This is my first story that I am uploading, and I hope that you give your feedback at my first attempt.

CHAPTER 1

Hermione

'Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep' went the alarm signalling that it was 7.00 am and that I needed to get up and get ready for another normal day at work.

Turning off the alarm, I sat up and could feel my Emerald Green nightie was slick with sweat from another nightmare. It has been 5 years since the war, but I still have nightmares about the night at Malfoy Manor when Bellatrix Lestrange tortured me for information. My forearm tingled from the memory of when Bellatrix carved 'Mudblood' into my arm.

I rose from bed and quickly stripped the bed by hand and put all my sheets into the laundry hamper and replaced those with a beautiful lavender doona cover set that had little lavender flowers embroidered over the fabric. I then went to walk past the full-length mirror headed for the bathroom, but I couldn't help but smile as I eyed my bushy haired self in the mirror reading what my nightie read; 'You're welcome to Slyther-in' in silver cursive on the front. It was a gag gift from Parvati and Padma Patil for Christmas the first year I moved to Melbourne, Australia.

Which was 4 years ago when I was studying at Melbourne University. I was studying Politics and Social Sciences as that was an interest of mine at the time. My interests were for Dobby, the House Elf who died in the war, I wanted to learn all that I could about how slavery was abolished and what could be done to change the system in the Wizarding World. But things didn't go according to plan, the whole time I was living here I was trying to return my parents memories to them. Turns out the spell I did just before I went on the Horcrux hunt was too strong, no matter what I did I couldn't bring my parents back to me. I was supposed to be the 'Brightest Witch of my Age', how can I be seen that way if I can't remove a memory charm?

That was when I decided to walk away from the Wizarding World and stay in Australia, I needed to be close to my parents. I still remember telling Harry and Ron that I wouldn't be returning to England, they were devastated. Especially Ron because we had started a relationship of sorts just as the war ended, but my heart wasn't fully in it because I couldn't get the fact that he ran away from the Horcrux hunt and me. It was something I could never forgive him for, so I told him that we should just be friends, he didn't take it well. There was a lot of yelling and a lot of begging, but there was nothing he could do to convince me to stay.

Harry understood better than Ron and knew that I was making the right decision even though it hurt Ron. It was then that I told Harry that I would be walking away from the Wizarding World, he didn't understand that and tried to reason with me to stay. But I was too stubborn, and I wanted to be with my family even if they didn't remember me. He finally agreed but only on the condition that I communicate with him through linked journals he purchased from Flourish and Blotts. We could write to each other from all over the world in these journals, I agreed and that was one of 4 magical items I kept. My Wand, my beaded handbag with the undetectable extension charm added, the Dumbledore's Army Galleon and the Journal. Everything else I owned was just potions and spell books that I kept hidden in a secret bookshelf I had in my apartment. They were gathering dust now, the only books I read were muggle ones which were littered all over my apartment.

I gently brushed my fingers over the Mudblood scar on my arm and remember the first time I heard the word. Draco Malfoy was an evil little shit in the beginning, but in the end, he made the right decision. No one knows what happened to him after the war, he vanished from Wizarding Britain and no one has seen or heard from him since. It wasn't like I cared what happened to the foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach. I then climbed into the shower washing the sweat from my body and cleaning my bushy hair that was unbelievably unruly. I climbed out of the shower and put some lotion in my hair that would help ease the frizzy curls and pulled my hair into a tight pony tail with two strands of curls framing my face.

I pulled on a pair of flare jeans and a button up white shirt with a brown belt and some comfortable beige wedges. Because it was Melbourne and had unpredictable weather, I pulled on a light brown corduroy tight fitted jacket that completed my look nicely. I applied light make up with pink shiny lip gloss and look at the time and saw that it was already 8.00 am I knew I had to get going. I eyed my wand on my bedside table and decided that I wouldn't need it and grabbed my bag and keys and walked for 15 minutes to the same building my parents worked at. It was there that I opened my bookstore, that sold both new a second-hand book's, it was as close as I was ever going to get to my family.

Purchasing this store was the best decision I ever made, I remember receiving the large donation from the British Ministry of Magic as a thank you for saving the Wizarding World. It was with this donation that I purchased my bookstore and gorgeous studio apartment that overlooked the city. When I got to my building I grabbed a Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwich and a Hot Chocolate from the Café in the food court for breakfast and walked across the room to my little store, and let myself in. I quickly went about my morning routine, making sure the register is full and the store is neat and tidy for the day ahead.

Draco

'I TOLD YOU, I DON'T WANT OR NEED A PARTNER!' I bellowed at Head Auror Gary Cook, who was always on my case about having a partner as I was the only one who didn't have one. There were a multitude of reasons why I didn't want one, but the main one was that none of the Auror's I was assigned were able to see past my former Death Eater status. 5 years later and I am still dealing with ridicule about my past, for Merlin's sake I was 16 and was given no choice, it was either join or die.

Here I am 5 years later, and thousands of miles from Britain and still dealing with this disdain. I was cleared of all charge's thanks surprisingly to Potter and Granger. Hell, Potter even spoke for my Mother which was something I never expected the Chosen One to do, but it was thanks to him that my Mother only received 10 years House Arrest instead of Azkaban. Father received the Kiss, I knew he deserved it, but he was still my Father and I loved him.

Moving to Australia was the best thing I could've done, I was free from the ridicule of everyone who attended Hogwarts and only saw me as the carbon copy of my Father. Yet still news of my past spread here, thankfully I was already an Auror in the Australian Ministry, so they couldn't exactly fire me. Especially since I was the best Auror the department has, I have closed more cases in the past 3 months than everyone in the department 'solo'. But when you are a Malfoy, galleons can still get you things, thankfully that trick works in the Australian Ministry. Britain's Ministry. Forget it, they would make me crawl on my knees to get anything.

