So Nice to See Your Face Again

Based on the song Gotten by Slash featuring Adam Levine

I do not own Harry Potter or this song!


It was the summer after the fall of Voldemort. Life was almost back to normal, well, as normal as you could get considering the circumstances.

It was over two months after the final battle at Hogwarts; death was still lingering in the precipices of the mind. The wizarding world had suffered horrific losses; the tallies of the dead were in the thousands. The despair was practically tangible.

Such is at this, we begin our story. Hermione sat in the kitchen at the burrow, with her three best friends; Harry Potter, Ron and Ginny Weasley.

It was Sunday, July 14th 1998; one of their days off from the restoration of Hogwarts. Since the end of the reign of terror, the four had volunteered to help in the rebuilding of their beloved school.

They had received some very interesting letters that morning.

Dear Ms. Hermione Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been readmitted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in order to complete your wizarding education. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

In addition, Ms. Granger, we offer you congratulations upon being awarded the Deputy Head Girl Position. We feel that you are most deserving of this position; however, we could not disregard the students who would have been given this opportunity their seventh year.

Thus, you will be sharing your position and responsibilities with another female student, and two male students. Enclosed you will find your badge.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Furthermore, you are expected to attend a mandatory Prefects meeting upon the Hogwarts Express at precisely 1pm in the Head's Cabin.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, Ms. Granger. We hope to see you at the beginning of term.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hermione sighed. She looked at her three friends as they sipped at their tea. "Well, let's get our arses in gear and get to Diagon Alley," she said, smiling. Ginny smiled at her female friend, while Harry and Ron looked at each other and groaned.


Only a few hours later, the four found themselves tumbling out of the fireplace in The Leaky Cauldron.

Ginny and Hermione linked arms, walking purposefully towards the back of the bar, the boys trailing behind. They stepped out the back into the small brick courtyard. Hermione drew her wand and tapped the bricks allowing them entrance to the magnificence of Diagon Alley.

They walked down the street, headed towards Gringotts. The street was mildly busy, there were plenty of people casually browsing through the shops lining the alley. Most of the students had yet to buy their school supplies, but it seemed that many were putting that off to a later date.

Sounds and smells assaulted Hermione as she walked along. She smiled as they passed Flourish & Blotts bookstore, I've got to stop in there on my way back she thought to herself. "Bloody hell Mione, is that all you think about?" Ginny chuckled as she caught her eye.

Hermione turned to share a look with Harry, but frowned when she saw where his gaze had wandered to: Eeylops Owl Emporium. She shook her head sadly. She knew he still mourned the loss of Hedwig, Perhaps we'll have to rectify that.

She looped her arm through his and gave him a dazzling smile, "Come on Harry!" He smiled back- she was a bit of a nutter; brilliant, but completely mental. "Alright Mione, I'm coming."

They went into Gringotts, and withdrew money from their respective vaults. The goblins were rather snarky, remembering the trio's last visit into the vaults, and the damage they had caused. It seemed the goblins held grudges and made sure to keep an eye on them at all times.

"Bloody goblins, you'd think we were thieves the way they were acting" grumbled Ron as they walked down the steps back into the alley.

"Well, we are if you think about it Ron. I mean we did steal from one of their vaults and their own bloody dragon!" Harry grinned at his friend.

The three smiled as they thought back on that particular adventure. Hermione shook her head, "Anyway, let's get started, what's first on the list?"


A few hours later, the four sat at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, minimized shopping bags stuffed into their pockets and Hermione's little beaded bag. They lounged against the chairs, basking in the warm sun. It was July after all, they had barely had a chance to enjoy their summer so far.

The girls were chatting quietly about the upcoming year, while the boys talked animatedly about quidditch, what else.

"I'm telling you Harry, I heard that the Chudley Cannons are recruiting!" Ron's enthusiastic outburst brought Ginny out of her conversation with Hermione to look at her brother. "Right, because they are such a brilliant team. Now the Holyhead Harpies, that is a fantastic team!"

Ahh, quidditch. I'm surprised we've lasted this long… the curly haired witch though to herself.

