Hermione was waiting in the Entrance Hall with the other invitees. She could hear the noise from inside the Great Hall of the students chatting and laughing and for some unknown reason she felt nervous. Going back into the grand room with hundreds of eyes watching her made her stomach churn. She tried to comfort herself with the thought that most eyes would probably be on Harry - he was, after all, the boy who lived and the wizard who defeated Voldemort.

Professor McGonagall and the other professors (most of which Hermione didn't know) were already in the hall so it was left to Neville to lead them in through the large double doors when they heard Professor McGonagall introduce them.

The hall erupted into loud applause as they made their way down the room and Hermione smiled at some students close to her. She took her place at the first long table, in front of the professor's table and gazed back over the hall at the huge wooden tables with students on either side. It was a magnificent sight and she felt a lump form in her throat.

"Not going to cry are you Granger?" A voice said next to her and Hermione turned to find Draco sitting right next to her.

"Why are you sitting next to me?" Hermione hissed.

"I engineered it," Draco said and then he shook his head, indicating her was being sarcastic. "I just happened to walk in behind you!"

Professor McGonagall had stood again and she began talking. "Thank you for the welcome you have just given our visitors. I'm sure most of you know who they are but Professor Longbottom is going to make a formal introduction and give you a brief idea of what area each of them can help you with."

Neville, who was seated at the professor's table, stood up and looked around the room. Hermione watched him with interest because the Neville she remembered from school was entirely gone. Professor Longbottom was tall and handsome with wonderful smiling eyes. But it wasn't just his physical appearance that was so different - it was how he handled himself and this situation. Hermione was a confident woman and she was used to people taking an interest in her but to have the eyes of hundreds of pupils on her made her feel slightly nervous. Neville, appeared completely at ease and when he spoke it was with a loud, confident tone.

"Good afternoon. I hope you can all appreciate the time our visitors are taking out of their busy lives to be here so we thought, to give you an idea of whom you might like to seek advice from we would give you a brief summary of their careers since leaving Hogwarts," Neville looked along the visitors table. "In strictly alphabetical order our first visitor is Miss Chang," Cho was at the end of the table and she stood up and gave a little wave. Hermione hadn't had a chance to talk to her properly yet, only having said a brief hello but she seemed to have changed little from school. She had always been pretty and now she had matured into a very beautiful woman. The expression on Harry's face caught her eye and she raised her eyebrows. He was almost drooling as his eyes never left Cho's face. Hermione made a note to tease him about this later.

The delicious smell from earlier wafted over her and she was reminded who she was sitting next to. She could feel his arm and leg just inches away from her own and she let her eyes move so that she could glance at him for the briefest of moments. Draco was watching Cho as well, his head turned slightly away from Hermione. His expression wasn't quite as adoring as Harry's had been but there was no doubt that he liked what he saw.

Hermione tried to appraise Draco objectively but it was difficult. The sneering, sarcastic drawl and the annoying smirk were hard to ignore so they spoiled her impression of him but there was no doubt he was strikingly handsome. Not in the same way Neville or Harry were handsome - this was different. Draco wasn't cute or sweet - he was...Hermione hesitated, reluctant to use the word, even in her own private thoughts...but he was beautiful. His skin although still pale, was a perfectly healthy colour and, this close to him, Hermione could tell that it was amazingly smooth and clear. Draco had skin that any woman would be proud of. His long lashes were surprisingly dark for someone so fair. She couldn't see his eyes but she remembered them from earlier and she knew they were a deep grey.

Suddenly Draco turned and caught her staring at him. She turned away quickly but she knew he was still staring at her.

"Granger?"

"Get stuffed, Malfoy." Hermione retaliated before he had a chance to say anything.

"It's your turn - Longbottom's introducing you. You should be standing right now and waving," Draco said, his eyes on her face and Hermione gaped at him horrified. She realised that the entire hall were looking at her and she hadn't heard Neville's introduction of her or anything. All because she'd been staring at bloody Draco Malfoy!

"I thought she'd come over all shy for a moment!" Neville joked and she turned to look at him.

"Sorry!" she mouthed and he smiled kindly at her.

"Miss Granger needs little introduction of course and I'm sure you would all like to ask her about her time at Hogwarts. However, I'm sure you might find her career path a surprising one. She and Mr Potter are the owners of Lightning Broomsticks which I'm sure you've all heard of and the lucky amongst you may own. Having attended school with Miss Granger I can vouch for the fact that broom riding was not one of her favourite subjects so there must be an interesting story behind her becoming owner of a business that makes them."

The hall applauded and Hermione gave another quick wave before sitting back down. She felt Draco's eyes on her again and glanced quickly over at him.

"Bravo on making flying sticks!" Draco said and her glance turned to a glare.

"I don't need to explain myself to you but someone has to make the 'stick' fly, don't they? Someone who can use advanced magic to make the 'sticks' perform how they need to and do the special tricks that the top Quidditch players require." Hermione sighed. "Why am I even wasting my breath?"

"When's the last time that something you do every day saved someone's life?" Draco asked. He leant back in his seat, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"Merlin! I forgot I was in the presence of a hero!"

Neville's voice broke into their conversation as he introduced Daphne Greengrass. She was a couple of seats away from Hermione who watched her with interest. She was high up in controlling Owl Post and she seemed to a serious and unsmiling woman. She was attractive in a rather formal sort of way but Hermione knew that she was also the sort of person that wouldn't be willing to let their past be forgotten. She didn't expect anything other than civility from her.

