I wake up to a sore head. I know, no pity it was self inflicted. But I can't bring myself to regret it. I had a fab night.

I'm staying with Harry and Ginny till I find a place of my own. I make my way to the kitchen and the smell of coffee.

"That smells amazing." I say before I even pass through the door. Then to my shock Malfoy is stood there. For crying put loud the man is everywhere. "What are you doing here?"

"Harry forger to mention it to you? And come to think of it you don't remember last night?" He laughed.

Shit I think to myself what the hell happened? I try and think back to last night but nothing is coming back to me. The last thing I remember is dancing with Ginny.

"Don't worry nothing happened with us if that's where you going." He laughed a again holding out a cup for me.

I take it and take sniff before tasting, perfect. "Well?" I prompt.

"Oh right. I'm staying here till I find a job and a place of my own." I just look at him. He doesn't need a job his family is rich. "Shit I keep forgetting you don't know everything." He said reading my thoughts. "My parents cut me off."

I almost choke on my coffee. "What?"

"Let's just say my parents don't approve of my choice of company." He casually took abother sip of his coffee. "They gave me an ultimatum and I chose this disfunctional lot."

"You chose them over your family? Why?" I couldn't think why he would do something like that.

"It wasn't long before I felt like I belonged in this group more than I did with my own family." He moved at sat at the table. "I hadn't believed in what my parents do in a long time even before the war ended. Possibly long before it even started."

I sit down opposite him. Nursing my coffee as I think about what he's told me. I now know I can't stay here for too much longer if Malfoy is here too. I decide to lighten the mood.

"You were right about Luna and Theo. It was disgusting."

He laughed at that. "Yeah I thought I should warn you." He stood up then. "I'm starving are you? Do you want breakfast?"

I couldn't help it I was. "I could eat." I tried to hold my enthusiasm for the idea of food back but I had a feeling I'd failed by the grin on his face.

"Full English?"

"Sounds like heaven." I stand up. "I'll just grab a shower."

I saw him nod as he rummaged in the fridge. I went to my shower with the idea of food running through my head. My stomach felt like I hadn't ate in a week. I tried to push the fact it was Malfoy cooking my breakfast out of my head. It was still wierd.

The shower felt good. Scrubbing myself clean. I jump out and get dressed in a tshirt and jeans. I tie my still wet hair up into a bun on top of my head. Then I head downstairs to the smell of bacon. Delicious.

I walk into the kitchen just as Malfoy is plating the breakfast. Talk about full English. I notice bacon, eggs, hash browns, mushroom, tomatoes and beans. There was toast already on the table. My mouth watered as he put a plate in front of me.

"Enjoy." He said.

"This looks amazing." I dig in straight away. It is delicious. "Wow."

I hear him chuckle as I dig in again. I'm finished pretty fast and I'm drinking the new cup of coffee i wasn't even aware Malfoy had left me.

"I gotta say that was just what I needed." He just nods at me with food in his mouth. "When will Ginny and Harry be back?"

"Ginny at about three. She's got training. Harry? I have no idea it varies." He digs into the remains of his breakfast. "What are your plans for the day?"

"I thought I would start looking for a place to live." I finish my coffee. "I have a meeting with Kingsley later this week for a job at the ministry that I need to prepare for too."

"Fantastic." He laughed. "I've been looking for a job for like six months and you come back and not even a day later you have one."

"I dont have a job yet." I say defensively. "It's an interview."

"Right because you won't get it." I can hear the sarcasm drip from his voice. I stand up.

"Thanks for breakfast Malfoy. But I'll be out of your hair now." I walk out.

"Granger wait!" I hear him call. I do t stop though. Frankly it's better this way. Now I can remember what he used to be like and not this strange person he claims he is now.

I spend most of the day searching onine for a place to stay. I make a short list of a few places. I call them up and I have a fee viewing's for tomorrow. It's a mix of muggle and wizard housing. The agents for very excited when I told them I expected to buy outright.

I don't even realis the time when there is a knock on my door. I stiffen expecting Malfoy. "Come in."

I breath a sigh of relief. "Ginny."

