Chapter 2

 The sunlight slowly spilled into the room from the windows along the outer perimeters. The curtains weren't black out, so it was just hazy light. Two forms were twisted together on the couch, two dogs laying on the floor. Visible from the outside looking in, one pale hand was hanging off the side, draped against the ground, fingers slightly curled, asleep. Visible bushy brown hair spilling over a pale chest, a few limbs scrunched up, legs tangled together near the other end of the couch, and a mop of blonde hair nuzzled against a shoulder. Coming closer, now visible was two people. The girl draped across the boy, one of his arms around her back loosely, his fingers scrunched into her shirt, and it became clear the hanging arm belonged to the boy. The girl was curled onto his chest, her head pressed between his shoulder and the couch, her hair across his face and body, one hand curled into his wrinkled dress shirt, the other curled behind his head and in his fluffy and messy hair.

The boy moved slightly, his head moving, and finding a piece of hair in his mouth. He drowsily opened his eyes, blinking a bit, puffing the hair out his mouth, trying to figure out what was going on. He blinked again and felt something on top of him move. This wasn't a dog…. This was a person….

He blinked again, and stiffened when he realized that this brown hair, was her brown hair. That the small frame curled on his large one was…her.

This was wrong. But the comforting feeling of someone hugging him, happy, sleeping on his chest, and willingly with him made his heart do summersaults. He let her hold him, and then he felt her move her head, and her body move a bit on his. This was it. The moment she ran. They always would run. Every time he woke up back in Hogwarts. The girl would wake up and realize she had been with him, and then run. Though he had never actually done anything, more than maybe kiss one of them, but they always ran.

He had his eyes closed once again, and didn't see as she shifted her head, brown eyes staring up at the face she thought was asleep. "You've changed Malfoy…." Her voice heavy and sleepy, and he just stayed limp, letting her be. "I think I want to see where you go…"

He felt her hand move, and he thought she was about to get up and leave, but then it settled on his chest, and she laid back down, apparently…. was she waiting? For him?

He was so confused that he let himself move as if waking up and yawned.

"Good morning." He heard her say to him, and he peeled his eyes open, "Mornin'"

He wasn't used to talking in the early mornings, and was surprised by the depth his voice had, or how rough and hoarse it was. Merlin, he sounded old.

He heard a gentle chuckle, and he blinked again, "You're…. You're still here?"

He hadn't meant to sound so judgmental, but it came out that way, and he saw a bit of hurt in her eyes. "I…Uh yeah... I guess I fell asleep."

He didn't move and remained limp, his arm still around her, "I woulda moved ya…. But I guess I uh…Just fell asleep 'fore I could do anythin'…."

He didn't notice as Hermione smiled down at him, "You are not at all a morning person, are you?"

He just grumbled quietly in response, "You're loud in the mornin'"

He then tried to relax again, as she moved a bit, and didn't see her staring down at him, studying his face, and then she rolled off him, stretching. He just grunted and turned on his side. He peeked out of one eye, watching her bend down and greet his dogs, giving them rubs, and then she spoke. "Where is your bathroom?"

He didn't answer, and she shook his shoulder, "Malfoy. Where's the bathroom?"

"Mmm....Down the hall.... Door on right..." He mumbled, falling back to sleep.

She slowly ventured down the hall, coming to the first door, and she tentatively opened it, and walked in, searching for a light. She finally found one and flicked it, her eyes widening. This wasn't the bathroom. It seemed to be his bedroom. He had a large queen bed in the center of the room, made too perfection, with a poofy duvet. His room was a dark grey color with small woodland green designs. He had a carpet floor that was a deep brow. Obviously having needed a clean for a while, hoodies were everywhere, along with random books and shirts, a couple of pairs of shoes tossed on the ground. His curtains were drawn so it was only artificial light. She looked around and saw a massive black owl in a cage. And it wasn't just big. It looked about the size of a small fox, maybe a beagle, with massive plumes of feathers. She gaped at it, before turning and running right into a wall, falling backwards, but then the wall caught her- wait.

She slowly looked up, to see a very groggy looking Draco staring down at her, his hands clamped around her arms, not tight enough to bruise, but it was a tight hold. "I don't think I told you to go to my bedroom..." His deep voice said, but it didn't have the dangerous edge she had expected. He just sounded.... Exhausted?

