Some nights my overactive imagination doesn't let me sleep because it's busy assaulting me with story ideas. I own nothing. Not Harry Potter, not The Way We Were, I don't even own the computer I used to write most of this chapter. If you haven't seen the movie, no worries. I kept it pretty spoiler free. Also, watch it! It's amazing.

Chapter 1
On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, London's revival movie theater was deserted save for one person. Hermione Granger made her way to the middle seat in the middle aisle and made herself comfortable. For the first time in her life, she was playing hooky and enjoying it. When the newspaper announced a showing of The Way We Were, her mind was made up. Her shop was left in the capable hands of her employees and Hermione was spending the afternoon watching her favorite movie.

As the lights dimmed and the previews began to play, someone sat down beside her. "Really?" she muttered, annoyance rich in her voice. "Empty theater and you sit down next to me?" Then she turned to see who had joined her.

Draco Malfoy smiled a smug grin and settled in. "Do you own the theater?" he inquired. "I'm pretty sure I can sit anywhere I want."

It was clear to her that he hadn't changed. Five years removed from their school days, and Draco Malfoy was still the git he had been as a child. Gathering her purse and jacket, she moved down to put two seats between them. Draco merely smirked and stared at the screen. "Why are you here?" she wondered as the opening credits began.

He shrugged. "I wanted to see a movie," he replied simply.

"You know what a movie is?" she asked incredulously.

Glancing at her briefly before returning his attention to the screen, he retorted, "I'm here, aren't I?"

Looking around to make sure that they were still alone, she leaned across the empty seats and whispered, "You know you're in muggle London, right?"

"I noticed," he replied. "Did you happen to notice that the movie is starting?"

Pursing her lips, she turned her attention back to the screen. They watched silently, the only two people in the theater. Though she had seen the movie before, the story still captured her attention each time, and it wasn't hard to pretend that Draco wasn't there. Until she began to cry.

"Here," he said, holding out a handkerchief to her.

She offered a small smile as she accepted his offering. "Thanks," she replied. "This part always gets to me. Katie misses him so much. She'll never love anyone as much as Hubbell. And all she wants is her best friend. It's heartbreaking, isn't it?"

He moved a seat closer. "I hate to agree with you, but yeah," he said.

Hermione laughed. "Why do you hate to agree with me?" she wondered. "We both know I'm always right."

He rolled his eyes in a good-natured fashion. "She reminds me of you," he said softly. "Strong willed, fighting for her convictions."

"A bit preachy," she added.

Draco chuckled. "I thought it might be rude if I said it," he admitted.

"You've said worse," she pointed out.

There was no denying that, and he knew it. He had spent the first five years at Hogwarts teasing her for being muggle born. Then, before the start of their sixth year, he had been forced into the ranks of the Death Eaters and given an impossible task. That year he spoke to no one as his quest to kill the headmaster consumed him. The following year brought the disappearance of the Golden Trio and saw Voldemort setting up headquarters in the Malfoy home. He hadn't thought it possible, but that year had been more terrifying than the previous one.

"So, you've seen this before?" he asked, needing to think about something, anything, else.

Despite the darkness, he could see her blushing. "A couple hundred times," she admitted. "It's my favorite movie. My mum and I used to watch it together. Oh, look, it's the scene with them putting away the books. I love when they put away the books." He grinned at her excitement over so simple a scene. Then she sighed. "It's all downhill now that they're in Hollywood though."

"Wait, what?" he asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Just watch."

They finished the movie without saying another word, and when the final credits rolled, they left. "I could use a coffee," he declared as they exited the movie theater. "Do you want to-"

"Why?" she wondered.

Shrugging, he said, "I just thought you might want to. Watching the movie with you, it was kind of nice."

Though taken aback by his statement, she nodded mutely and followed him to a nearby coffee shop. Draco spotted a small table for two by the front windows and pulled out a chair for her. He asked her what she wanted and made his way to counter to place an order for two cappuccinos. Minutes later, he returned and set a mug down in front of her.

"Do you do this often?" she wondered as she stirred a packet of sugar into her drink.

"Drink coffee?" he asked.

"No, I mean come here," she clarified. "This isn't exactly the place where I'd expect to find someone like you."

Shrugging, he leaned back in his chair and stared out the window. "People change, Granger," he replied. "Places like this...well, they don't help me forget, but it's something like that. I can be someone else here."

She nodded understandingly. "It's an escape," she agreed. "I've tried to convince Ron to come here with me, but he refuses. He prefers home and the familiarity it provides. But this was my home first. I sort of wish he could show a little interest in it."

"I kind of like it better here," he admitted as his finger traced the handle of his coffee cup. "It's more peaceful. No one knows me or what I've done. Plus, movies. We don't have movies back home."

Hermione chuckled and choked on her coffee as she tried to swallow at the same time. "Yes, they're a bit behind on modern technology," she replied. "Although the cinema isn't exactly modern."

"It is for me," he said. "Um, my parents don't know that I do this. I doubt they would approve."

Her brows furrowed as she asked, "What do they think you do all day?"

Taking a sip of his coffee, he turned his head to glance out the window again. "I'm not sure they care," he confessed sadly. "After the war...it's like I said, people change. The one thing that hasn't changed though is their intolerance towards 'lesser beings.' Their words, not mine. Anyhow, with my father in prison, my mother tends to shut herself up in her room all day. It would be a miracle if she even realized I left the house. I just...I know it would make her crazy if she knew what I was doing."

Nodding, she finished her cappuccino and picked up her purse. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I should really get back to my shop."

She pulled her wallet from her bag and began to remove a few bills. "No, I got it," he assured her.

"You're sure?" she asked nervously. "I mean, you know you can't pay with-"

"I'm sure," he said, cutting her off. She thanked him and smiled, then turned to leave. "Hey, Granger. Do you think you might want to do this again some time?"

"Yeah, I think I might," she replied before leaving.