A/N: Hello lovelies! Just a heads up, I officially have four weeks of school left starting today so I may not update as much if at all during that time because things are starting to crack down. I'm not going on hiatus, I'm just putting this on the back burner since there is stuff I have to do that's more pressing at this time. If I have time, however, I'll post a chapter.

Just thought I'd give ya'll a heads up!

Tallyho!

Chapter 9: The Calm

The morning the Prophet broke the news of my "real" identity, the public went into a frenzy. My bookstore swarmed with people trying to get a look at the long lost Scamander daughter while reporters tried to get an interview with me at every turn. For once, I'm grateful that I live in Muggle London because at least my home won't be bothered by these vultures.

Harry's insisted that I have a guard with me at all times after I told him about an incident of a woman trying to trap me in the loo to ask me about being Newt Scamander's granddaughter. We argued about it for almost two days before he finally conceded and dropped the idea. I adore him, but sometimes he forgets who saved his life most of the time through school. I can take care of myself, just fine.

The most surprising part since the announcement has been that purebloods have actually come up to me and apologized. Yes, you read that right. I guess word spreads fast in the pureblood circle because no one has come up to me to try and propose but I think they think by apologizing, they might have a chance. Unfortunately for them, I'm happily taken, thank you very much.

Marcus Flint, Blaise Zabini, Adrian Pucey, Theo Nott, and even Draco Malfoy, just to name a few, have come up to me and apologized. When I asked whether they were apologizing because they felt bad for what they did or because I was a pureblood now, all but two gave me a sheepish excuse then walked away. Theo Nott admitted that he was apologizing because he knows that the way he treated me in school was wrong and "no one deserves to be treated that way; no matter what your blood status is." I accepted his apology and admitted to myself later on that night that Nott wasn't so bad.

Malfoy was probably the biggest surprise.

I'm under the desk at the bookstore, searching for a new roll of receipt parchment when I hear the door open. "We're closed," I reply. "Come back in the morning."

"This won't take long," a voice I recognize all too well says. I hit the back of my head on the shelf as I rise back to my feet to see none other than Draco Malfoy in my shop. "Oh no, not you too!" I exclaim before I can think about it.

He laughs and shakes his head. "I take it the marriage proposals have already started to come in."

"Worse," I reply. "The apologies! All the damn apologies for treating me so badly in school and all that bullshit; so, God help me Malfoy, if you've come here to apologize, I will hex you into the next century."

He chuckles and scans some of the books in the shelf by the door before looking at me. "Well, it was my intention to do just that but with that threat over my head, I think I'll just… take this instead." He plucks a book from the shelf and brings it over to me. I raise an eyebrow as I look at the title.

"How to Manage Large Creatures." I look back up to him, skeptically. "Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not," he smirks.

I shrug and move to ring up the book but I stop and look back to him. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"Well, I originally came to apologize-"

"You apologized after the war, Malfoy. There's no need to do it again just because I no longer have 'dirty blood.'" His eyes flash with remorse and I almost feel bad for throwing that back in his face. Almost.

"Yes, I know; and I am sorry about that. Not because of your new status but because I should never have said it in the first place. I was young and stupid and trying to impress the people I thought would protect me and instead it nearly got me killed. I know better now; and I won't make that same mistake again."

I nod. "Well, I'm glad to hear that."

He smirks. "That's not why I'm really here, though."

"Oh?" I ask.

"I actually came to thank you."

I drop the book on the counter and my jaw drops. "Pardon?"

"You heard me right, Granger. I'm here to thank you. For standing up for me during my trial after the war. That was- you didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did. You didn't tell your aunt it was us when the Snatchers captured us. You saved our lives. It was the least I could do for you."

He nods but I can see he doesn't believe me. "Well, either way, thank you. I've managed to turn my life around ever since then and I have to give you some of the credit; I don't think I'd have been able to do it if I had gone to Azkaban."

"Think nothing of it, Malfoy. 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' We're even." He smiles and I ring him up for the book. "That'll be three galleons and four knuts. And, I forgive you, on the condition that there will be no marriage proposal coming from you any time soon."

He chuckles and nods. "Deal. You're not really my type anyway."

"Forgive me if I'm relieved by that," I say.

His smirk returns and he finishes paying for his book. "Listen, Granger, I know we've never been on the best of terms but something tells me we'll be seeing a lot more of each other now that we run in the same circles. If you ever need any help trying to navigate through the pureblood culture that you've been thrown into, I'll be happy to help any way I can."

