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Chapter 28: To Err is Human, to Forgive, Rewind:

Alexander Pope was an English poet and essayist who lived in the 18th century, and was considered the father of Enlightenment. People often quote him right and left, and often they don't even know from whom the quotes originated. Most people don't even know who he was. He was way ahead of his time in his way of thinking. He frequently wrote about God's love for man and about forgiveness. He knew one thing, and that was that forgiveness was a truth universal.

He was famous for several quotes, among them, 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread,' and 'hope springs eternal in the human breast.' His most famous quote was, 'To err is human. To forgive, divine.'

Hermione often found it hard to forgive people. It was her only shortcoming, she was sure. However, taking a page from Pope, Hermione decided she would forgive Draco for everything.

Whether a person proclaimed to be a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Pagan, an Atheist, an Agnostic, a Jew, or something else, they usually believed in forgiveness and loving their fellow man. Hermione Granger pondered these things during her short stay in the cloakroom that night, things like forgiveness, like human nature and lies, and things like her future. Alexander Pope said it best: To err is human. To forgive, divine.

When you love somebody, forgiveness is understood, and doesn't need expressed. In Draco's case, a lot of forgiveness was needed, since he did so many things that needed to be forgiven, so she would need to do it often.

To err is human; to forgive, divine. She knew it would become her new mantra. Everyone made mistakes. Everyone's done things for which they need to seek forgiveness. Those without fault throw the first stone, and so forth, and so on. Some people speak ill of a friend. Some people lie. Some people cheat and steal. Some people (like Draco), do all of the above. Draco often did the wrong thing, even though he knew that he shouldn't. At least, she hoped he knew the difference between right and wrong. Growing up with those two people as his parents, she wasn't so sure.

No one Hermione knew was perfect. When she finally acknowledged that fact, when she finally identified it, she felt she could finally start to forgive Draco, because she couldn't expect him to be better than she was, could she?

Though no lie was little (a lie was a lie, right?), a lie that hurt others was still wrong, even if the person lied for the right reason. Therefore, the person who lied should say, "I'm sorry," and the person wronged should say, "Apology accepted," and both should be on their merry way.

How could she expect Draco to forgive her when she did bad things, if she wouldn't forgive him? In her mind, she had yet to do anything that needed redemption or forgiveness but she figured that everything came back to people tenfold. That was the way things should be. To seek forgiveness, a person had to offer it first.

However, things were rarely the way they should be. Blessed was he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. If that was not one of the quotes from the Sermon on the Mount, it should be.

The rest of the dinner went pretty much like the start of the dinner. His parents asked Hermione derogatory questions, not really expecting answers. They continued to tell Draco how disappointed they were with him, not really expecting him to respond. By the end of the evening, Hermione felt numb. She also had a nice little buzz due to the five drinks she had during dinner.

Draco decided to take her home as soon as they left the restaurant. Before they left, he kissed his mother's cheek and said quickly in her ear, "I love her, Mum." He pulled away and thought he saw understanding in her eyes. He kept his arm around Hermione as he leaned forward and shook his father's hand. He said in hushed tones, "Think about things father. Wouldn't you have been happier in life if you could have married for love?"

He had no idea if his words had any effect, and at this point, he no longer cared. He said goodbye to his parents by the doors outside, turned with his fiancée in his arms, and disapparated. He had only had the two drinks at the beginning of the meal. He wanted to keep his head clear during the meal because he saw how much she was drinking, and he knew one of them should have a clear head to deal with the Malfoys, and in this case, it had to be him.

He entered the foyer of his townhouse, Hermione in one arm, her purse in the other, and as soon as he was in the house with her, she collapsed against one wall. He squatted down beside her, brushed her hair out of her face, and though her eyes were shut, he said, "I'm sorry, Hermione." He didn't know if she heard him or not, but he was. He was sorry. He was sorry for so many things.

