I've had half of this chapter written from the start, but the beginning was so difficult! I promise I'll try to get the next chapter out soon. Thanks for sticking with me and thanks for the reviews, they really help motivate me.

"Hello Hermione,"

"Hi Luna," Hermione said, balancing the phone between her ear and her shoulder while she mixed ingredients in a bowl.

"Can I still expect you tonight?"
"Of course, I'm bringing bubblegum cupcakes."

"My favorite!" Luna said. Hermione laughed, as if there was any other reason to bake bubblegum cupcakes.

"With cotton candy frosting," Hermione added. The other witch squealed with delight, and Hermione smiled.

"Well I can't wait to see you and Draco there."

"Oh you invited him?"

"Of course. Is that okay?"

"Um… sure. It's fine," Hermione said, biting her lip.

"Are you two okay?"

"We're...fine."

"You two share a good energy," Luna said dreamily.

"...Thanks."

. . .

"Well I already knew a bit of Italian before I went," Hermione was saying to Luna when Ron, Lavender Brown, Harry, and Ginny arrived. She tensed, and pretended not to see them. They offered her the same courtesy.

Luna noticed the tension, and grabbed Hermione's arm, dragging her over to her old friends.

"I'm growing tired of this," Luna said resolutely.

"Luna, no, seriously you don't understand I-"

And suddenly she was face-to-face with Harry Potter.

"...Hello" Harry said after an awkward moment.

"Um, hi," Hermione responded, "hello Ginny, Lavender… Ron," she added, greeting each in turn.

"Welcome to my birthday!" Luna said cheerily.

"It looks lovely, I love how you've done the floating candles, just like back in Hogwarts," said Ginny.

"Yes, I miss Hogwarts. I miss seeing you all every day. Don't you miss that?" Luna asked pointedly.

"I do," Ginny said quietly.

"Harry, don't you miss that?" Luna asked.

"...Sometimes," Harry answered, looking at Hermione. Hermione averted her gaze, choosing instead to look at the floating candles all around them.

"Let's pretend we're back at school, just for one night," Luna suggested, "you wouldn't deny me my birthday wish, would you?"

Harry laughed softly, "no one could ever deny you anything Luna," he said lovingly.

But then Draco walked in.

"Hello Draco," Luna greeted him pleasantly.

Her guests tensed, and Ron's fists clenched.

"Hello Luna, happy birthday," Draco said smoothly, seemingly unaffected by the sudden uncomfortableness and Ron's glare.

"Thank you Draco. Have you and Hermione been fighting?"

"Luna!" Hermione exclaimed.

Draco merely laughed, "it's possible my lovely witch and I have hit a rough patch, yes." Hermione blushed furiously, and Harry shifted uncomfortably. Lavender grew bored and left for the refreshments table.

"Maybe she still has some sense left after all then," Ron said bitterly.

Draco laughed, "wow, I've heard a lot of insults directed towards Granger, but senseless has never been one of them," he turned to Hermione, "you're entirely sensible love."

Hermione didn't think she could blush any harder, but she managed.

"This is disgusting," Ron scowled, "is this why you came over here Hermione? To make me queasy?"

"Ron, please," Hermione begged.

"Traitor," Ron scowled.

"Watch it," Malfoy warned.

"Or what Death Eater?"

"Don't call me that," Malfoy said slowly, a dark tone in his voice and danger in his grey eyes.

"Why not? It's what you are. Hanging out with Hermione doesn't change that, especially now that she's-

"Ron stop," Harry said.

"A dirty slag," Ron finished.

Malfoy lunged. "Draco no!" Hermione screamed, lunging towards him but not fast enough. Draco's fist connected with Ron's face with a horrible cracking sound. Ron cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Ginny screamed and Harry withdrew his wand.

"Stupify!" Harry cried, knocking Draco onto his back. Ron scrambled up, and crawled on top of the stunned wizard. Ron began punching Draco's face repeatedly while yelling wildly, until Draco caught him by the wrist and delivered a blow of his own. Draco pushed Ron off of him, and was about to try and attack the wizard again when Hermione seized him from behind.

"Stop it Draco, please!" she begged, and he complied, partly because her grip around his waist was impressively tight. Ron, however, was not likewise restrained. He leaped on Draco with a howl, made all the more wild by the blood streaming from his nose. Draco struggled to avoid Ron's blows without hitting back, but most of Ron's wild swings managed to land. Hermione cried out in protest, but her voice was lost in the chaos. Finally, she released Draco, and shoved him behind her to scream directly in Ron's face, "Stop!"

Whether Ron had enough time to stop himself or not, Hermione couldn't tell, but the blow originally intended for Malfoy hit her square in the jaw. She fell back into Draco, who caught her and held her upright. She trembled in his arms.

Hermione stood back up, and took a step towards Ron, so they were only inches apart. She lifted her chin, as if to show him where he had hit her. Tears streamed down her face, and she took a shaky breath before saying slowly and sharply, "that's enough."

Hermione turned to Draco, and he drew a sharp breath when he saw the tears on her cheeks. She lifted her hands and tried to push him to turn around, but he resisted.

"Please," Hermione begged quietly.

Draco's jaw clenched, and he glared at Ron who glared back. Harry took a step forward to stand next to his friend.

"What then Granger, you're just going to let them keep treating you like this the rest of your life? I know you feel guilty, but you don't deserve this."

"Shut up Malfoy!" Ron yelled, "you don't know anything! This is none of your business!"

"I'll decide what is and isn't my business," Draco snapped, "and Granger already told me what happened." Hermione tensed, and tried harder to push Malfoy away, but he held firm. "And she doesn't deserve to be shunned by people who once called her their friend! She doesn't deserve your insults when she's just trying to move on with her life! She certainly doesn't deserve to be assaulted all because she couldn't stand your grimy hands on her another night!"

"What?" Ron shouted, angry and confused, and angrier still because he was confused.

"Draco please, let's go," Hermione begged. Draco began to turn and comply, but Ron stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

"What exactly did she tell you she did?" Ron asked.

"Ron, let it be," Harry said, and Ron hesitated long enough for Hermione to grab Draco and apparate away.