Draco woke up the next morning to the smell of jasmine and vanilla. He inhaled deeply and smiled. He liked that smell. He cuddled closer to it and almost choked on hair.

He opened one eye and was assaulted by brown. Lots and lots of brown. He opened the other eye and it was all still brown.

He craned his neck back a bit to see where the brown was coming from and saw rambunctious curls coming from a head. The head lead down to a slender body - a very naked body - that had his other arm wrapped around it.

He settled himself back into his pillows and pulled her close. Who knew Granger was a wildcat in bed? Well, guess he did, considering he had always hoped she was a minx.

The soreness of his own body attested to that.

He had fun the night before. Yeah, finding Ronald Weasley in his foyer was unexpected. And using that to his advantage to find an edge in getting with Hermione - who he always fancied or admired in some capacity - well, he wasn't a Slytherin for nothing.

He nuzzled into her hair and took a deep breath. He could get use to mornings like this.

The other body started to fidget until she turned over and was facing him. She wrapped a leg around his and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Morning," she mumbled, tickling his chest with her breath.

"Morning," he replied, kissing the top of her head. He wasn't sure when he became sappy - probably between her third and fourth drink - but having Hermione Granger in his bed made him feel giddy.

And as long as Cobblers was well treated - Pansy and the elf always got along, so he shouldn't worry - then everything was worth it.

A pop woke up the pair who were dozing off once again. Draco looked over Hermione's head to the foot of the bed with a tray resting on the elf's arm. "Good morning master," Tetterwort announced, stepping to the side of the bed to place the morning tray on the night stand.

"A House-elf!" Hermione hissed.

"A free House-elf," he murmured. "Tetterwort, can you please have another tray prepared for Miss Granger."

Hermione was going to protest. She pushed herself out of his arms, wrapping the sheet around herself, and stopped herself from saying anything. The House-elf was wearing a waistcoat with a green and silver tie around its neck. It popped out of the room before she got over her shock.

"He was wearing a Slytherin tie," she mumbled, still not sure she believed Draco Malfoy had elves wearing clothes, or looked like they had never received punishment.

Draco pulled her back into bed and wrapped his arms around her.

Hermione was still gaping like a fish, just into his chest, which was stirring feelings in him again.

"Hermione," he whispered.

"You said my name," she smiled.

"I said it last night quite a bit," he drawled.

She blushed at the reminder. Hermione didn't expect for things to escalate the way they did - she thought they would snog, sure, but not shag three times, all before collapsing into bed, before they shagged another two times, finally falling asleep. She didn't regret it though. It was amazing and exactly what she needed.

And if he had meant what he said before they even truly started, then, it was all well worth it. Having a follow-up date was something she was unused to. Having a date in general was something she was unused to.

"A sickle for your thoughts," he muttered, trailing his fingers up and down Hermione's spine, making her shiver.

"Did you mean it?" she asked, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. If he didn't, she'd be embarrassed and would have to leave as soon as possible.

"About going on another date?" he asked, tilting her chin up to look into her eyes.

She nodded, staring back at him.

"Yes, and then another date, and another date, and when my mother and aunt ask me to bring someone for Christmas dinner, I'll invite you to go with me. For once I'll have my own little Christmas celebration - with you, after we be good for the elders, of course," he teased, leaning forward to kiss her again.

They stayed like that, snogging until Tetterwort popped back into the room, startling Hermione so that she fell out of the bed.

Luckily the sheet came with her.

"I's sorry, Miss," Tetterwort apologized, sending the tray to the nightstand on her side.

"Oh, don't worry," Hermione stammered, holding the sheet to preserve her modesty.

Draco laughed from atop the bed, not bothering to help her get up.

When Tetterwort left the room once more, Hermione stood up, hands on her hips, in all her glory, making Draco immediately shut up. He eyed her body from head to toe, and back again.

"You think that was funny, huh?" she shouted, "Well, you won't when I'm through with you," she swaggered to the bed.

Draco watched her hips sway, not ready for the assault about to come.

Hermione pounced on the bed, pushing him onto his back, and began tickling his sides. Her fingers dug into his ribs, and Draco had trouble breathing.

"Stop," he panted between laughs.

"Say you're sorry," she taunted, moving her fingers up his sides.

