PART I- Portobello Road

Hermione stepped out in the cold burying her nose into her scarf. The scarf Ron thought that, in combination with her hair, made her look like a mushroom. She relished in the protection it gave her almost in spite of what Ron thought.

The street was too crowded by muggles to Apparate. She walked looking around, trying to find the perfect spot to hide away and disappear.

As she did so and her eyes scanning the surrounding area she noticed, for just a moment, a head of hair so blond it was almost white.

She lost sight of it as soon as she saw it but her head was already making assumptions as to what reasons can a Malfoy justify their presence among Muggles in the busy streets of Portobello Road on a market day.

She kept scanning the crowd, now for a face she had seen before, or just a set of blond almost white hair.

"Hermione Granger," said a voice.

She turned abruptly towards the source and her mouth almost opened in surprise.

"Draco Malfoy," she answered after a moment, managing to get her voice to produce the sounds.

"Enjoying the market?" he asked. She almost wanted the question to sound like and accusation or even an insinuation that she should not even be there. But it didn't. It was the perfect intonation as to sound like a tentative to start a brief, mindless conversation between two old school mates that never really had anything in common except classes.

"I was actually looking for an Apparition spot," she said.

"There is one just after the intersection; you'll see it as soon as you get there."

"Oh," she said surprised, the awkwardness of the situation painfully showing on her face. "Thanks. You're enjoying the market?"

"Sure," he said lightly.

"Alright then," she said starting to retreat.

"Nice to see you, Granger," he said with a small smile, turning away and moving on. She thought how it almost sounded sincere.

"Guess who I saw at the Market?" she said entering the kitchen of the Burrow and taking off her cloak at the door.

"Who?" said Ron nearing her with a smile and planting a chocolaty kiss on her lips.

"Draco Malfoy," she said smiling up to him. She stole a cupcake from the platter he had in his hands. "You mean at the Muggle Market?"

"Mhm," she nodded, liking icing off her lips.

"What's Malfoy doing at a Muggle Market?" said Harry the kitchen to grab mince pies and the rest of the plates.

"Christmas shopping," laughed Hermione anticipating him to the plates.

They laughed and went to the Dining Room table where Hermione made her rounds, greeting everybody. The matter was forgotten by everyone but her. She kept thinking how unnaturally cordial he had been. As if no part of him had ever thought of her as beneath him and dirty. As if nothing ugly and bad between them had ever happened. As if prejudice had never touched his family or him.

She wondered if in a parallel universe where that was the case, would the Malfoys still have chosen Lord Voldemort's side? Or would they have ran and hid somewhere far until someone had prevailed over the other? Or would they have chosen Dumbledore's side?

Throughout the Christmas Eve Dinner, she still thought about Draco Malfoy, and his peculiar presence at Portobello Market.

Hermione entered the elevator holding up her briefcase to her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible as to let other people in.

She absentmindedly looked at the people who were standing next to her and behind her turning as quickly as possible to stare ahead. She froze and looked over her shoulders again.

Draco was giving her an amused look. "Hello, Granger."

"Hello," she said. "Never seen you around here before."

"I am starting today."

"Oh," she said politely, returning her gaze straight ahead. "May I ask in what department?"

"Mysteries, you?"

"Law Enforcement."

"Of course," he said as if it should've been obvious.

"What?" She turned to look at him.

"Nothing," he smiled.

The elevator came to an abrupt stop that sent Hermione flying away from the doors.

"Ow!"

The elevator doors opened and most of the passengers got off.

"I'm sorry," she hurried to say, regaining her balance and turning to face him. "I'm so so sorry, did I elbow you?"

"Yes," he said in a pained voice. "And managed to suffocate me with your hair, too."

"I'm sorry for the elbow."

"Not the hair?"

"No," she said defiantly turning away from him with her nose held high. The door closed and Hermione realized the next stop was hers.

He stepped beside her. "It was nice to see you, Granger."

She gave him a small but sincere smile. "Good luck for today."

Hermione stepped out on the Second Level, turning again for a brief moment to look at him as he kept descending and wondered how long the politeness would continue.

The fake windows of her office let in a dim gray light and drops of rain slowly rolled down the glass.

She wondered how Malfoy's first day went.

Saturday was her favourite day. She liked to sit on the window still and look down at the crowded street on the busiest day of the week. Now, on the day before New Year's Eve, the street was almost impossible navigate.

