After All This Time- Draco Malfoy

Chapter 1: Right Where You Left Me

Present Day- 2017

"I have some very interesting news for you."

Professor Neville Longbottom leaned over the stall door with a smug smirk on his face directed at his best friend, Maia.

Maia didn't even look up from the quilin hooves she was trimming, though the bowtruckle on her shoulder began to jump up and down in excitement seeing the man. She stayed focused on the task at hand, being gentle with the young quilin and then responded in a calm voice so as not to spook her.

"What is it?" She asked as she set the left back leg down and picked up the right.

"Harry's second son, Albus, is starting Hogwarts this year." She furrowed her eyebrows. "That sounds about right. Why is that so interesting?" "So is Scorpius Malfoy."

Maia stopped the hoof trimmer and set down the quilin's leg with the utmost care before turning to face her friend.

Neville and Maia weren't close as school mates at Hogwarts. He was in Gryffindor and she in Slytherin and he was engrossed in his plants and she in her animals. However, when they became professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures tended to be grouped together as nature-based electives. They leaned on each other, both starting as educators in the same year, learning and growing from each other's mistakes. They quickly became best friends who hung out constantly and told each other everything.

A fact that Maia was currently regretting.

"I- that's- That is very interesting news." She said carefully. Silence hung in the barn for a minute. "That's all you have to say?" Neville questioned. "Well what do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Do you think it's going to be upsetting? To see him around? What if you see Dr-" "I am seriously regretting telling you anything about this, Longbottom. Why do you think I haven't touched a drop of firewhiskey since that night?" She crossed her arms and the quilin, sensing her distress nudged its head against her leg. The bowtruckle nestled into her hair.

"I thought it was because you drank so much you thought you would die." Neville smirked. Maia rolled her eyes. "Hey." Neville said in a softer tone. "I'm glad you told me so I can be here for you now. Are you going to be okay?" She looked at him and saw genuine concern in his eyes. Uncrossing her arms, she knelt down next to the quilin and stroked her head absentmindedly. "Yes." She answered, flashing him a mostly believable smile. "I will be okay. It's been so long. Of course it will be jarring to see...his..son here, but I'm a teacher and I'm going to teach as if he's just another kid."

"Alright then. Still, if you need me, I'm here." "Thanks, Neville. I appreciate it. Dale and I will see you at dinner." At the mention of dinner, Dale the bowtruckle began making excited noises right in Maia's ear. "Will you entertain Dale until dinner? I'm going to be busy in the barn and he's getting bored." "Sure! Come on Dale." The bowtruckle ran down Maia's extended arm into the hands of the tall man. Neville said good-bye and Maia picked up the hoof trimmer, but hesitated.

 It was true right? She'd be fine. She and Draco Malfoy had a complicated history.....okay she was still hopelessly in love with him after all this time even though they were never even in a relationship. But that's the point. She had no right to be this hung up, but she was. And now she was going to spend the next 7 years seeing Draco and Astoria's son everyday. Maybe she should go back to Africa on a sabbatical for research? No. She'd have to come back eventually. She loved her job too much. She was just going to have to grow up and face the past.

Easier said than done. Maia spent the next month thinking about Scorpius Malfoy and his father constantly. What would Scorpius look like? More like Draco or Astoria? Of course he would be in Slytherin, he's a Malfoy. Why did she agree to be Head of the house?