Hermione woke up a few hours later, having cried herself to sleep. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was about six and knew that Nichole would be arriving at Hogwarts about now. She sighed and got up to take a shower. She was supposed to be going over to Harry and Ginny's for dinner tonight. She walked into the bathroom and stripped down. It was a normal sized bathroom, with a tub and shower combined and a toilet and sink. She turned the water on and adjusted it to suit her and stepped in, lathering her body and washing her hair. She applied conditioner, shaved and the rinsed everything off at once. She wrapped a towel around her hair and another around her body and stepped out. She used a cloth to wipe the condensation off the mirror before removing the towel from her hair.
Over the years her hair had relaxed slightly. It was still curly but it wasn't as frizzy or thick anymore. She combed her hair, brushed her teeth and stepped out of the bathroom and walked to her room and changed into her clothes before actually fixing her hair and applying a bit of make up. When she was happy with the way she looked she grabbed her wand, cell phone and purse and apparated to Harry and Ginny's.
Harry and Ginny had been married for thirteen years now; they got married two years after the war ended. Ginny was pregnant with her first son two years later. James was only ten years old, he would be going to Hogwarts next year and Hermione hoped Nichole would help him out, even though she knew Nichole wouldn't like it. Albus came two years after that, he was only eight years old and Lily was born a year after Albus, making her seven. Hermione was Godmother to all three of them and she loved them as if they were her own kids. Nichole didn't really like being around them, calling them "A bunch of to-be Gryffindor's" and would just sit around all day, during visits, texting her friends or playing games on her phone. Hermione wasn't really happy about this, seeing as they were her best friend's kids, but there was nothing she could really do. She just hoped her attitude towards them would change when they started Hogwarts, well at least to James.
Hermione took a deep breath as she landed a few feet away from the Potter house. There were wards up so no one could apparate directly in. Even with the war over, precautions were still made. She walked the short distance to the front door and knocked. Ginny answered it with a smile on her face and hugged her friend.
"Hermione! Glad you could make it, come on it,"
"Thanks Gin," Hermione smiled and stepped into the house. Instantly cries of "Aunt Mione!" were heard and she was tackled by three young kids on the legs. Hermione laughed and bent down, giving each of her god-children a hug and picking Lily up. Harry got up from the couch, where he had been watching some sports game on TV and gave her a one armed hug, and smiled at her. He hadn't changed much over the years, hair a little more handled then when he was younger, but he still wore the glasses. He was a little more fit though, but that was from chasing the kids around and the occasional Quidditch game he put on annually at the Ministry for charity for the Auror Department, where he was Head Auror.
"How you been Mione?" Harry asked as she bent down and set Lily back on the ground where she giggled and ran off into the play room. Hermione smiled at her, remembering Nichole at that age, and answered Harry's question.
"I'm alright Harry, thanks, a little hard this morning after saying goodbye to Nichole but," Hermione shrugged, "All better now," she smiled.
"Honestly Hermione, I don't think I've seen a mother quiet so attached to their kid as you are. At least when it comes to saying goodbye for a few months."
Hermione laughed, "I know Harry, I'm just protective is all."
"Is this because…" Harry got cut off as a yell of, "Dinner's ready!" Came from the kitchen. All three kids came running from the play room and into the kitchen.
"No running in the house!" Harry yelled after them, shaking his head.
"Because of what Harry?" Hermione asked as they started walking to the kitchen.
"I'll tell you after supper," was all he said. Hermione nodded and sat down with her friends for a nice home cooked meal.
~-~-~-
Nichole sat at the Slytherin table with her friends, chatting as they waited for the first years to file in and the sorting to begin. They joked with each other and planned a prank to pull on the newbie's. Nichole had no problem joining in with pranking fellow Slytherins, which was something her mother never said she couldn't do, as long as she left the Gryffindor's alone. They were laughing and snickering together as the doors opened and Professor Sprout walked in leading the first years to the front.
"Hey Nichole," Mystique whispered to her.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly.
"We're throwing you a party tomorrow in the Slytherin common room for your birthday."
Nichole grinned, "Well don't make me report you," she said. Her friends laughed as they thought about Nichole, their best friend and Prefect, reporting them for a party in her honour. They turned back to watch the sorting. It was long and boring, as it seemed a lot more kids were born each year since the war ended. It was like people were trying to make up for the down sized population after the war. When the sorting finally ended, and each house had gained a number of new students, Professor McGonagall stood up and made her normal start of school speech.
"And finally I'd like to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, as our previous one, of fourteen years, has decided to spend time with her new born, which many of you know about. She may be back in a few years depending, but for the time being I'd like you to join me in welcoming Professor Malfoy." Students clapped and looked up at the table for the new professor but they couldn't see him anywhere. They started to whisper among themselves as to where the new teacher could be when the doors of the Great Hall opened and in walked a tall, thin, handsome man with white blond hair. He was wearing an elegant pair of dark green robes and smirked at the Slytherin table as he passed.
"Sorry I'm late Minerva; I was unpacking my office and seemed to have fallen asleep,"
"That's quite alright Draco," she said. A few of the professors at the table shook hands with Malfoy while others, like Hagrid, merely grunted and nodded their heads. Malfoy sat down at the free seat at the end of the table.
