Draco thinks it is a bit crazy to be getting ready to go out to meet Granger intentionally for the third time. He could have never guessed that walking into that book shop a month ago would cause such a stir in his social life. Yes, he tries to do different things with Scorpius once in a while, but usually they keep to themselves and stay at home, or just visit a park. Draco likes having a monotonous, predictable life; he had enough action and unpredictability to last him a life time. He likes adhering to his routine. So far, having Granger in his life, in any capacity, has caused him to break away from his routine three times and he is not even including today. As the clock nears their "date," he's got more anxious and restless. He is once again standing in the middle of his dressing room, which apparently has nothing for him to wear. He can hear Scorpius excitedly explaining something to Blaise downstairs. He had to fire-call Blaise and ask him to organise an impromptu uncle-nephew time for today. He didn't like how fast Blaise had accepted his request, without making him beg or promise something. He doesn't want to dwell on that. He also doesn't want to dwell on the fast that he is lying to his son. Maybe not exactly lying, but he has omitted a crucial information when Scorpius asked about his seemingly vague and mysterious plans: Granger. Scorpius has no idea he is meeting with Granger, because if he did he would be ready and out the door before Draco could say colloportus.
While he ponders his unethical acts as a father, Blaise enters the room, with Scorpius in tow. He knows that they are planning a whole night of unmentionable amount of snack eating and Toy Story watching—Blaise is as fascinated by the animated movies as Scorpius—and seem to want him gone as soon as possible. He can't believe Scorpius' compliancy with this. If it were him, he would have demanded a clear answer and to know who this mysterious friend was, but his son doesn't seem to share his love for youthful entitlement. "Hey mate," Blaise greets him, "Scorpius thought you might need some help up here." Draco turns to his son and finds him casually smirking. Maybe he has inherited some of his more annoying qualities.
"Is that so? And why do you think that" asks Draco. Somehow Scorpius' smirk becomes even more cocky when he answers.
"Because uncle Blaise said you had a date and Nana Cissy always says you are afraid of dates and women." This causes Blaise to break into a fit of laughter and Draco internally curses his son's exceptional memory. "Why are you afraid of women daddy?" asks Scorpius, when he doesn't answer immediately. Blaise laughs even harder. "Yeah Draco, tells us" implores Brutus, twisting the knife in his back deeper.
"I am not afraid of women buddy." He turns to glare at Blaise, "and I am not going on a date. I am just going to have coffee with a friend."
"But daddy, you don't have any friends," says Scorpius innocently and Draco aims a t-shirt at a hysterical Blaise's head.
After that, it doesn't take long for Draco to get ready and out of the house, he really doesn't want to be late. He left choosing the location to Granger; he wanted her to feel comfortable. So she'd picked a quaint little coffee shop, once again in muggle London. There was something about being in the muggle world that was soothing and Draco appreciates her consideration of their privacy. She is already there when he enters, sitting in the back, too engrossed in her book. He takes a few seconds to observe her without her noticing. Her hair is in a braid this time, leaving her shoulders exposed in her sleeveless summer dress. She doesn't look peaceful, looks rather concerned and he wonders what she is reading. One thing he remembers about her from their Hogwarts days is that she would consider impossibly long, old and dusty books about goblin wars light reading. He wouldn't be surprised if she is casually reading a book about beheadings during the middle ages. He grabs a cup of coffee, walks to her table and clears his throat to get her attention. She is startled and he wonders what kind of a war hero can get startled in a coffee shop that easily.
"Hey Granger. May I?" asks Draco, before joining her. She closes her book (he is weirdly delighted to see that it is about witch hunts in the middle ages) but does not put it away. She rests her hand on it and looks at him expectantly. He knows that he is the one who'd asked her to meet him, but without Scorpius there with them, it really feels awkward. Rather than starting the conversation, he takes a sip of his coffee. He has practiced how to say what he wanted to say whole week against a mirror. He almost prepared a speech with anecdotes and allegories. But being there in front of her makes him forget everything. "So…You must be curious about why I asked you here," he starts without any pleasantries.
"I know why you asked to meet me Malfoy." she answers. Does she have to know everything? "You were curious about my occupation and wanted to ask some questions." That is not why he wanted to see her at all, but before he can stop himself, he nods and says "Yes." She looks at him with something he can't identify in her eyes. He quickly continues. "No, not really. I mean, I want to know more about Jean Karen Ranger, because what kind of a name is that?" When she doesn't say anything, "…but maybe later," he finishes lamely. The way she is sitting there with a book and looking at him half expectantly, half bored, like a professor who's just asked you a question and thinks you are an idiot for not giving an adequate answer, doesn't help his mood. He tries again. "I asked you here because I wanted to apologise." He shifts his gaze to his coffee, not to make eye contact with her, but she is eerily quiet. When he looks at her, only then she answers his unasked question. "Go on," is the only thing she says before she leans back in the armchair, folding her arms. He takes another sip of his coffee to buy himself more time.
