Author's Note: Hi! I know this chapter is short, I am actually travelling to the UK for three weeks in a few hours so I thought I'd post what I had now. I will not have any internet or computer access. I will try to post the next installment in early September :) Thanks for reading!


Chapter 4: Meeting

It was plainly obvious why Scorpius was head over heels for Rose Weasley.

Greeting them both with a soft 'Hi' she had a shy air; it was coy not timid. Wearing a white lace dress, her smile lit up the doorway as she waved.

Draco was only thankful that her red hair was wild, that her blue eyes and freckles didn't take away from the fact she was petite and clutching a book.

"Hey Rose."
Though he was meant to be supportive, the puppy dog expression Scorpius currently donned provided it quite difficult for Draco to keep a straight composure.

"Um, please, come in."
Holding out her arm in a welcoming way, she retreated into the house, which smelt of fresh laundry; the floors were spotless, nothing was out of place. Following her inside, Scorpius only focused on her, as she graciously took his broom and bag, bending over to sett it aside on the ground.

Soft tendrils fell over her vision as she stood up straight, a pink flush covering her cheeks as she moved them aside to notice her date gazing at her. Biting her lip and sweeping the strays behind her ears, she proceeded to outstretch her hand to her other guest.

"Hello, I'm Rose. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Same to you, Rose. You can call me Draco if you like."

The pink deepened to scarlet, as he grinned at her with teeth, ignoring the fact his son had reacted to his words by placing his hands over his face.

"O-okay," she stuttered, clearing her throat before speaking again. "Um, I hear Amsterdam is lovely. Do you enjoy living there?"

Her question was met with hesitation, he hadn't expected more than two words from a nervous teenager.

"It is quite beautiful, yes. I do very much. Much better than London in my opinion."

Rose was now teetering back and forth on her toes.

"I imagine so! Do you speak Dutch fluently then? How long have you been living there for?"

"No, not yet. Probably not ever. Enough to have a proper conversation," he admitted, causing her to giggle back. "And close to 9 years now I'd wager?"

"Wow that's so long! And your house is along the Amstel? It looks so beautiful in pictures. Scorpius said you don't mind if I visit, thank you so much! I've always wanted to go to the Anne Frank House, and the Van Gogh museum. I have never had the time or chance to even go to mainland Europe."

Scorpius was now darting back and forth between looking at his father and his girl, mouth slightly agape.

"Not at all, I'm sure Scorpius would love to show you around, and you'd probably appreciate the culture more than him," Draco finished with a grin.

She giggled again.
"Uh Rose, wasn't your mum supposed to have a chat or something with 'Draco'," Scorpius asked gently, glaring sideways at his father, who raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, well, she's actually…out. Picking up my brother, Hugo. See he takes these afternoon art classes on Saturdays. Apparently though he felt ill, so she went to go pick him up early."

"Oh."
Silence overtook, at the realization Draco would have to wait for a lecture, and Scorpius and Rose had to postpone their outing.

"Yes…well would you like some tea? She won't be long left half an hour ago in the car."

"Certainly, that would be great."

Beckoning them past the staircase she pointed to a worn green armchair for Draco to sit down on in their reading room, with glossy wooden floors and shelves full of books.

"Your mum drives? That's so cool. Dad would never think of setting foot behind a – "

"Yes, thank you Scorpius. I have no need to, I can apparate. Much quicker."

"Mum says it relaxes her. Gives her 'time to think'. Also, apparition when you`re sick is a bad idea. Although I agree with you, Draco, she tried to teach me with my dad and it was so stressful!"

"I just thought it would be cool," the boy muttered.

Another glare was shot at his father by Scorpius, discreetly hidden from Rose's view, as he towered behind her line of view.

"Oh it is! I'll go get the kettle on, is earl grey fine?"

"Perfect," the two men both said in unison, startling each other before smirking in the exact same way.

"Wonderful, well I'll just be a moment."

Sauntering away, the boy watched her go before racing to Draco to give him an earful.

"What are you doing?"

"What are you talking about?"
Both hands were placed on the arms, so his face was directly in his fathers, rage induced in his grassy eyes.

"You're making me look bad! Talking to her about Amsterdam…about languages, and, and,"

"Oh my lord, Scorpius, calm down," Draco instructed, putting his palm an inch form is nose. "She was asking me questions to obviously ease any qualms I may have about her, trying to make a good impression; she's just as anxious as you."

"You were flirting with her!"

"Scorpius."

It was very difficult, very difficult, not to laugh.

"Okay maybe I'm overreacting but she was looking at you like she wanted to bang, so please don't ruin my chances by sticking round more than necessary."

"Please, Scorpius. She was not. And trust me, the sooner I can leave the better. Now go help her for Merlin's sake, don't you want to impress her?"

"Right, you're right. SORRY."

Draco could've sworn there was a trail of dust behind him as he ran into the kitchen.

{}

Hugo was asleep in the front seat, with vomit on his jumper that trailed to her own dress as they were stuck in the heavy traffic that was just five minutes away from home. Hermione couldn't stop her eye from twitching, the smell probably permeating the expensive leather seats forever, and a man she hadn't spoken to in almost 15 years sitting in her next destination.

