Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
I love that picture of us, Draco and I. We were only about four at the time. I suppose I love that innocent harmless look he had in his eyes. I barely ever see it anymore. After everything he's done it's sort of hard to imagine that, that little boy with blonde hair who held my hand was now ruling over the world with an iron fist...
Hermione was in complete and utter shock. Her memories only suggested in her mind they may have been friends as most Pureblood children are. Only so many families are Pureblood and they only let their children hang around Purebloods meaning that friend selection wasn't all that great.
But sweethearts?
Her memory had been erased at age six or five no where near any age like that.
Oh no he was still looking at her like that and it was definitely freaking her out.
This was not the way Draco Malfoy was supposed to act. This wasn't where she should be. She should be back at the Granger's tucked safely in the same bed she had slept in since she was seven.
"Malfoy, I have no idea what-"
"Hermione, dear! I've been looking for you everywhere!"
It was her Father. Wow that felt weird calling him that. He was rushing towards them his robes bristling behind him with a grin on his face.
"I see you're catching up with Draco!"
Mr. Reddenhurst offered a hand to the young blonde which the grey eyed youth took in a firm hand shake.
"Well, you have grown! Haven't much seen you since little Hermione was taken to the Granger's."
He turned to his daughter who seemed to be taking great interest in a certain yellow flower, "He's grown up into a fine man don't you agree?"
Umm NO! He's grown up into a fine prat that's what he's grown up into!
"Umm, yeah, sure."
"Don't say yeah, dearest, say yes," drawled the crackly voice of her Grandmother.
The relatively short woman appeared out from behind her father with a devilish grin.
"Aye, Aye, captain," Hermione answered with a mock salute but her Grandmother was not bothered by this already turning toward Draco.
"Young Mr. Malfoy, I presume?"
"Yes, Ma'am," He said before bending down and kissed the woman's wrinkly hand.
Her Grandmother turned back toward Hermione, "Such a Gentleman," the corners of her creased mouth turned up.
Hermione held in a gag, "I do believe the House-Elf's have finished with brunch you absolutely must try the soup..." Grandmother once again sunk her claws into Hermione and dragged her towards the dinning hall which was filling with guests.
As Acacia the Old, as Hermione had heard one of her cousins murmur, drew her a bit further up the walkway back to the sun room she crooked her head around for reasons unknown to her.
Her eyes were immediately caught by the stormy silver eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy. They looked right into her. Hermione suddenly felt naked almost. Not in the sense of clothing of course but in everything she was. All her fears, her hopes, her dreams. Everything that had ever run through her head seemed to have just been painted on a billboard for everyone to see.
A smooth honey like shadowy voice suddenly sounded in her ears, "The eyes are windows to the soul, the mind, everything…"
Then just like that the connected fell.
With a small almost snap his eyes left hers and returned to that of her Father's who was now chatting happily with a twinkle in his dark eyes.
Hermione's head turned back forward on its own accord as they climbed the steps and entered the lavish dinning room.
"Draco, darling, why don't you sit by Hermione?" Narcissa Malfoy's sugary sweet voice dropped with a grin.
Hermione grimaced and scooted to the far end of the couch as Draco sat on the soft elegant, you guessed it, blue colored couch. He had been uncomfortably close during brunch and during dinner. As of yet however Hermione had made sure he didn't catch her alone. Now most of the guests and family members had left. Leaving Mrs. Malfoy, Draco, her Father and her Grandmother in the lounge for some after dinner tea and wine.
Grandmother was sipping her tonic and grinning over toward the two. She was now joined by the blonde who had instructed Hermione to call her Narcissa.
What the blasted hell?!
Mr. Reddenhurst finally settled into his chair with a glass of wine as the two other women stopped their discussion on Lucius' unfortunate absence from the party.
"Now, Hermione, dear" His gaze passed over Hermione, "Draco, is going to be staying with us to help-"
Draco smirked, "- you with the change."
Hermione paused and shook her head, "Umm, excuse me I don't think I quite heard you."
Draco leaned closer to her with all the adults watching and repeated in a somewhat husky confident voice, "I'll be staying with you, Hermione, till we return to school as Heads students."
Mr. Reddenhurst, Grandmother, and Mrs. Malfoy beamed at him not noticing Hermione's paling face; never knowing the mounting horror which was filling her like a flood.
The brunette was writing so violently with her quill that she had already ripped through two extra large rolls of special Reddenhurst stationary that she found on a desk in the Mansion's own Library. Her face was panicked and she couldn't sit. She was almost done with her letter to Harry and Ron at the Burrow when her quill ripped straight through the Reddenhurst crest printed in the background of the paper.
"Son of a-"
"Hermione?"
Hermione swung around quickly checking the study no one was there but the silky voice could be heard from outside the door. Hermione quickly whipped out her wand and cast a locking charm on the door and fleeing into the large rows of books. Not two minutes later the door burst open with a low, "Alohmora," and in strode the handsome teen.
Hermione sunk deeper into the maze of books moving backwards so to keep an eye on where she had come. Suddenly she felt herself hit something tall, warm, and a little hard.
She spun quickly and found herself face to face with Draco Malfoy.
A side smirk crept on Draco's face as he moved in closer to Hermione, "Running from me?"
Hermione continued to back up but also tried desperately to regain the upper hand, "More like avoiding."
"Oh, I see," Draco gave a fake thoughtful nod and suddenly leaned forward, "And why is that?"
Hermione leaned back almost loosing her balance, "Because I hate you."
Draco leaned back out of her face and stopped his assault on Hermione's personal space, "I wouldn't be so sure of that."
Hermione crossed her arms and stopped her backing away, "Oh, really?"
Draco nodded, "Yes, you see now that you have your memory back you know we were close friends and we are practically be-"
Hermione leered at him and seemed to suddenly be a bit taller, "I find that hard to believe Malfoy because, unless I was the only one here who was missing memory of half their life all those years, you left me out to rot! If all that was true you would have told me the first day at Hogwarts who I was. You wouldn't have called me Mudblood all those years and you sure as hell wouldn't have let Death Eaters into the school to attack me and my friends!"
With that last sentiment Hermione tossed her head back and stomped promptly from the room not caring what young Mr. Malfoy had to say for himself.
YAR FOR ANOTHER EDITED CHAPTER!
Elaina
