Hermione Granger was now sitting at the long vertical table at the top of the Great Hall. She looked down at the half full tables of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. The ceiling was laden with floating candles, that swayed in the wind. The sky above is dark and roaring with thunder and flashing with Lightning. She smiled as her sweater seemed to get slightly more warm underneath her black cloak.

She glanced down the table. Proffessor Flitwick Proffessor Sprout, Hagrid, Headmistress McGonagall. There were a few more faces that she recognized as well. Draco sat to her immediate left. They sat infront of the Slytherin Table.

"I would like to introduce a few new students, as we have a sorting ceremony to go through ladies and gentleman." The headmistress gestured out towards the crowd of students that had just a moment before been talking amongst themselves. Just then you could hear the large moans of the doors openings up at the other end of the hall. Filch the caretaker in his very old age had just got done pushing the large doors open. A small group of students stood behind him in a tight group.

Filch gestured towards the front of the great hall where the sorting Hat sat on his stool waiting for the first student to be called upon. The girls and boys looked mortified as they made their way towards the stool. They glanced around at their peers, and huddled closer together as they finally got to the front.

The hat sang its song, it was deffinitly a new one of joy and happyness of new beginings, to being loyal to one another. It was heartfelt and meaningfull.

Hermione watched as student after student was sorted to where they would belong the best. It brought back her time of sitting of the stool. She had sat there for what seemed like an eternity. It was between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, it was a struggle to pick either. She loved the ideals of Ravenclaw but deep down she knew that Gryffindor was where she needed to be. So they had discussed and talked it over, just like a Ravenclaw, but the sorting hat saw her bravery that was hidden deep inside, her loyalty to whomever would come across as needing it. They decided together that Gryffindor would be her home. Little did she know that the boy with the lightning scar, and the red headed freckled boy would be her soulmates in a way. She grasped at her chest as it heaved. She would need to owl the boys and check up on them. See how their lives were fairing. Maybe arrange a weekend with them.

The very last 1st year was a tiny girl with loose red curls, and a splash of freckles down her nose and cheeks. She was sorted into Huffelpuff. The students cheered and clapped as the last girl sat on the bench. She was red from embarassment, but a smile from ear to ear filled her face. It lit up Hermiones heart all the more.

Draco sat next to Hermione at the top of the Great Hall. It was an odd experience to say the least. He stared down at the empty silver plate infront of him. How could anyone let him back here? Hermione was right. What am I doing? He thought to himself. This just wasnt right. He douted himself more and more as the evening went on.

At the begining right before the students had stepped foot into their own new begining Draco noticed that Hermione was staring at the ceiling. It flashed with lightning, and the clouds rumbled with thunder. He saw just enough of her sweater to cast a new charm on it to give her more time. He had learned the art of wandless magic, as well as non verbal. It was something he had to do to survive after he was released from the Aurors custody following the trial.

He had been on the run for quite a few months just trying to figure out what he was going to do. It was handy learning the spells especially with Aurors rounding up known Deather Eaters. He winched as his back pocket of his dress pants seemed to grow heavy. In the back of his leather wallet he carried a piece of paper that if he was ever caught up by any Auror in any country he would show them the paper to show he was delcared innocent of all trials and was released from all alligations against his name.

Draco had to only show it once in the four years he carried the paper. He would only have to carry it for another six years then he wouldn't need to worry. He had to carry it until his 28th birthday, only because they estimated it would take that long to round up everyone who had fled after the war and still lived. They were still catching people even four years later. Atleast one to two a month.

He had zoned out long enough to miss the students being sorted into their new houses. He saw a small redheaded girl sitting down at the Huffelpuff table and the students letting out a huge roar of excitment.

"Students, silence please" the Headmistress only had to say it once. They quited as she looked out over them and smiled. "I would like to introduce a few new professors." Whispers started as many of the students glanced towards Draco and Hermione. Draco sat there his hands clasped together infront of him. He had slid his cloak off and laid it on the back of the chair. His jet black suit seemed to shine in the light. He looked rather terriffying to the younger students. The ones who didnt know him.

