Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story plot, JKR owns all of this, and yes I am extremely jealous.
Summary: Hermione is given the advice to write a memoir. She reflects on her past telling us the story of what her life was like after the downfall of Voldemort. No longer a little girl, the woman of 24 tells us her story. How she hid from the world but at the same time found herself falling in love. Even if she denied it from the start. ~ A glimpse into the life of 24 year old Hermione Granger as she tackles the obstacles of friends, family, work, luck, mistakes, challenges, lessons and love. Prepare yourself, you have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into.
Note: Thank you in advance for taking the time out to read this. It's a work in progress, which basically means I have no idea how often I can post. But hopefully with your support I'll find the strength to get at least one chapter up per week. I hope you enjoy this story and please when your done review. Please read the final notes at the end, reviewers will be thanked accordingly.
Chapter 2~ Waking Up In The Dragons Lair
" Hello Muddy, didn't expect to find me here did you? " Malfoy smirked again and Hermione frowned.
" Ginny this is not funny, you can not bring him on Saturday! Just think of what your parents will say…what your brothers might do! " Hermione grasped Ginnys shoulder firmly and pulled her back towards the fire, " We are going home! "
" Let go Herm! " Ginny shouted loud enough for the entire café to turn and stare. Hermione dropped Ginny's arm and gawked. " We are not leaving, we are going to sit here until you can accept the fact that we are together. " she pulled Malfoy closer to her and he smirked again. It took all of Hermione's strength not to clock him in the face.
" Ginny…your not making any sense…this is Malfoy…Draco Malfoy…hater of muggles and Harry and even Weasleys. " she turned to Malfoy, " Whats the catch? Dark side trying to rise again? Figure you can get an in on Harry by snoggin Ginny? " she hissed through her teeth.
" My my my Granger tsk tsk …" he shook his head, " I don't stand a chance with you blowing your head off…" he motioned to an empty table, " Why don't we sit and chat, Im sure there are many questions you wish to ask me, and I being Draco Malfoy will have no problem answering them for you."
" You can start by telling me why your so incredibly repulsive" she pulled out her chair and threw herself into it.
" Oh feisty Granger…penting up all your frustration, not healthy Granger. " smirking again he flicked his fingers in the air and motioned for the closest waitress to come over.
Hermione scrunched her nose and scowled, ' Gods Ginny anyone but Draco Malfoy.'
A tall slender waitress walked to the table and opened up a clean piece of parchment. Her long black hair hung down low past her waist and he vivid green eyes sparkled in the candle light.
" What can I get you luv? " she asked, pulling a quill from her hair.
" Two butterbeers for me and a warm roll. " Malfoy mumbled to the waitress. Hermione placed her face in her hands.
" I'll take the strongest drink you have "
The waitress gave her a questioning look but Ginny chimed in with an order of cookies. So it wasn't exactly a healthy dinner, but it would have to do. Hermione wasn't in the mood for eating anyway. They sat in silence until their food came, Hermione quickly gulping down her drink and asking for another.
" Hermione slow down!" Ginny whispered.
" Ginny I don't know how you expect to bring him to the burrow on Saturday. "
" Hey I have a name " Draco spat back before taking a swig of butterbeer.
" This is absolutely ludicrous. You have to see where Im coming from Gin, so what if his father was put in jail, so what if he never became a death eater, the fact remains that he is still a Malfoy, that he is still the slimy git that he always will. " the waitress dropped another drink on the table and Hermione chugged it down.
" I don't think you are being fair Herm, I mean you have no idea what Draco is like. He has become so much more then what you think of him, and he treats me better then half of my ex boyfriends. " she gently rubbed Dracos hand and smiled. " It isn't fair for everyone to assume he is still the same Draco Malfoy from school. School is over and so are those times. Don't you see Hermione it is time to live, its time to let go of all regrets and make the best of your time here, and my time is meant to be with Draco." and for the first time in all the years Hermione knew him, Draco smiled sincerely.
" Its going to be hard Ginny, no one is going to accept this..." she downed another drink that the waitress had brought her and sighed. She had begun to feel a bit tipsy and her eye sight was becoming fogged. " I think I shouldn't have drank that last one. " she blinked hard and looked at the swirling faces around her.
" Hermione are you all right? " Ginny's voice was low and rumbling and Hermione strained to hear what she was saying. " Hermione you don't look very well. Draco what kind of drinks are those… " Before Hermione could hear his answer she felt her face hit the hard café table.
Hermione opened her eyes slowly and found herself drowned by a bright white light. 'Oh God Ive died from alcohol overdose.' She blinked hard and allowed her eyes to come into focus. Everything was bright and blurry and instantly she knew she wasn't in her bed. She looked down at the warm comforter that covered her legs and gasped. She was definitely not in her bed. These sheets where a dark green trimmed with silver. Sitting up slowly she looked around the room which was covered in books and paperwork.
" Hello? " she called out to the empty room hoping that someone would hear her.
A clatter of china came from behind the door and when it opened she almost passed out again. Malfoy was carrying a large silver try with cups and toast, and if she wasn't dreaming the smile on his face was almost pleasant.
" Here Granger, I brought you something to cure that wicked hangover of yours. " He placed the tray on her lap and stepped back.
