AN: Sorry about another Author's Note, I know they can be annoying. Just to say that I will be going through the previous chapters and fixing the horrific amount of issues with grammar, story line holes…general; issues that get published when you don't have a beta and you have managed to put up a chapter almost every day.

I also want to say that I am now working on a new Dramione story in full; and so updates of Restoration may slow. (They will in about a week anyway, but before that.) I'd like to thank you very much for reviewing and following once more; especially considering the very shoddy quality of this literature!

Draco had almost run to their rooms after Hermione had accepted his offer; after telling her to go to McGonagall with their findings, and then to return. She'd approached the statue of the witch with her phoenix nervously, unsure why she was feeling so shaky, she'd just spent an afternoon with him walking about the school and being alarmingly candid with him.

"Computer," she said to the witch, stifling her thoughts now that the time for her evening with Draco was about to start, completely unavoidable. Not that she wanted to avoid it. She slipped into the common room, darting through the wall with her feet picking up the pace unintentionally, her wand was out and ready for the door. She reached the expectant door handle, and took a deep breath; tapping it gently, completely unsure what she was expecting.

"I'm not sure what we're having for dinner," Draco admitted, the moment the door swung open and Hermione made herself visible, shrugging slightly, "I thought we'd call the house-elves; see if they can send up something from the table below."

"I sort of feel like a burger," Hermione admitted, admiring the lighting Draco had managed to whip up in the room; a pair of candles now shone on the mantel piece, and lamps with various coloured glows had been set up upon their desks, giving the entire room a calming glow.

"And a burger is…?" Draco said, waving his hand and shaking his head in confusion, indicating Hermione should elaborate more.

"You're kidding." She replied staring at him as Draco looked taken back.

"No…"

"A burger, you know, like a sandwich only hot and amazing. Filled with meat, salad, cheese and sauces…"

Draco shook his head again, giving a slight shrug as Hermione looked at him incredulously.

"But…it's one of the best foods out there. It's…they're…I can't believe this." She gabbled stunned as Draco gave an awkward chuckle, not expecting her reaction in the slightest.

"Nope, sorry, never had one. Don't even know what they are." He admitted; and Hermione turned to face him; a look of a decision made on her face, and an air of authority began to settle over her shoulders.

"I can't believe you've never had a burger before. How is that possible. I don't understand it." Hermione proclaimed, staring at the blond haired man with indignation; "you're missing out on one of the best foods ever. We're having a burger." She declared as Draco began to open and close his mouth in awkward grimaces as Hermione called for Kreacher, inwardly pleased the elf responded to her as much as Harry. She gave Kreacher her request as Draco relaxed onto the sofa, admiring Hermione's ability to list exactly what she needed almost immediately.

"Why are these…burger things so great?" He asked her as Kreacher popped away; only for the coffee table to start having food items appear in front of them. Several plates clattered onto the surface, and a full bowl of mixed leaves, with sliced tomatoes peeking out appeared next as Hermione grinned, ignoring Draco's question and organising the table immediately, stopping the noise as various items appeared. A plate of fries appeared, thin and crispy; as if they had been made by Belgians and not house-elves, with a whole rack of sauces that made Draco stare.

"Burgers look unbelievably complicated." He deadpanned, as Hermione threw him an amused glance.

"Best bit hasn't even arrived yet," she said, as a bowl of sliced buns appeared, with a clatter as a platter of cooked meat slammed down. Hermione laughed, seeing all the food in front of her, and picked up a napkin.

"It has now!" She laughed, as Draco looked set to copy her immediately. "Ok, here is your introduction to a muggle food I cannot believe you have never had before. We are building our own burger. First, take a bottom half of a bun, and a sauce you want." She instructed, grabbing the bottle of barbeque sauce out the rack and a slice of shaped bread. She squirted the sauce in a circle on to the bun, swirling it a little with a grin. Draco copied curiously, picking up a bottle of tomato sauce, a lone brow raising in sheer curiosity. "Now you want some salad," Hermione continued, picking up a few leaves and a tomato slice. "Then, the very best bit; some meat." She grinned.

