"Are you ready for this?"

I glance over at Malfoy to find him peeking out of one of the many windows in his living room, looking down at the street below.

"How bad is it?" I ask, not even bothering to go check myself.

Malfoy hums to himself for a moment. "Remember when I punched Weasel in the face? And all those reporters started swarming Potter and Ginny?"

I nod slowly.

"Well, imagine that, and then double it."

I groan and cover my face with my hands. Malfoy's footsteps echo across his flat as he makes his way to me, his strong arms wrapping around my stomach as he leans in to kiss my temple. I relax in his embrace and laugh despite myself when his fingers move against a ticklish spot on my stomach he found the evening before.

"Please don't remind me that it was my idea to go public," I say, my face still buried in my hands.

Malfoy's laughter is quiet, but I can feel it rumbling in his chest behind me. "All right. I won't remind you that it was your idea to go public. Or that it was your idea to have our announcement be a picture of us kissing outside my apartment complex. Or how it was your idea to spend the whole weekend at my flat to avoid going outside and as a result, the entire wizarding community as decided to stand outside, awaiting our appearance so they can figure out just what the hell is going on."

"Yes, please don't mention any of that." I sigh and lower my hands, turning so I am facing him. "What should we do?"

"You know my answer to that, Granger. I say we need to just face the music already. I can drive us to the Ministry today instead of us using the Floo Network. We don't have to answer any questions, we just have to let them see us. That way, they know it's not just some fling for either one of us. If we aren't seen together some bastard over at the Prophet is going to take it upon him or herself to write some article on how we were so desperate for a shag that we hooked up and have now ruined our precious work relationship and friendship, thus dooming the justice system of the Ministry forever, and darling, I really don't feel like murdering someone today."

I smile and let my hands trail up his arms to play with the hair at the base of his neck, something I've found I rather enjoy doing. "But we didn't shag." I point out.

Malfoy rolls his eyes. "They don't know that, nor do they care. If you really want to avoid the reporters, we can Floo in. No Apparating though; it's bad for the baby."

I grin and stand on my tip toes to press my lips to his in a soft, chaste kiss, pulling away before he can do anything more than sweetly kiss me back. "I know, I know; Apparition is a no go." I glance toward the window as Malfoy's arms tighten around me, securing me to his body. "You're right," I admit. "We're going to have to deal with this at some point."

"All right, now I know you are officially dating me."

I look up at him quizzically and he smirks.

"There is no way in hell you'd ever admit I was right about something unless you were dating me. Which, luckily for me, you are."

I roll my eyes and pull away from him, moving toward his bedroom. "I'm going to get dressed now; hopefully some of them will have other stories they have to attend to and will disappear while I'm getting ready."

"Are you sure you can't just go into the office wearing that?"

I glance down at myself. Due to Malfoy's enthusiastic reaction to me wearing nothing but his shirt and a pair of knickers, I am wearing an old green t-shirt of his and a pair of white underwear. The shirt is old and faded, the smell of him rich and strong in the fabric. The knickers themselves are nothing new or special.

"Funnily enough, I wasn't planning on it."

Malfoy follows me into his bedroom, leaning against the door frame as I pull on a black pair of leggings. I peel his shirt off, instantly missing the comforting smell of him as I pull on a matching white bra and a deep purple sweater dress.

"Do you like my selection?" he asks as I adjust the dress in the mirror. "I wasn't sure what to grab you."

"It's perfect, thank you."

"To be honest," he says, another smirk pulling at the corners of his lips, "I had thought about just bringing your whole closet back with me when you asked to stay here for the whole weekend."

"Well I'm glad you didn't. As much as I love your flat, I do miss mine." I glance over at him, suddenly realizing that I am now meant to return to my flat tonight. Alone. And sleep in my own bed. Alone.

"Why the face?" Malfoy asks. "You all right?"

"I just realized that I've slept next to you for two nights in a row."

"And…?"

"I don't want to sleep alone tonight."

"Oh thank Merlin, I'd thought you'd never ask,"

"Excuse me?"

"Would you like me to sleep over at your flat tonight? Or is that the wrong way to phrase that question. Should I be asking permission to do that?"

