A/N: Hello everybody! I'm publishing this on a whim, mostly because it's taken up space on my 'doc manager' tab for far too long. I'd written this not long after I finished my 'Panem's Golden Boy' fic (I might have even started writing it while writing the last chapters... but I digress) so it's definitely been a while since I'd written it (although I have edited it a couple of times ever since). So please forgive if the writing is lacking, I'm still human after all.

The chapters in this fic aren't long (no more than 3k words) so if you find yourself enjoying this first chapter, do let me know how many times a week I should update. I'm leaning towards three... but that decision is in your hands now. I have most of the fic written although I am missing a couple of chapters in the middle. I have yet to write the end, though, but I do know how I want it to end.

This is my first foray into the Dramione fandom and without further ado... I hope you enjoy.

ETA: As of 7/23/16, this fic will be undergoing some editing. Just small details for the most part. Though there are some parts that will undoubtedly make me cringe but I'll try not to go too overboard. It's mostly thanks to the last guest review I got. Bless you, guest. Big thanks to everyone who has continued to review and add my story to their favorites. :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Draco Malfoy looked up at the dreary sky, noticing how the puffy white clouds from earlier had been replaced by fat and gray ones. Also, was it him or was there a certain chill in the air?

Not good… this is a brand new, extremely expensive coat and I won't stand to have a few raindrops ruin it.

Thus, he ducked into Flourish and Blott's and shifted the parcel that he carried in his hands, tucking it securely under his arm.

The little bell atop the door tinkled, prompting the people near the entrance to turn to look his way. They stared with wide eyes, quickly leaning to their companions in whispered tones as Draco strode into the bookstore, smiling uneasily at nobody in particular.

Yes… it's me, Draco Malfoy, the big bad Death Eater who's going to whisk your children into the night to teach them all about the Dark Arts. Mwahahaha!

Even that sounded ridiculous in his head and he couldn't help but roll his eyes. However, in doing so, he caught sight of the second floor of the bookstore. It looked (blessedly) deserted, so he made a beeline for the stairs to avoid being on the receiving end of any more unwanted attention.

He felt some of the tension leave his shoulders as his polished shoes sunk into the plush burgundy carpet, finding the silence of the towering and cramped bookcases comforting. An unexpected wave of nostalgia hit him as he thought of all the hours he used to spend in the library back in Hogwarts. Still, he couldn't help but push a fuzzy, incoherent thought away at finding the bookcases to be safe haven from the crowd downstairs.

Oh, thank Merlin. What I'm looking for is bound to be up here, anyway. Now I remember why I stayed out of the public eye for ages… the incessant whispers and stares never fail to get old. I just loathe how they inevitably end up comparing me to father. 'Like father, like son' they tell me with infuriating, know-it-all smiles.

Frowning, Draco shook his head.

No, this is not the time to be focusing on that… I'll be starting a job at the Ministry soon and I want to be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible. I'd hate to start without having some sort of upper hand in the matter.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as he heard the unmistakable sound of raindrops pound against the roof. That and the dim lighting in the bookstore made Draco feel rather cozy and so began to search for the book he felt would aid him most. He started at the very top shelf, slowly making his way down. He mumbled the titles to himself, often taking one out to inspect it further when it sounded promising.

The rain got heavier and soon heard the bell ring once again but paid no attention, focused on the task at hand. Still, he could hear excited murmurs and glanced with annoyance over his shoulder to see a crowd of witches surround something, or rather, somebody.

Easily entertained, these people are. Must be someone famous, then… it really is none of my concern.

He delved deeper into the bookshelves, oftentimes running his slim index finger over the book spines as his grey eyes flickered from title to title.

Draco heard soft but eager footsteps climb up the stairs and saw someone out of the corner of his eye dash by the bookshelves but paid no closer attention, refusing to let himself get sidetracked.

By Salazar, this book might just be it. Though this one looks interesting too… well, why not get both? It's not like the extra reading will cause me any hindrance; on the contrary, I'm sure it would help me be that much more well-informed. Plus it would help me look good and I need as much leverage as I can get, especially with the family and checkered past I've got.

Draco stared at the hefty tomes in thought.

As a matter of fact, this will be the first time my surname won't be of any help. Father would find that appalling… as he should. My only comfort is knowing how far he's fallen from grace.

He chuckled darkly but then heard someone muttering distractedly on the other side of the bookshelf.

"Autograph… Golden Trio… war heroine… privilege…"

He arched an eyebrow and walked slowly toward the source of the mumbling, pausing as the person extracted a book and flipped through the pages absentmindedly. Tilting his head slightly, he narrowed his eyes in concentration as he took in the woman's face through the gap between the bookshelves. Once again, something in the back of his head nagged at him but Draco shoved the thought away.

Looks… eerily… familiar…

He continued to stare for a few more minutes until an alarm began to blare off in his head.

"Granger?" he whispered incredulously.

She'd been reading to herself but froze suddenly, eyes widening slightly. She raised her head and looked around slowly, undoubtedly thinking it must have been her imagination. Finally she shrugged and started to put the book back in its place when she caught sight of Draco's eyes, watching her. She stared into them, squinting in mild concentration, for a few moments before letting out a loud gasp that was mercifully masked by a roll of thunder.

Draco felt his mouth drop open rather inelegantly as she stared back at him. Though he couldn't see all of her face, it was obvious that she had changed quite a bit. All too soon she disappeared from sight and he blinked in confusion, turning to his left as he saw her peek at him from the edge of the bookshelf, her heavy braid drooping over her shoulder.

"Granger, it is you," he muttered, unable to believe that he was really looking at her.

