Author's Note: I'll admit I'm a sucker for stories where Harry and/or Ron encounter Hermione after years only to discover she's with Draco. This is just a fun little foray into that idea.

Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and Boy-Who-Lived, Harry James Potter had many achievements in his life, but as he stepped into the Duelling Hall at Beauxbatons he felt almost as proud as he did when his children were born. It had taken hard work and quite a few years, but he had finally gotten the Hogwarts Duelling Club invited to an international competition. All his preparation with the D.A. and years of arranging portkeys for every competition he could find and use to qualify in Great Britain had come to a head.

"Okay everyone," He instructed clearly. "Head over to the flag with our crest on it and start warming up! I know we're in a new place with new people around, but keep in mind how hard we've worked to get here and don't let yourselves get distracted."

"You nervous, Harry?" The voice of Neville Longbottom, Hogwarts Herbology Professor and Harry's fellow coach broke the Boy-Who-Lived out of his reverie, and he cast a grin at his friend. "Nah. The kids have worked hard for this, Nev. We've worked hard for this. Besides, it's not like any of the other schools are going to have war veterans teaching duelling."

The two former Gryffindors started walking toward the Hogwarts area, scanning the competition with a weather eye, when fate saw fit to use Harry's last words as the punchline to a giant cosmic joke, because as they approached the flag, both men heard a very familiar voice.

"Séverine, we know you can throw someone off the table with a stinging jinx. This exercise is about precision! Control your intent, wield the jinx like a lancet, not a sword!"

The two Gryffindors turned to look at each other in shock, and Neville, channeling some of his bravery, broke the awkward silence. "Was that...that sounded like...Hermione, didn't it?"

"it really did." Harry agreed, scanning the crowd closer and coming to a stop between the Hogwarts area and the Beauxbatons group. There, hands on her hips and brown hair constrained into a thick braid, dressed in svelte duelling robes was none other than Hermione Granger, who had been, as far as Harry knew, missing since a few days after the last battle. Unable to believe his eyes, he blinked and then walked toward her. "Hermione!" The witch in question turned, and if he had doubted it before, he knew he was right now. "Hermione...oh Merlin."

"Hello Harry." Hermione answered, smiling at him. She glanced at the curly-haired teenager she had just been coaching. "Séverine, go switch with Jean-Philippe and duel your sister."

"Yes, Maman." Séverine replied, nodding her blonde head and wandering off to her mirror image.

"Séverine?" Harry repeated, amused. "You named a child after Snape?"

Hermione laughed at that. "This coming from the man who named his son Albus Severus. I promised Snape my firstborn once upon a time. What's your excuse, Harry?"

Harry laughed at that, but it was sad. "He did so much for us and we never knew."

"More than just Severus." Hermione admitted, and then smiled at him. "Congratulations on qualifying on the international level, Harry, and to think, in fifth year you weren't sure about leading the D.A."

"Never thought I'd be teaching, that's for sure." Harry admitted. He looked over his old friend and smiled. "You though, I'm not surprised you went into teaching...we looked for you, you know. Where did you go?"

Hermione frowned slightly, shaking her head. "I spent a year or so in Australia and then came here." She sighed. "There was no way to undo the memory charm on my parents, and I needed to get away from the war and all of it."

Harry frowned, wanting to hug his old friend, but he felt as if the years stood between them like a chasm. "I'm sorry, Mione."

"It was a long time ago." Hermione said, dismissively, but her amber eyes were pained. "I'm glad things have gone so well for you, Harry." She held out a hand to him. "Good luck this weekend."

"You too." Harry said, shaking her hand. "Maybe we can have dinner later."

"That would be nice." Hermione answered. "I'll see if I can arrange something."

Suddenly, one of the other students, in Beauxbatons blue, waved his arm. "Madame Malfoy, je voudrais poser une question sur le tournoi!"

Hermione turned and hurried off to the student who had spoken, leaving a gobsmacked Harry in her wake. "Madame...Malfoy?!" He repeated, feeling as though the world had just turned upside-down.