Hey Everyone! I decided to post the next chapter this fast because so many of you were patient enough to wait for me to come back from Canada to continue my story! So SURPRISE! And ENJOY! MANY THanKS FoR ThE AWeSomE REviEWs!

Where Do Young Witches and Wizards Learn Their ABC's?

I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter Fourteen!

Draco sat on his sofa in his seating room staring into the fire that was burning in his fire place. He was thoroughly exhausted and stressed out, which wasn't just from work. It had already been two weeks since Aidan had declared not to speak to him until he apologized to Granger, and to his distress Aidan kept his word. He thought, at most, this would last only two days, not two weeks. It killed Draco on the inside because he already forfeit two weekends with his son because of this whole ordeal. He knows nothing about what has been going on in his son's life, except for some things he heard from his mother.

At the end of the first week, Draco was really tempted to go and apologize to the woman, seeing as how his son was actually serious and wasn't going to give up, but of course his pride wouldn't allow it. And it was because of his pride that he was force to sit here alone on a Friday night, when he would usually be with Aidan doing something fun and relaxing.

Draco let out a heavy sigh. He leaned forward and rested his arms on his legs. He ran his right hand through his unkempt hair. He did understand that his son was right in a way. That he had to apologize to Granger. Over the two weeks he replayed the fight he had with her in his head. To his annoyance he realized that he did overreact a tad bit-well actually a lot. Being exhausted and stressed out tended to cloud his mind. He was pretty unfair to her and for some reason only her, well and Weasley, but he was another story. He figured out that the reason was obviously because Aidan was involved. When it came to Potter, it was just to deal with work and nothing to do with his son. When it came to Granger it has everything to do with Aidan and an overprotective father.

He would admit to himself, and only himself that he didn't like the fact that Granger was close to his son. And again he would only admit this to himself that he was jealous. Why? Well, because the mere fact that she gets to spend time with his son all week and got to know him better, when he, the father, only got a measly two days. The fact she was able to make his son laugh without hardly any effort. The fact that she was able to imprint herself into his son's heart. And now the fact that she is able to, through Aidan, make Draco Malfoy give up the fight.

He rose from his sofa and left the seating room to find his son and his mother. They were both in Aidan's room playing one of those muggle board games his mother bought.

"Mother" Draco said to make himself known.

Narcissa looked up from the board game, while Aidan openly ignored his presence by continuing to play the game like he wasn't even there.

"Yes Draco?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm going to be borrowing Aidan for a bit. I have a certain errand to do that requests his presence."

Narcissa looked at her son with a great amount of curiosity. "Well, ok then."

Draco looked down at Aidan. "Aidan, go get a sweater on. It's cold outside."

Aidan looked up at his father suspiciously, but didn't say a word and did what he was told.

Hermione sat down on her living room floor grading papers and watching TV. She looked at the time and saw that it was six o'clock at night. She debated in her head whether or not to make dinner for herself now. She decided to wait another hour. It would give her time to finish grading the few assignments she had left.

When she reached Aidan paper she smiled. Even though he was no longer able to come to her house they still were able to hang out during lunch and now dinner. When Narcissa requested that she should have dinner with them one time she had to admit that she didn't take the woman seriously, that was until Narcissa came to her school a week and a half ago and asked if she could join them for dinner that day. It came to a great surprise to her and she accepted the offer without really thinking. When she was in front of Malfoy's house she got extremely nervous, how did she know if Malfoy might decide to come home early from work and find her there? She didn't want to get into another fight with the bloke. Though, to her great relief he never showed which thus helped here accept another invite. She had dinner with them about five times now and it was very good for her. She thought she'd be eating her meals alone for the next two weeks because of Ginny having the baby, she didn't want to intrude on her and Harry while they took care of their newborn. So it was extremely nice to have dinner with two people that she thought where extraordinary. She found out that Narcissa could cook, and really well, without using any magic, or house elves.

Hermione sighed. It was too bad that they had to do this all in secret because of Malfoy. Even though he was a big buffoon, she felt kind of bad for keeping this from him, and even having his family keep this a secret. She wished he wasn't such a stubborn git and would just understand that she just wanted to be there for Aidan and help him out, and was not out to steal him away. She even found out that he and Aidan weren't even speaking to each other ever since the incident two weeks ago. If this kept up, Malfoy's fear of losing his son was going to come true.

