[A/N: second installment! now, let's just turn back time a bit here (: ]

Draco's POV

Well, what a wonderful day that was! NOT. Stupid employees can't do their jobs right. Geez, I wonder how many people I fxcking fired today. Heh, who cares. I'm rich, I can find newer, better people.

As I walked to my usual apparation point, I was tempted by a bar close by. "Hmmm… one drink couldn't hurt right?" I thought to myself. "I need it anyway," I concluded as I changed directions and headed towards the not-so-average-looking bar. It looked a little bit wonky, but I was in too bad of a mood to care.

When I opened the door, I was quite surprised to see that it was quite empty, but that might be due to the fact that it's only 7pm on a Tuesday night. "Maybe the crowd hasn't come yet," I thought to myself. As I walked to where the bartender was, I noticed a woman, alone, who seemed to be drinking to her hearts' content. She was a brunette [mmm… my favourite] and she had a petite figure, which added to her "hotness". Geez, what am I? A teenager? I've never even used that word in my life before! I tried to take a peek at her face but she had her hair covering her face because she was staring at the table like it was her enemy.

I was going to walk over to her and introduce myself, but, in that one second, she decided to tie her hair up and I caught a glimpse of her face. "GRANGER?" shouted my mind. What the hell would she be doing in a place like this, doing what she was doing, looking like THAT? Damn… the years have treated her well. Wait WHAT? What the hell did I just say about GRANGER? Oh god, now I really need a drink.

"I think I should stay as far away from her as possible… Being around her has never been a good experience for me…" I thought as I thought back to that punch she threw me in third year. "Who knew she had it in her," I muttered and laughed unenthusiastically. I signaled to the bartender for a butterbeer since I didn't want to get totally drunk. Maybe I'll just watch her from that corner…

[A/N: fast-forward time here! (: ]

I don't know how long I've been here. It's probably quite late 'cause the bar is quite crowded now. But, Granger still hasn't moved from her spot. She's been gulping down drink after drink like there's no tomorrow. "Why haven't you left yet Draco?" a voice in my head's just telling me. "I don't really know… There's something about her that just makes me want to stay and see what happens next…" I replied to that voice. Wait… Because of HER, I'm having a conversation with myself? Damn it, I must be going insane.

I'd go and ask her what's up but that would totally be unlike me. Anyway, she'd want me out of her sight when she realises who she's talking to anyway. I've been observing her from the dark corner for the entirety of the time that I've been here. I still haven't finished my butterbeer and she's probably had more than me.

To everyone else, I'm just that jerk who bullied people in school anyway. No one gave me a second thought, just that guy who liked to terrorise people and if I didn't have my way, well let's say that I'd be damn angry. But that's not the real me. No one's bothered to break through my walls, no one knows the person I really am. Who I am to everyone else, is not who I am inside. I guess no one will ever know that…

I look up as she does something she hadn't done all night. She spoke. LOUD. More like, yelled… but her voice… it felt like it called to me. Some idiots, who thought that they even had a chance with someone like her- whoa, did I just compliment Hermione? Wait, HERMIONE? Hmmm… her name sounds good too.

Anyway, back to idiots. Idiots hitting on her. I felt a pang of jealousy as I watched them be that close to her. What is this that I'm feeling? It's so unknown to me. It makes me feel funny, a good-funny, not a bad one… if that made sense at all.

As I watched her head towards another seat, away from those idiots, she trips over her own foot and falls. Originally, if this was Hogwarts and this happened in the Great Hall, I would be the first one to laugh. You know, to keep up appearances. But, this isn't school anymore. And the War has changed me. It changed everyone. Probably her too.

Oh, WHAT AM I DOING? I should help her before one of those idiots drags her off to who knows where. I walk towards her slowly as I don't want to scare her off. She looks like she's just given up. She doesn't even try to get up, she just lies there. I wonder what happened that was so wrong that made her this way. This wasn't the Granger that I knew… where is she?

Oh god, she's crying. I never know what to do with crying women. But when Hermione cried, I felt different to all of the other women that I've comforted. When I tried to comfort other women, I felt awkward and clueless, with the exception of my mother, after my father's beaten either of us. But with Hermione, it felt like my heart was being ripped out.

I walked closer to her and bent down next to her. She looks heartbreaking, both in the good way and bad. From that far corner, I couldn't see how beautiful she's become after all these years. But that meant that I couldn't see her solemn face either. Oh no, her face suddenly turned pale.

"Gran- Hermione! Wake up!" I hit her cheeks lightly, trying to knock some sense into her. Nonono, the worst thing to do when you're drunk is to pass out. I think. I could always hold my liquor so I didn't know. "Damn it, Hermione! Wake up!" I shake her by the shoulders slightly, trying to get a response. "Mmm…" she murmured. Oh thank god, she's still alive. And she's conscious, at least for now.

I pick her up easily and leave the bar, not without some weird looks from the patrons there of course. I walk to my usual apparation point and apparate, hoping that she would still be fine after the side-apparation.

[A/N: its probably really badly written... but let me know how i can improve it!]