I smile and move to his side so I can wrap my arms around his waist. "So long as Ginny or Harry don't tie me to a chair somewhere and hold me captive until I explain everything to them, I'd love it if you stayed at my place tonight."

"Don't worry," he says, leaning down and stopping just before his lips graze mine, "I'll come rescue you if they take you."

"You'd better," I warn, laughing as he finally closes the distance between our mouths and kisses me. I push him away when his tongue traces my lower lip, when I want to just pull him closer. "Enough, Malfoy. We have to go to work, it's Monday."

He growls, but moves away from me. "I hate that you're the responsible one. Fine, fine, I'll go grab my coat."

I smirk as he leaves and grab my purse from the top of his dresser before exiting his bedroom and meeting him outside his flat's entrance. I slip on my heels and thank Malfoy as he helps me into my coat. I cast one last wistful look around his flat, wanting nothing more than to change back into his old shirt and spend the whole day watching all movies with him on his couch.

"We could just call in sick," Malfoy proposes when he checks me eyeing the telly. "I'm sure you have an ungodly amount of sick days piling up."

"No; it was your idea that we go out and face the music, so that is what we are going to do."

"I hate being right all the time," he mutters as we exit his flat and make our way to the elevator. "How about we make it a half day? Let's just leave for lunch and then not come back."

I laugh and shake my head as we step into the elevator and Malfoy presses the button for the lobby. "Absolutely not, Malfoy. We are sticking out this whole day, no matter what it will bring and then we can get take-out or something and hide away in my flat for the rest of the night."

Malfoy mumbles something I don't quite catch in response as the doors to the elevator close and we begin the descendent down to the lobby.

"Hey, Granger."

"Yes, Malfoy?'

"Our first kiss was in an elevator."

"Don't you even think about it! We do not have the time for an elevator snog session and if we're about to get our pictures taken, I'd prefer not to do with a fresh hickey and messed up hair."

Malfoy makes a noise of protest in the back of his throat and I laugh, reaching out to wrap my arm around his waist.

"You're no fun," he moans.

"Oh really?" I ask, tilting my head up to meet his silver eyes. "I don't think that was what you were saying last night."

"Don't-"

"You remember, don't you?"

"Granger, I swear to Merlin-"

"When I did that little trick with my tongue-"

I don't register him moving until his mouth is firm on mine, his hands clutching my coat tightly as he backs me up into the wall of the elevator. I laugh into his kiss as his tongue demands entry into my mouth. My hands tug on his hair in the way I know now he likes and he moans softly into my mouth, his hips moving against mine rhythmically.

When the first bell signaling the opening of the elevator doors chime, Malfoy immediately pulls away from me, but keeps his hand firm in mine. We smile politely at the young couple who enter the lift as we exit.

"I swear, Granger," Malfoy says to me, his voice low as we slowly make our way to the main entrance. "It is so not fair for you to bring that up. Especially when you know I can't properly ravish you the way I'd like to in response."

I smile and squeeze his hand. "You'll survive. I just wanted to remind you that while you were known as the Slytherin Sex God in school, I haven't spent my time out of school being a total prude."

"Did people actually call me that?" Malfoy asks.

"If I say no will your ego deflate a little?"

"Of course not, it's me, Granger."

I laugh. "Good point. And yes, I believe several girls referred to you as that. Although, I am unsure if any of them actual slept with you."

He smirks and readjusts my hand in his before glancing toward the door.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Just keep looking at me. I mean, my attractiveness and beauty no know bounds, so I'm not sure why you'd even bother looking anywhere else. Honestly, Granger, I think they're just here because they want some more pictures of me to hang up in their offices."

"One can only hope, Malfoy."

"Good morning, Miss Granger," April says cheerily as I step off the lift. "You have one meeting with the Chief Warlock at three and you have… well, you have fifty messages, ma'am."

"Fifty?" I repeat. "You're joking." I pause and think for a moment. "How many are from the Potters?"

April smirks. "I cut them off at forty-five."

I laugh and shake my head. "You probably could have cut them off at two. Who are the other five from?"

