Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. Any characters in the story belong to the ever so talented Lady of Writing J.K. Rowling for her I nearly owe my life as her characters helped me get through my darkest of times.

Chapter 1

Hermoine had thought about what she was going to do after Hogwarts most of her childhood and now that the war was over and she finally had a normal year at school where all her thoughts were what class she had next; she could finally focus on what was on her heart. She and Ron had been rocky recently and things didn't look like they would be getting any better. She loved him but it was beginning to feel like the love she had for Harry, and that just wouldn't do. He deserved someone who loved him in spite of his temper, new found drinking habits, and the fact that he couldn't hold a conversation about anything other than Quiddich for more than 10 minutes. He was sweet when he wanted to be, and he really cared about Hermoine but she needed someone who challenged her in many ways and he was not the answer.

"Are you going to turn the page?" a voice asked her and she came back to reality.

"Huh..Oh I was just..." the look on her face was a few things, and she felt a small blush rest on her cheeks. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?" she thought for a moment "In muggle London?"

"The war is over Granger, I am allowed to defy my father's wishes of hating muggle-borns. Now are you going to answer my question or sit there gaping at me like a fish?" she wanted to retort and say something rude but realized he was smirking, laughing a little even. He was right, the war was over and prejudice should be long forgotten. Even though they both knew better, she thought she could at least try.

"I just have a lot on my mind and got distracted. It so happens from time to time Malfoy that I do more in my life than read."

"While I am aware of that Granger, I just saw that you had not turned the page in quiet some time, so I thought I would at least ask if everything was ok. Believe it or not I do more than make fun of you all the time." there it was again, that smirk of arrogance and if she was being honest; his teeth were the purest shade of white and exceptionally straight. Why was she noticing this?

"I am fine Dra—Malfoy, just have a lot on my mind. Since the war ended 4 years ago and we have all finally graduated I am beginning to try and see where I am going with myself…I'm sorry, I am positive you are not wanting to hear my ramblings. Hey! What about you, you never answered me. What are you doing in Muggle London?" she noticed the lightest shade of pink brush over his pale cheeks.

He nervously ran his right hand through his hair wondering if he should say anything. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. The Muggle world was where she came to escape from the cameras and doting fans. He decided he would tell her the truth, he was done lying to Hermoine Granger and she needed to know he was not the same git from school "Actually, I am living here now. My flat is down the road from this park and I come here almost every morning to just breathe in the air. Living in Wizarding London was how do I put it lightly? Complete hell. Finding a job is almost impossible when you are not only a former Death Eater, but famed sworn enemy or The Boy Who Lived Twice."

Hermoine lifted her head and the light from the sun shined at just the right angle that the honey brown color in her eyes took him by surprise. He had never noticed the color of her eyes before why was he now? She was staring at him clearly in shock of the words that just left his mouth.

In her shock she realized her mouth was slightly turning up into a smile and she couldn't help but smile. He was living in Muggle London and was ok with that. He was not repulsed by everything here, and he was walking around in dark washed blue jeans and a black V-Neck T-Shirt. And then the realization hit her like a ton of bricks and the reality was her best friend's sworn enemy was living around the corner from her; because she only lived down the road also. Her eyes went wide and she looked at him and saw he was staring at her. Probably attempting to see what was going through her mind.

"So..Muggle London is where you came to find refuge? Mmm who would have thought that Draco Bloody Malfoy would be here in London on a park bench drinking muggle coffee and wearing muggle clothes…" she was interrupted "and speaking to a muggle born witch who has had a mutual hate for me since we were children?"

"Well yes. This is a lot of new information to take in Malfoy." She couldn't help but feel like this meeting was anything but coincidence. Draco Malfoy – Pure-Blood – Muggle-Born Hater – Slytherin to Boot was sitting in a muggle park in muggle London talking to her! Why?! She saw his smirk again and this time he was smiling just slightly more than last time; showing off those perfect teeth once more.

"Well, shall we not dwell on the past? I mean come on Granger, as much as we hated one another in school we are adults now. The war is over Blood Prejudice doesn't exist in the Muggle World as much. The Malfoy name has zero leverage here and I earn my money day in and day out. Can we try to be adults? And maybe start fresh like we have just met once more, and not with me calling you names and you being how did my Godfather used to say; an insufferable know-it-all. I would like to get to know Hermoine Granger without Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. I mean you did speak on behalf of my mother and I at our trials and I never got to properly thank you for your undeserved kindness."

Hermoine once again sat there in complete shock at the words that Draco Malfoy had just said. What the hell was happening? Why was he being so not him? Had she really completely misjudged him entirely? Was everything that happened at school some way of trying to make his sad excuse of a Father be more accepting of him? Godric he caught her completely by surprise.

