The Adult World

Chapter 2: A civil matter

Hermione’s mouth fell open and she stared at him. She couldn’t believe that he was standing in front of her! She looked to McGonagall, then back to Malfoy, as if to ask if this was real.

Draco was also stunned for a moment, but recovered quickly. He smirked at her and looked to the Professor. “I think we need to talk.” He said, before turning his attention back to Hermione. “And close your mouth Granger, you look even more unattractive with your mouth gaping open.”

She snapped her mouth shut and was about to make a scathing reply when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and put her hand on Hermione’s arm. “Just give me a few moments with Professor Malfoy, and then I’ll be back to speak with you.” She said walking into Malfoy’s room.

Hermione glared at him as he shut the door in her face. She sighed, looking around the large room. She notice to her left that there was a little kitchen area with a small table and four chairs. Glancing back at the room, she noted that it was more ‘L’ shaped then rectangle, leaving the little dining area unnoticeable when first coming in the door. She pulled out one of the heavy chairs at the table and sat down to wait.

‘What the hell is he doing here?’ She thought, unconsciously twisting a strand of hair around her fingers. The last time she had seen him was at the end of the final battle. The last time she had heard anything about him was at the end of his trial with the ministry. He had been sentenced to six months in Azkaban for conspiring to harm muggle borns. Hermione felt he deserved more time, and if his mother hadn’t saved Harry’s life, she was sure he would have gotten it. Lucius hadn’t been so lucky. He was sentenced to ten years, and found guilty of murdering at least two innocent muggles. He was lucky to only get ten years, and not receive the kiss. It just went to prove that money could buy even the most guilty person out of anything.

The door opened, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Draco standing next to the Headmistress with his hands in his pockets, glaring down at her. She glared back and turned her attention to McGonagall, who was pulling a chair out.

Sitting down, she turned toward Draco, “Please have a seat. I think we should get everything on the table so we start the school year off right.” Draco sighed and sat down across from Hermione. After he was seated, she spoke again. “Now Hermione, I know some of the things that have happened in the past with you and Draco. I want you to know that he has been employed as a professor here for almost three years. We are very happy with his performance, and sincerely hope that the two of you will be able to get along…”

Hermione sputtered and interrupted, “How is it that he is even here?! Professor, he hates everything about muggle borns. I can’t believe that you allow him to teach them!”

“I’m going to have to stop you there.” She replied. Professor McGonagall glanced over at Malfoy, who had sat back in his chair and was examining his fingernails as if they weren’t discussing him at all. “Draco has made many mistakes. He has also served the time sentenced to him. He has not shown an ounce of disrespect to any of the muggle born students, nor shown any favoritism either way. I expect you both to at least be civil to each other.” She sighed and leaned back, looking weary. “I admit that I should have mentioned this in my letter, but I didn’t want the living situation and a fellow professor, whom you have history with, to sway your decision.”

At that, Draco snorted and looked up. “You could have told me. It would have been nice to be prepared for this… invasion.” He stated, looking over to Hermione, staring at her challengingly. “I will be civil, as long as I don’t get attacked when she goes into a womanly mood swing.”

Hermione, never to be one to back down from a challenge, stared back. “I’ll be civil also, as long as I don’t get attacked when he wakes up and remembers that he hates us all.”

McGonagall looked from one, to the other, then stood with a sigh. “Then it’s settled.” She smoothed out her robes and cleared her throat, reverting back to her professional attitude. “Now Professor Granger, a packet with your schedule and such are on your bed. The password to reach my office is Siamese. If you need me for anything, don’t hesitate to call on me. Your first year will be the hardest. Good day to you both.” And with that, she turned on her heal and walked out the portrait door.

Hermione, who had broken the stare to look up at Professor McGonagall when she called her a ‘professor’, watched her retreating form. When the portrait closed, she turned her attention back to Malfoy. She blinked, as she took in the vision of an empty chair, and jumped at the sound of a door slamming.

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Draco paced the length of his room. ‘What the hell is she doing here? McGonagall must have lost her mind this year. Civil… how am I going to manage that around that insufferable know-it-all?! Why couldn’t she have stayed at the bloody ministry!’ He growled to himself, and kicked at a box that had fallen earlier.

‘Everything was going so perfect. I finally got out from under my father’s shadow, and she turns up to bring it all back again. I swear, if she starts anything, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.’ Draco took a deep breath, and looked at the mess that was his room. ‘I won’t let her get the best of me this time. I have the upper hand. Wait till she gets a room full of those rug-rats. She won’t know what hit her.’ He smiled. He had changed his mind. This was going to be interesting. Very interesting.

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Hermione stood in the middle of her room. It was large and circular with a queen sized, four poster bed, dominating the middle of the room. She opened the drawers on the dresser, and noticed that her clothes had been folded and put away. A few boxes were stacked behind her in front of a small vanity with a chair and a mirror. She pushed the boxes out of the way and sat down.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed ’What was I thinking by coming here? I left my flat and stable job to come here and work with… with… the Ferret!? Of all the wizards in the world, how did we get stuck together. I should march up to the Headmistress's office and tell her that I’ve changed my mind.’ Hermione smirked at her reflection.

‘No, I won’t do that. I’ll show him. I’ll show them all. I beat him in school, I surely will be a better teacher then he is. He won’t know what hit him.’ She smiled. She had changed her mind. This was going to be interesting. Very interesting.


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A/N: I forgot to say thank you to my very first reviewer Judo Kitty Chops! Thanks so much!