Thanks for the reviews, guys. It makes me happy. :D

And about making this Draco/Hermione… I have to say that that isn't where this story is headed at all. xD I do plan on writing a Draco/Hermione story in the future, however.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money off of this.

Warnings: Future slash. But not graphic.

"Oh, Harry. Do grow up," Hermione admonished.

She had grown up quite well since their Hogwarts days. She took better care of her hair, which was sleek and brown as ever, and dressed stylishly. More importantly, however, Hermione's person seemed to ooze happiness and fulfillment. Such a quality of joy was definitely out of place in the dingy pub where Harry was currently staring morosely into an empty glass.

"I have grown up, Hermione. I'm quite tall," he muttered, and received one of Hermione's patented Withering Stares.

Honestly, the whole situation was ridiculous. Well, his being in a pub made perfect sense. His being in a pub with Hermione, however, was a little unorthodox. Hermione gave very good advice and always had both feet firmly planted on the ground; right now, Harry wanted someone to whine with and rant with, without having to come up with solutions.

Unfortunately, Ron was away on Auror business in Belgium.

"Harry, dear, I bet he won't even have to go to the practices."

Harry perked up a bit: he hadn't considered this before. "You really think so? I mean, I suppose that makes sense. He's just the alternate." He grimaced, shifting on his stool to face Hermione. "It's just… I've been working so hard to make this team. And now he's going to do his best to make it miserable." Harry was fully aware that he sounded childish. He just didn't care.

Hermione sighed with an air of exaggerated tolerance. "You don't know that. I'm sure he's a much better person now. We're not teenagers, anymore, you know, and we're quite capable of acting like adults. And," she continued before Harry could interrupt, "If he is still an immature prat, then you'll just have to be the better man."

"The better man."

"Yes. Kill him with Kindness, Harry. He'll only end up looking like an idiot. Now can we get out of this stupid pub and have a proper celebration?"

Harry smiled sheepishly and rose from the stool, following Hermione towards the door. I really ought to listen to her more often, he thought. She was obviously doing something right: he could feel her quiet peace like a warm fire, a welcome heat in a room clouded with cigarette smoke and broken hopes.

"So, Weasley, When's Ron coming home?" Harry joked once they were outside. They were in the middle of muggle London, and Harry had no idea where Hermione wanted to take him.

"Oh, I don't know. He's always gone, isn't he?" Hermione was trying to sound annoyed, but there was a dreamy happiness in her eyes reminiscent of Luna Lovegood, and it betrayed her. "I suppose Sunday night, though. At least he tries to make it by Sunday so whatever news he has can make the Monday paper." She smiled, adjusting the pale pink scarf around her neck.

Harry had always expected Hermione to join the Ministry, just as most people expected him to be an auror. They had both made surprising career choices. Hermione, who had carried a quiet indignation against the Daily Prophet into her adult life, had started her own newspaper. While its circulation was not quite that of the Prophet- yet- it was sworn to only print the truth. No propaganda, no being paid off by the ministry, nothing about crumple horned anythings (at least until they were proven to exist) and Hermione was blissful.

"And what about you, Potter? Planning to join the family anytime soon?" she asked, poking him in the side.

"I don't know. Gin and I only just got back together-"

"You two are always only just back together."

"Well you know how she feels about things. She wants me to be an Auror like Ron, a house in the country, upwards of 18 children. We love each other, but we've both got such tempers. We're bound to break up every so often."

Hermione gave him a calculating look before replying. "Well, as long as you love each other. As long as you're happy- even if that means I don't get to be a bridesmaid for another ten years." She smiled linking her arm through his. "How about we go to Hogsmeade? For old times sake! I don't even remember the last time we went."

"Sounds like a plan, Hermione," Harry replied. He squeezed her arm lightly. "And… Thank you."

She smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Whatever it is I've done, it wasn't a problem. Since you and Ginny are on again- well, you're practically my brother," she said playfully, and laughed.

Harry was suddenly glad that he'd gone with Hermione to the pub instead of Ron. She always managed to put everything into perspective. If Harry or Ron ever veered off course, Hermione had always been there to steer him in the right direction. And he was glad of her advice. Come practice Monday, he'd show Malfoy just how kind he could be.

Of course, it would be brilliant if he didn't have to.

Harry returned to his flat at a little past eleven. He'd had a really good time with Hermione, but she had a lot of work to do over the weekend and they both needed sleep.

His flat seemed chill and isolated compared to the warmth of Hogsmeade and the sense of companionship he'd felt with Hermione. The walls were inescapably white, a dull and glaring color that he'd meant time and again to paint over. A few pictures decorated them, mostly of his friends and a few unintentionally humorous ones from Dobby, but not enough to make the flat feel quite like home.

