The start of term went by quickly as Nichole resumed her classes. Now that the new year had begun she knew that they'd soon be partcipating in apparation lessons, being taught this year by none other than Harry Potter- but the notice had yet to be posted. She was starting to grow anxious, but finally, at the end of Janurary, the sign up sheet went up and Nichole was the first to write her name upon it.

"Eager, are we?" Nichole glance over her shoulder to see her dad standing there, in the middle of the Common Room with a smirk on his face. "You realize I literally just put that up five minutes ago."

"What are you doing here?" she asked glancing around. It was early, a little after six am, and the common room was deserted.

"What are you doing up so early?" Draco challenged, ignoring her question.

Nichole shrugged, "couldn't sleep. Plus I wanted to send a letter to mum and Chris before breakfast."

"I'll walk with you to the Owlery," Draco stated opening the common room door and escorting Nichole out. "I have a letter to send myself."

"I wanted to ask you," Nichole said as they started up the stairs. They passed the entrance Hall and continued up. "Is your floo connected to mum, like can you have face-to-face conversations with her without interception?"

"Actually yes," Draco admitted as they went up yet another floor. "Professor McGonagall granted the connection from her end and your mother used her connections at the Ministry to secure it. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing," Nichole trailed off as they reached the Owlery.

Draco stopped her and forced her eyes to meet his. "Out with it."

"Fine," Nichole grumbled. "It's just- I miss Christopher." Draco cocked his eyebrow at her. "Oh don't be like that," Nichole snapped. "I like a boy, what's the big deal? I was just hoping that maybe-."

"It is not safe for a muggle to attempt a floo call like that without proper training," Draco finally said in a level voice. He waved Midnight down and held his hand out for Nichole's letter so he could tie it on. "Legally speaking, muggles must be registered with the Ministry- your mother could get in a lot of trouble if she allowed Christopher to use the floo just so you could see him."

Nichole sighed as she reached up to stroke Midnight's head. "Who would have thought dating a muggle would be so hard."

"You should have guessed when you chose that boy that this might happen."

"Give it a rest," Nichole huffed, "are you seriously still upset I didn't choose a Zabini?"

"Absolutely not," Draco stated firmly. "I know the Zabini family- my daughter isn't nearly good enough for one of them." Nichole giggled as Draco smiled at her. "It's not easy to see you so fond of someone so young, is all."

"You were my age when you and mum-." She trailed off as Draco made a face. "Sorry."

Now it was Draco's turn to sigh, "don't be. I'm not proud of who I was when I went to Hogwarts. But that's something you need to consider as well, Nichole. People change. Christopher may be okay with who you are now- but what about when you graduate Hogwarts and start working in the Wizarding world? Will he be okay with you risking your life every day? The world we live in-."

"I know."

Draco leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her head before escorting Midnight to a window and watching her take flight. Then he called a School owl down and attached another letter to it before sending it off. "That one's for my mother."

"She accepts owls now?"

"Only mine." Nichole's face fell. "It's strictly a security measure, Nichole. If you have something you'd like to say just let me know and I'll include it in an owl for her. All you have to do is say so."

Nichole nodded and together she and her father exited the Owlery and made their way back downstairs to have some breakfast.

Two nights later any sixteen or seventeen year old who wanted Apparation lessons met in the Great Hall and awaited the famous Potter to arrive and demonstrate how it's done. Nichole stood with her group of friends whispering and giggling with the others, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. Nichole had apparated side-along once before, and that was when her mother had broken up with Matthew and needed to escape the scene quickly. Matthew hadn't been a bad person, per say, but ultimately he had broken her mothers heart and for that she'd never forgive the guy.

Suddenly whispered broke out around the hall as the doors opened and a figure strolled through with messy black hair. Nichole knew him even from a distance, she's known him her whole life, but many of her peers had never seen Harry Potter up close before. He was a legend, a celebrity- he was famous; and he was here, in their school, to teach them.

"He doesn't look very tough," Mystique muttered under her breath causing her friends to giggle; all except Nichole who glanced over at her best friend.

"You'd be surprised. Don't forget, he's the one who vanquished The Dark Lord."

"Ok you lot, listen up." Harry's voice echoed throughout the hall and silence ensured as whispers broke off, all turning to stare at The Boy Who Lived as he paced at the front of the hall. "The security measures that block apparation from Hogwarts has been temporarily lifted from this room in order to teach you the skills and techniques required to be successful in your travels. I warn you- it's not easy. It takes a lot of determination, you need a clear destination, and you must not forget your deliberation as you move. Thus-." Harry spun on the spot and a loud crack echoed throughout the room before he re-appeared standing feet from Nichole, hands out to the side. "Apparation."

The crowd clapped and Harry grinned glancing at the staff who were in the room to assist him. "We need to space you lot up. In my day we used golden hoops, so," With a wave of his wand hoops appeared littered all over the ground. "You need enough room to perform your actions swiftly. Your goal is to land inside the hoop.

