Hermione had turned herself into a very successful person. She ran her own business dealing with potions, and other trinkets, and then there were her causes, potions with Snape to help people from the Voldermort time. They have became known world wide for their potions. She became as great as they said she would.
Harry married Ginny once she graduated the following year, they becoming Aurors, except only Ron and Hermione knew. It was a secret kept from the world. Ginny had been pregnant last August and she delivered this May, a girl named Rose. Their life was just beginning.
Ron had not settled down with a special someone, but there had been someone lately. He made it into a Quidditch team, and if you can believe it, he has grown quite skillful. He has the rest of his life ahead of him.
Hermione unlocked the door to her store in a small town outside of London, people coming from all over just to have some of her potions. She walked in, taking a deep breath, loving the smell the store made during the night. Crookshanks jumped on the counter, meowing for some food, and Hermione feeding him because she had nothing better to do.
She charmed the lights to go down so it was just glowing, a magical way, the muggles would say.
"Crookshanks, what am I going to do?" she asked the cat that was eating. No answer as usual.
She brewed some tea for her usual visitors, people just coming in to talk to her. She always looked forward to those wizards because they gave her the most joy throughout the day. She had been very lonely since Hogwarts, though nobody truly knew. Everyone thought she was content with her success.
"If only they knew, my cat," she whispered, "If only..."
He climbed off the train, and onto the platform, in London. He had grown into a very wealthy man, staying as Snape's apprentice for the summer, and heading out into the 'real world'. He held a very high status at the Ministry of Magic controlling all dark arts, if there were any in these times. People knew him at the sight of him, they respected him.
He walked out into the streets of London, heading to the place he had searched for, for three years. He was lonely, so lonely, he was afraid his heart was stone. He had no love since he left Hogwarts, yes there had been women, but nobody ever reached where She was. He was also terrified, scared of how She would react, but he swallowed his pride, and apparated to a small town outside of London.
He saw her unlock her door, She not changing in three years. Her brown chestnut hair was pulled back, no longer bushy, but wavy. Maybe she had grown taller, he told himself. She had her robes on but underneath, he could see jeans and a t-shirt. Keeping both sides with her, he reminded himself. She disappeared into the building and he soon followed.
She had been there for maybe a whole ten minutes when a bell rang telling her someone had entered the shop. She walked from the back, finished putting on the tea, into the main room.
She walked in with a smile on her face, but it soon fell when she saw who it was. His name was on her lips but she dared say it. She stared at him, taking him in, his hair was shoulder length, pulled back. He had gotten taller, 6'3 now. She could sense the strength about him knowing he had fully grown up. She then looked up into his eyes, the silver orbs and she saw was it? Could it? …Fear and happiness. Confusion entered her mind. He should not be here!
He walked in, the bell announcing his arrival, and he watched her walk into the room. Yes, she had grown taller, the hair was different, but nothing had changed, maybe her intelligence. He could sense it walking in. He looked up into her brown eyes to see… shock and confusion!
"Malfoy, how may I help you?" she asked in a cold tone. Her eyes covering, shielding themselves.
He stared at her for a few seconds, knowing that he should say something, but not wanting to ruin a moment, something so special.
"Malfoy!" she yelled, blushing because of the anger rising in her.
"Ms. Granger," he drawled out, "How good it is to see you," he smiled at her.
Manners! He wanted manners, Hermione screamed into her mind.
"May I offer you some tea, Mr. Malfoy," she asked innocently.
"No, but thank you. It sure has been a while."
"Yes, it has," she whispered, looking up at him quickly, "How have you been?" she asked proudly.
"I know I have been as well as you have. Maybe better," he said staring straight at her, hiding nothing.
"You could not be better than me, Malfoy," she said chewing on her lip hiding everything.
The counter separated them, each going into their own silence. Malfoy looked up, and saw the unshed tears in her eyes. She quickly blinked them away, not knowing he had seen. Oh, how he wanted to comfort her.
"You have done great , Granger, in the time," he said.
"And you also. Wouldn't people be shock, you against Dark Arts. How ironic?" she laughed but quickly stopped.
"Of course, always have to be a know-it-all, don't you?" he asked.
"You would know," she said defiantly.
He took a step closer to the counter, Hermione taking a step back. She could already smell him, mint and freshness, manliness. He smiled a sad, defeated smile.
"I'm having a party, at the Manor. A reunion for our year, you could say. Your invited," he said making an invitation appear in his hand.
"But--"
"I'm inviting you, Hermione, you don't have to go unless you want to," he said. He laid the card down and headed for the door, "Maybe you'll have fun."
"Maybe Draco," she said with a small smile.
Draco caught her saying his name, knowing she only used it because he had used hers.
"Goodbye Ms. Granger," he said walking out the door.
"Same to you, Mr. Malfoy, " she said before he disappeared completely through the door...
As soon as he left, she broke into tears, crying of sadness, and happiness together. She stared at the invitation for what must have been hours, and the only thing that made her come to her sense's was the bell to the door ringing.
"Hermione!" Somebody yelled.
She hastily wiped her tears from her face and looked up. "Harry!" she yelled in surprise.
"How have you been?" he asked as he walked over to the counter.
Hermione came from behind and hugged him. "I've been good, great actually. And you? Its been a while," she said sadly.
"I've been wonderful. Ginny is great and Rose… well she grows an inch a minute. Hermione," he said happily as he looked at her. His smile fell off his face. "You forgot a tear," he said wiping it off for her. "Why are you crying?" he asked.
"'I'm not crying. I had something in my eye," she answered.
"You are one of my dearest friends, please explain to me," he begged.
"It was nothing, believe me," she said in a defeated voice. "You won't believe it Harry, but Malfoy came in here today," she said.
"What!" he asked knowingly.
"Well…um… he gave me an invitation to is house for a party, for our year," she said shaky.
"Oh, well, he sent me one also, but he sent it via owl. I do believe he has finally grown up," Harry said.
"He was always mature, he just never acted that way. At times, he was very …nice," Hermione said, thinking a million other words.
"Well, are we speaking of two different people?" Harry asked.
"No, he just grew up," she said hesitantly.
"So, are you going to go?" he asked
She could feel the tears wanting to come again, watching Harry, her dearest friend, how he has changed, and thinking about Draco. How different her life would be if she stayed with him. She blinked back the tears tat threatened to fall. "I haven't decided yet. Are you?"
"I might, if everyone will be there," he said with a smile. "Hey got yourself a boyfriend yet, Hermione?" he asked with a chuckle.
She smiled sadly, "No and I don't believe it is any your business Harry Potter," she said
At that moment the bell rang, bringing two more people into her store. Regulars that came for tea, and to chat to each other. Hermione couldn't deny this place didn't have atmosphere.
"Hello dears," the woman said.
"Your tea is in your usual spot Mrs. Sands," Hermione told the woman.
"I better be leaving, have to go to the office," he said with the special wink Albus had passed to him.
Hermione hugged him again, "Do be careful Harry, without you, I wouldn't be sane," she whispered.
"Without me, you wouldn't be insane… I always am Hermione," he whispered back. "See you at the party."
"Send Ginny and Rose my love. And maybe you will," she said as Harry walked through the door.
So what do you think? Is it getting better, don't worry I already have the entire story finished, it's the anticipation I want!