"Hey. What have you been up to?"

"Searching for somewhere to live." I smile.

"You know you don't have to rush right?" She sat on the end of the bed. "We have plenty of room."

"I realise that. Especially when I ran into Malfoy this morning and he told me he was staying here too. Thanks for the heads up."

"Shit." She clasped a hand to her mouth. "I forgot. But didn't you two come home together?"

"I dont remember." I throw my hands up and lie down on the bed.

"You should really get to know him better Hernione. He's not who you think he is." She put her hand on my leg. "Were just going to order pizza tonight. You in?"

"Yeah." I sigh. "I'll be down in a bit."

"Ok. You want a drink?" She said getting up and heading for the door.

"Alcoholic? Hell no." I hear her laughing as she heads down the stairs.

I lay there for a few more minutes. Thinking. I had only been away for a year and it seemed as though every aspect of life here had changed. Nothing was the same anymore. Apart from Ginny and Harry. It was messing with my head. But maybe I should try and embrace it. Isn't that way I left in the first place, for change? I don't know if the changes here are more than I bargained for though. I guess I should suck it up and give it ago.

This whole Malfoy thing was the one I couldn't get my head round though. But surely if everybody I know has forgiven him and embraced the new Malfoy he can't be that bad. Right? Only one way to find out I suppose.

I make my way downstairs still feeling the effects of last night. I make my way to the voices coming from the living room. Harry and Ginny are sitting on the couch, Ginnys legs over Harry's.

"Hey there." Harry smiled as I sat on the other couch. "How you feeling today?"

"Still feeling last night is how." I tuck my legs under me. "I dont know why I don't usually get hangovers."

"Maybe it was all the fire whiskey." He laughed.

"No I've drank more than that before in Germany." I say.

"Germamy?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. I met this wizard who only drank fire whiskey and I kind of developed a taste myself."

Just then Malfoy walks in with a glass in his hand. "Here." He says holding it out to me. "Gin said your still feeling fragile. This should help."

I dont know why but I still feel wary. It's going to take a while before I feel anything else I think.

"Hermione drink it its fantastic. It will take your hangover away in a few sips."

I take the glass and take a few gulps Ginnys encouragement making me try it. She's right too a few sips and I feel better.

"Thanks Malfoy. I do feel better." I hand him back the glass when I've finished.

"Anytime." He walks out the room and I turn to Ginny and Harry who are giving me identical looks.

"What?" I say confused.

"Do you really have to be so curt towards him?" Ginny asks.

"What did I do?" I'm genuinely confused now.

"The way you say Malfoy." She says Malfoy with a sneer. "Can't you say Draco?"

"I dont know if I'm there yet. It's is a big shock for me. I still remember everything he did to me, us back then." I sigh.

"So do we Hermione." Harry said. "We've just gotten to know him now and forgiven him for what he did in the past. You should give him a chance."

"I'm trying. I am." I shift uncomfortably in my seat. "It will just take a while."

"We get that. Just don't let your old memories of him taint your the new ones. Ok?"

"I'll try." I shrug and play with my hands I feel like a school kid again.

"Right what are we watching tonight?" Ginny asks.

"Anything but another chick flick." Malfoy says as he walks in and sits beside me.

"You know you love them. I don't know why you try to deny it." She says reaching for her tea.

"I'm a man, Weasley. I like car chases and fights." He laughs winking at her.

"What did you have in mind then?" She asks looking at a pizza menu.

"Whatever you want Gin. You know I can't argue with you." He laughs.

"Cause you can't win." Harry laughs.

"True." Ginny grins.

I laugh too. I can't help it the ease of the conversation take effect on me. I catch the menu Ginny throws my way and open it up. Malfoy leans closer to look and my breath catches. I don't know what it is but he smells familiar. My eyes flutter closed as i take it in. It's strange and it confuses me for a moment.

"I dont know why your looking Draco. You always get the same thing." Ginny laughs.

"Maybe I fancy a change." He leans closer and his hand brushes mine when he tilts the menu towards him to get a better view. It leaves a tingling on my hand. What the hell is happening here? I push the menu away and towards him. Even though I haven't chosen yet.

