Chapter One

Hermione was ridiculously comfortable on her burgundy couch, with her feet on the coffee table and a book in her hands. It was a Muggle love story revolving around the world of witches and warlocks and despite just how plain incorrect they'd managed to get it, the story broke her heart. She began what was the last paragraph of the novel, so she held her breath and blocked out the overwhelming silence of the apartment. She closed the novel and gave a squeal of joy, then glanced, self consciously around her. She had forgotten that there was no on there for the moment.

There was no lover in her life at the present time and her friends were all busy sorting out their own lives or looking after children. She felt like it was time for a change for her as well, but for what? She felt emotionless, everybody had made Ron out to be such an asshole for leaving her last year but she just stored the memories away and she moved on quietly. Now, loneliness was the only emotion she seemed to be able to identify. She stood up, a rug slipped off her and she began to pace. Her thoughts were unable to focus on one independent idea. The love story would replay on that little cinema of her brain but images of Ron, brought back by the genre, lingered somewhere too. Hermione abruptly stopped her pacing and grabbed her phone, unsure of whom she was going to call. She slowly went through the list and clicked one. As soon as she dialed she knew it was a bad idea, he would be busy; she hesitantly put the phone to her ear, "Harry?"

"Yes, Hermione, could I call you back in a second?"

"Sure…"

The phone was hung up and she sighed heavily. She searched around for something to do and began cooking soup. Finally, the phone rang.

"Hi, sorry about that…" Harry said, slightly out of breath.

"No worries, I was just wondering how life was," she said unconvincingly.

"Oh not bad, dreading this weekend though… despite Ginny's optimistic outlook."

"Oh? What's on this weekend?"

"Since when has Hermione Granger been unorganized? It's the school reunion, fancy dress."

"Oh shit."

"Yeah… lots of small talk, reminiscing… lots of people reminding me of the savior I am."

"Oh, that was definitely fake modesty."

"I'm kidding."

"Sure… well, I guess I'll be there if you all are," she can't believe what she just said.

Harry sighs, "I have to go, this place is havoc with the baby and you know…"

"Yeah, I'll see you soon."

Hermione put the phone on the hook and got down on her knees in the middle of the kitchen. She put her head on the floor and shouted Fuck. She groans, not wanting to have to explain to the whole of her year level the details of her life. Then the soup began to boil, as did her stomach; she suddenly felt sick, tired and surrounded by noise and she remembered it was Friday; she had a day to buy a dress.

The shop door closed louder than she expected, causing her to jump and as soon as Hermione calmed down she heard it again. She spun around and came face to face with Goyle. He loomed over her like a giant and she was completely lost for words. Hermione wouldn't be able to describe Goyle as he had not changed one bit. He'd only gotten taller and a little less fat. She swallowed and briskly continued into the shop; Goyle did not acknowledge her in the least which she was absolutely grateful for until they were at the counter together. He put his cheap suit down on the counter next to Hermione's red dress and turned to face her.

"Her…" he started but couldn't finish.

"Hermione, seriously, you can't remember? You used to stand behind Malfoy as he insulted us at least once a day for the whole of our high school career." She wondered if he was playing dumb in order to act causal but decided that just wasn't his style.

"Oh, course," he muttered, "you going to that thing on the weekend?"

"Unfortunately," she boldly replied.

"Guess I'll see you there," he said as he paid and stumbled out of the store.

It immediately dawned on her that actual Hogwarts students would be at this gathering. In her mind they were previously blurs of evil, judging eyes with no personality. It was an enlightening experience that Goyle caused, she suddenly found herself re-evaluating the situation. She remembered the Gryffindor team, the parties in the dorm room, the adventures that they'd been on, the unity of the whole school. She was overcome with nostalgia of those days, despite the presence of You Know Who but as she exited the store and stepped out in the gloomy streets she knew this event would not be like their years before. However with every new thought her mind would change, soon in her mind there formed an image of the smirk and the pale face of Draco Malfoy and she decided that this could be a lot of fun.

In good spirits despite the bishop rain, she dropped by George's on the way home but she stopped herself just as she reached the door because it dawned on her that Ron could possibly be inside causing this to be an extremely awkward visit. Taking her chances, she knocked. George opened it quickly as if he were expecting her or just bored; she could understand that. Anyway, he was definitely surprised by her presence. He looked around the street to see if she was with anyone.

"Well come on in then!" He almost yelled.

Hermione laughed quietly and in contrast, she whispered, "Hi."

His house was small and cozy with only one floor unlike his childhood home. His girlfriend Claire was obviously out because there was something very odd about the house. The walls and the furniture were swirls of vibrant colours and they all seemed to move before your eyes. The ceilings were arches and domes but the floors hexagons and abstract shapes. George caught her intrigued stare and chuckled.

"The spell will wear off before she gets home don't worry, it's kind of wicked though don't you think?"

