like staying at my parent's old house; she actually asked to remain with Draco and his parents at the Manor. And where my daughter goes, I go."

Daphne thought for a moment, before choosing her words carefully, "Perhaps you should go speak to him? You know how flummoxed he can get, and he's much worse when it's an argument with you," the darker haired woman smiled again, "And my boys really want a Puddlemere win today" she added as an afterthought in an attempt to lighten the mood. When Hermione shyly nodded her agreement, Daphne said, "Want me to come with you?"

"Do you mind? I need to think about what I'm going to say, and I don't wish to get lost while I'm thinking"

Daphne's reply was to call Terence, "Terry, me and Hermione are going to take a stroll, we'll be back in a little while. Archie, Samuel, stay out of trouble," she shouted to her Son's as they curiously peered out of the glass windows of the box everyone had gathered in.

It didn't take the former Hogwart's students that long to reach the changing rooms designated to each of the teams, in particular the home locker room hosting the Puddlemere team, and when Hermione didn't opt to knock on the door, Daphne did it for her.

Fourteen seconds later and a raven haired man answered the door; "Mrs Higgs," he answered surprised "Terry's not playing today" he summarised upon seeing who was at the door.

"We're actually here to see Draco, Lucas" only then did the man notice Hermione's presence.

He turned from the pair closing the door slightly as he shouted into the room, "Hey Malfoy you've got two hot ladies at the door looking for you" the statement caused a few heads to turn and attempt to peer out of the open door at who was there.

Draco appeared a few moments later his Quidditch pants already on and his jersey in his hand as he towelled his hair of any excess water. Daphne quickly excused herself as she saw Pansy walking towards her, mouthing something about Blaise, with a confused expression on her face.

"You better come in" Draco held the door open for Hermione before leading her towards the coaches room, a room already occupied by Blaise who dutifully stood when Hermione entered.

"I just need you to sign here mate" Blaise said 'x-ing' the spot in which he needed Draco's signature. "It should be finalised tomorrow, I'd say afternoon so people have enough time to get over possible hangovers"

Draco smirked, as he signed the document "Thanks again Blaise, now why don't you go to your seats, I'm sure I saw a less than impressed Pansy stalking down the corridor coming this way"

Blaise winced, "Damn, I left her a note explaining what I was doing; she'll be upset I've not mentioned it before." Draco laughed lightly reaching over to shake his friends hand, "I'll see you after the match hopefully, winners medal and all- good luck mate"

Whether Blaise meant good luck in the game or with the brunette witch who had stayed unusually quiet during their exchange, Draco wasn't sure, just like he was unsure how this conversation was about to go.

Upon Blaise's exit Draco sat down in the seat on the far side of the desk, watching Hermione intently, as she bit her lip with enough force that he was shocked that blood wasn't oozing down her chin. He didn't say anything as he signalled for her to take the seat opposite him as she glanced his way.

"Listen Draco, I'm sor-"

"You know, I had expected to see you before now" he cut in before she could get her apology out, causing her to go silent.

He continued to watch her as her eyes stared anywhere but at him before he finally heard the crack of her voice, "This is really hard for me..." she trailed slightly, "I'm confused about everything, but I know I stepped out of line last night." She finally looked at him, diverting her eyes quickly, "Could you put on a shirt?" she asked as the blush rose up her cheeks, before she continued "What you get up to isn't really any of my business, as your house guest I shouldn't and don't have a right to ask you personal questions."

"Are we really playing this game again Granger?" he stood from the chair he was sat, walking around the desk to lean next to her. "Blaise was here with the transfer papers for the account," he decided to change the subject, "And I'm hoping to be able to speak with Lord Ardenbrook tonight, go over the finer details and such."

"Thank you" her meek voice said, "I appreciate it, it may not be that obvious at the moment but I do appreciate it"

"I have been thinking about last night" he admitted as he stared away from her for a while, "I mean, I spent the whole of last night thinking about it," he placed a finger on her lip as he saw her go to speak, "Let me finish." He sighed, and Hermione noticed how the muscles in his pectorals shifted with the action, "I know it was a defensive mechanism from you, I know you've had a lot to deal with this past week, so I don't want to push you into anything, this is me backing off" he lifted his hands in a surrendering motion.

Hermione sat there shocked for a few spare moments, he was backing off? Her eye brows furrowed as she thought. His advances had made her feel young at heart again, would they stop? Would she be unable to look him in the eye without flushing a violent shade of red? "I'm not sure I want you to" she finally succumbed to saying.

A/N: Edited on 15/09/12