Hermione

Hermione handed over the correct change to the woman at the counter, and the woman flashed her a grateful smile in return. There was an unusually long line at the cafe and the woman was clearly relieved she didn't have to count out unnecessary change. Hermione picked up the two coffee cups and returned to the table where Harry was waiting for her. At 26 years old, a lot had changed in her life, but for Ron, Harry and Hermione, this cafe had been a constant. Since they had got jobs in London, they had all been loyal customers of this small, roadside cafe, and now, 8 years later, Hermione felt the cafe gave her a sense of stability.
She dropped down in her seat, and pushed the cup across the table to Harry, who was furiously typing out a text to someone, probably Ginny. He looked up, and nodded briefly, as a way of thanks. Then he put away his phone, and took a long sip of the coffee, nodding again. He put the cup down, took a breath like he wanted to say something, then changed his mind, taking another long sip. Hermione watched him, patiently. He clearly had something on his mind. It was unlike Harry to be this nervous about saying something. If Ron had been here, he would have just come out with it, but he was that type of person.

"We're having a small party at our house tomorrow night." He eventually said. "Ginny and I." He added unnecessarily.
Hermione simply nodded, she knew this wasn't what he wanted to tell her, and she didn't want to rush him, so she waited.
"We're inviting a few people. Neville, Luna, I suppose it's a small reunion."
Hermione smiled at this, it had been a while since she'd seen Luna, Neville too, and she was looking forward to it.
The silence stretched on for a few minutes, until Hermione felt she should respond.
"Anyone else?" She asked, only mildly curious. He hadn't mentioned Ron, because it was obvious he'd be there. He was in America at the moment, but was flying back tonight.
"Yeah, some others in the year, who work in the Ministry too." Harry replied.
He took another breath, and Hermione smiled inwardly. Hopefully he'd now come out with what was troubling him.
"In America, Ron bumped into another guy who was in our year. He's flying in to London tomorrow, so Ron invited him too."
Hermione sighed and nodded vaguely, he obviously wasn't ready to say what he wanted to yet, so he kept making small talk.
"It's Draco." Harry said suddenly, and Hermione froze, with the cup halfway to her mouth, struck with shock. Memories assaulted her like a tsunami, and there were so many. So many of him, of them together.

It was two years after they had finished Hogwarts, and Hermione was working at the Ministry. She was 19 years old and had been on her way home after work. She had a small flat in London. She was walking along the pavement, humming to herself, when a familiar figure stepped out in front of her.
"Granger." Malfoy said, the first thing he'd said to her since the war against Voldemort. She stopped, surprised by his sudden appearance.
"Malfoy. What are you doing here?" She asked, immediately suspicious.
"London? I live here, same as you I guess." He replied, smiling slightly at the stupid question.
He'd clearly changed since their days at school, he seemed lighter, free of the stress and worry that had plagued him in Hogwarts.
"I mean what are you doing in front of me? I'm busy." She said bluntly, she didn't trust him, for good reasons. She hadn't spoken to him since they'd defeated Voldemort, and though he seemed to have changed, she didn't know he had. And therefore she had to be wary.
"Looks it." He said sarcastically, smirking slightly, the traditional Malfoy smirk.
"Get to the point, Malfoy." Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"As you wish, Granger." He said, flashing her a smile. "I'm here to apologise." He continued, his tone abruptly changing. The light heartedness was gone from his words, and replaced with a seriousness she hadn't seen before.
"I did some bad things at Hogwarts, very bad. But I've changed in the last few years, and I need you to believe that." He said, and Hermione could see the earnestness in his sparkling, grey eyes.
"Why?" She asked, why did he need her to believe that?"
"Because, thought I hate to admit it, I probably treated you the worst. But I've changed. I got my own flat, and moved out of the Manor. Being on my own, helped me form my own opinions, and not be influenced by my father. It made me see that being Muggle-born doesn't make you any different, and I know that now. So for everything, I'm truly sorry." He finished, and then waited for her reaction.
She considered his words, he seemed genuine, but could seven years of bullying be erased by one apology? As if reading her mind, he sighed.
"It's not enough, I know. But I'm not asking for your forgiveness right now, I'm asking for the chance to earn it. Friendship, nothing more, that's all I want. Time to show you, to prove to you I've changed."
She hesitated as he stuck out his hand, and she searched his eyes. She saw regret, sadness and maybe a little desperation? Was he telling the truth? It seemed like he was, he needed her to forgive him, he needed to be friends, to atone for the mistakes he'd made in the past.
"Friends?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow, and smiling slightly.
She looked at his face, at his pale, blonde hair, at his earnest, grey eyes. Why shouldn't she give him this? He wasn't evil, he'd just been young, foolish. But he'd clearly matured.
"Friends." She confirmed, shaking his hand, and returning the smile, slightly hesitantly.

