"DRACO!!!" Hermione screamed as soon as she stepped into the staff room.
Draco casually glanced up from where he was fixing himself a cup of tea, smiled sympathetically and prepared another cup for her. "I guess you found out about Harry."
"Not just Harry. Ron is taking Filch's place next week."
"Both of them? Didn't see that coming." Draco said as he brought the cups over to where Hermione had sunk onto the sofa and handed one to her.
"Dumbledore is trying to kill me!"
"No he's not Hermione." Minerva McGonagall said from behind a huge stack of parchment on one of the desks. "He wants to reunite you with your best friends."
"Minerva, I'm having a nervous breakdown over here, I could really use some sympathy!"
"Sorry hun. Look, we all know what Dumbledore is like and I did tell him he had to talk to you before hiring both of them." Minerva said placatingly coming over to the sofa and leaning over the back of it.
"I can't do this. I can't deal with both of them. You know what, I'm going to go and talk to Hagrid about it." Hermione drained her tea and handed the cup to Draco.
As she stepped outside into the cool afternoon air she saw Harry and Ron in the grounds. They were sitting under the same tree by the lake the three of them used to sit beneath when they were students. Hermione stopped and wondered if she should go talk to them.
They solved the problem by seeing her and calling her over. She fixed a smile onto her face, although smiling was the last thing she felt like doing, and sauntered over to them.
"Hey guys." She said as brightly as she could as she reached them.
"We were just patching up the fight. We figured that since we're going to be working together next term we may as well be friends again." Harry explained.
"That's great. Dare I ask if I'm allowed to be included in this?" Hermione seated herself beside them.
"Of course."
"Okay, first things first. I want to apologise to both of you. I blame myself for it all. And Ron, I am so sorry I got cold feet."
"Don't worry, I'm over it. We quarrelled over everything, and we always have done. We weren't a good match, were we?"
"Not really, although I tried my hardest to make it work. But the fights we had were just little spats. We were all idiots to not speak for so long and you've no idea how lonely I've been since it happened." Hermione lowered her eyes and fought back the tears.
"Yes I do. Because I've also been lonely. Yeah I was surrounded by people, but I was still alone. And I never seemed to be while I had the two of you as my friends." Harry said making Hermione look at him with a compassionate smile.
"I think we've all been lonely for too long. Living with the twins and working in their shop has made me appreciate what great friends you both were to me. I've missed you both."
"What happened? Why did you leave the twins shop?" Hermione asked gently.
"They kicked me out, because I got mopey. 'Go find them' George said. 'Find them and make up.' 'This has gone on for way too long.' Fred said."
"I'm glad they told you that. I'm guessing you traced us."
"In a way Harry. I wrote to Dumbledore. Told him how I felt and he replied agreeing that the Golden Trio has been apart for far too long. He's been watching you Hermione, and he knows how you feel. Nothing gets past that man."
"Tact does. He didn't even talk to me about hiring you two, just sprung it on me."
"Can I just ask who you guys hung out with when we weren't speaking? I mean I went to my old standby whenever Harry and I fought; the twins, but what about you?"
"You might not like my friend, mainly because you haven't liked him since we started school. My closest friend is Draco Malfoy, surprisingly."
"Really? Malfoy?"
"Is that so surprising Harry? You wouldn't believe how much he's matured since our schooldays. He's really nice now. Ginny on the other hand, whilst being a friend, has turned very sour towards me because of what happened with Ron."
"I'll talk to her about that. Harry?"
"I haven't really had anyone. Well there's Tonks, I suppose. And Lupin's been a solid friend throughout. Do you know about their kids?"
"Are they werewolves too?"
"Yup. With pink hair too. They can randomly change the colour of their fur. But the metamorphing has helped them control the wolf."
Ron guffawed. "I wish I could see them."
"You probably will. It's Tonk's birthday soon, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you two came. It should be great fun."
"If I can get some time off, I'll definitely be there. Who else is likely to be there?" Hermione asked grinning.
"The oldest Weasleys, so Bill, Charlie, the twins, your parents and probably Ginny. Sirius, obviously. Mad-eye Moody. Most of the Order actually. Should be a hell of a party."
"By the way, what did you come outside for Hermione?" Ron asked unexpectedly.
"I was on my way to Hagrid's hut. I needed to talk to him. Hey, you guys wanna come? I'm sure he'd love to see you again. It's been years, after all." Hermione stood up and the men joined her.
Hermione knocked a special little knock on Hagrid's door. "'Ang on 'ermione!"
"You have a secret knock?" Ron said incredulously.
"I always turn to Hagrid when I get down about anything."
"Now 'ere's a sight fer sore eyes!" Hagrid said throwing the door open and beaming at the trio. "Never though' I'd see the day! Come in, come in! I'll make ye a cup of tea. This is jus' like the ol' days, isn' it?"
Hagrid was so excited to see the trio on friendly terms again so Ron went to help him make the tea before more china broke.
"I've never seen him this happy." Harry whispered to Hermione who was fending off Fang, who was attempting to lick her ears as usual.
"Stop it Fang! Well I've been moaning a lot and crying about it in front of him. Draco says it's awfully bad for me."
"Do you tell him everything?"
"Who? Hagrid or Draco?"
"Draco. Is he, like, your boyfriend or something?"
"No! No. I don't have a boyfriend, despite what that vampire thinks over in Germany."
"Vampire?"
"I don't wanna talk about it." Harry noticed that Hermione covered the undersides of her wrists as she spoke, unconsciously it seemed.
It was almost as though they were students again as they sat with Hagrid and talked about everything under the sun. During the visit Harry nudged Ron, nodded at Hermione and gave a subtle thumbs up. Ron winked back happily. Hermione hadn't noticed since she was talking to Hagrid about classes and feeding Fang titbits from Hagrid's rock cakes, which still seemed to be made from actual rocks.