"Tell me everything you know about roses," Ginny said by way of greeting, slamming her birthday binder on the table across from Neville so hard he almost spilled his pumpkin juice.
"Good afternoon to you, too," Neville murmured, picking up a few pieces of pulp from the table. Ginny smiled: living with Ron made her appreciate boys with good table manners.
"I'm sorry; I just want to do something special. Hermione didn't celebrate her birthday last year because she was on the run and without her parents I don't want her day to be ruined with sadness and hurtful memories. I think a bit of light could do all of us some good."
"Who's invited again?"
"The usual. You, me, Luna, a couple Quidditch friends, Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff, most of Gryffindor. Oh, and Draco."
This time, Neville did spew his pumpkin juice. "Draco Malfoy? Since when did we invite Draco Malfoy to parties? Let alone ones for Hermione?"
"They're friends."
"Really? Since when?"
"Since after the war. Turns out there was a half-decent person buried under all that swagger and hair gel after all."
"That remains to be seen. Hermione's my friend and I don't want her to get hurt. Especially after Ron. You know, I always thought she was too good for him. Hell, shes too good for most people."
"While I'll admit it's not the most obvious or conventional of friendships, she seems happy when she's around him, and he's been nothing but a gentleman to me. And Luna thinks he's okay, and she's usually very good at reading people."
"Okay. As long as she's happy. Now that I think about it, he did give me a very nicely worded apology after the battle about his actions when he was younger. Maybe he rally is turning over a new leaf. I knew what happened at Hogsmeade couldn't be true: Hermione could never be friends with someone like that."
"Agreed. People need to get their head on straight and stop criticizing what they don't know or understand."
"You were saying something about roses? Is this for decorations?"
"Yeah, I wanted to do something fancy, sophisticated. You know, not just alcohol and Filibuster No-Heat Fireworks."
"Let's see. You could have blue, white, pink, yellow, maybe red."
"Not red," Ginny blurted, voice wavering. "No red."
Neville's eyes filled with sympathy and understanding. It seemed they weren't all as over with the war as they pretended to be.
"How about gold? That would work with the Gryffindor theme?"
Ginny brightened considerably. "Excellent! You're a genius." She paused. "Wait, how do you get pure gold roses?"
"Well, it's all about soil composition and light levels and mineral ratios," Neville explained.
Ginny gave him a look.
Neville sighed. "Or you could just use magic and Transfigure them."
"Cool! I'll get Luna to do that. You know, I have a really good feeling about this."
It was Saturday, and Hermione was the first one up. Another birthday gone by without her parents there. In a way, she didn't feel nineteen: she felt far older, as if the last year had aged her in unknown and unnoticeable ways. She smiled upon seeing the huge heap of presents at the foot of her bed. Examining them, she noticed that she even had one from Hagrid, who she hadn't had a chance to chat to. She'd have to rectify that the first chance she got. Slipping on her fluffy dressing gown, Hermione began to systematically unwrap her presents, saving any wrapping paper she found particularly pretty. Anything could be used as a bookmark, after all.
The first was from Ginny, who'd gotten her some lovely fragrances perfume in a beautiful violet bottle and a children's book on aquatic creatures as a joke.
Luna's was a shining handmade bracelet, simple yet elegant -since she knew Hermione wasn't one for needlessly extravagant gifts- and set with sapphires, her birthstone.
She noticed one from Harry, a book on advanced charmwork. With love from Harry and Ron, it read. Yes, there was indeed no present from Ron, and it seemed that Harry was trying to cover it up. No matter.
Narcissa's present was expertly wrapped in a thick cream parchment, tied with a velvet ribbon. Inside was two heavy volumes, the leather smooth and worn under her fingertips. When she looked inside Hermione saw that she had left a note.
Dearest Hermione,
I wish you a very happy birthday. I know you are a very practical young woman and therefore I wished my present to you to be of that same nature. These are two books from my own private collection and I believe they may be helpful in your endeavor to restore your parents' memory. Please let me know if they help. The road ahead won't be easy, but I have every confidence in you.
