Disclaimer – I went to the bank yesterday and checked my bank account, I still don't own the HP universe or its characters! DAMMIT! Oh well! Haha! ENJOY and please read the A/N at the end of this chapter! Happy Reading!

Chapter 6 – Constellations and Conversations!

Hermione

Hermione woke up Monday morning with an overwhelming nervousness. How was today going to go? Did she overstep with her last message? She hadn't heard from Draco since Saturday night and she knew he read the message. She wanted to crawl into bed and stay there! She couldn't handle the thought of what he was going to say to her. She had broken down and told Ginny and Pansy about the last message yesterday over what they so eloquently called "hangover brunch". They were both proud of her for taking a stand and somewhat making a pass at the hot young Professor, however she couldn't help the fact that kept thinking she had gone too far.

She let her hair fall in long flowy waves over her shoulders and down her back while she pulled on a pair of light grey dress pants and a bright colored flower blouse. She put on the hot pink heels she had worn on Saturday to finish the outfit. Not to see if he would notice. Oh no! she just loved these shoes, it had nothing to do with him or his flirting! She kept telling herself that at least.

She walked down the hall to his classroom trying not to notice the way some of the students looked at her as they got out of their cars and off their busses. Maybe the heels were a bit much for school, but she loved the way they made her taller, and the way they made her feel powerful! Not to mention the way my ass looks when I wear heels! She walked into her dad's classroom and made herself a hot chocolate using his Keurig machine and then made her way to Malfoy's classroom.

He was standing in the front of the room writing on the daily reading assignment on the white board. He had on a pair of perfectly tailored khaki pants and an aqua blue polo shirt. Standing straight under the halogen lights in the classroom, his white blonde hair looked like it was glowing. He acted like he didn't notice her come in, so she made her way to her desk in the left back of the room. She knew according to the school schedule they had about 35 mins before the students left breakfast in the cafeteria so she sat her stuff down and jumped up to sit on her desk facing him so she could show off the fact she was wearing the shoes.

"Good morning Professor," she purred at him, "how was your weekend?" He turned to look at her and she watched him visibly swallow. Oh yeah, he likes what he sees that's for sure.

She watched him try to slip into his teacher skin, "Good morning, Miss Granger, it was fine. How was yours?" He smirked at her and lifted an eyebrow then. "Did you enjoy the club on Saturday night?" Damn him! "I like your shoes."

She started to swing her legs over the desk she was perched on. "Oh these," her smile the picture of innocence, "I wear these all the time." They go great with this hot pink dress I have. Oh wait, you liked that dress didn't you." She made sure to enhance the word to get her point across. He swallowed again. Point! Your move Professor!

Draco

The Little Minx. She was trying to godet him. He figured he might as well play along with her little game. "Yes, Miss Granger I did like it. Very much!" He winked at her and watched her pupils dilate. He stepped closer toward where she was sitting atop her desk.

He took that moment to rake his eyes over her body. The pants she was wearing looked like they were tailored to her. Her pink floral designs shirt matched the color of those heels almost as well as the dress did Saturday night. Fuck those heels. The images that shot into his mind at the thought of those heels had him swallowing audibly. She had to have noticed.

She returned the favor of looking over his body and he felt a small shudder flow through him. She smirked at him as she said "So Professor, what did you do this weekend? Besides stalking my Instagram?" Got too drunk and fantasized about you in my office with my cock in your smart mouth. "Oh, nothing really, had a couple of guys over for poker night; cigars and too much whiskey."

She nodded nonchalantly, "that sounds.. umm.. manly." He chuckled. "Yeah, it is I guess. Harry was there, he pointed out that we only live a few minutes from each other." Her shocked expression was enough to show him that tidbit of information was news to her. Time to make her squirm.

"I'm guessing you didn't know that either. You live in an apartment with Pansy and Ginny over on Diagon, right?" He smirked at her as she blanched at him knowing where and who she lived with. She started to laugh, "yeah, we moved in the start of our junior year. Ginny's dad found the place and we were so done with the dorms."

