To Find You Again

By Suseh

Chapter One

Standing before the full length mirror, Hermione Jean Granger put on the last finishing touches of make-up before placing the small compact down on her dresser and stepping back to eye herself one final time. The black cocktail gown was elegantly molded to her petit frame with a slit on the side of her left thigh, giving a praising view of her toned legs. Her unruly chocolate curls had been swept upward into a bun where small ringlets fell about her face.

Hermione was not a beautiful woman, not in the model sense of the word. As a young girl growing up and learning magic in a foreign world, she was often teased about her teeth and her unruly bushy hair. It wasn't until her fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that Hermione was given a small stroke of luck by the means of a wayward spell that hit her. After cruelly being taunted by her professor, Hermione had run from the place in tears and to the infirmary to get her teeth fixed. Though her parents were dentists themselves, they did not have the magical means to help her, but Madame Pomfery did. As the evening arrived, Hermione returned flashing her newly created smile to her friends and making sure the Slytherins were aware of her accomplishment.

"Mummy," a small voice to her left shook her from her reverie causing Hermione to glance over at the young girl with platinum blond curls and winter blue eyes, "will you be gone long tonight?"

Hermione smiled at her daughter and sat down on the bed next to her beloved daughter. Her hand rose to thread her fingers through the strands of silky white hair. She hated leaving Rose behind. She had no true desire to go to this gala, but Robert had insisted she went. It was important to the shareholders of the company that their best and most prized employee showed up. Hermione had tried to find ways out of going, but Robert would hear none of it. He continued to hold his ground even going far to blackmail her into going.

"I will probably be there for an hour or two," Hermione answered finally. "It is important, apparently, that I attend this gala in hopes of gaining more monetary for upcoming projects the company has expressed interests in."

Rose furrowed her brows together. For a moment, Hermione could see Rose's father in that single expression. It had always been part of his expressions whenever he was in deep thought or something troubled him gravely. She remembered seeing that expression shortly before the final battle commenced.

"Can I lay here in your bed to wait for you?" Rose asked looking up at her mother with hope in her innocent eyes.

"I see no reason why not," Hermione answered. "I will ask Beatrice to check in on you. Now why don't you go into the kitchen and get you a glass of warm milk and some cookies before you get ready for bed?"

Rose nodded and bounded off her mother's bed, heading out into the small hallway of their flat. Hermione smiled watching her daughter leave. Despite Rose's ill health, the little girl still had enough energy within her tiny body that often it astounded Hermione. She could not fathom what it was that gave her such a boost and this worried her greatly. Her daughter's heart was failing and Hermione knew this – she was doing everything possible within the labs to find something to save her daughter, but even she knew it was not enough. Eventually, she realized with a deep sadness, her daughter was going to need some type of muggle surgery to keep her life going.

This was a problem. Hermione's job did not pay her enough to allow her to pay for such a surgical proceeding, not even her wizarding health insurance would cover it. Then again what muggle hospital would even accept such an insurance coverage? None of them, she suspected. After all, the wizarding world was not entirely known to the muggling population. It was only known to those of magical abilities or those borne into wizarding families but who had no magical capabilities within their blood that knew of the world.

Rose's acknowledgement of the magical world had been limited. She knew her mother was a witch when she had her first bursts of spontaneous magic at three. It had been through Hermione that her daughter had begun to learn to control her abilities to the best she could without the help of anyone within the magical community. Hermione had always considered it better no one knew Rose existed at the moment. It was Hermione's only way of escaping his clutches. She knew he would never step foot in the muggling world, so they were safe here among new friends and under other names.

The sound of the doorbell drew Hermione once more from her thoughts and she rose from the bed, heading out into the hallway and towards the front door.

"Coming!" She called out. She paused for a brief moment to fix herself one final time before answering the door.

Hermione opened the door and found Beatrice on the other side. The older woman greeted her with a smile and a warm hug.

"You look beautiful, love," Beatrice praised. "I think you will be knocking off the socks of many young men tonight."

Hermione found her cheeks coloring. "I don't think I am ready to date yet and besides Rose needs me too much right now."

"Of course, Jean," Bea remarked and entered into the small flat. "Where is Rose?"

At that moment, Rose came running into the living room. The corners of her mouth and her small hands covered in chocolate and milk.

"Aunt Bea!" The little girl greeted happily.

"Precious Rose," the woman returned sweeping down to scoop the girl into her arms. "Come along little one, let's get you cleaned up and ready for bed. How would you like a bedtime story?"

Rose squealed in delight as they left Hermione in the living area of the house alone. She saw this as the opportunity she needed to leave. Her daughter was in capable and loving hands and now she could go make her appearance, mingle with the crowd for an hour or two, and then head back home to prepare herself for another day.

