A/N: BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY LOVELY BETA'S: Mandi762 & TheLastLynx (on FFN)

Without them this chapter would be an absolute mess..

Enjoy & please feel free to let me know what you think xx

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The next morning at Draco's home, he had behaved like a true gentleman. He never tried to do more than kissing, never pushed her boundaries, he even made her breakfast. Afterwards, when the excesses of the previous night finally claimed their toll on her body, he tenderly held Hermione's hair and stroked her back while she was miserably kneeling on the bathroom floor emptying her stomach. When she sat back on the cold bathroom floor, sweaty and exhausted, he made sure she had enough to drink and to eat, before he drove her home so she could properly regain her strength.

Standing in front of her house, he promised to be in touch. After a sweet parting kiss on her cheek, he winked, and drove away.

When Hermione finally woke up from her nap, Ginny was sitting beside her on the bed. The redhead wanted to apologise for leaving with Harry without finding her first, and she desperately wanted to know all the details from the night before. Hermione brushed Ginny's worries off without a thought. Feeling giddy, she told Ginny about it all, the kisses, how she felt when he touched her, and how much she wanted to do it all again. The redhead squealed and hugged her, exclaiming how happy that Hermione was finally able to feel what she was always talking about. When her friend chatted about how she had felt when Harry first kissed her, Hermione's mind trailed off. She couldn't believe she had finally felt a connection with a man. With a man like Draco. She wasn't sure what exactly she hoped to get out of this, but she definitely wouldn't mind feeling like last night again. He made her skin feel like fire, he actually kind of made her feel like a phoenix. She had risen last night; new, burning, full of life. Being with Draco felt like magic.
Hermione shook away her over analysing thoughts and focused on Ginny and her giddy feelings. For once she wanted to talk boys with her best friend. They spent the rest of the day chatting and giggling, and Hermione realised once more how lucky she was to have a best friend like Ginny.

This all had happened two days ago. Two days without a single word from Draco. Hermione tried not to care, but she was disappointed. She thought he had meant what he said.

On Tuesday morning Hermione walked into the Black Repair Shop just before nine, she was already yawning and desperately in need of caffeine. After a restless night, just tossing and turning, she'd given up on sleep around six. Her mind kept replaying the kisses Draco had given her, and was expanding on those kisses in her dreams. All this had left her thoroughly frustrated and wanting more. At the same time she was becoming angry at herself; why did she let this man influence her feelings so much? She had only just met him last week, how could her body and mind want him so much? This was so not like her...

Still wondering why he hadn't texted or called, she poured herself her first cup of coffee. Draco definitely had acted possessively, as if he wanted her to be his, but now she couldn't shake the impression that he was toying with her, that he just was having a bit of fun at her expense. It was absolutely not okay, and while staring at the ceiling at three in the morning, she had made the decision that if he came by the shop, she would demand an answer. There would be no more anything, until he showed her just how much he did want her. She couldn't believe how she had let him walk over her so easily, making him believe she was okay with being his possession. Clenching her jaw, Hermione dropped a few drops of milk in her cup, she would fix this.

A sharp knock at her office door and the sudden appearance of Sirius made Hermione jump, and the contents of her mug splashed all over the floor. With a curse Sirius disappeared again, only to come back with a mop to clean the floor.

'Good morning, Sirius,' Hermione grinned when he got up, smiling sleepily at her.

'Morning Kitten, sorry about that.'

'No biggie. Here, take this and I will make myself a new one,' Hermione handed him her freshly made cup of coffee; he looked like he was in desperate need of some caffeine as well.

He nodded in thanks and plopped down on the couch, sipping his coffee as he watched the brunette fixing herself her own drink. Hermione added a little milk to her mug before sitting down next to him.

'Are you okay?' she asked when he remained unusually silent.

The man next to her sighed and shrugged, making Hermione feel even more worried. She wasn't used to him being so down and quiet. Sirius was always cheerful, cracking jokes, and talking everyone's ears off. But now, he looked tired with dark circles under his eyes; his hair was a mess, and his clothes were wrinkled.

