Draco, 2001

"You know, Draco," Blaise said, "You've been seeing this Eloise chick for almost two years and I've never met her. Why so secretive?"

Draco and Blaise had met up for lunch on one of their rare joint days off. Blaise was still his best friend, thought it would be true to say they had drifted apart somewhat. He supposed it was normal, to slowly grow apart as you aged, but it didn't make it any easier to think that perhaps one day the man sitting across from him would no longer be in his life. At least, that would be the case if they continued to drift. He shrugged as he finished his mouthful of food.

"It's just never come up, I guess." He said, "You'd get on really well with her though I reckon."

"It's serious, then?" Blaise enquired, never having known Draco to stick with one girl for more than a couple of months until he met Eloise.

"This is it, mate." Draco grinned unashamed. "I'm gonna marry that girl one day, I swear it."

"Oh really now?" Blaise chuckled, shocked at his friends certainty. "And what does she have to say about that?"

Honestly? They'd never discussed marriage. They had discussed their individual dreams and aspirations, but the conversation had never arose where those dreams merged into one bigger scenario. At times, it irked Draco that she would seemingly avoid the topic, but he let it slide thinking that perhaps she was just waiting on him to make his move. He imagined what she would look like in a gorgeous white gown and grinned at his dinner companion and was just about to speak when Blaise pointed his attention towards the door of the restaurant.

"Look who just walked in." Blaise muttered and Draco turned to look.

"Oh great." Draco groaned, catching a glimpse of he golden trio. "5 galleons says they come over here and..."

"Malfoy." Came Harry's voice before he could finish his sentence.

"Potter." Draco greeted, not unkindly though definitely not warmly.

He watched as Weasley glared at him and Granger touched Potter on the arm, gesturing that they should sit at their table.

"Come on, Harry." Granger said, her eyes were pleading and familiar. How many times had he looked into those eyes and insulted her?

"How are things, Malfoy?" Harry asked, ignoring her.

"Not too bad. Can't complain." Draco said, smirking.

"Harry, please." Granger said, glancing between Potter and him.

She smiled shyly and her eyes flashed with hurt when he frowned. Potter finally gave in and the three walked across the restaurant and he turned back to Blaise, who was eyeing Granger weirdly. Chancing a glance at her, he saw her quickly avert her gaze from where it had been facing their direction, looking down at her menu. He turned back to Blaise and raised his brow.

"Have you ever noticed..." Blaise said, tearing his eyes away from the golden trio and back to him, "How Granger and Eloise look a lot alike, from what I've seen in the paper?"

Draco stared at him dumbstruck for a moment before bursting into loud laughter. Several heads turned to look at him before he calmed down and took a sip of his water. He shook his head as he regained his breath.

"Mate, have you gone absolutely mental?" He chuckled.

"I'm serious, Draco." Blaise said. "If Hermione were just a bit taller and blonde, they'd be almost identical."

"That's in, I'm convinced." Draco said staring perplexedly at his friend, "You've lost it. Eloise is stunning, insanely beautiful. Granger's just... Granger."

He watched as Blaise sighed and shook his head, sighing.

"I'm telling you mate, if you looked closer you'd see it."