"Ron, you are being ridiculous!" Hermione snapped, yanking back her book with an unexpected strength, "just leave me alone! Please!" She'd been sitting under a tree in the Burrow's back garden, a blanket beneath her, with a drink and some snack food; reading up on defensive spells that Harry and Ron would be learning in their auror training, figuring she would end up having to know them anyway. It was a lovely day, warm with a pleasant breeze, with hardly a cloud in sight. She'd been able to sit and read for all of ten minutes before Ron began to bother her. It was when he'd reached down and dragged the book out of her hands that her temper had been set alight.

"But-"

"No, no buts, no nothing, just let me read. It's all I want to do, enjoy the sun, watch you; Harry and Ginny play quidditch or whatever, and read. Have I been able to? No. Because you've followed me about; harassing me. You know I hate flying. I'm not getting on a broom with you. The room of requirement was a life or death situation. Not one I'm happy to repeat. No." She said, exasperated and worn, fingering a ripped page with a sorrowful expression.

"Just one go." Ron tried again, holding his broom with a lop-sided grin that Hermione had once found attractive, and now she found irritating. She slammed her book shut, and got to her feet, storming into the Burrow and stamping up the stairs, into the room she shared with Ginny. Light, but deft footsteps followed her; the angry voice of Ginny Weasley yelling at her brother as she slipped into the room; suddenly gentle and sympathetic.

"Sorry Hermione," she started, falling on to her bed beside Hermione, and putting a friendly arm about her shoulders.

"Oh it's not your fault, it's not your fault for any of this, and you've been wonderful. He's just becoming so difficult for me to be with around the Burrow. Constantly on my heels, begging me for a chance, or asking me about Malfoy of all people, he's obsessed with the day of Tonk's and Lupin's funeral. He's becoming…"

"I know." Ginny stated gently, pulling her best friend into an embrace, "I don't like that I won't be able to call you my sister in full; but I understand why you can't be with Ron. You've said your reasons and…I understand. I didn't realise all the risk involved; and as much as I really hate to say it…you need someone brighter than you, or as clever as you. Not someone you'll have to baby." She winced, feeling guilty it was her own brother she was talking about in such a way. Hermione chuckled slightly, grateful for the friendship of the youngest Weasley. "No matter what, no matter who you're with, I'll always be your friend."

"Even if Ron is right, and I do actually harbour a huge crush on Malfoy?" Hermione giggled, as part of her nagged that it might be the truth. Ginny snorted, before screeching with laughter, her head thrown back with her mirth.

"Even If you're with Malfoy, but boy would that take some getting used too!" They laughed, chatting in a sisterly manner as a knock at the door interrupted them both.

"Hermione," Ron began, and Hermione's rage flared again. She threw an apologetic look to Ginny, mouthing that she'd be at Andromeda's before throwing the door open. She pushed past Ron, who looked astounded, his blue eyes straining with confusion, and almost ran to the fire place. She picked up a pinch of floo powder, throwing it into the hearth as Ginny reached the bottom of the stairs, her expression sad; but understanding.

"Sorry Gin, I'll see you later; I just can't…be here right now." She explained, as Ginny waved her off, forcibly blocking Ron from coming down the stairs.

"Later Hermione," she called, as the fireplace roared and ripped her away.

:: :: ::

"Oh!" Andromeda exclaimed, spilling her tea down her as she jumped, pulling away from the fireplace as Hermione stepped out of it. "Hermione dear!" She exclaimed, deftly waving her wand and removing the tea, rushing to greet her unexpected guest.

Draco's eyebrows rose as he heard the commotion from the garden, he walked in to the kitchen, with his young cousin within his arms, squirming with unbridled energy. He glanced down at the child, checking his shirt hadn't been mussed with the kid's dribble, and leaning against one of the counters. He heard a familiar voice begin apologising profusely, the placid tones of his mother commenting drily on people just 'dropping in unannounced'.

"I can leave," she said, not rudely, but plainly aware that she had been interrupting. The voice was too familiar, and surprise rose in his chest, but somehow mingled with delight. It had been two weeks since his trial; and he hadn't laid eyes on her since, Hogwarts had been boring without her. HE pushed himself off the kitchen counter, taking a languid stride towards the living room.

