Wow it's been quite awhile. But I seriously have been very busy. Well no use delaying what has already been delayed long enough.

This chapter is for Kathryn! Happy Belated Birthday…BFF!

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except the plot and Sam and Josh and well basically whoever isn't in the actual Harry Potter stuff.

Obliviate

Chapter 14: Friends?

"Sorry, I didn't know anyone else was in here." the boy said solemnly turning back towards the door.

"No it's alright, stay."

"Are you sure you want me around you, Scarhead and Weasel wouldn't want me near you." he sneered.

"Contrary to popular belief, I can make up my own mind about whose company I keep and nothing Ron or Harry says can change that." she glared at him.

"Don't you hate me Granger? I thought you of all people…"

She set down her book on the side table nearby and looked squarely at the boy standing near the door of the study.

"I don't hate you Malfoy, I don't like you very much, but you must have some good in you to have come to our side."

"How can you be so naïve? So trusting?"

"I'm not naïve, but if Dumbledore trusts you then I have to trust his judgement." she commented.

"Potter and Weasley don't." he bit out.

"Give them time, I mean you can't really blame them, they have hated you since first year."

"But what about you?" he asked

"Well…I"

"You've never hated me? Have you?"

"There have been plenty of times that I've hatred you, but I actually felt kind of sorry for you."

"Sorry for me?" he asked angrily.

"Well you were raised to be so cruel and you never knew true love from your father or mother, and well, I kind of understood. I was deprived of magic and you were deprived of love." she stuttered out.

"Love? What's love got to do with anything? If you are talking about those trashy romance novels…" he spat.

"Not that kind of love," she interrupted, "the love of friendship, or unconditional parental love, no matter what your choices in life."

"I don't want your pity!" he exclaimed angrily.

"It's not pity it's an understanding from one person…" she began.

"Shut up, I don't need your sympathy"

"No you shut up! I know you probably feel terrible and a million thoughts are running through your head asking if you made the right choice. Trust me I know! But you have to believe you have. As for sympathy, I'm not giving out sympathy, just understanding and an offering of truce or a friendship." she yelled with such a force that Malfoy had been unable to speak.

"What? No smart ass remark? You know we are all in this together, and despite what you think, I do wonder if I made a wrong decision along the last 6 and a half years of my life and maybe I shouldn't have come to Hogwarts or done the things I've done, then I feel bad, and its just not easy!" she cried out with a quiver in her voice and tears threatening to fall.

"What wrong Granger?"

"Everything."

Desk, picture, garbage can, wall, door, desk, picture, garbage can, wall, door, desk picture, garbage can, wall, Josh, desk, picture…wait ….Josh? Hermione stopped spinning in her swivel chair and turned back to face the door where an amused looking Josh stood grinning.

"I see you're making good use of your time." he smirked.

"For your information, I was working."

"Really now? And what on?"

"Chair durability, you don't want a chair that doesn't twirl fast enough, so I was checking to…oh screw it, yes I was fooling around, but I've finished my work, have you finished your work Mr. Cheeky Grin?" she asked him while he started laughing at her.

"As a matter of fact I have. I was just wondering if you would like to go out to dinner tomorrow?" he said hopefully.

"Alright sounds great. Tomorrow's Saturday right?" she asked.

"Yep, I'll pick you up around 6 o'clock?" he asked.

"Okay, I love Saturdays." she sighed.

"Why?"

"Because I get to sleep in." she smiled.

Ginny sat comfortably in her chair at home while Harry made supper. She grimaced at the thought; who would have pictured Harry as the Martha Stewart guy. Well not totally Martha Stewart, in order for him to be that the food had to be good, and she sadly found out that his food was dreadful; but he insisted on making it. At first it had been cute but now it was just irritating but he insisted that she relax, gosh she wasn't even 5 months along and he was already treating her like a piece of china.

"Harry? Could you come here a minute?" she called and he rushed in at the speed of light, concern written all over his face.

"What is it? Are you alright? Does your stomach hurt?"

"Harry…"

Do you feel faint? I told everyone that one day wasn't enough in the hospital and that you should have stayed longer."

"Harry!"

"Can you use the floo? I can apparate us if you need it." he continued on.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" she yelled.

"Huh? What Gin?" he asked comfortingly.

"Shut up! Sit down." she pointed to the couch standing up. He tried to help her up but she pushed him away.

"Listen here Potter, and listen good. I am not fragile, breakable, or needy. I don't need to be waited on hand and foot 24/7, at least not yet. You can barely see the small bump on my stomach; it just looks like I'm gaining weight. Please let me do things, I'm still me; I can fly, walk, cook and clean. I know I need to distress but you are stressing me out but treating me like this. Please stop!" she said as she broke down in tears.

Harry jumped up to comfort his wife who was breaking down in front of him. He gently led her to the couch and gathered her into a hug.

