Chapter 2

Hermione stirred in her bed as she slowly woke up from her dreamless sleep. The smell of bacon, eggs, and coffee filled her nose. With one deep sniff, Hermione opened her eyes and sat up. For a second she forgot where she was, but after looking around her room she remembered. She remembered how out of all the witches and wizards, Pansy Parkinson was the one that helped her, the one that gave her a job, and the one that gave her a place to stay. She would forever be grateful to Pansy.

Hermione did her morning duties before heading downstairs for breakfast. When she walked into the kitchen she saw Pansy and Blaise kissing. She smiled before she cleared her throat and walked in to grab a seat at the table. Pansy immediately jumped out of Blaise's arms with a blush slowly creeping onto her face. She excused herself and left for her room to change. Blaise just chuckled and went to go introduce himself to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, good to meet you again." Blaise said and kissed the back of her hand.

"Please, call me Hermione. And it's good to meet you again, Blaise."

"Thank you, Hermione. I heard from Pansy that you're working at the book shop now?"

"Yes. Pansy was nice enough to offer me a job there."

"That's great! She's a wonderful person isn't she?"

"She is, but most of that is because of you. From what I've heard about you, I know you're a good man, Blaise."

"I try to be." Blaise laughed and started to eat his breakfast. Hermione smiled at him. When Pansy had talked to her about Blaise, she didn't really remember his face at all, but now that he was sitting here in front of her she didn't understand how she could've forgotten. Blaise was an exceptionally handsome man. He was, as the muggles say, tall, dark, and handsome. But not only that, he was sweet, caring, kind, everything you would want in a man. Pansy was a very lucky girl, indeed.

Hermione turned her attention to the breakfast in front of her and began to eat. Just as she took the first bite of her eggs Pansy entered back into the kitchen. She sat down as Blaise leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the cheeks. Hermione felt a tinge of jealousy rush over her. Although she'd been in a couple of relationships herself, none of them even compared to Pansy's relationship with Blaise. Watching them in front her, she knew their feelings for each other were genuine and they would be together for the rest of their lives. That was something Hermione wanted, someone to spend the rest of her life with. It just seemed like all she ever did was wait and now she was tired of waiting.

The three of them were eating breakfast quietly when a sound came from the living room. After a few seconds of exchanging confused looks, in walked the one and only Draco Malfoy. Hermione held her breath as she saw him for the first time in years. His hair was as blond as ever and he was far more handsome than she had remembered, though she would never really admit that to him or anyone else.

"Morning, Pansy, Blaise, Granger. Pansy you sai…" Draco did a double take when he saw Hermione sitting at the table. "Granger?!"

He was so shocked to see Hermione there that he almost stumbled back. She was the last person he had expected to be sitting there. Hell, if she was the last person on earth he still wouldn't have expected to see her at Pansy's house. He hadn't seen her in so long that he barely remembered her face. If it wasn't for her hair he wouldn't have even recognized her. He frowned when he saw her and prayed to Merlin that he was just imagining things.

You see, Draco had a little secret. He's had a tiny bit of an attraction to Hermione since sixth year of Hogwarts. It was a minor crush at first, but as time went on it grew bigger. He didn't know where this feeling came from. One day he was walking to Quidditch practice when he saw her out in the courtyard reading a book and then it just hit him like a brick to his head. It drove him mad, but he couldn't help his feelings. Draco held his secret for the rest of the year and into seventh year. After they had left Hogwarts, he felt relieved that he didn't have to see her everyday anymore. Fortunately for him, as time went on, he felt his feelings for her slowly disappear until finally he thought of her no longer, until now.

"Hello, Malfoy." Hermione smirked, proving to him that she was in fact real and not just an imagination figure sitting in front of him.

"What the…Pansy? Blaise? What's going on? Why in the hell is Granger here?" Draco questioned.

"She lives here now." Pansy replied coolly, like it was the easiest question she'd ever been asked. If Draco's eyes got any bigger his eyeballs would've fallen right out. "Oh and by the way, Hermione is working at the book shop now. I hope you don't mind." Pansy concluded, while she drank some juice and not even looking at him, obviously not caring if he minded or not. Hermione just smirked down at her plate as she finished up her breakfast. Blaise just stared as if an explosion was about to happen in front of his eyes, but nothing happened.

"Pansy." Draco said calmly, staring right at the brunette.

"Yes, Draco?" Pansy said, still not looking at him.

"May I talk to you in the living room for a few minutes, please?"

"Draco, if you've got something to say ju…"

"Pansy! Living room, now!" Draco interrupted before Pansy could finish her sentence. He turned and walked back to where he had entered, not waiting for her reply. Pansy sighed in annoyance, but stood up and followed him.

"This will only take a minute." Pansy told Hermione and Blaise with a smile before walking into the other room. When she entered into the living room she found Draco pacing in front of the fireplace.