She heard him. She wasn't so far gone that she hadn't heard. She sat there against the wall in the entryway of Draco's house, and thought about the words of Alexander Pope. Frankly, she was proud that she could remember the man's name since she was so drunk that she couldn't even remember what colour knickers she had on, but she remembered his words, and decided one thing. She would forgive Draco.

Draco opened the door to his flat and went inside. Hermione wondered if he meant to leave her in the hall. Maybe she wouldn't forgive him after all. She crawled over to the stairs, and started climbing, on her hands and knees, up the stairs. She felt like a fool, but she was sure she wouldn't be able to stand if she tried.

Draco came back out to the hall, having changed clothes to jeans and t-shirt and said, "Wait for me, Hermione." He picked her coat and abandoned purse back up and with his wand, he levitated them to her floor. He climbed the stairs until he was on the same step as her, and he sat beside her and pulled her over to him. She was forced to sit beside him. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Interesting dinner, huh?" he asked.

She couldn't answer if she tried. All she could think was that he was so pretty and perfect. She placed her hand on his chest and felt for his heartbeat. She wondered, for the briefest moments, if he was human. She then laughed aloud, because only an inebriated Hermione would have had such a silly thought. He smiled when she started laughing at her silent 'inside' joke.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

"Are you real?" she asked back.

He laughed again and said, "The jury's still out. Let's get you upstairs."

"Wait," she said as he started to stand. He sat back down and placed his arm back around her.

"What?" he asked.

"I love you," she said. She frowned slightly, because that wasn't what she was going to say.

He frowned when he saw her frown. He said, "That's nice, because I love you, too."

"No, that's not what I was going to say, however, that doesn't mean it's not true." She took a big breath because suddenly she felt slightly sick. She looked into his eyes and said, "I forgive you."

"You do?" he asked, his amusement apparent once more on his face.

"Yes, for to err is human, to forgive, rewind," she said.

"Rewind?" he asked.

"Oh, I mean, divine," she said. She started to giggle. "I was thinking about the phrase, 'please be kind, rewind'."

He didn't know to what she was referring, but he thought she was charming, all the same. "Are you drunk, Hermione Granger? I'm ashamed of you," he said. "No, actually, I'm slightly excited, because I usually get lucky when I get my dates drunk."

"You would get lucky with me, anyway," she said. "Take me home, Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. What a silly name."

"Coming from a woman named Hermione. There's not even a decent way to come up with a nickname for you," he said. "Hermie? Mione? Herm? HG?" he asked.

"I can't think of a derivative of Draco Malfoy, either," she said. "Drake? O?" she asked.

"O?" he said. "You are pissed, aren't you?"

He helped her up the stairs and once outside her door, he propped her up against his side, with one arm around her waist, and he opened her door, just a fraction, and then he said, "I forgive you, too."

"What did I do?" she asked sincerely.

"Perhaps nothing yet, but I forgive you anyway. You have one blanket forgiveness from me, good for one use and one use only, to be used at anytime that you see fit. Okay?" he stated, still slightly amused by her.

"You're hoping I won't remember this, aren't you, Draco Malfoy? Well, I have a mind like a steel strap," she said.

"Steel trap," he corrected.

"That, too," she said. "I'll remember this."

"Good, I want you to remember," he said. "The offer is a preemptive offer; good up to one year after it's issued. Now, let's get you inside." He kicked open her door and was greeted by five frowning faces. Good thing they had already forgiven each other, because by the looks on her friends' faces, he was probably going to do some things tonight that would need forgiving and she probably would, too. If nothing else, he would have to forgive her for her poor choice of friends, and their meddling ways.

Draco deposited Hermione on the couch and turned to the crowd, which included Harry, Joe, Lavender and Mike, and as fate would have it, Michael 'the arsehole' Corner. "What in the world are all of you doing here?" he asked, as he went over and slammed her door shut.

"What's wrong with her?" Joe asked, as he pointed to the woman on the sofa that resembled Hermione Granger.

