a/n. Thanks again everyone for the likes, follows and reviews. You make my day each time I see a new notification. As this is my first ever fanfic I'm proud to see it has over 160 followers. Please bare with me as I'm learning as I go.

After bidding Malfoy good night Hermione stepped into her home and glided half in a daze to her bedroom. Not surprisingly that was the first time she had been kissed on the lips since Fred passed. It was sweet and gentle, two words she had never thought she would use to describe Malfoy. Yet she was seeing it more every time she was around him. She fell into a restful sleep quickly with the memory of his kiss on her lips.

7 the next morning a regal eagle owl tapped his beak on the bedroom window waking Hermione. She wordlessly opened the window allowing the owl to enter. It confused her because she did not recognize the owl and so it should not have been able to find her. He held out his leg patiently allowing her to release the missive attached to it. He then went and perched on the back of her chair rather than leaving. He had obviously been instructed to wait for a reply.

Granger,
While I had every intention of waiting a more appropriate length of time before contacting you, I have had an interesting opportunity present itself that I think you might enjoy. Upon returning home last night I found I had received a message from a prospective business associate who wants to meet today in Norwich at the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, somewhere I feel you might enjoy.
My meeting is at 2pm. If you are interested in joining me I can pick you up at 1230 for lunch beforehand?
Titus will wait for your reply,
Draco Malfoy

Hermione was surprised to hear from him so soon but he was right, the NML very much interested her. The Norwich library had burned down years before and they rebuilt it just a couple years ago. Now its one of the biggest, best most modern libraries in the country. She had to admit it was very tempting, she had no plans for the day, Bryony was with Ron... before she could talk herself out of it she summoned parchment and a pen and agreed.

Again promptly at 1230 Malfoy knocked on her front door. This time he was dressed in a perfectly tailored three peice muggle suit. She looked through her peep hole before opening the door and had to take a moment to compose herself. Knowing it was for his work she dressed buisness casual, a black pencil skirt and a simple pale yellow blouse with low pumps.

"Good afternoon. To bad you were sorted into Gryffindor, yellow suits you." He said as he walked into her front hallway.

"Haha. Let me grab my bag and I'll be ready." She grabbed her trusty blue beaded bag from the nearby table, charmed it invisible and put it across her shoulder.

"You always carry it that way, don't you? I noticed the glamor before."

"Everyday since 5th year. Fred joked about me going hunched back because of everything I carried in my backpack so he got me this bag and together we charmed it." She released the glamor then stuck her hand in it up to her shoulder. "Undetectable extension and feather lite charms combined. This is how we survived on the run. I had this packed so that no matter what we were prepared. Still do actually, just instead of food, potions and books for training I carry everythjng needed for a clumsy 6 year old."

"Thats impressive magic, sounds like that bag should be in a museum somewhere. "

Hermione laughed at that, "Thats what Harry says every time he sees it. Ready?"

He pulls a peice of parchment from his pocket and holds it out for her to touch, "Absolutely, I figured portkey would be easiest."

After they smoothly landed in a back alley in Norwhich Hermione had to ask, "Thats the smoothest portkey I've ever used. I thought the wait time for a portkey was two weeks?" She quirks her eyebrow in question as he leads her towards the main street.

"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies?"

She laughed at that and conceded, "fine, plausible denialabilty. Although whoever you got it from could teach the portkey office a thing or two. Last one I used beat me up so bad I landed on my bum in the middle of a field 30 yards from where I was supposed to. Thankfully no muggles were around but I scared a few cows." She looked at him as he laughed lightly at her story. He rarely laughed, he was rather stoic most of the time. She realized she liked when he laughed. He led her into a nearby Cafe and helped her into her seat.

"Since you agreed to join me I take it you know of the NML but haven't been yet?" Malfoy asked after the waitress took their order.

"Of course I know of it. It was a huge event in the muggle news when it opened. The events held there are renowned. I've wanted to go for a while now but couldn't ever seem to find the time to drive up..." She stopped as she saw a smirk cross Malfoys face, "what?"

"Really, time to drive up? All it would take is two apporation jumps and you'd be here in 30 seconds. Or plan ahead and get a portkey. Are you a witch or not?" His smirk slipped a little when Hermione burst out laughing at his last question. "I don't see whats so funny."

As she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes she answered him, "First year Harry asked me that same question when we were trying to get the Sorcerer's Stone. I might of panicked and forgot I had the ability to produce flames with my wand. It has since become a running joke among us."

"Forget you could do magic? Seriously? And they call you the brightest witch of our age." He said shaking his head in mock horror.

"Hey, in my defense I had only known magic was real for less than a year. I was only 11 and my friend was at risk of being swallowed whole by a giant Devils Snare. I panicked." She shrugged, "Honestly I still dont think of the magical way first. Growing up as a muggle using magic for everyday things has taken getting used to."

