A week had passed at the Burrow, and Hermione and Harry had begun to gravitate together when the day was finished, a walk was taken in the evening, just the two of them; that the Weasley's allowed. Ginny would watch them leave, not a hint of jealousy on her features, but filled with love, and fly into George's room; her broom in hand. Ron would join his siblings, and a makeshift quidditch match would happen, the back drop to the chat's Hermione and Harry would have.

The pair of them strolled about the garden as George swooped at them from above; laughing as a pinch of Peruvian darkness powder was let loose, clouding the way for the two honorary Weasley's. He flew off, laughing as he went, but Hermione noted the hollowness of it, as if his laugh had been two people giggling from one throat, and now…now one was gone.

"At least George is laughing." Harry said dully from beside her, their stroll stopped dead in the darkness lest they trip over something.

"Better than him not." Hermione agreed, flapping her arms about in a hope to clear the powder faster. Eventually, greys began to shimmer through the once completely smothering darkness, and the two took tentative steps forward, eyes on the ground.

"Harry," Hermione began, stepping over a log she'd only just seen with a slight stumble, "Can I ask you something?"

"Well, yeah, you know that; but I guess only if I get to ask you something in return." He grinned; and Hermione laughed at the strange formality she'd started.

"What…what did Malfoy need to talk to you about when we were making the common room?" she asked him, for some reason nervous, as if she were encroaching on a secret between the two men. Harry's face clouded at once, the familiar swells of confusion forming behind his green eyes. His jaw set, and an expression of torment came on to his face once more.

"He…he thanked me for being his defence at his trial." Harry responded, still stunned at the fact it had happened.

"He thanked me too," Hermione said softly, looking at the Weasley's on their brooms, throwing a ball between them. Harry followed her gaze, and shifted his weight slightly on each foot, crossing his arms almost defensively.

"I wish I understood it," Harry said quietly, "Malfoy I mean, he doesn't seem to be…antagonistic."

"He isn't…I've run into him a lot at Hogwarts Harry, a lot. He speaks to me kindly each time," she said, casually ignoring the times they'd shouted at each other. "he's…actually friendly." She told his stunned face, as the torment filtered back. "Why do you look so tormented over Malfoy, you're giving me flashbacks to sixth year." She sighed, a slight chuckle dripping into her tone at her last words. Harry laughed quietly, his eyes fixed upon Ginny as she swooped below Ron, throwing a ball into the goal he was meant to be defending as if he wasn't there.

"I keep thinking…after the war, maybe I should speak to Malfoy again, see if we can clear the air between us. I don't think we'll ever be friends; but…I was right in sixth year, I was right. I can't just ignore that, but…" He sighed, rubbing his temples gently. "I can't just encourage a world where we all hate each other, not when there are so many eyes on me. We can't keep making the same mistakes. If he's civil towards you, maybe I can be civil towards him, and him; me…I just keep having this thought. What if he really was thick and believed everything his Daddy said. What If you were right and he never had a chance to be himself. What if I had shaken his hand that day of the sorting – first year…I'm just...there are so many 'what if's' with Malfoy. Maybe I want to test the waters, see if we can at least respect each other. I don't know…" Harry sighed heavily, his hand going through his perpetually messy hair as he breathed out.

"You might as well try it Harry, I think…I think you'll be surprised with the outcome." Hermione admitted, her own face a mask of sheer confusion when she thought of the Slytherin once tormentor. Harry nodded, turning to face her seriously.

"My turn now, I saw the priority board in the Auror office. Why are your parents on 'low'?" He asked her, his eyes narrowed, his tone serious and ready; the way it had been before one of his reckless escapades. Hermione raised her brows, a small smile at the corners of her mouth.

"Shacklebolt is a good man," She commented to herself, as Harry looked confused again, she sighed and hung her head. "Because I asked Shacklebolt to put them on low. We've just had a war Harry. I know that not all the Death Eaters were rounded up when you killed Voldemort, but it pays to keep them out the way right now. Let the aurors do their best rounding up everyone who may pose a threat, then get them. Not only that but…I don't want them to come home and not see me. I want to spend time with them. Be able to answer all their many millions of questions, explain to them everything in detail; talk to them. Not, 'Hey, Mum, Dad! Look, I had to modify your memory for a year so you wouldn't be murdered for knowing who I was; you're back now, but I'm off to school for nine months! Bye!'" She said mock cheerily, feigning a wave as Harry chuckled lowly. "I want to spend proper time with them after everything. After Hogwarts is finished, once we've started to put the world back together, when I can explain everything to them and not have to run off to school; or work, or…I dunno. Shacklebolt said he'd start the search at Christmas, bring them back Easter by latest, meaning they should be out of St Mungo's by the time exams are finished, which is perfect for me."

