I wish that you were me so you could feel this feeling… I know when you're not honest… Sometimes I want to walk in your shoes… look in the mirror and I say to myself, "You can't survive like this."… And I hate you for your lies and your covers… I know that I'm being hateful, but that ain't nothing. I'm just jealous, I'm just human; Don't judge me…
Beyoncé
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Hermione was greeted by an overwhelming sea of a red and green in the Great Hall as the students showed support for their favored team by sporting their house colors radiantly. Gryffindor versus Slytherin was the first quidditch game of the season.
Quidditch had never been a favored interest of Hermione's, but even she donned her old Gryffindor scarf in the spirit of school pride. As Headmistress, it was a bit biased of her but she had been a Gryffindor long before she had become a professor or Head of the school.
The students began to steadily trickle out of the Great Hall as they made their way to the stadium. Hermione stood up to make her way there as well when her eyes caught the presence of a familiar face slipping into the great hall.
"Harry!" Hermione called out. Ginny, who had been eating in the Great Hall besides Hermione, looked up as well and spotted her husband approaching them. The three of them met happily in the middle of the hall.
"Hey love," Harry greeted his wife first with a modest kiss on her forehead before turning to give Hermione a small greeting hug. "Hi Hermione."
"I didn't know you were coming to the game," said Hermione.
"Technically I'm not here for the game. I'm here on Ministry business. I have to check in with Malfoy and do an update on his file. I figured I might as well make a day of it and see my favorite team play against my most despised team by arriving a bit early."
"Plus, you get to see your best friend and your wife," added Ginny.
"Yes, well that's just an assumed bonus," agreed Harry as he put his arm around her and pulled her close in towards him.
"Ron's coming today as well. It'll be like old times for us watching the games," chimed Ginny.
"Is he?" Hermione acted like she hadn't remembered he would be coming.
She had been the one to approve his guest pass so of course she knew he was expected to be there. If only she'd had a legitimate reason to deny his pass and save herself the anguish of being near him for an entire afternoon.
"Yeah, he told me his son is mentoring the Gryffindor quidditch team now?" asked Harry.
"Yup. Landen's already been to one practice to help the team out. It went well. I stopped by to observe for a bit."
"That's good," said Harry.
"Are you going to be mentoring as well Hun?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah, they asked me to and I'd agree to try. I've just been busy with work is all. You know I'd take any excuse to get out of the office and onto a broom."
"You haven't been on a broom in ages love. Just make sure you don't hurt yourself trying to show off your stuff. Do you even own a broom anymore?" Ginny teased.
"Let's just say I got myself a little treat after I gifted Sophia with my Firebolt. I'm set."
"You didn't tell me that."
"I don't tell you everything. You're only my wife." he said to Ginny with a wink.
"Right," Ginny said with a laugh as she held onto his arm, walked out of the Great Hall with them, and headed towards the quidditch pitch.
/
As head of Slytherin House, Draco had a choice seat within the stadium. In honor of his house, he was wearing deep green robes with silver lining.
It was odd to be on the other side of the Slytherin team fence. He hadn't watched Slytherin play since he was in his first year and aspiring to land a position on the team himself. He could clearly remember watching enviously as the glorious green and silver robed players wisped past him, high up in the stands.
The teams were lining up when Draco first noticed Sophia on her Firebolt. Draco couldn't help but feel a peculiar prick of pride as he watched his student staring down the opposing team with a fierce concentration; even if she was on the opposing team.
The whistle blew and both teams shot out in action. The game had begun.
It was disappointing to admit, but the Gryffindor team was clearly much stronger than Slytherin that year. Draco watched as the Slytherin team captain punched his beater's mallet into the air in frustration as the first goal was made by Gryffindor within the first couple minutes of gameplay. It was a humiliating start for the Slytherin team.
The stands across from him cheered and raised up like a fluid mountain of red and gold. Even through the multitude of people, Hermione stood out through the midst. Draco watched her from afar looking happy and proud, her smile radiating all the way across the pitch.
