Hermione and Draco joined Albert and Jane for tea. The conversation was nice and pleasant, Albert asking many questions about the younger woman and Hermione answering with vague responses, like saying that she had a government post in England but was considering moving to Australia and become a full-time researcher. Draco's pupils open up, and he felt an unexpected glee.

"It's a beautiful country, Gran… Hermione. You would love it here," he said with a sincere smile.

Granger was a connection with a past that he tried to put behind, but she was not someone who would try to drag him to the dark side again. Maybe she was a path to reconciling his past and his present. Would she ever forgive him? Maybe not. But he had grown enough not to need her forgiveness if she was not willing to give it. But if she did…

Jane didn't miss the changes in his facial expression. When Albert finally excused himself, the group dissolved, and the older Granger woman took the young man in a hug. He squeezed his eyes shot to withhold the tears that prickled behind his eyelids.

Mother and daughter walked home slowly, Hermione lost in thought. Jane asked:

"What is it, sweetheart? It is just us now. I can see that you knew Drake from before. What I do not understand is why this encounter it rattled you so much."

Hermione sighed, then responded:

"Please don't tell daddy. At least not yet."

"Alright. I'm listening."

"The war. Draco, that's his real name, was on the other side." Jane's eyebrows jumped to her forehead, so Hermione quickly added: "He was forced, first by his father and then by Voldemort. Growing up he was a nasty boy, but not really evil. But he did awful things. Or at least, he saw them done and did nothing about it. He just stepped aside."

"So do you hate him?" her mother asked.

Hermione shook her head.

"No, I was wary of him, and in the end, I pitied him. He lived under threat with a psychopath in his house for two years. Today he let me know what happened to him after the trials. How much he hated himself, self-destroying with alcohol and potions, then finding peace with the monks in Nepal. I feel strange because I know him, but it feels like I don't, and he is…"

"He is way too attractive. Angelic almost. And that doesn't fit the image that you have of him."

"I'm used to distrust him, mom."

Jane took her hand in hers.

"Maybe that is not how things should be anymore."

Hermione did not go to class the next day, still unsure of what she felt. The day after, she showed up right before class started and set her mat on the front row. Draco felt his heart skip a bit and admitted silently that he had missed her. When the class began with a meditation, she couldn't help the desire to invade his mind again.

"Let it go, Granger. There is nothing more to look for here."

"That would be a first," she thought but regretted it immediately. She felt Draco snap out of her mind and wall up his thoughts. Hermione felt ashamed of herself.

Draco pulled himself together and jumped too soon into the exercise part of the class, trying to avoid Hermione's intrusive thoughts. After he finished, a woman sauntered toward him.

"So, you were a little off at the beginning," the bleached blonde simpered, standing in front of Draco, puffing her chest covered only by a sports bra.

"We are all human, Evelyn. Feeling off is part of that condition," he replied a bit harshly, going back to organizing the room.

"You know, if you need a recharge, you can always come to my place after you are done with classes."

Hermione went pink on the cheeks, eyebrows frowning. It was like being back at Hogwarts, watching the Slytherin girls trying to paw the Malfoy heir and his vaults. But why did that bother her so much? Was it only because of the annoying memories? Or was it something else?

On his part, Draco schooled his face. He didn't want to deal with this right now.

"Thank you, Evelyn, that is mighty kind of you. Now, if you excuse me, I have another class in 5 minutes."

The woman looked offended. Hermione had seen the schedule board. Draco didn't have any other classes. She stalled, slowly wiping and rolling her mat until everyone else had left the room. She approached him cautiously.

"Do you have a private lesson or something."

"Excuse me?"

"There are no more classes on the schedule board until the evening," Hermione responded.

Draco chuckled. "You still don't miss anything, don't you, Granger?"

She smiled. Curiosity always got the best of her.

"Are you celibate?" she blurted, immediately covering her mouth with her hand.

His eyes went wide. He swallowed hard, then answered:

"That is blunt, even for a Gryffindor," he chastised softly. "But no, I didn't take orders. Still, I treat my body with respect now. I do not seek cheap thrills anymore."

Hermione opened and closed her mouth a few times. Draco decided to get it over with.

"It's been almost three years for me, Granger. I won't ask about your sex life because I know my limits. There is only so much I can handle without falling down the rabbit hole."

"I'm sorry," she said, lowering her eyes. Their hands had found each other, and Draco took a sharp breath before letting go like he had been burned.

"Alright, bye," she gave an awkward wave and ran out of the room.

He closed the door, performed a quick cleaning charm, then hoped no one will notice he just disappeared. He apparated to his flat, eager to take a cold shower.

After toweling off, Draco stood naked in front of the mirror. This was the one exercise he had avoided for the last three years. Bibek, his wizard-monk mentor, had taught him that redemption only would come full circle when he learned to accept his body with all its beauty and its flaws.

When he looked at his reflection, the usual things he despised had taken a secondary place: the faded dark mark, the Sectumsempra scars. He had made peace with those long ago. Today he looked down at his manhood. It had been a source of cheap fun and quick fixes since he was fifteen years old. So for the last three years, he had all but ignored it. But now it was time to deal with his virility again. Thrill-seekers like Evelyn were not a challenge for him: that was not something he indulged anymore. But Hermione Granger was different. Smart, beautiful, kind of heart. She created a conundrum: Draco had evolved beyond feeling undeserving of anyone, at peace with his childhood and past actions. But Granger did have an edge of feeling like a prize: the tamed Slytherin in him still felt like winning her heart would make him complete. Whereas his newfound philosophy taught him that his contentment should not be tied to anyone.

Still, there was no denying that his dormant sexuality was now awakened by the presence of a woman he never thought he would see again. For the first time in years, Draco let himself find pleasure and release in the image of another human being.