It all Started in a bookshop.
Chapter one
In one of the back alleys of Diagon alley, was a Muggle bookshop, run by a witch. It was small and dark and dank but despite its faults, it had one loyal customer. Every day, without fail, Hermione granger came through the door with her coffee from Florean Fortescues and set herself up in the armchair down in the back. She liked to get away from the pressures in being an active member of the order of the phoenix. This day was no different from any other; Hermione sat, enthralled in a battered old copy of 'A tale of two cities'. It seemed to be a good book, as the only time she'd move would be to take a sip of her coffee or to flick the page. That was why, on this day, she didn't hear the bell on the door tinkle or the sound of muffled footsteps approaching her.
The man stopped when he reached her hiding spot, she didn't seem to notice him there.
He chuckled.
"Hermione Granger." He said quietly, in a familiar drawl.
She slowly looked up from her book and her face twisted into a look of surprise.
"Malfoy?" She stuttered.
"Now, now, don't you think we're a bit too old to be calling each other by our last names?"
"Yes, yes, I suppose you're right." She sighed, and slowly, a smile threatened at the corners of her mouth.
"You want to go to lunch, catch up, you know?"
"Er… sure." She began to collect her coat and her drink. She made to put the book back on the shelf but a pale hand reached out to stop her.
"I'll buy it for you." He whispered.
"Oh, No, I already have a copy at home."
"Then why in Merlin's name do you come here to read it?"
"The atmosphere, and the smell, I love the smell of books." She stated, as they walked side by side into the alleyway.
"I know a very nice place just down from here." He said, pointing down to the darker end of the alleyway. He began to walk. She followed.
The coffee place was called Les Miserables and Hermione could see why. It was a dark place, not at all unhygienic, but dark. Everything was dark reds, maroons, purples, and blues, but mostly black. She could see why someone like malfoy could favor this place.
She ordered a mochachino and a whole meal salad sandwich and he sat, contemplating for a while before ordering a black coffee and a croissant.
They made polite conversation while they ate but after they'd finished, and Draco had rested his head on his arms in a tired manner, Hermione thought it was the best time to confront him about the events of the last night at Hogwarts.
"Draco." She started.
"Uh oh." He groaned.
"What happened on the last night at Hogwarts?"
"We kissed."
"Yes, why?"
"You tell me."
"No, I need straight answers, all those years, calling me Mudblood, teasing me, hurting me. Why?" She looked at him contemplatively.
"Uh… I guess it was to cover up the fact that… I had a huge crush on you."
"Why me? Why not Pansy Parkinson, or Millicent Bulstrode?"
"Pansy the pug? No way and Millicent, well, I'm not even going to dignify that."
She laughed. He smiled.
"When are you men going to learn that you won't impress a girl by hurting her?" She looked at him, his platinum blonde hair that was glinting in the sun, his steely grey eyes, and the way he kept twirling the knife around, between his thumb and forefinger, casting the reflections onto his pale, milky, flawless complexion.
"Hermione?" He said.
"Oh, sorry."
"You kind of tuned out for a moment there."
"Yes, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
She looked at her watch.
"Oh, look at the time! My train leaves in half an hour!"
"Well, Bye. Here's my number. Call me." He wrote a phone number down on a napkin and stared at her as she ran from the café; He knew perfectly well that she didn't have a train to catch, simply by the direction she ran in, back towards the bookshop.
He then realized that he had something to tell her, and he ran through the alleyway, knocking over dustbins and boxes.
He reached the door to the shop and went inside. He tiptoed to the back of the shop, and spotted her in the armchair.
He came out from behind the bookshelf.
"I still do." He said.
And she knew exactly what he was talking about.
She got up and enveloped him in a tight hug.
"Meet me tonight, at the three broomsticks." She said, and ran off, to go home.