"James! Your mum's here," Draco says, peering his head into Scorpius' room, watching the two demolish a tower of legos.
"Aw! Can't James stay the night?" Scorpius asks, pouting at the thought of his bestfriend going home.
Draco chuckles, eyeing the mess the two made as he ushers them out the bedroom and down the hall to where Ginny Weasley was waiting.
"I'm sorry, buddy. It's a school night, remember? You start kindergarten tomorrow. Maybe James can stay this weekend and you'll see him tomorrow in class at school," Draco says as the boys grin at his words before challenging and racing each other to the end of the hall.
"Hey, James! Did you guys have fun?" Ginny asks, greeting the two young boys with a hug.
Draco couldn't help but thank his childhood bestfriend, Blaise Zabini, for introducing him to his girlfriend. While Draco wasn't necessarily friends with Ginny, he appreciated James company. Scorpius always had a hard time making friends and Draco didn't exactly have "mom friends" to invite over for play dates, but six months later and James and Scorpius were inseparable.
As the two boys talk excitedly to Ginny about all the cool stuff they did all day, Draco hands Ginny her son's backpack.
"Thanks, Draco." Ginny smiles, turning her attention back to the cute little boys.
"Alright, alright. Time to go. I have to drop you off your dad's house tonight, James."
James and Scorpius hug and say their goodbyes as Draco walks Ginny and James to the door, scheduling a sleepover for the two boys later this weekend.
.
.
.
"Daddy, daddy!" James calls happily, running into the living room where Harry and Ron were watching sports, still in their police uniforms.
"Hey, little man!" Harry exclaims, grinning as gets up to pick up James and hugs him.
"He's been excited all weekend to come over to your house. I think it's because you and Uncle Ron feed him nothing but junk food and sugar," Ginny says in a teasing tone, walking into the living room with an overnight bag and a Batman backpack.
Ron winks at a giggling James, "Nonsense!"
"Hey buddy, why don't you run upstairs while me and your mum talk? Go bother Aunt Hermione. She's been reading all day again," Harry says playfully.
James makes a face, "Ew!" He calls before running up the stairs as quick as his little feet would allow him.
"Okay, am I keeping James tomorrow?" Harry asks suddenly, unsure of tommorrow's plans, taking his son's belongings from Ginny's hand.
Ginny hoists her purse on her shoulder, sighing, "Actually, as much as I hate to ask, would you? I have a huge test Wednesday and I haven't even started to study. It's been a crazy weekend trying to get James ready for his first day of school."
Harry rolls his green eyes, waving her off. "Of course. You don't even have to ask, Ginny."
And she didn't. Harry and Ginny had known each for a long time and were highschool sweethearts for over three years. They went through an unexpected teenage pregnancy together and would always share a bond together through James. They had ultimately separated when James was two years old after many fights and hurtful disagreements, they decided they were both better off without each other. It was a mutual agreement on both parts and they try so hard to co-parent peacefully and without lawyers and the court system. And even though they were no longer together, Harry would do anything for his son and Ginny.
"Thanks, Harry. I'm really lucky to have you in James' life," Ginny says sincerely, flicking Ron off, who was making fake gagging noises behind Harry's back.
"I'd say goodbye to Hermione, but I really do need to go home and study," Ginny says regretfully.
"Oh, it's alright," Harry says, walking Ginny to the front door. "I'll tell her you said hello."
"Oh!" Ginny whirled around, one foot out the front door. "I almost forgot. Do you want to meet here tomorrow morning or at James school?"
Harry shrugs. "Doesn't matter to me, which ever is best for you."
Ginny thinks for a moment. "I'll meet you at his school in the morning. That way, I can go to school right after we walk him to his classroom. Oh, Harry! Our baby boy is growing up."
Harry smiles, albit bittersweet. "I know, Gin. I'll see you in the morning. I hope you have a good night."
"Bye, Ron!" Ginny pokes her head in the door before she leaves.
"Bye, Ginny!" Ron yells back.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Harry."
"Be safe, Gin."
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.
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Later on that evening, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and James were all piled up around the kitchen table, laughing around a box of large pepperoni pizza with breadsticks and soda in the middle.
Hermione rolls her eyes playfully at Ron's humorous story about a purse snatcher he and Harry arrested earlier that day. She elbows him purposefully as she reaches for another slice of pizza for her and James.
"Ow, Hermione!"
"Sorry," She shrugs unapologetically, placing James' pizza on his plate as she takes a bite out of her own.
James giggles at them.
Harry rolls his eyes.
"Are you excited about your first day of school tomorrow, buddy?" Harry asks, turning his attention to his son, sitting his pizza back down on his plate.
James grins. "Yeah! I can't to meet all my new friends and eat lunch and play recess and oh! I have Scorpius in my classroom too, did'ja know that, daddy? I get to spend the whole day with my bestfriend."
