To truly know someone is to differentiate between who they once were, who they are now, and who they're capable of being. Hermione realises the duality of one man as she rectifies what she knows of the past and begins to understand the pieces of who Draco Malfoy is now: a father, a son, and a man.

Measure of a Man

inadaze22

Disclaimer: explicit sexual content

Life continues after the second wizarding war. Hermione gets a letter. And an intervention because frankly, Harry is tired of her moping.

Hermione tries to keep as many people alive as she can.  How that includes her professor, Lavander Brown and the Malfoys, she doesn't know.  She also might've accidentally been pureblood-proposed to. She doesn't know how that happened either.

Harry breaks the taboo. This was not the way she wanted to see Draco again. Never mind to be (re-) introduced to his parents.

Hermione tries to survive a war.  She also tries not to think about Draco Malfoy.  How is surviving a war easier than not thinking about a certain wizard?

Hermione realizes that she may have fallen in love with a certain Slytherin.  She may or may not have accidentally told him. Or implied as much.  Only to get caught by Snape of all people.

Hermione recovers from the aftermath of Dolohov's curse.  Madam Pomfrey instructs her to avoid overexerting herself.  Did she mean Malfoy and his ability to break her heart?

Hermione wonders how she got to the point where she considers apologizing to Malfoy.  She also tries to figure out what it is about her that attracts the attention of wizards like Malfoy or McLaggen.  Malfoy, who does his best to act like she doesn't exist.

In third year, Hermione Granger punches Draco Malfoy.  He retaliates by stealing her first kiss.. Somehow it doesn't end there. 

A small fic about Hermione and Draco growing closer than either of them would've wanted. Confusing emotions, jealousy and the threat of an oncoming war only fuel whatever it is between them. 
Warning: Draco is a prat. He gets better.