Authors note: I'm just trying my hand on DraMione again after a VERY long time and I kind of messed up with uploading the first chapter. Haha.
Anyway, I hope you guys choose to read and review!
Chapter 1
It's been 10 years since the Battle at Hogwarts and the Wizarding World slowly got back to its feet.
Harry Potter became the youngest Auror in history and the youngest Head Auror at the age of 26 while Ron Weasley came to play for the Chudley Cannons after 3 years of being an Auror.
Hermione Granger, however, decided to finish her education and quickly worked her way up to the Office of the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. Contrary to what others believe she did not get the job on a silver platter. Almost living inside the Ministry for the past 8 years buried in paperwork, even Harry and Ron would literally have to carry her out of the office just to get her to spend dinner with them.
"Hermione, come on. We're going to lose the reservation again if you don't get up from that seat this instant." Harry said from the doorway of her office. She stood up while still scribbling something on the document she'd been reading.
"Hermione," Harry sighed. Hermione raised her index finger at him as she scribbled one more word and signed the document, placed it on the 'Signed' stack of papers and huffed then smiled at her best friend.
"I won't be responsible for another dinner gone to waste but I really needed that one checked before we went." She took her purse and cloak while Harry shook his head at her smiling.
"I know you're going to be best for the job but I really hope you won't be Minister for Magic anytime soon. We're not going to see you any more if that happens," Harry joked which earned him a big smack on the arm before they went inside the Floo.
Hermione felt dead tired when she arrived home that night. Apparently, Harry Potter decided to give her a surprise party for having been promoted. Everyone was at the restaurant telling her "You earned it"; and "Nice to finally see you out of the office!" or, "You're alive!"
She wasn't really living at the Ministry now, was she? She'd been going out. She goes to the grocery once a week. She drops by Diagon Alley for a new set of robes at least once a month and buy books at Flourish and Blotts twice a week. She's just not one for a night-out. Hermione would rather spend her time at home drinking some hot chocolate while reading a good book. That's the way she always has been her entire life and her friends know that.
Hermione sighed and looked around her flat. She flicked her wand at her fireplace to start a fire. It was getting cold from the snow falling outside. She removed her shoes and her cloak, placed them neatly over their respective closets and went to the kitchen to make herself some hot chocolate.
At the countertop were a pile of posts from the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly. Why she even subscribed to the magazine she forgot but she haven't had the time to unsubscribe so they kept on coming.
"Time to unclutter then," she said as she took the 15 or so magazines and brought it to the living room.
She browsed through some of the issues with disinterest.
"Looks like Rita Skeeter still has a job." She said while reading one cover about Parkinson and Nott's not-so-shabby wedding. And then she saw him, Draco Malfoy, in the background of the photo. There he was, platinum blonde hair, looking impassive as the couple in front beamed in happiness. And then she remembered why she kept the subscription, albeit unconsciously.
They were all huddled up in a corner, unsure whether they should even be there or not. The Malfoys were looking around cautiously. Hermione saw them, him in particular, and they had eye contact. For the briefest of moments Hermione nodded at him with a small smile and stiffly, he nodded back. Hermione started towards the double doors to go up the staircase going to the Gryffindor Common Room. Her adrenaline was starting to drop and she could feel all her bones aching. Ron is busy with his family and she knows she isn't strong enough to be there for him at this time of grief so she escaped. She escaped the cries in the Great Hall. She just wanted some silence, some peace.
Draco Malfoy detached himself from his parents and followed Hermione Granger outside the Great Hall.
"Granger," He called out to her but Hermione was just too tired to respond. She stopped in her tracks and looked back to see Malfoy walking towards her. He stopped just a couple of steps from her and stretched out his hand holding a white quill.
She eyed him suspiciously but before she could say something, he took her right arm and handed the quill to her. Without saying another word he turned and walked back to his parents, both looking at their son. If they were surprised, they hid it rather well. Once Draco reached his parents, Narcissa had her eyes on Hermione. She couldn't read her expression but she definitely wants to get out of her field of vision. A just-won war cannot take away the chill down her spine in the presence of the Mafloys and although puzzled, Hermione decided she would think about what to say the next time she sees Malfoy.
The next morning, the Malfoys went off to one of their houses in Britain awaiting trial. Hermione finished her 7th year at Hogwarts while Draco Malfoy went to Durmstrang.
Hermione stacked the magazines neatly under the coffee table and glanced at the small quill placed over the fireplace.
"I never did get the chance to ask him what it meant after all," She walked over the fireplace to get the quill, held it like the first week that she had it.
"What does he mean by this?"
It was a question that plagued her for years. But the absence of Malfoy and the events after receiving the gift made her forget about the need to know. She knew it was some sort of olive branch. Probably his way of trying to make peace, but Hermione craves for an explanation, for words uttered not simply a white quill that he probably picked up from the Room of Hidden Things during the Battle. And secretly, she wanted it to be more than just an apology.
