Thank you to those who reviewed! Hope you like this chapter. I plan to do more on Draco in the next. This is a shorter chapter then I normally do, the next one should be up some time this week.

-x-

Hermione's eyes fluttered open as the sun rose over Diagon Alley spilling beams of light through her bedroom window. Cursing under her breath, she pulled the covers over her head. After returning home the night before, despite her efforts, sleep seemed to be eluding her. Thoughts of her evening with Draco had kept her mind busy.

She was slowly discovering a man that she never knew existed. To anyone else, Draco appeared to be hard and calloused, undoubtedly a side effect from the war. Around her though, he let down his defenses enough to allow her to glimpse inside, begin to understand his depth and who he was. She could tell he still held much back, and surmised that he had many demons buried within that he did what he could to deal with them on his own. She was fascinated by him, and could not stop asking the question what if?

What if he had been raised differently? What if he had not been held back by prejudice? What if he had never called her mudblood? What if he never had been forced to take the mark? What if he hadn't been given the task sixth year? What if she had known him sooner? What if she was beginning to feel something for him? What if he felt something too?

He had grabbed her arm so gently, running his finger over her scar as if it were not even there. While she had learned to accept it, as not even the best healers could find a way to remove it, when she let it show, she could see the discomfort it placed on others. Not because of the word, but because of what it stood for. During the trials after the war, the information of Hermione being tortured had been released in excruciating detail and when her scar shown, that was all people saw. She was certain that Draco saw that too, but unlike so many others, he did not cringe or look away. When most looked at it, her scar reminded them of a time they would rather forget, but Draco, he didn't wish to make it disappear. Only to accept it as another part of her.

Accepting that she would not be getting anymore sleep that morning, she tossed the covers off of her, reaching for her bathrobe and wrapping herself inside. Grabbing her wand off of her nightstand, she made her way to the kitchen to make herself some coffee. Upon entering she saw her fireplace erupt with green flames followed by Ginny's face appearing before her.

"Hermione, I need to talk to you. Please tell me you're up?"

"Yes, yes. Come through."

Only a moment after her face disappeared, Ginny was stepping out from under the mantle. Hermione rubbed at her eyes while she greeted her.

"Honestly Ginny, you think I can at least wake up a bit before you come-"

"Is it true?" she interrupted.

"Going to need you to elaborate Gin."

"Are you seeing Malfoy now?"

Hermione stared at her in disbelief "What? Where on earth would you get that idea?"

"Well...Ron stopped by to see Harry last night."

Hermione rolled her eyes "Of course. What did he say exactly?" she turned back towards the kitchen.

"Something about you two being all over each other at The Leaky Cauldron on Christmas." Ginny said as she followed her.

She scoffed. "Said that did he?"

"Well, yes, but there's more."

Hermione turned around, leaning her back against the counter and folding her arms in front of her. "Not sure what else he would have, but go on."

"He said he saw you two together again last night leaving his apartment."

Hermione felt her cheeks grow hot as she became more angered. "It's none of Ronald's business what I do with my life Ginny. I'm sure Harry was quick to take his side too."

"Hermione! Don't you dare. Harry has apologized for not agreeing with you when you ended it with Ron, and I will remind you that you did forgive him."

"Yes, but-"

"But nothing! For your information, Harry told him to mind his business and stop gossiping."

"He did?" she said, embarrassed.

"He did. I'm only here because, after our last conversation, I was wondering if there was any truth to it?"

"I mean, we were together on Christmas, but not how Ron saw it..."

"And last night? Were you really at his flat?"

"Yes." as a smirk grew on Ginny's face and her eyes went wide, Hermione quickly continued. "Not like that Ginny! It was only dinner."

"Whatever you say." she shrugged.

"It was." Hermione glared.

"Okay fine." she rolled her eyes. "Well then, what did happen with him this week?"

Hermione turned around and went about preparing a pot of coffee.

"Christmas I went to have a drink after I left my parents. He showed up and bought me a drink. We were just talking when Ron barged up, starting with Malfoy. I stopped it and asked him to go for a walk. He took me home and before he left asked me to have dinner with him."

"I'm not surprised that Ron exaggerated it. And he said nothing about saying anything to the two of you."

"Of course he didn't."

"And last night?"

"He brought me to his flat for dinner."

"Well that seems rather presumptuous."