Draco nodded in understanding. He asked his next question already knowing the answer but wanting to keep the conversation flowing. "What about Lavender? Are y'all still friends with her too?"

Hermione nodded, "yeah, she moved in with Ron. She was living with us in the beginning, but she ended up moving in with him because she was basically living there anyway. Where do you live?" "I own a townhouse over on Knock turn Alley."

Draco watched as Hermione's eyes went wide. "You OWN a townhouse. You've only been working for three years. How could you afford to own it?" He grinned at her shocked expression. "I had some family money left to me that I could access when I turned eighteen. I used it to buy my Volvo, and then my townhouse." Before Hermione could respond to the amount of money he just claimed to have spent at age eighteen, the bell rang. Saved by the bell I suppose.

Hermione

A Volvo and a townhouse at eighteen? WHAT THE FUCK? Did he come from money? He had to have come from money and by the sounds of it, a lot! Hermione's mind was swirling at this new information as she watched the students fill in the room.

She tried to focus as Draco started his lesson for the day. He was going over the element quizzes he gave out last week. She watched as he graphed the grades on a bell curve to explain the average to the students. She imagined this was how he did it himself, and she thought it was an interesting way to explain grades. She wasn't much on statistics, but the way he explained everything even easier. He did two separate graphs; one for this individual class and then all his classes together. She chuckled to herself as she thought this class needed to study more. The only A in the class was from Amelia Brookeheart. Hermione knew of her older brother Timothy, who was a couple of years behind her. He had been a smart kid from what she remembered. I guess it runs in the family.

After he went over the abysmal grades on his quiz and handed them out, she watched as he shifted to start the class lesson. "Turn to page 394. We will be going over the types of bonds in molecules." Watching him teacher was mesmerizing for her. He explained ionic and covalent bonds with such ease. He was so in his element and the students knew it too. She watched the students watching him. They all gave him their undivided attention, some a little more than others. She had noticed after the second day that Natalie Stephens and Stephanie McDowell literally drooling over him. She could have sworn she watched Stephanie adjust her boobs, pushing them up more as she walked into the room on Friday.

Calm down little girl! The hot professor is spoken for! Well, not yet. BUT! If she had her way he would be soon. She smirked at herself, and at that moment he looked over at her and winked at her. Oh yeah, he's so mine!

When the bell rang again, signaling the end of first period, Draco walked over to her desk. "So, I forgot to tell you, Dumbledore wanted to add a new elective class to my schedule, and I wanted to ask for your help planning the syllabus." Hermione smiled at curiously and he continued, "we could treat as a project added to your placement. I'll let you design and teach the class, and you never know, if you ever ended teaching here you could take the class over if you like teaching it now." He smiled a bright, mega-watt, smile at her and she practically swooned at his charm and the shininess of his teeth.

"That sounds intriguing," she lifted an eyebrow, "is this a way for you to get out of teaching something you don't want to?"

He laughed out loud and placed a hand over his heart trying to look hurt, "oh absolutely not, Miss Granger. You wound me! I just figured you would want this opportunity, since I've been told you have a love for the stars and constellations."

Hermione's eyes lit up and her smile could blind someone. "YOUR KIDDING ME," she squealed loudly, "I GET TO TEACH AN ASTRONOMY CLASS!" Draco nodded and she squealed again, jumped up, and before she realized what she was doing she wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and hugged him to her. After a moment of realization, she blushed, jumped back, and nervously started tucking her hair behind her ears. "I'm so sorry, I just got excited! I love astronomy!" They both started to nervously laugh, they the realization clicked into her mind. "Hold on! You said you were told that I love stars and constellations! You spoke to my dad about this didn't you?" Duh Dumbass! Of course, he spoke to your dad! They are colleagues! Oh shit! Are they actual friends?!

