The late afternoon sun streamed in through the stained glass windows of Hermione Granger's office window. Her spacious yet cozy office overlooked the western grounds of Hogwarts, giving a spectacular view of the lake. The fireplace was in full blaze to counteract the bitter chill in the castle that always took over in December. An owl flew by the window, a letter clasped in its talons, hooting softly as it headed towards the owlery. The amber beams of sunlight slowly disappeared as dark, ominous clouds rolled into the sky. Snow was expected to start falling before nightfall.
Hermione sat at her desk grading, bundled in a heavy wool sweater with an even heavier wool blanket draped across her lap. The term had just ended and the only thing lying between her and returning to her flat in west London for the Christmas holiday were these essays on Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration written by the first year students. She glanced down at her watch, given to her by Headmistress McGonagall when she was first hired. It was 4:30pm. She had hoped to finish all of the papers by that evening but she had to get ready for the end of term staff party later that night. She had completely neglected her appearance all that day and was desperately looking forward to a shot of firewhiskey. Or two. Her London flat could wait another day.
Finishing her last comment on an essay, Hermione rolled the parchment back up and placed her quill to the side. Leaning back in her chair and pulling up her blanket so that it covered her torso as well as her legs, she glanced out the window onto and the darkening grounds and thought about how she never thought she would be grading essays and looking forward to mingling with other professors at the Three Broomsticks. Three and a half years ago, Hermione had helped rebuild the castle following the Battle of Hogwarts along with many of her friends and peers. McGonagall had physically corner Hermione as Hermione was carrying an arm full of linens down a hallway of the castle. As she had become Headmistress, McGonagall explained, they were in need of a Transfiguration professor and McGonagall could think of no better candidate for the position than Hermione. Hermione was initially shocked, remembering almost dropping the linens and just staring dumbly at McGonagall trying to find her words before stammering "I have to think about it." After giving it much thought and discussing it with her friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, she decided to accept the offer under the condition it was would only be a year long position. However, after the first year, McGonagall again approached Hermione to stay another year and Hermione shocked herself by immediately saying yes, realizing that she had truly come to love the job.
Hermione smiled to herself. She did love her job. She loved sharing her knowledge of magic to the new generation of wizards and witches as the embarked into the newly formed wizarding world following the war. The atmosphere and culture of Hogwarts had changed so much as well, as result of the war. No one lived in fear anymore and no one exercised prejudice. Instead the school firmly taught the equality of all beings, whether they are muggle born, muggles, or magical creatures. It filled Hermione's heart with joy that the cause she had fought for all of her life at Hogwarts had finally become reality.
Her thoughts were interrupted by two sharp knocks on her door. Wrenched out of her trip down memory lane, Hermione quickly thought who could be visiting her. Certainly not a student, as they were all celebrating the end of term. She decided it must be Luna Lovegood, come to see what she was wearing that night. Hermione stood up, letting the blanket fall to the floor, adjusting her sweater and running her hands through her curly hair as she strode towards the door. She opened the heavy oak door expecting to see the flowing blonde hair and exuberant smile of her friend Luna. However she was greeted by a different fair haired individual.
Draco Malfoy stood before her, wearing all black robes with hands clasped behind his back and a slight smirk upon his face. It was not strange to see Draco around the castle, he had been hired as the new History of Magic professor at the start of that term. They often passed each other in the halls, engaging in small talk, and often had actual conversations at meals or staff meetings. It quickly became apparent to Hermione that he was no longer the selfish and malicious Draco she knew in school. The years after the war had dramatically changed him. To many people's surprise, Draco publicly renounced his Deatheater family, assisted with the rebuilding of Hogwarts, and then spent three years in America attending a muggle university. After receiving a doctorate in Medieval History, he returned to England and continued to shock everyone by how much he had changed as a person. Not even a day after he had arrived back in London, he was visited by McGonagall who persuaded him to be the new History of Magic professor after hearing endless praise for his contributing to the magic community in America. Indeed he had lived up to his new reputation, becoming a model professor and colleague. He had become a philanthropist as well, publically donating a great deal of his inheritance to St. Mungos Hospital after both of his parents passed away shortly following the war. Hermione had come to genuinely enjoy his company, seeing many similarities between the two of them such as a dedication to education, and even counted him as one of her friends among her colleagues. However he had never come to her chambers, so this visit greatly surprised her.
"Good evening Hermione."
"Hi Draco."
Draco's smile broadened, sensing Hermione's apprehension and confusion. He unclasped his hands and ran a hand through his hair, which was no longer a solid, gelled mass as it was at school, but more loosely styled and a much more flattering cut. Hermione remained frozen in the doorway, giving Draco a quizzical look.
"I bet you're wondering why I've called on you at such a late hour."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Umm...yes."
Draco chuckled. "May I come in?"
Hermione nodded and quickly stammered something like "yes, of course, please, come in," opening the door wider and leading Draco to a set of chair by her fireplace. She realized that she probably appeared nervous, which she wasn't, just utterly confused about what was going on. She look a second to compose herself before sitting down in her favorite chair, gesturing Draco to take the other. He sat down and then looked up, dramatically locking eyes with Hermione. Hermione had of course made eye contact with Draco many times before, but there was something different about his gaze this time. Some shit was about to happen.
After a moment Draco smiled, diffusing the intensity of the moment, and dropped his gaze, chuckling again at himself.
"I know it's quite strange, me showing up like this." Draco looked around her office. "I realized that I have never been in your chambers before. And that you've never been in mine."
Hermione nodded, agreeing. She honestly didn't know where Draco's chambers were in the castle and felt a strange twinge of embarrassment.
