I own nothing. This is all JK Rowling as lucky as she is. Only the plot is mine.

Chapter 1

Hermione walked quickly thru Diagon Alley. She hated coming here around when school was about to begin. It was always swarmed with people pointing and staring. I mean I'm sure they come for supplies, but it always seems it just me they came to gape at, she thought bitterly to herself. During the last battle Hermione received a lasting blow, the gift that just kept giving from Bellatrix before the crazy bitch finally died. Bellatrix had hit Hermione with an unknown curse, leaving behind a darkened scar that ran down the side of her face down to her collarbone. It was actually not that bad once she thought about it. It looked mildly like a Celtic designed tattoo, however anyone who is anyone knew what happened to Hermione Granger and therefore she could not pass it off as a tattoo. The effects of the curse were still unknown. When she was hit with it, she had been knocked unconscious. When she finally came to, she didn't seem to remember anything or anyone. With the help of her friends and Professor Snape, who apparently had not died, and time, her memories finally returned to her. There were still gaps in her long term memory but most of it made it back and that's what mattered. Slowly, Hermione's life progressed. She tended to hide during the day, as the light seemed to truly bother her now. Loud noises grated against her mind, due to her more sensitive hearing. Her eye sight was considerably better and her sense of smell rivaled an animal's. No one was completely sure what caused these "side effects". She didn't really mind them mostly, except for the daylight. It had made attending university hard, but she had been determined and three years later she walked out a Potions Mistress with a minor in Transfiguration. Eventually, she found a job in the most unlikely place. During one of her treatments with Snape, she had mentioned that it did no good having her masters when no one would hire her because she looked like a freak. Snape has snapped up at that comment.

"Miss Granger you are not nor have you ever been a freak. For people to think that of you is just disgusting and doesn't say much about this society. You are a beautiful, intelligent, loyal young woman. You have a lot to offer anyone who takes the time to know you."

It had moved Hermione to tears. She hadn't responded to him, just sat there sniffing her tears back. Finally he finished her treatment and moved to clean things up. She put her shirt back on and began to button it up as quickly as possible.

"Miss Granger?"

She looked up, startled, "Yes Sir?"

"I was wondering something. I have my independent potioneer shop and school will be starting soon. I'm not sure I will be able to manage doing both. I always could in the past but now that my reputation has been cleaned," he said with a sneer, " I was wondering if you would be willing to run my shop in Diagon Alley in my absence. I would obviously only be a floo call or owl away, but I think you would be more than apt to fill in the position."

Hermione has sat there stunned for a moment. Did he just offer her a job? Her? Scarred and ugly Hermione? To run HIS shop?

"Miss Granger?"

"Y..yess, I'll do it."

"Good, well why don't you go home and rest a while and we'll meet back the shop say, 7pm? To discuss your duties, pay, ect.?"

Hermione hopped off the table and scuffed her shoes on, "Yes, that will be fine. I'll meet you there at 7. Good day, Sir."

She practically ran out of his house. After that, they became, dare she say friends? He was still snarky and aloof but he was warmer to her and had a sarcastic sense of humor if you caught him on a good day. She had been working for him for over a year and practically ran his shop during the school year. The pay was good and she truly loved the work. As assistant potioneer she got to experiment and that pleased her to no end. Shortly after she started working for him, she saved up enough money to buy a beautiful cottage out in the country, away from everyone and everything. The only snag in the perfect plan was Ron. They had begun dating right after the war. Apparently everyone thought that they were going to settle down and start popping out babies right after. That was not what Hermione had planned for her life at all. Sure she wanted kids…eventually. At 23, she felt she had so much more to accomplish in life first. This was always the fight with Ron. When she decided to go to Uni, he fought her. When she decided to take the job with Severus, he fought her. When she bought her cottage and made it clear that it was hers only, he fought her. Actually, thinking about it they always fought. Recently, she had been so busy with the shop and the huge order for St. Mungo's that she just didn't have the time she should to devote to him. She felt bad of course but then part of her didn't. When she was home, he always seemed to be at her house. Not being sure how this happened, she got angry. They fought and he accused her of not being a real woman because she wanted more out of life than being barefoot, pregnant and in the stupid kitchen. Hence, why she was now darting thru Diagon Alley later than normal. She was officially over an hour late to the shop and that was not good seeing as she was the only one who knew the spells to take the wards down. She whipped around the last corner and collided with something quite solid, knocking her to the ground and her bag to scatter all over.

