Unexpected Love
Summary: A fic that takes place after Hogwarts. Hermione left the magical world behind
after a messy breakup with Krum and became a muggle teacher. Years later she
discovers that one of her new students is a Malfoy. What will happen when
Draco enters her life?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. The ones you don't recognize
belong to me.
Chapter Eight- Confessions
Hermione sat at the table thinking about teaching at Hogwarts until Draco nudged her.
"Hermione? We're going to the icecream shop now, the kids want a treat. Are you coming are you just going to sit there all day?"
Hermione looked around and saw that the other were all standing up staring at her questioningly. She snapped out of her thoughts and quickly said, "What? Oh yes, yes of course I'm coming. My mind must have wandered a bit there."
She got up from the table and fell back to walk with Ron, as Harry was talking to Draco about the job offer, Lavender was talking to Ginny about the kids, and the kids were running ahead, eager to get to the ice cream shop.
Ron turned to Hermione and was about to say something when suddenly, from behind them, they heard a shout.
"Oy! Ron! Who's that pretty lady you got there?"
Hermione turned around and saw her fellow Gryffindors Dean, a very pregnant Parvati and Seamus, along with a dark, dark brown haired, hazel eyed boy who Hermione supposed was Alexander, Dean and Parvati's son.
"Hermione!" Dean yelled. "You're back! How have you been? WHERE have you been?"
At this point, Ron turned to Harry and the others and yelled, "You guys go along to the icecream shop, we'll catch up later."
As they walked away, Hermione smiled at her other old friends.
"It seems that everyone had the same idea to come to Hogsmeade today! I'm just running into everyone! I've been back for only 3 hours and I've already met almost all of Gryffindor!" she said with a laugh.
"So you're back for good?" Dean asked her excitedly.
Hermione looked at Dean. He had grown taller and was well built, but then again he always had had a good body, even in Hogwarts. His light brown hair was windswept messily across his head, and his chocolate brown eyes looked questioningly into her own honey coloured ones.
"Yes, I am. I do have a muggle job and I live in muggle London, but I'm going to be sure that I don't wait this long to see you all again."
"So that's where you've been, Hermione?" questioned Parvati. "Just living in muggle London and working at a muggle job all this time? I wonder why no one could find you, you were living right under our noses the whole time!"
Hermione now turned to look at the girl that Harry had taken to the Yule Ball in fourth year. She had long, shiny black hair that went down her back in a plait. Her pale green eyes contrasted nicely with her hair, and she was shining in the way that only pregnant women do.
"I didn't exactly help their search much, I guess," said Hermione sheepishly. "I didn't have much contact with anybody from Hogwarts. I'm a muggle first grade teacher so I don't expect anybody recognized me at the elementary school."
"Oh, you teach first grade?" said Parvati. "That's what grade our son, Alex, is in."
Hermione looked down at the little boy holding Parvati's hand and staring up at her.
Before she could say anything, however, she felt someone staring hard at her. Turning around she came face to face with Seamus, who quickly looked away, blushing. Hermione dismissed this and said to him cheerfully, "Hello Seamus! You've been awfully quiet! How have you been?"
"Fine," he muttered quickly.
"What have you been up to the past 8 years?" she questioned.
"Oh, not much I guess. I work at the Ministry, in the Department of Magical Transportation. It's not that exciting really," he answered quietly.
"Oh, it sounds nice!" said Hermione, wondering why Seamus was acting so quiet and odd. "Do you have a family?"
"Um, no," he said simply.
"Well that's alright!" she said quickly. "Neither do I! We've still got plenty of time left, and I always say, never rush into anything too quickly! You'll find someone, you're a handsome man!"
And it was the truth. Seamus was tall and well built, like Dean, but he had sandy blonde hair that fell across his dark navy blue eyes.
Seamus smiled sheepishly at her comment and Hermione discovered that he also had cute little dimples.
"I, um, have to talk to Ron," he said quickly, and turned away.
'Ok, that was odd,' thought Hermione. 'He was so jumpy and nervous. Oh well, I'll ask him later,' and with that she turned to Parvati and Dean and started talking to them.
"So, do you guys know what the baby's going to be? A boy or a girl?"
"Well, we don't know for sure, but I have a feeling it's going to be a little girl. We'll find out soon enough though, it should be here anyday!" said Parvati happily. Dean beamed at this and turned to Parvati, giving her a little peck on the lips. Hermione felt a pang of jealousy at this, but quickly brushed it aside.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Seamus and Ron whispering fiercely, but before she could say anything about it, Ron looked up and noticed she was watching.
