Chapter Text
Saturday, late August, 2002
Hermione Granger felt content.
It was a perfectly warm, sunny day for a stroll around Diagon Alley to unwind from the stress of her work in the Ministry of Magic. After a quick visit to Flourish and Blotts, she decided to enjoy her new book on the patio of her beloved small bistro.
She had discovered this hidden gem a couple of years ago, whilst trying to get away from the massive crowd of shoppers on a Christmas spree. It was a beautiful, corner shop, tucked away in a side street of Diagon.
A few patrons were sitting in the veranda enjoying the sunshine. She amongst them, seated near the back, sipping her cup of coffee and devouring the first few chapters of her book.
This feeling of contentment washed over her again. The feeling of peace in being herself and enjoying the small things she loved.
After all those difficult months during the Second Wizarding War, the loss and trauma they brought to everyone and the difficult years that followed, it took so much time to finally be able to feel whole again. Many sleepless nights, nightmares in the cracks of dawn, fighting invisible demons, getting lost in her thoughts and fears. Her own mind, once the only thing she could count on, her strength, became fickle and uncontrolled. But she did it. She beat them, one after the other. And she stood beside her friends' side while they fought their own battles.
She was proud of them all, herself included. Now four years later they had all overcome the tragedies they faced, living the life they fought so hard for. Hermione being the youngest addition to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in the Ministry of Magic, Harry as a licensed and accomplished Auror, Ron co-manager of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes with George, and Ginny playing Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies. They've come such a long way from their dipped in suspense school days at Hogwarts.
Bringing the book a little closer, Hermione took a deep breath cherishing the smell of it combined with the fresh coffee. Letting it fall to a more comfortable distance she took a look around.
All of the happy faces and deep conversations.
Bypassers walking from shop to shop and looking around. A tall, blond man coming her way. Hogwarts students doing last minute..
Wait, what?
A tall, blond man was coming towards her.
A very tall, very blond and very familiar man.
It couldn't be!
Could it?
In a blink of an eye he was standing in front of her. Hermione looked up at him, not entirely believing her eyes.
"Granger.", he all but growled. His voice was deeper than what she remembered.
"M-m-Malfoy?"
He was different and yet not completely. He had grown a full 9 inches above his teenage height and he was somewhat wider at the shoulders. His hair was longer, falling artistically just below his eyebrows. Familiar smirk absent but for a glint in his eyes.
"Wha-What are you doing here?"
She hadn't seen the Slytherin since his trial.
Harry and herself had volunteered to testify in his and his mother's favour. Harry had told Hermione and Ron, that without Narcissa Malfoy's act of bravery and defiance towards Voldemort he wasn't going to walk out of the dark forest alive that fateful day. In Draco Malfoy's case she didn't need more reason than what she had already seen that day in Malfoy Manor.
"Can't a man just say hello to an old school mate?" he asked, his trademark smirk slowly coming to life.
"Given our history, I'm doubtful," she spat back. He had startled her at first, but now Hermione was arching a brow, putting the book down and her shields up. His politeness was confusing her, she was used to an arrogant and rude Malfoy.
"Look, I know what you are probably thinking in that big brain of yours Granger, but give me two minutes of your, no doubt, precious time'', he was speaking lower now. His eyes, cool and grey, piercing into hers. The trademark Malfoy smirk evident now.
Ah, here he is , Hermione thought.
She wanted to tell him to take his pretentious ass out of her favourite place, but her curiosity shoved logic out of the window.
Hermione hadn't seen him in nearly four years. At the end of the war the Malfoys, as well as a lot of known Death Eaters, had been kept under custody, waiting for their trials to begin. Lucius Malfoy's trial was a quick one, sending him to Azkaban for his remaining years. The matriarch's and heir trials though had been more complicated, dragging longer than most. The sentences had been a lifetime of house arrest for Narcissa and a two years house arrest for Draco.
Needless to say Hermione was surprised to see him now, in front of her, after being free for just a couple of months, as The Daily Prophet had so plainly stated in many lengthy gossipy columns.
"Alright.", she gestured to the empty chair opposite hers, "Have at it then."
He took his time getting himself comfortable. He had a commanding air about him now. One could say aristocratic almost, instead of the entitled way he carried himself as a teen.
Prick.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure?", she asked, voice laced with irony.
"Right to the point, huh Granger?", he gave her an amused look, "No polite small talk after all this time?"
Heat started to crawl at her face, but she wasn't backing down now. Giving him her most no nonsense look she folded her hands in front of her.
He smirked, again. "I'm looking for Potter." was all he said.
"Have you forgotten how to write or is your owl on vacation?", if he thought she was going to take half answers from him, he was wrong.
Six years in Hogwarts finding herself in the middle of a constant conflict between Harry and Malfoy, Hermione was over being dragged into confrontations.
"My penmanship is immaculate as always, I assure you, but my owl might need some time off since none of the letters I sent to Saint Potter are delivered. Where is he?", he was getting irritated at this point.
"Auror mission. No contacts allowed. But what is it to you?", she leaned in a bit at the end.
Malfoy was looking at her straight in the eyes, something pacing his gaze just then. He, also leaning towards her a bit, was in the process of opening his mouth to give a smart ass answer, when the waiter interrupted them to take his order.
"Oh, he isn't - "
"I'll have a cappuccino." he answered, interrupting her, posh and stuck up as ever.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. Draco bloody Malfoy, sitting with her, ordering a muggle coffee as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Sitting back and accepting her fate, she took a sip from her own coffee and decided to make the most out of this bizarre situation.
"So, you were saying?", she asked, faking politeness.
Malfoy's familiar scowl came to life. "When will Potter be back?"
"Classified"
"Is it now?" he grinned, lifting a pale blond eyebrow. Sitting back a bit in his chair, Malfoy brought the fresh cup of coffee to his lips whilst he eyed her with something close to..
Did he just check her out?!
Impossible. The confusion of seeing him again was playing tricks with her mind, obviously.
"Well, if that's all, your two minutes are up." Hermione had enough of Malfoy and his new weird attitude, curiosity be damned.
"We aren't finished yet, Granger"
What?!
"Oh but we are!"
Hermione stood, fuming. How could he have the nerve to boss her around after everything. Some things never changed, it seemed.
She grabbed her bag from the back of her chair. Digging a few sickles from her pocket, she put them on the table and turned to make a dash for it.
"I am sorry Granger, all right?!"
Hermione froze mid step.
"I am sorry" he whispered again.
She was tempted to turn around and have him explain what he meant, but deep down she had a pretty good idea of what he was talking about. Instead Hermione pushed forward, walked away from the small table, away from her former nemesis. She didn't need his apology. Hermione had forgiven Draco Malfoy a long time ago.