She was standing next to Harry Potter, who Draco had expected to be there. They had a meeting scheduled later that day to confirm, for the Ministry, that Draco was adhering to the restrictions of his probation and abiding the law. He wasn't worried about it. Since arriving at Hogwarts, he'd hardly left at all, and only had regular communication with very few people; mainly a select few staff members and his mother.
On the other side of Hermione however, he noticed a familiar red head that he hadn't laid eyes on since his trial…Weasley. He was standing next to a young man that Draco didn't recognize.
The next goal was scored by Sophia. The crowd roared even louder than they had before.
Ron jumped up with the rest of the crowd in a wave of excitement and pulled Hermione into an unexpected embrace. Draco noticed this immediately and felt a weird surge of jealously shoot through him.
Hermione politely responded to the gesture as to not embarrass herself in front of Harry or any of the students. It was nauseating hug for her to withstand, and the moment they separated she scooted herself further down the bench to affirm some space between her and him. Unfortunately, from where Draco was standing, he could not tell the manner of Hermione's response. All he could tell was that she had allowed Ron to embrace her and it made him feel uncomfortable.
It seemed he was paying as much attention what Hermione was doing as he as to the game. It was then that his thoughts began to race with possibilities…
Why was Weasley here to begin with?
Why was he sitting next to Hermione, instead of sitting next to his best friend Potter?
Draco's eyes then shot to Sophia who was trying to obtain passion of the quaffle, then back to Ron, and then back over to Sophia again who had managed to obtain it from the Slytherin team.
Was it possible that Hermione had given birth to a child with the Weasel?
If his memory served him right, he believed Ron was married. Although, that didn't really account for much, seeing as Draco had met numerous wizards in his day who had illegitimate children on the side. They did have a romantic past together, even if it hadn't ended well. It would also explain why Sophia shared her mother's last name…
It was difficult to focus on Sophia's features when she was zooming around on a broom, trying to shoot the quaffle through Slytherin posts, as he tried to assess whether or not she looked anything like the freckled face git sitting across the stadium from him. It was impossible to tell from the distance he was at.
Draco almost didn't want to know the truth. The idea of Hermione having a child with Ron made him feel queasy inside. It didn't matter that Hermione was no longer his, her actions still continued to affect him.
He knew, as he had always known, that it would be a lie to tell himself that he didn't still care about Hermione and have feelings for her. The deeper truth, that he still loved her and always would, was just harder to admit.
Draco spent most rest of the game trying to note any similarities and differences Sophia had with Ron, and tried to observe and interpret Ron's interactions with Hermione as best he could.
Suddenly, his attention was diverted back to the game when a Slytherin beater shot a bludger straight towards Sophia face. Draco felt his body tense up as it seemed apparent that it was going to hit her square on in the face, when Harrison Lowe shot up out of nowhere and knocked the bludger straight towards Terrance Davenport; who was knocked away from his post as a result of this. He looked infuriated as he scrambled to regain his position in front of the Slytherin posts but he wasn't fast enough.
Genevieve took advantage of this vulnerability and with the assistance of Rachel passed the quaffle through the post with ease before Terrance was able to reestablish himself, and scored again for the Gryffindor team.
Despite their recent goal, the close call of a bludger smashing into her face seemed to anger Sophia more than anything and she furiously bolted towards the quaffle at the first opportunity she got. With some aggressive, and mildly dangerous fly, she managed to intercept the quaffle from the Slytherin chasers and passed it back over to Rachel who scored for the second time in a row to Terrance's dismay.
The Gryffindor stands were going wild.
Annoyed by this, the Slytherin chasers began to target Sophia. Draco watched as the team captain seemed to whisper something to their beater. They separated smug grins and suddenly they were both aiming to hit Sophia and take her out of the game. It was clear they had made her their primary focus as they chased after her and attempted to surround her between them, their beating mallets raised high and threatening.
Hermione noticed this too and took hold of Harry's hand as she tensed up with nerves. "They're marking her aren't they?" It was events like this that made her despise Quidditch. If her daughter was about to get injured she couldn't bear to watch it.
"Don't worry Hermione. Sophia can get herself out of this situation. They don't know her temper. I bet you anything, they're going to regret marking her," said Harry coolly.
It was true. Sophia had noticed right away that the beaters were trailing her.
