Chapter 3 – Of Teas and Letters
Perhaps the shock didn't sink in yet. Hermione definitely didn't feel it sink in. To say it's been a while would be an understatement seeing as how it's been at least 3 years since their last encounter.
"My, have I rendered both of them speechless?" The woman asked in amusement, graciously taking the cup of tea offered to her by a nearby house-elf, who disappeared in a matter of seconds with a soft pop.
"I-It's a pleasant surprise to see you, Professor McGonagall." Hermione said, sitting down slowly on a couch across the headmistress.
Minerva smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes, unfortunately I wasn't able to congratulate you on your marriage, Miss. Granger. Or should I say, Mrs. Malfoy." She said, chuckling softly at what she thought was her own personal joke.
"Yes… it was a rather quiet wedding." Hermione said with a blush. McGonagall nodded and smirked.
"Don't think I'm being kept in the dark, Ms. Granger. I am perfectly aware of your situation be it not for the fact that I was the one who recommended the both of you to the Ministry." Minerva said solemnly. Hermione looked at her in surprise, as well as Draco.
"And I am well educated when it comes to false intimacy as well." She said, before taking a sip of her tea. Hermione let out a sigh and released Draco's hand.
"You were the one who recommended us, Professor?" Draco inquired, not at all mad, however to his surprise.
"Yes, I was the one. I hope you don't hold any resentment towards me though." She said, however as if with the tone that she couldn't care less whether they did or did not.
"No, of course not, Professor." Hermione replied, knowing she could never hold a petty grudge towards the woman who taught her almost everything she knew.
"I am grateful for that statement, Ms. Granger. However retrieving your forgiveness was not the reason I passed by." She said, putting down the cup. Hermione raised a brow at the statement.
"I came here to ask you two a favor." Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise. A favor, she says?
"And what might that favor be, Professor?" Draco asked. Professor McGonagall grinned and handed both of them a yellow envelope with the Hogwarts crest on it.
"Unlike Albus, I come off differently when I ask someone to consider a job position in Hogwarts." McGonagall said. Hermione and Draco looked at the envelopes in surprise.
"Well, go on. Open it." Narcissa urged, wanting to know the content of the yellow paper.
The two of them nodded and opened their individual envelopes slowly.
Dear Mr./Mrs. Malfoy,
I, along with the rest of the Hogwarts staff wish for you to consider the position of being the new Defense against the Dark arts teacher. We know what you two are capable of and would consider it the greatest pleasure for you to return to Hogwarts to bestow your knowledge upon the students.
Best wishes,
Head mistress
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva sighed in content after hearing Hermione and Draco read their letters out loud.
"Short, sweet, and straight to the point." McGonagall commented. "Albus used to prefer the lengthy letters." She added, looking conversationally at Narcissa. She then turned to the now silent couple, who seemed to have reread the letter about 7 more times.
"I trust you two have your answer?" She spoke, straightening her pointed hat.
"But Professor… what happened to the old DADA teacher?" Draco asked, folding his letter back up.
"The former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Minerva emphasized, never liking students who short cut the name. "Retired just this year. Off somewhere in Wizarding Mexico." McGonagall frowned in disapprovement.
"But that has nothing to do with us for he is no longer part of this. Now, your answers?" Minerva insisted. Draco looked at Hermione questioningly.
"Well? What are your thoughts on this?" Hermione asked. Draco however looked back to his former Professor.
"They'll do it." Lucius said in finality. "Believe me, Draco's been whining about something to do the past month. This will be a good way to quench his boredom." Lucius commented imperturbably. Draco scowled at his father's blatant profession of his (Draco's) monotony.
"But Lucius, Draco and I would be in Hogwarts for the duration of the year." Hermione said, hoping that he'll buy it.
"Hermione, we're wizards. It's not as if we can't walk or go to the bathroom on our own. I haven't even a single white hair yet." There was a silence. "Well, that may be a lie, but nevertheless, you get my point." He said, his head held high. Hermione sighed.
"Alright, Professor. When would you like us to come in?" Hermione asked. Minerva cracked a smile.
"When the students arrive. You'll be accompanying them on the train." Minerva informed them.
"If you'd like to bring your own materials, you may as well do so." She said, standing up with a swish of her black robes. "And in behalf of the Hogwarts Staff, I thank you for accepting this." Minerva said, before disappearing with a loud crack.
Narcissa exhaled loudly, leaning back against the chair.
"That woman really has presence." Narcissa commented. "She said you'd be arriving alongside the students, did she not? That's the first of September! Oh dear, that's in a week. Oh, how reminiscent. It's as if they're going to Hogwarts once again."
"They are, dear."
"Well, I meant as student, Lou."
Hermione tuned out for a while, standing up slowly. Draco stood up as well, putting his hand on the small of her back to steady her.
"Well, we better start packing. We'll see you for dinner." He said, nodding his head before guiding his wife upstairs.
"You alright?" He asked, not looking at her. Hermione nodded.
"Quite." Hermione said curtly, and turned to Draco with a weak smile. "Today was just busy. That's all, Draco." Hermione reassured. Draco nodded and turned away, not wanting to show Hermione the heat spreading across his face when she held his hand once again.
He was a Malfoy after all.
AN: I'm seriously on a roll here. :)) This is definitely the shortest chapter I wrote though, and probably not the best. I hope you enjoy it anyway, it's where the story initially began. Haha. Well, don't forget to leave me some feedback, and how you'd want this story to turn out or… stuff. :")
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