Dicho Inter Amicus Latin title (not literal translation): Separation amongst friends

An: Yes it took ages and I am most sincerely sorry to anybody and everybody who is tracking this story. I just couldn't write anything for ages. I think I'm cured now and the next three chps should be up in fairly short order.

An2: Unbeta'd but I re-read it fairly close. If, however, I've missed something that annoyed you in your reading of this, then do please point it out to me!

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Ron sat with his back to the tree, arms crossed, a mulish expression on his face. He was clearly ignoring the situation occurring right in front of his eyes while at the same time keeping a hawkish eye on the proceedings in case he missed something. Draco passed Hermione the jam and Ron's parental eye watched the distance between their fingers as if a single touch between them would the end of the universe.

Well it might be in his case. He grit his teeth as Hermione laughed at something Draco said and looked away. It was in looking away that he missed something vital. A single look passed between the bushy-haired Gryffindor and the resident Slytherin, a slight roll of the eyes on the boys side and a shrug of the shoulders from Hermione was the only indication of this silent communication and by the time Ron looked back, barely a half second later they were completely absorbed in their own sandwiches, any and all secret communication hidden.

It was he had to admit the strangest picnic he had ever been on. Instead of being out on the commons under the sun, Scotland enjoying a late Indian Summer, they were hidden from prying eyes under the awning stretches of the Forbidden Forest. They had even approached the enclave from opposite sides, so that nobody would know that they group, supposedly arch enemies, were meeting up. Neither Ron nor Draco would ever admit that the whole thing was a charade both put up with because of Hermione.

Ron because… well he wasn't going to go into that now and Draco… Well Ron wasn't sure of Draco's reasonings, which was the main reason for hating the sly, smug bastard. Of course the fact that the sly, smug bastard was also a rather witty comrade and often had Hermione in gales of laughter could have been one of the reasons. He wasn't going to admit that the major reason he came on these illicit meetings was because he was fairly sure if he didn't agree to go then Hermione would simply go on her own. He also wasn't going to admit that the one minor reason he came along was because he felt vaguely sorry for the git.

He had been there when Draco had been carried into Burrow, pale, unconscious, and raw with magical abuse. Had heard the full story of what had occurred to the boy and his mother and had been the only one, bar maybe his mother, who had heard the soft sobbing coming in the middle of the night when Draco had obviously thought that everyone was asleep.

So while he didn't exactly like the git, or trust him, he did believe that there was some glimmer of humanity buried within the git that Hermione might have a chance of saving if she had her way.

So he could put up with the picnics and the odd meeting and even the gifts mother still sent him.

Even if it killed him.

--

Ron managed to tune into the conversation just as it turned to the hot topic in the school at that moment, Dawn Summers.

"Ya, Draco," Ron said, leaning forward and completely interrupting Hermione's musings. "What's that about?"

Draco shrugged.

"New girl."

"That's right. I saw her. Pretty much an oddity."

"Ya," Hermione muttered. "I've never heard of anyone transferring. Once someone begins magical school it's a contract on both sides usually irreversible. That's why school expulsion is a rare issue."

"So?" Ron repeated.

"New girl. Tall, brown hair, ridiculous way of talking. Bloody Americans. Almost as bad as Muggles the lot of them." Hermione threw him a disapproving look for that last comment which he ignored with a smile while Ron simply threw his eyes to heaven.

"I meant do you know anything new about her? Besides her hair colour."

"Her eyes are the colour of the sea in stormy weather," he murmured softly. Ron's mouth dropped open while Hermione got a slightly dreamy look in her eyes at the comment. Draco snorted with laugher at the pair as Ron stared at him incredulously. "What?" he added defensively. "You honestly expect me to know her full life story that quickly?"

"Well…" Ron glanced at Hermione before answering. "Mostly I was just shocked at-" He hesitated.

Draco had laughed, really laughed. It was a rare achievement for someone so naturally close-mouthed and especially for Draco who had been particularly cold since…

Draco frowned. "What?"

