Summary: When love shows up at her doorstep Hermione Granger barely dares to dream. Her and Draco Malfoy are worlds apart, and yet she feels this inexplicable connection with him. Only true love could bring them together, but the careless and irresponsible Ginny Prewett uses her beauty to become Lucius Malfoy's lover, and so through a series of confusions and misunderstandings, Draco believes Hermione is his dad's lover and home wrecker. In a brutal attack of jealousy Draco commits actions he will regret for the rest of his life.

All human!

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Meet our characters as I see them in my head here - twitpic co m / 83bfep...(Just remove the spaces and at a period after twitpic!)

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Second Chance: Your World is Not Mine

Chapter 1

It was a warm summer night and the sun had just set. The young couple sat in front of the small fire. The lovely woman was resting her head on the blonde man's chest and looked content.

"I can't believe we're here. It's so perfect." She sighed.

"It's perfect because we're together, Hermione," he said, making her smile.

Comfortable silence elapsed, the sound of the waves crashing against the sand kept them company. Draco laid them both down on the blanket. He started kissing Hermione in such a lovely, easy way that made the brunette love him more.

"I love you, Draco." She smiled.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you, too, Hermione."

Suddenly Hermione jerked awake.

These were the kinds of dreams that plagued her since that fateful day she met him. However, it was frustrating because she always seemed to wake up right before her dreams got good. Not that she was complaining too much; they were always sweet and lovely, too…and just enough to tease.

She groaned and looked towards her nightstand at the glowing numbers on her clock. 2:49am, it read…

….

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Ginny Prewett pouted her mouth just the way she knew would make him weak in the knees.

"I will try, Gin, I promise." The older man kissed her mouth passionately and placed his hand over her shoulder on the door of her apartment, desiring more intimacy.

"You better!" she whispered into his mouth seductively. "I want to go have dinner at Bella Italia."

"Ginny, Bella Italia is the most exclusive restaurant in town! I don't know if that's possible; I've heard reservations are made months in advance."

"But, baby, have you forgotten who you are?" She smiled deviously, playing with his tie and snaking the pads of her fingers inside his shirt, bringing him closer and teasing him further. "You can do anything you want. Surely you could grant me this one wish." She pouted again. Really, she just wanted the possibility of the publicity it might bring.

"I will try, my little one." He kissed her again. Like a school boy, he couldn't get enough. "If not, I'm sure we can do something just as fun and fulfilling, I promise."

Ginny huffed, but knew not to push it just yet.

"Okay." She pouted one last time.

"Chin up, doll. I'll think of something," he rushed to say. Maybe one more charming piece of jewelry; a lovely necklace to match her new earrings, she thought.

Ginny beamed and pecked him on the cheek.

"Well, goodnight, darling. I must go in. I don't want my roommate to wake up because of us."

He nodded and caressed her chin with his thumb. "Always so considerate…Goodnight, doll."

She stared after him as he left, jealous of the car, but never the man behind the wheel. She thanked her lucky stars for leading her to him. He was a powerful man in society, owned his own business, several estates and was rich beyond belief. The only downfall was that the bastard was married. It was a slow process but if she was honest in her heart of hears, the plan was to completely have him for herself.

One day, she promised.

She locked the door behind her. Hopefully Hermione was sweetly sleeping, and dreaming away.

Her heels clicked on the floor loudly as she made her way into the bedroom. Not thinking that it might bother or wake Hermione, Ginny turned the lights in the bedroom on and threw her purse on the chair aside.

"Ginny! It's so late." Hermione frowned, worried about the chaotic schedule the other girl always kept.

"I know! I'm beat!" she yawned and threw herself on the twin bed at the right side of the room.

Hermione got up and smoothed her sleeveless night gown down her thighs before going over to Ginny's bed.

"Gin, you really should go clean yourself up and change into some pajamas; you'll feel much better and rest a lot more easily…" She tried to coax her but Ginny wouldn't budge. Hermione started taking her impossibly tall heels off.

Ginny murmured her thanks. "My feet were killing me you know."

Being the good person that she was, Hermione started rubbing the bottoms of her feet; they felt stiff and dry.

"I don't know how you handle it, Gin. All the odd hours and pain of caking on the make up, the clothes." Hermione shook her head, a small V forming in between her eyebrows.

"I love being a model, okay. The odd hours suck but I have to suck it up for now." Little did Hermione know that Ginny was talking of much more than just a simple modeling gig.