Draco looked over at the almost comatose form of his fiancée on the couch and with feigned ignorance said, "Whatever do you mean, Nancy? Hermione seems fine to me."

"Just answer the question!" Joe said.

"You answer mine first, powder puff. What are you all doing here?"

Lavender stepped between the two men; fairly certain neither would hex the other while a pregnant woman stood between them. Her husband was less convinced, so he grabbed her hand and replaced her body with his. Harry sat on the couch and patted Hermione's cheek, and Michael went to get some coffee and a cold compress.

Mike asked Draco, "What's wrong with Hermione?"

"He's got her under a spell! I told you so!" Joe yelled.

Draco stepped around Mike, who grabbed his arm, and yelled, "No one's got anyone under a spell, Nancy!"

"Stop calling me that!" Joe yelled back.

"What should I call you, you overgrown, meddling piece of shite?" Draco asked.

Harry actually laughed from the couch and said, "From the smell of things, she's just drunk, Joe." He looked at Draco and said, "Joe made a formal complaint to the Auror's office this evening that you had Hermione under the Imperius Curse, because she claimed to be engaged to you."

"I didn't make the complaint because she's drunk," Joe said. "I have other evidence."

Draco sat on Hermione's other side, ignoring Joe, and said to Harry, "She only had five drinks and she's two sheets to the wind."

"Yeah, she always was a lightweight," Harry responded.

Draco added, "I would be slightly ashamed of her, but I have bigger problems, like how did all of you get past my wards to get in here?"

Harry took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirttail. "Hermione gave me a key to the patio door a long time ago. I used a broom to fly up to the patio, and then I let the rest of them in the house."

Draco winced inwardly. Stupid Scarhead and his stupid use of Muggle keys. Draco never used keys. He didn't even know the patio door had a key. Draco said, "As an Auror, I demand you arrest yourself for unlawful entering."

"It wasn't unlawful. I told you, I used a key," Harry said. Hermione opened her eyes.

"Hi, Harry," she said, just noticing he was there.

"Hi, Hermione," he said. "Are you okay?"

"I had dinner with the Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy," she answered, making a face.

"Enough said," Harry told her, patting her hand. Michael walked back in the room and placed a cup of coffee in her hands, and wiped at her forehead with a cold cloth. Draco stood up and Michael took his abandoned seat next to Hermione.

"Dammit, Potter!" Joe screamed. "Arrest Malfoy!"

"Dammit, Potter!" Draco mocked, "Arrest Nancy!"

"Who's Nancy?" Hermione asked Michael. He smiled and shrugged.

"I have proof she's under the Imperius!" Joe said.

"What proof?" Draco asked, walking around the man.

"Look how she's dressed!" Joe said, pointing to her. "That dress is impeccable! It's worth a fortune! It's a designer dress and her shoes are, too! Everything matches! I bet even her knickers match! Hermione Granger would never dress that well by herself! It looks like she has even waxed! She's under the Imperius, I tell you."

Hermione looked down at her outfit and turned to Michael and said, "I wondered what colour my knickers were. I forgot."

"Well, now you know," Michael answered with a laugh.

"I thought I looked nice tonight," she said with a slight frown.

"You do," he said still smiling.

Joe huffed and said, "You do look nice, Hermione, but the point is that you could never dress yourself that well! You have terrible taste!"

"He has a point," Lavender whispered to Mike.

Hermione took off one of her shoes and threw it at Joe. "I have good taste!" She took off the other one and threw it over her shoulder.

Joe caught the shoe thrown at him and said, "And look, she's showing signs of aggression. She's throwing things! That's unlike her!"

Lavender and Harry both snickered at the same time. Lavender said, "You don't know her that well, Joey."

She leaned over, placing her head on Harry's lap and her legs across Michael's lap. She said, "Stop the spinning, Harry." He took the cup of coffee from her and placed it on the floor.

