A/N So here is chapter two. Bear with me, it will be turning into a Dramione fic, but I felt the need to kind of extend it, to bring forth a little of the plot before diving into everything head on.

She heard a "pop" and put down the tea cup on the table and walked to the door. She breathed in deeply and stood in front of the door. She could hear them outside, their hushed tones causing her to rethink their afternoon. Shaking away her nerves she opened the door and put on a smile. "Harry," looking at her best friend, then gliding her eyes over to his wife, "Ginny. please, don't just stand in the door, come in." She raised her arm and gesturing them to come in. They smiled at her, and walked through the door. Harry gave her a light shoulder squeeze, and Ginny waited for him to move. Ginny smiled at the girl she's known since she was a child and put her arms around her.

"Hey Hermione." Ginny felt the woman sink into her embrace and held her there for a moment. "Come on, we brought cakes." She smiled at Hermione and led the woman towards her own kitchen.

"Hey, 'Mione, where did you put the rest of your cups? Do a bit of rearranging I see." Harry looked over his shoulders at the women coming towards him. He could see that Ginny was rubbing her back, while it looked like Hermione was trying everything to keep herself composed.

"Erhm, second cupboard, on the left." She smiled at him as he twisted around and threw his hands up.

"I was close."

"Not really Harry, but whatever you say." Hermione chuckled slightly and sat down at the table. She picked up the cup she had previously set down and ran her fingers around the rim. She watched her friends pour themselves a cup of tea, Harry handing a cup to Ginny, his fingers lingering on his wife's hands. Harry leaned in a gave her a small peck on the cheek, making the ginger blush. Hermione looked away, She never understood how the two of them could stay together after the War. Four years ago they were fighting the biggest battle of their lives, running through woods, trying to find those blasted Horcruxes, and even torture had been on the menu. And yet, they were still very much in love, years after the turmoil had turned them from children to hardened soldiers in a matter of months.

After the War, they had gotten married a few weeks later, a quiet affair, seeing as the Ministry was breathing down their back every minute; trying to find something to bring the wizarding community some joy after the loss we had all experienced. Instead, they stuck it to them and married in private, with only a select few friends, and of course the entire Weasley clan.

"Hermione, do you want me to take this out of the oven? It seems to be getting pretty dark around the edges." Hermione snapped out of her reprieve and looked at Harry who was pointing to the lasagna in the oven.

"Oh! Yes, sorry, I completely forgot about that." Hermione stood up and went over to Harry. She pulled out a pot holder from the drawer to her left and handed it to him, taking another one out to place on the table.

"Where's the bread Hermione?" Ginny turned to Hermione but continued to look about the room, searching for the food. Hermione looked over at her and her eyes widened.

"Shoot, I forgot about that. Blast, and wine! I'll be right back, there's a shop right across the way, it shouldn't take me but a minute. I promise. I'll," Hermione was rushing around the kitchen, grabbing her jacket off of the back of the chair and searching around for her pocket book. She found it, held it in her arm and went to the door. Glancing around her she saw Ginny smiling slightly at her, while Harry shook his head laughing. "I want everything to be smoothly, and I'll need some wine for that."

"You know 'Mione, I'd think you'd lose your head some days if it was attached to your neck." Harry laughed as Hermione stuck her tongue out at him and closed the door.

Hermione rushed towards the shop and glanced at her watch. She still had plenty of time before it closed. Not paying attention to where she was going she slammed straight into a solid mass. Expecting to fall she was surprised when she felt arms wrap around her and steady the both of them. Hermione shook her head and look up at the figure she had just collided with.

"Do you ever pay attention to your surroundings Granger?" Draco drawled, but instead of sneering at her, he was smiling. Hermione leaned back and realized he was still holding her.

"Erhm, Malfoy, could you possibly let me go? I'm no longer falling." She glared at him. He chuckled but released her, his palms raised up and he bowed his head. They stood there staring at one another, Hermione completely forgetting what she was doing.

"You seemed to been in such a hurry before Granger, are you just going to stand there?" Draco smirked at her, watching her cheeks flush a beautiful shade of pink.

"Yes, I was, uhm- excuse me." She moved around him and continued on her way to the shop.

"Oh Granger," Draco was still standing where she had left him. Hermione half turned around, curious to hear what the Slytherin would say. "You look lovely tonight, by the way." She blushed hard, and turned around and walked quickly into the shop. Did Malfoy just compliment me? Why didn't I give him a snarky response? Why did I like it? Hermione shook her head and went to pick out a nice wine and a loaf of bread. She was eager to get back to her loft, to shake the feelings that were growing inside of her. Malfoy…. Draco… hmm.