"Have you been working this whole time?" Hermione asked in a worried tone. "Have you eaten at all?"

"I had a little something on set. I'm not hungry 'Mione. Besides, it's late, I wouldn't eat even if I was. Anyway, the campaign is coming along great! Wait till you see some of the shots. I'm sure Larissa Malkin will have at least one billboard up." Ginny knew that the Malkin campaign was only one photo shoot that took place last week, but she needed an excuse that wouldn't end in questions so she could be out and about with her new beau without Hermione worrying and asking where she was all the time, so she was milking her last modeling gig for as long as she could.

"Oh, and by the way, don't wake me up tomorrow. I plan on sleeping alllll day!" Hermione giggled endearingly at her antics.

"I'm glad things are going great with the modeling, Gin." Hermione patted her back and advised that she wash her face and change one last time before going to bed.

A few minutes later she heard Ginny groan and get up. Hermione smiled in her bed and went back to sleep. If anything Ginny was vain and wouldn't fall asleep with a face full of make up.

….

The next morning Hermione made breakfast early. Normally she would make it a a little later than she liked so it wouldn't be cold by the time Ginny got up. But remembering that Ginny had asked the night before to not be awoken, Hermione decided she could have breakfast as early as she liked.

After she finished she looked over her lesson plan for Arabella Malfoy. With a smile on her face, her thoughts strayed to the little ten year old girl. She was wonderful and charismatic. She liked her so much that should she ever have a little girl, she wanted one just as pretty and charming as Arabella herself.

Thinking about Arabella made her thoughts go to her much older, blonde brother Draco Malfoy. He was just so handsome, and even more charismatic than Arabella.

When she started thinking about the perfect shade of grey of his eyes, she mentally slapped herself out of it. It just wasn't productive to dwell on something that would just never be.

It was spring time and it was slowly shifting into summer. The mornings and nights were still chilly, so Hermione kept her running shorts and light hoodie on and decided to relieve some of her stress by running a couple laps around the block.

Running helped her clear her head and on the plus side it kept off those couple pounds that tended to end on her belly if she skipped her running sessions.

It was late morning now and she was starting to get sweaty as the sun got higher in the sky.

Just as she was nearing the wooden door of her apartment her neighbor Ron Weasley exited his and smiled widely at her.

"Hello, Ron!" she said cheerfully.

"Hiya, 'Mione!" Hiya! Really, Ron, you couldn't do any better? he thought miserably.

She laughed lightly and asked him where he was going. He couldn't help but notice the pretty pink glow on her face and soft shaped lips.

"Got a few errands to run before heading over to the shop." He held up his hand in which he had a few envelopes. Hermione guessed he was on his way to the post office. "Got anything you need to mail, since I'm on my way?"

"Oh, boy, that's really nice of you! And yeah, I have a couple of bill payments I need to send." They began walking towards Hermione's apartment. "I was just going to drop them off before work, but it'd be really nice if you could drop them off since you're going anyway."

"It's not a problem, really!"

"Yeah? It's just traveling is such a pain as it is and this way I don't have to go farther than I need to."

Ron nodded in understanding as they walked into her apartment.

She grabbed two envelopes that were in the middle of the small, circular dining table.

"'Mione!" Hermione jumped at Ginny's screech, her hand flying to her heart.

"Gin! You scared me-"

"What the hell is he doing here!"

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed at her utter rudeness. She looked towards the tall man apologetically. "Ron," Hermione didn't know what to say.

"Hermione, it's alright, just give me the mail and I'll be on my way."

She took the mail and walked with him outside her door.

"I'm sorry, I know you two don't get along-"

"It's alright, really," he smiled kindly. "I don't like her, she doesn't like me; no skin off my nose."

Hermione bit her lip, her forehead furrowed.

"Thanks again, for that," she pointed towards her mail, which was now in his hands.

"Hey, what are good neighbors, and, erm, friends for, right?" He smiled again, if a little awkwardly.

"Right…"

"By the way…you look very…nice today." He blushed to the tips of his ears.

Hermione laughed knowing he was just being nice. She had just finished her run and was sweaty and probably really gross, she was sure.

He watched her go back in to her apartment wistfully. He shook his head and started walking.

Nice, Ronnie boy, 'you look NICE'? No girl wants to hear 'nice' when they're beautiful, he was internally berating himself for everything that went wrong and for just being a blithering idiot.

