"Why is it that we keep on doing involuntary acts of love?" Hermione demands.

"I don't want to either!"

"You are a repulsive man, worse than Ron!"

"Filthy little mud-blood."

"Just go away."

"It's raining, I'll get drenched."

"Then get drenched."

"Git."

"You're the slimy git here."

1 day ago:

Hermione

Ever since Harry became head of the Auror Office, he changed it so that it was almost unrecognizable. For one thing, he RANDOMLY assigned each Auror, a partner Auror. Well, that would take effect in today.

"The purpose of the new way we are functioning, is to ensure maximum productivity and safety from, and for ourselves. Your partner will have your back, cover up for you, and become one of your best friends. Two minds are better than one." Harry had claimed, when he announced the new way the Auror Office would be functioning.

Of course, there were many cries of outrage, and even more squeals of delight. This even made it on the front page of the Daily Prophet.

I am not that excited to find out who my RANDOMLY assigned partner would be.

When I walk into my office, I don't notice anything different, besides it becoming larger, and there's another desk (that's empty) next to mine. All of my quills and folders, papers... and even my ChomfyCharmChair are there, but my partner's things just aren't there.

This person is either new to work, carries endless office supplies on themselves, or is a complete whack job.

I sit in my CCChair, I'm five minutes early to work, way later than I usually am, which leaves me no time at all to read something from my office library.

I'm just about to sit up and go to Harry's office to complain about my nonexistent/late partner, when the door bursts open, and a very hateful person steps into my office.

Draco Malfoy.

"What are you doing here?" I jump up and scowl, why is he even at the Auror Office anyway? Shouldn't he be trying to persuade the Minister to kill all the muggleborns or something?

"I'm coming to work." He replies, but without the usual venom, and without eye contact either.

"Work? I thought all you needed to do was sit on your lazy bum and drink wine all day." I reply, and draw my wand. He was probably trying to kill all the muggleborns himself, since the Minister wouldn't oblige. The nerve he had!

The normal blank look he had on his face melted a bit, to reveal...fear? disgust? grief? but he immediately resumed his normal, horrible face.

Draco

Hermione. I should've known, but it was all for the better? Wasn't it? She was the only one that was even on partially friendly terms with me, the only other options were Scarhead and Weaselby, which would never happen.

I removed my sneer a little bit as I contemplated asking her, but decided upon something else.

"Hermione, we need to talk. May we go for a coffee at the uh, muggle place, Starlucks? During lunch break?" I ask, very, very uncertain on how she would react. Those are probably the most civil words I've ever spoken to her.

She narrows her eyes, "What do you want, Malfoy? Why is it that you've suddenly used my first name, asked me out to go to Starbucks, a muggle place, and you are no longer dripping venom from your mouth? And why are you working, and why would Harry even hire the likes of you?" She stares daggers at me, giving me a look of utter hatred and slight confusion.

"Please, may we speak at Star…..Starbucks?" I attempt a light tone. I don't know how I'm going to ever persuade her to forgive me, and be friends, I shouldn't have been so…. harsh when we we were younger.

"Whatever it is you are planning, it is not going to work out well. Now can we please get onto work?" She huffs, and her eyes fall onto my empty desk. "Malfoy, this is your first day of work, isn't it?" She turns her head towards me, "At least tell me why you are working at all? Let alone becoming an Auror?" Her tone is softer now, a tender look she usually reserves for Weasley and Scarhead is now aimed at me.

"I…." I blink back angry tears. Why couldn't my father at least leave me with some friends? All the money in the world could not mend the loss of Zabini, and Mother, and Pansy, and her parents, and Lucius had caused it. "Narcissa is dead, and Lucius is gone" I whisper, barely audible.

Hermione

"What?" I blink, "You…..they…..what?"

"They came in the night, the other Death Eaters, and took her, and Lucius just….watched." He looks enraged, thankfully not at me. "And he left with them." He looks away. "Blaise, he was with me at the time, but he got splinched in the chest when we apparated away, and it was all my fault."

