A/N: You'll notice I've put the date at the beginning of this chapter, and I've also gone back and put the date at the beginning of the first one as well. It's just there so it's easier to follow the timeline.

I'm really pleased with the response so far, the story's been favourited a few times and been followed even more, so thankyou! The number of reviews is still a bit disappointing though, so if you like the chapter or have any constructive criticism, I'd appreciate you letting me know :)

Also, a word to dayflow who commented that Ron writing a letter was out of character: I understand what you mean but given the situation he and Hermione are in, ie. the distance between them, I think it likely that Ron would be more willing to write to her as it would be the only way to communicate :)

Enjoy!

Chapter Two

7th October, 1998. Sunday.

Hogsmeade on a Sunday morning was exceptionally empty, especially considering the visits for younger students had not yet begun this school year; it was only early October and the first official visit was not for a further three weeks yet. Seeing as Draco was technically an eighth-year, Professor McGonagall had allowed him, and the other returning eighth-years of whom there were few, the privilege of visiting Hogsmeade on weeknights and weekends whenever they wished, so long as they observed the standard Hogwarts curfew.

As of yet, he appeared to be the only one to take advantage of the opportunity.

Draco's Sunday morning walks into the village had become his favourite thing about returning to Hogwarts, having not willingly elected to do so himself. It was his mother, of course, pressuring him yet again. His father hadn't had much of an opinion on the matter, his mind being too focused on his upcoming trial at the Ministry to have much concern for his son's education.

Staring down into the swirling brown dregs of coffee in his cup, Draco huffed. He was as selfish as his father, really; he was only pleased that he and his mother were not in the firing line, and there was no small measure of relief that his father's tyranny back at home might finally have come to an end.

He was shaken from his thoughts by the slender figure sliding into the chair opposite him. He looked up, surprised that she had managed to follow him to the little café.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, frowning and returning his gaze to the remnants of his drink.

"Is it a problem?" she asked, smiling faintly.

He shook his head mutely, not looking at her. Astoria Greengrass studied him closely; he certainly looked healthier than the last time she'd seen him. His skin wasn't as pale, and he had gained back some of the weight he'd lost under the stress of being trapped in the same house as Voldemort for months on end. She wondered vaguely what it felt like to have your life under such constant threat.

"Aren't you wondering how I managed to get here?" she asked, trying to provoke some interest or response in him.

"It's early; Filch doesn't guard the gate until nine, and sometimes later than that. Idiot thinks nobody realises."

Astoria sighed. When the chirpy waitress flounced over to take her order, she ordered a mug of hot chocolate and a refill for Draco's coffee. Silence passed between Draco and Astoria until their drinks had arrived and the waitress had moved on.

"Why did you follow me here?" Draco asked, finally looking his companion in the eye.

Astoria shrugged. "You've seemed like you could use some company."

"I don't want any," he snapped. "If I did, I'm sure I could've found someone to come with me."

"Could you?" Astoria challenged quietly. "Draco, you're the only Slytherin who came back from your year, who else do you know apart from me?"

Draco lowered his eyes, an inexplicable image of brown, bushy hair passing through his mind. "I'm not the only one who came back though, just because I'm the only Slytherin doesn't mean I'm alone."

Astoria gave a little laugh, devoid of humour. "That's exactly why you're alone."

Draco met her gaze again, considering her words. There seemed to be a decent amount of truth in what she'd said. He'd noticed the way some of the younger students from other Houses had stared fearfully at his badge as he approached, his family name given away by his platinum blond hair. They all knew of the Malfoys – Lucius' trial was a regular feature in the Daily Prophet. Rita Skeeter certainly did not hold out much hope for his fate. The amount of times Draco had read the words 'Dementor's Kiss'…he shuddered.

Astoria took a sip from her hot chocolate, setting it back down on the table with a triumphant smile at having made Draco see some sense. His coffee went untouched.

As if reading his thoughts, she asked, "How's your father's trial going?"

Draco gave a bitter smile. "I don't think it could go any worse. It's a toss-up between the Dementor's Kiss –" he shuddered again, "- and the rest of his life in Azkaban."

"How's your mother handling it?"

"She isn't," Draco said simply, and Astoria recognised that the topic was closed. Without saying another word, he stood up and walked out of the café's front door, Astoria staring after him. His coffee was cold and untouched, and his morning peace had been ruined.

Draco wasn't entirely sure why he had taken to watching her work. It had started out innocently enough; N.E.W.T.s were taking their toll on him as much as they were on Hermione and all those who were in the same position. He spent almost as much time in the library as her catching up on homework and studying – it wasn't like he'd sought her out intentionally.

But something about her had caught his attention; she'd changed in some way since the last time they'd seen each other, although not in the way that one would expect after the fall of the most evil wizard ever to have lived. Instead of the more relaxed Hermione he'd been expecting, he'd noticed she was still noticeably tense, like the danger wasn't over.

Maybe that was why she got such a shock when he tapped her on the shoulder the next afternoon.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly, narrowing her eyes when she saw who it was. She was embarrassed at herself for jumping when he tapped her, shown in the light pink tint to her cheeks.

