Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

This is a Dramione fic with so much randomness. You've been warned.

~:GETTING TO KNOW YOU

PROLOGUE

She didn't know why he brought her here. She suspects it's a different person who's been drinking polyjuice potion. It's the only plausible explanation. The place is a bit too eccentric for his taste, if it really is him. The classy display of books arranged per genre in the dragon bookshelf drew her attention she'll give him that. She would suspect it's the dragon. He has always been fascinated with the creature since she first met him when they were seven. She'd think that, except he's filthy rich and he could easily buy the shelf or the entire cafe if it amuses him or he could just have one made for himself. But he just had to set a meeting with her and ask her to meet him in this bizarre place that resembles anything but their side, well, her side. The wall is dim yellow, and the curtains too bright and too red with constellation embroidery. The tables, while normal and circular like what they have in other muggle restaurant she's been if only for the reason that no one would expect followers of the Dark Lord to go in such filthy places, are covered in pink linen. She worries rainbow unicorns will come out from nowhere. Perhaps they will fly out from under the table or the frames with muggle sayings hanging by the wall. For all she know it's a wizarding restaurant disguised to be a muggle to trap her after all. But no. He wouldn't do that to her, would he? Not even if he switched sides. He wouldn't betray a friend, wouldn't do that to her.

"Pansy." he greeted, having spotted her. She watched as he politely declined the coat attendant's help, smiling and waving like she didn't just doubt him and his intentions. But inside, she couldn't help but feel relief. It really is him. Only he would have that aristocracy that reached the other side of the room upon his entrance. Only he would have that superior smirk, that captivating charm that's both intimidating and yet renders the onlookers incapable of looking away. He truly is just that beautiful.

She kept her smile, leaning back to show herself relaxed as she waited for him to take the seat across her in the spot he intended where they can talk without being watched.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I got caught up in-" He sighed, and she got to see how tired he was. Beautiful, but tired and too worn out for a man. She bit her lip. He's just of the same age as her. But clearly he's been carrying so much weight on his shoulders that made him grow up into a man when in truth he should have been given much time to enjoy being a boy.

"You know what I've been up to." he continued. She nodded, not realizing her expression changed into one he knew too well.

"Yeah, too busy helping their side." she couldn't help but say the second to the last word with venomous loathing.

"Pansy-" he said, taking her hand, his tone warning but his eyes apologetic. And for a while, her heart calmed down. She was reminded of the many years they spent together, fighting for the same thing. She was reminded how he was the only one who could ever truly make her feel the way he's making her feel right now. But she shrugged it off before it makes her think too much.

She drew back her hand, keeping enough distance to show him that she cannot be swayed as easily as before. Not when he made the choice that took him away from her.

"Why am I here Draco?" she demanded to know. Inside she fears he knew her well enough to tell she's fighting so hard to make a stand.

And when his eyes softened and he too made himself comfortable in his chair, she almost cursed aloud.

"I need your help." he said.

She scoffed. That's a first. "And why would you need the help of an enemy? You made your choice Draco. You chose to leave us."

"If you're my enemy we both know you wouldn't be here." was his calm reply.

He's right, but she's not done yet.

"For all you know, I could have ordered death eaters to surround this place at this very instant. They could be waiting to kill you right on spot for betraying the Dark Lord the moment you step out of this shop." She said, her words biting. She watched him shake his head, and she hated how he made her feel like she's being ridiculous. Didn't he forget that he threw their friendship away by siding with their enemies?

"Fine then. If you're too keen on playing the enemy, do it yourself. In fact, why not do it here? Right now. Use the cruciatus, or no, for it to be more dramatic, just go ahead and use the killing curse on me. Do it. No one knows I'm here so they wouldn't know it even if you kill me. I promise I won't fight back." His response came without pause. No time for hesitation that she had the audacity to believe he meant every word. It was the same tone he used to taunt Potter and his friends, when he knew they were too "good" to take his taunting. And just like that time, he's right.

"What's stopping you?" he dared, causing her to shriek when he pulled out her other hand from under the table and held it so her wand was pointing directly at his heart. "I know you brought your wand. Do it. Kill me now. Or are you too afraid to kill me? The Dark Lord will reward you if you do. We both know he wants my head on a silver platter. Do it Pansy. You've been raised better than that."

She wanted to hate him. She really did.

But his words drew the last straw and she combusted to tears, her wand falling off the floor as she took away her resolve, left her side of the table and threw herself at him for a much needed hug.

"Draco…" she sobbed, no longer fighting the tears as she knew it was futile. Not in front of him. Not when he's enveloping her in his strong masculine arms like he used to every time she wanted to run away from home. Not when she's engulfed in the smell of wild grass and rare citrus mint she loved so much. He was her confidante. That one person she trusts who knew her strengths and weaknesses, and merlin, does her heart swell so much for feeling too many things at once. Anger. Bitterness. Resentment. Hate...and finally that one thing she fought so hard to hide uttered in three simple words.

