Aurora knew that Draco was interested; she was a lot more aware of such things then her sister had ever been. And she was certain of it. What she was not certain of was how she felt about it. Did Draco have an interest in her or was it more that she looked like Hermione at that age? Despite what her sister had said about how Draco had treated her back then, Aurora was pretty sure that he had had a romantic interest in her but could not do anything about it due to the situation at the time, and in typical male fashion had treated her worse and worse. So was he being nostalgic, looking for a substitute, or was he really interested in Aurora as Aurora?

And she was still not sure how she felt about him. Granted he was gorgeous; maybe not as gorgeous as his father but still very attractive. He was smart and sharp and had a very pointed sense of humor that Aurora liked. But she was just now turning 16 and he was twice her age. That had to be considered. But she had to admit to herself that she was interested.

Draco was trying to figure out how he felt about his aunt. That was in itself bizarre that his aunt was half his age. But then again his stepmother was virtually the same age as he was so maybe it was not so strange. He had enjoyed over the years needling both Hermione and his father about that; his father tended to react more than Hermione; she pretty much shrugged it off.

Aurora was physically virtually a copy of Hermione at the same age; but a lot more aware of the world around her and less of a bookworm. Draco was just not sure how he really felt about her; it had taken him a long time to admit that during their Hogwarts years he had been attracted to Hermione. Of course he had reacted badly to what he now realized was interest back then; that and the situation pretty much made sure that nothing would have ever happened. And it had faded over time. So he was just not sure if it was nostalgia for lost opportunities or was he really interested in the girl. Her age difference was certainly something to think about; yet it was less than what there was between his stepmother and his father and they certainly had a happy marriage.

Hermione sat back from her desk and sighed. She had been Minister of Magic for three months now and finally things were getting done. Her blitz to change the curriculum at Hogwarts, straighten out once and for all time the werewolves situation; and start down the road of having the Minister be an elected position were all moving along well. Those were her main goals though she had others. Now she felt she could relax a little there; she knew she had been neglecting her family even though she made sure she saw her kids once a day. The fact that she had spent so little time with her newborn niggled at her; she realized that that was just the way things were but it bothered her.

Now Lucius had dropped another one on her; Draco was interested in Aurora. Hermione had been gobsmacked when Lucius had told her that during their time at Hogwarts Draco had been interested in her. She was totally surprised at that; though looking back there had been some signs. Even as socially backwards as she had been back then she should have put it together. Of course being interested in staying alive and fighting Voldemort had been somewhat important and had taken up most of her time while not in class.

So to her was it because Aurora was a virtual twin of Hermione at age 16 or was it that Draco was really interested in HER? That was vital since if it was because of Aurora's resemblance to Hermione at that age then the Hermione of right now was going to turn Draco into a newt. With BOILS.

Lucius thought it was hilarious that Draco was showing a romantic interest in Aurora. In her short time as his student he had really grown to like the girl; the resemblance to Hermione at that age was uncanny; and in some ways it went deeper than that. Aurora was a bookworm as well; just not as extreme. Her wish to know everything was possibly the most clear personality likeness. And she was a lot more socially aware than Hermione had ever been. Lucius was pretty sure that she had picked up on Draco's interest. But he had no idea how she felt. But he knew that Hermione would be fun to watch as she figured out how to deal with it all. He had no doubt that while she had grown to like Draco over the years, she would be ferociously protective of her sister.

Ginny Potter had also picked up on Draco's interest and thought it was one of the funniest things she had ever seen. She admitted that she had missed that he was interested in Hermione back in their Hogwarts days but consoled herself with the realization that no one else figured it out either. Harry had been dumbfounded when told of both interests; he had never had a thought that Draco had wanted Hermione anything other than dead back then. For him to be interested in Aurora was funny, though. Especially how Hermione would deal with it when someone told her; he like everyone else figured that Hermione would not spot it without it being really obvious. She tended to still miss things like that even now.

Lucius was smiling; Hermione had told him what she intended to do to Draco if he was interested in Aurora simply because she looked like Hermione back then. Hermione had always been creative with her threats.

Draco had decided that he had to figure this all out and was going to talk to Aurora. He figured that he could get his own feelings clear and find out if he had a chance with her as well.

Aurora was conflicted; she both wanted to talk to Draco and dreaded it at the same time; she would be mortified if it turned out he was wanting to date her because she looked like her sister. She decided to see Hermione. She had to wait a day until she was at home but now looked like the time.

