When Hermione awoke the next morning, she knew immediately that something was off. It took her mind a few seconds to clear and realize the problem: there was too much light in the room.

A glance at the clock confirmed it. They were behind—unsurprising, considering how late they'd stayed up.

She jumped out of bed and hurried to Rose's room. "Rose, time to get up!" Flinging open the curtains, she bustled around the room, locating anything she thought her daughter might need for the day. "Rose!"

"Mummy?" Rose sat up and rubbed her eyes, her hair a tangled mess. "What?"

"We should have left for school half an hour ago." Hermione tossed a few items of clothing on the bed. "I need you to get dressed quickly; we'll grab breakfast out and then I'll Apparate us."

Fifteen minutes later, they were walking out the door, Hermione feeling harried as she walked quickly to the corner cafe, a guiding hand on Rose's back. Rose had taken it all in stride and was in a good mood despite her short night.

"So what happened next?" Rose grinned up at her mother while they stood in line for croissants.

"What?" Hermione was scrounging in her beaded bag, looking for her wallet.

"For you. After Hogwarts. You and Mark were broken up and things with Luke tanked quickly. So what was next?" She tugged on her mother's sleeve. "Please, Mum?"

Hermione glanced at Rose in amusement, but it was their turn to order. Once they had their breakfast, Rose munching as they walked, she took her daughter's hand and led her into a narrow alley. "Darling, we can't continue the story right now. You're late for school."

"Tonight, then? Please?"

"Yes, we can continue tonight. But let's hurry! Are you ready? Take my arm. In three, two, one."

"So it's done, then?"

Hermione smiled tiredly as Millicent wrapped her in a hug. "It's done."

"Get in here, Granger." Millie released her and held the door open wide.

Hermione followed her to the kitchen and sat down on a bar stool while her friend searched for something in the pantry. "I just came from dropping off the papers. I feel... strangely fine."

"Fine?" Millie scrunched up her nose. "Is that normal?"

"I don't know!" She chuckled lightly, holding up her hands, palms up, then dropping them back onto the countertop. "I expected to feel something, and I suppose if pressed, it feels like I can breathe again. Like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I thought I'd spend the day in bed, crying."

"So you can breathe now? That's good. I'm really glad you came. I've got just the thing. Bought it especially for today." Millie set two low glasses on the counter, followed by a bottle of firewhiskey.

Hermione's eyes went wide, and she fought a smile at the sight of the drink that had started them on the road to friendship. "Millie! It's not even ten in the morning!"

Millie smirked. "It's not every day you get divorced, either. One drink. To celebrate."

"All right. One drink." They clinked their glasses in a toast, liquor sloshing up the side before Hermione tossed back the potent beverage, grimacing slightly as it went down.

They were silent, digesting the burn, and Hermione fought to muffle a yawn. "I'm sorry. Rose and I had a late night."

"Everything alright?" Millicent peered at her with concern.

"Oh yes. We watched a film, and then Rose started asking questions about Ron." She briefly examined the bottom of her glass, gaze following the remnants of their celebration as she rolled it around. "How we fell in love."

"That's… quite the story."

"I know. We didn't get very far last night, and she was up hours past her bedtime. It was after my bedtime, too. I have a feeling it's going to be a long week; she's already asked me about it this morning. There's no way I can avoid telling her everything. Well, obviously not everything. I left out some of the more explicit details. And she doesn't know who anybody is. Maybe that's why she's so invested; she's trying to figure out who her father is in the story."

Millie put the kettle on. "How far did you get?"

"Eighth year." Hermione cringed at the casually forced way it sounded.

"Ahh. As I recall, there wasn't a lot to tell. You were with Ron for most of it, he kissed someone else, then you broke up with him." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Or perhaps I missed something?"

Hermione quickly looked away. She and Millicent hadn't formed their deep friendship until after Hogwarts, so she had never told her friend what had happened with Draco.

"That means yes! Come on, spill." Millie set the kettle and tea things between them. "Did something happen while you were with Ron? After? Oh, I'm sure it was after; it's not like you to be unfaithful."

She groaned. "It's really embarrassing, Millie."

"I've got a ready supply of Veritaserum at hand, and I'm not afraid to use it." Millie produced a small vial from a kitchen cabinet. "So just drop the dramatics and tell me."

"That potion is highly regulated by the Ministry, you know." Hermione wasn't the least bit surprised at either her friend's threat—those happened often enough—or the fact that she had the potion. She was, however, amused by the fact that she kept it in her kitchen, as though it was something she used often.

Millie smiled smugly. "I'm close to the Hogwarts Potions Master, and he's just up the road a little ways. He's always willing to help me out in a pinch."

Hermione ducked her head as she felt her cheeks get warm. "The, um, answer just so happens to involve that same Potions Master." When Millie didn't make a sound, she looked up to find her friend gaping at her.

"Excuse me? What, exactly, involves Draco Malfoy?"

Hermione sighed and, after securing a magical vow of secrecy from Millie, told her an abbreviated version of what had happened between her and Draco in eighth year. Unlike with Rose, however, Hermione told the full truth, how she'd wanted to sleep with him, and humiliation burned in the back of her throat at the confession.

When she finished, Millie poured herself a finger of whiskey and downed it in one swallow. "You and Malfoy? I... I mean, I'm not surprised, exactly; you two were super close and then… nothing. Granted, we all noticed the sudden change between you. I assumed it was you grieving the loss of Ron and Draco being... well, an insensitive prat, honestly. But I also can't believe you two nearly slept together! How come you never told me?"

