Chapter 1: Worst Colleague Ever
The castle was just as Hermione remembered it. Much had been cleaned up since the Battle of Hogwarts twenty years ago; except for the memorial, there was no sign that a huge day of death and destruction had occurred here.
Taking her place at the staff table in the Great Hall, Hermione watched with nostalgic pride as the terrified first years entered for the first time. They never changed, did they? It had been moving enough to go through Sorting herself alongside the men who would eventually become her best friends... and then one her brother-in-law, the other her husband and the father of their children. And last year, to hear that Rose had gotten into Gryffindor... she had been ecstatic. Ron had not been able to wipe the smug grin off his face for weeks...
Winking at her daughter, the candlelight twinkled off of Hermione's alabaster skin as she swiveled her head towards the Slytherin table. There was her nephew and godson, Albus Severus Potter, laughing with a blonde-haired boy. Draco Malfoy's brat. It had been a shock for Hermione to hear that Albus had been sorted into Slytherin; when Harry had reported it to them after hearing first, Ron had asked him at least three times to repeat it into the receiver, to make sure he hadn't misheard. He never did fully grasp how a telephone worked...
"Handsome lad, isn't he?"
Hermione jumped about a foot in the air as Draco Malfoy himself took a seat next to her. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" she snapped.
"I could ask you the same question, Granger," Draco smirked.
"It's Weasley. Haven't you heard?" Hermione growled.
"Oh, yes, I forgot. You threw your life away sixteen years ago."
If they weren't in a public place, Hermione would have hexed him. Or slapped him. One of the two. "How dare you! Just what position did they give a talentless thing like you?"
"Potions Master," Draco sent one eyebrow disappearing into his hairline.
"Oh, yes, I forgot. It was the only subject you didn't fail."
Draco ground his teeth at his words being partially thrown back at him. "And what did they just hand you?"
"Charms," Hermione smirked smugly. "And they didn't just hand it to me. Minerva's been a very good friend..."
"Sure," Draco snorted. They fell into a moment of silence. "Well, for what it's worth, you... look nice."
Hermione about spat the pumpkin juice out of her goblet. Did Draco Malfoy just... compliment her? "Excuse me. I have to go see my kids," she bristled, getting up as the feast ended and the students began to shuffle towards the exits for their dormitories and bed. She found Rose, Albus and his elder brother, James, all huddled together.
"Hey, guys," she smiled down at them.
"Hi, Mummy - I mean, Professor..." Rose stumbled.
"OK, glad you did that, because we are fixing that right now. We're family. You guys are allowed to address me as 'Mum' or 'Aunt Hermione,' whichever the case may be. But don't try being so informal with any of your other teachers. Understood?"
"Does that mean you'll give us an automatic O for marks, then?" James cracked.
"No," Hermione deadpanned.
James shrugged, mussing with his hair. "Worth a shot." He ambled off towards the staircase. "Night, Aunt Hermione!"
Hermione shook her head, bemused. Like father, like son... Turning, she saw Albus starting to move away and stopped him. "Al... I just want you to know that... if you ever need anything... I'm here."
Albus frowned. "Dad put you up to that?"
Hermione winced, unable to lie to him. "Yes." There was the Ginny in him - more perceptive than anyone else in the room. Harry had indeed confided in her that Albus's first year had not gone as well as he had hoped.
Albus's face softened, realizing he might have sounded a little too harsh. "I understand. Thanks, Aunt Hermione. I'll... remember that."
Hermione watched him go towards the Slytherin dormitory before departing for her own private chambers. It felt weird to not sleep beside her husband for the first time in sixteen years. But she told herself that this was a good career move. It was what she wanted, and Ron had been nothing but supportive.
She just hoped she could navigate Draco Malfoy...
Unfortunately, there was little avoiding of Draco Malfoy when Hermione was on faculty with him. They encountered one another at staff meetings led by Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, and because both were the newest on staff, they were often made to sit together.
One day, the pair were in the library, doing research for their respective lesson plans. Sitting nearby him, Hermione was suddenly gripped with a demand to clear the air of their clashing childhoods.
"Malfoy?... Why did you hate me so much during our school days?"
She expected him to sneer or mock her or not even answer. But instead, he was honest, his blonde curls falling into his face.
"I was jealous. I couldn't believe it that a... Muggle-born could outclass even pureblood wizards."
Hermione could not believe her ears. Once again, it sounded like Draco Malfoy had paid her a compliment - a backhanded compliment, but a compliment nonetheless.
"Well, thank you, Mal... Draco. If you were jealous, you could have just told me. Or asked me for help." She chuckled. "I helped Ron and Harry with homework all the time. They wouldn't have made it through their OWLS without me."
Draco laughed. "Yeah, but I was still knee-deep in a wizarding cult. I guess that's why you're you and I'm not."
Draco and Hermione's eyes locked, and Hermione suddenly felt her face growing very hot. Why was she flushing like this? Draco wasn't that handsome... wait... did she just admit he was handsome?
Hermione awkwardly cleared her throat. "I have to go." And she all but ran from the library.
