A/N: I've decided I may add a little romantic twist (twist being the key word, as there will obviously be romance anyway) to this later on, but you'll have to be patient to find out what happens. You may or may not like it, but I think it'll be a nice touch.

And… story!

Dinner at Grimmauld Place

Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace, barely managing to maintain her balance. She didn't see anyone around, so she went into the kitchen. There, she found Harry making dinner and Ron and Remus Lupin sitting at the table having a quiet conversation.

"Hey," she said. "How was everyone's day?"

Harry looked over at her and gave a small grin. "We didn't do too much of anything today, just some research as to the whereabouts of some particularly violent vampires. We've been trying to find them for months now. How about you?"

"Well… my day can only be described as interesting. I was taking a bit of a break from my research to have lunch. I decided, for whatever reason, to go to the lounge to eat, and when I was deciding what to order I ran across someone I haven't seen in a long while. And that person has definitely changed." She stopped there, not only to make sure they were listening, but also to fix Harry with a pointed stare.

"C'mon then," said Ron, just after swallowing a swig of pumpkin juice. "Out with it. Who was so interesting that you brought them up at dinner?"

Hermione was still staring at Harry. "I think Harry knows just who I'm talking about, don't you Harry?"

"I…" He started. And then realization dawned. "Oh, Hermione. I didn't think it was all that important. I mean, he was always such a git, you know? Also, he sort of hinted that I shouldn't tell you we were working together."

"He said that to you?" asked Hermione, surprised. "He told me that he thought you might've mentioned it already. That's odd. Well, maybe not considering who it is. But he seemed so different. He was… pleasant, almost enjoyable to be around."

Ron was starting to get mad at this point. "Will someone please tell me who it is we're talking about? Just because you two are stuffed in the Ministry all day doesn't mean you have to exclude me."

Hermione turned to him. "Sorry, Ron, I was just so caught up in what happened, you'll understand in a second. See, I had a nice, insult-free lunch with Draco Malfoy."

"Ferret Boy?" he spat out. "How could you possibly have a nice lunch with that prat?"

"Ron, that's what I'm trying to explain. It was so weird at first, like it wasn't really the Malfoy we know and hate. He was so… nice. I could never have imagined him as a real person, but there we were, having a decent conversation. He said it was who he really is inside, that since his father had died he was free to be himself."

Ron snorted. "What a load of shit. Malfoy isn't nice, and that's a fact that we all know."

"Actually," interrupted Harry. "He's been really decent whenever we work together. All through training he was really quiet, but ever since we're in the same unit he's been downright friendly. Whatever he told you, Hermione, I would tend to think it may possibly be true. He seems like a real person once he's away from all that pureblood crap."

"Excuse me!" Ron nearly shouted. "Since when do you and Malfoy work together? And exactly why did you fail to mention this little fact to the rest of us?"

"Ron, shut up," said Hermione calmly. "I would've like to have known as well, considering I work in the Ministry, too, but I'm sure Harry had his reasons for not saying anything."

"Actually," said Harry, I really just didn't think to mention it. I'd gotten so used to spending time with a decent-mannered Malfoy that it just became habit, and it didn't seem out of the ordinary."

"Harry!" Ron began to shout, but was interrupted.

"Ron," said Remus quietly. "You of all people, should know that sometimes people aren't always what they seem. After all, some people," he snarled, "only see me as a werewolf, but you know I'm so much more than that. So maybe you should give Malfoy the chance to live his own life, especially now that his father is out of the picture for good. He hasn't got any more pressure on him so maybe you'll all find out that he's a good person underneath the façade."

Ron had the grace to look a little abashed at this. "Sorry Remus, I didn't think of it like that. I suppose it can't hurt to try and be nice."

"The understatement of the century, I am sure. When you do presume to think, I do believe the Ministry will present you with an Order of Merlin. After all, it would be a terribly difficult feat for one such as you." The low, silky voice of Professor Severus Snape carried in from the living room. The kitchen door opened a second later, and instead of sweeping in, as per his normal routine, he merely stood, glowering at the lot of them.

"Good evening to you too, Severus," said Remus cheerfully. "I take it your day was quite exhilarating? For you are in such a fine temperament, judging from that lively smile on your visage."

