This chapter has a flashback in it, but don't worry, it isn't hard to read. I rather like the flash back. It isn't in italics, but I think it's easy enough to find without the I. This chapter is all in Hermiones POV. Review please. It's seriously draining to do all the work and feel like no one really cares! However, I do love you guys! Thank you for reading!

Let me clarify, the flashback scene takes places years ago. When they were much younger. Draco's mother has been out of hiding, but don't worry, I'll explain further in later chapters.

Chapter 8

Giving up on working for the day, Hermione left her office early, as soon as she received the owl from Ginny. It wasn't long after it was sent of course. Ginny was nosy after all.

She said goodbye to Susan Bone before exiting the ministry, walking slowly down the sidewalk. Her mind slowly drifted through her thoughts. Mostly the ones involving Draco Malfoy. She didn't have many. In the years she'd been out of Gryffindor she'd seen Draco three times until the previous night at the ball. All of three times. Her mind danced through the first like it had happened yesterday.

...::::::::::::...

Standing at attention, hands behind her back, feet placed firmly upon a ground blackened by fire, Hermione Granger held in a deep breath, gazing upon what remained of the Malfoy Manor. Looking around it hardly seemed like the incriminating place it had once been; The place that haunted her darkest dreams, the place where she'd been tortured. She shivered just remembering it.

She attempted to take a step forward, but the rubble made her wobble and then slip. Her hands caught her from landing face first on the ground. She gasped as a sharp piece of debris jabbed into her hand and she immediately felt the pain of the wound. Why did this place make her so jumpy?

"Watch your footing, Granger." A voice behind her made her spin around, almost falling again. Draco Malfoy stood behind her, his eyes holding hers.

She gulped."Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

For a moment he stood there watching her obtusely his mouth only slightly ajar, as if he didn't understand her question ."This is my house."He paused to look around then copiously added."Well, what's left of it that is."

For a moment she almost smiled at his humor before he stepped around her. He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking over his shoulder at her."Did the minister send you or is it that you're simply being nosy?"

She scoffed."The minister sent me of course."Rolling her eyes she took a step towards him. In front of his what would have been the front door, which was now a pile of dusty ruble. She watched as he glared at it, wondering if he was going to become upset but when he looked up again, his eyes were simply dull and just that . "Yes, I assumed as much. But why are you here?"

Carefully, she walked to his side. He was, if possible, even taller than she remembered him being. As a result she had to look up at him as he looked at her expectantly. His whole demeanor was somehow different. He seemed defeated and tired. "I was supposed to be covering what happened and filing it. For damage control."

He sighed. "Of all people you should know what happened here. The perfect know-it-all you are."

She gave a huff. "It has to be official, so just tell me already." She could really go without his attitude.

Turning, he looked down at her hand, which was caked in dirt, and though it was tainted, dirty. She noticed that his face became comical, though he didn't retorted as she thought he would. "Fine. If you must know they came." His eyes remained glued to her hand long enough to make her antsy before she stuck it behind her in an effort to escape his hard gaze.

She looked up expectantly. "The death eaters?"

He nodded. "What's left of them. They came for my father. He reduced his time in Azkaban by giving out details about the dark lords rein, and they came here last night."

Looking at what remained of his grand manor, she knew it must have been a hell bent mission if they did this much damage. "What of your mother then?"

He smirked. "My mother left months ago Granger. They only thing they managed to do was rough me up and destroy my heritage." He sounded incredibly put out as he motioned to the vast amount of damage done to his manor.

A frown creased her forehead. "They harmed you?"

Once again he didn't seem all that interested in her as he looked around, assessing the damage. "I got caught by a few stray spells, but nothing too terrible. I managed to apparate out before they killed me. That's where I was when you got here: St. Mungo's. They healed what they could." He smirked. "Don't worry, I only have a few scars, so I didn't loose any charm."

She shook her head. "I'd hardly say you were charming in the first place." She grumbled.

He didn't seem to consider her comment, not even for a moment. "I don't believe you." His voice was steady and very self assured. " I'm very charming Granger. Besides, some girls like scars."

She shrugged. "Some girls do, I suppose."

"They make me look rugged if I do say so myself. Would you like to see?"

A low growl came from her throat before she answered. "No I would not, Malfoy!" She straightened her robe. "Now, if you will please come with me, we'll be leaving now, the minister will be wanting a meeting, plus they'll be arriving to rebuild your manor."

For another long moment he simply gazed down at her and she felt uncomfortable, shifting her feet. "Lets go." She repeated firmly.

"Calm down, Mudblood." He told her, and though his voice was not cruel, it still stung. "I'm simply mulling over the fact that my home has been destroyed and my mother is in hiding. Even when they rebuild it, it will not feel the same."

Though she was incredibly angry, she didn't reply as he gazed around at the damage done. With sigh he turned to face her before holding out the crook of his arm. She snorted before taking it and apparating them to the Ministry.

His manor would be rebuilt in the morning, but would his life be? She wondered curiously gazing up at him.

She'd only been out of school for a year or so now, and this was her first time seeing him. Was he really all that different?

Though Voldemort had been defeated there were still death eaters that were trying to avenge him, and taking out the "trader" death eaters. The Malfoy's were one of those. So this wasn't something that she should be surprised about.

There he was sitting in front of her, simply looking around as if he wasn't going to be scrambling to get his life back on track just tomorrow.

She wondered if he was even upset about the fact that his father was in Azkaban and his mother was God only knew where. He certainly didn't seem like it.

As she gazed at him, his eyes shot to hers like he had suddenly sensed her watching him, and his gray eyes held hers for a long moment. They didn't seem angry or hateful, simply deadpan. There were no emotions, only an acknowledgment that she was there in front of him. She suddenly realized that it was the first time she'd ever looked at him for more than a minute with insulting him, or him insulting her. It was very nerve racking.

...:::::::::::...

Her body resurfaced from the memory as she entered the shop that Ginny had owled her to meet at and she wondered briefly just how the newspapers would effect those who cared about her. Would the think she was a trader? Sleeping with the enemy? She felt slightly sick as she thought about it.