A/N: Man, has it been one hell of a week. All I want to do is curl up in to a ball with a salted caramel hot chocolate and forget this week ever happened! Car trouble, work trouble, computer trouble, life trouble … and, sadly, it does not look like I am going to reach my NaNoWriMo goal. Only eight days left and I am only at 33,000 words, which would be alright if I wasn't going out of town for Thanksgiving next week. Woe is me. :o(

But at least there's a new chapter! Just keep swimming, right? :oD

Hermione hurried to get ready Monday morning, running late for what might have been the first time in her entire life. Rose tried to make coffee since she knew her mother would not have time to stop by her favorite coffee shop before work, but it was not finished brewing before Hermione had to leave, so she went without.

She was not sure why she was so out of it. She had gotten plenty of rest yesterday. Well, not plenty, but enough. She had been so exhausted after her little … incident that she had slept without waking once until Rose finally came in and jumped on her bed at half past noon, insisting that she needed to stop being sad over her dad and enjoy the day. Of course, she did not bother to correct her. Telling her daughter the reason she was sleeping so late was because she was up late having sex with her future father-in-law really just did not feel like a conversation they needed to have.

Still, Hermione had been off the entire day. At one point, she had even gone out for a walk to clear her mind. Rose and Hugo had given each other a look when she left. She tried to convince herself that they were right. That the reason she was so off was because she really had been upset over Ron and Colette, and that was why she had acted so impulsively with Draco. But she knew that was not true. She had slept with him because she wanted to. Plain and simple. The only thing that had upset her over Ron was the embarrassment of it all. Everyone looking at her like she was something to be pitied. She wished it had upset her. But it just … had not. Not in the right way, at least.

Hermione Flooed to the atrium at the Ministry. In recent years, they had set it up so anyone could Apparate out of the building, but not into it. She walked at a hurried pace towards the lift, joining the few other people who arrived so early on a Monday.

She arrived on her floor and walked through all of the departments to get to her office in the back. Very few people were here yet, but the ones who were looked surprised to see her arriving ten minutes later than usual, which was still a good hour before most employees. But there was a lot of work to be done and simply not enough time to do it in.

Hermione walked through the glass doors leading to her office. Teddy was not at his desk but she knew he was here by the little pink note folded in the shape of a pumping heart that was set next to his keyboard. Victoire always put them in his lunch bag, and he took them out first thing, eager to see what disgustingly sweet love note his wife wrote him today.

Smiling at the note, Hermione stepped into her office and -

"Morning, Granger."

- slammed the door behind her. "What are you doing here?" she demanded of Draco, who was sitting behind her desk with his feet propped up.

"Waiting," he replied. "You're later than I expected. I always figured you for a crack of dawn sort of person." He put his feet down and stood up, strutting towards her with that cool arrogance, not to mention a to-go coffee cup from her favorite coffee shop. He handed it to her. "I brought this for you."

"Why?" she asked, looking at him skeptically but still taking the coffee. After a morning like the one she was having, she deserved it.

"You seem like a coffee drinker," he said simply. Then he waited, looking at her expectantly.

Hermione kept her eyes on him as she slowly took a sip. French roast. Black. Just how she liked it. "Thanks," she said. "Now answer my question."

"You took off before morning."

Hermione took a deep breath and walked over to her desk. "Yes, I'm aware. As I recall, you're the one who said you never know ones true intentions until the morning after. I would think my lack of presence would have been answer enough for you."

"I hardly think I needed to wake up to a cold bed to know that you have no interest in becoming the next Mrs. Malfoy."

"No, I believe that is a position my daughter is vying for," she said as she opened her drawer and placed her bag inside of it. Then she looked up at him and sighed. "It was a mistake."

"Was it?" he asked, a small smile creeping on to his face as he walked over to her.

"Yes," she said, trying to take a step away but tripping on her chair leg. Luckily -or unluckily, she really was not sure - Draco was right there to catch her. He straightened her out so her body was facing his, but did not put her back on her feet so she was stuck at his mercy.

"You're much more graceful when naked," he said, leaning in a little and breathing in the scent of her hair.

"Uh … Malfoy …"

"Shh," he whispered, burying his head deeper and brushing his lips ever-so-slightly against her neck.

Hermione closed her eyes, letting the chills run through her as she also took in his scent. Spicy with a hint of pipe tobacco. Actually, it was very similar to the scent of his library.

There was a brief knock on the door, and Hermione was quickly torn out of her reverie. Draco placed her back on her feet and took a step back, putting his hands in his pockets and looking quite casual as the door opened.

Hermione watched as Cormac walked in, staring down and shuffling through several sheets of parchment. He glanced up for a second and looked back down. Then his eyes shot back up and stared right at Draco. They widened.

"Isn't it customary to wait for someone to say 'come in' before you come barging through the door?" asked Draco, narrowing his eyes.

"Sorry, I … Mr. Malfoy, my name is Cormac McLaggen," Cormac charged forward with one hand held out, "and I have wanted to speak with you about a project I am trying to get green lighted to revamp the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, particularly the Auror Office."