Snape looked affronted at the idea that he be smiling for any reason. "My day, if you must know, was filled with petulant crybabies who are unable to read, let alone brew delicate potions. In other words, a normal day. And yourself?"

"Fine, fine. I accomplished a lot today, but I'll tell you later. Dinner is just about ready I think."

"Quite right, Remus. Everyone to the table, and bring your own dishes out. I did cook after all." Harry shooed them out to the dining area.

"Potter, you may consider your cooking edible, but that remains to be seen, so don't start acting all cocky just yet." Snape's words were relatively cruel, but to his companions they merely sounded teasing.

Since the end of the war their group had become closer than they ever would have imagined. If you had told any member of the trio that they would be eating dinner and bantering lightly with Professor Snape, they would have told you to go get a check up at St. Mungo's. As it was, the casualties of war had made them realize that their friendships were invaluable, and so brought them closer in a strange way. Remus had become very quiet in the last few years, in part because of Sirius' death. Snape had finally been able to gather his life together once Voldemort was gone, and in doing so realized he had no one to turn to other than Dumbledore. The trio had lost many friends and acquaintances, and that had drawn them together more so than before. The motley group was odd, at best, but it worked for them, and filled some of the emptiness they had all been feeling since the end of the war.

They ate in silence. Harry's cooking had become a hobby to fill his time in the evenings, and was quickly progressing. Even Snape had nothing to find fault with, but still, it was Snape.

"It was almost edible, Potter. Try again tomorrow." Harry smiled as he cleared his own dishes away to the sink. This was the highest praise he was likely ever going to receive from Snape, and he'd take it.

Dinner was a semi-weekly affair at Grimmauld Place. Harry and Remus lived there in peace, though their schedules alternated greatly. Ron traveled a great deal with the Wasps, so he kept his own small apartment for when he was in town or in the off-season. Hermione visited most days of the week, staying for dinner and a bit of casual conversation. Snape came more frequently than she, but it was not for dinner and chit chat. He came during the day, and at odd times during the weekend to spend time with Remus. Although they had not been friendly before, the war seemed to have drawn them into friendship. They spent hours simply reading, or discussing their research. The pair of them had been working on some secret project for ages, but no one knew what it was.

Except maybe for Albus Dumbledore, because he just knew everything. The Headmaster dropped by every now and again to offer his greetings. He never stayed for more than a cup of tea, and Hermione didn't know if it was because Harry's cooking was a bit mediocre, or if it was because something was going on at the school. Either way, he was still going strong, and this gave Hermione strength even though she didn't realize it. To see this powerful wizard plan his way through a third reign of terror, and come out of it with the same twinkling blue eyes comforted her, letting her know that she could survive the horrors as well.

All the dishes were cleared away and the group of them, Snape, Harry, Ron, Remus, and Hermione, sat in the living room surrounding the fireplace. There was a small fire burning because the day had been cool, and the ancient Black residence was always chilly inside, no matter the weather outside. They sat in silence, save for some random comments, but it was what they all desired.

Suddenly Hermione found herself unable to keep silent. "Professor Snape? I was wondering if you could answer a question for me."

Snape looked at her before replying. "I was under the impression you knew everything there is to know, Miss Granger."

"Unless you suspect me of knowing every intimate detail of your life, I suppose you may have to help me out here."

He glared at her, but only for a second. "Go on then."

"Well, I was just wondering… Sir, do you trust Draco Malfoy?"

"What does it matter if I do or do not trust young Mr. Malfoy?"

Hermione proceeded to tell him of her lunch date with Draco, and explained that she was unsure of how to proceed, if the occasion arised.

"Miss Granger," he drawled, though not unpleasantly. "I do not know enough of him at this point in time to answer that question in an unbiased manner. However much I may regret saying this later, go with your instinct."

"Thank you, Professor. I think I'll do that. I feel as if I can trust him, for some reason. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. For all I know, I may not even see him until weeks from now." She smiled softly to herself. "I think it'll work out alright, if that's what it comes to."

Woo-hoo! Another chapter done. R & R please! If you feed your author reviews, they are very likely to update quickly!