Hermione's POV

It's been 2 days since the day I have come to accept and realize many things. (1) I shouldn't be sad that they died knowing that all their troubles and problems are now gone. (2) I accept my real family. (3) I would have to tell my brother-like friends about my real family. (4) I will treat Malfoy the same way he treats me, same goes with his other friends… for my brother, and I plan to ask him to do the same as well.

For the past two days, I've been trying to learn more about my family, since even if I remembered the memories I've lost from my infanthood, I still wouldn't be able to know much about my ancestors anyway.

I found it rather intriguing to know that I had come from a long line of geniuses, before I was even born. Also, that I came from a line of brilliant wizards and witches. I also found out that my family never really joined Voldemorts' inner circle, that they had always refused, no matter what was being offered to them. It seems like fighting evil has always been in my blood.

I was just having a drawing session with my brother, in which I happened to be his model, when there was a knock on the door. (He decided that we have a little twin-to-twin bonding time through painting each other. I just couldn't imagine that my brother actually enjoys art, just like myself.) I went for it, leaving my brother irritated. When I opened the door, and since I was looking down, I saw the black sneakers of the visitor. As I started to survey the visitor going up to his face, I saw a shocked-looking Draco Malfoy, staring wide-eyed at me…

"Granger!" he screeched, "W-what are you doing here," Wow… This was a surprisingly new side of Malfoy. Never have I ever thought that he would scream like a little girl at my presence. Hmmm… Maybe I could use this as my advantage (A/N: Hint of inside evil laugh). He never acted in front of me in this way before.

"Quite the contrary, Draco," Blaise seemed to have heard the screeching, as he was the one who responded to Malfoy's question, "Hermione here is not actually a Granger, but a Zabini."

"Scared of me, Malfoy?" I started attacking his vulnerable side right now.

"Well Granger, what reaction would you expect if your supposed long-term enemy opens the door of the house of your best friend?" he asked me cautiously, trying to straighten up his posture.

"Correction, Draco," Blaise interrupted, "Hermione here is my sister, therefore she is a Zabini."

"A- A Za-Za-bi-ni?!"

"No, Malfoy," Blaise replied sarcastically, "Isn't that what I just said?!" I raised my head to look at Malfoys' reaction at Blaises' irritation. By the looks of it, he's been at the end Blaises' irritated mood before because he looks extremely terrified. Knowing this won't be going anywhere good, I dragged them both by the ear to the living room. That must've done the trick because both of them seemed to have calmed down…

Anyway, after realizing what just happened, both of them just started laughing like mad people. I guess it's just between the two of them because I can't sense what in the world is funny. But because of curiousity, I asked, "What's so funny?"

After about 5 more minutes of continuous laughing, it eventually died down and Blaise finally replied to my question, "Well Hermione, you see, Draco and I use to get to a whole lot of arguments regarding several things. It usually happens in either this house or his house. Whenever that happens, either our mom or his mom drags us," pointing to himself and Malfoy, "to the living room by the ear," after that response, another wave of laughter erupted, but this time, I now understood why. Well now that I think of it, it is kind of funny. After around 10 minutes, the laughing stopped.

"Are you two done laughing yet?" I asked rather harsh.

"Yah, sorry 'Mione, just reliving the memories," Blaise responded. Then he shouted, "Pinkie!" calling for one of our house-elfs. I shot him a glare worthy of death.

"'Mione, don't worry, "Blaise reassured me, "we treat the house-elves here with respect. Besides, you're not the only one who'll kill me if I don't, mom will too."

"Yes, Master Blaise," Pinkie replied, "What is it that Pinkie can do for you?" When I looked at the house-elf, she terribly reminded me of Dobby, only in a girl elf version. Also, she was wearing a tiny floral dress and she looks healthier too.

"Pinkie, can you please get a pitcher of orange juice, 2 green apples, and an apple, the regular red one," Blaise asked the house-elf kindly.

"Would Sir Draco want anything else, sir?" the house-elf said addressing to Draco.

"No, thank you, it's alright," Draco replied the same way Blaise replied to Pinkie.

"What about Miss Hermione?" this time, addressing to me.

"No, Pinkie, it's alright. Do you need any help?"

"It's alright, Miss Hermione, Pinkie can do it herself."

"That would be all Pinkie, thank you." Giving her a smile, and with a pop, she disapparated.

"I told you we treated our house-elves right here, Hermione," Blaise said but added, "though I'm not sure if they do the same at the Malfoy Manor," staring at Draco while saying the last part, with a smirk on his face. This caused me to glare at the blond-haired man sitting across.

