Prologue: Back to You

Notes: This chapter is inspired by the song "Back to You" by Selena Gomez.

Hello readers and welcome to my first fanfic ever! I started reading fanfiction at a young age, but never thought I'd actually write one. However, I got a little antsy during the pandemic and well here we are today! Let me know what you think in the comments :)

Each chapter is titled after its song inspiration. I believe this chapter's song is featured in the television series, "13 Reasons Why", which I haven't seen before but I really liked the song so I went with it. I do this a lot hahaha.

Also happy Asian Heritage month to those of you who celebrate! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by J.K. Rowling and owned by Warner Bros. Pictures. All rights of Harry Potter belong to Warner Bros. Pictures. This entire story is a work of fanfiction and is meant for entertainment purposes only. I am not making a profit from this story.

Present Day - Late Summer 2002

BREAKING NEWS: Former Death Eater, Draco Malfoy, and War Hero, Hermione Granger, Announce Elopement

Well, that escalated quickly…

Reports had only just begun to circulate this past spring of Hermione's split from Ron, and now she was already married to Malfoy. I blinked owlishly at the front page of The Daily Prophet that I had grabbed before catching the train to Paris yesterday afternoon. Since I fell asleep during the ride, I decided to start reading it now while I was waiting for my best friend, Sue Li, to bring the research materials I had requested.

Thinking back, I could clearly recall the proud excitement on Hermione's face when Malfoy was rewarded for his discovery of a cure for the ongoing Dragon Pox variant a few weeks ago. I might have never even noticed it if Sue hadn't pointed out his desire to impress her during Potions class in sixth year. They must have kept their relationship very private because there were absolutely no rumours about them within the Ministry of Magic where Hermione, Malfoy and I worked.

A smile broke across my face as my eyes scanned the photo of the couple beaming and flashing their matching rings at the cameras. I was really happy for Hermione and Malfoy. The odds were undoubtedly stacked against them, but they fought for each other and for the future of their relationship.

I knew from personal experience that this wasn't an easy task…

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Perhaps Parvati was right. There was a reason I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor.

However, I was still a former D.A. member and a wizarding war survivor. I had the capacity to be brave. I wasn't an ignorant teenager anymore either. My Hogwarts diploma had graced my parents' living room wall alongside my sister's for over four years now.

At this stage, I was a woman on a mission. I was tired of the stolen glances and misunderstandings that had plagued us for the past six years. Regardless of everything that happened, I knew what I wanted and I was determined to know if he did as well.

"Here you go, Pads! All the historical records we have on pandemic protocols adopted by the French Ministry of Magic. Sorry it took a while. I'm still a tad bit sleep-deprived after my engagement party last night. We were glad you could make it in the end," Sue said, stopping by my table with a full trolley of books, newspapers and magazines. Merlin's beard!

"No worries! At least I'm able to kill two birds with one stone - your engagement party and my comparative research request. I really missed you and it's a welcome distraction from some of the things that have been on my mind lately," I admitted, thanking her. I removed an inkwell, parchment paper and my favourite eagle feather quill from my violet knapsack. Sue looked at me meaningfully when she saw the quill.

"So, how is Terry doing?" she lightly asked, deciding not to inquire why I still kept it.

"He's doing well, thanks. He and his boyfriend finally made things official last month! Terry has always treated me kindly and I wish them nothing but the best," I smiled. Sue squeezed my hand supportively.

"I have a lot of research to do today. My train ride home to London leaves tomorrow morning," I laughed checking the time on my pocket watch. It was 9am. I planned to do research until 1pm, break for lunch, continue doing research, break again for dinner at 6pm and then wrap up at 9pm when the library closed.

"Good luck bestie. Oh by the way, I accidentally double-booked this independent study room. But don't worry, the other researcher shouldn't arrive until about 6pm. I hope it won't be too much of an inconvenience," Sue said apologetically.

"No worries Sue. I should be almost done by then," I reassured her. She grinned in relief. I watched her saunter away and I could tell she was suppressing a smirk as she closed the door behind her. Odd…

But, I had no time to waste. I cast a Scourgio charm on the surface of the table like I had with my chair before sitting down, opening a newspaper, casting a Translation charm and getting to work.

