14 October 1967
I went to Hogsmeade this weekend but did not have an opportunity to do any shopping. I did not even get the chance to step inside of Tomes and Scrolls before I was approached by associates of my father's. More particularly, I was approached by the associates of his that support this "dark lord" with whom Father has been associating. They were waiting for me as soon as I got to Hogsmeade. They escorted me to a private room in the Three Broomsticks.
Sitting inside of the quiet room was a young gentleman that I had only seen glimpses of before today. He did not appear to be much older than me, but his confidence leads me to believe that his appearance lies. He told me that he had spoken with my father at great lengths and was interested in offering me a job once I graduated from Hogwarts.
What I do not understand is why he made a point of talking to me now. I am only in the beginning of my sixth year. I still have a year and a half before I would be available to work for him, but he said that he would like to begin my training as soon as possible so that I would be ready to take my position in his 'company' as soon as I graduated.
He would not tell me what his company entailed, but it did not seem like something I would want to write on a resume. After all, he did not send the most honorable pureblood men to escort me to this meeting. If he was really interested in presenting an enticing, yet honorable, job for a pureblood witch, I would have expected him to try harder at making a good first impression.
After all, if I will be working for his company, he needs to impress me. He seemed fine enough, but I also need to be interested in his company before I agree to begin training for a position there. He has work to do before I agree to anything with him.
He was not pleased by my response to him. I could tell that he was trying not to give a strong reaction, but it was clear he was disappointed that I did not readily agree to start training for his company. I told him that I needed to consider my career options, consult with my father, and find out who my betrothed would be before I agreed to any long-term employment contract, as the two men in my life would have more of a say than I would in my future employment.
I will admit that his response may have piqued my interest. He told me that my father and potential betrothed had no business determining what I do with my education or career training. He, unlike most of the men in the room, did not appear to care that I was a woman. That was new to me, and I will be honest: I liked it.
Hermione closed the book and set it on her bedside table. She had spent most of the previous night reading about Bellatrix's NEWT level classes and how excited she was to be away from her father. Those entries had reminded Hermione too much of herself. Bellatrix took just as many NEWT classes as Hermione. She seemed to be just as invested in school as Hermione was, as well. What Hermione did not find in the entries of the book were very many personal entries. Bellatrix did not discuss her friends, and she rarely even talked about her sisters between August and October of that year. She had thrown herself head-first into her studies and did not seem to concern herself with anything else.
Hermione knew that feeling all too well. She had been doing the same thing since she moved into the castle that she had once viewed as home.
Now, it was a constant reminder of all of the people that had been lost within these walls. Hermione could not walk into the Great Hall without seeing flashes of the tables pushed to the side as bodies lined the center of the floor. Every time she walked out onto the courtyard, she was reminded of the complete devastation she felt when seeing Hagrid carry Harry back to their side after Voldemort had supposedly killed him. She remembered hearing that vile witch's cackle as she broke down in sobs as she saw her best friend lying limp in the half-giant's arms.
Everything seemed to remind her of the battle that happened here. She did not think that the memories would still be so vivid, but she had been thankful that the students did not arrive on the same day that she did. It gave her a little bit of time to grieve and process her emotions without prying eyes around. She did not want to explain herself. To the students, she was just an alumnus who came back to fill the position of librarian. Most of them had no clue who she was, and there would certainly be questions raised if she seemed too affected by the castle.
She dreaded going to the Great Hall again this morning, so she elected to take her breakfast in her quarters rather than trek all the way downstairs only to come back upstairs to the library. It seemed pointless.
Once she finished her breakfast, she began the short journey to her expansive office. She was still early, so not many students were present in the halls. When she reached the library door, she was surprised to see a student leaning against the windows nearby.
Draco Malfoy stood mere feet away, chewing on the end of his quill. He appeared to be lost in thought until he noticed the dark-haired woman approaching. "Madam Mattews, I know the library does not open until seven, but I was hoping to get a head-start on a project for potions. Professor Slughorn wrote me a note in case you needed to see it."
The normally poised student began to frantically search his bag, presumably attempting to locate the note that Professor Slughorn had written him.
Hermione considered the young man before her and tried to look at him with fresh eyes. He still looked exhausted but not nearly as haggard as he had during their sixth year. He also appeared to have lost his brazen attitude. He seemed nearly subdued. Hermione refused to judge him on his previous actions and unlocked the door. "Of course, Draco. Come in." She led the way into the library and allowed the doors to lock behind them. She had some organization to complete before the library was open to the entire student population.
Draco set his belongings down at a desk near her own and immediately gathered his study materials. From her position, Hermione could not see the names of the books he had grabbed. She only knew that he had retrieved them from the potions section, which correlated with his story that Professor Slughorn had given him permission to be in there. She considered asking her old classmate what he was working on, but she decided that the question may lead to more of a conversation, and she was not interested in that.
