As the guests arrived to celebrate Harry Potter's coming of age, each paused at the kitchen door on their way to the court yard where the party was being held, each remembering the many many meetings that had taken place in that very room, which would never have need to be used again. Or rather, each would then think, not against Voldemort.
A lot had happened since the death of Albus Dumbledore. Harry had managed to find each hidden horcrux, including the one which had alluded him in the cave, and he had fought a deadly duel with Voldemort, finally killing the man who had hunted him for17 years.
Now the order of the phoenix were able to celebrate. Snape had received the kiss and the Death Eater's had been rounded up. There was another glimmer of sadness however, during the battles of Voldemort's last day's Minerva McGonagall had been killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Minerva's last words however, were the killing curse and Bellatrix died beside her. Her death was not in vein. However, Hogwarts was now without a headmaster or headmistress and it was this particular subject Hermione and Ron were discussing when Harry entered the room.
'Surprise!!!' they all cried to him. Harry beamed as he looked around the lit up court yard and saw all the Weasley's, including Percy who finally apologized to his parents, Tonks and Remus holding hands, all the member's of the order, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, and other school friends. It was the first time he had had a birthday party, let alone been to one and he had a wonderful night.
But there was someone else there that night, someone invited by Arthur and Molly Weasley, someone who looked utterly depressed and chose to stay in the kitchen.
It was Draco Malfoy.
Draco's parent's had both been killed in the war by Voldemort, sensing his day's were up and knowing Draco was hiding with the member's of the order after what had happened to Dumbledore. He sat in the dank kitchen, his head buried in his hands, thinking about the loss of his confused, desperate mother, and of the death of Albus Dumbledore, a man so willing to trust Draco he had offered to hide the two of them. "If only she had taken up the offer to hide alongside", Draco thought to himself. Suddenly he was interrupted by a rapturous giggling, as Hermione and George (or was it Fred?) Weasley ran down the stairs, the Weasley boy with his hands on her hips. Seeing Draco Hermione stopped giggling and gave a look of dread. George (or was it Fred? Draco wondered) turned on his heel, calling 'catch ya' over his shoulder as he bolted up the steps.
Hermione stood looking at Draco for a moment, taking him in. His skin was so sickly pale it looked grey, and his hair could really do with a wash. He definitely looked the way he felt.
Meanwhile he observed her. Dressed in a bright red summer dress with matching heels and her curly hair pulled back to one side, with a fresh red rose tucked behind her ear, Draco desperately hoped she hadn't heard him when he suddenly drew his breath in at the sight of her.
"Granger"
"Malfoy." Hermione turned to leave.
"Leaving so soon? You seemed anxious to get down here…" Draco started.
"That was before I saw the company I'd have to keep" Hermione spat at him
"Come on Granger, we're on the same side now" Malfoy countered.
"You're forgetting Malfoy, there are no sides now. There are only houses and I do not want to spend a beautiful summers night talking to a slytherin." Hermione started up the stairs.
"Careful Granger, messing with Weasle's big brother could be a big mistake." He smirked at her.
"You have no idea what you're talking about. Goodbye Malfoy." And with that she left the room.
Getting to the top of the stair case Hermione had to catch her breath. Of all the people! Why did he have to be in the kitchen?! If Ron ever found out, she wouldn't know what to say.
Hermione may have been the smartest girl in her year but she was also one of the most precocious. Noone knew that of course. Except for Viktor Krum. Oh, and now Fred, she thought to herself. She hadn't meant for what happened with Fred to occur. She had just been so happy when he brought her the news of Voldemort's demise that she suddenly found herself kissing him. And now for the last week, everytime they saw each other there was always a moment they just happened to find themselves alone. "Oh well" Hermione thought "It's not like I'm sleeping with him. And Ron's had so many chances. So many!.' Feeling that was a justification she rejoined the party, but left alone.
Upon her apparition home, she decided to take a relaxing bath and enjoy the quiet. Now the knew their daughter was safe, Hermione's parent's decided to take a trip to Bali. "Bali!" she thought exasperatedly. Hermione knew her parent's loved her and that she came first but she also often wondered whether she was a part of their plan, seeing as there were no siblings and they spent every waking moment together- even though their daughter was away 85 of the year! "Oh well, better than them not loving one another, or worse, being dead." With that thought she felt a slight twinge of guilt over the way she had spoken to Malfoy earlier. His parent's were dead, and she had let her years of dislike get to her at a time when even Malfoy deserved comfort. She resolved to make amends… any way she could.
The next day when she returned to number 12, Grimmauld Place, Hermione spent time helping Harry, who was still ecstatic, to clean up. The Weasley's had left that morning for a visit to France, to see Fleur's parents, and as soon as he was finished making sure everything was alright, he would be leaving too. Now they were back together, Harry and Ginny found it almost impossible to be apart for too long.
"I'll tell you what, how about I finish up here and you get going. Goodness know's what inspired you to decide to ride your broom to the Riviera!-"
"Hermione! Hours alone on my broom!!! What more could I ask for??" Harry exclaimed.
She giggled. "I know! Anyhow, I'll get this all done. It must be time's like this you wish you hadn't given Kreacher socks isn't it?"
Harry shrugged "I've always got Dobby!". Hermione slapped him playfully and with that he left and she set about putting cleaning spells on different parts of the house, where mead and such had been spilled.
The door suddenly opened, but it wasn't Harry.
"Say, Potter, have you seen my-" Draco stopped short when he saw Hermione. "Um, Granger, you seen Potter? I think he has my broomstick cleaning kit…"
"Sorry Draco. He's just left for France but do you want some help finding it?" Hermione smiled at him.
He gave her an odd look. "No thanks. I'll uh, be fine."
"Alrighty then." Hermione said brightly. "Oh, would you like to have some lunch? I was about to make something to eat."
"No, no that's fine thanks. I'll be in my room." And with that he walked out the door.
Ever since Malfoy had moved into the house under protection of the order he had felt like an insignificant being. He knew it wasn't for lack of people trying to reach out to him, but how do you deal with something like that? Parent's kidnapped, then killed, moving into St. Potter's disgusting old home, being unable to leave after the Ministry seized possession of all the Malfoy belonging's. "Oh well" he thought to himself. "At least soon I'll be back at Hogwarts and in my common room… even if there are only a few of us left in Slytherin." Once he reached his room he flung himself onto the bed and started crying.
Draco Malfoy had never been a boy to cry. Mainly because he wasn't allowed to. Did people think he actually liked the whole power trip of being a Malfoy? Of being a pureblood? He had to keep it up. He had to be flanked by Crabbe and Goyle at all times. Their father's followed around his father, it was the way things were.
Giving a young boy such knowledge and insight into the Dark Arts had been such a grave mistake by his father. It didn't draw him too it, it made him despise it. Which was what led to the downfall of Malfoy Sr.
Hermione decided to check Harry's ridiculously untidy bedroom for the cleaning kit and found it in there. Stopping outside Malfoy's room, she heard nothing, so deciding he must be asleep she walked straight in… to see him lying on his back writhing in pain, only he was asleep.
"Draco!!! Draco!!! … MALFOY!!! Wake up!!!" Hermione's voice became more desperate with each syllable.
He woke with a start, sitting straight up, sweat on his brow and a horrified look on his face.
"Get out! Get out!" he yelled at Hermione. She, however, just stood looking at him, remembering her promise to herself to do whatever it took to help him… whatever it took. And with that she lowered herself onto the bed, their faces so close their breathe mingled together. And without a word, she did the only thing she could. She kissed him. And he kissed back.
