A/N: This chapter is very OOC for both Draco and Hermione, so I apologize in advance if you don't like it. But please, let me know your thoughts, good or bad, I'd like to hear it.

As always, I do not own anything regarding Harry Potter.

"Do I know you?" He asked, confusion evident on his gorgeous face.

Hermione looked at him—no, more like stared at him as her mind tried to process what just happened and who may or may not be in front of her. Was this handsome man who was just inches away from her, the one who had that unusually pale skin, toned body, shiny, soft-looking blonde hair and striking grayish-blue eyes, not who she thought he was? Was she mistaken? No, she was positively sure she wasn't wrong. She had spent a considerable amount of time looking at his pictures on the Daily Prophet or stealing glances at him during post war charity functions or just when he drops by St. Mungo's . This was without a doubt, Draco Malfoy.

"Are you okay?" He gave her a soft shake, bringing her back into the present. She was looking straight into the eyes of Draco Malfoy, but somehow he was different. Sure, it had been years since she last saw him up close, but it was him. She was so sure that she'd put her life on it. Although he looked liked Malfoy, he didn't have that aura of self-confidence or arrogance that she was so well accustomed to growing up with him. He wasn't wearing any of his expensive, tailored clothes, but he didn't look any less handsome wearing casual muggle clothing. In fact, he looked hotter than what she remembered of him.

"Hello?" Before she could drift back into the deep recesses of her mind, he prodded her a second time and waved a hand in front of her face, breaking her trance-like state.

"Uhhh…yeah! I'm fine. Really."

"I'm-" He started to introduce himself, but never got to finish since Hermione bolted up so fast and started walking backwards.

"Uhmm…I have to go! Bye!" She turned her back and made a run for it.

"I'll see you around!" He called out after her retreating form and bent down to pat Celine.

" Curious, that one." He had an amused look as he rubbed the golden retriever's ears

Hermione ran away from the scene, taking the dirt path that led to her cottage. She slowed down to a walk when she was far enough and started hitting her head.

"I have to go? Bye?" Started talking to herself, which she usually does when she was upset or when she was thinking too much.

"Could I be more eloquent? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. That was just plain rude, Hermione. Even if it was Draco Malfoy."

She entered the cottage and closed the door behind her. She sighed deeply. Honestly, she didn't know what came over her so she just attributed it to him being Draco Malfoy. He always did get a rise from her when they were still at Hogwarts, especially in third year when he got her so mad that she punched him on the nose. She laughed at the memory of that.

But it had been years since they graduated from Hogwarts and years after the war had ended. And Draco was a changed man. Maybe it was all an act to bring honor to the Malfoy name, but she could see it in his eyes every time she'd secretly look at him.

Hermione went to her room, sat on the floor beside her bed and pulled out a box from underneath it. The box contained mementos she had collected through the years. She took out a couple of things, her journal and Head Girl badge included, until she found what she was looking for. It was a clump of Daily Prophet clippings about Draco.

The first clipping she ever kept was after the war when Lucius was sentenced to five years in Azkaban for his crimes and Narcissa to be on house arrest for two. Draco was pardoned from his participation from the war with Harry Potter's testimony and only sentenced to two years of community work. He was named master of the manor and was given the responsibility to manage Malfoy Inc.

The succeeding articles talked about his community service and his vast donations to some institutions. What caught Hermione's attention was even though his two years of community work was done, he had continued helping to repair the wizarding world. He had sponsored a couple of charity functions, donated a library in Dumbledore's memory and help build a new wing at St. Mungo's .

Hermione didn't want to admit it, but somehow she had developed unrequited feelings for Draco. She didn't know how or when it had happened, but it did. And she was puzzled as to why, of all the people she could have feelings for, it was the boy who tormented her during her school years. But then she would remind herself that he had changed. How she wished that she had stayed in love with Ron, but she just didn't love him that way for a long time anymore.

The next article was dated two years ago. News of Lucius release from Azkaban graced the Prophet. He was a free man, although he was to remain wandless for a year. It was a cause for celebration when Draco's engagement to Astoria Greengrass was announced. Hermione's heart broke after hearing the news and seeing Draco and Astoria's picture on the front page. Of course she knew that there couldn't be a possibility of "them" but she could dream. There was that blood purity issue and the fact that he hated her for seven years. But she still wished him well. She thought that he deserved better than some dumb blond wanting nothing more than his money and name.

A few months later, news got out that Draco had gone missing. A picture of a very distraught Astoria was plastered on the front page. Could she be more fake? She claimed that she and Draco were on a trip and that he just disappeared without a trace. She was thinking that he was kidnapped or something. Lucius had posted a generous bounty to whoever could find his son. A few more months of searching with disappointing results and they had presumed him dead.

She sighed deeply and pinched the bride of her nose. Wow, revisiting this stuff was weighing heavily on her. She was so confused she didn't know what to feel. She was happy in a sense that he was alive, but why didn't he recognize her?

All this thinking gave her a headache. She lowered herself to her pillow, not at all minding her mess. She had drifted off to sleep amongst the clutter of Draco pictures and articles. It wasn't even dark out, but she was sound asleep, dreaming of that blond hair and clear gray eyes.

A/N: don't for get to review!