Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters and do not profit from this story.

Chapter 1: Summertime Sadness

It had been two months since the war had ended. It had been two months since the wizarding world had suffered many losses in life. But it had also been two months of rebuilding and banding together. Hogwarts had been repaired, no doubt with the help of some magic. The wizarding world was at peace once again.

It was no secret that there were still some loyal death eaters out there, angry that they no longer had a leader to follow. Most of the death eaters had gone into hiding out of fear of the newly reformed ministry, with Kingsley Shacklebolt as its front man.

It was now mid summer and current students of Hogwarts as well as the previous 7th year students were receiving their letters to return for the next school term if they so wished.

Hermione Granger lay splayed out on the warm beach outside her family's villa in Greece. Since the war ended she had needed a break from life. Her parents were still gone, though she tried to look for them. With her parents' memories obliviated it would be hard for things to get back to normal even if she did find them and miraculously figure out a way to reverse the spell. With her family gone and with no memory of their former lives, the vacation villa in Greece was left empty. Hermione had decided to take advantage of the opportunity away from everything.

After the last funeral and Fred Weasley had been put to rest, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had all decided to take a break from each other. It was nothing personal, but they had spent an entire year in each other's presence, excluding the moments when Ron had stormed away. Each person had gone there separate way for the summer with the plan to come back together for the start of term. Harry had bought a flat by himself, with Ginny as a frequent visitor. Ron had gone off to who knows where. He was in a different location every time the Daily Prophet posted a new picture of him with some girl. Ron had finally been getting the fame and fortune he had always wanted since he and the rest of the "Golden Trio" were hailed as war heroes. Along with the money and girls, Ron also had gained a new attitude, which wasn't really a good thing. Arrogant was the best word to describe it. He had begun to spend less time with his family and friends. Hermione on the other hand had spent the summer at the villa. Alone…She still wrote letters to her friends, usually only getting responses from Ginny, with notes from Harry of course.

Hermione read her most recent letter from Ginny.

Dear Hermione,

I was so glad to receive your last letter! I'm happy to hear that you're relaxed in Greece, and I cannot wait until we see each other for our shopping trip before school. Harry is doing well. We went to see Teddy the other day. He is looking just like Remus. I know what your thinking, and the answer is no. We do not know if he has inherited the same curse as his father. Harry loves visiting him. I think Harry feels guilty that Remus and Tonks sacrificed themselves for him.

Have you been receiving the Daily Prophet? The family has not had any contact with Ron. They have been busy taking turns helping George out at the store. Harry has been helping out as well. They give their love! Mum wants to send you some food. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a basket of pumpkin pasties anytime soon. Mum has been a baking mad woman since Fred.

Well Harry and I are getting ready to go over to George's store. I will talk to you soon, and I look forward to your next letter!

Yours Truly,

Ginny

Hermione set the letter down on her lap as she blew a stray piece of hair out of her face. Even the years of growing up did nothing for her unruly hair. Sure she found ways to help such as her muggle straightner or curling iron. The hot Greece weather didn't do much to help. The humidity already had frizzed her recently straightened hair. She began to gather her things to go inside the beautiful sky blue bricked villa.

The villa had been in her family for years, and Hermione was happy to be able to hold onto something familiar. As she entered through the back door leading to the kitchen, she smiled as she could still remember her mum baking lemon bars on a summer day.

She took a seat at the island and sipped her glass of freshly made iced tea. Sasha her Calico cat hopped up on the countertop in front of her and purred for Hermione to pet her. She gladly obliged. Hermione had to leave Crookshanks behind when she left to look for the horcruxes. Her parents had taken the squishy faced cutie with them. She had instantly adopted Sasha after the war. She couldn't stand constantly being alone.

Absent mindedly she picked up the latest copy of the Daily Prophet which had arrived earlier that morning. She still hadn't had a chance to read it yet, but the first thing she noticed was the cover photograph. Lucius Malfoy's typical scowl blazoned the front page. The headline was what really caught her attention.

Lucius Malfoy Sentenced to Life In Azkaban…

Underneath the headline was a smaller picture of the platinum blonde's equally awful offspring, Draco Malfoy. He sat in the witness chair in the center of the room. Normally Hermione would have expected to see Draco looking annoyed or even a little unsure of himself. Though he did come from a family that prided itself in its pureblood status, he always seemed to cower in the presence of his father. This time he seemed to be…against him.

"No way" she said, realizing even as she said it out loud that she seemed a little unsure herself. She began to read the accompanying story aloud.

"Lucius Malfoy was sentenced earlier yesterday morning to life in Azkaban. This sentence comes as no surprise, considering the similar punishments handed out to other captured death eaters. Malfoy is the last of the trials to have taken place in the months following the war. Many witnesses spoke during the trial, but most surprising of all was that of Draco Malfoy. Young Draco spoke of his years of verbal and physical abuse that he received from this father. He also was able to describe many acts of violence that Lucius committed over the years of service he provided to the Dark Lord. What had most of the room on the edge of their seat, was Draco's tale of how his father used the Cruciatus Curse against him in order to force him into branding the Dark Mark upon his arm. In return for his involvement in the case, Draco Malfoy has received immunity against his lesser crimes."

