Author's note: This could quite possibly be the longest I have postponed doing ANYTHING. To those of you waiting three years for an update: I am deeply sorry for abandoning ship, but I kinda have no life right now so I'm kind of interested in just winging this story and seeing where it goes. Since the release of Cursed Child I feel it necessary to point out that this story is now AU and does NOT follow canon.

Hermione's POV:

Saturday morning approached much sooner than Hermione anticipated. Draco. Bloody. Malfoy. She was really meeting up with Draco Malfoy, the same boy she punched square in the face in her third year of Hogwarts. This memory was perhaps one of her fondest, she will never forget his cowardly behaviour whenever he ran off, pleading his cronies not to tell anyone that a Mudblood like herself DARED to overpower him. Malfoy would do well to remember exactly what she's capable of if he dare thinks that this whole Three Broomsticks reunion ploy will trick her. Oh no. She would be ready for whatever he would hurdle at her. She's Hermione Granger!

"Hermione, why are you staring out the window like that.. It's a bit early on in the day for firewhiskey is it not.. and I'm not sure that's good for the bab-"

"George, I have not been drinking any firewhiskey! What kind of accusation is that.. and why are you awake so early? You're always the last to get up..next to Rona-" She stopped herself, she did not wish to discuss Ronald right now, particularly not with George.

"Yeah.. about that.. I'm really sorry about what I said last night, 'Mione. I mean.. I'm sure someone will love you again. I mean MILFs are a huge thing in the muggle world right now.. It stands for-"

"I'm perfectly aware, George! You forget I'm muggle born. I went to a muggle primary school. You don't need to educate me on the world of muggle fetishes. However, I accept your apology, on the condition that you promise never to refer to me as a "MILF" again."

George smiled, he did not need to say anything else. She noticed how he dodged her question about him being awake so early entirely, although she decided not to dwell on it. He's probably going to test out some new concoctions for his joke shop, or something of the like. She glanced over her shoulder to ensure that George was safely out of view before quickly escaping out the back door. She felt like a child at Hogwarts again, sneaking around like this, but it was the only way to avoid having to awkwardly explain that she was headed to a bar to meet up with Malfoy. Merlin, that will never not sound entirely insane.

Draco's POV:

Draco sat perched on the edge of his stool, twiddling his thumbs relentlessly. Why exactly did he make these arrangements, again? Was he truly turning soft like Blaise said? He was disgusting. He sat debating whether standing Granger up would make him even more disgusting and as he did, his chair wobbled backwards and forwards every time he breathed. You would think that having magic at everyone's complete disposal would mean that the barstools would at least have even legs.. But apparently there are some things even magic cannot fix. The door of the Three Broomsticks swung open, and he jumped ever so slightly. In walked a rather questionable looking witch.. Wizard? He couldn't quite tell. Slightly hairy for a lady but rather .. breasty .. for a gentleman. He decided it was not his place to judge and took another sip of butterbeer. Draco couldn't understand why he was so jittery, every time the door opened he reacted as though it would be the Dark Lord himself. It was only bloody Granger. The same Granger that punched him in the face in third year.. That hurt for a long time afterwards, rather good hit that was. The door swung open once more, allowing a breeze of air and a cluster of leaves to blow freely through the pub. Once again, he jumped and looked upwards. Standing in the doorway, picking leaves out of her hair, was Granger.

Hermione's POV:

Was this Malfoy's grand plot? To attack her with some sort of leaf monster? If so it was an admirable attempt, well actually, it was rather excellent because she was pretty convinced that she would still be picking leaves out of her thick mane this time next week. After she managed to pick enough foliage out of her hair to look somewhat presentable, she scanned the room with her eyes to look for the reason she had came. And there he was, in the middle of this desolate pub, with his blonde hair the only source of colour in this drab place, Malfoy. He was looking at her.. And rather oddly, as well. Oh Merlin, did she have another leaf in her hair that she missed? She quickly ruffled her hair with her fingers, attempting to look merely casual and not at all paranoid. She found none. Thankful, she approached the table Malfoy was sitting at, with only a half empty pint of Butterbeer to accompany him. She had planned in her head all of the witty comebacks and counterspells she would greet him with.. But he was looking at her strangely and she felt slightly uncomfortable. She had to break this silence, it was getting really weird.

