! ! I don't own HP !

I only own this story, =]]!

A marrige Law Drabble! We all love these! Mine is NOT like so many others! But so different because I'm going to make this painstakingly drawn out for the best effect. Because I'm always one for a facinating story and never one for a quick ending =]!

Chapter 1

Like Everyone Else

Hermione tossed and turned in her sleep.

Hot flashes of pain seared through her body as she looked into Bellatrix Lestrange's crazed eyes as she conjourned yet another Cruciasious Curse on her. When it lifted Bellatrix screamed in her face just inches from hers. Demanding where they had found the sword.

All Hermione could do was sob. Bellatrix pulled out her dagger and began to carve into Hermione's skin. It was only a pin prick next to the curses that she was sure to come again soon. Hermione heard a shuffle and barely mustered strength to look up. There he stood, horror written on his face. Bellatrix looked into her nephew's face.

"What is it Draco?" she said so calmly as if talking over afternoon tea.

Draco didn't say a word. Only looking into Hermione's eyes, he couldn't look away. The scene fogged as Hermione's eyes shot open.

Another nightmare of that horrible time. She looked at her clock and it read 5 a.m. She looked at the ceiling, at least she had gotten some kind of sleep. She heard a ruffling out side of her door. She grabbed her wand under her pillow, and was ready to come out from her bed when the door slid open and in tip toed Ginny.

"Ginerva Weasly, you know I'm still skiddish… why do you sneak around my room?"

Hermione had immedeatly moved to The Burrow after things had settled and the clean up and rebuilding of Hogwarts had finished. Ginny had been coming into her room. They both suffered from the post dramatic Stress from the war, and both found therapy in eachother.

"Which one did you have?" Ginny asked.

"The one I have the most often,"

"Oh the one where Malfoy stares into your eyes and you fell unconscious after being cursed continuously."

"For lack of better words, yes." Both women laughed. "What about you?"

"When I seen Harry dead."

The room fell silent for a moment, that thought alone haunted the whole house.

They heard movement from downsairs. They both knew it to be Mrs Weasly preparing breakfast. So they both put on their house coats and made their way to the kitchen.

Harry sat there and beamed as Ginny walked in, and she sat down beside him and hugged his arm. Because their bodies had not yet adjusted to normality just yet, even after three months. Ron walked into the room and sat down next to Hermione and he put his head on her shoulder.

"I heard you again," he told Hermione softly. She knew what he meant. Hearing her screams as Bellatrix threw curse after curse, and he was powerless as he was locked in the cellar. They all sat in silence as Mrs. Weasly made the food. George came into the room. The air in the room was so thick someone could cut it with a knife. George hasn't been himself since Fred had gone. He joked around still, but something seemed to be missing.

"Mornin Mates!" he chirped. Everyone tried to smile, but things were silent after a few returned mumbles.

"Sounds like everyone had a pretty crappy night." Ginny said. Everyone smiled in agreement, the first moment of normalcy they have shared in the months following the war.

The sun was up now over the hills. Hermione smiled, she was happy… things couldn't be any better.

They all suddenly heard a tapping at the window. It was an owl carrying a package. Mrs. Weasly opened the window, paid the owl, and turned to everyone in the room.

"It's from Hogwarts," she opened the package. "There's a note for each of you except George." She looked at each of them confused.

Hermione opened the letter, and seen it was Professor McGonagall's handwriting.

Ms Granger,

Due to request of the ministry, they have offered all previous seventh year students a full year at the expense of the Ministry Treasury. As a Gratituity to those who participated in our cause. Please Join this new school year with us. A Response would be greatly appreciated.

Head Mistress,

Minerva McGonagall

P.S. Contact myself personally, I have some questions to ask of you.

Hermione's curiosity spiked as she finished reading her letter. She waited for the others to finish before asking what the others thought.

"I'm already a seventh year, but they're paying for everything for my year as well…" Ginny told no one in particular. But Mrs Weasly let out an excited yelp. Hermione smiled. For the first time, brand new everything at no cost to them.

"This is fantastic!" Harry finally said something for the first time this morning. Hermione's excitement started to build again.

School… Learning… Being back at the place she loved most. Hogwarts school.

The next few days were buzzing as they prepared their ways for a brand new start. They had gone to Diagon Ally and retrieved all they needed for the new year.

Before they knew it, they were on the Train heading to the school they all knew and loved.

Harry looked out the window at the passing landscape. "I'm in such a state right now you guys, I really don't know how to feel." Harry couldn't stop smiling. They all couldn't. After some small talk Hermione got up.

Ron grabbed her wrist, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the ladies room if you must know," She pulled her wrist from his grasp. He seemed really clingy lately. And she wasn't sure why but it was annoying her greatly. She slid the door closed and turned around and bumped into something hard. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry!"

"—It's fine really."

Hermione stopped and looked up. "Draco—"

"Hello… Hermione." Draco said softly. They stood there in the small hallway for a few moments. Hermione was very close to him. She could smell his clogne on him, a sweet and musky smell. She hadn't realized but he held both of her elbows.

"I"m sorry, I should have watched where I was going," as she was rambling he had taken her wrist and turned it over to reveal her scar. It had mosly healed, but it stood white against her already paled skin. He looked at it painfully. She stared at him. Anytime she thought about Draco now, she always thought of how the war had too changed him. But she had heard that his parents were now in hiding and only barely contacting Draco when they could. He must be very lonely. She stood there silently as he looked at her scar.

"Draco," she started gently.

"No, I'm sorry. I should have seen you coming from the compartment. My apologies." He dropped his hands from her arms and made his way past her. She watched him disappear and she heard the compartment door from behind her.

"Is everything alright 'Mione?" it was Harry. "I seen Malfoy, he didn't say anything to you, did he?"

"No, he just stood there and he-" she put her hand over her scar and rubbed it. "He's just like us Harry, he suffers from horrible dreams. He might suffer more even-"

"I know. You know if it wasn't for him, things would have turned out very different. And I do mean very differently." He looked at her scar too.

"He didn't say it was you to Bellatrix, and he came into the room just before you did, and had stopped Bellatrix before she could curse me again. We owe him a lot." she said softly.

Harry nodded then looked back at Hermione. He smiled softly and then went back. Hermione rubbed her scar once more where Draco had so tenderly held. She shook her head and went about going to the lavatory and went back to the compartment. They were getting close to the school so they all changed into their robes and awaited to return to their beloved school.

Pleas Read & Review to let me know what you think!

_Sage_