Draco reluctantly shook his outstretched hand. "Oh, right. The owl sender."

"You've read my owls?" said Cormac, sounding both surprised and flattered. "I don't suppose Hermione has mentioned -"

"Briefly," said Draco, seeming rather bored with the conversation. "But we actually have some business to take care of before I have to head to my office -"

"Actually, I think we were just about finished, Mr. Malfoy," said Hermione.

Draco looked at her and raised his eyebrows. "Were we?"

"Yes, we were," she said, looking at him with as much confidence as she could muster. "You are free to go to your office whenever you like."

"Am I?" said Draco, obviously recognizing the dismissal he was getting.

Hermione looked away from him and began fiddling through some papers on his desk.

Draco looked back at Cormac and smiled. "Well, it seems my schedule has just cleared up, Mr. McLaggen. I have a good ten minutes if you would like to give me a quick tour of the department and discuss your ideas."

Cormac's eyes lit up. "Absolutely. Hermione, you're free right now, aren't you?"

"Actually, I came in early to -"

"We would both just love to take you around. While I have many ideas for the Auror Office, she is the one who has been trying for years to get better Defensive Magical items for the patrol team." He leaned in and whispered, "Their department is a lot less picky about who they let in, if you catch my drift. Though, the Auror Office did let in that idiot husband of hers."

Draco laughed loudly.

Hermione turned red in the face. "Shut it, Cormac. I can't go around with you right now. I have work to do."

Cormac smiled. "Fine, but the Minister will be very upset when he hears about how I couldn't seal the deal with Malfoy Enterprises because the witch with the information on our largest demographic refused to -"

"Fine!" she snapped, grabbing a notebook and a Never-Ending Quill from off of her desk. "Let's get this over with. I have a lot to do today."

Cormac smiled smugly and walked out the door. Hermione waited for Draco to go but, when he motioned for her to go first, she huffed and gave in, knowing very well that the pencil skirt she wore that day was a mistake, since he was so obviously staring at her arse.

Cormac led them over to the Auror Office first. Only Harry was there, preparing the schedules for the day. He looked up when they walked in, his eyes pausing for a moment on Draco.

"Morning," he said, looking mainly at Hermione.

"This is our Auror Office," said Cormac, completely ignoring him. He pointed to a chalkboard they had with every Aurors name listed on it and their present tasks. "As you can see, the head of this department is stuck in very primitive ways."

Harry scoffed and looked back at what he was doing. "Nice to see you too, McLaggen."

"I thought it was your Defensive Magic you wanted me to improve," said Draco. "Not the bloody office."

"It's everything," explained Cormac. "Really, the entire Ministry needs a makeover, but the Minister has only approved this department. It would be like a trial run. If everything works out here then he promises to give me more leeway in other departments."

"Seems like a big project," said Draco. "Expensive. I am sure you are aware my services do not come cheap."

"Hermione is the numbers person," said Cormac. "She can get everything drawn up for you."

Hermione looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "Can I, Cormac?"

"Of course you can. You're Hermione Granger Weasley, hopefully sans the Weasley soon. You can do it all," he said with a cheesy smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry held his breath as he continued trying to do his work.

"Fine, I'll draw up the bloody numbers, Cormac, just hurry this along, will you? Both I and Mr. Malfoy have places to be."

"Right, of course," said Cormac, returning to his tour. He went over the basic Defensive Spells the Aurors currently used and the points in which they were flawed. Then he took Draco around to the other offices, letting Hermione take charge in the Patrol Office. Draco did not look especially impressed with anything, and she even caught him yawning a few times, but he remained professional, asking questions and actually listening to the answers.

"So tell me, Mr. McLaggen, why is it that you want me and my company heading this project?" Draco asked at the end of the tour. "Surely, there are other companies you could use. Ones that are actually in your budget."

"But Malfoy Enterprises is the best!" exclaimed Cormac. "You have singlehandedly reshaped the entire -"

"It's because you're a pureblood," interrupted Hermione.

Cormac froze, slowly turning towards her with wide eyes. His open mouth tensed, along with the rest of his face.

Hermione just smiled. "No use beating around the bush, Cormac. Mr. Malfoy is already well aware of my work to create equality among all magical beings, starting with merging the line that separates purebloods and Muggle-borns. He is no fool and is, I am sure, well aware that any association we have with him will look good to the Wizengamot, considering we are lacking purebloods in our department."

Cormac looked about ready to burst.

Hermione smiled wider. "Of course, from what I have just stated, we can all conclude that equality goes both ways, am I right?"

"I suppose we could," said Draco, watching her closely as she spoke.

"And while we're lacking purebloods, Mr. Malfoy," she continued, "I believe your company is lacking any credible mixed organizations, such as the Ministry. Your clientele seems to consist mainly of rich, pureblood-owned companies that need heightened security to protect their assets. Sure, Malfoy Enterprises is out of our budget, but you also know that working with us will open a lot of doors for you and your company. Not just at the British Ministry, but ones in other countries, as well. Not to mention Gringotts, which has branches all over the world."