"You picked?" He asked.

"Um no. You pick first." I stutter out hoping noone notices.

"You want to share something. I always leave leftovers and Harry and Ginny always share."

I look at him shocked. I'm that shocked in fact I speak with out thinking. "Yeah sure whatever."

"What do you fancy?" He says still looking at the menu.

"Whatever. You pick. I'm not fussy."

"Ok." He stands up and gets what Harry and Ginny want. "I'll call them up now."

I watch as he makes his way out the room and shake my head trying to dislodge the the wierd thoughts I was having.

The night went fast. Malfoy had chosen well with the food too which kind of depressed me for some reason.

The film we had been watching hadn't even finished when Ginny had fallen asleep on Harry's lap.

"I'm gonna take her up to bed." He laughed. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night Harry." I said stifling a yawn myself.

Malfoy and I watched the end of the film in an awkward silence. I couldn't have got myself further away from him on the couch I was squashed up against the opposite arm to him. The film was showing the end credits when he spoke.

"It's gonna take you a while to get used to me isn't it?" He wasn't even looking at me.

"Yes." I whispered no point in lying.

"I hope it doesn't take too long." He looked at me then. His elbows we're on his knees. "I'd like it if we could be friends before the wedding. Ya know best man and maid of honor have to dance together."

"I know. It's just..." How do I describe it?

"Yeah I know I get it." He sighed. "I've done a lot of shitty stuff especially to you. I'm sorry for that Hermione."

"Thank you." What else could I say?

"You probably don't believe me and I don't blame you." He leant back on the couch then.

"No I do." And it was true I do believe he's sorry. "I just need time to let it all sink in. It's overwhelming."

"Ok." He smiled then. "So tell me what your interview is for."

"The department of international magical cooperation." I start to relax a little bit. "I made quite a few contacts on my travels."

"How did you manage that?" He made himself more comfortable turning himself to look at me. "I mean I presume you only spent a few weeks in each place."

"Well apart from Bulgaria I had to port key into each ministry. I seem to be known wherever I go." I laugh to myself. "I got invited to all kinds of events. Some I went to, some I didn't."

"Bulgaria hey?" He cocked an eyebrow at me. "You see Viktor Krum?"

"Yes. He's the reason I went there first." I look down at my hands and fiddle with them.

"How was it?" I'm sure he can pick up on my uneasiness.

"Fine." I dont really want to go into details.

"Just fine?" He's pushing it now. I take a deep breath.

"We didn't exactly part on the best of terms. Ok?" I practically bite at him.

"Why not?"

"Seriously?" He just shrugs at me. "We were seeing each other while I was there and he wanted me to stay there, but I couldn't, I needed to move on. Happy?"

"No." I look at him expecting more questions. I really don't want to talk about it, my split with Viktor still felt raw. I felt tears prick my eyes and look away from him. "Meaning, why would I be happy you were so obviously hurt? Are still hurting."

"It does still hurt. I experienced a lot with him." Including losing my virginity I think. "I wish things had ended better. We haven't spoke since I left."

"I'm sorry Hermione." He said and I could here the sympathy in his voice. I don't like it.

"Why? Its not your fault." I say. "I'm ruined for other men after him." I say it as a joke but at the same time I can't help think it might be true.

"I hope not." He's serious I can see it in his eyes. "That would be a true tragedy. You should forget about him move on."

I don't know whether to laugh or run. For some reason I don't want to do either. For some reason I want to lean forward and see if it is true to see if another man can make me feel the way he did.

Silence fills the air. Were both trying to figure out what do to. He breaks the spell first.

"We should be heading to bed." He quickly stands up. I watch confused as he takes his wand out and our left overs vanish. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." I mumble still sat there. I haven't moved. What the hell just happened?

I berate myself for feeling disappointed nothing happened. Then I berate myself for thinking about it more than I should. I shouldn't feel that way. Then I think back and who can blame him I just told him I was ruined for other men because of Viktor. What man in their right mind would want to try something after that?

Hermione Jean Granger, I think to myself, it's only Malfoy. Get over it. And with that I head to bed.