One of the Slytherin beaters was a ghoulish looking seventh year, Joshua Karver. He was the team captain. He and Sophia had a long standing grudge against each other that they'd held since their first year when they were established as rivals. The other beater was a cowardly fifth year student named Isaac, who had only landed his position on the team because he was Joshua's younger brother and, as such, did anything he told him to do.
The two idiot brothers were more focused on where Sophia was flying than what the other two Gryffindor chasers were doing. Knowing this, Sophia took advantage of the situation and lured both of the brothers away from the Slytherin pitch so that Rachel and Genevieve could try to take the quaffle and score without the interference of the bludgers slowing them down.
Then Sophia spotted Richard, one of the Gryffindor beaters, a little ways in front of her line of direction and had an idea. She waited until she heard the sound of cheering as Genevieve got the quaffle past the Slytherin Keeper, and then she charged towards Richard at full speed.
Richard wasn't expecting to be charged at by his own team mate. It threw him off guard, and before he could react Sophia had shouldered into him and snatched the beater stick out of his hand.
Before the Slytherin beaters could interfere, she had zoomed straight towards the bludger and smashed into the direction of the first Slytherin beater, Joshua, causing him to nearly spin of his broom as she snapped the back of it clean off with her it.
"C'mon! You want some too?!" She bellowed out at Isaac, the second beater, as the penalty whistle sounded loud and clear.
Richard rounded on her and snatched his mallet back out of her hand before both teams were grounded for a reset.
Sophia was certain she'd earned herself multiple detentions for that little stunt but she didn't show if she cared or not. A foul was called on Gryffindor team, and points were docked from their score.
Although, this wasn't nearly as damaging for them as was the broken broom the Slytherin beater now had to deal with. Sophia had smashed it so well that the reparo charm he was desperately trying to perform on it was having little to no affect.
The magic in the brooms interfered with most charms. This was partially to protect them against cheating but it was also the nature of the magic itself. Sophia knew this from having had taken her Firebolt in for repairs on numerous past occasions.
Eventually, the Slytherin beater was forced to borrow a lousy school broom if he intended to stay in for the rest of the game. This affected his ability to fly well and gave the Gryffindor team a great advantage. With only one fully able beater to slow them down, the three Gryffindor chasers scored goal after goal and played at their prime for the duration of the game.
By the time Olivia spotted and successfully caught the snitch, they almost didn't have need for the points at all. It was a clear win for Gryffindor!
At the end of the game, as head of house, Draco was expected to stand by his team as they shook hands with the winning team.
As was required, Sophia shook hands with each Slytherin member, a smug expression stayed on her face all the while. By the time she got to the beater whose broom she had damaged there was a thick pause.
Joshua grimaced at her with a foul expression and tightly gripped her hand. For a second Draco thought Josh was thinking about hitting her. It seemed that Hermione, who was lined up with her winning team, had the same thought as she began to reach for her wand in preparation. Both heads of houses paused and waited for one of the students to act next.
Sophia's eyebrow was arched up in amused expectation as her smile curled down into an arrogant, and provoking smirk. "Good game, wasn't it Karver? Until next time?"
Joshua almost seemed to growl but thought twice about acting on the ideas passing through his head. "Whatever Granger. Just watch yourself."
"Pretty sure that's what I just did, but whatever."
To the relief of all those around them, they finally dropped hands and moved onto the next player.
After the team members had all shaken hands, Hermione approached Draco and extended her own hand, as was expected.
"Good game professor, but I guess the better team won. There's always next time."
"Is that bragging I hear from you, professor? Not very sportsman-like now is it?" Draco teased, but didn't push his point as he returned the gesture and shook her smooth, ever soft hand.
With the formalities out the way, the Gryffindor house wasted no time in celebrating. The students seemed to run from the stands as they made their way to the common room.
Although it was missed by the other adults present, Draco had noticed as Sophia rushed away with the young man he had seen sitting next to Ron in the stands, holding hands.
Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Draco were the last ones left on the field after the students left. Draco decided to follow along with the group as they made their way inside.
"Can't help but wonder where Sophia learned to fly like that eh?" remarked Ron as he clapped a hand onto Hermione's back. "I think we all know it's safe to say that she didn't get the flying gene from her mother."