'I just had a rough weekend. Reg and I had a row, and then Remus came round rather upset, and apparently I wasn't able to say the right things because he left quite angry. I still don't understand what his problem was, and now I'm worried about him,' Sirius explained, his eyes fixed on his coffee. Hermione laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. Sirius gave her a small smile and continued. 'On top of it, my motorcycle broke down last night, and I can't seem to fix it. This morning, Padfoot was acting strange, so I had to take him to the vet who wanted to keep him for observation. I'm just..." He fell silent again, rubbing his face, and sighed.

'It's too much,' Hermione finished for him, and he nodded.

Feeling determined to help, Hermione jumped up from the couch, and took Sirius' mug out of his hands. He looked up at her in surprise when she pulled on his arm, trying to get him up.

'Here's what we are going to do. You're going to call or text Remus if he can meet you today to talk. Then you're going to find Regulus, as he will probably be here soon, and talk it out like brothers always do,' Hermione stopped for a second to look at Sirius. He had a frown on his face , but nodded when her eyes met his.

'I will go see if I can help you fix your motorcycle and afterwards I can call the vet for you if you want. I know a thing or two about dogs as my aunt is a dog breeder and a vet. How does that sound?'

As reply Sirius threw his arm around her and pulled her close to kiss her cheek.

'You're the best Hermione, thank you.'

She smiled up at him. 'No worries. Now let's check out that bike of yours.'

-

Around lunch time, Hermione went back to her office, already feeling very content with everything they had accomplished so far. She'd been able to fix Sirius' bike, to get him and Regulus to make up, and in the end Regulus even asked for her help on a project of his. Sirius was now on his way to meet up with Remus to fix things from last night, then go by and check on Padfoot.

Right when Hermione sat down to do some financial work on the computer, her office door opened. Looking up, she watched a smirking Draco entering. He closed the door behind him, one arm behind his back.

'Hello Princess,' he greeted her before getting his hidden arm in sight, presenting her with a single red rose.

Hermione swallowed, almost melting at the sight of him. He looked amazing. The dark pair of jeans he was wearing clung to his long legs in a very sexy way, and the tight white T-Shirt under his leather jacket betrayed his lean and muscular body. Damn him for being so bloody fit.

'Draco,' Hermione attempted to remain cool, nodding at him in greeting.

She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling. The smirk immediately disappeared from Draco's face and his eyebrows rose in question.

'Everything okay, Princess?'

Hermione nodded and allowed herself to smile. All her annoyance at him had disappeared the moment he stepped inside, and she was mad at herself about that. But she was also mad at Draco. Why did he have to be all romantic? Why did he have to be so fit? And why did her body not agree with her mind? These feelings were so confusing, and Hermione wished she had talked to Ginny about this.

'Sure. Why wouldn't it be?' she asked, tilting her head.

Draco mirrored her motion, and frowned, his fingers fumbling with the rose he was holding.

'Why do I feel like that's a trick question?' he questioned, taking a step forward.

Hermione stood up, and Draco's lip curled up in a grin. He held the flower out for her, but she ignored him and walked around him to the coffee machine.

'Tell me, do you only come to me when you're in the mood for some fun, Draco?' she asked as she placed her mug next to the machine.

Draco gave her a puzzled look, and laid the rose onto her desk. Stepping towards her, he grabbed her hips and pulled her flush against his body. Closing her eyes, Hermione fought hard against how good it felt to have him so close again, she would refuse to give in so easily, even if she felt her body aching for his closeness.

'Where are all these questions coming from, Princess? I thought I made it clear how I feel about you,' his left hand travelled from her hip to her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin.

He leaned into her and she couldn't help but stare into his eyes. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, she turned her head to the side. His lips brushed her cheek, and he pulled back from her with a confused look.

Hermione sighed and put her hands on his chest.

