A Song for Lonely Hill

A/N: Ahhhhh sorry! Had a little trouble with this chapter, but I think it turned out alright. As I get farther in the story, it gets harder for me to get each chapter perfect, so it'll take longer. Thank you to those who reviewed, I really appreciate every single one of them.

Letters and Malfoy Goodbyes---

A few days after she had officially become "friends" with Draco, he announced the he was going to defend his case at the British Ministry of Magic- The same case that Harry worked so hard to get passed. If Draco was to be cleared, then Harry would no longer owe him anything.

This meant that Harry was going to be in London for a few weeks, but unfortunately he wasn't able to stay at her house, as he explained in his letters.

November 12, 2005

Dear Hermione,

Just thought I'd write to let you know that the appeal to the ministry for Malfoy has been accepted, finally. This means I'll be back in England! Sadly, I'll need to be right near the ministry around the clock to monitor things, so it's unlikely I'll get to see you. I expect that Ginny won't be coming. She says she'd suffer separation anxiety if she was away from Lily and Ron for that long. So I guess I'll be alone, unless you count Malfoy.

We're having the trial in old courtroom ten. That should bring back some rather unpleasant memories right? Malfoy is being tried by the entire Wizengamot, and I'm a little nervous. I'm going to give evidence as a witness, and Scrimgeour is sure to grill me for every tiny detail. I think I'll be ready for him though. I'd better be or Malfoy goes right back to Azkaban and I'd still owe him. I just can't wait for this to be over with so I'm not in debt to a Malfoy any longer. I'll write when the trial is over to tell you how it went.

Hope you're okay,

Harry

Hermione waited anxiously for his next letter, often finding herself watching her window for any sign of approaching owls. She was also surprised at herself when she realized that she was not only missing Harry and Ginny, but that she was also missing Draco. It was rather strange without having his presence around her flat all the time. She had to stop herself from straightening up her living room, forgetting there was no one there to judge her.

What seemed like a decade later, a snowy white owl swooped through her window bearing an envelope. This letter was barely more than a sentence long, clearly Harry had only a few seconds to write it.

November 17, 2005

Dear Hermione,

Trial's over. Draco Malfoy has been declared free by the court and can come out of hiding. I'm off to Apparate back home, then.

Harry

Her immediate reaction was relief. Finally, it was over. Harry could be at peace with himself at last.

But what did this mean for Draco? He was free again. Surely he wouldn't want to hang around her place for much longer. Did he need her as his personal shrink anymore? Probably not, Hermione thought dully, surprised at herself for feeling so disappointed.

He hadn't redeemed himself yet, and she knew it. She felt she had barely scratched the surface. So far, all that had been accomplished was that he wasn't bottling up his emotions any longer. There was so far to go.

So how could she convince him to hang around? She had to prove to him that there was more to gain for himself. Luckily, Hermione didn't have to wait long. A few days after she had received the note from Harry, there was a knock on the door. Draco strolled in arrogantly as she opened it. He flopped down on her sofa and put his feet up.

"Draco, why are you here?" she asked tentatively, sitting on the chair opposite him. "I mean, you've said everything you need to say."

"That's true, I have. But I have a theory, and I think I'm right, that you have something you need to tell me," he said examining his fingernails.

"Where would you get that idea?"

"Well, when I was telling you about the final battle, how I sent for Greyback and all, you went all stiff and changed the subject hastily."

This was indeed true, and Hermione flinched at the memory and felt herself going cold. It had not been enjoyable to talk about Ron's murderer.

"So?" she said, as if the matter held no importance, but really trying to keep down the sudden lump in her throat by saying as little as possible.

"C'mon, Granger, really. There's no need to lie."

After a small silence, she replied, "Greyback killed Ron, Draco. At the battle." She said it softly, half-hoping he wouldn't hear it. "And you sent for him."

"You think it's my fault?" he said in a completely different voice than his usual drawling self.

"Yes," she said, still so quietly she was surprised he could understand. "I mean, I did think that. I don't know now. I blamed you for a very long time. I'm not sure if I blame you any more. It was seven years ago, I can't believe I'm still thinking about this."

Draco stared at her with an odd expression on his face. Was it pity? Regret? She buried her hands in her face, hoping it would make this conversation go away. She did not want to talk about this, she couldn't stand it.

But then he interrupted her inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry," he said in a small voice.

"Excuse me?" she replied, looking up.

"I'm sorry about… about Weasley… I didn't mean… I didn't know… I'm sorry for bringing this up."

"No. It's okay. I guess I needed to let that out."

"Guess so."

"Shit, I'm a hypocrite," she said, slapping her forehead.

"What d'you mean?"

"Here I am, preaching to you to open up, to redeem yourself, to become a better person, even. But look at me!" her voice grew stronger, she stood up. "I'm no better than you, I'm worse! I haven't talked to anyone about how I really felt since school. And hardly even then. Shit, I'm screwed up."

"You're not screwed up, Granger, you're a much better person than me," he said, standing up as well.

"Oh, who're you kidding."

"You are talking to a former Death Eater, Hermione, seriously."

She laughed, despite herself.

"I guess we're both pretty messed up."

He laughed too. "Yeah, I suppose we are."

They stood there for a moment in silence, not awkward, but thoughtful. After a moment, he broke off her thoughts.

"I should go home. It's late," he nearly whispered.

"Okay. I'll see you around."

And then, he grabbed her face roughly and kissed her cheek. "Malfoy traditional goodbye," he said, his old swagger regained.

He left before she had a chance to respond or digest what had just happened.