" ..it's called Metrosexual..."

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Hermione walked briskly into the mall past five o'clock in the afternoon. Plenty of time to choose a gift, she mused. She looked around and went directly into the women's section.

A small, doe-eyed sales lady approached her. " Help you, miss? " she asked. " Would you like anything? "

Hermione smiled. " I'm trying to find a gift for an- aunt. "

" What are her likes? " she asked motioning for her to come along with her.

" Well…she likes to knit… but! I'm not getting her any of that…perhaps some…jewelry or perfume?" Hermione replied staring at her surroundings. The chandeliers shone brightly above, along with the decors hanging from the ceiling.

The sales lady laughed in a high pitched tone. " Better make up your mind miss. "

Hermione spent the next half hour smelling all sorts of perfume until she felt her nose was getting stuffy. She had probably smelled more than twenty bottles already. " I can't make up my mind, " she muttered.

" Take it easy miss, you still have about a hundred more to choose from, " the lady said with a smile.

Hermione groaned. " I think I'm going to get a migraine. "

" How about this? It's a good old jolly scent straight from the United States. "

Hermione reluctantly took the paper sprayed with the scent. " Well, this is good- but so are the ten others. "

Hermione felt the beginnings of a bad headache, and she was starting to regret why she had chosen to get Mrs. Weasley perfume instead of lingerie or something else. And then she heard a voice.

" Yes, hi. I was wondering if you had anything new… well she's rather classy. "

Hermione heard flirtatious laughter come from the counter behind her, and even the saleslady accommodating her seemed to gain interest, moving her head sideways to take a glance at the customer. Hermione spun around just as he turned to face her.

She froze. " I- hello, " she said lamely.

He smiled, wearing a white button down short sleeved polo and dark jeans. " Granger, fancy meeting you here. "

" Wh-what are you doing here? " she asked. He walked up to her.

" Isn't it obvious? I'm getting a gift; why else would I be in the female perfumery? "

" Perhaps, you've turned into a cross dresser or something? " she suggested with a smile.

He smiled. " You were always a woman of words, Granger. I'm just getting my special someone a gift. "

Hermione raised an eyebrow. " Pansy, perhaps? "

" No, didn't you hear? Pansy's getting married in a few weeks time. That- what's-his-name… well, whatever. "

Hermione smiled. " That's nice to hear, that she's finally over you. "

He laughed. " Afraid not, she still fancies I'd save her from the arrangement she so smartly contrived herself. "

" Miss? " the saleslady interrupted.

Hermione spun around. " Oh god, I still haven't picked- "

" Who are you planning to give it to? " he asked.

" Mrs. Weasley, " she replied, waiting for him to throw some smarty-aleck reply.

" Ah. " he said nothing more. He picked up a bottle. " How about this? "

Hermione shrugged. " It's in one of my top ten, I've been eliminating various scents for the past half hour. "

He laughed. " Silly girl, you're going to get colds or sinusitis if you smell everything. What are her likes? What scent does she remind you of? "

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. " Home-spun scent, like food." She laughed. " Baked goods.."

He faced the saleslady. " Something with vanilla or honeysuckle. " The saleslady eagerly began taking out samples.

Hermione laughed. " I don't believe this… how do you- "

" I believe there's this muggle term…" He dropped his voice lower. " ...it's called Metrosexual. "

Hermione laughed.

He picked up four triangle pieces of paper. " Here, " he began. " Perhaps you could choose now? "

Hermione picked one. She sniffed. " Nope. Not that. "

" Three more to go, then, " he said.

She sniffed all three one at a time. " I like this, " she finally said, picking up the sweet, vanilla like scent.

He smiled "Congratulations, you've finally chosen what to give. "

She read the bottle's name. " Vanilla Sky, " she said. " A perfect blend of vanilla with a splash of citrus for a unique scent that's you. " She laughed. " Bloody, what a description- " She turned to face him. " Thank-thanks. "

He smiled. " I guess I'll be on my way, then? See you around. "

She opened her mouth. But she sighed and proceeded to pay for the bottle as she glanced at him once in a while, sniffing samples. The salesladies were ogling over him silly and she bit her lower lip to keep herself from laughing. Something wasn't right. Draco Malfoy had changed. Something in him was different. She hadn't heard any spiteful, bitter comments. There was no more name-calling…

" Well, we're adults now, of course, " Hermione reminded herself.

There was no look of malice in his eyes. There was no reminiscing of the old days. He did not refer to the Weasleys as 'weasels'. No more buck-toothed Granger or bushy haired Granger…no more Mudblood references.