Hermione nodded, unable to disagree.

"So, how can I help you Ms. Granger?"

"There's a school reunion on Saturday night," she said, not exactly to the point.

"Tomorrow night…"

"Yes… and a lot of people I haven't seen in a very long time. Including, I might add, some of our lovely Slytherin chums."

"Ah, I believe I have just the right solution. Hang on a tick."

She calls out behind him, "I feel like I'm James Bond and you're supplying me with my gadgets."

"Who's James Bond?" George yells in reply and Hermione hits herself over the head.

He enters the room again, grinning like a madman. He tries to calm himself down first by committing to some small talk.

"So, what do you do again?"

"I work in potions research at the moment," she answered and added, "for medical purposes."

"That's right, that's right…" he was silent for a moment and then his voice started to boom, "Well! You have three choices! Number one, I've created a perfume which causes people to tell the blatant truth, fart a lot and dance extremely ridiculously all in one spray."

"Impressive."

"Number Two is great for a lot of parties like these because there will be a lot of people trying to be something that they aren't in order to impress past acquaintances and so on. This piece of chocolate causes them to have an epiphany so great, they will believe that they don't have to hide behind that mask anymore; they can show people who they truly are. You're probably thinking, 'What a sophisticated piece of chocolate' but if you really think deep, you'll understand that the result it is just as hilarious. I fed this to a guy once and he told his wife he enjoys cross-dressing when she leaves the house…"

George started to snigger nostalgically.

"They have Wizard Cross Dressers?"'

"Where have you been Hermione?"

"Watching Muggle TV…" She was slightly embarrassed that she was the one currently out of sync with Wizard culture. She realized that she had been spending too much time with her parents.

She changes the subject back, "And the third one?"

George shrugs and holds out some lollies, "I thought you might want a few of these, it makes people's ears into elves ears and turn bright purple... you know? And then they can't see it?"

He seemed to be a little bit bored as if he'd used it a few thousand times but then there was a solemn look on his face and she realized that Fred must have created these ones.

She thanked him sincerely and promised to call if they'd been useful.

The night of gathering, she arrived and had a very important realization, she had no date; she'd completely forgotten how vital that was in order to shift the awkward conversation away from her. She glanced around and found Draco Malfoy stopping in his tracks at the bottom of the stairs and was typically, unwilling to move out of everybody else's way. Soon, he'd had enough of being pushed around and stepped over to the side wear Hermione stood. Hermione couldn't help noticing that Draco looked less pale, menacing and devious as he stood there, seemingly confused, and rather handsome. Draco glanced to his side, noticing Hermione staring at him in his peripherals. He scowled at her and she laughed completely withdrawing her earlier remarks. Well not completely… as it changed to a dangerous smirk. She shook her head in disgust of herself.

Malfoy approached her, "Good evening Granger."

"Your manners have considerably improved Malfoy, although I'm not sure you've mastered the polite smile just yet." She smiled politely.

"Just shut up, I realized I didn't bring a date so I have no body to run away with when the going gets tough. Why the fuck am I here." He grabs the hair on his head stressfully and steams.

Hermione thought he was acting a bit different, she sensed more of an identity crises rather than the general hatred for human beings.

She sighed, "I understand completely, I believe we are both in the exact same predicament."

"I would ask you to be my date Granger, but oh wait, you're one of the exact people I would be avoiding talking to."

"Wow Draco, you've never avoided me before, actually you used to approach me and insult me every chance you got."

Draco was weary of Hermione; she wasn't as being as hostile as usual, although he hadn't seen her in years so he decides there must not be any point at the moment, until he provoked her. Obviously, he would try.

"So how's that pathetic red head of yours?" He smirks again.

Hermione groans and whispers to herself, "And it begins," she adds to Malfoy, "… no, not together, shut up," and storms inside.

Hermione struggled through the small talk at the start of the night, explaining over and over again that no, Ron had given her no real reason and her job was very rewarding. She watched their faces drop a little when she did not live up to their expectations. They thought she'd have so many accomplishments.

Later on in the night, Hermione was having fun without having to use George's backups but at last Malfoy and his body guards decided to step in and change it. Luna Lovegood, her hair literally and magically glowing gold, was telling them such a strange story that Hermione did not even know what it was about but all the strange creatures and words that she used had such the effect that she laughed along anyway. Harry looked over at Hermione from behind his beer, raised his eye brows and grinned; being with all his close friends again was a sedative unlike the anxiety he'd felt with the rest of the room.

It was then that Hermione noticed Malfoy over Harry's shoulder. His blonde hair was short and chaotic unlike his father's which, to tell the truth, relieved her. When he was the little evil boy he was in high school she'd always believed he would grow it long and adopt his father's ways, who she despised even more thoroughly than Draco himself. She looked down at her bag where that piece of chocolate was and wondered whether, even if she offered it to him, he would take it.