"Hermione? Can I talk to you?"

Hermione looked at her sister. She was in the process of changing the babies diapers and nodded to Aurora to come into the nursery. Hermione felt a little guilty that so much of the care for her youngest was being done by house elves and Lucius.

Aurora took a deep breath then decided to just blurt it out.

"Draco wants to talk to me; I know he is interested but I do not know if its because I look like you or because I am me."

Hermione put down the baby and made sure she was wrapped up.

"I am going to talk to Draco first."

"Uh, not sure that is the best thing since even though I have only known you for a few months I already know that you tend to rip out peoples entrails if they even look at a member of your family wrong."

"Not going to do that to him; just turn him into a Newt with BOILS."

The smile that accompanied that statement was all the more chilling due to its sweetness and the blood dripping off of Hermione's fangs.

"Please Hermione I am not sure how I feel about him but it would be hard to start anything if he was in that condition."

"OK. I will just warn him first."

Knowing that that was probably the best deal she was going to get Aurora nodded.

Draco Malfoy had never been known for having good timing so perhaps it was inevitable that he would apparat into the Manor at just that moment.

Hermione had always had the ability to sense the appearance of magical persons and she knew this ones signature quite well.

Smiling at Aurora, Hermione walked out of the room and down the stairs to the main entranceway.

Lucius had been eavesdropping and came out to stand by Aurora.

"The balcony will allow us to overhear without being too close; flying body parts tend to be messy."

Sighing, Aurora nodded and followed him.

Draco saw Hermione heading his way and stopped; he had always had a good instinct for threats and he felt the hair rising on the back of his neck.

Hermione was walking towards him. Smiling. Sweetly.

"Draco. So good to see you. I hope you are well?"

Now Draco was scared.

"I am doing well, Hermione. Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

Hermione was right in front of him. Her wand was not in sight but that meant nothing. She was well known to be quite gifted in wandless magic. She was still sweetly smiling which scared Draco to no end.

"Aurora."

Draco had good self preservation instincts and knew that he had to be very careful.

"Yes."

"I promised I would not turn you into a NEWT with BOILS. Just yet."

"Uhhh…"

"But let me make this very clear: if you hurt her in any way I will extract your right kidney from your left nostril; tear your head off and spit down your throat; rip your balls off; and then I will get nasty. Is that clear?"

Draco was desperately trying not to pee himself; all he could manage was a very quiet "Yes."

"Good. Have a nice day."

Up in the balcony Lucius was impressed; Voldemort himself could not have threatened better. Bellatrix Lestrange would have been green with envy.

Aurora gulped; this was a side of her sister she had known about second hand; to see it live and in living color was a whole other matter.

Hermione swept up the stairs to stand in front of Lucius and Aurora.

"I think we understand each other."

Then she went back into the nursery.

Lucius smiled. "If I had enough warning I could have sold many tickets to this."

Aurora took a deep breath and started to go into the nursery, but Lucius held her back.

"Let her cool off for a while. You do not want to become, what is the muggle term? Collateral Damage?"

Draco had gone into Lucius's study and poured himself a strong drink of Firewhiskey. He had managed not to soil himself and his shakes had diminished considerably. He could not honestly remember the last time he had been that scared.

Aurora poked her head in the door and Draco turned. He blushed as he saw the way she was looking at him with concern.

"Your sister can be very scary sometimes."

"People told me that but I admit I never really believed them. Until now."

Draco sighed and gathered the shards of his dignity.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"I am here and listening."

"Up front I want it clear that I am not really sure how I feel about you or why."

"Well that's nice."

Draco took a deep breath.

"That certainly was not the way I wanted to say it but there it is. It took me years to admit that I was attracted to your sister back then. I can be clear about one thing; I no longer am."

"Fickle, eh?"

"No. People change over time and we both did and sometimes that changes how you feel about them. I consider her a friend even though she just threatened me with painful dismemberment."

"I was up on the balcony and I almost peed myself."

"So did I."

Aurora smiled; she liked his honesty. She liked him; she could admit that.

"I like you. Whether it will become more I have no idea. But I would like to explore it."

"So would I. But I have to make sure that Hermione does not think I am jerking you around. I would like to keep all my bits."

"So would I. I might have a use for those bits someday."