Hermione took a breath as the world stopped spinning and she glanced around to gain her bearings. Her portkey delivered her to a small alley beside a flower shop on the outskirts of Port Macquarie, Australia, and the last bits of twilight were lingering after sunset. She had grown acquainted with the shop owner, Val, and liked to stop in to say hello and buy a small bouquet each month.

Straightening her sweater, she meandered toward the road, quickly checking to be sure no muggles had seen her. It hadn't happened so far as the alley was well hidden, but she always preferred to be extra careful. Just as she stepped onto the sidewalk, she heard a bright voice call her name. "'Mione! How ya doin love?" Val's voice floated through the open door of her shop, and Hermione made her way inside to the counter where her spunky friend was rolling up some brown paper. Val was a conventionally cute redhead with freckles across her nose and cheeks, and her fiery red curls were tied neatly into two braids that were swept forward over her shoulders. She reminded Hermione of Ginny, which was likely why they'd become friends so quickly.

"Oh, same old routine as always. School is starting again and I was made a residence hall assistant this year, so I'm trying to get a schedule set where it won't be completely exhausting!" Hermione chuckled, leaning onto her forearms on the counter. "What's new for you here in the down under? Have you found a special someone yet?"

Val laughed, the delicate sound a stark contrast to her throwing her head back as she responded. "Not a chance! The young men around here tend to be either stuck in their own world of hiking and boating, or they come in here and expect me to say yes to a date after they've bragged about themselves for thirty minutes. Not exactly date-able material, y'know?" She looked over to Hermione and squinted. "And what about you? None of the Darwin boys at the university showing any promise in the brains department?" Her grin made Hermione laugh again as she shook her head.

"Unfortunately not so far. I'll let you know if I ever find any date-able material up there." Hermione paused and glanced over to Val's small display case. There were several vibrant arrangements ready to go, but the one that caught her eye was a small bouquet of purple roses and white carnations, with baby's breath sprinkled in between and all gently tucked into a clear vase. "Got my regular order ready, have you Val?" She smiled gently at her friend and walked over to retrieve the vase.

Val's bubbly energy ebbed a bit and she smiled gently. "Always ready for you, love. I know visits are hard, so come back by tomorrow if you need to talk eh?" Hermione had made up a story that was as close to the truth as she could get for Val - her mother had developed early onset dementia and lived in a care home here, and she made the trip home once a month from university to visit. She never gave details, but it was enough for Val and she didn't press Hermione for more. For Hermione, it was simply nice to have a friend her age to confide in, one that didn't have the complex and painful memories of the war in the wizarding world. It gave her something besides school to look forward to, and helped comfort her on the days she saw her parents from afar. It's hard to see them now, but these visits with Val make it easier. I can just focus on happy things for a bit. She'd told Val that the flowers jogged her mom's memory and helped at her visits, but really they were for her. She took them down to the jetty and gently tossed the blossoms in the water one by one as she reminisced on old memories with her family. It was a sad but comforting ritual she'd begun when she realized her parents would never remember her, and she had vowed to never forget them or the life they'd once had.

She gently placed the vase on the counter and pulled her wallet from her bag. "How much do I owe you Val? And don't you dare say nothing, you are running a business not a charity!" Val grinned again and replied, "Well you know I'd give them to you for free if you'd just take them, but since you're so stubborn I'll accept a fiver and not a penny more!" Hremione made a jokingly grand display of placing the five dollar bill on Val's outstretched hand, bowing her head as she used both hands to lay it gently on her outstretched palm. Val laughed loudly, which in turn made Hermione laugh as she straightened up. Val scooted around the edge of the counter and swept Hermione into a tight hug.

"I miss you tons when you're away, come visit more! I'll pay the air fare!" Hermione just shook her head with a smile. "Always happy to see you Val, I'll get down as often as I can this school term! Maybe next time we can grab lunch together?" With the vase in hand and a small wave, she exited the shop and made her way down the road toward her usual overnight accommodation. It was a quaint inn run by a lovely older woman named Audrey that Hermione had grown quite fond of. She was spunky and would put up quite the fight if a guest became unruly, and had no problem making her opinions known whether they were asked for or not. Hermione was already feeling the sadness take over, and it must have shown, because miss Audrey simply smiled and handed her the room key. Hermione gave a tired smile back and a grateful pat on the hand before heading into her room and locking up for the night. She placed the vase on the counter and dropped her bag beside the bed before sitting down and letting out a long breath.

This time difference is hard, but tomorrow will be harder… Her eyes glazed over for a moment before she shook herself a bit, coming back to the present. She pulled some parchment and books from her bag. Best to keep myself occupied and not fall behind at the beginning of term. Thinking about tomorrow can wait.

-‐-

Back at Hogwarts, Draco's curiosity was piqued, and he paced their common room floor as he thought about what would take the bookworm halfway across the world. She certainly doesn't have business connections, not this soon after the war. And there's no chance that she has some sort of lover, right? At that he frowned slightly, his brows lowering into a slight glare. She's got no right to keep secrets, especially since her coming and going all hours of the day and night will interrupt my rest and studies.