Yours, Narcissa
PS: I hope you find Draco's present satisfactory; he spent a great deal of time on it.
Intrigued, Hermione rummage around until she found Draco's present. She opened the red and gold envelope (how typical) and found another note and a brass key.
Happy Birthday, Granger.
This is part of your present. Please don't lose it, as I only have two.
Your most handsome friend, Draco
Hermione laughed, her heart suddenly lighter. She unwrapped her presents from Neville and Hagrid -a new Hogwarts: A History and liquorice wands from Hagrid and a collection of rare spell books she'd mentioned to Neville in passing- and decided it was time to get breakfast. Organizing her presents in her trunk to look at later, she threw on her favorite white blouse with black polka dots on and her coziest red jumper and jeans. She pocketed Draco's key, just in case.
The Great Hall was mostly deserted at this hour, and her breakfast was only interrupted by a few well-wishers. Seeing as the surprise party Hermione had guessed at over a week ago started at seven, she decided to take her new books to the library. To anyone else, spending most of your birthday alone in a library would seem dull and odious, but to Hermione it was perfect. She'd be doing something to help her parents, and feel a little closer to them whilst doing so. When she was little, her birthday had always been a grand affair, balloons and streamers and the like. During her years at Hogwarts, her presents had been homework and trying to keep Harry alive or prevent him from doing something stupid. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd had a cake.
But Hermione didn't need those things any more, didn't need to play Duck, Duck Goose or watch Disney movies with her parents and friends, didn't need to watch her mum frost the cake or her dad fail to put up balloons or get tape stuck in his hair. She was an adult now, and she was a survivor of war, a witch who the people looked up to. If she couldn't restore her parents memories, she'd be fine, wouldn't she?
The party was a roaring success. From the two delicious birthday cakes -Ginny insisted she get two because of her birthday on the run the previous year- to Draco and Neville having a deep yet light-hearted conversation about Herbology's relevance to the modern wizarding society. The Room of Requirement was covered in ivory and gold streamers, candles dripping from almost every available surface. Dressed in a midnight blue velvet dress with golden stars embroidered around the bottom of the knee-length skirt, her hair up in a curly ponytail with loose tendrils framing her face and Luna's bracelet around her wrist, Hermione felt completely at ease, giddy and happy and light for once. If you everything could be as easy as this.
"So how's the birthday girl?" Draco asked her as he caught her up in a dance unexpectedly, arm wrapped lightly around her waist.
"The birthday girl is having a marvellous time, thank you. But I must warn you, I'm not the best dance partner."
Draco chuckled. "You seemed fine at the Yule Ball. Besides, every girl should get a dance on their birthday; it's mandatory."
"Is it now?"
"It is indeed." Draco twirled her out and spun her back in expertly, her back gently colliding with his chest. When her hand was once again his, she teased, "When are you going to dispense with your suspense and give me my present."
He grinned, mischief and slightly wicked. "I might not give it to you now, after you assaulted my ear drums with that awful rhyme of yours."
"That was perfectly decent improvisation!"
"If you say so, Granger, if you say so. As for your present, all will be revealed in good time."
After a pause, Hermione said, "Your mother told me you went to a lot of trouble. You didn't have to, you know. I'd have been perfectly happy with a book or a nice quill or something."
"As if that would suffice for my best friend. Besides, it was fun, and a good use of magic."
"Now I'm going to spend all evening trying to guess what it is. Thanks, Draco," she snarked.
"You're very welcome, Hermione."
They spent the rest of the evening like that, chatting with friends and dancing but never far from the other. Draco looked honestly terrified as Ginny hauled him onto the dance floor, teal dress offsetting her fiery hair. Hermione had a sweet dance with Neville and thanked him for the books he'd gotten her. When Draco asked Luna to dance, Hermione was secretly pleased. After Luna told her about the train ride to Hogwarts with Draco, she'd had a feeling the two would get on well, but hadn't wanted to force the two together. Luna's grounded and warm personality were a perfect match to Draco's new quiet, reserved personality. Whilst Draco was beginning to be more honest with her, the two still had an unhappy history, and he needed someone who he didn't have that baggage with. And, Luna was just nice to be around; Hermione just wished she'd seen it sooner, included her more when she became friends with Harry.