A sudden knock on her door broke her from her thoughts. She quickly got up off of the floor and went to her front door. She opened the door and was shock to see who was standing there, none other than Draco Malfoy. She almost had a heartache thinking he had found out about the secret dinners, but then her eyes found Aidan standing next to his father and relief washed over her.

"Good evening Granger." Draco greeted her politely.

"Uh, hi Malfoy."

Aidan just stared between the two adults.

"I'm here, due to my son's stubborn attitude, to apologize." Draco explained.

Hermione eyebrows rose up in surprise. "Is that right, your being force to apologize, by an eight year old?" she couldn't help, but taunt him. She felt kind of angry that Aidan, a child, had to force a grown man to apologize. Why couldn't he just do it on his own without being pushed. It's not even an apology when someone is force to apologize. He is pretty much lying through his teeth.

Draco eyes narrowed, but he kept his polite tone. "That is part of it. I also had time to think over what had transpired and I came to a conclusion that I overreacted. I was unfair to you and I'm…sorry."

'Whoa! Two surprises in one night. Draco Malfoy actual made a sincere apology.' Hermione thought astonished.

Draco waited patiently for her to respond…he felt that she was really trying his patience by taking long to accept his apology…or decline it. It didn't matter which she choose because his son never specify whether or not she had to except his apology only that he had to apologize to her.

"I accept your apology." She finally said.

"Well, then-" before Draco could finish Aidan tackled him with a huge hug.

"Finally! Took you long enough dad!"

Draco couldn't help, but let a smile grip his lips. He thought it would take awhile to repair his relationship with his son after this. Thankfully everything turned out fine. "It's your fault for being so bloody stubborn."

Aidan looked up at his dad. "You were just as stubborn."

Draco laughed…Draco Malfoy actually laughed and smiled…a genuine smile. Not a smirk or a sneer an actual genuine smile. Hermione was amazed. She was so amazed that her eyes nearly bulged out of her eye sockets.

Draco picked up his son, still smiling. "Come on, we'll go get a tub of ice cream and see who can eat the most."

"I will definitely win this time!"

Hermione couldn't help, but smile at the two of them. What weird ways they had at bonding. "You better not eat it too fast; you'll get a brain freeze." She commented.

Aidan laughed at her statement. "Don't worry, I already learned my lesson the first time."

Draco faced Hermione, his smile still there. "Well then, we'll be on our way. Have a goodnight."

Again she was surprised. "Uh, yeah, you too."

"Goodbye Ms. Granger!" Aidan waved at her.

"Bye Aidan." She waved back and then closed her front door.

She went back to her living room and settled herself down on the floor again. She looked down at the papers she needed to grade, but didn't feel much like grading them. Hermione's mind was occupied with certain thoughts of a blond haired man that she thought was a confusing piece of work.

It was Monday morning and Harry returned to work from his three week vacation. When he entered his department everyone congratulated him and welcomed him back. It took a great deal of time to get to his office, but when he got there he found Draco sitting at his desk already.

"Good Morning Malfoy." Harry greeted him.

Draco looked up from his paper work a little surprised. "Hey, I didn't know you came back today, I thought it was tomorrow."

Harry placed his briefcase down on his desk. "I was, but I decided to come in a day earlier than expected."

"Why the heck did you want to do that? Well, whatever. I'm glad your back, seriously. Working with the buffoons alone is a bloody nightmare. Especially that dumbbell you call a friend."

"Hey, hey, hey, now Malfoy don't gloom up the atmosphere. I've just got here." Harry grinned.

"Ah, whatever. How is your wife and buddle of joy doing?"

"They are both doing great. Lil' Chloe is just the sweetest little thing."

"Got a picture of her?"

"Yea." Harry opened his briefcase and took out a picture frame with a picture of Chloe already inside. He walked over to Draco's desk with it and handed it to him.

Draco took a moment to look over the picture. "She's really cute." He commented. He handed the picture back to Harry.

"She is isn't she?" Harry walked back to his desk and placed the picture right next to the one of his wife.

There was silence that settled between them when Harry was organizing his things. Once he was done he sat down in his office chair and looked over to Draco. He wanted to start a conversation on a subject that Draco might not be too fond of, but curiosity burned inside of his veins.

"So…" Harry began.

