Disclaimer: Not my characters or my magical world, unfortunately. :'( All that of good ol' JK.

Draco snoozed his alarm with the sleepiness that a very late night will create. He had been out at the pub for what was promised by his friends as "one, harmless beer". It was not. It was more accurately twelve beers, a shot or two and was over many hours that he needed desperately for sleep. The handsome twenty-two year old was all for a night full of mirth and drinking with his mates but it was unfortunate for him that he was on the early shift at the cafe in which he was employed.

Draco's pounding head beat like a bass drum as he rose from his bed and wiped the sleep from his drowsy grey eyes. He thanked his lucky stars and his intelligence of having a pre-made hangover potion ready for times such as this. The young Malfoy may be living in the muggle world now but there was no logical reason to be in agony when a more pleasing option was at his very own potion-making fingertips.

He glanced in the mirror, admiring his ability to scrub up so quickly, and performed a quick drying spell on his hair after his short shower. Draco had thought about moving in with his friend Patrick when there was a room available in his share house but Draco was very happy he hadn't done so. He still loved magic and knew it would've been difficult to go completely without it as he would've had to do in a muggle share house. Also, by having his own apartment the young blonde was only moments away from his place of work and cafe, 'Adriana's'.

As he exited the apartment building he realised his foolishness in not bringing a jacket. He may be living in Australia but that definitely didn't mean that it didn't get cold and miserable sometimes. Yes, muggle Australia and working in a local cafe, could it get more unexpected for this arrogantly handsome wizard? After the war and the death of his parents, Draco wanted more than anything just to run as far as he could from his unhappy past and the constant media who followed him everywhere like love-sick puppies. At the end of the most terrible war ever experienced by the magical world, Draco had switched sides and helped bring Voldemort to his doom but this didn't mean the media, especially the Daily Prophet, ever forgot about him. He was fed up and so he converted some of his large fortune and travelled as far and remote as he could think of (that still conveniently spoke English). That happened to be muggle Sydney. Sure, he had enough money to easily live in a mansion for the rest of his life and never do any work but he actually enjoyed working at a cafe. It was humbling and he felt like he was actually doing something constructive with his time.

Unlocking the shutters of the store with the keys that had been trustfully been given to him by the owner, Draco began to set everything up for the opening in an hour. No one was on for another good half an hour so he turned up the radio to the max and unstacked the chairs. He had found that loud and energising music always seemed to wake him up fully, despite the time being seven in the morning.

His boss and now close friend, Adriana, arrived smack bam on the half hour and helped Draco get things ready. They had turned down the music just enough so they could still chat whilst working away.

"Enjoy your night, Drake?" Adriana smirkingly questioned. She had been at the pub with him and a few other friends but had cleverly left much earlier than him, knowing that she had to get up early the next day. She was only two years older than him and they got along swimmingly. Adriana was very content having guys like Draco working for her; they were good employees and particularly fun to have around.

"If only James had not coerced me with a round of shots then I might have gotten out of there before midnight. After that, I was a goner," Draco laughed as he unwrapped the plastic wrapping off a particularly mouth-wateringly delicious cake.

By about eight-thirty, more employees had arrived and the cafe was in full breakfast rush. Draco, as usually, was charming every female customer as they ordered their drinks and meals. He seemed to be a natural at customer service. This was not expected by Draco but he delightedly found it easy to bloom in a foreign muggle world with no constraints of family propriety or prejudice to live up to.

An elderly couple entered just as everyone seemed to be leaving and the rush was dying down. They were regulars and were well liked by Draco and the other workers. In fact, his boss (and friend) Adriana was particularly close to the couple and had apparently become quite close with their daughter when she had visited her parents last.

"Good morning, Mr and Mrs Wilkins. Let me guess... a skim flat white and a cappuccino?" Draco greeted them with one of his prize-winning smiles as he correctly guess their usual order.

"Draco! How many times do I have to insist to call us by our first names! And yes, you presumed correctly, as usual." Monica replied, already getting out her money to pay.

"Monica, Wendall, It's on me. It'll probably crap coffee today anyway because Sam is on the machine again. My apologies." Draco smirked at Sam, jokingly making fun of his friends' coffee making skills. This teasing manner was often displayed by the two of the competitive gentlemen workers from the cafe so this did not offset the Wilkins at all.

"That is too kind, Draco! You can be sure I'll try and sneak you the money later. Our daughter is coming to meet us here today. I'll be sure to introduce you." Monica was not going to hide that she would thoroughly love her single daughter to go out with the charming blonde in front of her. Mr and Mrs Wilkins went to sit at their usual table as Sam began making their coffee's.

Ten minutes later, in came a young woman who Draco definitely did not expect. Not once did he think that he would be setting eyes on Hermione Granger in the middle of muggle Sydney. Neither did he ever consider that he would be astounded by her much improved and dazzling looks. It hit Draco like a shot to the heart.