Never the Twain Shall Meet

Hermione's schedule:

Monday – Potions and Ancient Runes

Tuesday – Herbology, Charms and Arithmancy

Wednesday – Dark Arts and Transfiguration

Thursday – Care of Magical Creatures and Divination

Friday off!

The week whizzed by quickly and soon she found herself sitting in Divinations wondering why she chose this stupid NEWT.

She made it through the Principals of Reading Tea Leaves, Fire Scrying and Meditation; now her last task for Divination: Predictions.

UGH!

She looked around and found students carefully focusing; she sighed, what in the world was she going to predict? She let her mind wander. Her summers with the Weasley's, Ginny's friendship and subsequent betrayal; Ron's obsessive chess matches and his desire to be the best at something… OH! I've got it! She thought excitedly.

She wrote down her prediction and handed it to Trelawney.

"mmmm, dear girl, you're certain this is what you saw, the vision in your head filled with orange and black?" Trelawney said in her 'prophecy voice'.

"Yes Professor, May I go?"

The unkempt woman nodded and frowned reading the essay Hermione wrote.

She was free! All done! She met the rest of the group in the Great Hall for dinner.

"So, Granger, How did Divination go?" Draco asked with a smirk.

She snorted, "I had to make a prediction." She said.

Blaise and Pansy laughed, "Well out with it!" Pansy encouraged.

Hermione smiled and in her best Trelawney prophetic impression she told them of her prediction that the Chudley Cannons would win the Quidditch cup with Ronald Weasley at the helm playing keeper.

They all laughed, but it was Harry who paused, "Why?" he asked.

She sighed, "I just feel like he deserves a chance and maybe it'll come true, who knows?" she said, but she knew that once the Prophet got wind of their NEWTs the prediction would be plastered all over the papers, so hopefully by fall, Ron would be accepted to at least try out.

Harry and Draco knew Hermione well enough to know that she didn't do anything without a calculated reason, but they didn't say another word.

The next day at lunch, the last day before break, the owls flew in with the mail, The Daily Prophet going to many students and all of the staff.

GOLDEN TRIO FINISHED WITH NEWTs!

Cleverist witch of her age, indeed, Miss Hermione Granger achieves the highest scores and highest number of NEWTs in 100 hundred years!

Transfiguration 110%, Arithmancy112%, Potions 108%, Herbology 110%, Charms 110%, Dark Arts 112%, Ancient Runes112%, Care of Magical Creatures 110% and Divination 95%.

This reporter wonders why Miss Granger chose a Divination NEWT, with so many talented seers this century it is unlikely Miss Granger will follow this path. However, her prediction will certainly cause a stir as she prophesized that the hardest working team in the league, the Chudley Cannons, will take the cup this year with Ronald Weasley leading the way as Keeper. The Chudley team manager was quoted as saying, "We're looking forward to interviewing Mr. Weasley."

Mr. Weasley declined the NEWTs this year, but we wish him much luck with his budding Quidditch career.

A loud hurrah was heard above the shocked whispers and rustling of papers as people read the front page news.

Ron was standing up smiling and waving at her, mouthing 'thank you's' and blowing kisses at her, causing half the Slytherin table to roll their eyes at the exuberant red head.

She snorted and tipped her head in acknowledgment.

The story continued.

The boy-who-lived (with Miss Granger's assistance) achieved more than enough NEWTs to be eligible for Auror training, with scores higher than the average Hogwarts student. We're proud of Mr. Potter and learned just this morning that he and Draco Malfoy have been accepted into Auror training in the fall. Good Luck Boys!

Speaking of… the young Mr. Malfoy achieved the second highest scores; Transfiguration 98%, Arithmancy100%, Potions 100%, Herbology 98%, Charms 100%, Dark Arts 110%, Ancient Runes100%, Care of Magical Creatures 98%.

"How in the world did they get the results so quickly, we just finished yesterday?" Daphne exclaimed.

"Two words: Golden. Trio." Blaise explained.

"We should celebrate." Draco said.

They all nodded, "Let's go clubbing over break… in muggle London." He added.

