Chapter 11

Sleep finds her easily that night, and her dreams take her to a bright landscape with rolling hills of lavender as far as the eye can see. When her dreaming mind climbs the steps of an ancient castle she finds the figure of Draco Malfoy standing on a stone balcony watching Scorpius frolic in the field below. She floats through the dreamscape and is at Draco's side in a moment. Scorpius looks up to them and waves with his usual enthusiasm going back to his play and Draco turns to her; so much like their last encounter in his back garden, but the haunted look in his eyes is replaced with something softer. When his mouth opens the sound that comes is a series of clicks and taps.

Groaning back into consciousness, Hermione wipes the sleep from her eyes and turns toward the window to find a barn owl tapping insistently.

Once admitted to the house the efficient owl drops its missive with a soft hoo and perches on the desk.

The parchment is familiar, thick and indigo, with the Gemini seal on the flap and her name etched in shining silver.

Ms. Granger,

We at Constellation Press hope this communication finds you well.

At this time, we would like to arrange an interview to speak in more detail regarding your interest in joining our Content Development team.

Editor Misselthwiate is available to meet tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.

Please respond via Nesta if this is an amenable time. If not, please provide an alternative as we are eager to discuss this opportunity with you.

Sincerely,

Constellation Press

Hermione reads over the parchment three times. It is not as if she's forgotten the job offer, she rather thought the job offer had forgotten about her.

Finding a spare piece of parchment and a muggle pen in the desk, Hermione composes a response, confirming the meeting for the next day.

The offices of Constellation Press boast a most indiscriminate facade. The only indicator that Hermione has arrived at the appointed location is the familiar Gemini sigil imprinted beside the door.

The lobby is sparse and clean, black granite with sparkling silver and gold intrusions covering the floor and walls. She is sent to the top floor with little fanfare and finds herself waiting in a stiff-backed armchair as the editor's assistant shuffles paper too and fro with quick, sharp wand movements.

A metallic ting rings out over the quiet shuffle of paper that fills the room and the assistant finally makes eye contact with Hermione. "Editor Misselthwaite will see you now."

Rising from her chair she steps quietly into the now open double doors of the editor's office.

N.B. Misselthwiate, as it turns out, was a woman with a sharp, classic sense of style, and so busy, in fact, that she didn't stop her task to turn around and welcome her newest potential employee. With a wave of her hand she indicated the black leather sofa situated against the wall, "Please have a seat. I've prepared you a cup of tea. One sugar and a splash of milk? That is if my son is to be believed." With a tittering laugh she turns around.

"Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione is sure her mouth is hanging open.

"You are welcome to call me Narcissa, dear. May I call you Hermione?" she asks as she approaches with her hand outstretched.

Hermione shakes her hand and nods dumbly as she takes a seat on the sofa alongside Narcissa apparently.

"I'm thrilled you were able to meet today," she bustles about with her teacup with practiced ease. "I do hope you'll forgive the late response to your reply." She dips her chin in graceful supplication, "There have been… personal matters to see to. As I'm sure you are aware."

"Of course," Hermione answers, still taken aback by the turn of events, but she is trying to find her footing. "I do hope things have improved with Mr. Malfoy."

"He's doing as well as can be expected." Narcissa's face is composed if not a bit solemn, "I must thank you for caring for my grandson. Draco was indispensable to me after Lucius' accident."

The sip of tea passing Hermione's lips attempts a detour down her trachea in her surprise, but she manages to redirect the flow with nothing more than a gentle clearing of her throat. "I'm sorry, but did Mal… Draco… Speak of me?"

Naricissa's gentle laugh carries across the room as she rests her teacup on its saucer, "Of course, dear," she waves her hand with an unaffected air. "Hardly a Hogwarts break went by that I didn't hear about Hermione Granger."

"Well, I'm sure it was complaints primarily." Hermione sips her tea in an attempt to cover up her confused face. Narcissa returns her gaze with a simple, but telling raised eyebrow as she sips once more from her cup. "We're not… I mean… surely he didn't imply… We're not… Involved." She finishes in a whisper.

