A/N: As of yet, this is a work in progress. I can't promise consistent updates but I really, really will try to be up on my game with this story. In a sense, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows still applies; it's just that Ron and Hermione's relationship with one another isn't as smooth as the novel-version. I hope you all like it!

(April 01, 2003)

Twenty-three year old Hermione Granger sat in the sitting-room of her flat, looking around to marvel at how well she'd decorated it. She'd just gotten home from work at the Magical Law Enforcement department, and honestly, she was exhausted. The year had been very busy for Hermione. Needless to say, she used whatever time she could spare to relax from her very hectic life. Hermione sighed, leaning forward to look at the mail the owls had delivered for her throughout the day. One letter in particular caught her eye.

It was from Ron.

The Honor of Your Presence is Requested at the Marriage of

Ronald Weasley & Susan Bones

On Sunday, the 27th of July Two Thousand and Three

At Two in the Afternoon

It shocked Hermione to see the letter, although it really shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. She couldn't help but feel a desperate sense of loneliness as she looked down at the invitation, knowing that her Ron was marrying Susan Bones of all people.

It should have been her.

Hermione sighed, trying to remember exactly when things had gone so very wrong for her and Ron. The summer after the war had almost been blissful for them. They had went to numerous funerals; in fact, they went to about ten funerals. Ron even came with Hermione to Australia when she went to go get her parents. Afterward, they'd spend their days together with Harry and Ginny in remote muggle parks or beaches where they could hide from all of their troubles (and their newfound fame). At night, Hermione would spend her time in Ron's arms. They'd talk for hours about life without Voldemort or Death Eaters tainting the conversation.

They both had a lot to look forward to: At that time, Ron would be beginning his Auror training in mid-August, and Hermione herself had plans to return to Hogwarts that September of 1998. Ron supported Hermione with some reluctance, telling her that he'd visit her on every Hogsmeade weekend and he had visited her.

Yet, that still didn't stop the rift that grew between them.

As Ron and Hermione both became more career-oriented, their lives seemed to just go in separate directions. When Hermione chose to study magical law at Merlin Academy of Law in 1999, things between them just seemed incredibly distant.

They agreed to take a break. That break spanned for four years.

Throughout the years, they periodically met and had dinner. Yet their dates became less and less frequent when Ron began dating Susan.

It hurt Hermione to see him move on. He'd only tried to date her again once. Hermione told herself that Ron would always be there for her, and that thought alone made her feel like she was doing the right thing by pursuing her dreams. Hermione smiled wryly to herself, remembering all of the things she ever told herself to get through the lonely nights that left her questioning the path she'd chosen to take.

How many times had she told herself that, if it's meant to be, then it would be? But it hadn't.

In January 2001, Ron began dating Susan and he looked so happy. She never thought Ron would want someone as much as he wanted her. Hermione wasn't being arrogant; no, she was being truthful. She had never wanted any man as much as she wanted Ron. Clearly, this wasn't true for him. Ron very much loves Susan now and it's Susan, not Hermione, who he'd be marrying on July 27, 2003.

Hermione looked up upon hearing the fireplace in her flat come to life. Draco Malfoy stepped out onto her parent's Persian rug, which they'd generously loaned to Hermione. His lips were curled in distaste by the sight of all the ash clinging to his immaculate black velvet robes. He waved his wand over his evening attire, vanishing the ash. Then he swaggered over to the sofa, purposely taking a seat like he owned everything within Hermione's home.

"What now, Draco?" Hermione said irritably, glaring at the blond who always felt the need to invite himself where he wasn't officially invited.

Draco smirked as if knowing exactly what she was thinking. "We have a deposition and a contract to discuss or did you forget, Granger?" He drawled, raising a mocking platinum brow at her.

Hermione rolled her eyes, biting her lower lip in irritation because she actually did forget and also because Malfoy was really annoying her.

"Very attractive look, Granger." Draco said blandly, removing a shrunken black briefcase from his pocket. He enlarged it, whispered the password, and suddenly the case flew open; it revealed the deposition and the ten page contract. Draco removed them from his briefcase and neatly arranged the documents on her coffee table.

Hermione took this time to think about the odd friendship she now had with Draco Malfoy. He'd changed a lot; in fact, he was the living enigma of change. Harry, of course, convinced Kingsley (the Minister of Magic) and the Wizengamot to spare the Malfoys. Draco's sentence (house arrest) had been wavered by the Court for him to return to Hogwarts. He, along with Hermione and a few others, were the only ones to return out of their original class for their seventh year. It was during this time when an odd friendship formed.

In actuality, it began as a competition rather than a friendship. Draco poured all of his energy into turning over a new leaf. The whole Malfoy family seemingly did that. They'd donated thousands and thousands of galleons to the rebuilding effort of Hogwarts and various other Wizarding villages that had been destroyed in the second war. Draco, while not exactly pleasant, wasn't going out of his way to be a prat. He'd nearly beat her for the top spot in their class, but Hermione wasn't a genius for nothing.

