Chapter 8

Hermione sat on Hagrid's oversized loveseat with Fang. The boarhound's face was resting on her lap, and every now and then, he would make a loud snoring sound, causing the couch to shake.

Looking around the room, Hermione felt an odd sensation of déjà vu. Being here and feeling completely alone brought back vivid memories of third year, when Ron and Harry wouldn't speak to her because she had told Professor McGonagall that Harry received a firebolt from someone anonymous, resulting in it being confiscated for inspection. Almost five years later, Hagrid was once again offering her company.

"Best yeh start from the beginning my dear," Hagrid prompted.

And so, Hermione spent the better half of an hour telling Hagrid her story. She opened up about how she had been feeling after the war and all the pain she couldn't seem to part with. She didn't leave out a single detail, as she recounted her endless nightmares and carefully explained how Ron simply didn't understand her anymore. She made it clear that she loved her friends very much and nothing would change that, but right now, they couldn't help her the way she needed.

Once she believed Hagrid understood how she was feeling, she began to bring Draco into the story. Expressing how he had appeared to be going through the same type of pain that she was and how because of that, she felt compelled to open up to him. She told Hagrid all about the sleeping potions and how he had brewed her a calming agent in her time of need. She didn't need to mention the kiss directly because it was clear by Hermione's story, that what she was describing was a relationship developing between people from opposing sides of the war.

Finally, she ended by saying, "they don't understand. They don't understand me, they don't understand Draco, and they don't understand the bond we unintentionally developed."

Throughout her entire story, Hagrid didn't interrupt her. Instead, he sat across the room and listened intently. Not only did he listen, but he also did not judge her. Hagrid always did have a gift that allowed him to understand other people. Tonight, he understood her suffering.

When it was finally his turn to talk, he offered Hermione the best counsel he could. "Well Hermione, Merlin knows yeh've had enough ter be sad about. Survivin' a war at yer age! It's just not righ' that you had to go through that, it ain't. But nothin' can be changed bout that. Course yeh're not okay. Nobody should be expectin' you to be. But one day, yeh will be. An' if Malfoys the one to help yer get there, well then be it. Nobody should be tellin' yer how to heal."

Fang whined in his sleep as if he too were having nightmares from the war.

"And as fer Malfoy himself. Well, he use ter be rotten, didn't he. Bein' raise by his lot, I'm surprised he didn't turn out worse, I am."

Hagrid handed Hermione a cup of warm nettle tea and wiped a tear from her cheek. Until then, she hadn't even noticed she was crying.

"But that don't mean he can't change. Sometimes people born into those families, well they know righ' away that they gotta be better. Look at Sirius, he knew righ' away he ain't belong in Slytherin. No, he wanted nothin' ter do with pure-blood politics an' so, he left. But for others, like Regulus or Snape, it takes 'em a little bit longer to see the light when they're surrounded by such darkness. But when they do, it's our job to giv'em a second chance. If Dumbledore didn't trust Snape with a second chance, we'd all be dead I reckon. So, if you think he's ready, give'em a chance."

It felt as though a weight were being lifted from Hermione's chest when she heard his words. Hagrid was right, Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards she knew, was brave enough to offer redemption to those who asked. Having empathy and being forgiving was always something Hermione valued in people, and so, she was proud to realize that these were traits she herself contained.

"An' finally, as fer all the Gryffindors who think they know better than yeh, they don't. Yer the brightest witch of yer time Hermione, and I'd trust yer opinion with my life. Ron's a little bit hurt righ' now I reckon, but if him and 'arry are true friend's, they'll come around."

They were true friends. The three of them had been through more together in the past few years, than most people deal with in a whole lifetime. Her feelings for Malfoy surely couldn't be the thing that would ruin their friendship. Hermione felt hopeful that given time, things could return to normal.

For the remainder of the night, neither Hermione or Hagrid brought up Ron, Harry, Malfoy or the war. They sat together and chatted like the old times.

Hermione learned about the new creatures Hagrid had imported for his care of magical creatures' classes. The students, he explained, were currently working with Fwoopers, which were brightly coloured African birds. For a moment, she regretted not staying in his class, but then recalled the blast-ended skrewts he had them take care of in fifth year. When he mentioned, that if the silencing charm wore off of the Fwoopers, their song could cause insanity, her decision to stay away from Hagrid's creatures was solidified.

As the night wore on, Hermione began to forget her worries. It was nice to have a seemingly normal evening in Hagrid's hut. She only wished Harry and Ron were there, like they would have been in the good old days.

When it reached the student curfew, Hagrid offered to walk Hermione back to the castle, but she kindly declined. It wasn't a far walk, and she wanted some time alone to recollect her thoughts before going to the common room.

Under the night sky, she replayed Hagrid's advice in her head, hoping to find strength for her return. Fortunately, the common room was sparce when she arrived, allowing her to bypass it easily and avoid any more drama for the day.

