Author's Note: (Grins) I couldn't help myself. I wanted to update asap on this story. It's starting to become my favorite. I forgot to say earlier, and you can slap me for this one, that this is their 6th year at Hogwarts. I know... I know... how bad of me to forget. Sorry!

Chapter Three: Meeting In Reality

Rain. Hermione glanced out the window as she twirled a strand of hair furiously. The sun was a pitiful yellow dot in the sky, blocked by the gray bodies of clouds. The rain was a constant rhythm, beating against the large kitchen window as if teasing Hermione. She narrowed her eyes, but she felt ridiculous for getting angry at nature.

Her father came through the archway - which divided the dinning room and the kitchen. He was wearing a black suite and fixing his tie as he hurried past his daughter. Hermione watched him fiddle with it; he never was good at ties. "Dad, here." She stood up and walked over to him. He gave her a hopeless smile as she began tying it for him.

"Thanks, Mione. I don't think I'll ever figure out these damned things. Where's your mum? We're going to be late." The Grangers were actually going out as a family. It must have been a year since they did something like this. Though, it was abusiness party, it was still family time together. And Hermione had never been more excited to spend a night in a room full of doctors.

Her father was a lot like her. He was tall, and built nicely. His muscles weren't anything to fuss over, but he did have some. His chest poked out like a lion's and his hair was combed back. He had a darker shade of brown to his hair than Hermione's but his eyes were exactly the same. They had the same passion and determination that Hermione's eyes held. He loved learning and he loved books, just like his only daughter. When he was a teenager, he was able to skip ahead to the grades higher than him. Hermione used to want to be like that, but now she only wanted to find herself. She wanted to know who she would become, instead of how close she could get to being William Granger.

"She's still upstairs." Hermione stepped away from him, and admired her handy work. She was admiring him in general. All her life she looked up to this man, but she never really knew much about him. She wasn't even sure of his favorite food anymore. But she smiled sweetly at him and acted like her world was at peace. It was the only thing she knew how to do.

"No, she's right here." Her mother's heels made a clicking sound as she walked across the kitchen floor to her husband and daughter. She was wearing a beautiful copper dress that matched her eyes and hugged to her curvy hips. Her light blonde hair was pulled back into a loose bun, and she let two strands hang loose in curls. Hermione got her curly hair from her. Olivia Granger really was a gorgeous woman. "Hermione, I wish you would have let me done something with your hair."

Hermione was plainly dressed in a soft brown dress of silk and lace material. A flower pattern decorated the bottom, and the collar frilled around her neck and shoulders. The dress came to anend a little ways past her knees, and slightly showed that she was a very fit young girl. Her hair was let down, draping down her back like a curtain of waves and curls. She didn't wear much makeup except a little lipstick. And all of this bothered her mother to the point of insanity.

"I like it the way it is." Hermione stated firmly. She liked to look sensible instead of flaunty. It made her feel in control of how others saw her. Instead of looking at her features, they were looking at her personality. She dressed the way she felt.

"A girl like you should wear more colors. And your face would look so pretty against your hair if it was up…" Hermione's mother began to play with her hair, but Hermione swatted her hands away. She hated it when others touched her hair. She didn't like the feeling of their fingers tangled in her hair. Her mother furrowed her eyebrows at the younger woman but dismissed it with a fake smile. "Fine. You're beautiful either way." Hermione rolled her eyes behind her mother's back. She knew her mother was still trying to be the mother she used to be. But her compliments didn't mean anything anymore. They were as false as her.

"Alright, Grangers! Let's head out!" Hermione smiled at her father's bubbly personality. He was always so unaware of the negative atmosphere that rested above their home. Hermione grabbed her coat from the back of a kitchen chair and followed her parents to the garage. It smelled like paint and wood shavings. Hermione climbed into the back seat of the SUV. The leather seats were cold against the back of her legs as she buckled herself in.

"Will, I wish you would have worn that suite I laid out for you." Her mother whined as they garage door slid up, revealing the twilight of evening to them. Hermione sighed and leaned her head back against the seat. "It was brand new, and I bought it specially for this dinner." Hermione's mother also bought her a dress, but it was too small for her. Her mother must have had the idea her daughter was a twig when she bought it. That – or she was drunk.

"I like the one I'm wearing. It makes me feel like James Bond." Hermione giggled and Olivia glared. Hermione had always wondered what it was that changed her mother into such a cold woman. She never used to be like this, not until a few years ago. It must have been the loneliness. Her husband always is working – for days at a time. And her only daughter always flew off to her school to stay all year. No wonder she had changed, she was always left alone. Hermione bit her lip; this realization was hard to swallow. It made it just a little bit harder to hate her now.

"No one ever listens to me anymore. Hermione back there is the worst of all." Hermione stared out the fogged window next to her. She had a feeling this was going to be a long night.

((DM))

"What is taking him so long? We don't have all night!" Draco could here his father complain from the staircase. He rolled his eyes as he took one last glance into his mirror. His hair was slicked back like usual, and he was wearing an expensive muggle suite. Tonight wasn't going to be any sort of fun outing for him. His father was very good friends with a wizard by the name of Alden Russo, an Italian Death Eater. Draco didn't like him much. He played around with muggles too much. He even took a muggle profession, but not as his wife. Which was the only good thing about him. He was throwing a party this evening, and decided to invite the Malfoy family. He was probably only interested in getting in good terms with Lucius. So Lucius would give a good word to You-Know-Who. He let out a sigh and tightened his tie.

His father gave him a glare as he walked down the stairs to greet him. "Sorry, Father. I wanted to look my best." His father smirked and the nervous house elf he had been barking at scurried away.

