Chapter One
She walked briskly through the impressive front doors. Her black cloak billowed out behind her as her heels tapped against the stone floors. It'd been a while since she had been in these halls. Memories of happy and sad times assailed her at once; so much joy, so much loss. It was wonder how they had even made it out of here. She pushed the memories away for another time.
The letter she had received had urged her to come for a visit.
Oh how she had debated endlessly about whether or not she should come. The demons of her past still lingered in the shadows. How she hated the nightmares they brought her dreams.
Eventually she got enough courage to send an owl to accept the invitation. She came up to the two statues that guarded the Head Mistress's office.
"Raspberry chocolate frogs," she murmured to them. They jumped apart showing the stairs that would lead her up.
Torches floated in the air supported by nothing lighting her way. The stairway was chilly. She made it to the oak door and rapped her fingers over it.
"You may enter," called a dearly familiar voice.
The ache inside of her heart began to grow as the door swung open and revealed the woman she had come to think of as her second mother.
Her face split into a smile showing straight, even white teeth. "Head Mistress it has been a long time."
The woman snorted. "I have no idea why you insist on calling me Head Mistress. You have been given leave to call me Minerva for years now, dear. One day I hope you learn how to do so."
She laughed lightly. "Not likely, madam."
Minerva McGonagall looked at her old student. When she had first come to Hogwarts she had been a rather plain faced child. Her hair overly frizzy, teeth that stuck out and almost awkward in a social setting. It was almost a wonder how she had turned out the way she had.
"Come, come," Minerva waved to a chair. "Still take tea the same way?"
"Yes, ma'am, I do." She moved over to the chairs and tea service sitting in front of the fire place.
Minerva poured two cups of tea into two dainty cups with just a dollop of cream. "Hermione I cannot express to you how happy I am that you accepted my invitation for a visit. It has been far too long since I have seen you; especially on these grounds."
Hermione looked down into her tea before replying. "I thank you very much for inviting me. I'm sorry I didn't answer you much sooner, Madam."
"Oh, Hermione, even if you hadn't of come here it would have been alright. I perfectly understand." Minerva grew quiet for a moment for murmuring, "I almost can't sleep in the castle some nights."
Hermione blinked back a couple of tears. She was no watering pot and she wasn't going to be one now. She chose to move the conversation away from their recent topic. "How do these new students far this year?"
Off Minerva went telling her amusing stories about some of her new pupils. They had almost taken out the four houses in school, but it was such a tradition no one could seem to make themselves do it.
Hermione's eyes roved over the office walls. The picture of Dumbledore and Snape stood side by side. Her heart constricted again just seeing them. The sorting hat was sitting on the edge of the desk. There were plenty of other attributes to the office, but all she could seem to focus on were the things she remembered as a kid.
Minerva and Hermione toured the grounds and a few classrooms. Hermione knew what she was doing. She was trying to lure her back to Hogwarts for a teaching job she had tried to get her to take since she had graduated.
Hermione gave a sigh. "I know what you are trying to do, though you are trying to be subtle about it all."
Minerva smiled. "You always were a bright girl."
She laughed and shook her hair sending the curls flying. "I cannot accept. I'm locked into my career for at least another year. I'm in the middle of something very important. I think it is going to change how we do things here soon."
Minerva smiled at Hermione. "The option is always here. If you ever need a new change of pace or even just a place to stay. This will always be your home."
"Thank you so much." Hermione said and hugged her tight.
They made their way back to Minerva's office. As the oak doors swung open Hermione gave a start at who she saw.
He was lounging back in one of the chairs by the fire. His blonde hair still the same, frosty blue eyes that penetrated hers. He stood up and towered over the two women. She had forgotten how tall he was. His shoulders were broad and he looked more muscular than what he was in his youth.
"Head Mistress," he said in an oddly pleasing voice.
She was taken aback by that. She would never have described his voice as pleasant. What was wrong with her? Was she going daft? She must be!
He turned to her and bowed slightly. "Miss Granger; unless you are married now?" he inquired.
She could only shake her head as she looked up into his face. More memories of her school years assaulted her. All of them were unpleasant. She couldn't think of one thing nice about him; and yet something weird was happening to her chest.
"Mr. Malfoy, I was not expecting you until later." Minerva said taking his hands. "You seem to always get taller."
He smiled at her. Hermione had to make sure her jaw wasn't swinging. This was the first genuine smile she had ever seen him give.
