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May 3, 1998

Hermione Granger woke up from a nightmare, breathing heavily as her heart pounded in her chest. She sat up in the creaky bed she had been sleeping on in The Hog's Head Inn. She doubted she was the only one in the Inn waking in the middle of the night from nightmares. It had been only hours ago that the battle ended, and Voldemort was defeated, killed by Harry.

Everyone who had fought in the battle, stayed, and placed the dead bodies in the Great Hall, before needing to find beds to sleep in, being utterly exhausted.

Aberforth Dumbledore, the owner of The Hog's Head and Madame Rosmerta, the owner of The Three Broomsticks, both opened their Inns to all who had battled. They allowed everyone to stay for free, offering free food as well. They knew no one wanted to sleep in the castle where their friends and family had just been killed. Everyone was grateful to accept their offers and even doubled up on rooms so as to not be alone.

Ginny, who should have been in the bed next to Hermione, was currently talking with Harry, most likely wandering the streets of Hogsmeade, unable to sleep at all.

Adrenaline was a nasty little bugger.

Hermione saw that it was nearly three in the morning and slid out of bed, grateful to not have the spring from the mattress digging into her hip anymore. She pulled a hooded jumper on, over her long-sleeved tee before going down to the kitchen, where she hoped no one would have thought to be. The somewhat oversized, checkered pajama trousers she was wearing dragged the ground a bit as she creeped down the stairs.

As she neared the kitchen, she could hear someone crying inside. She turned the corner and there in the kitchen, sobbing his eyes out into his hands as he attempted to quiet himself, was Draco Malfoy.

'Just Draco' She reminded herself silently.

May 2, 1998 (Flashback)

Draco was trying so hard to catch his breath.

'Crabbe was dead. Crabbe was bloody dead!' he kept thinking as he inhaled, searching for fresh air while Potter talked to Weasel and Granger.

'I can't believe Crabbe is dead!' His mind went back to.

Suddenly there's the sound of dueling and two more Weasleys came into view while dueling two Death Eaters.

Draco didn't move, unsure of what to do as Potter, Weasel and Granger shifted into action, running to help.

Within moments they had gotten both Death Eaters managed and one Weasley was laughing at another when Draco spotted him.

'They don't see him.' Draco thought.

Augustus Rookwood was coming around the corner with his wand aimed at the wall.

Without another thought Draco stood up, wand in hand and performed a silent curse. A green light flashed through the corridor, startling the group as Rookwood collapsed, lifeless on the stone floor.

They all instantly raised their wands toward Draco before Granger shouted, "Wait! He killed that Death Eater."

They looked over their shoulders before turning back to Draco.

"Why?" Weasel asked, suspicious of Draco's sudden change of heart.

Draco inhaled before exhaling roughly, "Because, it's time to do what's right." He said, shame etched on his features.

Before anyone could respond, they heard more dueling and turned to see a large battle occurring down the corridor.

Tonks, Lupin, two more Weasleys, and Fleur were all dueling with Lucius and what appeared to be eight other Death Eaters.

The group of them ran over without a thought, knowing they needed to help. It didn't take Draco any longer than the others to decide to help though he figured Weasel would be keeping a close eye on him.

Tonks was about to be killed by Antonin Dolohov who also sent a killing curse toward Lupin. Draco, unsure of what else to do, shot a killing curse at Dolohov. Antonin's body fell to the floor as Tonks and Lupin looked around to see who had done that, but Draco had moved on to duel Corban Yaxley.

Ron killed Fenrir Greyback to Draco's right while Draco noticed Granger shoot a stunning spell at a Death Eater, sending them to the ground and just as Lucius was about to send a killing curse toward her.

Draco didn't think, he just reacted and shot a curse towards his father.

A moment later, all the Death Eaters were finally on the ground and Hermione was staring, in complete shock and disbelief, at Draco who was staring at the body of his dead father. Lucius's pale skin, even paler with eyes wide but unseeing.

May 3, 1998

Hermione stepped further into the kitchen, startling the sobbing, blond wizard. Draco jumped up, aiming his wand in her direction. She froze in place, shocked but also understanding his reaction.

He quickly lowered his wand and swallowed, "Sor…sorry, Granger. I'm a bit on edge, I suppose."

She nodded, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

He looked at her, surprised that she simply passed over being held at wand point, choosing rather to ask about his wellbeing.

He swallowed again and shook his head. "No. You've done more than I deserve. I erm…I truly appreciate you lot keeping me from being arrested earlier."

May 2, 1998 (Flashback)

The battle had ended. Voldemort was dead. His body laid on the Great Hall floor for all to see. For all to bear witness that he had truly been defeated and could no longer harm them or their loved ones.

