Two months. It had been two months since Voldemort was destroyed. Everything was finally starting to settle down and people were starting to trust their friends again. It still wasn't easy but it was happening.
On this sunny Sunday morning in the middle of July Hermione Granger and Harry Potter were sitting on the back porch at Grimmauld place discussing the Hogwarts letter that arrived this morning with the morning mail.
"Of course I'm going back Harry. Are you kidding? Why would I give up the chance to finish my 7th year." Hermione exasperated. "You're planning on going back too aren't you?"
Harry looked trying not to smile. "I was thinking I might skip this it... Ouch Hermione! That hurt!" he exclaimed whilst holding his arm where Hermione had hit him.
"Serves you right. You should be taking this seriously. It's not like we got to go at all last year and I think it would be nice to have a normal year at Hogwarts."
"Well, that's true and for the record, I was joking. There wasn't even a question about it." Harry informed Hermione while taking a sip of his coffee.
It was nice sitting outside in the sun watching the world go by with his best friend. Hermione had been living Harry since a week after the end of the war. Things with Ginny and Harry hadn't worked out. Not for lack of trying on Ginny's part, that was for sure. Harry actually thought it was quite annoying. Actually, he found her generally annoying and when he stopped and thought about it, he guessed he'd always found her a little irritating.
Things with Hermione and Ron were rocking as well and after a week of living at the Burrow with the Weasleys she had flooed over to visit Harry with all her bags in tow. Apparently Mrs. Weasley had been pestering Hermione to learn to cook and clean with magic rather than by hand due to it apparently "being easier". After two days she let slip that it was only proper for her future daughter-in-law to learn so that she could look after her son.
Hermione had packed her things and there she was. Harry just laughed and asked when she was getting married and why hadn't anyone told him. She had stormed up the stairs and went to her room. She knew she was always welcome and Both Ron and herself had their own bedrooms in the house for that reason. Ron had come after half an hour later looking for Hermione because "she had upset his mum".
Which oh but of course, started an argument, because according to Hermione, Ron didn't care that she was hurt as well. Ron was angry because Hermione had misunderstood what Mrs. Weasley was saying but Harry knew the truth. He had always suspected that Ron wanted someone who would step into Mrs. Weasleys shoes, but Hermione was the wrong person for that. She was too strong willed.
Harry kept his opinions to himself, not wanting to get caught in the middle. Ever since then, things had been far from smooth sailing for Hermione and Ron, but Harry and Hermione had found comfort in each other and had defiantly grown closer because of it, among other things.
Like talking about the war and the trials that Harry had attended and she had helped him make the decision to testify at two of them. In the favour of the death eaters. Of course, the press coverage had been completely insane for them but Hermione had supported Harry. In every sense of the word, she was the sister he always wanted but never had. Of course that caused more issues between Hermione and Ron because Ron suspected that Harry was trying to take away his girl, which lead to an argument between Harry and Ron.
"I have to admit, it would be weird there without you and I feel as tho I would be missing a part of myself" Hermione mentioned, bringing Harry out of his thoughts.
"And this place would be too quiet with just me here 'Mione. But I do understand what you mean" Harry accepted a chocolate frog Hermione was handing to him. Ripping the package open he bit the head off first as Hermione grimaced.
A regal looking owl flew up to Harry whom unattached the letter attached to its leg. Opening it he read it quickly, but had to re-read it four times just to grasp the concept of it. He wordlessly handed it over to Hermione to read while he tried to process the contents.
Dear Harry, I know it may come as a surprise to hear from me of all people but I just wanted to extend the olive branch I suppose as the saying goes.
I wouldn't blame you if you just burnt this and completely ignored it but I do ask you to at least wait until you've read to the end. Of all people around I know I most certainly don't deserve anything you are willing to give me.
Words cannot describe how grateful I am that you testified at both my mothers and my trial and I wish to extend an invitation to you to meet so I can thank you to your face.
I am aware that you will want it to be a public meeting and I can appreciate that fact. Feel free to owl or flu me with any questions or if you do wish to meet.
Yours sincerely
Draco Malfoy."Well, what do you think? He does sound sincere and he acknowledges the fact you would want to meet in public with the history behind you both." Hermione commented after taking some time to think it through. Harry's thought train was all over the place and derailed and it unsettled him.
"Well, one part of me really just wants to incendio it, but majority of myself wants to meet to see what he wants. Everyone deserves a second chance and clearly by testifying at the trial I believe that. He was just a kid, but at the same time he could of turned to Dumbledore or myself for help. But then Voldemort would of killed his parents and that's what he didn't want" He argued with himself. Hermione just watched on, laughing to herself.
"Stop for a minute Harry. You said it yourself, everyone deserves a second chance. He wants to meet in a public place Harry. That's a massive step for him. You don't really need to think about it do you?" Harry just looked at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. "I think you already have your answer Harry. Now you've just got to take the step."