Hermione stared up at him, "Your owl is pretty." Not knowing what else to say. She thought she saw the slightest hint of a smile on his lips before he looked down at her, "The bathroom is the next door..." Letting her go when he knew she was steady, and then he ventured into his room, closing the door behind him.

Hermione stood there for a moment, before going to the real bathroom, and washing her face off, too nervous to use his shower. 

Draco stood in his room, looking around, before grabbing a random hoodie and pulling it over his head, ignoring that he was wearing a crinkled dress shirt, and then he walked to his closet, changing from pants to a comfortable pair of khaki shorts. He sighed, rubbing his face, and walking back out his room, unaware that his hair was cowlicked to the left, obviously where he had slept on his side.

Draco walked to his living room and picked up the plates of lasagna, and put them into the sink, flicking his hand as they started to clean themselves. He then cut into the now cold leftovers, and served himself some onto a plate, and shoved it a bit roughly into the microwave. Once again, another thing Blaise had insisted on him installing. He would never admit it, but the thing was useful. Draco was refusing to admit it to himself, but he had enjoyed waking up with someone there. He hated being alone.

He pulled the plate out, and grabbed a fork, turning around, and found Hermione behind him, scaring him half to death, "You need to make sound when you move, woman!" He said, exasperated. He was confused, however, when she chuckled and took his plate, "Thanks Malfoy." Batting her eyes innocently, leaving him dumbfounded.

"Uh- I-…." He said, very unintelligibly, as she sauntered off, and he swore she even swayed her hips a bit more than normal when she walked.

He turned around, facing his window, "What the hell just happened...?" He asked himself, before he grumpily served himself another serving of lasagna, repeating the process. Then he froze, and took two steps back, his eyes locked onto Hermione, who was sitting on the couch with his dogs. His eyes were focused right on her, as he stared through the bar. "What are you wearing...." He asked, and saw her look up, blushing.

"Nothing-" She quickly said, trying to hide her clothes.

"That's not- Where did- You- ", He was shocked, "Why are you wearing my clothes!?!?"

That stupid, innocent, little-

"I found them in the bathroom. I don't have any clothes to change into, so I just shoved on your hoodie. By the way, your massive." She said, smiling that 

stupid, innocent, little smile of hers that made his body tingle!!!

He took a deep breath, and then, turned away, and once again she had rendered Draco speechless, except for one quiet comment, "You can keep it."

They didn't speak for a while, even when he came and sat beside her, even when he took her plates to be washed. A very...comfortable, Let's go with comfortable. A comfortable silence spread between them, as he let her curl back up, nuzzling her head against his chest, his left arm gently holding her by the shoulder. "This is nothing. I'm just comforting her because she's scared.... Yeah, that's it. Comforting her...." He told himself, even as is thumb slowly rubbed her shoulder. "Comforting..."

Hermione glanced up at him, her eyes staring intensely, "Why?"

Draco startled a bit, "Wha-what?"

"Why?"

"Care to explain...?" He asked

She just stared, stubborn, "Why?"

Draco sighed, "Why? I don't know why. If you're asking why I protected you, I'm not a monster. If you're asking why I've...We've...I stayed with you? Because I think I want to be your friend. If it's why I....I fell asleep? Because I didn't feel scared." Trying to answer all her questions, "Why I followed you to my room? Because I have dangerous items, that I don't want you touching and getting hurt. Why...Why I hid you? Risked my safety? Because it was the right thing to do. Does that answer your question?"

She was staring at him, mouth a bit agape, "I- yeah...."

She took a deep breath, finding how close they were, her eyes locked onto something, not his eyes. His lips. He looked down at her, feeling his stomach get queasy She was leaning closer, and so was he, as he felt her breath on his nose. He saw her eyes slide shut, and then just as he thought he could feel the ghost of her lips, she breathed out, "I have to go...."

The magic broke, and his eyes slowly opened, not realizing his arms had wrapped around her, her hands tussled into the short curls at the back of his head. He stared down at her as the brunette pulled out from their entanglement and smiled at him.