"Oh, um, I think Hermione and I should be getting along soon, we don't want to keep Lavender and Draco waiting," said Ron quickly, and Dean looked at them curiously.
"Draco? As in Draco Malfoy?" he asked.
"Well, yes," said Hermione nervously. She didn't feel like trying to convince anyone else that he had changed right now.
"I work with him! School governors! He's changed quite a bit over the years, become quite a nice fellow, big improvement from Hogwarts I must say," said Dean.
"Oh yes, he's here with us today. But we really have to get along now. We'll talk to you some other time, perhaps we can all get together!" said Ron, ushering Hermione away.
"Bye!" she called back, "It was nice to see you all again!"
As they walked away, Ron said to her, "Hermione, I have an important question for you."
"Sure Ron, what is it?" she asked.
"Is there something going on between you and Draco?"
"Me? And Draco? Well, if you mean like a relationship, no. I've known the new Draco for only 2 days. Plus, he's married! He just asked me if I wanted to go for a drink. I decided it was time to come back to the wizarding world, so I came. As a friend, that's all."
"But I saw the way he looks at you Mione. And I know Lavender and Ginny noticed it too. They told me that they already told you, but you didn't say anything. And I bet that Harry's probably noticed it too. It's really obvious Mione, Draco has a thing for you."
Without thinking, Hermione blurted out, "You really think so?" a bit too eagerly she noticed. 'Stop it Hermione,' she told herself, 'You came as friends! That's all!' But Hermione couldn't even fool herself. Her heart had leapt at the prospect of Draco liking her. She couldn't deny it any longer, she liked Draco, very much.
Even though she could now admit this, she didn't feel like telling anyone else yet, and that included Ron. To cover up for her eagerness, she quickly asked him, "Why do you want to know if there's something going on?"
"Well," began Ron, "I don't think you noticed it, but in the seventh year, Seamus really fancied you. While you were going out with Krum he was depressed that he didn't have a chance. Then you guys broke up and he thought he might finally get his chance. But with the way you were acting, wandering around like a zombie the end of seventh year, barely talking to anyone, he decided to give you some space, let you work out your feeling before he did anything. Then you disappeared."
"I see....," said Hermione. But what's that got to do with Draco and I now?
"Hermione, don't you get it?!" yelled Ron.
Startled, Hermione quickly asked, "Get what?!"
"He still likes you Hermione! Didn't you notice how he was acting today? Staring at you, being all nervous? Are you completely obvious to everything, or just some things?!" he yelled, thoroughly exasperated.
Hermione was completely taken aback. Ron seemed almost angry. She looked at him for a moment before asking, "What else did he say to you?"
"Well," began Ron, "He wanted to know if you were single, for starters. When I told him I thought you were, he started asking about Draco. I told him I'd ask you about Draco and get back to him."
"And I told you me and Draco are not together. So can we please go to the icecream shop now?"
"I guess," said Ron. They turned the corner off the main road down a smaller one and came upon the large icecream shop. Walking in, they saw the others at a table in the back corner. The kids were eagerly devouring icecream cones that kept changing colours and, Hermione suspected, flavours as well with every lick, while the adults sat chatting. Draco seemed to be more comfortable around them now, and the others seemed to be accepting him.
Draco looked up as Hermione entered and smiled at her, which made her knees feel weak and a blush creep up her face. She walked over to him and said, "Draco, could I talk to you outside for a second please?" He looked curiously at her but nodded and excused himself from the table, following her outside.
"What is it, Hermione?" Draco asked her, looking slightly concerned.
"Draco we have to tone it down," Hermione said, getting right to the point.
He looked at her, confusion all over his face. "Tone what down?"
"Ok, maybe I should explain myself," she said.
"That would help," said Draco, smiling that wonderful smile again.
She hesitated for a moment at that smile, wondering if she really wanted him to tone it down, but decided it was for the best and continued by explaining, "Well, um, I don't know if you've noticed some.... chemistry between us. I myself didn't until it was pointed out to me by Lavender, Ginny, and Ron. I guess what I'm trying to say, Draco, is that I'm attracted to you, and from what others tell me, it seems like you do too."
Draco stared at her for awhile, letting what she just said sink in. She was attracted to him? She liked him? Him? Draco Malfoy? It didn't seem like it was possible. She was gorgeous, that was obvious, and she liked HIM? He had never really thought about it before, but when it was brought to his attention, he realized that he did fancy Hermione. A lot. His knees always felt weak and his stomach did that familiar flip-flop at the sound of her voice, the touch of her hand, or the look of her smile.