"Don't be ridiculous Hermione; stay as long as you want, but…" Andromeda's voice trailed off, as Draco walked into the sitting room, deciding that eaves dropping was getting old. He looked at her, partially relieved and amused at her arrival; she looked like she was on the verge of tears, and ever so slightly desperate.

"Help me with this." He said drily, holding out Teddy as if it were a rampaging bludger he wished to get away from. His eyes locked on to Hermione's as he said it, as the unknown desire to spend some time with her bubbled up under his skin. They stared at each other; Draco drinking in Hermione's appearance in what he hoped wasn't an obvious manner. She was in jeans and a simple t-shirt, her hair wrapped up in a messy knot on the top of her head. A pair of sandals placed on her feet, revealing toes with a surprisingly elegant pedicure upon them. Her presence at his trial had intrigued him, and part of him believed it was thanks to her words that he now ran free, though he'd be loath to admit it. Andromeda started slightly, as if she were to help as Narcissa sighed, placing down her tea up with an exasperated action. Hermione stared back, pressing her lips together in what Draco recognised as thought, at least she was considering.

"Yes," She said finally, out of nowhere, and both Andromeda and Narcissa turned to look at her with confused expressions, "it wouldn't be fair on Teddy if everybody in his life were on two sides of the fence. He can't grow up like that, even if you believe in the blood purity stuff, he doesn't deserve to see it. So yes, I will help you with Teddy…Draco." She explained, tacking on his name as an afterthought and a strange thrill went through him as she said it. Andromeda gasped, and tears welled up in her eyes as she reached to squeeze Hermione's hand, forgetting that her nephew was holding her grandson in an abominable way.

"Thank you," Andromeda whispered, staring at Hermione with respect and adoration, a look that Hermione effortlessly returned, ignoring Narcissa's shocked expression as she out right stared. Andromeda turned to her sister, registering her features and sighed, coming to sit beside her once more as she allowed Hermione to walk to Draco.

"You have blocked a lot out of your life Cissy," Andromeda smiled, as Hermione walked around the sofa to where Draco was, carefully watching him. Something he couldn't quite blame her for, given all their past interactions.

"Garden," He said gruffly, watching her approach and nodding his head in the direction he came from, she nodded in reply, holding her hands out for the youngster. Draco complied, handing over his cousin gratefully, and watched fascinated as Hermione maneuvered Teddy in her arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world. They walked into the sun together, and Hermione sighed in delight, closing her eyes and tipping her chin upwards to bathe her skin in the warmth. A small smile split across her face, and Draco watched her curiously, turning to sit on a bench.

Teddy cooed, and she looked down at him, smiling brightly. He waved his fingers at her, and she waved hers back; instantly teaching him something called the 'royal wave', and laughed when Teddy continued to waggle his tiny digits. She wandered over to join him, and Draco shifted on the bench to make room.

"Thanks."

"Not a problem." He replied, watching her out of the corner of her eyes. The tense expression she had held earlier upon her unexpected arrival had slipped. She seemed to be relaxing, almost happy; the tears that had threatened to spill retreated. The desire to ask her what had upset her seemed uncontrollable, and he began to wring his fingers, staring intently at Teddy.

"Thank you." He found himself saying, and Hermione's brow rose questioning, as she opened a chocolate brown eye to peer at him.

"For what?" She asked both eyes on him now, her gaze quizzical.

"Being at my trial, defence, letting me…go back to Hogwarts." He told her, unable to look her in the eye, his cheeks colouring slightly. Hermione laughed slightly, moving Teddy in her arms as he looked to fall asleep.

"Don't be silly, anyone would have done it."

"No. They wouldn't. You know that." He responded instantly, slightly annoyed by her reply. Her lips twisted, and she looked disappointed.

"Let's not fight when we're about Teddy; any other time is free game, but not in front of Teddy." She said, flicking her eyes over to the window where Andromeda and Narcissa sat deep in conversation; both seemed to be sobbing. "Us…getting along when we are around Teddy would make Andromeda happy, and by extension, probably your mother happy too. I am also not in the mood for another fight." She admitted, as Draco tipped his head at her in confusion.

