Draco hadn't known exactly how he'd be received at Ville Fleur Etiolle, but had been pleasantly surprised when Hermione's Father had allowed his request to floo over to speak with her. When he arrived in the receiving room, the Grand Duke was waiting for him with a curious expression on his face.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

The older wizard's sharp gaze under normal circumstances, might've left Draco feeling a bit on edge, but he'd lived with the Dark Lord in his home for well over a year—so as fearsome as Pierre Alphonse was, he was no Dark Lord.

"I wished to speak with Hermione, if she's home."

"She is. She's gone riding for the day, and is probably at the lake as we speak."

Draco nodded slowly. "I probably should've sent her an owl, but..."

"You didn't want to lose your nerve once you decided to make the attempt?"

Draco's eyes lifted in surprise at the very accurate assessment.

"Something along those lines."

The Grand Duke just considered the young wizard for a moment, as he tried to take his measure of the man standing before him. He was clearly a Malfoy, and looks aside—he held himself with the same stance of aggrieved disdain that Lucius did. He was slightly shorter and slimmer than his Father, but he supposed that living with Tom Riddle didn't inspire much of anything...including an appetite for life.

"I will escort you to the lake."

"Thank you, Sir."

Pierre offered his hand, which Draco took and with a crack...they were gone from the main house and instantly reappeared along the far side of a bridge, that was nestled in a grove of cedar trees.

Glancing around, Draco took in the expansive scenery with an appreciative eye.

"It's quite lovely here."

"Thank you." Pierre gestured for Draco to walk with him across the bridge, which he did. "The grounds have been in my family for seven centuries. It once expanded over 200 acres of land, but after the revolution, and Napoleon's swath through France—much of the lands were retaken as payment."

"For what?"

"Ah well, that's a story for another time." Pierre replied cryptically, and Draco couldn't help but be intrigued, but then the lake came into view and his breath caught at the majesty of the clear blue water. Then his eye caught on movement to his right and when he looked over...he saw Potter and Hermione sitting up on some kind of dock—clearly enjoying the summer day together.

His eyes narrowed at Potter, so he missed Pierre's smug smirk—but then he took in Granger and his heart stuttered in shock.

What the fuck was she wearing!

And who knew the swot looked like that under her baggy school robes!

His grey eyes narrowed even further as Potter stood up, his physique proudly out on display, holding out a hand for Granger, and she took it with a wide smile of thanks.

"Angel," Pierre called out, "it would seem you have company."

"Thank you, Papa."

Pierre gave one final nod to the Malfoy lad, and disapparated with a crack, leaving Draco standing there watching the scene before him with a mixture of anger and frustration. Well, that and something else he didn't want to name as of yet. He watched Granger saunter towards him, with Potter right behind her, but was momentarily distracted when he heard a horse chuffing behind him and when he turned around—he saw a beautiful large black Friesian stallion staring at him.

He smiled widely and put both of his hands up in the universal sign of peace, before slowly approaching the animal, it's dark eyes considering him closely.

"Hey, boy. Aren't you just a beautiful one."

His voice was gentle, and soothing as he calmly approached the stallion, who's snout shifted up and down—almost as if he was nodding and agreeing with Draco's assessment.

Once he was within arms reach, he held out his hand in offering—waiting to see what the horse would do. Eventually, the Friesian cantered side to side for a brief moment, then nudged its snout into Draco's hand and allowed his attentions.

Hermione was watching the entire scene before her with wide, shocked eyes.

Zephyr never allowed any stranger to approach him and never, ever allowed another to pet him unless she allowed it. He normally was such a good judge of character that she found herself wondering what Zephyr sensed, that she had clearly missed, in all her interactions with Malfoy.

Once they were within range, Zephyr lifted his head and trotted over to her, nudging her playfully and begging for some attention.

"Hey, boy." She took out a red apple from her beaded bag and handed it over, watching with a smile as Zephyr munched on it happily. She then turned her attention back to the ferret.

"Why are you here, Malfoy?"

Draco shifted slightly, clearly uncomfortable and replied lowly, "I'd thought we'd agreed on using first names."

She blushed slightly, but nodded in turn. "Sorry, yes..we did at that."

