Title: Flashback

Summary: 20-something year old Hermione finds herself suddenly back at Hogwarts, able to relive her 7th year. Everything that she remembers happening that year is seen in a new, more mature perspective. How will making different choices affect her life after the experience is over?

Rating: PG-13 – for sexual themes and language

Disclaimer: I don't take credit for anything, except maybe the plot.

Author's Note: OH MY!!! I am so so so incredibly sorry! I know, I'm horrible! It's been so long, I feel really bad. BUT.. summer is officially here, so I figure I'll have more time for updating and such. Once again, I'm sorry guys! I hope that this chapter being totally in Draco's POV will make up for it! Ehhh.. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!

Chapter 6 – Looks Like Rain

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"Right," after a considerably long pause, she continued, "Well Draco, it was absolutely charming talking to you. I shiver with excitement to think that we may possibly meet again. Goodbye," she stated as she opened the door.

"Granger, wait."

"Hmm?"

"Meet me by the lake tonight at eight o'clock."

"Maybe. Goodbye, Draco."

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The trees were slightly swaying in the cool night breeze and stars were twinkling overhead. The water in the lake rippled and the (non-violent) willow tree swished overhead. But Draco couldn't concentrate on that. He could hardly concentrate on anything.

Because Draco Malfoy was nervous. A strange fact indeed, considering that Malfoy's were hardly ever nervous. Especially if the reason they're nervous is a young woman with a bad smoking habit and dirty blood. And especially if that woman is Hermione Granger.

In his mind, the reason he had lured her out by the lake tonight was so that he could ask her who she really was. He was fairly certain that the Hermione Granger who smokes with him in empty classrooms is most definitely not the same Hermione Granger that makes top marks in all of her classes and cries over Ron Weasley. It couldn't be possible.

What happened to her? Why was she suddenly so different? His plan was to ask her all of these questions tonight, but secretly he really just wanted to talk to her. All of those biting remarks and sarcastic replies intrigued him. Not to mention that if all goes well, she might suddenly find him irresistibly charming, thereby retracting her sharp claws some and letting him win a verbal spar or two.

A small flame a few yards away caught his eye and he smirked. She had arrived.

"Why is it that two days ago I had no idea you smoked, and suddenly that's all I see you doing?" he asked with gleaming eyes. She couldn't see them, but they were, indeed, gleaming.

"Fancy meeting you here, Malfoy."

The way she talked to him! That indifferent sarcasm that just dripped out of her mouth like a rich chocolate. It was enough to drive any man wild.

"I'm sure you fancy it very much. Most women would, of course."

"Could you be any more arrogant?" Probably..

"I don't think you want to find out, Granger," he raised an eyebrow at her suggestively and enclosed the now small space between him. They were merely inches apart, looking each other in the eye. She leaned in, and just as he thought they were going to share a truly magical kiss, she turned her head and blew out a puff of smoke to his right. Ok, so maybe convincing her to retract the claws would be a tad harder than he had originally thought.

Backing away, Hermione threw the glowing cigarette to the ground and with a twist of her foot it was out. She walked towards the tree and sat down at its trunk.

"Ok, Malfoy. Confess. Why did you bring me out here?" she asked as she ran a hand through her hair. He hadn't even noticed it earlier. Her hair was different! It was shiny and curly. It surprisingly didn't look too bad.

Thinking back, he remembered clearly the time in sixth year that he had hexed her with a particularly embarrassing curse. Crabbe, Goyle, and himself were walking down the hall towards Potions when they spotted the Trio.

 Feeling a wave of hatred wash over him, he prompted Goyle to stick out his foot and trip Weasley. It worked, and the dumb brute fell, in turn angering his sidekicks. While Potter was busy helping Weasley get to his feet, the Granger girl had taken her wand out of her bag and pointed it at him. Before she even had a chance to attack, he yelled "Stickum Uppenscreem!"

The memory was a good one. For nearly two days, she walked around the halls with a single chunk of hair sticking straight out of her head, practically at a one hundred eighty-degree angle. At random intervals in time, it shifted and another would stand in its place. But that wasn't all. As a part of the hex, anytime someone touched her hair, it would scream. Literally scream. A small hole like a mouth would appear in the chunk of hair and let out a loud wail. Eventually, the screams became hoarse and the hair stood limp. But, oh, it was great. In fact, she had received a little nickname after that.. Screeching Beaver.

"Well?" she asked. He was brought back into the present quickly at her inquiry.

"Sorry, couldn't stand the sound of your voice. I suppose I blocked it out. What did you ask me?"

She gave an indignant huff and leaned back even further against the tree. "I asked you why you brought me here. Alone. With you. Where no one can protect you from the sound of my voice other than yourself."

She did have a point there.

"Because." She rolled her eyes and let out another huff.

"Good reason."

"I would have to agree whole-heartedly."

"Oh would you?" she asked.

"Of course."

She made an affirmation somewhere in the back of her throat and looked around lazily. Her long fingers began tinkering with a necklace around her neck. For a moment, her brown eyes widened, and in a flash the look of surprise had ceased as if it was in his imagination.

"Say Malfoy," she began. He waited for her to continue. She didn't.

"Yes?" he asked, trying to speed the process along. Sometimes women had slow brains. It wasn't really their fault. He learned that from a lesson Father had taught him once.

