"Watch your step."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. The voice was painfully familiar to the point that she didn't even dare to turn around. However, as she straighten her back and stare emptily into the pond just beside her stiletto, she wonders which one will be worst now, considering the situation she's gotten herself into; stepping into the pond itself or having to meet this one big nostalgia train that's about to hit her. 

Whilst her thought is getting wilder and wilder by time, she didn't actually manage to do at least one of her not-so-carefully-made-escape-plan as the other party was a lot quicker, and decided to peek over her head, smiling as jerkily as ever. A glimpse of blond hair greets Hermione's sight just before she looks down.

"Been a long time, yeah?"

"Hm," nodded Hermione. She doesn't know what to do yet. She feels safe though, as her wand is just within her reach, and both of them are currently in the middle of a crowded place. 

Surprisingly, the person whose glare was being avoided all the time by the flustered (yet trying to look tough) women didn't loosen his smile. He reaches something from his pocket then gives it straight to Hermione.

"What is this?" Hermione looks surprised. She drops it a second after. "Don't you dare play tricks with me, Malfoy! I'm the Minister of Magic now!"

Draco, still holding his smile, bend down to pick up the paper. He mutters, "Revelio." and a deadly silent followed right after.

Hermione might kill the paper just from how hard she's staring at it now, both frightened and confused, sweats falling from her temple. As the paper lays motionless, however, she couldn't help but to relax her shoulder, loosening her tight grip at her wand. She looks up now, straight into those grey pair of eyes; and regret it almost immediately.

"What's that supposed to mean then?"

"It's the address of my new house," Draco rolls the paper inward. "I'm the Secret-Keeper so i don't think neither Harry nor Ron would be able to tell you the address. I know this seems highly unlikely, but," he gives the paper again, now more convincing. "I truly mean it. Scorpius needs to see that i'm no longer my old self, i need to gain his trust back. We're slowly drifting apart after, you know, Astoria-"

His smile completely gone now. Those eyebrows didn't raise as playfully again, even dropping so significantly that Hermione frowns in an empathetic manner. She understands.

"Let me make it up to all of you, let me show you that i've changed," Draco looks at the paper one more time, still in his palm. "Especially you, Granger. I've never actually meant any of the bad things i said to you in the past, i swear.. i can prove it if we have Pensieve now-"

"No matter, Malfoy," Hermione smiles, slowly reaching out to take the paper from Draco's hand. "It's in the past. I trust you. And i heard Scorpius is nothing like his father from back in the days, so i think he deserves this."

Hermione pats the tall figure in front of her awkwardly in the shoulder. Smiles on both of their faces, their eyes meet comfortably now. 

"As long as you promise to invite a bunch of other people; Neville, Luna, Dean, anyone will do.. the more the merrier!" Hermione grins, just as awkward as her pat-in-the-shoulder-action seconds ago, and when she continued talking, Draco feels his eyes widen. He was holding his breath throughout the whole sentence.

"I just can't stand talking to Ron, you know.. not for now. I'm not ready yet." 

"What happened?"

"Well.. um, we've been apart for quite a while now and," she shrugs. "Typical Ron by the way. If not for Rose and Hugo, i don't know what state we are going to be in.."

Still holding his breath, Draco looks down, playing his foot. Those barely 10 seconds worth of thinking time feels longer than it should be. The silence was also thrilling and full of suspense. Slowly letting out a sigh, he finally breaks the silence. 

"I have so many things i wish to tell you, Granger," he smiles, "But let's just wait for the right time."

Hermione tilts her head, her eyebrows meet in the middle. Once again, Draco was a lot quicker, so just before she can pop a question, the all-black man already retreating his steps. Raising his hands, he makes a gesture of waving, "See you, Granger. I'll let you know the time."

And a small faint crack hits Hermione's eardrums, still frowning, and more confused than she's ever been in her life.

Could it be?