Mother,

Halfway into the second week and the students seem like they're gradually getting more comfortable around me. Most don't look as though I'll avada them right then and there if they so much as answer a question wrong. That's an improvement. I held a civilized conversation with Granger this past Friday at The Three Broomsticks too. I thought it would be harder to speak with her, all things considered. She actually isn't as much of an insufferable know it all as I remember. Or, maybe she's just better at hiding it now. The half giant man is still teaching Care of Magical Creatures. He also isn't nearly as bad as I remember. I think that the people I knew back when I was a student may think the same thing of me, but I also don't want to hold my breath. I know I still have a lot of work to do. This guilt has eaten me alive for years, mother. I don't mean to hurt you as I know you will read this and feel guilty as well. I suppose these feelings are just a part of our punishment we inflict on ourselves. I will be a better man, mother. I will bring honor back to our name. I want you to be able to go out, shop, and not worry about those bints at the Daily Prophet pestering and harassing you. I want people to be able to look me in the eye and know that I'm trustworthy. What happened in the past won't be our legacy, mother. I promise I will protect you from that. I love you very much and hope you're doing well.

Love,

Draco

Draco sealed the letter and walked to the owlery before dinner started, cursing himself for not bringing his owl. He decided that he would floo to the Manor that weekend to visit his mother for a few hours and pick up his Eagle Owl, Owlbert. He was the offspring of Draco's first owl, Bubo Bubo, who had died a couple of years before.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize that another professor was already in the owlery sending off letters of her own.

"Malfoy?" He heard his name being called and looked around until he saw the long bushy hair.

"Good evening, Granger." He expressed cordially.

"I thought you had an owl." Her brown eyes questioned, even though it was a statement.

"I do. I'm going to the Manor this weekend to retrieve him and visit my mother." He said conversationally.

She nodded. "That would be nice. What's his name? Or her name?" She added.

"His name is Owlbert." Draco held back a grin. He had thought it would be funny to name his owl with a pun of sorts.

To his bewilderment, his old nemesis and new colleague laughed.

"That's clever." She said. Her laugh crinkled her face. It was genuine.

"Thank you, I thought so too." He let himself grin.

"You're welcome." She replied, suddenly not meeting his gaze. The smile she had vanished as soon as it appeared.

She started walking in his direction to leave when he asked "Do you have any plans this weekend too?"

She almost looked taken aback. "I was going to visit Hagrid. Harry and Ron are going to floo here for a bit Saturday and Neville is going to join us. My birthday is soon and this is a rare weekend that they have off. So, we're going to celebrate a little early over at Hagrid's."

"Well, that sounds like it will be..very pleasant. Happy early birthday, Granger." He nodded towards her as she continued walking past him and out the door.

He hoped to not run into Saint Potter or Weasel. Being civil with Granger wasn't a hard feat for him to accomplish. However, he knew that if he saw those other two dunderheads, it would turn into an argument. Potter had saved his life and defeated Voldemort, but he still didn't like him or the idiot Weasel. It wasn't like those feelings weren't mutual either. He tried to save Potter at the Manor before and Potter had in turn saved his arse. They were even. And furthermore, just because he didn't like the two gits didn't mean that he wanted them dead. He wasn't a monster.

"Draco, I'm so glad to see you. It's been lonely not having you here the past month." His mother told him that Friday after he flooed to the Manor. They were having tea in the sitting room. He felt a wave of guilt in his stomach for leaving his mother by herself.

"I've missed you too, Mother." He told her. Ever since his father died, for the most part, they had only had each other to rely on. They were shunned aside from a few of her friends and Draco's friends. The only two he talked with anymore was Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Theodore had always been a close friend, but Zabini was different. Zabini was part of their group in school, but had an air of distaste towards most people, including Draco. It wasn't until after the war they had gotten close.

"How are classes going? You mentioned in your letter that the students are becoming more comfortable with you." Narcissa said.

"It appears that way." He placed his palm on his forehead and sighed.

"Do you enjoy teaching the classes? How has that been?" She asked, noting her sons demeanor as she sipped her tea.

"It's been great, honestly. I didn't know I could enjoy anything so much. They're so bright. The First Years, as nervous as they are, put in the most effort, you know that? It's like they're trying to prove themselves." He confided, surprised at the pride in his voice.

