Disclaimer:  I own nothing, nor do I claim to.  The plot, I suppose I do, but I wouldn't have that either if I wasn't using the characters.  I wish I did own it, I wouldn't have to worry about the thousands in school loans that I have to pay off..

It's Never Easy

Chapter one:  Happy Birthday, Hermione

Hermione sighed as she glanced down at her outfit.  'Twenty-two years old and I still look like a child,' she thought mournfully.  She had picked out something to wear for tonight specifically, being fully aware of her "surprise" birthday party, thanks to the ever-present stream of consciousness from Ginny.  It had slipped out two weeks ago, much to Ginny's embarrassment, but Hermione had been relived to have the advanced knowledge, knowing that this party would most probably bring together people she hadn't seen in quite some time, and she wanted to make a good impression.  Not that she cared, really, what others thought, at least that is what she told herself, but still..she wanted to look like something more than the Hermione that everyone expected when it was a party in honor of her. 

She plucked at an invisible ball of lint on her skirt, and once again gave a snort of disgust at her appearance.  In reality, she didn't look bad, in fact she looked quite nice, but as she glanced around the room she felt quite dim compared to everyone else.  She had chosen a simple grey wool skirt, which fit nicely and fell just shy of her knees, and a cashmere red sweater. But she felt herself slip back into the role of Hermione, the bookworm of Gryffindor, as she stood next to Ginny with her sparkling red locks, and her pretty yellow dress. 

Not wanting to spend the party in ridiculous introspection, more so when the subject was appearances of all things, she glanced around the room, and met the eyes of Harry, her best friend.  She smiled at him as crossed the room to approach her.

"So," he asked, eyes alight, "was it a huge surprise?" 

Hermione tried to bite back a laugh, and instead smiled indulgently at him. 

"Oh, yes, Harry, I had no idea.  I really don't know how you and Ron kept this a secret from me, especially with inviting these people from work." 

There were many people here that Hermione hadn't expected to see, actually.  Several people she worked with in position as a medicinal potions researcher were present, and she was grateful for this.  Aside from Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione's boyfriend, Laurence, she wasn't really sure who else would attend aside from old Hogwarts friends and acquaintances.  But she was pleasantly surprised by the mixed crowd that had appeared already, so early in the evening.  Lawrence had invited several of his friends whom Hermione got on with well, and Ginny had brought a few people she worked with as well, as had Harry. 

She laughed grimly as she counted the number of people in the room who were either former members of the Order of the Phoenix, or presently Aurors (or both really), and thought of what an unpleasant picture this would have been for any Death Eaters four years ago. 

Four years ago, this brought back a familiar wave of memories which she swiftly repressed.  The war, the uncertainty, the loss.  Him.  She tried to repress the memories of Him, the fastest and the harshest, but they were always the hardest to ignore. 

'It was just a lark, just a game.  He needed something to have power over, and you needed someone to touch you.  It was never anything more than that anyway, it couldn't be.  He hated you just as much as he always had, new views of not, and you hated him,' she told herself fiercely. 

She shook herself abruptly, realizing that she had let her thoughts get away from her, and Harry was still standing there, gazing at her with an odd look on his face.

"So, where's Ron?" she asked brightly, mentally chastising herself for allowing her memories to consume her at her party.

"He's coming with Lavender and Parvati later.  Lav had to work, and he was waiting to meet her and come together," he answered. 

Lavender and Ron had been dating for the past six months, about the same as Laurence and she, and it was a surprising match, in her opinion at least.  She had never thought much of Lavender in school, really.  She had nothing against her, but they had never really clicked.  But Ron seemed incredibly appreciative of her "charms", and he quite happy in this new relationship.

Speaking of relationships, she quickly glanced across the table she was standing next to, Ginny having moved on to talk with a friend of hers, Audrey something-or-other, and smiled at Laurence.  He was a sweet man, and she was fond of him.  He reminded her slightly of Harry.  Physically they were not the same; Laurence was taller, though just as lean, with dirty blond hair and sharp hazel eyes, brimming with intelligence.  But he carried with him a sense of loyalty and earthy realism which reminded her of her best friend.  He wasn't exactly igniting her with passion, but she had found him to be a good companion and a welcome addition to her life. 

With two loud pops, Fred and George arrived, bearing gifts in their arms.  They grinned at Hermione and deposited the parcels on the table before Fred picked her up in his arms and swung her around.

"Well, well, if our little girl hasn't grown up.  No more bossy Prefect telling us what to do.  Now you're old!" he cackled as he set her down.  She mock-glared in return as her answer and blushed furiously at those who had turned to watch with amusement. 

"Oi," George replied, "She may not be Prefect, but I don't think she's lost that bossy mouth of hers."  They both laughed and proceeded to kiss her on the cheek affectionately before wishing her happy birthday and walking off to greet others.  Hermione smiled warmly at their backs.  While she had always liked them in her younger years, she had to admit that she had been quite. rigid when it came to their antics.  In seventh year, when the War was beginning, Hermione had come to appreciate their light heartedness in the face of all the gloom, and it was really through their influence that she had loosened up quite a bit.  She was still efficient, book devouring Hermione, but maturity had taken the edge off her, and sorted out her priorities. 

The door opened and Hermione and Harry both let out a loud "Hello!" and wide smile as Ron walked in with Lavender.  Hermione's smile faltered a bit as she watched the procession of the rest of the group walk in- Lavender followed by Pavarti, Pavarti followed by Padma, and Padma by- Draco Malfoy?

"Malfoy?" she asked dumbly, looking at Harry in shock.

"Oh," Harry answered easily.  "Yes, he's been seeing Pavarti apparently.  Suppose with Pansy's blessing," he grimaced at the mentioned of Pansy Parkinson.  Harry and Draco had settled with an amiable sort of truce after the War.  Harry commented to Hermione that while he was still a git, he tended to grow on one, and standing side by side fighting off those who wish to kill you does bring people closer.  Hermione had to agree, but she wondered what Harry would say he if had knew of the truce that she had had with him.  She suspected that there would be a string of swears and a couple of death threats accompanying that revelation.

"Happy Birthday Hermione!" Ron hollered back at them, rushing over to envelope his best friend in a hug.  She staggered slightly under his unexpected weight and smiled up at his beaming face as he took a step back. 

"Thank you Ron.  Hello, Lavender," she acknowledged, nervously avoiding the rest of the party.  She didn't quite to know how to address this particular problem, and she felt her heart beating furiously.  She was saved though, by the touch of Laurence's hand on her shoulder, and she turned to him.

"Hey, My, there's someone I want you to meet over here."  He looked up at Harry and Ron and smiled good naturedly at them both.  "Mind if I steal her away for a minute?"

Harry and Ron both laughed.  "I don't reckon you can ever steal that one away without her consent, but I offer mine,"  Harry responded.  "We've been trying to get rid of her for years."

Hermione rolled her eyes, and allowed herself to be led away.  "I will not look back, I will not look back," she commanded herself.  But she did, and met Malfoy's unreadable eyes.  She sucked in her breath, he had changed, but he was still painfully Draco in her eyes.  His face was a bit fuller; his features looked well placed on his face.  His hair was still the shocking blond, almost white, bangs almost in his eyes, his beautiful silvery eyes all the more defined by his grey robes.  She felt so decidedly muggle in comparison to him, and this realization drew her gaze away from him and back to where Laurence was taking her. 

------Yeah, kind of a crappy place to leave off, but my fingers are killing me.I'll update soon, and review please, because I don't really know what I'm doing here!