Disclaimer: I wish I could say I own Harry Potter but sadly I don't.

STRANGELY HARMONIOUS

Hermione woke up the next morning feeling quite satisfied that they were at least going to start make some progress. She was glad that she scraped up the courage to write Draco the note. The meeting itself she dreaded but it was bound to happen some other time. She got up to get ready for the day ahead.

Hermione went down for breakfast to join her friends. Harry and Ginny talked animatedly while Ron just sat there and watched them sulkily. She really hated the vibe between her and Ron and how Ron reacted when he watched other couples. They dated a while after the war but it got too complicated for Hermione. She had trouble getting to terms with all the losses and Ron was mourning his brother. Harry and Ginny went through the same thing but they found comfort in each other. Hermione needed distance and that showed her that she and Ron were not meant to be together. It all became too depressing so she decided to break up with him. They were still friends but things were quite awkward sometimes, especially when they were left alone. She suspects that Ron still has feelings for her. Her feelings disappeared; although she will admit that she misses him sometimes - but missing someone isn't enough. She took a deep breath and went over to them.

"Hey guys!"

Harry and Ginny greeted her still laughing and Ron just merely nodded in her direction. She ignored that.

"So how do your schedules look this year?" she asked in general, taking her seat next to Ron.

"Well, probably not as busy as yours Hermione but it's pretty busy. Harry and I have all our classes together," Ginny stated looking happy.

"Which means all four of us have all our classes together," Ron added sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

Harry just repressed the retort he wanted to shoot at Ron for being so gloomy. Ginny was now in the same year as them because of the war that cost Harry, Ron and Hermione a year. "I'm glad; it is going to be nice to not be the only girl between the two boys." Hermione said as she looked at Ginny with a smile.

"So I won't be joining you guys for lunch today," Hermione continued. "Malfoy and I have a few things to discuss," she finished, not looking up from her breakfast.

"So you are giving up lunch to be with Malfoy?" Ron inquired incredulously. "Are you two having lunch together," he added more as a statement than a question while getting red in the face.

"I am not giving up lunch to be with Malfoy. I am giving up lunch to do my responsibilities, which I have to do with Malfoy because he is my…colleague. And of course we are going to have lunch because we can't go without food and it's not a date as you make it sound!" Hermione ended on a high tone and was a little out of breath when she finished her speech. Ron just looked annoyed and redder in his face. Harry and Ginny just sat staring at them, looking from the one to the other. Harry spoke up first.

"We understand Hermione. It is part of your job as Head girl and your schedule is so full I'll bet lunch is the only time you have free. And besides, we know you'd rather be here with us."

Ron was shooting daggers at Harry with his eyes, Harry just ignored it.

"Yeah thanks Harry that is true. I must say I'm not really looking forward to it but it has to be done."

Over at the Slytherin table Draco sat looking at the four Gryffindors. He can sense the air between them. It is as if everyone is irritated with Ron. He sees how Hermione sharply turns to Ron and give a long speech, leaving her breathless because he could see her chest heaving. Ron just looked away sulkily while Lavender Brown sat looking at him dreamily. He smirks because he just saw that everything is not always what it seems between the Golden Trio.

Hermione was at their office a little before lunch because her class ended early. She hoped that all will go well and that it won't be too strained. She will admit that she was a little more than nervous.

Draco quickly went up to his dorm room before lunch to get another quill when an owl tapped against his window. He thought it strange because mail is usually delivered at breakfast in the Great Hall. Nonetheless he opened the window to let the owl in. He thought it might be Hermione cancelling their meeting. But when he opened the letter he saw that it was from his father.

Dear Son

I know you might find the request strange but your mother mustn't know that I am writing this letter to you. There are private matters I have to discuss with you.

I am so proud of you for becoming Head boy. The Malfoys always had status and now you have the highest status a student can have. You must use it well. It is surprising how some people can falter before authority. Force respect down on everyone. It is true that with great responsibility comes great power.

I don't know how they could have made that mudblood Head girl. They are ruining the aristocracy. That is why you have to undermine her. I can only think how she will try to boss you around but you mustn't let that happen. Let her fall from grace.