"Shhh, Gin, please don't cry. I'm sorry; I just love you so much. I just want to make this easier on you. I want both you and our baby to be well."

"I know Harry, I just get so emotional, I don't know why."

"It's just hormones, it'll be fine. Now what do you say about making supper then going to bed early?" he asked.

"Sounds great." she leaned in and kissed him.

Hermione lazed around her apartment that night. She was too tired to go anywhere, not that she had any place to be. She couldn't get Draco out of her head and it was starting to annoy her. She had just met the guy but it seemed as if she had known him forever; like a weird déjà vu. The dreams had stopped for last night, but they had come to her in a rush at the office and then as she saw Josh the faces blurred, the names were forgotten, and there was little dialogue she remembered from the fight, the rest was a blur.

Ring…Ring…

The telephone snapped Hermione out of her daze as she sat up in her chair and rushed to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hermione?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Yes?"

"Hey, it's me, Draco."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Err…nothing. I was just wondering if you wanted to meet me and a couple of my friends tomorrow at a café."

"Umm…what time?"

"Well, we will meet there around four and stay there for a couple hours, so are you up for it?"

"Sounds great, I just have a previous engagement at six so I'll have my friend meet me there, alright?" she replied nervously.

"Sounds great, See you then Hermione." he replied happily.

"Alright then, bye."

"Bye."

Hermione hung up and sighed to her self. It wouldn't be fair to lead both of the guys on. She had feelings for both of them Josh gave her that new fluttery feeling but Draco, Draco went way deeper. There was chemistry, danger, fireworks, and despite her better judgement, passion. She decided to sleep on it and let tomorrow come. She laid her head on her pillow and her last thoughts of Draco and Josh carried her into sleep.

The very next day Draco awoke bright and early and walked with a spring in his step. He had found Hermione and she was already falling for him. He confidently got ready for the day and arrived at Harry and Ginny's flat at 11:00.

"Hey Draco, Come in." Ginny smiled as she opened the door to greet him.

"Hey Gin," he replied joyfully as he gave her a big hug, "How are you feeling?"

"Alright, I've been taking better care of myself and Harry has made sure of it, speaking of which he is in the living room waiting so come in."

Draco walked into his friend's home and into the living room where he had been in countless times before. There he saw everyone from the Order staring back at him; he sat down surprised as they began to fill him in on the plan for that day.

Hermione walked cautiously into Central Grind, a quaint little coffee shop off of Robert Square, looking around for his face. He had been on her mind all day, Draco, she sighed to herself. Something about his grey eyes just made her heart jump; she had never felt anything like it. It scared her more then anything she had ever felt, it was this weird longing inside of her. She had once read about past lives and when two souls meet each other from past lives and there were feelings then they might be passed on to now. It was of course very far fetched.

"Hermione! Hey, over here." Draco called over to her from some couches near the opposite side of the café. Hermione turned her head in his direction and smiled at him and he grinned back with his ever so gorgeous smile. I saw he was with two other men and two women. They all saw me, smiled and waved as I walked nervously over to them.

"Hey" Draco smiled as he pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the cheek; blushing I took the seat next to him.

"Everyone this is Hermione." Draco said happily.

"Hello." the whole group chorused.

"You remember me from when we found you, Ginny, remember?" the red haired girl asked and smiled happily when Hermione nodded her head yes, "and this is Luna."

Hermione turned towards a pretty blonde haired girl with large blue eyes. She was wearing a very odd sort of outfit but it was cute and strangely suited her. The girl, Luna, smiled kindly at her and Hermione liked her already.

"I'm Ron." smiled the ginger haired boy, was he perhaps related to the other girl, Ginny, she thought her name was.

"And I'm Harry." the last person introduced himself. He had an odd scar on his forehead almost like lighting, and his eyes, they seemed familiar. Ow, he head started to pound as her head fell back onto the couch and she closed her eyes in pain.

Screaming, yelling, pain, flashes of lights, more pain, someone was yelling her name, Hermione, Hermione, a little louder, Hermione. Darkness, cold grey eyes, dead eyes, almost like…

"Hermione!" Draco gasped as she opened her eyes and the pain instantly went away.

She peered around and saw the others looking at her in concern and fear. She turned her head slightly and saw Draco hold her head and looking frightful and worried.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" he asked.

She sat up slowly running a hand through her hair.

"Sorry, I just had a bit of a headache, rough time at work; just a little migraine. Nothing big, I'll just pop an Advil. Be right back." she got up a bit unsteadily as Draco rose to help her up but she held steady and took off as fast as she could to the restroom.

Walking in she crinkled her nose in disgust, no matter how clean all public washrooms smelt the same. It disgusted her to no end, the grimy floors, dirty toilets and sinks and the same generic soap and toilet paper. Absolutely horrid, she thought as she rushed towards the sink. Luckily no one was in the washroom as she splashed cold water on her face and wiped it off. She fumbled out an Advil even though her headache was gone, that was one of the worst headaches she had ever had. She shook her head and fixed her makeup a bit, taking one last look in the mirror she made her way back where the others were anxiously awaiting her return.