Suddenly serious Malfoy said, "I never thought about that. I guess it makes sense though. You grew up seeing your parents do everything the muggle way so of course you wouldn't think to use magic the same way someone who grew up in a magical household would." And with that statement they were lost in comparing how their upbringing shaped their home life. At 10 to 2 they left the Cafe and walked over to the NML where Malfoy introduced Hermione to his prospective business associate. Upon learning it was Hermione's first visit the gentleman arranged for her to have a private tour of the library.

Upon landing back in her front room several hours later Hermione couldn't help but inquire about the portkey again, "How did you get it programed to return to my front room?" Portkeys weren't supposed to work that way. Portkeys can be activated anywhere but the destination is supposed to be set in advance. This one returned them exactly where they had left from.

"My contact has mastered the spell so that it will return you to where it was first activated."

"Well again, my compliments." Hermione paused, they had already had lunch together and technically spent most of the day together but she was enjoying her time with him and didn't want it to end. She wanted to talk to him about the NML and continue there conversation about muggle vs. Magical childhoods. She looked at him as she put her bag down and he seemed hesitant to leave as well.

-_-_ -

"Since I haven't planned anything for dinner I'm thinking of ordering take away, would you like to join me?" Granger asked him as he helped her take her jacket off. Her question caught him off guard. He hadn't wanted to leave her yet but couldn't decide what to suggest. It had been an interesting afternoon.

When he got home last night he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep right away and didn't want to lay in bed obsessing over the night they had had. So after he checked on Scorpious he went into his office to try and catch up on some of his work. When he received the message from Walt Brennen he had been pleased. This was a contact he had been wanting to make for some time now. He then realized where the man wanted to meet and his mind went into overdrive. He knew Granger would love the NML and somehow he knew she wouldn't have made time to go. Did he invite her? Was it to soon after their first date? How would it appear to Brennen? He took a calming drought and laid down but was still unable to sleep. At 630 he finally got up and penned the note to Granger. After he sent it he went back to bed and actually slept. That was until Scorpious came running into his room and jumped on the bed to wake him at 830. They had breakfast and spent the morning together watching cartoons before Draco had to leave to get his portkey and meet with Granger.

Now he was standing in her entryway and she had asked him to stay for dinner. He knew by Wizarding society standards he shouldn't be here. He should have waited a few days before even contacting her then a week or so before the next date. Even though their first date was last night he felt they were long past it, they had been seeing each other once a week for drinks for months now, they had celebrated major milestones together, hell he had even sat by her sick bed when she was hurt. And most of all to hell with the Wizarding society standards. He knew she wasn't going to do anything if she didn't want to so the invitation was genuine and he wanted accept so he did. She went into the kitchen and pulled out a bunch of take away menus. He wasn't about to admit that he had never had muggle take away so he told her to pick which ever she wanted and to just order him whatever she thought was good.

The kitchen was one of the rooms he hadn't seen yet. When he was here before he had just conjured a glass of water when it was needed rather than explore her home more than necessary. Now he took a moment to look around. Thankfully he knew what most of the appliances were and what there purpose was. At the office they had a break room with a refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. He never used them but he knew what they were and what they did. On the refrigerator was a drawing that caught his eye. It was a little girl with flaming red hair standing next to a boy whose hair was changing color in front of a house that looked to be a series of rooms built on top of each other. After hanging up with the takeaway place Granger saw what he was looking at.

"Thats Bryony's current favorite, its her and Teddy in front of the Burrow. After she drew it she asked me to charm his hair so its more accurate." She smiled looking at the picture.

"I thought all the Weasley grandchildren were girls?" He asked. He didn't necessarily follow the family but he remembered hearing Potter say something about another girl as he left Granger's house last week.

Startled she looked at him as if he were missing something important. "Teddy isn't a Weasley, well not by name anyways. He is the son of Remus Lupin and Tonks. Hes your second cousin. Actually I think its first cousin once removed. Either way he's Andromeda's grandson." She paused as if to gage his reaction, he knew that his cousin had married his former DADA professor and they had a child together but didn't even know if it was a boy or girl. He didn't know how he felt about it all. Part of him had wanted to reach out to his aunt but the other part felt it would be disloyal to his mother. Knowing Granger was obviously acquainted with her complicated things more. "Harry was named Godfather when he was born. He and Andromeda both agreed he wasn't ready to take over as primary care giver after the battle but Harry is a major part of his life. Harry brings him over to the Burrow almost every week. Andromeda even comes over once a month or so. Teddy and Bryony are only 9 months apart so they've grown up together and are best friends."

Draco didn't know what to say to all of this so rather than comment on it he asked about the charmed hair.

"Oh hes a metamorphmagus like his mother. And like his mother he likes changing his hair color most, the more outrageous the color the better."

"Neat charm work on your part."

