After waking up and familiarizing herself with the room she was in, Hermione made her way to the dinning room after dressing in a simple pair of tight black jeans Pansy had insisted she buy, a midnight blue jumper and black flats. She's scrutinized herself in the mirror before deciding she quite liked how her clothes fit her. Narcissa often complimented her when they met for tea and Hermione had been happy to relay the compliments to both Pansy and Ginny. So she had learned to trust their taste and the wardrobe they're forced her to buy at the beginning of the school year.

It didn't take too long for her to find where the Malfoy family was seated enjoying their breakfast. Once she touched the lower level, she followed the general direction of the sun room from her memory and eventually heard the sound of silverware on china.

Entering the room she smiled at Narcissa who smiled right back as she touched Lucius's arm to get his attention off the Profit in his hand. Draco had his back to her, posture perfect as he ate his eggs.

"Hermione, good morning! How did you sleep?"

Draco turned and stood so fast his chair scrapped the ground. Hermione had her hands in front of her, ready for his scrutiny but answered his mother.

"Like a dream. That bed is sinfully soft." Narcissa chuckled so Hermione looked to her husband, "Thank you for allowing me to stay with you Lord Malfoy."

"Call me Lucius Miss Granger. And Narcissa would have it no other way and as you know by now, I merely exist to do as she wishes." That was the most she ever heard from him in one sitting and it was quite funny. Hermione's smile widened to show a little teeth and the older wizard actually grinned, "Come eat, Darcey made a feast for you and Draco and we can't possibly finish it ourselves."

"She tends to do that, even when it's just him and I after rounds or a long tutoring lesson."

Walking into the room cautiously, looking at Draco who was staring at her like he was trying to decide if this was really happening. At his side she pulled out her chair but used two fingers to push his jaw up and close his mouth before sitting.

Narcissa looked like a cat in cream, "Draco, darling, do sit back down. It is not polite to gawk at guests."

He sat back down automatically, practically craning his neck to continue looking at Hermione while doing so. When he was seated he alternated his gaze between his mother and the witch beside him.

"You're earrings, they were my mothers. I knew I recognized them," his eyes widened comically and Hermione was sure she heard Lucius snort a laugh behind his paper when Draco looked sharply at his mother, "You let her wear the Malfoy family emeralds?"

Hermione was just as shocked as she looked across the table at Narcissa.

The blonde woman merely shrugged looking uninterested, "It was actually your father's idea. He saw her gown when it arrived and thought they would work perfectly. Which they did."

Draco sputtered, "Y-You're fucking with me, the three of you are." He looked back at Hermione, "Why are you here?"

She felt like she swallowed a stone. Speaking carefully so her voice wouldn't waiver she took a sip of her pumpkin juice, "Your parents invited me."

Narcissa took the moment to chastise her son seeing Hermione lose some color, "Draco, mind your language."

"Sorry mother," it was automatic, like a conditioned response but he quickly rounded back on Hermione's answer, "Why here though? I watched you go to the train with your friends."

"I walked them to the train station but I told them I had received my portkey to see my parents."

"And that's not true?"

"You're quick in the morning." Narcissa chuckled behind her hand, "No, I got a letter yesterday morning from Molly, Mrs. Weasley, asking that I not come with them."

"Which is preposterous," Narcissa chimed in, "You would think after everything you have been through with their family she would consider you her own."

Ignoring his mother Draco reached out for Hermione's hand, an action that drew Lucius's eye over his paper.

"Why didn't you tell me? We were right by one another at breakfast. You could have come with me, hell Pansy would have taken you home."

Hermione visibly shuddered earning a laugh from Narcissa, "Hermione and Persia did not have a good meeting last time."

Draco didn't know who to look at, "What?"

"He doesn't know?" Narcissa asked coyly earning a look from Hermione. When the younger witch looked at her son she share a look with Lucius, who had put down his paper.

"Your mother and I have been speaking since before the school term," Draco's eyes widened impossibly, "We have tea every third Saturday."

"How did I not know this?"