"I have so many things to apologise for Granger, and I'm afraid we don't have the time to go over all the mistakes I've done to you, let alone to your friends and the wizarding world. But I really want to try. And I think I need to start with you of all people." She is pensive, but he can tell she is listening intently. "I thought I could blame my parents for my bigoted upbringing, Crabbe and Goyle for my bullying ways, Snape for being the torch bearer of injustice at Hogwarts and the Dark Lord—" she gives him a look, "sorry Voldemort, old habit, for making me a Death Eater and believe in blood supremacy. But I can't. Not any more." He thinks of all the people that were murdered in his childhood home; eventually everybody's blood looked the same and he had no more lies left to convince him otherwise. "But Malfoy, you had no choice," she cuts him off and he can't believe how nice and empathetical she can be. "I was born into it, yes, but I also asked for it, I chased the feeling of superiority. I went out of my way to find you that night during the Wold Cup to torment you, I knew my father was one of the marching men, so I wasn't afraid. I could have stayed in our tent with my mother, but I didn't. I chose to be out there, but you, Granger, you were the one who had no choice. You were forced into this weird world and it decided to hate you and fight you. You had no choice but to fight back. I could have said no to him, I could have gone to Dumbledore for help maybe." He stops for a moment. Even saying his name out loud brings a lump to his throat. He drinks more of his now lukewarm coffee.
"You didn't identify us. That day at the Manor. You said you weren't sure and I know that you can identify Harry your eyes closed. You refused then." Granger argues. "But then I was looking for Potter in the Room of Requirement. I wanted him captured. Can that one single semi-positive thing I did really make up for the others? Don't make excuses on my behalf Granger, you can't convince me. There is always another choice, but I was too cowardly and idiotic to realise that." They sit there, across from one another in awkward silence. Draco wants to give her some time to digest it all. He finishes his coffee and starts idly playing with the cup. Then she simply asks "what changed you?"
There are many layers to that question. Time and perspective is the more philosophical answer. Punishment is the main reason he is ashamed to admit. Acceptance and humility had been a bit depressing and humiliating. But instead of all that, he gives her a one word answer: "Scorpius." To that, she gives a small smile. He knows Scorpius has such an effect on people. "I wasn't in the best place when he was born; I was too young and not ready. But when I saw him all bundled up in a cot, a tiny thing in that huge, soulless room, I realised I would do anything to protect him. He was so tiny and fragile Granger, and so innocent. I realised that you and Potter, and every other person I have ever wronged, were fragile and tiny for someone, too. That someone would want to protect you from someone like me. So I swore myself that I would not let Scorpius be a pawn to any ideology or mad man and I would change to make his world a better place. And you, of all people, allowed me to do so."
"How?" she asks.
"After everything I have ever done to you, you and Potter came to my hearing and testified for me. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in Azkaban, deservedly so, but your unnaturally kind and generous act allowed me to walk away free. You could have let me rot in a cell, but you didn't. You chose to help me once again. I couldn't thank you properly then because I was tired and ashamed and I can't thank you now, because it's already too late."
"You don't have to thank me Malfoy, I didn't do it for you. I did it because I believed it to be the right thing to do. I thought you'd never had agency in your life and for once, I wanted to give you the opportunity. And Harry agreed. We won the war to stop the inhumanity that's happened, not to re-enforce the horrors of Voldemort's reign of terror." Draco hates that they can be that selfless and trusting after everything they'd been through, but he understands that's how and why they won the war. "For all I'm worth, I am truly sorry. And I know I need a life time to make up for all my mistakes, but I am more than willing to try." He doesn't know his worth or if he was sincere and honest enough, but she gives him a warm smile and says "I am a believer in second chances, you can ask Ron," and leaves him confused and contented.
They spend rest of their time talking mainly about Scorpius and their work without going into much detail. Draco doesn't asks any invasive questions, he is just happy to be there honestly, and she doesn't offer any additional information he'd find interesting. When she realises the time, she jumps up in a panic, saying she is expected for dinner somewhere. Draco pays for her again and they leave the coffee shop. She tells him that she is going to take the tube and he offers to walk her to the station, but she adamantly refuses. The evening has grown chilly and Draco sees her shiver but for a minute. Before he could do something stupid like taking off his jacket and giving it to her, she takes her wand out discreetly and casts a warming charm on herself, says goodbye and joins the herd of passive aggressively walking people, leaving Draco standing in the middle of the pavement.