*/*/*

I sighed as the lift whisked me back to the reference library. My eyes were tired from a long day of doing research. I just had a couple of magazines left to go through, which I only intended to skim to cover all the records they had in their holdings.

At least my belly was full. The ratatouille that I ordered for dinner from a small French restaurant across the street was delicious. I had also purchased onion soup from there for lunch. I would have wanted to stop by for breakfast tomorrow if my hotel didn't already provide a continental breakfast.

I deactivated my Bubble-Head charm as I entered the study room. Sitting down, I paused when I noticed foreign stationary and a stack of completed notes on the table beside my own. Oh right! I was supposed to share this room with another patron for the next two hours. However, they already appeared to have finished their research. They weren't even here right now. Perhaps they went to the loo? I hoped they didn't have the virus! Upon closer inspection, that handwriting looked awfully familiar…

I heard the door creak open and I froze as the heady scent of sandalwood and ocean breeze filled the air. My pulse quickened and I watched in horror as the person who had consumed my thoughts for the last six years emerged from the corridor.

He abruptly stopped mid-step and looked equally alarmed to see me in here. I guess he hadn't planned this - but Sue definitely had. Bollocks!

I warily assessed him as he firmly closed the door, leaned against it and casually slipped his hands into his pockets. His calm demeanour unnerved me. He looked about the same as he did when I last saw him three years ago. He stood just a few inches taller than my petite frame, which should have made him less intimidating. But our scant difference in height only brought his gorgeous hazel eyes closer to mine. He more than made up for his smaller size with a solid build that came from working in the curse-breaking profession anyways. I remembered getting a good look at his abdominal muscles in the pantry before all hell broke loose the last time I saw him.

He should have been tired from his travels. He came all the way from America, where he had been working on a string of interconnected cases. However, the cocky grin on his face told me otherwise. I hadn't missed the fact that he was currently blocking my only exit.

He also seemed to be taking in my appearance. I was still a teenager the last time we saw each other - but I wasn't anymore. His intense gaze lingered on the clover pendant he'd gifted me that hung around my neck, before it suddenly shifted to my cleavage. I felt a rush of embarrassment when my nipples pebbled under his scrutiny, making them partially visible through my short lilac skater dress.

Trembling, I stood up and crossed my arms in an effort to cover them. Leveling him with a cold glare, I said, "Haven't seen you in a while. How is your family doing?"

I refused to ask how he was doing. I shouldn't really care after what happened three years ago at my cousin-in-law Shahid's pool party.

He didn't seem phased by my attitude and completely ignored my question.

"Where's your boyfriend?" he rumbled. I guess he wanted to get straight to business.

"You first," I hissed. This was a conversation, not an interrogation.

"They're fine," he gritted out, clenching his square-cut jaw and running a hand through his jet black crew cut in mild frustration. I briefly wondered if his mum was still pressuring him to get married. His younger brother, Kirin, was already going steady with his own girlfriend, Betty.

"That's good, and to answer your question he's seeing someone else now," I frostily replied. Honesty was the best policy. Hiding the truth was what got me into that mess with Parvati. I'd learned a lot since then.

"I know," he said smugly. Bollocks! My cousin, Vijay, must have told him. He just asked me so he could rub it in. I glowered at him.

"Enough chit chat. We're finally alone. No Parvati. No Terry Boot. No Vijay. No Sarika - thank gods. No parents. Just us," he reminded me in a dangerously quiet tone.

Then, he pushed off the door and stalked towards me, halting less than a foot away. I gulped as he placed both hands on the wall behind me that I'd subconsciously backed into. Waves of warmth radiated off his body and the small study room suddenly felt ten times hotter than it did before. His scent fully enveloped my body, causing my knees to buckle and wetness to seep into my panties. Merlin's beard…

I swallowed hard and tilted my head up to meet his eyes.

"What do you want, Dev?" I breathlessly asked him.

Notes: Mind the tags - there are a few OC's mentioned here, namely Vijay, Sarika, Shahid, Kirin and of course Dev - all of whom will be introduced in the next chapter! :)