"I'll see you at work, Malfoy..." Before she left, right out his front door. It didn't occur to him now, but his eyes widened when he realize she had left, wearing his hoodie and sweatpants.

It had all happened so quickly. He blinked, slowly leaning back into the couch, feeling a sense of cold, and the silence was overpowering. He glanced at the clock, and his eyes widened once more. It was only 6:00!? That meant- He was going to work. In an hour!!!

He held his head in his hands, feeling even more overwhelmed by the sense of loneliness. Draco hadn't slept so well in... months. Even when Blaise stayed over. He looked down at his dogs on the ground, "What the hell happened Scotch? Huh? Any clue buddies?" as he rubbed the dog behind the ears. Severus was still asleep.

Draco shook his head, and walked to his room, dully even caring about what he was doing as he lazily got ready for work, pulling off the hoodie and finding a new dress shirt and dress pants. He pulled on dragon hide boots, and did up his tie, black. He then pulled on a grey sweater vest, so none of his clothes were baggy, and strapped on Dragon hide gloves, pulling on his usual wooly hat. Draco grabbed his satchel and slung it onto his shoulder, strapping his wand into his trouser wand pocket, and held onto it as he apparated to the Ministry, landing in his lab. He breathed in, looking around.

His lab was in what looked like a Greenhouse at a simple glance, but when you really looked, you could see the walls were projector material, so he could put up analogies of chemicals and potions, so he could monitor experiments that he couldn't see. All done with magic of course.

He set his bag down at his desk, flicking his wrist and started up the fans, and turned on all his cauldron heaters, to continue with the work he had started two days ago.

He collected his data tables, using his wand to project the graphs onto the walls around him, as he quickly scribbled down new updates that he noticed, and scribbling random occurrences while he worked. Multiple splatters of random substances on the crumpled notebook.

 I. The newest substances showing signs of alignment with newly introduced particle bodies----Attacked each other. New tonic now rendered useless

 II. Adding boomslang particles to wolfsbane-----Result ended with a newly blackened tile in the roof. New tonic rendered dangerous

 III. ****DON'T ADD RAT EXTRACT INTO WOLFSBANE****

 IV. Added too many drops of Unicorn tears-----Useless

 V. Remind Any to not touch the emergency switch. Don't need another accident

 VI. **Don't forget to check on the freezing caterpillar legs**

He rubbed his head, "I need a new assistant…." Muttering to himself.

He worked for about an hour, goggles on, strapped to his face, as he measured out a beaker of wolfsbane, a potion he was testing to see if he could alter it to cure vampire bites. The door opened, but he didn't notice, as someone walked in, stopping a few feet away.

"Malf-" The person started, and Draco jumped a few inches, trying to not spill his potion, before spinning, and yelling.

"DID YOU NOT SEE THE DO NOT-" HE cut off, "Oh- uh- I-"

He was blushing furiously as his boss stood feet from him, looking very startled and offended.

She took a deep breath, "I was just coming by to check and see how your work on the wolfsbane alterations was coming...I see that it is in progress." Her voice was sharp and cold. He quickly set the stuff down, vanishing his gloved and goggles, as they reappeared on his desk. He followed her as she turned and stalked out, "Granger-" He grabbed her arm, "Hey, I wasn't trying to yell. I got startled. That's all."

If looks could kill.

"Seriously, I mean it-" As she pulled away. He followed her into the hall, "Granger. Granger comes back! HERMIONE!"

She froze, mid step, and slowly turned, her eyes softening a little as he caught up to her, "Listen. I didn't mean to yell. I have had interruptions all morning. I'm on edge and snapped. I-"

"You just said my maiden name." She said quietly. He blinked and nodded.

"Uh yes, I did..." He suddenly wondered if that was a bad idea to try and call her back.

He swallowed, as she smiled at him, "Well, I will come by at lunch. Why don't we have a meeting over coffee...."

Draco swallowed again, and nodded shakily, "Okay..."

Hermione smiled again, and he noticed she was still wearing his black hoodie, "Ok. I'll see you later.... Draco."

His jaw dropped, and he watched her walk down the hall, and once again, Hermione Granger rendered Draco Malfoy speechless.

