Chapter 2
Six years after the war, he saw her again. He doesn't usually saw her in person but she was in some news in The Daily Prophet so he was well updated to her life. It's not that he was keeping up with her but he can't help his curiosity once he saw her name printed. He knew that she became an official Weasley when she married her friend after the war. He knew they have twins, named Rose and Hugo, after a year of marriage. He knew that she was always present in every game her sister-in-law played. He knew that she was always spotted in every party that the Ministry had, to which he was also invited but he don't usually saw her except when she was called to give speeches. He was also aware that she and and her husband, Ron Weasley got divorced after six years of marriage. They remained friends according to the article and it was a mutual decision to end their marriage because they realised they were better to be that and also for the sake of the kids. Draco thought it was mental.
He was in Diagon Alley when he literally bumped onto her. The things they were holding fell on the pavement and got mixed, determining which was theirs weren't a problem because his was potion ingredients and hers was mostly books. They both got down to pick them up. As they gathered each of their things they stood up and she was quite surprised to see that she bumped onto Malfoy of all people.
"Malfoy, uhm... sorry. I wasn't really looking." She apologised. She felt fidgety. Why does she felt fidgety around him?
"Don't take all the blame, Granger. I wasn't also paying attention." He smiled. Why did he smiled? He doesn't know, too. He just felt he needed to be kind to her.
"Uhm...okay. I'm really sorry. I- we have to go."
He felt confused. "We?"
She smiled. "Yeah, I'm with the kids."
He looked at her both sides and back to her face. "You're alone."
Her eyes widened animatedly and looked beside her. Panic was shown clearly on her face. "Merlin!" She started to look around shouting her kids' names. She was going to ran back to the crowded alley when Draco grabbed her arm to stop her. She looked at him.
"What?!" She shouted.
"Do you need some help?" He offered and it made her guilty shouting at his face.
"I could really use some help." She said and they both roamed the Diagon Alley in separate ways asking people if they see some red headed kids with curly hair, and looking inside each stores. Draco knew their appearances too well because they're in the news too.
It was him who found the kids in a Quidditch shop, looking at the latest broom model in awe. He asked the storekeeper to keep an eye to the kids as he went to look for Hermione at the crowd. She wasn't that hard to find, he saw her emerged out of Florean's, looking so stressed out. He ran to her.
"Granger!" He shouted as he approached her.
"Have you found them?!"
"Yes, follow me."
Draco led her to the shop where he saw the kids. Hermione sighed at relief when she saw them both unharmed.
"Mum! We can't breathe!" It was Rose who said that because Heione pulled them in a bone crushing hug. Draco smiled at the scene.
"Don't you ever leave my side again, understand?" She said and the twins nodded their heads. Hermione went to Draco to thank him.
"Malfoy, I—"
"Draco." He corrected.
"Oh, yeah. Draco, thank you. Like a lot. You're such a huge help finding them. How can I repay you? I mean you can afford anything with your wealth but let me know how I c—"
"How about a date?" He interjected.
"A d— wait what?"
"A date."
Her mouth kept opening and closing, she can't think of a response. Will she accept? Will she say yes because he helped her look for her kids? She offered that she want to repay him, right? It will be rude if she decline. But he was the one who offered help, it was not her problem. Again, it will be rude for him. He helped and he didn't asked for any payment, she was the one who suggested. Why was she panicking? She panics because it was the first time she saw Malfoy years after the war and here he was, he helped looking for her kids in a crowded place and asking her for a date. It was all weird. They weren't close and now this.
"Hey, Granger. It's alright. If you don't want it's f—"
"No! I- I'll go."
"You will?"
He was surprised. Of course, they weren't all chummy back in their Hogwarts days, and they just happened to share one moment of peace back then. And they just saw each other again after years.
"Yes, tell me when and where."
"Can't I just fetch you? Y'know, like a gentleman."
She chuckled.
"No, really. Tell me your address then we'll go together."
"And why?"
"I wanna surprise you."