Hermione ears perked up at the sound of her student. Scorpius Malfoy. He was the little blonde boy she had the pleasure of meeting a few days ago. She didn't know he knew James, but then again, it wasn't like she kept up with James' play date schedules.
Her mind drifted to his father. Draco Malfoy.
Only the top best selling young adult author for over a year now.
She was absolutely shocked when he said his name. Because of course she knew who he was. Anyone who read decent fiction knew who Draco Malfoy was.
As far she knew, Draco had only one novel officially published. His novel, Into the Sky, was about a young father struggling to find his missing son. Hermione had never read a fiction novel so captivating and heart-breaking. She could feel every emotion in his words and that was a skill many authors lack. His novel stayed number one on the best selling novels for over six months. He then went on to sell more copies than any other young adult author that year. For what she could remember, Draco had just finished up a book tour earlier that summer and told reporters a new novel was in the works to be released later that year.
Of course, she didn't say any of those things when she shook his hand and introduced herself. He was famous, handsome, and had the cutest little boy in the world, who she would be teaching. She didn't want to embarrass herself by fangirling all over him. Even though, she would love to pick his mind and ask questions about his writing and novels and ugh did he have to be so bloody fucking handsome?
"Hermione?" Harry asks, waving a large hand in front of her face.
Hermione blinks, swatting his hand a way. "Sorry! I'm just distracted. Tomorrow's my first day and I'm little nervous," she says, lying easily because c'mon she wasn't going to tell Harry and Ron she was just day dreaming about Draco Malfoy - a stranger she hardly knew whose son she would be teaching tomorrow and apparantly James' bestfriend's father as well.
Damn, this world is small, she couldn't help but think.
"No worries," Harry smiles kindly and she almost feels guilty for lying, even if it was only a little lie. "James just wanted to know when you start snack time."
Hermione laughs. "About an hour after lunch," she says, turning her attention to the little boy.
"Are you nervous for tomorrow? I know it's a little weird having Aunt Hermione as your teacher, but I promise we're going to have fun."
"I wouldn't want anyone else to be my teacher, Aunt 'Mione!"
Hermione beams.
Children really were precious.
.
.
.
The next morning, Hermione feels like she's on top of the world.
She woke up before her alarm to a nice breakfast made by Harry and Ron, wishing her good luck on her first day. Ron even decided to be a comedian by handing her "lunch money" for her first day of school. She scoffs at the memory.
Her hair even decided to be nice today and laid in soft, curly waves. She even felt pretty in her sensible teaching outfit; wearing a nice red blouse and black pencil skirt with matching black flats.
And she didn't hit not a single red light on her way to her job.
Today is going to be a great day. She just knows it.
Writing, "Ms. Granger" on her whiteboard, Hermione looks around her classroom with a smile. Everything was falling into place.
She had about ten more minutes before parents would start dropping their children off and she took this time to take out her newly red grading pens and whiteboard markers she bought herself yesterday for the classroom.
Cursing herself as she knocks the package of pens over under her desk, she groans, bending over to pick them up.
"Well, if that's not a sight I enjoy seeing every morning."
"Oh!" Hermione jumps, bumping her head on the top of her desk, flushing red as she scrambles to pull herself together.
She finally meets the eyes to the voice and of course, it was none other than Draco Malfoy with a smiling Scorpius at his side.
She swallows hard.
He really is too handsome.
Dressed casually in dark blue jeans, a designer black t-shirt, and penny loafers, he looks like a model right out of a fashion magazine.
How could anyone look that good in a t-shirt, Hermione would never know.
Scorpius is right by his side dressed in blue shorts and a Superman t-shirt with light up sneakers and his superhero backpack thrown over his shoulder.
Choosing to ignore Draco, Hermione focuses her attention of Scorpius. "Are you excited for today? It's going to be so much fun, I promise!"
Scorpius nods excitedly and Draco bends down to hug him.
Hermione tries not swoon at the sight, but it's hard.
'Pull yourself together, Granger. You are an educator and a professional. Not some horny, hormonal teenager who can't control her emotions.'
"This is the part where I say see you later, Scorp. You remember where you cubby is to put your backpack?"
Scorpius nods and Draco hugs him one more time. "I can't pick you up today, but Grandma Cissy will be here. I'll come pick you up from her and grandpa's house later this evening."
Without another word, Scorpius all but skips over to his cubby and Draco turns his attention back to Hermione.
"You sure he's in good hands?" Draco teases, shoving his hands back into his pocket casually. He decides he rather likes the flush on her cheeks.
Hermione rolls her eyes playfully, "Of course. I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Malfoy."
"It's Draco, Ms. Granger."
"Okay, Draco."
He smirks and heads towards the door.
"And it's Hermione, then!" She calls out, but he's already gone down the hall.
Hermione didn't even have time to think or analyze the situation before another parent and student walk into her classroom, ready to start the first day of school.