"Sorry!" he gasped.

Hermione stopped and giggled before falling next to him on the bed. She cuddled into him once again, and kissed his cheek.

"Did you mean it?" she asked, hiding her insecurity behind her hair.

"Yes," he nodded. "I've always fancied you," he murmured.

"What was that?" she probed, laying on her elbow so that she was looking down into his face.

"I've always fancied you," he confessed loudly. "You're the first person I've ever told that to."

Hermione smiled and chastely pressed her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back on top of him.

A morning shag before having breakfast was in order.

Hermione was excited. It was Saturday. Six days since she left Draco's. She officially started her vacation, and after a gift-exchange with Harry and Ron, she would be going on the promised second date.

Her heart was all a flutter and she almost didn't know what to do with herself.

It was the first time in ages that she painstakingly worked on her appearance. She ensured her wild hair was more smooth curls than bird's nest. She picked out an emerald dress that hugged her body nicely, without being unseemly. She put on just enough makeup to flatter her features.

Ron and Harry didn't understand why Hermione showed up to Ron's flat all dressed up, but she glared at them before they could ask. The two looked at each other and shrugged.

"Hi, Hermione," Harry announced, pulling her into a hug.

"Yeah, hi," Ron stammered, hugging her next. He pulled her into the sitting room and directed her and Harry into a black and white damask loveseat. Ron then sat in an ornate - Hermione thought it was baraque, most likely Pansy's - dark red armchair. Hermione admired the eclectic touches of the room. The table in front of them was modern in design, all sleek and straight corners, while the fireplace was an intricate marble design with an iron-wrought mirror above it.

If she ever redecorated her flat, she knew who to contact.

"So who first?" Harry asked, pulling two presents from his pocket and Enlarging them. One was long and thick, wrapped in red and gold. He placed it on the table in front of Ron. He then placed the other down, a present wrapped in purple tissue that Hermione very much expected to be a book.

She smiled, and did the same, placing an orange envelope in front of Ron and a green in front of Harry.

Ron looked puzzled by Hermione's gift, but shrugged. He placed down two presents that were meticulously wrapped in silver paper, blue ribbon tied around it, and a bow on top.

Both Hermione and Harry raised an eyebrow in question to the ornate looking gifts.

"Pansy," Ron smiled.

The two nodded, knowing that was all the answer they needed.

"Okay, just like we do every year?" Hermione asked, holding both gifts in her lap now.

"Yes," the boys agreed, ripping open their gifts before even finishing the word.

Hermione shook her head and opened Harry's gift first. Inside was the newest version of Hogwarts: a History. She shook her head - the book had been out for a month, but Hermione knew to wait until the gift exchange. Harry bought her the latest edition every single year. She opened Ron's gift and found a first edition De Occult Philosophia by Cornelius Agrippa. She was shocked and she looked at Ron.

"Pansy," he shrugged. "Malfoy told her it would be something you'd enjoy," he tried very hard not to sneer, knowing that the git was a good friend of his girlfriend's.

She was touched. This was a rare find and very touching. She wondered if she should get a gift for Draco and what would be good. They had gone on the one date, but Christmas was next week. She worried her lip.

"Hermione!" the boys shouted in glee. Hermione looked at them and grinned, happy that her gifts of season tickets to Chudley Cannons and Puddlemere United went over well. They jumped up and hugged her from both sides, making her fall back into the chair.

"Can't breathe," she gasped.

The two let go and returned to their seat and began speaking of their plans for the upcoming Quidditch season. Hermione opened her new book and started to read. She was ecstatic to read the thoughts of a sixteenth century wizard who tried to influence Muggles into believing in magic - eventually getting himself imprisoned by them, Muggles thinking his books evil. She was fascinated and drawn in.

Not realising the time, she was startled when Pansy came into the room to join them. She coughed to garner attention. Hermione looked up, leaving her finger in the book to save her place, and smiled at the woman. Pansy Parkinson was slowly becoming a favourite of hers.

"Don't you have a date to get to?" She asked, making herself comfortable on the arm of Ron's chair.

Hermione looked for the time, saw it on a modern clock - monochromatic, just white and black, with a dark grey thick frame - and gasped.