"Merlin's beard Hermione, took you long enough." Hermione faltered in the doorway, but relaxed when she saw Harry smiling at her. He crossed the kitchen and took the bottle of wine and bread from her. He handed the bread to Ginny, who was already waiting, knife in hand. "Sit Hermione, let's enjoy a nice meal together." He uncorked the wine and the three of them sat to eat dinner.

"So, how is Muggle work treating you Hermione?" Ginny was tearing at a piece of bread, waiting for Hermione to tell her all about her weeks of copious work.

"Well, there are a few new drafts have plopped onto my desk. One of them seems to be very intriguing. It's actually correlates with Hogwarts: A History. Quite interesting you see. Shines a light on previous and current affairs of the school. Brings up the War, naturally, but also paints a different picture of the school then old Bagshot had." The couple laughed. Harry rolled his eyes and glanced at Ginny who was covering her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles.

"Really Hermione? You had your nose in that book all throughout school, what else is there to know about that blasted school?" Harry grinned. Hermione reached across the table and smack his hand lightly.

"You know, it really is a great read. I know you never read it, but ah, it really is quite splendid." Hermione laughed as Harry rolled his eyes again, as Ginny smacked him in the arm.

"Get it together Harry. Okay, enough about books, because although I do love you Hermione, I do not love to hear about some old book, however new it might be to you. How have you been?" Ginny smiled once more opening up the conversation for Hermione to tell them her thoughts since the almost wedding. Hermione sighed, and scrunched her nose.

"If you're searching for answers about that day, I will divulge, just let me get a few more glasses of wine in me." She took the bottle and poured herself a healthy glass, almost to the top. She knew this was coming, in part, it's why she invited them over after these few weeks. They deserved to know. She however, had complications with telling them the truth, and so, instead decided that tonight was just going to be the fluffed over version. One day, she decided, she would tell them everything. However hard that would seem. But not today. Today was going to be a good night, glossed over with the slight discomfort of talking about Ron.

After dinner the three of them had managed to finish off the bottle of wine, and somewhere Harry had found a bottle of firewhiskey. That too was almost empty. Hermione hiccuped and the three of them laughed. Their laughter subsided and Harry looked at Ginny. He stroked her face, leaving his palm on her cheek. Ginny closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace.

"How did you two do it?" Hermione was leaning on her hand, a small hiccup escaped her.

The two of them looked at her, Harry furrowed his brow, and Ginny grabbed a hold of Hermione's free hand.

"How did we do what 'Mione?" Harry asked.

"Stay together after the War? Hell, Ron and I didn't get back together until a couple years ago, and even then…" She leaned her head down against the table and Ginny squeezed her hand.

"I won't lie to you Hermione, it was hard. The War was hard, losing friends, losing Fred. But-we got through it, because Harry was...is my rock. And if I'm speaking frankly, Ron was never yours." Ginny leaned against the table, closer to Hermione. "We, Harry and I, understand why you left, but, although it may not be the entire reason, we're not going to try to get you two back together. You were bad together, everyone could see it." Hermione pushed away a tear and leaned back into her chair. "We're still here for you."

"It was just so hard," Hermione whispered. "It seemed like the obvious thing to do. Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione. The trio staying together, linked through family. But...he was….it would never work. I should have never let him kiss me down in that damn chamber. He was a right arse, always drinking, always yelling. We were always fighting, and not in the cute way, like you two seemed to have gotten down. It downright scared me when he'd get in one of his moods. I should have ended it sooner, shouldn't have let it get that far. But I was weak. I'm a weak person." Hermione covered her face with her hands, quiet sobs escaping her.

Harry and Ginny both stood up and walked around to the other side of the table, engulfing her into a hug. Harry placed a kiss on her head and Ginny rubbed her back. Harry leaned down so he was kneeling eye level with her. "Hermione, you are the strongest person I know. It takes a strong person to deal with what we had to go through. If you were truly weak, you would have quit. Day one. But you're the reason we were ever able to get as far as we did." Hermione hiccuped. The three of them stayed like that for a few moments, relishing in the comfort of old friends. Hermione missed the feeling of not being alone.

"I think-I would very much like to go to bed now." She smiled slightly. Harry nodded and helped her up. Ginny let go of Hermione and started to clear away the rest of the table. Hermione turned to Ginny, Harry with his arm wrapped around her. "Hey Gin, thanks. You too Harry. Tonight was nice." Ginny smiled and Harry kissed her head once more.

After Hermione was fully settled into her bed Ginny and Harry left. The night had gone a lot better than she thought it was going to. A few minor hiccups, but just fine. She wondered what they would tell Ron. If they would tell him at all. She hoped the latter. Just go to sleep Hermione. Tomorrow is a new day.

A/N So the end of the chapter, and I promise next chapter we will get to see more of the Draco/Hermione plot thickening.