Eye Of The Storm

'No one need's to know..' She thought with silent tears streaking her porcelain face.

'How could I have been so stupid! I can't believe I let him do it again..'

But she couldn't think about that now. She had to get back out there, Support her friends, put on a brave face. She could dwell on this later. Alone in her flat. Alone, how she wished that could be the case. He'd be there, Waiting for her.

As Hermione walked out of the ladies and into the crowd at the three broomsticks she searched desperately for a flash of green eyes, or a mop of red hair. She needed them. She need to laugh and feel like her self again.

Harry had told Hermione about the party weeks ago. She didn't think she'd be able to face them all again. Not after last time. He'd made such a scene! But thankfully, looking around the heaving mass of bodies, nobody seemed to be paying much attention to her.

It had been five years since they had defeated Voldemort in the Final battle. Dumbledore's army and The Golden Trio all together once again. It had been Ginny's idea to throw the party. A sort of "Reunion" as she called it. The only person who wasn't there was Ron.

She saw Red hair whipping through the crowd and her eye's lit up. Ginny. How she missed her. When her and Harry had got married, almost immediately after the Final battle, She had hardly seen them. Ginny had been effectively pregnant for the past three years, giving birth too three beautiful children. Hermione loved them too pieces and spoiled them every chance she got, which wasn't very often. Ginny couldn't bare leaving her baby's for more than five minutes and if Harry wasn't at the ministry or off on auror duties, he was spending as much time as he could with his family.

She couldn't hold it against them, If she could, she'd have children of her own by now but Ron was hostile. The thought of giving birth to a child and forcing it to enter into a family of betrayal and hurt made her skin crawl and tears pricked her eye's once more.

"Hermione!" The red head screamed.

"Gin! I've missed you so much! How are Albus and Severus? Is this Little Lily?"

"Oh god 'Mione its been so long! Albus is great, Sev's being a pain in the backside as usual. How a two year old can make so much mess is beyond me. He set fire to the curtains this morning! And yeah This is Lilly, just beautiful isn't she! Oh my did you hear about.."

Hermione nodded and laughed in the appropriate places. Gin spoke so fast she could hardly get a word in edge ways but she was secretly glad she didn't have to speak. She knew Gin would notice the quiver in her voice and glaze of tears that had graced her eye's at the mention of her best friends new family.

As Hermione began to divert her attention to the Green eyed man striding towards her she immediately felt a weight lift off her shoulders. This third of the Golden Trio she could tolerate.

"Mione! How are you! I've missed you so much! Where have you been hiding?"

Her reply was muffled in to Harry's shirt. He'd embraced her in a brotherly bear hug before she could say anything.. She loved these moments with Harry and Ginny. They felt so natural. She couldn't say that much for her relationship with Ron. Just to be able to look at him was a feat within it self.

"Harry! I've missed you so much! I've been hiding in my flat.. Ron's been difficult again. You know how it is."

The couple nodded with a deep understanding of Hermione's frustrations. Although they didn't see each other very often, they wrote to each other everyday. Hermione had tried to hide her pain for so long. But two weeks before the party she'd told them. About everything.

It had started after Ron had proposed to Hermione. They'd been together three years and were blissfully happy. The proposal was long awaited by the Weasley clan and Molly in particular was ecstatic. Everything had been wonderful!But he quickly turned.

Hermione wanted to wait to get married. She was still consolidating her job withing the ministry and the timing just wasn't right. The night she told him to wait was the first night he had..

She didn't want to think about it now.

"I'll fill you in later" She said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eye's.. "I'd much rather try and forget about it and enjoy my self.. Harry how's everything with the ministry?"

Harry loved to talk about his job. It was his passion and Hermione knew all to well that it would be a successful subject changer. He was just talking about how a muggle had stumbled upon some old dark magic relics in a cave up in Marseilles and how nearly 40 aurors were needed for damage control when she lost interest. Images of Ron flooded her mind..

"Mione?.. 'Mione?.. HERMIONE!"

"Shit sorry, what were you saying?"

" Never mind" He said with a suppressed giggle, she had a look of deep concentration on her face which never failed to make him laugh.

Harry had shoved a butter beer in her hand. She didn't think to tell him that she would have much proffered fire whisky after the ordeal she had just experienced but before she could say anything, something caught her eye.

Silver eye's burned into brown. They were gone before she recognised them. But the image was imprinted onto her brain.

Draco.

He was freezing. His pale skin flushed with the searing cold. He hated the way it looked on him, it marred his flawless complexion and that he could not abide by. Yes he was vain but he had every right to be so, in his mind he did anyway.

Yes he could of apparated, He knew that much. But he felt sick enough as it is and since the final battle his apparitions were monitored by the ministry.

"Just two more years Draco. Two more years and your parole is over.."

He hated the ministry. Even though he'd switched sides and helped conquer Voldemort, he was still a 'liability'. Ungrateful bastards. He'd turned in his own father to Azkaban. Tried against him and they still didn't trust him..

At least he was recognised by someone though. When the invite came for the reunion, he couldn't help but feel a little humbled. Even if it had come from Potter and the weaselette.. But the only real reason he decided to come was to see her. He'd been obsessed with her since the yule ball in fourth year.

He'd never admit it too anyone. Ever. But that girl could spark all sorts of feelings within Draco. As a Malfoy he was raised to think of himself before all others, and all the beatings he'd received from the father he loved meant he had a sadistic opinion on Love. He'd fallen for her years ago but she'd never want him. She was above him in all ways and god didn't he know it.

Karma, he thought to himself. She's the only girl he could ever imagine loving with all his heart and he would never have her. If it wasn't for the endless amount of gold digging hussies he might have turned quite bitter.

Finally the Three broomsticks came into sight. Relieved at the promise of warmth he nearly sprinted to the door. As he walked in warmth washed over him. Unfortunately he felt even more colour spreading to his cheeks.

He removed his coat and hung it on the rack. Then walked to the bar to get himself a fire whiskey As he turned toffee coloured orbs scorched his flesh, her eye's were on hiss. Toffee eyes burning into Silver.

Granger.