Author's Note: If you haven't already, I would suggest first reading An Unlikely Pairing seeing as this is its sequel. It's short and takes place during HBP. Now, here we are a few years post-Hogwarts…
Headmistress McGonagall,
I am pleased to report that three newly freed house elves have been approved to work at Hogwarts. Gerda, Keely and Wanda will report one week before second term begins for the wages we previously discussed. I hope all is well.
Hermione Granger
Head of the Being Division,
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Hermione smiled as she rolled her parchment. Finally allowing free house elves to obtain work permits was a major accomplishment for her. It took nearly two years of paper work and convincing, but she succeeded. Such a huge step also awarded her a promotion to the head of the being division. It was only a matter of time before she would be promoted again and relocated to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where she could really make progress for the rights of house elves. She checked her watch; she had just enough time to run her letter to the owlery before Ron and Harry came to fetch her. Today, Hermione turned twenty-three, and the whole gang decided a get together tonight was necessary.
Since graduating Hogwarts, which happened a year later than it should have thanks to the war, Hermione's life seemed perfect. All three friends joined the Ministry—Harry and Ron becoming Aurors—and all three vowed to make it a better place. It might take years, they agreed, but reforming Great Britain's governing body was a must, and they were heading in the right direction with Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister. She felt she had a purpose. One aside from defeating Voldemort. She gained quite a bit of notoriety once it all ended. People she never met thanked her in the streets, and reporters swarmed her for the inside scoop of what happened that last year. The attention died down, but Hermione always flinched when she saw that spark of recognition when she first introduced herself. It was over, and she'd rather talk about expanding SPEW than destroying horcuxes.
She navigated her way to the owlery with ease. She began working for the department right after she finished Hogwarts, nearly as long as she and Ron had been dating. They celebrated four years together in May. It took seven years to figure out they loved each other, but she was thankful they did. Hermione smiled at the thought of their first kiss. He betrayed her by abandoning them that year, but Ron came back a better and stronger man. The two tried to put their feelings aside, there were more pressing issues, but in the end, it couldn't be helped.
Hermione fastened the letter to an owl, whispered instructions and led it to the window. She turned to exit but gasped at a looming dark figure in the doorway.
"So sorry," she began with a weak laugh, "You startled—"
"Hermione?"
The figure stepped forward into the light of the room, and Hermione felt her stomach drop. Her first reaction was to escape, to run, to get the hell out of the tower. Her hand darted to the wand concealed in her pocket, but she stilled herself before drawing.
"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" she managed to croak.
Draco Malfoy, now twenty-two, raised a piece of parchment in his hand as explanation. He smiled, not the smirk she remembered, but a genuine smile. Hermione certainly found him attractive during their schools years, and now, he seemed to grow up well. His hair was shorter and styled, his suit casual and not completely black. He continued forward, fastening his letter onto an owl while Hermione stood in a stunned silence.
"I needed a permit. Importing a few things internationally," he said while moving the owl to the window. Hermione scooted closer to the door. "My father bought Borgin and Burkes. I suppose you don't get down to Knockturn Alley often."
"Or ever," she said sharply, her grip tightening on the base of her wand. "My kind is still not welcomed among certain circles."
Malfoy did not respond. He leaned against a wall, hands in pockets, and observed Hermione with a bemused grin. Self-consciously she smoothed her dark locks. Her hair was no longer bushy, but even after years of taming it she couldn't help but remember her awkward Hogwarts days. Certain school year memories never did completely leave. She found herself fighting a blush at the recollection of their sixth year. Her eyes locked with Draco's. Obviously he was recalling the same occurrence, but instead of the embarrassment she felt, he exuded smugness.
A few months after their two times together, the whole world seemed to explode. Harry, who she deemed paranoid, had been completely and utterly correct. Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater. He played a part in Dumbledore's death, and he allowed a horde of Voldemort's followers into Hogwarts. Yes, he had been in over his head, and yes, he was manipulated… But to Hermione's grief and rage that did not matter. His goal was to please the Dark Lord, and she completely missed it. Even when he stood in front of her naked, she did not see his dark mark.
"You know, we barely even kissed," Malfoy said, pushing off the wall.
"Oh, please," Hermione scoffed. The memories tugged at her temper, but his casual attitude fueled her anger. "Draco, we were sixteen. I may have been too shy to recognize it then but not anymore. It meant nothing. It was exciting because we hated each other. It happened twice. We weren't our firsts, and we obviously weren't each other's lasts."
Draco laughed. "So, you told Weasley?"
She paled. A frown contorted her face. Could he show some human decency and at least pretend to forget their encounter? She did. Which is why mentioning it to Ron seemed unnecessary. He wouldn't speak to her for a week after she confessed she lost her virginity to Viktor Krum. Adding Draco Malfoy into the equation would not have been wise. Though she loved Ron, their relationship certainly lacked solid communication. She felt required to tiptoe around issues that would upset him because his temper was so easily ignited. Malfoy definitely fell into that category. Plus, it seemed so long ago… and she never thought she'd see him again.
Laughter erupted in the stairwell; Ron and Harry entered the room in the midst of a joke, their faces stretched in smiles. Both stopped at Hermione's uncomfortable look.
She opened her mouth to explain when she was interrupted: "She wasn't happy to see me. Do I get a warmer welcome from you two?" Draco said, the familiar sixteen-year-old cockiness back in his voice. He stepped closer to them, his arms opened as if expecting an embrace.
"Malfoy," spat Ron. His dislike bubbled over immediately. The blond-haired boy stirred up many unpleasant feelings. "How did you manage to stay out of Azkaban?"
He smiled, but Hermione could see his body grow tense. She didn't know if he regretted his actions, but she was sure he didn't like to be reminded of them. "Well, if you remember, I switched sides…"
"At the end," Ron said.
"After you tried to kill Harry one last time," Hermione added. Silence followed. Years of competition, rude comments, and fighting built up to this confrontation.
"No," Harry said after a long pause, diffusing the tension with a wave of his hand. "Malfoy—Draco, I understand." He shook his head at the other two's shocked expressions. Harry Potter did understand. He spent his entire time at Hogwarts greatly disliking the Slytherin. Throughout their sixth year, he was obsessed with proving he was a Death Eater, but when he was correct, there was no satisfaction.
With his father imprisoned, Malfoy was in a desperate situation, and he turned to a powerful wizard his family followed. He needed to impress and the whole process nearly destroyed him. He knew Draco could not have killed Dumbledore. Plus, Harry would never forget the moment at the manor when he did not identify him as Harry Potter. It could have ended there. These weren't excuses, but he did understand.
Once he became an official Auror, he couldn't resist checking up on the Malfoys. They were still wealthy, but their name meant nothing now. Especially not among the darker circles. Lucius purchased Borgin and Burkes after Mr. Borgin died, and Draco worked there since the beginning. They made a modest profit, and the entire operation was run legally. Harry made certain of that.
"A bunch of us are meeting at the Leaky Cauldron for Hermione's birthday tonight. You should stop by for a while. Clear the air. It might be worth it," Harry said.
Draco looked as confused and surprised as Hermione and Ron. He was obviously stunned. None of them expected Harry's understanding or his unauthorized invitation. Malfoy was at a loss for words. He nodded slightly, quietly excused himself and bolted out of the owlery.
"Harry?" Hermione said quietly. "Why?"
"Everyone deserves a second shot, Hermione."