"Another fight?" he asked, the question falling out of his mouth before he could stop it. She sighed, her chest rising dramatically, and she turned to look at him, really look at him. Her gaze was searching, oddly probing, and Draco began to feel slightly naked about her before she relaxed again.

"Ron." She admitted eventually, and Draco nodded, finding that that was all he needed to know.

:: :: ::

She smiled absently, pleased that she hadn't needed to go into any more detail, and that he hadn't pressed the matter further. Teddy had fallen asleep in her arms, his hair returning to its turquoise instead of her mahogany hues. Draco shifted slightly, and she looked over to find him peering at Teddy, his brows raised in surprise.

"He's a metamorphagus like his mother," she smiled, as Draco looked at her astonished.

"He was blonde earlier!"

"Yes, your hair colour, and then he went my hair colour. He hasn't quite managed to do anything else yet; but he acknowledges who is holding him by the colour of his hair." She explained, gently smoothing his teal fluff carefully.

"Can…can I hold him again?" Draco asked, almost afraid she would say no. His eyes were wide, and Hermione had never really realised just how pale and silver his eyes actually were. There was only a single touch of icy blue with in them, but Hermione had never seen such expressive eyes before; and she laughed quietly, moving to hand Teddy over.

He smiled, ever so slightly turning the corners of his mouth upwards, an action that intrigued Hermione; as she realised she hadn't ever seen Draco truly smile. She had seen him in the grips of mirth, and smile mocking grins, but never a smile of true happiness; one that hadn't come about from someone else's pain. He now sat, his pale arms out, covered by shirt sleeves waiting for his cousin expectantly. Carefully, Hermione moved, handing the sleeping infant over so slowly as to not jar him awake.

Draco's arms brushed the sides of her hands, and she cursed the existence of his shirt sleeves, wishing to discover how his skin felt. His long, elegant fingers wrapped about Teddy gently, pulling the child to him as Hermione gasped.

"What!" He exclaimed looking at her worriedly as Hermione's eyes glued themselves to Teddy's head.

"Have you not been supporting his head?"

"What?" he asked this time, his brows coming together as the understanding of her sentence evaded him.

"You know nothing about babies do you." She stated looking at him with an amused sparkle in her eye as her hands went up to Teddy's head, cradling it within her palm.

"No," he admitted begrudgingly, admiring as Hermione carefully moved both his arm and the baby's head so that Teddy now rested upon his arm like a pillow.

"A child's head must be supported," she smiled, now leaning back on the bench and closing her eyes; soaking in the sun.

They remained in the garden for a while longer, Andromeda had come to collect Teddy after a while to feed him, and so that Narcissa could tentatively begin to bond with him. She remained sitting next to him, bathed in the golden hues of sunlight, and the warmth it drenched upon them both. They didn't speak, but sat, in amicable silence next to one another, and for the first time in years Hermione felt fully at peace. The time slipped by, and eventually, Hermione admitted she would probably have to leave. She stood, turning to wish Draco goodbye, only to find his eyes locked onto her, his arm thrown over the benches back with careless abandon.

"Leaving Granger?" he drawled, before Hermione had a chance to say anything.

"I think I've calmed enough, and…I ought to go back to the Weasley's…" she said, as Draco looked like he was struggling to not shoot a retort at her.

"Enjoy winding the Weasel-King up." He eventually replied, and a small smile escaped Hermione before she could stop it.

"That's your job," she retorted, turning to walk into the house to wish Andromeda care before she left. Draco smirked, watching her leave, his eyes burning two pleasant holes on the back of her neck.

"See you at Hogwarts Granger." He called as she vanished through the door way, and his words left a warm feeling in the pit of Hermione's stomach, an eagerness to return to Hogwarts building for a reason she didn't want to admit.

:: :: ::

She vanished through the door; the bright sun not allowing him to watch her elegant figure move away from him any further. Her voice carried through the house, the summer breeze taking her dulcet tones towards him, and he savoured those last few moments of her presence. A feeling that had begun to grow on him since discovering she was due at his trial. She fascinated him. His envy had shrunk, his wounded pride vanished; and now the burning flame of curiosity had ignited in the pit of his stomach. She wasn't what he had expected.

