If you recognize it, chances are I don't own it. Read on! Oh, and, if possible, please be so kind as to leave me a review answering the questions in the author's note following this chapter.


You see, Draco had a very clear and concise plan in action to better his chances of getting help. First, he would politely introduce himself as a new neighbor, which, of course, would result in him being invited inside for some lemonade. Then, once inside, he would make casual conversation, feigning interest the whole time, before mentioning in passing that he chose to introduce himself now because he was currently locked out of his own house, but he chose to look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to get acquainted with his new neighbors. The muggles would then feel sympathy for the poor, nice, young man, and fall all over themselves offering help. Draco would graciously accept, and soon enough be comfortably relaxing in his own home.

As stated before, this had been his plan, right up until the point Draco Malfoy came face to face with one-third of the golden trio, Hermione Granger.

''Malfoy?'' She asks incredulously

BANG!

The sound of the slamming door echoes in Draco's ear. Apparently, she isn't expecting a response.

The two stand there, staring at the door separating them for quite some time before Hermione plucks up every single ounce of Gryffindor courage within her, and opens the door.

''Um, hi.'' Draco says, the awkwardness weighing down on the two like an elephant.

Hermione allows herself a moment to observe the man standing on her front porch. He looks strange, she decides, wearing muggle clothes that look nothing like his black suit he adorned their sixth year. Draco's dressed in khaki shorts and a light blue button down quarter sleeve shirt with his blond hair free, and ruffling in the slight breeze. It's a good strange, though Hermione would never admit to such thoughts.

''Can I help you?'' She asks, confusion leaking into her voice.

Draco looks taken aback by her question, as if he thought she might have been planning to attack him instead. In truth, if the Draco Malfoy from their Hogwarts years had shown up at her house, gelled down hair, dark suit, and sneer firmly in place, she would have gone on the defensive. However, Hermione can safely say there's nothing about the shocked man in front of her that makes her want to whip out her wand a start throwing curses at his head; though there's still a fair bit amount of apprehensiveness, as it is her former enemy invading upon her home turf.

Awkwardness still hangs in the air as Draco gapes at her, stuttering, ''Um, uh, I- ''

''What's the matter, Malfoy, ferret got your tongue?'' Hermione jokes, an uncharacteristic smirk slipping into her features.

Ahh, the one and only Draco Malfoy can still bring out the worst in her, even after nearly seven years of not seeing each other.

Tension now diffused, and awkwardness gone, Draco hardens his features, though a small trace of amusement laces his voice when he responds with, ''No, I'm locked out of my house, and am in need of assistance.''

She nods. ''And you're asking me for help because…?''

''Well, it's not as if I actually knew you lived here. I simply chose a house at random.'' Draco retorts, his old attitude slipping into the words.

For some reason, the attitude reassures Hermione. Though he may have been a prat at school, the old attitude coming out is a sign that the world hasn't gone completely mad, and she can now stop looking out for flying pigs. The sneer in his voice, and the holier than though air about him proves to her that the old Draco Malfoy is still in there somewhere under the muggle clothes, though, on account of how their encounters at school had always ended negatively, that may not be a good thing.

''That's not what I meant, Malfoy.'' She states, annoyance clear in her voice.

Oh joy, they're reverting back to their old animosity from their school years.

''Then pray tell, Granger, what you did mean.''

''You just told me that you needed help because you're locked out of your own home.'' Hermione says.

''Yes, and what's your point? I can't be the first person who's gotten himself locked out. You know, if you're just going to poke fun at me, I can just go ask for help elsewhere.''

''No, no,'' She intercepts quickly as he's turning to leave. ''I just meant that, well, you are a wizard aren't you? You could easily use a standard unlocking spell to open your door.''

A slight blush colors Draco's cheeks, and he mumbles something under his breath.

''I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.'' She teases.

''Nothing, just saying-''

''That you just might be one of the most idiotic men on Earth?'' Hermione interrupts, still amused.

Draco, evidently not amused, glowers ''No, it's perfectly understandable that after going for so long not using magic, you forget you have the ability.'' He snaps harshly.

Hermione frowns, not meaning for the teasing comment to elicit such a reaction from the man, and a traitorous sliver of guilt creeps into her mind. ''I'm sorry.''

The words are so quiet that Draco almost doesn't hear, but he does. ''Not a problem. Thank you for your help.'' He says, then quickly makes his way down her walk, heading back to his own home.


Later that night, as each are lying silently in their respective beds, their minds are sharing the same thoughts. Each wonder what the other is doing living in muggle London, and, possibly more importantly, why their living there. However, to learn the answers of such questions would be to go the root of the question itself, and no way are to enemies going to sit down for a heart to heart like a pair of old friends. Snape would come back from the grave, and start singing 'You Are My Sunshine' before that would happen.

However, now that both share the knowledge of where the other is, can they simply ignore each other? Pretend their encounter never happened?

Oh, Merlin help them all!


QUESTIONS FOR YA'LL

1) Is the language okay/appropriate? I live in the U.S. in Tennessee, so I'm not quite familiar with how people in London speak, or their differing expressions. Plus, I want the speech to be in character so that you can actually imagine Hermione or Draco saying it. Please let me know what you think on this front, and feel free to offer any suggestions on improving the speech.

2) Are they out of character?

3) What would you like to see in the story? (Other than a romance between Draco and Hermione)

PLEASE ANSWER!