She glanced at the counter again, and he wasn't there anymore. She sighed. "What a day," she told herself. " I don't know whether to hate it, or to hate it. "

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Hermione coughed as she stood inside the Weasley fireplace, carrying a little package complete with a ribbon.

" Hermione's here! " Ginny said hugging her.

" Hey, Ginny. Where's- "

" What took you so long? " Ron came into view carrying a plateful of mashed potatoes.

Ron hugged Hermione and led her into the old house's living room. It was still the same old house, still crooked looking with a few changes inside. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Weasley liked their house, their home as it was.

" Mrs. Weasley! " Hermione said with a smile. " Happy birthday! " She held out the box.

She got a tight hug from Molly and a kiss on the cheek. " Why thank you dear! " she said happily as she got the package from Hermione's hand. " Come on now! Good lord knows what you've been eating! You've grown thin!"

" I guess I've been too concentrated on my job, Mrs. Weasley, " she replied with a laugh.

They had lovely dinner in the garden, with lanterns hanging over the trees and a soft breeze playing on their skins. They sang a 'happy birthday', and Mrs. Weasley blew out the candles on a large birthday cake that her children had painstakingly baked for her. Later that evening, they had a quiet coffee session, still in the garden as they sat on plush couches as they gazed at the stars.

" 'Ermione, would you like some biscuitz? " Fleur asked offering her a plateful of home-baked cookies.

She shook her head. " No thank you, Fleur, " she replied. " How many months? " She eyed Fleur's belly.

Fleur smiled a happy smile. " Sixz months last week, " she replied. Bill came over, carrying a mug of hot coffee. " Excuze us, 'Ermione. "

Fleur and Bill headed for an empty couch under another tent. Hermione looked at them and sighed. Fleur was snuggled comfortably in Bill's chest as she stroked her abdomen. Bill whispered something in her ear. Fleur laughed and kissed his cheek. It would be their first child, as their careers were too busy to have a family back then. Fleur snuggled contently as Bill stroked her hair.

---

" Hermione? " Harry began.

" Hmm? " she murmured as she lay on Harry's lap.

" You think I'll make a great father? I mean, if we ever do have kids… "

Hermione smiled. " Nah, you'll make a wonderful father. "

" Wonderful… sounds good…" And he laughed.

---

" Hey, " a voice said. Hermione looked at Ron. " You okay? "

Hermione nodded. " Bill's really excited. "

" I can tell, " Ron said. " Even mum and dad are. First grandchild and all."

She nodded and looked away and faced Mr. and Mrs. Weasley at another tent across them. Still loved each other after all these years…

Ron eyed her. " Mione…let it go, " he finally said.

She blinked. " What do you mean? "

" I know it's hard to let him go, " he said picking blades of grass with one hand.

She was silent. Let go? Who was he to say that? Harry was… she still loved Harry…

" I… not now, Ron. Let's not talk about this, please? " she said with a tired voice.

" I'm just saying…it's been more than a year? You've been burying yourself with work. You're successful in the wizarding world, and you still had to get a job in the muggle world too- you work almost sixteen hours everyday… Hermione, I'm not the only one that's worried, we all are. Mum and dad are- " he sighed.

" Oh, Ron, " Hermione murmured holding his hand.

" Hermione- we love you like hell, we want you happy, I want you happy. Believe me, it wasn't easy, Harry dying and all, but seeing you like this- a workaholic... "

" I'm not. I just want to be busy. I like to work- "

" This is the first time we've actually hung out in months, since Fleur first got news that she was pregnant. "

" Ron, I promise you, I'm alright. Work...relaxes me, in some way, " she answered hugging her knees.

Ron frowned a little. " Quit your muggle job, your work as an Auror is fine as it is. Gets you to relax, with He-who-must-not- oh what the heck, with Voldemort gone. "

" You guys already love the muggle world- why should I quit when I am one? "

" We want you to take it easy, " he replied. " I want you to take it easy…"

Hermione's thoughts swayed to Draco. She remembered his cool demeanor, his nonchalant attitude, and his- too unbelievable nice self. He had driven a muggle car, spoken to muggles without sarcasm and malice- he probably even used a phone like Ron and Ginny and the rest of their family learned to.

"Ron, " she began. Ron looked at her way. " Oh, nothing, " she said. Telling Ron that she had met Draco would probably incense him.

Ron smiled at her. " Harry would want you to be happy, " he finally said.

Hermione nodded. Harry…and she closed her eyes and thought about him, but strangely, Draco was in the background.

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TBC…

A/N: The Vanilla Sky perfume, I copied the name from a movie. I wasn't so creative in naming the perfume. So...make me happy and please review? Every chapter promises to be better so be kind enough to leave me your comments?