"Alright well now that that's done, it's time to feast." She waved her arms and the tables filled with food. McGonagall sat down and started to eat and engage Professor Flitwick in conversation. Nichole turned back to her friends and started to put food on her plate.
"Did you see that new professor?" Bianca asked as she turned to stare at the Staff Table. "He is so hot."
"I agree Bi," Mystique said, "and I call dibs. Anyone, and I mean anyone, tries to make moves on him I'll curse you so hard your mum will feel it!"
"You can have him," Nichole said looking back at the professor. There was something about him, and she couldn't quite figure out what, that felt familiar.
As dinned rolled to an end, McGonagall stood up and dismissed the students. Nichole and Blake rounded up the first years and led them towards the dungeons and the Slytherin Common Room.
"So, that new professor," Blake said as they walked down the stairs, "What are your thoughts on him?"
Nichole glanced over at him and shrugged, "He's good looking, sure, but I don't know, he's not really my type and beside's there's something… familiar… about him," she said as they got to the bottom of the stairs and turned right.
"Familiar? Like what?"
Nichole shrugged, "That's the thing, I don't know," she said as they reached the stretch of blank wall that concealed the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. She turned and looked at all the first years. "Listen up and listen well because I'm only going to say this once. The password to get in the common room is Superior. Memorize it," she said and turned back to what was now an opening in the wall. She led the first year's in. "Girls dorms are over there, guy's dorms over there," she said pointing. "That's it, get lost." She sat down on a couch and put her feet up on the table. Blake came and sat next to her.
"So this year should be good, don't you think?"
Nichole shrugged, "No different then last year."
"Well I don't know about that," he said, "I mean our head of house is gone, I can only assume that new guy will be it, he had the makings of a Slytherin."
"Sure," Nichole said and yawned just as the wall opened up and the rest of her friends entered, "I'm heading up to bed," she yelled to them. They nodded and she turned back to Blake. "Night," she said.
He nodded, "Night," he said and watched as she walked towards the girls dorms, opened the door and walked down the tunnel that led to the sixth years room. She opened the door, walked to her bed and collapsed on it without even changing into her pyjamas.
~-~-~-
After dinner Hermione, Harry and Ginny sat down in the sitting room after putting the kids to bed. They talked small talk for a bit before Hermione remembered what Harry had started to say earlier.
"Sorry Harry what was that you were going to say before dinner?" she asked him as she took a sip of her tea. Harry sat there thinking for a moment before realization dawned on him. Ginny looked at him and they exchanged looks before Ginny stood up.
"I should get a start on those dishes," she said and kissed Harry's cheek before walking back to the kitchen. Hermione watched her go, slightly confused before turning back to Harry.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"Hermione," Harry said sitting forwards a bit, "Did you happen to look at the Daily Profit this morning?"
Hermione shook her head, "I didn't go into work today since I had to get Nichole off to school. I don't have a copy delivered I usually just get a copy off someone at the office. Why?"
"Well," he said and stood up, walking over to the recycling and grabbing the paper. "I think you should have a look at it," he hesitantly handed her the paper over. She looked at him quizzically before flipping it open and gazing at it. There, on the front page, was a picture of Draco Malfoy. She stared at it for a moment before lowering her eyes to the article underneath it.
Long lost Malfoy returns to London to teach at Hogwarts
"Oh Merlin," Hermione muttered and read the article nervously.
Previously alleged Death Eater, Draco Malfoy, son of Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, nephew of the late Bellatrix Lestrage, also Death Eater and son of accused Death Eater Narcissa Malfoy, has finally returned to his home. Late last night witnesses say they saw the young Malfoy arrive in Diagon Alley on his way to Gringotts.
Supposedly the young Malfoy withdrew a few hundred Galleons from his account before heading to Malfoy Manor. Rumour says that Malfoy was in Hogsmead at the end of the school year last year but, seeing as he hasn't been seen in these parts of England in years, everyone dismissed those rumours until today, where it was been proven that he is, indeed, going to be teaching at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher until Miss Landon is ready to return.
Hermione stopped reading and crumpled the paper up and threw it in the fire. Harry watched her as she stared in the fire, hate in her eyes, as the paper slowly burned.
"Mione?" he finally asked and she looked at him. "Are you alright?"
"I can't believe McGonagall didn't tell me," she said quietly, "She knows the situation, she was the one who helped me out in sixth year… SHE KNOWS!!" she screamed. The sound of a plate falling on the ground and breaking was heard and a muttered, "Reparo," but all else was silent. Hermione stood up angrily. "I'm sorry Harry, I have to go," she said. He nodded and stood up.
"Hermione, just relax, everything will be alright," he said and Hermione turned on him.
"How can you say that Harry James Potter? He's there, he's by my daughter… no… it's not going to be alright," she said and stormed out of there without even saying goodbye to Ginny. Harry just watched her, shaking his head and went to see if his wife needed any help.
A/N: Alright a new chapter! I want to thank all those who have read and reviewed so far! I'm happy with the way this story is going so far and I hope you enjoy the new chapter! Please remember to review, it helps me write and gets chapters out faster!