"You took the last of the Valerian root," he replied, smiling sweetly. Hermione gritted her teeth, annoyed by his insistence on playing the innocent fool when he was really just bothering her.

They were in Potions, and Professor Slughorn had them demonstrating that they knew how to concoct a Draught of Peace. Hermione glanced at the extensive pile of Valerian root she had beside her cauldron, most of which she did not need herself, having already moved onto the final stages of the potion.

"Fine, take it," she said indifferently, turning away from him to check on her simmering potion.

He reached around her and took a sufficient handful from her desk, walking away with a smirk. Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye, frowning. His smirk did not escape her notice. She shook her head before adding the syrup of hellebore to her completed potion and watching with satisfaction as it began to emit the required silvery vapour.

Needless to say, Hermione was praised to no end by Professor Slughorn at the end of the class. Draco looked on with a sour expression, much to Hermione's amusement.

"Well done once again to Miss Granger for concocting one of the best Draughts of Peace I've seen in my years," Professor Slughorn said with a wide grin, "but before I forget, I thought it only fair to warn you that in my next lesson, we will begin to brew the Polyjuice Potion. It is important that you arrive fully prepared as it is a difficult potion and your final product will earn a score which will contribute to your overall N.E.W.T grade."

Hermione allowed herself a sly smile, knowing full well that she had no excuse to underachieve on this task, having managed successfully in only her second year in order to spy on the Slytherin whose face now showed nothing but dread.

"Because this is such a difficult potion to brew, I have decided the best way to approach it is to work in pairs," Slughorn continued. "When you arrive next lesson, I expect you to have chosen a partner and that you will begin immediately upon entering the classroom. Class dismissed."

Hermione's heart sank as she looked around the room. All of the rightful seventh-years were gathering in pairs and nodding, having clearly chosen their partner already. Meanwhile, besides herself and Draco, there were only four other eighth-years in the class. Two were Ravenclaws, and were already sitting together, so it appeared that they were partnered. The remaining two, one a Hufflepuff and one a Gryffindor Hermione didn't know, had already left the classroom.

Hermione sighed, knowing that Draco's earlier look of dread must now be plastered all over her face. He, too, had already fled.

Draco cornered the unsuspecting Hufflepuff boy on the way into the Great Hall for dinner that night. While partnering with a Hufflepuff was not something he would normally do, he assumed Hermione would already have reached the Gryffindor.

The Hufflepuff was walking alone down the stone steps that led to the Great Hall entrance, and it was through sheer luck alone that Draco had managed to find him this quickly. He climbed down the stairs at a hurried pace before the boy had the chance to turn into the Great Hall where everyone would have to witness Draco Malfoy associating with a Hufflepuff.

"Hey –" Draco broke off, cringing when he realised he had no idea what the boy's name was. He was grateful when he turned around anyway, stopping mid-step. The boy frowned expectantly.

"Do you have a partner for Slughorn's class?" Draco asked.

"Yeah," the boy replied, "that girl Victoria from Gryffindor asked me, so I said yes. Sorry."

As the boy turned and continued down the stairs, Draco cursed under his breath. Resigned, he followed at a distance and sat at his regular seat on the Slytherin table, searching the Gryffindor table for the bushy hair of his inevitable Potions partner. He frowned, realising she wasn't there.

He stayed in his place for the entire hour dinner was on the tables, and even managed to successfully deflect an attempted conversation by Astoria, but Hermione never showed up.

He found her in the library, as he expected he would. She had her head held in her left hand while her right was furiously scribbling on the parchment in front of her, which was covered in black, spidery writing.

"Looks like we're Potions partners, Granger," Draco said as he approached the side of her desk.

"What are you talking about?" she asked politely enough, still too absorbed in her work to be harsh with him. "There's a girl from my House I'm going to ask tonight."

"That Victoria girl? The Hufflepuff beat you to it," Draco told her. Looking over her shoulder, he read the title of the essay she was frantically completing. Exasperated, he asked, "Is that really the Charms essay Flitwick gave us this morning?"

"What's it to you?" Hermione snapped over her shoulder, barely taking her eyes off the parchment in front of her. "I like keeping on top of things."

"Except dinner, obviously," Draco observed dryly. "Do you know what time it is?"

Hermione checked her watch and shrugged. She said, a little too defensively, "It's only one night, I'll live."

There was a slight pause before she continued, "Now if I really have to be your Potions partner, would you please leave me alone until then?"

Draco smirked. "Whatever you say, Granger."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the second chapter! It was really difficult to write as I had no idea where to start, but I think I like it more than the first chapter in the end.

A couple of notes: Victoria is actually Victoria Frobisher, a canon character - a quick Google will reveal she's the one who said Charms Club would conflict with Quidditch practice and so was rejected from joining the Gryffindor team. It's thought that she wasn't in Hermione's year but I took poetic licence with that detail.

As well, I realise it's been confirmed by JKR herself that Lucius Malfoy was not put on trial or even arrested after the fall of Voldemort, but I took poetic licence with that too, for the sake of the story. I hope nobody minds.

Please review if you enjoyed/have any constructive criticism!

WD,
xo.