Draco looked over to Harry with an eyebrow raised. "So, what?"

"So, I heard about the confrontation you had with Hermione two weeks ago. I'm glad you settled the matter by apologizing to her."

Draco looked back at his paper work. "Oh, you heard about that did you now."

Harry smiled. "Well of course. Hermione is one of my best friends, and I happened to be married to one of her best friends, who likes to know what's going on every minute. Your name happened to come up a lot these past two weeks. Nothing good by the way, well until Saturday when Hermione told Ginny that you apologized. So my wife no longer holds a grudge against you."

"Well…that's good to know."

"What's the matter anyways?"

"Matter with what?"

"What do you have against Hermione?"

"I don't have anything against her…she just annoys me."

"Annoys you how?"

"Like how you are annoying me right now." Draco narrowed his eyes.

Harry chuckled. "I'm just trying to see things from your perspective. You don't have to get so moody."

Draco let out an exhausting sigh and dropped his paper work on his desk. He ran his hand through his hair. "It's just…" he began.

"Yes?" Harry urged him on.

"Well, I guess because she gets along with Aidan annoyingly well," Shut up! Shut up! Stupid! What happened to only admitting this to yourself? "It sort of bugs me. Especially since she gets to spend more time with him then I ever do. She probably knows him better than I do right now, and well." Stupid! Don't pour out your uncertainties to him. Malfoy's don't do that. They keep it all bottled up inside. So shut up! "It bloody well bugs me to the point of insanity. She's a total stranger digging her way into our lives. It's almost as if she's building a wall between me and Aidan. A damn wall I cannot break." You just dug yourself a deep hole. How the hell are you going to get yourself out of this, dumbass?

"Draco," Whoa! When did he start using my first name? "I don't think Hermione is trying to barricade you from your son. She is spending a lot of time with him because he wants to spend time with her, and that is because he can't spend time with you. I think your son see's her as a parental figure. She is like a replacement when you are not there, and also someone new to get to know."

"Keyword Harry, replacement…" when the hell did I start using his first name as well?

"Well, substitute then. Hermione has a big heart and helps anyone that comes to her and well Aidan went to her. You can't hold a grudge against her for wanting to help out your son."

"Why does everyone keep saying he needs help, help from what?"

"Help from his loneliness."

"And thus another person telling me he is lonely when I'm obviously there. What is it that I don't see Harry?"

"You don't see that your son needs a friend other than yourself."

"Yeah well she's a grown woman."

"Yes a grown woman helping your son to open up more and make friends with children his own age. You have to admit that your son was a closed shell."

Draco nodded his head. "Well blame that on his mother. She abandoned him at a very bad age. Seriously when you are going to do something like that, it is done when the kid is still a baby…not three years old. It took months before he would even trust me and a year to forget that stupid bint." When did Harry Potter become my therapist? This is indeed the strangest day of my life and it has only just begun.

"Oh. Who was his mother?"

"Nobody important."

Harry decided to drop that subject. "Well, anyways. If it really bothers you so much, I mean about Hermione spending so much time with Aidan, why don't you cut your hours, instead of ripping Aidan out of her life, it could damage Aidan terribly, and he might resent you for it. You won't have to worry your head so much and maybe the time Aidan spends with Hermione you can start to date again." How did he know I haven't gotten laid in awhile…five years to be exact.

"But we are still buried to our necks in work."

"Even if you cut your hours in half, we'll still be on task for the new year. And if it helps I'll hire some more dedicated workers."

"Buffoons are more like it. Do you ever considered switching over you career to become a therapist?"

Harry laughed. "Nah, it's not really my calling."

"You'd make a lot of money. Should I pay for my session?" Draco let a smile slip on his lips.

Harry laughed again. "No worries, friends are free."

Did I, Draco Malfoy, make a genuine friend just now?

The next chapter will take a couple of days or so. So don't expect it to be posted tomorrow.

For those who wanted to know, I went Montreal, Canada. Where I happened to be born =D. I had a lot of fun because I haven't seen some of my family members in four years and many of my cousins have grown a lot! I remember when they were tiny little people, and now they are all taller than me and I'm older than most of them…stupid short genes…lol =D. It was extremely cold some days, but it was ok…except for when we had to walk to far places. I almost thought my legs would break off with how cold it was, lol =D.

Anyways, I hope you like the progress of the story. Please Review!