"Very well. Perhaps we can go now?" Draco nodded and followed his father to the living room. They were going to travel by floo. Draco really didn't want to go, but he had no choice. His father was interested in Alden's theories and crazy ideas about how to get to the top. But there was something about Alden that freaked Draco out. But he couldn't place his finger on it. He shrugged it off and just thought maybe it was because he was such a prick.

Draco had never experienced missing someone like he had recently. His mother had been dead for only a couple of days, and already his father was whisking him off to parties. Draco wondered if he even mourned her. Would she go forgotten? Would everyone simply just forget there ever was a Narcissa Malfoy? Draco wouldn't, he promised her he wouldn't.

His father yanked on Draco's arm, forcing him to get closer. Draco watched as his father slammed the powder into the fireplace, sending them off into the Floo Network. They were going to be transport to a fireplace inside Alden's house - where the party was being held. But the fireplace wasn't in the main room. It was hidden inside Alden's study, where the muggles would never go. He felt his feet reach solid ground as they were suddenly thrust into the Russo mansion.

"Be on your best behavior. I won't have you make a mockery of me. Understand, Draco?" Draco smirked at his father as they traveled into the hallway. The lighting was warm, with candles dangling and placed in every place imaginable. Soft orchestra music could be heard from the ballroom, and there was a thick smell of food in the air. The place really was a mansion. The walls were painted to resemble gold, and the staircase was marble. The windows were long and skinny, but lined up next to each other for miles. A diamond chandelier hung from the dome ceiling. Malfoy Manor couldn't compare to this place, it had a happy feeling that his home would never know.

Lucius dragged Draco down the stairs and immediately found Alden. Draco squirmed away just in time. "I'm thirsty, I'm going to get a drink." Lucius shot him a warning glare.

"Do anything to embarrass me, and I'll have your head." Draco nodded and stalked away from his father. As much as the atmosphere was joyous, Draco still felt a heavy feeling on his chest. Maybe it was because his mother wasn't here. He wasn't used to having to deal with his father's friends alone. But he had plenty of time to get used to it.

He wandered into the ballroom. There were several dancing couples swaying to the soft music of the live band that played from the stage. Tables were lined around the dance floor, providing seats to tired feet. He sighed and slid inside a chair of his own. He choose a table in the back, he only wanted to watch and not be seen. The muggles around him were laughing and smiling, having the gayest time ever. Draco sneered and stretched out his legs. This party wasn't going to end any time soon. And he felt himself getting sick.

((HG))

Hermione gasped as she looked around the room she was entering. Everything seemed so magical, she could have sworn she stepped into the home of a wizard. The light, the smells, the sounds – it was all so much to take in. And it all hit Hermione the minute she stepped in through the door. She didn't think it was going to be this extravagant. She knew doctors were wealthy, from her own father's income. But she never could imagine this much money belonging to one person. Her eyes grew wider with every thing she saw. It was all so much.

"Well, he sure knows how to throw a party." Hermione's father grinned at her. "Why don't you go and have some fun? I'm just going to kiss butt with the alumni for a couple minutes. Me and your mum will find you before the dinner starts." Hermione nodded slowly, still taking in her surroundings. She wasn't worried about being separated from her parents, there was so much that fascinated her that would keep her busy.

She watched as her father led her mother into a crowd of serious looking adults. Her father didn't belong here, all these men and women seemed so uptight. Her father was a lighthearted man. Stop fussing, you'll have fun with him later. She scolded herself and began to wander into the crowd herself.

She wasn't sure where she was going. Hermione wasn't really thinking of anything else except how beautiful everything was. The candles that lined the walls gave off a soft orange glow that reminded her of Christmas. The smells coming from the kitchen, which she had no clue where that could be, was drowning her nose. She suddenly realized how hungry she really was. But what attracted her the most was the music that floated all around her. She knew there was going to be dancing, but she didn't know what kind of dancing. The music was drawing her to it, leading her to a room that literally took her breath away.

It was the size of the Great Hall in Hogwarts. There were white tables lining the sides of the golden dance floor. The stage was cramped with a very professional looking orchestra, with violins, flutes, and all sorts of soothing instruments. She smiled to herself, she really loved the feeling this place was giving her. To have such a home… the host must be a wonderful person! Hermione never did catch the name of the man who was throwing this get together. All she knew was he worked at the hospital and he was a very important man to have as a friend. Her eyes scanned the crowd of people in front of her. Everyone seemed to be in the same state of awe as her.

And then she saw him. He was sitting with his back to her. But she knew who he was. She could never forget that color of blonde, or the awful posture he was modeling.

"Malfoy…"

((DM))

Draco bobbed his foot up and down in boredom. Sure, this was a nice place, but nothing was holding his attention. He was bored out of his mind. His eyes were glazing over and felt himself slouching more and more into his seat. He really wished something would happen.

"Malfoy…" He could have sworn he heard his name, but it was so soft his ears could have been playing tricks on him. It suddenly hit him. That voice… he knew that voice. He spun around in his seat, sitting up at once.

And there she stood, like a vision from a fairy tale. She was staring at him, with deep brown eyes. He didn't know what to say, she was taking the very breath from his lungs. It was the most cryptic thing he ever experienced. Hermione Granger was standing before him, and neither of them were miles near Hogwarts. He never expected to see her outside of school, but here she was. She was wearing a plain brown dress. It had a simple flower print, but it looked nice on her. It brought out the deepness in her eyes. Her hair was a caramel color, and seemed to be burning in the glow of the candles. His eyes couldn't blink.

"Granger." He was surprised he could speak after such a shock.