The color in his ears hadn't yet disappeared when suddenly a car sped by nearly running him over. Ron nearly tripped when he threw himself back on the sidewalk just in time to avoid it. The blonde driver threw his hand out in a gesture that simply said Get the hell out of the way! He looked like a little, rich bastard that probably never had to lift a single finger of his perfectly manicured hand in his whole life.

It was hard to believe the nerve of some people.

…..

"Hey, mate, just calling to let you know that Pansy Parkinson is here," said Blaise.

"What!"

"You heard correctly. Astoria just told me that she got back in the country yesterday. And I just saw her sitting with the rest of the girls on my way to the locker room."

"Thanks for the heads up, Blaise." Draco really didn't want to relive his days with her. But maybe things would be different. He'd just have to wait and see.

"You're on your way right? We're waiting for you and Theo to get the Polo game started."

"Fuck!"

"What! What happened?" Blaise asked frantically.

"Nothing, just some idiot ginger on the street not watching where the hell he's going."

"You really shouldn't talk on your phone and drive, you know?"

"Fuck you, asshole, you called me, remember?"

"Whatever, hurry and get your ass here already."

Click.

Draco pressed the button to lock his phone again and threw it on the passenger seat, along with his black designer sunglasses.

Damn.

He wondered if it was going to be weird with Pansy around again. Sure, they had a very long history behind them, Draco had even been positive that they would end up married. And he would have even been okay with that. But Pansy wanted more than Draco could offer at the time, and two years ago married Marcus Flint. It was a shock at first that they had even harbored feelings for each other, but Draco was very thankful she had gone her separate way because it made him realize that he was totally not ready to settle down.

That was two years ago. Now he was 25 years old and still felt much too young to make a life decision of that magnitude. He knew he deserved to have his share of fun and women. For the last two years after Pansy left, he had flings here and there, even one night stands, but it was always clear to him and the women he saw that all they both wanted was sex and a good time with their friends. And that was what life was all about for Draco Malfoy. He knew he would have to settle down pretty soon, probably within the next ten years or so, but not any time soon!

He didn't know what Pansy wanted now that she was back; he hoped all she wanted was to be integrated back into their circle of friends. He figured he'd find out very soon, regardless. Either way all that mattered was what he currently wanted, and it wasn't anything serious at all. And this time he certainly wouldn't let her coerce him into anything the way she was prone to do in their younger days.

….

Draco arrived at their usual country club and took his bag of gear with him towards the locker room. He anticipated seeing pansy but at the same time was afraid she'd pop out at any turn.

"Hey, mate."

Blaise turned around and greeted Draco.

"How you feeling?" Blaise snickered.

Draco mocked punched him in the shoulder as he started putting on his riding boots.

"Where the hell is Theo?" Draco asked, referring to their last team member.

"He's ready. In Astoria's words 'he's out flirting like the pig he is'."

"Whatever, let's go," he said putting on his helmet.

As soon as Draco mounted his horse he felt the stares of the young women gathered around the tables in the distance come his way. He didn't particularly care for them and tried to ignore them all as the game began. Ever the competitive spirit, Draco was an excellent Polo player, and eventually forgot all about Pansy Parkinson and the reality of life. Striving to always outshine his usual team members Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott, Draco lost himself in the game and gave it his all. Indeed he hadn't played a game quite like this one in a long while. He used his mallet and thrusted the ball into the opposing team's goal, one final time.

Draco, Theo, and Blaise got off their horses and bade farewell to their opposing team. Draco still felt the rush of endorphins and the triumph of winning coursing in his veins. He took his helmet off and shook his hair out slightly. He was sweaty all the way down to his boots and the light breeze felt wonderful.

He fist bumped Blaise and Theo gave him a friendly hard pat on the back.

"Oh! Draco! You played wonderfully!" Pansy ran towards Draco in her short, little pink tennis outfit. She threw her arms around his neck and locked her lips to his as if they had never been apart for the last two years.

He could hear the cheers and whoops of their friends gathering around them both. He had to admit the familiarity of her kiss wasn't unpleasant. Maybe this could work to their advantage. Maybe he had been slightly worried for nothing. He smiled against her mouth and his hand gave her bum a light squeeze that made her squeal.

"Draco! You dog!" she said in his ear.

"Come on, Pans, let's go talk." His tone was charming, soft and inviting. It made Pansy feel light hearted and wonderful inside.

