Introduction:

A/N: This is my first Dramione fanfiction...so any improvements (either characters or whatever) or offers or just a regular comment would be awesome! Hope you guys enjoy and depending how good this "pilot" chapter is I'll put up the next chapter which will hopefully be better.

The day was murky, no ray of sunlight was to be seen on the majestic grounds of Hogwarts this day. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind the towering stones trying to get a good look of Hagrid and his bloody beast while tossing it a couple of ferrets for it to swallow hole; much to Draco's disgust. But let the beast enjoy, for no one or beast could scratch a Malfoy and get away with it without paying the suitable price. Once the half giant oaf retreated back into its…hut? Draco was able to speak his mind, not that Crabbe and Goyle had anything smart to say anyway.

"Did you see the big, fat blubbering oaf?! Oh, this is going to be rich!" Draco laughed cruelly. "Did I tell you, Father said I can keep the head?"

Draco heard footsteps approaching quickly, curiosity got the best of him and his gazed moved upward before a familiar sneer settled onto his face.

"Ah, come see the show?" He smirked.

There came his "favorite" trio. Weasel, Potter and of course know it all Granger.

"You...foul…loathsome…evil…little cockroach…" She growled fiercely as she forced Draco to stumble backwards until his back hit the stone wall.

He hated to admit it but never in his life had he felt such fear towards the mudblood, especially when the tip of her wand was under his chin. Nothing had felt so terrifying yet so thrilling; it was beyond anything he had felt.

"Hermione no!" Weasel yelled ruining the moment.

Granger rounded on him surprised yet annoyed before the red head continued.

"He's not worth it".

How dare Weasel not think that he, Draco Malfoy, wasn't worth this mudblood's attention. He would show them…someday…maybe not today. He saw Granger bite her lip in careful consideration before nodding and half turning away. Before Draco could even blink…WHAM! Granger hit him square on his jaw, making him fall to aside onto his back. For a second he was too stunned to even process what had happened to make him find the ground so suddenly. Not wanting the "Golden Trio" to see a momentarily glance of weakness Draco leapt to his feet and rushed past them; not really caring if Crabbe and Goyle were behind him huffing and puffing as usual or not; he just wanted to get away from them.

"That felt good," He heard Granger say proudly.

After that Draco couldn't help to shake a new feeling of respect towards the girl. Sure he bullied her but it was mostly because he was always second in all the subjects and the grades, second to Granger. Father always made Draco push harder but no matter what he did he was stuck in the same place…secretly he held respect for her for that, but instead of saying so he bullied her, insulted her and was constantly under her skin…and maybe just maybe he felt bad for that…

Draco awoke to a start, his heart pounding hard against his ribs; letting out an unsteady breath as he sat up on his bed. Damn Granger managed to sneak into his mind yet again. Now that the War had ended professor McGonagall requested that all the students should return to school in order to properly receive the end of their education and how we should continue our lives "as if nothing had happened". How could they? The war had changed too much. With shame Draco looked down to his now scarred left arm. All traces of the dark mark gone but the pain stayed, the memories still gave him nightmares and quite often he found his nightmares were based on the night his aunt Bellatrix carved Mudblood onto Grangers arm. Her screams yelled at him for not helping, for being a coward…What could he do? Pretend to be a hero? He didn't have that Gryffindor courage he desperately wanted to have in those situations, or that Ravenclaw brain or even that Hufflepuff ignorance. Anything other than his Slytherin pride and spinelessness.

Groaning he called one of the house elves to bring him some water. Yawning lazily Draco threw on a random shirt he found nearby. There was one thing he hated about this peculiar summer. Draco Malfoy, ex-death eater was utterly…bored. With his father in Azkaban and his mother gods knows where on vacation Draco had the Malfoy manor all to his lonely self. Sure he could rely on Blaise but not today. He had some sort of family reunion that would last the remaining part of the vacation. There was no way he would invite Pansy, gods that would have been his death. Crabbe and Goyle were with their families somewhere as well as Theon. Making him having to endure the summer alone. Sure there was a small time muggle town down the road but after being asked a million times if he was some famous model and wanted his name carved onto a piece of paper…let's just say Draco was not amused and never returned.