"Oh, Millie, weren't you listening?" Hermione felt her cheeks flush with fresh shame and hid her face in her hands. "He turned me down! He didn't want… any of it! I was so humiliated, I could barely look at him after that. I didn't know how to be friends with him anymore. How do you get past one person throwing themselves at the other, who then rejects them? It wasn't something I wanted to remember, much less talk about!"

Millie stared at her with a strange mix of expressions—something akin to disbelief and skepticism—then shook her head. "Alright. Assuming you were right, I can understand why you wouldn't say anything. Plus, our friendship was still new then. Did you confide in anyone else?"

"No." Hermione shook her head vehemently. "Merlin, no. I felt awful."

"I always wondered what happened with you two. I never imagined you two kissed." Millie looked thoughtful. "It makes sense, though. That's the kind of thing that can come between friends."

Hermione nodded, trying to banish thoughts of kissing Draco. "Speaking of the Potions Master, how are things up at the school? How's Neville?"

Neville's relationship with Millicent Bulstrode had shocked everyone, but they were absolutely suited for each other. Neville softened Millie, and she reminded him daily that he was a badass. They worked beautifully.

Millie beamed. "They're wonderful. Nev loves his job, as you know. The kids are doing well, thriving. They miss you, of course. Can't get enough of you. Willow had her first bout of accidental magic the other day. I thought Nev was going to cry. A full two years younger than he was when his Great Uncle dropped him out of that window. You know how worried he was."

"I remember, of course." Hermione smiled at the memory.

Neville worked under Professor Sprout, apprenticing in Herbology. He taught the first and second year students, and he would slowly work his way to replacing Sprout when she retired. He and Millie lived in Hogsmeade and had three children so far, ages seven, five, and two and a half. The oldest two went to a little school in the village for residents; the toddler, still too young to attend, stayed at home with her mother. Millie, in another shocking twist, was a lot like Molly Weasley. She loved everything about being a wife and mother—though she was much more acerbic than Molly. Hermione expected another pregnancy announcement any day now.

They talked about the kids, her work, played with Willow when she woke up from her nap, and passed the morning very pleasantly.

"How does it feel to have the whole week off?" Millie asked after they'd exhausted the topic of which carrier Hermione should purchase if she ever needed one. This hadn't taken long because, thankfully, Hermione wasn't in the market, but she listened attentively as Millie couldn't stop listing the benefits of the one she used for Willow. "Was your boss shocked that you requested it?"

"I think in some ways, yes, but in other ways no. My whole relationship with Ron has been very public from the start." She shrugged. "Everybody knows what's going on. So while he might have been initially startled that I'd request time off, it didn't take him long to grant the request."

"And what do you plan to do with your time?"

"Honestly?" She paused to think. "I suppose it feels a little strange, not going to work. I wanted the week off in case I needed the time to process, but... I feel fine. I mean, it's only Monday, I only just delivered the final paperwork, but I've got a few things loosely planned for this week. I didn't want to over-schedule or commit to anything, out of an abundance of caution. I'd love to spend the week catching up with friends, though."

"It'll hit later. I know you've been ready for months, that you've prepared and grieved, but now it's final. There's no going back. No more Granger-Weasley for you." Millie gave her a pointed but sympathetic look, then glanced at a clock on the wall when Willow started to whine about a toy she couldn't find. "It's about lunch time. Why don't I make us something to chase that Firewhiskey? Then we can go for a walk around the village after."

Hermione nodded eagerly; Millie was an excellent cook, and her children liked to eat all kinds of delicious things. Millie didn't ask any more questions. The divorce was a major step towards healing, but if pressed, the wound could still bleed. There was plenty in the situation to hurt about.

While Millie bustled around the kitchen, Hermione kept an eye on Willow, who was, for the moment, content to sit and play with blocks. Or, more accurately, knock down the structures Hermione built for her. As the smell of Millie's cooking filled the room, she thought briefly of meals eaten in Hogsmeade as an eighth year student, when her class was allowed to leave the grounds for lunch. Hogsmeade's business benefited greatly that year.

"What are you doing tonight?" Millie asked as she chopped ingredients, drawing Hermione out of her thoughts. "You can't be alone. I don't care how fine you say you are."

"Oh, I won't be. I've got Rose, of course." She felt the slightest quiver in her voice but hoped Millie hadn't noticed.

"Good. I suppose she'll want to hear more of the story, then? What happens next in the path to meeting Ron at the altar? Want to help with something?" Millie directed Hermione to some spices she needed measured and mixed.

Hermione made her way down the list of spices, taking the same care with them as she had in potions. "Well, the next big stop was Cassius, but Millie, I don't know how I'm supposed to tell Rose about him." She still blushed at some of her memories and adventures with him.

Another tower toppled causing a large crash behind them. Millie glanced over her shoulder, not skipping a beat in her preparations as she mumbled that Willow was fine. "Why, because it was mostly sexual?" Millie pointed at Hermione with her chef's knife for a moment. "You deserved every single one of those shags. After everything with Ron and then that dry spell—with, you know, an exception here and there—I was thrilled that you were getting so much action. He was good for you, too. Obviously not long-term, but you came away from that wildfire of a relationship feeling so good about yourself. After that, you really owned how hot you were. You weren't content with mediocre anymore, and that's as it should be. Of course, I don't know that Weasley ever made you scream the way Cassius did. But we all know you didn't marry him for his prowess in bed. I say that as a friend, of course."

