John knew Sherlock had gone to Lancashire on a case. He also observed Hermione was gone too in that period. He wondered why. Though the possibility of the situation was improbable. He thinks he is just imagining things were there were not any. But personally, he thinks they are a perfect match. She was as clever as he was. While Molly had been, well all flustered around him and Irene may have been engaged in a power-play with him, Hermione Granger was neither affected nor playing. And John liked that. Rarely a woman could be coherent around Sherlock Holmes. And rarely was Sherlock kind to strangers.
Also, have they have seen each others' faces when they are in the same room? John chuckles. He should call over Lestrade to make a video. He remembers one incident specifically.

Hermione had come over with her daughter. She said, "Hello John, this is my daughter, Rose."
Rose had shook hands with him, "Hello John. Nice to meet you. Mommy says you are the funny man's friend."
Sherlock who was ignoring everyone, sat up straight in his chair and said, "Funny man?"
Hermione had been all flustered, "Oh sorry! Rose decided to give you a nickname!"
Sherlock had narrowed his eyes at Rose. John had warned, "Sherlock she is just a kid."
Instead, Sherlock had asked Rose a question, "Has your mother a nickname for me too?"
"No," the little girl had answered, "She thinks you are a nice man. Right mummy?"
Hermione had blushed and Sherlock's scowl was erased. John suddenly understood, he wanted to hear that.
John had stood up and asked Rose, "I think I have some ice cream in the freezer. Do you want some? If that is okay with you Hermione?"
At her mothers' permission Rose had followed John into the kitchen. Well John wanted to eavesdrop, basically.
He heard Hermione asking, "Why that weird question to my daughter?"
"Just like that," Sherlock had answered. Yeah right. "I am not that nice."
"Well you are downright unpleasant, but you have your moments."
John hears Sherlock chuckling, "Thank you, I guess."
"And here I thought you did not know how to show gratitude."
"You are welcome."
"As I said," her voice a lot softer now, "You are a despicable being. But you have your brilliant moments."
"That's nice of you to say so Hermione," the tone of his voice had made John to peek out of the kitchen and then he had seen their faces. Hermione blushing and looking at her toes while Sherlock looking at her with an expression John had never seen on him before. A soft, wistful and appreciative glance. John had almost clicked a picture.

Hermione and Sherlock return from Paris on the eighteenth of October. They both feel they have learnt something important but they know it is not enough. Though they have made a silent vow to never mention that moment under the Eiffel Tower. By now, it felt like a distant pleasant dream to Hermione, while Sherlock was trying hard to erase that memory from his hard drive.
Hermione feels confused by his behavior sometimes. Here he had claimed to the rest of the world that he did not have feelings or sentiment or did not care and he was a sociopath, she sees the opposite of all that in him. She knew he had faked his death to save his friends, and she knows sociopaths don't do that. And sometime she would catch him staring at her. Then she would wonder what he was thinking or looking for in her face. She wanted to know. But she knew as soon as Blaise was caught, he will eventually distance himself from her.
Sherlock was baffled by how he was behaving around Hermione. The tiny part in him was gaining size little by little every day. The tiny part that liked the way her eyes would sparkle, the tiny part that liked the scent of strawberries and summer. He wanted to squash all these stray thoughts that would creep in his mind palace without invitation. He wanted to stay far away from her, but he cannot. First reason was obviously because they haven't figured out where Blaise is hiding and second reason was that he simply cannot.

The day they arrive, Ginny calls up and after some banal gossiping says, "You know, Draco has moved back in the Malfoy Mansion because his mother wanted to take care of him. Aw, her little Draky needs cuddles."
Hermione laughs. Then a thought flashes through her mind. She decides to send Draco an owl.

Draco Malfoy is back at home. He is in his bedroom, with its green and silver wallpaper and black drapes. The nightmare still fresh in his mind. He lies down on his bed and tentatively touches the stitches on his stomach. As he ponders over his near-death experience, a barn owl taps on his window. He rises from his bed and walks over to his window. He takes the message from the owl. It is Hermione's handwriting. He opens the note.
Draco,
Can you tell me if Pansy and Blaise ever dated?
Sincerely.
Hermione

An hour later, Socrates flies back to her with a reply. She opens it excitedly.
Dearest Hermione,
I don't know why you are asking this, but yes, she was dating Blaise. If you call cheating on me dating, then yes. She may have wanted my money, but she was weak when it came to Blaise. She would have done anything for her. Anything.
Love,
Draco
Anything hunh? Hermione wonders.

A/N: Sorry for all this mush. It is just...I LOVE WRITING MUSH! Pathetic, I know...