Hermione picked up a knife and fork as Draco looked relieved, as If this was a part he finally recognised, only his expression fell when Hermione simply maneuvered a beef patty on top of her salad, and then placed a couple of bits of bacon on top of it. She grinned at him, excitement glittering in her brown eyes as he copied her.

"Cheese!" She announced, grabbing the block and slicing off a wafer; placing it carefully on top of the bacon. "If you're anything like me, you'll want more sauce," She admitted, blushing slightly, and adding yet another dollop of barbeque sauce on to the slowly melting cheese. "Then the top part of the bun." She said, placing the bread onto the now finished burger and pressing it down lightly. "Now we eat," she announced, picking it up with her hands and taking a surprisingly greedy bite with enthusiasm. Draco looked mildly horrified, before finishing off his own attempt at the burger and copying Hermione's actions surprisingly delicately. As the food reached his mouth, his expression melted, a glitter of sheer joy sparkling in his winter eyes. He chewed slowly, savouring each bite as Hermione dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin, her own eyes regarding him with unrestrained amusement. He swallowed, and placed the burger down, reaching for a napkin.

"So that's why these burger things are so great." He sighed, wiping a little sauce off one of his long willowy fingers.

"I just can't believe you've never had one before. They've been on the table at dinner a few times before; how have you never tried one?" She asked him, tilting her head to the side as she took another; smaller and more ladylike bite.

"I didn't know what you were supposed to do with them! They're not very common in my world," he admitted a hint of regret spiking his eyes as he raised the burger to his lips again. "My mother also prefers gourmet cooking, and that doesn't really include burgers." He continued, taking another bite as Hermione finished hers, and nodded along with him. She poured herself a drink from the jug that had arrived with the food, and threw him a curious look.

"Sounds like the pure-blood society is pretty different." She said dully, remembering the times she'd seen Hannah Abbott dig into a burger at dinner.

"I wouldn't say that; just different expectations." He shrugged, seemingly more interested in what he considered to be a muggle delicacy than he was with talking at the moment. Hermione smiled, picking up the hint, and bit into her burger once more. The pair continued to eat slowly, savouring the taste as they carefully regarded one another. The easiness of the conversation they managed to share had crept upon them again unnoticed, like a cat playing tag in the darkness. The revelation had startled them both, but a comfort had begun to overwhelm Draco, and relief for Hermione. The idea of admitting that talking wasn't difficult for them both began to settle upon each of their shoulders, as; burger finished, Hermione began to pick at the fries.

"Why are you always in suits?" She found herself asking, realising that she'd not seen Draco out of a suit since their sixth year, when he seemed to have adopted them permanently.

"It's an image thing, you look much smarter and ready for the day; people take you far more seriously when they see you in one." He commented, smoothing down the fabric of his trousers self-consciously.

"But the effect wares off when you're in them all the time." Hermione smiled, dipping the end of a fry in to some sauce she'd put on the plate.

"So you're not impressed by this?" He asked her almost suggestively, a sly grin appearing at the corners of his mouth as she laughed.

"No!" She giggled, shaking her head, "I've seen it too much; it's boring." She declared, picking up her drink. Draco relaxed against the back of the sofa a seemingly thoughtful expression over his face; his eyes taking him about the room as he mulled over Hermione's words.

"I'll think about it," he said, as Hermione creased her forehead with wonder, not quite understanding what he meant to change.

"I thought it was an attention thing," Hermione admitted, "I mean, Merlin, you loved attention. You were so over dramatic; especially about Buckbeak and your arm, listening to Pansy fawn over you was nauseating by the way." She thought aloud as Draco inwardly cringed, his eyes scoring over Hermione with an irritated gleam.

"Of course I like attention." He responded as if she were stupid, "who in their right mind wouldn't? Of course I dress to be looked at, I like to look good. As for that blasted Hippogriff and my arm, have you forgotten I was thirteen? Pansy on the other hand…" he trailed off, shaking his head and smirking slightly. "Again, who in their right mind would turn down the attentions of the opposite sex; you'd get it, what with both Potter and Weasel under your belt." He nodded; as if he knew something she didn't and Hermione flushed, indignant, insulted, and outright confused.

