A few months have passed...

What time is it? Hermione mumbled as she woke up. she had fallen into a depression after Ron said he had fallen in love with another woman. She had been in mourning. For her life, her relationship, she felt so disillusioned. She always thought when she got married it would be forever, and now she just felt like a failure. She had taken an extended leave of absence from work and was spending time at the cottage where she found comfort in solitude.

One morning she decided it was time for a change. She got up, threw on her jeans and a singlet and decided to go for a walk to town. The cottage was close to Lyme Regis, a port town in Dorset. She thought it would be nice to go for a walk and have a cup of coffee. She grabbed her jacket, placing her wallet in her pocket and headed out the door. As she went outside she realized what a warm day it was. She quickly returned back to the house, hung her jacket back up, and grabbed a jumper instead. It was a lovely morning. She watched as people went to and fro carrying out their daily tasks. She watched them tending to their gardens. She watched a young boy on a red bicycle carry out his paper route. Watching everyone live their lives made her think back to a simpler time which brought a smile to her face and hope to her heart.

As she opened the door into the coffee shop, a small bell rang a welcome to her. The aroma of fresh baked pastries and warm roasted coffee beans filled her senses. There were a few people in line. It was a sweet little shop. She decided that she would enjoy a coffee and a croissant with nutella. She waited in line, occasionally hearing the ring of the bell in the background. Finally it was her turn. She placed her order.

"That'll be $4.50", the girl at the counter said.

Hermione went to pull out her wallet and realized she left it at home. Her face went stark white. She started to search her pockets, she had a little loose change in her jeans.

"I am so sorry". Hermione felt herself getting flustered. "How much for just a coffee?"

"$2 pounds," the clerk snapped.

The crowd behind her started to groan. She was devastated. Hermione started to pull change out of her jean pockets, there just had to be enough. She felt a rather tall man silently saunter beside her. Still looking down scrambling for change, she stopped when the man paid her bill. She looked up to thank the man who had helped her.

"Thank You, Sir... Malfoy? Draco Malfoy? What are you doing in Lyme Regis?" She moved out of the queue to let others have a turn to order.

"Having breakfast." replied Malfoy cheekily.

She smiled at his joke. "Not exactly what I meant. No really, what are you doing here?"

She was truly in shock at seeing him here. She had seen him occasionally at the ministry in passing. She had noticed that he had changed over the years. She couldn't really put her finger on it. He was quieter now, not so smug or arrogant. They weren't the best of friends, but they had learned how to be civil to each other.

"Saving you, so it would seem. Never thought you would see the day did you Granger?" He smirked. Merlin, I love that smirk.

"Thank you so much Draco. This means more to me than you realize". Almost forgetting who she wasfor a minute, she went to give him a hug in appreciation. But before she made contact, she remembered and awkwardly pulled her arms back. She looked up with gentle brown eyes and smiled meekly.

He shook his head and smiled warmly. "It was the least I could do".

The clerk called her number and she walked over to retrieve her order. When she turned around she found he had left as quickly as he had appeared. She did not know why but she felt a little melancholy. She had looked forward to having some company and she was faced with being alone again. Why did she always have to be alone? She left the shop and decided to go to "The Cobb", the once thriving and vital harbor in this town. She was contemplating how storms had battered it down, yet the structure still remained. She thought it interesting that she felt much the same way. For years she had felt like she was needed. Although her own storms had seemed to wear down her soul, her essence remained.

It was time to rebuild herself.

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Draco's POV

He had been in exile for almost a year now. Not knowing who he could trust, what he could believe in anymore. He found seclusion in a muggle town. Being a Malfoy in the wizarding community was difficult. He had made walking to this shop a part of his normal routine. One morning he was surprised to see a certain Gryffindor enter his haunt. She was adorable, a little thin perhaps, wearing a white singlet and blue jeans with a jumper tied around her waist. Did she always look like that?

"That'll be $4.50", the girl at the counter said.

As Hermione went to pull out her wallet, her face went stark white. He noticed she started looking frantically around for something. "How much for just a coffee?" Hermione said.

She forgot her wallet. She looked so lost, so embarrassed, he felt compelled to help her. As if saving herwould somehow save him. He stood up from his corner table and quietly walked to her side, paying her bill. She was still flustered. When she finally looked up to thank him, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Thank You, Sir... Malfoy? Draco Malfoy? What are you doing here?" She moved out of the queue to pick up her order.

He really didn't want to tell her that he was living in exile. That he was broken inside, that he was having a hard time coping. She had always been so strong, he couldn't admit that he was weak.So he did the thing that came naturally, answered her cheekily, "Having breakfast."