"Never mind." Ron said decisively. He might not like the git, but even he deserved the right to laugh without having it brought under scrutiny. He missed the approving look Hermione sent him before she smoothly changed the subject. Draco let it pass easily and Ron wasn't the only one to notice the lightness to Draco's step when he returned to the castle.

--

The sky was darkening as Hermione hurried up the steps to the owlery. As the trio made their separate ways back to the castle she had suddenly remembered a letter she had in her pocket for her parents. She had meant to send it after Potions earlier but when Draco had slipped a note in her pocket asking if she could meet him in the Forbidden forest she had been unable to say no. And not only because he had rushed off straight away before she could even answer. She was just glad that the late summer light was still streaming through the windows so she wouldn't have to rely on the light from the torches as she made her way up the slightly too steep steps.

She hoped Hedwig was still in the owlery. Since the accident she had been taking care of the snowy owl but found that Hedwig had become more desolate and lonely as the weeks passed. She couldn't seem to understand why her owner had disappeared and why Harry had stopped visiting her. Ron had been woken more than one morning by Hedwig pecking on the dorm windows trying to get in to see her absent owner. And she would only leave after she had been left in to see for herself that he wasn't there.

It was a source of surprise to Hermione who she knew the birds innate magic should have let her know of her masters demise as soon as it happened. Now the only time Hedwig showed any enthusiasm was when she was given a job. So Hermione tried to make sure she was kept busy with letters to her own parents and to the Burrow. She slowed as she approached the owlery, the sound of voices made her hesitate.

Or at least the sound of one voice. The American twang gave the speaker away but Hermione wasn't close enough to hear what was being said. She waited by the door curious as to know who the girl was talking to but she couldn't hear the answering voice. She cursed her curiosity as she peeked around the door. She spotted her immediately sitting on one of the window ledges and to her shock Hedwig was sitting happily on the girls lap preening under the girls fingers.

Hermione managed to stifle her gasp of surprise at the sight. Even though Hedwig obliged Hermione in carrying her mail, she always shied away from petting of any kind. That this stranger could provide comfort to the owl in a way Hermione seemed unable to made her angrier than she could remember being in a long time. She wanted to storm in there straight away and take Hedwig from this intruder but a soft hoot held her momentarily. The American spoke back just as softly and, as Hermione crept close enough to hear, her words drove a chill straight through her heart.

"Sorry, he couldn't be here, Hedwig. He misses you too. He told me." The girl ran a long finger down the soft feathers along the side of Hedwig's head as the bird crooned sadly. "I brought you something," she pulled a treat out of her pocket, " he said it was your favourite." The owl accepted the treat gratefully and for the first time Hermione could see how small the bird had become in the weeks since Harry's demise and she could only just stifle a sob.

The owl hooted softly once more and then lifted off gently and flew on silent wings out through the window. Hermione heard as Hedwig let out one piercing shriek after another and realised that she was mourning in the only way she knew how. This time Hermione couldn't stop the tears from falling down her face. She wiped them away hurriedly. There would be time for that later, she decided.

Dawn was watching Hedwig go but her face was turned away and Hermione couldn't see her face.

"I don't think I can do this alone, Harry," she turned and looked upon the empty space beside her, "and before you say anything, no you don't count."

Hermione froze in total disbelief at what she just heard. Every single cell in her body seemed to freeze at this seemingly innocuous statement. Her mind screamed that it couldn't true, she had seen Harry die and there was no possibly way for him to be standing in the owlery or for Dawn to be speaking to him. Hadn't Dumbledore said himself that there was no way for someone to come back to life. But…

Indecision held her before she shook herself out of the daze. She stepped into the owlery, letting the American girl hear her footsteps so that she would turn to face her.

Hermione wanted to see her face for this one. She pulled her wand out and levelled it on the girl, anger causing the words she spoke next to come out as more of a growl than anything else.

"Where is Harry and what have you done with him."