It had been 4 years since the war and the wizarding world had faced the worst. The communities were mostly recovered and safety was once again being restored, thanks once again to a certain Mr Potter. Since the battle Harry had settled into life with Ginny, now feeling ready to make his commitment and marry, the date had been set and arrangements for the big day to be a day in June next year. Ron however had been devastated from his breakup with Hermione and had sought refuge and company with none other than Luna Lovegood, they were coming up to their year anniversary and about to move in together. Hermione on the other hand, still feeling too raw from this breakup had remained single for the last year. There had been offers and interested parties, but she just didn't feel strong enough just yet. Instead her main priority was work. She had become the second most successful auror the ministry had seen in a long time, the most successful being Harry Potter.

It was nearing Hermione's 21st birthday and arrangements were being made; primarily by Ginny, to have a huge party.

"But Ginny I'd honestly rather just go out for dinner with the girls, I don't want the fuss" Hermione begged her everyday but the persistent redhead wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Please Hermione, it'll be fun and you never know, you may even pull!" she sniggered back, knowing full well that Hermione would never even consider doing something so publicly. "Come on, it'll be good for you. You need to stop moping around over Ron and get out there. I'm inviting everyone! Every single bachelor I can think of and I am making it my mission for you to be impressed with just one, not much to ask for is it Hermione?" She felt slightly offended that people thought of her moping over Ron and thought that she had handled herself perfectly well this last year, obviously not. She could feel her resolve melting and knowing not to argue with a female Weasley gave in and let Ginny organise the whole ordeal.

A week before the event the girls went shopping to find Hermione the perfect birthday dress. In the third store, having unloaded what seemed like 50 dresses on Hermione to try on, Ginny felt it best to talk to her about a specific guest. Sitting on the other side of the curtain Ginny gingerly brought up the subject of men.

"See you don't want anything too revealing, it's always good to keep them guessing, like Harry, he hates when I wear short skirts or anything like that. Of course I do it anyway, I mean who's he to tell me what to wear."

"Yeah, Ron never liked it either, unless it was for him I mean. I don't know about this one…" She opened the curtain and came out wearing a cream dress with a tutu style bottom to it. With a disgusted look from Ginny she rolled her eyes and commenced with operation dresshunt.

"So is there anyone you'd like there that you don't think I would have invited?"

"Um, I don't think so, as long as you, harry, Ron and Luna are there I don't care."

"Hermione please, you are not going to 'fifth wheel it' with all of us. Think now, any special person from work or school that you might like to see again?"

"Can't think of anyone."

"Oh for merlins sake Hermione, I've invited Malfoy. I just thought you might have liked the heads up!" At this revelation, the dressing room curtain swung open revealing Hermione in the most beautiful dress Ginny had ever seen, her angry expression however did not match the attire, the dress was floor length and pure black, strapless. The top part in the style of a bodice and the skirt just flowed down the ground.

"How could you?" Hermione's voice was barely a whisper, had Ginny not expected a reaction she wouldn't have known not to be bracing herself.

"I just thought maybe you'd like to see him. Hermione, that dress is beautiful." It was at this point that Hermione's eyes started to fill with tears, despite trying her hardest to keep them in, one or two trickled down her face.

"Well you were wrong." She dragged the curtain back across, changed out of the dress, threw it in Ginny's direction and stormed straight out of the store.

The big day had arrived and all day Hermione, who was supposed to be enduring hoards of beauty regimes had stayed curled up in an armchair, in the corner of her flat. She watched the time go by, feeling it was moving faster than usual. After about 3 hours of this she felt it was time to do something. But not yet feeling up to getting ready she went and retrieved and old book from an old box marked 'Hogwarts stuff'. In this box she kept old robes, tie, old textbooks and various pieces of parchment. Yet the book she pulled out was nothing at all to do with the school, it was her old diary, one she never liked to re read or revisit. It kept things secret for her that she was ashamed of, things that she knew she shouldn't have done and things that hurt so much when they happened to her. She reread her last entry, it swore that she would never think or even contemplate seeing him again. Tonight would be the first time she would since writing that.

