Just a clarification, In the story, present day means December 2029, when Draco and Hermione are telling the story to their kids...

Hope the timeline is right and the moving back and forth doesn't get too confusing. This is the first time I've tried writing this way, so forgive me if I mess up!

On with the story then!

ENJOY!

Malfoy manor, Present day

"I told you how I went to school with Harry Potter and his two side-kicks, what I didn't mention is that I hexed them at every opportunity. But it wasn't like they didn't give back in kind. We had our fair share of fights and detentions back in the day.

I told you Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of our age, what I covered up was that I called her a 'mudblood' every time we came face to face. I conveniently forgot to mention that she once slapped me right across my face in our third year.

I told you that I watched my own aunt torture her under my roof; I evaded the fact that I still have nightmares about it. I mentioned my trial, how there was a full court, how the entire Wizarding world was screaming for my life sentence. I told you how it was Potter who saved me. What I kept a secret was how the trial led to the happiest few years of my life.

Granger spoke up for me in court too, and that shocked me beyond all else. After all she had been put through by my family, our family, in this very same house, I was surprised she could even bear to look at me. But she did, and not just that she stood up for me, she defended me.

It was a long day at the court houses, a terrible ordeal for all of us involved.

She too was obviously exhausted by the end of it, but she was happy.

Extremely happy with the verdict, and I had to know why.

After the nonsense I put her through, in Hogwarts and outside, I needed to know why she had saved me from a life of torture, one that I definitely deserved." Draco said to Scorpius.

The Ministry of Magic, late evening, 4th April 2001

"Hey Granger!"

"Huh? Malfoy?" she asked whipping around swiftly in confusion.

"Yeah... Um... I just- I- Thank you." he said.

"Well well, the suave Draco Malfoy is at a loss of words?" she teased. And he seemed stunned for a second before regaining his swagger.

"If Hermione Granger is handing out compliments, who wouldn't be?" he asked, being his charming self as usual.

She coloured slightly at his words and he grinned at her, hoping to put her at ease. It worked, and she smiled back, a genuine smile, one that reached her eyes. It was the first time that she struck him as beautiful.

"Well I meant it Granger, thank you for everything." he said sincerely.

"You're most welcome, Draco. I know the circumstances in which you were forced into the war. You don't deserve to suffer anymore for something that was out of your control." she told him.

"You may be the only person who thinks so Granger." he said rather morosely as gruesome memories flooded back at her words.

"No Malfoy, if people didn't believe you, you wouldn't be here talking to me..." she said confidently.

He smiled at her attempt and she returned it. I'll see you around then, Granger." he said giving her one of his smirks.

"If you're lucky Malfoy." she informed him with one of her own.

And before he could respond she had winked at him and walked away, leaving him staring.

It was only a few hours later that he realized that he had been flirting with her. And she had been flirting right back.

Malfoy manor, present day

"That was the first day I realized Granger was a woman, a rather beautiful woman at that.

But it wasn't like I sought her out.

I had business to tend to, affairs to take care of while Lucius was locked up in Azkaban.

Your grandmother was literally in pieces watching her family disintegrate, and I was the only one who could take care of her.

But we were meant to meet again it seemed.

She worked at the ministry I learnt a few days later when I bumped into her there.

At the time I was still without a job based on my name and side during the war. They had cleared me of all charges, but to the public eye I would always remain one of them.

Those were difficult times, especially without father around.

I was trying in earnest to get accepted, while the entire society was against me it seemed. It was during one of those bouts of self-pity that I rammed right into her."

The Ministry of Magic, mid-afternoon, 25th May 2001

"Watch where you're going!" they said at the same time after their head on collision.

As to whose fault it was, each would point at the other, even decades later.

But at the moment they were too engrossed in picking up his scattered papers to see who the other was.

"Here" She said handing him the few she had collected.

"Malfoy!" she said finally catching sight of his blonde hair and pale complexion.

"Granger" he nodded to her gathering the last of what seemed to be a portfolio.

She had caught sight of a few words on the papers she had given back to him and was curious to find out more. "Is that your CV Malfoy? Looking for a job in the ministry then? Why the Malfoy Industries is not to your liking?" she asked her tone playful.

"None of your business." he muttered trying to brush past her so he could escape without explanation.

She was confused by his cold behavior, especially after their previous rendezvous, but she let it slip watching him step into the green flames and spin away.

The Weasely Residence, present day

"So after he unceremoniously bumped into me, he just left me staring after him.

The Malfoy name had taken quite a beating so I brushed it off thinking he was trying to redeem himself.

But that was till I saw him walking away from the auror department looking quite disgruntled the next week.

As you know, Malfoys don't get disgruntled, so I wanted to know what had brought that frown on his face." Hermione told her enraptured daughter.

I know it's short, but I just felt like continuing with the story :)

Thanks for the reviews, alerts and favs :D I really didn't expect such a great response :P would love a few more reviews though *hint* ;)

Let me know what you think then! Until next time :)