"Like a certain new professor I know." Narcissa said knowingly.

"Maybe that's why I've become so fond of them. It's their first year too." Draco surmised.

"I assume the Slytherins are the most favorable to you." Narcissa smiled.

"Of course, don't let what I said fool you, mother. The Gryffindors are still bloody annoying." Draco smirked.

After visiting with his mother and having dinner with her, Draco put Owlbert in his cage as well as grabbed what the owl would need such as food and treats. He flooed back to his personal dorm and spent the rest of the night reading before showering and going to bed.

"I baked yer a cake, 'Ermione." Hagrid said happily the next day. She looked at the cake he held in front of her and smiled. It was red with gold frosting and had "22" in the center. She noted that Hagrid had gotten better at baking and that she could possibly eat this without blanching. Of course, the sentiment is what actually mattered. Hagrid was one of the kindest people she had ever known and she felt a wave of gratitude flush through her that prompted her to give him a huge hug.

"Thank you, Hagrid." She smiled.

Harry and Ron were also at Hagrid's Hut sitting at his table. They had flooed into her dorm prior to coming to Hagrid's and walked with her there.

There was a knock on the door and Neville came in.

"Hey, everyone!" Neville greeted them.

Harry and Ron went over to shake his hand and walk him over to the table, talking along the way.

"The cake looks good, Hagrid." Neville noted.

"Thank yer, Neville." Hagrid addressed him happily.

Once everyone had sat back down and sang happy early birthday to Hermione wildly off key, they dug into the cake. Hermione was colored impressed because it was actually quite good.

"So, what's it like working with that git Malfoy?" Ron addressed Hagrid, Hermione, and Neville with cake in his mouth.

"To be honest, not bad." Hermione stated.

"He hasn't said anything to me since I saw him with McGonagall a bit over a month ago." Neville answered.

"I aven't talked ter 'im." Hagrid replied with a shrug.

"He hasn't done anything?" Harry asked incredulously.

"He's been quite nice to me, actually." Hermione told him.

"Malfoy, nice?" Ron chortled. "Sure. I'll believe that the day Charlie tells me dragons breathe ice."

"It's true. I've only had a handful of conversations with him, mind you, but he hasn't been unpleasant." Hermione said defensively. Why, she wasn't sure.

"He'll be back to his old ways. He's probably only here to recruit the next generation of Slytherins to join him on his way to become the next Voldemort." Ron jeered.

"Actually, his students say he's a good teacher." Neville chimed in. Ron gave him a scathing look, while Harry looked perplexed.

"It's just something some of my herbology students have told me because they were surprised that he was actually a good teacher and hasn't been condescending or rude towards any of them. So far, anyway." Neville explained quickly.

"Maybe the prat has changed, then." Harry shrugged.

"Are you kidding me, Harry? Not you too! What's next, are we all going to pretend he wasn't a bloody Death Eater and go have drinks with him like old chums at The Three Broomsticks? Is he going to join us on holidays?" Ron's face went red and the freckles on his face started to disappear.

"Calm down, Ron. No one said we are friends with him." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I did have drinks with him if you remember correctly, I wrote you about it." She added.

"Which is why I said what I did! You didn't plan on having drinks with him! He came over and bothered you!" Ron bellowed.

"Ron, calm down. We're supposed to be celebrating her birthday, mate." Harry sighed warily.

Neville and Hagrid had just watched the exchange in silence.

"Anyway, er, I got you a present Hermione. I know it isn't your birthday yet, but I figure since we're celebrating.." Neville trailed off handing her a small wrapped gift.

"Thank you, Neville." Hermione smiled as she took the package. She opened it and it was a set of grading quills.

"AH! Thank you, Neville! This is perfect! I'll save so much time!" She exclaimed.

"I love those things. It makes the work load tons easier." He replied happily.

"Here ya go, Hermione." Harry said as he too, handed her a gift. "It's from Ginny and I. She wrapped it, obviously. She said to tell you that she wanted to come today, but had practice."

Hermione opened the present and gasped. "Harry, this is, wow. I'm speechless. Thank you." She said as her eyes started to tear. "Tell Ginny I said thank you too, please." She added. It was a scrapbook full of pictures of her and her friends. She turned the pages and saw a picture of her, Ginny, and Luna during sixth year, a picture of her, Ginny, and Harry at their wedding, photos of them from when they were children, among others.