"St Mungo's?" Harry asked her, the concern evident.

"I did modify their memories…I mean…for a long time, they're going to need some help adjusting to the fact they have a daughter again…not to mention it's not like I had any practise with the spell before casting it…" she winced as Harry looked mortified, as if the whole idea Hermione's parents may never be the same again had occurred to him. A dreadful, mournful look draped over his features and Hermione's own looked darkened. "Don't you dare Harry Potter; I did what I had to, not for me, but for everyone else too." She warned him, and Harry grunted, still displeased with the sheer level of sacrifice she had given for him.

"If there is anything I can do for you, with your parents…I'll do it. Just let me know," Harry said loyally, and Hermione smiled weakly, thinking of how her parents would be able to settle back into the muggle world as easily as they were expected. With a hope, she wished that when their memories were fixed, they'd remembered being Monica and Wendell, so that they'd have legitimate stories to tell people when they returned.

"Thank you," she said instead, smiling at her best friend as the Weasley siblings seemed to have multiplied again, Bill now joining the game as Percy stood watching from the side-lines, his own expression one of sheer humiliation and discomfort.

"Does…does it feel like everything is still wrong to you?" Harry asked her watching the siblings chase one another.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…does it feel to you like even though the war is over; we're still…apart from one another? Does; does that make sense?" He asked, his hand meeting his hair line again. Hermione twisted her mouth, her arms crossing across her body as she contemplated his question.

"I know I'm physically apart from everyone at Hogwarts; I can't be around Ron, or the Weasley's…it feels…like I'm intruding. Like…" She sighed, biting her lip slightly. "Like I'm…trying so hard to pretend everything is still the same; that Fred is here, and Tonk's and Lupin, and when I'm here it's so obvious everything isn't ok." She replied, as Harry nodded.

"I'm happy you came here Hermione," he told her, as Ron aimed his broom towards them, his intention of landing clear.

"Harry!" He called, nearing them, "You're turn; I need to talk to Hermione." He said his eyes grim and focused, and for the first time in her life, Hermione felt slightly nervous about Ron.

"Sure," Harry said, throwing Hermione a meaningful glance, taking Ron's broom and mounting it effortlessly as Ron looked at Hermione with such a piercing gaze she fought back a blush.

"Hermione," He began, stepping towards her as her breath hitched. "Can we walk? I need…I need to clear the air with you." He explained, stepping past her; his hand out in a gesture for her to join him, his expression hopeful. She nodded, falling into step beside him, her hands slipping into her pocket, fingers gripping her wands handle carefully.

"So…" She began, hoping that the conversation would be smooth and easy; not ending up with her having to hex him.

"I just wanted to explain to you…my behaviour." He said awkwardly, humiliation seeping into the corners of his eyes.

"Please do Ron, because this is so tiring, this…you're not the Ron I know." She sighed, sudden waves of exhaustion drenching her as she glanced at him, his messy red hair and cornflower blue eyes bright; and strangely painful.

"I know I've said to you before, how it's not fair, you're supposed to be my support line. I know Harry has Ginny and all but Hermione…you've not really been here. It's hard work. Mum…Mum needs one of us in her sight at all times. Do you know how difficult that is? To make sure you're around her at all times? So she doesn't lose it? She's…she's really struggling; and I can't cope. Fred is dead. Sure. We had a funeral…but…" he swallowed, tears beginning to well up in his eyes as the pair of them stopped walking. "I'm just so angry all the time Hermione. Why did it have to be this way? Why did Fred have to die? Why did Lupin? Why Tonks? Sirius? Moody?...Fuck, Lavender. Sure, she was my ex but…to see her… I don't…I can't stand this Hermione. Having to be something I just can't feel all the time here. Everything sets me off, you saw what I did to Malfoy – not that he didn't deserve it, but…that's not…not me. I'm not this angry all the time. I feel like bloody Lockhart, completely senseless." He sighed, and Hermione smiled at the first hint of the Ron she knew gleaming through the gaps. "It's just so lonely without you around, and Harry; all his work he's doing for the Ministry making sure things are declassified, identifying Death Eaters…I just…I can't stop grieving all the time. You can't show Mum that you're upset or she starts and…" He sighed a great heaving breath, as if everything he was saying was taking so much effort to get out he was almost wounded by it.

Hermione stepped forward towards him a little, placing her hand on his shoulder to steady him. He flicked an appreciative glance at her, resting his hands on his knees as he doubled over breathing heavily.