"Draco…" So his mother had been murdered, and his father left? What about Parkinson? Was that why he needed to go to work? That still didn't explain anything though, he had mountains of money and why become an Auror? His favorite pastime was the Dark Arts!

"He was going to let them kill me too." His voice broke. "Hermione. It's just me and the house elves. Pansy, she disappeared five months ago, and her parents were also found murdered. They're picking off all the blood traitors. And I know for a fact that the muggle incident, 'terrorist attack' was from them. Weasley could be next you know." His voice suddenly got very quiet. "You're engaged with him?"

I was shocked, hadn't he heard? Ron had proposed to me, but we've only been dating for six months or so, and I didn't feel ready, so I'd said no. "No, Draco, I'm not." I reply.

"Instead of Starlucks for lunch then, would you like to go to Midnight Sun for dinner?" He asks, his eyes look almost…. hopeful?

"Starbucks." I correct lightly, "And of course, for purely business matters, I suppose?" I raise my eyebrows, of course he'd like to get to know his Auror partner better, after all, it was probably a life or death thing.

Draco

My heart leapt in joy, perhaps she'd forgiven me for all those years in Hogwarts that I had tormented her? It's kind of sad, really, that the closest person to me right now is a girl I'd bullied and humiliated in school. "Of course." I reply, but truthfully I just want to say sorry for the way I treated her during our schooling years.

The Midnight Sun is a high-scale restaurant that requires formal attire, so I dress in a classic high-collar Malfoy dress robe. The family crest is embroidered on the chest, and it makes whoever wears it to look of high-class and regality. I'd also combed back my hair and used a sticking charm on it, so it wouldn't pop up.

When she'd said yes, I reserved one of my favorite spots in the restaurant, the Garden Terrace. You could choose which scene you wanted "outside" to look like. For this specific night, I chose Paris. You couldn't go wrong with France. It was, also, probably the best place to apologize.

I'm ten minutes early, so I stand near the edge of the terrace, leaning over the railing to see the beautiful view. The faint scent of roses and perfume is hanging in the air, even when a light breeze blows in from outside. The Eiffel Tower is lit up, although not bringing contrast to the bright lights of the city.

"Draco." A delicate, warm voice spoke from behind me. Hermione is here. I turn to face her, and nearly choke in shock. She's dressed...so daintily and ladylike! I've never seen her wear anything that shows even the faintest of her curves, always practical clothes that cover up almost all her skin. But now, she's wearing a knee-length white lace dress. Her honey-colored skin shine in the candlelight, and her large, brown eyes glisten with a fierce intensity. Her hair had drastically changed since Hogwarts graduation, but now it was even prettier. Each strand was a rich mahogany brown, and each curl was in perfect synchrony with each other. The pearl necklace and crystal earrings just added to her beauty.

I certainly did not care she was mud-blood, she was beautiful nonetheless.

"Good evening Hermione." I walk over to a chair and pull it out, gesturing for her to sit down. She smiles, and eases herself on, while I push the chair in.

"Good evening, Draco." Her voice again, like silk and cream.

Hermione

I'd never been to the Midnight Sun, Ron never had enough to afford it, let alone the Garden Terrace! The only reason I even knew to wear fancily was because Harry had once taken Ginny here, and they were talking about it for a week before, and ranting about it for a week after.

But Malfoy..no, Draco, had brought me here for simple business reasons. It just proved his immense wealth.

I'm glad that I had not overdressed, as he's wearing some fancy robe with gold and silver strands laced among the fabric, and even a Malfoy crest over his chest, and a silver snake bracelet.

There's an advanced ordering system that allows complete privacy, as no waiter would be coming. The system is apparent when food arrives, levitating, and in a silver platter. The top is lifted to reveal my favorite food (although I hadn't ordered!), chicken salad with pecans, dried cranberries, among other toppings. Draco's favorite food, was...what was that? Salad? Salad! And it was a chicken salad with pecans, dried cranberries, a rich grape vinaigrette. It was almost exactly the same I mine!

How? Was? This? Possible? Malfoy has the same favorite food as I did. But I suppose it isn't that alarming.

