Months Later: August 1st, 1997 - Luchino Caffe
"I knew something like this would happen!" Hermione cried, rummaging in her beaded bag for Harry and Ron's clothes.
"So, I packed our things a couple day before the wedding..." she said a bit sheepishly, as she noticed their shocked expressions.
Ron shook his head thoughtfully. "Blimey, Hermione..."
"Amazing!" Harry said. "And everything fits in that tiny little thing?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, of course! I have the Undetectable Extension charm on it, so it's easy to carry, and still fits everything inside!" She patted her bag fondly. "It's not difficultly heavy, either..."
"Genius, you are..." Ron admired. "Three cappuccinos please." He told the waitress.
"How did Kingsley know what was going on then?" Harry asked
Hermione stared at him dubiously. "Isn't it obvious? Voldemort's taken over the Ministry!"
Ron nodded, knowingly. "I reckon half the ministry's made up of death eaters anyways."
The café door rung open, and two building workers walked in, one with a gray hood shielding his face, and the other with a lanky mop of black hair. They walked up to the cashier's counter, hands digging in their pockets for some money.
Harry looked over at them briefly, and then resumed the conversation quietly. "I bet the-"
"Harry..." Hermione said, motioning to the workers.
It seems they weren't digging for money after all.
"STUPEFY!" Harry shouted, dashing out his seat.
Their wands all drawn, Harry, Hermione, and Ron faced the workmen, who had dodged the Stun, and were now standing before them. The black-haired one edged forward, a malicious glint in his yellowish eyes, and the "worker" with the hood stepped back a bit, stumbling into the counter.
The darker Death Eater shot off a countless number of spells, aiming horribly at the trio, and they all rebounded against the café window's shattering glass everywhere.
"Confundus!" Ron exclaimed, again missing both Death Eaters as they ran behind the cash register, one of them shouting, "Filipendo!" back, sending Ron flying backwards at the force of the jinx.
"Immobulus!" Hermione stepped in, hitting the first dark-haired Death Eater squarely in the chest, and rendering him still.
Harry stunned him, and shoved the now unconscious man out of his way, searching for the second Death Eater.
"It's Malfoy." Ron called from the other side of the café. "Bloody Malfoy's hiding behind the cash register!"
He got up swiftly, making for the back exit, his hood now pushed aside from his face.
"Stupefy!" Ron bellowed, running to Malfoy furiously, only to have it countered promptly.
Hermione pushed him away from the door, snatching his wand.
He lay on the floor fearfully, shielding his face with his dirtied pale hands.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry said, a hint of a grin on his face.
"Cruci-" Ron started.
"Stop! Stop!" Hermione screamed, standing between Malfoy and Ron.
"What is it?" Ron asked, panting a bit.
"Let me have him." Hermione sneered, hesitatingly.
"Are you sure, Hermione?" Harry said doubtfully. "I dunno if-"
"All those years of calling me a Mudblood, damn right, I'm sure!" she kicked him convincingly.
Ron grinned at her. "Come on, 'Mione, I threw up slugs for him! Remember?"
Hermione ignored him. "Out! Both of you! Head back to Grimmauld Place."
Harry and Ron backed away, Ron looking slightly disappointed. "And put on your Invisibility cloak, Harry!" she added, as he opened the door.
Draco gaped at Hermione strangely, a mixture of fear and admiration in his eyes, which happened to be the only parts he could move.
"Muffliato!" Hermione cast, to ensure that Harry and Ron wouldn't catch anything if they happened to be snooping outside.
"Scourgify. Reparo. Reparo..." she muttered, drifting her wand around the café as almost everything in its reach repaired and cleansed itself.
She then turned to Draco, leaning down so that they were eye to eye.
He closed his eyes, expecting the worst, and she smirked. "Relashio." She whispered, releasing him from the Full-Body Bind.
He stood, holding on to the counter for support.
Hermione handed his wand back and beamed at him.
"What was that for?" he said, amazed.
"You didn't really think that I was going to torture you, did you?" Hermione asked, a bit of amusement in her voice.
Draco shifted from foot to foot. "Er...I sort of..." he looked to her guiltily. "Room of Requirement..."
She laughed, a sound Draco seemed surprised to hear from Hermione. "I've been known to...be a bit persistent..."
Draco smirked. "A bit? Scarhead and Weasel Bee wouldn't be anything without you."
Her expression turned grim. "Speaking of...why were you here anyways? I assumed Vol-"
Draco clamped his hand over her mouth. "Don't say the name!"
"It's taboo!" he explained to her.
"Just because you're afraid of Voldem-"
"GRANGER, THAT'S HOW I GOT HERE!" he looked as if he wanted to slap her.
"Don't talk to me like that, I didn't know!" she yelled back, a little discomfited.
"Well, you know now. Tell Potter and his friends when you get back." He panted.
Hermione nodded in agreement. "So, as I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted..."
Draco mumbled something foul under his breath.
"I assumed...er...he would keep you up in Malfoy Manor, since you neglected to fulfill the task...since Snape stepped in..."
He looked at her furiously. "I'm not a coward!"
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "I never said you were! I'm glad actually..."
"Why?" She could see the desperation in his eyes.
"Because now I know you're not capable of killing someone." She watched him woefully. "And that comforts me."
Draco stared for a moment, unable to respond.
"You...you should be heading back now, Granger." He said uncertainly.
Hermione pulled him into a hug, unexpected, but received.
"I wish you luck, Draco..." she said, clutching him to her.
She pulled away, embarrassed.
"Hermione..." Draco started, wringing his hands uncomfortably.
"Yes?"
"Thanks." He looked into her eyes, and smiled, a surprising sight.
And then Hermione flew at him, and kissed him full on the mouth, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She could feel him smiling against her lips, and his hands wandered to her waist, pulling her closer...
"Oh!" a voice behind them said.
They broke apart, still out of breath from the kiss, and Hermione whipped around quickly, her wand poised in mid-air.
"Obliviate!" she shouted, and the waitress staggered back to the kitchens, a dreamy grin on her face.
Draco chuckled. "Nice work, Granger."
Hermione rolled her eyes, and walked over to the dark-haired Death Eater, promptly wiping his memory as well.
"I recognize him from the Department of Mysteries." She said.
Draco regarded him coldly. "Antonin Dolohov...My father forced me to come with him since I...failed to..." he stopped, putting his head in his hands.
"Draco, you're not evil." Hermione said, pushing his hands away. She put her hands in his, and they stayed for a few seconds in silence.
"I guess I should go." She said, moving to give him another hug, but thinking better of it.
"Bye...Hermione." he whispered.
She smiled at him, and then Apparated out, leaving Draco alone in the café.
"I hope we won't have to meet again this way..." he muttered to himself, sitting at one of the booths. "Hermione..."
Author's Note- So they meet again...lol. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, because I actually liked writing this one compared to the others, for some odd reason...anyways, trust me, they'll meet again soon, but not in the next chapter...I have some evil things planned for Draco...*maniacal laugh*