"Thanks." She reached into the cabinet behind her and grabbed two glasses, "water?" After he nodded she reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a pitcher to pour from.

"Thank you." He couldn't help but smirk as her movements just confirmed what they had spoken of earlier. "That right there proves our theory." He said as she handed him his glass.

"What do you mean?" She said as she sat at the table.

He pulled his wand and conjured the same style of glass and filled it with water. She laughed at his smug look. "Seriously? You wouldn't bother walking to the kitchen to get yourself a glass of water. Your solution is to just pull your wand for every little thing."

Before he could answer the door bell rang. They both headed towards the front door and Granger stopped to grab her bag. He pulled his wallet and went to open the door while she was paused.

"Um, excuse you."

"Yes?"

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked with an incredulous look on her face as she saw his wallet.

"I'm getting dinner? What do you think I'm doing?"

"No your not. You got lunch, this was my idea and It's my turn. I'm getting this." She said so petulantly he expected her to stomp her foot.

"I don't think so Granger. I don't know what your used to but there is no way I can allow you to pay." Her jaw set he saw she was going to argue this. "Stubborn witch," All of a sudden he saw a glint of something in her eye and in hindsight that should have been a tipoff. As she stepped closer to him he felt a stinging hex hit his wrist and the shock of it caused him to drop his wallet. Before he could even react she caught it and before he could try to grab it back she put it down her blouse.

"You want your wallet back? You want to pay, get your wallet and you can pay." She challenged him. She had him and she knew it. As a gentleman there is no way he would reach down her blouse. The doorbell rang again as they stared each other down. She smirked and muttered "I thought so." And she opened the door, paid the man and then turned around back into the kitchen. As he followed her he had to give her credit, "10 points to Gryffindor, so what would you have done if I'd tried to get my wallet back?"

"I'd have let you." She said turning to give him a wink and a smirk. Damn, he was in trouble.

The next day at the Burrow Angelina and Ginny cornered Hermione in the den after dinner. Hermione had told Ginny that Malfoy had asked her out and now she wanted all the detaiils.

"It was fun. Dinner was good, he was charming and conversation flowed well. Then he asked if I liked jazz and took me to a nearby jazz club. We danced until closing."

"Boring, get to the good part already." Ginny said impatiently as she rubbed her swollen stomach.

"Wait, dancing could be good." Angelina interjected, "did his hands roam? Hold you closer than necessary?"

"He was a perfect gentleman and great dance partner."

"So no roaming hands. Did he at least kiss you good night? Because this is sounding more like a night out with a friend than a date." Ginny grumbled.

"Of course he kissed me good night" Hermione huffed.

"And?" the other ladies asked at the same time.

"And it was sweet and gentle." she paused for their growns then added, "no worries last night was much better."

At that point Harry, Ron and George came into the room, "what was better last night?" Harry asked kissing his wife.

"Malfoy and I snogging." Hermione replied smiling at the guys.

"Nope, I'm not hearing this." "Bye" "there are some things I just don't need to know." They all three turned around and left the room as quickly as possible while Ginny leaned forward and squealed, "wait what happened last night?"

Hermione decided to torture the others for a moment and started from the beginning, knowing they would care less about a trip to the library. Finally Ginny broke and interrupted her, "Forget this, get to the good stuff already woman!"

"You mean the part where I invited him to put his hand down my blouse or when I grabbed him and practically demanded he snog me properly? " Ginny started bouncing on her seat and about fell off the edge.

"Calm down woman, if you fall I won't be able to get you back up." Hermione laughed at her friends antics. She had to admit she was loving this. Because Fred and her had decided to keep their relationship a secret she never got to gossip with her friends like this. It made her feel like a silly school girl but she was having fun messing with Ginny.

"Just spill already." Angelina added while bouncing baby Roxanne.
Hermione told them about the argument over who would pay for dinner and then started in on the good night kiss.

"Good night Granger" he said as he leaned in to kiss her. They had been shamelessly flirting ever since dinner arrived and one thing she knew is that she wanted him. She is impatient and always goes for what she wants but just like she knew he wouldn't go for his wallet she knew he wouldn't make a move yet. It wouldn't be proper.

She let him have his chatse little kiss but before he could step away she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Their difference in height meant he would have to bend down slightly before she could kiss him so she just waited until he took the hint. His usually calm grey eyes looked as if a storm was brewing in them. He paused a moment then leaned ever so closer and tilted his head down to her. Once he did she kissed him, gently at first but when he didn't pull away she turned her head slightly to get a better angle and lightly ran her tongue along his lower lip, asking for access. He put one hand on her waist and the other holding her cheek as they deepened the kiss. It was still sweet and gentle but the passion was there. It told her what she needed to know. After a few moments she gently pulled away and smiled at him. The storm in his eyes seemed to have calmed, "Good night Malfoy." She said as she opened the door for him.

He nodded at her and simply replied "Granger" before walked out into the night.