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They were in the parlor, patiently waiting for Mother to glide down the stairs in all of her elegant grace and affirm that she, indeed, was ready to go to the Crabbe's dinner party. It was silent. Draco coughed and the sound echoed off the marble tile and walls. Father had begun pacing, and the heels of his boots clicked against the stone.

Five more minutes passed and there was still no sign of Mother. At this point in time, Draco had begun to fiddle with the cuffs of his robes and Father was still pacing, only now mumbling incoherently. Without warning, his Father looked up towards the marble staircase and yelled, "Narcissa! I suggest you grace us with your presence very soon, or Draco and I will be forced to leave without you!"

The threat was obviously not very threatening, because she had still not yet made an appearance. Lucius turned to face Draco, took a deep breath, and began, "Now Draco, since your Mother has suddenly gone quite deaf and we will be waiting at least another half hour, I will use this time to our advantage and teach you something I learned long ago." Draco nodded silently.

"Son, do you recall the Malfoy slogan?" He racked his brain for an immeasurable amount of time and slowly said, "A rolling stone gathers no moss?"

"Hm. Not quite."

"Haste makes waste?"
"Try again."

"The early bird gets the worm?"

"Actually, yes. But you have forgotten the most important part. The early bird may get the worm, but what happens to the early worm?"

"Yes, I remember now Father."

"And.."

"We must be the early bird, the predator."

"Too true. Now, to be the predator, one must have a certain level of.." he scratched his chin, searching for the right word.

"Scariness?" Draco guessed.

"Not quite.." he was still thinking terribly hard.

"Evilness?"

"Ehhh no, not really."

"Maliciousness!" Draco smiled triumphantly, he was sure he had supplied the right word this time.

"No. Never mind, let me rephrase the statement. To be a predator, one must be intimidating." Draco frowned slightly and began to tune him out.

After several long, and painfully boring minutes of trying to block out his father and instead conjure the image of half-naked women in his mind, his Mother came down the stairs. His Father leaned over and whispered to him, "Now I'll show you what I was talking about."

"Narcissa dear, you look lovely." Even after twenty years of marriage, she blushed and muttered a quiet "thank you". Lucius looked at his wife as if he were expecting something and within a minute, his hands were shaking with anger and his teeth were grinding together.

"And how do I look?" he spat, fuming. She must have realized her mistake because her eyes widened in fear and she promptly began complimenting her husband. Soon, Father had calmed down and he turned to Draco and winked. He took note of this and nodded.
Turning to Narcissa he said, "Mother, you look quite amazing." Once again she muttered her thanks, but this time there was no blushing involved.

He waited.

She said nothing.

Draco cleared his throat.

She said nothing.

Lucius began popping his knuckles and flexing his fingers. Suddenly, she remembered.

"You look wonderful yourself, Draco."

So, he would allow Hermione time to gather her thoughts and organize them, because it was a widely known fact that women had slow brains.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt large drops of water pelting down on his perfectly slicked back hair. With a very manly squeal, he turned to the brunette and said, "It's raining!" She was way ahead of him, however. He felt Granger grabbing his hand and pulling him back towards the school.

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OK!!! Now for the thanks!

Bulletproof cupid – hey, thanks for liking my story. Ha. I hope you liked this chapter!.. Orlijah – there was no way I could have taken offense to your criticism because it helps me a lot! not only that, but the ratio of compliments to criticism was like 10 to 2 so its QUITE alright, in fact. I agree that ron isn't really one to be getting down and dirty in the middle of class (or attempting to, for that matter) but really I couldn't think of much else. The aprt about Hermione making out in a boys dormroom.. ehhh, I could see that. Maybe not in a boys dormroom, but they were together for almost 2 years. Thank you for your input, it was appreciated.. elven ice angel – thanks! You're very much correct, I adore dm/hg fics as well as dm/gw (although not as much as Hermione ones), Im also a big fan of ss/hg. At first I thought the snape thing was weird, but the first one I read was the one I have in my favorites section.. the one where hermione cant remember, snape cant forget? Very good. I suggest you read it. In fact, you should read all of my favorites. Most are completed so that's always nice. Anyway.. yes, thanks for the review!.. sierradogbaby – J your reviews make me smile. Really. Thanks for the romance suggestion. I know what you mean about becoming friends before lovers.. I always find it strange that people actually put that in their stories. Crazy. You've got class, my friend.. stargirl33 – yes, back to her seventh year. Sorry if it confused you. Thanks for the review!.. Suzuki bob – hm. thanks. right back at ya.. belle – I hope you didn't hold your breath for this chapter. Geez it took me so long. Glad you like it!.. dreaming one – MANNNNN. Once again, orgasmic. You need to stop. I feel like im in an herbal essences commercial reading those. Im really really glad that you like the way they fight. I find it fascinating and im glad that you do too! I love my draco too, I want to kees him and lurve him. Sadly enough, he is a mere mirage. post traumatic syndrome.. haha. I hope you liked this chapter!.. Rebecca – I loved your review! Thanks for.. liking my story? I hope you found this chapter to your liking!.. harrysgal – thanks! im glad you enjoy it. I tried emailing you to tell you it updated, but it didn't work. So ill tell you now. I just updated chapter 6! –sigh- im so dumb.