Draco realized just then that only four years ago he was considered a seventh year student. Making the seventh years now third years at the time. And the fifth years just coming into the school. The seventh and sixth year students would know who he was. But he wouldn't know them.

"Mr. Malfoy is taking over for Madam Hooch as coach, referee for the games, and also teaching you the basics of flying. We know the fifth thru seventh years know Mr. Malfoy, please keep in mind he is now your Teacher." Draco stood and gave a small wave to the students and sat back down promptly. He got some claps from a small portion of the students but otherwise it remaind silent. He figured as much. He groaned inwardly and squeezed his fist into a tight ball. This was going to be harder than he originally thought.

He noticed Hermione stand from her seat and wave out at the students. They had cheered their hearts out, his ears were drowning in the screams of happy students. The headmistress had to calm the students down before she could continue her speech. Draco was ready to find his warm bed and sleep in, seeing as he didn't have his first class till later that next afternoon.

Draco zoned out of the situation that was going on.He stared at his plate. Thoughts drifting back home. Maybe this job wasnt for him, maybe not for a couple more years..atleast until the school was filtered out of students he may or may not know. But he had made the promise that hr wouldn't be a coward anymore, that he was going to start a new begining.

Hermione glanced over at Draco as he stared at his plate full of his favorite foods. Hers was filled with her own favorites from mash potstoes to pot roast, and rolls. So she assumed that his was filled the same way. She began to eat wondering what was wrong with the Slytherin Prince. He had been distant and zoned out since the Headmistress had introduced him as a new Proffessor.

"Mr. Malfoy." She had leaned over and whispered in his ear. "You may want to start eating your dinner before it grows cold. Is everything okay?" She noticed that he had flinched when she had started speaking. Where had he drifted off too? Hermione thought. He was just as bad as she was.

"Thank you Miss Granger," he looked at her his face slightly flushed. But she knew it was from anger more than embarassment. "I didn't realize how many of these students I would still know from four years ago. I don't think its appropriate that I am here..nor wise." He was getting angrier and angrier as he let the words form on his tongue a small storm forming in his eyes.

Hermione thought for a moment as she shoved a piece of pot roast into her mouth with a swig of apple cider to chase it down. "Now listen here. You spoke nothing more of how much you need this job. To start a new begining. Don't you dare start to wuss out on me now Farrett." She smiled a small forgiving smile at the use of the word ferrett. But he needed to realize he needed this job as much as she did.

"Hmph," he scowled at the word. It wasn't that big of a deal but the memory of why the word was a thing stung. "You're never going to let that go are you?" He glanced at her a spark in his blue eyes. She did notice that the storm behind them was subsiding.

She smirked back at him. Of course she wssn't going to let him live it down. The stuff he put her through. God forbid she called him a ferrett. She laughed out loud at the thought. Draco stared at her like she was some kind of creature.

His eyes flared that storm again. "If your going to laugh at me for a joke you might as well share it Miss Granger. I dont take lightly to being laughed at and not knowing why I am." He growled low. She couldn't help but laugh more.

"You'll never live it down Mr. Malfoy, not for as long as we are in each others pressense." She smiled this time. But then it dawned on her. Was she subtly flirting with the Slytherin Prince? She still didn't know about the tan line of a ring on his wedding finger. But for the love of all that was Merlin why was she flirting with him?! She was rather angry with herself and blamed it on not having to much interaction with anyone for the last three months.

They sat in silence eating their food. The evening was drawing to an end as McGonagall stood from her seat and announced that dinner would be ending, and that all students were to follow their prefects to their dorms. They all watched as the plates infront of them disappear, all of the experienced students grabbing what they could of the deserts. Hermione smiled inwardly as she remembered the boys digging and grabbing for what they could to take back to the dorms with them.

As the students left and the Great Hall doors closed for the final time that evening, Professor McGonagall stood before the faculty, "Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger would you please follow me? I would like to show you where your rooms are." The two stood from their seats and gathered their cloaks. They followed her out of the door that was behind where they sat. She led them through several corridors, and down a few hallways.