Draco's eyes drifted back to Hermione, locking with hers once again. "I have something I would like to ask you that I wanted to ask before we all dispersed to our homes outside of Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded again, starting to feel like a parrot just robotically responding to their owner's words. Her heart started to beat a little faster. What the hell was he getting on about?
"I know that you will be returning to London, as will I."
Hermione nodded one more time.
"Well, when we have both returned to the city, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me."
Hermione didn't nod this time, but instead just stared blankly, eyes wide, frozen, processing what Draco had just said. A couple seconds passed before Hermione realized that she was staring and should probably say something in response. Comfortingly, Draco looked completely unfazed by her reaction. Perhaps he was expecting her to be as dumbfounded as she was in that moment. Hermione looked down, shifted in her seat, and cleared her throat.
Looking back up she said, "Like...a date?" She felt like she was 14 years old again and Viktor Krum was asking her to the Yule Ball all over again.
Draco smiled, eyes still locked onto hers. "Yes, like a date."
Hermione gave an extremely nervous laugh. "You've got to be joking." She said, slumping back into her chair.
Draco countered her action by leaning forward and sitting on the edge of his seat, clasping his hands and looking earnestly at her. "I am not joking at all, Hermione Granger. I would like to take you out for dinner and for us to enjoy an evening together."
Hermione sat back up, meeting Draco with a serious expression on her face. "I'm confused."
"I'm aware you are." Draco replied flattly.
Hermione narrowed her eyes and couldn't help muttering "what the fuck" under the breath.
Draco ran another hand through his hair. "Let me explain, it's quite simple. I enjoy your company, you are the most intelligent and talented young witch I have ever encountered in my life, I think you are beautiful and interesting, and I want to get to know you better by spending time with you."
Hermione felt a strange warming sensation spread through her body and gave another nervous laugh. "Where is this coming from, Draco."
Draco shrugged. "I guess over the past three and a half years I've realized all of the things and people that I missed out on by being a snobby, self righteous prick. I thought about you often when I was in America but thought I had ruined any chance of having you part of my life because of our school years. But then I came here and I believe I have proven myself to you and everyone else that I am a very different Draco Malfoy than the one who used to call you 'mudblood.' That gave me hope that I hadn't burned every bridge from my past. And also as part of this, I realize that you never received an actual apology from me for treating you so horribly for seven years. I think our friendship has shown that you forgive me to at least a small degree, but I would still like to formally apologize. I know I don't deserve your full forgiveness, but I hope you do continue to forgive me and let me be part of your life." Draco sat back in his chair again, indicating that he was finished with what he had to say to Hermoine.
Hermione had to quickly process all of this. She appreciated his apology and was definitely going to accept it, Draco had certainly atoned for all of his sins over the past three years, proving to her and the rest of the wizarding world that he was nothing like the son of Deatheater Lucius Malfoy he used to be. She had come to forgive and forget all of the hurt that was caused before and during the war, it was the only way she could move on during these postwar years. The only thing that mattered to her now was how people acted in the present. But what was all of this about him thinking she as beautiful and used to think about her often and wanting to spend time with her? She guessed it really couldn't hurt to accept going on a date... After all she did enjoy spending time with him too. Plus he actually had become quite handsome and she often tried to ignore overhearing older female students whispering rather dirty things about him...a complication of being a young professor. But that was another matter. It took Hermione a solid minute before she felt prepared to respond.
"Draco...I would love to join you for dinner."
Draco positively beamed in response. "Fabulous. Well I will let you know when I am back in town and call you on your mobile I guess?" The wizarding world had begun using Muggle technologies such as mobiles and cars shortly after the war, realizing that Muggles were actually onto something with all of their gadgets and inventions.
Hermione nodded. "That sounds great Draco."
"Great. But I will also be seeing you tonight at the party, no?" He stood up and brushed off his black robes.
"Oh, yes, of course, I deserve some fire whiskey after reading three dozen essays in one sitting." She stood up as well.
Draco laughed. "I know what you mean, I had to endure an entire essay which referred to the Salem Witch Trials as occurring in Salem, Oregon instead of Salem, Massachusetts. And this is why I believe we should implement an American exchange, these British students know nothing of geography beyond the UK."
Hermione smiled, thinking that was actually a splendid idea. "You should propose that to McGonagall, I'm sure she would support that." She lead him towards the door.
"Oh I have thought about it, but wasn't sure if it would be well received. But if you think so, and if I have your support as well, I think I will." Draco said thoughtfully, walking out into the hallway and turning to face Hermione standing in the doorway.
"You will of course have my support, Draco." Hermione replied, giving a small smile.
Draco smiled back and nodded. "Thank you Hermione. I will see you tonight."
He turned and walked down the corridor, the click of his shoes echoing through the quiet space. Hermione remained standing in the doorway until she could no longer hear the echoes. She exhaled, realizing she was holding an immense amount of tension in her body. What an incredibly strange interaction that had been, one she never in her wildest dreams thought would happen. She couldn't believe that Draco Malfoy had actually asked her out on a date and she had actually accepted. She, Hermoine Granger, he Draco Malfoy?! Hermione had come to embrace the dramatic social changes in this new postwar world, but had honestly never thought that Draco Malfoy would change that dramatically to admit that he perhaps once had a crush on her? Let alone would have had a crush on her in the first place! It just seemed so unlikely, Draco's hatred and disgust towards Hermione and her friends was always so strong and unwavering during their school years. Draco had become a fine man who Hermione had come to like and respect, but still, that can't completely change history. Also what was this about thinking often about her? She had so many more questions running through her mind, but they would have to wait until their date she guessed. The studious part of Hermione's brain told her she should write them all down and be prepared with follow up questions, but she shrugged that off for the time being. Right now, she had to find Luna.