Here's another chapter! Enjoy! x

Chapter 3 -Collide

Hermione awoke with a start, covered in sweat and tangled in sheets. Another nightmare. She wondered if they would ever stop, although she was doubtful that they would. She got out of bed and decided to go for a shower. She stepped into the steamy shower room and scrubbed all the sweat off. It dawned on her that it had been a while since she had been touched by another human, and the last person who had done so was Ron. She thought back to the nights they had spent together and smiled. She would never regret that she had lost her virginity to Ron, but she regretted the circumstances. Hermione had often wondered if she had actually wanted to do it, or if she went ahead as she just felt exhilarated to be alive after the Battle. Ron, and his body, had made it obvious that he wanted to and she allowed it to go ahead. Her thoughts drifted back to Ron and how he was and she sighed. She had sent an owl to George as promised, but never received anything in return, and Hermione was alright with that. Ron was hurting, and she had caused that hurt, so she respected his need for a bit of time. After all, she needed her own time too.

She stepped out of the shower and got herself ready for another day wandering about London. She found that spending time amongst Muggles made her feel happy, and she was at her happiest sitting in coffee shops with a book and watching life go by. She took the familiar path to her favourite coffee shop, which was just along the street from The Leaky Cauldron. After placing her usual order of a cappuccino, she was settling into her seat and Steven, the barista brought over her drink. He smiled at Hermione and she smiled back.

"You're making a habit of coming in here," Steven said. "Not that I'm complaining, it brightens up the day a bit having a woman as beautiful as you here." Hermione laughed.

"Well, maybe I just keep coming back for the attentive service," she said, smiling.

"Listen," Steven said. "I know this is really forward, but I'm going out with some of the other people that work here tonight, and I was wondering if you might want to join? You look like you need a good night out."

"You know, Steven, I might just take you up on that offer. Where and when?"

"I'll just get you here, about eight?" He suggested.

"Sounds wonderful," Hermione said. Steven went back to the coffee bar, and Hermione went back to looking out the window. It wasn't fair of her to lead him on, but he was right, she was in desperate need of a night out, socialising with other humans. Maybe it would be good for her, she thought. Then, something caught Hermione's eye. A tall man, pale as ivory with shocking white hair, walked into the coffee shop.

"No…" Hermione whispered, her blood running cold. "It can't be."

"Get me an espresso, quickly," the man said to Steven. The attitude made it seem more likely to Hermione that it was him. She could not take her eyes off him as she felt cold anger running through her bloodstream. He turned around and locked his steel grey eyes with her warm brown. His mouth widened into a familiar smirk, and before Hermione knew it, she was on her feet walking towards him.

"Granger, I would say it was a surprise to see you amongst this filth but I suppose these are your people," Draco Malfoy said, still smirking, until Hermione's fist connected with his face, repeating history.

"Leave. Here. Now. Malfoy," Hermione hissed. Steven looked on, aghast.

"Fuck you, Granger. It's a free world," Draco said, holding his jaw.

"You saw to it that it wouldn't become one. Go, and don't come back here."

"Fine, Mudblood," Draco said and walked out the door. Hermione looked out after him, tears brewing in her eyes. Memories of the Battle brought back to her mind, she ran out of the coffee shop to her room in The Leaky Cauldron and she cried for hours. Distraught, Hermione drank half a bottle of Firewhiskey before she realised she was supposed to be going out. Fuck it, she thought. She would still go out and she would drink herself into forgetting what had happened today.

It was ten to eight in the evening and Hermione gave herself a once over in the mirror. She looked good and she knew she did. She had often received compliments on her looks when she was at Hogwarts but she never paid them any heed as she was in love with Ron and he was the only one she wanted to receive these compliments from. She had managed to tame her hair and it fell in gentle curls down her back, and she had put on a midnight blue dress which emphasised her slim figure. She had lost a lot of weight since the Battle. She sighed, pulled her jacket on and locked the door to her room.

Steven was waiting for her at the door of the coffee shop, and smiled when he saw her. She smiled back, but she could still feel the Firewhiskey coursing in her bloodstream and felt ashamed.

"How's my boxer?" Steven said, with a giggle.

"Drunk," Hermione sighed, looking at the ground.

"Who was that guy earlier?" Steven asked. "You don't have to tell me, but it seemed like some pretty big shit had gone down between you."

"You can say that again," Hermione said with a wry smile, images of the Battle flashing through her mind, along with every other altercation she had with Malfoy. "He's an awful person, and not deserving of my breath or my time."

"But he deserves you getting drunk over him?" Steven said, concerned. "Come on, let's go. We're going to the club."

Five hours later, and countless drinks, Hermione and Steven were in a close by nightclub. Hermione was having a wonderful night, and had started to let loose and forget about the Battle, Ron and Malfoy. Maybe Steven wasn't so bad after all, and she found herself in his arms, with him pulling her into him and kissing her. She hadn't felt a kiss so deep and right down to her toes in so long, it reminded her of nights with Ron.

Ron.

She broke the kiss off and ran outside. She could hear Steven shouting after her but she ignored him. Tears were free falling down her face.

"What's wrong?" A voice said. Through the haze of alcohol, she thought she recognised it.

"Seriously. Piss off, Malfoy. I don't need this," Hermione said, aware she was slurring her words. She couldn't believe she had the displeasure of seeing Malfoy twice in one day when she hadn't seen him once since the Battle. "How did you even know I was here?"

"You flatter yourself, Granger. I find these nightclubs are good for finding women who are up for a quick one. Not that I really need to justify myself to the drunken mess on the stairs." Malfoy said, the disdain clear in his voice.

"If you're so happy to have a good shag with Muggles, why do you fucking hate me so much, Malfoy? I thought Muggles were repulsive to you," Hermione said through tears.

"Oh, they are. Means I don't feel any guilt if it gets rough," Malfoy smirked.

"You are the worst human I have ever had the displeasure of knowing, Malfoy."

"Yeah? Well, I'm taking you home, you're vulnerable like this," Malfoy said, pulling Hermione over his shoulder with ease. He was more muscular than she remembered, she thought.

"Like fuck you are, Malfoy. Take your hands off me!" Hermione protested.

"Hey, you!" Steven shouted. He had managed his way out of the club and was obviously looking for Hermione. "Leave her alone!"

"Me and Granger go way back and I am taking her home. Were you planning on getting her this drunk so you could get a quick fuck? Piss off," Draco said. He was confused why he suddenly felt protective over Granger. After all, he had detested all that she was and all she represented. The insults against her spilled so freely from his tongue but he wasn't sure that he really meant them anymore. He carried her with ease to the nearest alley and apparated to The Leaky Cauldron. He had saw her go back there earlier after their incident in the coffee shop.

"Granger," he said. "Which room is yours?"

"8," she said sleepily.

"Where's your key?" He asked.

"In my bag," she said. His heart sunk, her bag wasn't there. She must have left it in the club, he thought. He tried Alohamora on the door, but of course that didn't work. He had no other choice, he knew that he had to take her back to his.

There we have it! Draco and Hermione finally meet. What lies in store for them though? Reviews much appreciated! :)