Sitting down she smiled and began a conversation with them. They continued on like this until 6 o'clock. Hermione had told Josh to pick her up at Central Grind around six, the time had flown by and before Hermione even knew it was six o'clock and Josh walked into the café, looking around searchingly for Hermione.

"Hermione, hey, there you are!" Josh smiled as he walked over.

"Hey Josh, is it six already? Wow time just flew by." Hermione said as she got up to give him a hug.

"Time flies when you're having fun, or using a time turner." Luna said dreamily.

Everyone looked at her oddly, if she had noticed this she didn't let it on because she seemed unfazed as she came back to reality.

"Well everyone this is Josh. Josh this are my…friends I guess now?" she said questioningly.

They all beamed at her so she kept going.

"Alright well this is Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, and the guy who introduced all these odd but awesome people to me, my friend Draco." Hermione said jokingly. One too many coffees she thought to herself as she finished.

"Well it's been a pleasure to meet you all but we best be off, I made reservations at the restaurant." he said pleasantly, looking at Hermione,

"Yes, well I'll see you all soon I hope." she grinned as Josh escorted her outside.

Draco turned moodily towards his friends and slouched with a huff on the sofa, his eyes trailing after Hermione and Josh through the window as they caught a taxi.

"Draco? What's wrong?" Ginny asked concerned.

"She…she…it…SHE LEFT WITH ANOTHER MAN!" he yelled out.

The whole of the coffee house turned to look at him scared, wide eyed, and shocked.

"Sorry." he muttered and slouched down more.

"Listen mate, I'm sure she wasn't, I mean he wasn't…it…" Harry trailed off.

"I know it looks that way Draco but, at least we are somewhere in her lives. We can bring her back more. Just give it time." Ginny replied soothingly.

"I don't want it to take any bloody more time. I love her, so bloody much. When I see her with another man I just want to beat the crap out of him and drag her off to my apartment or Hogwarts and make her remember!" he said angrily.

"You mustn't. We all miss her. You act as if you are the only one who cared about her! She was my bloody best friend too. I cried too, we all cried, we all were sad, and still are." Ginny snapped at him.

"Gin, the baby." Harry said worried.

"It's fine Harry." Ginny said curtly but leaned backwards into her chair all the same.

"Maybe all she needs from you right now is friendship." Luna said dreamily.

"Yeah, she is right Draco. Work from friends up, you'll get there." Ron replied assured.

"I don't want to be friends; I want to go back to the way things were, before this, before she left, before the war, before fights and deaths, just…the good times." he sadly closed his eyes.

"Maybe, but it's a step towards something more. It may not be easy but you want her back don't you?" Ginny asked.

"Yes." he replied instantly.

"Then fight for her, and try your hardest." she told him.

"And what if his best isn't good enough." Ron questioned.

"Well, there is a tiny thing we have going for us…magic." Ginny smiled mischievously.

"How in the world did you not end up in Slytherin?" Ron asked amused.

"Green doesn't suit me too well." Ginny smiled.

Harry smiled at her as the group laughed.

Hermione laid her head yet again on her pillow. What a day, she thought to herself, two guys in one. She smiled slightly at the memory of the coffee shop. All of the people she had met today had seemed very nice and for some reason very familiar, she felt as if she had known them before; which was absolutely insane because she had never met any of those people in her life. Her life, now that was something. Whenever anyone asked her about her teenage years she was at loss for what to say. She didn't remember anything, nothing; well she remembered some things, like her parent's funeral but nothing big stuck out in her mind. Slowly she began to drift off again.

"You don't look like anything is bugging you." he stated.

"I've gotten really good at smiling. I can fool anyone, even Ginny now." she replied as if saddened by her newly learned skill.

"Well then I guess we are both sad Granger." he said after a long pause.

"I guess so…friends?" she asked.

"Friends? Why would you want to be friends with me?"

"Because you have no one and I need someone who understands me a bit more." she told him.

"How could I understand you?" he asked confused.

"You left your whole belief system, family, and practically your life behind too." she sighed.

It was silent for awhile. Hermione had started to read again as he walked over to the bookshelf and began to read as well. Around quarter past two Hermione put her book away and took off toward her bedroom. As she reached the door he called out to her.

"Granger?"

She turned around.

"Yeah?" she asked quietly.

"Friends?"

"Friends." she smiled slightly and continued to her room.

Authors Note: It was a fairly long chapter and took me absolutely forever to write. the next one may not come out till around June, because the next weeks are going to be hectic and I go to Ottawa soon and then Toronto after that so I'm busy, busy, busy. I'll do my best. PLEASEEEEEE Review! lol thanks for reading.