Hermione was looking at a strange figure on the beach. She wasn't quite sure who it was, but she was sure she'd know that shock of white hair anywhere. She climbed her way across the sand to find herself standing across from Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy," she greeted him politely. "How are you?"
"About as well as could be expected Granger," he said tersely. "Is it always so hot here?"
Hermione laughed. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but that had most certainly not been it. "Most people don't wear a suit to the beach Malfoy."
"Obviously," he drawled. "But I'm not most people."
Hermione could see that. He had never striven to be anyone other than himself back at school, even if being himself had resulted in him being a right prat. And it looked like he hadn't changed that much in the time since they had left school.
"I know. But between the sand, the waves, and the fact that yes it is hot, most people find something a little more water resistant to be acceptable," she said with as little sarcasm as she could manage.
It was a strange thing, but she found that she couldn't hold it against him. At least, not much. Draco Malfoy looked good in a suit. And she suddenly found herself wondering what he would look like in swim trunks.
She shook that thought from her head as fast as it appeared, her cheeks flaming. She knew he couldn't read her mind. But that didn't mean that she wanted to think of him that way. Even if he was less of a prat than he had been in school.
"You alright Granger?" he asked. "You look flushed."
She coughed. "It's nothing."
Draco didn't seem convinced. "Come with me." He took her by the wrist and practically dragged her up the beach to where an umbrella and chair sat. He sat her down on the chair, making sure she was out of the sun.
"Are you feeling better now?" he asked once she was situated.
Hermione fought to keep her cheeks from blazing again. She had always assumed that the Malfoys had changed for the better. And she was watching living proof that at the very least Draco had.
"I was doing fine," she said.
"And now?" he prompted, an eyebrow raised.
"I'm feeling better," she said. She didn't need to admit the reason that she had flushed in the first place. But she had felt less guilty about the fact that she had flushed. If Draco had grown up, she could crush on him as much as she wanted without worrying about it.
She spent the next few moments in his care, before he declared her fit enough to go back to her friends. She could feel him watching her as she made her way back towards Harry, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys. But good luck getting her to admit that.