Draco smirked. "So what you are saying is that this partnership will be mutually beneficial."

"Exactly. You use us, we use you. That is the 'Slytherin' way, isn't it?" she said, putting his former house name in air quotes.

"You never cease to surprise me, Granger -"

"Weasley -"

"All right. You get me those numbers and I will see if we can work out some sort of deal."

Hermione smiled triumphantly.

"And, of course, we get the family discount, right?" asked Cormac, throwing an arm around Hermione's shoulders and squeezing. "After all, you two will be in-laws soon. Just after the wedding of young Scorpius and his pretty flower, Violet."

" Really , Cormac? You know his son's ridiculous name but you can't remember Rose?"

"Did I get it wrong again?" he asked.

Hermione huffed. "Remove your arm before I break it."

He obeyed quickly.

"Now, if we are quite finished here then I have actual work I need to attend to. I will get those numbers to you as soon as possible, Mr. Malfoy." She walked off.

"You know, all of this talk of flowers has reminded me of something for the wedding," said Draco. "If you will excuse me, Mr. MacLaggen. Until next time." He shook his hand and walked after Hermione, catching her door just before she could shut it and closing it behind him.

Hermione ignored him and headed towards her desk.

"You have certainly done your research on me," he said.

She put down her notebook and opened a drawer, pulling out a magazine that she tossed so it was facing him on the desk. It was a copy of Wizarding Life with him on the cover. "Cormac asked me to read up on you. He has good ideas but he is not always the best at putting them in motion," she explained. "I have to say, you come off as far less arrogant on paper."

"Took years of practice," he said with a smirk. "Anyway, I thought you said you didn't want to work with me."

Hermione took a seat. "I don't. But neither of us can deny that it's a good idea. If our children insist on getting married then what better way to put on a unified front then by working together to promote diversity? After all, this is what it's all for, isn't it? So their generation will not have to go through the same hardships ours did. Things are better but they're far from perfect."

"Yes, I suppose you're right," said Draco, walking over to her and moving so he was between her and the desk. "So, where were we before?"

"You were leaving," said Hermione, trying to get back to her desk.

"I don't think so." Draco seized her hand and pulled her to her feet. "I haven't even gotten around to what I came here to say it."

"From what I recall," she pulled her hand away, "you weren't trying to say anything."

"I was temporarily distracted by your arse in that skirt," he said, reaching around and grabbing it.

Hermione smacked his arm. "You said 'just this once'," she snapped. "Remember?"

"I know what I said. But that was before I knew what a great fuck you -"

" Mrs. Weasley ," called a voice from a box on her desk. " Mr. Weasley is here to see you. "

Hermione took a deep breath and pressed a button on the box. "Tell him just one moment, Teddy." She looked back at Draco. "Please go."

"No," he said, all signs of that arrogant smirk gone as he stared back at her. Now he just looked angry. "I haven't even had a chance to speak with you yet."

"I will speak with you later."

"No you won't." He walked over to one of the chairs facing her desk and sat down. "I will wait right here until your bloody husband is finished with whatever it is -"

"Malfoy, no!" shouted Hermione. When he raised his eyebrows, she took several deep breaths. "Look, I … I haven't seen him yet. Since that night." She blushed. "If you're here then I won't be able to keep my cool. I'm already panicking, all right? I can't bloody deal with this … this …"

Hermione began breathing heavily, fanning herself to try and calm down. Draco stood up and hurried over to her. He took out his wand and gave it a wave. Suddenly, Hermione was hit with a cool breeze, the soothing scent of lavender and peppermint invading her nostrils. She closed her eyes and inhaled, only opening them when she felt something press against her lips. She looked down and saw that it was a piece of dark chocolate.

"Astoria used to make me eat this every time she felt I came home too wound up. So, basically, every day." He chuckled. "She read somewhere that it's calming or something."

Hermione took the chocolate between her teeth and chewed. Nothing had ever tasted so sweet.

"Unfortunately, you can't solve all marital problems with a piece of chocolate." Draco watched her lips closely as they moved. When she was finished, he said, "I am going to leave, Granger, but this conversation is far from over. You are going to come to my office on your lunch break."

"I don't have time to -"

"You are going to, Granger. Or else I will be right back here tomorrow morning."

Hermione took another deep breath. Luckily, the lavender and peppermint was still present. "Fine. I take my lunch around noon so I will see you around then."

Draco smirked softly. "Smart woman. Until then." He grabbed her arse one more time before Disapparating. Hermione jumped, grabbing at her behind and unsuccessfully smacking him as he disappeared.

"Arse," she muttered to herself as she walked over to her door. She took a few more deep breaths and shook out her nerves before opening it. Ron was sitting on Teddy's desk and the two were laughing at something on the computer.

"Ronald."

Ron turned and jumped to his feet. "Oh! Sorry, Hermione, we were -"

"Was there something you needed?" she asked, walking back in to her office.

