It was an almost normal summer at the Granger household; Hermione would normally be getting ready for her sixth year classes, but she wasn't. As usual, her parents were going on about their daughter's choices in non-healthy snacks while at Hogwarts, and how they would give her cavities. But cavities were the last thing on the young witch's mind. She could still remember vividly the night at the Ministry of Magic- remember the look on Harry's face when he was told that Sirius was gone... never coming back... dead. That last word was so final, it just didn't seem right. Harry hadn't replied to any of Hermione's owls, though she figured he wouldn't, considering the Dursleys' hatred of all things connected to the magical world.

As it was, Hermione felt totally cut off from the magical world herself. She had not heard one peep from Ron, Harry, or anyone for that matter. Things were unusually quiet, and the summer was dragging on painfully slowly. It was just another day, only Hermione and her mother were doing some shopping in London this day. Browsing through the stores, they ran into someone that Hermione wished she would never see for the rest of her life- Draco Malfoy and his mother, Narcissa.

Hermione desperately tried to steer her mother another direction, but without much success. Almost as soon as she tried, those silver-blue eyes locked onto her, and that trademark smirk presented itself. Hermione was ready to wipe it off his face as she saw him and his mother, make their way purposely towards Hermione and her mother.

"Well, well surprised to see me, Granger?" Malfoy sneered as he took in that bushy hair, and saw her eyes. If looks could kill, he'd have been dead and buried by now, which only served to fuel his tormenting of the Mudblood and her mother.

"Nice to see you too, Malfoy." Hermione replied curtly, trying her best to not lose her temper in front of their mothers, who were staring down at the young Muggle-born witch with curiosity. "Mum... I think you remember Draco Malfoy... this is his mother, Narcissa." Hermione said, trying her best to be polite.

"Pleasure to meet you," Mrs. Granger said with a smile to Narcissa who looked to her son for an introduction.

"Mother... this is Hermione Granger and her mother, the Muggle," Malfoy replied, watching as his mother's expression went from curiosity to distaste in seconds.

"Draco come, we have better things to do than associate with them," Narcissa said coldly before turning her back on the Grangers and walking away.

"See you at school, Granger," Malfoy said before he went to catch up with his mother.

"Ugh... what I wouldn't do to be able to hex them both right here and now..." Hermione said under her breath as she smiled apologetically at her mother.

Hermione's mother could see her daughter change during the summer, and it seemed as if she needed something to cheer her up. So without hesitation, she dragged her daughter off to the nearest salon, where both mother and daughter had a much needed pampering. When they stepped out of the salon, both women looked refreshed and different. Hermione's usually bushy brown hair had tamed; it was now silky and curly, some honey colored highlights had been added on a whim, and it had been trimmed to a more manageable length. Mrs. Granger smiled at how her daughter's mood seemed lighter as she had gratefully taken the shampoo and conditioner that the stylist had suggested she use to keep her hair under control, and knew that her job to help her daughter had worked.

Hermione felt better after her salon visit, about her appearance at least. So much better, that she forgot all about Malfoy and his mother until it was time to go to Diagon Alley to order some new dress robes for next year. Once in the wizarding part of London, Hermione felt much more at home and smiled as she looked at the animals in the Emporium, not paying attention where she was going. Suddenly, she walked into someone, a very solid someone.

"Oh, excuse me!" she exclaimed as she took a step backwards and tripped. She could feel herself begin to fall back, but was stopped as the person she had walked into reached out and caught her wrist.

"You should pay more attention where you're going," the person she'd walked into said, and it was when Hermione heard his voice that her blood turned to ice, she lowered her head, and tried to keep calm, it wouldn't do to lose her temper and hex him before school started. Hermione didn't need to look up to see the face of the person, the voice gave it all away. She couldn't have been more embarrassed.

"Sorry," she muttered as she pulled her hand free and walked away without even taking a good look at Malfoy. If he didn't recognize her, then it was all for the better.

Draco stared at the mysterious girl who had run into him, she was pretty and seemed remarkably familiar, even though he had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her face before she had ducked it down and walked off. Her dark brown eyes had registered shock when he had spoke, and then had suddenly gone cold. He looked after her as she ran across the street and ducked into Flourish and Blotts. "I'll be back in a moment, Mother," Draco said absently over his shoulder before weaving his way through the crowd and into the store his mystery girl had gone into. Once inside, he stood in the doorway for a few moments before spotting the curly brown and honey colored hair that belonged to the girl. Purposely, Draco made his way to the bookshelf where she was trying to reach a book that was on a shelf that was slightly too high for her.