"We could always start with a simple stroll through the park and see where that takes us. We can talk and see what we can learn, have you ever played the 'game' 20 Questions?"

He furrowed his brow slightly. "No I can't say that I have but it sounds pretty self-explanatory. My guess you each get to ask one another 20 different questions?"

She nodded with a smile that almost stretched across her face.

"So who goes first?" she asked "Ladies first" he replied while also stretching his hand out as if to say shall we.

"What happened after you left Hogwarts? Not many people saw you after that."

"Just dive into the heavy stuff Granger, I of course laid out my sentence at home on house arrest for a year and unable to do any magic for at least 6 months. Shortly after my Father was telling me how much he wanted me to marry one of the pure-blood girls I went to school with. I suppose old habits die hard for him. So I informed him that I would like to take my inheritance and travel before trying for work. He of course gave it to me hesitantly but after my mother spoke to him he obliged with little complaint. I only traveled for about 3 months before I decided to come home and with that I informed my Father I would be taking my inheritance and moving. I tried finding work there but it did not go so well. Potter tried to help me quietly but The Weasel made it very hard to be discreet. So that ended quickly. The most I could get was a bar tender at the 3 Broomsticks and even then Rosmertta was losing business so I left. She didn't deserve her reputation to be screwed because of a former Death Eater working there. So I came here, and while the move took several adjustments, coming here on Saturday mornings seeing a certain brunette with honey eyes made it a little easier. And now I work at a bank downtown and make decent money to add to my name here in London where people do not run the opposite direction when they hear the name Malfoy coming down the hall. Anyway my turn!" he smiled again. She began to like that smile a lot. "What does Hermoine Granger do after she reads her book on Saturdays?"

She let out a small girlish giggle "You noticed I have a new book every week?" he shook his finger and smirked "No, no, no this is my question, no turning it back around." She laughed a little louder this time. For the first time in years she was at peace and wasn't thinking about what could have happened. She and Draco could talk without people sneering at them. It was great she thought to herself.

"What do I do after I finish reading on Saturdays? Would you like to join me for my afternoon routine? As it is Saturday and you know the banks are closed. I am not sure explaining it would quiet cover it all.

"Are we still going to play this 'game'?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm behind his voice.

"Of course, there are many things I still want answers to." She smiled and Draco couldn't help but stare at her lips. They had the lightest shade of rose on them, plump a little bit because when she gets nervous or the book gets too good she bites the lower half of her gorgeous smile.

"So technically it is my turn..." she smirked and continued her question "Do we still have to call one another by our last names? I mean it really is childish..." she had a hopeful glint in her sparkling eyes.

"If you would let me call you by your given name I would be ever so honored, Hermoine"

He couldn't help but notice the slight blush that grazed her cheeks.

Which in turn made him smile and run his hands through his hair once more; his shirt lifting just high enough that she could see the small blonde trail that led from his stomach into his trousers? She flushed as she realized she was staring and quickly turned her gaze back to his eyes.

They walked in silence for a moment and breathed in the cool autumn air.

The silence was broken when Draco spoke. "Hermoine, how did you manage when you learned you were a witch?" she stared at him a little shocked by his question. Not even Harry knew how she had handled the news. Sure she knew she was always different in school, nobody else could make things disappear when they were angry or make things fly out of pure joy. More so nobody else's hair crackled like fire when they got so angry they couldn't contain it; at least not in the muggle world.

"Well I suppose I thought it was a joke, and that it was the equivalent of people saying their siblings were dropped off by UPS or FedEx. And I was upset at first until my parents explained to me that it was in fact something very real and the Headmistress had come and seen them to explain it all. I immediately wanted every single book there was to learn about it all. And when we went and got supplies for school I got most of the books I needed including some advanced spells books that ended up helping us all later on. So I didn't handle it well at first and then of course I turned to the one thing that never let me down in my time of need." "Why do you ask?"

"Well as you know already I am still getting used to living here, all of these things are new to me. I have only lived in the muggle world for about 2 years and still struggle every day to remind myself that they do not know what half of my sayings are. And I have had struggles being alone and feeling completely out of place in this world. I guess you could say that I am a muggle-born in a completely pure-blooded society and it's extremely vexing at times." He smiled and laughed in his throat a little bit at his confession. She couldn't help but relate to his current situation and had a thought.

"What if I showed you how to be a muggle?"

End Chapter 1

I hope this meets what is required; I haven't ever done this before so I am still learning. My apologies if it is not sufficient. Reviews and critiques are encouraged. Please I need the truth now matter how harsh it is. Please note this is my first try at this.