Ron and Teddy exchanged a look before he followed her, making sure to shut the door behind him. "I wanted to talk to you about the party," he said as soon as they were alone.

Hermione went over to her desk and leaned against it. "What about it?" she asked.

"I just want to explain about Colette."

She tensed.

"I swear I didn't invite her. I wouldn't do that to you," he said. "She had been hinting about wanting to come and I sort of just brushed it off, you know? Then she said she couldn't make it anyway because her mum was coming to town so I played it off like I was upset over it. I thought I was sparing her feelings, but then she just bloody shows up!"

"Then why didn't you just bloody kick her out?" asked Hermione, trying hard to keep her cool.

Ron blushed and looked ashamedly at the floor. "I'm not good at that sort of thing, Hermione. The most I could get myself to do was take her on a tour of the house to get her away from the party, but then we ended up tumbling in to Malfoy's room and it was bloody awkward."

Not as awkward as her own tumble in to Malfoy's room, not to mention a few places within it. Mostly the bed. Though, the floor did not come out unscathed. Nor the wall. There might even have been a momentary stint on the dresser. There was definitely one on the balcony when it got too hot inside. Merlin, she had forgotten about all of that. The panic was quickly returning and it took her a minute to realize Ron was still talking.

"… but I know now that she lied."

Hermione looked at him and blinked. "What?"

"Colette," he said. "Her mum was never coming. She just said that so I wouldn't tell her no. She knew I wouldn't once she said she was busy. She bloody manipulated me."

"It sounds like you're trying to get out of taking any blame upon yourself, Ron," she said with a humorless chuckle. " Again ."

"No!" he shouted, taking a few steps forward. "No, that is not what I'm doing! I should have kicked her out right away, I admit it! I didn't want her there! I wanted to be there with you and I told her that! I told her, Hermione, and it's over, all right? It's over and I … I want to come back home." He took a few more steps until he was standing right in front of her, cupping her face in his palms. "Please, Hermione … please. Let me come back home."

Hermione put her hand on his chest and pushed him a step back. "Just because you broke up with your girlfriend doesn't change everything else that's wrong between us, Ron. We can't just ignore -"

"I know," he said, moving closer again. "But I want to try. Please, can't we at least try?"

"I don't know …" she said, looking down at the floor.

"Would it make it better if I said I never slept with her?"

Hermione's whole body tensed, her eyes slowly lifting until they met his. "What?"

"I never slept with her," he said again. "I know we have other problems but I clearly only made things worse by dating her. I just thought that's what you wanted. Then Ginny told me it was all a bloody test or something. She said I need to be honest with you and this is me doing that." He sighed. "You are always on the back of my mind, Hermione. I could never be with anyone else."

Well, she could not have felt like a bigger arse. He had definitely not been on the back of her mind the other night. Not when she had been too busy wondering what position Draco was going to toss her in next.

And, suddenly, her mind became flooded with images of him on top of her. Panting, moaning, sweating, talking dirty and giving her arse a spank. She bit her lip. These were not the best thoughts to have when her husband was standing right in front of her, estranged or not.

"Hermione, please," said Ron, moving her face so she was forced to look at him. "We always said we were going to try."

Hermione gazed in to his blue eyes and sighed. "All right," she heard her mouth say even though her heart did not feel the same. It was for the children. That was what she kept telling herself.

Ron's eyes lit up and he smiled at her. Still cupping her face, he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. At least this part of her had stayed loyal to him, as long as she did not count necks or other similar areas.

"You won't regret this. I promise I am going to be better this time," he said, kissing her once more before releasing her and taking a step back. "Can we go to lunch today?"

And then Draco entered her mind again. This time clothed. In a suit. And looking very debonair. So debonair that she wanted to rip that suit right off of -

"Hermione."

She looked up.

"Lunch?" Ron repeated.

"I can't today," she said. "Cormac and I are spearheading this project with Malfoy and I said I would bring him some information this afternoon." Nothing less suspicious than a half-truth.

"You're going to be working with Malfoy?" asked Ron, pursing his eyebrows.

"Looks like it," said Hermione, trying hard to appear repulsed.

Ron stared at her for a few moments. Then his face returned to normal and he said, "Bummer. So how about tomorrow?"

Hermione attempted a smile. "Yes, tomorrow is fine."

"I'll see you at quarter till then. 'To be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late'," he quoted with a wink. "The Hermione motto."

Ron opened the door and looked at her with a dopey smile before exiting. As soon as he was gone, Hermione took a moment to just stand there, really taking in everything that had just happened. She promised Ron she would try. She promised her children months ago that she would try. But she knew, deep down, that she did not want to try. She thought that maybe, when he asked, she would want to, but that kiss just now … there was nothing. She had felt nothing and it was tearing her up inside.

Hermione had just finished going through her departments funds and wrote up a decent proposal for Draco right before lunch. She had emailed it to Kingsley and received his approval. Since she was being forced to visit him at his office, she refused to show up without any documentation. Anything to ease her guilty conscience. This visit was for work. That was all.

