A/N: I don't own anything except the plot of this story. The characters and universe belong to Jo Rowling, my own personal hero.
A/N: Review please :) New chapters will be posted on Mondays and Fridays, if that is too much for me, it will change to every Friday. Thank you so much for reading :)
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Hermione Granger stood staring at the spot where her past nemesis had just disappeared. Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach once again, she smiled down at her beautiful daughter. "Well Sienna, we must go find your darling Uncle Harry." She said with a smile. Her daughter simply nodded and got out of her chair to follow her mother to Pansy's Parlour. They walked up Diagon Alley in silence, Sienna sneaking a couple glances at her mother who seemed to be deep in thought. When they arrived at the parlour Sienna took off to see Pansy and tell her all about her birthday party plans, leaving Hermione to sit at a table, wait for Harry and get lost in her thoughts once more.
"Earth to Hermione," someone chuckled from behind Hermione, "you going to come over here and give your oldest and dearest friend a hug?" Hermione stood up and spun on the spot.
"HARRY, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SO LONG!" Squealed Hermione, enveloping her best friend in a hug, "I've missed you quite terribly! Where is my darling James & the beautiful Ginny?" exclaimed Hermione, glancing around Pansy's Parlour.
"It truly is wonderful to see you as well Hermione, I hardly recognised you at all!" Replied Harry Potter, his black hair as messy as ever – his green eyes sparkling as he took in the site of his best friend. "Ginny and James are in the back talking to Pansy and Sienna. She looks more beautiful every time I see her." Harry, being Sienna's godfather, had been the only person that Hermione had allowed to visit her and her daughter while they were living in New York City, not even Ginny was allowed come with him. Hermione had thought that seeing Ginny would just remind her of Ron, and that was not something that she wanted. She'd moved to get away from everything – most him – and she didn't need any reminders that she was still in love with a married man. "I'm sorry that I didn't write back to your last owl, but yes of course you and Sienna can stay with us until you find a place. We would be honoured to have you so close to us after being away for so long." Harry added, "I'm glad you're back home Mia, please don't ever leave again." And with that, Harry pulled his best friend closer to him and hugged her tightly. It was almost as if he was afraid that if he let go, she would simply disappear again. "Now, you must really come meet James and say hello to Ginny. She's been obsessing over your arrival home for the past week; it's been quite entertaining actually...annoying, but entertaining." Hermione simply smiled warmly at her best friend and followed him through the store to a back room to find his wife and their children. She could remember everything, that night, simply like it was yesterday…
"No Harry James Potter, I cannot stay! And don't you dare ask me to." Screamed Hermione through her tears, "I cannot sit here and watch the man I love marry someone else. I can't do it, nor will I." Before she knew it, Hermione was sobbing in her best friend's arms. "I thou…I thought it was just a phase Harry, I thought he would come back to me. And now he's marrying HER. I'm not staying. I'm moving, far away."
"Hermione, you're my best friend. I know you're hurting right now, but please don't leave. I need you to stay, and you obviously need me and Ginny now more than ever." Harry pleaded with the crying girl in his arms, stroking her hair softly. "Please don't run, please stay." With that, Hermione straightened up and looked in Harry's soft green eyes with her tear filled brown ones.
"Harry, I can't. I'm leaving. Tomorrow. You – and only you – can come and visit me whenever, and I will keep in touch with everyone else using the post. I'm leaving and there is absolutely nothing that will stop me." She turned on the spot and apparated home, leaving a teary-eyed Harry staring at the spot she'd just disappeared from. Hermione didn't even wait for the next morning, she was gone within the hour.
Harry and Hermione were greeted by a squealing, extremely pregnant and freckled red-head. "HERMIONE JEAN GRANGER, IS IT REALLY YOU? I HAVE MISSED YOUR ARSE SO MUCH!" Before she knew it, Hermione was engulfed in a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms around the rather large woman in front of her and they stood like that for quite some time. Hermione hadn't really realised how much she'd missed Ginevra. Looking at the woman in front of her, Hermione couldn't help but notice how much she had changed. Ginny had cut all her beautiful red hair off and had it cut into a very short bob, resting just below her chin. She also wore no make-up. Not that she ever needed it; blimey she's gorgeous, thought Hermione. "Please don't ever leave me again, Hermione" Ginny whispered into Hermione's hair, trying to suppress a sob. That's all it took to break Hermione. Hearing her best friend sob, and feeling her shakes – Hermione couldn't help it, she burst into tears. Hermione and Ginny just stood on the spot, crying uncontrollably in each other's arms, forgetting the world around them.
"Mummy, are you alright?" a soft, worried voice sounded outside the world Ginny and Hermione had lost themselves in. "Please don't cry Mummy, it's all going to be alright. I promise." Hermione felt a small hand on her leg. She looked down at her daughter and couldn't help herself; she picked up the toddler and held her close.
"Mummy's alright, my darling. I'm only crying tears of joy from seeing Auntie Ginny and Uncle Harry again. I've missed them so much." Replied Hermione in a gentle voice, stroking her daughter's beautiful hair as the child rested her head on Hermione's shoulder.
