A/N: Not my characters

Hermione knows about the job because the job position itself isn't top secret just the mission so she could have easily read or heard about it somewhere. :)

Chapter 4

"Granger, can I speak to you?"

Hermione couldn't actually believe that Malfoy was at her door, not only that he was asking to speak to her and asking it politely. Hermione stared—then she thought back to seventh year, "Malfoy, what do you want? If you're here to make yourself feel better by making me feel like crap by orders of your father you can leave."

"No!" Draco said forcefully, "I don't take orders from my father any more—he died two years ago…"

For the second time that day Hermione felt like an idiot, "Oh…err, would you like to come in then?"

Draco shook is head, "No, I just wanted to tell you…I'm sorry for being…a prat seventh year—well actually all seven years. I just wanted to let you know that I only did that because of my father and I really don't care whether your blood is pure or not…you're a damn good witch and you deserve the job."

Hermione stared at him, and then she laughed, "I hope you aren't so thick that you think that you can reverse seven years in one minute! Draco looked at her surprised, "Look Granger I don't apologize…you should appreciate this while you can, I just want to make the trip about the mission not our petty past—understand?"

Hermione stopped laughing, he was actually serious and he actually seemed sorry, "Alright then, thanks for the apology and I hope we can focus on the mission instead of each other…is that all?"

"Yeah, that's all…thanks for listening." Draco wasn't used to someone else actually listening to him, the girls he met were just with him for the fame and his family had definitely never stopped to listen to him.

"Well, Goodnight then." Hermione closed the door and leaned against it. "Did that really just happen?" She thought to herself, "Did Draco Malfoy just apologize for seven years of torture?" Not that that made up for it—but it was a start.

As Draco made his way down the hall he couldn't believe that she didn't hex first, ask questions later. He had said he wanted this trip to be about the mission, but whether she knew it or not he knew he wouldn't be able to focus around her…"why the hell did the other applicant have to be her of all people?" He thought to himself, "shouldn't Sarvasi have at least made sure they didn't have a past with me—a very unpleasant one?"

He wondered what it would be like if any of the girls he dated were as smart as Hermione Granger. Maybe he would get past the one night stand stage finally. Maybe he would be able to settle down or something nice like that…

Hermione was definitely surprised by that visit, but after Malfoy left she found that for the first time while she was living alone she was lonely. She wondered what it would be like to have a real boyfriend. She had never actually had one. Viktor Krum definitely didn't count and neither did Ron, they though she lost her virginity to him—which she wasn't proud of—they didn't last very long. She had always wanted a family, but it never seemed as if she met the right guy. And if she did meet a nice guy she didn't see enough of him because she was always working.

She couldn't deny that Malfoy was handsome; she had known that seventh year. All the girls had been after him—they still were. She couldn't really blame them. Even though he ruined all that by being a git. She had definitely notice his wiry but muscular build from practicing quidditch. She had definitely noticed how beautifully grey his eyes were. She also noticed how perfectly sculptured his face was. But, how could she not have noticed him?

A/N: Review!