Chapter Seven

Nineteen years passed. Hermione married Ron and had two beautiful children 'Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley. Rose was going to start her schooling at Hogwarts next week and it was time for the family to go to Diagon Alley for her school supplies.

Hermione and Ron's relationship had always been rocky. They had decided that it was healthier for their children if they split two years ago. At first, the children were upset, then they rebelled as would be expected. Now, the children lived with Hermione due to the nature of Ron's job in the ministry. Hermione worked at Flourish and Blotts which kept reasonable hours at fair pay, A reminder of her smarts, Ron always thought but the real reason was her's to keep. They both were fine with the split now that they understood their parents would never get back together.

Ron and Hermione were happy to be friends again and always attended family events happily as a family. This outing was another family outing that neither parent wanted to miss.

Draco married Astoria Greengrass who he had grown quite fond of over the years. They had an understanding that it was an arranged marriage between their parents but were mutually happy with the arrangement. They understood that they had the option to leave the other when their fathers had died if they wished but would remain faithful until such a time. Astoria knew that Draco had always been in love with someone else but had never told her who. She respected his privacy.

Draco and Astoria had a son, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. They only had the one child to create an heir to the fortune that his father would approve of. Draco and Astoria agreed to raise Scorpius with a kind heart, they wanted to instill everything that their parents avoided to give to them into their own son.

Scorpius was due to start Hogwarts next week. Draco had arranged for the day off work at the ministry to go to Diagon Alley with Scorpius and Astoria.

"Mum, can I get new Robes?" Rose asked excitedly. Hermione nodded. Although they led a simple life, they had saved enough money for their children to get everything new. A requirement from Ron after receiving everything as hand me downs from his older brothers.

Rose squealed with happiness running in to get measured in Madame Malkin's Dress Shop. Hugo went with his father to his uncle's candy shop down the way. As Hermione sat in the store patiently, she looked out the window. A few minutes had passed by. It wasn't until the bell above the door tinkled that Hermione was brought back to reality.

"Three sets of Hogwarts robes and one set of Dress robes, please" She heard a deep male voice ask proudly. It wasn't the voice that caught her attention, it was the reply from the customer that made her head flick around.

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy"

Hermione stood quietly, admiring the man in front of her carefully before turning at her daughter's voice. "Mum, did you hear me?"

"Sorry, rose. You look lovely darling." Hermione said standing to admire her daughters' new robes. They could manage to pay for two sets of robes. "We will get two sets, please" She added to the attendant.

Draco heard a woman talking to her daughter across the store, but it wasn't until he heard the shop attendant speak that he too spun to see who it was.

"Of course, Ms. Granger"

Hermione walked up to the counter as her daughter changed to pay for her robes. A voice from behind her made her smile. "Hello Hermione," Draco said touching her lightly on her forearm. She turned and smiled. "Draco, it's lovely to see you again." She returned the smile and laid a small kiss on his cheek. She felt her lips tingle as they lingered momentarily.

They smiled at each other. Only when the attendant cleared their throat to gain her attention did she turn.

"My apologies. What did that come to?" She asked quietly. "10 galleons, 7 sickles, 3 nuts, Madam," they replied.

Hermione scrounging through her purse "here you go 10 and 7 " she replied placing the small bag of coins before them. "And 3 nuts, Ms. Granger," the shop attendant said quietly.

Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry, I must have miscalculated at the bank, I'll just come back later with the rest if that's.." Before she could finish, a Sickle was placed on the counter.

She turned to see Draco removing his hand "Thank You, Draco but i.." he silenced her with his hand on her waist. "Please, keep the change."

The shop attendant nodded thankfully before returning to Draco's son for his fitting. He removed his hand just in time. Rose came out of the changing room to see the two adults standing next to each other.

"Mum?" she asked pointedly, smiling between them. "Oh Rose, this is Mr. Malfoy. He and I attended school together at Hogwarts. Mr. Malfoy, this is my daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley" She said with a smile.

He smiled and put out his hand. "Nice to meeting you Miss Granger," he said. She looked at her mother for approval, who nodded with a smile. "And you, Mr. Malfoy," she said quietly.

"Rose, why don't you go find your father and brother. Tell them I will meet you all at Ollivanders in ten minutes?" Hermione said. Rose smiled and nodded before leaving the store. Draco looked at his son proudly. "And what is your son's name?" Hermione asked looking on affectionately. "Scorpius, after my great-grandfather." He said proudly. "He is everything my father would have hated me to become," he added.

Hermione chuckled at this. She knew Draco hated his father." and how is Lucius" she asked carefully. "He died in Azkaban six months ago." he said quietly "although I hated him, the idea of a grandfather to Scorpius was limited. Astoria's father died when she was little, I never got to meet him." he said somewhat sadly.

"What about you how many children?" he asked curiously as they sat down on the couch in the waiting area. "Just two. Rose, who you met and Hugo. He is eight." she said with a smile.

"How is Weasley?" he asked kindly. She knew he didn't really care but was being polite. "He is good. He is dating Lavender Brown again," she added, much to Draco's surprise. "We divorced two years ago. It wasn't a healthy relationship, we do however remain friends and attend family events together with the children," she said with a small smile.

Draco returned the smile. His heart was soaring from the memories of their last year at Hogwarts as if it was only yesterday.

"Father, what do you think?" Scorpius asked turning his father's attention to him. "Very smart. Your grandmother would be proud," he said with a smile before giving his son a hug. " I'm so proud of you, son," he added.

As his son got changed, Draco wrote on a piece of parchment at the front of the store. He folded it up and turned to Hermione. "It was a pleasure as always, Hermione, " he said before shaking her hand, placing a lingering kiss on her cheek. With that Draco turned meeting his son as he exited the changing room and left the store.

Once he left, Hermione opened her hand to revealed the note he had written

"Meet me in room 19, Leaky Cauldron after we drop off at 9 ¾ ~ D"