"Maybe he won't be there yet…Maybe he already came, and he'll have made some excuse to leave," she spoke to herself. "Yeah, I mean, he certainly doesn't want to have to see me either, right?"

Finally the red light was green and she could speed up to 30 only to have to go back to 10 as she turned onto her street.

Dread pooled in her stomach as she pulled into the driveway, looking at herself in the rear-view mirror, then at the putrid stain just below her chest.

Cursing herself for forgetting her wand, at least she could've used tergeo for a bit of cleanliness, she nudged Hugo awake; he was much too big now for her to carry. He groaned, whining about his stomach.
"I know, darling, we just have to get you inside and cleaned up ok?"

"Okay mum…..er, sorry about the car."
Clutching his sketchbook, he jumped out of his seat, walking as fast as his weak will could. Hermione shook her head, slamming the door shut, sauntering to her house, counting backwards from 10.

From the sliver of a view from the foyer, Rose was already cooing over her brother as he greeted her in the kitchen, asking him about how he was feeling, fussing over his ruined sweater.
"Aww, Hugo, are you okay? Here, hold on," she grabbed her wand from the counter and pointed it at him, "Tergeo," she incanted.

"I'm fine, Rosie, I'm fine," he mumbled. As Hermione took off her sandals, she noticed he suddenly perked up his inflection three notches. "Hi Scorpius! Do you wanna see my drawing? It's a Hungarian Horntail! The other kids are all muggles so they were impressed by how 'realistic' is looked, isn't that funny?"

Making her way down the front hall, she turned into the kitchen to find a near identical replica of 16 year old Draco Malfoy, only slightly more dishevelled with kinder, greener, eyes.
Hugo pulled open his book, revealing his art adventure of the day, a perfect illustration of a dragon in colored pencils.

"Wow, man, that's so good! If only you could use magical ink and then it'd be roaring right off the page."

"Thanks!" Hugo beamed, slightly green.

"You're welcome," the boy replied, beaming right back.

It was like a bizarro déjà vu that Hermione was thrust in where a Malfoy was actually genuine and nice; she hadn't thought it possible.

Clearing her throat, she remembered her manners: "Hi Rose….Scorpius. Nice to meet you."

Holding out her hand, the boys expression took a turn for the panicky, shuffling over to shake it immediately.
"Nice to meet you too Mrs. Weasley! Thank you so much for having me over, uh, my dad is in your study, I - we were making tea and stuff but then you came inside and we hadn't brought it in yet, should I go get him? I mean he probably heard you come in but he's a bit shy and awkward so, oof."
Rose had elbowed him in the ribs with her elbow, while Hugo was chuckling behind his hand.

Endearing.
Draco Malfoy's son was a babbling, endearing, nervous wreck.

She was nearly lost for words, but the smell of the vomit brought her back to the present.
"No, no, it's fine. Bring in the tea….I just need to change. Hugo, you need to get to bed."

"Aw," he whined, "Ok. Scorpius do you wanna play Rocket Invaders later? I just got it! It's wicked!"

"Hugo he's here to see me?" Rose said, crossing her arms. "not play some dumb video game."

Suddenly Hugo heaved gently, his belly gurgling.
"Okay…yeah, maybe another time."

Scorpius snickered. "I will play with you one day, you're just going to have to show me how."

"Okay!"
Not able to take another minute of this strange dream, Hermione pushed Hugo by the shoulders to the back of their home, kissing him on the forehead before he closed his door to get to sleep.

Rushing to the master, she then was shucking off her clothes as alarm hit her. The overwhelming emotion she had running through her body was self-consciousness.

"It's normal, you haven't seen him in years, he hasn't seen you. And last time he commented on your appearance it was to insult you."
She also was recently separated with the person he seemed to hate almost as much as Harry, with two children, both who resembled their father immensely. Who enjoyed the non-magical aspects of life equally to their counterparts.

Hanging the dress up, enchanting the stains away after relinquishing her treasured vine, she grabbed a red tunic and threw it overtop her tights. Looking in her vanity, all she could focus on was how she'd fallen behind in her cardio, and maybe this outfit was a bit too revealing about the legs. Examining her face, she wiped the stray mascara that he bled under her lashes off her skin, smoothing down her hair with a small spritz of hair potion so it curled instead of frizzed.
"Good enough."

Sighing, she forced herself away from her reflection to tiptoe down the hall, peeking into the room anyone could see her, Hermione flung back around and put her spine against the wall.

Draco Malfoy was in her study. Nearly two decades had passed without his involvement in her life, why must he be there now?

Soft pale hair parted on the side, there was nary a trace of the gel he once abused. Besides a few lines under his eyes, on his forehead, he looked exactly the same as he had in his youth, minus the pompous sneer. One leg crossed over the other, immaculately dressed and poised as is pureblood custom, he had been smiling, smiling not smirking, as he chatted to her daughter.

And she couldn't help but notice that he was no longer skinny, or gaunt; not in the very least.
"UGH."