"I miss you."

He could have pushed her away, but he didn't. Instead he held her all the while she cried her heart out. Maybe she wasn't just crying for her. Maybe she was crying for him too.

"I know Pans, I know." he said.

She took her time calming down. He didn't say anything more, just kept silent as he comforted her. And when her crying finally stopped, she decided it best to ignore every fiber of embarrassment for having a weak moment and focus instead on the real reason she was here. She knew she wasted enough of his time as it was. But knowing him, he'd never tell her that. He was too much of a gentleman. Cold. But that's just the way he was raised to become. To her, he would always be the boy who she found crying alone in their mansion's garden. The boy who just like her, only ever wanted to make his parents proud, which was why he was cold to almost everyone. Because Lucius reminded him everyday that emotions are for the weak, and Malfoys are not weak. But as she look at him now, with her eyes puffed from crying and heart that just received the much needed cure, she realized that from that boy he grew up to be a man stronger than Lucius Malfoy could ever dream to become. Her friend grew up to be a man capable of making his own choices even if it means leaving his whole life behind. And she could only ever hope he wouldn't regret making that choice.

"Now that that's over, let's talk business shall we? Why did you really ask me to meet you here? It's too-" she asked, digging her brain for a word, making sure that she speaks with the the usual confident I-know-I'm-beautiful-and-rich -tone that shows off her personality. The real Pansy Parkinson. "-too…"

"Too what Pans?" He encouraged, eyes daring her mischievously, her weak moment easily forgotten.

"Well it's like the place vomits rainbows and butterflies. It's giving me goosebumps. It's so not you." she teased, laughing.

She sure didn't expect he return it with a laugh of his own. It was a hollow chuckle but it was enough for her to conclude he made the right choice. The Draco Malfoy she knew doesn't laugh, not for a really long time now. Not like this. And she too couldn't help but laugh. It's been so long since she heard his laugh. She realized she'd rather have this...the old him, the old them back even if just for a while.

"No it isn't. When I first came here, I had the same reaction. Almost apparated myself out." he said, his eyes bright like he was relieving a good memory, a memory she'd pay galleons just to see.

"Then why come here? Don't tell me it's Dumbledore?" she urged. "Now that I think about it, I wouldn't put it past the old man to do something like that."

He shook his head. "Hermione."

"Hermi- Granger!?" She asked, eyes bulging. It was absurd. Very much so. Why would Granger of all people bring him to-, they weren't even friends, or are they?

She didn't get to voice any of these thoughts as Draco continued his story.

"She reckoned it will help bring out the inner goodness in me. Told her she's crazy of course, but she only laughed and said I'll just have to see it for myself. Said that if it's not the right people that would do the trick then perhaps it's the right atmosphere. Imagine me shivering the moment I stepped in. I've never felt so out of place in my whole life."

"So what, you're friends now?" she asked. If he noticed the jealousy in her tone, he didn't say. Instead she watched him look lost for a couple of seconds, as if she just asked a very difficult question.

"I- I don't- …" He began, taking his time before giving a reluctant answer that took away the brightness in his eyes. "No? Maybe...yes."

With her silence, he continued.

"That witch, she thinks she's bright, and merlin forbid I know she is but this time she's making the stupidest decisions."

He looked so conflicted, she would have found it amusing in normal circumstances. But their circumstances were anything but normal. He was being so adorable talking about a witch they used to mock together and she doesn't know what to feel about that.

"What did the mudblood do Draco?" she said, still unsure but dreading the path he was threading. His glare only reminded her that things really are different now. Now he's fighting with them.

"Sorry." She said apologetically, not really intending to offend him, but bounced back to defend her actions. "You should know old habits die hard. And it's not like we're friends - she and I. You should understand that to me, she still is the enemy."

He was silent. She watched as his brows knitted together and she knew she'd made a point. It doesn't mean he thought it's a good point, but he thought it valid. Grey eyes softened for a brief second and he let out a wistful smile. It was odd, and yet welcome, how he had been giving away smiles. He almost seemed like a different person.

"I know Pans." he said. "I do wish things could be different though."

Perhaps it was his voice. How tired he sounded. Perhaps it was the way he said her name that made her feel feel very scared but unable to not listen to what he has to say.

"Granger - she's…" he shook his head and sighed exasperatedly. Merlin what did the mud-, what did Granger do this time to cause him to be so troubled?

It was then that she noticed he hadn't ordered, and that his left shoulder was a little bit slumped. Only when she followed his eyes that suddenly weren't so guarded that she saw it, the stain of blood hiding in the darkness of his coat.

"Draco, what happened?!" she shouted with worry.

"I- " he paused, trying to think of a better word. "Let's just say I had a bad day. It's old news now."

"Did she? Did she do this?" Pansy asked, unable to stop her voice from screeching with horror.

The blonde looked at her incredulously and denied, looking mortified and then laughed. The wizard had the nerve to laugh. "What, no! No of course not. She, she wouldn't."