The house elf Dory appeared with his glass of water and hesitantly handed it over to him. Draco rolled his eyes before handing the elf a sock from his second year. Mother had said to give them clothes here and there seeing how there was a new law claiming that the slavery of elves was abolished. He had a sneaking intuition that Granger was somehow behind this. Dory having pleased her master was about to leave when:

"Wait," he called out.

"Yes master Draco?"

"What would be a good thing to do today? And don't you bloody say go for a walk in town because I refuse to go near it".

"Um…I heard the day was sunny and warm…perhaps a swim in the lake?"

"Hmm" Draco agreed absent mindedly. "You may leave".

"Yes sir, right away sir."

Draco having no other good ideas decided to follow Dory's advice and take a swim down by the lake. Pulling on some swimming trunks but keeping the shirt and grabbing a towel, he walked aimlessly beyond the Manor until he reached the lake. Dumping the towel and the shirt somewhere by the shore Draco dove right into…what he didn't know…the Arctic Ocean. The lake was beyond freezing but this seemed to comfort him allowing him a chance to become numb and relax. Besides he could cast a simple warming charm without his wand if he got too cold.

Everything was quiet and comfortable. It had been ages since he had felt this relaxed. Not needing to look over his shoulder, no more following orders but the best of all no more anything. It was just him and the nature surrounding him. Until…

"Ouch, ouch! Bloody two-face git!" someone muttered angrily.

Draco knew the voice, it was the same voice that would managed to creep into his dreams when he least expected it. That voice belong to the one and only…

"Granger?" He asked without bothering to look.

"Merlin! Malfoy?! What are you doing here?" Her voice dripped with the bitter anger.

"I live here, well up the hill but here nonetheless". His voice indifferent.

"ARRRGH! IM GOING TO KILL HIM!" she yelled.

"If you don't mind Granger I was actually enjoying the quiet," He said with a smirk.

"Is there a town nearby?" She asked ignoring his comment.

"Down the road, but I wouldn't go there".

"Why the hell not?"

"Language Granger", he was starting to sound like his mother. Oh the horror.

"Why not Malfoy?"

"They are strange and bombard you with silly questions and…Oh wait I forgot you live in their world too".

"Say Mudblood and will kill you on the spot".

"I'd like to keep alive if you wouldn't mind, muggle".

"Brat".

"Know it all".

"Ferret".

"Bushy hair".

"Coward".

Draco flinched as the memories flooded back into his brain. and said nothing, he deserved it after all.

"What no comeback? Oh how the mighty fall."

Draco ignored this and came out of the lake, obviously aware of Grangers eyes quickly scanning his body. Maybe he should practice quidditch he missed that sport more than he admitted.

"Malfoy? Oh what now you're mad? You have no right to be mad!"

"I am not mad! I'm just…" He thought carefully for a moment. "…not denying your words that's all".

He muttered the last part, hoping Granger hadn't heard him but of course she had. Judging by the shocked expression on her face she had obviously witnessed the impossible.

"Come on, I'll get you a map or whatever and you can get on your way and leave me alone".

"What? Malfoy I swear if this is a trick I'm going to…"

"Relax Granger I wasn't in the mood to trick you anyway," Draco rolled his eyes as he held out his other hand which did not carry his shirt or towel.

"What are you…?"

"Grab my hand so that we apparate into my house to the freaking library so you can get a bloody map and avoid the charms that surround my house, got it?" Draco said very annoyed.

Granger mumbled something before grabbing his hand. They quickly found themselves in Draco's Library.

"Accio town map," Draco said lazily.

The map flew into his hand in seconds, which he then handed to Granger. She mumbled a simple thanks before hesitating to say something else. How did Draco know? She did that cute…What? No that annoying habit of hers to bite her lip when she was either thinking or holding something back.

"Spit it out Granger I know you are dying to ask".

She glared but nodded slowly.

"Two questions."

"Ask away granger it's not like I have better things to do," Draco leaned against the bookshelf.

"One: Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?"

"I'm not being nice, I'm trying to get rid of you in a polite manner", Draco's tone sounded sarcastic but he was being semi-serious.

Granger merely glared and mumble something along the lines of: Of course he would reply that, what did I expect?

"Two: Have you seen these people?" She asked while pulling out an old photograph.