Right as she was putting her beautiful proposal in a green folder and preparing herself to leave, her office door burst open and Victoire walked in.

"Bonjour, Aunt 'Ermione!" she said, mocking her mother's accent. "Are you ready to go to the Apothecary shop?"

Hermione stared blankly at her for a moment. Then she remembered. "Oh … Oh, right! Victoire I -"

"You forgot," said Victoire with a pout. She looked at the folder in her aunt's hand. "Where are you off to?"

"Malfoy Enterprises," said Hermione.

Suddenly, Victoire's eyes lit up. "Really?" she said. "Aunt Hermione, please, please say I can come! That building is extraordinary! I have always wanted to go inside!"

Hermione thought about this. "Actually, that would be perfect. The Apothecary shop is just a few blocks from there." Not to mention the presence of another person would help ensure Draco did not try to pull the same stunt as this morning.

Victoire squealed with excitement. She ran over and linked her arm with Hermione's, pulling her as fast as she could from that office.

When they arrived at Malfoy Enterprises, Hermione walked up to the front desk while Victoire circled around, staring up at the high ceilings and glossy, black walls. Not to mention the strangely shaped metal sculpture emitting a green light in the shape of an 'M' that was floating in the center of the large room.

"May I help you?" asked the receptionist.

"Yes, I am here to see Draco Malfoy. My name is -"

"Hermione Weasley," said the woman with a smile. "I recognize you from the papers."

Hermione blushed. "Oh. I -"

"Mr. Malfoy was only expecting one of you," she said, looking disapprovingly at Victoire, who was giggling while a talking sculpture of an old man flirted with her.

"Sorry, but it seems I have overbooked," explained Hermione. "If it is not all right then I am sure you can just give him -"

"No, it should be fine," said the woman. "Just give me a moment to get his approval."

She opened a drawer and took out a metal ball. Then she held it steady while using her wand to remove a silver thread from her head and placing it inside. Two gold wings spurted out of the ball, making it appear like a slightly larger version of the Golden Snitch, and it went flying off.

"Was that some sort of memory for a Pensieve or something?" asked Hermione.

"No, but that was Mr. Malfoy's inspiration. It relays a verbal message. He is just so brilliant," said the woman with stars in her eyes.

"And quite handsome," added Victoire, walking over to them. "Rose is so lucky she already knows how Scorpius is going to look when he is older. I mean, hubba hubba."

The woman smiled, obviously in agreement.

Less than a minute later, the flying ball returned. The wings returned to their hiding place as it landed in the receptionist's hand. She pressed what appeared to be a button.

" Yes, that is fine, Ms. Piper. Send them on up ."

The receptionist frowned and Hermione was not sure why until she noticed her name plate: Kelly Pearson. Well, at least he got the 'P' right.

"Head straight back to get to the lift," Kelly explained. "Mr. Malfoy's office is on the twenty-second floor. It's the only one there. You can try getting his secretary to announce you but she's a bit of an idiot." She rolled her eyes. "If I were you I would just head right in."

"Yes, that seems to be the consensus about her," said Hermione. "You seem competent, why don't you take the position?"

"Question of the hour," said Kelly with disdain. "Good luck, and congratulations to your daughter."

Hermione and Victoire smiled before walking off. When they were several feet away, Victoire grabbed her arm and whispered, "She can't take the position because I'm pretty sure she's slept with him. I recognize her as the 'Unidentified Woman' he was photographed with in Witch Weekly shortly after his divorce."

Hermione's jaw dropped. " Her ? But she looks -"

"Barely older than me. Yeah, I noticed."

The two of them arrived at the lift, both happy to find that it was already there and waiting for them. This building was so much quieter than the Ministry. Hermione could not decide of it was peaceful or eerie. Probably a bit of both.

It took the lift barely any time at all to arrive on the twenty-second floor. The room here was open, two sofas in the corners, bare walls and an entryway that seemed to lead to a small kitchen. There was a single desk placed to the side of two large, wooden doors with handles that, when joined, made the trademark 'M' shape.

Hermione approached the desk while Victoire wandered around. The witch sitting behind it did not even glance up as she continued to file her nails.

"Excuse me."

Nothing.

"Excuse me!"

"What?" snapped the girl, finally looking up. "He already knows you're here. Go the fuck in already."

Hermione's mouth fell open and Victoire turned and gasped.

One of the doors opened and Draco stepped out. " What did you just say to her, Ms. Vance?"

"Nothing, Mr. Malfoy," the woman said innocently. "I was just about to alert you of your guest's arrival."

Victoire scowled at her. "No you weren't, you rude little twit."

Draco laughed. He stepped aside and held the door open for Hermione. "This way, Mrs. Weasley."

A little surprised to actually hear him say her name correctly, Hermione stepped forward. When she reached the doors, she glanced over her shoulder at Victoire.