Harry. She wondered how he was doing: his letters were often rushed and vague, asking more about how she was than disclosing anything about his new life. And Ron. She was worried for him, for the path he'd chosen to put himself on. He'd no doubt make a good Aurora and try his very best, but she wondered if that was what he was really meant for. She didn't think hunting down dark wizards was conducive to healing your own trauma caused by one. But it was his life, and he clearly didn't want her to be a part of that. She'd gotten a birthday card signed from all the Weasley family and a nice writing journal this morning, but she felt a little bit like a fraud. If she wasn't friends or whatever with Ron, was she still part of the Weasley family? Did she really belong anywhere? Chastising herself for such melancholy thoughts on her birthday, Hermione picked up Ginny's Firewhiskey, downed it in one go and went off to see if Hannah Abbott was busy.
"Draco, is this really necessary?" Hermione asked him as he blindfolded her. They were standing outside the Room of Requirement, their voices the only sound. It was around two o'clock, and everyone else and departed gradually over the last hour, Ginny, Luna and Neville being the last to give her hugs and wish her happy birthday.
"Yes, it is. Now, shush. Do you still have the key I gave you?"
"Of course," she said, removing it from the hair tie of her ponytail.
As if she could sense his shocked look, she supplied, "It was the only safe place to put it; this dress doesn't have any pockets."
Although she couldn't see it, he smiled. "You continue to surprise me."
"Good. I'd hate for you to get bored."
"That could never happen," he whispered, then removed his own key. Guiding her hand, he placed her key in the keyhole. "Turn it anti-clockwise when I say go."
Hermione nodded.
Draco put his own key in the lock. "Go."
She turned hers while he turned his clockwise. The doors shifted, glowing slightly before turning transparent. It had worked. He sent a silent prayer of thanks to his mother before gripping Hermione's hand and opening the door. He artfully guided her down some stone steps, her heels clicking slightly besides his polished shoes. After they'd cleared the final one, he stood beside her and removed the blindfold.
He felt her open her eyes, felt the small gasp of wonder that escaped her. "Oh, Draco, it's lovely," she breathed, and Draco relaxed slightly, relieved since he had thought she might not like it.
"Happy Birthday, Hermione," he said.
She flung her arms around him, almost knocking him off his feet. His arms came up around her, his chin resting on top of her head. With a glint of mischief in her eye she bounded down the pathway that was lit with silvery lanterns, exploring the snowing wonderland he had made for her, the frozen flowers and benches and little castles and bookcases encased in a fine powdering of snow and ice, lit by fireflies and lanterns. He knew she had found the pond with the silvery otters in when she squealed and turned to him, such light in her eyes like he had never seen before. At the memory of how her present came about, Draco chuckled.
"I don't know what to get Hermione for her birthday," Draco began without preamble to the floating head of his mother in the fireplace. He'd Floo-called her after making an extensive list of ideas and finding none satisfactory.
"You don't have to get her anything," Narcissus offered, just to see what is reaction would be.
"Of course I do, Mother! She's my best friend, and after the year she's had she deserves a worthy present, and I want to give her one. I need to repay her, after all she's done for me."
His mother smiled. "Well, what about that new book on wandless magic that just came in at Flourish and Blotter? I'm sure she'd like that."
"Too small. I need something on a grander scale."
"An otter. I know she likes them, what with her Patronus being one."
"Impractical, where would she keep it? Besides, I don't think Crooks would like it?"
"'Crooks'?"
"Crookshanks. Hermione's fluffy ginger monstrosity. It mainly wanders about and does its own thing but would probably die without Hermione's full attention."
"I see. What about jewelery? Your father always got me jewelery. Or flowers?"
"Jewelry's too romantic; Hermione and I aren't like that. Flowers are always risky, lest you get it wrong and look stupid. No, I need something special. Something different."
"Not to sound like a Hufflepuff, but the best presents come from the heart, when you make something for someone else. Those are the best kinds of presents."
