The 10 Year Reunion

Old Enemies, New Beginnings

Hermione carefully studies Draco's face with arms folded close to her chest. Her hair is twisted in a fancy up do with bangs pressed flat across her forehead. Light makeup traces her eyes paired with rosy cheeks and a pastel pink lip. She's wearing a mature floor length dress that fits her body like a glove. The dark maroon dress is off the shoulder, and a sensual slit rises to her upper thigh.

It had been 10 years since she last laid eyes on Draco Malfoy. The menacing boy from Slytherin; the spoiled child who harassed and called her a Mudblood on numerous occasions.. the former Death Eater.

Her voice quivers as she says, "It takes a lot of nerve, showing up here."

Draco's eyebrows instantly furrow as his eyes leave hers. Placing a sturdy hand in his pocket, he peers up to the high ceilings disappointedly shaking his head.

Feeling immediate guilt for the off-putting comment she adds, "But since you are here.. How have you- how have you been?"

The unexpected follow up question puzzles Draco. Truthfully, he hadn't gotten that far. How exactly has he been? He inquisitively tilts his head to the side as his icy blue eyes find hers again. "Never better," he replies pensively.

"I heard you inherited the Manor," she challenges with an arched brow. "Continuing your father's legacy of segregation against minorities, are you?"

"On the contrary, I've spent these last years segregating myself," he sternly replies with clenched teeth. "And if I have any chance in gaining solace, I must face those I've mistreated out of blind hatred." There's a pause as he takes a step forward demanding eye contact. Hermione sharply inhales as he slowly says, "In fact, there were many things I was blind to." Her lips fold inward as she looks to the floor. Feeding on her vulnerability Draco adds, "I have a greater interest in hearing about yourself, Granger."

An unexpected rush of adrenaline travels through her arms and legs, and her cheeks lightly flush at the sensation. Receiving the unexpected heartfelt response throws her off guard. Hermione could never allow herself to have sympathy for Draco Malfoy based off one indirect apology. He was a calculative man, and there was no doubt about that.. yet the sincerity in his tone was palpable.

Her brain scrambles in a whirlwind of confusion as she fidgets with her hands. She tucks an invisible lock of hair behind her ear while her eyes desperately search the room for a familiar face. Draco widens his stance and crosses his arms closely watching her every move. His lips curl in amusement as she visibly squirms.

"Harry!" she gleefully exclaims in relief. Exhaling the breath she had tensely held in for minutes, she hurriedly motions her hand toward herself.

Malfoy tightens his jaw before glancing behind himself. Harry Potter walks past him with a bounce in his step headed for Hermione. Draco's eyes flicker between the nearly empty drink in hand and his childhood enemy. Along with the rest of them, Harry hadn't aged a day and maintained a similar appearance. The only difference was that his shaggy brunette hair had been trimmed, and rough patches of stubble cover his jaw line. His signature circular glasses rest on the bridge of his nose beneath the prominent scar on his forehead.

"Oh, I didn't see you there," Harry casually comments with a crooked smile. Draco quickly raises both brows at him in response. "I really wasn't.. wasn't expecting to see you here.."

"Wish I could say the same," he impulsively replies. Hermione's forehead wrinkles looking between the two. Draco inwardly kicks himself. "Only joking, of course." Utilizing the years of practice in swallowing his pride, Malfoy extends an arm with the shadow of a smile. Potter hesitatingly grabs his hand before giving it a firm shake.

"I teach Transfiguration," Hermione hurriedly informs, cancelling the risk of another tense moment. "And Harry here is the new Head of Gryffindor," she adds patting a proud palm against her best friend's chest. "Along with teaching Defense Against The Dark Arts. I couldn't think of a better person to honor those we've lost."

"Gee Hermione, you're making me blush," Harry says half-sarcastically.

Hermione's last sentence is unnerving to Draco. He guiltily closes his eyes running a swift hand through his blonde bangs. His family had had a hand in most of the lives that were ripped from each respective family. He would be forever haunted by his Slytherin predecessors for life. However, he remained a proud house member and always would. There were many strengthening qualities that he possessed in correlation to the house's representation; intuition, ambition.. cunningness when applicable. But there was one dominating trait that stood out from the rest over these last 10 years.

Determination.

Draco Malfoy went after what he wanted, and would stop at nothing once he set his mind to it. It was the very reason he was standing in this room, after all.

Although he had his previous reservations with Hogwarts, Malfoy understood the skill and expertise required in order to become a professor. And Hermione, following in the footsteps of Professor McGonagall, clearly had a promising future. Professor McGonagall was the teacher of Transfiguration following Dumbledore, who ultimately became headmaster as well. In Draco's eyes, Hermione exhibited all of the qualities to lead Hogwarts one day herself.

As for Harry Potter, becoming the Head of Gryffindor and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor proved that he had maintained his title as a true hero and role model. And Draco had to give it to him, he had earned that title. However, it didn't stop the endless resentment toward Harry for being the 'fortunate' one out of the two men. He gulps a hefty amount of air as he observes the intricate lightning bolt carved into Harry's forehead. The mark of the fallen Dark Lord; a grim reminder of his powerless days as a Death Eater. Once his eyes leave Harry's scar, he coercively glances to the dark mark on his inner forearm that had faded over time, yet not entirely. His haunting memories would never completely vanish, and the semi-permanent mark of the Dark Lord mirrored that.

Hermione watches Malfoy self consciously examine his forearm with a loud exhale. He shakes his bone dry beer bottle before looking up to them. "I think I'll get myself another drink," he solemnly excuses himself with a forced smirk. He slowly puts one foot behind the other while his eyes uncomfortably scan the room.

"Brilliant! I'll have a vodka soda," Hermione instructs planting a confident hand on her hip. His eyes momentarily light up as he pauses in place. After replying with his eyebrows as he usually did, Malfoy follows orders and walks in the other direction.

Harry skeptically examines his friend with narrowed eyes while drawing a glass of neat bourbon to his lips.

"Stop gawking at me," Hermione scoffs glaring at him. "Is it so wrong of me to request a vodka soda?"

"You don't even fancy drinking," he replies with a baffled smile. "What exactly is going on between you two?"

"I don't believe I understand..?" She stubbornly avoids eye contact until they regretfully fall upon Malfoy across the hall instead. As if he felt her eyes burning through the back of his head, he slickly looks over his shoulder directly at her. He smolders, staring deeply into her eyes until she finds the strength to whip her head in the other direction.

"There's no need to play coy, I saw the way you were acting around him."

"Harry," Hermione scolds placing both fists on her hips. "What, were you spying on me or something?"

"Hermione.. I was standing beside the both of you the whole time," he says slowly. "Didn't you notice?"

Her body temperature rises once she notices Malfoy confidently striding toward them with a beer in one hand and a vodka soda in the other, as requested. "No.. no, I suppose not," she quietly replies absentmindedly. "I must have been.. distracted."

Harry casually scratches the back of his head following her line of vision. He lightly chuckles and pats his uncharacteristically disheveled best friend on the shoulder before walking away. "My point exactly."