"What do you mean 'both Potter and Weasel under my belt'?" She asked, her voice an almost dangerous whisper. Draco looked at her surprised; his eyebrows raising and his lips parting slightly.

"Well, surely you've slept with both Potter and Weasel, even if you weren't in a relationship with them." He said thickly, and Hermione's eyes bulged, her mouth working as fury flashed over her features, before making way for the laughter quickly bubbling in her throat. She let loose an hysterical wail of hysteria as Draco looked stunned, her head thrown back with her mirth.

"That…that's ridiculous!" She gasped out, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand, "I mean, that's beyond ridiculous, that's…no, I've not slept with either Harry or Ron; Merlin, the first boy to recognise I was a girl was Viktor Krum, by that point Harry and I were becoming like siblings and Ron was just…Ron." She giggled, watching Draco's face carefully, it seemed to becoming tinged with the faintest traces of pink, his lips pulled together in an odd expression of relief, jealousy, and…longing?

"Sorry…I just…assumed." He squirmed clearly uncomfortable, "I know people assume it about me, that I've slept with people; especially Pansy, but…there is no way I'd have done it with her." He revealed, as Hermione began to look shocked.

"Now that one does surprise me," she admitted as Draco poured himself more drink.

"Why is that?"

"Well…you and she were practically inseparable for years." She said, as Draco raised a knowing brow at her and she sighed. "Oh I suppose I can see why you thought it about myself and Harry; even Ron." She conceded as Draco smiled kindly at her.

"Anyway, back to your main question, yes; I like attention, and I still do. Always will. As for the previous years…I either didn't know any better; I found it funny, or it got me attention. They're not very complex reasons, or reasons with some kind of moral backing, but they're…they're the truth." He shrugged, and she smiled, thinking that she'd like to give him attention all the time.

"I guess I understand," She smiled, her cheeks flushing as she realised they'd had a conversation about sex so completely nonchalantly, she'd not even realised it had happened until it had finished. The idea thrilled her; the comfortableness between them so distinct sensitive subjects could be skimmed over in a mature fashion. She blinked, surprised by the respect that he'd addressed it with, and the lack of teasing over both their respective virginities. She poured herself a drink, leaning back in the sofa and swinging her legs up underneath her, comfortable in all senses of the word.

"So you still talk to Krum?" he asked her, plainly jealous and Hermione hid a smile.

"Yes, we still send letters actually, I look forward to them; the last time I got to see him was at Bill and Fleurs' wedding."

"Bill and Fleur?"

"Oh sorry, Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour," she explained, slightly embarrassed by her assuming Draco knew everything she was talking about; and realising she fell in to the trap because he was just so…easy to talk too. "You'd recognise Fleur actually; she was one of the triwizard champions."

"No, you're kidding." Draco breathed, astonished. "A Weasley…married that?" He asked completely stunned, his eyes glossy the way Hermione had seen both Ron and Harry look at Fleur before and she rolled her eyes.

"I can see why she's attracted to Bill." Hermione said defensively, suddenly feeling rather protective and jealous of Fleur.

"Why is that?" Draco asked, snapping out of his reverie and filling up his cup once more, a sudden tightness to his stance on the sofa.

"Bill is…" Hermione bit her lip, her hand going up to her ear to fiddle with an earring as she thought, "distinguished." She settled on finally, thinking it was the right word to describe his long haired, scarred features.

"Distinguished?" Draco asked bemused, but his shoulders remained tight, a taught expression over his already rather pointed features.

"He's…not conventionally attractive, especially not since Greyback mauled him, but it grows on you; he is different and it works." Hermione explained shrugging as Draco looked horrified.

"He's a werewolf?"

"No thank Merlin, just scarred from the attack." She explained, obviously relieved. "I'm just saying, I definitely understand why Fleur is attracted to him, and now I'm used to her, the marriage doesn't seem that odd." She continued as Draco screwed his face up in disbelief.

