What are you doing what are you doing what are you doing.

Draco was so close to leaving the shop. The second he saw her he was so ready to leave. She looked better than the last time he saw her. Healthy. Her skin had a golden glow to it. Her hair shimmered in the sunlight and was not simply brown, but littered with rays of golden blonde. He was sure that if she looked up from her book her eyes would be golden too. Safe to say it was a vast improvement from how she'd looked during the war and the few months after but then personal hygiene had gone out of the window then.

He heard her humming to herself as she flicked through the pages of her book, tracing her finger against the words. Draco stalked around another bookcase so he could see her face better. As she read her nose wrinkled and her teeth bit into her lip. She muttered something about red heads. She laughed. He groaned. Merlin, she even sounded better than she had last sounded. Musical. Would he get to hear that sound if he approached her? Or would her voice turn cold? Would her features pull downwards into a scowl? Would she reject him before he even had a chance to help her?

Not that it would surprise him. He'd hardly been kind to her. The last time he saw her was during his trial. Potter had vouched for his mother, explaining how Narcissa saved his life even if it was just to make sure Draco was okay. Harry continued on, expressing that he didn't blame Draco for Dumbledore's death, or letting the Death Eater's into the castle, because he probably would have too if his family were being threatened. None of them could say anything in favour of Lucius however, but Draco didn't expect that. He didn't expect much to be said in favour of himself either. He certainly didn't expect Hermione to fight his corner so passionately.

"He was a victim of circumstance." She had said, "We all were. If I weren't a muggle born witch would I have been as affected? If I hadn't of made friends with Harry and Ron would I have continuously put my life on the line to help them? If I weren't a witch at all would I have fought for this world? No. Probably not. But I had to do my best to fight for the people I love. I lost a lot of those people during the war. So did Draco. He fought for his family. Fought for his peers. And yes he was on the opposing side. And yes he killed. Like I did. Like we all did. We had no choice. War is war, and there are casualties. But if you sentence Draco Malfoy to Azkaban, or put him on house arrest, or take away his magic, then you need to do that to all of us. We all did what we had to do to survive. Had any of us have been in Draco's position we would have done the same thing. Imagine being in a certain house at Hogwarts and being alienated for it. Not everyone in Slytherin was a psychopath and yet we still treated them that way. Despite the fact we thought we were fighting for equality, we were still putting people down for being born into a certain family. No wonder Draco didn't approach the Order when he needed help. Or Dumbledore. No wonder Draco felt like he had no choice. If any of us had been in his position we would have felt exactly the same. The war is over now. Let's move forward. Let's build bridges and not condemn people for making a choice to protect the people they love."

His mother was so thankful. She approached Hermione after to express her gratitude. Draco waited a few steps behind her, his father was even further behind him, but he caught her eyes and nodded. He hoped she knew he was thanking her too. She nodded back and he was sure that she understood. After that day the only time he saw her face was in The Prophet, or walking through the halls of the Ministry but even then she was still recovering. Her eyes still flickered about the great room, checking for the masked demon's that haunted her at night. She still entered the room last; uncomfortable with the feeling that someone was behind her. Draco knew that feeling all too well, because he suffered it too.

A burst of courage surged through him as he plucked a book off the shelf and walked up behind her.

"Excuse me."

Draco tried to stay calm as she stared and stared and stared. He wondered maybe if his hair was a mess. Maybe he had some jam on his face from his breakfast. Or maybe she recognised him and was in shock. She'd probably snap out of it in a minute and punch him. Regardless of this Draco did not move a muscle. He simply let her look until she couldn't look anymore. She seemed to snap out of her trance after a few moments and asked if she could help.

Draco was astounded. She was offering to help him? Did she not know who he was? He looked over her features again. Her eyes certainly didn't look closed off from him. They were wide, unblinking, gazing into his. She tilted her head slightly. She was curious! Intrigued as well, possibly? Draco assumed this from her shy smile and the slow flush that covered her cheeks. Was she… blushing? What did that mean? Draco frowned, ready to hold up his book to show her when she rose from her chair suddenly to address him again, but instead fell and crashed into him.

Draco grabbed her waist on his descent to the floor but she didn't seem to notice. He let go as quickly as he grabbed on. She still had absolutely no balance or grace it would seem. Draco noted she moved quickly. She darted away from him muttering apologies. He'd only noticed that she'd held out her hand to help by the time he'd stood. He bent to pick up his book and raised it to her again, successful in showing her this time.

"How much is this?" He asked.

She took the book from him and led him towards the counter, an anxious bounce in her step. Draco caught himself staring at her behind and mentally slapped himself for it. This was Granger! Granted she looked… great, but he had a job to do. No staring at all. No more. So why couldn't he look away?