Hermione reached for her purse and keys on the table and made her way out the door, locking it as she closed it softly behind her. She headed down the lighted hallway to the lift and paused to push the down button. She could hear the old thing squeak as it made its way up to the third floor. A small 'ping' alerted Hermione to the arrival of the lift and the opening of its doors. She stepped in and pressed the floor 1 button and settled herself back for the short journey down to the main floor.

As the lift glided back down, Hermione sighed. For a month now, she had been considering moving from this place and into something a bit larger for her and Rose to move around in. They had been at this flat since Hermione had given birth to Rose five years ago and now Hermione thought it was high time they found something else. Once again money had become an issue. Though her job paid well for her, it just was never enough for both she and Rose. They lived on what she made, but they made the best of it.

The small 'ping' alerted Hermione to arrival of the first floor as she stepped forward and exited once the doors opened. She made her way through the small lobby and out the door to her car just to the left. It took her only a moment to gain access entry to her car. She slid into the driver's seat and started the engine of her car. The old thing came to life with a purr, sending Hermione on her way to her destination.

She arrived at the grand ballroom in one of the finest hotels in London a bit later than she had wanted. The traffic she had encountered on the way had been rush hour, causing her to be late in her arrival. Nevertheless now, she was here and ready to mingle among the crowd in hopes of gaining the interests needed to fund several projects the company hoped to have the necessary expensive ingredients to. She could only hope that there were some prospective interests as some of the potions were to help those where the muggle world could not. These potions were the answer to most of the incurable diseases such as diabetes and AIDS, but only by the much needed funding would any of it come to fruitation.

"Jean, my dear, there you are!" Robert's voice wafted in her direction causing Hermione to snap her head to the right of her. Her boss was heading towards her. The small, balding man was in a jolly mood this evening as he greeted her warmly with a smile. "Come, I have been waiting for you. There are several prospecting investors who are interested in hearing of the possible findings you have upon curing diseases. If anyone could charm them, it would definitely be you."

Hermione felt her cheeks flush at the compliment. She had no idea that her boss truly believed in her. He might not always be a favorite of hers, but to hear him compliment her in such a fashion made her feel wanted more than anything.

"I will do my best to secure the needed funds for the projects," she assured him as they made their way over to a group of waiting investors.

"Gentlemen," Robert interrupted, "my lovely department head has finally arrived and she will be able to answer many of your questions, but first allow me to introduce her. This is Jean Logan."

Robert stepped to the side to allow his patrons to glimpse of the woman he had spoken of since their circle had grown. Many have heard him speak of her in high regards and now that she was here before them.

"Jean, these are the investors I spoke of a moment ago," he whispered to her moving her forward to allow her a better glimpse of the company of men.

Hermione murmured a "hello" to the group before sweeping her chocolate brown eyes over the sea of faces. When they landed on the last two figures within the circle, Hermione wanted more than ever to flee the group. He was standing at the end with his platinum blond hair pulled away from his face and silver eyes narrowing at her form. She knew he recognized her, but said nothing for a moment.

Hermione could feel the icy chill of his gaze traveling over her form. He was assessing her, she was certain of it, and allowing this new change and new name to implant themselves into his memory for later use. She had not even thought he would be interested in any sort potion investing. Malfoy Inc was always dedicated to business world of wizard technology. They had always managed to take over several broom companies that had been on the verge of bankruptcy. Now here he was as a possible investor of upcoming potion cures she had been working on.

A part of her wanted to flee quickly before he had a chance to access her privately and she was most sure that he had every intentions afterwards of having it. She could see the calculation in his gaze and watched him lean over to whisper something in the ear of his companion – Blaise Zabini. She watched as Blaise's gaze fell upon her for a moment and then nod his head.

"Gentlemen," she greeted her voice shaky as her legs were, "I am here to answer all your questions you might have. Please feel free to ask anything about our findings."

As the round of questions began, Blaise Zabini discreetly removed himself from the group with the excuse of getting himself a drink and also one for his companion, but Hermione knew better. It was Draco's way of making sure that the main route of escape was closed off to her. She was cornered and she knew it, but Hermione was determined to continue what she was doing. She wouldn't allow Draco to know he scared her at this point. It would give him the power he craved over her and this would not do for her. She had always been a passionate young woman, determined to leave her life as she saw fit. The past between them was just that the past. There was to be nothing further between them ever again.

To say that Draco Lucius Malfoy was in a silent rage was the understatement of the year. In fact, he was past all that. Standing before him was that of his missing wife answering all questions being posed her way and ignoring his presence all together, but he knew she was all to aware of his existence within this circled space. He had seen the fear flicker in her eyes briefly as she recognized him.

Draco leaned forward to his companion and whispered, "Well, well look what the Fates have returned to me."