**_____________________________________________________________**

Draco was sitting at his desk, trying to run processes for at least four different potions, a few rats running around in a cage so he could test a hair removal potion, alongside the hair implant potion. He picked up one, filling a pipet with three drops, prodding it into the animal's mouth. As he held it in his palm, the fur started to fade and drop off and then the rat was hairless. He smiled, placing a treat on his palm, the animal eagerly grabbing it and nibbling. 

He set it back in the cage as he scribbled down some more notes, and picked it up again, this time filling the pipet with five drops of tonic, feeding the rat the hair replenishing potion. Seconds ticked by and he cursed mildly, setting it down, and scribbling, obviously pissed off.

His door opened, and this time he heard it, and he glared towards the person, "What." He deadpanned.

"Well look who's in a foul mood." Granger snapped, folding her arms. "Are you ever NOT an ass to people who come in your lab?"

He smiled a bit, the anger fading, "Well for the fact that I work alone, and thinking about that fact, nobody should be entering my lab, no. I'm usually a stuck-up ass when people come in."

Draco looked down at his attire, and once again vanished his gloves, goggles, and lab jacket, pulling off his tunic. He got up and grabbed his wand, smiling, "I assume you are here for our lunch date?" Smirking slightly.

"Lunch coffee meeting." She corrected, although he didn't miss the faint blush on her cheeks at his words. "But yes." 

Draco let himself relax a bit, having been stressed from a long morning of work. He looked around the room, double checking he had cleaned everything up, and walked out and into the hall with her. 

"Are you 100% sure that nobody will see me at this coffee shop? I'm trying to keep my head down and going to get coffee with Miss War Heroine will defeat that if anybody recognizes me." And she realized he was nervous. Draco Malfoy? Nervous to go on an unofficial date? She had to stop herself from smiling so he didn't see it.

"Yes, Draco, I'm sure. And if they see me with you, they won't come up. Although it will be in the prophet." She answered after a moment.

He muttered a few obscenities, before she nudged him, "Relax. This isn't a war anymore. Your name has been cleared. You literally work in one of the biggest departments, and maybe you don't know, but the position you have? Most of the potion companies depend on you if their products go faulty. You are a very powerful and trusted person, except for the fact that your name has been kept secret. Kind of like some unseen force. Everybody knows OF you, not ABOUT you. Make sense?"

He stared at her, "Uh....Yes...?" Obviously trying to make sense of her little ramble.

She then started talking again, "So, I know about this little muggle café nearby, their coffee is delicious, and they sell pastries. It's in the closest village to the telephone entrance." He didn't have time to answer before she started up again. Merlin this woman was a chatterbox.

"So, what sort of coffee would you like? They have regular, black, creamy, ones that taste like pure sugar, one-"

"Granger!" He cut her off, looking down, his eyes amused, as he tried to look annoyed. "You talk. So much."

Her cheeks flushed, "Sorry, I wasn't trying to ramble, I just really didn't know what to talk about, and I don't know how many dates you have been on and thought you would be silent, so I tried to-"

"You're doing it again." His voice patient with her. "I'll talk. I'm not silent. I like creamy coffee. And I requested for my name to be kept quiet. And yes, I know where the telephone box entrance is, I just normally apparated right into my lab." Answering everything she had gone on the rant about. 

"Just take a breath and chill. And Granger?" Draco added, as a second thought, "No. I have never been on a date actually."

Looking ahead, keeping his eye out for anybody coming their way.

He saw somebody exit a door, and before he could turn, they caught sight of him. He froze, as did Granger, who spoke in a tight voice, "Hi. Hi Harry."

Draco felt ice go through his chest, dread filling him. 'Out of anybody, it had to be Potter...' 

"Hermione..." He acknowledged, and he stared at Draco, his eyes obviously suspicious, but not recognizing, "Who's this...?"

She seemed to have no words, and Draco spoke, "I'm sorry, sir, but I really must be going-"

Trying to step around Harry, who side stepped to block him. The raven-haired boy had grown a bit, so he was now up to at least Draco's neck. 

"I asked who you are. I've never seen you in this division." Harry said firmly.

Draco looked back at Hermione, and then held his hand out, "Fine. Nice to see you again. Potter."

The boy clasped his hand, as sudden recognition flashed through his eyes, "No...." His eyes locking with Hermione's, anger and concern flashing across them, before his hand turned into a death hold on Draco's hand.

