Author Note: Welcome to chapter 3! Thanks to those who reviewed, alerted and favourited. You're all wonderful and I appreciate the feedback. Also, the guesses etc are interesting to read ;) But I won't give any of it away...

I don't own it! :)

So Malfoy and Hermione fell into a pattern. She would work her usual—long—day shift, and Malfoy would leave almost as soon as she got back to her flat and spend the night in the office reading up on the information. She knew he was avoiding her; she was pretty sure that he was having a sleep during the day and then working all night.

Quite frankly, it was bothering her. They were getting to the stage that they needed to start working together. The potion couldn't be brewed alone—due to its complexity—and Hermione also needed someone to sound her opinions and ideas off of … even if it was Malfoy.

It was well past seven p.m. on Friday and Hermione wearily packed up her work. She knew that she was best to catch Malfoy at her flat. He would usually sneak off and disappear through the Floo when she went to have her shower. She let him get away with it, because she was awkward with the situation as well. Well, this time, she would catch him and talk to him.

When she stepped into her flat, it was silent. She quickly peeked down the hall and noticed a small sliver of light coming from her guest room. Malfoy must be up and … reading? Sitting in silence? Hermione shrugged and sat her paperwork and handbag on the kitchen counter. Normally, at this time, she would go off to have a shower, and Malfoy would sneak out the Floo. It was almost like it had been an unspoken agreement between them. Well, it seemed to Hermione that it was more like an allowance on her behalf … to make him comfortable.

So, instead of heading straight to her room, she went to the kitchen and began making dinner. At least five minutes after she began, she heard the light click of a door opening and footsteps coming down the hallway. She turned and looked just as Draco walked past her into the lounge room.

"Malfoy," Hermione called out and watched as he stopped and slowly turned to face her.

His response was his usual blank expression and Hermione swallowed, feeling a bit nervous. "Off to the office?" she finally asked.

Malfoy merely nodded and grunted what sounded like an agreement. Hermione nodded and walked out into the lounge room, hands crossed in front of her. "I've been thinking …" she began to say, but paused.

"And?" he asked, one of his eyebrows raised almost curiously.

"Er, I'm going to need your help … you know, with the potion and everything. I take it that you've finished all of your reading?"

"Yeah, almost," he replied, his voice a bit husky from obvious lack of use. "Tomorrow, then?"

Hermione went to nod, but then remembered that tomorrow was Saturday, and she had planned to go over to Ginny and Harry's to help plan Angelina's hen party. "Oh, er, I can't tomorrow."

Malfoy ran a hand through his hair, the longish strands falling across his eyes and sighed in what sounded like annoyance. "Look, you're the one who wants—"

"I know," she quickly cut in. "I'm sorry … it's just I'm helping with a wedding—"

"Save it, Granger," Draco interrupted and rolled his eyes. "You don't need to give me the whole, sodding story."

Hermione took a deep breath and felt her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands. "I was just explaining," she replied, trying—but failing—to sound neutral.

"What about Sunday, then?" he asked.

"Okay," she replied before stepping back into the kitchen. Sure that he would stay now, she decided to ask him if he wanted some dinner. "Malfoy, are you—"

Whoosh!

She stopped at the dull roar coming right from the fireplace. "Right, don't worry," she muttered sarcastically and went back to cooking her dinner-for-one.

XXX

"So, I say we go to Patronus," Katie Bell announced as she sat down with Ginny, Hermione and Luna in Ginny's living room. The girls all grinned and nodded at the idea.

"I heard that place is really hard to get into," Ginny commented.

"Oliver said he could get us tickets for entry. His career has more benefits than just a toned body, let me tell you," Katie snickered about her boyfriend.

"I heard they have dancers and everything!" Alicia said excitedly as she re-entered the room with chips and dip.

"Who knows, maybe there will be some single wizards there for Hermione and Alicia," Ginny said, giving Hermione a cheeky grin.

