A/N: So, thanks for the review. More would be nice. I'm really excited about where this story is going. I hope you all enjoy.

Transatlanticism

First Ginny was confused. Then, she was curious. She had given Hermione a meaningful look after her brief conversation with Malfoy. Hermione knew what it meant: We're going to talk later. She carefully avoided Malfoy for the rest of class, which had been hard considering his partner, Blaise, worked his damned hardest to be the center of attention. After class at ended, she rushed out of the room and out of Ginny's vision. By midday, she thought she had evaded an awkward conversation. No such luck.

"Do you really think he meant it? Do you think he's changed?"

Hermione had been expecting this, but she was rather hoping Ginny would have the tact to save her inquisition until later that evening in the common room instead of during the middle of lunch, surrounded by curious Gryffindors.

"Well, he seemed sincere. Or, at least as sincere as Malfoy can be. But it's probably just some ploy to get on my good side so he can get information or something."

Ginny looked at her thoughtfully. "Huh. So you don't trust him?"

"Of course I don't trust him!" Hermione was sure that Malfoy was the last person she would ever trust.

"Well…" Ginny trailed off, then sighed and looked down at her plate. Hermione felt her anger grow. Why is she thinking about this?

"Spit it out, Ginny," she blurted, her tone a bit snappier than she had meant.

"It's just…he did fight alongside us during the final battle."

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. Ginny was defending Malfoy, of all people!

"Only to save himself. He'll join anyone who offers him the best chance of survival. He's a coward!"

"I know, but that's just it. What would be the point of him joining the remaining Death Eaters when Voldemort's dead? They still may be dangerous, but their chances are far worse than ours."

Ginny had her there. Pure logic, a dear old friend of Hermione's, had made a crucial point against her argument.

"And," Ginny continued, sensing Hermione's resolve wavering. "I know, and you know, just how hard it really must have been for him to switch sides and stand against his own father. You know he's not a coward, Hermione. You just don't want to let go of this grudge you've been holding against him. I'm not saying he's not a right, foul git, because he is. And he's plain mean. But we both know he's not evil. Maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt."

Hermione stared, dumbfounded. Never had she expected such mature and profound words to be spoken by Ginny Weasley in regards to Malfoy. And, Hermione realized with shame, she was right. Hermione should know better. Ginny was right, Malfoy was never evil. Mean, ignorant, and brutally cruel, yes. But not evil. Maybe she could give him a chance to prove himself a better person.

It was with these thoughts in mind that she walked into Transfiguration nearly a month later. She had been perfectly 'civil' as they had agreed, but they never talked beyond a brief hello or goodbye. Her anger at everything was quickly dissipating as she observed him over the weeks. He was polite, kind even to all he encountered. Of course, that wasn't saying much since only Slytherins dared go near him. But, he was polite to her. Maybe he did deserve a little benefit of the doubt.

And there he was, sitting at a desk already by himself. She looked around the room. There were still a few empty desks, and she could easily grab one for her and Ginny to share. She looked back to Malfoy. She noticed the students around him were giving him a wide berth, avoiding him like the plague. She also noticed that he didn't look upset by these actions. Instead he looked, well, accepting. Hermione unwillingly felt a rush of pity. Determinedly, albeit also reluctantly, she strode over to the desk Malfoy was occupying.

"Anyone sitting here?" she asked, already knowing the answer but trying to give him a chance to refuse her presence. He looked up at the sound of her voice, shocked by her question. He stared at her for a moment before coming to his senses.

"No, by all means," he responded as he scrambled to move his books off her side of the table. He was thoroughly confused as to what was going on. He was under the impression that she, like all the other students, would be more than happy to avoid him and leave him in solitude. They sat in silence for a while, until he couldn't control his curiosity.

"Why are you sitting by me?"

She looked up, startled. She had been lost in her own thoughts.

"I can move if you think my mudblood presence will-"

"That's not what I said. Don't put words in my mouth," he shot, cutting off her rash comment. She glared at him, then seeing he had no animosity in his stare, her eyes softened.

"You looked lonely," she finally mumbled, suddenly finding the grain of the desk fascinating. She wouldn't admit she was unable to meet those silver eyes. How were eyes even silver, anyway?

"I would've thought you preferred it that way." A deep ire burned in his voice and she chanced a glance. With one look, she could see everything. The pain, the loneliness. She could see frightened first years scrambling away from the reformed Death Eater on the train. She could see students doubling back in corridors or taking the wrong staircase just to steer clear of him. And she knew, in that moment, that she would be Draco Malfoy's friend, simply because no one else would.