It was true. He liked Hermione. Very much. He smiled again, but then his smile faded at what she had first said. They had to tone it down.
He looked up at her and said, "Ok, yes, it's true, I like you, a lot, but why do you say we have to tone it down?"
"Because you're married Draco! I can't go out with a married man. And the way we act, the obvious attraction between us, is driving other guys away!"
"Other guys? Like who?" asked Draco, almost meanly. He was growing angry now.
"Well, like Seamus. When we ran into him today, he expressed some interest in me to Ron," she answered timidly. She could tell he was getting mad.
"Seamus Finnigan? You're attracted to him as well? How many guys do you like?!"
Backing away slightly, she said, "Well, I'm not really attracted to him, but he's liked me for a long time apparently, and he's really sweet, and he is good looking......" The end of her sentence trailed off as Draco looked at her, too angry for words.
"Come on Draco, I know you and me could have something together, but you're married, and I'd never go out with a married man!"
"It wouldn't have stopped you before," he said, his face red with anger. "But it seems that Little Miss Perfect has to follow the rules now. Can't go getting involved with a married man now can she? Even though I'm getting a divorce, which means that in a few weeks time I WON'T be married, and even though we're both attracted to each other, no, we have to act like we're not because it's wrong and it's interfering in your love life, even though I want to be your love life!"
With that he turned around and stormed away down the street.
"Draco!" Hermione yelled. "Stop! Please stop!"
But it was too late. He turned and disappeared around the corner, leaving Hermione standing there with tears streaming down her face.
"What have I done?" she thought. "What have I done?"
***** *** *****
AN- And there's chapter 8! As you can see, it's taken an interesting twist! Seamus came into the picture and caused a fight between Hermione and Draco, who both admitted they fancied each other! Whew, lots of action! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm not quite sure where the next one is going so it may be a while until I get it out, but in the meantime, please read and review! Thanx to all my faithful reviewers, I'm glad you're enjoying my story so much and I'll try not to keep you waiting too long! As always if you want me to email you when I update, let me know!
~*~FieryPhoenix~*~
Summary: A fic that takes place after Hogwarts. Hermione left the magical world behind
after a messy breakup with Krum and became a muggle teacher. Years later she
discovers that one of her new students is a Malfoy. What will happen when
Draco enters her life?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. The ones you don't recognize
belong to me.
Chapter Eight- Confessions
Hermione sat at the table thinking about teaching at Hogwarts until Draco nudged her.
"Hermione? We're going to the icecream shop now, the kids want a treat. Are you coming are you just going to sit there all day?"
Hermione looked around and saw that the other were all standing up staring at her questioningly. She snapped out of her thoughts and quickly said, "What? Oh yes, yes of course I'm coming. My mind must have wandered a bit there."
She got up from the table and fell back to walk with Ron, as Harry was talking to Draco about the job offer, Lavender was talking to Ginny about the kids, and the kids were running ahead, eager to get to the ice cream shop.
Ron turned to Hermione and was about to say something when suddenly, from behind them, they heard a shout.
"Oy! Ron! Who's that pretty lady you got there?"
Hermione turned around and saw her fellow Gryffindors Dean, a very pregnant Parvati and Seamus, along with a dark, dark brown haired, hazel eyed boy who Hermione supposed was Alexander, Dean and Parvati's son.
"Hermione!" Dean yelled. "You're back! How have you been? WHERE have you been?"
At this point, Ron turned to Harry and the others and yelled, "You guys go along to the icecream shop, we'll catch up later."
As they walked away, Hermione smiled at her other old friends.
"It seems that everyone had the same idea to come to Hogsmeade today! I'm just running into everyone! I've been back for only 3 hours and I've already met almost all of Gryffindor!" she said with a laugh.
"So you're back for good?" Dean asked her excitedly.
Hermione looked at Dean. He had grown taller and was well built, but then again he always had had a good body, even in Hogwarts. His light brown hair was windswept messily across his head, and his chocolate brown eyes looked questioningly into her own honey coloured ones.
"Yes, I am. I do have a muggle job and I live in muggle London, but I'm going to be sure that I don't wait this long to see you all again."
"So that's where you've been, Hermione?" questioned Parvati. "Just living in muggle London and working at a muggle job all this time? I wonder why no one could find you, you were living right under our noses the whole time!"
