AN- No I don't own the characters

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Chapter 1

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Hermione Granger stared at her two best friends with amusement. "What on earth are you two doing?"

Harry's head shot up to look at her as he grinned sheepishly, "Nothing."

Ron had the grace to look guilty as he tried to stuff the confidential folders back to their rightful place. "Hey, Hermione. You're here early!"

She raised an eyebrow as she strode towards them, grabbing the folders away from Ron's hands. "Alright, what are you both up to?"

Harry sighed in defeat, "Ron decided to be nosy and dig through the Azkaban section of your filing-"

"Hey, you were curious too!" Ron interrupted with a snap.

Harry ignored him and continued, "We were about to put everything back when we caught Malfoy's name-"

"In the Release section," Ron added. "Which I'm quite sure was a mistake; right, Hermione? I mean-"

"Why would you put Draco Malfoy's file in the release section," Harry interrupted. "I thought that is only for those who are granted an early release from Azkaban."

Before Ron could interrupt again, Hermione rolled her eyes and held her hand up. Finally Harry and Ron stayed quiet, waiting for her explanation.

"Yes, Harry, you are correct," she sighed, walking over to her desk to sit down in her chair.

"I had the staff in Azkaban monitor Malfoy's behaviour while he was held there. According to their reports, he was surprisingly behaving in a good manner. Only once had he gotten into a physical fight, but the guards said he wasn't the one who started it."

Harry and Ron exchanged doubtful looks.

"But it's Draco Malfoy," Ron said slowly.

"Thank you for informing me of that, Ronald," Hermione muttered, feeling annoyed.

"He's a Death Eater," Harry said, confused.

"Correction," Hermione said, shooting them a look. "He was an unwilling Death Eater. C'mon, Harry, even you said he couldn't even kill Dumbledore a few years ago. A real Death Eater would do it in a heartbeat."

Harry looked like there was an internal battle raging inside his head, before letting out a deep sigh, "So he's allowed to roam everywhere on Earth anytime he wants now?"

"Not exactly," Hermione said. "He's only allowed in Wizarding places, like Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, etcetera. He has to be wearing this ankle bracelet Muggles use, it monitors him."

"Why don't they just put a spell on him?" Harry asked.

"He's a clever wizard," Hermione shrugged. "He can find a counter-curse. When it comes to Muggle objects, he's clueless."

Ron shook his head, "I still think he deserves to stay in Azkaban with his father."

Harry and Hermione secretly agreed, but neither had any choice but to follow Ministry orders.

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Well, well, well.

Why wasn't he at all surprised to see the Muggle-born former Gryffindor inside Flourish & Blotts with her nose stuck on a book?

Draco Malfoy chuckled quietly and shook his head. Sometimes, Granger could be so predictable.

"What's that you got there?" He asked in an interested tone.

Hermione gasped and whipped around to face him. When she saw who interrupted her reading, her eyes widened in surprise. "Malfoy?"

Draco smirked, "Hello, Granger."

Hermione blinked before slowly saying, "Hello..."

What was Draco Malfoy doing here, anyway? She couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Draco nodded towards the book in her hand. "What's that you're reading? You seem like you're very into it."

Still feeling awkward, she replied, "Obviously, or else I wouldn't even be reading it."

He raised an eyebrow.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, looking down at the book.

"It's this really interesting fiction book Ginny recommended for me. She told me I should start reading books that could help my imagination." She frowned and muttered, "Though I really don't see how romance books help."

"Interesting." Draco said, picking out a random book and pretending to flip through the pages with interest. "Instead of reading it here between the shelves, why not just purchase the book?"

Hermione bit her lip, "Can't afford it, it's too pricey. Now will you please leave me alone?"

She gently placed the book back to its rightful place before continuing to walk around the bookshop. She turned her head in time to see Draco grabbing the book she was reading and scoffed.

At least he wasn't following her.

Hermione turned back around and paused when another product caught her eye. Hmm, It wouldn't be bad to buy a new quill, would it? She bit her bottom lip and shrugged, grabbing the new quill to purchase.

A few minutes later, she heard a drawling voice.

"If you can't afford the book then how did the girl Weasley get her hands on it?''

Hermione turned around and saw a smug-looking Draco by her side.

Bloody hell, did he actually follow her?

She flashed him a dirty look before snapping, "Someone borrowed it to her, Malfoy. Now, if you excuse me, I really would appreciate it if you would leave me alone."