You must do everything in your power to rebuild our family name. Do whatever you have to, no matter how hard or difficult. I want the family name rebuilt by the time your mother and I get out of here so we can live normal lives again.

Son, if you can do this I will truly know how important this family is to you. Then one day I will be confident in leaving you the family business.

Please take the honour of having to fight for our name.

Sincerely, Father.

By the time Draco had finished reading the letter he was white with anger. His hands started to tremble and his whole body started to shake. He let the letter fall from his hands that was half crumpled now. He turned around and with the swing he punched the one poster of his bed. His knuckle started to bleed a bit and he had to work real hard not to scream from all the anger. How dare his father ask that of him!

All the while Hermione was still waiting for Draco to arrive. She was starting to get angry. He was late for the appointment he made. He was more than half an hour late. She was just about to leave when the big doors swung open.

She turned around and crossed her arms in front of her. She was going to give him a piece of her mind.

"Is it a habit of yours to show up late?" Hermione sneered as best she could.

Only then did she see the state of Malfoy was in. He was abnormally pale and he looked a bit lost and dazed but that didn't faze her.

"Well?" she demanded, tapping her foot and crossing her arms.

Draco didn't really know what to do, how to react. He just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible to go fume somewhere private. But there she stood, arms crossed, waiting for an answer – demanding it. I can only think how she will try to boss you around but you mustn't let that happen.

"No, it is not a habit. I told you I am busy. Just be lucky that I even showed at all. Now let's get this over with, shall we?"

He abruptly went to sit down on the couch. Hermione followed him, huffing and balling her fists as she went.

"You know I take my responsibilities seriously, maybe you should too," she said a little softer.

Draco was sitting with his elbows on his knees and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Don't start with me Granger, I warn you!" he said as calmly as he could possibly muster.

His eyes were closed and his brows furrowed. She let it go and gasped silently when she saw that there was blood on his knuckle. She wasn't sure what to do next and knew better than to retort.

"WHAT?!" Draco yelled, he could sense that she was watching him and was even more irritated when that was exactly the case when he opened his eyes.

"I'll be in my office when you're ready," she half whispered because she was taken aback by his hefty reaction.

And with that she retreated.

Draco was still mauling the letter over in his head. He can't believe that his father is forcing him to rebuild their name after everything he has put Draco through. He wanted to cry of the frustration and hurt. He pinched the bridge of his nose again to prevent himself from crying and closed his eyes. Unpleasant memories flashed through his mind. Father forcing the superiority of their blood on him; Father forcing him to practice the unforgivable curses on rats and sometimes house elves; Father threatening him with violence if he didn't perform academically; Father beating him up if he lost at something; Father allowing the Dark Lord to make their home the Death Eater's headquarters; Father forcing him to be initiated as a Death Eater and Mother standing there powerless; the Dark Lord asking him to do the mission and threatening him with death if he didn't succeed. He remembered the nights he lay in his bed fearing his father's ascendance to his room to punish him for some trivial thing. He was so young then. He can still feel the pain of Father's beating, he could still see his mother just closing the door quitely and turning away. No, he will not do what his Father was asking. After a few minutes he finally decided what to do: he will rebuild the family name but in the way he wanted. In which way he didn't know yet.

Hermione was sitting behind the desk, lost in thought. What could possibly have happened to Malfoy before their meeting? Something that upset him a lot judging the state of him. She was pulled back to reality when she noticed Draco at the door.

"We can start," was all he said.

She just nodded her head. He came in and went to sit across from her at the table.

Hermione was busy doing some homework but couldn't really concentrate. She was still thinking about their meeting earlier. After Draco went to sit in front of her things were different. It was as if all his fit left him. He contributed a lot but in a still, calm way and he never looked completely up at her. His mind was clearly somewhere else because he never once made a snide remark and surprisingly they agreed on most things. The past will always create an invisible barrier between them. Hermione dreaded the next meeting when Draco will be back to normal.

A/N: Please review – you know you want to.