A/N: i have nothing to say...just that i don't own harry potter and anything related to the potterverse. don't forget to review, okay? :)

It had been three days since she received Draco's letter and to say that she was disappointed was an understatement. Each day she would wake up, hoping to see him and each day she would end up disappointed. She felt resented and she hated feeling this towards herself and Draco.

She resented Draco because he had the power to make her feel all gooey and tingly inside, but she hated herself more for falling so fast for him. After all they only did get reacquainted a couple of days ago. It makes her wonder if she had some suppressed feelings for him back in Hogwarts. That was a totally absurd idea. They hated each other, right?

She sighed deeply and pulled out his letter from under her pillow. She probably read it a hundred times already, but she wanted to go over it thoroughly to make sure she understood correctly what he said. She opened the folded piece of paper and Draco's smooth cursive came into view. She was impressed. She was so used to looking at Harry and Ron's lazy scrawl when she helped them with their homework back in Hogwarts that she assumed that all guys wrote like that. But Draco's was impressive; it was as if he was one of the characters from novels about the Regency Era that she liked to read. Well that was how she imagined they would write, at least.

Hermione,

I must apologize once again. I won't be able to meet you in the following days. I am off to do some errands with Richard in the city. I promise to make it up to you when I come back. I'll see you then.

D.

He was concise and to the point so there was nothing to misunderstand. He did say that he'll see her when he came back. But was he avoiding her?

'Ugh! Stop over thinking things, Hermione. Just give it a rest already. He said he'll see you, even promised to make it up to you.'

She gave a long stretch and started fixing her bed. Yes, she must stop over thinking about things. It only complicates her life. Good thing she had a day off today. It had been a while since she had 'me-time'. Today was the perfect day for that. She'd simply distract herself into forgetting about Draco.

Hours later, Hermione set out to town feeling much more relaxed after a good breakfast and a nice long soak in the tub. She was definitely looking forward to this 'me time'. But what should she do? She could go to the market again or visit the boutiques, but in the end she decided to just stop by the library and grab a good book.

It took her a while to find a book to her liking and by that time, she had decided to go on a mini-picnic by the stream that cuts across town. She thought that that was a perfect idea. Now all she had to do was stop by the general store and grab something for her picnic.

She was walking toward the store with her nose in her book. Obviously she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. The next thing she knew she had collided with someone and bags full of fruits and other grocery items were falling to the ground.

"I'm so sorry! I'm usually not this careless." She helped gather the spilled contents of the brown paper bag and carefully placed them back inside.

"That's quite alright, dear. I'm sure it was an accident." She handed the last piece of fruit and stood to her full height as did the old lady beside her.

"I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. I'm new in town." She extended her arm and the lady gladly shook it.

"Ah, yes! The new doctor. Draco talked about you the day he waited for you outside the clinic. I must say that was the first time he talked so excitedly about someone. You see, he shares everything with me so I think he must fancy you a lot." Hermione didn't say anything, but her red cheeks said everything.

"Forgive me for being rude, my dear, my name is Margarette Toulson. Draco has been living with my husband and me. A pleasure, Ms. Granger."

"Hermione, please." Margarette started to pick up her bags.

"Here, let me help you." Hermione picked up some of the bags and walked with Margarette to the rusty, old pick-up truck she was apparently driving.

After loading up the groceries, Hermione apologized again and started to say her good-byes when Margarette had other plans in mind.

"No need to apologize, Hermione. I'm glad we bumped into each other. I was thinking, would you like to join me for lunch? I only came out here anyway to buy things for the dinner I'm making for Richard and Draco. They're coming back in the afternoon. A little company would be lovely. That is if you don't have any other things to do."

Hermione smiled and said, "Yes, I'd love to."

And as simple as that, her 'me-time' picnic by the stream has been forgotten. She didn't even have to think about it, another impulsive move on her part, but at least she now knew that she was definitely going to see Draco today.

She boarded the passenger's side and Margarette drove off slow and steady. They had small talk during the ride back and Hermione thought she was pleasant to have a conversation with; Margarette was very intellectual. She felt very comfortable talking to this lady even though they had just met. They were able to talk about random things that were interesting enough to hold off all Draco-related questions she had been dying to ask.