She glances down at her clipboard before responding. "Um, it looks like two separate ones from the Investigation department: one considering the Madison case and the other concerning your custody battle. One message is from the Chief Warlock reminding you of your meeting at three this afternoon and one is from Draco Malfoy wishing you a lovely day."

My heart swells and warms so much that I nearly overlook the fact that April only mentioned four messages.

"You said I had five besides those from Harry and Ginny. Who is the fifth one from?"

April's cheeks go red with either embarrassment or uncomfortableness. "I didn't read it, ma'am."

My eyebrows pull together at her defensive tone. "I never implied that you did, April. Is everything all right?"

She sighs. "Everything is fine, Miss Granger… it's just that… well, the fifth message is from Mr. Weasley."

Shit. Ron. I had completely forgotten about him. I glance toward my office where my messages are waiting and bite my lower lip. "It's not a howler or anything is it?"

"I don't believe so, ma'am."

"All right, thank you April."

I move toward my office and shut the door behind me, immediately noticing the stack of messages piled high on my desk. I shuffle through them and discard Harry and Ginny's (which are mostly just differing versions of 'What the fuck?' and 'Owl me or Floo me the minute you get this'). I read through the ones from the Investigation department quickly before filing them away so I will look at them in greater detail later. Finally, the only message left unopened is Ron's.

Just as I go to reach for it, my fireplace erupts in a jet of emerald flames and out pops not just Harry, but Ginny as well.

"Merlin!" I say, clutching my heart. "You two could scare a person half to death, do you know that? A little warning next time would have been nice."

"You're dating Malfoy!" Ginny's voice is loud, her words more like an accusation than a question.

"Gin!" Harry says quickly. "I thought we agreed, we were going to be supportive and then be mad that she didn't tell us-"

"Screw that," she says. "I'm jumping straight to annoyed as hell that my best friend didn't tell me she was dating Draco goddamn Malfoy! When did this happen?"

"Well, we didn't officially put a label on it until Friday."

"See, it's only been a few days," Harry says, turning to Ginny. "I won the bet."

"Woah, woah, you guys had a bet about this?"

"Yeah and now I'm even more annoyed with you considering I lost," Ginny says dimly.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Malfoy admitted to being interested in me the night we all went to dinner and he punched Ron in the face. I decided I was willing to give him a shot romantically and well, now we're dating."

"Wait, you guys started seeing each other over a month ago?" Gin clarifies.

"Uh, yeah, I guess. But, we like I said, we didn't officially label it until last Friday."

"Doesn't matter, I won!" she says turning to Harry with a gloating look on her face. "I told you this couldn't have been a recent thing! I win!"

"No, because they didn't label it until a few days ago-"

"Oh, don't be such a sore loser, Harry-"

"Not that I'm not happy that you both are handling this so well," I say before they can really start arguing over the rules of their bet, "but, why are you handing this so well? I was scared you two might think I was possessed or something."

"Hermione, we saw the way you acted with Malfoy when we all went to dinner," Harry says. "Not to mention just the way he's been acting toward us since then. He really has toned down on being a massive prat since Hogwarts."

"And you've seemed so much happier these past few weeks," Ginny adds. "We'd be insane not to be happy for you. Don't get us wrong, we're confused as all hell and I'm still pissed I had to learn about your relationship from a freaking Prophet article, but I suppose I'll forgive you eventually."

"Please do not mention that article," I beg, rubbing my temples at the mere thought of it. "I never want to think about the things that reporter said about me ever again."

"If it makes you feel any better," Ginny says, cross my office to my side so she can take my hands, "I'm already plotting that reporter's brutal and painful murder. In fact, I'm sure Malfoy would be more than willing to help me execute that plan. And the reporter."

I laugh and pull her in for a hug. "Thanks Gin. I'm so glad you two are taking this so well." I pull away from her and look between them suspiciously for a moment. "Out of curiosity, what does the winner of your little bet win?"

"Full naming rights to our first born child," Harry admits after a slight pause.

"You two are actually flat out ridiculous."

"Well, you are too, so I guess that explains how we all get along so well."