"No," she whispered. "Not even you deserve that."

McGonagall walked in shortly afterwards, effectively ending the conversation. The class passed in silence, but, Hermione noted, not an uncomfortable one. They worked together easily and efficiently. Every now and then, he would give her a small smirk, and she wearily noticed that it didn't disgust her anymore.

They finished their work before anyone else, but didn't talk. They remained sitting in the almost companionable silence. When class finally ended, they gathered their things together and walked into the hallway side by side.

"Ah, Miss Granger, , just who I was looking for!"

They both spun around to see a flustered Headmistress running toward them.

"I'll need the two of you to make a patrol schedule for the Prefects. Have it to me by the end of the week," she said rushed, mostly to Hermione. Suddenly she turned to Malfoy.

"If you would follow me to my office. I have something we need to discuss." They shared a knowing look before she turned and hurried back down the hall. Malfoy looked at Hermione briefly, and she could see apprehension in his eyes.

"I guess I'll see you in the common room later," he mumbled, unsure if she would actually want to see him.

"Sure," she replied, still confused by her former Professor's odd behavior. He gave her a quick grin before rushing off after McGonagall, leaving her standing in the corridor, alone and wondering. However, she quickly shrugged it off and chalked it up to Malfoy in general being odd as of late, and then headed off toward Ancient Runes.

"Ginny!"

It had been too long since she had been in the Gryffindor common room, and she had missed it tremendously. She sat on her favorite couch with her red-headed best friend, her cheeks flushing a brilliant shade of pink at the subject they were discussing.

"What? You had to know it happened. We're dating. People snog in a relationship, Hermione," Ginny laughed. Hermione's face darkened from pink to red in an instant.

"I know, but he's like my brother! I don't want to hear about it," she whispered back, looking around the room to make sure no one knew of their topic.

"I listened to you go on about snogging my actual brother, so I think that entitles me to give you the gory details at least two more times," Ginny answered cheekily, then regretted it. Hermione's face dropped at the mention of Ron.

"I know what you're thinking, Hermione, but don't," Ginny quickly started, trying to avoid the coming waterworks. "My brother's a dolt, and we both know it. Don't go getting yourself worked up over him, he's not worth it."

"Do you think I over-reacted? Maybe I should apologize-"

"Apologize?" Ginny scoffed. "For what? Calling him out on his own bullshit? Please, if anything I think you under-reacted. I would've punched his lights out like you did Malfoy back in third year." She laughed at the image of Ron holding a bloody nose while Hermione cracked her knuckles.

"Yeah, I guess," she mumbled gloomily.

"So, uh, speaking of Malfoy, how are things with the little ferret? I heard from Pavarti you sat by him in class today," Ginny said brightly, hoping that Hermione wouldn't see her attempt at changing the subject. She did, of course, but she took the bait anyway.

"Yeah, I decided to do what you said and give him a chance," she replied. She was actually glad she had. She felt like she was doing the right thing.

"And?" Ginny prompted.

"And, it wasn't that bad. We didn't really talk, but it wasn't awkward or hostile like I was expecting it to be. I think he's really lonely," she added as an afterthought.

"See," Ginny insisted happily. "This is why you should never doubt me. I'm always right."

Hermione laughed and opened her mouth to tell Ginny just how wrong that statement was, but an owl flew in through the open window and landed in her lap, silencing her. She recognized the owl as Harry's. It was holding three parchments in its talons: one addressed to Ginny and two addressed to herself. Hermione grabbed them and quickly sent the bird on its way.

"Well," she said as she handed Ginny her letter. "I suppose I'll head back to the Head Common Room now so you can read your letter from Harry." But her words weren't even heard as Ginny had already ripped open the parchment and started pouring into it. Hermione chuckled lightly as she stood and exited her old safe haven.

She really did miss the old place. For six years it had been her home, a place where she laughed and cried with her closest friends. But now that had all changed. Her friends were no longer there, save for Ginny, and she now had a new home. She sighed deeply as she looked down at the letters in her hand. One was from Harry, she already knew, but the other was written in handwriting she clearly recognized as Ron's. She smiled. Maybe they could work this out after all. With a newfound bounce in her step, she hurried toward the seventh floor.

