Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day, like the one before
Little town, full of little people
Waking up to say...

Hermione walk slowly down the town with her eyes gazing at the window of each shop without really looking at anything. She found that she didn't need to. There was nothing there that she hadn't already seen before. She remembered when she was still at school at the streets of Diagon Alley was a new novelty for her with so many treasures to find. But now everything had lost its shine. Everything had stayed exactly as it had been for the last couple of decades.

'Honestly' she thought looking at the crowds that were parting for her to make her way, 'I know I'm different but you don't really need to stare!'. That was another thing that had dulled the colour of her life. Ever since the Dark Lord had been vanquished and She had been there by Harry's side, she had become somewhat of a celebrity in the wizarding world. The gossip about her in the magazines weren't exactly about relationships or any of the usual circumstances, but about her oddities and always finding new ways to show that she never quite fit into this world.

Finally she reached her destination. Her last haven in this world, the book shop, Flourish and Blots. As she walked in through the door she was greeted by the usual smell and atmosphere that always seemed to be able to calm and relax her. The man at the till looked up as she walked in and smiled at her. "Hey Hermione, Back so soon?"

Hermione smiled back at the familiar face "I came to return the book I borrowed."

"Finished already!"

"I couldn't put it down! Have you got anything new?" she laid the books down on the counter and looked up at him hopefully with a sheepish smile creeping onto her delicate features.

He chuckled at her and shook his head slightly. "Not since yesterday I'm afraid"

"Oh that's alright" she exclaimed and then started looking at the rows of books quickly before running off to collect a book off the shelf and bring it back as quickly as she could. "I'll just borrow this one if that's ok?"

"That one! But you've read it twice!" He raised his eyebrows at her as she looked dreamily back at the book.

"But it's my favorite!" she sighed and clutched the book to her chest. "Far off places, daring sword fights, muggle versions of spells and a price in disguise!" Even at the thought of the book she seemed to feel contented.

He looked at her with a small amused expression, taking in the far off look in her face and the tight clutch to the book. "If you really like it all the much it's yours!"

"But Greg!"

"I insist, just make sure you don't make a habit of it. I don't want to go bankrupt because of you, you know!"

Hermione was delighted and jumped to give him a hug over the counter, repeatedly thanking him before taking the book tightly with her out of the shop and down the street. Her elation was soon deflated as she felt the looks on her again. She couldn't help it if she didn't fit into the stereotype of this place. Why couldn't she just be herself and not have people stare at her like that.

On the other side of the street Draco was one of the people whose eyes were following Hermione down the street. He smiled smugly to himself. She had truly become a great beauty as she had grown. Her hair fell in soft curls around her face and she big beautiful chocolate eyes shone out, making those who looked into them feel warm and comfortable. He turned to his ever faithful friends Crabbe and Goyle.

"Have you spoken to Hermione lately?" they looked up at him with confusion in his eyes.

"Hermione?... Well… No!... I mean I would have, but everyone keeps on talking about how odd she has become. I mean really odd!" Goyle said

"I think I'm going to go talk to her again. Maybe ask her for a drink." Harry shrugged casually.

"HERMIONE?" Crabbe exclaimed.

"She is the best witch of our age isn't she?"

"Well… yes … but…"

"And isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes… but still…"

"Then that makes her the best! And don't I deserve the best!"

"Well of course Draco, but people say that she's not like she was when we knew her.." Crabbe tried to explain to him but Draco had already crossed the street to Hermione.

Hermione had blanked out those looks around her and was quiet happily walking down the road with her book held up in front of her face. As she was so caught up in the book she never noticed that a tall figure was walking towards her and so causing more people to stop and stare.

"Hello Hermione. Long time no see." Draco said with his coolist voice and most dashing smile. Hermione jumped as she was pulled out of her book and back to reality.

"Hi Draco. You too." She replied in a somewhat shocked tone. He was the last person she expected to talk to her.

Draco looked around for a subject to start up a conversation with. He found that it was harder to talk to Hermione than the rest. Seeing he opportunity he saw her book ad grabbed it out of her reached with is quickened reflexes.

"So what's this that you are reading?"

"Draco, can I have my book back please?" Hermione said patiently considering how annoyed she was that he had taken it from her and held her hand out expectantly but Draco just flicked through the pages.

"How can you read this? There are no pictures!" he exclaimed

"Some of us use our imagination." Retorted Hermione with the agitation she was feeling clearly showing in her tone. Draco however ignored her outstretched hand and tone and dropped the book into a puddle on the cobbled streets and Hermione rushed to pick it up and dry the pages before her new book was ruined.

"Hermione it's time that you got your head out of books ad started paying attention to more important things. It's not right for women to read so much. They start getting ideas and ambitions."

"Really, you really are so old fashioned. A lot of women are successful on their own thanks to imaginations and ambitions."

"Whatever. Anyway why don't we go for a drink. I even think that the leaky cauldron, you can see all of my trophies."

"Thanks Draco, but maybe later. I have to go." And before he could retort or stop her from going Hermione rushed down the street to the fireplace port where she could floo home.

Draco watched her go with a smug, satisfied look shaping his face as Crabbe and Goyle wandered up behind him after listening in on the whole conversation. Draco's eyes never left Hermione's retreating back but he vowed to them that one day he would manage to win Hermione over!

…………..&…………………….

Hermione gracefully stepped out of her fire and back to her warm comfortable home. Where no one would watcher her, no one would judge her and she would be free to do whatever she wanted. Especially find the time to read her new book.

She wandered up the stairs to find her father. Ever since her mother had passed away, Hermione had come home to help her father cope with the house. She found him upstairs packing his suitcase ready to leave for is conference.

"Need a hand Dad?" she asked from the doorway making him jump. He turned and smiled at her.

"Not unless you want to make the practice a lot better over night and provide proof with you that I can take with me tomorrow." He sighed half heartedly. "I really do think I'm going to give up with this competition thing. I never win."

"Don't you dare!" Hermione retorted "You wont give up on it and you will win first prize at the competition tomorrow." She continued earnestly

"Hmmmmmm" he protested looking down at his suitcase again.

"And become the dentist of the year…" she left the statement hanging hoping that his interests and hopes would perk up and was glad to see that it worked. He looked up at her hopefully.

"You really believe that?" he asked her timidly.

"I always have!" she laughed at the shyness of her father. He soaked up her words and seemed to find a new vigour about packing his suitcase. Causing Hermione to laugh again.

Hermione made her way over to her fathers wardrobe and started pulling out is best shirts and folding them properly for him to place into his suitcase. Halfway through folding the trousers to her fathers best suit she pauses thinking for a while. After a quizzical look from her father she sighed and asked

"Dad, do you think I'm odd."

He smiled at her in a cheeky way that made his face form a half crazed look "My daughter, odd! Where would you get an idea like that?" Hermione giggled slightly at the picture of him but was soon sighing again and turning back to folding trousers.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm just not sure that I really fit in here. There's no one that I can really talk to."

"What about that Draco? He's a handsome fellow."

"He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and...Oh Papa,he's not for me!" Hermione flung the clothes that she was folding and slammed the lid down with a strong force that caused the bed to wobble as it was holing the suitcase. Her dad just smiled down at her with a fond look on his face and kissing her on the forehead.

"Hmmm, well I must be off. I will be back soon ok. You will be ok?" his voice full of concern. Hermione smiled up at him.

"Of course I will be. But how about you take my owl with you? So that you can send me a letter about how it when later." Nodding his agreement he kissed her on the forehead goodbye and walked out of the house and towards his car. She watched him go through the window before turning to her favourite chair in the front with her book open on her lap.