Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I'm hoping this chapter will be a little longer and we'll see *gasp* plot development. I apologize in advance for the occasional typo and (hopefully not) spelling mistake. (I was spelling "Weasley" wrong in the last chapter. I blame lack of sleep.)

I'm listening to Garbage while I'm writing this, so check them out if you're bored...if you're not bored, whatever. Especially "When I Grow Up", "Temptation Waits", "I Think I'm Paranoid", and "Beautiful". Good songs...

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine. *Looks wistful* I wanted Draco on a leash for my birthday but it's apparently no go.

Chapter 2

Hermione Granger was not happy.

She had been woken at an ungodly hour of the morning by a shamelessly cheerful Ginny, had Floo Powder given to her when she was in no state to think (or speak) clearly, and subsequently ended up in the (lit) fireplace of some eighty year old witch named Dana Arrey, terrifying the poor woman out of her wits. It had taken 15 minutes and all of Hermione's charm to convince the old lady that she wasn't sent by Voldemort and to please, please put down the wand. Then, Ron had laughed at her when she returned to the Weasleys'.

And she hadn't even had her coffee.

They will *pay*, she thought vengefully as she tried the Floo Powder again. Oh my, yes, *pay*.

Irritation must have made her words clear because a few seconds later she was standing in front of Gringotts, flanked by Ginny, Ron, and Harry.

After some bickering with the goblins, and producing their keys several times, they were whizzing down through the vaults at breakneck speed.

"Eurgh....I feel sick..." Ginny whispered to Hermione as they rounded a corner.

The car stopped at Harry's vault and he hopped out and hurried to scoop a few handfuls of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts into his pouch, before they set off.

The next stop was the Weasley vault. In former years it had stood nearly bare, but with Arthur Weasley's new job as Minister of Magic (Cornelius Fudge having been *prompted* to retire by a handful of venerable and well- respected wizards, headed by Albus Dumbledore), there was a good-sized pile of gold in the middle.

Ron was especially proud of their newly-acquired wealth and he took his time selecting money and even strutted somewhat as he returned to the others.

They continued to Hermione's vault where her parents had stored the Hogwarts tuition and some spending money for her. She planned to exchange her hard-earned muggle money for extra Galleons afterwards.

Finally, Hermione had collected and exchanged her money, and they all stumbled outside on unsteady legs.

"Ginny," said Harry, "Are you okay? You look....green-ish."

Ginny smiled a brave little smile. "I'll be okay. It was just the ride to the vaults."

"Come on," Ron said, tugging at Harry's arm. "Quidditch store...now..."

Ginny's smile disappeared. "Oh, okay," she snapped. "Don't be concerned about me. I'm sure I won't faint or be sick or anything. Go look at your lousy brooms."

"Thanks Gin," Ron said promptly and dashed off, dragging Harry with him.

Once they were gone, Ginny turned to Hermione. "Did you see that? He was *concerned* for me..." She smiled dreamily.

"Riiiiiight," Hermione said. "Let's go get something to drink. Then we can start shopping."

Hermione towed Ginny past countless alluring store windows until they reached the Leaky Cauldron, where they both ordered iced pumpkin juice and sat at a tiny sidewalk table.

They sipped their drinks contentedly and watched the passersby. Hermione was just deciding that her day was finally shaping up until...

"Hermione, look, isn't that...."

Draco Malfoy strolled past them, whistling, and disappeared into the Leaky Cauldron. A few moments later, he emerged with a drink, and settled down at a table near Hermione and Ginny, oblivious to the two pairs of eyes fixed on him.

Wow, he looks good, Hermione thought, and instantly banished the words from her mind.

Still- he did look good. Not just because of the classical beauty of his face, or the amazing golden-white spill of hair....He looked happy. Carefree. It was a look Hermione had never seen on Malfoy's face before.

It suits him, she thought.

She was lost, watching the sunlight glimmer in his hair, until Ginny leaned over.

"See? Doesn't he look good?"

Hermione tore her eyes away reluctantly and grimaced at Ginny.

"Okay, fine, he looks good! But you can't just forget all the years he's been such a bastard to Harry and Ron and me. He's a jerk."

"What years? Sure, he was horrible when you all were kids. But he hasn't called you 'Mudlblood' in two years. The last time he deliberately started a fight was back in fourth year. Since then, he only fought back when Ron or Harry provoked him first."

Hermione thought about Ginny's words. It was true. All up until their fourth year at Hogwarts, Malfoy had taunted them and tried his hardest to get them in trouble. After that summer, however, he had tried to ignore them.

I wonder why....

"He's not that bad," said Ginny. "And I'll prove it."

She twisted around in her chair. "Oy! Malfoy! Come on over here!"

"Ginny," Hermione hissed. "What are you doing? We don't want to talk to that git!"

"Sure we do," said Ginny. She raised her voice. "Come on Malfoy, we have an extra seat!"

Hermione subsided, muttering angry things about redheads in general. "Can't you bloody see that Malfoy's trying to ignore you?" she said after a few moments, just as a shadow fell over the table.

Hermione looked up to see Draco Malfoy peering at her.

"Hello, Granger. You look very...er....caffeine deprived."

