The spacious grounds of Hogwarts are filled with students who are enjoying one of the first real days of spring in England. The past few months have gone by, and the winter had taken its toll on all who were in the castle. With the downcast weather now on its way, its counterpart is a welcome long term guest as compared to the frigid temperatures that had been endured just weeks before.

Sprawled out across the green grass beside Black Lake, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna stare up at the sky, watching the clouds that pass by. Hermione, who had become weary of being cooped up in the castle, is grateful for the new season the most, despite what time of year it is leading to.

"The Nargles quite like this type of weather," Luna points out, to which Hermione and Ginny simply nod in agreement from beside her.

Stretching out even further, Ginny creates a large X with her body in the space she occupies.

"It's a wonderful day for Quidditch, you know. Too bad you two have not a sporty bone in either of your bodies," she jibes to the others, smirking.

"I belong where my feet are firmly attached to solid earth," Hermione states, unwaveringly.

"The ground is quite nice, when I'm not colliding with it," Luna adds, in agreement.

"This is why I wish Harry and Ron had returned this year. It would have made times like this more lively."

"In a few more months, we'll all be graduated, and you can go play Quidditch whenever you feel like," Hermione reminds.

Sighing at the reminder, she glances up at the blue sky, becoming slightly nostalgic.

"Just yesterday, we were on the train as ickle firsties, and now we're about to leave this place for good. How did the time get away from us?" Ginny wonders.

"Whether we wish it to or not, time is always moving forward, pressing on even if we can't do the same ourselves," Hermione points out.

"I don't know about either of you, but I am looking forward to sleeping in and playing Quidditch all summer long!" Ginny exclaims in excitement.

"My father has decided he wants to go abroad and spend some time researching the Nargles in more depth. I believe I'll go with him, because I find them fascinating, and for the time being I have nothing better to do."

The group goes silent, while Hermione trains her gaze across the lake, watching a few students grazing the water with their fingers while atop their brooms. Spying Draco Malfoy, she turns away, not wishing to be caught with her eyes upon him. From the moment the pair had rowed months before, neither can stand to be around the other. Silence is a common occurrence, should either be forced to be within the vicinity of the other's presence. She had decided that whatever he knows, is probably better off left alone, at least for the time being.

"What about you Hermione?" Luna inquires.

"I plan to find a menial job, until I can afford-,"

"Hold on. Stop right there. Why would you be worrying about your funds?"
"I can't stay in that bedroom at your mum and dad's forever Ginny. That's their home. I'm grateful for the time they've allowed me to stay, but I don't wish to outwear my welcome."

"Hermione, you're family!"

Giving her a bittersweet smile, Hermione sits up to speak more.

"I appreciate the sentiment Gin, but I feel like this is something I need to do. I adore you and your family, but I need space of my own. Regardless of whatever happens between Ron and I, you all mean the world to me."

"You say that as if you expect to break up within the future."

"I just want to be realistic Ginny. I am my own person apart from him. As such, I need to be able to live separately until we are at a point where should we choose to live together, we can contemplate that when the time comes. I'm not saying that it couldn't happen, just that it should not be right now."

"To each their own, I suppose," the red haired witch replies slightly hurt, then stretching her arms underneath her head.

"I think I'll be heading to the library now. There's some last minute exam questions I need to go over," Hermione states, hopping up and walking away before either Luna or Ginny can suggest otherwise.

HMDMHMDMHMDM

"Good one Draco!" Blaise shouts, when his friend catches the snitch just seconds before a Ravenclaw is able to snatch it up into her grasp from the opposing team.

As during the Christmas holiday, the Slytherins had taken to organizing mock Quidditch games, when the regular house teams aren't playing. However, instead of the teams being divided by House rather, they began to split up by skill level. Younger students remain more of spectators, while the older ones would take to the skies, attempting to form the best teams possible by picking teammates from all Houses. McGonagall had at first been sceptical about the whole venture, but as time had proven, Quidditch could bring together even the most opposite of people.

Soaring down to the ground, people surround the blonde tentatively to pat him on the back, before congratulating the rest of his team on their win. Blaise and Theo finally make their way to him, and drop their brooms in favor of lifting him atop their shoulders. Looking over the multitude of cheering people around them, Draco happens to notice Hermione practically sprinting towards the castle in the distance, and is quite pleased to note that he can hardly care less as to the reason at all.