A/N: I know! I know! I am so terrible. Work was supposed to be slowing down but it is actually getting busier. We are having a ton of problems and it is consuming so much of my day, but I am really making an effort to make my stories more of a priority. I already have the next chapter in this story and my other one started. I should be able to get it started within the next couple of weeks.

With everyone asking about why Hermione left, I promise you will find out, just not yet! MAWHAHA

Dear Hermione,

I am sitting in my study writing this letter. The house is so silent I can hear the stroke of my quill on the parchment, the grandfather clock ticking in the hall, and the house elves finishing supper in the kitchen. The dull clanging of pots and pans echoing in my ears is like my own personal anthem for how quiet my life has become. You used to fill this house with noise but it always helped me to think clearer. The sweet melody of your laughter carved out a place for you in my heart and in my future. Your humming had me imagining you cradling a blonde baby in your arms, singing him softly to sleep. When you shouted at me I just imagined that same flushed face beneath me in bed as you shouted with ecstasy instead.

The mundane noise surrounding me now just reminds me of how quiet my life has become, of how miserable I am without you. I can't remember ever feeling so alone, even in the manor. This house used to be filled with noise, with laughter, and with warmth and now it just feels empty, a clear reflection of my life.

Blaise thinks it is time for me to move out and to move on, but I don't think I want to leave. I still have this hope that you will walk through those doors one day. If I move, how will you find me?

This home is filled with so many memories, so many firsts for you and I, how am I supposed to just leave all of that behind?

I remember when we first found this place, how you had to convince me to move from the Malfoy Manor. You said that the house's bad memories were stopping me from becoming the man I could be, from healing properly. You said that I was still competing with the ghosts from my past. Still trying to please the memories of those who used to surround me, my past always haunting me. You said getting a new house, a place all my own would help me into the next stages of my life. Help me take responsibility for my own life and take back my control over it.

You had to trick me to even go looking at houses, you were always a smart witch and knew exactly how to get what you wanted in the end. You knew I wouldn't just let go of my heritage, so you tricked me, just like you tricked your way into becoming a part of my life. I never wanted it, I never expected it, but now I can't picture my life without you even though nothing but your memory is beside me now. Maybe it still hasn't completely sunken in? It has been three years and I still think you will come back. I still hope that you will come back. How pathetic am I? You really did get the best of me, the last leg up, and here I am trying to get through the ruins that is my life. I may be getting through my life without you, waking up every day on my own, going through the motions of living but I feel like an empty shell, like an outsider watching me live my life, a disconnect between the world around me. You brought color into my life and now that you are gone I just see different shades of grey. I am not living, I am just managing.

Blaise wants me to move and to start dating again. He doesn't understand, no one will compare to you. He thinks that moving will help me through this. That it will help me close the final door on you and our what-could-have-beens. I am not sure I am ready to do that. I should be, I should be ready to throw you away just as easily as you threw me away but getting over you is just a pipe dream. I can't imagine it every happening. I can't imagine a time when a crisp memory of you isn't at the forefront of my mind. If my soul was ever whole, it certainly isn't now.

I just can't picture myself moving, packing up my stuff while leaving all of your things behind. I don't think it would do any good anyway. So I will stay here and watch my life as it passes by without me.

I am not ready to give you up yet, not completely. It has been three years and I have accepted the fact that you are done with me. I have hope that you will come back, a sliver of chance that you miss me, but the facts point to the truth. I have never been the optimistic sort and your absence in my life is a glaring sign that you aren't coming back or you would be here now. The hope that I had for you has died into a small flickering flame, never extinguishing, but I am no longer feeding it. I know you don't want to be found. The most highly decorated wizards have been trying to find you since the day that you left, three years and barely a trace of you has been found. Barely a whisper of your whereabouts have been uncovered. You have outsmarted them, you have outsmarted everyone and made it very clear that you don't want to be found. Tomorrow, I will call them off. Tomorrow, I will stop looking for you. I will give up ever finding you and just hope that you make your way back home to me.

Always yours,

Draco

"Draaaco," Hermione whined and stomped her foot. "Listen to me! Moving is the best solution! You can create a whole new place for yourself! You can do whatever you want, decorate it however you want, you won't need to paint it that ugly green color if you don't want to."