"Go ahead, Aunt Hermione" she said brightly. "I'll be fine. Just give me ten minutes with this one to teach her some respect." She pointed at the secretary. When the other witch did not acknowledge her, Victoire yanked the nail file out of her hand and tossed it in the rubbish next to a banana peel.

"Hey!"

"Play nicely, ladies," said Draco, shutting the door behind him.

"You weren't kidding about her," said Hermione as soon as they were alone.

"I don't kid about incompetence," said Draco, not even being discrete about waving his wand. Hermione bit her lip. She knew what he was doing. Putting up a Silencing and a Locking Charm.

She stood nervously in the center of the room as he approached her, looking around at anything that was not him. There was that personal fireplace he had mentioned, just behind his desk and looking nice and toasty. And there were large windows on both sides of it, giving them a lovely view of the city. She would have to enjoy it sometime when she was not feeling so uncomfortable.

When Draco was less than a foot away, she shoved the green folder she held in to his hands. "Here," she said. "This is what we can offer you for your services."

"Hmm …" Draco lifted the folder and opened it, slowly walking towards his desk as he read.

"I know it is not quite what you are used to but, as you can see, as long as the success rate of the department follows my chart then in a few short months -"

Draco snapped the folder shut and put it on his desk. "I didn't invite you here to talk numbers, Granger. Obviously, I will be willing to work something out for family," he said with a smirk.

"Oh," said Hermione as he slowly approached once more. "Well, that's good. Honestly, I was thinking you would laugh right in my face when you saw that and I wasn't sure how we were going to convince you -"

"I will tell you exactly how you can convince me," said Draco, using one hand to grab her arse and pull her roughly against him while the other pushed her hair back, giving him access to her soft neck.

Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and shoved him back. "I'm not a bloody prostitute!" she snapped.

Draco smirked. "You're right. Poor wording." He stepped forward and grabbed her again, this time much gentler. "What I am going to do to you now has absolutely nothing to do with our business deal." He leaned in and whispered, "This is personal," his hot breath tickling her neck before he began running his tongue along her ear.

"You … you said just once," she reminded, placing her hands on his chest to push him away but clutching on to the fabric instead.

"I thought that would be enough," he said, rubbing his hands soothingly along her hips and arse as he nibbled his teeth down her neck, "but all it did was give me a bloody taste. I need more, Granger. I need to fuck you time and time again until I get it out of my system."

"B-but … our children," she said weakly, not even attempting to stop him as he slowly began to bunch up her skirt.

Draco lifted his head back to her ear and chuckled softly. "I won't tell if you won't."

In less than a second, the two of them were ravaging each other, Hermione grabbing on to his hair and pulling him deeper in to her neck while he sucked more aggressively. He picked her up by the arse and slammed her down on his desk, her legs instinctually wrapping around his waist and pulling him close enough to grind in to her. He ripped her shirt open and pulled her right breast out of her bra, sucking on her nipple while she struggled to undo his trousers.

Draco had just moved his hands down to help her when something on his desk beeped. A small orb lit up with a green light and a voice said, " Mr. Malfoy, your door is locked ."

Draco grunted and pressed the orb. "Yes, Ms. Vance, I am in a meeting. What is it?"

Hermione began roughly grazing her teeth across his neck and he had to struggle to keep his voice calm.

" Your lunch meeting is here ."

Draco pursed his eyebrows. "What?" He leaned to the side and grabbed a datebook from behind Hermione, flipping it open and stopping on today's date. He pressed the orb again. "I don't have a lunch meeting today, Ms. Vance."

" Well, they're here ."

"Who is?"

" I don't know. That Scottish bloke you always say is so important. "

Draco closed his eyes and took a deep, meditated breath. "Wallace Macgregor?"

" Yeah, that's the one ."

"Tell him I will just be a few minutes." Draco released the button. "Fuck!" he shouted. "She put him on the bloody schedule for next Monday, that fucking idiot!"

Hermione stopped sucking on his neck and leaned back.

"I know I am going to regret this," he said, "But I am afraid we are going to have to put this on hold." He kissed her neck and stepped back, closing his eyes and trying to think of something, anything to make his cock go down. His ex-wife was always a good go-to.

While he did that, Hermione jumped off of the desk and pulled down her skirt. Her blouse was missing several buttons, so she used her wand to locate and reattach them. She had just positioned her breasts so they were properly back in her bra and was buttoning up her newly repaired blouse when a pair of strong hands wrapped around her from behind, followed by the touch of soft lips against her neck.

"Perhaps we can continue this at the same time tomorrow."

Hermione focused on her task and said, "I can't. I have lunch plans tomorrow."

"So?" said Draco, continuing to kiss down her neck. "You obviously had lunch plans today but you still came. Just stick whoever it is in the front room while you're in a meeting and -"

"My lunch is with Ron, Malfoy."

Draco's lips froze.

"I hardly think it would be appropriate to make him wait for me outside of your office while you're shagging me on your desk."

Draco did not come back at her with some witty response like she expected. Instead, his hands tensed and he asked, "What are you going to lunch with him for?"