He shoved his way into their little circle so Ginny was knocked out and he grinned wildly.

"Hello Potter. Long time no see. Still soaking up that admiration I see, I believe they've asked you to make a speech. I just can't wait," he said sarcastically, but as if it pained him at that same time, like he was actually really dreading any kind of speech. He looked bored and slightly drunk.

"Oh, just shut it Malfoy, we don't want you here scum," Ginny, a now strikingly beautiful, thin and strong women, replied angrily and seemed to growl.

Harry looked over at her in complete admiration while Hermione was shocked; they were filled with more hostility toward him than he was back. She somehow felt it was wrong after everything that they'd all been through. Malfoy had turned his life around; he had been manipulated, his parents had divorced and we hadn't seen him in years. She saw his lips quiver slightly, not like he was going to cry, just because he did not want to fight back. Telepathically, she wanted to tell him it was okay, he did not have to fight back and somehow, he seemed to listen. Malfoy turned around and sat on a table by himself pretending to retie his shoe and judge all the people around him in the process.

Hermione excused herself and without taking notice of what the others felt, she went and she sat down next to him. She looked around the Great Hall and its mysterious ceiling, the same room she'd danced in, she'd eaten, she'd laughed, and she'd conspired. Nostalgia was definitely taking a great hold on her this weekend. But she pulled herself away from the sky as Malfoy was staring at her with one eyebrow raised and his lips screwed up to the right.

"How's not having a date working for you?" She asked.

He said sarcastically, "Absolutely fantastically Mudblood," he'd brought out the big guns – Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Want some chocolate?" She offered him the piece out of her bag.

"What? Stop doing this, it's creepy."

"What's creepy?"

"Nothing," then Draco shouted out to Goyle who trotted over.

"Eat this," Draco ordered him and broke off a piece, Hermione gulped.

Goyle chucked it in his mouth without a second thought and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, licking his lips.

"Tastes good."

"Do you feel any different?" Draco asked.

"No… I do seem to..." He burps, "ah, no that's all," and he trudged away.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, nothing had happened but maybe this is just exactly who Goyle is; he doesn't have anything to hide. Malfoy looked Hermione straight in the eyes and popped the piece of chocolate in his mouth, in an unintentionally, seductively manner. It seemed like it took him forever to finish that small piece but when he did he sighed and smiled at her, a genuine smile. Hermione was caught off guard by this, like it was the first time in their entire history she'd seen him smile without its cause being of some personal gain from her misery. So she smiled back.

He leaned back in the chair, spreading his legs and groaned, "This place is amazing and it's been so long," he sighed, "How long has it been since you entered the Forbidden Forest?"

"Too damn, fucking long," Hermione said, accenting each word.

Draco smirked and he smirked like he'd never smirked before. Hermione wondered what the chocolate was doing inside of his head; whether Draco would have upped the insults otherwise. She somehow doubted that he would have, after all he did take that piece of chocolate from her hands and he must have known something was odd - who offers someone a piece of chocolate out of their bag when there is a bunch just down the table in a bowl? They'd both gotten into this situation by taking chances with each other. Hermione wanted to know who Draco really was after all this time and Draco wanted to see Hermione without the losers, Ron and Harry beside her and in front of her, completely ruining all respect he had for her.

Draco stood and fixed his suit. He turned to Hermione and offered her a hand. She took it and was lifted up off the seat. He began to walk towards the door, assuming that she would follow. Out of nowhere Ron stopped them in their tracks. He looked from Draco to Hermione and then back again in a confused manner. He mumbled a hello and then glared at Draco. Hermione had purposefully gone to George's house to collect some things that she could use on the Slytherin boys but Ron seemed just as good a target. Not because she wanted him back, not because he hurt her but for what he did next.

He looked Hermione in the eye and said, "I know it's hard to see me here but you don't have to hang out with this jerk just to avoid me."

She would have exploded if it hadn't been for Draco, who grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and turned her straight around. She shouted at Malfoy to let her go, and then turned around, taking the perfume out of her pocket and sprayed Ron straight in the eyes which seemed to hurt enough. Malfoy was so amused he burst out into fits of laughter just as Ron spurted out his biggest secret.

"Hermione, I still love you."

Hermione's eyes widened and she suddenly felt sorry for the pathetic man. She looked around, hoping that somebody would help her out; Malfoy just continued to laugh.

She found Lavender dancing somewhere close by and tapped her on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Soon, she had asked Ron to dance. Ron's face was red as he replied, "I don't want to, but I will as I just want to get away from here as quickly as possible." Hermione couldn't help chuckling to herself at this and at the thought of Ron dancing even worse than usual. She asked Malfoy if he wanted to stay and watch but he shook his head and he continued toward the door.