Hermione huffed. "Ginny, I am not looking for a boyfriend. You know that," Hermione admonished with a scowl on her face.

"Oh, come on Hermione! When was the last time you dated?" Ginny asked.

"Ernie MacMillan," Luna chimed in.

"I am trying to forget that ever happened," Hermione replied through gritted teeth.

"Where did he take you on your first date again, Hermione?" Ginny asked knowingly, a smirk on her face.

"Shut up, Ginevra!" Hermione muttered darkly.

"It was a date with his parents, if I recall," Luna replied, seemingly oblivious to the teasing tone of Ginny.

All of the girls erupted into giggles and Hermione scowled. "Ernie was perfectly polite. He's a nice guy," Hermione replied, trying to stop herself from laughing.

"Yes, so lovely … I can't imagine anything I'd rather do on a first date," Ginny giggled.

"Oh shut up, Ginny! Anyway, this isn't about my single life, it's about giving Angelina a fantastic hen night."

All of the girls agreed. Although, now that the topic had been broached, Hermione couldn't help but think about her relationship status—or lack of—when she looked at all of her friends. Ginny and Harry had been happily married for six months, while George and Angelina were set to marry in a month. Luna had been dating Ron for a year, while Katie was with Oliver Wood. This left Hermione and Alicia Spinnet as the only single girls in Hermione's group of girlfriends.

Hermione had dated, but her last serious boyfriend had been Dean Thomas for six months just over a year ago. Even then, her heart hadn't been in it, as it was too close after she had ended things with Ron. Hermione and Ron had dated for almost a year after the war and after too many fights to count, they had decided that they were better fighting as friends rather than boyfriend and girlfriend. Thankfully, their friendship could be saved. It was strange to say, and Hermione doubted that many women could say this about their exes, but she was glad that Ron and Luna were together. Luna was a good person and was a most suitable, calming influence around her friend.

She looked up, realising that she had been lost in her own thoughts, but fortunately the other girls were still talking about this hot, new, magic club Patronus.

"So they've managed to charm it right in the middle of London," Katie was explaining. "Away from Diagon Alley," she added, with some relief.

"Oh, Hermione, let's get ready at your place!" Alicia announced suddenly. "You live right in the middle of London!"

A knot of worry formed in Hermione's stomach. "But we can Apparate from anywhere," Hermione replied, a bit weakly.

"But it's only a short walk away from your place," Katie said. "That way, we can stop in at a couple of Muggle clubs, too—wouldn't that be a laugh?"

"Yeah, that's a brilliant idea! I've never been to a Muggle club!" Ginny said, sounding more excited by the second.

"Me neither," Luna added.

"Then it's set," Alicia said. "Hermione's place, yeah?" Alicia at least had the decency to look at Hermione, as if to double-check.

Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy, her mind kept repeating over and over again. But what could she do? If she vehemently refused, it would seem too odd. Surely Malfoy could put on a glamour and leave the flat? He'd probably be at the Ministry anyway. As she looked at her girlfriends, she knew there wasn't a good enough excuse to say no.

She bit down on her lip before smiling at them. "Sure, why not?"

"Brilliant," Alicia exclaimed. "You know what we had at my Muggle cousin's hen party? Willy straws! We should get those for a laugh!"

Hermione watched the other girls as they collapsed into giggles, worrying about having to ask a favour of Draco Malfoy.

XXX

"No, Malfoy, we have to grind the Dragon Horn, so it is a fine powder!"

It was Wednesday, and Hermione and Malfoy were currently working on the complex potion that would be added to the sand used in the Time Turner. She was growing more and more frustrated with the blond ex-Slytherin, who seemed to feel the need to argue every, single point with her. Needless to say, it had been a long four days, since they had started working together.

"You never grind Dragon Horn that finely. It will release into the potion too quickly," Malfoy replied, his tone becoming increasingly snappy as the day wore on.

