A/N: I will have to up the rating to teen starting in the next chapter. The villan's in my story are a bit darker that I originally thought.
Over the week leading up to the start of term Hermione and Draco had decided to coexist by pretending that the other person didn't exist. Each took care of themselves and stayed out of the others way. Draco made sure to put the toilet seat down and Hermione kept her hair and makeup stuff off the vanity. Draco kept his books and things in the common room on the left side of the fireplace and Hermione kept hers on the right. The sofa in front of the fireplace was Hermione's place and the chair by the chess table was Draco's. They slipped into a routine and things flowed pretty smoothly.
Laykyn had found her routine too. She got up at the crack of dawn and colored or read at the bar til Mr. Draco got up. She said good morning and told him about her latest dream, then he would leave to go for a run before breakfast and she would go wake up her mother. Then breakfast and helping get the school ready for students. After dinner it was back up to the common room to play or color. When Mr. Draco finally made it back each evening, Laykyn found an excuse to sit at the chess table with him. Usually he had cookies or fudge or something sweet from Ms. Esther that he would smuggle to her when Hermione wasn't looking.
Hermione lay awake in bed watching the shadows dance across the opposite wall as the sun rose. She listened to the voices coming from the common room. What her daughter's obsession with Draco Malfoy was she would never understand.
"He's so cool, Mom. He tells funny stories and he likes quidditch just like me." That had been Laykyn's reply when she had asked. So far it wasn't doing any harm so she just let it go. She heard the common room door close. Then the quick patter of running feet. Hermione closed her eyes as if she were still asleep. Her bedroom door opened and a few more quick steps before, thump. Laykyn leapt on to the bed. She crawled from the foot of the bed up to where her mother lay "sleeping". She placed a small kiss on her mother's cheek.
Hermione couldn't help but smile. This was her favorite part of the day. This and bedtime stories. She pulled back the edge of the covers and Laykyn crawled in and snuggled close. "What if we just stay in bed all day today, Thena? Just be lazy."
"But Momma all the kids will be here TONIGHT." Laykyn said sitting straight up in bed, "we got to make sure everything is perfect. And I start classes with Ms. Delacour tomorrow and we need to go over my math and spelling one more time. What if I don't know enough and she puts me with the babies? What if I don't know as much as James and Albus? Did we get the right markers and crayons?"
Hermione laughed. Surely she hadn't been this bad. They had reviewed spelling words and math problems a hundred times. Laykyn knew the answer to every question Hermione asked her but she was still terrified that she wasn't as smart as the other kids. 'Everything will go just fine in Ms. Delacour's class tomorrow. After breakfast we need to go double check my classroom. Then we will come back and pack your school bag then we are meeting Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny for a picnic. Albus said something about kicking your tail at quidditch this time so I guess you need to bring your broom."
"Albus beat me at quidditch!? When pigs fly!" And with that Laykyn scrambled down off the bed and to her room to get changed for the day.
10 minutes later they were walking hand in hand down to the great hall for breakfast. Laykyn immediately spotted Malfoy sitting at the end of the table. She broke free and ran to go get a seat by him. Hermione saw him smile as the four year old plopped into the seat. What surprised her was when he looked up and smiled at her as well. She took the seat on the other side of Laykyn and began filling the little girl's plate. "We have a picnic with my Uncle Harry this afternoon," Laykyn said completely focused on Malfoy. "And Albus is under the delusion that he and James can beat me at quidditch."
He laughed and the began to discuss the toy broom that Laykyn had gotten last Christmas and then transitioned into the best moves she could use to beat her cousins. Hermione let them talk and she pulled a book out of her bag. Fiction. This was the last day for a while that she would get to read what she wanted. After today she would be reading textbooks and essays. As they finished breakfast the owls delivered the mail for the day. Hermione received her copy of the Daily Prophet and a letter from her parents. A large eagle owl swooped in front of Draco and dropped a letter into his lap. He slide the envelope into his pocket, gave the owl a piece of bacon, and refocused on what Laykyn was telling him.
Checking her classroom and packing Laykyn's school bag took next to no time and before they knew it they found themselves headed toward the quidditch pitch. Harry was flying low over the ground throwing the quaffle back and forth with James and Albus as Ginny zoomed high around the goal post with Lily.
When she spotted Hermione and Laykyn, Ginny brought her broom in for a landing. After a quick greeting and hugs all around Laykyn and the two Potter boys began their never ending debate about who was going to win quidditch today. Hermione ignored most of this until Laykyn claimed she had a secret weapon that would insure her victory. What had she and Malfoy talked about this morning? Their argument was interrupted by a small squeaky voice. "Master and Mistress Potter, a picnic lunch on the grounds as you requested. Winky the house elf along with about 4 others had levitated a massive feast down to the field.