She stepped fully into sight and Draco felt his mouth drop even more, his grey eyes roving from her feet up to her face. She wore Muggle clothing which consisted of dark fitted denim, a long khaki hooded trench coat and what looked like leopard print flats. Her face was makeup-free yet somehow managed to look glowing despite that the state of her hair and clothes were sopping wet.

"You again," she murmured faintly, clutching the book she was holding onto so tightly that her fingers were turning white.

Draco couldn't help but chuckle, she looked as if she'd seen a ghost. Still, he took a few steps closer to her, never once taking his eyes from hers.

"The years have been good to you," he spoke, unable to filter his thoughts.

She watched him warily, looking as though her feet were frozen to the ground.

"Thank you. You look… well, very much the same, actually," she admitted, warm brown eyes studying him. "Not as pointy, perhaps."

He let out a humorless chuckle and stopped at arm's length away from her.

"What brings you here?" he asked, feeling a sudden bout of chattiness come over him.

"To the bookstore?" she responded uncertainly, raising her delicate brows in question.

At once, Draco felt embarrassed at asking such an obvious question but refused to back down out of pure obstinacy.

"It really shouldn't come as big surprise, I suppose. You practically lived at the library in Hogwarts," he recalled fondly.

"Well… yes," she said, clearly disconcerted. "But the bigger question is: why are you here? If memory serves, you weren't much for studying."

He smirked at her, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"I had better things to do. It wasn't easy, you know, being me," he said pompously, smiling lazily.

Hermione rolled her eyes but he noted that she couldn't quite contain the smile that threatened to take over her lips.

"Oh, I'm sure being the pampered Slytherin Prince was so demanding," Hermione mocked, pouting exaggeratedly.

"I resent the tone. But you're correct. It was no easy feat looking so good and sweeping girls off their feet, along with being Snape's favorite. Of course, can't forget making you, Potter and Weasley's life miserable."

She snorted in an unladylike manner but Draco somehow found it strangely... disarming.

"So, going back to my original question, what brings you here?" she asked, eyeing the books he held against his chest with interest.

"Just doing a bit of research for my new job."

"Oh? Is that so? Well, congratulations," she nodded respectfully.

"Thank you, Granger. I really am looking forward to starting and creating a new life for myself."

She watched him intently before giving him a hint of a smile.

"If you focus yourself on it as much as you did tormenting us, then I'm sure you'll do great," she told him with a sardonic twist of her mouth.

Draco chuckled softly despite himself, feeling a corner of his own twitch up.

"Thank you, it sure means a lot coming from one-third of the Golden Trio."

She rolled her eyes and sighed with exasperation.

He'd noticed that there were a few wisps of hair framing her face; some sticking to her temple while others were already drying, curling slightly. Draco's fingers twitched, having the strangest urge to sweep them back.

"It was cute back in the day, now it's just old," she muttered tetchily, referring to what they called her, Potter and Weasley. "Well, I won't take up any more of your time. Good luck with your job. It was, er, interesting catching up."

Draco felt an odd dread grip his heart and found that he wasn't quite ready for this meeting to end.

"Thank you, Granger. It was good seeing you," he told her honestly, roaming his eyes all over her face just in case he never saw her again.

Maybe it was his imagination but her cheeks reddened slightly as she stared at him openly. She seemed to catch herself, clearing her throat and giving him one last nod before brushing past him.

She smells like vanilla cookies.

He whirled around and stared after her retreating figure, watching as her braid swayed with every step she took away from him.

She looks so different but somehow manages to be the same. How is that possible? I see now what I was too stubborn, prejudiced and blind to see back then.

He thought back to the very first time he met her, back on the Hogwarts Express.

(flashback)

Draco was seated languidly on the seat, legs spread out before him and crossed at the ankle. He'd been pigging out with Crabbe and Goyle, making them eat the gross Every Flavor Beans and was in the process of opening a Chocolate Frog when the door to their compartment was rudely slid open. He stared at the girl with displeasure, not containing the snicker that bubbled in his throat as he noticed her hair; it was thick, bushy and it looked as though it had never been brushed. She too, however, already wore her robes and was looking under the seats imperiously.

"Have you boys seen a toad? A boy Neville has lost his," she sighed, undoubtedly finding the very act irresponsible.

"If I had a toad, I'd lose it too," Draco smirked, glancing at his companions as if giving them permission to laugh.

They guffawed and Draco felt himself fill with pride. The girl, however, didn't seem terribly impressed.

"Well, if you happen to see it, would you please return it to him? We're three compartments over," she pointed.

She started to turn to leave but he called out to her, asking for her name. She turned instantly, a big smile gracing her round face.

My, she has awfully large front teeth. How dreadful. Couldn't her parents have fixed that for her?

"My name is Hermione Jean Granger. Yours?"

"That is quite a mouthful for someone so small," he remarked thoughtlessly.

She pursed her lips at him, shooting him an annoyed look.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy."

She raised her eyebrows but said nothing.

All the better for her. Still, she must not be familiar with my family or else she would have practically bowed down to me. But then that must mean… no matter, in time she'll realize just who I am.

"Well then, I suppose I'll be seeing you around, Draco Lucius Malfoy."

"Don't flatter yourself, Granger," Draco scoffed, giving his cronies a sideways smirk.

They started laughing stupidly while she simply rolled her eyes and removed herself from his compartment. He watched the last of her big bushy head and felt a strange sense of relief as she vanished.

There's something about her…

(end flashback)

Draco sighed and stared at nothing, the memory of 11-year-old Hermione Granger burning into his mind while the scent of a grown Hermione Granger lingered in the air, teasing his senses. He shook himself out of his reverie, making his way to pay for the books, trying to ignore the stares and murmurs that never ceased to shadow him wherever he went.


Thoughts? Concerns? Inquiries?

Thank you for taking the time to read, I genuinely appreciate it. :)