She jumped up and started to get her things together., "I have to be going. Thank you so much for the gifts!"

"Who do you have a date with?" Ron asked.

Harry gave her a piercing stare, asking the same thing.

"Umm," she stammered. Did she really want to get into it with her friends right now? She was already running late. She shifted from foot to foot, trying to think what best to say.

Luckily, Pansy saw the stress in her eyes and distracted them. "Don't mind her. Cobblers has prepared a light tea for us before the party later."

At the name, a shiny green House-elf dressed in a black toga, walked into the room with a large tea tray.

Hermione, having forgotten the date completely at the sight of the House-elf, gawked. "Ron, when did you get a House-elf?" she asked.

"Umm," Ron stammered. This time it was him shifting from foot to foot.

Harry returned to his seat, no longer in the middle of the two should this escalate. He pulled out his wand and rested it on his thigh, just in case, though.

"Ronald," she questioned once more.

"He came to my house with Cobblers last night. To help me pack my things and bring them over. Apparently Draco had to get rid of him, and Ron was kind enough to adopt him," Pansy cooed.

"Draco gave you his House-elf?" Hermione asked, slowly fuming. She wasn't sure what was going on but she knew it wasn't something she was happy about. The cogs were turning in her mind, and what they were coming up with, wasn't a very pretty picture.

"Yeah," Ron muttered. Not sure who to anger more. He was lying to both his girlfriend and best friend, but each would be mad for a different reason.

"Did you go see him after visiting me? Asking about protocols?" She asked, pacing, jerking her forearms up and down, flustered.

"Yeah," he responded once more, closing his eyes in anticipation.

"And he just gave the elf to you?" Hermione asked once more.

"Hermione, he already said he did, why does this matter?" Pansy asked, standing up from her perch on the chair. She held her arms out in a gesture meant to be 'I mean no harm.'

"You can't just give a House-elf away. The laws don't allow for that. Ron didn't even know that Draco was breaking the law. You went to see Draco? Because you couldn't go through the proper channels? Why did you need an elf so bad that you went behind my back!" She finally shouted, having stopped pacing, facing him, letting her arms fall at the end of her statement. Her face was red and she had to take deep breaths to stay calm.

"I'm sorry," he shouted back, "but I wanted Pansy to feel at home and not feel like she was living in a hovel, like Malfoy suggested. She grew up with a House-elf to cook and clean, and Cobblers is still free you know!" He started pacing, still shouting, "I went to Malfoy, but the prick made me practically beg, and explain why I needed a House-elf. Didn't believe it would help me convince Pansy, but it did, didn't it. She's moved in and we're throwing a housewarming party tonight because of it. He had to be so smug about it. And I guess I was thinking about you at the time, but I told him that Pansy would move in with me before Hermione would shag him. And I was right, wasn't I?"

Before he finished his sentence, the door slammed shut. Hermione had already left, leaving one fuming witch.

Ron gulped. He didn't know if he was lucky or not to only have one to worry about, but the look on Pansy's face meant murder. He looked back at Harry who shook his head solemnly. Ron gulped again.

"You WHAT?" Pansy shouted.

"So you two had dinner last week?" Andromeda asked, trying to hold a squirming Teddy in her lap.

"Yes, and she's supposed to be coming over this afternoon for tea," Narcissa beamed.

Draco blushed, and grabbed a sandwich - cucumber again, he had an order to the sandwiches he nibbled on at full tea. "Yes," he replied, "She should have been here by now."

"Don't you worry. She does a gift exchange with the boys every year on the Saturday before the holiday," Andromeda assured him. She grabbed a fruit bread roll for her grandson. He happily took it from her and began munching.

"Well, that's all fine and dandy, but when is Hermione Granger ever late?" he ranted, pouring milk into his empty teacup. "I mean, the woman is known for being scrupulous when it comes to the rules. Etiquette rules included." He poured the Lady Grey tea into his cup while he continued to complain.

"She'll be here, don't worry," his mother assured him, patting his arm. She took the teapot from him and poured her sister and herself a cup of tea, adding some honey to hers.

Andromeda nodded towards the sugar bowl and also reassured her nephew, "Yes, keep your chin up. Now tell us about your date."