"Joe, she's fine," Harry said while stroking her hair. He looked down at Hermione and asked, "Are you engaged to Malfoy now?"

"Yes, Harry, I am," she answered. Draco looked over at Joe with a 'so there' grin across his face.

"Did you become engaged to him under your own free will?" he asked, smiling down at her.

"I believe so," she said, "Now may I ask you a question, Harry?"

She sat up.

"What is it, sweetie?" he asked.

"Did you know Dumbledore was gay?" she asked.

Harry laughed and said, "What?"

"Draco said Dumbledore was gay, and well, I just can't believe that," she said. She tried to sit back up, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

He said, "Um, well, yes, I knew."

"See," Draco shouted. "I knew there was something fishy about their relationship."

"Sod off, Malfoy," Harry spat, no longer smiling.

Joe huffed from the chair in the corner and said, "I still say he's forcing this on her!"

"You don't make any sense," Michael finally spoke. "She's the one that wanted to marry him in the first place, so wouldn't he be the one under the Imperius, not her?"

Draco was starting to like Michael again. He said, "Yeah, explain that!"

"I still think something's wrong. Give her an order, Malfoy, and see if she follows it!" Joe said.

Draco pulled Hermione up by her hands from her place on the couch. She swayed slightly and said, "I feel sick."

He said, "Hermione, I command you to hit Nancy in the nose."

"Who's Nancy?" she asked again.

Joe walked over to the pair. He grabbed Hermione's face between his hands and said, "Look me in the eye, and tell me truly, are you engaged to Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes," she said, still swaying.

"And you are of relatively sound mind?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"FINE!" he shouted. He let go of her face. He said, "I wish I had her under the Imperius right now! I would have her kick the living daylights out of Malfoy!"

"I feel sick," Hermione said for the second time.

Joe said, "I wish she were under the Imperius curse, and then I would have her throw up on you! In fact, I wish to Merlin that she would! It's what you deserve, Malfoy." He turned to Draco.

Draco took Hermione's arm, and she continued to sway. He said, "I wish she was under the Imperius, too, because I would have her throw up all over you, Mullins! In fact," he turned back to Hermione and said, "I command you to throw up all over Joe Mullins!"

Then, the worst thing in the world happened. It was bad, and perhaps the worst thing that could ever happen. In fact, it probably had never happened before, ever, except maybe in another story somewhere, but Hermione Granger threw up all over Draco Malfoy!

Harry and Mike laughed. Michael and Lavender grinned. Finally, Joe had to concede that he was wrong and he said, "Fine, she's not under the Imperius."

Hermione woke up on her bed. She was in only her black bra and knickers. She had a bedspread over her. She turned to her side, still feeling nauseated. She felt there wasn't enough air to breath. Suddenly, everything seemed to blur, as if she was in a tunnel. All their faces came back into view, and she was aware of only one thing…why was Draco in a dress?

"Draco?" she asked.

"I'm here, Hermione," he said.

"Why are you in a dress?" she asked.

He looked down. He had placed her pink robe over his bare torso. "I had to take my clothes off because you threw up on me," he answered.

It all came back to her, rushing in like a tide - the fight with Joe at her office, the Malfoys and their stuck up noses, the cloakroom, the five rum and cokes she had, and oh no…throwing up on Draco.

"I threw up on you?" She felt horrified. She closed her eyes.

"It wasn't your fault. It's the fairy princess's fault. He commanded you to do it," Draco said, crawling up on the bed beside her and rubbing her arm.

"Who?" she asked.

"Princess Nancy, at your service," Joe said, walking closer to the bed.

"Oh," she said softly. "I remember. I'm embarrassed, I have a headache, and I'm tired and still slightly sick feeling, so everyone, leave, okay? Everyone but Draco."

Draco looked over at her friends, triumphant, and said, "You heard her. And she said it of her own freewill."