After about an hour and half she was ready. Ginny would be coming by to collect her, at least she assumed she would. They hadn't spoken since the day they went shopping. It had been Harry who dropped the dress by for her, therefore she assumed that if it weren't Ginny taking her it would be Harry. At half past 7 there was someone at the door. She went to answer and was surprised to infact see Ginny standing there. She was wearing a green dress to the knee, with a petticoat underneath that would rival those of the 50's.

"I'm sorry Hermione. I tried getting hold of him to uninvite him, but he's been away. I left numerous messages with his secretary but who knows if he's had them? I tried, I'm so sorry, I should have asked you first but I thought you'd be over him by now…"

"Ginny stop. Let's just go, yeah?" She stepped out of her front door and apparated alongside Ginny as she didn't even know the location of her own party. They arrived within seconds and made their way to the door in silence. Hermione's nerves were getting the better of her and she felt it best to hit the bar. After her 4th butterbeer, she was beginning to feel its effects, yet even in her new relaxed state she found it hard to enjoy. She had gone through enough obligatory faux 'hello's' and 'how are you's' for a lifetime, and was just ready to sneak away, avoiding all of the men Ginny was throwing her way when…

"Buy the birthday girl a drink?" she recognised that cool voice straight away. She took a few seconds before turning to it's source. He stood before her in a tuxedo that accentuated his height and physique, it was enough to make any girl weak in the knees.

"No thank you, I was just leaving" it took all of her willpower to turn away and just before she was about to walk away, he said "Don't you want your gift?" She turned again to face him and he held out a locket. It was celtic circle design with a green gem in the centre. Beautiful.

"I'm a Gryffindor, you know that." She said referring to the colour.

"Fine." And with a twirl of his wand the gem changed to a dark red colour. "May I?" She turned and lifted her hair so he could clasp the lock. His fingertips on the back of her neck made her shiver, he locked the necklace and his hands dropped to her bare shoulders, she dropped her hair and turned to him slowly, looking up into his face.

"I wasn't sure you'd want me here." It wasn't a question but Hermione felt the need to give an answer, "Ginny invited you." She kept her gaze steady and hard to read. She looked away and stood half a step back in an attempt to keep the distance between them.

"Where've you been?" she asked him, using all of her strength to keep the emotion out of her voice.

"Travelling." His vague answer did nothing to calm her thoughts.

"Course you have." She could feel herself becoming saddened by their distance, something she once thought they would never have.

"Hermione, listen…" his voice had become a whisper, only loud enough for her ears, yet when it came to his explanation she felt that hearing it would only make things worse, so she interrupted him before he could continue.

"Well listen, get yourself a drink and enjoy the night. Excuse me." And she turned away and walked off as quickly as she could without drawing others attention. She could hear her name being called by him in the background which fuelled her to walk even faster. The guests around her were becoming a blur and she realised that she was in fact running, running away from her own party. She burst through a pair of double doors which opened out onto a balcony. She stood there for a few minutes letting the cool air wash over her face, and breathing in as much oxygen and her lungs could handle. She was staring out at the view of London, watching cars rush by underneath and lights flashing everywhere. She wished she could have been there, anywhere but where she was. After sometime, she wasn't quite sure how long it had been, the doors opened, and she was yet again face to face with Draco Malfoy. She looked up into his face, and there was slight changes from the last time they had been entirely alone. He had a more mature expression, he'd lost his boyish looks and was now solely handsome. Her face was drenched in her own tears and his with guilt. He reached out and caught her in a hug. She clung to him and couldn't contain her tears any longer, and let them fall from her freely. After a few minutes, he wiped the tears from her eyes, and pulled her face to his and kissed her. It started as a sweeping peck but then it deepened, as if his feelings for her were being shown through his actions. Just as he was about to slide his tongue into her mouth, she pulled away and shouted as loudly as she could, "YOU LEFT!"

"I know" his voice was barely audible, he had to look away as he couldn't bare to see her like this.

"You Know? You know? That's your only response? I poured my heart out to you and you left. I told you I Loved you, and you left. I haven't heard from you for 3 years and all you have to say to me is 'I know'"

"I didn't have a choice Hermione."

"You always had the choice Malfoy," she said his name with as much venom as she could muster, "You just always chose the easiest one." She ripped the necklace from around her neck and shoved it into his hand. "Here, you can go now." And with that Hermione wiped her eyes and left Draco Malfoy standing on the balcony looking out into the streets of London.