"Hermione?" Harry's voice brought her back to the present, and she shook away the memory. The moment that had probably changed her life forever.
"Say something, please." He added.
Hermione tried to make her mouth move, but it wouldn't obey. She'd frozen with shock, horror and sadness, and a tear trailed down her cheek, the way it always did at his name. She took a breath to steady her nerves.
"Why's he coming to London?" She finally managed to say, though her voice cracked slightly.
Harry shrugged. "Ron didn't say, I just read the text now. All he said was what I told you, he met Draco in America, and Draco must have mentioned he's coming to London tomorrow. So Ron invited him."
"I don't want to see him." Hermione said quickly, slamming the cup down on the table hard. Coffee sloshed over the top, spilling out.
Harry sighed, as if he was dealing with a small child. "Hermione, what happened is in the past. It was 6 years ago! Don't you think it's time to deal with it?"
6 years ago? Had it really been that long? The pain, the betrayal, the anger, the grief, the sorrow, the heart break, his heart break. She didn't reply.
"I don't believe you." Harry said, shortly. "You must want to see him. You haven't seen him in 6 years, haven't spoken to him once. Don't you miss him?"
Hermione could scarcely believe he was asking such a question. Of course she missed him, her heart ached painfully every time someone mentioned him, her eyes glistened with tears even now, as she tried unsuccessfully to prevent them from falling.
"It doesn't matter. He must hate me. After all, I broke his heart." She trailed off to a whisper at the end, her statement ringing in her ears.
Harry's expression softened, but he didn't refute her comment. Why would he? It was true.
"Yes, you hurt him, but that was six years ago! It's time to face him, Mione, you know it is."
She nodded, mutely, as she let herself drift into another memory.

It was exactly one year after Malfoy had extended his offer of friendship, and Hermione was so glad she'd taken him up on it, because now they'd become quite good friends. She quickly realised he'd been sincere, in wanting her to forgive him, and she soon had, as he really seemed to regret his actions at Hogwarts. As she'd spent more time with him, she'd come to really like his personality. He was witty and funny, always ready with a sharp comeback or a sarcastic retort and she actually loved that about him. And she could always counter his quick remarks, which he liked about her. They got on quite well, and she'd started to spend more time with him, than even Harry or Ron. Once she'd grown to trust him, he was easily accepted by her friends.

Right now, they were walking through a market, conversing lightly. It was late afternoon, and it had just started to drizzle, normal weather in London. The market was fairly quiet, they were only passing through on their way to coffee with Harry and Ginny, and Draco had known this shortcut to the cafe. Hermione's stomach growled softly, reminding her that she'd missed lunch, and embarrassingly Draco heard. He flashed her a wicked grin. "Your stomach is even louder than you." He said, winking at her.
She slapped him playfully on the arm. "It's protesting your awful jokes." She retorted, getting a smirk from him.
"One sec. Keep walking, and don't look." He said, mysteriously, before turning around and walking up to one of the stalls on the side.
Never one to take orders from Draco Malfoy, she stopped and turned to see what he was doing. He was chatting to the guy on the stall, but as she watched, he slipped an apple from the stall into his pocket, then walked hurriedly back to her.
"You took it!" She whispered, half shocked, and half thrilled. She'd always been a goodie two shoes, so breaking the rules excited her, though she'd never admit it.
"It's one apple, he won't miss it." Draco replied, confidently, just before the stall owner started shouting.
"Oi, you two! Stop!" He yelled, coming out from behind the stall.
"Apparently you were wrong, as you so often are." Hermione said, though she was grinning.
"Shut up, Granger." Draco said, turning to look at the man who was now running towards them.

He grabbed her hand and they took off down the street, just as the drizzle started to turn into a full downpour. He yanked her down a side alley, and pushed her into the wall, as the man ran past them, unaware. Hermione watched the rain run down Draco's face, as he looked around warily, checking no one had seen them. It caused his blonde hair to plaster against his forehead, but his grey eyes were shining with excitement. Hermione could tell he loved the thrill.

He turned to see her staring at him, and he grinned, cockily. "I know, I know, you're wondering how anyone can look this good in the rain."
Hermione smiled, despite herself. He leaned in closer, until his mouth was right next to her ear. "It's a skill." He whispered. Then he leaned back, smirking at the blush forming on her cheeks. Before she knew what she was doing, she had grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him back to her, meeting his lips with hers. A spark zoomed through her, and she realised, she'd never felt more alive. That kiss held all the mystery, passion and the excitement of a first kiss, and more. He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer to him, as a shiver ran down her spine. She pulled away after a few moments, slightly breathless and giddy, an unusual combination for her.
"Harry and Ginny are waiting for us in the cafe. I told them we'd be there by now. And you really should return that apple, that man-"
She broke off as Draco firmly pressed his lips against hers, silencing her.
"Do you ever stop talking?" He murmured, but she could hear the smile in his words.