Hermione sighed. She stepped out of his touch and began tucking in her blouse. "Well, if you must know, he has ended things with Colette and has asked me if we could try again."

"And you said yes?"

Hermione turned to see Draco cocking an eyebrow at her. "Yes, I did," she said. "He's my husband, Malfoy. We have two children together. I owe it to all of them to at least try."

Draco scoffed. "You don't owe them shit. Not when you're this bloody miserable."

Hermione went white. "I'm not -"

"Yes you are," he interrupted. "I could tell you were the first moment I saw you at the graduation. You did not want to be there with him, and you did not want his family doting all over you. You wanted out."

"No, I … I love him. I do."

With a chuckle, Draco said, "Granger, if you were still in love with Weasley then you wouldn't have fucked me the way you did. That was not a woman seeking revenge. That was a woman seeking liberation. Something different from what she was used to. Something enjoyable."

"No!" objected Hermione. "No, that's not what that was! Whoever that woman was that night, that was not me!"

"Yes it was," said Draco.

"I was drunk. I -"

"Oh, and are you drunk now?" he asked. "Because, maybe you didn't notice, but we were only seconds away from shagging just a few minutes ago. Face it, Granger. You want to fuck me just as much as I want to fuck you, and that's what has you so panicked. Because you don't want to be with him. You want to be free to fuck me whenever you please."

"Stop saying it like that!" she yelled, clenching her hands in to fists. "We … we slept together. It was decent and now it's finished."

"Would it make you feel better if we pretended we made love ?" he mocked. "It is what it is, Granger. Fucking. Accept it, and also accept that we will be doing it again." He took a step forward and pulled her body in to his. "Soon."

"No," she said again, trying to push him away but he held on tight. "I … I love Ron. We have a family together and we're going to make it work."

"Stop deluding yourself," said Draco. "You can't go back to him because you will never be happy. You have checked out, Granger. I don't know what your defining moment was but there is always one. That moment when you look at the person you have slept next to for years and realize that you feel nothing. It is finished, and nothing either of you say or do is ever going to make it right again."

"You don't know that," Hermione said weakly.

"Are you saying there wasn't a defining moment for you?" he asked. "One where you felt that clarity?"

She stared down towards the floor and went white just thinking about it. "No," she lied, wanting nothing more than to forget that moment last December when she looked at her husband and literally saw him change before her very eyes. How could she ever admit to anyone that she could pinpoint the moment she truly fell out of love?

"Liar," said Draco, calling it like it was. He crossed his arms and took a deep breath. "So where does this leave us?"

"Nowhere," answered Hermione. "Just like it should be." She looked up at him. "It was a mistake."

Draco's jaw clenched. "If you truly feel that way then why did you come here, Granger? Why are you standing in my office right now?"

"Because you said -"

"Forget what I fucking said!" he snapped. "You didn't have to come here. You could have stood me up. Yes, I would have been right back in your office tomorrow morning but if I truly felt you didn't want me around then I would back off." He paused. "Eventually."

Hermione scoffed but she did not come back with a rebuttal. Because, for once, she did not have one. Why was she here? She had spent all morning working on those bloody numbers just to justify it, and she had started right after making Ron that promise. She knew what Draco wanted. He was not exactly cryptic about it.

"Face it, Granger. You and I are exactly what the other needs."

Hermione looked up to see he had moved closer. He reached out and put his hands on her hips. She did not stop him.

"You need someone to satisfy your desires until you figure out what exactly it is you want, and I need someone who isn't going to get bloody attached and expect something more from me. Let's face it, this is hardly forever. It definitely cannot go past the wedding. But, for once in your bloody life, could you not overthink things?" He leaned in close and whispered, "Follow your animal instincts."

Draco grazed his lips up her neck, sending chills down Hermione's spine and all the way to her toes. She could not keep herself from sucking in her breath.

Stopping just below her ear, Draco smirked and said, "I better go tend to my guests." He ran his teeth across her earlobe and pulled away.

Looking in a mirror hanging on the wall, Draco straightened his tie and hair. "I won't be in your office tomorrow morning, Granger, but don't think that means I am letting this go. My pursuit of you will not end until I have you naked in my bed again, and you should know that I have a great knack for getting what I want."

He turned and walked towards her, fixing a few strands of her hair and straightening her blouse before walking towards the door.

"Despite your claims, this is not finished," he said. "You can be quite certain of that."

Flashing her a wink and a smile, Draco opened the door and stepped out. Hermione hurried so she exited just behind him.

When they got to the front room, they were surprised to find Draco's three guests sitting on the sofa and laughing while Victoire served them tea. His secretary was still at her desk, painting her nails now.

"So do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet?" one of the men asked, pointing at her stomach.

"No, not yet," she answered. "My husband wants to find out but I kind of want it to be a surprise."

"My wife and I wanted to be surprised. She was so certain it was a girl, which is why my son has a bright-pink bedroom," said the redheaded, bushy-bearded man in the middle, roaring with laughter while the others followed suit.