With excited agreement they promised to owl and set a date for the next Saturday, giving them a week to get settled… and a week to recover, before they had to return to school.

***Marcus

"Marcus?" Janey called.

"Yes Ma'am." He responded from his office walking quickly to meet her.

"I have a patient; I want you to take a look, tell me what you see and how you would help him." She said professionally.

He was always impressed with her professional manner. She was warm and welcoming, but she, so easily, slipped into 'business mode' when dealing with patients… except when she was teasing her husband, then it was all laughs and more ribbing.

Marcus was pretty sure the man didn't mind though, he fairly glowed when his wife showered her attention on him.

Marcus entered the office to find a little boy about six years in age with a cleft lip and palate.

Marcus cleared his throat and schooled his features.

The little boys' eyes widened when the large wizard paused at the doorway, "it's ok Ralph, he's here to assist me." Janey soothed while brushing the boys' bangs aside.

The little boy looked at Janey and back to Marcus and said in a nasally tone, "Mummy, says I'll grow big and tall someday as long as she keeps watering me. Your mum must have watered you a lot." The little boy had trouble getting all that out, but in the end both Marcus and Janey understood what he said.

Janey laughed – Marcus didn't get it and looked to Janey for clarification.

It took her a minute to understand why Marcus was confused… and then it dawned on her, wizards didn't tend plants like muggles did.

"I'll explain later. Right now, what do you see?" she said still smiling.

"Cleft lip and Palate." He said swallowing, "I would perform the Millard procedure." He said without emotion, though it was contrary to what he was feeling.

He knew the cause and looked at the boys' mother.

She was thin and haggard looking; her eyes were bouncing around the office and he noticed she was twitching.

Drugs. He thought and got angry. She caused this; caused her son to go through his short life under scrutiny.

…and for a short second his mind tapped into its dark recesses pulling out a little bit of the loathing his father passed down for muggles. He quickly shook his head and looked at Janey expectantly.

"Thank you Marcus, You may go." She said her brow wrinkled a bit as she inspected the open mouth of the child in the seat.

He sat in his chair and hoped that Hermione was serious about starting a company, if not, he and Pucey would have to think of something else and fast.

*** Hermione

It was Sunday morning and she had just finished packing when Draco knocked on her open door.

She looked at his drawn face and frowned, "Are you ok?" she asked beckoning him to sit down next to her.

He did, "I don't think I want to live at the Manor after we graduate." He said

She shrugged, "So don't." thinking it was an easy solution.

He looked at her, "It's not that easy, it's tradition."

Another tactic, "Where would you live if not at the Manor?" She asked

"My father owns a cottage in Surrey, if I had some roommates I could live there." He said looking at her, gauging her reaction.

She looked at him, "I'm sure Blaise would be happy to live with you."

"I need more than one." He told her looking into her eyes.

She gave him a pondering look, "You could ask Harry, but I think he's looking forward to living at Grimmauld Place with Sirius. What about Greg?" she asked.

"He's going to live with his parents at their estates. What about you?" he asked.

Her brows rose in surprise, "Me?"

He nodded.

She hadn't given much thought to where she was going to live, though now that she was presented with it, she was pretty sure she didn't want to live with her parents and she also knew she wouldn't be making much money while she apprenticed.

She, Harry and Ron along with some others had been awarded the Order of Merlin first class and with that a lifetime monthly stipend from the Ministry and a land title, but she wasn't ready to dip into that yet.

"Ok." She said nodding her head.

"Ok?" he asked mildly surprised, he'd been prepared to turn on the charm and hound her for days.

"What about our Goddaughter?" she asked concerned about the size of the cottage.

Draco smiled as he had thought of that as well, "The cottage is on a considerable amount of land, unplottable. It has five bedrooms; one for each of us, one for our Goddaughter and one guest. The cottage has three house elves – all paid with one day off a week–"he added knowing she was about to object, "But when she is born we'll get another nanny elf to help with her care."

She blinked at him, impressed with how he had thought this entire thing out, "You know, Pansy and Daphne want to open a preschool and elementary for young wizards and witches, we could put her in school when she's old enough." Hermione speculated.