'Look, I get that you might be busy, but after your words on Friday I didn't expect you to go a-wall on me for three days. I feel a bit stupid to be honest,' she started, meeting his grey eyes. Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione continued. 'If you are serious about this, I want to get to know you. I don't want to be your play thing, I don't. I want to know what your intentions are. ' Draco's eyes widened, but she still wasn't done. 'I know your type, you're a tough guy, you can get all the girls you want and you're probably used to getting your way. I know you said you respect woman, so I'm hoping you'll show me just that.'

'Are you saying you want me to take you on a date?' Draco asked, his famous smirk returned on his face. He grabbed the rose from her desk again. 'Because that's what I came here to do.'

Hermione felt her face heat up and she opened her mouth for a reply, only to close it again. She felt slightly stupid, but she was still glad she said what was on her mind. After all there was always the possibility that he only said so now, because she'd just been honest. She felt conflicted. She barely knew him, but she wanted to. Was it always this complicated? Hermione couldn't remember the last time she felt like this, but she had also never met a man like Draco. - She felt silly, like a lovesick teenager, asking him to take her out and showing her that he meant what he said on Friday. They were both under the influence of alcohol for heaven's sake. But she didn't want to fall for a guy who would just play with her, and she knew she was falling for him. Hard. And only after a week or so.

'Do you really want to?' she asked, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

Draco let go of her hip and placed the rose in her hand. He then grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, his grey eyes looked serious and she heard him take a deep breath.

'I want to, I really do. What you just said is partly true and I only admire you more for pointing it out to me. It's one of the reasons why I like you so much, Princess. You're not afraid to tell me what you think; you challenge me,' he said, his hands reaching for her again.

Hermione looked down at the rose, and brought it to her nose to smell it. A small smile played on her lips when her gaze locked with Draco's again.

'Okay,' she said.

'Okay?' Draco grinned, pulling her closer to his body.

She nodded and smiled up at him. 'Okay.'

'I'll pick you up when you get off, does that work for you?' He asked as he pushed a loose curl behind her ear with his finger.

Hermione looked up at him in surprise, shivering lightly when his finger followed a path on her skin, to her neck.

'You want to take me on a date today? I, err, I don't know when I get off. I have quite some work to catch up on,' she mumbled, distracted by his touch.

Draco nodded, leaning closer to her and capturing her lips in a kiss. Hermione sighed at the feeling of his lips on hers again, feeling his closeness, letting him take advantage of her moment of weakness. When his tongue tried to sneak into her mouth she pulled away. Draco pouted at the loss, and she giggled softly at the sight.

'No more kisses, until after I know at least five more things about you- that I didn't know before.' She said, grinning at him.

He said he liked to be challenged by her, so that was exactly what she was going to do. Draco laughed and let go of her, allowing her to grab her coffee cup.

'Do you want some?' she asked him, holding up an empty mug.

Draco pulled a face. 'That's the first thing, Princess, I absolutely despite coffee. I'll drink it if I have to, but only with so much so much sugar that it will make me sick if I drink a whole cup.'

She snickered, and went to sit behind her desk again.

'Tell me more,' she encouraged him.

He sat down at the chair behind Regulus' desk, and let his chin lean on his hands, staring at her.

'Want to kiss me again so badly, Princess?'

Hermione rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.

'I want to get to know you.'

'Fine. I have a ginger cat named Dobby, and he's extremely annoying,' he said, his eyes never leaving her face.

She raised her eyebrows at him. 'Annoying how? I'm sure it's the other way around, how can cats be annoying?'

'Oh trust me, this one can be. He follows me around the house all the time, I trip over him at least once a day, and when I don't pet him when I get home he meow's until I do,' Draco sighed.

'That sounds like he just wants your attention, that's not annoying. It's actually kind of sweet. I bet that if you'd pet him more, or even play with him, he'd likely follow you around less. Cats need love too you know.' Hermione laughed, imagining Draco being followed by a whining ginger cat all day.

'My mother gives him enough love for all of us. My father hates the cat, and I tried to play with him once and then he scratched my whole arm bloody. Do you call that love? The stupid cat should just catch mice and birds and leave me alone.'