"Of course, darling let's go!" Draco gave the others a mischievous look before taking her hand and leading her away.

She giggled and pulled him away and towards an area full of flowers and trees. Again her lips attacked him and pulled him into her. His hand went to her waist and hers over his neck.

"Pansy, what are we doing?" he said a few minutes in. He pulled away enough to be able to look into her face and breathe in something other than her expensive perfume.

"We are reacquainting ourselves," she said, her fingers making playful circles on his chest.

"Pansy," he began, his tone losing the playfulness of the conversation.

"Don't worry, Draco. I'm still aware of your playboy status. I know it's not any different than when I was still here. But I want you to know, Draco, that that is exactly what pushed me into Marcus's arms."

"Pansy, I'm sure you know better than to pin all that on me."

"You're right. I'm sorry. But your tendencies did play a big part on why I severed our relationship. Now stop trying to deny it, it's almost insulting."

"What is?"

"Well, the fact that you sleep around and don't care enough to cement anything more than a relationship beyond the bedroom. If I'm honest, Draco, a lot of the time it felt like that was all that we had. And it made me feel like I was no different than the rest of them."

"Pans, I know we have a very long history. Damn, we've known each other since we were in nappies, but I don't think we were ever really meant to be, and I'm positive that's the reason why we were always on and off throughout the years. I was honestly very happy for you when you married Marcus Flint." Pansy pouted at this. "Stop that. What I meant was that I knew you weren't always happy with me and I thought you had found the person you truly deserved in Marcus. I love you, Pansy. Not the way I thought I did, but in a more sisterly way."

She huffed. "Draco, you don't kiss a sister."

"You know what I mean. Pansy you are important to me and I want you to do what makes you happy."

"You make me happy, Draco. I want us to be serious about each other."

"I'm sorry, Pansy, but I've seen you maybe twice in the two year span you were away. You can't just show up after your divorce and expect things to be the way they used to be. We've both grown up a little more since then-"

"Exactly, Drake," she put her arms around his neck again. "You've said it yourself, we've grown up a little more. I know what I want now, and I realize that all I've ever wanted was just you. I'm in love with you and the whole Marcus fiasco made me thoroughly aware of it."

Draco took her arms from around him.

"What's the matter, Draco? Do you just not find me attractive at all anymore?"

"It's not that, Pans. You're a beautiful woman, you know that." Pansy beamed at the compliment. "But I also believe that you are in love with the idea of us together, but that is it."

"You said it yourself that you haven't seen me more than twice in the last two years, how would you know what I want now!"

Draco exhaled deeply. "Alright, while that might be true, I'll be honest; Although I firmly believe in everything I have said, I also know that I don't want anything serious right now. I like being a 'playboy'," he used his fingers to create quote marks in midair. "I'm happy this way for now. Maybe in the very distant future I may look for something more, but for now I'm happy flying solo." Pansy's face fell. "However, that doesn't mean I'm not willing to have a good time with you Pans." He flitted his eyebrows up and down obnoxiously. Pansy huffed and smacked him on the chest before turning away from him.

"Ugh! You're so..so," she couldn't think of a good enough insult for him. Meanwhile, Draco laid down next to a tree, the perfect picture of ease. He looked so handsome with his long sleeve, fitted cotton shirt, dark trousers, and riding boots. Pansy wanted to curse him and kiss him at the same time.

"I'm being honest, Pans. And I see nothing wrong with what I've said. Hell, if we don't like it, we can always just be friends."

Pansy wanted to tear her hair out because the last thing she wanted was to 'just be friends' with Draco Malfoy!

She took a calming breath and went down on her knees to sit next to him. "You're impossible! Don't you remember when we were together! When we were engaged?"

"Yes, I remember that time. It was also the time you up and left me to be with Marcus."

"Ugh! Stop talking about that!"

"No, Pansy, you're not understanding. I'm not throwing it in your face. I just want to let you know that you did me a great favor by doing that."

"A favor!" Her face was incredulous.

"Of course, a favor," he smiled. "I mean imagine if you hadn't left. I am certain that by this time we'd be married, and worst of all, miserable by now."

"Miserable! Why do you insist on looking at it that way?"

"Think about it, Pans. Marcus couldn't stand you so he left you-"

"Draco! I left him! It was my idea to divorce him!"