The dinner went on quite smoothly, but he was staring at me, like I was some sort of alien for most of the time. That's understandable, as he is a Malfoy.

After I had finished the last few scraps of chocolate cream cake, and he scooped up what was left of his raspberry ice cream pie, he stood up.

A whole range of emotions danced across his face. I could tell he wasn making no effort to hide them like he did back in school.

Draco

I hadn't yet apologized. It's now or never. After I swallow the last bit of pie, I stand up.

"Hermione." I whisper, so quiet I can't even hear myself. I clear my throat and try again. "Hermione, I'm sorry for the way I treated you at Hogwarts. I hope that I can make it up to you somehow. I know that all the things I've done are almost unforgivable, but I would like to repent for my actions." I take a deep breathe to say more. Never in my entire life have I ever been so nervous. Lucius had taught me to hide my emotions well, and not get over-emotional over anything. His betrayal and wiped that all away, so it was just me now.

She interrupts me before I can say more. "Draco!" She stands up, and I'm afraid that she's going to slap me, or stomp away in anger, but all she does is talk. "I've forgiven you the moment I met who you really were. There was no need to apologize, Draco. I know that you've changed." She smiles, a brilliant, dazzling smile that blinds the universe.

"Hermione." I breathe, her name brought hope to my tired lips. "Hermione, will you join me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" I know that she's with Ron, but he hardly glanced at her during Auror training that day, and she gave him the cold shoulder.

No. It couldn't be. But it could! She had forgiven me, and we could start anew, as friends, and eventually something more...

I'm being so daft, we would be friendly acquaintances, she would assure that, and so would Scarhead and Weaselby, and since she and the Weasel were together... He would definitely prevent any sort of possible friendship he and Hermione could have, were starting to have.

I blink back tears again. Since when did I become so emotional? Since Lucius, that's what, I remind myself.

"I will, Draco, I will." her reply startles me from my thoughts and bring me back to the moment.

"I'm sorry Hermione, to deliver all my troubles to you. I do hope that you know I don't expect you to solve them or anything." I straighten myself. "I mean, I...I don't need pity."

Hermione

Hogsmeade? That was the shopping (and dating) epicenter. Why would he wish to take me there? Probably to go to the Leaky Cauldron to catch a butterbeer, or he wanted to drink himself silly with firewhiskey.

Whatever it was, he had good intentions, the hope, and honesty that lay in his eyes could not be missed. Draco was a transparent man now, and if you knew him as long as I did, you could begin to be able to decipher his emotions with the mask on, let alone without it.

I tell him yes, but he replies unexpectedly. I'm shocked. I don't pity him! Pity is not something that I do! The Slytherin, thinking that I pity him. It's inconceivable.

"I don't pity you, Draco. You don't need my pity. Pity is what the helpless ones get. You aren't helpless." I stare him straight in the eye. "You are strong."

The deep, grey pools that displayed all his emotions, and were his eyes, widened. "You think so?"

"Yes. And since you've told me all your secrets, I might as well tell you." I take a deep, deep breathe. Only Ron and I knew this. Even Harry was completely oblivious. "Ron and I are…"

"Engaged?" His eyes are full of fire.

"No! Stop jumping to conclusions! Ron and I are not together anymore!"

Draco

She's mad, she's furious, her entire body is tensed. We were friendly for just an hour, and now I'm back to square one. She hates me.

Since when did I want to impress a mudblood? I was simply being nice to her because she was my Auror partner and I couldn't possibly have the person that would save up life, hate me enough to not.

But she isn't with Ron anymore? When they got together, the two war heroes were on the front page! If they'd broken up, surely that would also be on the Daily Prophet?

Just then, I realize how much I've changed. The past me never would've said a civil word to her.

It was my father's betrayal. He ripped through all my past beliefs of pureblood supremacy, and muggles being less than dirt.

I also realize… I realize I am in love with Hermione Granger.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, and I wrote it after my recent obsession over Dramione. Please review! I really appreciate everybody that has read up to this point.