Draco smiled at the support his female relatives were providing him. He was nervous and wanted to pace about the room - but he was a Malfoy, so he didn't. Instead, he sat in his chair and tried not to think about all the possibilities. Did she second guess their very young relationship? Did she regret their evening out the previous week? He had a million questions and zero answers. All together, he was quite antsy. Luckily his family was there and able to keep his mind off of it.

He passed the sugar to his aunt and began telling them about his date. "Well, I took her to this Muggle restaurant known for its kitchen theatre and Cuban food. She apparently loves the stuff."

"How did you find out about her love of Cuban food or the restaurant?" his mother questioned.

Draco's cheek flushed slightly and he sheepishly looked into his teacup. He let a moment pass by before he lifted his cup and swallowed some tea. "Ronald Weasley told me," he breathed out quickly, hoping they would let the subject drop.

They didn't. Instead the two women gasped. Teddy opened his mouth wide in an attempt at gasping but couldn't make the noise. So instead he just shrugged and reached for another sandwich.

His grandmother, not wanting the toddler to topple over, readjusted the child in her lap and handed him a cucumber sandwich - which Teddy took the green stuff out of and tried to pass to Draco. "How did he come to give you this information?"

"It was a trade of sorts," Draco replied, taking the cucumber from the kid, much to the disdain of his mother.

"Okay, continue," Narcissa said, knowing her son didn't want to divulge the details of his schemes.

"Well," he started, "I had to practically bribe her into the date. She didn't want to leave work, even though it was a Saturday and you could hear her stomach rumbling from down the hall."

The two women chuckled light heartedly, and Teddy giggled.

"What did you bribe her with?" Narcissa asked.

"Did you tell her you'd get rid of your elves?" Andromeda tittered, knowing how humourous and unlikely an offer would be.

"Almost, I offered her names and ways to free other elves." Draco smirked, while the plot wasn't nefarious in any way, it still felt good to get what he wanted in the end while making the lives of his adversaries more difficult. Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint always gave him flack back at Hogwarts and although he should let bygones be bygones, he couldn't help getting some good natured revenge out of it. Plus, it was all for a good cause. Hermione Granger as his girlfriend, House-elf freedom, and all that rot.

"Devious," Andromeda smirked, helping her grandson drink some milk from a teacup.

"Quite," Narcissa added, sipping from her own tea.

"Yes," he replied, taking another sip, "And then we went to Negril, where you can watch them make your food. It was quite good, surprisingly. And we both had drinks with our meal, and we were talking, and she was more than what I thought she would be."

"How so?" both women asked.

"Well, she was charming and funny. She's wicked smart, we all know, but she doesn't gloat about it. She was also genuinely interested in what I had to say. She asked questions, and responded in kind. It was refreshing."

"Well, what did you expect?"

"Well, on some level what happened. I didn't think we would drink so much, for one," he responded, watching Teddy try to squirrel his way out of his grandmother's lap once more. "I thought it could be boring. I didn't know what to expect at a Muggle establishment for food or drinks. I didn't think Granger would look as good as she did, or make me laugh as much as possible. Or flirt to the point where it was quite obvious what was going to happen at the end of our date," he blushed.

A gasp from the doorway behind him was heard. Teddy finally managed to break free from his grandmother's clutches and ran in that direction. Draco and his mother turned around to watch him run towards a red-faced teary-eyed Hermione Granger, wrapping his arms around her legs.

"Teddy, come here," Andromeda whispered.

"How could you?" Hermione whispered, furiously wiping the wet tracks from her cheeks. "I thought," she started to say but pulled Teddy's arms off of her. "Never mind," she said and spun around, briskly walking back down the corridor to leave the house.

Draco jumped from his seat as soon as she spun around. "Hermione," he shouted, about to run after her.

His mother's hand on his arm stilled him. She and his aunt shook their head at him. "Give her a moment. But you better fix this," she scolded, getting up from the table and leading her sister and grand-nephew from the room, to let Draco stew.

It was later that afternoon that Draco found himself sitting in the parlour of the old Parkinson home. His best friend was sitting in the chair opposite him, shaking her head at him.

He hadn't said a word about why he was there. And he had been there for the better part of an hour.