Draco's gaze then landed on the wizard right behind Hermione, and he sneered out, "Potter."

"Malfoy."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here?"

"No, you really shouldn't be."

It was taking all of Draco's Occlumency training to not react to the fucking Chosen One.

"I'm sorry to come by unannounced, but I was hoping we might talk privately, Hermione."

The witch just tilted her head slightly as she stared him down, before sighing in resignation. Turning back to Potter, she shrugged and said simply, "Raincheck?"

The git grinned and winked before placing a kiss on her cheek, which made Draco's blood boil.

"Sure thing, love."

Clenching his fists, Draco was fairly certain if Potter didn't leave soon, he'd go full on Muggle and hit the git's smarmy face.

Hermione watched as Harry walked behind the tree, after she'd transfigured his clothes back to what he'd been originally wearing earlier, and when he came back, he petted Zephyr fondly and said smugly, "Much thanks for the spectacular ride, boy. Best of my life so far."

Draco watched in confusion as Hermione blushed and bit her lip, trying very hard not to smile at Potter, who was grinning at her from ear to ear. He knew there was something he was missing, but in Merlin's name, he couldn't figure out just what that something was.

Potter walked right past him and leant down to whisper something in Hermione's ear. The witch nodded and kissed his cheek back, promising to see him soon.

Watching Potter disapparate through the wards of the property, made Draco seethe angrily. If the wards had accepted him already, then Pierre knew of Hermione's possible choice of consort and had already accepted the option.

"So you and Potter?"

Amber eyes locked onto his and he watched as Hermione smirked and replied, "So, you and Astoria?"

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "No. I spoke with her and told her that I wouldn't disrespect her by bringing her into this. She deserves a wizard who can offer her what she deserves, and unfortunately that wizard isn't me."

Hermione took a step back in shock, staring at Draco as if she'd never quite seen him properly before.

"You're serious?"

"Don't act all surprised, Hermione. I am capable of doing the decent thing."

"Since when?"

"I don't know? Since not identifying Potter in my home, even though I knew it was him. Did you really think I'd wanted that madman to win?"

"I don't know, Malfoy? If you didn't, you surely played it like you did. Hateful, prejudiced, prat you were—it's hard for me to reconcile that you might actually have a heart. But then Astoria is a proper Pureblood witch, so I suppose I can see it."

Lifting his face to the sky, he pleaded with any deity who might take pity on him to give him strength right now. He couldn't afford to bollocks this up anymore than he'd already had.

"Yes, Hermione, you're right. I was and currently am, a selfish git. I've made horrible choices. Many of which were made out of desperation for my Mother's safety. I'm sure you can appreciate that sentiment? Does it excuse all the hateful things I've spewed at you for six years, no. But to be fair, you weren't exactly honest with your heritage either, now were you? You lied to your friends, and maybe you've convinced yourself it was all for the greater good, but it doesn't change the facts."

"No, it doesn't." She admitted with a sad sigh. "It was my Father's decision and it was either hide in plain sight or be schooled at home. I've spent my entire life behind these walls, with no one other than my family and servants for company, so excuse me if I was desperate for a different life, Malfoy!"

Eyes widening, he hadn't considered for a single moment what life must've been like for Granger growing up. He'd always been privileged, but his parents had allowed him the company of his same-aged peers growing up. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, Theo—even Daphne and Tori, when she was old enough.

He remembered how socially awkward Granger had been their first year, especially early on. He clearly remembered her haughty voice on the train when she was looking for Neville's toad. For months, after he'd realized what he'd thought was her heritage—he simply couldn't reconcile the witch's actions with her background.

Now he knew why.

"You know," he gently cleared his throat before a small smirk fell over his face, "not that you don't look fetching in that ensemble you're wearing...but perhaps you might want to get dressed before we have this conversation properly?"

"Why, Malfoy...sorry...Draco? Does a little skin bother your overblown Pureblood sensibilities?"

"You're a Pureblood too, Hermione. And not exactly, no. If I'm being entirely honest, your appearance took me a bit by surprise. I've been so used to you wearing over-sized robes at school, I had no idea you were hiding such a shapely figure underneath all those clothes."