Head Auror Cook ran his hands over his tired face in exasperation at what I was saying and replied; 'Malfoy, either you accept a partner, or I fire you!'

I snorted at his ridiculous threat; 'How many times do you think that false threat will work? I am the best you have'

Cook sighed in defeat and said 'Dammit Malfoy, why can you never follow the rules. If that is how you want to play it fine, don't blame me when you get yourself killed.'

With that I stormed out of Cook's office and went straight to my desk and as I sat down I heard one of the chubby Auror's at the back of the room say; 'Who wants to make a bet on how long Malfoy will survive as a solo Auror?' the other Auror's laughed.

I swivelled my chair, so I was facing the pudgy Auror who was currently stuffing a Meat Pie smothered in Tomato Sauce in his Gob; 'I have already solved 3 homicide cases in the past week 'alone'. How many have you solved with a Partner? Oh, that's right you are still stuck on your first one. Why don't you save your money Poe, until you can catch up?'

Poe's face went so red he seemed to be the same shade as the Tomato Sauce dripping from his Meat Pie. All the Auror's went silent and went back to work, Poe bit into his pie angrily and turned away from Malfoy.

Draco turned to his desk again and went about finishing the paperwork on his last case that he finished and was going over all the evidence and testimonies of the case. I never wanted to be an Auror, like every Malfoy before me I was meant to take over the family business. But I didn't want to follow in my father's footsteps anymore and decided to do something worthwhile and prove that I am not like him. Auror was the next best thing, I didn't want to be an Auror in Britain though because A) I wouldn't get a job there and B) I didn't want to work alongside Potter and Weasel.

My mind suddenly went to the third member of the Golden Trio, the know-it-all bookworm Granger. What was she doing now, my best guess was that she would be married to the Weasel and giving birth to more Weasley's left, right and centre. That wasn't the life I would've thought she wanted though, she was the kind of woman who would focus on her career and use what she knew for good. In truth, I thought about Granger more than most, because I have nightmares about her every single night. She is writhing on my drawing room floor screaming for me to help her and I just stand there stock still, not doing a god damn thing to save her. I was such a coward back then.

As I signed the final document I got up and went to the bathroom, as I was washing my hands I looked up at my face. I looked different than I did all those years ago, my hair was more unkempt and fell slightly over my grey silvery eyes and I had slight scruff from not shaving my face that morning. I straightened my tie and tucked my shirt into my dress pants, trying to make myself a bit neater. I no longer had everything perfect, I was more relaxed as I didn't have my father breathing down my neck anymore.

When I went back to my desk I spotted Mothers Barn Owl 'Snowy' perched on my desk with a letter tied to her leg. The Owl looked very tired and weary from the long flight, so I took the letter and with a swish of my wand summoned a rat for Snowy who quickly snatched it up by her talons and flew toward the owlery to feast and nap. I always loved Snowy, she was beautiful and loyal to the family.

Opening the letter, it read;

Dearest Draco,

I miss you terribly, life at the Manor is rather mundane. Most days I am outside in the garden with the Peacocks reading those Muggle novels you sent me. Yes, I finally gave in and read them, they were wonderful works of fiction. The one I loved the most was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, it truly opened my eyes and made me see things from a different perspective. I am ashamed of myself, I couldn't believe how blind I was to the truth.

Being brought up on Pureblood beliefs made it hard for me to truly see how horrible I have been to those innocent Muggles, Muggleborn's and Half-Bloods. When you brought me these novels I thought you were bringing ruin to our family, but in truth you were opening our eyes. I can pinpoint the moment when you fully turned, it was when my unstable sister Bellatrix tortured that Muggleborn girl on our floor. You looked as though you were on the verge of saving her, part of me wishes you did, and another part is glad you didn't because you may have died that night. If you see her again, tell her I wish to apologize in person about that night.

On a happier note, have you met anyone yet? Even if she is Muggleborn, Muggle or Half-Blood I don't care. I want you to be happy my darling boy, please open your heart to someone and bring them to meet me, I want to have Grandchildren soon.

All my Love

Your Mother.

My heart soared, my Mother was finally accepting the new ways which meant the world to me. It meant that I could marry for love, this was one thing that I never thought I would get the chance to have. Love, well I better get back out into the dating scene, I placed the letter in my drawer and replied on a fresh sheet of Parchment using my trusty Albino Peacock quill I made and wrote a reply to my Mother;

Dearest Mother,

I can't tell you how happy I am that you read the novels, Pride and Prejudice is a favourite of mine as well. But my all-time favourite is Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. I am sorry that I am not there with you Mother, but I need to get away from those who see me as my father.

That night during the Easter Holidays has haunted me since, it was the moment I realized that I never hated her. I admired her over everyone in the world, she withstood a Cruciatus and didn't divulge any information and gained all the information she needed from Bellatrix before escaping. She is the strongest woman I think I will ever know, but no one has seen her for years, she is probably married to Weasley and starting a family. I just hope that she see's that she is worth more than that, but if I do see her I will let her know that you wish to speak with her. Though I don't believe that will happen.

My job isn't conducive to meeting anyone Mother, I am constantly working and focus solely on my career. But I will try and find time to meet someone for you, at least I feel like my options are more open now thanks to you accepting the new world.

With Love

Draco

I placed the letter in an Envelope and placed in my desk drawer so that when Snowy wakens from her rest I can send my reply. Taking a deep calming breath, I stood and went to the Evidence Vault to see if I had missed anything in my paperwork.

This concludes the first chapter, will be uploading the second chapter as soon as I can, the story will get more interesting I promise. This is just the beginning….