She was just finishing up her cup of chocolate ice cream when she saw a flash of platinum hair. Wonder what he's been up to…

Draco Malfoy and his mother, Narcissa walked arm in arm down the street. They held their heads high, but she could see the sadness in their eyes. She watched them as they walked past.

"Blimey, did you see him?" Harry said quietly to Hermione. The redheaded siblings were still in a fierce argument over quidditch. She nodded her affirmation.

"I wonder what they've been up to," she murmured in response. Just then the two Weasleys had reached a crescendo "-bloody hell Ronald, are you implying that girls don't play quidditch as well as boys?!"

Ginny turned to Harry, eyes blazing. Ron was as red as his hair, however realizing his mistake was beginning to deflate. "Ron, the Holyhead Harpies are quite a formidable team. Gin, I don't think Ron meant it that way, you know how thickheaded he can be, and the Chudley Cannons aren't that bad." Hermione smiled at Harry, ever the mediator.

Ginny harrumphed and stood to throw out the remnants of her now melted ice cream cone. She turned to her female companion and said, "Hermione, did you want to go check out some robes? With that fancy new paycheck from the ministry, maybe we can get some sexy new outfits, eh?"

"Actually Gin, I was thinking about buying some clothes in muggle London." She replied, smiling, hoping her friends temper had simmered a bit. "Hmm" hummed Ginny, thinking.

"Well while you lovely ladies check out some of your lady things, Ron and I will go to the Quidditch Shop. I need some new broom polish." Harry interjected.

Nodding their acquiescence, the pairs separated. Heading back towards the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione and Ginny ran into the Malfoy pair coming out of the apothecary. Hermione squeaked, almost literally running into them. In her surprise, she dropped her beaded bag, which spilled onto the alley floor.

She stooped to the ground, hurriedly stuffing her purchases back into the bag. "Geez Granger, have enough stuff in there?" she looked up into the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy, handing her the set of quills she had purchased not too long before. She stiffened, waiting for some snide remark to pass through his lips, yet none came. He continued to help her gather her belongings.

Huh, she thought to herself as she accepted the last parcel from the blond. "Nice bag Granger," he spoke softly, so his mother wouldn't hear perhaps? She didn't know. She cinched her bag closed and stood.

"Thank you Malfoy, that was kind of you." She looked directly into his eyes, he stared right back. He nodded, "No problem" For a moment, it seemed his eyes held some unknown emotion; pain? Regret? Promise perhaps?

She shifted her gaze to his mother, she didn't look affronted. She looked reserved yet somehow pleased, Hermione thought back to the times she had seen the Malfoy matriarch in the past. She didn't have the same sour look on her face, despite the recent events, she seemed to look relieved.

They stared openly at each other. It didn't feel malicious, perhaps just calculating.

Hmm, interesting. Perhaps she is grateful that Lucius is in Azkaban? She cleared her throat, suddenly shy. "Yes, well see you around Malfoy."

He nodded to her, then to Ginny, "Granger, Weasley. Good day." And with that he offered his mother his arm, and they breezed past them down the street.

"Bloody hell, what was that all about?" Ginny stood in front of her with a puzzled look on her face. Hermione shook her head. "I have no idea. That was rather odd though, wasn't it?"

"You've got to admit though, Mione. He's bloody bangin'," Hermione stared at her redheaded friend in wonder, mouth slightly agape. "Ginny!"

"Oh, don't 'Ginny' me! You saw him, he looked bloody fantastic. Yes, I know I'm with Harry; that doesn't mean I can't appreciate something nice to look at." Ginny gave her friend a look. Hermione returned the look with a sly smile on her face.

They linked arms, with all belongings in tow, and wound their way towards Muggle London.


Once outside in Muggle London, the girls walked down the streets, venturing into small boutiques, large department stores and all sorts of specialty stores.

They had begun to accrue quite an assortment of goods, "Geez Hermione, I wish you had shown me the wonders of muggle clothing before. This stuff is bloody brilliant!" Ginny was holding up a deep purple corset of lace and satin. Hermione blushed while Ginny powered on, unaware of her friends' embarrassment, "D'you think Harry'd like this?" she looked up from the piece of lingerie into Hermione's red face.