As Hermione walked through the portrait hole to the Heads Common Room, she noticed how chilly it was. She quickly set to work starting a fire. When it was done she glanced around the room. It really was beautiful. She could learn to like it here. As she surveyed the room, she noticed it was empty. Where was Malfoy? She hadn't seen him since he ran off after McGonagall, and that had been nearly eight hours ago. It was almost curfew, and, though she would never admit it, she was slightly worried. Deciding to read the letters as soon as she returned, she set them on the coffee table and rushed back out the door. She wasted no time getting to McGonagall's office. She entered without knocking.

"Ah, Miss Granger. To what do I owe this surprise?" McGonagall inquired abruptly, slightly miffed about the seventh year's lack of manners.

"I was wondering if you knew where Malfoy was. I haven't seen him since earlier today when you asked to speak with him. It's almost time for curfew and he hasn't returned to our quarters," Hermione asked quickly, getting to the point.

"Oh, he has permission to be back after curfew. He had some personal matters to attend to, I believe."

Hermione furrowed her brows in confusion. "And you just let him go?" she asked before she could stop herself. McGonagall gave her a sharp look.

"Yes, Miss Granger. As Headmistress, it is my privilege to use my own discretion when it comes to matters such as these."

"Right, of course. I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll just be going now," Hermione apologized and turned to leave.

"Before you go," McGonagall said, causing Hermione to pause in her retreat and turn back around. "How are things thus far with ? I trust he's not giving you any trouble."

"No, ma'am. None at all. We're on…civil terms."

"Good," she smiled. "I hope you two will become friends. Don't give me that look. As I mentioned last month, there is much you don't know about ." She looked down at her copy of the Evening Prophet, signaling Hermione's dismissal. What had McGonagall meant by that?

Upon returning to the common room, she found it was still empty. With a sigh, she settled into her red chair and snatched her letters from the table. Nervously, she opened Ron's first.

"Dear Hermione,"

She chuckled slightly at his formal tone.

"I've been thinking a lot about what you said these past few weeks. The truth is you did us both a favor by telling me off and leaving me. You did the best thing for the both of us by ending it."

Hermione was confused. She hadn't ended things. Or had she? True, they hadn't spoken for nearly six weeks, but she had never officially broken things off.

"I'm much better off now. Lavender has really opened my eyes to everything."

Lavender!

"I see now that the reason we fought so much was because you were always holding me back. Lavender explained to me that you were jealous of me. You were jealous that I got more attention in the limelight than you did. I honestly didn't expect that from you, Hermione. I thought we were better friends than that."

What? He's with her? And he thinks I was jealous of his fame? She scoffed. That was the last thing she ever had an interest in.

"She loves that I'm an auror. She just can't get enough of me. I hope that one day you can admit your jealousy and we can be friends again. Until then, I think its best we continue not to speak.

Ron"

Hermione sat, stunned. She had lost Ron. She'd only been gone a month, and she already lost him to that daft bimbo. She remembered Harry's letter and tore it open. She immediately wished she had opened it first.

"Hermione,

Whatever you do, please don't open Ron's letter."

Too late, she thought wryly.

"If you've already read it or still intend on reading it like I know you probably will, ignore him. He's not himself right now. I don't know what's gotten into him. You know how he is when he gets too much attention. I know he's a right prat,"

You got that right.

"and I fully intend on giving him a thorough beating for the things he said to you, but please just know that when he realizes what an idiot he's been, he'll be really sorry. Just, think about forgiving him. Though I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted a relationship with him again, he still is your friend, and mine.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I hope all is going well with you at Hogwarts. I really miss you 'Mione. It's just not the same without you and Ginny here. I hear from you soon.

Harry"

She knew Harry was right, but in that moment she couldn't find it in herself to care. She had just lost her first love. She set the letters down gently, and sat in silence for a moment before the floodgates opened. All of her careful composure collapsed as she openly sobbed.

Everything's ruined. I've lost my boyfriend, my best friend's hundreds of miles away. Everything's changed. Everything's ruined.

She could vaguely hear someone calling out her name, but she paid no noticed. She wallowed in her own misery as gut clenching sobs tore from her chest, leaving her writhing in pain. Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her form. She grew dizzy as she was lifted off her feet into the arms. She turned her face into a broad chest, still crying. She noticed how warm and comfy it was. She felt herself being deposited onto a soft surface and the arms started to leave her. She held onto them with a weak grip and let out a soft whimper. They froze, as if calculating. Then they were back and she was laying pressed up against a warm body. As her sobs died down, she could hear a deep voice murmuring soothing words. Slowly, she lost consciousness.