"Malfoy"

"Granger"

She sighed. They had just made the situation considerably more awkward by accidentally speaking at the same time. Maybe that was his intentions, to make Hermione feel increasingly uncomfortable so she had to replay the encounter in her head for the rest of her life. That evil little cockroach. That method would not work on her, not today! She made her way to the bar stool positioned opposite of him, it began to wobble and shake the minute she laid her hand on it. Typical. She waved her wand in one quick motion and the legs of her barstool instantly evened out. It would surprise most people how often that spell made itself useful in everyday circumstances.

"You look..well." Malfoy said as she was sitting down. This surprised Hermione, it was unlike him to give a compliment. Especially to her, something was very strange about this situation.

"Since when have you ever complimented me?"

"Sorry..I..it was an icebreaker. At least it worked, someone's talking now, right?"

This was slightly relieving. Not only was Malfoy not trying to mentally scar her for life with an incredibly awkward social encounter, but he also did not genuinely attempt to compliment her and was simply trying to start a conversation. These were encouraging signs. She still didn't trust him, though.

Draco's POV:

Draco had no idea what he was supposed to say. He had it all planned out in his head, he was going to apologise sincerely and personally to Hermione for all of his childhood taunts and blood prejudices and he would extend an olive branch to her in the form of financial support for her and her child. Although somehow, now that she was right there in front of her, he realised that was a pathetic excuse and sounded extraordinarily suspicious. In all honesty, Draco could use the company of another pathetically lonely soul. He's always felt that they were somewhat alike. They were both ambitious, intelligent, charming..the whole package. They would make wonderful friends. They both so happened to be in situations where they are feeling particularly isolated. Granger had been abandoned by her fiance, and Draco had recently lost his father, was stuck in a loveless relationship that was so controlling that he currently had no friends. It was apparent that neither Granger nor he would want to make their friendship public, so it could be nice to have a secret friendship. However, he had no idea how to put this idea across without sounding like an absolute arse.

"I believe congratulations are due." Hermione said, grinning ever so slightly.

Draco raised his eyebrow, was she honestly about to congratulate him on his engagement? It wasn't exactly a new thing..he had been engaged for a year now. He wasn't quite sure how much longer he could postpone this, but he would truly try for as long as he possibly could.

"Inky isn't it?" she finished. Draco realised that she was joking about the rather humiliating house elf incident. Filled with relief that Granger was at least attempting conversation with him, he roared with laughter. She was the first person to actually mention the whole disaster to him, everyone else had been too worried about hurting his feelings as though he actually wanted a child in any way. Not that he didn't, he thought that having a child would be wonderful.. but a child that was half Pansy Parkinson did not feel like a wonderful prospect. Draco could read the expression on Hermione Granger's face, she was confused. She didn't know why she was here and wasn't quite sure how she should be reacting to this situation. As he initiated this stupid situation, he felt it only fair to give her some kind of an explanation.

"Right.. You're probably sitting there wondering why on earth I wanted to meet with you today." Hermione responded with a slight nod, looking considerably relieved to have been saved from the uncomfortable smalltalk. "So, I heard about that bloody weasel and how he left you. It's not right.. at all. I know that the only people you have right now are in some way related to him, and I understand that's probably pretty hard because you can't ever really escape him, can you?"

"Get to the point, Malfoy." Granger snapped, she was looking irritable, he understood, this was obviously a sensitive subject right now.

"I want to be friends, Granger. That's my point. I know, I've been an absolute arse to you in the past, but right now we need each other. I have no one, you have no one. The people we have can't possibly understand anything we're feeling right now. I can help you with anything you ne-"

"Is this some kind of a sick trap?" Granger quizzed.

"What? No, Granger.. Can you honestly say that you can look at, I don't know, Harry.. Or Ginny or Molly Weasley and not be constantly reminded of Ron?"

Granger's face changed from a picture of anger, to confusion, to sadness. She eventually shook her head in response.

"Well, then it makes logical sense doesn't it. I get that you don't trust me, but give me a chance, Granger. I promise, I'll make a somewhat decent friend. You'll see."

Hermione paused for a moment in contemplation, before tucking a strand of hair behind her left ear and extending her hand across the table to Draco.

"I guess that makes us friends then."

He took her hand and shook it. In ordinary circumstances, the gesture would seem more suited for a business transaction than the initiation of a new friendship, but for this new Granger-Malfoy alliance, it was the most appropriate one there was.