I smile. "Thanks, Malfoy." And after a moment, "I'm still not marrying you."

He shakes his head. "Forgive me if I'm not heartbroken by that."

Just then, my door opens again and Harry walks in. He seems confused to see Malfoy but nods politely to him anyway. "Malfoy."

"Potter." He looks back at me and smirks. "See you around, Granger."

"See you around, Malfoy." I say watching as he walks out of the store. There's one more thing crossed off the book: Malfoy and I are being civil to each other.

Harry looks back at me confused. "What was that about?"

I smile at him and shake my head. "Nothing; Malfoy was just reminding me that not all changes are bad."

I've seen Malfoy a couple times since then and I admit, having someone on my side from that culture is a relief. Don't get me wrong, Newt and Tina have been a great help but they're not really friendly with any of the other pureblood families on this side of the Atlantic (they have loads of friends over in America), so having someone who grew up with the culture and knows all the ins and outs is nice because now at least I'll have a walking encyclopedia to help me (and yes, I do call him that to his face).

In the meantime, however, Harry and I are preparing to break our own news to the Weasleys and our other friends. It's been about three months since the news broke about my identity and now that the hype has died down, we agreed we'd start telling everyone about us. We told my family a couple weeks ago and they knew, of course, but are very happy for us and welcomed Harry with open arms.

As for breaking the news to the Weasleys and everyone else, we decided we'd break it to them bit by bit; some of them, we'd tell on our own, others (like Ron) we'd tell together. First up, Ginny, who I just so happen to be telling by myself since Harry got tasked with telling the twins (Ron's out of town, visiting Joanna's parents for the week so we won't be able to tell him until he gets back) with Neville there to keep the mood light.

"Well, it's about bloody time!" Ginny exclaims after I've told her.

"What?" I ask.

"You didn't really think I didn't expect this, did you? As soon as you and Ron broke up and Harry and I broke up, you went to each other, you relied on each other as you healed. In the process, you grew so close, it was like you became one person. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to play matchmaker in order to make you two see that you liked each other."

I huff. "Well, that didn't go the way I expected. I had a whole speech planned out too."

"Well, I can pretend to be angry if you want," she jokes and I shake my head.

"No, that's okay. You don't mind, though? You're really okay with this?"

She squeezes my hand. "More than okay; I'm happy for you two."

I smile. "Thank you, Ginny. That means more to me than I can say."

She grins and takes a sip of her drink. "So, have you told Ron yet?"

I shake my head. "Not yet; we're waiting until he gets back from his trip with Joanna. Next up are your parents actually, since Bill, Charlie, and Percy are going to be far easier to tell."

She laughs. "Yeah, I'm sure."

I sigh. "I'm not sure who's reaction I'm more nervous for: your mother's or Ron's."

Ginny shrugs. "They both can be a little unreasonable at times, I admit but no matter their reactions, they'll come around. They love the both of you and can't fault you for finding love with each other."

Love. It's strange to think about something like that with Harry. Sure, I've always loved him but that was more of an affectionate kind of love. The love Ginny's talking about is deeper and stronger; something that can make or break someone. Love.

I think about the way his hands feel as they rest on my waist and his lips on my neck, distracting me as I'm trying to work, the way he touches me when we're making love, the way my stomach flips whenever I see him, the way he holds and comforts me after a long day, the way he listens to me when I'm talking about book orders that I have to make for the store. I think of the way his eyes light up when he's talking about a case, the pride in his eyes when he cooks something for dinner, the way he looks at me when he thinks I'm not looking, and I realize something: I am in love with him. I thought it was too soon to tell but now I know for sure. I love him.

"Hello! Earth to Hermione!" Ginny says, waving her hand in front of my face.

"Huh, what?" I say, coming out of my thoughts.

"Where did you go just now?" she asks.

I shake my head, hiding my smile. "Nowhere important," I lie. "What were you saying?"

She chuckles and shakes her head. "Just that you and Harry should come out with Neville and I some night. Maybe you and Harry could show us around Muggle London or something?"

I smile at that idea. "I'd like that. Something tells me you two would really like bowling, although I'm worried you and Harry would get really competitive."

She laughs. "Of course we would! It's who we are. That's okay; you and Neville can chat about books and plants while I crush Harry at bowling just like I do with Quidditch."

I bust out laughing at that, and we continue to chat over lunch, my worries over Molly and Ron's reactions fading away as I realize that they'll be just as happy for us as everyone else is.

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