Hermione now turned to look at the girl that Harry had taken to the Yule Ball in fourth year. She had long, shiny black hair that went down her back in a plait. Her pale green eyes contrasted nicely with her hair, and she was shining in the way that only pregnant women do.
"I didn't exactly help their search much, I guess," said Hermione sheepishly. "I didn't have much contact with anybody from Hogwarts. I'm a muggle first grade teacher so I don't expect anybody recognized me at the elementary school."
"Oh, you teach first grade?" said Parvati. "That's what grade our son, Alex, is in."
Hermione looked down at the little boy holding Parvati's hand and staring up at her.
Before she could say anything, however, she felt someone staring hard at her. Turning around she came face to face with Seamus, who quickly looked away, blushing. Hermione dismissed this and said to him cheerfully, "Hello Seamus! You've been awfully quiet! How have you been?"
"Fine," he muttered quickly.
"What have you been up to the past 8 years?" she questioned.
"Oh, not much I guess. I work at the Ministry, in the Department of Magical Transportation. It's not that exciting really," he answered quietly.
"Oh, it sounds nice!" said Hermione, wondering why Seamus was acting so quiet and odd. "Do you have a family?"
"Um, no," he said simply.
"Well that's alright!" she said quickly. "Neither do I! We've still got plenty of time left, and I always say, never rush into anything too quickly! You'll find someone, you're a handsome man!"
And it was the truth. Seamus was tall and well built, like Dean, but he had sandy blonde hair that fell across his dark navy blue eyes.
Seamus smiled sheepishly at her comment and Hermione discovered that he also had cute little dimples.
"I, um, have to talk to Ron," he said quickly, and turned away.
'Ok, that was odd,' thought Hermione. 'He was so jumpy and nervous. Oh well, I'll ask him later,' and with that she turned to Parvati and Dean and started talking to them.
"So, do you guys know what the baby's going to be? A boy or a girl?"
"Well, we don't know for sure, but I have a feeling it's going to be a little girl. We'll find out soon enough though, it should be here anyday!" said Parvati happily. Dean beamed at this and turned to Parvati, giving her a little peck on the lips. Hermione felt a pang of jealousy at this, but quickly brushed it aside.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Seamus and Ron whispering fiercely, but before she could say anything about it, Ron looked up and noticed she was watching.
"Oh, um, I think Hermione and I should be getting along soon, we don't want to keep Lavender and Draco waiting," said Ron quickly, and Dean looked at them curiously.
"Draco? As in Draco Malfoy?" he asked.
"Well, yes," said Hermione nervously. She didn't feel like trying to convince anyone else that he had changed right now.
"I work with him! School governors! He's changed quite a bit over the years, become quite a nice fellow, big improvement from Hogwarts I must say," said Dean.
"Oh yes, he's here with us today. But we really have to get along now. We'll talk to you some other time, perhaps we can all get together!" said Ron, ushering Hermione away.
"Bye!" she called back, "It was nice to see you all again!"
As they walked away, Ron said to her, "Hermione, I have an important question for you."
"Sure Ron, what is it?" she asked.
"Is there something going on between you and Draco?"
"Me? And Draco? Well, if you mean like a relationship, no. I've known the new Draco for only 2 days. Plus, he's married! He just asked me if I wanted to go for a drink. I decided it was time to come back to the wizarding world, so I came. As a friend, that's all."
"But I saw the way he looks at you Mione. And I know Lavender and Ginny noticed it too. They told me that they already told you, but you didn't say anything. And I bet that Harry's probably noticed it too. It's really obvious Mione, Draco has a thing for you."
Without thinking, Hermione blurted out, "You really think so?" a bit too eagerly she noticed. 'Stop it Hermione,' she told herself, 'You came as friends! That's all!' But Hermione couldn't even fool herself. Her heart had leapt at the prospect of Draco liking her. She couldn't deny it any longer, she liked Draco, very much.
Even though she could now admit this, she didn't feel like telling anyone else yet, and that included Ron. To cover up for her eagerness, she quickly asked him, "Why do you want to know if there's something going on?"
"Well," began Ron, "I don't think you noticed it, but in the seventh year, Seamus really fancied you. While you were going out with Krum he was depressed that he didn't have a chance. Then you guys broke up and he thought he might finally get his chance. But with the way you were acting, wandering around like a zombie the end of seventh year, barely talking to anyone, he decided to give you some space, let you work out your feeling before he did anything. Then you disappeared."