Lavender leaned down and said, "We're having lunch tomorrow, and we'll discuss this, okay?" She kissed Hermione's cheek. She took Michael's hand in one of hers, and Mike's hand in the other, and walked out of the room.

Joe said, "I'll leave, too. I'm sorry, Hermione. I really thought there was something funny going on, but I was wrong. I won't try to talk some sense into you here, because Malfoy might hurt me, but we'll talk privately at a later date, okay?" He squeezed her hand, started out, and said, "Hey Malfoy!" Draco looked over to Joe. "If you dare to ever make fun of my sexual persuasion again, I'll prove to you how much of a ponce I am." He walked out.

Draco leaned toward Hermione and whispered in her ear, "I bet he knew Dumbledore was gay." Hermione hit his arm. He said, "Hey, I really thought his name was Nancy. I forgot it was Joe."

Harry was the last to leave. He stood by her bedroom door and said, "I hope you two are sure about this."

"I am, Harry," she said.

Harry looked at Draco.

"Oh, shove off, Pothead. I asked her and gave her a ring and everything. I even took her to meet my parents. I think I'm relatively sure I want to marry her," Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"Fine," Harry said. He had a thin smile grace his mouth and he said, "Have you two told her parents yet?"

"No," Draco answered for them, since Hermione appeared asleep.

Harry laughed and said, "I'll arrange something for this weekend, a get together. A meet the prospective in-laws, if you will. Yes, that would be my honour." He started to laugh and walked down the hallway, still laughing.

Draco looked confused, leaned down to Hermione's face, and said, "Hermione, what did Potter mean by that evil maniacal laugh? I usually can decipher those types of evil laughs plainly, having had Lucius as a father, but his has me confused."

She opened her eyes and said, "Oh, it's nothing, except that my father already hates you because of what you did to us in school. Harry must be laughing about that." She shut her eyes again.

Draco leaned up on one arm. Well, hell, if her father already hated him, he would have to do something to remedy that before he met the man. He jumped off the bed, ran toward the living room, and grabbed Harry's arm as he was leaving the flat.

"Potter, you have to help me! I can't meet the Grangers having one of them already hating me! What can I do?"

Now, Harry had two choices. He could help Draco, and give him some sound advice, or he could have fun. Harry kept his grin at bay and said, "Start with sending them candy. Lots of candy. The type that just rots your teeth. That'll send them a message."

"Sweets? They like sweets?" Draco asked, confused. He had no idea the Grangers were dentists, or that they had never allowed Hermione to eat sweets growing up.

Harry shook his head, but he couldn't go through with it. So, for Hermione's sake, he said, "Forget it, I was joking. Don't do a thing. I'll call you when I have the dinner arranged." He walked out the flat.

Draco shut the door and looked down at Iggy. He said, "I know a liar when I see one, cat, and Potter is lying. He doesn't want them to like me. I WILL send them a bunch of sweets, as much sugary candy as I can, and I'll arrange my own dinner with them. I don't need him. Stupid Potter." He bent down, stroked Iggy's ears, and went to Hermione's bedroom to be with her in case she needed him. He took off her robe and crawled under the covers.

He said, "Do you still forgive me, Hermione?"

"Sure," she said, half asleep.

"Do you want to ask me to forgive you for throwing up on me?" he asked.

"No, I'm not wasting my once in a lifetime blanket forgiveness for a little vomit," she revealed.

He smiled and said, "Fine, but someday, when you ask me to, I'll forgive you, or throw up on you, one or the other."

"Fine," she said. He kissed the top of her head, and soon they were both asleep, with Hermione dreaming about shoes and cloakrooms, and Draco dreaming about sweets and vomit.


Coming up:

"What makes you think you're good enough for my daughter?" Dr. Granger asked.

"What makes you think I'm not?" Draco challenged.

"You have caused her too much pain and suffering as children, and I have no reason to believe that you have changed one iota," her father shouted.

Hermione walked up to her dad, placed her hand on his arm, and said, "You have one reason, because I say so."