Just a quick little note:

1- Keep in mind this is fanfiction. I've had a few people tell me how 'unbelievable' this story is because of this or that, but the point of fanfiction is that you can bend the rules. If you disagree with what I write, you are welcome to. Hermione and Draco are 'unbelievable' if you go by the books. Everything's 'unbelievable', but fanfiction is where you can change the storyline to what you want.

2- This is a slow story. I don't want to rush it like I did the first one. I skipped huge chunks of time and it became a bit hectic, so I'm going to go very slowly here. So please be patient; hopefully it'll be worth your time.

Chapter 14: Birthday Girl

Hermione woke up in her empty apartment, feeling miserable. The silence that echoed around her was suffocating. Hermione lay in bed for what seemed like forever, letting the silence suffocate her, but when she was just about to doze off again, she heard a faint *pop* from outside her door, along with voices. She got up slowly and crept towards the door leading to the hallway. Very carefully, wand in hand, she flung the door open.

"Happy birthday!" They yelled, and Hermione screamed. She looked around to find Luna and Ginny standing in the doorway to her bedroom holding what looked like breakfast in bed. "I knew that Ron was away so we decided to make you breakfast!" Ginny looked ecstatic. Luna had the same dreamy look about her that she did while at school.

"Good morning, Hermione. You look quite shocked; is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes. You two just scared me, that's all. Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it."

"Get back in bed, then!" Ginny ushered Hermione back towards her bed, laughing. "Happy birthday. Ooh, did Ron give you those?" Ginny pointed to the tulips that Draco had given her the day before. The flowers were sitting in their vase on top of her dresser.

"No, they came from Draco." Ginny gave her a look that Hermione chose to ignore. "These pancakes are amazing, thank you."

"You're very welcome." Luna was gazing around Hermione's room. "You have a very nice bedroom. But I think that there –"

"So, what do you plan on doing today?" Ginny said, interrupting Luna's rambles. "Considering it's your birthday."

"Well, I have a lunch date with my parents, then dinner with your parents and then we're going to the pub."

"I haven't been to Hogsmead since we left school." Luna told them dreamily.

"Exactly why I want to go back. And I checked; it's not a day that the Hogwarts students are allowed out, so we won't bump into the little rascals." Ginny laughed.

"We'll let you get dressed then. Happy birthday!" Ginny and Luna bid Hermione goodbye and disapparated.

A few hours later, Hermione hopped off of the bus near the café her parents were meeting her for lunch. The 23 year old walked calmly into the small café and spotted her parents, who were waving at her from the corner. Hermione smiled and walked towards them.

"Happy birthday, darling!" Her mother hugged her tightly.

"Happy birthday, Hermione," her father hugged her gently and sat down. "How have you been? Where's Ron? I thought he was joining us?"

"He had to work." Hermione told him, and her mother put a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright; I'm sure he'll be home soon." Her mother nodded, and picked up her menu.

"I recommend the seafood salad; it is delicious." Rachel told Hermione.

"It does sound nice. I think I might go for that one."

"So how are things, Hermione?"

"Everything's fine. Work is going well, Draco and I are getting a lot done; we're very close to getting a law changed so that it's fair for muggle-borns."

"So you and Draco have been working quite closely together?"

"Yes, we're partners. Don't look at me like that." She told her mother who was giving her the same look Ginny had given her that morning. "We're just friends. It's been four years!"

"I didn't say anything." Her mother said. "So, I heard you were going to the Weasley's for dinner tonight."

The lunch carried on. Hermione told her parents everything that was happening in her life, as well as the fight her and Ron had had. Her parents had given her an old picture of them framed. It was the day that Hermione was off to Hogwarts. The little 11 year-old girl smiled at her through the glass, and Hermione couldn't help but wish she could go back there and experience the thrill of discovering a whole world again.

It was half 8 when Hermione and Ginny left finally left the Weasley's to go to the pub. The day had been packed, and Hermione was looking forward to spending time with her friends. She had to admit that she was glad that it had been such a busy day; it had kept her mind occupied so that she did not think of Ron too much. As she apparated to the pub, she saw that Luna was already sitting in a corner with a huge cake in front of her.

"Happy birthday!" She cried again as Hermione sat down.

"Déjà vu." Hermione smiled.

"Whom are we waiting for?" Ginny asked Hermione after she had ordered a butterbeer.