"Of course." Hermione chuckled. "No, I married Ron because I thought he was the best fit for marriage. And sex with him was always fine. He was very considerate and made sure I had a nice time."

Millie rolled her eyes. "In other words, vanilla. When you talk to Rose, don't get caught up in that side of your relationship. Tell her about the different places you two went and how you gained confidence in yourself because, even though he wasn't right for you, he let you be yourself."

Hermione smiled warmly at her friend. "You're absolutely right, Millie."

"All right, moving on. After Cassius, there's Viktor, and then Ron again."

"Yes." Hermione sighed. "And even though it's over with Ron, I can't bring myself to regret it. I have Rose, after all, and she is everything. She's made all of it worth it, even the really hard parts. I'm so lucky to be her mum." Hermione felt tears prick her eyes, but she refused to cry here and now.

Millie reached over and gave her arm a quick squeeze, for which Hermione was grateful. "I want to hear how Rose likes the story." Her eyes suddenly went wide, and she froze mid-chop. "Wait. Tell me there's more instances of kissing Draco to come. I know you two were in and out of each other's lives for a bit there."

Hermione chuckled, casually drying her eyes. "No, that ship sailed in eighth."

Millie arched an eyebrow and finished her chopping. "Uh huh. He's single, you know."

"Stop, Millie." Hermione finished with the spices and pushed the bowl over to her. "I just turned in my divorce papers this morning. Are you trying to set me up already?" The very idea was absurd.

"With a famously single, extremely good looking, bloody intelligent wizard? Why on Earth would I do that?" Millie rolled her eyes dramatically and started the heat under a pan.

"It's too soon." Hermione's heart started racing at the thought of Draco nonetheless. Perhaps reliving her memories of their friendship in school was affecting her this way. Maybe she'd get palpitations over thoughts of Cassius as well after tonight. Wiping her hands dry, she went back to check on Willow, who was playing near the kitchen.

"Well, whenever you're ready, let me know." Millie gave her a pointed look. "He and Neville have a good relationship, you know. Even though Neville was cautious when he joined the staff. Poor guy. Malfoy's ghost lingered."

"Draco was a little prat and horrible to Neville before 8th year." Hermione sniffed indignantly. "And while eighth was much better, Draco didn't have much to say to him."

"I know. Draco dropped the pompous arse routine and instead took up the silent, brooding banner. Whenever he spoke to Neville, it was always with an air of impatient tolerance. By the end, they had formed a sort of peaceful coexistence, but that was the most it ever was. When Draco arrived to teach, he went out of his way to befriend Neville. Now they're close. Why am I telling you this? You know it already." Millie waved her hand, then gave Hermione a calculating look. " He joins us for dinner on the weekend sometimes, as you well know."

Hermione smiled at the mental image of Draco sitting at the table with the Longbottom family. She'd seen him plenty of times with the Weasley clan over the years, which had occasionally included Neville, but it had been awhile. She'd never seen him around Willow. "Does Oren still think he's the best thing ever?"

Millie chuckled. "Of course. Oren thinks he hung the moon. Wants to be just like him when he grows up." Millie put out the fire under her pan and gave her creation one last, good stir.

"That smells amazing, Millie." Hermione's stomach rumbled, much to her amusement. "I'm not surprised that your children adore him. He's the favorite whenever he shows up at the Burrow."

"Oh, but surely he can't have the same connection with one of that lot as he does with Oren. You should see Draco with him." Millie smiled wistfully a moment, then her eyes widened briefly before taking on a look Hermione knew only too well.

"Millie." She spoke with a warning in her tone. "What did you think just then? What's going through your mind right now?"

Millie gave her an innocently devious smile. "Oh, nothing. Surely nothing that involves a dinner for four. Where you can see him with Oren. "

"Oh no! Please don't. That would be… too uncomfortable." Hermione shook her head in horror at the thought.

"Why? You're friends with him, aren't you? Nothing like you once were, of course." She grinned. "What's the harm in having dinner with us?"

Hermione gave her a withering look. "Well, yes, we are, I mean, in a way—but having both of us over for dinner would be extremely obvious. I don't want that." Or did she?

Millie studied her for a long moment. "All right. Not this week, anyway. You are going to feel this divorce, so I won't press you. Yet."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly. The ink is barely dry on the parchment, and you're trying to set me up. I may feel fine, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to launch out of the starting gate and back into the world of dating."

"But he's not just anyone. It's Draco. You kissed him once; you can do it again. Those feelings didn't just disappear into thin air." Millie pulled down some plates and pointed towards a drawer. "Grab some flatware, will you? I'll get drinks—wine, of course—while you set the table."

Hermione took the dishes and set to work. "You're forgetting that he stopped kissing me that night. He practically ran from the room afterwards, clearly desperate to get away. Besides, it's been over ten years. Ten! And so much has happened in that time. What makes you think he'd be interested now?" She really needed to stop thinking about him so much.

Millie dismissed her concern with a wave after setting the main dish on the table. "He's an older, wiser Draco. He'll make the right choice this time."

Hermione cleared her throat and changed the subject as they sat down to eat. Millie got the hint and played along, letting the conversation drift over a range of topics. But as they talked of other things, her mind kept wandering towards a certain blond former schoolmate. She was beginning to think it was dangerous to think too much about Draco Malfoy.

Rose managed to wait all of seven seconds after being picked up from primary before mentioning the story once again.

"I'm ready, Mum. I've been thinking about it all day, and I've recopied my notes. I'm ready to hear more about you and my father." Her expression was completely sincere and expectant as she danced from foot to foot.

