Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

a/n--the last story on this topic needed help, so here's another go at it!

Part One: Home Again

Summer, oh glorious summer! Finally, a chance to relax! No more homework, no more war meetings, and no more Malfoy! Hermione had seen more than her fair share of the prat that year, what with his beeing evil and all. He had made a point of being extra annoying, it seemed. Hell, she was looking cautiously around corners in her own home because of his irritating habit of pooping up when least expected!

But it would wear off, so there was nothing to worry about. She had three whole ferret-free months to sit back and relax-

"Mione!"

Crookshanks hissed in protest as he was dumped uncerimoniously on the attic floor. Hermione sat up and looked at her life, which was displayed on the walls and furniture for all to see. Pictures of family and friends hung on the walls and books took up every avalible space on table and floor.

Wow...she really needed to get to that spring cleaning.

"Mione! Are you awake dear?"

"Yes, mum!" Hermione stood, knocking over a pile of books in the process. She cringed. "Just give me a moment!"

"Okay, sweety! Lunch is on the table!"

What a parent. None could ask for better when it came to Lea Granger. She was a simple-looking woman, but she was much more than what appearances let on. Lea was a dentist, a housekeeper, and a full-time mum. Somehow, she did all this and still found time to walk the neighbors dog every Tuesday.

Hermione looked just like her mother and had her blunt way of speaking. She got her brains and snap from her father.

Jordan Granger was also a dentist, but he couldn't even make it home for dinner most of the time. He overworked himself and disappeared sometimes for no reason at all. Grandpa said that this happened with all male members of the family, and that the first grandchild normally solved the problem.

Hremione smiled as she set the distorted books back to rights. She had quite the family, no matter how small.

She sighed and pulled Crookshanks into her lap, causing the living ball of fluff to start purring. If only the crash hadn't happened...

"Mione, it's getting cold!"

Hermione snapped back to reality and, once again, pushed Crookshanks to the floor. She was up and down the stairs in the blink of an eye and gave her mum a warm smile. Lea wore a business suit and had a cellphone in one hand.

"Where'd they bring the lawsuit?" Hermione asked as she sat and started on her veggie soup.

"New York. I don't know why they're suing...her teeth aren't even crooked..." the phone snapped closed and Lea sighed. "I'll be gone for about two weeks. Be good for daddy while I'm gone."

That wasn't hard, since he wasn't there most of the time. "I'm always good."

Lea gave her only child a hug before heading out the door. "Love you, sweety!"

"Love you too, mum!"

-:-:-:-:-

The Malfoy Manner was just as gloomy as ever. Grey stone after grey stone up three stories, topped by a nearly black green roof. The gardens were more lively, filled with roses and lilies, but it still seemed too perfect.

Well, perfect worked for Draco. He sighed happily as he sat in his hot tub with Blaise and Pansy. Pansy wasn't sitting on his lap yet, but he was certain that he would be getting some real quick. Boy, did that girl look desperate!

"What's on your mind, Draco?"

Draco looked over at his dark-haired friend. Blaise never failed to notice a mood.

"Absolutely nothing for the first time in months."

Blaise chuckled as Pansy inched closer to the blonde boy. "First time you haven't had to think of Granger in a while, eh?"

"You bet!" Draco leaned back and closed his eyes. Pansy wrapped her arms around his waist and set a soft kiss on his shoulder.

"Why do you even bother with that filth anymore, Drakie?"

"She's easy to bother, and what would the world say if I just stopped bugging her? Draco Malfoy's gone soft!"

"He has a point, Pans." said Blasie.

The bleach blonde girl sighed tiredly. "I just think that we're wasting our time with that sexless creature." she drew circles around Draco's nipples with one finger.

"You're probably right, but I'm not going soft. Now, let's talk about something else." said Draco. This was cutting into his mudblood-free time! It was quiet as his friends thought. Pansy wrapped herself around Draco and Blaise frowned.

"I think we've become dependant on her." he said quietly.

Pansy was put off by this comment. "What do you mean, dependant?"

"She's all we really have to talk about. Honestly, what else do we do?"

Draco glarred at Blaise, but couldn't say what he said wasn't true. Hermione, no matter how horrid, was a huge part of their lives. That might explain why he got so bored half way through the summer.

Pansy snorted. "We don't need her to find something to do!"

"Got that right." Draco leaned over and started to snog Pansy, who instantly submitted.

"I'm going to go, okay Draco?" Said rich boy just waved a hand in answer and Blaise laughed. "Have fun, buddy."

Oh, he intended to. This was going to be an interesting summer.