She pinched her nose, sighing for the absurdity of it all. She felt stupid for having assumed that. But she didn't know her. She did, but not the way he does. She's not the one fighting on her side.

"Then do tell me what happened already if you don't want me to make assumptions!" She demanded.

"She saved me."

"What!?" It was her turn to sound incredulous.

"Merlin she's crazy, but that insufferable witch saved me when even I know I don't deserve it. She kept saying she did it because I saved her, but that just happened once and yet it's the second time she risked her life to save mine. She could have left me to die, but she took the curse that was intended for me without hesitation and without regards for her own life."

Her throat felt dry, so dry that the next words were hard to form.

"I-..." he began, only to train off once again. He's changed. The Draco Malfoy she knew wouldn't come to a meeting unprepared. But this Draco, while he seemed dare she say happier, this Draco is unsure and by figuring out how to say the words, she can only think he's struggling with confusion inside. So she willed herself to listen, no matter how much what he's going to say could affect her.

"I know the risks are too high and it might happen again. And I- …. What I'm saying is that...is that, oh bugger!" He cursed, leaning forward to make sure she's staring directly in his eyes. "When it comes down to it, I need you to make sure Hermione lives. I know Blaise will back you up so you wouldn't have much problem on that."

Because I know the risks are too high...she stared at him, mouth agape. Did he really just say what she heard? Had she heard wrong? But it was his voice. It was his mouth that said...I need you to make sure Hermione lives...Hermione lives

It didn't take long for her to recover and she readily asked the nauseating question that's in the back of her throat the first time he said her name.

"What is she to you Draco? Why ask me to save her life when I don't even care the least bit about her and her bloody kind?! She's my enemy for merlin's sake and yet you're askin me to-... Do you even know what you're asking?" she trailed, taking a much needed breathe. Her heart felt like it might explode. No preparation in the world could prepare her for such vulnerability coming from him, and all these for a mudblood. "This is a war. People get killed. People fight to live. And yet you…for her..."

Heavy silence filled the room enough that she felt a crack inside of her.

"I-..."

"Are you in love with her?" she dared ask and hoped he would deny.

More silence...unending silence...silence so loud it's deafening.

Finally when she couldn't take it anymore, he spoke.

"I care about her. She deserves to live. Not me. I- I've done so much. I've done bad things, evil things. I've killed people. I've watched and laughed as people get tortured."

"But you're on their side now!" She was surprised that the words came out as a plea. Surprised that now she's suddenly begging for him to see that his life was worth it, worth more than hers or anyone's. "Surely that means something to you. You've sacrificed far more than anyone I've known and I know a lot. Not one of us purebloods have your courage. Don't you think she saw that and that's why she deemed your life worth saving? Draco for Merlin's sake, don't sell yourself short like that."

She was willing to say more. Willing to beg. Because she knew and he knew that whatever he asks, she'll do. Which is probably why he came to her. Which was why he didn't ask him to come with her when he made that bloody choice to leave everything behind to side with the Boy Who Lived.

"This isn't about me Pans." His voice was pained.

He was in pain. And she can see it. But as much as she'd like to take his pain away, she couldn't deny she was rubbing salt in her own wounded heart by making him talk.

"I'm asking you the last request I'll ever make of you."

This time she was sure it was his chosen words. The finality to it that he didn't bother to hide. It was as if he was sure it would come down to it. It was his plea. Draco Malfoy doesn't plead. He orders. He doesn't show his fear, not even in the face of death, but it was evident that this time, unmasked, he's asking her to make sure Hermione Granger lives, without regard for his own life. She cringed at the sound of her own heart breaking. She would never approve of this. Never in eternity. But it was his request, and just like always, when had she ever say no to him?

With a heavy heart, she sealed her fate. It earned her a smile that finally reached his eyes, and she asked herself if it was enough. If his satisfaction was enough for her to live without him.

"That's all I need." He said with relief, enveloping her in a tight grateful hug for the last time. "Thank you Pansy."

She wanted to scream that Draco Malfoy doesn't say thanks. And yet he did. For a muggle no less. For this girl who he claimed to have saved his life, he just asked her to hurt him. She wasn't stupid. She knew that he asked because if it comes down to it, he wouldn't hurt her and so instead, he's asking that she does. And merlin is this how an unforgivable curse feels like?

"Draco…" she called just when he was about to leave. "Why me?"

He just stared at her, and for a while she thought she would watch him leave without getting a response. But then he spoke. "Because believe it or not Pans, I never saw you as the enemy. That, and you've never once broken a promise you made to me. I'm not asking you to risk your life for hers. I'm just asking that if it comes down to it, kill me and not her."

His voice was raw. His eyes genuinely thankful before he walked away.

That was when she noticed one of the encryptions in the painting hanging by the wall right above him. "Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control." it said.

And as she watched him leave her without looking back, Pansy Parkinson could only think that perhaps muggles aren't as foolish as they've been raised to believe.