Luckily the desk obstructed his view. Unluckily he was attacked by her co-worker.

"So where you from?"

"The UK."

"Oh just like Hermione here! What part of the UK? Are you here on holiday?"

"I'm here for a while."

He stopped paying attention to the pink haired girl after that. Was she always this loud? How could Hermione stand it? Draco glanced at the clock behind the desk. One o clock in the afternoon. He needed to get Hermione alone so he could talk to her. Find out why she was here. If she knew him. He was guessing she didn't by the way she had addressed him. Granger would never smile shyly in his presence, or flush, or act anxious. Granger held her own against him. She would have insulted him about five times already. Merlin if she knew it was him she would have laughed at him being in a muggle book store, buying a muggle book, written by a muggle. Maybe the insults wouldn't have held as much malice as they used to. Back when they were kids. Now they were just two people with a lot of unfortunate history. Two people who knew each other as opponents. They didn't know each other as friends.

She told him the price and he blinked, his vision clearing and her face coming into view again.

"Eight?" Draco pulled out his wallet and searched for the correct currency. He still struggled with muggle money sometimes. "Hermione, did you say?"

"Yes!" Lisa interrupted, "Beautiful name, isn't it?"

Unusual more like, but Draco couldn't reply as his name was as strange in the muggle world and Hermione was being dragged off into the staff room with her strange friend. Lisa stared out the window of the door at him for a bit and winked, grinning widely, before turning away.

Draco assumed this was his cue to leave. He looked at the book in front of him and then at the door. He could always come back tomorrow. She'd still be here. But how could he get her to know he'd be around more often without coming across as weird. It's not like he could just play it off as a date. He knew her. She didn't know him. It would be weird talking to a girl who couldn't remember anything he had put her through…

And yet, wasn't that a blessing? He could get to know her properly this time around. She would see him and the good he had done. The better man he was. He could show her he wasn't bothered about blood status or hierarchy or power anymore. Hermione would be able to appreciate his intelligence now, and he could appreciate hers. They were both at the tops of their classes at Hogwarts. They probably had a lot in common. Maybe, if Draco hadn't of been brought up the way he was, they might have been friends.

The door opened and Draco's eyes roamed back towards the golden girl. Her friend moved away from them and Draco silently thanked whatever higher power there was for that.

"Here's your change." She said, her petite hands passing some coins into his.

"Thank you, Hermione." Draco attempted a smile, but it felt too strange around her and failed to blossom on his mouth. He picked up the book and walked off towards the door. This was his chance. He was wasting it. Why was he wasting it? His whole body was screaming TURN AROUND.

And so he did.

"Hermione?"

The words tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them. The grin formed on his lips all too easily this time. LET HER KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE A WHILE. He winked, "My name is Draco. I'll see you around."

Later that evening, as Draco was getting ready for bed, he thought about eyes. Bright, brilliant, golden eyes surrounded by a thick cluster of eyelashes. He remembered the way they flicked against her cheek when she blinked. He thought of the freckles that had made a home across her cheekbones. He thought of her small shy smile.

When he finally fell into bed he dreamt of all those things. He dreamt of touching them. His fingers tracing against her cheek. His palms rubbing along the gentle curve of her neck. He counted her freckles a thousand times as he slept and the golden light that shined from them.

It was the first time in months Draco had not dreamt of death or darkness or emptiness, and while what he was dreaming of was a far cry from technicolour, it was still golden in comparison.

Hermione similarly had stopped dreaming of a battlefield and jets of light. Her dreams were even completely absent of red. She saw silver everywhere she looked. Silver eyes. Silver hair. A silver tie. A silver snake crawling around her but Hermione was not afraid. She was curious. The snake came towards her and she held out her palm to it. The snake waited for a moment and then recoiled suddenly. She thought it might be preparing to strike but was surprised as it changed its mind at the last moment and curled up in her hand.

"Hullo Hermione!" Lisa all but shouted the following morning.

"Jheeze Lisa, you're cheery this morning." Hermione sighed. It was cooler today, but not by much. The wind had returned with a vengeance during her walk to work just to attack her hair so it seemed as it had stopped the moment she arrived at the bookstore. She rubbed her hands against it again, trying to flatten it.

"I think it's adorable."

She spun quickly, locking eyes with the man from yesterday. What was his name again? Drake? She frowned at him. He was leant against the door frame, arms folded neatly across his chest. The beginnings of a smirk were growing on the right side of his mouth. Hermione continued to stare and then acknowledged he had spoken. She cleared her throat and raised her chin defiantly to regain her confidence.

"It's not adorable. It's a nuisance. What are you doing here anyway? Shop doesn't open for another," She glanced towards the clock, "Minute."

