A/N: I don't own Harry Potter!

MALFOY HEIR ALIVE!

Late last night, Lucius Malfoy announces the return of his son, Draco Malfoy, 25 years of age, who mysteriously disappeared two years ago. The cause of said disappearance is still unknown; it seems the young Malfoy doesn't want his whereabouts for the last two years disclosed.

His disappearance had greatly affected the Wizarding World. Draco Malfoy had been one of the most influential wizards to date after the many charity events, fundraisers and donations from his personal accounts in Gringotts to help rebuild the Wizarding World after the drastic effects of the Second Wizarding War.

Now that Draco Malfoy, sole heir to the Malfoy Empire, has returned, will he fulfill his obligations to his family, especially to his betrothed? We have yet to talk to his fiancé, Ms. Astoria Greengrass, but she was very distraught with his disappearance. In the two years of the young Malfoy's absence, Ms. Greengrass has stayed close with the Malfoy family in hope that Draco Malfoy would return.

The Malfoy Family has yet to comment on their future plans, but they will be hosting a ball at Malfoy Manor on Wednesday, the coming week in honor of Draco's return and hopefully announce if they will pull through with the much awaited union of the Malfoy and Greengrass family.

Hermione scoffed at the paper, earning curious looks from Harry and Ginny. She ignored them as she continued to eat while Harry took his turn with the paper. She was silent the whole time, but they could feel the anger she was emitting as the air around her crackled.

Hermione went into a cleaning fit after breakfast. Both Harry and Ginny were wise enough not to get in her way. She was furious! He had the nerve to make a big comeback and live his life as if nothing had happened? Apparently the best days of her life were nothing to him. This made her positively sure that all that was just an elaborate plan to get back at her. No matter how irrational that sounded, considering that Draco was in Clevendon before her and that there was no way he could possibly know that she would catch Ron cheating thus resulting to her running away to the same place, she didn't care. She was just too angry. But she had to admit, being mad she was way more productive than crying her eyes out.

She was scrubbing the dishes furiously, displacing her anger on Draco to the plates. She was probably a scrub away from breaking her wrists when she realized how silly she was acting. She didn't need to think about him or waste her time being angry at him. If he could pretend that the last month didn't happen, then she could too. She knew it was going to be hard, but she was a very determined girl. She was even tempted to obliviate that part from her memory, but then again she would just probably fall in love with him again. She had to remember him for the foul, little cockroach that he is.

She stopped scrubbing and finally used her wand to finish off and dry the dishes and magically send them to their places in the cupboards. She didn't realize how long she'd been scrubbing away; she was exhausted! She walked out into Ginny's garden to get a breather when she spotted mother and son under a tree in their garden. She took a deep breath to relax her body and clear her mind as she approached them.

"Are you done?" Ginny asked without looking up from two-year old James who was occupied with the rose he was playing with.

"Yes. Sorry I've been over-acting." Hermione sat down beside James which made the little boy look up from examining the flower.

"Aunty Mineey!" He dropped the rose and climbed on her lap. James stilled to give her a hug and she instantly wrapped her arms around him. She had missed this so much. Why did she ever leave in the first place?

James looked up to her, instantly knowing what he wanted. She grabbed her wand and conjured up birds to fly low enough for him to run after and catch around the garden. She smiled sadly as he left her lap to chase the birds.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, Gin. I'm over it."

"Hermione Jean Granger!" There was a warning tone in the redhead's voice.

"What?"

"I'm just worried about you."

"Like I said, I'm over it."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Positive. Look, it was just a lapse in judgment. I fell in love with him, even though my brain kept telling me otherwise. Now who in their right mind would think that he, from one of the oldest pureblood families, would ever come to love a mudblood? Don't look at me like that, Ginevra." Ginny flinched at the use of her proper name. "He's called me that a million times before and I must be out of my mind to think that he could change. So yes, I'm over it and nothing like that will ever happen again."

"What if…let's say, you meet him here? I mean, he's back in London, isn't he?"

"I couldn't care less what he does with his life as long as I don't see his face again. Can we just drop this? I just want to forget about him." Ginny looked at her worriedly, but yielded to her request anyway.

"So what do you want to do now, 'Mione?"

"Why don't we go shopping? That's supposed to be fun, right? At least that's what you tell me all the time." And just like a flick of a switch, she was the total opposite of what she had been just seconds ago.

Ginny had been skeptical at first. Hermione Granger was not one to shop for leisure. She shopped because she needed new clothes, new supplies, new books, but never because she just wanted to. Ginny always had a hard time convincing Hermione to go on shopping trips with her. Hermione would always find it pointless to walk around aimlessly, looking around until you see what you want to buy. Hermione goes shopping with an itinerary and a mental list of the things she needs to purchase so as to be efficient and organized on her trip.

Ginny was worried. Hermione was compassionate and kind. She was forgiving even to those undeserving, but this girl walking beside her was cold and indifferent. This was not the Hermione she knew. She was afraid of this self-destructive habit where Hermione just turned off all her emotions, putting a wall around her from everything else and sealing everything deep inside her. All the pain, anger and hatred were going to eat her up from inside if she kept this up. Hermione said she was over it—over him, but Ginny could tell that she was far from it. She had to do something and it was a good thing she had a plan. If it works, it could go either way. Hermione could get closure if she wishes it or she could just realize how much Draco Malfoy affected her.

It was almost four in the afternoon when Ginny forcefully dragged Hermione to the new sophisticated tea shop to have their afternoon tea in. Hermione had purchased new clothes and other items she would never have if she were in a different state of mind. She didn't really get the whole go-shopping-if-you-got-your-heart-broken, she still found it pointless, but at least it kept her mind off Draco. She was finally having fun just doing the opposite of her usual shopping routine, when she noticed Ginny anxiously looking around and telling her they needed to be at the tea shop by four.

"Since when do you follow a tight schedule when shopping?"

"It's four. I like to take my tea at four."

"Uhuh…" Hermione said sarcastically.

It was a quaint little café with a homey ambiance. The light was dim inside and citrusy scents filled the air. There were normal tables and chairs like any café would, but there were also beanbags and floor tables to those who would want a more comfortable feel. Paintings of gardens and lakes adorned the walls and every table had its own flowers. It was Hermione's first time in that café and she was impressed.

They were seated somewhere deep in the café that was a little more private. The chairs were upholstered and candles were lit on their table. Their orders were on the way and Hermione was glad for the shopping trip. She finally felt relaxed for the first time in days. Although she couldn't say the same for Ginny. She was fidgeting with the napkin on her hands and she kept looking around the place, like she did before they came to the café, as if waiting for somebody.

"Why so anxious, Gin? We're supposed to be relaxing, hence the shopping?"

"I'm not anxious. Who said I'm anxious?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow and Ginny knew there was no way escaping this. She'd find out sooner or later anyway.

"Look 'Mione, don't get mad at me okay, but—"

"Ginevra! What did you do?" Hermione could feel all the stress seep back into her body, forgetting the ambiance and comforting citrus smell from the candles.

"It's no biggie, really!"

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Ginny held her hand and squeezed it a little, hoping Hermione would understand that this wasn't meant to hurt her. Ginny only wanted her friend back.

"Just have an open mind, okay? I just want you to be happy whatever the outcome of this afternoon may be."

"What's that supposed to…" But before she could finish her question, she froze when she caught a glimpse of that platinum blonde hair that she knew only belonged to him. And it seems like he was headed straight to their table.

A/N: Will Hermione ever forgive Draco? hmmm...let me think. anyway, just a thought: reviews make me really happy :)