A short decisive hum leaves Narcissa's mouth as she places her cup and saucer on the table between them. "Very well then. It seems we still have a job offer to discuss."

Hermione grants herself the luxury to wander around Diagon Alley alone after the interview.

Once the topic of her "relationship" with Draco was exhausted, the meeting proceeded quite smoothly.

Narcissa made her a solid job offer, one that would allow her the opportunity to work primarily from home. At the mention of the word home, Hermione immediately sees herself seated at the antique desk situated under the window overlooking the back garden. The window out of which she can see a hint of lavender fields and the corner of Draco and Scorpius' garden.

The image gambols through her mind, but regardless of any possible interest she may or may not have in Draco Malfoy, Hermione knows it is an offer she cannot turn down.

She is brought back to the present as the steps of Grimmauld Place materialize before her. Entering the front hall, she hears Ginny in the kitchen below, her voice raised above the volume of the radio as she belts out a Weird Sisters' tune from their school days.

Hermione falls into a fit of giggles as she peeks into the room to see the vivacious redhead singing at full voice into a carrot. Laughter rings from her lips and after an intense shimmy, Ginny tosses a zucchini toward Hermoine, who almost doesn't catch it, and a duet ensues.

Hermione is breathless with laughter at the end of the song and falls into a chair at the end of the table. Ginny resumes her chopping of vegetables, but doesn't stop shaking her hips to the music from the wireless.

"How was the interview?"

That brings Hermione back around to reality. Pushing her hair from her face she answers, "Well… did you know that the editor, and I assume owner of Constellation Press, is one Narcissa Malfoy?"

Ginny's eyes widen and she turns in slow motion, taking in her friend sitting at her kitchen table, "Really?" She pops a carrot chip in her mouth and gives her head a bemused shake. "Misselthwaite though? I mean, it's not completely out of character, but why all the cloak and dagger?"

"Yes, really. The press has been in the Black Family for generations. Somewhere along the way the sitting editor used a pseudonym, and the tradition stuck." Hermione shrugs. "And apparently she doesn't find the idea of her son and I… interfacing… such an abhorrent idea."

"Interfacing?" Ginny rolls her eyes, "What are you two compupers?"

"Computers… and, no. I suppose she just didn't seem put off by the idea that I would be in a relationship with her son."

Ginny scoffs. "Of course not, Hermione. You're an amazing woman. Any man would be proud to have you, and any mother would be proud to call you their daughter-in-law."

A put upon sigh leaves Hermione's mouth. "Ginny, I hardly think we're anywhere near worrying about my fitness as someone's daughter-in-law."

"No matter." Ginny waves her knife, shooing Hermione's self-deprecation to the side. "If you're interested in pursuing Draco Malfoy, then it's at least nice to know his mother won't get in the way."

"I'm not even sure he's interested in me."

Ginny turns all the way around at this, the knife discarded on the bench top, arms crossed over her chest. "I seem to remember a certain curly haired witch giving me some sage advice a few months back." She strokes her chin with one hand and her head tilts to the side. "Who could that have been? And what was this wisdom she bestowed?" A mumbled answer comes from the woman seated at the table as she diligently avoids eye contact with her friend. "I'm sorry, what was that?" Ginny raises her hand to her ear.

"I told you to talk to Harry," Hermione groans.

The look on Ginny's face is far too pleased. "Precisely, talk to him. You need to go back out there to the countryside and talk to Malfoy… or is it Draco now?" She wiggles her eyebrows.

Hermione finds a lone cheerio, likely left over from James' afternoon snack, on the table top and tosses it toward the smug witch. She dodges it, much as one would expect a professional Quidditch player to dodge a flying piece of cereal, but Hermione finds herself grumbling her agreeance.

That evening's dinner is full of more laughter, belonging, and unconditional love, but when she lands on the stoop of her back garden the next day, she can't help but feel that she is finally at home.

AN: Only one chapter to go! Thank you all so much for the follows, favorites, and reviews! It's amazing to hear from you and I look forward to reading your thoughts on these final chapters.

As always, thanks to Mcal for her help with alpha and beta on this story! You're a gem, my friend!