Chapter Text
It had been many years since Hermione Granger stepped foot on English soil, but the bustling streets of Diagon Alley never failed to raise her spirits. After her relationship with Ron Weasley died a quick, but painful death, she had turned to her other friends for support only for them to try and convince her to stay with him. After months of listening to their never changing arguments, she left England to try and clear her mind.
Hermione decided to travel and explore the magical side of the rest of the world. She eventually settled in a small town near the Salem Institute in North America and found a job at a quaint little bookstore only a block from where she lived. When she was finally able to rent a house, she decided she had no intention of ever returning to England. Why should she return when most of her memories there were sad and downright depressing? Why should she return when it didn’t seem like anyone gave a damn about her?
After being in her new home for a few months, Hermione decided to give herself a makeover. Her long chestnut locks were replaced with a cute pixie cut that she dyed auburn and she charmed her eyes to more of an amber color with golden specks. She also asked her friends and neighbors to start calling her ‘Mia’ and after a few short months, it stuck. Even if someone she knew were to visit her quaint little town, she doubted anyone would recognize her.
Her quiet world screeched to a halt, however, when she received a letter from the last person she expected.
Granger,
I know that I’m the last person you probably want to hear from, but since none of your friends seem to know, or even care, where you are (yes, I used legilimency on them, so sue me), I figured I would pass along the news. Professor McGonagall is not doing well. The four stunners that she took to the heart so many years ago caused some damage that the healers are only now learning about.
I know she was your favorite professor in school, not to mention your head of house, and I figured if anyone deserved to hear the news, even from an evil little cockroach like me, it was you. Even though professors weren’t supposed to have favorites, you were always hers.
I don’t know where you’re at now, though I’ve known for a while that you’re not in England, so I don’t know how long this is going to take to reach you, but I think you should come back as soon as you get this if you want to see her before she’s gone. I don’t know many details because I’m not family, but I do know that if the worry that I see on the healers’ faces is any indication, McGonagall is worse than she’s admitting.
Please, Granger, I think it would make her day...hell, it would make her life, if you were to come back and see her.
Malfoy
“How long has he known I’m not in England?” Hermione muttered to herself as she quickly packed all her belongings for a short trip to her former home. Securing her trusted beaded bag in her pocket, she apparated to her boss’s house to explain the situation and take a leave of absence. Her boss understood and told her to take the time she needed.
Hermione apparated to the closest MACUSA office, purchased an international portkey, and tempered her ever growing nerves until she felt the tell-tale hook by her navel. When she finally felt her world stop spinning, she took a few deep breaths to combat the nausea. She quickly made her way to the Leaky Cauldron to rent a room. She grinned when she realized that Hannah Abbott didn’t recognize her and sent off a patronus to the author of the letter. Thirty minutes later, she heard a knock on the door.
“Hey, Malfoy,” she greeted the blond when she opened the door.
“Granger, it’s been a hell of a long time since I’ve seen you,” Draco Malfoy smirked, taking in his academic nemesis’ new look. “Damn, you look good.”
“Thanks ever so much, Malfoy,” Hermione snorted. “And thank you for sending the letter about Minerva. How...how is she?”
“She hasn’t gotten any better,” Draco shook his head sadly. “But she hasn’t gotten any worse, either. She’ll be glad to see you again.”
“How did you know I wasn’t in England?” Hermione blurted out. The question had been bothering her since first reading the letter.
“I may or may not have been watching you,” Draco’s cheeks went pink in embarrassment. “I-I wanted to apologize to you for how I treated you back in school. And I wanted to thank you for standing up in my defense during my trial.”
“You’re welcome, Malfoy,” Hermione was slightly shocked. Never did she expect to hear those words come from him. “And I forgave you a long time ago.”
“Thanks, Granger,” Draco smirked. “Did Hannah recognize you when you came in?”
“No, she didn’t,” Hermione grinned. “I’m hoping no one else will either, at least until I’ve had a chance to spend some time with Minerva.”
“I doubt anyone will,” Draco replied, his smirk turning into a smile. “If you hadn’t spoken, I wouldn’t have recognized you, either.”
"That was the point," Hermione laughed. "I didn't want anyone to recognize me if they just happened to stumble across me."
"Even Potter and the Weasel?" Draco chuckled, thinking she was joking.
"Especially Potty and the Weasel," Hermione said darkly, pressing her lips together in a grim line. "And before you ask, no, I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Understood, Granger," Draco replied, slightly shocked at her reaction. He knew from using legilimency on them that Potter and Weasley had ceased contact with Hermione years ago, but he had never looked deep enough to learn the reason why.
"Mia," Hermione replied, drawing Draco out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry?" Draco asked, confused.
"Call me Mia," she repeated. "Calling me by my last name is a sure fire way for others to learn I'm here. Call me Mia."
"Sure thing...Mia," Draco smiled, testing it out for the first time.
"Is Minerva in St. Mungos?" she asked.
"Do you think Minerva would ever leave the castle willingly?" He answered her question with one of his own. "No, Poppy has her in a private room in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. And before you ask, I already obtained permission from the headmaster to floo directly into his office. He wants to speak with you after you visit with Minerva."
"Who is the new headmaster?" Hermione asked.
"My godfather," Draco grinned.
"Severus?" Hermione was shocked. "Wow, I didn't expect that."
"Yeah, neither did anyone else," Draco chuckled. "Minerva wanted him to remain with the school, but he told her the only way he would stay was if he didn't have to teach. So she put his name up before the governors and they voted him as the new headmaster with her as deputy."
"Who took over potions?" she asked.
"That would be me," he confessed, his smile widening when he saw shock filter across her face. "Are you ready to go see Minerva?"
"More than," she answered, giving Draco a small smile.
"Do you think anyone will recognize you?" Draco asked as they made their way downstairs.
"I hope not, but you never know," Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I think the only ones who might without being prompted would be Luna and maybe the twins."
"Hey, Draco, are you going to introduce me to your friend?" Hannah Abbott called out when they walked by the counter.
"Sure, Hannah," Draco smiled. "Mia, meet Hannah Abbott. We attended Hogwarts together. Hannah, this is my good friend, Mia, from North America."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mia," Hannah smiled warmly. "Are you moving here or just visiting?"
“Just visiting,” Hermione answered, inwardly grinning. "I'll be here for a month or so." She knew there was only a small chance that Hannah would recognize her because she had been in Hufflepuff. Hermione didn't want to consider her disguise a success until she came face to face with someone she had once been close to.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your stay," Hannah replied. "I have to get back to work. Draco, don't be a stranger, yeah?"
"Okay, Hannah, we'll see you later," Draco tilted his head in a silent farewell.
"Since when have you been so friendly with Hannah?" Hermione whispered to Draco.
"Since she told the few remaining blood purists to go stuff it and leave me the hell alone," Draco whispered back. "And that was before she hexed the daylights out of them. She's actually quite scary...for a Hufflepuff."
Hermione laughed, grabbed a handful of floo powder, threw it in the fire, and called out, "Hogwarts Headmaster's office."