Still, it was decent. It had a nicely sized bedroom and a roomy kitchen, a dining room, a sitting room, and a small office that Harry hadn't bothered finding a use for. And it was big enough for two- as Ginny kept reminding him. The flat certainly had great potential, but Harry had never been troubled to explore it. Something about this place seemed so temporary, so insubstantial. Harry felt in his gut that this was not home. This was what would cover his head until he found where home was.

He kicked off his shoes in the general vicinity of the doorway, and threw his jacket towards the sofa. Harry had developed somewhat sloppy habits. The only thing that kept his flat from a constant state of disorder was Harry's relatively small number of possessions. He'd never owned much growing up, and still had yet to develop a desire for material objects.

Ginny, who had grown up with nearly nothing but wanting everything, didn't quite understand. But Harry wouldn't mind a cluttered home, especially for her sake.

Harry walked over to the kitchen table where the Daily Prophet lay, unread, and sat down. He already knew what he'd see, but wanted to read it anyway.

Quidditch World Cup Team Announced
Harry Potter is chosen to play seeker.

The English team for the Quidditch World Cup was finally revealed yesterday after a long wait. Of course, there are little surprises this year: Harry Potter will play as Seeker, as everyone expected.

Potter's fame is predicted to draw one of the largest audiences in World Cup history, should England make the final match. This has already been taken into consideration by the Wizarding Games Department, who are working to find a highly secluded area for the matches. "There might be some more travel involved in this one," warned a Ministry official.

There have been rumours that the Final might even take place in Bulgaria, but these rumours have not been confirmed.

Even more interesting, however, is the choice for Seeker Alternate. This position has been filled by none other than Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter's old school rival. Ginny Weasley, who is romantically involved with Potter, had this to say:

"Malfoy is a right [word omitted git, and that's really all there is to it. He was really foul to Harry in Hogwarts… I honestly don't know how this will play out."

And how this unorthodox choice for Alternate will affect the team is anyone's guess. One thing seems very clear: Potter and Malfoy are going to have to set aside their differences. Not only will they both be attending all practices, but it is common practice for the Seekers to engage in their own specialized training separate from normal team practice. Whatever happens, it will certainly make for a very interesting team dynamic.

The team is as follows:

Keeper: Oliver Wood
Chaser: Liliana Porter
Chaser: Thomas Nielson
Chaser: Edric Trumeau
Beater: Gardenia Jones
Beater: Zachary Fray
Seeker: Harry Potter

Keeper alt.:Aurelia Smith
Seeker alt.:Draco Malfoy

Harry set down the newspaper, feeling suddenly tired. It was just so typical. Just when he thought he'd never have to interact with Malfoy again…

But Harry was determined not to let it ruin his World Cup experience. This is what he'd been working towards his whole Quidditch career, and he wasn't about to let a petty school rivalry get in his way. It's not like he'd done anything to Malfoy recently; they hadn't even seen each other in years. Harry was confident that they would both be able to act civilized.

Draco scowled at the Prophet article, willing it to burst into flames. "Put aside our differences," he hissed somewhat demonically. "That idiot wouldn't know how to act civilized if his life depended on it. Am I right?"

His owl merely looked at him, hooted softly, and turned away.

Draco rolled his eyes, sinking further into his chair with a pout. He threw the article into the blazing fireplace. It was a childish expression of his anger, but it was soothing nonetheless to watch the offensive paper burn.

Abruptly, he put out the fire and stood up. "I'm being stupid about this," he conceded. Blaise had already told him as much, but Blaise had always said such things and Draco had always chosen to ignore him. In this matter however, Blaise was right. There had to be some way to turn the situation to his advantage.

Draco paced the small study, his thoughts whirring through scheme after scheme. Draco may have been rude to Potter in Hogwarts, but Potter had been rude right back. It was entirely unfair that Potter should have the entire world thinking he was a saint.

"So," he told his owl (Blaise had gone home after a few hours, claiming that if Draco said one more thing about Quidditch or Potter he'd throw himself out the window), "What I have to do is make myself look like the good guy. I'll come out on top, for once." He grinned, lowering himself back into his chair with a gusty sigh. "I've been going about this all wrong. What I have to do is be nice to Potter. He's bound to take the offensive- he always has done. He'll look immature and ridiculous when I come back with nothing but niceties."

Draco grinned wickedly. Sure, it was one of the least brilliant solutions he'd ever come up with, but it was nearing 3 in the morning and Draco couldn't sleep unless he felt he'd resolved the issue.

At Quidditch practice he would unleash the full power of his Malfoy etiquette on the unsuspecting Potter.

So, there it is. Only five pages, but once again I really like to sleep. xD And a pretty quick update if I do say so myself. I expect the next chapter to actually involve Quidditch practice, so don't worry. Please review! It makes writing so much more fun to know that someone out there is appreciating it.

And tell me if I have the characterizations very off for any of the characters. I'm trying to keep them as in character as possible. As I recall, Draco always seemed childish, and I think he'd stay that way even as an adult. But he's better now at being smooth and eloquent of course, you just don't get to see it. Yet.