She may have forgiven the prat, but that did not mean she had to like him.
When she completed her morning tasks, she set up her own research area on her desk. She had made her way through most of Hogwarts' restricted books on memory modification by this point. Now, she was working on cross-referencing the data on the failed trials, attempting to discover potential flaws in their experiments. Even the most intellectually designed theories had failed, and Hermione was growing frustrated with the lack of progress.
Sighing, she shut the book she was examining and set it to the side. This caught the attention of the library's other occupant.
The young man stared at the new librarian for a moment before giving her a small smile. "Thank you for letting me into the library early this morning. Professor Slughorn is allowing me to complete an apprenticeship under him while I finish my seventh year, and I am worried that I may get behind in one or the other if I am not in here at every possible moment. Plus, I am Head Boy this year, and that only adds to my work load."
Hermione tried to stifle her look of surprise, but she knew she had failed when she was met with another smile from the young man. "That sounds impressive. What apprenticeship are you completing with Professor Slughorn?"
"I am doing a potions apprenticeship with a focus in teaching. He would like to retire as soon as possible, but the apprenticeship takes a minimum of two years to complete. Professor McGonagall convinced him to stay long enough for me to finish my apprenticeship with him." Draco paused for a moment, looking down at his notes. "Thankfully, I am a little ahead of where I should be in potions. Severus Snape…You know who he is correct? You attended Hogwarts?"
Hermione nodded, lightly tapping Lillian's manicured nails on the desk. "I do know who Professor Snape was. I studied potions under him during my time at Hogwarts." Hermione did not want to expand on that topic any longer. She quickly turned the subject back to him. "He was your godfather, correct?"
Malfoy nodded. "He was. I was studying with him during the summers. I had intended to take my apprenticeship with him once I graduated." He paused and ran his hands through his pale hair. "At least, that was my plan before the war." His other hand gripped the edge of the table tightly.
Hermione did her best to squash her feelings as she saw the raw emotions cross her old enemy's face. She expected to feel differently around him, but all she felt for him was sorrow. He had lost just as much as she had during the war. He might have lost more because he had to sell his soul for the sake of his family. She was glad to see that he had not lost it completely. "I think Professor Snape would be proud of you for pursuing your dream to become a potions master even if he cannot be the one to teach you. Who better to teach you than the man who taught him, as well?"
The young man slowly released his hold on the desk and met her pale green eyes. "Thank you, Madam Mattews. I think he would be proud, too." The blonde wizard did not waste anymore time in getting back to work.
After their conversation, Malfoy did not move until it was nearly time for classes to begin. At precisely ten minutes until eight, he stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Thank you again, Madam Mattews. Would it be alright if I came in early again when you are here before classes begin?"
Hermione looked up from her work quickly, but it took a moment for her to register exactly what he had said. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy. I think that would be fine as long as you are working on your projects for school or your apprenticeship. I am here most mornings by approximately half past six. Feel free to knock on the door if I get here before you do. I will let you in."
There was no need for further conversation, so Malfoy waved at her before exiting the library.
Hermione leaned back in her seat with a sigh, tapping her quill against the book she had been attempting to read. "What in the world just happened?" She placed her hand over her heart, where the small bag with golden powder was hidden from view.
The young witch shook her head as she retrieved a piece of parchment from her desk drawer and began to pen a letter.
Andy,
Good morning. I hope you and Teddy are well.
I just had an interesting encounter with a student here. I was asked if it would be alright for him to come into the library before open hours officially began. Part of me wanted to say no simply because of who he is – after all, I have never been his biggest fan. He has also never been fond of me, but he would not know that he should not be fond of me still since he has no clue who I am.
I would recognize that blond hair anywhere, however. Your nephew confided in me this morning. I do not know how to take that. He was level headed, and his ambition was clear. If I did not know it was him from his appearance, I never would have guessed that this was the same boy that tormented me for years, finding every excuse to call me a mudblood.
He has asked that he continue to be allowed into the library early and I agreed without question. What has this world come to, Andy? Do I continue to allow him to confide in me if he chooses to do that? It feels wrong because he does not know who I am. I do not believe that he would be speaking to me in the same way if he knew who I really was. I do not know what to do with this situation.
In addition, I would like to speak with you about your sister here in the near future. It needs to be done in person, preferably without Teddy present.
L
Hermione folded the letter and spoke, "Silas."
Immediately, a petite elf with oversized ears appeared before Hermione. "Yes, Madam Matthews. How can Silas serve you?"
Hermione smiled at the elf and presented him with the letter. "Will you please make sure this gets owled to Mrs. Andromeda Tonks?"
The elf nodded vigorously, accepting the letter. "Silas will do this right away." Without waiting for further discussion, Silas apparated away and Hermione went back to work.