"No, I think it's safe to say that Harry's influence has had a profound effect on her flying ability and that my daughter has a gift" responded Hermione sharply as she moved away from Ron and placed herself between Draco and Ginny.
She didn't seem to notice, but it was the closest they had been since his release.
Draco could smell her aroma as she walked beside him. It was a soft fragrance of warm cinnamon and vanilla. Unfortunately, his basking appreciation for Hermione's scent was interrupted by Weasley's crude mouth.
"What'd you think of the game Malfoy? Long time since anyone has seen you out of Azkaban. Must be great to be out in the free air, eh? Even if it is to watch your favorite team lose under Gryffindor triumph!" Ron commented inappropriately.
Draco ignored the second part of his question. "I think they all played brilliantly. Although I think I'll have to meet up with the Slytherin team and pass on a few pointers of my own. I can't stand to be head of a house that plays like that. You wait. Next game you're going to see a completely different team. Gryffindor will have a force to reckon with."
"I don't know about that. Don't you think you're a bit rusty yourself after all this time, mate? They didn't let you take out the old broom and fly about for fun at Azkaban now did they?" Ron was the only one to laugh at his comment. "Honestly, I'm a bit surprised they ever let you out."
The mood was becoming increasingly awkward. "Harry, don't you and Draco have a meeting you have to get to?' Ginny offered.
"Yes, we do. Is now a good time for you?" Harry asked Draco.
"Yeah. Yes it is."
"Why don't we get to it then? Can we use your office?"
"Of course."
"Alright then." They all stopped walking for a moment so Harry could say a quick farewell to his wife then leave with Draco.
As Harry and Draco proceeded towards the dungeons, Draco couldn't help but feel like Hermione's eyes were watching him from behind, but he didn't dare turn around to check.
/
Harry went ahead and made himself comfortable in Draco's office, pulling out a chair for himself. Draco felt odd sitting behind his own desk when he was the one being interviewed but Harry didn't say anything about it as he pulled a parchment out of his robe and began to spread it out.
"No need to be nervous about anything Malfoy. Just a few routine questions. You haven't come up on any Ministry radar so this is really just a formality for the records."
Draco nodded in understanding and waited for Harry's questions.
"Have you been in contact with any former death eaters since your release?"
Draco answered truthfully. "I went to visit my parents shortly after my release."
Harry nodded and jolted down a quick note. "Visitation with them was approved before your release so that's not an issue. Did you discuss any dark arts with them when you were there though?"
Draco shook his head. "No, I just spoke with my mother and we reconnected is all."
"As you know, you've been tracked since your release. Since then, you haven't ventured to any places that would raise cause for suspicion. Have you gone anywhere since your release that you feel the Ministry should know about?"
"I basically stay here unless I have to leave for something like supplies for class. I've been living a pretty boring routine honestly. I'm not trying to stir any kind of trouble for myself. I'm grateful with the life I have right now. It's worlds better than anything I had in Azkaban, I can tell you that."
"I hope you realize just how privileged you are to be teaching while under Ministry probation. I know that your parents moved a lot of pieces to make that happen but it's really Hermione you should be thanking for allowing it." Harry pointed out.
"I realize that and I am incredibly grateful for it. Believe me."
"Surprisingly, she tells me you've been doing rather well over all."
"She said that?"
"She let me read over your review notes," affirmed Harry.
Hermione still hadn't gone over her review with Draco so up until now he had no real idea of what she'd thought of his teaching. He couldn't help but feel a little puffed up and proud at hearing that she approved of the job he'd been doing thus far.
Harry went through a few more standard questions with Draco before rolling up the parchment and returning it to his robe.
"I have to admit Malfoy, I'm surprised and even a little impressed at your transition so far."
"What do you mean?"
"I dunno…something about you…has changed I think."
"I changed a long time ago Potter. Even before Azkaban happened. You just never noticed."
It was true. Hermione had helped form him into the man he was now. No trial he faced would ever change the truth of that transformation. No circumstance would ever affect the love he still felt in his heart for her, and knew that he always would feel. He didn't expect anyone, especially Harry Potter, to understand that; but he knew it to be true.
