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: I'm slightly nervous/excited about this chapter. It's a little more serious than my previous ones and a little more romantic. I'm afraid my little love scenes suck.. so please tell me if they do. I've already got the entire story planned out (just did it last night!) and it's going to be.. 3 or 4.. chapters more I believe. Don't worry, they aren't in love yet and they really won't be for awhile. I don't think in this story they ever actually get to be in love, but it's a happy ending, don't worry. ALSO.. I am going to write a lemon for the story, but I think it's going to be separate from it. Either that, or I'll put it up and change the rating and then give you the choice to read it or not. It's going to be an attachment, rather than a part of the story. So you get the choice. Well this is way too long, I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER!

Chapter 7 – Flashback

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

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.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

They were in a small alcove now, surrounded by wild bush and vines that climbed the walls of the school. A bench of stone was pushed up against the wall and without hesitation both parties sat upon it. It was silent for a few minutes, as Draco and Hermione both fought to regain their breath after the burst of energy they had just recently exerted.

Rain pounded heavily towards the earth and the sound of rolling thunder filled the air. With a flash, it was day, and as quick as it appeared, it disappeared, leaving the two startled young adults looking at eachother in the dark and still breathing heavily.

"It's raining," Draco said very quietly.

"I know."

Time seemed to stand still for a few moments, as both didn't feel the need to talk and didn't want to at the moment. The girl looked out at the rain, sighed and then smiled.

"One time, Ron was over at my flat and it was raining. It was just pouring buckets, with lightning and thunder and everything. Anyway, so we were watching a movie.. I've forgotten what it was.. but, suddenly all the lights went out." Hermione let out a low chuckle and continued, "Ron went positively bonkers. Scared the life out of him, that did."

"Do you.. live by yourself?" he asked warily.

"Ye.. no, no, of course not. I live with my parents. They weren't there when that happened."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"That would be wicked though, don't you think?" Draco asked, looking thoughtful.

"What would?"

"Living on your own."

"Oh, definitely. It's great."

"It's great? How would you know?"

"I wouldn't," she said quickly. "I've heard things."

"You can stop lying to me, Granger. I know your secret. You were disowned, weren't you?" Hermione laughed, quite loudly in fact, and Draco only looked puzzled.

"Malfoy, you are so self-righteous."

"And you are so bad at lying. So you weren't disowned. Why do you live on your own, then? Run away?"

"No."

"Well then tell me why."

"You would never guess in a million years."

"I've stopped guessing, you're supposed to tell me now."

"Draco, why did you bring me out here?"

"Why do you live on your own?"

"Don't change the subject. I want to know."

"Well, so do I."

It got quiet again and Hermione stood up. She slowly walked out of the alcove and into the open air, where buckets of cold rain were falling to the ground.

"Granger, wait up!"

The blonde boy jogged up to where she was standing, back facing him. Her curly brown hair was now straight and soaked, complete with water dripping from the ends like a chocolate waterfall. Her black robes were heavy with all of the water they carried and clung to her body. Hermione turned around to face Draco, only to find that he was much closer to her than she had previously thought.

He leaned in so slowly that it was almost as if he were afraid that she would bite him. His breath was fanning her face and for a moment it was forgotten that it was raining, that he was eighteen, that she was muggle-born, and that he was a Malfoy. His lips barely touched hers, and when he backed away she was already somewhere else. 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The first thing Hermione realized was that she was dry.

She also noticed that she was still face to face with Malfoy. Although, he looked much older.. probably twenty-something, like she was.

His arm slid around her waist and pulled her against his chest. It felt comfortable, and the way he did it suggested that he'd done it more than once. Heat was radiating from his body and his grip on her was firm, but felt surprisingly good. She slipped her small arms around his neck and found herself looking into his gray eyes. She had never realized the depth in them before, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know what events had caused them to hold so much wisdom and maturity. But something else was there. Something that she had never seen in his eyes. An expression she had never seen used by him. It looked like love.

What surprised her more than the way he looked at her, was the fact that she quite enjoyed it. Once again, she felt warm breath fanning her face, and found that it smelled somewhat like peppermint. His lips were dangerously close to hers, and when they connected, she immediately allowed his soft pink tongue entrance to her own mouth. Her eyes were closed so tightly, and the kiss was so extraordinary that she wasn't sure which way was up and which was down. She could only feel him, and that was all she wanted to feel. She only wanted to continue feeling his hands running through her hair and her own hands feeling the warm skin on his back through his shirt. She just wanted to feel him. That's all she wanted.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

She opened her eyes, took a step backwards and smiled, but realized that she was once again looking at an eighteen year old Draco, whose slicked-back blonde hair was wet and falling into his gray eyes. But this time his gray eyes didn't show any love, and only a small amount of maturity and wisdom. This time they were just eyes, looking down at her chest.

"What?" she asked, looking down.

"Your necklace.. it was glowing. It's stopped now."
"What just happened?"

"Well, we kissed. And then I stopped and looked at you, and you had your eyes closed and your necklace was glowing."

"For how long?"

"I don't know. Awhile."

"Draco, meet me in the library tomorrow after lunch. I'm leaving now, but just meet me there because I have something important to tell you."

She began walking away and he called after her, "Is it about why you live alone?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned her head, "Yes, all that and more. Just meet me there. Promise?"

"Promise," he reassured her.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

THANKS TO:

Tokyobabe2040 – I hope you liked this chapter, and its alright that you didn't review for awhile. It's your choice to review ( and beliieeeeeeve me, it's a good choice to make :) ) I like being able to tell reviewers that I appreciate them and stuff like that, and I like being able to answer their questions.. sierradogbaby – YES, I am smiling. Haha. I think rhyming when you don't intend to is great. You're welcome for liking your suggestion. I'm glad you like class and friends.. haha. I almost didn't understand that until I reread what I wrote last time. And please take the glint out of your eyes, it scares me. By the by, I think you would like the parodies that I've written, seems like you've got the right sense of humor. They're on the name "well crap" but I think I'm going to transfer them to annabanana297 pretty soon. Right well, moving on.. JeanB – Man, I'm glad you like my idea and such! You're right, Malfoy is hardly in her league (one reason that I'm taking the story in a different direction than you may think..) and as for the younger version, for now I'm just pretending she doesn't exist. Know what I mean? I may write a sequel that has to do with the younger self in the future, but I don't know. It'll take a lot of persuasion and ideas. Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter!.. Ash – Thanks. I will.. yourgrandmother – I'm really glad that you are enjoying my story, because I enjoy your username. Very nice.. Rebecca – PHEW, I'm glad you didn't give up on it. I'm glad that I updated too, otherwise who knows how many readers I would have lost? I'm really glad that you like Draco/Hermione interaction, and I thought that it was only fair to give Draco a few memories as well. It was his turn to speak, agreed? Well, hope you liked this chapter!.. fredand georgeweasley are gods – You are an interesting character. I'm glad that I've got your approval. PLUS updatemate rhymes, and that just kicks ass all around.. OneOfaKind92 – Thanks! And uh, I updated.. some1 – Yeah, I'm a lazy bum, I know. I really just didn't feel like writing. That's the extent of my absence. What about my sentence structure wasn't up to par? Sorry if that sounded bitchy, it wasn't meant that way. But yeah, thank you so much for the constructive criticism, I appreciate it. I'm glad you liked the squealing. Thank YE kindly..