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Draco had been drinking his pumpkin juice and trying to pretend that he didn't know that Granger at the Weasley girl were looking at him, when he heard Ginny's shout.

He hadn't believed it at first. He turned around in his seat cautiously, expecting some sort of trick...maybe to recieve a great bloody whack in the face from The Boy Who Lived to Torment Him or Weasley the Boy Wonder. He didn't think they were there, but then you could never be too sure around the Dream Team.

But they weren't anywhere to be seen, only Granger and the Weasley girl...Ginny, wasn't it?

He decided to see what they wanted. Maybe Granger had come up with a particularly cutting new insult to throw at him.

Hermione was looking, well...pretty. Draco hated to admit it, but her hair, while not losing any of its volume, had separated into loosely defined curls. They bounced over her shoulders and glimmered with red highlights amid the darker brown. She was dressed in a pleated denim skirt and white tank top, with a red jacket that was pushed off her shoulders in the summer sun.

The skirt was very short, Draco noted with interest.

She didn't look remotely eager to see him though, and as he neared the table, he noticed dark circles under her eyes.

Well, he didn't know what else to say.

"Hello, Granger. You look very...er...caffeine deprived."

She looked up. "Bugger off, Malfoy."

Draco felt the old familiar irritation rise inside of him. It was temporarily quenched by Ginny Weasley's voice.

"Don't mind Hermione. She's just mean this morning. Why don't you sit down?"

What the hell, he thought, and settled gracefully into the spare chair. A grumbling noise came from Hermione's direction, and he let his gaze drift to her face.

"Good Lord, Granger, your eyes are all bloodshot! You really do need coffee."

"I don't -" she began, but he cut her off.

"You! Over there!" he called to the waitress elf. "We need a double cappucchino here!"

The elf curtsied and scurried off.

Hermione looked at Draco curiously, but remained silent.

"So," said Ginny, trying to fill the awkward pause. "How was your summer?"

"Oh, you know," said Draco cheerfully. He really was beginning to feel more like himself. "Death Eater initiation rites and meetings with Voldemort, between all that and the pleasure killings there was really no time for anything else."

Ginny choked on her pumpkin juice. There was a strangled noise from Hermione.

"Joking," Draco assured her hastily. "I stayed at home all summer. Did schoolwork and all that."

"Right," said Hermione, looking unconvinced. "Like we're going to believe someone like *you*."

Draco was annoyed, but resolved not to let her ruin his good mood. The meeting with Dumbledore had gone extremely well, and it felt rather as though the 5 ton weight perched on his chest had been abruptly lifted. He was still a little dizzy.

The house elf hurried up with the coffee, curtsied, and scuttled off.

"Here," Draco said shortly, pushing the mug towards Hermione.

She stared at him for a long moment, then snatched the cup up and took a gulp of the beverage. Her eyes were closed and a euphoric smile drifted onto her face. She took another hasty drink, and set the mug down with a thump.

"Did I ever tell you how extremely, completely grateful I am that you're here?" she asked Draco dreamily.

He stared.

"Hermione's always demon spawn until she gets her coffee," Ginny told him brightly.

"Look," Hermione said. "I've been rude, I know. But can you really blame me? I mean, all these years, you've hardly given us any reason to trust you."

Draco said nothing.

"I'm sorry I was such a prat," she told him in a rush, and took a long, steady sip of coffee to reassure herself.

Draco was rather stunned. He hadn't expected this. Granger must be a bigger caffeine addict than he had realized.

"Well," he said slowly. "I guess I accept the apology...."

Hermione smiled happily at him and had another gulp of coffee.

Wait, Draco thought. That was too easy.

He grinned suddenly. No harm in having a little fun.

"...Provided, of course, that you say 'Draco Malfoy is the sexiest, most charming and devilishly handsome man that I've ever seen' and then go school shopping with me."

Hermione set her mug down with a thump.

"I'm not saying that."

"Come on, just say it one time."

"I'm not saying that."

"Just once!"

"Come on, Hermione," Ginny pleaded. "It's not that much to pay to make up for about 6 years of emnity, really!"

Hermione fixed Draco with a steady gaze. "If I say it, you have to promise that you'll stop being such an utter bastard to Ron and Harry. And me," she added as an afterthought.

Draco felt rather wounded. What had he done to deserve that?

Okay, wait, maybe he didn't want that question answered.

"Deal," he said. "Now say it."

Hermione groaned and opened her mouth to speak.

Draco fingered the wand in his pocket furtively.

Just a little Recording Charm.

You promised, said a stern voice in the back of his head.

I just want to savor the moment!

"Draco Malfoy is the sexiest, most charming and devilishly handsome man that I've ever seen," said Hermione Granger in a rush.

Whether it was Fate, luck, or some freak accident, Draco would never know, but just as Hermione spoke, the entire square fell silent.

Hermione's words were heard loud and clear by passersby on all sides, several of whom attended Hogwarts.

And at that precise second, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley walked up to the table, mouths hanging open.

Draco felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

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A/N:Sorry it's so short, but I really wanted to get it up tonight. I'll put the rest up tomorrow in a new chapter. R/R please!