"I can't believe a Weasley married a part veela." He said, sitting back in the sofa as Hermione laughed out right.

"Always so negative about the Weasley's," she joked, and Draco stiffened slightly as Hermione looked at him and sighed.

"Oh come on, we can't just…ignore all our history; as much as it's apparently not…as relevant now due to us actually being able to talk to one another without feeling like we need to kill someone afterwards; you have to admit we need to clear the air a little." Hermione continued as Draco rolled her words about in his head, settling his sharp grey eyes upon her.

"You are…right, we do have a history; and as much as I enjoy being punched, I think I'll give antagonising you a miss." He smiled, sipping from his goblet; words still evident in the back of his mouth, "I just don't want to dwell on it too much. I don't want it brought up every time I do something wrong. Doubtless I'll hear it enough when school begins and if I start hearing it from you…when we have to live together, work together…I want to catch some kind of break. I'll admit it right here and right now. I was a scumbag; I probably still am a scumbag, but I'm trying to be…bearable." He said as Hermione started to cringe, "I think you're also forgetting that the Weasel beat my head in the other day building this place, but the girl-"

"Ginny."

"Ginny, she seemed to tolerate me, so we could get along; possibly. I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but I am trying to move on with my life. So let's…let me?" He asked her, as shame began to burn within Hermione again. He had such a way of stripping down the very basics of what she was getting at, and ruining her potential arguments in a way she had never experienced before. He seemed intent on changing her, weather she liked it or not. Her words to him echoed in her mind, 'I want you to be better', his own voice repeating her sentence when they'd argued in the library. Humiliation mingled with the shame, her own selfishness was part of the reason this subject was repeatedly brought up with them; and each time, he rebuffed her. Demonstrating that he already was 'better', but it was her who needed to change, to grow up, and to accept the changing world. The past was relevant, but only if she made it.

"I'm sorry; I just keep expecting you to behave a certain way." She admitted as Draco smiled gently at her.

"Old habits do die hard," he conceded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "But I'm tired Hermione. I'm really tired. I don't have so many expectations on me to behave a certain way. There isn't anyone who expects me to be hateful all the time. Sure, you could argue for yourself, but it's a different type of expectation. You think that way of me because it's all you've seen; you'll hit me, hate me like a school nemesis, but you won't put my life in danger the way it was a few months ago. Things are easier now, and I like it." He sighed picking up a handful of fries and cramming them in his mouth as if he were completely starved. Hermione laughed at him, the image of Harry and Ron eating floating into the forefront of her mind.

"You're much more like Harry than you think you are," She smiled wistfully as Draco sat up bolt straight.

"What."

"You're just…opposite. Neither of you had a choice. It's not like Harry asked for his parents to be murdered when he was a child and becoming the 'chosen one', then there is you; no choice in becoming a Death Eater. Harry is a good leader, with the DA, and you when you were the head of the 'Inquisitorial Squad', you're both…talented. You're both rich and famous, you with your name, Harry because he survived the killing curse…" she shrugged. "I suppose I should stop assuming the past really matters so much because if you two really did mean to put the past behind you; you really could become friends." She said, as Draco looked as if he were considering something.

"When you talk about me, what do you call me now?" He asked her, suddenly serious. She looked up at him in surprise, taking a handful of mixed leaves.

"…Draco." She said slowly.

"I call you Hermione. Not Granger, Hermione." He said as if it were something significant, and Hermione with a jolt, realised it was. They'd only agreed on saying their first names about Teddy, and even with their limited conversing; the unspoken agreement had stuck, bled out of the meetings with Teddy involved and become a staple in their everyday lives.

"I only call you Draco to your face, not to Ginny, or Harry; you're still Malfoy."

"Not the point, to each other we're now Hermione and Draco." He said to her seriously, and with a flush Hermione realised that they'd subconsciously put the past behind them already; a shift already taken towards the future with their names.

"I guess I ought to be honest with you;" She began, nerves ripping her insides up, "I'd like to get to know you more now." She said to him honestly, and he smiled slowly, a careful delicious smirk spreading over his lips.

"I might be able to allow that."