This was my entry for last week's challenge, "Back to School," which needed to happen after the events of HBP and involve Hermione and Draco returning to Hogwarts. :)



Title: Things Change
Rating: PG
Warnings: mild language
Word Count: 499
Disclaimer: No profit is made from this fanfic, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Attending a Triwizard Tournament again was strange. As a Ministry liaison for the Department of Magical Creatures, Hermione was checking the treatment of the manticore brought in for the third task. She had expected to feel disjointed in time, but she hadn’t counted on seeing Draco Malfoy again.

His son Scorpius was school champion, and it was obvious not everyone was thrilled with a Slytherin representing Hogwarts. She could remember Harry’s turn at it, the nasty rumors when both he and Cedric were chosen, and of course Ron’s bullheaded jealousy that nearly broke their friendship. She supposed she should have realized then Ron was sometimes viciously selfish. When she’d been promoted faster than he was one time too many, he’d left for good in a huff. She was surprised to find that, while she missed him, the lack of his constant snide remarks gave her more relief than loneliness.

Then, today, as the families of the champions entered Hogwarts, she had seen Malfoy striding in, older but still thoughtlessly elegant. Astoria, his former wife, had long since disappeared to the Mediterranean coast with a wizard so wealthy he made the Malfoy fortune look like a handful of knutes, so Hermione didn’t expect her to make an appearance. Neither did Scorpius by his resigned expression when his father entered alone.

To Hermione’s surprise, Draco embraced his son and smiled. She’d never seen Draco smile before. Sneer, yes, but not a genuine, warm smile, and the answering grin from his son was equally real, though tinged by the embarrassment any teenage boy would feel at having his father publicly hug him.

“You’ve done well,” Draco said, his voice carrying to Hermione’s ears. “I’m very proud of your achievements, as you should be.”

“Thanks,” Scorpius said, glancing awkwardly at the flagstones.

Hermione watched the boy introduce his friends, noting they were a mix of Purebloods and Muggleborns yet Draco seemed perfectly fine with this. As the champions exited to compete, she saw Draco’s face shadowed with fatherly concern.

Damn, she thought. When did he become a human being?

She walked towards him, curious enough to want to speak to her old enemy.

“Thought I saw you, Weasley,” Draco said without turning around.

“Granger,” Hermione corrected him. “It was never Weasley.”

“Oh,” Draco said simply, facing her. “I don’t feel like trading insults just now.”

“We’ve outgrown that,” Hermione said, startled by his gray gaze that firmly held her own. “At least, I hope so.”

He nodded. Hermione suddenly realized the Great Hall was nearly empty, and she felt unsure how to make her exit.

“Accompany me?” he asked extending his arm. “I’m… on my own.”

She paused, remembering past hurts, but chose to grant absolution to this new, apparently improved version of Draco.

“I’m on my own as well,” she said, taking his offered arm.

As they joined the other spectators, she hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.

On the other hand, she thought wickedly, Draco had always had a nice arse.