I promised a prequel to More Than a Feeling, and here it is! I still own nothing.

Chapter 1

The day was hot as Hermione Granger entered a small cafe in the bustling Diagon Alley. With only twenty minutes for lunch, the brunette planned to get in and out as quickly as possible. There was work to be done, and the Ministry of Magic had few employees better than Hermione.

She stood in line, waiting her turn to place a to-go order, when she heard the tapping of a shoe behind her. Though she tried to ignore the annoying, incessant sound, it didn't cease as the line halted. "You know, you're not the only one in a-" she turned to address the patron behind her. The last person she expected to see was her former classmate, Draco Malfoy.

"Not the only one what, Granger?" the tall, sneering blond inquired. "Not the only one in a hurry? Not the only one who's peeved that Neville Longbottom takes twenty minutes to order a turkey sandwich? Not the only one who'd like to be out of here before he turns 30?"

Hermione glowered and turned away. Ignoring him was the plan, but Draco made it difficult. "Do you ever shut up?" she demanded as he prattled on behind her.

He grinned. "No."

With a roll of her eyes, she turned forward once more. They didn't speak again until it was their turn to order. "Small salad, large coffee please," she requested.

"Put hers on my tab," Draco said as she reached for her wallet. "I'll have my usual. And don't argue with me, Granger. You're getting a free meal whether you like it or not. Don't let me pay this time, and I'll just send takeaway to your office everyday until you give in."

There was a look in her eyes, one of concern, as she asked, "Have you been drinking?"

Draco laughed as he handed over more than enough to cover their lunches. "Not today," he replied. Taking the food, he returned to his table and sat down. Hermione, with pursed lips followed, and stood over him. "What?" he asked as he began to eat.

"I'm really not in the mood, Malfoy," she said impatiently.

"You need to eat," he pointed out. "Far too skinny. Besides, judging by the bags beneath your eyes, you could use a break from the Ministry. Sit, eat, don't think about work. It won't kill you to take some time for yourself. Please, Granger? Keep me company."

Though wary of joining him, Hermione knew that the sooner she sat down and ate, the quicker she could return to work. With a small sigh, she took a seat across from him. After relinquishing her lunch, they ate in silence. Her roaming eyes settled on a bouquet of red roses by his side. "Do you always bring your own floral arrangement to restaurants?" she inquired.

Draco blushed. "They're for my mother," he informed her. "My father would bring her fresh roses once a week, but he's gone now. It seemed right to keep the tradition going."

Hermione was taken aback. This was not the same boy from Hogwarts. It seemed he had grown up, grown more mature, and appeared to put others before himself. "That's really nice of you," she replied. "My dad used to do that too. Every Wednesday, he'd bring home pink tulips for my mum. If I'd been good, he would pull out one for me. I'd keep them forever, long after they died. I remember-" she laughed sadly - "my mum would toss them in the middle night, after I was asleep. I still have one, you know. It was the last one he gave me, and I charmed it so it would never wither."

There was a wistful look in her eye as Hermione lowered her head. Draco knew of her parents' demise. He knew the men who had been sent to kill them. He relished the day she testified against Yaxley and his team, sending them to Azkaban to rot for the rest of their days. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

Brown eyes rapidly blinked away tears, and she assured him that she was fine. "Um, I really appreciate this," she told him, putting her leftover salad in her purse. "I should be getting back to work though."

Nodding, he watched her rise, but stopped her before she could go. Removing a single red rose from the bouquet, he offered it to her. "I come here everyday at noon for lunch," he said. "If you feel like it, join me."

Hermione nodded as she accepted the flower. "It was good to see you, Malfoy," she replied. Without looking back, she returned to the Ministry of Magic. She admired the flower Draco had given her, taking in the scent and twirling it between her fingers.

"Where have you been?" was the first question she received upon entering her office.

"Lunch," she replied. After setting down her coffee and purse, she pushed her fiance's feet from her desk. "What are you doing in here?"

Ron Weasley vacated her chair and kissed her. "I know you eat healthy, but flowers seem like a stretch," he joked. "Or do you have another man on the side? Should I be jealous?"

She knew he was teasing her, but she also knew that Ron had a fierce, uncontrollable temper. There was a decades-long animosity between the Malfoy and Weasley families, and Hermione had been quick to take the Weasleys' side. The Malfoys were a cruel, intolerant family who favored the mass genocide of the muggle born.

There was no forgiving Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's behavior, but Draco seemed different. The fear in his eyes had been palpable from their sixth year until his trial ended. When they met at Malfoy Manor, her first thought was that he had looked close to death. His skin was paler than usual and dark circles framed his eyes. He was no longer the haughty boy who believed himself to be better than her. He was a scared boy who looked like he would give anything to escape.

If Hermione were being honest with herself, she could admit that lunch with Draco wasn't half as bad as it should have been. There was no way she would tell Ron that, though. "Oh, it's from someone on the street," she said with a shrug, placing it on the desk. "He just handed it to me. No idea who he was."

Ron seemed to accept her answer. "So, um, Mum wants to know if we're coming to dinner tonight," he told her. "Well, more specifically, if you're coming. She's concerned that you work too much."

"There's a lot of work to do," she mumbled as she finished her coffee. "Ron, I'm really sorry, but if you want me there, I need to get this proposal done today."

She watched him leave, appreciative that he understood how important her work was to her. Finally alone, she could work in peace.