"I happen to like green," Draco replied quietly.

He wasn't paying attention to Hermione as they walked along the garden pathway. He was thinking about what she said. He didn't want to move, this was his ancestral home. Generations of Malfoys grew up in this home. It has been passed down for years and now it was his. Growing up, he couldn't wait until he possessed the Malfoy Manor, until he was the master of the house, he knew once he was Lord of the house, he could make his own rules, do whatever he wanted and he wouldn't have to answer to anyone.

Draco looked back at the manor, the dark silhouette shadowed from the sun and was torn. He knew he would never be the Lord of the house, not like his father. Draco didn't demand respect, he didn't come stomping into rooms, didn't bark orders to everyone. He wasn't cruel like his mother, causing others to cower in fear and awe of her. He was quiet and reserved, could he ever fully command a home that had so many strong leaders in the past? He saw the way the portraits snickered at him and turned up their noses at him. He heard how they called him a disgrace to the family name, but he still wasn't sure he could give up his home. It was the only place that was his, the only place he truly belonged in the world. The manor may not be a warm home, but it was still his home.

"Draco," Hermione muttered quietly and he snapped out of his thoughts to stare at her. She was a couple feet ahead of him on the stone pathway but she was looking back at him, her eyebrows etched with concern.

When she saw that she had finally gotten his attention she completely turned to face him now and reached out for his hand. She pulled him along the pathway before she sighed heavily.

"Draco," she mumbled, "You don't have to move, but I really do think it would be best for you. You have no life here, no offense," she added quickly. "You are competing with ghosts, with old expectations. That isn't your life anymore. I can feel it you know, the constant struggle. One day you're great and improving and I can really see the difference in you. The next day you retreat further into yourself and grow cold towards me. I know that this change won't happen overnight and I know it is a struggle for you, but why are you making it more difficult for yourself? It is like you improve and you open up to me and then you remember that Malfoy's don't share feelings and you close yourself off again. I'm not saying that you have to get rid of the Manor, we both know you have enough money to keep this house. I am just saying that maybe your own place would be good for you," she squeezed his hand gently. "Please just think about it, Draco."

After the walk in the garden, Hermione left Draco alone for a couple of weeks. He wasn't even sure if she was still in the house because he never saw her. Either she was avoiding him or she really did have other work she had to do.

He felt her absence deep in his bones. It was strange. Hermione had become so much a part of his daily routine that it was weird not hearing her constant chattel. He felt alone, the same way he had felt before she got there, trapped and isolated. The coldness of the manor seeping back into his bones. He remembered how lonely he had felt, how cut off from the world he had felt before she got there and he was amazed at how much of a difference one annoying witch could have in his life.

He made sure to wait up for her that night, he stayed in his study and listened to the grandfather clock in the hall as the minutes ticked by. As the hours grew later, he was starting to get worried, he thought of trying to find her, but he knew he couldn't. He was still under house arrest and he had no idea where she would be.

He started to pace in his study when he finally heard a soft 'pop' in the distance, marking her arrival. He quickly stormed from his study into the main hall. He heard her cursing to herself as she fumbled with the doorknob. He heard several items fall onto the wooden deck before she finally opened the door. The light spilled over her face as she blinked at him in surprise. She was wearing a skirt and a tight blouse. She would have looked very professional if it wasn't for all the rumpled papers falling out of her hands.

"Oh Draco," she said surprised, "what are you doing up?"

"I was waiting for you. Do you know what time it is? Where were you?" he demanded.

Hermione bowed her head a little sheepishly and bit her lip before answering, "I was out, I do have a job you know, and I'm fine DAD, thanks!" She articulated and began to storm away, stray papers falling on the floor in her wake.

He was stunned and gaped after her, his mouth gaping like a fish, before he gathered his wits and chased after her.

"That isn't fair, I was just… just…. you know, wondering where you were. I haven't heard from you in weeks and since when does the Ministry require late hours, it's a government job, highly regulated. Unless," he added sharply, "You were out on a date."

He eyed her over, narrowing his eyes, before shaking his head, "Yes, that would make sense, I mean look at you, you look like a women. Yes, that would make sense." He declared.

