Chapter 8 (Updated)

After the first lesson, he had with the 5th years he had been many things that bothered his mind.

Who was Alicia's father? Who was the lucky bloke who luck enough to have Hermione? And more importantly why is Alicia using her mother's maiden name?

Draco sitting in front of the mahogany desk grading papers when he heard a soft knock on the door. He looked up and saw the Herbology Professor entering his classroom.

"I hope I am not intruding?"

"Of course not." Draco stood up and gestured for his fellow Professor to take a seat on the chair across. "How may I help you, Neville?" He asked politely.

Neville was taken aback with Draco's politeness. Did he enter the right room? Or did he accidentally enter another dimension where Draco Malfoy was actually nice? Who can blame him tho? Neville spent all his years in school being bullied by him and his posse. Sometimes out of nowhere he would remember the times when he was called worthless.

"Mal-Draco" Neville immediately cleared his throat and corrected his acknowledgment. Draco watched as his old bully victim try to speak out of his awkward air. "I'm here to tell you that students from Herbology are all in the Hospital wing."

"What on earth happened?" Draco asked.

"There was a slight mishap. To cut the story short I left for a moment and when I came back the whole greenhouse was covered in gas. I assume someone rushed into the procedure to extract a sample." Neville explained before handing him the excuse note for the affected students.

"That is indeed alarming," Draco replied. He pulled the right drawer of the desk and pulled out a piece of parchment that listed his names of his next class to compare with Neville's list.

"These are all 6th years correct?" Draco questioned whilst scanning the paper.

Neville nodded.

"It seems I have a free period today," Draco concluded after checking all the names. Almost all of the students in the Hospital Wing belong to his next class. He could not start a lesson with only five students present.

"Very well. I must be going." Neville stood up. "Thank you, Draco."

After Neville exited the classroom, he returned to grading the papers from her previous class. Once he came across Alicia's paper, he noticed how her handwriting was similar to Hermione's, it was neat and aligned without lines and margins guiding her writing, but what struck as familiar was the big letter she added before starting a new paragraph. He was also fond of doing the same style when he wrote.

A deep sigh signal made him realize that he was again thinking of the pain. Remember Hermione still brought him pain. Even though he was happily married, he still missed her, he still loved her. She was the most beautiful thing that happened to him after the war. He remembered how she forgave and accepted him despite what people thought of him, he recalled those days when he was succumbing into that deep hole of guilt and regret, yet the mere glance of her smile and her presence alone can pull him back up to the light.

A small smirk appeared on his lips when he recalled that day when he received a powerful slap from the young witch. He was again mopping and the witch held her last straw and slap some sense into him. He touched his left cheek. He could still feel the pain of that slap until now.

Not only did that slap intend to bring him back to his senses, but it was confirmation that had fallen for the brightest witch of his age.

After everything she did for him, how did he repay her? He repaid her with a knife stabbed behind her back. It killed him. He was too much of a coward to rebel and fight for what he wants. If he had fought for their love then everything would have been different.

Her sweet angelic voice rang in his ears. Every time she would say those words he would look deeply into her eyes and then bringing her a deep embrace where he would mold his body with hers. He missed her dearly.

He was halfway through the papers when he decided he needed a break. He arranged the papers before leaving the classroom. As he was walking down the halls he stopped in front of the library door. He always found himself going to the library when he needed a break. He never knew the reason, but the library always gave him peace of mind.

"Good afternoon, Draco." Madam Pince accosted once she saw the young professor enter.

"Hello, Madam Pince." Draco smiled acknowledging the librarian. "I haven't seen you in awhile."

"The school recently ordered copies of tomes from the ministry. I had to go through each one to ensure the validity." The old librarian explained.

"That is busy work." Draco pointed out. "The tomes, do you have anything related to Alchemy?"

"I believe so. Yes. There was an old tome dating back to the 1500s. Do you want me to save it for you?"

"That would be lovely, Madam. Thank you." Draco thanked.

"Very well. I will have someone send it to your quarters and I do expect a copy of your book."

Draco laughed these were one of the few moments Madam Pince actually joked around and laugh. "Of course Madam. One for you and a few for the library."

"Very good. Have a good day." With that Madam Pince returned to her booth and began entertaining students.

Draco made his way to the Alchemy section of the vast library. He needed to check if there were books he missed during his previous research. As expected he had found four tomes regarding rare stones, legends, and theories.

"Father?" He turned and saw Scorpius standing beside him with the broom he bought for him last year. He hadn't noticed a presence since he was engrossed in the seventh book he went through.

"On your way to practice?" Draco asked his son.

"Yes, I just had to drop off a book for Alicia," Scorpius explained.

"I see. I heard you from the Professors you'll be playing seeker for this year. You'll be the best one out there."

"I will. Though I find it challenging since James Potter is Gryffindor's seeker."

"Oh please. You have Malfoy blood running in your veins and you are my son. The Potters will not outshine us." He encouraged with a smile and a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Thank you, father." Draco's words were enough to motivate Scorpius to beat James Potter and be the best seeker this year.

Before Scorpius left Draco had asked where he could find Alicia. Scorpius curiously looked at his father upon the question, but Draco immediately explained that he needed to talk to her. On the note of being late for Quidditch practice, Scorpius dropped his curiosity and told his father that Alicia was studying in near the Transfiguration section of the library.

Draco found her behind a pile of books. He approached the studious girl, it was obvious that Alicia was completely oblivious to his presence since she was busy reading a passage for homework.

"Miss Granger." Draco greeted, but he was rewarded by a sight of the young girl moving her chair and accidentally falling on the floor bringing the books along with her.

Draco jumped from his spot and quickly helped the young girl from the floor. He had not noticed, but concern and fear flooded him coaxing him to help her.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he helped her on the chair.

"Yes, Professor. Thank you." She replied regaining her balance. "My clumsiness often come these days."

"Why is that?" Draco asked as he placed the books on the table.

"It's just one of those days I guess." She replied vaguely, not wanting to worry her professor.

Draco noticed Alicia's hand on her hip. He frowned knowing that the fall she took hit her hip, but she was not even showing any sign of pain.

"May I ask something, Miss Granger?"

"Of course, sir."

"It might be odd coming from me, but I wanted to ask if your mother is doing well." He asked unsure how to phrase the question without sounding weird.

Alicia looked at him dumbfounded, but the confusion was replaced by a smile. His eyes widened realizing it was Hermione's smile, it immediately put him into peace, but the smile quickly faded into a frown.

"She's doing well. Are you one of her friends?" Alicia replied.

"I was her special friend," Draco said confidently and smiled.

"Would you like to visit her?" Alicia looked at her Professor, waiting for an answer. "It has been a while since I did. It would make her happy if I brought someone along. I'm sure she's fed up with Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron's quidditch stories." Alicia added laughing. She would always try to redirect the topic to something other from Quidditch when the visited.

"That would be wonderful!" Draco said ecstatic to see Hermione again.

"Would it be okay if we visited her during the holidays?" She requested.

"Of course." Draco agreed.

He couldn't wait to see Hermione again. He prayed that Hermione could forgive him even after all those years of pain.