"Just trying to make a conversation here," Draco said in a defensive tone, as he shoved his hands into his robe pockets, while he continued to follow her. "No need to throw a fit."

Hermione turned around and gawked at him. "I did not throw a fit!"

He smirked and looked at her knowingly. "You are now."

She continued to glare at him and groaned. ''Just sod off, will you? I know I was one of the few people who helped set you free from Azkaban and all, but please. Just because no one wants to hang around with a bloody former Death Eater like yourself, doesn't mean I want to, Malfoy. Just go away and leave me alone for once."

Something flashed on Draco's face, but quickly disappeared before Hermione could decipher what it was.

He looked down on the floor, a tiny frown on his face. He pulled one of his hands from his robe pocket, which appeared to be holding a plastic bag. He finally looked up, his eyes back to their cold glare.

"Great to see you too, Granger," Draco said, handing the plastic bag to her.

Hermione stared at the bag in front of her before slowly accepting it. Draco shook his head in disgust and abruptly left, leaving her alone in the shop. Once she was sure he was gone, she took a peek inside the bag and gasped.

Draco had brought her the book she wanted.

Hermione stared at the book and felt a heavy sensation in the pit of her stomach.

Guilt?

She tsked and groaned inwardly. Why? Why did he buy it for her? She couldn't help snapping at him, it was like a reflex. It was just strange for her that he would be trying to act all civilized just because he was released.

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed.

Of course. Maybe spending time in Azkaban did change him. She was just too rude to realize he was trying to become a better wizard.

With determination, she opened her eyes and felt her feet rushing out the door to follow the confusing former Slytherin.

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"Malfoy! Hey, Malfoy!"

Draco was about to apparate back to the Manor when he heard a breathless voice behind him. Turning around, he saw Hermione running towards him.

"Wait, will you?" She called out, slowing down as she neared him.

Draco raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

After she slowed down her heartbeat, Hermione looked up at him and said, "Thanks...for the book, I mean."

Draco gave her a curt nod and turned back around to leave again.

Hermione gawked at him and grabbed his arm before he disappeared, "Malfoy!"

Draco whipped around, pulled his arm out of her grasp and glared down at her. "What do you want, Granger?"

As much as it pained her, she had to swallow her pride and say, "I'm really sorry about what happened back there. You just sort of caught me off guard."

Draco continued to glare at her, his lips in a thin, angry line.

Hermione stared down their feet and muttered, "Why?"

"What?" Draco snapped. "Can't hear you."

"Why did you buy that book for me?"

She could hear Draco's deep sigh and looked up. He was giving her an annoyed look.

"You wanted it," Draco said, shrugging. "I thought I should be doing something nice for you since you did, after all, sort of save me from future years in Azkaban."

Hermione smiled kindly, "You didn't have to do that."

He shrugged, shoving his hands back in his pockets again.

They both just stood there feeling the awkwardness creeping around them. Hermione cleared her throat to break the silence and said, "Where were you-uh heading?"

Draco stared at her, making her increasingly uncomfortable.

"I mean," Hermione continued, "If you want to go back to the bookstore again and start all over-"

Draco suddenly laughed. "Merlin Granger, are you trying to ask me out on a date?"

Hermione stared at him in disbelief.

Was he serious?

She felt her face growing hot from anger and shot back, "No! I was trying to be civil, too, you stupid ferret!"

Draco rolled his eyes in amusement. "I don't feel like going back to a place that smells like old parchment. Though I am a bit hungry."

Once she cooled down, Hermione shrugged, "Oh."

Draco laughed again. "Want to join me?"

At the look on Hermione's face, Draco smirked.

"It's not a date, you stupid Muggle," He assured her. "You can buy your own meal and I can buy my own."

It took her a few minutes of thinking before sighing, "Fine."

What harm could a dinner between two former classmates do?

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"Here?" Hermione asked, giving the barman a strained smile.

Draco smirked, "Being in Azkaban, you don't get the same luxurious meals as the Leaky Cauldron, Granger. I could use a butterbeer or firewhiskey, right now."

Hermione hesitantly took a seat facing him, "Right."

Finally, after a few minutes of waiting, their drinks arrived.

Hermione watched with disgust as Draco mixed his butterbeer and firewhiskey together. He gulped some of it down noisily and messily, not caring that the liquid was pouring down his chin.