Hermione's cheeks reddened under his gaze, "I was NOT on a date! How do you think that would even work Draco… hmm? Oh no worries good sir, no need to escort me home, I am sure my male roommate is waiting up for me. Oh him, don't worry about him, it's only Draco Malfoy, ya know the guy named one of the sexiest bad boys in witches weekly, don't worry about him." She shrugged theatrically, "I am sure that every man would be very understanding of the situation. Don't be ridiculous Draco."

She put her things down on the kitchen counter before making her way back into the entryway to collect her fallen papers.

Draco followed her, "then where have you been?" He asked nonchalantly.

"For your information," she huffed, "The ministry does have very regulated work hours. Eight hours a day, but I had some… some …. appointments," she said, her cheeks reddening again, "So I had to make up the hours later in the day."

"What type of appointments?" Draco asked suspiciously. He bent down to pick up the papers before he examined what was in his hand. It was a house listing with a giant red x across the front. "Hermione," he said through clenched teeth, "what did you do?"

She avoided his gaze and sighed heavily, "Well I wasn't going to push you, but I thought, well I thought it might be nice to have some vetted homes once you agreed to get a new place."

"Hermione, I haven't agreed to move yet." His voice strained.

"I know, I know," she said, "I was just hoping that you would agree. I mean the only thing that is holding you back is the fact that you are scared."

"I am not scared!" Draco forcibly yelled at her.

"Great!" Hermione cried triumphantly, "we can go look at houses tomorrow. I have some great options lined up for you! I don't know how you are going to pick, they are all so wonderful!"

She looked at him happily as she chattered on about the houses she had lined up for him, this one had a large backyard, this one was so close to the ministry, and this one out in the country. This one had a lovey garden and that one had lovely grey shutters. Draco barely heard a word of what she was saying, he was replaying the last couple of minutes in his head, realizing that she had tricked him. This bloody, brilliant witch who was chattering in front of him, her eyes lit up with excitement, had tricked him. Blaise was never going to let him live this one down.

Hermione woke him up early the next day, her face glowing with her excitement.

"Draco!" she sung, as she threw open his bedroom doors.

He rolled over and put his head under his pillow, trying to block out her voice.

"Draco," she said again, a little more sharply, "You aren't getting out of this one, nope, you agreed! Come on!" She said as she shook him.

He continued to turn away from her. She sat on the bed and continued to shake him trying to draw some reaction out of him, but he continued to ignore her and bury himself further under the covers. She finally stood up, fed up, and stomped her feet before grabbing a fistful of his sheets and pulling them off of him. Draco shot up in the air, reacting to the cold.

Hermione's eyes went wide, her face flushing to a deep, cherry red as she took in the sight of a nearly naked Draco.

He had silk, black boxers on and nothing else. His hard, pale chest rising deeply as he shouted about 'a bloody, nuisance of a witch with no respect for beauty rest.'

"I'm sorry," she stammered as she threw the gray sheets back at him before walking quickly out of the room. "Be ready in 30 minutes!" she shouted at him behind the closed doors, "or I will come in there again."

He heard her hurried steps carrying her further from his bedroom before looking down at himself. His chest was slightly flushed but everything important was covered. He felt his hair and realized it was a complete mess before groaning. He quickly got out of his bed and dressed before Hermione had any reason to come back. He was already having troubled thoughts about her, he didn't need her storming back in here, sitting on his bed, putting her hands on his bare chest. He shook the thoughts away before running down the stairs, he grabbed a piece of toast before meeting her in the entryway, right on time. Punctuality was a trait beaten into him.

She glanced at him, her checks turning a light pink, before she cleared her throat, "About time you got down here pretty boy. I swear, you take more time then me to get ready in the morning!"

"Oh," he said, "So you think I am a pretty boy," he winked at her, turning her scarlet, "well, my dear, it certainly wouldn't hurt for you to take more time to get ready in the morning." He looked pointedly at her hair.

"Ass," she murmured before grabbing his hand and dragging him onto the lawn with her. She didn't even give him time to swallow his toast before apparating them away.

When they landed he was coughing on his toast and glaring at her.