"Draco, what is the matter with you?" Pansy asked, a little angry at his outburst in her home.

"Do you know who is in there? Did you consider who that was before you…you let her live with you?"

"First of all, yes, I did consider what I was doing when I asked her to live with me and I know I'm doing the right thing. You didn't see her last night, Draco. She looked like hell, worse than that if it's even possible." Pansy began. Draco didn't have anything to say to that and continued to pace. "Second, why are you like this? I would think after a few years you'd be over the immature fights you and Granger had back in school. The Draco Malfoy I know is more mature than this. You're no longer that boy in school anymore. You're a grown man now so act like one."

Draco sat down on the couch opposite of where Pansy was standing. He rubbed his face in frustration, but didn't know what to say so he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Did you really hire her to work at my shop?" he asked. She walked over and sat down next to him.

"Do I need to keep reminding you that it's half mine?"

"Well, it was my idea and I paid for most of it so I would say that it is more like one fourth yours."

"Shut up," Pansy said as she glared at him and received a smirk from Draco. "Anyways, yes, I did hire Hermione to work at our shop. She needed a job so I gave her one. We had to hire someone new anyways, now we don't have to worry about that. What's done is done." Pansy got up and stretched before heading back into the kitchen.

"But why does it have to be her." Draco mumbled, not really saying it to anyone.

"Get over it and come eat some breakfast." Pansy said before disappearing out of the living room completely. Draco sat there for a little longer thinking to himself. He stood up a few minutes later and began to walk to the kitchen. He accepted the fact that Hermione would now work at the book shop and live with Pansy. Fine, as long as he didn't have to see her constantly then he couldn't care less. He would just have to avoid going to the shop which would be easy since he had to job at the ministry and he rarely went to the shop anyways. It wouldn't be that hard to avoid her, but he knew deep down that that was not going to happen and as long as she's living here with Pansy and friends with her and Blaise then he would be around her more than ever.

After working at the book shop and living with Pansy for a few weeks, Hermione felt comfortable and settle with her new lifestyle. Pansy had been very kind and patient with her at work. She taught Hermione how to send and receive packages, where all the books went, and much more. Hermione grew to love the book shop more and more each day. It wasn't a big shop, but not too small either. It reminded Hermione of a smaller version of Flourish and Blotts. She loved going to work because of all the books waiting there for her. She read most of the time and Pansy was fine with that as long as the day wasn't too busy and not many customers were around.

Pansy and Hermione's friendship also grew and they became close friends fast. Hermione felt grateful to have someone so caring and fun as a friend especially since Harry and Ron weren't there. They went out all the time and shopped like crazy, well Pansy shopped, Hermione was just there since she didn't want to buy anything and refused to let Pansy buy for her, but she had fun anyways. Blaise also grew on her as time went on. He came over quite a few times a week. The three of them usually had dinner at home and then Hermione would go back into her room so that the two lovebirds could spend time together.

Hermione always felt bad for being an annoyance to them, but they insisted that she ate dinner with them and that they didn't want her to feel alone. It was nice of them to think of her, but sometimes she just felt like a third wheel. One time, Blaise asked Draco to come over, but he supposedly had a meeting of some sort. Hermione didn't care though. At least she wouldn't have to feel like it was some sort of a double date or anything of that nature. That would probably be worse than feeling like a third wheel, she thought.

Draco hadn't been around much which was really unlike him. Before, he would always show up uninvited to dinner, which annoyed Pansy to no end, but since he was her and Blaise's best friend she couldn't tell him to leave. Now, he barely spent any time with his friends. Only once or twice did he have the time to be with them over the past weeks and he never stayed for too long.

Pansy almost didn't notice his lack of presence because she spent so much time with Hermione, but of course she didn't forget about him. She was beginning to miss her best friend so she asked him to have dinner with her, Blaise, and Hermione over the weekend. She wanted them to go to a fancy restaurant and she even offered to pay. Draco wanted to say no, but he couldn't. Not with Pansy's pleading look that he hated so much.

That same weekend Pansy had invited Hermione to go wedding dress shopping with her in the afternoon. Hermione was delighted and gladly accepted the invite. She helped Pansy look through all sorts of wedding dresses from A-lines to mermaids to ball gowns. There were so many to choose from that both girls began to feel overwhelmed. Finally, after the fiftieth dress, Pansy chose an ivory A-line princess gown. It was a corset top with many beads sewn in the front and the bottom part of the dress was big and poofy.

By the time Pansy finished purchasing her wedding dress it was time for them to meet up with Draco and Blaise for dinner. They arrived a little late so the two men were already seated and waiting for them. They both apologized for their tardiness as they sat down and ordered their dinner.

"Did you ladies have fun dress shopping?" Blaise asked politely while he poured all four of them some red wine.

