Week One

A/N: Yup, these chapters are gonna be short. This little Dramione flick started off as a oneshot, actually, but because the series of meetings between them grew to semi-chapter lengths, so to speak, I figured I'd post them seperately. So, read and comment and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, Draco and Hermione not mine. Neither are any other characters you might recognize - but the plot is!

Nobody can go back and make a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending

~Maria Robinson

Hermione Granger walked down the path, humming to herself. This was one of her favourite routes home – even though she could easily Apparate or floo to her small London flat from the Ministry, there were days she needed time to think and she chose to walk through the park. It wasn't a long walk, maybe ten or fifteen minutes, but enough for the young witch to organize her thoughts and try to figure out how to solve the current crisis that her department of Accidents and Catastrophes was suffering from.

One moment, she was walking along and trying to figure out how to clear up the mess of the talking radiator in a theatre that too many Muggles had heard, and the next she was almost bowled over by a football. Or rather, by a small someone who had been running after it.

"Careful there," Hermione cautioned with a smile, leaning down to help the child regain his balance.

"Sorry," the boy replied, looking up at her with wide grey eyes and smiling.

"Hey, is this yours?" a middle-aged man came over and handed over the football to the boy, smiling at Hermione as he did so. "A beautiful boy you have there."

Hermione's mouth opened to protest, to explain that this blond, charming boy was most certainly not her son, but the man had already walked away.

"Do you want to play with me?" the boy asked, completely unfazed by the stranger's incorrect assumption.

"Um… sure… but why are you here alone? What's your name?" she asked him, feeling oddly concerned about the fact he was racing around the park alone.

"Tyler. I'm with Daddy but he went to buy ice cream," the boy explained, taking her hand and pulling her onto the grass. "What's your name?"

"Hermione Granger," she answered with a smile, allowing herself to be pulled along. She felt oddly protective of this little boy.

Hermione thanked the gods that she had decided to wear flats that day, and she dropped her bag next to a nearby bench, deciding to stay with the boy until his father returned.

Tyler kicked the ball over, and she picked it up, about to throw it back to him.

"No, you kick," he said, motioning the movement.

Hermione, never being a particularly gifted athlete, missed on her first try, causing Tyler to erupt into delighted laughter.

"Again!" he called out, jumping up and down and causing a smile to lighten Hermione's own features.

"How did you do that?" a voice asked quietly from behind her. "Tyler hasn't laughed like…"

Hermione turned to face the man she suspected to be Tyler's father, and he stopped short when he saw her face. She couldn't blame him, really, she was just as shocked to be staring into the eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Malfoy?" she managed. "You're… you have a son?"

"Evidently," he replied tersely, smiling over as Tyler ran over to them and hugged his father's knees. "Hello there big guy, I see you've found yourself a new friend."

"Yes, Daddy. Where's my ice cream?" he asked, and his grin widened when he received the chocolate cone from his parent. "And I know you said I can't talk to strangers Daddy but she's also a witch so I thought you wouldn't mind," he explained between licks.

"How does he know-"

"He has the uncanny ability to read people and see them for who they really are," Draco replied before she had even finished her question. "Part of his magical abilities, I presume."

"Daddy can Hermione come home with us? I like her," Tyler announced, his head tilted upwards as he looked from one adult to the other.

Both of whom were speechless as this suggestion.

"I think Miss Granger has other plans, honey, but if you ask her nicely maybe you can see her again soon," Draco replied, kneeling beside his son to wipe away the chocolate stains on his cheek. It was only then that Hermione realized the similarities between them; the grey eyes and platinum hair, the long straight noses and charming smiles.

"Hermione, can I see you soon then?" Tyler asked her. She nodded with a faint smile, not entirely sure what to make of this entire episode, and Tyler, apparently satisfied for now, ran off to find his football.

"I wouldn't ask this if it wasn't for Ty here, but is there any chance you could find some time?" Draco asked, and the imploring note in his voice caused Hermione to look at him in bewilderment. He was looking at his son. "He hasn't been so friendly and open with anyone excluding myself and my mother, Granger, and it's a big step for him. Considering our past, I will fully understand if-"

"No, it's okay, Malfoy," Hermione interrupted him. "He seems like a lovely child, I'd love to be of any help I can."

Draco looked as surprised at this statement as Hermione felt when she realized exactly what she'd just said. But Tyler really did seem like a sensitive and unique child, and Hermione knew Draco would never want to spend time with her if he had a choice. His son must really have had a difficult past if he was asking her to help, and she was not the kind of person to willingly watch others struggle, whether she liked them or not.

"That's… great. How about ice cream in a week's time at Florean's?" Draco suggested, a hesitant smile on his face.

"Sure," Hermione smiled back, and began walking away to get her bag and say goodbye to Tyler.

"And Granger?" Draco called after her, causing her to turn. "Thanks."

It wasn't until she sat down on her sofa later that evening that Hermione realized it was the first time she had seen Draco Malfoy smile.

A/N: Good? Bad? Any thoughts you might have please share. Hope to update soon, I'll try to do so as frequently as I can, promise!