A deep voice from the door way interrupted her thoughts, "planning your Goddaughters future already Mya?" Blaise asked.

She laughed, "Yeah I guess so."

She returned focus to Draco, "How do we approach your father?" she asked assuming that he wouldn't want to do it alone… besides there were safety in numbers, not that Lucius would harm Draco… permanently.

"We ambush him. Me, you and Blaise. Today, I've owled mum and she's prepping him." He said

"Prepping him?"

"Planting the seed, you know - wife stuff." He said casually making her laugh.

"Ok, when do we leave? I'm all packed a ready, so whenever you and Blaise are ready we can go ambush one of the most powerful wizards in England." She said derisively.

He laughed, "He's a teddy bear." He said and laughed along with her, they all knew that wasn't the case by any stretch of the imagination.

*** The ambush

All three apperated directly onto Malfoy grounds and walked slowly to the door.

"Ready?" Draco asked taking a deep breath.

"As ready as we'll ever be." Hermione said after confirming with Blaise.

They were met by Tinky, who took their cloaks.

Narcissa Malfoy passed in front of them and nodded at her son before entering the study where his father sat.

Hermione wanted to laugh at the absurdity with which Draco and his mother played covertly. It was all very cloak and dagger.

Lucius raised his head and smiled when he saw his son walk in; it faltered slightly when Hermione and Blaise walked in behind him.

His eyes narrowed and he looked at Narcissa, who remained stoic and seated in her chair by the fire; though she met his gaze, he could read nothing from her expression.

"Ahhh, so I'm to be ambushed." He drawled smoothly speaking the conclusion his mind came to seconds before.

Draco flushed and Blaise studied his shoes; Hermione met his gaze. So he focused on her, "What is it then, Miss Granger?" he asked.

He knew if his son brought her, he was expecting a fight. Lucius wanted to laugh; he was certain he knew what the issue was, if Narcissa's gentle prodding this morning was any indicator.

Hermione took a deep breath and when brown eyes met gray, she spoke, "We were hoping to …" she smirked, "commandeer your cottage in Surrey. It's big enough for all three of us including our Goddaughter when the time comes." She said motioning between her and Draco when speaking of their Goddaughter.

She no longer referred to Blaises' soon-to-be daughter as Blaises' daughter; it was always her or Draco's Goddaughter.

Blaise found it endearing and his love for her grew.

This time Lucius did laugh and Draco and Blaise stared at her like she was daft for speaking to Lucius Malfoy like that.

She wasn't disrespectful, but her choice of phrasing fell just short of tactless.

When Lucius laughed they stared at him open mouthed, "Father?"

"You may live at Surrey Cottage, Draco; you and your friends." Lucius approved.

"Thank you father, we'll move in after graduation." He said and they all sat down.

Narcissa was smiling and Lucius was shaking his head, "Miss Granger, Blaise, will you stay for lunch?" Lucius asked.

They both nodded, "Yes, thank you."

"No, thank you Miss Granger, for making this day that much brighter." He complimented making her blush prettily.

The man was a charmer, no wonder people followed him. she thought while following the Malfoys and Blaise to the dining area.

***that night in the Granger home

She hadn't heard from Marcus in a few days.

Dialing.

Ringing.

"Hello." He said

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Sooo what's going on?" she asked a little unsure.

"Nothing."

She decided that if had wanted to talk to her he would have called, so she tried not to be hurt and attempted to end the phone call, "I just wanted to make sure you were alive. I'll leave you to your evening." She said

"No, I'm sorry I haven't called. I saw your scores; you did … well, outstanding." He said lamely not really knowing what else to say, but knowing that he didn't want to end the call.

She snorted, "I guess. Know what I did today?"

"What?"

"Made arrangements to move in with Malfoy and Blaise after graduation."

He sat straight up in bed, "Come again?" he said.

"Draco asked me and Blaise to move in with him after graduation. There's enough bedrooms for all three of us and my goddaughter when she arrives and a guest suite. It's perfect." She said excited.

Silence.

"Marcus?"