Hermione let out an annoyed sigh and ran a hand through her hair. "Yes, for the short-term Time Turners. But I was reading an article by Bershaw; you know, the magical theorist, who was discussing the properties of grinding the Dragon Horn into finer particles—"

"Does this lesson have a point, Granger?" Malfoy drawled, sounding bored.

Hermione flushed and huffed. "The point is, that grinding it to it's finest will change the way it absorbs into the potion and therefore change the reaction times. Bershaw states that there is a theory that the absorption rates in a potion will affect the reaction rates exponentially. Therefore I did these calculations," she slid a piece of parchment to him, "which—if my calculations are correct—will alter the potion to get it to travel 'long-distance', so to speak."

Malfoy looked down at the parchment, his expression blank. "This is just a theory. How do you know it will work? We are fucking around with my future here."

"If it doesn't work then we will try again—"

"Try again? I need to get back home! This is not some academic experiment of yours, Granger!"

"I don'tjust experiment, Malfoy! If you knew me at all—"

"This is bullshit! We will notbe tampering with the potion."

"Well then how will we get the particles to go that far, hmm? We can't use the regular potion for this. It has to be altered. I have already examined the sand and it's necessary. It's logical then, that it would be the potion and the Dragon Horn."

"Why didn't you just say that to start with, Granger? Instead of being so fucking patronising …"

"Well, I was getting to it! And I was not patronising—"

"So I had to listen to one of your boring lectures first, right?"

"Well, if you were actually working with me, instead of avoiding me, I wouldn't bother having to give you 'boring lectures'," she replied, mocking him.

Malfoy sat back in his chair and looked at her. She could tell he was pissed off; his jaw was tight and his posture tense, not to mention his eyes had darkened considerably. She had noticed over the last few days that his eyes were actually quite expressive. She had always imagined them to be cold, never taking the time to look closer when they were in school. But they were anything but cold. It was one way she was able to discern his emotions—not that she took it into consideration when she wanted to give him a piece of her mind. She was surprised she had never really noticed it at Hogwarts.

He finally looked away from her and stood from the stool he had been perched on. "Whatever, Granger. Since we have to wait an hour to add it, I'm getting something to eat." He put on one of the robes that Hermione had bought in a hurry for him on the day that he had made his 'arrival' and left the room.

"Wait!" Hermione called out. "Where are you going?"

"Not that it's any of your business, Granger. But there is a decent Muggle take-away not far from your flat."

"You'll put a glamour on?" Hermione questioned and then cringed slightly at the realisation of how obvious she was being.

"Of course I will," he said and sneered at her. "I know you are used to keeping the moronic company of Saint Potter and Weasel, but I do not need to be lectured by you." And before Hermione could respond, he was out the door and the all too familiar noise of the Floo being activated travelled through the office.

Hermione's shoulders slumped. She still hadn't managed to tell him that he'd have to make himself scarce for Saturday night … and now he was even more snarky than usual (and that was saying something). She had to tell him tonight, she thought, and nodded resolutely to herself. Really, how much more worse could it get?

XXX

Later that evening, Hermione finally trudged back to her flat. At lunch she had run into Katie, who worked in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, and was asked if she wouldn't mind picking up the necessities for Angelina's hen night, considering she lived near the Muggle shops which sold the items Katie wanted.

Hermione had eagerly agreed, happy to help, and had set off straight after work to the address Katie had got from her cousin. Of course, the joke was on her when she arrived at the address only to find it was a sex shop. Yes, apparently sex shops were the best places to buy funny hen party goods. Still, Hermione straightened her shoulders and entered, feeling somewhat curious at what she would find inside.

So now she was almost home, with the 'goods', and, she had to admit, feeling much more enlightened about certain things regarding the sex industry. She entered her flat, not bothering to turn the lights on, intent on heading to her room and hiding the bag for Saturday night.