Hermione shrugged, "You are not a morning person," he scoffed making her grin, "You're not. You get up first but you're not bright and shiny in the morning. We use your mother's Eagle Owl and he often delivers my letter after delivering yours."

Godsmacked Draco slumped against his chair. Letting him wrap his mind around the new information Hermione looked across the table at Narcissa who was smiling blindingly.

"So Hermione what is it you normally do on your break?"

"Well with the Weasley's it's usually filled with non-regulation quidditch matches in the snow, too much food, loud games of exploding snap, the twins testing products on anyone who willingly accepts food or drinks from them, pranks, and me doing everything to avoid it all and read."

Narcissa laughed, "And with your parents?"

Hermione paused but answered, "We would go find a tree the day after I got home. Mum and I would spend the day decorating while my father closed their practice for the break. There would be too much food because my mum wouldn't stop baking. But all in all it would be a quiet holiday. I tended not to tell them much of what was going on because magic scared them a bit."

"Have you heard anything about your portkey?"

"No, Kingsley says it's because I'm still a student. I am a legal adult but because I am a student I would need a 'parental figure' to escort me. I was going to ask Arthur over the holiday but obviously that won't work."

"You're talking about them in the past tense yet you plan to see them," Draco started, "Why?"

He watched Hermione swallow thickly, "They haven't got their memories of me." To her left, Lucius's silverware clanked in surprise but Hermione continued, looked at Draco, "I took them before going off with Harry and Ron. Not an obliviate, just a modification. They're in Australia though so I need an international portkey to see them and attempt to reverse it."

"How much more are you keeping from me?"

That hurt more than he knew. "You never asked," she told him simply.

"And your relationship with my mother?"

Picking up her napkin, Hermione dabbled her mouth and placed it on the table, "It was never brought up. Does it bother you so much?"

"No," he said sharply, "It's just...shocking."

"I can go back to the castle. If it does, I mean. Dracey can take me back or the Headmistress said I could use her floo."

He grabbed her hand again, "No, you'll stay here. With us." Suddenly he grinned, "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

"Is that so?" she grinned.

"Mhm," he squeezed her hand before letting it go so he could put her napkin back on her lap and point to her breakfast as if telling her to eat it, "We celebrate mostly on Christmas. On Chirstmas Eve mother hosts a formal ball."

"No..." she whispered.

"Oh yes," he grinned, "Will you help her with her dress again Mother?"

Narcissa nodded, "I already have it, it's actually in your room dear."

She'd aimed the last half of her sentence at Hermione with a smile.

"A f-formal ball?"

The matriarch nodded again, "Yes. Speaking of your dress, I want you to try it on after breakfast and let me know how it fits. It should be fine as I used your measurements but just to be safe."

"Okay."

Over his shock Draco laughed at Hermione's weak acceptance, "Mother, you're frightening her."

"She was the same way with the last gown."

Lucius snorted, "You should have heard them during her fittings. I could hear your mother from my study when Miss Granger entertained her."

"You could not," Narcissa exclaimed making Hermione giggled.

"You could," she whispered to Draco while Narcissa was distracted, "Your mother and Molly are similar in that manner."

Draco smirked, "And you thought Pansy and Red were bad."

Rolling her lips to keep from laughing she nudged him with her leg. In return he put his hand on her knee to steady her while his parents continued to banter. It was surreal for Hermione to see them this way. Publicly they always so formal with one another and others. And yet, here they were at the breakfast table love in their eyes as they bickered back and forth. She knew Narcissa had another side to her and had been reserved about Lucius but seeing him laugh and shake his head earning a thump from his wife made her laugh as she looked at Draco.

Draco took her up stairs after breakfast with promises to make her try on her dress. Though he was thoroughly put out when Hermione refused to let him see it. He stood outside her door pacing and calling out for her to let him see until his mother appeared at the end of the hall with her hands on her hips giving him a disapproving look. Hermione had emerged from the room with a grin. It was a lovely gown and no where near as daring as the one for the ball which made her love it more. Draco had peppered her with questions about it but eventually when she didn't give in he took her on a tour ending in the library where they stayed for the rest of the morning and into the evening. All throughout he asked her about his mother and their relationship, her parents, how she felt about the Weasleys, and continuously asked about how she was feeling.