"If you would but check your watch it is much later, Madam." He was still smiling at Minerva.
"My goodness, where did all that time go?" Minerva said looking at the clock on the mantle. "How rude of me!"
"It is quite alright, I was just admiring the paintings you have on your wall like I always do when I come." His blue eyes strayed over to Hermione.
His breath almost caught. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She had a maturity about her that wasn't there so many years before. Her overly frizzy hair was now tamed in appealing curls around her face. Her eyes were a soft brown that could melt a man's heart. She only came up to his shoulders but Lord look at her lips… Draco shook his head.
He couldn't afford to have those thoughts about her. It was absolutely ludicrous.
Oh, but how he still wanted her. He knew better, though. Some things would never be. He had come to terms with that years ago.
"I should be leaving now. I have been here much longer than intended. I did not mean to make you late for your next appointment." Hermione was saying almost too fast reaching for her cloak.
"Don't be absurd, Miss Granger." Draco said grabbing her wrist to stop her from getting her cloak. "Please stay. I think I have something you'd be interested in seeing also. It's a rather peculiar piece I can't figure out."
Hermione took in Draco's face. He didn't seem to hold the same malice towards her. If she was being honest with herself his eyes weren't all that frosty. But being honest with herself was too dangerous.
Finally, against her better judgment, Hermione nodded her head. Taking a seat again while Draco conjured an extra chair. Minerva sat in her seat and pulled a cord. A house elf immediately appeared.
"Ma'am?" a small voice asked bowing regally to her.
"Could we please get some fresh tea for my guests?" she asked.
"Of course, Head Mistress." The small voice said again.
"How about some of those marvelous cakes you hide in the kitchen, Winky?" Draco grinned at the house elf.
"Right away Master Draco." And away the small house elf went.
Hermione could only blink at Draco. It was almost too much of a crazy thought to think he had changed this much. Was she dreaming?
The tray reappeared without signs of the house elf. Then a plate of cakes appeared in Draco's lap.
His laugh was deep and low. "Just like her every time." He picked up a cake and took a bite before setting the plate on the table. "Ladies?"
Hermione listened to Minerva and Draco get the formalities out of the way before Minerva turned her way. "Did you know Draco travels all over the world looking for lost magic pieces?"
She shook her head, "No, I hadn't heard that. Sounds like a most interesting job."
Draco put down his cup he had been sipping from grinning. "More like a hobby."
Of course, she thought, he wouldn't need to work with the Malfoy fortune behind him. What silliness she had been thinking.
"Hermione has been experimenting with some notes that were found from Severus's books." Minerva informed Draco.
A blonde brow rose. "Fascinating, I had no clue there was such a thing left by my God Father."
Hermione nodded. "They were found several years ago. I petitioned the Ministry to use them. I cannot discuss the contents of said notes due to a binding contract and spell."
Draco stared at her a moment before saying, "I see, well we wouldn't want you to get into trouble, now would we?"
"Come now, Draco, stop playing your amusing games and show us what you have found." Minerva chided him.
"And here I thought you enjoyed my company." He smiled at her.
Minerva waved her hand, "Of course I do. But you came specifically came for this reason and I'm most curious what has stumped you so."
Draco pulled a gold piece out of his cloak and held it up. It was dangling on a chain swinging back and forth. It looked like a plain square at the end of the chain. It had elaborate etchings engraved on it.
Minerva took the piece Draco held out for her inspection. "I'm afraid I can't quite make out what the etchings say. It's not Latin, that much I know."
Hermione looked at the piece almost mesmerized as Minerva held it out to her. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you what it is. I'm not familiar with the etchings, though they look like some language I had seen in a book, let me go fetch it.."
Hermione took the piece from her hand and started looking closely at the engravings in the gold. She was turning the piece over in her hand looking even closely. She didn't even notice that Minerva had left the room for the library she had in the next room.
Draco sat forward in his chair. "Can you make something out of this?"
Hermione didn't bother to look up. She almost didn't even hear him. She was so focused on the piece and what it said.
"I can make some of it out." She kept turning the piece in her hand.
"What does it say?" Draco asked.
Hermione bit her bottom lip and concentrated hard. Before she started to translate.
"Two hearts beat together
Two souls entwine
Two who need the other
They soon become one"
"How peculiar," she heard Draco say before everything swirled into darkness.
This is my first story, I hope you all enjoy it! Please look for the next chapter!