When she'd received her acceptance letter to Merlin Academy in the Hogwarts Library, Malfoy showed her his letter too. And so their rivalry continued outside of Hogwarts to law school, where they studied together. Both tied for the top spot in their law school. Actually, they both finished Merlin Academy in three years rather than the usual four. Even now, Draco was her competition. He was one of the top barristers in the country, but he was also her friend: Draco was a very annoying, arrogant friend.

"Here," Draco said distractedly, "There are wholes in your witness's story. I suggest you−."

"Draco, I don't need you to tell me how to do my job, thank you." Hermione said impatiently, snatching one of the depositions from his hand.

Draco raised a brow, clearly telling Hermione to check her attitude.

"Who stuck a hot poker up your ass, Granger?" He drawled, studying her closely. His grey orbs had slightly unnerved her. They were sharp and unyielding, just like Draco. Hermione's mouth thinned, resolved not to talk about her personal life. Hermione herself didn't want to think of it so she definitely wasn't going to talk about it with him. "I don't have all evening to deal with your tongue and our work, so tell me what's bothering you or I leave."

"That's actually a fabulous idea. You can come back."

"No," Draco said firmly. "I refuse to spend any part of my weekend here again. What's that?" He asked sharply, his eyes on the invitation that lay on top of the coffee table.

And both of them scrambled forward to get the letter. Draco, of course, won with his seeker reflexes. Hermione glowered at him, watching Draco's eyes rake across the parchment. A look of disgust marred his face, as he threw the letter onto the table between them.

"You're angry over Weasley!" He said disbelievingly, studying Hermione closely. "I cannot fathom why anyone would want to shag that weasel king, least of all marry him."

Hermione glared at him, knowing that Draco knew exactly how much losing Ron was a sore spot for her. "Draco, don't." Hermione said warningly, clenching her right fist tightly.

Draco fingered his wand defensively but replied: "Granger, if you want him so badly, then why not steal him back."

"Susan did not steal Ron away from me in the first place."

"Whatever." Draco said dismissively. "Don't act like you don't understand what I'm saying. It's simple."

"No it isn't, Draco. You don't understand. Besides, I like Susan." Hermione said truthfully. "That's just wrong to talk like that; it's wrong to think like that period."

Draco smirked at Hermione, slightly scoffing afterward. "You Gryffindors and your bloody morals. What's wrong with going after what you want? Nothing. There's nothing wrong with seeking your own happiness."

"Not at the expense of others, Draco."

Draco slightly leaned forward in his seat and began speaking again. "It won't really hurt them, Granger." He said, sounding very logical. "Look at it this way: If you succeed at winning the weasel back, then that would result in hurting Bones. However, that can be considered a short-term cost since that probably would save the girl and the weasel king a lot of future pain. If you should fail, then obviously you'd be hurt. Yet, again, the pain would be worth it in the long run. The worse thing that could happen is that your friendship with Weasley disassembles and, if that happens after everything you two have been through, then you certainly shouldn't waste time on him. Even if you failed, you'd be able to live the rest of your life knowing that you actually fought for what you wanted and lost. There's no divorce in the Wizarding World, Granger. Not fighting for the weasel could be your biggest regret in the future. Why not save yourself the anguish and go for it?"

"That's crazy, Draco." Hermione said quietly, although her mind was already thinking about everything he'd just said.

He did have a point, and Hermione felt like telling Ron her feelings would be the right thing to do. But what if he rejected her? The fear of that was enough to thwart her Gryffindor bravery and to stop her train of thought. How would she ever pluck up enough courage to tell Ron her feelings if she couldn't even think clearly at this very second?

"It's not crazy, Granger. It's the solution to your rather petty problem." Draco drawled, placing his back against the sofa again. "Now, lets solve the problem with these depositions and contracts. I can't believe we're lucky enough to have a ten-page contract tonight. What's wrong now, Granger?" Draco asked impatiently.

Hermione didn't want to ask but she felt like she should. "Do you think I stand a chance?"

Draco raised a brow at her, smirking mockingly at her. "Honestly, no." He said, chuckling afterward.

Hermione sent a glower his way and sighed, saying: "Lets start with the contracts first."

As she leaned forward to grab the contracts, she noticed Draco studying her closely. Hermione didn't like it when he looked at her like he was examining every facet of her character. It made her feel like he was adversary she had to compete against and outdo.

"What?" Hermione snapped.

Draco shrugged nonchalantly before saying: "Don't let your precious morals get in the way of your happiness. Trust me, Granger you don't want to wake up one day and realize that the only thing you have is your career."

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; J.K. Rowling does. Also, the last sentence of this chapter came from the TV show Charmed.