"This house," she said sweetly, "is out in the country, in Hangleton, it is a nice little two story cottage, located near the town square. That," she pointed, "is the bakery, they have the best donuts and cream puffs." She licked her lips looking at the store front longingly, "Maybe, we can stop there before we head to the next house?"

Draco just stared at her before she gave a little huff.

"Fine, I will stop there and you can continue to choke on your toast!"

She led Draco up the pathway to the front door. It looked like it was ready to fall off.

"Well, it needs a little bit of work, but nothing a little hard work can't fix! Ya know," she rattled on, "it was hard to find a home that I thought you would think was suitable. I know that the town is important to you, a prominent wizarding community, and then of course the house itself had to have enough rooms and a study for you, and an area for the library. Most smaller homes don't have that kind of space, but I really didn't think you needed another manor, now that is too much space for you, you barely use a quarter of the manor now."

She continued to rattle of facts about the home as they made their way through the broken down house. The floor boards groaning in protest beneath them as they moved throughout the house. Draco thought the stairs were going to collapse when they made their way up the stairs and protested against their weight on the way down. Hermione finally showed him the backyard. It was a large, flat yard with a couple of trees around the perimeter, it was unimpressive compared to the gardens of the manor, the whole house was unimpressive really.

He turned to Hermione, "What are you trying to do, kill me?" he jokingly asked.

She just shrugged, "I mean it needs a little work, but I think it could be great."

Draco pointed to a house on the hill, "Do you know whose house that is?"

Hermione nodded slowly, "Salazar Slytherin's ancestry home, I thought that would be what you liked about the house, it is such an important town, especially for you."

Draco just shook his head. "Maybe this isn't a good idea, I don't see how moving here would help my reputation, you have Salazar's home and Voldermort's childhood home here, won't this make it seem like I am even more of a dark wizard? I don't think moving to an elite pureblood community is the answer."

"Yes, well I thought about that," Hermione said biting her lip, glancing up at house. "I just wasn't sure how, how open you would be to different areas. We can try again!"

"Hermione," he started before being whisked away by her again, his voice dying away with the sudden rush of the wind. His gut, tumbling in his stomach before they landed on the hard pavement with a 'pop'

Hermione showed him several houses, none of which were convincing him to move out of the manor. Her face fell after each house that she showed him, and with each refusal she bit her lip before exclaiming that the next house was it, she just knew it.

They landed with a hard jolt on soft grass. Draco gripped Hermione's hand as he tried to steady himself from the landing. He was looking greener and greener after every apparition.

"This," he wheezed, "is the last house, Hermione. I am done after this."

"Oh it's only because you haven't eaten, stop being such a baby, it doesn't matter anyway, this house is it. I know it. It has a beautiful English garden in the backyard, it isn't as big as the manor but not many places are. This one is my favorite, just wait until you see it Draco!"

She pulled him along the cobblestone pathway to the house. It was made of stones and had two strong wooden pillars in the front of the house. There was a beautiful marble fountain in front of the house. Birds were chirping happily as they played in the water. The big, wooden door was intricately carved with old ruins.

"For protection," Hermione stated running her fingers along the edges.

The house had dark wood floors and tall ceilings. There was a large entryway with arched ceilings. Hermione grabbed his arm and led him through the first door.

"Your study, because I know you like to think you are important." She smirked and rolled her eyes at him. "And look at the built in shelves and that desk, I would love to have a study like this."

She led him into the family room which had more built in shelves next to the fireplace and a large window that let in all the sunlight. Draco felt the warmth of the sun on his skin and marveled at how much light spilled through the windows, he almost felt like he was outside. Hermione continued to drag him around the house, pointing out everything that she loved about it. The beautiful wooden floors, the marble kitchen, the chair rails, the intricate stair case, and the built in shelves that seemed to be in every room. She finally led Draco outside to the garden. It wasn't as pristine as the gardens at the manor, but it was beautiful. This garden was overflowing with life. He could hear the soft buzz of the birds and bee's around him, humming softly as they went about their work.

There was a small, paved patio that took up a small portion of the backyard. The rest of it was overcome with plants and animals. Draco thought he could see a stag in the distance.