"I didn't mean what I said the other day by the way. The comment about me being rich. I dunno where it came from, but it was out of order. Do you get where I'm coming from that none of this is me?"

He straightened up, wiping the back of his hand across his ruddy cheek, looking at her calmly; the first hint of calm she'd sensed from him for days.

"I'm sorry Ron," she said quietly, "I was saying to Harry earlier about how I think I've just…escaped from you all at Hogwarts; I've used excuse after excuse, but the fact is I just can't face all the grief. I need to distract myself. It's why I'm here now though – I need to face it; we can't just run and hide from our emotions. I'm sorry I've not been there for you, I've been a bad friend."

"Like I've been a saint," Ron snorted, accepting her apology and they smiled lightly at one another. They settled into a familiar quiet, a sense of calm they'd not been able to achieve with one another for quite some time.

"I do…I do have feelings for you Hermione," Ron said to her as she looked away, "but I really want you to know that I understand why we can't be together. Your reasons…I hate them, but they're solid. There is too much between us that if…if we split, and let's face it; we fight a lot, it might happen…I never want to lose you in any form Hermione. I'd rather have you as a friend, even if I'm acting like a complete troll right now."

"Thank you Ron, I needed to hear that." She spoke quietly, turning to face him again, the gratitude written all over her face.

"I also want you to know I'm going to St Mungo's next week, every other day after auror training for two hours. Just…just so I start feeling like me again. Mum doesn't know, and I'd appreciate it if you could not let her in on it; it would ruin her to know that I'm struggling so much." He said gruffly as Hermione's jaw fell open in surprise.

"Ron I'm so proud of you," she choked out, suddenly feeling like she was on the verge of hysterical sobbing. He hugged her, hard. Burying his head into her neck and sobbing back. They stood there, entwined and crying for a few moments before Ron pulled away.

"Thanks Hermione." He said gruffly, releasing her, and stepping deliberately back, as if to enforce the idea that he was happy to give her space. She smiled, nodding her head and brushing her hair back behind her ears. "I'm going to go back, help Mum with dinner." He said, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the Burrow and she nodded once more.

"I'll talk to you later." She gasped out, between the last sobs and he dipped his head awkwardly, before leaving, long strides carrying him far away from the scene of the crime.

:: :: ::

"Hermione," Ginny's voice came out from the darkness, the whisper curious and hopeful.

"Hmmm?" Hermione replied, rolling on to her side in the bed facing where her friend would roughly be.

"Did you want to get in?" Ginny asked still in a whisper and holding her sheets up welcomingly. Hermione instantly threw hers off, and slipped into bed with the girl who was more like a sister, enjoying the closeness they shared. Ginny shifted over, a slight giggle on her lips. "This is harder now we're older!" she sniggered, as they fought for space and blanket, sniggering quietly. Hermione grinned, remembering the darker days when the news had often been bad, and they'd slipped into each other's beds for comfort, talking of anything that wasn't the tales of death.

"Oh shhh!" Hermione chided playfully, as Ginny passed her a pillow. "What's on your mind?" She asked, as the two girls settled down.

"Cast a muffliato, somehow I don't want to risk any of this being over heard," she told her friend, who sighed and rolled over, reaching for a wand and giving it a deft flick; settling into the position she was in a moment before hand. Ginny giggled, "Thanks," she smiled, her voice at normal volume.

"So?" Hermione asked for the second time that day; a large smile upon her face.

"I just can't stop thinking about the future you know, it's like…everything before was all about Voldemort, and now…"

"Now he's gone, what do you do?" She finished, remembering her brief fall out in the alcove in which Draco had dragged her.

"Exactly," Ginny said, "I mean, sure we're both going back to school; I'm one of the lucky ones to have eight years at Hogwarts due to my having to repeat sixth, but after that…I never even considered actually finishing school."

"I know what you mean; I'll be doing my N. E. W. Ts, then… something, at least I know that it could be anything you know. I'm not…I'm not upset about it, I'm still wondering what it'll be that I'll do, but I know not knowing right now isn't the end of the world. Besides, you know some of what you want; you're engaged to Harry; so perhaps you'll have children in the future."

"Hmmm, I guess you're right; I'd never really thought of being engaged as sorting out my future though. Besides, it's Harry and it just feels like that's what we should be doing anyway; it doesn't feel like a set plan, it's more like a completely natural extension of our lives. No pressure." Ginny explained, as Hermione looked at her friend in shock.

"I think it's a good thing I'm not with Ron, because I've never thought that we would feel like that about one another." She admitted, as Ginny nodded in agreement.