Blaise's dark eyes fell upon the only woman of the group for a moment. It had been quite a long time since he had last seen her. She and Draco had just been in the early stages of their marriage and living quite happily at Malfoy Manor with his parents. Lucius and Narcissa had taken quite a liking to Hermione shortly before the war had come to a close. Hermione had been led to Malfoy Manor after her capture by Bellatrix Lestrange and both Lucius and Narcissa had been given a chance to know the young woman briefly.

Hermione had been placed in the dungeons with both Malfoys left in charge of her. It was during that time both had the chance to know the muggleborn who was being called "The Brightest Witch of Her Age". The exchanges between them were brief at most, but both Malfoys had a taste of understanding of what their son had been saying of her.

Blaise had heard nothing about the Malfoys after the war. He had no real way of contacting Draco or finding out anything about him and his family as the Ministry made sure all proceedings were kept locked away behind closed doors. Of course this came to really no huge surprise to the Slytherin. It was mainly a way of keeping the public in oblivion of the horrors suffered at the hands of the Deatheaters. Victims who were still alive were made to take the stands and suffer these horrors all over again. Most of them still unable to cope with it were carted off from the stand and taken to St Mungo's. Percy Weasley had been one of them. He had watched his own brother die and this caused him to go into such a state of shock that there had been no way of returning him back.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Blaise drew his attentions once more to Draco.

"I see the Fates have smiled upon you once more," he remarked smirking. "Now all you have to do is capture your queen again."

"I have a feeling she will try to get away. See to it that the only source of her escape is closed off."

"Of course, but first I need to get myself a drink."

Excusing himself from the group, Blaise headed in the direction of the bar leaving Draco once more to focus upon his estranged wife, who continued to ignore his presence all together.

"I do hope that each of you will consider the possibilities these fundings could do for the welfare of both the wizarding and muggle worlds," Hermione expressed once questions had ended.

"Seeing as you have been such an assurance of these possibilities, I will pledge galleons enough to see to the next few years of operations," Draco Malfoy spoke finally. "I would like a tour soon of these facilities and also any data upon future findings you and your colleagues have."

Hermione licked her lips nervously. There was no way she could deny his request, not publicly at least. Her boss would have a fit if she did and currently she could not afford to lose her job.

"Of course," she returned, "I can see to it that you are given a tour of the labs whenever you are free, Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you, Miss Logan," he placed an emphasis upon her last name.

"Since questions are finished, I will take my leave now and mingle among the crowd. I hope the rest of you will consider investing with our firm," she tacked on before extracting herself from the group.

Moving away, Hermione found her footsteps moving urgently through the crowd. She had to get away from there before her legs gave way underneath her. Just seeing Draco again had brought back all those feelings she had managed to suppress for nearly six years. It had been hard on her seeing him once again and knowing that his anger with her had not dissipated in the least. No, it had grown much more than she had considered, but why was he angry with her anyways? She had given him the much needed time to file for divorce and marry Astoria as he should have. For her, marriage was for two people, not three. If Astoria wanted him, then she was far more welcomed to him. Draco was out of her life and in a few more months, Hermione would find a solicitor to dissolve her marriage. Malfoys didn't divorce nor did they cheat on their spouses, but Hermione could only surmise that Draco missed that in the fine print of the Malfoy Family Code.

Stepping out into the hall of the hotel, Hermione found herself breathing a sigh of relief. She had to gain back some ounce of strength within her body before she left this place. She had not even a chance to mingle among her colleagues and laugh with them, but she could not allow Draco to corner her or even find out where she lived now. It would be too much of a disaster.

"Where did I put those keys?" She murmured lifting her purse up and digging into the small bag to find them.

"Going somewhere, Hermione?" A voice from behind asked.

Hermione's spine stiffened as her keys slipped from her hands and down onto the marble tiled floor.

"No, I don't think you will leave yet," Blaise Zabini remarked. "Not until you and I have talked, don't you think?"

Author's Notes: Well here it is the expanded story of the one-shot, "A Daughter's Needs." I am well aware that some of the spoiler information from Book Seven is not correct. You see I decided to take a small creative license from it and add my own spin to it. Most of the other authors have been doing the same since the book came out last year. I will be no different from them.

Also I will not be updating this story unless my muse decides that she's in the mood. She's been like this for quite some time now. Most of it has been due to lack of sleep and stress, but I suppose that can happen now and again. I will do my best to have the next chapter out before the middle of August. I tend to be a perfectionist and I want this story to be enjoyed. :D That is why it often takes me time to have chapters out.

For now, I am also going to give this story a PG rating. It can change with time, but we shall see. I do thank you all for the chance in reading this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and its characters. If I did, I would not be here writing fanfiction.