"Step away from her-" Through his teeth, but Granger spoke, "Actually Harry. I'm taking him for coffee. He had a stressful morning and I put him through a great deal of stress yesterday. I had another.... incident.... And he helped me."

It was clear that Harry knew exactly what she meant by incident. He let Draco go, and took a step back, his eyes softening, "Well, Malfoy. Thank you. For helping her. And-"

"I have a request." Draco intercepted, and continued, "Just don't mention me to anybody. There is a reason you haven't seen me before. If you have questions, my lab is the one that always has wards up and the 'Do Not Disturb' sign..."

He also took a step back, reclaiming the place beside Hermione as Harry nodded, but looked at Hermione again, who also simply nodded, and the three parted ways, Harry walking down the hall towards the training area, as he and Hermione calmly walked towards the apparition center.

They reached it, and before he could swipe his wand down, he felt the tug behind his navel, and his feet left the floor, as his hand was grasped by hers. They landed, and his knees gave out, and he fell forwards, hitting a soft patch of grass, wincing.

"Did you have to side-along me?" He asked, getting up, and looking around. It was a small little village road, and she had apparated them to the little grassy patch beside the store, out of sight from muggles. He looked at her and saw the amusement in her eyes.

"You did that on purpose!!" He accused, as they walked around and to the shop.

"You have no proof." Granger quipped, and that was the end of that argument.

Draco walked behind her, his palm pressed to the flat of her back, guiding. It was a formal movement, nothing intimate, just a sign to other men to back off. He didn't really think about it, forgetting what it was meant to portray.

Ripped from his thoughts, he heard the cashier speaking to him, "And for you, sir?"

He looked a bit lost for a moment, looking up at the board, trying to make a snap decision, "I-"

"He'll just have a caramel macchiato, extra whip." Hermione cut him off, knowing he was taking too long. She finished the order, and walked into the restaurant, but the seats were all filled, except a single person seat. He blinked and looked down at her, before motioning for her to take it. She shook her head. 

"I have a better idea. Sit down." And he did, slightly confused, but the red-hot heat that exploded across his face summed up his emotions. Granger had sat on his lap, leaning against the wall, while he leaned against the chair.

She seemed relaxed, her ankles crossed, one arm resting behind his neck, the other in her lap. However, he found this quite pleasant, along with the racing heartbeat from embarrassment. He cleared his throat, trying to find the words to say. But she spoke first.

"Calm down. You said it yourself earlier. A date. I-"

"ORDER FOR GRANGER!!" A voice rang out. She jumped up, and said, "I've got it. Stay here." And weaved through the crowd.

He hadn't spoken a word since they left the cashier and didn't know what he would if he had. He swallowed. Draco had no idea what to think, but all he knew was one thing, and it was something he hated. He loved her on his lap, quite enjoyed it when her face tries to sneer and it ends up faltering into a smile, loves how her nose scrunched when she tries to think about the answer or way to respond to him. He-

He looked up just as she set the drinks down, and settled back on his lap, handing him the drink she ordered. 

"You said you liked creamy right? This one should be great if so." Granger explained, and turned a bit, instead of leaning on the wall, she leaned against his chest, her head curled a bit to his neck, just waiting. 

"Aren't you going to drink it?" He asked, about to take a sip.

"I wouldn't yet. It's scalding hot." Her voice came from close to his ear, soft. He swallowed and knew she could feel his racing heart. 

"Oh, uh, ok." Setting his down, and he felt awkward, trying to figure out where was appropriate to place his hands. In the end, she grabbed them and laced them across her stomach, relaxing.

"Are you sure- you said it was just a lunch meeting-" Draco started.

"Don't overthink. Know what? Don't think at all. Do what feels right and nice, and then face the thoughts after." As she rested her head into the crook of his neck. He didn't answer, and let the words settle, and then he pulled her a bit closer, as the two just waited for their drinks to cool down, in each other's arms.

He thought to himself while he held her, 'This feels so right.... But so wrong....'

He shook his head a bit as he rested his chin on her head, and let the time pass, and doing what she said. He didn't think until the second he stepped into his laboratory. Until the second she left.