"Well, we're waiting for Neville and Draco."

"You invited Draco?" Ginny asked her, surprised.

"Yes; he is my friend and I invited him to my birthday, is that so wrong?"

"No, no. I'm just surprised. Oh look; Neville's here!" Neville walked over to where they sat and wished Hermione a happy birthday.

"How's teaching going, Neville?" Luna asked him, dreamily.

"It's great! I get to spend my days at Hogwarts and come here for drinks and shopping whenever I'm not teaching. I also get to enjoy the magnificent feasts. Nothing beats a Hogwarts feast."

"That is definitely true. Tell me," Hermione asked him, "where do the teachers sleep? Because I have never understood it."

"Well, there's a corridor that is usually locked unless you know the password, and we all have our own rooms and bathrooms there."

"Where is it? I don't remember seeing it on the map." Hermione took a sip of butterbeer.

"It's on the sixth floor, on the West side of the castle."

"Oh, right. How is it?"

"It's alright," Neville shrugged. "We don't have to stay there; we also have the option of staying in Hogsmead, or flooing home at night. It's much easier to sleep there, though. I am thinking of renting a place here, so that I don't have to always stay in the castle. It can get a bit restricting."

"How are things with Hannah?" Ginny asked him, and Neville blushed.

"Things are going great. It's getting really serious, which is partly the reason I want to rent a place here. I'm thinking of asking her to move in with me." The girls around the table gasped and shrieked in happiness.

"I'm so happy for you! Neville, I wish you and Hannah the best." Hermione told him, and he nodded in thanks.

"So, who else is coming tonight? Where are Ron and Harry?" Ginny and Hermione frowned.

"They had to work." Hermione said pointedly, and Neville dropped his head down. "We're still waiting for Draco." Neville looked up again.

"Draco? As in the Draco Malfoy? Why did you invite him?" Neville looked aghast.

"Because he's my friend." Hermione told him. "Here he is." She smiled and waved at Draco who had just entered the pub. He walked over.

"Hey there! Happy birthday, Hermione!" He walked over and gave her a quick hug. "Luna," he nodded in her direction and she nodded back, "Neville. How are you? I heard you were teaching at Hogwarts now." He shook Neville's hand.

"Yes, Herbology."

"Well, it was always your best subject." Draco smiled at him. "And Weaslette. Except I can no longer call you that, can I?" Ginny smiled.

"No. But you can call me Ginny." Draco nodded and sat down next to Neville. The rest of the evening went by quickly. The atmosphere that surrounded them was one of joy, and Hermione was glad that Draco's presence hadn't frightened Neville off. In fact, Neville and Draco were acting as though they had always been friends. At around midnight, Neville bid them farewell and headed back to the castle, closely followed by Luna. Ginny stayed until one in the morning, before leaving too. She gave Hermione one last hug before going, and took another slice of cake home. The pub was starting to empty, so Hermione and Draco put the remaining slices of cake into a box and put it in Hermione's bag. As they walked around the deserted streets of Hogsmead, they reminisced about the times they had walked in those same streets all those years ago.

"I'll always remember when Harry snuck out in his invisibility cloak to look around Hogsmead." Hermione smiled.

"I remember that! He threw snowballs at me and Crabbe and Goyle."

"And then you nearly got him into trouble." Draco shrugged.

"I was 13 and sopping wet from a snowball fight. What can I say?" Draco smiled at Hermione. "Speaking of that day; let's go see the shrieking shack. I want to look at it at night." Hermione agreed and the two of them walked along the streets and found their way to the shack. The sight of it in the dark made Hermione shiver, and a pang of hurt went through her when she remembered Lupin. Draco sensed her sadness.

"What's wrong?" He whispered.

"I was remembering professor Lupin." Draco looked at her and put his arm around her.

"I'm sorry. I know he meant a lot to you."

"It's ok; it's been four years."

"Doesn't mean it's any easier." Hermione smiled grimly.

"That is very true." They stood there for a while looking at the old decrepit building. "It's so strange being here after so long." Draco nodded. "Let's sit down." Hermione and Draco walked over to a tree and sat up against it, hidden from view from anyone who came to investigate. They sat there in silence for a while, just content in the moment.

"I need to tell you about Azkaban." Draco told her suddenly, and she turned to look at him in surprise. Brown to grey, grey to brown.