The whole time he sat in his favourite armchair - a green velvet chair by the fireplace that he had claimed as his when he was five - hunched over, elbows on his knees, chin in his hands, eyes closed.

He messed up, and he wasn't one hundred percent sure how.

"She won't return my owls, my Floo calls, every attempt to see her at her flat or at work I'm blocked off by wards, a secretary who denies me access, hexes and stings thwarting any progress I make. I don't know what I said that would make her like this," he sighed.

Pansy continued to shake her head at him. It took her a few minutes before responding, "Maybe it wasn't just what you said, but what she found out beforehand on topof hearing you speak ill of her." She glared at him, still unhappy with the turn of events.

She was excited to move in with Ron. Sure, having Cobblers was a welcomed surprise, but after learning the circumstances and the reasoning for it, well, needless to say, Pansy Parkinson was an unhappy witch. After Hermione left her - Ron's - flat earlier in the day, she smacked him. She then politely asked Cobblers to return all her things to their proper place back at home and then Apparated away. She couldn't look at her boyfriend - or was it ex? - less she kill him. Firstly, for him to throw his best friend under the bus - as the Muggles or Arthur Weasley, would say - like that negated one of the very reasons she loved the man - his loyalty. Secondly, for him to think that her love would only be there as long as her life remained easy and carefree; it meant that he didn't really know her or didn't have faith in her love. She couldn't be in a relationship like that.

So she came home, and sat in her parlour reflecting on the day. She sat there for the rest of the afternoon when Draco stumbled in - his hair in disarray from his fingers running through it too many times. He collapsed into his favourite chair and hadn't said a word until just now. She had glared at him the whole time, trying to figure out if he had ever really meant the things he said about Granger - the mean things he would say to keep face or the nice things that he thought no one knew about.

"What are you talking about?" he finally asked, more confused now then he was earlier.

She rolled her eyes, she hated it when a man played dumb, especially when they were as smart as Draco. "Don't act like you don't know," she snarled.

"I really don't know!" he snapped.

"So you're telling me," she asked, "that you didn't wager Ron that you could get Hermione in your bed?"

He huffed, making an audible noise in the back of his throat. After a minute of ignoring Pansy's glare, he sighed, "Fuck."

"You're damn right," she harrumphed, tilting her nose upwards and crossing her arms for good measure.

The two sat in silence. Each contemplating the happenings of their lives. Eventually - fifteen minutes later - Draco exhaled slowly and sat up in his chair. He stared at Pansy and finally realised they were at her childhood home.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"I live here," she replied, not looking him in the eye.

"No, you don't," he challenged, "you live in that hovel of a flat with Weasley."

"Don't call it a hovel," she countered, glaring at her best friend, "and no, I don't."

"What happened?"

"He thinks I can't live without a House-elf. That I need one to live comfortably with him," she sputtered, finally letting the tears she held at bay flow free.

"Pans," he said softly, moving himself to kneel in front of her. He grabbed her into a hug and let her cry into his shoulder. "The guy is a dunce, you know, but you love him."

"I do," she cried.

"And the man has serious self-esteem issues. You've known this since we were at Hogwarts."

"Uh huh," she nodded, sniffling.

"So, of course he doesn't understand why a passionate, beautiful, and smart woman like you would want to be with him." He rubbed her back to soothe her until the sniffling stopped. "It's not that he doesn't believe you don't love him, it's just he needs to make sure he can keep you happy. He probably doesn't think he deserves you, and he's right."

Pansy punched him in the chest but giggled nonetheless.

"Plus, I really did have to let Cobblers go. You and her always got along growing up, and I probably would have given her to you anyway. Go back to the Weasel, Merlin only knows how bad a shape he's in without you there. That hovel probably resembles a rathole now." He jested, quickly dodging another punch.

"Okay," she smiled. Her best friend was right. Ron was an idiot, but he was her idiot. She could only hope that Draco could fix the mess he was in with Hermione. Pansy wanted him to be as happy as she would be - after properly punishing her boyfriend.

Hermione found herself once again sitting on her floor staring at the wall of names. She was cross-legged and had one elbow pressed on her knee, holding her head up. With the other hand she tapped on the opposite knee every now and then.