"Merlin you're as bad as Madam Pince."

"Who?"

She watched as he winced suddenly and shook his head, "Sorry. Librarian at my old school. She was very strict. What's there to do around here?"

Hermione shrugged, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face. She turned to look behind her at Lisa, who was staring at them both from behind her book. She raised her eyebrows at Hermione and winked. Hermione sighed at her unhelpful friend and turned back towards Drake.

"I don't know. I only just got here two weeks ago. I'm still trying to find my way around myself."

He stared at her for a moment and then glanced either side of him as if weighing up his options silently. Hermione didn't have the time to stand and wait, there was a lot of work to be done today. The book store needed to be cleaned thoroughly and the new arrivals needed to be stacked and displayed. They had a new deal on and a book signing for novel, 'The Librarian' and were expecting the author from twelve to one.

Drake was still stood in front of her, arms crossed, waiting for an answer she assumed. He raised one elegant eyebrow.

"Look, Drake I-,"

"Draco."

"Sorry. Draco. I'm very busy and… Isn't that a constellation?"

Draco's face lit up and his tongue darted out to lick his lips before they parted widely, showing off a perfectly straight set of teeth. Hermione thought her parents would be amazed to see teeth like that after working as dentists for several years. They'd probably take a picture and frame it in their picturesque office. She focused her attention back on Draco and noted that he looked a little smug.

"Why yes, yes it is. It's Latin for-,"

"Dragon. I know the story well. Draco was a dragon killed by the goddess Minerva and tossed into the sky upon his defeat. The dragon was one of the Giant Titans, who battled the Olympic gods for ten years. As Minerva threw the dragon, it became twisted on itself and froze at the cold North Celestial Pole before it could right itself."

"Well, some things don't change," He muttered, but Hermione ignored his comment and continued on.

"Bit of an assumption isn't it? Giving a child a name that means Dragon. Must have done wonders for your ego. Or maybe not. Looks like they were setting you up for a fall what with the story connected to it."

Draco gazed at her incredulously. He should have been insulted. The Draco in school would have sneered at her and pushed her to the floor. Maybe he would have sent a nasty hex her way as well. Instead he was amazed and a bit thankful. She was still Hermione. She hadn't changed. She was still a bossy, know it all swot. Thank Merlin. Now he simply had to work out what was wrong with her memories. Maybe this was just a case of a simple memory charm. Maybe someone had obliviated her. That would be easy to fix. But then again it wouldn't be easy to whip his wand out without her noticing and running for the hills. No, he'd have to be careful.

Hermione chuckled, embarrassed, and slapped her hands over her mouth, "Gods that was rude. Sorry."

"Don't worry. I suppose you are right in a way."

"In what way? The ego or the story?"

Draco stared at her his smirk growing, "I'll leave that for you to find out. Now, what is there to do around here? Do I have to mention that it's my birthday as well to get some company?"

The words fell from Hermione's mouth before she could stop them, "Are you asking me out?"

Lisa suddenly appeared beside them before Draco could respond, though it didn't look like he was going to. His face was frozen, silver eyes glazed over in shock, cheeks tinged slightly pink. Why Hermione found this cute she did not know.

"There's an ice cream parlour down the road. I can man the shop this morning 'Mione! Just be back by twelve! Have fun!"

And with those parting words, Lisa pushed the two of them out of the shop.

They sat outside the ice cream parlour under a red and white frilled umbrella to block them from the harsh glare of the sun. Hermione spooned a bit of her mint and chocolate ice cream into her mouth swirling it around with her tongue to savour the taste before swallowing. She let out a soft hum of appreciation and opened her eyes to see if Draco was enjoying his.

Draco was incredibly distracted by the vision of her tasting her treat and humming in contentment. The sound filled his head and his whole body felt lighter. He knew he would think about the noise later on when he was in bed but for now he focused on his food. He wasn't really paying attention to the flavours when he chose what he wanted. He merely pointed, received and paid. Now he was staring at the ice green substance and wondering if he had made the right choice.

"Aren't you going to try it?" Hermione asked, "Or are you just going to stare at it like it might jump out and attack you?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at her and made a big show of digging his spoon into the plastic container and shoving the cold treat into his mouth. The taste was extremely familiar. He was sure he'd eaten many of these in his time. He let it linger on his tongue for a moment, absorbing the flavour.

"Apples."

She grinned, "Unusual isn't it? It's a speciality here - or so I'm told."

He nodded. Draco knew he had to get her talking. He needed to find out some sort of information. But how does anyone bring up the topic of, 'I'm a wizard. You're a witch. But you don't know you're a witch. Why are you here?'

"How old are you?" She asked, spooning another pile of chocolate into her mouth.