Hermione drew in her breath, "Isn't it amazing!?" she asked in awe.

Draco could do nothing but nod his head in agreement.

"Let's go take a turn about the garden." She grabbed for his hand and they took in the sites of the backyard, together. Another fountain in the center of it all. A pond with fish in the corner and roses and lilies everywhere he turned

"Isn't it perfect Draco?"

"It's…. it's very nice," Draco said, "But where will I play Quidditch? This place, "He gestured to the flowers around him, "is no place to play Quidditch."

"Ohh," Hermione exclaimed," I almost forgot about that. There is a nice community field, they play pick-up games every Saturday and there is a league on Sunday. Anyone can join. Harry loves it!"

Draco narrowed his eyes, "Harry?"

"Oh, he is the one who found this place, he lives down the block, I actually think he might be your closest neighbor, the houses are private but the town center has so many cute shops!"

Draco groaned, "I don't want to live by Harry."

"Oh stuff it Draco! This home is perfect, besides you see Harry nearly as much as I do."

Which was true, Hermione had invited Harry over for dinner at least once a week. She would sometimes invite Ron, who had gotten over just glaring at Draco after the first couple of awkward visits. They actually talked about Quidditch quit a bit and he even went to a few of the Weasley Sunday dinners. They all had played a few pickup games on the pitch behind the Malfoy gardens. Harry and Draco got a long a lot better than he and Ron and they actually corresponded quite a bit. Harry asked for Draco's advice a lot in regards to politics and issues at the Ministry. He knew Harry wasn't asking because he thought of Draco as a dark wizard but was asking because he knew Draco had insight that Draco knew how Dark wizards thought and acted. Draco was happy to help, it made him feel good to be able to do something at least, he wasn't able to go back to his families business yet, but Hermione said she was working on it.

Sometimes Hermione invited Blaise and Harry over, the first couple of dinners were awkward and stiff before they got into a comfortable rhythm. They would drink and play pool late into the night. Hermione leaving them to her own devices.

Draco groaned again with realization, "I am actually friends with Potter, aren't I?"

"Yes, you are! Big, scary Draco is making new friends!" Hermione cooed at him. He just groaned and rubbed his face in irritation.

His offer on the house was accepted within days. Hermione insisted that they redecorate before they move in. She was going throughout the room and dictating colors.

"Neutrals, Draco, Neutrals! That is what helps a house feel warm and like a home, not just a place that one lives." She handed Draco some color swatches as she entered into the study. "I was thinking a nice blue in here or grey?"

"No, green," Draco said definitely.

"But," she whined.

Draco raised his eyebrows at her and cut her off, "Hermione, I thought this was my study and my house! You can't dictate everything that goes on here."

"You are certainly right, Draco," she flustered at him, "But can we please not make the whole house green? It will make it seem so much darker."

"Grey?" Draco asked.

Hermione's shoulders sagged in defeat, "Fine, it's better than green at least."

"I'll tell you what, I will let you decorate your room, however you like and the sitting room library."

"Really!?" Hermione squealed with excitement, "don't worry, I will still leave it with the whole bachelor pad vibe thing, you got going on."

She turned to walk out of the room before Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.

"I don't want it to be a bachelor pad," he was looking straight into her eyes as she wrinkled them in confusion.

"What do you want it to be then," She asked a slight quiver to her voice.

He drew her closer and bent his head, suddenly he could see his future so clearly in her eyes. He whispered the words, "I want it to be our home, Hermione… I want it to be you and me, together," across her lips before he devoured her mouth. He heard her sharp intake of breath as he ran his fingers through her tangled hair. He felt her knees give out as he held them both upright, felt her kissing him back, her mouth biting at the corners of his lips as he ran his tongue along her pink lips. His hands were everywhere, gripping anywhere he could find and pulling her closer and closer, until she eventually pulled away from him gasping for breath.

She smiled up at him shyly and he smirked at her. "Is that a yes?!"

"Draco Malfoy, the most sought after bachelor, is asking me to be his girlfriend? Why I just might faint, Misstah Malfoy," she drawled in her terrible southern accent.

He gave her a wicked grin before engulfing her in another kiss.