"Hey!" Draco retorted, "I treat my house-elf at home correctly because my mother tells me to; I couldn't say the same with my father though,"

"Alright, fine," I replied, still glaring at Draco, but also remembering something, "wait a minute, Blaise, I thought you hated green apples?" well that's another thing that differentiates us from one another because I love green apples.

"Yeah, I hate them," Blaise replied with a disgusted look on his face.

"Then why'd you ask Pinkie for two?" I asked curiously.

"Well, one's for you and the other one's for Draco. I don't get what's so good about that thing, it's so sour," Blaise replied, sticking his tongue out, still with a disgusted look on his face.

With another pop, Pinkie arrived with a tray of everything that Blaise requested; with 3 glasses.

"Thank you, Pinkie," I said as she set down the tray on the coffee table.

"No trouble at all, Miss Hermione," she replied. With another pop, she was gone.

Draco and Blaise got their apples and plopped back on the settee. I guess Draco usually stayed here because he seems to be so comfortable just sitting on the settee. Hmmm…. That just means to say that I should get used to him visiting very often.

I got my green apple and took a bite from it. I noticed that Draco was staring at me. It kind of creeped me out so I went outside to the big tree lying on the center of the garden of the Manor. Being a gymnast and all, I decided to climb the tree. It was so serene that I just sat on the tree branch, not aware that I was falling asleep.

Draco's POV

Seeing Hermione Granger answering the door of Zabini Manor never occurred in my thoughts before, let alone expected it to ever happen. This almost shocked me more than the fact that I was assigned to assassinate Dumbledore. I didn't realize that I lost my posture and screeched like a little girl, because I can now see the angel smirking right at me. 'She's so cute when she smirks' I thought.

I noticed Blaise go behind Hermione out of the corner of my eye but I was too distracted staring at the beautiful lady in front of me. I was snapped out of my admiration to the lady when she asked me whether or not I'm scared of her. Having heard that, I straightened my posture and tried to hide my shock, but I was far too late as she continued smirking.

I tried to reply in the cleverest way possible but Blaise corrected me by informing me, apparently again because I didn't hear the first time it was said, that Hermione was a Zabini and not a Granger. Shocking. Very shocking indeed that I reacted louder than I should've and even stuttered. Blaise seemed to have gotten irritated by repeating the same thing 3 times, which resulted to sarcastic replies and a hot-tempered Zabini, Blaise, not Hermione. I don't know if she has the same short temper though because they're twins. And I definitely know this would not end up nicely. 'HUH….' I sighed inwardly, 'at least I know that my best friend won't be my competition to Hermione's heart'.

Just then, I was being pulled by my ear towards the living room. I tried to remember when this happened before and suddenly, I remembered my mother doing the same thing to me and Blaise. Except this time, it was Hermione who was doing that. I looked at Blaise. After I saw the smirk on his face, I'm pretty sure that we were thinking of the same thing. We started laughing at the memory. Oh the good old days when you fight about things like which color looked better, or which toy was cooler.

Hermione obviously didn't understand the reason for our behavior. She asked us why Blaise and I were laughing and Blaise was the one who replied. She seemed content with the answer but I can see that she was getting impatient and rather reluctant as to what to do while we were laughing.

After my laughing session with Blaise, he called for the house-elf named Pinkie. He asked for orange juice, 2 green apples, and an ordinary red apple. I was wondering why he asked for two since I remember him saying that he hated green apples with a passion while I was eating one. The elf asked me if I wanted anything else, and replied kindly to the house-elf. I don't want to be shot with Hermione's death-defying glares. I heard that it was like staring straight through basilisks' eyes. When Pinkie asked Hermione, she said no and offered the elf help. 'Typical Granger… Offering the elf help' I thought, without disgust but with admiration. 'Oh wait, she's a Zabini,'

After the elf disapparated, Blaise reassured Hermione that they really treated house-elves correctly, but commented on how I treated my house-elves. Knowing that's not true, I replied that I indeed treat my elves with respect. Even with that answer, she still sent me a glare. If she didn't look away from me, I swear, I'm ready to start cowering in a corner.

She asked Blaise why he asked for 2 green apples, apparently knowing that Blaise hated green apples as well, because she mentioned that he told her that he was disgusted by green apples. What is wrong with Blaise?! I still don't get why he hates green apples. He told Hermione that one was for her and the other, for me. 'Well, I guess Hermione and I have something in common, even if it's only with our love for green apples.' I thought. With a pop, the elf appeared with the things Blaise requested for.

I grabbed an apple and went back to my seat. I took a bite off my apple and unconsciously started staring at her. This gave me time to take in her look with more detail. I realized that she was not the same girl I saw during our first year.