That adorable blush crept up his cheeks all the way up to his ears. Awwwah! He's embarrassed! *swoon* "Well, yeah! Dumbledore thought it would be funny if I taught it cause ya know?" He motioned to himself and Hermione just smirked and furrowed her eyebrows.

"No, I don't think I get it," she giggled, "please explain why Dumbledore would want you of all people to teach Astronomy?" He blew out an exasperated breath and rolled his eyes.

"Seriously? Fine my given name is a constellation," he deadpanned, "and the old man thought it would be hilarious."

Hermione busted out laughing at his no-nonsense tone. He smirked, "yeah, well anyway, your dad heard him asking me to teach it and he recommended I ask you. He told me he taught you all about the stars, constellations, and their stories and meanings when you were younger."

She smiled a genuine smile at the memories of nights laying out on a blanket with her dad while he told her the stories of the stars in the sky. "Well he is right. I love them. I actually got a minor in Mythology because of it. I always wished we had that as a class! Thank you so much Draco it really means a lot!"

Draco

That smile he way her eyes lit up, and the sheer joy on her face were things he wanted to remember forever. The rest of his classes that day were running together. He had to know about the mythology thing. He had also minored in Mythology in college. He was taught the stories by his mother. His mother's family had a tradition of naming their children after stars. It went as far back as anyone could remember. His mother was actually the only exception that she could think of. Maybe he would tell her about that later.

A very enthusiastic "Professor Malfoy" shook him from his thoughts. He looked over to see Chester Robinson with a confused look on his face. He walked over to the boy and asked what it was he needed. After answering what felt like fifty questions about covalent bonds, he could feel a headache building behind his eyes. Good god Robinson! Read the damn textbook! He excused himself and went into his office to grab a Tylenol and a water.

He could hear Hermione talking with another student who was, by the sound of his voice, more interested in checking her out than actually listening to her. He walked over to look and saw she was bent over the desk pointing out something in the book. He could see completely down her shirt. Fuck. Her bra matched the heels! I wonder if her panties match too. FUCK Control Yourself! Class is in session!

He then noticed the two male students she was talking to had noticed he could see down her shirt too. Little Pervs! He walked closer to the table and cleared his throat. "Ummm Miss Granger," she raised her eyes to look at him and he swallowed. Yep. He definitely wanted to see that look again. But not in front of his students. She looked confused before noticing his eye line and looking down and noticing the problem with her stance. She blushed pink all the way to her ears, "Oh My God!"

She jumped up and glared at the two boys. Both boys blushed and smirked to each other, until they notice the look on their Professors face. They paled at his glare, "really Robinson, Johnson, well you both just landed a month of detention this! Unless Miss Granger thinks something harsher is in order? This will be two fun phone calls home today!" Draco looked to her as the two boys held their heads in shame and cringed in embarrassment. The class ended soon after, and thankfully it was his lunch, followed by his planning period, so he didn't have students for the next seventy-five minutes.

They were sitting in the teacher's lounge eating when he started to ask her about her minor. "So, you really studied mythologies? Which ones did you study?"

Hermione thought about his question, remembering she had told him about her minor earlier in the day. She smiled fondly at his interest. "Well, mostly Greek, Roman, and Babylonian, but I did study some Norse as well. I figured it would help to know the mostly commonly known ones as well as the ones who are most closely related."

Draco was impressed with her knowledge and started to tell her about his family's name traditions. She had a stunned yet intrigued look on her face. "That's so cool!" She exclaimed, sitting up straighter in her chair. Obviously, you can probably figure I was named after Helen's daughter, but I think that's because my parents, especially my dad, loves Greek Mythology." They both laughed as Edward Granger joined them in the lounge.