Every time she tried to focus on working - she didn't care that it was Sunday - her mind drifted to the week before. Waking up with Draco was wonderful, and the days that followed were filled with notes passed by Owl filled with witty banter. It made her work days less dull and actually made her take a break.

She missed the ferret.

But she was still angry.

She huffed and slapped her knee. This wasn't working. She couldn't work and she didn't want to go home.

She did the next best thing and went to Ron's. She wasn't sure what sort of aftermath she left the day before, but she did want to smack the bloke at least once. Maybe then she'd feel a little better.

She left the Ministry and Apparated to her friend's flat and saw that it was much in the same state it was when she had arrived the day before. She knocked on the door and only waited a second before Pansy opened it.

"Hi," Hermione said, watching herself toe the ground.

"Hey," Pansy replied, moving aside to let Hermione enter, "Come in."

Hermione sighed in relief and walked inside. She saw the place looked just as immaculate and Ron was setting up a long table against a wall for refreshments.

"Uh," Hermione stuttered.

"We've moved our party to today," Pansy answered the unspoken question.

Hermione nodded her head in thanks and then walked over to Ron. "Ronald," she said in an even tone. She grabbed the sheet and aired it out to cover the table.

The pair helped set up the room for the party: bringing food from the kitchen, rearranging furniture. After an hour, Hermione finally broke the silence. "Why?"

"I love her," Ron sheepishly whispered, seating himself on the couch.

"And why drag me in?" she sighed, seating herself next to him.

"I really didn't mean to. I was just thinking about you at the time and he was just so smug," he replied. "Bet you showed him. Getting a free meal without giving into his charm," he smiled.

"Huh?" Hermione looked up at him, staring at the huge grin on his face. She was confused.

"Yeah, Draco was here earlier with Pans. I asked him about your date," he air quoted the word with his fingers, "and he said he couldn't get you to go anywhere with him other than the restaurant. And for this I feel much better," his grin split his face in half.

"He said we didn't shag?" Hermione questioned.

"Naw," he yawned, covering his mouth, "just that somehow he convinced you to go on another date with him."

"And you're not mad?" Hermione gaped.

"Well, at first, yeah. But, he convinced Pansy to come back. That Cobblers is better off here with us and while my initial reasoning was ill-advised, the sentiment is what counted. His words, and now Pansy is here and the housewarming party is back on. Plus Pansy says he's crazy about you, and he managed to get you to stop working that one time. Might be good for you."

Hermione shook her head. Maybe she was wrong to blow up on Draco. She only hoped he would show up tonight and everything would be set straight. She did fancy the bloke and she'd rather end the evening with a good meal and fuck with the man.

The party was a success. Dumbledore would have smiled at the amount of interhouse shenanigans going on in the Weasley-Parkinson home. Slytherins with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws with Slytherins, Hufflepuffs with everyone else. It was a nice blend and showed that the war was truly over.

Hermione sighed.

The party had been going on for over an hour and she still hadn't caught sight of Draco. She was watching the door like a hawk and every time she heard it shut she would glance around the room for the newcomer. But they were never Draco.

"Hermione, can you get more ice, the bin is starting to run low." Ron asked from the other side of the room. He had his arm wrapped around Pansy. They were talking to Daphne and Neville, who had his palms rubbing on his pregnant wife's belly.

Hermione sighed again. She wanted that. Not right now, of course, but someone to have that with. And, yes, for the past week she thought it was Draco, and she had to go and blow up over a misunderstanding the day before. Possibly ruining her chances for the happiness she thought he could be a part of.

She wiped a stray tear from her face and stomped to the kitchen. She didn't want anyone to see her upset over their happiness. She slammed the freezer door - surprisingly, Pansy's idea to own one - to grab some ice when she heard a drawled, "Granger."

She spun around instantly and gasped. Draco looked like he hadn't slept. He had dark circles under his red-rimmed eyes and his hair looked like he hadn't combed it since yesterday. In fact, he looked like he was still in the same clothes that she saw him in when she stopped by the Manor.

"Granger, I'm," his apology was interrupted by Hermione jumping into his arms, legs wrapping around his waist, and her lips pressed tightly to his.

The chaste kiss quickly escalated and the pair managed to christen the kitchen before the homeowners.

Much to the derision of one Ronald Billius Weasley.