Hermione was still shaking. In a confusing cloud of grief and relief, she sat down on the first available seat she could find in the Great Hall. Students, teachers, nurses, and parents swarmed around everywhere. The Final Battle had just taken place. Harry had killed Voldemort. It was finally over. However, there was a price to pay. Many loved ones had been lost in this battle. Teachers were busy moving the bodies. Hermione gasped and closed her eyes at the sight of the frail bodies of Fred and Lavender being transported to wherever they were taking the bodies. She didn't want to see this. Across from her, the Weasleys sat together, all over their faces covered in grime and tears. Ron spotted her, slowly stood up, and walked over to Hermione.

"Hi." He said softly.

Hermione looked up. She let out a deep breath; it was good to see Ron standing above her. Just hours ago, they had their first kiss, releasing years of sexual tension neither of them had ever wanted to admit to.

"Hey." Hermione managed to get the words out, but it sounded more like a croak as she fought against the tears forming in her eyes. "How are you?"

At this, Ron laughed. He actually laughed. "How am I? I'm bloody great, how are you?" He said sarcastically.

Hermione managed to give Ron a meek smile. "Sorry, I, uh, I guess I just don't know what to say. That's a first for me."

Ron nodded. He completely understood what this felt like. When he saw Fred lying motionless on the ground, he didn't say anything. His family didn't say anything. They haven't even talked since. "Let's get some air. Let's find Harry."

As Hermione stood up, Ron grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "It'll be okay, Hermione."

Another teacher walked past them, carrying another body.

As they exited the Great Hall, Hermione took in how beautiful the castle still was, despite being horrendously destroyed and completely empty. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise coming from the left side of the corridors. It sounded like someone crying...someone nearly screaming in agony. She turned her head. What she saw took her by complete surprise. It was Draco Malfoy. Curled up in ball in the corner of the other end of the hall, sobbing. All alone. She felt the impulse to hug him. After all of today's events, she hated seeing anyone in pain, even if it was Malfoy. She knew one thing for sure: she couldn't leave him there. Not in his condition.

"Ron, go look for Harry. I'll find you." Hermione mumbled to Ron.

"But, Hermione, he's—" Ron stopped because he knew that when Hermione made up her mind about something, it was impossible to change it. He simply shook his head and mumbled, "Alright." And he walked off.

Hermione slowly and cautiously walked up to Draco. "Um, Draco?" She said softly.

He looked up at her. The way he looked deep into her eyes, his own spilling tears down his cheeks, sent shivers down Hermione's spine. "Look, I don't need you to here to remind me that I'm an awful person. I know that everything I did was terrible...so, please! Just go away!" Draco cried.

Hermione was slightly taken aback. She had never seen Draco like this. She decided to sit down on the floor with him.

"Wha-What are you doing?" Draco stuttered.

"Look, I know you don't like me. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. You hate me. To you, I'm just a...just a...'mudblood.'" Hermione cringed at the word Draco and so many others always called her. A filthy term for 'muggle-born.' She continued. "But I've seen enough of people in pain today. Are you alright, Malfoy?"

Draco sneered to himself as he looked down at the ground. "Hate. Don't flatter yourself. I don't hate you, Granger." He took a long pause. "I'm sorry that I've called you a mudblood, but you have to understand...I can't help it. It's how I was raised. And, yes, I know it's wrong. And, yes, I know it's horrible." He started to cry again. "I feel...so bad about myself. I mean, here I am in the middle of this battle between good and evil and I choose evil." He looked up at Hermione again. "Granger, I chose evil, goddamnit! That makes me evil. Just as bad as Voldemort."

Hermione took a moment to absorb all of this. She understood what Draco was saying. Of course it's not his fault for treating her like filth—his parents taught him that she is filth. Still, she never thought in a million years that Draco would apologize to her. "I...I forgive you, Draco. It's okay. I get it. It's not your fault. Really." Hermione felt a flash of compassion and pity for Draco. "And how could you possibly call yourself evil, or as bad as Voldemort? That's just silly, and highly illogical. Voldemort was incapable of love, and killed thousands of people. You're capable of love, and haven't killed thousands of people...right?"

At the last bit, Draco couldn't help but laugh. His laugh was contagious, and Hermione couldn't refrain from laughing either. "No, I haven't." Draco got suddenly serious. "Thanks. For making me laugh. I needed that. Thanks for being here. You really shouldn't be...I've always treated you like a bloody dog. And of course, if you tell anyone about this, I'll be forced to chop your head off." He gave Hermione a tiny smirk, as if he were thinking something that he wouldn't say aloud. Hermione laughed at this as she lightly and gently, placed her hand on Draco's shoulder, like a mother would do.

"You're a good person, Draco. I know it."

And with that, Hermione stood up from the floor, dusted herself off, and set off to find Ron and Harry. What she didn't see was Draco staring after her, curiously.

Why? Why was she so nice to me? I've always treated her the worst. I hope she knows I'm sorry. She probably didn't believe me. Bloody hell, I can't even believe myself! Changing my ways so fast. I guess there's just a point where everyone realizes their wrongdoing. Life has funny ways of showing you what's wrong and what's right.

But, wow. Granger really does have a great figure. I don't know why I've never noticed it before. I must've been blinded by hate. Too bad Weasley's already got her.

Oh, what am I saying? Granger would never like me anyways. And I would never like her. We just had a simple heart-to-heart, that's all. We're simply...acquaintances.