I got two reviews, so thanks for that :)

xSummaFlarex asked for the time period, so let me tell you that Hermione is 19 years old.

The characters and their intentions will become more clear as the story unfolds ...

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of the HP-series.

And I might also note that the first chapters will explain how the situation I described in the prologue happened.

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Chapter 1 Meeting a stranger

Hermione heard a beep. She didn't want to open her eyes, but that beep was getting annoying, so she had to turn it off. The sun shined trough her window, blinding her as she was trying to find the source of the beep. It came from under her bed, so she crawled under it. After a few seconds and bumping her head a couple of times, she found her alarm and turned it off. It was only then she realized she could also have used magic, since her wand was lying on her nightstand.

"Well, at least I'm awake now," she said to herself. Hermione walked over to her wardrobe, trying to find something suitable to wear. She picked a pair of jeans, a shirt and a vest. It would be cold outside, she thought. While she was walking to the kitchen to get some breakfast, she wandered what she was going to do today.

Perhaps she should clean the house again. No, she had done that yesterday. Or maybe she could go and see Ron? Hmm, I don't really feel like seeing him today, she thought. I know, let's go to Diagon Alley to do some shopping!

Hermione quickly finished her breakfast and brushed her teeth. Then she collected her money and took her coat from the hat stand. It was time to buy something new!

*****

Draco was really pissed.

"No mother, I'm not going to Diagon Alley!" he snarled. "Why don't you go if it's so important to you?"

"Draco, you know I can't leave your father behind, not when he's this ill", Narcissa said. "Please just do this for me."

"Mother, I don't ..."

"Listen Draco, I can't trust anyone else with this. If you're not going to pick up that medicine, your father might die!"

"Okay, okay, I'll go! But don't expect anything, okay, I'll do my best, but you can't expect him just to hand it over to me."

"Thanks, Draco," Narcissa said while she hugged Draco. "I love you."

"Yeah, I know, I know", Draco murmured. He picked up his bag and went to Diagon Alley.

*****

Hermione walked into the Leaky Couldron with a smile on her face. It was a little cold outside, but the sun was shining and she really felt in a good mood to buy some things. Quickly, she walked trough the pub. When she wanted to open the back door, she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

"Hermione!" Ron shouted surprised. "What are you doing here?"

She turned around and looked into her boyfriend's face. "Hey Ron. I just came here 'cause I wanted to buy some things."

"What a coincidence", he said. "Me too, shall we go together?"

"You know, Ron, I just want to do some shopping. I'd like to do that alone and ..."

"But Hermione, I haven't seen you for days. The last time I saw you was at Christmas at Harry's place. We should do more things together."

How was she going to talk her way out of this? Should she just tell him that she didn't feel like being with him today? No, that would hurt him too much.

"We will, Ron, but not today. I want to do some shopping for this party I'm throwing next week. You can meet me there, if you'd like. But if you'd come along with me, you'd already know what things I'm going to cook and how I'm going to decorate my house. I wanted that to be a surprise."

"Oh, that's okay, Hermione," he said, a little disappointed. "Go on your own then. But if you need any help with your party, you know where to find me, okay?"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks, Ron," Hermione smiled and quickly kissed him. "Bye, Ron, see you soon." She waved and quickly slipped trough the back door to Diagon Alley. She was relieved Ron hadn't forced her to take him with her. She really, really needed to be on her own today.

*****

Draco just walked out of Slug and Jiggers Apothecary. After a long discussion and explaining his father's situation, he was given the medicine he needed.

"It's really dangerous", the man behind the counter had said. "It is only to be used in the most extreme situations. If you use too much of it, your father will die."

Draco didn't understand why his mother wanted to use this medicine if it was as dangerous as the man had said. Why would she risk his father's life? But she had said that this medicine was their last hope. Perhaps his father was really going to die, no matter what they did. Draco didn't really care. After what his father had done, Draco didn't want to know him anymore.

After You-Know-Who died, Draco realised what his father had done, what he had done! Draco had caused the death of many people, how could he ever live with that? Life wasn't about glory, as he had thought before. Draco was embittered and disappointed. His father had mislead him and Draco hated him for that.

*****

Hermione walked into a small alley next to Diagon Alley. In her arms, she held a number of packages. She had bought a new dress, decorations for her party (which she really had to throw now, though she first didn't like the idea at all), some books and a large crate of Butterbeer.

Suddenly, she bumped into someone and all her packages fell on the ground. She couldn't see a thing, because it was really dark in the small alley. Something broke on the ground, it sounded like glass.