As the crack of her apparition assaulted his ears, a cold, dreadful loneliness sunk into Draco's bones, and he shifted in the seat uncomfortably, hating the sun for suddenly being so cold.

:: :: ::

"Hermione! Oh, thank goodness you're back, you've had…owls dear." Molly greeted her the moment she snapped back into the kitchen of the Burrow. The matriarch's messy mop of crimson looked more hair brained than ever, and Errol, the hard working Weasley owl looked disgruntled as Ginny caught her eye behind her mother's shoulder.

"Owls?" Hermione questioned, as George bellowed with laughter from the stairs, his mirth becoming infectious as Ginny began to giggle hysterically.

"More than just owls! You've had hundreds of them! You missed the commotion! I've never seen anything like it. Even the Hogwarts post wasn't like this!" George hooted, walking over to Hermione and slapping his hands on her shoulders amicably. He turned her, pushing her gently up the stairs towards Ginny's room as his sister ran to follow, tears of laughter now streaming down her face as Molly admonished them both.

"It's not funny! You'd both do well to be more like Hermione!" She chastised as George pushed the door to Ginny's room open, bowing with a flourish and an over exaggerated gesture to the room's interior.

Books covered the floor. The beds. The flat surfaces of Ginny's furniture. They spilled out of trunks. Teetered on the wardrobe. Piled up on the windowsill. Light was completely blocked from the windows, as books of every size took up the room. A small, painfully awkward looking path way allowed Hermione to tentatively step into the room. She lost all sense of time and space as she peered lovingly at the bound books in the room, tracing her fingers over the engraved titles, and breathing in the deep smell of books.

"Your order came from Flourish and Blotts'" Ginny sniggered, a mischievous sparkle in her warm brown eyes.

"Did it really?" George asked her, turning to his sister with feigned amazement.

"You know, I think it might have, it was only a book after all." Ginny replied in her deadpanned tones.

"Just one? Never would have thought that of our Hermione." George mocked as he grinned at Hermione, walking back down the stairs towards his mother who was throwing him unimpressed glances.

"This came too," Ginny said, handing Hermione a roll of parchment that would have been lost in the new library room of the Burrow. Hermione started, jumping out of her adoring gaze and looking to Ginny in surprise.

"Thanks," she smiled, before feeling slightly guilty, "I ought to get all of this to Hogwarts, considering I'm allowed to live there for the time being; we both need this room too! You more than I!"

"It would help!" Ginny laughed, stepping carefully into the room behind Hermione, "How did you want to move them? House-elf? Don't turn your nose up, I know you've used one before to give Harry that portrait!" she accused, staring at the books with a slight amazement. Hermione cringed a little, hoping Ginny hadn't seen; before sighing.

"I suppose it's the best way. Grab three books, any three, and I'll call for Kreacher." She told her friend, grabbing three books herself as Kreacher popped down behind Ginny.

"Kreacher, can you take all these books to Hermione's dormitory in Hogwarts?" Ginny asked the house-elf, hoping that the creature would respond to her in the way he did for Harry. The old elf gave her a worn expression, eyeing her with displeasure before snapping his fingers twice and vanishing; the books with him.

"Well. That's sorted then." Hermione sighed, as Ginny looked mildly upset at the house-elf's rejection of her. "I suppose I better start reading up on how to fix Hogwarts." She decided aloud as Ginny tapped the scrolls of parchment she'd handed Hermione earlier.

"Letters first," she admonished, turning to leave as Harry's voice came up from the kitchen. Hermione grinned, completely forgetting she'd had letters as well as books if Ginny hadn't reminded her. She unrolled the first one, a short note from Flourish and Blott's stating how delighted they were she had chosen to shop with them, and had given her the entire order for half the price as she was Hermione Granger. She giggled to herself, unfurling the next note, and a handwriting she'd seen before but couldn't quite place began to niggle at her.

Hermione, the excited, loopy scrawl had written.

I know this is a little unexpected, but as Padma and I have received letters welcoming us back to Hogwarts, I've written to everyone in our year to see who will be returning. Padma and I will be going back for our eighth year, and I would love to know if you are coming back. Especially as you are my fellow Gryffindor; despite us never really getting to know one another.