"A few warnings before we begin- if you are not deliberate and determined with your destination there is a very big risk of splinting yourself. Has anyone ever heard of it or seen it done?" A number of hands raised as the students grimaced. "Yeah it's not at all pleasant. Madam Pomfrey is here to fix you up quickly and your Professors will walk around observing your technique. Stand a few feet beside your hoop, spin, and try to land inside of it.

"Okay, I think that's everything. Off you go and good luck." Harry saw Nichole standing close to him and raised a hand to wave as he strolled back through the crowd until he reached the front of the room to speak quietly to the headmistress. Nichole shrugged, chose a hoop, and stepped a few feet away.

I want to be in the hoop. I want to be in the hoop. I want to be in the hoop. She repeated these words to herself over and over, eyes squeezed tight and pictured that golden hoop very clearly in her mind. She stepped to the side, spun her body- and stumbled into the person in front of her who snarled and glared until she moved back. Nichole rolled her eyes and tried again, however by the end of the lesson nobody had been able to move even an inch.

"That's alright, not to worry. We'll meet again in two weeks for some more practice. Remember, the wards are re-active as of this moment and attempting to apparate at any point could be dangerous so save it for our lesson. Have a good night everyone."

"That sucked," Blake complained as they gathered together to walk back to the common room. "Nothing happened- were the wards even off?"

"Uncle Harry was able to do it," Nichole pointed out.

"It's just frustrating," Mystique sighed. "Why is it so difficult?"

"There's a lot of mental concentration involved."

"How do you know so much about apparation?" Mystique asked, sounding annoyed.

Nichole shrugged as they reached the common room. She gave the password and they walked in. "I've talked to Uncle Harry about it- but even I couldn't do it. It takes time and practice. You heard him- if done wrong you could seriously injure yourself."

"Whatever," she grumbled throwing herself down on the couch and reaching into her bag for her potions text and a piece of parchment. "Anyone know the properties of the polyjuice potion?"

Hermione sat on her couch with the TV on watching a romantic comedy before bed. Harry had stopped by her office before leaving The Ministry that day to let her know that he was going to Hogwarts for his first apparation lesson with the students. Hermione knew Nichole was extremely eager to learn how to transport with a swish of her cloak and was anxious to hear how the lesson had gone.

When a knock sounded at her door around eight that evening she half expected it to be Harry, but quickly realized that it was far too early for him to have made it back from Hogwarts. Hesitantly she peeked through the eyehole and gasped as she saw the man standing there. "Mathew?" She swung the door open with her mouth hanging open and eyes wide in shock. "What are you-?"

"I was in the neighborhood." His voice sent a shiver down her spine- the deep, husky rumble never failed to make her weak in the knees. "I thought maybe you'd like to grab that cup of coffee?"

"Oh," Hermione stuttered, her face going a little pink as she recalled the proposition he made back at the restaurant a month ago. "I- I have a lot of work to do and-." She trailed off as his eyes glanced down at her pajama pants and the tshirt she had on. They both knew she wasn't working.

"I understand- I should have called first. Maybe another time."

He turned to leave and Hermione bit her lip. "Mathew wait." He hesitated and glanced back at her. She swallowed, her mouth feeling dry. "Let me go change quickly. I wasn't expecting any company."

"Of course." She held the door open nervously, a silent invitation for him to come in. It had been a long time since he'd been in the apartment and not much had changed since. The pictures of Nichole had grown, but the furniture and the appliances were all identical.

"I'll just be a minute." Closing her bedroom door softly Hermione glanced around her room unsure exactly what she should wear. She didn't want anything too formal- it wasn't a date after all, but she couldn't go out in her pajamas's either. Finally she decided on a pair of muggle jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a warm jacket as she piled her hair on the top of her head. She scrawled a quick note in case Harry floo'd in while she was gone and left it sitting on the edge of her bed where it would be visible. "Ready."

Mathew turned away from Nichole's latest picture on the wall; his eyes looked sad and his mouth was drawn down. "You weren't lying when you said she'd grown up."

Hermione smiled softly as she came to stand next to him. "It's been a long time, Matt."

"So it has," he sighed. Hermione glanced at him but he didn't answer, just nodded towards the door. "After you." Hermione led the way out.

"Do you remember when she was potty training and ran all over the neighborhood naked?" Mathew asked, bringing his cup of coffee to his mouth for a quick sip, trying to swallow it as he laughed. "She gave everyone quite the show."

"Nichole's never been one for rules," Hermione agreed, her head thrown back in laughter. "That's one thing that hasn't changed about her. She lost the blonde hair and the innocent smile- but just my luck her lack of authority remained."

Mathew chuckled and set his mug down waving to the waiter for a refill. Hermione sipped her tea, a light smile on her face. "What else have I missed?" Mathew asked as the waiter walked away to tend to another table.

"Well, let's see," Hermione thought for a moment then brightened. "Ron's getting married!"

"Weasley?" Hermione nodded. "Bout time."

"Oh I know. Molly's frantic trying to plan the wedding. You'd think by now it'd be a piece of cake but," she shrugged and took another sip of her tea.

"How many kids are there in that family now?"

"Oh I can't even keep track myself," Hermione admitted as she screwed up her face in thought. "Twelve, thirteen grandkids? Plus all of her adopted one, like Nichole. The woman has her hands full, that's for sure."