"Well bloody hell!"

She scrambled to her knees to start collecting everything when a pale, well manicured hand sidled into her view line. She followed it up to the body it was connected to. Of course it would be Lucius Malfoy. She couldn't just run into some stranger, no. It would have to be someone she detested. Actually, she couldn't say she detested him all that much anymore. He did a lot of charity work raising money for repairs and all the damage from the war. He served 2 years in Azkaban and then came out on parole. She never really saw him much except for in the newspaper, seeing as they were from completely different social circles.

"Miss Granger?"

She looked up and saw him staring down at her curiously. She scrambled all the way up, stuffing everything into her bag and dusting off her robes.

"Excuse me, I am running terribly late."

She skirted around him and darted the rest of the way to the shop. She saw her three fellow employees waiting outside for her.

"Oh I am so sorry!"

She quickly brought down the wards and opened the doors. Everyone followed her in and made their way to the cauldrons. The blonde girl walked over to her and stared at her briefly.

"So you and Ron fought again?"

"Oh Luna! I just don't know what to do with him anymore! All we ever seem to do is argue. He wants me to be just like Molly! I mean she is a great woman, but that is just not me. I don't want that."

"Shouldn't you tell him this?"

"I have but he just tells me that I'm just so busy that I don't have time to think about it and I need to stop and look at my life because its passing me right by. Then today, ohhhh and today he tells me that maybe I'm missing something, maybe I'm not a real woman because I don't want kids right this very moment!"

"Oh! That is horrible! Why would he say something like that?""I just don't know. Maybe it was meant to hurt me. I just don't seem to know anymore."

I walked over to my office and put my bag on the hook. Changing into my lab robes, I walked back out. I lost myself for a few moments in my morning ritual.

"Hermione, are you truly happy with Ron? I can't help but feel that perhaps there is someone better for you out there."

"I just…" The front bell rang and Luna turned to go help the customer. I turned back to my cauldron, pondering what Luna had asked me. I had been asking myself that question more and more often. Was I really happy with Ron anymore? After the war, Harry had gotten together officially with Ginny and it was just assumed that Ron and I would get together. Nowadays, I was beginning to feel that it wasn't fate after all but just stupid propaganda.

"Hermione?"

I turned back to Luna and saw Lucius standing next to the counter. I walked over to her, "Yes Luna?"

"Master Malfoy needs to speak to you."

She nudged past me peacefully and headed for the labs. I turned back to Lucius.

"What can I do for you today sir?"

"Actually, since I was in the area I was hoping to deliver this to Severus myself but it seems he is not here."

"No he is getting ready for school to begin, but I am sure I can help you. If not I would be more than happy to pass it along to him immediately."

"Very well then. Can you give this invitation to him please? It's to St. Mungo's charity ball at the end of the month. My ex wife and I are hosting it this year at the manor. I had wanted to hand deliver it to him, however I suppose this will have to do." He sniffed at me.

"Of course, I will make sure he gets it right away."

I snatched the envelope from him, "Is there anything else you need Master Malfoy?"

"No I believe that will be all. Good day." Then turned and walked out.

I looked down at the envelope in my hand. It had a distinct feminine appeal to it. I thought about everything in the papers about the Malfoys' breaking up after Lucius had gone to Azakban. If remember right, they divorced because they finally could. After the war, many of the "pureblood regulations" that they all adhered to fell. Apparently, their marriage had been arranged and although they loved each other, they weren't IN love with each other. So they decide to split, hoping to find their mutual "soul mates" but were still quite friendly as far as exs go. I turned to go back to the office to deliver Severus's oh so special invitation.

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