The arrival of the waitress shook her out of the memory, and she watched the woman clear away their cups. That had been their first kiss. The first of many. Of course, as Harry said, that was in the past. Before she'd broken his heart. Before she'd broken her own. Harry glanced at his watch.
"I shouldn't have done it." She murmured, reliving the fresh pain of her betrayal six years ago.
"You had a good reason." Harry said, a statement he'd used many times after it happened all those years ago. It was true, she'd had a good reason. But would he see it that way too? He didn't know her reason, she'd never told him. But he'd know soon. When he came tomorrow.
"But after that, I could have handled it better. I should have handled it better."
He said nothing, which she knew meant he agreed. After all, he was friends with Draco too. He could see that it was her that had been at fault. Entirely.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mione. 6pm at our place." He reminded her, she merely nodded, and he walked out of the bustling cafe, onto the even busier streets of London.
She sat there for a few moments, before following him, but heading to her own apartment. She'd upgraded now, she lived in a different flat to the one Draco had been in. Another change he didn't know about. He didn't know about a lot though. And she wasn't the only one who had changed her residence. He lived in a different country. She idly wondered if he'd have picked up the accent, but then she brushed away the thought. She probably wouldn't even hear his voice, he hated her, he wasn't going to talk to her. As she strided along the busy street, tears began to flow again, but she couldn't stop them this time. The reappearance of Draco had opened up a door again, one she'd tried hard to make sure she'd closed. But it was all going to come out tomorrow night, she was sure. He'd want an explanation.

(*)

Ron swivelled around on the barstool in his apartment to face her. He'd come late last night, and as soon as she'd finished the housework, she'd come to see him. She felt like she should prepare herself for the party in the night, so she wanted more information. He yawned loudly, failing to cover his mouth, and she smiled inwardly.
She sank down on the plush, leather sofa in his flat, and waited as he crossed the hardwood floor to sit opposite her.
"How did you bump into him?" She asked, she couldn't even bring herself to say his name.
He stroked his chin, pretending to look thoughtful. "I spotted him in a bar, so I went to say hi."
"Alone?" She asked, but Ron heard her silent question. Was there a girl with him?
"Alone. He said he's single at the moment."
At the moment. The words caused her heart to ache again, but what did she expect? It had been 6 years, of course he'd had girlfriends.
"Why's he coming to London?" She repeated the question she'd asked Harry yesterday.
"His parents are staying here, so he comes once a year." Ron said, gently.
Hermione's throat constricted. Once a year meant he'd been in London 6 times since she'd last seen him. And he hadn't told her, hadn't tried to contact her.
She chewed her lip. "Did he mention me?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Neither of us did." Ron said, shaking his head. "He'll want to know why." He added eventually.
"I know."
"Will you tell him?"
"I don't know."
"He deserves to know the truth."
"I know."
Ron looked frustrated at her repetitive answers, but it was all she could bring herself to say. She was dreading tonight. No, she was terrified.

(*)

Hermione entered Harry and Ginny's flat. Ginny hugged her warmly, then led her into the living room, where Neville, Luna and Harry were standing, with a few other people she didn't recognise. Draco wasn't there. Ginny rushed around the room, handing out snacks, and making introductions. The other people had also been in her year at Hogwarts, but Hermione couldn't remember them, so she mainly chatted to Luna. As the evening went on, more people filed in, and Hermione relaxed slightly. Maybe he wasn't coming. That hope was quickly extinguished though. Around 7pm, Ron entered...followed by Draco.
Hermione had just come out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of drinks when she caught a flash of blonde hair and froze. 6 years. He didn't seem to have changed at all. She watched as he moved around the room, greeting people he knew, being introduced by Ron to those he didn't. He was the same build, slim but strong, his hair slightly longer than before, but still short, pale, blonde, glistening in the light of the room. He was wearing a casual, but smart shirt, untucked over a pair of dark, blue jeans.
He was quite close now so she shakily put the tray down. She'd gone cold, she was frightened, of what he would say, of what he would do. They hadn't talked in six years, not a word and now he was within three feet of her. The man she'd loved more than anything, the man who's heart she'd broken. Would he understand when she told him? She needed him to. A secret she'd kept from him for so long, but he needed to understand. Otherwise she didn't know how she'd go on.
And then he was in front of her, so close she could have touched him. As his eyes met hers, Hermione watched a change wash over him. His expression hardened, and his posture stiffened, the friendly smile he'd been wearing disappeared within a few seconds. His face was expressionless, his eyes betraying nothing. She tried to say something, but no words would come. They stared at each other for a few moments, before he turned and walked away, leaving Hermione shocked. She'd expected anger, fury, but not this! She'd thought he would shout at her, confront her, ask her why she did it, but instead he'd done something worse, he'd ignored her. She'd seen ice in his eyes. Had she done that? Because of what she did, had she hardened him? It wasn't like she'd cheated on him, but in a way some people would consider what she did worse. The way she'd given no explanation afterwards, because she'd been scared. She grabbed her coat and walked out of the apartment, quickly. She could feel his eyes on her back, watching her leave.

So...what do you think? It's a kind of twist on the usual Dramiones I guess, but please review and tell me what you think! The whole secret of what she did to him and why, will come out soon, but I want to know if people like the idea so far, how it's going etc, so I know if its worth continuing or not, so please please leave feedback! On the style, the format, the idea, anything, just tell me what you think! It's going to take this kind of format, memories mixed with the present, and that's how you'll find out about what happened in the past, through flashbacks, so just tell me if you like the idea please (: If it gets a good amount of reviews, then I'll continue. Thanks guys x