Hermione laughed. "Oh, Rose, it will probably have to wait until after dinner. We've got a full afternoon ahead, and I don't think we should be up as late as last night."

"All right. I was really tired today." Rose spoke very sagely, causing Hermione's heart to swell for a moment. "But we have to start immediately because I don't want to miss anything."

"I'll tell you the whole story, but it may just take a few days." She smiled warmly at her child who was so like her in her thirst for information. "Now, our destination is Diagon Alley. Anywhere you want to go while we're there?"

Rose's eyes lit up. "Flourish and Blotts! But I'm guessing you're already planning to stop there."

"You know me so well. Come on."

At dinner, Rose went through her daily ritual of sharing everything about her day, though she hurried through the telling and wasn't nearly as detailed as she normally was. Since she finished pretty quickly, Hermione decided to begin her story during dinner. She poured herself another drink and settled herself mentally for sharing more.

"You remember I told you that the next time I saw Luke, I was dating someone?"

Rose nodded and glanced at her notes. "Yes. Joey, you said."

"That's right. Joey." She smiled at the memory of him, his thick, dark hair, his mesmerizing eyes. "We met at a party thrown by a mutual friend about a year after I finished at school. I knew Joey from Hogwarts—"

"Of course." Rose rolled her eyes.

"But we weren't exactly friends. I can recall two interactions with him in the few years we were there together. He was older, and he was in Slytherin, so even if I'd wanted to be his friend then, he'd never have given me the chance."

"It's ridiculous, the animosity between the houses. Everyone should just be friends." Rose spoke with conviction.

Hermione laughed. "That's easy for you to say. Wait until you're there in a few months. You'll feel very differently about it, I'm sure."

"So you met Joey at a party."

"Yes. My friend Misty threw a big party at her house. She loved throwing parties, and any excuse would do. This party was to celebrate the start of summer, I think, or maybe a breakup with a boyfriend, I can't remember. Whatever it was, the reason was merely a pretense to have a party. I only went because some friends dragged me along."

"Don't look now." Ginny ignored her own comment and stared blatantly toward the door. "You will never guess who just walked in."

Everyone looked. Hermione could almost make out a tall man with dark brown hair and sunglasses surrounded by a horde of people. There were a fair number of squeals and gasps, but she had no clue who it was.

"That's Cassius Warrington!" Ginny told them. "He's only the most famous Quidditch player in England right now. He's also really fit." She regarded him appreciatively whenever she caught a glimpse.

Luna, Millicent, and Hermione exchanged looks.

"Is Blaise here?" Luna asked.

Ginny didn't take her eyes off Cassius. "No. He's in Italy. With Malfoy."

Hermione let out a deep breath. She'd been wanting to know if Draco would be making an appearance, and now that she knew he wasn't, she could relax. She hadn't seen him much since school ended, and they still had never talked. They probably never would.

Luna elbowed Ginny. "Are you two still...together?"

"At the moment? No." Ginny craned her neck, looking for someone. "Bugger. I've lost sight of him." She turned around and waggled her eyebrows. "Oh well. I'd love to talk with him, if you know what I mean."

Millie gave her a sharp look. "What about Blaise?"

"Listen, Blaise wanted to go to Italy with Malfoy for three months, no strings attached. I said fine. I'm not sure he realized that meant I would also be unattached. When he returns, we'll see what he has to say. In the meantime, I'm certainly allowed to look." Ginny and Blaise had been dating off and on since Hogwarts. Their relationship was unconventional but it seemed to suit them.

"Granger needs to get laid more than you, Gin. Leave Warrington for her." Millie was always looking out for Hermione's interests.

"Thank you, but I highly doubt a renowned Quidditch player is going to notice me out in this giant crowd. Speaking of, have any of you seen Pansy? I want to ask her something." Hermione craned her neck, looking for the elusive hostess.

Luna pointed across the wide room. "She's there."

"Thanks." Hermione made her way across the large room headed toward Pansy. The Parkinson estate was one of the biggest in the country, and Pansy loved filling it with people. The party was taking place in the main ballroom, and she had it decorated like a club. There were cozy booths all around the perimeter and a large dance floor in the middle. The music was loud and the main lights were low, making room for the flashing lights all around.

By the time Hermione reached the door where she had seen Pansy, the other witch was gone. Flustered, she turned to look again and found herself face to face with none other than Cassius Warrington. A gaggle of scantily dressed women were huddled around him, yet he seemed genuinely surprised to meet her gaze and oblivious to anyone else.

"I'm so sorry," she said, trying to get out of his way.

"No, it's my fault," he said immediately. "Were you looking for someone?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Pansy; she was just here a minute ago."

Cassius pointed a few doors down. "I think I just saw her go through there."

Hermione gave him a polite smile. "Thank you."

"Wait!" he called when she'd taken a few steps away. "What's your name?"

Hermione told him over her shoulder, and she kept walking, not stopping to ask for his.

About an hour later, Hermione was dancing with her friends. She'd had a few drinks and was just really enjoying herself. A few men had tried to dance with her, but she had told them politely that she wasn't interested that night, much to Millicent's chagrin.

"Granger, that's the fifth bloke you've turned away tonight," she said with a scowl. "I'm serious; I want you to go home with someone!"

Hermione shrugged. "I'm just not interested, Millie. I haven't found anybody I want to go home with." Not to mention the fact that she'd never been interested in meaningless one-offs. She preferred to know the bloke, and she enjoyed the intimacy of really knowing someone when things got intimate. Not that she'd had a lot of experience.