"Oh come on, Hermione. Live a little. What about you and my brother? Ron may be thick, but I'm sure he'd appreciate a little spice!" Hermione swallowed. "Gin…"

"I know you're shy Mione. But we need to live a little! We just survived a war for Merlin's sake!" the youngest Weasley had become enthralled in her rant; she had begun to fling all sorts of panties off the little round table they were searching through.

The storekeeper cleared her throat obviously disgruntled at the disarray of her shop, yet Ginny powered on. "You know Hermione, I just think that we need to let go a little, step out of the box for a while. Not have to worry about any sort of evil wanker wanting to-" Hermione elbowed Ginny.

"Ow, what the devil was that for?" she glared at Hermione, rubbing her ribs.

She looked pointedly at the saleswoman who was rapidly approaching, with a hard look on her face. "Miss, may I help you find anything in particular?" she snipped at them, glaring down her nose. "Or are you just going to destroy everything you touch?"

Ginny looked coldly at the woman before replying, "No, we were just leaving." Ginny grabbed Hermione by the arm and marched out the door, Hermione muttering apologies to the woman.

The redhead took off like a bat out of hell down the street, practically snarling at anyone who dared look at her. "Gin, slow down!" she finally caught up to her friend.

They walked down the streets of London, Ginny slowly cooling off. She sighed and turned to Hermione, "Let's go find the boys, let's go home." Hermione nodded; glad her mood had started to dissipate.

"So Gin, I've been meaning to talk to you about this, but I haven't really had the chance…er.." Hermione paused, unsure of how to broach the topic. Ginny looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Yes, Mione?" she encouraged.

"You see, well, Gin. I've…erm…noticed Ron's been receiving a lot of owls lately…well erm, one owl really. And, you see…" Wow, how articulate.

"Oh god, which bint has my idiot of a brother been talking to? You found one, didn't you? One of the letters…Who is it?" Thank you for being such a mind reader Gin, you're brilliant.

"Lavender Brown" came the soft reply. They had stopped in front of the door to the Leaky Cauldron. She looked up at the girl she considered a sister.

"Oh Hermione, Ronald is such a prat. I'll talk to him, straighten him out-"

"No! I mean, it would be nice of him to get a grip on things, but honestly Gin, I don't think that we're going to work out. I mean I've loved him for how long? And yet he still treats me like this? No, you were right earlier. We need to step out of the box, I need to live a little. Spread my wings…" the redhead was nodding sadly, understanding. "Oh Mione…now I realize…" Ah, now she understands.

She knew Ginny had seen the same thing she had. During the restoration, of which Lavender is also volunteering, she had seen Ron sneak off, only to return a half hour to an hour later, looking rather disheveled.

The girls looked at each other, then hugged each other close. Breathing in deeply, Hermione let go, glad that she had her friend on her side. She knew she had to confront him about it. She did not deserve to be treated like that! She just didn't know where to start…

With that, they went into the Leaky Cauldron, with grim determination on their faces.


That night after dinner, the four of them were heading into Ron and Harry's room to play a game of Exploding Snaps. When they opened the door, there was an owl perched on the window sill, waiting to be let in. Harry looked at Ron pointedly, who blushed.

He went to the window and let the owl in, taking the parchment from its leg and stuffing it in his back pocket. He turned around to see his sister glaring at him while dragging Harry from the room. Hermione shot her a look of 'please-don't-do-this-now'. Ginny's responding 'too-bad' face was all it took for Hermione to straighten her shoulders, lift her chin and turn to face Ron as Ginny closed the door behind them.

"Look, Hermione-" he started, but she interrupted him, "No Ron, I'm sorry but I can't listen to an excuse." She sighed and looked him in the eye, tears beginning to well up. He took a deep breath and released it, running a hand through his hair, "I don't know what to say."

"I've known you've been writing to Lavender. I just…I wish you could've been mature about this and talked to me about it, instead of sneaking around. Don't I deserve that respect?"