"I thought so at first too, but it wasn't. He thought if we went out somewhere that the press would be all over us. He still offered to take me out but I thought he was right."

"He probably was. Can you imagine the headlines?"

She laughed. "I don't even want to think about it."

"Well it looks like you took my advice. So what do you think about him?"

Hermione poured them both a cup of coffee, setting the mugs down on the table and motioning for Ginny to sit.

"It's odd to tell you the truth. I have a history with him, but at the same time I don't because he is not the person I thought he was. He's honest about things, and he opened up about a few things but..." she trailed off.

"But what?"

Hermione eyed Ginny for a moment. "It's like he holds in so much. The war harmed him a lot, probably more so than us. I can tell it takes it's toll on him, but he tries to bury it."

"Can you blame him?"

"No, of course not. I guess it just makes me see him in a different light."

"How so?"

Hermione mulled over it for a minute before explaining. "Before I used to think that it wasn't until Voldemort returned that Draco realized that he didn't fully agree with blood prejudice. But I think maybe it started before that."

"And what makes you think that?" Ginny asked from behind her mug.

"I think it started early on in school. Before he came to Hogwarts, I doubt he was ever around muggleborns or half bloods before then. I think once he started to see how his classmates weren't so different from him he began to question it. I think the only reason he kept with it was because of his father. His mother wasn't anywhere near as prejudice as Lucius."

"I didn't think she was either, Andromeda forgave her instantly as soon as she received a letter from her. She said Narcissa never was a 'true Black', but family has always been a value of hers, which is why she never left."

"You know she was the one who taught Malfoy how to fly?"

"Really?" Ginny almost spit out her coffee at the surprise. "He admitted that to you?"

She laughed. "Well he had a picture of them flying together, but he seemed rather proud about it. From the way he speaks of her, you can tell he holds a great deal of respect for her."

"I'd say that's a fairly redeemable quality in a man."

"I agree. Listen, don't tell Harry about Draco and I. I mean, we're just getting to know each other right now, but I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to talk to him about it just yet."

"I won't. I wasn't going to anyway. Just so you know though, Harry really doesn't have a problem with him anymore. Since Narcissa and Andromeda started talking again, Malfoy has been around Teddy quite a bit, and he is crazy about him. You know how apprehensive Teddy is with new people, but he adores Malfoy. The way Harry see's it, if you can get Teddy's approval, you're alright by him."

"I guess that gives him another redeeming quality."

"What's that?"

"Good with kids" she smirked at the thought of Draco playing with Teddy.

"Never thought we would be saying these things about Malfoy did we?"

"Definitely not."

"Anyway, I didn't only come here to ask about that."

Placing her mug down on the table Hermione looked to her "what's on your mind?" she asked in a cheerful tone.

"The ministry is holding the annual charity gala next month. You're going right?"

"As much as I would prefer not to, it's for a good cause, and they get a higher turn out and better donations when the 'Golden Trio' is there."

"I admire your enthusiasm." she joked.

"What? You know I hate those things."

"I do know, however, I love having an excuse to dress up, so we're going shopping for gowns today."

Rolling her eyes Hermione sunk her shoulders down. "Do we have to? I have plenty of gowns already. So do you I might add."

"Yes, but I can think of at least one reason why you may want to reconsider my offer."

"And what is that?"

"Malfoy attends the gala every year."

Crossing her arms in front of her she went to say something but stopped herself. Sighing with defeat she responded. "I'll go get ready."

Ginny gave her a nod of approval, smirking to herself as Hermione left the room.

Although it took Ginny the almost half the day to make a decision, after only trying on a few gowns, Hermione found the perfect one, and was pleased with her choice.

She arrived home that evening, exhausted from her outing with Ginny, to find a regal looking owl perched outside of her living room window. She opened the hinge, and removed the scroll, the bird gave her a peck, and disappeared into the night sky.

She took notice that the parchment seemed to appear different then any she had seen before as it gave off a glimmer when the light hit it. She pulled off the emerald green ribbon only to have the scroll float out of her hands to eye level before transfiguring into a beautiful red rose with a small note attached. She gasped as she marveled at the magic before her. Reaching out her hand, she delicately gripped the flower as her eyes drifted to the note.

Thank you for the lovely evening. I would like to see you again.

D.M.

Placing her one hand over her mouth, she smiled to herself at the thoughtful gesture, knowing that she too wanted to see him again.

-x-

Hope you enjoyed. Please review!