"I can't believe you're here," he'd told her.

They were on the balcony of the library, seated in the comfortable couch she'd seen when she arrived. Her legs were across his lap, her bare feet dangling off the edge of the couch.

"You faced something horrible here but you are walking around like you've grown up here."

Hermione shrugged, not looking up from the grimoire Draco had shown her, "Your mum helped quite a lot. So did you," she looked at him over the edge of the book quickly before returning to the text, "One bad thing doesn't take away from the splendor of the Manor. I don't think I will ever be able to go in that room and it took me months to brave the house but it's not as bad as I thought it would be."

"You like it here?"

His tone of surprise had her looking at him again, "Yes. It's not as dreary as I remember it to be. And the gardens," she closed the grimoire over her finger to mark her place, "Draco the gardens! They're so stunning. Your mother and I would walk around them for hours, taking breaks here and there, but gods I could get lost in it!"

Draco smiled like she'd just given him a new broom.

In the briefest moments like this he let his mind wander to consider all the 'what if's'.

What if he hadn't been a coward and had simply told her yes when she asked about his invite to the ball.

What if he was able to pay her the same attention he gave Astoria.

What if he kissed her awake in the morning instead of muttering a good morning and shuffling into the bathroom.

What if he was brave enough to acknowledge how he felt and tell her.

What if he were to get closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

What if. What if. What if.

But that's all they were. He never let himself entertained it beyond 'what if' until right now. Right now, he didn't feel the rock in his stomach he usually felt when he thought of these things. His heart raced so fast he could have sworn it would burst from his chest at any moment. Fueled by that brazen feeling in his chest Draco angled his wrist down to caress her calves as they laid across his lap, his fingers gently kneading her skin.

Hermione glanced to him over the book she'd reopened and begun reading in his silence, a blush heating her cheeks. He was touching her. The softest touch, his fingers kissing her skin in a mesmerizing dance over her legs. It felt intimate. For both of them. But like with their shared nights together, neither said a thing. Draco simply summoned his on book from the table and continued kneading the leg closest to him while Hermione nibbled on her lip and returned to his family grimoire.

They stayed that way until Darcey brought them some lunch. Hermione prettily blushed when she was done eating, for a moment unsure where to put her legs as she sat back on the couch. With Draco still eating she pulled her knees up to her chest and watched him.

"Princess."

The name came out like a purr as he grabbed his napkin to wipe his mouth, startling her into a tiny jump.

"Drake?"

His silver eyes met hers, filled with mischief that reminded her of Sirius, the corner of his mouth lifting as he leaned back and draped his arm over the back of the couch to look at her properly.

"What would you like to do for the rest of the evening?" She opened her mouth and he shook his head, "As much as I love seeing you engrossed in a book, you have plenty of time to get lost in here. Pick something else. Anything and we'll do it."

Lip between her lip she considered him for a moment before nodding, "Can we go see the stables?"

Draco's eyebrow's shot up. "I suppose. Go get your coat and gloves."

"Really?"

He was already up and pulling her to her feet. "Let's go Princess. Can't have you freezing on me, let's get your things."

Scoffing at him Hermione let him pull her from the library, their dishes left on the table surrounded by their abandoned books. Together the pair made quick work of disappearing into their rooms to get dressed for the short journey. Lucius saw them walk out but said nothing as they went out into the snow.

They made it into the gardens before Draco laced their fingers together, the warmth from his gloves radiating into hers earning him a small gasp of shock. While holding her hand Draco started walking faster, gently tugging her into his shoulder to try and keep her warm.

"Salazar, it's freezing Princess. Next time, pick something indoors."

She laughed, "I tried to pick the library!"

She felt rather than heard him chuckle as he started walking them faster through the labyrinth of gardens towards the barn that appeared on the edge of the wood line. The warmth of the barn had them both sighing with relief, Hermione's hands cupped around her mouth. Draco watched her with an amused look.