Draco easily reached up and snatched the book for her. "You know, its rude to just run off without saying thank you when someone just saved you from smacking into hard stone," he said nonchalantly as he focused his silvery eyes on her. She was looking down at the book; plainly refusing to look at him, her hair had fallen around her face and was concealing it in shadows, but the more he looked at her the more he could've sworn he knew her.

"Sorry... Thanks," she muttered before ducking around a pile of books and deeper into the shop.

Draco looked at her curiously, normally girls were falling all over him; or at least Pansy usually was, but this one... she was actually brushing him off! Oh, it was a challenge, but he always did love a challenge. So without hesitation, Draco followed her. "Do you go to Hogwarts?" he asked, trying to figure how he knew her.

"Yes."

"Are you a Sixth year?" he asked, having to suddenly stop as a witch with a stack of books that were almost as tall as she was cut in front of him. "Watch it you hag!" he snarled as she almost knocked him over. He then proceeded to follow his mystery girl, who for a moment he had lost, but soon found her seated on the floor in a corner. She was settled behind a pile of books where no one would find her unless they were bloody determined to.

"So... as I asked, are you a Sixth year?" he asked again with a smirk as he stood over her.

"Yes, and do you make it a habit to stalk girls who bump into you on the street, or do you just care to make my day miserable?" she growled as she got up and brushed past him, leaving him confused as to what she meant. By the time he had gotten his wits about him, the mystery girl had paid for her book and was walking out the door. Draco hurried as best he could to the front of the store and outside, looking both ways for her, but she had vanished into the sea of people.

"Draco, what are you looking for?" Narcissa asked her son curiously.

"Nothing, Mother," Draco replied, knowing at least that he could find his mystery girl when he went back to school,. Who she was, would be the hard part to figure out. She hadn't told him her House, so it left about twenty or more girls for him to choose from.

Hermione let out a huge sigh as she watched Malfoy and his mother walk away from her hiding place in the alley next to Flourish and Blotts. Once she was sure that he wouldn't see her, she ducked out of the alley and went in search of her mother, glad to be leaving her tormenter behind her.

"Hermione, where were you?" Mrs. Granger asked once they got back together.

"Sorry Mum, I had to deal with something..." Hermione explained quietly.

Hermione's mom nodded, and the two of them headed back through the Leaky Cauldron and into the Muggle part of London. When they arrived at home, a particularly battered looking owl was perched on the kitchen table, waiting patiently for Hermione. Eagerly she grabbed the letter and instantly recognized Ron's messy handwriting. With a smile she opened and read the letter. She was to have her things packed and ready by six that evening, for Mr. Weasley was to be coming by Floo Powder to pick her up and bring her to The Burrow.

"Oh no!" Hermione screeched as she looked at the clock and saw that she only had an hour to pack, making both her parents and Errol jump, the latter of which promptly fell off the kitchen table with a startled "Hoot!" Within a matter of seconds, the disgruntled owl hopped back on the table and ruffed up his feathers haughtily before flying out of the open kitchen window, while Hermione dashed up to her room and began to hastily pack her things into her trunk.

After making sure for the third time that she had packed everything, Hermione couldn't find her ginger cat. "Mum have you seen Crookshanks!" she called down the stairs.

"He's in the garden Hermione!" her mom called back, right before Hermione heard the roar of fire that announced the arrival of Mr. Weasley.

Hastily, Hermione dragged her trunk down the stairs and dropped it in the living room, smiling at Mr. Weasley, who was dressed in dark blue robes that were covered in ashes from traveling by Floo Powder. "I'll be ready soon as I gather Crookshanks, Mr. Weasley!" Hermione said as she rushed out to the garden.

"Take your time, Hermione, I must speak with your parents for a moment," Mr. Weasley said with a chuckle as he watched the young witch dart out the door to gather her cat. "Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Granger, how are you?" Mr. Weasley asked, but before they could answer, a blood-chilling scream came from the garden.