She chuckled softly, as she shook her head in disbelief.

Was Malfoy actually paying her a genuine compliment?

Based on his expression as his grey eyes roved over her form, she had to believe he was.

"You've never looked at me as anything other than the filth on your shoe—so I'm not surprised you didn't notice that I was a girl."

He shrugged helplessly, as he didn't see a point in defending his actions back at school.

There literally was no defense for his behavior.

"Don't suppose an apology would suffice?"

"No, I don't think an apology would work in this situation."

"Then what would?" He inquired evenly. "Are we to resign ourselves to a loveless marriage and separate lives already?"

Shaking her head even more, she went to move behind Zephyr to get changed when Malfoy's hand on her arm stopped her cold. She glanced at him in confusion, but his gaze was fixated on where her mudblood scar was...or more to the point—where it was now almost faded away.

"How?" His grey eyes bored into hers with something akin to wonder tinged with a side of bafflement.

"It's a family treatment."

"But this was...I mean...Hermione? She cursed you with Dark Magic."

"I'm well aware, Draco. Look, let me get changed and we can discuss it a bit more, okay?"

He nodded and then watched as Hermione walked around to the other side of her horse and his eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock at her lack of modesty, as she removed her swimsuit and started to dress more appropriately. He could see her legs from mid thigh down and the tops of her shoulders clearly. Once her riding gear was on, he saw her stuff her bikini away in her bag as she made her way back towards the him with an amused half-grin.

"So, your first question was a fair one, and honestly it's one I don't have an answer for yet." She said at last. "I suppose I'd be willing to listen to any suggestions you might have on how you and I could possibly move forward from our volatile past."

The truth if he was honest—was that he really didn't know either and as he said as much, he watched Granger's expression fall, before she nodded resolutely.

"Then why did you come here today?"

"I don't know exactly." He paused again, watching Hermione taking her horse by his reins and then she started to walk back down the path, likely heading towards the Ville. "What's his name?"

"What?"

He smirked at her gobsmacked expression, so he pointed to her horse and said simply, "What's his name?"

"Oh! His name is Zephyr."

"The Greek God of the western winds?"

"Yes." She smiled genuinely and he nodded.

"It fits him."

"I thought so too."

"How old were you got him?"

"Nine. He was the last gift from my Mother, before she was killed."

"Oh." Draco's face fell. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you, but it's something I learned to deal with a long time ago."

"Her name was Angelique? Yes?"

"It was. My full name is Hermione Angelique Jean Granger Alphonse. My Mother was a Dagworth-Granger."

"Hence the Granger." He bit back, and she could see his lips curving upward, and her expression softened. "But I'm confused about something?"

"Which is?"

"I remember back before our second year meeting...well not exactly meeting, but I do remember seeing whom I thought were your parents in Flourish and Blotts talking with Arthur Weasley."

"Yes, I remember that day well." Her lifted eyebrow and slight scowl had him grimacing slightly, but all she replied with was, "Wendell and Monica Granger. Wendell, is my Mother's cousin. A squib. I had grown up knowing them, and they were like second parents to me. I did get to spend time with them on occasion. It was during one of those visits in London that my magic expressed. It was apparently, how Dumbledore found out about me. My name appeared on the Hogwarts registry since my magic expressed in Britain. At my Mother's funeral, Wendell came and it wasn't long after that, that the decision was made to allow me to go to Hogwarts. I modified Wendell and Monica's memories before I went with Harry and disappeared. The Ministry is trying to locate them, as we speak."

"What?" He gaped out in shock. "Where did you send them?"

"Australia."

"You did this without their permission?"

"Of course not! They knew the war was coming. After what happened at the end of our fifth year, I couldn't keep it from them and my Father and I...well, let's just say we didn't see eye to eye that entire summer. He almost didn't let me return to school, but since I was turning seventeen that September of our sixth year? He capitulated—reluctantly."

"Did you blackmail him like you did with Skeeter?"

Hermione stopped in her tracks and stared Draco down, her expression livid.

"Excuse me?"

He blanched, realizing that maybe he shouldn't have brought that up.