Hermione couldn't believe what she had just read. Draco Malfoy had actually testified against his father. That was incredibly uncharacteristic of him. The ferret had done something good for a change. Unfortunately that meant that Malfoy was roaming free, even if it meant that his father was locked up for good. Sasha purred again as Hermione stroked the feline with her free hand.

She set down the newspaper and glanced around the silent beach house. She was getting rather tired of the same surroundings. Sure the beach was nice and Greece was beautiful, but she needed a change. She set off for her bedroom to change out of her beach attire.

Mid-way down the hallway she spotted her favorite painting that hung between two photographs of the trio that she had recently placed. The painting was her parent's. It showed a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower with the Paris sunset as the backdrop. Paris had been the Granger's ideal vacation spot for years when she was a child. Even years later and Hermione could swear she could still smell the mouth watering aroma of freshly baked macaroons and delectable buttery bread from her favorite bakery in the center of the city. She smiled to herself and fought back the urge to cry remembering such wonderful times with her parents. Suddenly it occurred to her. She knew exactly where she was going to escape to this afternoon.

Hermione didn't normally apparate unless she knew she was going to be traveling long distances. Honestly the action always left her feeling slightly nauseous. Dressed in her favorite white and baby blue striped sundress and silver sandals, Hermione apparated into an area she knew would be vacant; the alleyway next to the hotel the family usually had stayed in when visiting the city. She quickly smoothed her dressed over and adjusted the left strap which had slid down slightly.

The weather was gorgeous. Perfect. The Paris air was exactly what she needed. Exiting the alleyway, Hermione immediately recognized the street she was on. Across from her was her favorite bookstore. Her father had always joked with her about how she was the only girl in the world who could visit the most beautiful city in the world and still find a bookstore to hide away in. A few new books would be a nice change from the same ones that inhabited her bookshelves.

Walking into the small nameless bookstore, Hermione could almost smell the pages of the books just waiting to be brought home and devoured.

Jane Austen, now she felt at home. No author had ever made Hermione believe that love and happiness was not only possible, but also that it could come in unexpected forms. Her favorites included Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park.

One of Miss Austen's novels stood out from the others though. Her all time favorite Pride and Prejudice. It's a story about two unlikely people falling in love, but their families try to keep them apart on account of their differing upbringings. Despite the odds, love conquers all. Hermione used to own a copy of the novel, but it had been lost at some point during her search for the horcruxes. She had to get a new one. No questions about it. She worried that because the store was so small that she might not be able to find another copy, and in English. As much as she loved Paris, her French wasn't that impressive.

Hermione cautiously skimmed the neatly sorted bookshelves. Many of the titles were in French, but some of the more classic selections were in English.

That's when she saw it. Immediately her hand shot out to grab the book, but just as she did so, another customer had the same idea.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. You saw it first its yours-" Hermione stopped mid sentence as she turned and looked at the owner of the hand. The young man was familiar, but at the same time looked completely different. Draco Malfoy stood hand still outstretched, with a completely dumbfounded look on his face. One thing was different. He didn't have his normal natural platinum blonde hair. Nope. Draco Malfoy had dark brown hair.

"Malfoy?" Hermione finally said after a few awkward seconds.

"What are you looking at Granger?" a scowl soon returning to his face.

It was then that she realized that she'd been staring. It was hard to believe. Why would Draco Malfoy dye his hair? Or better yet, why was he in a muggle bookstore in Paris? None of these questions left her lips. She couldn't find the words to speak.

"Uh, I don't know" she finally managed.

"Well close your mouth. You look like you saw a fucking ghost"

"No, not a ghost…."

They stood in more awkward silence. It was then that Hermione remembered why they were standing in each others presence. The book. Draco held it in his palm.

"I didn't take you for a Jane Austen fan Malfoy"

"Huh?"

"Pride and Prejudice. The book your holding."

He glanced down at the book in his hand as if it was the first time he was seeing it.

"Oh this stupid thing? You can have it. I thought it was something else." He said as she shoved the book towards Hermione.

"You've never read it?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh wait, what am I saying? Of course Draco Malfoy hasn't read a book written by a muggle. How silly of me"

Hermione started to walk away.

"Granger wait!"

Hermione continued to walk out of the bookstore. She was almost to the door.

"Hermione!"

Slowly she turned around. Had she heard right? Did Draco Malfoy really just call her by her first name…for the first time ever? Draco stood defeated holding the book out as a peace offering.

"Can we talk?" he asked "I want explain to you the truth."

"The truth about what? Why you're such an arse?"

He smirked, "Actually, yes".

She couldn't hide the shocked look on her face.

"Um…sure. I'm feeling a bit peckish. You?"

"Starving"

Alright and that concludes Chapter One! I hope you all like it! I have some really good ideas for this story, and I plan on updating within the week. I hope you can wait that long ;) R&R pretty please!