Resolved to confront her, he settled into an armchair near the commonroom fire and turned his mind to other thoughts. Specifically, thoughts of a discussion he'd had with his mother that summer - one that had taken a rather dark and serious turn.

***FLASHBACK***

"You wished to see me, Mother?"

Draco stood in the doorway of the parlor, one hand on the old brass knob of the door. The parlor was where his mother liked to have family discussions and private conversation, lending itself well since it was far from the entry of the home. Narcissistic Malfoy sat on a chaise at the far end of the room, looking out one of the tall windows.

"Yes dear, please have a seat." She motioned to the nearby armchair, and Draco sat down slowly, some apprehension filling his mind and chest with a sinking feeling. The last time his mother had begun a discussion this way, it was to notify him of his father being sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss. "Is everything alright, Mother?" Please tell me everything is alright…

Narcissa smiled sadly and slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid not, my darling. This summer after your birthday ball, I realized I had not been keeping track of time very well.. and while I wish your father was around to tell you this, it seems it falls to me." Draco's stomach was now churning with fear, and he cleared his throat before he spoke. "What would father need to tell me? Are we in danger? Are YOU in danger?" His voice rose slightly after each question, and he had grown so anxious that he jumped up from his seat and began to pace the floor.

Narcissa caught one of his hands in her own and pulled him to a stop. "DRACO. Sit down and listen. I am not in danger. What I tell you will likely answer most of your questions and also leave you with more, and it's best we have them out now so I can give you all the information I possess on the matter." She closed her eyes and took a breath in through the nose. Draco huffed before turning slightly to sit beside his mother on the chaise. He pursed his lips and gave a small nod for her to continue.

"I'm not quite sure how to put this into words… let me preface this - your father and I had agreed to tell you this when you turned sixteen, but with the - ahem - events of the last few years, it was pushed aside." She closed her eyes and took another breath. "To just come right out and say it, when your father was young he was the carrier of a blood curse. And once you were born, we discovered it had been passed on to you."

Draco swallowed heavily as his mind began to race. He had to shake himself slightly to hear his mother's next words.

"This curse will not kill you, Draco dear. But it's effects are… painful at best and downright miserable at worst. Somewhere in your father's study he has written down the exact wording and details of the curse, but the essential bits are this; Before the eve of your eighteenth birthday, you must find your partner for life and in love, or you will be transformed into a beast more terrible than a werewolf and more hated than a ghoul. It cannot simply be any girl - you must truly love her, and she must love you back. Your father and I were lucky enough to have already found each other well before the curses's time, but you my dear have considerably less time. And you need to make this search a priority this year, or I truly fear what will happen to you."

She smiled wanly as she patted his hand, then lifted one of her own to cup his cheek. "Do not lose hope now before you have even begun your search. You are not the first Malfoy to go through this and likely will not be the last. Though recent events have made this… more difficult, you can and WILL be able to overcome this. And I will always be here to help support you and offer what guidance I can." Draco lifted his eyes to meet hers, tears threatening to fall from his own as he took in his mother's worried eyes and strained smile.

"I… thank you, Mother. I need some time… time to process this…" his voice shook slightly and his hands balled into fists as his thoughts began to take a negative turn. Narcissa reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace. "I know my dear. Take your time and come to me with any questions you have. I've already written to Headmistress McGonagall and she has given you permission to come and go from the castle whenever you need, so don't feel like you have to stay buried in school if your mind needs a break." With this she stood, and with a final glance backwards she left him to his thoughts.

A blood curse…. Less than a year… true love? What sort of gobshite horrible person puts that into a curse?! It's impossible, sadistic! Draco twisted his fingers around each other, his elbows digging into his thighs as he leaned forward on them and glared at the floorboards. What are the chances I can actually find this girl? Half the Slytherin girls won't return to school this year and the other half are already betrothed or about to marry. None of the other houses will touch a Slytherin with a ten meter pole nowadays… What if she's far younger than I am? Or worse, older?... I'm pretty much dead. Or close to it, anyway. He dropped his face into his hands and closed his eyes. His breathing had slowed down from his quick, panicked pants to slow, deep breaths that steadied his shaky hands and slowed his racing heart.

Steeling himself for what would be an undoubtedly difficult process, Draco rose to his feet and made his way to his father's study to find out whatever he could about this curse.

***END FLASHBACK***

Draco cocked his head to the side as the memory faded and his mind swirled with anxiety. He'd made several attempts to approach some of the Slytherin girls that returned this year, but so far they had been cordial and distant. Without Crabbe and Goyle with him this year, and with Blaise off charming the ladies in other houses, Draco was quite alone. And it seemed no one was interested in the broody blonde after everything that had happened.

Feeling the sting of loneliness, he stood and snatched his bag from the sofa, shoving his arithmancy book and spare parchment into it as he headed for the door.

Might as well keep up appearances.

.