The big bush of hair was now gone and replaced with shiny brown locks. Her eyes were almost the exact replica of Blaises' chocolate brown. Her teeth were no longer big but the normal size and they were so pearly white. She was really thin, though a little better than last time I saw her, which was last week. In my eyes, she is the most gorgeous lady I have ever seen. My thoughts were again snapped out, but, this time, with the exit of the lady I was just observing.

After her exit, I tried to think of ways to win her heart. I'll start by apologizing to her, somehow. I just don't know how to do that! I don't think she can ever forgive me for what I have done to her. I doubt she'll even think twice about hexing me into oblivion. There's just no hope for me.

Blaise snapped me out of my deep thought again by hitting the back of my head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"That's for checking my sister out." Blaise tried saying calmly, but I can sense that he's about to snap.

"Why not, she's beautiful," I replied, 'Oh shit! Where did that come from?'

"I know she bea-, wait, did you just call my sister beautiful?"

"Ummm, no I didn't" I replied hesitantly.

"Yes you did, admit it Draco or I'm going to hex you."Blaise threatened.

"Fine," I sighed in defeat, "I said she's beautiful,"

"Ok but you better not have any funny plans on hurting her because if you do, I'm going to kill you!" Blaise threatened with a clenched fist, "I just got her back after 18 years because of that bastard Voldie."

"I understand and I swear that I will never hurt her, and besides, I still need to gain her trust; though I really don't have any plans on hurting her." I replied, trying to reassure Blaise that I will treat Hermione different than I did in the previous years.

I remembered all those times when Blaise got mad at me because of the things that I do, especially calling Hermione a "Mudblood". I've always wondered why he acted that way but now I completely understand why. I definitely regret calling Hermione that word. It hurts me to remember ever calling her that word.

After realizing the tension of our conversation, Blaise finally spoke and asked, "Want to race?"

"Bike or Broom?" I asked.

"Broom, of course" he replied, as if stating the obvious. Well, whenever I visited his house, we usually had a bike race or a broom race.

Believe it or not, I have muggle objects. Father never approved of muggle things, but when mother bought me a bike at my 9th birthday, father got furious and said that I must get rid of it as soon as possible, but my mother saw the upset look on my face told me to bring it to Blaises' house so I could use it there, and I had to leave it there if I didn't want it gone. Until now, my bike always remained in the garage of the Zabinis'.

My mother was more accepting to muggles than my father was that she gets me muggle gifts sometimes. Ever since I went to Hogwarts, I learned how to hide those presents from my father and I have them all stored on a little bag I was given that had an extension charm on it, allowing me to put as much items as I want in the bag.

"Don't mind if I do. I haven't been able to ride a broom since like, forever!" I replied, rather ecstatic that I will be riding a broom again after 2 whole years!

"Then come on!" With that we ran to the garage and got our broomsticks. As we were soaring above the air, I felt as if life was nothing but a dream. I have definitely missed flying on a broom. It's as if you have no problems at all. Like you were just there, magically floating above air, defying gravity, leaving everything else behind. All troubles, problems, enemies, and everything you never wished you had or had done are all gone.

As Blaise and I hovered above the air, my mind was not focused on the race we were currently having but the angel I have been staring at minutes earlier. Blaise noticed that and decided that I just wanted hover about the ground so he cancelled the race and just hovered above the ground like I did. My mind was brought back to the thoughts of Hermione.

'How will she ever forgive with everything that I have ever done to her?' As I thought about it, I looked at the ground, unaware of the direction my broom was heading. Suddenly, I felt as though I bumped in something real hard which cause me to fall from my broom. I was getting ready for the impact of my fall when someone shouted, "Aresto Momento!"

Suddenly, my fall stopped, mere half an inch before I reached the ground. As I stood up, I dusted off the leaves that stuck to my green shirt. I looked around to see who saved my life. Seeing that no one was on the ground, I tried to look up at the tree branches. There, I saw brown curly hair resting by the stem of the tree. I climbed the braches up with ease and found a giggling Hermione.

A/N: Hey everyone! Cliffhanger! Very sorry for the late chapter… I think I'll be updating more or less once a month. Again, I'm apologize for any grammatical errors. I'm still searching for a beta reader.

Shout out time :

CrayoTino18: thanks for telling me. I really appreciate it . The real mystery hasn't been revealed yet and I'm taking the romance part in a slower pace.

Iridecent Swan: Yes, everyone's busy :P. I'm sorry about the Blaise and Hermione part. I hope you'll still look forward to the chapters.

And Kira48: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it .

I plan on dedicating either a one-shot or a chapter to the 50th reviewer of this story.

Thanks and again for my readers . If you can, please review, even if it's just saying "Hi" or a smiley face to let me know that you have read my story. Thanks again I love you all. Also, please try to read my song-fic one-shot Begin Again.