It was roughly a 30-minute drive from the main part of town before they arrived. It was a beautiful view actually, acres of green grass sprawling into the horizon, picturesque mountains, trees and everything else. It was perfect. And the best part was that the farm was isolated from the town, that way it was like they had the place all to themselves.

Hermione carried the bag inside while Margarette started making sandwiches and put water to boil for tea.

"You have a beautiful home, Margarette."

"Thank you, Hermione. It's been in our family for generations. It's a shame that Richard and I don't have children."

"Why is that? If you don't mind me asking."

"I had a miscarriage once and I waited a while before we tried again, but before we could I got into an accident which prevents me from having children again."

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Don't be, it was a long time ago. And besides, we have Draco now. He's like a son to us. This is very selfish of me, but sometimes I wish that he'd never regain his memories. I'm afraid that he'd leave us one day."

Hermione smiled and took her hand in a reassuring way and said, "I'm sure that he wouldn't."

"Well, enough of this sentimentality from an old lady. I'm sure you're hungry. Let's have lunch in the garden; the weather is absolutely perfect."

Margarette led them out the back door and Hermione was astonished when she saw all the flowers. It was breathtaking. You would never have thought that such a beautiful sight was hidden behind this old house.

"This is truly beautiful!"

"It is my own haven. And I owe it all to Draco. He planted these flowers for me and they grew beautifully."

They talked more while having their sandwiches and tea. Margarette was very generous with stories of Draco, telling Hermione about when he first got here. How she saw that he was very uncomfortable, but he never complained once. She also told Hermione how amusing it was to watch Draco figure out how to work the machines and that he got mad pretty quick, but never at the old couple. Margarette told her everything and she couldn't help but feel whatever it was she was feeling for him grow stronger, if that was even possible. She was impressed with how far Draco had come. He had gone through a lot of things in the past two years. And to think that he used to be some spoiled, rich, bigoted pureblood who didn't want to have anything to do with muggles.

The creaking sound of the door brought the attention of both women to the back door. There stood a tall, well-built man who you wouldn't think to be as old as he actually was.

"Who do we have here?" He approached both women and hugged his wife.

"Richard, this is Hermione Granger, Draco's friend. Hermione, my husband."

"I see…" He trailed off, seeing his wife's knowing smile.

"Delighted to meet you, Sir."

"You make me sound so old. Call me Richard." Hermione nodded and discreetly looked passed Richard to the door, expecting him to appear any moment. An action that didn't go unnoticed by the old couple.

"He's not here. He said he had somewhere to go."

"Oh…"

"Don't worry, he said he'll be home before dinner."

"Okay."

"Hermione, why don't you relax? Make yourself at home, read that book you were carrying."

"Are you sure you don't want some help?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. And besides you're my guest."

Hermione settled under a tree by the garden. They lent her a big blanket where she lay down, both hands under her head and eyes straight to the sky. The sky was a bright blue with fluffy clouds floating about, a cool breeze carrying floral fragrances in the air. This was truly relaxing and Hermione couldn't help but close her eyes and drift off to sleep.

Draco had asked Richard to drop him off in town. He wanted to see her right away. He couldn't believe how much he missed her in just three days. For years he'd dreamed of a chance like this and now that there was a possibility, he wasn't going to let it pass him by.

Before heading off to the clinic, he stopped by the flower shop. There were all sorts of flowers, but he didn't know what to get her. He never had to buy flowers for a girl before. He was smooth with the ladies, but he was never romantic with them. He knew roses were supposed to be romantic yet it was so cliché already. In the end, he settled with yellow tulips. It was simple, not as grand as roses, but it felt right. It was so un-draco of him to work for the girl, usually they just throw themselves at him, but he knew that she was worth it and he wasn't planning on messing this up.

"Where could she be?"

Draco had stopped by the clinic, but Eva said it was her day off. She didn't have any idea where Hermione might've gone to. He tried walking around town hoping that he would bump into her. He also checked the library knowing that was her favorite place, but no such luck. 'She was probably at home, relaxing. Or maybe tending to her garden. Did she even have a garden?'

After minutes of walking, he reached her door. He knocked a couple of times, but no one seemed to be home. He didn't know where to look anymore. Defeated, he left the bouquet on the step in front of her door and decided to just go home. He waited for Hermione for years and he figured another day of waiting wouldn't hurt.