"You each have your own, what do the muggles call them? Apartments?" She glanced at Hermione as she noddes her head to confirm she had the right word. "Each one had a one bedroom with its own bathroom, a kitchenette and a living area. They will conform to how you see fit, and if you want something changed all you have to do is ask politley. Now, Miss Granger this is your apartment," she gestured towards a door on the left of the dead end hallway. There were only three apartments down this corridor it seemed. "And Mr. Malfoy, this is your apartment," she gestured to the door at the very end of the hallway

"Professor?"

"Yes Miss Granger?"

"Whose in the apartment across from mine?" She was curious as to who the third person in the corridor would be.

"Well for now its empty, but we are in the middle of finding a new Herbology Professor if the person agrees then they will be there. Now as for you two. You don't know how much I appriciate your cooperation this evening. I thought it would be disasterous. I hope this civility continues."

"We plan on it Professor," Hermione was shocked when she heard those words come from Draco. She assumed that today was going to be the only day that this would be happening. Maybe he did really mean that he wants to start a new chapter in his life. The Professor nodded her head an declared that she going to head to her own warm bed for the night. She turned on her heel and left, leaving the two alone in the dimly lit corridor.

"Well, I guess its time to part ways. Thank you for meeting up with me today. And I really do mean everything Ive told you. I want to start anew Miss Granger." He held out his large hand towards her.

Hermione hesitated. She had shook his hand earlier today, but right now felt different. Earlier had felt morr like a business meeting rather than just a goodbye hand shake. This felt more like a promise by the way he worded things. She was going to hold him too it. So she reached out one more time and grabbed the mans hand and shook it.

They parted ways. Hermione watched as he disappeared into the shadows. His black suit disquising him. She barely made out his blonde hair in the torch light. She stood there and wished that things had been completely different. That he hadn't of grown up the way he had.

Shaking her head to clear her thought she walked up to her door. Touching the handle she found it wouldn't turn. But the next thing she knew a small voice whispered, "How would you like to secure your quarters ma'am?"

"Do you mean like a password?" Hermione said aloud.

The voice replied back, "Child, you do not have to speak out loud as only you can hear me inside your head. And yes would you care for a simple password to say, or say a riddle that you would need to answer. Maybe knocking a certain melody would suffice?"

She thought and simply replied that a normal password would be perfect. She set it and the door swung open. Taking a deep breath she entered the apartment. As soon as she stepped in the room lit by a beautiful fire in a gorgeous white mantle setting. A large mirror set above it, candles lining the mantle. On either side of the fire place set a ten tier book shelf full to the brim on every shelf. Infront of that sat a large plush looking black couch with a large red blanket that Hermione could see the Hogwarts crest sticking out just between the folds. Beside that set a white end table with a recliner on the other side, another blanket setnon the back of it.

The floor was carpeted with a thick white pile that reminded her of snow. The walls were a plain white. She stood in a small foyer that was where she could hang her cloak and take her shoes off. She did and made her way into the living area. To the left sat the small kitchenette, that contrasted the living space. The counters were done in white marble, and black appliances. To her right sat a door that she opened. It led into her bathroom. It held a large stand up shower done in shades of browns and blacks. It looked like the white marble in the kitchen. The shower had glass doors, and there was even a closet for towels and other needs.

"Maybe I'll spend all my time here except on vacations.." she said aloud as she made her way towards the final door. It was down a small hallway that was lit dimly. Opening the door she came face to face with a room that was better than the entierty of her own home.

The far wall was domed outwards with a very large window seat that looked to be as large as a bed. The entire part that was domed out was just one large window that was split in the middle so that you had the option of opening it. There was another large bookcase that seemed to hold more personal books like stories and such. There was a large king size bed that sat in the middle. It wasn't the typical four poster bed.

Walking up to it she laid her hand down on the fluffy white comforter and pushed down. She seemed to sink in it. It was perfect. She turned around and saw two sets of doors. One that led into the bathroom. And the other was a large walk in closet. She was in heaven. This was perfect.

She decided to go and put some hot chocolate on the stove and take a shower. She planned on sinking into her new bed with a cup, and a good book and falling asleep ready for tomorrows ventures.