Draco paced back and forth, thoughts swirling and churning, when something caught his eye. A book, more precisely, one Hermione had given him: A Winter's Tale.
Draco turned to face his mother. "Mother, I don't suppose you know much about the Room of Requirement?"
Draco was brought back to the moment by the sound of Hermione's approach. She was covered in snow but not freezing -he'd incorporated a series of Warming Charms so that it was a pleasant, not overbearing, kind of cold- strands of snowflakes encrusting the velvet of her dress.
"I don't know quite what to say," she began.
"Say the truth."
"No one's ever done something like this for me before. Ever."
"I would be quite surprised if this was the second winter wonderland grotto someone had conjured up in the Room of Requirement for you."
She gave him her signature glare. "I mean it. You did all of this with me in mind, what I like and dislike. You made something, Draco. You made something for me, when we haven't even been friends that long, when a year ago I would have been less surprised if a Hippogriff came up to me and conversed in Spanish than you so much as give me a compliment. I'm not sure I quite deserve this."
He came to stand in front of her, giving her space yet forcing her to tilt her head to look him in the eyes. "I used to think that I had everything figured out, that my life was set in immovable stone. I'd take over my father's work, marry some Pureblood and make lots of money to spend on stupid stuff i didn't need. But then the War came along. I had to witness some horrible things, things I couldn't stop no matter how much I wanted to. I was broken, broken inside after I took the Mark, after I got my assignment. But I'm piecing myself back together. Just little, tiny pieces, but pieces nonetheless. And I wouldn't have been able to do that without you. I wouldn't have even been able to start, or want to. All I wanted to do was be with my mum, hidden from the rest of the world. But you taught me that I couldn't, and shouldn't hide. I know I've made a lot of these sorts of speeches lately, and by the time the year is through I will probably be an unofficial Hufflepuff because of it, but you have to know how much you're worth. Don't let that Weasel affect your self-confidence, your self worth. I made this for you, because I care and respect and admire you, who did what no one else ever could."
"What's that?" she rasped.
"Get me to read Narnia, of course. And help me get through Arithmancy without falling asleep, and help me make friends with people I never thought I'd find common ground with, and show me that there are so many reasons to live, that you can find joy in the smallest things, like making something for your best friend for her birthday."
Hermione laughed, warm and bright. It warmed something in him, too. The compassion he'd thought he'd lost such a long time ago, lost at the end of a wand and the hateful words of a hateful man.
"You know, you're my best friend, too. While I have my friends here, and I have Harry, and maybe I will patch things up with Ron at some point, you're different. You and I just clicked, like magic. I don't know how I didn't see it before. Maybe that was why I always got so upset when you bullied me: I saw that underneath you and I were so alike, and could be friends, but we're separated by things not of our making yet we didn't properly question at the time. I'll always have your back, no matter what. I'm sorry that it took so long, but I see who you are now, and I'm so glad that you gave our friendship a chance. If only now because I have someone who can make spectacular presents."
Draco laughed, a full and happy laugh, the kind his mother would recognize if she was there from the times she'd heard it when he was younger, when he'd still had that carefree spark that all children possess as they discover the world and all it has to offer them.
As they rounded a corner Hermione spotted a book nestled in some branches of a nearby willow tree. "No! You didn't!" she exclaimed, rushing to pick up the book and hug it to her chest. "I thought Flourish and Blotts sold the last one on Wednesday."
"They did. To me."
"It's so pretty," she said, stroking the embossed cover.
"Alright, Granger, you and your book can have some alone time later. First, don't you want to the grand tour."
Dragging her eyes from the wandless magic book, she took his arm. "Lead the way, my good book-buying gentleman. But only if you explain your magical secrets as we go."
"I would have expected nothing less from the brightest witch of her age."
Author's Note: Hello, hello! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was an absolute pleasure to write. We're stepping away from Draco and Hermione for the moment, but don't worry they shall be back! For those who were wondering, Luna's dress was orange with screen-printed radishes on. I hope you have a lovely rest of your weekend! Also, thank you for all the reviews and to the over a hundred people who now follow this story. You're all so very dear to me. Until next time.
All my love, Temperance