Ginny, Luna, and Millie were all dancing around her when suddenly Ginny froze, eyes wide. Luna stopped to see what was the matter, and then she clapped her hands, eyes sparkling.

Hermione spun around to see what had caught their attention just in time to nearly run into none other than Cassius Warrington.

"Hello ladies." He briefly flashed his dazzling smile at her friends. "Hi there, Hermione." He held out his hand. "My name is Cassius. We didn't have the chance to formally meet earlier."

She could feel the eyes of her friends on her, and she knew that Millie was silently encouraging her. Now that he was close, Hermione saw exactly why everyone was fawning all over him. Cassius was extremely good-looking, and she could tell he was lean and strong. His fame surely had a lot to do with it, but he had a natural, boyish charm to him that was endearing. But she was also instantly suspicious that such a well-known and stunningly handsome man was talking to her out of the blue.

She gave him a wry smile. "Hello, Cassius. It's nice to meet you."

He flashed a grin, a move she felt sure usually made women swoon. "Care to dance?"

"No thanks, I'm here with my friends." Hermione tried to escape into her group of friends.

Millicent grabbed her arm as she tried to move away, holding her firmly in place. "Yes, Cassius, she will dance." And she shoved Hermione into him so hard she stumbled.

He caught her easily, winking at Millie. "Thanks."

In the blink of an eye, Hermione's friends melted into the crowd, leaving her alone with Cassius, who, despite being highly sought after, was conspicuously alone. "So who put you up to this?"

"What do you mean?" He chuckled uncomfortably, eyes widening.

Hermione pursed her lips. "I mean, who sent you over here to dance with me?"

Cassius ran a hand through his hair. "Um, nobody? I've been watching you since the first time I saw you. I've been trying to talk to you all night."

She laughed out loud, doubled over in the middle of the dance floor. "Oh, wow! Does that line usually work?"

He grinned sheepishly, his cheeks reddening at the top. "Er, it's not really a line."

Hermione shook her head, still grinning. "Well, nice try. But I'm not interested."

"Okay…" He stretched the word out, clearly unsure of himself in this situation where a woman didn't automatically fall into his arms. "That's fine. Why don't we just dance?"

"I don't know…" She could feel the eyes of all her friends boring into her; even though she couldn't see them, she knew they were watching. If she walked away from him now, they'd never give her peace. "One dance." She gave him her most patronizing smile and sighed impatiently.

Twenty minutes later, they were stumbling into his flat.

Ten minutes after that, she came undone under his very skillful attention.

After another full hour, she was exhausted and thoroughly sated. Cassius slumped onto the bed beside her, and neither of them spoke for a few minutes.

Then Hermione started laughing hysterically.

"What?" Cassius lifted his head to look at her, bewildered.

When her mirth subsided, she sighed. "Oh, I am not this sort of girl! I'm not the girl who goes home with a stranger!"

He grinned. "And yet, you did."

She covered her face, shame sinking in now that her brain was functioning again. "I can't believe I did this."

"Hey, it's okay, you know. It's—"

"No. I mean, why me? Or if all those women there tonight, why did you pick me? I'm not the girl that the roguishly handsome, famous Quidditch star takes home. Not unless it's a joke."

Cassius frowned. "It's no joke, Hermione. Believe it or not, I don't usually do this either."

She snorted and sat up, drawing the sheet tightly around her as she began searching for her clothes. "You don't need to lie to try and make me feel better or anything. I'm a big girl. I can admit that I fell for your schtick."

"It's no schtick! I swear! I… please, stay the night."

Hermione shook her head in disbelief. "Oh very funny." She pulled on her trousers, then rounded on him. "No! You know what? I take it back. I didn't fall for your games; I got exactly what I wanted. No regrets. But don't worry. I'm not going to go running to the nearest gossip rag."

"Hermione, I'm serious." He swung his legs over the side of the bed, an earnest look on his face. "Please, I want you to stay. I'd like to see you tomorrow."

"Very funny." She was now completely dressed after tugging on her shirt. "Cassius Warrington, this was fun. Good luck with the Quidditch."

Then without waiting for a reply, she left.

"Did you have fun playing the board game with him?" Rose's expression was earnest, her quill poised above her notes.

Hermione nodded, trying not to blush. "I... Yes. It was a fun evening."

Rose frowned. "You mentioned Luke, though. That the next time you saw him, you were with Joey. But Luke wasn't there, and you told Joey you weren't interested in playing more games."

"Ah. Well, Joey showed up at my work about a week later." Hermione smiled, remembering how surprised she'd been to see him walk into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

"He did?" Rose squealed. "That's so romantic!"

"I wasn't terribly amused at the time. Everyone knew who he was, and they were all wildly curious to see what he was doing there. There was even a small trail of witches who'd followed him."

"Was he that famous?" She made a face.

"Yes, he was. He was carrying a small bouquet of flowers he'd picked from a field, and I think it was that, more than anything, that led me to agree to a date."

Rose sighed happily. "Did he make you incandescently happy, Mum?"

Hermione chuckled. "He was exciting. I had a lot of fun with him. That relationship was fast and wild. He liked to show up and whisk me off somewhere without giving me any warning."

A startled look formed on Rose's face. "Oh, Mum. I know how much you like to plan for things."

"Yes, exactly right. Sometimes I really struggled to enjoy those outings because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't always relax enough to go with the flow." She smiled again. Cassius's favorite method of calming her down was to shag, a talent at which he excelled perhaps even more than Quidditch. "But we did make some memories along the way "

"What about Luke?"