He had the sensibility to look ashamed; however, it didn't seem his tongue was on the same wavelength, "well if you weren't such a prude!" She gasped and looked at him, affronted. The nerve!

"Listen here, Ronald Weasley. I have respect for myself, and you of all people are not going to trash that because you want to get your wand wet by some bimbo! What you do is your decision! But I will no longer stand here to be walked all over! I thought what we had was real, obviously you're too concerned with…other things…than a true relationship! Good riddance!"

Ron stood there, mouth flapping, not knowing how to respond. She strode to the door, flinging it open; Harry and Ginny all but fell into the room. She looked at them with angry tears in her eyes. They had the decency to blush, but Ginny turned her angry gaze to her brother, "you bumbling idiot! When Mum hears what you've done! I swear-"

Hermione heard no more as she ran into Ginny's room. Merlin, I'm such a sap. I knew this was coming. I thought I had accepted this. Clearly I my mind and my heart are not in agreement. Gosh, what a wanker, blaming me! What a prick, I swear; he will get what's coming to him! He's not even going to know what hit him!

Through her internal rant, she had gathered all of her belongings into an old backpack. She had cast the same spells as the beaded bag, so she fit everything in easily. With her backpack on her back, her beaded bag strapped over her shoulder and Crookshanks hissing in his carrying basket, she thundered down the stairs.

"Oh! Hermione dear! Where are you off to in such a hurry! I thought you were staying for the rest of summer!?" said the startled Molly Weasley as she flew into the kitchen.

"Oh, Mrs. Weasley! I'm sorry to leave on such short notice, but you see, well, that is to say…." She looked Molly in the eyes and deadpanned "Ron is sleeping with Lavender Brown. I'm sorry, but I'm done." Before she had the chance to see Molly's face turning a bright shade of purple, she ran out the door, hearing the unintelligible shrieking of the Weasley matriarch at her youngest son.

"Bastard" she whispered to herself as she ran to the apparition point.

She apparated into the alleyway next to the Leaky Cauldron and strode through the door. Quite a few people turned around to stare as she barged through, Crookshanks hissing threateningly through his basket.

She walked determinedly up to Tom, requesting a room for the night. She decided to stay here for the night until she could make her way to her parents estate in the morning and remove all of the charms she had put in place.

She thought back, what a wound in her heart.

It had been a few weeks since she had been to Australia with Kingsley Shacklebolt to reverse the extensive memory charms she had placed on her parents. They had been distraught upon learning what their daughter had done, but Hermione had been grateful that they weren't too angry.

Her parents were strong, stubborn people. She knew they didn't understand the magnitude of the wizarding war, but they were starting to understand the sacrifice she had made in order to keep them safe. Trust still needed to be earned, but their relationship was on the mend.

As Hermione pondered her plan of action, Tom had brought her to her room, leaving her to her thoughts with a quiet, "Goodnight, Ms. Granger" as he closed the door behind him.

She opened Crookshanks' basket, allowing him to exit his prison. He peered out and sniffed around, looking at her with narrowed eyes as if to say 'put-me-in-that-bloody-basket-again-and-I'll-claw-you'. She scratched him behind his ears absentmindedly, walking over to the bed.

She set her stuff down on the bed, sitting beside it and let out a deep sigh. What a mess. Perhaps after my parents' house tomorrow, I'll go to Australia. Maybe I can patch things up with them before I have to return to Hogwarts. Maybe even have some fun while I'm down there. How's that for stepping out of the box?

She summoned two pieces of parchment and one of her new self-inking quills from her beaded bag and quickly scribbled messages to Kingsley and Minerva, letting them know what her plan was and went down to ask Tom if she could borrow one of his owls.

After she handed the two letters to be mailed, she started walking back up the stairs to her room. She was almost at her room when the door in front of her opened and none other than Draco Malfoy emerged, head down, clearly deep in thought.

It wasn't until he noticed her shoes underneath her frozen form that he looked up, startled to see someone else on the stairs. His eyes were warm, like liquid mercury; which she was not expecting. His next words, however, were all the more surprising.

"Granger, it's nice to see your face again."