She wanted to go to the Burrow, she hadn't seen Ron in a few days. She now wished she was connected to the floo. Bracing herself she stepped out of her warm quiet home and followed the crowd to the point that Malfoy had indicated to her.

She powered through the crowd bumping and sometimes pushing her way through. When she got to the intersection she let out a breath and got hold of her wand into her pocket.

As she was about to concentrate on her destination, she felt the crack of Apparition behind her and turned around her wand pointing at the throat of the wizard.

"Malfoy," she breathed.

"Hello Granger," he said. "You still can't help yourself but point a wand at me, huh?"

He covered her hand with his and lowered it. "Don't want muggles seeing you with a stick in your hand?"

She recollected and nodded hiding the wand.

"Came at the Market again?"

"I live here, Granger. And what about you?"

"I live here too," she answered almost embarrassed.

"I see."

There was a moment of pause where she looked at him while he studied the crowd over her head.

"Would you like some tea?" Hermione hesitated. "I apologise, you were going somewhere."

He moved out of her way.

"Maybe tomorrow?"

He stopped and turned as she was drawing her wand again.

"Sure," he said, smiling a little. "At the Bakery?"

"Sure," she said. "At seven?"

"I'll see you there."

She nodded once and Disapparated.

She saw him sitting at one of the tables outside the bakery, two cups in front of him.

What was she doing?

She was in a relationship. With Ron. Who she loved.

What was she doing?

"It's only tea," she said to herself.

"Hello Granger," he said lightheartedly seeing her approaching.

"Hello," she answered. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Just enough to get the drinks."

She sat down near him and he handed her one of the cups. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She stopped just before her lips touched the cup. "Is there anything else other than tea in this?"

"It's actually a coffee," he smirked. "But no, I wouldn't poison the only Witch I know of in Portobello Road. I'd be the first and only suspect."

She laughed and took a sip.

"I hate stating the obvious," she said looking at him. "But you've changed."

He let out a curt laugh. "I believe that's acknowledging the elephant in the room, Granger."

"I'm glad you have," she said.

He looked at her but said nothing for a moment. "You want to know why I asked you out."

"Don't use Legilimency on me, Malfoy," she warned. "But yes, I do want to know why."

"I fancied a catch-up."

She rolled her eyes.

"Why did you accept, Granger?"

She took a sip from her cup, gauging the question. The truth was, she didn't know.

"Fancied a catch-up."

He smirked. "Let's take a walk," he stood up. "They'll be closing soon."

Hermione and followed him away from the bakery, and the shops, into the residential streets.

"How come, if you live here you don't know where to Apparate from?"

"I moved here a couple of months ago, and used only Muggle transportation so far."

"Why did you move to London?"

"The Ministry bought the Manor at the end of the war," he give her a side glance. "As I'm sure you know as you've been the one responsible for the transaction."

She nodded. "The Auror training takes place there now."

"So my family had to find another home. I lived with my parents for a couple of years, then…" he hesitated. "Then got bored and got a job."

Hermione looked at him. He didn't get bored. His father died.

"I see," she said.

"How come Weasley doesn't live with you?"

The question seemed to drop out of the sky. "Ehrm, I wanted to live alone for a while."

"Are you not afraid of the loneliness?"

"Are you?"

"I am not new to being alone, Granger, you are."

"And how do you know so much about me?" Her tone was defensive and she moved away a little, looking at him, but still walking.

"You're right, I'm sorry," he said. "Shouldn't have assumed."

She took a sip of her coffee. "It's alright," she whispered. "I wanted to live alone," she insisted.

"Can I ask why?"

"You can," she said. "I won't tell you, but you can."

He laughed. "Fair enough."

"Why the Department of Mysteries?"

"I have a propensity for the Dark Arts, didn't you know?"

She still waited.

"It was the only job I could get, Granger."

"But, you took the N.E.W.T.s and I doubt your grades are below Exceeding Expectations."

"It was the only job that I could get."
"Oh," she said realizing what he meant.

"It's not easy being a fallen from grace Death Eater."

She looked up at him and realized it was meant to sound like a joke by the small smile that was curving his lips, but she did not laugh.

Hermione cleared her throat. "So, don't you have anything else to do on New Year's Eve except walking aimlessly with me around Notting Hill?"

"I could ask you the same question. So what are you doing here, Granger?"
"I have no idea," she confessed.

"Yeah," he breathed. "Neither do I."