"What about him?"

Rose crossed her arms. "I want to hear about him!"

Hermione surveyed the empty plates and cups and the table. "Tell you what. Let's clean this up, and then I can tell you about seeing Luke."

"Okay!" She bounded from her seat and began catering things to the sink. "It's just, I think there's more to it than that."

"More than what?"

"Seeing him while you were with Joey." Rose wiped the excess food from the dishes and set them in the sink.

Hermione wasn't sure what to think. She didn't want Rose to get her hopes stuck on Luke—er, Draco—because he wasn't her father. It might be a disappointment once the truth was revealed.

"I don't think so, but I'm happy to tell you all about it. Get ready for bed—teeth and pajamas—and I'll meet you on the sofa!" After using the loo, Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. Her breath caught, something akin to panic spiking in her gut, and she gasped slightly, bringing her hand to her stomach. Millie might have been right—tonight would be much harder than she'd imagined. After splashing some water on her face and forcing herself to take deep breaths, she felt calm again. At least calm enough to face her overly inquisitive child.

Rose was waiting when she arrived, legs drawn up on the cushion and snuggled under her favorite blanket. "I'm ready."

"Let me remember now. I'd been with Joey for about three months. No one could believe it, and everybody had something to say about it."

"I still can't believe you snagged Cassius Warrington."

Pansy's arm was looped through Hermione's as they climbed the stands toward their seats for the match.

"At my party, no less. I feel like I should get a footnote in your wedding announcement."

Hermione laughed. "Oh, I think that's quite getting ahead of things, don't you? It's only been a few months."

"I really don't know how you did it. That man was practically salivating when he begged me to tell him how to contact you. He wouldn't take no for an answer. I told him to owl, but he said no, he had to see you. Here we are."

They'd arrived at their seats—the best in the stadium thanks to Cassius. There were a few other people there already, and Hermione was glad to have Pansy with her. Sitting alone, which she'd done once, was no fun at all.

She was about to say something when Pansy squealed and released Hermione. She watched her friend dash across the small area and fling her arms around someone. It was hard to tell who it was until he moved, exposing a shock of white blond hair.

Her stomach did a strange somersault when Draco's eyes found hers seconds later. Pansy was pointing before they both headed her way.

Hermione's heart started thundering in her chest, and her breath hitched as she took a moment to look him over. He'd cut his hair since Hogwarts; it no longer hung to his shoulders, instead falling to his chin. He looked older, more filled out, but his smile was the same—just as captivating as it had been in their final year.

Pansy had her arm in his now, talking nonstop while they walked. But Draco seemed not to hear a word, his gaze focused solely on Hermione.

"Look who I found!" Pansy hopped a little in her excitement.

"I see. Hello, Draco."

"Granger." His tone, the rough way the first syllable of her name split his lips, still gave her goosebumps. "What brings you two here?"

Pansy didn't give Hermione a chance to respond. "Granger's dating Warrington, and she asked me to join her. But what are you doing here?"

Draco's easy smile faltered for a moment. "What?"

"Cassius." Pansy remarked offhandedly. "You know him, of course. He was a few years ahead of us, played Quidditch."

He shot her a perturbed look. "I know who he is, Pansy; everyone knows. I'm just...surprised."

Hermione felt exposed before his scrutiny, wrapping her arms around herself before responding. "It hasn't been long."

"Is it serious?"

"I—"

"Of course it is. Haven't you seen them all over the papers? He's mad for her." Pansy smiled triumphantly. "I introduced them. Sort of. They met at my party. But you still haven't answered my question! Why are you here? Do you normally come to these matches?"

Draco shook his head and dragged his gaze from Hermione to Pansy. "I'm here with some of my father's clients. He couldn't make it, so he asked me to bring them. I hate these things; they're just going to get drunk and attempt to pick up anyone they see. You two should be careful."

"Will you sit with us?"

He grimaced. "I wish I could. I'd much rather that, than these two." He jabbed his thumb toward two men in the corner, laughing loudly and holding drinks. "Maybe later, if the match is long enough."

Hermione was trying desperately to think of something to say, but her brain was completely blank.

One of his guests called his name, and he smiled sheepishly. "I'd better get back to them. Nice seeing you both." His eyes lingered on Hermione for an extra heartbeat before he walked away.

"Merlin, I miss him." Pansy watched him go. "I barely see him anymore. He's always off traveling for his father. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm sure the work is fabulous, but the man needs a life. Do you ever see him? I know you two were close in eighth."

"Oh, not at all. I haven't seen him since school ended, actually." In a rush, all of the feelings she'd shoved to the side, all the fond memories of late nights, long talks, and deep connections, the trips they'd taken to books stores, came flooding back. She realized she missed him acutely.

But she didn't think the chances of having that kind of friendship with him again were good at all—they were likely nonexistent.

The match started, and Hermione tried to concentrate. Thirty minutes in, however, Pansy leaned over. "Everything okay? You're really quiet."

"I'm... thinking. Sorry to be such poor company."

Pansy flicked her gaze over to where Draco was tucked between the two clients. "How is it possible you haven't seen him since school? You two were close! I know he considered you a good friend, at the very least. What happened?"

Hermione had no interest in divulging the truth. "We never really talked about life beyond school. I suppose we went our separate ways and... that was that."

"That's ridiculous." Pansy glanced back to Draco and bit her lip but said nothing.