"What am I walking into," He chuckled as he read the expressions of laughter on his co-worker and daughter's faces. Draco knew Ed still couldn't think of his daughter, his baby girl, as his colleague just yet. But he also knew he had noticed how happy she was teaching. Or maybe it was the person she was teaching alongside. I hope It's both. The three of them sat and ate in a comfortable peace, with conversation here and there about different things. The new class Hermione would be teaching, the excitement she radiated as she explained the plans she had and thanking her dad for telling Draco about how much she loved the stars and their stories.

While he watched her explain her ideas on the class to her father, he thought about how much he really enjoyed talking with her. Something about it just made his insides feel all warm and tingly. It was never feeling he had had with any other girl, even Astoria. Astoria was a beautiful girl, that was a statement he couldn't deny, however, she never tried seemed to enjoy anything other than his family's money. She couldn't understand why he wanted to go into teaching instead of running the family company.

Yes, he did have an inheritance that he did use from time to time, but the majority of what he had he paid for himself, including his schooling. He had worked his butt off and receive scholarships just like everyone else did. She only went to college to be closer to him, but it really started to make him re-evaluate their relationship. She was more interested in trying to live between his sheets, partying with her roommates, or fighting with him when he had to study or had class. He would often hide from her in the library just to be able to breathe. Looking back on their relationship he should have dumped her long before he did. Seeing her with that TA was just the catalyst he needed to end it. Thankfully.

Draco realized their lunch was ending so he asked her if she wanted to continue their conversation back in his office because he had some papers to finish grading for this evening's classes. She nodded and smiled, made their goodbyes to Ed, and proceeded to make their way back to his classroom. Once they got back to his office in his room, they talked about his family and friends, she wanted to know about his parents. He skipped over his family money for now, not wanting that to taint anything between them. That was a conversation for another day when they knew each other better.

She told him more about her family. He already knew some of it due to him working with Ed, that's kinda funny, but he didn't tell her that. She talked about her close friends. He knew them all obviously from his student teaching days, except for the last girl, Luna, who she had been become close with at college. They were in the same program. Apparently, Lavender had went into social work, Ginny into athletic training and was currently in master's program for physical therapy, and Pansy had gone into fashion design with a minor in business and had plans of trying to open her own boutique. He knew her friends were all smart, but he didn't know they all were so passionate about what they did.

He told her about Theo and his fiancé Daphne, and how they, him, and Harry had been best friends since they were very small. Theo was in his final year of law school and Daphne taught fourth grade at the elementary school they had attended when they were kids. She knew Harry was a state trooper because Ginny had told her once she talked to Harry a few times because of Ron, but he laughed at her wide-eyed expression when he told her how Harry's eyes lit up at the mention of Pansy's name. Her shocked face was adorable! He even told her about Blaise's thoughts on Ginny. She had almost spit sweet tea all over him if not for the quick reflexes she had in bringing her hand up to her mouth to cover it. They both laughed over that, and they made plans on him and his friends joining them at the club the next time they all decided to go out.

His alarm on his phone went off, notifying them that their planning period was over in five minutes. There were two questions he had been dying to ask her. One he had to wait till a better time, preferably not when students would be walking in any minute, but the other… he swallowed.

"Will you go out on a date with me, say Saturday night?"

A/N – Hello Darlings! Awwah! First dates are always the cutest! I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! I wanted to use this chapter to set up the backstory on the relationship between Astoria and Draco, because yes it will play a part!

I also used this chapter to explain what everyone's job is in this Fic! I don't know what I want to make Blaise's job be yet, if you have any ideas please let me know. I knew I wanted something different where he works his own ours. I have been leaning to a family business, but in what is my problem.

I had a reviewer brought to my attention last chapter the fic was a little hard to read because it was hard to determine between the dialogue of each character. I tried to separate it all better this chapter! Please let me know if this makes it easier. I'm going to go back and fix the other chapters!

Thanks so much for the views, reviews, follows, and favorites on this story and as always Beta Love to my bestie belledanielle! Sorry it took me a bit to write this chapter. Next chapter is the first date! And maybe even a surprise guest… duh duh DUH!

XOXO, GreyHale