"Oh no," she heard someone saying. "Reparo! Ah, that's better."

"Pardon me," Hermione said. "But what's this all about?"

"You almost broke something really important!" she heard the voice shout. It definitely belonged to a man. "Why didn't you look out?"

He's blaming me, Hermione thought, while he bumped into me! She got angry.

"Uh, you bumped into me! You should've looked out better if that thing in your hand is so important to you!"

"Oh, you're right. I'm sorry, madam," the voice said coolly. "Let me help you stand up and get back your packages." Hermoine saw a hand moving towards her.

"No thank you, I think I can rise up by myself."

"No, I'll help you." The hand grabbed hers and pulled her back to her feet. She felt even angrier when he picked up her packages.

"Why are you trying to help me, after you just insulted me?" she asked.

"Well, I realised it was me that made the mistake and I'm trying to make it up to you."

"Well, you don't need to, I can take care of myself, thank you."

Hermione reached out her hand to pick up the package he was about to pick up. Her hand touched his and she felt a shock run trough her body. The stranger quickly pulled his hand back, as did Hermione. Had he felt it, too? He picked up the package and put it on the heap of packages he had already collected.

"Well, if that's all, madam, I think I have to be on my way", the stranger seemed eager to leave.

"Wait", Hermione said.

"Yes?" the voice sounded more friendly this time.

"I just wanted to say thanks, I guess", she said. She held out her hand, waiting for him to grab it. Would she feel the shock again this time?

The stranger slowly moved his hand towards hers and shook it lightly at first. The shock ran trough Hermione's body. What was happening? She felt a little dizzy and almost fell again. Two strong hands hold her shoulders. She tried to see the stranger's face, but could only see the vague contours.

"Are you all right," the man asked her.

"Yes, I think I am ..." Before she realised what she was doing, the stranger was holding her face and kissed her. She didn't even feel the need to resist.

*****

Draco stared at the bottle while it slowly fell on the ground. He heard it crack and quickly repaired it with his wand.

"Pardon me," He heard a voice say. "But what's this all about?"

"You almost broke something really important!" he shouted to the woman lying on the ground. "Why didn't you look out?"

"Uh, you bumped into me! You should've looked out better if that thing in your hand is so important to you!" the voice wasn't sounding friendly anymore.

Draco really didn't feel like fighting right now, he just wanted to get home.

"Oh, you're right. I'm sorry, madam," he said coolly. "Let me help you stand up and get back your packages." He reached out his hand to help her stand up.

"No thank you, I think I can rise up by myself." The woman sounded really angry.

"No, I'll help you." He grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her back to her feet. Then, he started to pick up her packages and made a small heap of them.

"Why are you trying to help me, after you just insulted me?" she asked.

Why couldn't she just be happy he was helping her?

"Well, I realised it was me that made the mistake and I'm trying to make it up to you."

"Well, you don't need to, I can take care of myself, thank you."

Draco didn't see her reaching for the package he was about to pick up, but suddenly he felt her hand touching his. It felt like a jolt of electricity ran trough his body. He quickly pulled his hand back. Then Draco noticed the woman was staring at him and he picked up the package.

"Well, if that's all, madam, I think I have to be on my way", Draco wanted to get away from this woman, still he was curious what had happened. He turned around and --

"Wait", the woman pleaded.

"Yes?" Draco found that he wanted the woman to talk to him. Why did he want her to talk to him?

"I just wanted to say thanks, I guess", the voice sounded a little shy. He saw she reached out her hand and he took it. Another shock went trough his body, really, what was wrong with him today?

The woman seemed to lose her balance, so he hold her with both his hands.

"Are you alright?" Draco felt the urge to protect this strange woman.

"Yes, I think I am ..." the woman sounded a little confused. Draco lifted his right hand to touch her face. He didn't really know why, but he felt the urge to kiss her, and so he did.

She didn't resist and he was the one that broke the kiss. He really didn't know what to say now.

"Oh, err, that was nice," he heard the woman say.

Her voice had sounded so familiar just then, he tried to remember who she was. He took his wand out of his pocket. Lumos! The light showed him a person he thought he would never see again. Draco could see her brown curls. Brown eyes looked at him, first curious, then terrified. In front of him he saw the girl he just kissed, he saw Hermione Granger.

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Okay, so this is the first chapter. I hope it's not too long, but I really had to put Draco's view in there, so that you could understand how he felt, too. The story will continue like this, switching between Hermione's and Draco's point of view. Please review. What part did you like? What part didn't you like? I'm eager to find out.