"If I didn't feel this way about Harry, about the idea of having his children; living in his home, I wouldn't have accepted his oh so romantic proposal." She said seriously, before sniggering at the end, Hermione giggling with her having been let in on Ginny's version of events. Yet, she remembered the fierce steely gaze of Malfoy with a sudden hitch in her throat.

"Ahhh Harry…at least he knows what he wants." Hermione said to cover her strange laugh and Ginny smiled kindly at her.

"Yep, but I don't think he's going to be expecting me to completely change Grimmauld Place the way I want it. Seriously Hermione, that place has to look completely different. Walls are coming down and out, and a new layout is happening. I can't quite explain to you how much I hate the current décor of that place." She said with a slight laugh as Hermione laughed loudly, biting her lip to stifle it.

"Oh I don't blame you, Harry said it himself, we may have made the place liveable, but it's not a home."

"I can't wait to have you helping me; I'm so pleased we have a real excuse to see one another in our common rooms other than normal socialising. I will still want to spend time with just you, you know."

"I'm looking forward to it Gin, I've never really thought about where I want to live after Hogwarts, and helping you sort out your home will make me feel better. I definitely get the feeling this year will change a lot for me somehow. Today is the first day since the end of the war where things really feel like they've started to come together."

"How so?" Ginny asked, narrowing her eyes curiously.

"Well Ron said he's getting help from St Mungo's – don't tell your mother!" She hissed as Ginny nodded at her, as if she already knew the secret. "Harry and Ron are now in Auror training, we know how Hogwarts needs to be fixed, Percy has been here for the first time in a month according to George, and…oh this will sound so stupid, but…people are changing." She sighed.

"Malfoy," Ginny said immediately, almost knowing.

"What?" Hermione spluttered.

"Think about it; if anyone is the poster boy for post war right now, it's Malfoy. He was cleared of all charges in his trial; McGonagall actually sung his praises to me, McGonagall. He's actually helping out around Hogwarts and not pissing about tearing it down. He spoke to me like I was a person Hermione, shit, even Harry is thinking of clearing the air between them; and we've only seen him a couple of times since the war." Ginny explained, and Hermione bit her lip, closing her eyes.

"He does seem different; he stopped me from taking one hell of a tumble at the remembrance service, before Ron so elegantly stepped in. I've run into him a lot at Hogwarts while I've been there; McGonagall has asked us both for help and…hasn't insulted me once."

"Why do I get the feeling there is something you're not telling me?" Ginny asked shrewdly; her eyes narrowing with suspicion and a small curl appearing at the corner of her mouth. Hermione sighed again; fighting with her emotions, struggling to keep them in check.

"Can…can you keep the biggest secret of your life right now Ginny?" She asked her friend seriously, knowing that Ginny would never betray her trust. Ginny's brows raised, and she nodded, the curiosity completely obvious over her face.

"I think…I think I've developed a serious crush on Malfoy." She said waiting for her friend to laugh in her face. The laughter never came, but Ginny blinked slowly, carefully, her expression one of deep thought.

"Remember that conversation we had last time Ron was a prat here; screaming about how you should be his?" She asked her, her brown eyes serious.

"Yeah," Hermione replied, curious as to what Ginny was getting at.

"I stand by what I said then. If…if you and Malfoy get together, I'll still stand by you and support you; I'll always be your friend." She said and Hermione's arms snaked about her body, pulling her close into a sisterly embrace that Ginny willingly returned. "You're not just a friend Hermione; you're a sister to me. You have always treated me kindly, and you're my first real female friend. I'm not going to throw all your loyalty, your kindness and genuine friendship away just because of a boy." She giggled slightly; clearly embarrassed by all the emotion she was showing.

"Thank you, Ginny, thank you; you know I'm exactly the same. You're my sister."

The pair released one another, as Ginny opened her mouth to speak again.

"Have you told anyone else about how you feel about Malfoy?"

"No, I didn't even think I had a crush until I said it aloud, and oh my Ginny, it's true. I definitely have a crush on Malfoy."

"If this were three years ago, I'd be slapping the silly out of you, but…it's now, and I can't help but think Malfoy really is a better person; and a much better match for you than I ever would have previously considered." Ginny said thoughtfully, as Hermione looked at her friend with surprise.

"It's one of those ridiculous crushes that I know won't go anywhere Gin," She told her friend seriously. Ginny chuckled quietly at that, a light smirk gracing her lips.

"I'm not so sure about that one Hermione." She told her surely, "I saw how he looked at you in the room of requirement; something is going on with that boy when he thinks of you." She smirked.

"I don't know…" Hermione sighed.

"Do you wish he fancied you too?" Ginny asked.

"Yes."