Hermione Granger smiled at the sight of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. It had been over three years since she had even stepped foot into Diagon Alley.

She had been away on special Ministry business in Egypt to offer assistance in breaking rune-like scripts alongside the Ministry's own archaeologists. Hermione inhaled deeply and her grin widened at the shade of the evening sky. Egypt's sun had a habit of being scorching hot.

The lights were all on in the upper level at the Weasleys' joke shop. This meant that Ron and George were still awake. She walked the remaining steps to the shop's door and pulled it open.

"Hello!" she called out happily.

"Bloody hell! We told you we were closed, kid!"

"Watch your tone, Ronald!" Hermione chuckled. She walked to the stairwell of the shop careful not to bump into the newest creation of Snizzlers; a toy triggered by touch that caused the buyer to sneeze. With each sneeze, nose hair grew longer.

"Ginny?" Ronald Weasley questioned. Hermione could hear the floorboards creaking above her as the youngest Weasley boy walked across the room above.

"No, you dolt," she retorted. She began to climb the stairs. "Hermione!" Ron exclaimed running down the stairs. He practically crushed Hermione with a hug.

"What an idiot, you are. How are you?"

"I'm great. We were a bit worried about you as you haven't written us for a month," Ron spoke as he released her.

"Sorry, we were wrapping up our research, there in Egypt. We've learned lots about those ancient wizards. How is George doing?"

Ron grinned widely and rolled his eyes. "Right now, he's sleeping. We have had quite the busy day, here. Kids are stocking up on April Fool's trickery. Plus, it's his birthday then and well…it's only been five years since Fred…" Ron trailed off and his eyes teared up a bit before he blinked away the memory.

His grin reappeared on his face as if it never left.

"I understand. Well, I just wanted to drop by to let you know that I was back in London, in person. I dropped by to see your sister earlier but Harry wasn't yet home from training, apparently. Your nephew seems to be doing very well!"

"Haha. Yes, James is quite the wonder, that spacey boy. Yeah, according to Gin, Harry's been spending more time at work lately since his new partner abruptly quit on him," said Ron with a grimace.

"It makes no sense for someone to abruptly quit such a partnership. I mean…he is Harry Potter, after all," Hermione tsked. She and her ginger-haired best friend said their goodnights and Hermione apparated to her newly acquired flat.

An hour later found Hermione relaxing on her most comfortable couch in the sitting room of her flat. Crookshanks was curled up next to his owner and sleeping soundly as she re-read her most favorite book, Hogwarts, A History.

Tomorrow she would visit Flourish and Blotts.

xxxxx

Draco Malfoy pushed his reading glasses up on his nose. He didn't particularly hate studying but it became tedious after three straight hours. He was sitting in Flourish and Blotts and desired to leave the small study cubicle in the back of the store but he knew that he couldn't.

If he didn't study then he would never pass the exams required to become head of the Potions Deciphering department of the ministry. He didn't have a job, as he wanted to spend every moment he could, studying. With his family fortune, he didn't need to work.

The blond-haired man reached his arms above his head and stretched them before folding them across the table. He rested his head on his folded arms. Thirty minutes of sleep wouldn't be such an issue. Yet instead of sleep, he found himself wondering about his parents.

Lucius Malfoy had died shortly after the Second Wizarding War, from a run in with a death eater who had evaded the aurors that were after him. The senior Malfoy was killed because he actually cared for his family in the long run.

Narcissa, following her husband's death, moved to the countryside to live in peace away from the wizarding community's speculating eyes.

Draco wasn't so lucky. On some days, sad ones, he wished for death. He never denied allegations of attempting to murder Albus Dumbledore during his sixth year. No one ever questioned why the attempts were halfhearted. He didn't desire to kill anyone, yet he was viewed a killer.

He wished to die because up until his sixth year he followed his father's command with no question. In his opinion, he didn't deserve to live knowing that at one point he supported his father's pureblood views and ultimately, Voldemort's. He was foolish.

On days like these, good days, he dreamed of working with potions, partly due to his fascination with the subject. He'd always questioned how the mixture of a few simple plants and animal parts could make a deadly potion. And also, due to his late god-father's success with the subject.

Romance was not an issue. He just did not desire to pursue relationships from the many pureblooded young witches that offered him one. Their views were too superficial and fickle. Perhaps if he did wish to go about a relationship, it would be for love.

Draco Malfoy chuckled to himself at the thought and pushed his glasses to the top of his head and leaned back in his chair. Love? How silly. Silly enough to ensure the destruction of Lord Voldemort by Harry Potter, it seems.

The young man let out a sigh as he teetered his chair back and forth, lost to his thoughts.

xxxxx

"I'm glad you agreed to come out with me, Luna," Hermione smiled.

Luna Lovegood grinned back cheekily. "No problem at all," she spoke in her dreamy voice, "I find myself bored when Neville apparates to Hogwarts in the mornings." Luna referred to Neville Longbottom's job as Hogwart's own Herbology professor.

"Fabulous. Did you have anywhere that you needed to go?"

"I don't believe so. I wouldn't mind stopping by the bookshop to see if they've got the new edition of Nargle See and Nargle Don't, but I expect that we'll be stopping by there anyway."

Luna's silvery grey eyes looked toward Flourish and Blott's while she twirled a strand of her wispy dirty-blonde hair with her fingers. Hermione shook her head and locked arms with the loopy girl. The two marched toward the bookstore.

Luna headed over to the magical creatures section as soon as they stepped foot into the building while Hermione debated venturing into the historical section or the potions section.

She opted on potions. Though she was considered the most gifted witch of her age, potion making had never been her favorite subject. Her friends figured that it was because of Severus Snape ignoring her indignant hand in the air every time that he asked a question.

Reading more on the subject was sure to give her an interest in it. Elixirs To Charm The Mind, seemed like a good read. With a flick of her wand, the book came down from its high shelf to rest in Hermione's arms. As soon as she opened the book to its first page, she was completely enamored.

She was, in fact, so enamored that she continued to walk deeper into the store towards the study cubicles where one, Draco Malfoy, was teetering in his chair. Hermione walked along the cubicles, her nose still buried in the book she read. She did not see the leaning chair of Draco, nor did he see her.

Both aloof due to their distractive thoughts had no reason to prepare for the accident that would occur.

Hermione's right foot caught the back leg of Draco's chair causing her to fall down onto the hard floor of Flourish and Blotts. In turn, Draco's chair spun round once before toppling over, with him in it.

Both looked up to see a wand in each of their faces.

"I see that the war has taught you to always be prepared for the unexpected, Granger."

"I should say the same…Malfoy," Hermione retorted, tucking her wand back into her cloak, while blowing her frizzy curls out of her face.