When she stepped into her dormitory, she was pleasantly surprised to see a wide-eyed red head sitting on her bed, waiting for her return. Ginny's smile stretched across her face and her arms extended to offer a hug. This was Ginny's way of saying, "I come in peace."

Hermione dropped her bookbag at the door and ran to her friend with grateful tears in her eyes. It had been a long day with a rollercoaster of emotions.

"I just talked with Malfoy," Ginny disclosed, "and I think I understand."

Hermione was in disbelief. "You talked to him? A real conversation? Not a fight?"

"Yes Hermione, a real conversation. I am capable of acting civilized around the Slytherins," Ginny teased, "and honestly, I think you've really messed with his head. He was absolutely gutted when you weren't in the Great Hall again for dinner. Oh, and don't be surprised if next time you see him, he has a black eye."

Hermione gasped, "Ginny! You didn't!"

Ginny laughed, "I didn't do anything, but Ron sure did."

"Oh my…" Hermione said nervously. "Tell me everything."

"Well, I wasn't there for the fight, but Harry told me that both he and Ron were frustrated about what you told them, so they were ranting to some of the other Gryffindors in the courtyard."

Hermione was disappointed to hear Harry was involved. Although he never told her that he was supportive of what happened, he also hadn't seemed nearly as angry as Ron when she told him.

"I guess Malfoy overheard some of it and decided it would be funny to ask Ron if he was jealous."

Hermione was mortified. How could Draco be so stupid to make her situation worse. Didn't he know that she would be struggling with her friends? Poor Ron was already upset enough as it was. He didn't need Malfoy bragging to him.

"Ron got really mad at his comment and so he cast a spell at him trying to fling him across the courtyard," Ginny laughed. "Nott and Zabini managed to block it, but then the whole courtyard turned into a fight. Harry knocked Zabini down and Nott used expelliarmus to disarm Ron. I reckon since he didn't have a wand, he decided to use physical strength because he punched Malfoy square in face."

Hermione's eyes were wide open at the story. She had caused an entire fight to break out in the courtyard.

"Oh god, please tell me it doesn't get any worse," Hermione whined.

"McGonagall came in and broke the fight up right about then. Since Ron cast the first spell, he has a month of detention and 20 points were taken from Gryffindor. The idiot kind of deserves it, not going to lie. Everyone else involved is joining him for his first detention, which means Ron and Malfoy will have to share a room for a whole hour on Thursday."

Ginny was laughing at the thought of it, but Hermione was petrified. Ron and Draco spending any more time together could only lead to more drama.

"I mean Ron and Malfoy were both being idiots, but I reckon the whole school has blamed the Slytherins by now," Ginny stated.

"This is horrible…"

Hermione sat beside her friend for a few minutes holding back tears. She didn't know who to be mad at. Draco shouldn't have provoked Ron, but Ron shouldn't have pulled out his wand. Maybe, she thought, she was to blame entirely.

"Wait a minute… you said you talked to Draco? Ginny, what happened?"

"Oh, I almost forgot!" she gasped, "He pulled me aside while I was leaving the Great Hall. I don't remember his exact words, but he seemed really worried about you."

The thought of Draco being concerned for her made her forget the fight and begin to blush.

"He basically interrogated me about where you were and if you were okay. And then he kept going on about how he hoped he didn't ruin everything. It was rather odd. I've never seen Malfoy care about anyone but himself."

"And that was it? That was everything he said?"

"Uhhh I think so. Ron was coming, so I didn't want him to see me talking with Malfoy. No need to start another fight, right?"

"No… definitely not."

"I don't know… the way he was talking… it just made it clear to me that he really cares about you. I still don't know if he's completely changed, but he definitely is protective over you and that helped me realize why you like him."

"I don't know if he's changed completely either, but I think he's trying."

A grin stretched across Ginny's face. "So then… tell me more about the kiss. I know you left out details because Ron was there."

Butterflies appeared in her stomach at just the thought of kissing Draco.

"It was amazing… Awkward because there was a bunch of Slytherins watching us… but… I really want to kiss him again," she admitted.

The girls stayed up late into the night gossiping like normal teenagers do. In this moment, you never would know that they were war heroes. In this moment, they were simply girls with romantic feelings for normal boys.

Ginny talked about her relationship with Harry and how things were becoming really serious. She told Hermione that they had said "I love you," and that she was considering taking their relationship to the next step.

"Oh Ginny! I'm so happy for the two of you."

Hermione talked about how she felt like she was gravitating towards Draco. How they always seemed to end up in the same place at the same time. She suggested that maybe fate had brought them together after the war to help them both heal.

When it got too late for them to stay up any longer, Ginny crawled back over to her own bed and turned out the lights. Hermione slept peacefully that night.

End of chapter note: Thank you to those who have been keeping up with my story! I really appreciate it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The relationship between Hermione and Hagrid has always been one of my favourites and often I think it is undervalued. I hope I did it justice!