If you're coming back, it would be good if we could become friends rather than aquaintances this year. If you're not (as I have heard Harry and Ron are in Auror jobs now, and thought you may be joining them), I'd like it if we could stay in touch.

All the best and I hope to see you soon,

Parvarti

Xox

Hermione read it in a sad, sympathetic silence. Guilt rioting beneath the surface of her being. Parvarti was reaching out for new friends, as Lavender had been mauled by Greyback. She swallowed, forcing the tears that threatened to spill back, before considering Parvarti's offer of friendship.

She didn't have anything against the girl, only considered her slightly empty-headed and couldn't understand why Lavender and herself had discovered such a love for Divination; hailing Trelawney like a long lost goddess. Hermione sighed, realising that Parvarti was just a woman who spent more time on things like looks than books. She wasn't unkind, and had never given Hermione a real reason to dislike her. Of all things, this reaching out to her must have been hard for Parvarti, given how different they were. She smiled a shaky smile, and wrote a short reply back on a little scrap of parchment. She encouraged Parvarti to keep in contact over the summer, and confirmed that she'd be returning to Hogwarts. A short after note she'd written in saying she'd like it if Parvarti could help her with her hair, and sent it off with the owl that had perched on the outside ledge, waiting for her response. If she was going to bond with Parvati or at least attempt it, stepping into her world couldn't be the worst thing that was going to happen.

The last roll of parchment unfurled slowly. The Hogwarts crest appearing almost immediately, but this was a handwriting she wasn't familiar with again.

Dear Miss Granger,

I am writing to you with every hope I can muster that you will find it in your heart to help.

You are the only student I can think of who has looked after the library and its contents with the rightful amount of respect that it deserves. I have never come across a piece of graffiti in your hand, on either table or book you have borrowed. You have returned all books on time, and have always been polite. It is with this in mind I ask you, as someone who knows the library almost as well as I do, if you could spare the time to help me put it back together after the war.

I simply cannot do it all by myself, and I am needed elsewhere in the castle to help there, but the library is an integral part of the school.

Please let me know as soon as you are able,

Yours sincerely,

Irma Pince

Hermione read the letter with pride, which her actions had led to this letter being written, was the best testimony she felt she had to her person, besides the Order of Merlin First Class. She smiled with delight, before looking down at the letter once more. It was very lacking in actual information, it pulled to her character, but didn't tell her what she'd do. She frowned, staring at the letter in slight annoyance. She could understand the library needing to be repaired, and placed back together, but what was it she needed help with. Everything? She chewed her lip, feeling like she was unable to reply as Ginny knocked on her door.

"I know this is my room and everything, but are you ok? You look troubled." Ginny asked, stepping into her room with a look of concern.

"Madam Pince has asked me to help her with the library, it's been damaged and she can't do it all by herself."

"That's wonderful! Are you going to go help?"

"I don't know, I mean…I'm torn; I've just had all the books come to help read up on how Hogwarts was built so we can put that together, now this, and Ron and…" a pale, blond haired man flittered across her vision for the briefest instant, and she trailed off; sighing with confusion and pleasure at his coming to the forefront of her mind.

"I get what you're saying Hermione, but does the letter mean you have to be there seven days a week? Doing it will help get your mind off things. Ron won't be able to come chase you and harass you, and you'll actually be at Hogwarts putting it together. Fixing the walls isn't your responsibility; it's McGonagall's. It's great you want to help that way; and trust me, so do I, but…that isn't your job. If you want to help, do what you can." Ginny persuaded, looking at her with her big brown eyes that seemed to fill with concern. "Don't take on too much, but don't do anything when you so obviously want to help." She finished, as Hermione studied the letter absently, her mind now thinking of Malfoy who was at Hogwarts, and wondering if being there seven days a week would be such a bad thing.

"Ok, I'll go help her three days a week, no more, no less; the library can be sorted that way, and I'm free to do other things on the other four days." She compromised; writing back her reply on a piece of parchment Ginny just supplied her with, a bright beam across her face.