"You're so tiny."

She swatted his arm with a playful glare, "Hush you giant."

Taking her elbow he chuckled, "These are our stallions."

That got her attention off the chill in her bones. Before them were at least a dozen stalls, over half of them she could see a variety of colored horses. Leaving Draco behind her she began walking down the barn. Occasionally she would stop at a stall and pat a horse that stuck his head out to greet her. She could feel Draco at her back, ever present, but neither of them said anything as she continued working her way stall to stall. At least until she reached the final occupied stall. Before she could even reach her hand out to touch the horses snot, Draco wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her away.

"Not him."

Frowning she looked up at him only to find him staring at the stallion in the stall before them. He was gorgeous. Pure white. As perfect as the snow they'd walked through to get to the barn.

"Why?" she whispered. As if if her voice was too loud, she might spook some unknown danger.

"He's one of the rescues we got from Goyle Manor after the Ministry raid. He's the temperamental one of the bunch. The only one we couldn't rehabilitate and find a new home."

She considered the horse before them for a moment as he stared back at her while she leaned back into Draco's warmth.

"He doesn't look like it."

Though she couldn't see him, Draco rolled his eyes. "He bites."

Hermione looked up at him again, this time with a grin.

"Don't start Granger."

The use of her surname made her snort. Tapping his arm still wrapped around her waist Draco reluctantly released her though she didn't step away from him.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Do you have carrots?"

"In the tackle room."

He pointed to a room she'd seen earlier nestled by the front where they'd entered. Wordlessly she left him before the white stallion in search of her prize. When she returned she found the two in an odd staring contest making her smirk.

"Maybe he just doesn't like being glared at," she whispered playfully as she nudged Darco with her hip. He scoffed in answer, his arms crossing over his chest. Shaking her head, Hermione approached the stallion cautiously. "Hello beautiful beasty." Again, Draco scoffed but ironically, the horse before he seemed to too. "Don't nip me or it'll be the last treat from me," she warmed sternly.

After eyeing the great beast for a moment as if making sure he understood what she'd said, she outstretched her hand with the carrot laid flat in her palm. While the horse eye'd her and the carrot she was holding curiously she tilted her head towards Draco.

"What's his name?"

He shrugged, "Beasty."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. It startled the horse before her into snorting, but he took the carrot anyway, careful not to get her fingers. It was enough to cautiously put her hand out to stroke the horse's snout. Though the horse didn't pay her any mind as she continued to pet him, Draco nervously put a hand on her hip.

"Eirwen."

The horse paused it's chewing, a blue eye meeting hers for a moment before finishing off the carrot she'd given him.

"Do you like that? Eirwen?"

Taking his snout from her hand he bobbed his head, stomping once on the ground with his right foot before stepping closer to the stall door and nuzzling his snout onto her shoulder and huffing directly his Draco's face.

"Great beast," Draco muttered, taking his hand off Hermione's hip and stepping back at the warning.

Hermione giggled and let herself step forward too so she could hug his neck, gently patting the the side of his neck. "Such a soft boy, do the elves take good care of you." Another grunt from Eirwen told her he wasn't happy about it. "Be especially nice to Darcy if she comes by to tend to you. But Draco, you can nip him if you want." This time she got a more content sounding nicker that made her laugh again.

Behind her Draco huffed. "Try me beast. I'll ship you off."

Hermione gasped, whirling to face him, Eirwen's neck hovering over her shoulder, "You wouldn't dare."

He held her gaze for a solid ten seconds before rolling his eyes, "No I wouldn't. Not now that you named him."

Another nicker, it sounded almost like he was agreeing with Draco.

"Alright, let's get you out of here. You're beginning to shiver."

It was a lie but Draco didn't like how the horse was glaring at him. When he reached for her, mindful of Eirwen's mouth, Hermione took Taking on him and took his hand and, with a final adoring pat on the neck, she bid Eirwen goodbye. Draco fussed over her, ensuring she put her gloves back on before guiding her back into the gardens towards the Manor.