Hey guys! I promise, I haven't forgotten this fanfiction and I'm thinking about it a lot. But I simply can't find the time to write. I hope to get a few chapters done during the next two weeks as I'm on vacation. Please give me some input whether you've liked this update or not. xo
The week continued to pass rather quickly for some, terribly slowly for others. Most students spent their time doing some last-minute gift shopping or looking for lost clothing items before the Hogwarts Express would take off to London on Friday afternoon. While Luna could still be found staring leisurely out of windows in between her final exams, Hermione was busy making revision schedules and book lists for the Christmas break. She would spend the holidays with her parents whom she hadn't seen nearly enough since their memories had been recuperated. Thoughts about Draco Malfoy and his mother still ghosted through her head, but not nearly as often as they had a few days before. Thursday afternoon, she was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with a thick book in her lap, a piece of parchment in one hand and a quill in the other. All but on task on her revision schedule were crossed off for this day, soon that last one would be done also as she had almost finished said book. With half an ear, the witch listened to Harry and Ginny's conversation. The former had accepted Mrs. Weasley's invitation to spent Christmas at the Burrow, so he and his red-headed girlfriend were planning what to do during their free time. As they had reason to hope to move to Grimmauld Place after their graduation next summer, they wanted to spend some time there as well. Ron was but rarely mentioned as he had proclaimed he only wanted to eat, sleep and do nothing but relax.
The following evening, Hermione had the pleasure of being received by her mother and father on platform 9 ¾. Mr. Granger was a sensible man, greatly interested in everything concerning his daughter's magical education since the day the first letter from Hogwarts arrived. Mrs. Granger was an amiable and extremely intelligent woman, much like her daughter. Seeing the two Granger women next to each other, it was rather clear whom the girl had to thank for her looks.
Due to their kind nature, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Granger bore a grudge for having been obliviated. When Hermione undid the spell, they had been incredibly happy to find her in good health, although they were quite furious when they learned why their daughter had cast the spell and how often she had risked her life during the war.
Hermione's first act upon her arrival back home was to brew a nice cup of tea for herself and her father. They then would sit down and she would describe as precisely as possible the newest spells she had learned. When this was done, it became her turn to talk to her mother while she prepared the dinner and her father watched the news. Mrs. Granger loved to pamper her little girl whenever she was home and hear about what she and her friends had been up to. This evening she wasn't too happy with some of the things she was told.
"I do not blame Ron for seeking Krum's presence," Hermione remarked, "for Ron had always stood in his older brother's shadows and had to prove himself. But mum! It is very hard to see him wasting his time drinking way too much and bathing in the 'glory' that surrounds Krum. His grades are going down more and more, he won't even let me help him… I am sorry to say it of him, but he will fail the final exams if he continues like that. It makes sad, to see that happening to one of my oldest friends."
Mrs. Granger nodded in understanding. "It seems like Ron can't handle life after the war," said she. "I am sorry for how he is wasting his last year at Hogwarts. But these things happen sometimes. A young person, such as your friend, so easily adapts to some situations like the war, but when the situation changes – for the better or for the worse – it can be all the harder to re-adapt. Maybe it'll help Ron to distance himself more from the past once you've graduated."
"If only you were right, mum. But I fear it won't work like that for Ron. He is not suffering from the past. In my opinion, it is more difficult for him to get his life together now that there isn't a clear purpose right in front of him. I don't think he even has plans about what to do after Hogwarts."
"That may easily change in the next months. Give him some time, not everyone can handle traumatising events as well as you, sweetheart."
"How much time should I give him? Weeks and months have already passed and his behaviour is only getting worse… Perhaps I should write to Molly and ask her to talk to him? Not about his life goals in general, but about his drinking? Every time he goes out, it's getting more and more obvious that he had more than just a few glasses. It doesn't matter if he's by himself or if Seamus or someone else accompanies him. What should I do?"
"Oh dear… If you feel it might help with the situation, send a letter to Mrs. Weasley. Spending the Christmas break with his family could also help Ron. A change of scene and of the people he talks to daily might be beneficial."
Hermione wasn't too convinced with her mother's musings.
"I hope," added Mrs. Granger, "that Ron will be his old self soon. Now tell me, how are Harry and Ginny? In your last letter, you said they were planning to move together, right? And what about your other friends?"
"Harry his slowly getting better; thanks to Ginny, I might add. She just notices when he is about to shut himself off and always managed to get through to him. They others are as well as ever. Oh, I forgot to tell you about Luna! You saw me hugging her at King's Cross, the blonde girl with the dreamy expression. Do you know whom I'm talking about?" Mrs. Granger nodded yes. "Well, Luna has accepted a work offer and therefore has already taken all her final exams. I'm sure I'll miss her…"
"That is great for your friend. I hope you two will stay in contact."
"Luna will probably forget to answer my letters," Hermione replied with a laugh. "And then, when I'm expecting her the least, she'll suddenly stand right in front of me."
Mrs. Granger inquired after a few other people whose names she remembered from letters and stories about the magical world. Hermione always loved talking about her professors and how they helped her with her education. Upon mentioning the name Draco Malfoy though, Mrs Granger noticed that her daughter's face suddenly clouded with serious worry, although she didn't say much about him. The older woman found this rather intriguing. The first few years of Hogwarts, her little girl would fight tears whenever the boy was mentioned, and her letter proved that quite a few had fallen. That changed after the third year, when she suddenly got furious when she talked or wrote about him and it changed once again during her daughters sixth school year to something akin to mild concern. How Hermione had felt about the boy during the war, Mrs. Granger didn't know. Her girl had once mentioned that Draco Malfoy had been on the wrong side of the war and that she still had testified in his favour because he was forced to do what he had done.
During dinner that night, Mrs. Granger carefully observed her daughter. She ate with great appetite as she told them about her plans to visit Diagon Alley the next day to meet her friend Luna one last time before her new work started. It was merely a gut feeling, but Mrs. Granger was sure she would be hearing about Draco Malfoy some more in the near future.