"I'm happy for you Hermione, it'll give you something to do while Harry and Ron are starting Auror training, and I can be with Mum more, as she's been asking and I've been…"

"Feeling torn?" Hermione supplied, and Ginny sighed, nodding.

"Harry is still being off with me; he's happy I'm around and all, but he's definitely hiding something. He's told me all about what you guys did last year, so openly. I know he's not keeping something from me around that but…us. It has to be with us two. I want to be around him so he realises how great I am." She said with a playful hair flick, and Hermione laughed at her faked arrogance, recognising Ginny's cover up. "But then Mum…I need to be with her because Fred…and we're all off doing things; George with his shop, it's rare to see him away from it, Charlie always gone, Bill has a family now, Percy…he's been awful at actually re-building the relationship with all of us, but he's probably just embarrassed. Ron, he just sulks."

"I know this isn't going to sound comforting coming from me, but, with Harry; give him time. You know him; it's probably going to be a stupid, noble reason for something stupid. I'm not the best with relationships, but I know he is completely besotted with you. He still looks at you the way he did in sixth year." She attempted to comfort and Ginny sighed again, falling on to her bed dramatically.

"Oh I know. I just…"

"I understand," Hermione smiled, patting her friends hand gently, as she joined her on the bed.

"So where were you today anyway; I thought you said Andromeda's but I couldn't be sure." Ginny asked, changing the subject and perking up again.

"No, you heard right, I went there, only I interrupted her visit with the Malfoys." She cringed, as Ginny's hands flew to her mouth in shock.

"Oh no, how did it go?" She asked, looking at her friend with concern. Hermione mulled the question over in her head, before opening her mouth to speak as the door banged open.

"YOU WERE WITH MALFOY?" Ron shouted, his face puce, and his hands balled into fists, his entire body trembling with rage.

"Yes Ronald," Hermione began sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "your behaviour forced me to flee to Malfoy manner, into the arms of our greatest nemesis." She deadpanned, fighting to flatten the feeling that had reared its head, wondering what being in Malfoy's arms would actually be like. Ron had failed to actually note the sarcasm in Hermione's words, and was now shaking violently as he took a step forward. Ginny's hand collided with his face with such a smack he reeled backwards, a dead white hand print upon his cheek.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley," she seethed, her own posture mirroring her brothers as Harry came down the stairs, staring at the siblings with wide green eyes. "If you do not drop this controlling, possessive, down right creepy behaviour regarding Hermione, I will castrate you." She hissed, as Harry took a step forward, paling slightly and Hermione stood up, her wand out attempting to stop the siblings from fighting the best way she could.

"She's supposed to be with me!" Ron struggled to get out, flicking his eyes to Hermione with such a look of longing she felt slightly sick.

"I can't be with you Ron. I've told you." Hermione said gently, stepping around Ginny and staring Ron in the eye.

"But it doesn't make sense. It's not fair. Harry gets Ginny. They're fine. They've got all the support in the world. Who do I get? I thought it was you. We kissed Hermione!" He spoke quietly, the rage gone, and the sadness seeping in. "I need support too you know, my brother is dead, who can I talk to about it? Harry? Harry has enough to worry about. Mum? Dad? Start them off again? I've got no one. I thought I had you!"

"You've still got me, just as a friend Ron. Think about it, we wouldn't last long. We fight, all the time, over nothing, once we got what we needed out of each other then what? I force your family to take sides? Either you; or me? How would Ginny feel? She's with our best friend, she's like my sister. How about your Mother? She thinks of me like another daughter. Don't make me risk losing everything for a relationship with you. I love you; I do Ron, but not like that. I can't. We are too different, and while that may be brilliant for some couples, not for us, we work too well as friends, not as more. I'm not sorry we kissed Ron, at the time we needed that, and it helped me come clear on a lot of feelings I had with you, but I want you as a friend. Not more."

"It's not fair." Ron repeated, as tears spilt down his cheeks and Ginny gasped. Hermione wrapped her arms about him in a friendly embrace, which he returned, free of wandering hands.

"You'll always have me Ron, just not like that." She whispered into his neck. Ron nodded.

"I understand, you're right, I'm trying to force feelings where there are none, but…I'm sorry." He whispered back, and Hermione squeezed him.