"I don't want to interrupt all the hugging and such," sounded Pansy's voice, "but when Sienna came in here, she had said something about YOU talking to a certain blonde at Flourish and Blott's? Please tell me it's not who I think it is." Pansy sounded slightly irritated. The last thing I need is him to show up and ruin the life I've made for myself, thought Pansy irritably. "Well, Hermione? Who was it?"
"Now, Harry - PLEASE don't get angry, but I ran into Draco Malfoy…" started Hermione, she then launched into the story of what had just happened…leaving out the kiss and promises to see each other soon, rather deliberately. I don't need them thinking something is going on that isn't, she thought with a sigh to herself.
"Well, I'm glad he found Sienna." Harry said after a few minutes of silence, "it could have been much worse. Now, how about Ginny, James and I show you to our house?" He concluded, rather cheerfully. "After all, we do have a lot to plan for somebody's fourth birthday tomorrow!" He was greeted with a loud squeal of excitement from Sienna.
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Draco ran a hand through his hair and then shoved them in his pocket, lost in his own thoughts. She's so different. I just can't get over it. She doesn't seem like such a little know-it-all bitch anymore. It's like she's a new person, thought Draco. His lips still tingled from when he'd kissed her hand. You best shake these feelings Draco; he told himself, what d'you think Mother and Father would think if you brought home a mud…muggleborn witch? They would disown me, he concluded apparated himself to Malfoy Manner, still too absorbed in his own thoughts to realize that he'd just apparated into a room full of people.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Draco Malfoy. Long time no see, mate." Rang a deep voice from behind Draco, as he turned around he took in the site of his best friend – Blaise Zabini. Blaise looked just as sharp as Draco had remembered him. He was dressed in white trousers and a light pink dress top topped with a white suit jacket. His appearance made Draco feel very out of place, as he was wearing simple black trousers and a plain green polo. After mutely nodding his hello to his closest friend, Draco glanced around the room. His mother, Narcissa, and his father, Lucius, sat on the loveseat closest to the fireplace. On the next couch, much to his surprise sat his mother's sister Andromeda Tonks with a small, handsome black-haired boy beside her.
"Draco, my darling, come give your mother a hug" called his mother from the couch, smiling at him. Draco made his way over to the couch and pulled his mother in a hug, he was a good head and a half taller than her. "I missed you so much, my beautiful boy" she whispered into his chest, he sighed and kissed the top of her head.
Draco let his mother go and turned to his father, grasping his hand briefly, "Father, it's good to see you." He said, simply, "You as well Aunt," he added looking at her then glancing down at the boy. He was about 7 years old, maybe even 8, and he was extremely handsome. Draco smiled at him, "now, what's your name chap? I don't believe we have ever met."
"My name is Teddy Lupin. I was named after my grandfather, and he was a muggleborn. My parents are dead, but Grandma Drommy and Uncle Harry take good care of me." He replied as he got up and shook Draco's hand, very businesslike. Draco was stunned. So, this is Lupin's little brat, he thought, my cousin.
"Hello Teddy, I'm Draco. I believe we're cousins." Draco said as he looked down at the boy. "It was very nice to meet you lad, but I am tired and I'm going to go up to my study. It was nice to see you all." He concluded whilst turning and walking out of the sitting room. Draco walked up the stairs of Malfoy Manor, his thoughts straying to Hermione Granger. No Draco, you mustn't allow yourself to think of the know-it-all muggleborn like that, he thought, it's not like she would want to see you again anyway. Draco opened the door to his study and entered the room. It had been seemingly untouched since he left. His books, desk, chair...everything was just as he had left it 6 years ago. He went and sat at his desk just as his eagle owl, Raziel, flew in through the open window carrying a letter. Draco took the letter and gave Raziel a couple owl treats as he lazily opened the envelope.
Mr Draco Malfoy,
This is just a short letter in accordance with your new job as Head of The Department of Magical Games and Sports. The department is located on the fifth floor of the Ministry of Magic, and your office is at the back of the building. You will have a brand new secretary, who has experience in this department, and a pay raise. Monday morning, there will be forms and cases for you to work on. Also, we at the ministry have decided that maybe it might be a good time to start organizing a country-wide school Quidditch competition. We would have you and the Head of International Magical Cooperation work together on this project, if we so decide to pursue it. I look forward to formally meeting with you on Monday.
Yours, Percy Weasley
Percy Weasley, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Well, at least something will be keeping my mind off of her, thought Draco. Draco reread the letter from the eldest Weasel himself, wondering who could possibly be his new assistant. I hope she's attractive, he though, that would make our work relationship easier. There was a soft rap at his study door, and Blaise walked in.
"Draco, mate, I cannot for the life of me understand why you left the sitting room. You haven't been home in 6 years; don't you want to spend any time with your family?" inquired Blaise, his deep mahogany eyes boring into Draco's.
"I do," replied Draco. "I just have a lot on my mind, what with starting as a Head of Department on Monday and all." A smile lightened his features as Draco confided the reason behind his return to his best mate.
"Are you serious? What department? It must be Magical Games and Sports; I heard they were looking for a new Head. That means you'll be working with Puddlemere United, which means you'll be working with me!" Blaise grinned from ear to ear, looking at his best friend.
Draco just smiled, and clapped a hand on Blaise's back, "yes mate, that means I'll be working with you."