He sat up to face her. "Alright, be that as it may, I know what I want, and it would never be to be married so young! And I want to be absolutely clear: We'd be miserable because I would have realized sooner or later that I wasn't in love with you." Before she could say something in her defense again, he continued. "I like new things, exciting things, Pans. I like to travel and meet new people all the time. I like to have fun, go out, and enjoy my time with beautiful women…It just wouldn't of worked out."

She was angry, but Draco could tell she was trying to stomp it down. "You haven't changed at all, have you, Drake?"

He laid back down by the tree and smiled. "Just look at me," he winked. "It's just how I am, and I'm not willing to change it for any woman in the world."

…..

"Hello, darling," Astoria Greengrass greeted her fiance, Blaise, in his office.

"Hi, baby," he sat her on his lap and kissed her sweetly, just the way he liked.

"Where's my cousin?" she asked looking to the opposite end of the office where she knew was usually occupied by Draco.

"He's in a meeting with Lucius and your father." He started to nuzzle her neck. "You left the country club a bit earlier than normal," he said, noting the time.

"Yeah, Pansy was being a total drag." Her lovely blue eyes rolled to the ceiling.

"Hmm…yeah she didn't look to happy after she got back with Draco."

"He seemed totally at ease, though."

"Yes, but I didn't get a chance to ask anything because we were a little late as it was and Lucius demanded to see him as soon as we got here."

Noticing the designs on his desk, Astoria picked one up. "What are these for, Blaise?"

"I was going to surprise you next week with these options," he smiled. "They're your choices for the bridesmaids dresses and colors."

"They're all beautiful!" she gushed. "Sorry I ruined it," she looked into his face, her mouth pouting a little.

"It's alright, baby. If you'd like you can take them home and look over them more comfortably."

"I will, thank you," she said softly, looking into his eyes. She kissed him sweetly just like she knew he liked.

She sighed. "You're such a poet in love with beauty," she said looking down at the designs wistfully.

"And you, too." He ran his hands through her straight, long blonde hair.

"Of course you do; I'm beautiful," she said with a smile and sparkle in her electric eyes.

She stood up abruptly. "I'm going to go and show these to my mum! She has great taste and will help me narrow it down!" She squealed, the excitement at their upcoming nuptials evident in her person. "See you at lunch!" Astoria bounced out the door and Blaise watched her long blonde hair swing about wildly as she left with a twinkle in his eyes.

As soon as the door shut after Astoria, Draco walked in.

"What did Lucius need, Draco?" Blaise asked as soon as his best friend was settled behind his desk.

"Nothing, really. Just wanted to go over the numbers for this week."

"Ahh."

Draco came to stand in front of his desk, facing Blaise. "I reckon my dear uncle, Rodolphus, will want to see you soon about the new designs for the latest collection."

"Thanks for the heads up."

Draco nodded and Blaise continued. "You really need to stop wearing blazers with dark jeans. They're sort of a thing of the past, mate." Draco knew Blaise was mocking him but he still scowled.

"Stop being such a girl, Blaise. Besides, I happen to know I look excellent like this. Especially with these Prada loafers."

"Who's being a girl now?" Blaise snickered.

"Shut up."

Blaise chuckled. "So…I saw Pansy dangling herself all over you earlier, and then you left you bastard. What's up with that?"

"Oh, you know, typical woman. She says she wants things to be serious now." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Like seriously together?"

"Affirmative."

Blaise couldn't help but laugh and Draco joined in. "That will go wonderfully with your family, though."

"Maybe I'd settle with her in the long run, but not for now. You know I'm just having fun. I made that perfectly clear. If she's up for it, then awesome. If not, well there's plenty of fish in the sea...Besides I have my eyes on Little Hermione Granger, the Tutor. " Draco laughed and Blaise smiled.

"Ahh, the one teaching your sister?"

"The very one…I'm positive she likes me. And we're going out tonight."

"You've already asked her? Damn, you move quick!"

"Of course not, Blaise, but it's not like she will deny me." Draco grinned crookedly.

"You cocky bastard," he said laughing. Draco put on an his most innocent face. "I can't wait till you meet the one...Maybe this one will be it."

"Ouch. You're supposed to be my friend, Blaise! Not wish my life to be over like yours will be soon." Draco barked out a laugh. Blaise smiled because no matter how Draco saw it, his wedding wasn't a bad thing, far from it. "But no. I know what I want and right now I want that little doe eyed brunette. Trust me, tonight she falls completely or my name isn't Draco Malfoy."