Hermione was fairly certain he was Wallace Macgregor, the president of a vastly growing beverage manufacturing company who was always present in the business section of the Daily Prophet . His most popular product was an assortment of different flavored butterbeers. Her favorite was the cinnamon.

"I think we'll just stick with the white nursery," said Victoire with a laugh. "If I'm feeling really adventurous then maybe we'll go cream."

The men laughed again, so thunderous compared to her dainty giggle.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen," said Draco, walking up to them.

Wallace stood first, followed shortly by his comrades. "S'alright, Mr. Malfoy," he said. "This charming lass kept us company." He smiled fondly at Victoire and she beamed back at him. Then he watched as Hermione walked up next to her. "So the rumors are true. The wizarding world's most cunning businessman is working with the Ministry's top witch."

"I hope you don't mind I spilled the beans," said Victoire with a smile. "But I wanted Mr. Macgregor to understand that you were not making them wait for just any client, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco looked at her and returned her smile. "I don't mind at all. Of course, no deal has been made yet. Mrs. Weasley and I are still working out the details."

He glanced at Hermione and winked. She obviously read between the lines of that statement, but managed to keep her cool in front of present company.

"Shall we get going?" Hermione asked Victoire. "We only have a short time before I have to get back to the office and I just know you're going to want to stop at the ice cream parlour on our way back."

Victoire giggled. "You know me so well. We can go just as soon as I clean their teacups."

She held up the tray she was holding and waited for the men to drink the last of their tea, putting the cups back on it for her. Victoire tried to walk off towards the small kitchen, but Draco stopped her.

"That is not your job." He waved his wand and the tray vanished. "Ms. Vance, the cups are in the kitchen. Do me a favor and clean them while we are out."

His secretary scoffed. "Do I look like a maid to you?"

"I was thinking you looked more like a bitch," said Victoire.

Ms. Vance's head shot up and she stared daggers at the other witch. Hermione gasped but the men just laughed, even Draco.

"Victoire, language!" snapped Hermione.

"Sorry, Aunt Hermione, but I call them like I see them." She waved her wand at the kitchen. "The dishes will be clean by the time you get back, Mr. Malfoy." She smiled brightly and went ahead to press the button for the lift.

"A firecracker, that one," said Wallace. "Her husband is a lucky man."

The lift opened. Hermione did not know why she was surprised when Draco and his guests stepped in with them, beginning to talk business while Draco secretly grabbed her arse in the tight space. She could not even push him off since there was no way of doing that without making a scene. He really had some nerve. She finally jabbed her heel in to his feet and, when he flinched, she smiled and said, "Sorry."

When they arrived on the ground floor, Hermione and Victoire let the men walk ahead of them. It was not until they got outside that any of them turned back. Wallace and his two comrades wanted to say goodbye to Victoire, but Draco looked right at Hermione and said, "Come over here for a quick moment, Mrs. Weasley."

He stepped off to the side and waited for her to follow. She did slowly and, once they were alone, asked, "What is it?"

"I really am interested in doing this job for the Ministry, if not for the money then for my reputation. As you have read, it obviously needs some work." He paused. "But those numbers you gave me were laughable, and I refuse to work for pittance. Tell the Minister that he will have to up his ante if he wants this deal to happen."

Hermione bit her cheek and nodded. "All right. I will pass the message along."

Draco held out his hand and Hermione shook it. He pulled her a little closer and quietly said, "I look forward to working with and fucking you in the future."

Hermione pulled her hand away. "You really are charming." She was about to walk away but stopped, turned back and paused. She looked at him. "You need to fire your secretary, Malfoy. She doesn't deserve to be rewarded for her lack of drive and, in your line of business, you need someone you can trust by your side. If the worst thing these gossip magazines can say about you is that you're picky about your staff then I would call that a win."

"Hermione!" someone called.

Hermione turned just in time to see a camera flash in her face. A man with a fedora smiled before Disapparating.

Hermione whipped back around when she heard Draco laughing.

"It looks like they already have a new headline. 'Draco Malfoy, entrepreneur, spotted with Hermione Weasley, the married mother of his son's fiancée and the Ministry's very own golden witch. Is there more going on between them than just wedding plans?'"

Hermione went white. "They wouldn't."

"Of course they would," said Draco. " Witch Weekly just loves to cover stories on my philandering ways, and your impending divorce is the talk of the town. It is exactly the type of headline they would print." He winked. "See you around, Granger."

Draco swaggered off and rejoined Wallace. They walked in one direction while Hermione and Victoire walked in another. She tried to focus on her chatty niece, but it was hard when she knew Draco was right. That photo was going to show up in the press and, as innocent as it was, the guilt of it all was bound to get to her.

She had known it was only a matter of time before the repercussions of what she had done came back to haunt her. Not to mention the very persistent wizard who made his mission perfectly clear. And, what more, there was a part of her that secretly hoped he would succeed. But she would fight it. Through the veil and back she would fight it. Or try, at least. Apparently, there was a lot of trying in her life, and it was bloody exhausting.