This is an edited version of the first chapter--- thank you to mrs accio-firebolt for her insightful review.

Thanks also to Rahnee and to my best best friend, Jamie for their kind words and feedback.

I changed the timeframe--- the incident on the tower happened two years back and Harry and the crew have been Horcrux-hunting etc since.

Hello! This is a mix of canon and my own alternate D/Hr reality... This is my first attempt at D/Hr fiction and i'd like very much to read your feedback. It isn't a one-shot exactly... I'm not sure what to call it. Suffice to say, they WILL meet again. The bench in question is from the movie, Notting Hill. The plaque reads:

"For June, who loved this garden... From Joseph who always sat beside her."

The players are OOC but really, a war and a new life can change people dramatically.

This is my 'Why Not' fantasy... I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing.

Beginning Anew

Perth, 2 in the morning.

She walked slowly through the moonlit garden, watching as the silver beams danced across the verdant, dark green lawn. Shadows changed shape and form as clouds made their way to and fro in the star-filled sky. The air was fresh, crisp, like the first few minutes of a summer shower. This was her favorite place, and her favorite time of the night. The darkness appealed to her and the moon was high enough in the sky to allow her safe passage as she walked to the bench that had called to her since the day she had watched that Muggle movie with her Mum.

Her eyes made out the bench and she upped her pace. It had caught her attention in the movie, but when she had finally found the time to come see it for herself, she had been amazed at the peace that came over her as she simply sat there. She ran her hands lovingly over the words engraved on the plaque and wondered for the millionth time how it would feel to have that kind of devotion in her life. Sighing wistfully and shaking her head, she slid her hand over the top of the seat back and sat with one of her legs curled under her. She rested her cheek on the arm stretched over the top of the bench and closed her eyes, letting the peace of the night envelop her.

He swung over the top of the gate effortlessly, his feet hitting the ground with an almost feline grace. He breathed in the cool summer air as he moved quickly through the dark path. His night had been filled with wine, women and song, the perfect bachelor evening... but like every other night, he needed to clear his head before making his way home. He had stumbled on the garden a few weeks back when he was escaping from a particularly clingy date. If he had still been in the Wizarding World, he would have simply apparated away... but since he had chosen to exile himself after the Incident on the tower, he had not performed any magic at all. He missed it, of course, but he also felt a sense of accomplishment for surviving for over a year without magical support. He could do the dishes by himself now.

Whistling a soft Muggle tune, he buried his hands in the slits of his hoodie sweater and made his way to 'his spot'. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he failed to notice the person already occupying the bench. She was not as unobservant.

"Draco?" a soft voice jarred him out of his thoughts and he gaped at the person before him, as if he had never seen another human being before in his life.

"Draco, what are you doing here?" she asked again, rising from her spot on the bench. HIS spot.

"I--- uhmm... that's mine..." came his eloquent answer as he gestured to the bench in a confused manner.

"Really? Who is June, and wherever did you find the inspiration to name yourself Joseph?" she said as she smiled at him gently, taking in his obviously confused face and manner.

"Oh-I--NO. What I meant was..." he sighed, giving up totally, and plonked himself down on the bench. HIS spot.

"That's okay. We can share." she offered magnanimously, as she sat back down in the same position only she was facing him this time, her eyes watching his every move.

Neither spoke for a long moment as they both tried to recapture the solitude that they had both come to the garden to find.

Draco cracked first. "So, uhmm... Hermione... how have you been?" he ventured, as he watched the crease in his jeans shift with his every nervous movement.

"I've been o-kay, considering the culmination of the war is fast approaching." she smiled sadly as he gave a visible start at her words. "You've been away a long time, Malfoy."

"It seems like only yesterday Granger."

"Will you ever come back?" her eyes searched his out, and he met her gaze unflinchingly. This was his turf now. Nothing to be scared about any longer.

"I don't know really. I'm happy here, Hermione. I live a useful life." he stretched his arms over his head and arched his back against the wooden support.

She stared off into the distance at his words, "Yes, I can see the appeal in working for a non-magical entity. Tell me, though, don't you miss it?"

It was his turn to smile sadly... "Everyday."

They sat there in silence, mulling over each other's words, their thoughts too personal to share with each other.

It was true, what Hermione said, the war was almost over, there was nothing stopping him from rejoining their world. However, did he want to go back?

She was the first to break the silence this time, "I wonder how it would feel to have a Joseph in my life. To have someone who loved me so much that he would continue to honor me even after I passed on..."

"When did we change?" he asked her quietly, "Two years ago, I would have called you names... and you would have hexed me even before I could open my mouth. We would never have willingly shared ANYTHING before."

"We grew up, Draco. You've lived in my former world for years now and I've been more than exposed to the realities of the world that we once shared. We've changed, you and I... and I think that it's all been for the better, circumstances being what they are." her hand crept out and grasped him by the hand he so loosely curled around the top of the bench.

"Tell me more about what's been happening Hermione. I've been away so long..." it pained Draco to admit his feeling of loss to her, but he knew that time would eventually heal all hurts... he just needed to start opening them up again so they could begin anew at last.

"All right. Harry, Ron and I have been on special assignment since the start of what was supposed to be our seventh year. Before Professor Dumbledore died, he gave Harry a task to complete and we've been doing our best to help him finish it. The Wizarding World isn't safe these days. There have been so many arrests and so many deaths... so many have switched sides, not knowing who to trust and who to blame." her voice hitched in her throat at this point, and she had to clear her throat before continuing.

"Luna and Neville have been trying to continue the fight on Hogwarts grounds... they taught and still mentor new DA members... but they're losing rather badly. Professor Snape- he's headmaster now- has installed a fearful regime of intimidation, far worse than anything Umbridge could have done. He's brought in Death Eaters as professors and Muggle born witches and wizards are no longer allowed within our school walls."

"V-He Who Must Not be Named has found an ingenious way of keeping track of insurgents--- every time someone says his name, his followers can sense it and Apparate to the location immediately. He understood, you see, that only those truly dedicated to the cause would be courageous enough to utter his name."

Draco sighed and ran his hands over his face, trying to wipe away the exhaustion that threatened to overcome him, "So much has changed. How can I ever go back there?"

The point is, Draco, that we can try--- are trying, actually--- to make it into a world that we can all come home again. That is what this rebellion is all about. We want change not only for ourselves, but for those who have grown up in so much fear, that they know no better. We all deserve a chance at happiness... and it's up to those who are willing to fight to restore that joy to others."

"What about those of us who believe in the cause, but have no more strength to fight?" he whispered, raking a hand over his platinum head.

"There is always strength to be found in each one of us, Draco. The choice lies in whether or not we should use it or ignore it." Hermione glanced at her watch and sighed, "I have to go."

Draco whipped his head around, concern etched on his feautures, "This final battle, will it be soon?"

"Sooner than you can imagine." she replied, running an affectionate hand over his military-cut hair, "I'm glad that I got to see you grow up, ferret."

He gave her a wry smile, "I wish I could have done it a lot sooner, Granger." he stood up and walked with her to the garden entrance. Before she left, he turned her around and embraced her, holding her lithe little form close to him, trying to remember her warmth. "Sunday afternoons around three."

She gave him a bemused smile, disentangling herself from his arms in the process, "Pardon?"

"I'm here on Sunday afternoons around three in the afternoon. I just--- If you ever need someone..."

"Thank you, Draco." with a kiss pressed softly to his cheek, she was gone.