Hermione had a sinking feeling that of all her friends, Pansy would be the one to suspect there had always been something more between her and Draco. She couldn't tell Pansy the truth right now with Draco just across the room. Knowing Pansy, she'd make a scene, and Hermione would probably die of embarrassment. She resolved to be more present for Pansy so as to avoid awkward questions she didn't want to answer.

The match looked as though it would never end. As fabulous as Cassius played, he was a Chaser, and neither Seeker had come close to the Snitch yet. If it lasted too long, Hermione wouldn't get to see him before she had to leave.

As ninety minutes of play elapsed, Hermione began to fidget for a change. What she didn't anticipate was Pansy being the catalyst.

Without a word, her friend stood and went over to where Draco was. Hermione didn't think anything of it, only adjusted in her seat to get more comfortable.

When someone sat down beside her again, she assumed it was Pansy.

"Hi."

She jumped in her seat, hand flying to her chest as her heart raced from shock. She laughed lightly at her reaction. "Draco! You startled me!"

"Pansy said you wanted to talk?" His voice was slightly strained and very business-like.

She glanced toward her friend, who was now chatting with Draco's father's clients. Pansy raised an eyebrow when Hermione caught her eye.

"Oh, um." Her brain decided to vacate again.

Draco chuckled lowly. "I see." He pressed his palms onto his thighs.

After a few minutes of silence—she couldn't think of anything to say; her mind sputtered like the wings of a captured snitch—he nodded towards the field. "You still enjoy Quidditch?"

"Oh yes, very much." She paused. "Sometimes."

He laughed. "I don't suppose you've spent much time studying plays and such."

"No. It's more about the fan experience, joining in to cheer for a team, the sense of camaraderie, the thrill of being part of the ups and downs of your team with those around you..."

"You don't love this box, then."

She glanced around at the encapsulated viewing area, the announcer turned low, the gentle clink of crystal, and the occasional laughter from someone watching. It was more like being at a fine restaurant than an intense sporting event. "Honestly, no. I'd rather be out there with the rest of the crowd. But even if I were, I don't know much about Cassius's team. I have yet to memorize the lineup, if you can believe it."

He gasped in mock surprise. "You mean you don't know their stats by heart?"

"I'm not that kind of a Quidditch fan." She smiled at him though, meeting his eyes for the first time since he'd joined her.

For the briefest of moments, she thought he might mention what had happened between them, but he didn't, instead asking her how she had met Cassius. One thing led to another, and before she knew it, they'd talked for the rest of the match. When Cassius's team's Seeker finally caught the Snitch, the game had gone on for over three hours. She clapped as though at an opera, then stood and stretched.

She glanced around, looking for Pansy, but she was nowhere to be found. Draco's clients were on their own, engrossed in conversation but clapping politely.

Draco also looked at them. "Oh, bugger. I should go over there." He didn't move.

"I'm going to go find Cassius. It's too bad we didn't get to finish our conversation about unfair Hippogriff Laws." She grinned, needling him over what had happened in their third year. "I've got plenty of case studies on the creatures."

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm sure you do. Why don't you write out your thoughts and send them via owl. I'll be sure to make it my top priority."

"Oh, I'm sure you will." She couldn't stop smiling at him. It was so nice to talk to him again, to pick up near where they'd left off, ignoring that the kiss even happened, and it gave her hope that they could be friends again. Hermione heard the crowd beginning to leave, people Disapparating from all over the stadium, sending popping sounds echoing through the air. Soon Cassius would be coming to find her, but she wished she could stay in this moment with Draco just a little longer.

He was already getting to his feet, preparing to rejoin his charges.

"Draco."

He gave her his full attention, hands resting casually in his pockets. "Yes, Granger?"

"I, um, I've really missed you. I'm glad we ran into each other."

For an instant, he looked almost sad, but then it cleared and he smiled. "Me too."

"And I will write about the Hippogriffs."

"I'm sure you will." His eyes were bright, warm, like she remembered from when he'd look at her before, and she felt happier than she'd been in a long time. Then his gaze shifted over her shoulder, a cloud passing over his features.

A strong arm slid around her waist, and Cassius pulled her close, kissing her on the cheek. "There you are. I've been thinking about you for the past, oh, eight minutes?" He seemed to notice Draco then, and his eyes widened, a laugh bursting from him. "Draco Malfoy! I can't believe it! What are you doing here?"

Draco motioned toward the clients. "Here on business for my father. Ran into Granger here. We were in the same year at Hogwarts."

"Right, right." Cassius slung an arm over Hermione's shoulder. "Did you enjoy the match?"

"I did. I'm glad I came." Draco's gaze flicked briefly to Hermione. "I've got to get back to my clients, though. It was good seeing you, Warrington."

"It's Cassius!" he called to Draco's back before kissing her again.

"I'm going to shower, and then we're going to celebrate."

"Oh, no, Cass, I can't. I've got to be at work early tomorrow."

He pouted, lower lip sticking out. "But Hermione. I've been thinking about what you said the other night, and we could—"

"There you are."

Pansy reappeared then, to Hermione's great relief. She felt extremely self-conscious at the knowledge that Draco was in the room, and Cassius was about to start snogging her, as he was wont to do. Normally, she just went with it, but for Draco to see… She didn't want him to. It shouldn't matter, but it did.

"Cassius, brilliant game, as always." Pansy linked arms with Hermione. "I'm taking her home with me, though. We've got things to discuss."

Draco called Pansy's name and waved as he left, sending a smaller wave to Hermione and Cassius.