She smiled. Merlin she had a beautiful smile."Not exactly what I meant. No really, what are you doing here?"

"Saving you, so it would seem. Never thought you would see the day did you Granger?"

"Thank you so much Draco. This means more to me than you realize". For a minute it seemed like she was going to wrap her arms around me.But then pulled away at the last minute. Awkward. She looked at me with large woeful eyes that seemedfilled with a hidden pain. He broke eye contact, seeing the pain in her eyes made his own suffering cometo the surface. The feeling was almost more than he could bear.

"It was the least I could do".He said gently as he smiledat her.

She walked over to wait for her order as he made his exit. He walked across the street and then watched as she left the building to find a place to sit, alone. She looked like she was recovering from something, but she still looked devastated. Like her soul ached. He knew that feeling. It was one he had to live with for years. That was precisely why he had exiled himself to this quaint seaside port town. He enjoyed the rough terrain and the proximity to the ocean. It offered the privacy and seclusion of which he felt in dire need. After the war he had a hard time living with himself. The way he was treated in the wizarding world just made it worse. People would avoid him, even avoid eye contact.Sometimes he feltas though he were some kind of leper. Perhaps that was why he landed in Lyme Regis, he thought it amusing that his sanctuary was a muggle town that boasted a leper hospital.

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As Hermione sat and watched the waves flow go back and forth, she decided. Enough was enough. It is time to rejoin the living. As she walked home, she started to regain her inner strength with every step she took. When she entered the house she was greeted by an owl with a message from Harry urging her to attend an event that afternoon. She recalled she had been invited to attend the event promoting equal rights for muggle born wizards a few months ago, but with everything that had happened it had slipped her mind. It was just what she needed, a cause worth fighting for. But at the same time, she was dreading what she would have to face. Tonight was the first time she would have to face Ron. It was a ministry event, undoubtedly he would be there. She would have to face Ron sooner or later.

She walked back to the house and decided to get ready. She put on a simple, black, silk dress and some heels, put her hair up in an up-do and then floo'ed to the ministry. She entered the hall and smiled at the room.Taking a deep breath she started making her rounds, but people were turning away from her as she approached. Being a bright witch she noticed that everyone was treating her like she had the plague or something. She sadly thought to herself for a minute that she didn't belong there anymore,she had always felt that she didn't belong. What am I thinking! I DON'T BELONG? Last time I checked this event was for the equal rights of muggle born wizards. This is exactly where I belong and no one is going to change my mind.

She was hiding outon the outskirts of the party debating with herself, when a warm hand snaked around her back and rested on her shoulder. "Hello beautiful" Harry said.

"Oh Harry. Finally a friendly face!" Hermione said. She spun around and hugged him wholeheartedly.

"I cannot believe people are treating you like this Hermione. I couldn't help but see how people are snubbing you. What hypocrites!"

"It's okay Harry. Theyare probably just confused by the situation. They dont know whose side to be on so they are picking Ron's. Give it a little time. I don't reallywant to speak with any of these people right now anyway."

"I really have missed you. How are you? What have you been doing?"

"Breathing, Reading, Sleeping..."Seeing the concerned lookon his face, shetried toreassure him, "Oh, I am alright Harry, I know I have been hiding a little bit, but I think it is about time I started to rejoin the world."

As soon as she said these words, she looked up and saw Ron with a cute, petite blond. She couldn't have been more 100 pounds soaking wet! Well, not really, but she was a tiny, perky little thing. Ron really seemed to enjoy having her on his arm as he circulated the room. Was that the kind of girl he really wanted? Hermione fought to hold back her tears that threatened to betray her.

"She doesn't even hold a candle against you. There is really no comparison. Hermione, I cant believewhat Ron didto you.I would never have let you go". Harry whispered. "If you need anything, anything at all, you know all you have to do is call me".

Hermione shook her head a little at the last remark, "I know Harry. I am sorry I shut you out. I just needed to be alone for a while. But, I am back now."

"Are you sure you are okay, 'Mione?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked up at Harry and said, "Yeah Harry, I am fine. For the first time in a long time, I am fine. We'vehandledworse before.I can handle Ron Weasley. But, I have had enough of this for one day. I will call you later this week, maybe we can have dinner or something? Bye Harry." She kissed him on the cheek, turning to leave theparty.

Harry put his hand on his cheek where she had left the kiss. No, I definitely would never have let her go.

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A/N; So what do you think. Is it readable? How is the flow?