/
After his meeting with Harry, Draco grabbed a quick bite to eat from the Great Hall and made way to retire for the night.
Thoughts of Hermione, Ron, and Sophia swarmed his thoughts. He closed his eyes and tried to match her up face to Ron's as best he could and decipher whether it was even a real possibility. A churning feeling in his gut told him that it was.
Though he'd noticed that Hermione had seemed uncomfortable when Ron had touched her in the hallway. All Ron had done was put a hand on her shoulder and it had caused her to flinch away from him.
Was this because she was nervous of their relationship being found out? Had something happened between them when he was away that had changed the dynamic of their relationship?
Draco remembered that their break up had been a painful one for Hermione and although he'd never known Hermione to be a truly hateful person, he had always gotten the impression that she didn't really care much for Ron after things had fallen apart between them. Besides, he knew for a fact that Hermione was acquainted with Ron's wife and he couldn't see her interfering with anyone's marriage. Even if it was the Weasel's.
Draco wondered if it was possible Ron wasn't married any longer. It still didn't make sense to him though. If Ron were out of his marriage and there was something going on between him and Hermione, then why wouldn't they just come out with it so that they could be a family?
His mind was spinning with the possibilities and none of them were sitting well with him.
He made up his mind to shut the ideas out of his head as he approached his bedroom door. If he kept obsessing on what Hermione may or may not have done while he was away, he was never going to sleep again. Besides, what could he ever do to change the past even if he didn't find out what had occurred?
To Draco's surprise, there was a school owl sitting on his window ledge, waiting patiently for him to arrive.
It was odd. No one other than his mother bothered to send him owls any longer. If it was just an administrative message about the school the owl would have just dropped it off and left.
He wondered who the owl was from.
The owl extended its talon and Draco carefully untied the small note dangling from it.
He recognized the handing writing instantly as belonging to her and his heart leapt involuntarily before he had even read the first word.
Professor Malfoy,
I realize that this may be short notice considering the request, but if you would be able to grant me a favor I would be incredibly grateful. Professor Weasley (Ginny Potter) was supposed to accompany me this weekend on the Hogsmeade trip as a chaperon. Unfortunately, she has pulled out of her commitment for personal reasons, and I have been having difficulty getting another professor to fill the position. Everyone seems to have plans they can't, or are unwilling to, break. Would you be willing to join me this weekend in accompanying the students to Hogsmeade in order to assure their safety and compliance with school rules and regulations?
Your soonest reply is politely requested,
Headmistress Hermione Granger
It was a very professionally written letter, and yet it still put a smile onto Draco's face and halted the turbulent thoughts that had been plaguing him only moments ago.
An entire afternoon with Hermione? This could be a chance for him to get his foot in the door and remind her that he was a changed man. There was even a chance that he could get a glimpse at how deeply her supposed indifference towards him truly ran.
Maybe, if even for half a day, she would forgot about their past and they would be able to simply enjoy each other's presence as some level of friends.
He could only hope.
With an air of optimism, Draco flipped around the parchment and wrote out his replay enthusiastically.
Dearest Headmistress Granger,
Nothing would please me more than to accompany you to Hogsmeade…to chaperone the students of course. Let me assure you that I do recognize the professionality of our current relationship and hope that you will not take this in the wrong way, but I will always enjoy an opportunity to be in your company. Count me in!
Looking forward to the weekend,
Professor Draco Malfoy
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A/N: I wrote five chapters today (including this one) Woohoo! I love it when my muse is working, but I do not enjoy having to read over and ( I will admit) badly edit my own chapters lol I don't have the patience for a beta and it's usually year after I publish my writing that I catch, or even notice, the majority of my minor grammer mistakes. Ah well, such is life! I hope you enjoy my stories, despite my typos!
Thank you all for your enlightening and encouraging reviews. I especially appreciate the few of you who take the time to review each chapter, and look for your usernames after every update. I also love it when someone reviews for the first time. I like hearing feedback from each and every one of you. It keeps me focused and helps me stay motivated.
Thanks!
Until we meet again! (In the next Chapter, likely)