The introductions continued with a sideline of running comments from Draco that Hermione tried her best to ignore. He was just saying things to annoy her and she was determined to rise above it.

Finally, the food appeared on the tables and the atmosphere in the hall changed to celebratory. The students ate hungrily and chatted together, glancing up at the top table from time to time. Hermione stared at the food in front of her but didn't feel hungry. She was stuck between Draco and Ernie who was engrossed in conversation with Harry so it felt awkward to start loading her plate with food.

So, Hermione was glad when it was over and they went back to their wing of the castle. Padma was next to her as they climbed the grand staircase.

"That was amazing!" Padma gushed and Hermione smiled at her enthusiasm.

"You're right! It was," Hermione agreed. "It would have been even better if I hadn't ended up sitting next to him!" Hermione pointed her finger at Draco who was climbing the stairs ahead of them with Blaise.

"Mmmm."

Hermione turned at the sighing sound and found Parvati alongside them staring at Draco, her eyes glazed.

"Tell me that mmmm didn't mean what I think it meant?" Hermione asked.

Parvati looked at her and shrugged. "I know he's a total arse but have you seen him?"

"Merlin Parvati!"

"Look past the bravado, Hermione. Imagine how out of place he must feel. He wasn't exactly the most popular person at the school was he?" Parvati said.

"It's not bravado - if it was I might be a bit more accommodating," Hermione insisted. "He really believes he is doing us all a favour just by being here and he thinks his career is the most important!"

"It is," Parvati said quietly and Hermione stopped walking to stare at her. Parvati was a clever girl but she and Padma had always been stereotypical girls, interested in fashion and boys. Hermione was surprised by Parvati's insistence about Draco. "Just how important is being an Auror, Hermione? It can be life and death and for someone like Draco who could so easily have been a Death Eater to become the polar opposite must feel incredible. He has every right to be proud."

Hermione watched the sincerity on Parvati's face and she knew she couldn't argue. Reluctantly she had to admit she had a point. "I suppose so, I hadn't thought of it like that...but it wouldn't kill to be a bit more modest about it, would it?"

"Malfoy - modest?" Padma laughed. "All the magic in the world won't make that happen!"

All three girls laughed. "And I stand by my 'mmmmm'," Parvati said, making the other two laugh again. "Draco Malfoy is definitely worthy of a 'mmmmm'! When he runs his fingers through that gorgeous hair I really want to join in." She pointed above them to where Draco and Blaise were walking across a landing. "Imagine him without a shirt and in some tight little short..."

"Parvati!" Padma stopped her sister with a giggle. "We get the idea! And I'd agree if he could just keep this shut." She made a zipping motion with her mouth. She glanced over at Hermione. "By the look on her face, Hermione isn't with us on this one."

"I just can't get over who he is and his attitude," Hermione explained.

"See I don't quite believe you," Parvati said, leaning closer to Hermione. "I saw where you were looking when you completely missed Neville's introduction!"

Hermione's mouth twisted because she couldn't deny that Parvati was right about why she'd been distracted during Neville's introduction. "He was right next to me! I was just distracted for a moment!"

Parvati grinned at Hermione who had the good grace to smile back at her.

"Hi ladies." A voice said and they turned to find Neville standing on the stairs behind them. "I'd keep moving if I were you, the pupils are about to leave the hall and I'm sure you remember how busy the stairs get during classes."

Padma and Parvati ran ahead, leaving Hermione to climb the staircase with Neville. "Professor Longbottom!" she said with a grin. "How grand and important does that sound?"

"I am grand and important!" Neville answered with a grin.

"Of course, silly me," Hermione laughed. "I was totally impressed with how you stood up in front of the entire hall and spoke so eloquently."

Neville shrugged. "I don't think about it now - I have to do it a lot but the first time I had to speak to the whole school still haunts my nightmares."

"Well, you now seem like an expert."

"Thanks."

"I'm so glad you got to teach here," Hermione said. She stopped because a few of the students had caught them up and were walking past them on the stairs. A couple of girls walked past and one of them spoke.

"Good afternoon, Professor Longbottom."

Neville turned and smiled at the girl. "Good afternoon, Elizabeth. Next class is in five minutes - you should hurry if you're going back to your room beforehand."

"Yes, professor."

Hermione watched the exchange with interest. The girl and her friend were giggling and glancing back at Neville and she rolled her eyes.

"I think you might have an admirer," she said.

Neville waved his hand dismissively. "Oh - it's just the 6th and 7th years - hormones and all that. I suppose I probably seem a bit more accessible than some of the older professors."

"I think my hormones might have reacted if we'd had professor's who looked like you." As soon as the words left her mouth Hermione wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. Why on earth had she said that? She hadn't even known she was thinking it until the words left her mouth. She looked down at the floor, trying to stop the blush she could feel coming. This was Neville for heaven's sake! They were friends! "I should go - I'll see you later."

"Hermione." Neville gently touched her arm and stopped her. "I've got to go to class now but why don't we meet later? If the weather is still okay we could go a walk by the lake."

Hermione felt ridiculous, like a schoolgirl! She could feel Neville's eyes on her and her stomach did a little flip. What the heck was going on here? She realised Neville was waiting for her answer so she smiled at him and nodded.

"That would be lovely."

So - will Draco had a contender for Hermione's affection? Thought I'd mix it up a bit with another interest for Hermione. Let me know what you think. x