"Well, tell me what happens tomorrow." Blaise stood up and left to see Rodolphus

Draco moved back to his desk and started contemplating the best and fastest way to make her fall for him.

…..

"'Cissy! What are you doing in there?" Bella bellowed.

"Bella, darling, you're acting like you don't see me in here every day!"

Arabella, sitting on one of the high bar chairs on the opposite side of the counter, giggled.

"Each and every bloody day, woman! This is why we have the bloody help!"

"Bella, that doesn't matter. You know I love to greet Lucius with a warm plate and a smile. I love indulging my husband, nothing makes me happier than doting on my family."

"And we love you for it, mummy," Arabella said happily.

"All done!" Narcissa exclaimed moments later, clearly happy with herself. "Emma," she smiled, looking at the head housekeeper. "You can serve as soon as we are all seated."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"There you are, darling!" Lucius came in and gathered Narcissa in his arms and the older couple shared a sweet kiss.

"Is Draco here yet, dear?"

"He is." Lucius smiled. "I believe he went to change."

"You should, too, darling. Get into something more comfortable than a suit. A placed an outfit on the bed upstairs for you."

"That's why I love you, 'Cissa. Always looking out for me."

Narcissa put her hand lovingly on his cheek. Lucius took her hand and kissed it before walking out to do as his wife told him to do.

Seeing the sick scene always left a bad taste in Bellatrix's mouth every day. She had always been jealous of Narcissa's and Lucius's marriage. Her relationship with Rodolphus just wasn't what it used to be. The lying, cheating bastard that he is, she thought as she saw Narcissa stir something that didn't need stirring on a silver pot in her gourmet kitchen.

"Come on ladies, let's go have some lunch," Narcissa said, looking at her sister and daughter.

Twenty minutes later the Malfoy family, including Blaise Zabini were gathered around the long mahogany table.

"Narcissa, darling, this is amazing," said Lucius. "As usual of course." He smiled and kissed his wife on the cheek as she blushed at his compliment.

"You two are so adorable!" gushed Astoria sitting next to Blaise.

"Didn't you lot know that mum and dad would have been Romeo and Juliet if Shakespeare hadn't killed them off!" Draco said cheerfully, resulting in the whole table laughing loudly.

"Draco!" squealed Astoria in delight. "Horrible joke, Draco! Honestly." Astoria's loud giggles were making her go red in the face and Draco laughed more as Blaise kissed her forehead lightly.

Astoria clung to Blaise's arm and said, "I hope you and I are just like that after years and years of marriage!"

Before Blaise could say anything to agree, Bellatrix piped in, "Well, Astoria, I hope you do not partake in such public displays of affection!" Her mother made Astoria feel rebuffed. Although she knew not to let her mother get the best of her and that it was simply best to let her fume, it still made her feel sorrowful that her parents had never been like her Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius. She was hoping that her getting married would of brought them closer, what with spending so much time together planning the wedding. But so far that didn't seem to be happening. Astoria stared at her plate, picking at it. Blaise, noting the sadness in her eyes, squeezed her hand tenderly below the table.

Draco gave a low whistle. "I think Aunty Trix needs Uncle Rodolphus right now."

The table giggle awkwardly and Astoria, looking into her mum's sour expression, looked at her with something of a smirk.

Fortunately Bellatrix was saved from answering when the doorbell rings. Seconds later a maid announced the arrival of Hermione Granger and said that she was waiting in the parlor.

"What bad taste, to come bother during lunch time!" Bellatrix made sure the disgust was evident in her tone.

"Stop it, Bella. Miss Granger is here right on time." Narcissa said calmly, looking at her silver watch. "We lunched a little bit later today, that's all." Looking at Arabella, Narcissa said, "Why don't you go wait in the library sweetheart; I will send Miss Granger up there to you."

"Do you mind if I have my lessons in the sunroom instead, mummy? It's just such a nice day and the library is so stuffy," she wrinkled her nose cutely and Draco grinned, preferring the sunroom himself over a stuffy library.

"Of course, darling…Do you still want desert? I made flan."

"Maybe later? I'm a bit full." Narcissa grinned at her daughter and nodded.

"I will certainly have flan, dear." Narcissa's attention was grabbed by Lucius and she laughed.

"Always wanting desert, you!"

….

