Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, one- I would not be here writing about it, and two- I would not have included the epilogue to completely screw up people's dreams of DMHG.

Setting: After Hogwarts and the war.

Summary: What might have happened after the war, if Draco and Hermione had chanced to meet. The epilogue in the 7th book is completely disregarded, and the characters are a bit OC.

Chapter 2: Just Wanted To Say Thanks

Draco had watched his words bring buried emotions to her face. Then when he had expected her to fight back fiercely, he was surprise to see exhaustion dominate her features, and soon the focus leave her eyes. He thought she had mumbled something, but then she started to fall out of her seat. Without knowing what else to do, or by pure reaction (as he would tell people later), he caught her. And thought, what could this witch have gone through to be in such bad shape. All through Hogwarts he had grudgingly admired her strength and determination. Nothing could keep her down and she always did everything perfectly. Since he would never admit that he was worried, Draco decided that the "balance of the universe" would suffer if he left her in this pitiful condition and apparated her to his manor.

Hmmm… this bed smells really good… oh and it feels really soft stretch where am I, Hermione opened her eyes and looked into the face of Draco Malfoy. She screamed and almost fainted again. Draco quickly offered her water and a plate of cranberry bread. She definitely did not trust Draco, but her hunger was so strong that after eyeing the food suspiciously she proceeded to devour it.

Relief had flooded through Draco, not that he acknowledged the emotion, when Hermione had opened her eyes (quickly followed by pain when she had screamed). She had slept for the rest of the day, through the night, and into the next morning. Now he looked at her with an amused expression, while she ate as if she had the last piece of bread on earth.

Eventually she started eating more humanely and decided that she should thank Draco for her food and the bed, she cleared her throat, "Umm...Malfoy...well, I… justwantedtosaythanksforeverything." she said the last part in a rush, feeling very odd thanking him and not really knowing how to go about it.

Draco looked at her, clearly not knowing what to do either and cautiously said, "Yeah… well, no problem. I mean I am human… and I couldn't just leave you there." She giggled at his awkward response and then realized hers had been even worse and laughed some more. This broke the ice, and, with them both still in shock at the other side of each other, they (amazingly) started talking about where their lives had gone. Draco learned about Hermione's troubles and how she had ended up in the bar, and then he told her why he had been there (still with no idea why he was talking to her).

Hermione was thinking the exact same thing as Draco started explaining how his mother had died from depression shortly after his father had died in Azkaban. What a terrible thing to happen, even to Malfoy, Hermione thought, then gasped when she found out that Draco was more relieved by their deaths. He told about how he was forced into everything by curses and punishment, and that it was only after their deaths that he was able to experience freedom for the first time. Of course, one lifted weight was quickly replaced with another as he was left in charge of all of the Malfoy estate.

The conversation quickly progressed and the time flew by; both were astounded when they saw that it was almost 11 o'clock.With this new revelation, Hermione sadly stated, "Well, I have work tomorrow, and I will need to get up at 5, so I should probably get going."

"Oh," Draco said, finding himself glum at the thought of her leaving, "I guess that's a good idea. Perfect Granger can't be late," he joked with good nature. Hermione found herself laughing along and said with a smile,

"Who would have guessed that I would ever have laughed at one of your jokes." Draco grinned in response and said, "Well, that's definitely a sign that things can change," and then asked casually, "where do you work anyways?"

"The library," Hermione stated with a matter-of-fact air.

Laughing again, Draco said, "Of course. I guess not everything can change." She nodded, still smiling, and gave him a hug. Saying a quick thank you and goodbye before apparating away.

Draco was left stunned. Nobody had ever hugged him before. Sure he had dated people, but he usually just made-out with them; and then there was his mother, who had just given him an awkward pat for show.

That night he went to bed very confused, but woke up in a lighter mood than usual.

Wow. Hermione mused, and to think I was actually enjoying my self with Draco Malfoy. Wonders never cease to amaze me. She had just arrived on the doorstep of her flat, and was standing in front of her door lost in thought when it started raining. Laughing she looked up and thought, Well I guess our break of good weather is gone now, before rushing inside.