She wasn't even paying attention when, suddenly, as she walked down the hall she collided with a tall—warm—figure. Without even thinking, her wand was immediately out and pointed at the dark figure, who muttered something in annoyance with a familiar drawl, causing Hermione to immediately realise who it was.

"Malfoy?" she questioned.

"Lumos," he muttered and immediately the hall was lit.

Hermione looked up and proceeded to burst out laughing. Malfoy had obviously glamoured himself to go out in public. He looked quite funny with brown hair, a big beard and glasses. It almost looked like a cliched 'disguise' from a muggle movie.

"I wouldn't be the one laughing, Granger," he said, the famous Malfoy-sneer appearing. "Considering you are surrounded by …" he paused and looked closer. "Are those what I think they are?" he asked, a hint of amusement suddenly banishing his previous annoyance.

Hermione looked down and groaned, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. In her fall, she had managed to drop everything and all the items that were previously securely in the shopping bag had scattered all across the floor.

"Why, Granger, I would have actually paidto see you purchasing these ... items," Malfoy said with a laugh as he looked pointedly at the penis straws.

Hermione blushed and quickly began picking everything up, shoving it all haphazardly back into the bag. "Oh, do grow up, Malfoy!" she snapped as he laughed harder. "It's for the hen party, for your information!"

"Don't be embarrassed, Granger. Every woman has … needs," he replied.

"I am not," she huffed as she awkwardly got back up from off the ground, clutching the bag closely to her chest. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about," she added. Though, the pink tinge on her cheeks suggested otherwise.

"Okay … I was simply pointing out—"

"Whatever, Malfoy," Hermione replied, pretending to be nonchalant, and pushing past him to get to her room.

"Are yougoing to be trying any of those items out?" he asked before snickering.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Hermione snapped before slamming her bedroom door shut. Of all the people in the world to have been around for that … it had to be him.

She groaned as she suddenly remembered something and quickly threw the bag on her bed. Running out of her room, she hoped he hadn't left yet. She felt relieved when she noted that he was still there, though it looked like she had just caught him.

"Malfoy!" she called, just as he was opening the door.

He spun around and simply arched an eyebrow in that infuriating way of his.

"I need to talk to you about something," she said, stopping in the middle of the lounge room.

"What about?" he asked.

"I need you to be out of the flat on Saturday night," she announced. When he didn't react, she continued babbling. "The girls wanted to start the hen night here … I'm the closest to town and they want to go to some Muggle places. I couldn't really say no, it would seem too odd. I would have tried to get out of it, if I knew there was a way."

He was silent for a few moments. "So where am I supposed to sleep, then?" he asked, sounding annoyed.

"You don't have to find elsewhere … they're only coming here for pre-drinks. So you'd only have to disappear for a couple of hours."

"You could have stopped them from coming—" he started.

"No, I couldn't have. I do have a life, you know, and I'm doing the Ministry a favour by letting you stay here."

"Favour? Favour?If it wasn't for you surprising me, I wouldn't have dropped the Time Turner!"

"You cannot be serious—"

"Oh, I'm dead serious! Do you think I like staying here—"

"Of course … Poor Draco Malfoy! Having to stay with the likes of me."

"What are you insinuating?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "And that wasn't what I meant!"

"Of course it wasn't," she replied sarcastically. "How much could you have changed—"

"Shut the fuck up! Do notcomment on things you have no idea about!" he sneered, and Hermione shivered at the angry expression on his face. "You don't know me … You don't know anything about me!"

Hermione stood there, stock still, heart thundering, and stared at him. She couldn't believe how furious he looked—it was almost like he was offended. Why would he be offended? How much could someone like that change?

"Whatever, I don't have time for this. And don't worry, I'll be out of your ridiculous hair on Saturday," he muttered angrily and reopened the front door and left, slamming the door behind him.

Hermione ran a shaking hand through her hair in frustration. Couldsomeone like Draco Malfoy actually change?

XXX

Author Note: Thank you so much for reading! Reviews are always appreciated :)

Cheers

W.I.M