Rolling her eyes, she took small sips of her butterbeer and sighed when the delicious elixir ran through her taste buds. Merlin, it had been months since she'd had a comfort drink like this.

"So tell me, Granger," Draco said, slamming the slightly empty cup on the table. "How are you and the Weasel doing?"

Hermione took a napkin and dabbed the liquid from her upper lip. "His name is Ron, and he's fine."

Draco raised an eyebrow and said incredulously, "You mean you two are still at it?"

Her face had scrunched up in confusion. "What? No! Ronald and I did try having a relationship, but it didn't work out. Being best friends was more comfortable for the both of us."

Draco shrugged and continued to greedily sip on the drink, relishing the burning sensation going down his throat. "Interesting."

It took them nearly an hour to settle comfortably around each other. To Hermione's surprise, Draco was funny, yet quite a gentleman. She couldn't help but think that maybe he did change.

When they finally settled down from their laughter, without thinking, Hermione reached forward and took one of Draco's hands in hers.

She didn't realize Draco had stiffen at her touch.

"You've changed," she simply said, smiling at him.

Draco stared at their linked hands and back at her face. "Have I?"

"Yes. You're still that same git from school," Hermione giggled, "But a bit more mature now, I think."

Draco smirked, putting his cup down. With their hands still held together, he stood up, bringing Hermione with him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Come with me?" Draco asked, staring at her.

Hermione bit her lip.

"Please," Draco pleaded, his eyes boring into hers.

Her mind was too clouded with the firewhiskey Draco had shared with her.

She felt light. Free. With a wide smile, she nodded. "Okay."

Seconds later, she found herself in Draco's room, his lips glued to hers.

Mmm, he tasted like a mixture of firewhiskey and some other alcoholic beverage Hermione's mind couldn't place. She didn't care at the moment. She just loved the way his lips were working with hers. It was bringing foreign sensations to her body.

One part of her mind told her to stop what they were doing, but the other part wanted more.

When he finally pulled away, she realized she was laid on top of his bed with his weight on top of hers. Merlin, it felt heavenly.

"Do you want this?" Draco asked, breathlessly.

Again, the warning bells in her mind sounded muffled. She leaned forward to kiss his lips, "Yes."

With Draco's help, she was introduced to a whole new level of pleasure.

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Hermione felt as if a massive rock had been pounding around her head.

What happened last night? Why couldn't she remember a thing except for bits and pieces? Things she remembered included her and Draco laughing out loud, them talking civilly, and his lips on-

Hermione's eyes flew open.

No.

Ignoring the pains, she lifted her head up to see Draco's naked body inches away from hers. She let out a gasp and groaned.

How could she have been so stupid last night?

She glanced back down at Draco's body and sighed. Though it was hard for her to admit it, Draco did seem like a changed wizard. He acted as if he was so into her.

Maybe he was.

Sighing and smiling, she placed her hand on his cheek and caressed his soft skin with her thumb.

Draco's eyes fluttered open and landed on hers. His sleepy frown turned into a satisfied smirk. "Good morning, Granger."

Hermione smiled. "Good morning."

Draco stretched his arms before turning his body to face the ceiling. "You can leave now."

The smile on Hermione's face dropped. "What?"

Draco turned his face to look at her, his smirk still plastered there. "You were a great shag, Granger, I admit. But I don't need you at the moment. You're dismissed."

Hermione stared at him, her mouth open in disbelief. She could feel her heart beating harder and faster. "What are you talking about?"

Draco chuckled, looking back at the ceiling. "Come now, Granger. You said you wanted it. Don't deny it now."

She could feel the humiliation burning through her skin. "Draco-"

He rolled his eyes, "Merlin, you're acting like Pansy. I hate repeating myself. You're dismissed."

The sound of her hand slapping his cheek ricocheted off the walls. The pain was stinging, leaving her with no doubt that it was going to leave some sort of mark later on.

Glaring at her, Draco spat, "Get the hell away from me, mudblood. I don't need Astoria seeing another one of my one-night-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Hermione gathered her clothes and apparated back to her flat, where she dropped to the floor without caring that a concerned Ginny was immediately rushing to her side.

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THANKS TO MAEGHAN AKA OCCUPYMALFOYSBED ON Tumblr FOR FIXING THIS CHAPTER UP!

warning - in the future chapters, Hermione will seem a bit OOC (but there's a reason why) and in this story, Draco will be slightly darkish.

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