The young servant girl that led Hermione into the parlor came to fetch her and led her to the sunroom. As soon as Hermione walked into the giant open room she was rendered speechless. Arabella greeted her cheerfully and motioned for her to sit in the table that was set out for her studying purposes.

"Hello Ari," Hermione smiled warmly at the young girl. "This room is so beautiful!" she said in wonder as she sat in one of the chairs. She had never stepped foot in here; normally her lessons took place in the library.

"Isn't it, Hermione?" she said, opening her notebook. "It's one of my favorite rooms."

Hermione could see why; It was grand and spacious. Open windows all along the walls, and ceiling, letting the sun shine in and the white fluffy clouds flow by. She could see the start of the beautiful gardens that laid beyond and a running fountain of a large cherub.

"Well, sweetie, will start at the top of this list today-"

"Hermione, you know what I would really just love?" Arabella gushed.

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at the young, blonde girl's exuberance. "What's that, Arabella?"

"For you to marry Draco!"

Hermione gasped. Arabella often took her by surprise with the things she said, the girl didn't have much of a filter. It took her a few seconds to respond, but when she did her tone was noticeably softer, more somber. "I don't think that could ever be possible, Ari…"

"Why not?" She seemed thoroughly confused, cocking her head to the side and twirling a long dirty blonde lock "Astoria and I have been talking about her wedding to Blaise and, oh, I would just love it if you married my brother!" she clasped her hands together under her wide, pearly smile. "You're so pretty! You should go out with him, I bet he would love you!"

"I'm not pretty, and even if he thought I was…" Never in a million years, I don't know why I'm humoring something that would never be. "We are just too different. We're of different class and background. I'm sure he'll end up marrying someone beautiful, someone that deserves to be a part of your family." Hermione smiled as warmly as she could.

"But you are beautiful, Hermione. I absolutely love your hair. I have dolls with perfect, long curly hair like yours. Of course I don't play with them anymore; I'm pretty grown up now, you know…Anyway, I wish mine wasn't so straight." She looked glumly at a lock of long blonde hair. Hermione thought she might be crazy not loving her beautiful angelic-down-to-her-waist hair. Well, she started thinking maybe she was crazy! Suggesting Hermione marry Draco. Never in a million years… "Also, I can't think of anyone I'd want to join my family more than you. You know how much I would hate having lessons all summer long if it was someone other than you, Hermione! I'm pretty sure I'd pull my hair out! Yep! It'd be gone by September!"

Hermione laughed at the crazy things Arabella was saying and decided that it was enough idle chit chat. "Alright, young lady. I'm glad your mum hired me then! …Now today our focus will be math. Percentages, actually…"

….

"Hello, young lady. Is class over?" Draco asked his little sister whom was on her way to her bedroom.

"Yep! All done for today." She smiled knowingly. "Hermione is just leaving. If you hurry you might still catch her." Arabella winked at her elder brother.

"You read my mind!" Draco playfully mussed up her hair before sprinting down the hall.

He smiled when he saw her reaching for the main exit.

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione's heartbeat instantly dubbled in time. "Yes, sir?"

"Please, Hermione," he said her name softly, his voice deep, and Hermione didn't think anyone had ever said her name so beautifully. "If I may call you that?" Hermione could only nod, eyes wide. "Then I would appreciate it if you called me simply Draco." Hermione didn't think he could ever be simply Draco but nodded anyway. "Now, I need you to do me a favor." He continued before she could even nod. "I would really appreciate it if you would go out with me. Tonight. Say, seven?"

Hermione was left flabbergasted that he would want to go out with her; of all the beautiful women he saw every day, he had picked her. Now she didn't think herself a terrible catch, but she wasn't an idiot either and knew he could have his pick of literally any woman on earth!

Draco didn't want to give her a chance to rebuff. "I won't take no for an answer!" How could she resist his handsome, lovely face? She couldn't. She thought herself as a strong, independent person, but this man made her weak in the knees and she couldn't help it, she agreed.

"Great, I will see you tonight at seven!"

Lord help her. What had she just done?

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Now, I know Draco doesn't have a little sister in cannon, but this is fan fiction, and little Arabella serves a purpose :)

Sorry if this was a bit dry. I literally haven't written anything useful in about two years :( Hopefully as write more, I will become a little better with detail.

I want to have a chapter out a week. Maybe I'll post more, depending on the reception of this :)

Thanks for reading!