That was perhaps a bit loud.
"Mum? You okay?" Rose called from inside.

"Fine dear."

Gripping the wand in her pocket, she thrust herself into the deep end, noticing her visitor's gaze burning into her like the very worst curse immediately. As if he were calculating every facet of herself in a moment's glance.

"Hello."

Expression like he'd seen a banshee ravage his mother, the lump in his throat was swallowed before he greeted her.
"Hi Gr – uh, Hermione."

His voice was scratchy and stiff. Scrunching his features for a second, though one second she noticed, his composure regained in a snap.

Granger.
That's what he meant to say, is that how she still was viewed in his head? Was she still the mudblood girl he refused to speak to from childhood?

"Doing well?" she inquired to start this conversation.

"Fine. And yourself?"

"Fine."

The riveting conversation was met with apprehensive stares from the teenagers in the room, tensely perched on the sofa with perfect posture.

"Rose…why don't you take Scorpius to the field now? The quaffle is in the backyard. You can play for a few hours, and I'll come to get you when it's supper if you aren't back? How does that sound?"

"Brilliant, come on let's go," she was already half off the couch, heaving her date by the arm. "See you later, Draco!"

Waving to him, Hermione muttered "Draco?" incredulously as Scorpius also waved his goodbyes to his father.

Shuffling filled the recessed of the house, clanging of brooms and rumbling footsteps to hastily get outside and out of the stressed atmosphere. And suddenly, all was quiet. Rubbing her arm with edgy ticking fingers, still standing, it was broken as Draco lowered his cup very slowly while keeping eye contact, clinking onto the plate.

She cleared her throat. "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked to speak to you…I – "

"I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to think I'm attempting to intimi- excuse me, what?"

If she hadn't witnessed his lips forming the words, the sound undoubtedly his tone, she couldn't have believed it. And most noticeable of all was that it was spoken sincere, quiet. She was frozen.

"I said I'm sorry," he repeated, adjusting in his seat, face pained. "I figured I should get apologies out of the way first. It's almost twenty years too late, but I really am sorry I treated you so poorly back then."

"Um, alright."
Shifting her weight to one side, she was clutching one of her wrists so tightly it would leave a red mark, looking anywhere but at him.

"I know you probably are concerned that Scorpius will share my genetic disposition to be a complete arse to everyone around him, but he doesn't."

"I am, yes but – " she paused.

"Look, I figured you probably never wanted to see me again for the rest of your life, and I hadn't planned on it either except for the fact that Scorpius' mother wanted him to go to Hogwarts. So I appreciate that you've allowed him to spend time with your daughter when her father won't let he nor I near her when she's with him."

He knew.
For some reason it cut her deeper knowing he was trying for tact not to mention her 'ex', Weasley, when he could have without it being entirely offensive. Without asking any questions. Instead Ron was reduced to the status of being 'Rose's father'.

"It's…no problem, really. I can tell she really likes Scorpius, and it seems as if he is the same."

"Very much so."
A hint of a smirk splayed across his mouth.

Sometimes there were moments where Hermione was taken from reality to an odd place where she was observing herself living life like she were a different person. Draco Malfoy was a father, one who was amused by his sons antics. One who maybe, hopefully, had instilled in is son with thanks to Astoria that everyone was equal, that everyone deserved respect.

"I'm glad to hear it. If all goes smoothly today, my only concern would be her travelling to Amsterdam."

Realizing she was being slightly rude standing like an interrogator, she sat down across from him.

"Scorpius knows his way around the places that are close to our house. I can take them anywhere else if you really are that worried," he was assuring her, confident all of a sudden. "He also knows the consequences of making stupid decisions, if Rose is anything like you she does too."

Was that a compliment?
"Okay."

"I think it would be good for Scorpius to give him some responsibility, let him earn more trust. Not that I have a problem with him currently, but they're 16, I think they can make their own decisions with good guidance."

"I agree."

"Excellent, well…shall we keep in touch then or…?"

"Um, alright, so you have a telephone number I can reach you at?"

Pink slowly ebbed from his ears to his cheeks but his form remained unchanged.
"Actually no, but Scorpius has been nagging me for that to change. So if he can give you his you can contact me through him for now if that's not too troublesome. Or owl post of course."

"Sure…"

"Right, well perhaps I should be going now. I'll pick him up at 8, shall I?" he asked, standing up.

"Yes. Thanks…um, goodbye."

"Bye."
Turning the corner he wept the sweat beginning to glisten from his brow, sighing in relief from the strain of how uncomfortable the whole exchange had been. Though it wasn't nearly as horrible as he expected, he couldn't help being distracted by how different Hermione had looked from how he remembered her, noticing sharp or soft features that he never noticed when he was 15 and horny.

Back on the sofa Hermione watched from the window as the she heard the muffled crack of apparition, watching him disappear from her porch.
It had went well, perhaps too well.

Dinner with Scorpius would be interesting, her mind riddled with questions she could subtly aim at him to know more about this Slytherin recluse that had somehow found his way back in her life by chance.