"Yes, we did! I found my dress, darling. Well, Hermione found it first, actually. I love it so much." Pansy said.

"That's wonderful, sweetheart." Blaise replied and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. Hermione smiled at the lovebirds while Draco pretended to gag. Pansy glared at him and he decided to change the subject.

"So Granger, why were you fired from your previous job?" Draco asked. Hermione shot her head towards him. She had not expected him to converse with her at all so it took her by surprise to hear him ask her a question.

"Um, well I use to be a curse breaker. I was fired because I broke one of the rules. We're never aloud to go on location by ourselves incase something happens, but one night after everyone left for home I went back inside instead. I didn't think my boss would find out, but I guess he decided to check out the site and found me. He didn't want to fire me, but rules are rules and I can respect that." Hermione told them.

"My, my, Granger. Once a rebel always a rebel." Draco replied. Hermione just shrugged and drank her wine.

"Speaking of jobs," Pansy started, "I won't be able to work tomorrow, so Draco you're filling in for me."

Draco nearly choked on his wine when he heard the news from Pansy. "I have to work with Granger?!"

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked him. Draco didn't reply though, he was too busy looking at Pansy with a pleading look telling her 'no'.

"I'm sorry Draco, but Blaise and I have to do wedding stuff. And there will be more days where I won't be able to work, so you better get use to it." Pansy said.

"How about I do the wedding stuff for you?" Draco asked

"No, man, you don't know what you'll be getting yourself into, trust me." Blaise said. Pansy slapped him in the arm and glared at him. He just looked away trying hard not to laugh. Pansy just shook her head at her fiancé.

"Sorry, but this is just between Blaise and I. You're just going to have to suck it up. I'm sure you two will get along just fine…eventually."

Dinner came before Draco or Hermione could comment on her assumption. They had small talk while they ate and in the end Blaise, being the gentleman that he was, paid for dinner even though Pansy said that it was on her. She smiled at him and gave him a hug telling him the next one was definitely on her. Blaise smiled and nodded, but knew if the pattern continued he would be the one paying and she would be the one offering again. He didn't mind though. He would do anything for Pansy. Paying for dinner was such a minor task for him anyways.

After dinner they apparated back to Pansy's home for some more wine and to relax. Pansy was in the kitchen getting everyone glasses and Blaise was in there "helping" her so that left Draco and Hermione alone in the living room. There was a very awkward silence filling the room. Draco sat on one couch while Hermione sat on the other, both looking anywhere but at each other. Hermione wanted to run up to her room where she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, but didn't want to be rude so she stayed.

"So…do you usually work at the shop with Pansy?" Hermione asked, hoping to get rid of the awkwardness.

"I only go there every once in a while, as a fill in if someone isn't able to work that day. Pansy usually has Olivia with her, but now she has you. I work mostly at the ministry."

Hermione just nodded.

"How are Potter and Weasley?" Draco asked, shocked at his own question.

"Oh, um, they're fine, I suppose. I wouldn't really know, actually. I haven't seen them in months."

"Oh that's right. They're famous Quidditch players now. I see them in the Daily Prophet sometimes with their trophies and haughty smiles. What a great start to my mornings." Draco said sarcastically.

Hermione surprised them both with a giggle escaping through her lips. Something inside of Draco triggered when he heard her laugh. It brought him back to the memories of when they were in school. It reminded him of the way she would always laugh when she was around her two best friends. That laugh was one of the reasons why he fell for her. The way her smile lit up her face and her eyes would sparkle. Her laugh was like a beautiful melody that he could listen to over and over…no, he wouldn't go back to those memories. Not after it took him this long to forget about it in the first place. Draco stood up suddenly which startled Hermione.

"Um, sorry Granger, but I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." He said quickly and grabbed his coat just as Pansy and Blaise walked in from the kitchen.

"Draco, where are you going?" Blaise asked.

"I just remembered that I had something important to do."

"Well, whatever it is, it can wait." Pasny said.

"No, it can't. Sorry, I'll stay next time." Draco said and disapparated.

"What happened, Hermione?" Pansy asked, a little confused as to why Draco left so suddenly.

"I don't know." Hermione frowned. She thought that they were having a decent conversation. Was it something she said? She didn't even say that much. She didn't think she said anything wrong to make him feel like he needed to leave. Draco was just being his Malfoy self, probably. Hermione felt exhausted and didn't want to think about it any longer. She decided to just retrieve to her room so she could sleep. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, you two."

"Wait, not you too, Hermione?" Pansy asked.

"I'm tired. Besides, you two are probably dying to be alone, so I'm doing you a favor." Hermione laughed. Pansy blushed while Blaise tried to hold in his laughter. They both bid her goodnight as she walked up the stairs and into her room. She changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. She thought about having to work with Draco and groaned into her pillow. Tomorrow would be a long day, indeed.