It was soon after they had left the castle that that the chocolate was finally making a difference. He was walking as if she wasn't even there, as if there was no one around and it was just him and the castle grounds.

Out loud he said, "I feel like running, can we run to the forest?"

Hermione nodded and felt as if the chocolate was wearing off onto her as well, she wanted to run and she didn't care what he thought. She started to walk faster and then quickened into a jog. Draco was surprised to see her so far ahead of him so he began to sprint to catch up. As they ran Draco brought out his wand and sent a flash of bright purple and gold light into the sky. Hermione couldn't help but join in; she began skipping and firing flashes of rainbow all around them as she spun her way to the forest. Draco watched Hermione in awe; her long thick brown hair was now messy and stuck to her face but she still looked elegant in her fitted and flowing, silk red dress. Her heels would sink in the grass with every movement but she still danced flawlessly. He sent up another flash just before they reach the forest and then caught Hermione as she almost fell over a tree root. Hermione laughed and felt out of breath, gulping as she looked up at Draco.

"Yeah, good idea," she mumbled, now slightly embarrassed but at least now there was someone here to cause it.

"You want to talk about what happened back there?" He was still sniggering slightly but at the same time he looked confused. He put her down.

Hermione couldn't help laughing herself, "No, I don't, it doesn't matter. He wasn't going to tell me anyway it was just the perfume."

"Well, yeah… I had assumed…"

"It's not like I love him."

"Yeah right, you two were going to get married weren't you?"

She laughed loudly and then stuck her hand over her mouth in shock; she was being cruel.

"No, no. I don't think so, thinking back now…"

Draco stood up and started walking deeper into the forest. He looked over his shoulder to make sure she was following him.

"Since when are you comfortable with walking through this forest?" she joked.

"Shut up Granger," he replied, "I'm not scared of anything."

Hermione wondered whether the chocolate was wearing off… he was obviously lying.

He muttered to himself, "Fucking know-it all."

She was honestly offended so she began to walk the other way. 'Unless he was fighting the chocolate of course… that could be possible,' she thought to herself.

Draco continued the way he was going but soon found himself falling into a ditch. He screamed out after Hermione and she ran to him.

"Draco, are you okay? Oh, you just fell over." She raised an eyebrow at his wide, frightened eyes and held out her hand to him. He said nothing.

"So what does that freaking chocolate do Hermione? I'm having the biggest psychological battle in history."

"Oh I doubt that very much Malfoy…"

"At first it was like, I can do anything I want! I don't have to sit here miserable… but then my mind told me it was okay to be scared, come on, let Hermione hug you," He scoffed at himself and his honesty, "And as if I was going to let myself do that…"

"This chocolate doesn't work as well as George told me it would…" Hermione says, slightly disappointed.

"Well Hermione, you've got your wish: me all alone to yourself."

Hermione coughed, "Please… I was only curious."

Nevertheless, Hermione was taken aback by his dangerous grin and embarrassingly, the way he was stretched out along the tree's thick roots with his back up against the tree. He was stretching his neck so the top of his head was against the trunk. All she could do to save herself was stare at that neck. She distracted herself, looking back over to the castle grounds but she couldn't make out the end of the forest. Suddenly behind them was a growl. As reflex Hermione's head turned fast to face Malfoy hoping he'd comfort her, but found him making a fist around a piece of bark as an attempt to calm himself. He failed miserably as he began to shake uncontrollably.

"Such a fucking coward," Hermione muttered to herself.

"Don't you dare call me a coward," Draco yelled and pointed his wand at Hermione's forehead. Hermione staggered back, his eyes were so intent and dark. But before Draco could hurt her an extraordinary animal pounced on him. It was blood red with icy blue eyes. It seemed like a panther but with feathers like a cockatoo on its head and the biggest and widest eyes you'd ever see. It clawed Draco across the face and then licked the blood playfully. Draco brought up his wand and shot it back with a blast, the animal coward and leaped away. As Draco came out of shock he started to yell but Hermione went and stuck her hand over his mouth. She used a simple spell to stop the bleeding on his face.

"Why didn't you help me?" He asked angrily.

Hermione stuttered, "I… it all went so quickly, one minute your wand was on me. Hey! Why should I have helped you?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "I wasn't really going to hex you, idiot."

He put his hand to his face and winced.

"Sorry," she admitted, "Chocolate?"

She held out another piece and laughed.

"Why not," Draco said and took it. She was surprised; maybe once you knew what it did it wouldn't be able to effect you, the magic wasn't strong in the first place. But in time, it proved her wrong. Draco rolled over to look her in the eye.

He mumbled, "You're pretty." Then he passed out.

Hermione panicked and automatically grabbed her wand without knowing what she was going to do; she wasn't sure if the nurse was at Hogwarts at the moment. She decided to take her chances, she grabbed Draco's shoulders and apparated them to the hospital wing.