Hermione stared at the food and then back at Malfoy. " Don't worry Granger I didn't poison it, it is truly a headache cure and some tea. "
Hermione brought the dainty tea cup to her lips and sipped it slowly. Gulping had gotten her into this mess in the first place. " Where am I ? And why are you being, dare I say, nice? "
" Listen Muddy, you drank to fast last night and passed out at the table. You were certainly in no condition to Floo back home. Ginny couldn't figure out how to get you to your apartment so I offered to bring you to mine. Its above the café anyway, all I had to do was carry you up a few flights of stairs. " he groaned and leaned against the door.
" You carried me to your apartment. " shooting him a quizzical face she began eating the toast.
" Yes and believe me your no light weight. "
She shot him a dirty look and laughed. " Maybe Ginny was right, maybe you have changed. " he seemed to perk up a bit at this " But your still a Malfoy and the Weasley's will rip you apart on Saturday. "
" I know, and I am terrified…Can you believe that Granger, for the first time Im terrified, but I want to do this for Ginny, it means a lot to her. " he became quiet and Hermione placed the long tray aside.
" Listen Malfoy, we are not friends, but Ginny is like a sister to me, and because you did help me out I will try and talk with Ron and Harry before Saturday. " the words sounded odd coming from her mouth but she realized it was the right thing to do.
" Thanks Granger…" another awkward silence emerged and Draco opened the bedroom door. " I'll let you get ready, Ginny called into the Ministry and told them you were ill, they are not expecting you today, so your free to go when you wish. She said she would see you tonight, she had errands to run this morning. "
" Thanks Malfoy…" he closed the door and left Hermione sitting in his bed. Yes it was a strange feeling but it was her own fault for drinking too much.
Bringing her feet to the floor she stretched and yawned. She was still wearing the same clothes from the previous night and figured it wasn't necessary to tidy up. She would prefer to do that in the privacy of her own home. Gathering her bag and her shoes she pushed through the door. Malfoy was reading a large book in the corner of the room and only waved goodbye with a flick of his hand. Well he might have changed a bit but he was still rude. Opening up the front door she headed down the stairs and out on the streets of Diagon Alley.
' Oh please don't let me run into anyone right now. ' she thought, imagining what a mess she must look.
When she reached the apartment it was dark and cold, Ginny had obviously not been home yet. Walking towards the sitting room she opened the blinds and let in the warm sunlight. Rusty was locked in Ginnys room and Hermione could hear him rummaging about. Placing her bag and cloak on the floor she eased herself down on the coach. She sunk into its soft cushion and sighed. So many things flooded her mind and it caused her headache to grow worse. How did Draco expect her to tell Harry and Ron? How could she have been so stupid as to suggest it. This was Ginny's mess, and she wasn't going to get involved. Her heart thumped as she thought of the two of them sitting together in the café. The looks they gave each other were gentile and warm, and even though it was Malfoy, Hermione found herself soaked in jealousy. No one loved her…A pop from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts and she sat up. Ron was standing there, books in hand.
" Mione are you all right, when you didn't come in this morning I figured it had to be serious…here " he handed her the books that were under his arm, " some work I brought home for you. "
" Thank you Ron, but Im fine just felt a little under the weather this morning. " dropping the books onto the closest table she smiled.
" Well to be quite honest Hermione you look like crap. " Giving him the evil eye he backed away slowly and nervously laughed. " Only a joke Hermione, only a joke. So where were you last night?" he moved over to her arm chair and sat.
' Great, perfect…why couldn't he ask how Rusty was doing? ' She rolled her eyes and looked at Ron. " At the Light Café with Ginny. She needed to talk to me about something important. "
" Let me guess, its about her date for Saturday. " he questioned
" Well…yes…but how did you know? "
" I know my sister is all. " he stated, smiling triumphantly.
" Ah yes, know your sister…so right you are…" she felt a lump form in her throat. ' You have no idea what your talking about Ron ' she thought. " Ron can I ask you a question? "
" Sure go ahead…" he adjusted himself in the arm chair.
" What if Ginny brought someone to the party whom you didn't like…your family didn't approve of. Would you at least give him a chance? " raising her eyebrows she hoped his answer was yes.
" Yes I probably would, " she sighed, pressure easing off his chest. " Unless of course it was someone like Malfoy…stupid git, I saw him the other day and he kept giving me these odd looks…definitely weird. " shaking his head Hermione felt the lump in her throat return.
' You have no idea Ron, you really don't…'
So I wonder, what if I told Ron right then? Would things be different now? Would the party be canceled? Because if it was then surely my life would be entirely different. It was at that party that my life took a sharp turn. Yes, I know that things could have still happened, but havent you ever asked yourself, what if ? I do everyday. What if I never attended Hogwarts? What if I never became friends with Ron or Harry? What if I never met you. Those thoughts linger in my mind everyday, and when I look at all the things Ive been through in my short existence I feel that everything in life is in the hands of fate. Im just glad fate didn't have me tell Ron about Ginny's secret.
A Little Thanks:
Clarinet From Hell: Thank you for placing me on your favorite list! Its such a compliment!
JAMTillDawn: Thanks for the review. I know Ginny has done something very stupid. Im glad you liked my little note at the bottom of chapter 1.
Elijahsbaby1981: Well I figured that it would be funny to bring Draco to a Weasley party. This story isn't about Ginny though, its about Hermione so we wont be seeing a lot of Ginny/Draco.
JoeBob1379: Harry will be there but I cant tell you how they (the Weasleys) will react. You have to keep reading, but I promise it will be an exciting party.
Gwen Potter: Thank you for your kind review. It always helps when someone leaves nice reviews.
Note: Thanks for reading chapter 2, please review if you liked it. If you didn't go ahead and flame. They will be used to aide my profession as a practicing fire swallower.
