Hermione's Little Secret

“I don’t wanna live in England, Dad! Can’t I return to Mom?” Lilah whined as the two Malfoys entered the Hogwarts grounds.

“We’re not in England now anyway, luv. We’re in Scotland. And, you know the way the settlement went, Lilah. You’re mother is allowing me to raise you in the Wizarding world. Once you turn seventeen, you may return to America.” Draco put one arm around the girl’s shoulder and gave her a half hug. She rested her silvery blonde head on his shoulder and sighed. She’d always hated visiting her grandmother and now she was stuck living here. How much worse can it get?

“Why couldn’t you have taught over there?”

“Because Hogwarts is the best. And you’re already on the register for next year, according to Severus. Besides, he asked me to come here as his replacement.” He didn’t bother telling the girl he’d inquired about the position first. That would set her American temper off to no end. At ten, she was fairly proficient with her magic, but occasionally, she slipped and caused minor problems around her. Like when she made all the tires burst around Central Park when she was six because her mother had refused her an ice cream cone.

<><><><>‘Honestly, Draco. I didn’t realize that your world was going to be like this. I don’t think I can handle raising a child with so much power. What happens if we’re alone? I’ve no way of containing her when her temper rises. I don’t think we should have—‘

‘Don’t continue that thought, Alicia. I told you before we married that any children would probably be magical. You said it was fine, that you understood. If you want a fucking divorce, just ask for one, but don’t use Lilah as an excuse for not wanting me anymore. I know about Christopher.’<><><><>

Draco came out of his reverie and tugged her toward the castle. He could tell she was impressed by the building.

“It’s beautiful. If I’m not going to school here, then where am I going to go?”

“Hogsmeade, the village we stopped in has a primary school for little witches and wizards. Don’t worry, Headmaster Snape said there was another teacher with a young child, so you can attend together.”

“I’m afraid, Daddy.” She took a deep breath and quickened her pace to keep up with his.

“I know. Change makes people scared sometimes, but everyone needs it or they become bored and stagnant. I’ll race you to the front entrance.” He pulled away and laughed, running. He knew she’d chase him; she was as competitive as he’d been at that age.

She beat him to the great doors, standing there leaning against the wood, barely breathing hard while her father caught up, panting. He shouldn’t have quit the gym as soon as he had decided to leave America.

“Well. Ring the door bell. Good thing we had our trunks sent ahead, or we’d really be sore.”

“You’re sore already, Daddy.” She smirked and pulled the cord. A few seconds later, a young woman in Muggle clothes answered the door, a smile fixed on her face. Draco gasped, then held out his hand.

“Granger! You are a professor here I take it?”

“Since graduation, Mr. Malfoy. And it’s Granger-Weasley. Severus asked that I escort the two of you to your dungeon rooms.” She turned and lifted one hand to guide them.

“Okay. Professor Granger-Weasley, this is my daughter, Lilah Malfoy. Lilah, this is Hermione Granger-Weasley. She is the….transfiguration professor, I bet.”

“You’d win that bet. And welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Malfoy, I’m sure you’ll enjoy attending the public school in the village, my son is attending there as well and would be most helpful in introducing you to others there. My daughter, Adrianna, is entering her first year here next month, so the two of you might not see much of each other. Draco, did Severus mention that he’d also decided to make you head of house?”

“Huh?” Lilah looked from one adult to the other.

“No, but it doesn’t surprise me. Professor Sinistra took over once while we were at school and she wasn’t very good. I’d be happy to take on the responsibility."

Hermione rolled her eyes and continued her downward travel, to the dungeon where he’d lived for six years. They got to the Potions Lab and Draco stopped, looking inside with a smile. She knew that smile, a smile of memory.

“What are you thinking, Mr. Malfoy?” She asked softly against her better judgment.

“Someone’s teeth growing to gigantic proportions, and said someone punching the daylights out of me a year later. Damn right hook that someone had, too.” He smirked at her, the good ol’ Lucius look. She dropped her gaze down to her feet, trying desperately not to think if her daughter. She knew that Draco had some skill with Legilimency and Occlumency.

The living quarters were across the hall, hidden behind a large tapestry. Its removal only revealed a smooth wall.

“Wolfsbane.” She whispered, and suddenly a corridor appeared, scaring Lilah a little.

“It’s alright, luv. It’s just the password. When we get settled, I’ll explain about things here. Just go on in and find the smaller bedroom for yourself.”