"I'd love to see everyone," Mathew said. Hermione's face fell a little. "I mean- if that's okay, of course."

"Matt." Hermione sighed and pushed her mug aside. "It has been fantastic catching up with you- but you must have noticed I'm seeing someone? Remember, he was at the restaurant?"

"You mean the blonde?" Hermione nodded. "He's not your type, Mione."

"He's Nichole's father," Hermione admitted quietly.

"I was Nichole's father too," he insisted sounding a little angry.

"You could have been," Hermione agreed, "but you left. You broke my heart when you decided to go to America. And that weekend-." Hermione shook her head as tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. She thought she was long over it. "Two weeks, Matt. It had been two weeks and you'd already moved on to someone new."

"It wasn't like that Hermione," Mathew insisted as he leaned across the table and tried to grab hold of her hands. Hermione pulled back, letting them rest in her lap. "It- it was nothing- she was nothing- I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen!"

"I was this close to moving to America for you," Hermione whispered. Mathew's eyes widened. "That's why I was there- I was going to tell you, speak to their Ministry about transferring but-."

"Give me another chance, Hermione, please." Mathew pleaded eyes locked with hers. "It's been ten years- don't I deserve a second chance by now?"

"I'm sorry Matt." Hermione picked up her tea and downed the last gulp as she stood up. "But I've long past moved on. Draco is a wonderful man- and above all else he's Nichole's father. I love him, Mathew. If you had just come back six months ago then maybe-." Hermione trailed off with a shake of he head. "But we'll never know." She set a galleon down on the table. "Goodbye Mathew. I think it would be best if you didn't contact me again."

Hermione arrived back at the apartment, closing the door and sighing as she threw her head back against it. Who would have thought that seeing Mathew again would have stirred up so many emotions- the one good thing that came of it, however, was that she knew- for absolute sure- that she loved Draco with all of her heart. Mathew had been a big part of her life once upon a time, but Draco was all that mattered to her now.

She heard a creak and her eyes sprang open as she reached for her wand, then let out a breath as she saw Draco standing there. Then she saw his face- he looked angry. "Draco?"

"Where have you been Hermione?"

Hermione swallowed and stepped away from the door. "I was having a cup of tea-."

"With your ex?"

Hermione gulped as she nodded, "honestly it was nothing Draco. A completely harmless catch up between friends."

Draco laughed humorlessly as he shook his head. "I came here to tell you how wonderful Nichole was today in her apparation lessons only to find an empty apartment and a note for Potter- of all people!- declaring you'd gone out for coffee with your ex."

"Harry was going to drop by and tell me how Nichole did," Hermione explained stepping towards him. He backed away and Hermione frowned. "Draco- I don't see what's got you so bothered-."

"I'm bothered because you went on a date with your ex while you're dating me!" he fumed, crushing the letter in his hand and throwing it on the ground.

"It wasn't a date." Hermione insisted.

"Maybe not to you, Mione but to him-" Draco clenched his teeth together."He still has feelings for you, doesn't he?"

Hermione sighed, "Draco-." With an angry growl he spun and began making his way towards the fireplace. Hermione, slightly panicked, flicked her wand and blocked the grate so he would be unable to floo. "Don't leave like this."

He slowly turned to face her. "I could just apparate you know."

Hermione cocked her eyebrow challengingly then flicked her wand again, smirking as she said, "now you can't. Anti-apparation jinx. Would you please just talk to me?"

"I don't feel much like talking."

Hermione waved her wand and sent two glasses of firewhiskey flying forwards. She caught her own and waited for Draco to accept his. "Better?" He didn't answer, just tipped the glass to his mouth. "Draco, you have to be able to trust me. Yes, maybe it was wrong of me to agree to a cup of coffee with Mathew tonight but I swear to you it was completely innocent- at least for me. I love you, Draco, and I would never to anything to jeopardize what we have. Not only would I be heartbroken but I'd also have Nichole's wrath to deal with."

Draco couldn't help but smile at that, tipping more of the amber contents into his mouth. "I do trust you, Mione," he finally stated, finishing off the glass. "It's him I don't trust- there was something about him that night..."

"I'm sorry." Hermione finished her own glass and walked towards Draco, reaching up to grasp his arm and force him to face her. His blue eyes met her brown ones as she raised a hand to his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Draco." She stood on her tip toes and leaned up until her lips were a breath apart from his and waited- tempting him- hoping he'd draw her in.

With a growl he smashed his mouth to hers as she gasped, which quickly turned into a moan as Draco's hands began to move all over her body. Hermione's mouth was open wide, accepting his kiss with all that she was, grabbing his hair and forcing him as close to her body as she could.

They broke away with a snarl then Draco gently tossed Hermione onto the couch and straddled her causing Hermione to giggle. Draco cocked an eyebrow, confused. "I promised Nichole we wouldn't do this on the couch anymore." She admitted.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her," Draco mumbled as his lips met Hermione's again, laying on top of her, and tasting every inch of her that his mouth could reach.

A/N

Here's another chapter :) hope you enjoy!