Overcoming Differences

The Encounter

**A/N: J.K. Rowling is the soul owner of everything Harry Potter; its original plot, characters and ending. I own nothing in this story except the plot and its twists and turns and even that had help. Before we start the story I want to thank a few people, first and foremost Aaron Mercer without whom this story wouldn't even be possible. He and I have been brainstorming and role-playing this story for months now. Second is my beta, savedprincess85. Last but never least is my most wonderful friend Arendora, she always has just the right words.**

The sound of crickets filled the air of Hogwarts as in an inconspicuous classroom in the corner of the dungeons, fourth-year Draco Malfoy who waited with a sour look on his face, thinking about what he had to do. He knew it would hurt her, but if he didn't follow through with the plan he would feel the wrath of hell. He slipped an anonymous note into her Potions cauldron, telling her to meet him. His note was slipped in the cauldron the same day she got another note informing her that her father's office has been bought out.

Hermione sat in the Great Hall with her friends that morning laughing and joking while they ate before double potions with Slytherin. She finished eating early as usual and decided to head down to the potions classroom early to study the material for the day and set up her station. Upon her arrival to the empty Potions classroom, she grabbed her pewter cauldron and noticed the note in the bottom.

"What's this?" She muttered to herself.

Hermione took the note and her cauldron to her seat, sitting down before reading it. She had a very bad feeling about the note. She unfolded the piece of parchment with shaking hands as the sinking feeling only got worse as she saw the handwriting on the parchment. As she read the note, tears began to sting her eyes, unsure of what to do in the situation she now found herself. She was brave, but she wasn't sure she was brave enough.

"I heard your daddy's dental practice might go out of business, if you wanna go and save it then come to the third floor, last classroom at the end of the hall at midnight. Come alone or risk your daddy's early termination."

Hermione decided she absolutely had to save her father's business. She would move hell to keep her father's practice from failing. He'd worked so hard for so long to build it up and keep it out of debt. She knew things had gotten hard, but not this hard. She couldn't imagine him selling his life's work unless he was forced to. But who in the magical world would know about her dad's practice? That was what worried her the most. It almost felt like blackmail.

Later that night, despite her better judgement, she ended up on the third floor, alone, in the last classroom on the floor. She sat down at a desk her heart thrumming in her ears, her body trembling and her wand in hand, at the ready. And she waited.

Using an invisibility potion that he had snagged while shopping with his father, Draco smirked as he watched Granger enter his keep. He pulled out his wand and cast a muffled spell to lock the door before the potion wore off. He walked from the back of the classroom towards the witch in front of him and whispered in her ear, "Glad you could make it."

Hermione jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. She turned to face him a frightened look on her face.

"Malfoy!?" She shouted at him as she spun around, her wand now pointed directly at his chest. She began to back away from him, trying to keep distance between them. Knowing the situation was worse than it seemed now that he was involved.

"Aww, not happy to see me? I thought you would be happy that I'm giving your daddy a chance to keep his business. Just put away your wand, and I can tell you what I want." Draco replied with a small smirk with his hands raised non-threateningly.