Lilah gave him a baleful look and wandered in alone. Draco turned to Hermione, alone with her for the first time since taking her virginity against a wall almost 12 years before. She turned to leave.

“Hermione, I need to apologize for the way I was so many years ago. Some things I did, that I said, were very much uncalled for. We’re going to be colleagues and I’m wondering if we might come to an understanding about them. I’m sorry for everything I did while we were students here.”

Hermione nodded, not sure enough about herself to speak about that time. She took a deep breath and smiled at him a little. “Meal times are the same, of course. Mistress Playlock is the younger children’s teacher in the village; she will be coming this evening for dinner, so it would be a good time to get your daughter’s education situated.”

“Thank you, Professor Granger-Weasley. I think I’ll help Lilah with her unpacking, and then come upstairs to Severus after. May I have the pleasure of your company for an after dinner drink tonight, ma’am?” He bent in honor of her station. He knew she’d argue if he kissed her knuckle like he wanted to.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Professor Malfoy. Thank you for asking.” She turned and left the dungeon apartment that used to belong to Severus Snape. She hurried up the flight of stairs and stopped at the top, resting her hot cheek against the cold stone, breathing shallowly. She’d never thought to see Malfoy again; she never thought she’d see the father of her daughter ever again.

‘No, Hermione, Ron was Adrianna’s Da. Malfoy was just the sperm donor.’ She told herself as she hurried up to her apartment, where her children were supposed to be getting ready for their school year.


“Mum!” RJ screeched as soon as the portrait opened. He was running away from Adrianna, who looked ready to murder her.

“Hey! Enough! What is the meaning of this?” Hermione used her professor voice. Both children stopped and turned to her instantly. “Tell me.”

“Mum, RJ stole my diary. He said he was going to post it in all the common rooms.” Rianna lurched for her brother again, but Hermione physically stopped her.

“No, I did not! You left it sitting on the table. And I would never tell anyone what was in there. It’s all gross things about boys and clothes and how much she misses Da! No one wants to know about all that!” RJ, nine and a little know it all like his mother, glared back at his sister. Adrianna screeched again and swung at him.

“RJ, go find Uncle Severus and see if he can keep you occupied for a bit, please? Adrianna, sit down and calm yourself.” Hermione kept one eye on her son while she guided the preteen to the couch and sat with her, holding her in her arms and letting the girl sob. She comforted the girl, commiserating on the absence again of Ronald Weasley, the only father she’d ever known.

“I still remember him lifting me high in the air when he came home from work, Mum. I’d run outside as soon as I heard him and Uncle Harry Apparate home, and jump right into his arms. RJ doesn’t understand. He never got to be with Da, like me.”

“I know, love. I miss him every day, sometimes so much so I don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning, but he gave me two precious gifts that I have to take care of, you and your brother. I have to put aside my sorrow until a better time.”

“I know, Mum. RJ just got me so mad when I found him reading my diary.”

“Well, you are getting to be older, Adrianna. Sometimes, your emotions can run away from you. You just need to learn to control them better, especially now that you’re going to be learning magic officially.”

“Do I have to take Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mum? I learned more defenses at home with you and Uncle Severus than what I’d learn there.” Adrianna must be feeling better if she’d brought up her most often argued point.

“You know the answer to that. Yes. You’re going to be tested on it at the end of your fifth year and need to have the grades to back up the knowledge.” Hermione brushed the girl’s hair from her eye, looking for signs of Draco Malfoy in Adrianna’s face. Her hair was slowly turning white/blonde, but so slowly that no one would see the resemblance to the new Potions Master. And Lilah looked nothing like her father, and nothing like her half-sister. Thank Merlin!

“Alright. I’ll go find the little wart and apologize to him. But he better learn to leave my things alone. I’m starting school here and he’s not to just come up to me.” Adrianna kissed her mother’s cheek and jumped from the couch. In that she was like Malfoy, both of them hated sitting still for more than a few minutes at a time. She remembered being in class with him and watching him literally wiggle in his chair, waiting for class to end. In the Muggle world he'd be considered 'attention deficit disordered.' In their world, he was just a gigantic pain in her arse.


a/n~~hi everyone! thanks for the great reviews and the wonderful encouragement. Unfortunately, this is the last update for a few days since i somehow lost the rest of the story (damn computers!) on the hard-drive, but luckily i had printed it up.........soooo i gotta retype the darn thing lol.....enjoy and continue to review. thanks

marti