The strange part of the photograph was it didn't move. It was like being stuck in time or something…Must be a muggle thing. In the "photograph" was this couple, more or less around Draco's mom's age, maybe slightly younger. The man in the picture had short dark brown hair combed a touch to the side, clear blue eyes and the beginnings of a scruffy beard with a bright smile on his lips. Next to him was this woman with blonde hair and dark chocolate eyes that seemed rather familiar. Draco soon realized who the couple were.

"Are these your parents?" He asked quietly.

"…"

Again he found her biting her lip before:

"Have you seen them or not?" She snapped.

Draco looked taken aback by this but shook his head slowly.

"No I haven't seen them, then again I avoid the town".

"I'll be on my then, sorry to be such a bother for you," She said bitterly.

Draco thought for a millisecond.

"No wait, I'll go with you," He blurted.

"What was that?" She asked while rising an eyebrow.

"I've literally got nothing to do right now, I'm bored so I'm going with you so just stay here and wait for me to change".

"But…What? No".

"Don't argue with me Granger, after all we are in my house," Draco smirked.

Granger's cheeks flushed a bright red but shook her head and gave a huff before turning on her heel to look at the books on my shelves. Draco in the meantime walked out before his brain actually rationalized his previous actions. He was going back to the place he dreaded…the muggle town. At least this time he would taking a muggle expert. He found his room and changed into his regular clothes: Dark skinny jeans, a white V-neck shirt and some black sneakers called "Converse" for some odd reason, for they did not converse what so ever. It was only a ten minute walk and he knew for a fact Granger hated flying, he had of course seen her freak out in their first year.

Chuckling at the memory he walked to the library to find that Granger had already found a book to her liking. That was another thing he found in her that was similar to him. They both read a lot and sought out new information wherever they could. Did he just think that he had similarities with Granger? Startled by the fact he cleared his throat. Granger looked up and hid the slight pink of her cheeks behind the book.

"Let's go Granger and you can take the book if you want just give it back when we go to Hogwarts".

Her face lit up by this and nodded before closing it and taking Draco's hand which he apparently held out for her to apparate. They were at the edge of the town. The houses held an ancient stare as they walked towards it, the double lamp posts and benches offered a welcoming stay. Muttering some spell Draco made a copy of the photograph in Granger hand. When she gave him a questioning look he simply smirked and walked to the nearest person he could find.

"Excuse me sir?"

The fat man with small rounded eyes turned around and smiled brightly; much to Draco's discomfort.

"Oh you must be that young model that came by weeks ago, is this your girlfriend?"

Granger coughed/laughed as Draco almost choked because of these words.

"No, no just a friend…Do you mind if we ask you a quick question?" Draco said quickly.

"Yes, go right ahead lad."

"Have you seen this couple?" Draco showed him the picture and motioned Hermione to do the same with someone else.

Hermione nodded before asking a girl who had been looking at Draco from a distance.

"Sorry lad, I don't think I've seen their faces before".

"Its fine, if they would have passed by you think you would have recognized them?"

"Surely, I recognized you didn't I lad?" He let out a laugh.

Draco let out an uncomfortable chuckle before thanking the man and retreating to fetch Hermione. She shook her head grimly letting out an annoyed grin.

"Where are they?" She muttered.

"Why don't you use one of those muggle contraptions to contact them?"

"You mean to use a phone?" She asked clearly amused.

"What in Merlin's name is that?"

"Purebloods," She muttered.

"Even if I wanted to I can't".

"If you wanted to do what?"

"Call them".

"Why not?"

"None of your business Malfoy".

"Sheesh, no need to get hostile Granger," Draco retorted angrily.

"Sorry, it's just…"

"Hard, I get it. No need to explain Granger."

"…Thanks Malfoy," She said quietly.

Before Draco could ask why, Granger walked away towards the train station.

"Sorry, it's just I have to keep searching just for a while longer…I'll see you in school ok?" She said as she stopped to face him.

"Whatever you say Granger, just don't forget that book".

"I'll return your book Malfoy, I never mistreat books if that's what you're worried about".

She turned and left. Draco started to walk out of town before the girls could attack him. Soon he found himself in his manor flying around improving his seeker skills by chasing his own golden snitch trying to get his mind off the past events with know it all Granger.