Hey guys, so this is very different to what you know and expect from me, but it was an idea I couldn't quite let go. I wanted to explore a side that many stories don't usually tell; where there isn't a happy forever after ending, and in this case I wanted to explore the idea of divorce and personal growth, even in adults. Obviously this is EWE.

I haven't quite decided who I'd like Ginny to end up with, so let me know if you have a preference. So read on if you still insist that Draco and Hermione would have been amazing together or if you're curious. Enjoy :)

(p.s. This is much more mature than my usual stuff. Consider yourself warned)

Disclaimer: All characters, plots and familiar content are copyright of their respective owners and any reproduced content is only used for creative purposes.

Then

She first met him in high school. He oozed confidence and charisma. Which she unfortunately—but she believed fortunately—was not able to experience.

He was rich, arrogant, and had a high opinion of himself.

He was beautiful. Aristocratic features, white-blonde hair that fell casually and effortlessly, and—in their later years—a tall athletic build thanks to his participation in their school's swimming team.

She hated him.

. . .

He saw her on their first day of school. She had amber eyes that were bright and full of curiosity and wonder. Those same eyes dulled and narrowed when looking in his direction.

She was smart, arrogant, and had a high opinion of herself.

She was also beautiful. Big, bushy brown hair, a natural rosy blush, and a pretty smile with straight white teeth—thanks to the three years of braces she suffered in their early years.

He hated her.

. . .

They tried to avoid each other as much as possible in high school, which was easy with their own respective friends and interests.

Her hard work and impressive list of extra-curricular activities allowed her a full scholarship in univeristy to pursue a politics degree. She wanted to make a positive difference. Her parents were proud.

His hard work and trust fund enabled him to pursue a law degree. He wanted to make money. His parents expected no less.

They didn't cross paths until each of their final years in their International Economics elective.

. . . . . .

The Start

Her usually determined steps slowed as she recognised the white-blonde hair of someone she did not expect to see.

Then again, Oxford University? She was sure it was his family's alma mater. Maybe so since the university's founding. She wouldn't have been surprised if his family tree was linked to one of the founders.

She willed that he did not recognise her—her hair was less frizzy and longer than he remembered, but still thick and unruly—and hoped that he would keep his gaze ahead. But she couldn't avert her gaze. He was still just as beautiful, even more so. Still aristocratic, still athletic, and still oozed confidence.

He must have felt her unmoving gaze, because he turned then and their eyes locked just before she passed him.

She nodded her head at him. "Malfoy."

He nodded back. No sneer, no snark. Just civility. "Granger."

She passed him and sat somewhere closer to the front and unpacked her bag. She was proud of herself.

Laptop open in front of her and a fresh open page next to her, she proceeded to take note of the professor's name and contact details. A red square appeared on her Facebook screen.

Draco Malfoy
Friends since October 2006

Draco: Sitting in the front? Typical Granger.

Hermione read and reread the message. Was it teasing in a malicious way? She had thought that her civil greeting earlier had been mature.

She unconsciously sucked her bottom lip in and worried her lip between her teeth. Maybe it was friendly?

Squaring her shoulders, Hermione typed back her reply efficiently and concisely.

Hermione: :P

Okay, so not so concise.

His reply was immediate.

Draco: Real mature.

She allowed a small grin and typed back her reply before returning her attention back on the professor. There wasn't much to pay attention to since everything was all introductory—she knew the basics of economics, but it didn't hurt to brush up.

. . .

Hermione: Says the one messaging me instead of paying attention. Take notes Malfoy, maybe for once you might be actual competition.

Draco leaned back in his chair and his eyes unwillingly flickered back to the bushy haired brunette sitting in the second row. He wasn't sure what had compelled him to message her, but seeing a familiar face put him at ease strangely.

Draco had mixed feelings about graduating that year. Partly because he didn't know what to do after—should he do graduate law? Should he take over the family business? Should he pursue his own career entirely?—and partly because it meant he was an adult. With real responsibilities.

He had been told what was expected of him by his—well-meaning, he was sure, but overbearing—parents up until that point and now he was overwhelmed by the idea of freedom, he wasn't sure what to do with it.

Then Hermione Granger walks past him, her usual snotty walk—nose up, facing ahead of her—and gives him a civil greeting, and for once he felt in control of his life. If Hermione fucking Granger can walk by him with no malevolent feelings towards him, then he could take control of his life.

She was less frizzy looking and since was no longer in those frumpy school uniforms their private school had demanded to be worn only by regulation—not that stopped many of the boys to loosen their ties and top buttons, and girls to shorten their hems, but not Hermione Granger of course—she looked different.

If he had been asked in their high schools to predict how Granger were to dress as a twenty-one year old, he would have said: white shirt under a navy knitted vest, grey slacks, or even a grey skirt at a reasonable length, and practical ugly black loafers. He shuddered at the thought.

Instead the Granger he saw was dressed like every other twenty-one year old woman: black jeans, a burgundy turtleneck sweater, hounds-tooth long coat and black block-heeled boots. Her face wore nothing else but mascara and a defined brow, paired with her natural rosy blush.

Still beautiful.

. . . . . .

The next time they crossed paths, they both were attending their nine am International Economics tutorial.

She was already seated in the second row, laptop in front of her and fresh new page open in her book. He took a chance and slid in next to her before he could talk himself out of it.

"Granger," he greeted, keeping his eyes ahead.

She turned slowly and stared at him. "Malfoy."

He didn't say anything further, but she continued to stare. "Can I help you?"

"No," he replied, writing down their tutor's details. "Can I help you?"

She turned slowly, back towards the front and picked up her pen. "No."

They were quiet again while their tutor explain their first assignment, before she asked him without turning her attention away from the tutor. "What do you want?"

Draco bit back his smile and shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing. I like seeing a familiar face."

"We're not friends," she told him, putting her pen down.

"I know," he responded, still keeping cool. She was about to get riled up he could tell.

"Then why sit here?" She asked, determined to figure out his end game. She was in her final year of university, she didn't need Draco's usual bullshit.

Malfoy turned to face her and looked in her eyes. The tutor's voice interrupted their quiet conversation.

"Is there a Granger here?" He asked, looking up from the list in his hand. "Hermione Granger?"

Granger turned away from Malfoy and slowly raised her hand. "Yes."

The tutor—whose name she missed because of Malfoy's determination to converse with her—locked eyes with her. "Your assigned partner is Draco Malfoy."

She froze, unable to believe her eyes. Never in her experience of university, had she ever been assigned a partner. And it was only her luck that she was partnered with the one prat she knew.

Draco smirked at her, and she almost thought that it was something he set up. He stood up—when had the class finished?—and held out his hand for her to shake. "Pleasure to meet you, partner."

Hermione stood up, her stuff packed and ready for her next class, and stared him in the eye. His trademark smirk from high school remained on his face and she narrowed her eyes before shaking his hand begrudgingly.

She said nothing and turned the other way to leave the tutorial room for her next class.

If course it was only her luck.

Read, review, and let me know what you think!
- FlowerChild22