"Twenty-two. Twenty-two today, obviously."

"Me too! Though obviously I'm older. I turned twenty-two in September," She responded, and then she closed her eyes, mentally chastising herself for sounding patronising again, "Sorry. If I'm honest I haven't had many friends throughout my life. I know I come across as patronising sometimes."

"It's fine, honestly." Draco tried to think of something else to ask to continue on their conversation, "Where exactly are you from in England?"

"London. My parents worked there as dentists before moving here when I was about seventeen. What about you?"

"In Wiltshire. My father owns and runs a business all to do with potions. I live near London now with a friend."

Hermione cocked her head curiously, Draco tensed as he realised his mistake. "Did you just say potions?"

"Yes. My father thinks it sounds fancier than medicine."

Hermione scratched her head in thought and smiled at him, "I suppose it sounds a lot more… interesting. And he supplies this to hospitals?"

"Something like that. I don't know too much about it as I decided not to take over."

They fall silent for a moment more as they finished up their ice creams. Hermione had a small splodge of chocolate on the side of her lip and Draco stared at it, before offering her his handkerchief. She took it, frowning, only realising why he was giving it to her when he pointed to where the smudge was on his own lip. She rubbed it off furiously, feeling the heat creep back into her cheeks.

"What are you doing in Australia?" He asked.

Hermione furrowed her brow, searching through her memory for any information to answer his question. Why was she here? "I'm visiting my parents."

He nodded at the response cautiously, noting that she didn't look certain. Hermione pondered this too, a strange feeling unfurling in her stomach. Her head hurts suddenly, and she brings her hand up to it wincing in pain. Draco stood and moved to her chair, taking her hand in his. He wasn't quite sure how to act in this situation. He'd never touched Hermione in a comforting way. In fact none of their body parts had ever really come into contact with each other. Aside from the slap. And the day on the battlefield when she-,

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. Sorry. Headache. Must have been the ice cream. Brain freeze, you know?" Draco frowned, an unsure feeling unfurling in the pit of his stomach but nodded anyway.

"Come on, let's get you back to the shop."

As they walked back they talked about the heat. He complained about it and expressed his need for a small drop rain. She wondered why he doesn't just wear tank tops instead of the long-sleeved shirts she's seen him in. She voiced this query and he explained it's all he's brought with him. He doesn't tell her he keeps his wand there in case Voldemort appeared in front of him. He doesn't mention he has an ugly mark on his skin from when he became a Death Eater at sixteen. He doesn't explain he's covered in scars from all the curses he's taken from failing to do his job. He glanced towards her arm and see's the scar Bellatrix left there. Does she remember how she got it? Does she remember what that word means?

Before long they're outside the shop again and Hermione is shuffling around awkwardly, not quite knowing how to say goodbye.

"I had fun today." She said.

Why does this feel like a date? Draco pondered. He only meant to question her and yet now she's stood in front of him flushing and shifting from foot to foot. Despite the fact he's trying to stay impersonal he can't help but admit he had fun too. She smiled at this; her sweet, small, shy smile that he feels is just for him.

"I'd say you can hang around in the shop for a bit. Meet our guest author, but I don't think the books she writes are your sort of thing."

"Oh? Try me, Granger, I'll have you know I'm up for a bit of anything."

She pinched herself for bringing the bloody book up. It's not her sort of thing anyway. Of course she's read it, Lisa pushed her to. "Oh um actually don't worry," she muttered under her breath. His eyes snapped up from her smile and to her eyes. He searched them quickly. Hermione forced her exterior to stay as confident as possible. She was a very proud person by nature and despite liking this... Draco, she didn't want to lower her boundaries too quickly. Then her mind registered something.

This man she'd met yesterday. Only yesterday and not a day before or after that. This silver-haired, silver eyed man had just called her Granger. She couldn't recall ever telling him her last name. Did he already know her? A strange feeling swirled within the pit of her stomach. He was odd, that was true. She was already mentally compiling a list of all the weird things he had said, ready to ask him about them. Not yet, however. First she'd get to know him better. Then, when they were firm friends, she would voice these questions and listen to his responses and remember. Knowledge was important. Hermione couldn't get enough of knowledge and when she looked into his eyes she saw such wisdom in them. Such experience. As if he had lived for a million years.

Before the ground swallowed them up, both for different reasons, Lisa opened the front door.

"Hermione! Come on, stop gallivanting around with the handsome stranger, I need you behind the desk." And she reached out and pulled Hermione into the shop, shutting the door behind her.

Draco stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do when the door opened again. Hermione's head poked out and she whispered, "Come back tomorrow, maybe?"

The door shut again and Draco wondered just what he had gotten himself into.