A/N: I know I'm probably terrible for not updating in so long, but here's the next chapter! With some much needed prodding from a friend, I finally wrote this and did some revisions of past chapters as well.

Chapter 5: A Visit

"Ginny!" Hermione yelled, greeting her friend with a large hug. Ginny had just entered the cottage with a small bag in hand. The little muggle car she borrowed was just parked outside.

"Hello!" Ginny returned the hug then proceeded to look around the cottage, "this place is beautiful."

Hermione smiled, "Yeah, and you haven't even seen the beach yet!"

"So how are you? You look like you've healed up well," Ginny evaluated her friend.

"I'm perfectly fine," Hermione motioned for the redhead to sit down at the table with her, "what about you? How was the drive here?"

Ginny shrugged, "It was fine. I guess that old driving class Harry made me take was worth it. Long drive, but nice scenery." Ginny looked at the stairs heading to the second floor, "Where's Malfoy?"

"Upsairs, I think he's still sleeping."

"Are you and him getting along? That's everyone's biggest concern,"

Hermione chewed her lip, "Yeah, we kinda talked about it, but it's still been a bit awkward."

Ginny rifled through her bag, "It'll get less awkward soon."

"I hope," Hermione mumbled, "what's that?"

Ginny was pulling what seemed like a copy of the Daily Prophet out of her bag. "This is yesterday's copy of the Prophet, I thought you might want to see it." Ginny slid the newspaper over to Hermione, who looked over it's moving pictures and a few headlines.

"Thanks so much," Hermione smiled, "It's pretty frustrating to be here, not connected to anything."

"Yeah, I understand that. I'm surprised you're not already going mad. I probably would be." Ginny agreed.

Both the girls looked up as they heard the floor creaking above them. Within a few seconds, Draco came downstairs. He was wearing a tee shirt and jeans, and seemed like he had just woken up, judging by the way his hair was messily sprawled around his head.

"Hello," He greeted Ginny, obviously nervous at the fact that she was in his cottage. Hermione didn't blame Draco for feeling uncomfortable, he was well aware that Ginny could perform an exceptional bat-bogey hex. Also, Ginny had hated him for years, as well as the rest of her family.

"Hi Draco," Ginny gave him a sweet smile.

"I'm going to go show Ginny the beach," Hermione told Draco, "she brought us yesterdays Prophet, if you want to read it."

Draco nodded, and sat down at the table while the girls walked outside.

"See? Isn't it awkward?" Hermione asked once they had started descending the stairs.

"A little, but it's only because you're making it awkward," Ginny said confidently, "wow, this it gorgeous!" She exclaimed once the full beach came into view.

"How is it my fault?" Hermione said in an outraged voice.

"Well, for starters, as soon as he entered the room, you made an excuse for us to leave." Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"I just wanted to show you the beach," Hermione mumbled.

Ginny shook her head and laughed, "You know what I think?"

"What?" Hermione asked, stepping onto the sand and walking towards the water.

"I think you two need to shag," Ginny was standing right behind Hermione.

"WHAT?" Hermione whipped around and looked at Ginny, who was wearing an innocent little smirk.

Ginny walked past Hermione, towards the shore, "I just think it would make it less awkward if you got all that sexual tension out of the way."

"Honestly, Ginny, you're mad. That would make it a hundred times more awkward," Hermione responded, "And what sexual tension are you talking about?"

Ginny turned around, "Oh come on, I can tell you're so tense, you desperately need to shag Draco."

"Okay, that's enough," Hermione tried to put a stop to the conversation.

"I brought you guys some firewhiskey," Ginny pulled a bottle out of her bag.

"Why would we need firewhiskey?" Hermione took off her shoes and stood at the edge of the water.

"You know, to help get rid of that sexual tension."

"Ginny," Hermione turned to her friend, "drop it."

Ginny shook her head, a little grin on the corner of her mouth, "fine."

About thirty minutes later, Hermione and Ginny stood in the little kitchen, preparing a salad for lunch. Draco was off in the other room, still reading the copy of the Prophet Ginny had brought them. It seemed like he felt just as disconnected from the world as Hermione did. He had been eager to read the paper, and learn about everythin going on since they were away.

"Alright, foods ready," Hermione announced, and moved to set the food on the table. Ginny sat down next to Hermione, and Draco came over to sit across from them, setting down the paper on the table next to him.

"They've made some arrests," Draco noted, motioning to the paper.

"It's a bunch of rubbish if you ask me," Ginny said, digging into her food, "none of them were there at the attack on the Burrow, and they've never had any Death Eater association before."

Hermione reached over to grab the paper and examine it, "Arrested for Death Eater activity?" She read from the paper, "that's all it says."

"See? Rubbish, they've got no evidence. They're arresting the wrong people." Ginny said confidently.

"How are things going back at home?" Hermione asked, "Is there anything happening?"

"Harry said you'd ask me that," Ginny smiled, "Nothing much has happened."

Hermione frowned, "If nothings going on, then why do I have to be here? I want to help."

"You're safe here," Draco said, "You're not safe back at home."

"Yeah, we just need to wait it out, if nothing happens for a while, you'll be able to come home," Ginny smiled.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I just want to do something to help."

"You're helping by staying here," Draco said.

Ginny nodded in agreement.

"What's that?" Draco pointed towards the bottle of firewhiskey that Ginny had set on the table.

Ginny smirked, "Oh, I just thought you guys might like some firewhiskey, so I brought it."

Draco squinted his eyes at Ginny, trying to figure out what she was up to. Hermione just sent the redhead a warning glare, telling her not to mention anything else.

Ginny smiled sweetly, and finished eating her salad. "Oh, it's already one o'clock!" The girl looked at her watch, "I need to get home, I told mum I'd be back for dinner."

"No, don't leave yet," Hermione pleaded, not ready to be alone with Draco.

"I'm sorry, but I need to get going," Ginny stood up and grabed her bag, "I think Remus is coming sometime next week."

Hermione reluctantly stood up and hugged Ginny goodbye.

"Bye Hermione, bye Draco," She said, walking out the door.

"Bye," Draco smiled.

The door closed and Hermione turned around to face Draco, who was looking at her. She couldn't really place what his expression was, it was almost suspicious. But Hermione couldn't tell. The witch dropped her eyes to the table and picked up a couple plates to carry to the kitchen. A moment later, Draco was behind her with the rest of the dishes.

"Why did she bring us firewhiskey?" He asked, starting to watch a couple dishes.

Hermione shrugged, "I don't know." She tried to walk around the taller man, but he was in her way of exiting the kitchen.

Draco shook his head, still looking suspiciously at her, "You know something I don't," he said quietly. He was standing rather close to her, in the tiny kitchen, Hermione could see every little grey speck in his eyes.

She shook her head and managed to slide past him and out of the kitchen, just barely brushing his arm. A blush was creeping up her neck as she went to grab a book and sit down on the couch in the other room. Draco must have given up on his interrogation, because he left her alone to read for a while.

A/N: Next chapter involves a lot more Draco/Hermione time. Reviews are always appreciated, I promise to respond to every one!