She forgot what they talked about next. But they stopped on a bench on the path along the Thames. She asked about the prophecies in the Department of Mysteries at some point. "How did they recuperate them?"

"Don't know," shrugged Draco. "But once a prophecy is made it cannot be undone by destroying the physical form."

"Have you seen names you recognize."

"Yes." When he did not elaborate and she did not insist.

They heard them all at once. The fireworks went off like hundreds of bombs dropped on the city.

"It's Midnight," Hermione said surprised.

"Happy New Year, Granger."

She smiled at him. "Happy New Year, Malfoy."

They locked eyes for a second, and Hermione's smile faded. Draco's eyes darkened and she knew that she was not going to turn her head away.

He kissed her for a second, until he felt her lips return the pressure. And when they did, he pulled away.

"I have to go," she said and not waiting for a reply, she Apparated on Portobello Road.

Hermione did not see him after New Year's. Not at the Ministry, not by their Apparation spot, nowhere.

She told herself as she hugged or kissed Ron, that not seeing Draco Malfoy was for the best. The more time passed, the better the chance she would forget about it and successfully pretend like it never happened.

An owl knocked on her window, one Saturday at the end of summer. She did not recognize it. It was a beautiful tawny owl with almost golden feathers. She opened the window and gave it a piece of her biscuit taking the letter. Satisfied, the bird flew off.

The envelope had only her name on it.

Care to join me for a cup of tea? I'll be at the bakery tomorrow at 4. If you don't come, I'll understand. But I'll be waiting.

She threw the letter into the trash bin.

Hermione stopped in front of the table looking at him, waiting for him to notice.

"Granger," he said standing up. "I didn't think you'd come."

"I don't know why I'm here."

"I'm glad you are," he said and motioned for her to sit down.

She did not say a word. When she finally looked up at him, she saw his eyes almost pleading.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

Her tone was harsh and he looked away for a second.

"I wanted to apologise. I…-

"Let's just forget about it," she interjected, and he paused, trying to read her expression.

"Ok, let's forget about it."

"Actually," he said after a moment's pause. "I tried to forget about it, but I obviously couldn't."

She let out a small breath and shut her eyes tight.

"Why did you kiss me back?"

Hermione opened her eyes and focused on him. "Why did you kiss me?"

He gave her an exasperated look. "Let's not avoid the obvious, Granger. I did not ask you out just because I didn't know what to do with my time."

"I am in a relationship."

"I know," he said. "But if that had mattered, you wouldn't have accepted the date in the first place."
"It was not a date."

"Don't avoid the obvious, Granger."

She looked away.

"Take a walk with me," he said, standing up.

She did not protest and followed him along Portobello Road, he was a couple of steps ahead of her.

He stopped in front of a tea house and she saw him sneakily take out his wand. No muggle seemed to notice the shifting block of houses. When it had shown itself to them, he moved to the door.

"Would you like to come in?"

Without a word, she passed through the door and stopped in the entryway. Draco closed the door behind her, and she could almost feel his breath on the nape of her neck.

"Second door on the right."

The lounge was relatively bare, with a corner sofa, a coffee table and bookshelves on the opposite wall.

Draco was still standing behind her.

"Granger," he said quietly. She turned. He was closer than she imagined him to be. "I'm going to kiss you now."

He neared her and when she did not pull away, he smiled.

At first it was the softest of touches, then, he placed his hands on either side of her cheeks and parted her lips with his, pulling her to him. There was no hesitation in her, she equaled every stroke and movement.

Draco pulled away and looked at her in the eyes, shifting his hands so that they now rested on her neck.

"How am I to forget this, Granger?" He whispered and placing a hand on her back he pushed her back to lie on the sofa and covered her with his body.

She had not uttered a word since the cafe. He looked at her and saw tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey, Granger, don't cry, no, please, don't cry." Draco shifted his weight to lie next to her. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm afraid."

"Granger," he said quietly, turning her head towards him. "Please let go."

This time, she kissed him. His arms circled her, pulling her body to him and he relished in her warmth.

It was dark when she woke up. Draco had his arm sprawled on her belly and his nose buried in her hair.

"Hello, Granger," he murmured.

She said nothing.

"What is it?"

She shook her head.

"Granger, speak."

"I should go," she said standing up. She retrieved her wand and her clothes, and stopped at the front door.

He emerged from the lounge, a throw wrapped around himself.

"Goodbye Draco," she said cracking the door open.

"I will be waiting, Granger." He knew she heard him.