"It was Gin's idea. She thought since you would be here away from all of us, that you would appreciate this. She said it would kind of be like having everyone here with you." Harry told her.

"Truly, tell her I said thank you." Hermione whispered. Ginny had always been an amazing friend to her, even when her and Ron had broken up. This meant a lot to Hermione.

"My turn now." Ron said gruffly, still not completely over the petty argument, but attempting to make this as nice as a time anyway. He also handed her a wrapped package. Hermione opened the gift and feigned happiness over it. He had gotten her a necklace. The beads were made to look like flowers of some sort that wrapped around the whole necklace. The petals were a dull orange and the pistils on them were lilac. If she was being honest, it was ghastly.

"I love it!" She smiled, not wanting to hurt his feelings. She hated orange. "Thank you, Ron."

She held her breath, hoping that he thought she was genuine. He seemed to believe her.

"You're welcome." He smiled, now more warm that what he was.

Hermione noticed that Harry and Neville were both gaping at the necklace as if they couldn't believe Ron had thought that was a good idea. Hagrid didn't look bothered by it, probably in agreement with Ron that it was, in fact, a lovely gift.

Neville was the first to excuse himself about an hour later, where Hermione, Ron, and Harry soon followed suit. They thanked Hagrid and shared hugs before they left and walked back to the castle. Harry and Ron carried the gifts they had gotten her while she carried the quills Neville got her. On their way back, Hermione felt her heart drop to her stomach as they made their way to the entrance of the castle because as soon as they were about to reach the doors, another figure had come out. It distinctly reminded her of when they were still students because she could feel both Harry and Ron tense when they saw him. He, however, wasn't looking up and didn't see them at first.

Hermione, not wanting any conflict, quickly called out to him.

"Good afternoon, Malfoy!" She smiled and waved. She hoped Ron and Harry would follow her lead and not say anything that would cause a disturbance. She also hoped Malfoy wouldn't do anything to provoke them either.

Malfoy visibly stiffened when he saw them and hardened his face immediately. "Good day, Granger. Hope all is well." He replied curtly, avoiding the gazes Harry and Ron were throwing his way.

"Malfoy." Harry nodded as he passed.

"Potter." Malfoy nodded back.

Malfoy had gotten past them when Ron all of a sudden turned around to call after him. "Oi, Malfoy, what exactly are you playing at, anyway?"

Draco spun on his heels to direct his attention towards Ron, not moving forward or back an inch. "While, I'll assume you're referring to my employment, Weasley, you'll find that it is actually none of your concern." He hissed.

"I'm an auror, so it is actually my concern that a bloody Death Eater is teaching at a school with kids, some who aren't pure blooded. Not to mention, my muggle born best friend." Ron stated with malice.

Draco rolled his eyes and bit back. "I'm not a Death Eater anymore, Weasley, and as I said my employment is not your concern. It's between myself and McGonagall. If you have that much of a problem with it, you can take it up with her. As far as the students, I would never harm them. I would also not hurt Granger in anyway, so shut that arse you call a mouth."

With that, Malfoy turned back around and made it to a point where he could disapparate and he was gone.

Hermione slapped Ron's arm.

"Ouch! What the bloody hell was that for?" He barked.

"For being a right arse, Ronald Weasley! He didn't do anything and quite frankly, handled it very well!" Hermione shrieked.

"You're defending that prat again? Are you just completely bonkers now?" He shouted.

"If any of my students see this display you're showing, I will refuse for you to come visit me again." She seethed.

"Guys, can we just drop it. Come on, Ron. We need to get going anyway." Harry said, grabbing Ron's arm with his free one that wasn't carrying the scrapbook.

Hermione and Ron were both huffy and silent the rest of the way back to her dormitory. When they got to her door, Hermione said "leonis," and they walked in. Ron grabbed some floo and left without a word to either of them.

Harry sighed. "You know, I'm starting to see why it didn't work out with you two."

"I'm sorry, Harry." Hermione murmured.

"Don't be. He'll come around. He always does. Happy early birthday." He gave her a hug and left through the floo.

After he left she plopped down on her sofa and picked up a book she'd been reading off the coffee table, tears welling up in her eyes. Isn't that how it usually ended? With her crying over Ron?