Hermione Granger, heroine of the war, only girl in the "Golden Trio'', head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and the girlfriend of Ron Weasley, was walking to her office when she heard the news.

"Did you hear that the Malfoys are back?"

"What!? No way! Where have they been?"

"No idea, just know that apparently the kid, Draco is going to be working here at the ministry! And that he's incredibly hot and according to Witch Weekly he's the most eligible bachelor in the Wizarding World! I wonder what it would take to get his attention." The blonde was telling whatever gossipy girl she was talking to.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to them. The blonde was Tracy McClellan and the other gossipy girl was Kara Smith. Both were in her department and when they worked they weren't bad employees, but that was when they actually worked. For the most part they just gossiped. Which annoyed Hermione to know end. "Ladies, I think it's time for you to get back to work. I believe you have a presentation coming up on Friday Tracy, are you ready?"

Tracy physically jumped at the sound of Hermione's voice and she nodded. "Yeah, just a few things to tweak." She replied not looking at her boss.

Hermione gave a civil smile and nodded. "Good, better get to that tweaking then." She said and turned on her heel making her way back to her office.

Draco Malfoy was back? It had been five years since the war and the last time she saw him. He was standing across the battlefield with his mother looking at her grimly, and when all hell broke loose, Hermione never saw him again. From the last she heard, they had gone to the US, or Ireland, or some other place that she couldn't remember the name of at the moment. The point being that no one actually knew where the Malfoys had disappeared to. Neither his mother nor him returned when Lucius Malfoy was sentenced to life in prison at Azkaban. Neither returned when their name was cleared from any wrong doing, mostly due to the words Harry said about them on their behalf when the aurors were looking for them. Neither had returned for any big anniversary gala for the war, not that Hermione can blame them with that one, she hated celebrating the war knowing all those who were lost. Plus she really didn't like being in the press, and she always is forced into it on those occasions.

She thought about that last day as she walked back. The look on his face just before he apparated out, the way his mouth formed the words 'I'm sorry' before he grabbed his mother's hand. The way she felt after realizing she may never see him again. How everything she wanted to tell him would never be said. Sure, no one knew they were friends, but they had been. For quite some time actually, well really only the year before the war, but in that time, she felt like she had known him forever. Then he vanished, she could no longer talk to him like she once had. It had frustrated her, and she felt abandoned.

She was just about to open her office door when her assistant came running up to her. "Hermione, there's someone waiting for you in your office. I tried to tell them that you didn't like when people wait for you, but they insisted."

"Thanks Amanda." Hermione said as she took a breath before opening the door.

"Well it's about time Granger."

Hermione stopped in her tracks hearing the deep tenor of his voice. "What are you doing here Malfoy?" She said after recovering and moved to sit in her chair behind her desk. Malfoy was sitting in one of the two chairs across from her desk with his feet perched on her desk. "Feet off my desk please."

He moved them and gave her his infamous Malfoy smirk. "What a cold greeting for an old friend you haven't seen in five years." He replied.

"And whose fault is that?" She asked leaning her elbow on the desk and folding her hands in front of her. She dared not looking at him as she wasn't sure how she would react.

"Yeah, well, things happen. I just thought I would come visit as we'll be seeing a lot of each other again. I start work in the auror office next week, not looking forward to working under Potter, but what can you do." He replied trying his best to get her to look at him. He waved his hand in front of her face and even put his feet back up on the desk. That got her attention.

"Feet off Malfoy. Just because we'll be working in the same building does not mean we'll be seeing each other often. Plus, I don't want to see you. I've gone five years without seeing you. Not like it'll be much different."

"Okay, what's the deal Hermione? I haven't seen you in five years and you're acting like none of what happened before meant anything." Draco said finally snapping at her coldness.

"Don't call me Hermione. Didn't mean anything? Draco, what we had meant everything to me. You were a great friend to me, I could tell you anything, but you disappeared! I had no way of contacting you! Do you even know how many owls and patronuses I sent to find you, only for them all to come back unanswered!? Friends don't do that to each other." She replied giving her full attention to him for the first time since she came in.

"Mione, you have to understand, I had certain obligations I had to take care of. I couldn't contact you." He said desperately trying to get her to listen.

"I don't have to understand anything Malfoy. And don't call me Mione. Only my friend can call me that." She said sharply.

Draco sighed and closed his eyes for a second. "I'm sorry if I hurt you. That was never my intention. You are a great friend to me Granger, and I don't want to lose that."

"Don't worry, you didn't hurt me. And you lost our friendship long ago Malfoy. I don't trust you anymore." Hermione said sadly.

Draco was about to say something more when a knock came at the door, and a red-head came into view. "Mione, you ready for lun…. What the bloody hell are you doing here Malfoy?"

Draco almost laughed, but held back and stood. Of course the weasel would come off all times. "Nothing, I'll talk to you later Granger." He said as he made a move to go out the door, but he was stopped by Weasley grabbing his coat.

"No you won't, leave my girlfriend alone." Ron said glaring like crazy at the blonde in front of him. His knuckles were turning white with how hard he was grabbing the ferrets jacket.

Draco looked at Hermione with surprise in his eyes. "Him, really?" He said quietly before pushing Wesley's hand off of him. "Leave him alone Ron, he's leaving." Hermione said as Draco gave her one last look before walking out of her office.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Ron said clearly angry.

Hermione signed knowing she was in for a very long lunch and replied, "Absolutely nothing."

A/n: I know this first chapter is pretty short, but the others will make up for it. I hope you enjoyed it, and reviews are appreciated!