A/N: Thanks to my 2 reviewers:) I appreciate your thoughts and I hope you like this next chapter! I will try to make it a bit longer... Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters or stories - I'm just inspired. ;)

The next morning began like any other. Hermione woke up, had a good breakfast and got dressed. Since it was her day off, she told Ginny that she would help her with some of her field appointments. It was always fun to walk outside with her best friend and play with whatever animals were on the schedule. Hermione may not be a vet, but she still like animals!

Hermione walked outside and started up the street towards Ginny's house.

"Hermione!" she turned to see Mrs. Gilbert, her neighbour, running after her with something in her hand.

"Good morning Mrs. Gilbert."

"Good morning Hermione! I'm glad I caught you. This letter," she held it out for her to see, "arrived for you this morning, but the young man brought it to my flat instead of yours. I hope it's not any bad news; the gentleman was going to wake you up, but I told him I would make sure you got it. I know how hard you work and I want to make sure that you rest on your day off! Speaking of, why are you up so early!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Gilbert. I am off to help Ginny today - I like to get out and play with her animals every once in awhile." Mrs. Gilbert smiled.

"Yes, the fresh air does a person very good." She patted Hermione's arm and began to turn around.

"Um, Mrs. Gilbert?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Who sent this letter?" Hermione looked at the letter for any clues. It was plain white paper folded with a red wax seal. The seal had a symbol engraved in it, but she couldn't make out what it was exactly.

"Oh! I'm sorry - how rude of me! The gentleman did mention a request as well. He said that your reply to the letter would be appreciated as soon as possible. He will come back to your flat this evening for a reply."

"Ok, but who is it from?"

"Goodness, I don't know! It looked like a man servant, so I would suggest you read the letter for the master's name!" Mrs. Gilbert gave Hermione one of those looks like she should have thought of that course of action already. She turned again to go, "Hermione, have a wonderful day. Please tell Ginny hello for me and invite her over for supper one day! I know your mother cooks you both wonderful meals, but I want the chance to spoil you as well!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Gilbert. I will tell Ginny and we will come by soon." Mrs. Gilbert waved goodbye and walked back up the road. Hermione was left with the letter in her hand. Before I could open it though, Ginny came up behind her.

"Hermione! What is taking you so long? I'm supposed to be out to the Collins' farm in 20 minutes! Come on!" She started to drag her down the road. Hermione stopped her.

"Wait! Ginny, let me read this letter I just got. I'm a bit confused about it."

"Read it when we get there - you don't have to do anything today, but I do!" She smiled for her rudeness, "Come on. I will be all ears when we get there."

"So, what is this letter you got?" Ginny asked after they were at the Collins' farm and ankle deep in mud with a mother pig and her litter. Ginny was catching each one for any illnesses or diseases.

"Oh right!" Hermione pulled the letter out of her pocket and leaned against the fence. Taking out her wand, she broke the seal, and smoothed out the letter.

'Dear Hermione,

I hope that you do not mind me writing to you, especially since it has been years since we last spoke. On which note, I would like to apologize for my behaviour in the past. I was always unnecessarily rude to you and would appreciate if you could take my apology. There is no reason for you to, since I acted unbearable toward you. In which case, I come to my second reason for writing this note. I would like to invite you to my manor sometime for afternoon tea. I had always admired you for your dedication to your work and for your loyalty to those around you. If I could some day be considered a friend of yours, my life would be more complete that it had ever been. I will be sending my servant back this evening for your reply. I hope that you will accept my invitation. I would like to feel at home in my new town and I think you can help me a lot. Please feel free to bring a friend with you, if you feel more comfortable.

With warm regards,

Draco Malfoy'

"What happened 'Mione! Why do you look so shocked! What happened?" Ginny was instantly by her side, still cradling a baby pig in her arms. Hermione had to admit, she was very surprised by the letter. Ginny grabed the letter from her hand and read it quickly.

"Draco! Wow! Oh, he's apologized! And inviting you to tea! Wow, I have never seen a letter like this before! It's almost from a novel! Oh, you have to go - Please say you will go Hermione!"

Hermione snapped out of her shock, "Of course I will go! I can't refuse an invitation like that. But, do you think he is serious? This sounds so formal; so nice!"

"Well, they do say that Draco has changed so much from Hogwarts that even Snape doesn't recognize him!" Ginny giggled at the mention of Snape. "Besides, the poor guy is probably lonely - new to a new town, being hounded as a stud - he has a hard life!" Hermione had to laugh at Ginny. She can be so supportive one minute and then crazy the next. But, she always made Hermione laugh.

"Of course I am coming, but you have to come too!" Ginny started to protest, but Hermione stopped her. "I insist! I would feel so much better with you there. Draco may have changed, but I still remember how I last saw him; all conceited and arrogant and such a snob and..."

"Are you talking about me?" Hermione whirled around and gasped. There, on a very handsome horse, was none other than Draco Malfoy himself. While she was wallowing in the mud, Draco was on a clean, handsome, brown horse. He was wearing a very proper riding habit that showed off his muscular body. His blonde hair fell effortlessly around his face like a model. As Hermione looked up, she found his eyes gazing into her, but without the hostility she always saw at Hogwarts. Instead, they were kind. 'I wish I saw him like this before,' she thought, 'He looks so nice.'

"Draco!" Ginny exclaimed, "Hermione and I were just talking about people we once knew - not you!" She quickly changed the subject, "I am so glad to see that you are living so close to us! What made you decide to come out here?" Draco held Hermione's gaze a bit longer. Then, he smiled with a wink and turned towards Ginny. Hermione blinked in surprise, blushed and looked down as they talked.

"Hello Ginny. You are looking very well - I bit different from the girl I knew at Hogwarts. Not that you didn't look good then," he hastily added, getting a bit flushed. "I got tired of living in the city and decided that I need a county home to call my own. There is no room in the city to ride horses and enjoy nature in solitude. I hope to find it here."

"Yes, we are defiantly quiet here, right Hermione?" Ginny asked, nudging her. Hermione could only nod in agreement; she was still embarrassed about Draco catching her rant about the old him. He looked so handsome and composed and... different! It is very weird to see someone be a completely different person that the one you grew up with and hated.

"Hermione, did you get my letter?" Draco asked, turning back towards her. She straightened up and tried to look as presentable as one could in mud.

"Yes, that was a very nice note Draco." Hermione said, probably failing to look dignified.

"Well, I do want us to be friends. Especially since we will be living so close to each other." Hermione nodded. "I know I was such a, what was it? Conceited, arrogant snob?" He laughed at her mortification. "But I do think that we could be great friends. I can only ask for your forgiveness for my past behaviour." Hermione nodded again.

"Yes, I do believe in second chances. I know that I have changed since Hogwarts, so I can only assume that you have changed as well. If you'd like, I can reply to your note now." Hermione glanced towards Ginny. "Ginny and I would love to come to your estate for tea sometime. It will be nice to catch up on things and to visit your new home." She perked up thinking of his home. "Actually I would love a tour of the manor if you don't mind. I have been doing a little side research on country estates for awhile now. I find that there are many secret wizard passages to pokeys that take the finder to locations around Europe. With your permission, I would love to look around."

Draco looked a bit surprised at the request, but smiled. "Anything for you, Hermione." She blinked, a bit taken aback. "Well, can I expect to see you then tomorrow afternoon? Around four?"

"That sounds perfect." Hermione smiled