"You didn't blackmail Skeeter?" He drawled, as he desperately tried to back track, but the look on Hermione's face had him wondering if he'd gone a step too far.

"Are you always going to be this much of a pain in the arse?" She bit out caustically. "Because I won't attempt to be open with you again, if that's going to be the case!"

He watched in dismay as Hermione went to mount Zephyr, and he desperately grabbed her arm quickly, silently pleading for her to not leave him.

"I'm sorry." He grit out with an exasperated shake of his head. "My Mother shared a few things with me recently, and I guess I'm still processing it all."

She just stared at him like he was some kind of novelty she wasn't sure she wanted to figure out, but all she said was, "That sounds rather ominous."

He chuckled, but he was glad to see Granger moving back in step with him as they continued on their path towards the stables.

"Mother is more observant than anyone I know, but that being said—she's a terrible gossip. She doesn't share the information she learns easily, but felt I needed to be educated about a few things where you were concerned."

"Such as?"

So he told her, about Skeeter and Snape—and how his Mother had warned him of Hermione's Slytherin side. When he was done, Granger was grinning like mad.

"I don't know whether to be offended or impressed."

"Maybe a bit of both?"

She nodded, biting her lip in contemplation as she side-eyed him warily. "How are we ever going to find common ground?"

He lifted his head back slightly, as he gazed up into the fading light of the afternoon and shrugged.

"Maybe we start with something simple. Something we both have an interest in?"

"Like?"

"Well," he paused, wondering if what he was about to propose was a good idea, but it probably wouldn't hurt and the worst Granger could do was say no. "I'm rather interested in Alchemy as well. I've done some of my own research on it...nothing major but..."

"Really?"

He watched with satisfaction as Hermione's eyes sparkled with interest, and he was suddenly aware of how pretty she looked with her face all eager for new information.

It was something he'd never allowed himself to notice before.

"Yes."

"Anything in particular."

"Well, I've done some research on the panchrest."

Amber eyes widened even further, and pink lips formed a breathy 'oh' and he felt his heart race slightly at the enraptured expression.

"It's just an academic interest at this point."

"I'm surprised is all."

"Why? I've always been just a few points behind you in our classes?"

"I know, and it's not about that per say—it's just, that's what I'll be working on, in a roundabout way."

"A panchrest?"

"The Elixir of Life."

He stopped dead in his tracks, and he knew his face must've look completely befuddled because she was grinning openly at him.

"The Sorcerer's Stone?"

"Yes." She replied after a moment. "In order to create a true panchrest, you must first start with the Elixir. It's my theory anyway, and I believe it's the foundational recipe for the panacea."

Shaking his head in wonder, he gave the little witch next to him an impressed look.

"You always were smarter than anyone I knew, Granger."

"Hermione...Draco—and I'll take that as a compliment." They'd finally reached the stables and Draco sat down on a bench and watched silently as Hermione thoroughly brushed Zephyr, gave him another apple and then invited him into her home. "I picked up some light reading material from Master Flamel in Paris. If you're really interested, you could come and help with my research?"

"Really?" He desperately tried to keep his voice from cracking with excitement, and realized that he'd failed miserably. He cleared his throat a couple times, before inquiring more sedately, "You wouldn't mind the help?"

"No, I suppose not." But then she pointed her finger at him in warning. "But don't even think about taking credit for my work, Draco Malfoy!"

Placing his hand over his heart, he replied in his most conciliatory tone, "I wouldn't dream of it, Hermione."

"Good." She nodded with a finality that made him smirk at how adorably swotty she could be. It was definitely a trait he hadn't appreciated in school, but now could admit even a little bit to himself—that he found it rather appealing.

In a strange, unexplainable way...

"So I can come by tomorrow?" He queried, more smoothly than he felt.

She gazed up at him for a brief moment and then nodded. "How about ten in the morning?"

"I'll be here."

She led him to the floo room, and before he left—he took her hand and bowed over it before placing the softest of kisses on her knuckles. Her responding hitched breath and rising blush gave him a measure of confidence that perhaps Granger wasn't wholly indifferent to him.

But that didn't alleviate the pit in his stomach when he thought about Potter and his dynamic with his soon to be wife.

He just didn't know what to do about it at this juncture.