"I see....," said Hermione. But what's that got to do with Draco and I now?
"Hermione, don't you get it?!" yelled Ron.
Startled, Hermione quickly asked, "Get what?!"
"He still likes you Hermione! Didn't you notice how he was acting today? Staring at you, being all nervous? Are you completely obvious to everything, or just some things?!" he yelled, thoroughly exasperated.
Hermione was completely taken aback. Ron seemed almost angry. She looked at him for a moment before asking, "What else did he say to you?"
"Well," began Ron, "He wanted to know if you were single, for starters. When I told him I thought you were, he started asking about Draco. I told him I'd ask you about Draco and get back to him."
"And I told you me and Draco are not together. So can we please go to the icecream shop now?"
"I guess," said Ron. They turned the corner off the main road down a smaller one and came upon the large icecream shop. Walking in, they saw the others at a table in the back corner. The kids were eagerly devouring icecream cones that kept changing colours and, Hermione suspected, flavours as well with every lick, while the adults sat chatting. Draco seemed to be more comfortable around them now, and the others seemed to be accepting him.
Draco looked up as Hermione entered and smiled at her, which made her knees feel weak and a blush creep up her face. She walked over to him and said, "Draco, could I talk to you outside for a second please?" He looked curiously at her but nodded and excused himself from the table, following her outside.
"What is it, Hermione?" Draco asked her, looking slightly concerned.
"Draco we have to tone it down," Hermione said, getting right to the point.
He looked at her, confusion all over his face. "Tone what down?"
"Ok, maybe I should explain myself," she said.
"That would help," said Draco, smiling that wonderful smile again.
She hesitated for a moment at that smile, wondering if she really wanted him to tone it down, but decided it was for the best and continued by explaining, "Well, um, I don't know if you've noticed some.... chemistry between us. I myself didn't until it was pointed out to me by Lavender, Ginny, and Ron. I guess what I'm trying to say, Draco, is that I'm attracted to you, and from what others tell me, it seems like you do too."
Draco stared at her for awhile, letting what she just said sink in. She was attracted to him? She liked him? Him? Draco Malfoy? It didn't seem like it was possible. She was gorgeous, that was obvious, and she liked HIM? He had never really thought about it before, but when it was brought to his attention, he realized that he did fancy Hermione. A lot. His knees always felt weak and his stomach did that familiar flip-flop at the sound of her voice, the touch of her hand, or the look of her smile.
It was true. He liked Hermione. Very much. He smiled again, but then his smile faded at what she had first said. They had to tone it down.
He looked up at her and said, "Ok, yes, it's true, I like you, a lot, but why do you say we have to tone it down?"
"Because you're married Draco! I can't go out with a married man. And the way we act, the obvious attraction between us, is driving other guys away!"
"Other guys? Like who?" asked Draco, almost meanly. He was growing angry now.
"Well, like Seamus. When we ran into him today, he expressed some interest in me to Ron," she answered timidly. She could tell he was getting mad.
"Seamus Finnigan? You're attracted to him as well? How many guys do you like?!"
Backing away slightly, she said, "Well, I'm not really attracted to him, but he's liked me for a long time apparently, and he's really sweet, and he is good looking......" The end of her sentence trailed off as Draco looked at her, too angry for words.
"Come on Draco, I know you and me could have something together, but you're married, and I'd never go out with a married man!"
"It wouldn't have stopped you before," he said, his face red with anger. "But it seems that Little Miss Perfect has to follow the rules now. Can't go getting involved with a married man now can she? Even though I'm getting a divorce, which means that in a few weeks time I WON'T be married, and even though we're both attracted to each other, no, we have to act like we're not because it's wrong and it's interfering in your love life, even though I want to be your love life!"
With that he turned around and stormed away down the street.
"Draco!" Hermione yelled. "Stop! Please stop!"
But it was too late. He turned and disappeared around the corner, leaving Hermione standing there with tears streaming down her face.
"What have I done?" she thought. "What have I done?"
***** *** *****
AN- And there's chapter 8! As you can see, it's taken an interesting twist! Seamus came into the picture and caused a fight between Hermione and Draco, who both admitted they fancied each other! Whew, lots of action! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm not quite sure where the next one is going so it may be a while until I get it out, but in the meantime, please read and review! Thanx to all my faithful reviewers, I'm glad you're enjoying my story so much and I'll try not to keep you waiting too long! As always if you want me to email you when I update, let me know!
~*~FieryPhoenix~*~