"Thank you, Winky this looks amazing," Ginny smiled. Winky nodded and began to set up the picnic. In a matter of seconds they were all sitting on a plush blanket with more food than the seven of them could ever dream of eating. They thanked the house elves and began to eat. After the meal James, Albus and Laykyn pulled out their brooms. They had to modify the game of course as there were only three of them but Ginny had invented a version of quidditch that the kids could play. Every man for himself style. Their brooms didn't get them more than three feet off the ground but listening to the stories afterward you would have thought they were at least 200 feet up in the air. They played with all the intensity of a World Cup match. And in the end it was Laykyn that won but just barely. All three of them landed thoroughly exhausted.
"You cheated," James gasped. "It wasn't your turn with the quaffle and Dad released the snitch too soon."
"She won fair and square, and you know it," Albus panted.
Laykyn smirked as she sat on the blanket with her cousins. "Fine," James said "what was your secret weapon?"
Laykyn held up her hands. She had on a pair of fingerless gloves, black leather with green piping. Albus' jaw dropped "where did you get those?" He gingerly reached out to touch the gloves. "Those are real quidditch seeker's gloves."
Laykyn's smile grew wider. "Yup and they were actually used here at a Hogwarts Quidditch match. Mr. Draco wore them when he played against Uncle Harry one time and he gave them to me this morning." Hermione choked on her drink.
"Mr. Draco?" James laughed, "as in Draco Malfoy. Do you even know what he is? He's a Death..." Harry slapped his hand over his son's mouth. Ginny glared at her husband how many times had she warned him to watch what he said in front of the kids.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day," Hermione said quickly, "Come on, Laykyn time for a nap."
"But Mom!"
"Come on," she grabbed the girl's hand and began to lead her back to the castle, "we will see you all at dinner."
Ginny shot her an apologetic smile before scooping up Lily and grabbing Albus' hand. "See you then."
When Draco returned to the common room after a final sweep of his classroom he sat down and pulled the letter from his pocket. As he unfolded the letter he immediately recognized the handwriting : Matt. It read:
Draco,
First off do you realize how weird it is for me to just trust that a bird is gonna find you and give you my message.
Any way on the off chance you do get this letter, Gramma wants to tell you good luck before classes start tomorrow. So we will try and call you at about 8 tonight and hope and pray the call goes through. You said you wouldn't have much signal but might as well try.
If not good luck tomorrow and know that Gramma and I are rooting for you.
Matt.
PS. That chick at the coffee shoppe keeps asking about you. She is pretty bummed when I walk in by myself everyday.
Draco reread the letter. 8pm he could do that it would be a relief to talk to Matt. He didn't remember any chick at the coffee shoppe but he could get Matt to introduce them when he came home for Christmas maybe. A date might not be a bad thing.
"What was James talking about? What is Mr. Draco?" Hermione looked down at her daughter's question.
"Mr. Draco and Uncle Harry, Uncle Ron, and I didn't get along in school. But that was a long time ago. Don't listen to James. If you enjoy talking to Mr. Draco," Hermione took a deep breath. "If you enjoy talking to Mr. Draco, that's fine with me."
Hermione finally got Laykyn settled in for a nap and walked back in the common room to see Malfoy reading the letter he had received that morning.
"Malfoy," his head shot up. "I just finished telling my daughter that you were a decent person, but I have a hard time believing it myself. Please prove me wrong. Show me she is right." With that she walked into her room.
Draco stared at the door long after it closed. Hadn't he already proved that he was different. He had certainly tried. He ran a hand through his hair. His past would always follow him, he would never escape.
The tables in the great hall looked lopsided. The Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw tables looked a bit less crowded than normal but the biggest difference was at the Slytherin table. There were barely 20 people there. The sorting made it even more obvious, only three students were sorted into Slytherin. Slytherin house was despised more than ever. Before the feast began McGonagall introduced all the teachers. The applause rose and fell depending on the how well known each of the teachers were. So of course when Hermione and Ginny were introduced the noise was deafening. When McGonagall introduced Draco however the room was silent. Not even the Slytherins clapped. There was a little polite applause from the teachers but even that quickly died. As soon as the feast began Draco slipped out and back to the common room.
The phone rang that evening and Draco sprinted into his room to answer it. Everyone else was still down at the feast. "Hello" he answered on the third ring covering his other ear with his hand to be able to hear the voice on the phone better.
"Draco, honey is that you?"
He smiled hearing the older woman's voice. "Yes Ms. Esther. It's me."
"Oh good. I have been so worried about you. Are you getting settled? Have you been getting the snacks I sent you?"
"Yes thank you so much. It felt like having a little piece of home with me."
"Well I just wanted to hear your voice and tell ya that Ms. Esther loves you, kiddo. Here's Matthew"
Draco smiled, "Love you too, Ms. Esther"
"Talk to ya later honey, Good luck."
"Dude what's up?" Matt voice came through the static. "How was the first night and the welcoming feast or what ever? You all ready for tomorrow?"
Draco took a deep breath,"if the welcoming feast was any indication of how the rest of the year is going to go, then this year is gonna be hell."