This made Hermione laugh even louder.

'Do you have pets? It's clear you are fond of them, seeing as you nearly took my head off the day we met. You're not going to do the same now it's clear I don't like my cat very much, do you?' Draco joked.

Hermione giggled and shook her head.

'Don't worry, I won't. I do have a cat of my own though, he's also a ginger and his name is Crookshanks.' She told him. 'And I do love him very much.'

'Figures, you do look like a cat person,' Draco replied, and laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him.

'As much as I love this, I really need to get back to work. So either be quiet or go see if Regulus is around, you two are friends right?' Hermione asked. 'Maybe he needs help with one of his projects.'

'We're not really friends, he's in Slytherin with me, and that's it. I'll find him nonetheless, mind you, I need to discuss something with him,' he stated and he stood up.

Hermione hummed in response as she logged in on her computer, not really listening as she typed. When she looked at him again he was already at the door.

'I'll see you tonight, princess,' he winked before he disappeared.

Hermione blinked at the door. Were they really going on a date tonight? She wondered what he planned to do; but before she could get nervous, she pushed the thought out of her head. She had work to do.

-

When Sirius got back he found Hermione in the office, frowning at a piece of paper in her hand. Her eyes flickered back to the computer screen, touching her chin with her fingers, looking deep in thought. Again, his knock made her jump, and he chuckled softly as he entered.

'Sirius! How's Padfoot?' She immediately asked, dropping the sheet she was holding.

'He's fine now. The vet said he had gastric torsion, which means his stomach dilates and then rotates, but he had surgery and I can pick him up tonight,' he said, relieved that his beloved dog would be okay.

'That's good! I'm happy he's okay,' she smiled, her gaze turned back to her screen for a second before she looked back at him again.

'And Remus?'

'All good as well, we sorted it out,' he beamed, plopping into the same chair Draco had sat on a few hours before. 'Thank you, Hermione. For helping me with everything,' he continued, smiling fondly at the young woman in front of him.

Hermione grinned back at him.

'You're very welcome, let me know if I can do anything else okay? I'm not just your employee, Sirius; I'm also your friend.'

Sirius nodded and was about to say something when his eyes fell on the rose on her desk. He wiggled his eyebrows.

'Oh lookie! Have a secret admirer, do you, Kitten?' he cooed.

Hermione giggled and shook her head, looking at the rose as well. She had placed it into her penholder, because she couldn't find a vase anywhere.

'More like a stalker,' she joked. When Sirius' expression soured, she immediately told him she wasn't serious. Taxing her with narrowed eyes for a second, he nodded.

''So, who's got his eyes on you, then? Do I need to kick his arse?' he asked, winking at her.

'Maybe. But is seems like we're going on a date tonight, so let's just wait how that turns out, shall we' she laughed, ignoring his idle threat.

She remembered Sirius' reaction when she first met Draco, and she was slightly afraid of what he would think of her dating him. He didn't seem to like the Slytherins very much, well aside from his brother that is, obviously.

'That sounds exciting, any idea what the bloke's got planned for you yet?' he asked, studying her face as if that would tell him who she was dating.

Hermione shook her head

'Well, just let me know if Reggie and I need to kick someone's arse okay? No one will hurt you and get away with it, kitten,' Sirius said, flashing her a big smile before getting up from his chair.

Hermione watched him leave. Sirius was like an uncle and a friend to her, and she loved that he felt so protective of her and her friends. She wondered why he thought she would get hurt, did he have his suspicions that it was Draco? Or a Slytherin. If so, it would make sense as Draco and the other guys did seem like the type to break a girl's heart. She sighed and shrugged, she would talk to Ginny about this later as the redhead seemed to know more about Sirius and Slytherins than her. Hermione wasn't planning on letting anyone break her heart, even though she had a feeling Draco could do just that... She had never experienced such strong feelings before, it was scary. She was excited for her date this evening though, she looked forward to get the know Draco better. With a smile Hermione focused on her work again.