"Bye, Draco! I'll be in touch soon!" Pansy waved enthusiastically, then turned back. "I'll let you two say goodbye." She smirked and walked away.

Cassius immediately pulled her into a searing kiss, regardless of the other people in the box. At least he'd waited. She sighed and let his lips drive every other thought away, even the ones of Draco.

"That was it?"

"That was it. Sorry to disappoint you, love. I did write to him, though. About Hippogriffs." She still had his letters from that period in her life, in fact, but she didn't divulge that.

"Did he reply?" Rose yawned.

"He did, of course. We wrote to each other for years. Now it's bedtime, darling."

"So what happened with Joey? I know he's not my dad." She held up her notes with Joey's name crossed off. "I think I'd have noticed if my father was a famous Quidditch player."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose that was an easy one. Joey and I were simply too different. I had a lot of fun with him, but in the end, we weren't a good fit. His spontaneous and carefree lifestyle got to be overwhelming for me. But many good things came from my relationship with him."

"Like what?" Rose took up her quill again, ready to take notes.

"It's bedtime, my love. Come on, I'll tell you once you're all tucked in." She stood and held out her hand to Rose, who took it without protest. As they headed to Rose's room, Hermione scrambled to think of how to tell Rose about Cassius without mentioning her physical awakening, how she learned to not be ashamed or shy about what she wanted in bed.

By the time Rose was completely snuggled in her bed, she had the words. "Joey taught me a lot about the importance of having fun in a relationship. Of letting go of my plans and embracing the unexpected." She wondered how Cassius was doing. Last she heard, he was still playing Quidditch, married to his third wife and still without any children. She wondered if he was happy.

"Did you have fun with Dad?" Rose pulled the blanket tighter and yawned.

Hermione schooled her expression, keeping it neutral. "I... did. Yes. Plenty of fun. A different kind of fun, but absolutely we had good times together."

But Ron was nothing like Cassius. He never planned adventures or surprised her with something outrageous. Of course, Cassius had been well off from the start, able to whisk her away at a moment's notice. Not that trips around the world were required.

Rose nodded thoughtfully. "So the story ends for today with your breakup with Joey. And you're writing Luke."

Hermione helped her sort out the blankets and pillows. "Actually, the breakup with Joey will come tomorrow because before that happened, I reconnected with someone I hadn't seen in a long time but had first met—"

"At Hogwarts." Rose sighed dramatically. "I know. All roads lead through Hogwarts, don't they? Mum? Do you think I will meet my future husband at Hogwarts?"

"I'd say there's a decent chance of it. But most of the people we know, while they married someone from school, didn't really speak to or interact with their significant other while we were there. Most of the connections happened later." She and Ron were one of the exceptions, though of course they weren't actually together at Hogwarts.

Rose's eyes fluttered shut. "Hmm. Okay. I love you, Mummy. When will I see my Dad again?"

"He's picking you up Friday from school for the weekend."

"At the Burrow?" Her eyes opened, sparkling with excitement.

Hermione smiled. "Yes, dear. You'll get to see all your cousins and aunts and uncles."

"Will you be there?"

Tears suddenly threatened, but she kept smiling anyway. "I'll be there for Sunday dinner, and I'll bring you back with me for the week. But you'll get Daddy and Grandma all to yourself." It would be the first weekend that she attended any function at the Burrow as Hermione Granger in over a decade.

Rose closed her eyes again. "Okay. Goodnight, Mummy."

"Goodnight. I love you, Rose." Hermione kissed her head and left, almost certain that her daughter would be asleep before the light went off.

Hermione went to the kitchen and mechanically started doing the dishes. She thought the mundane activity would help clear her mind, but she wasn't halfway through the task before tears started to fall.

She had to stop and go into the living room, where she sat on the sofa, hugging a pillow to her chest, and sobbed. The brief talk of the Burrow brought home the fact that they were no longer family. The only family she'd had since modifying her parents' memories no longer belonged to her.

She was well and truly alone.

When the tears finally subsided, Hermione decided to leave the dishes and go to bed. She quickly set them to soak, knowing she'd appreciate the task in the morning. It was early for her, but she was tired.

Once in bed, however, sleep eluded her. One thing she realized, as she lay willing sleep to find her, was that she hadn't felt much when talking about Cassius. She'd thought of him fondly, remembered her time with him positively, but it hadn't set her heart to racing.

Maybe it was because she'd had closure with him. There had been a very clear beginning and end, whereas there hadn't been with Draco. Certainly her marriage was an ending of sorts, in that he became off limits, but then again, she'd never been able to fully explore what she'd felt for him.

Of course, he had made it clear that he wasn't interested, so why, upon reflection, did things feel unfinished?

It had to be because her feelings for him had resurfaced upon recall of the regular correspondence they had once maintained following the match. Draco had always been very at ease in his letters, telling her about his relationships and his own adventures. At the time, she'd ignored the way his stories about other women stung, and she'd sometimes skimmed those parts, skipping them completely at other times. She hadn't recognized her feelings for what they were, perhaps unconsciously choosing not to look too closely at them, but she could see now that there were clues.

Finally, when she could avoid it no longer, her thoughts turned to Ron. She wondered where he was, how he was doing. Was he also sad, even though he knew it was for the best? Would they ever be friends like they'd once been?

Hermione replayed the best memories of her life with Ron in her mind. They had years of happiness, and everything involving Rose was an absolute joy. She eventually drifted off to sleep, her eyes completely dry.