After the cheering calmed a bit, the room became mad again. Aurors began to grab the Death Eaters that were left before they could escape.

Draco spotted his mother about four yards from him. She began to make her way to him, eyes wide, needing to be with her son, just as Auror grabbed him.

Draco didn't fight. He didn't see the point. He knew all that had led to this moment. All of his actions, even if they weren't by choice. This was the consequence of what he had done, and, in all honesty, he probably deserved some of what he was going to get.

He attempted to center himself emotionally and prepare for possibly a life in Azkaban.

'But how does one prepare for bloody Azkaban?' He thought bitterly

He wondered if Dementors would still be working there.

'Surely not' He thought.

Just as his mind went to the idea of the Dementor's kiss, he heard someone shout out to him.

To his great surprise, Granger, Potter, the twin Weasleys, Tonks, Lupin and another Weasley all ran over followed by a group of others. All of them were shouting for the Aurors to halt their actions. Demanding that he not be arrested.

"He saved all of our lives!" Granger said quickly, her hand grabbing Draco's forearm. "You can't arrest him! He's not like the others!"

Draco could see the panic in her eyes and didn't fully understand it.

He swallowed, astonished that they were defending him, attempting to save him from his well-deserved fate.

"Yea, he even killed his own bloody father to save Hermione's life!" Weasel added, evidently in hopes of helping.

Upon overhearing this, Narcissa's eyes went wide, "You did what?!" Draco heard her scream.

He looked at his mother, unsure of what to say, seeing the pain and anguish in her eyes.

She reached over, slapping him solidly across the face, "How could you?!"

A couple of the Aurors grabbed her and as she shouted at him, "Never speak to me again! You are no longer allowed to bear the family name! How dare you do this, Draco! How dare you!" She shouted, sobbing.

As they dragged her away, he could hear her sobbing, "My Lucius! My Lucius!"

The Aurors let go of Draco, apparently agreeing with Granger and the others.

He could still hear her sobs and his heart shattered, but he showed no exterior emotion.

May 3, 1998

"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked.

He sighed, "I suppose I'll go to the Manor and gather my belongings. After that, I've got to find a place to live…at least temporarily until I find a more permanent place."

She nodded, "I'm sorry."

He looked at her for a moment, his eyes held an expression of so many emotions, pain being the greatest.

"Thank you." He said quietly before looking in the kitchen fireplace. He sighed, "I know I'll need to change my surname but I'm not quite sure what to call myself. I should probably change my middle name too."

She nodded, "I can help you there. I've always been rather good at research."

He smiled and looked at her, amused. "Yea, I think everyone knows that about you, Granger."

His smile brought a warm feeling to her heart.

She laughed. Actually laughed.

"Yes. I suppose they do." She replied.

His smile slowly faded until he said, "I'm not exactly sure how to apologize for my father attempting to murder you but I am…sorry, that is."

She smiled at him and nodded, "Well, I'm not exactly sure how to so say it's okay for your father attempting to murder but it is okay…in a way." She replied. Making him smile slightly.

She exhaled, nodding, "It's erm…it's been a tough war, but I think it's really over now."

Draco nodded, "Yea. Me too. Potter saved the day." He said but without any disdain.

She looked at him thoughtfully and said, "You know…yes, he killed Voldemort, but I think it was undeniably a team effort that saved the day in the end."

He nodded, "You're right. The three of you really…"

"No, I mean you too, Draco." She said, interrupting and surprising him, "You saved Harry's life when you killed that Death Eater. Which means that you helped in a tremendous way."

He nodded with the hint of a smile on his lips.

They continued to talk until the sun rose and people began to wake up.

The first to enter the kitchen, to no one's surprise, was Molly Weasley.

"Oh, Good morning, Hermione." Molly said when she spotted the two at the table. She looked at Draco and tentatively smiled, "Good morning, Draco."

Hermione smiled, "Good Morning, Mrs. Weasley."

Draco nodded, "Good morning, Mrs. Weasley."

"What would you two like for breakfast?" She asked, as Aberforth joined her to help with breakfast.

"Anything is fine, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and the twins entered the kitchen and saw the unexpected pairing, both still in their nightclothes, sitting at the table.

Harry nodded to them, moving past the slightly awkward moment. "I've received a letter from McGonagall. She's asked that none of us return to the castle today. She apparently wants some of the professors to work on cleaning up first; doesn't want us to see the wreckage and all there is…in the daylight, you know."

"So then…what should we do today?" Ron asked, "It's not like we're hunting horcruxes or going to class…" He shrugged.

Hermione looked at Draco before speaking up, "I have an idea." She said, turning at her friends, "Draco has to get his belongings from the Manor." She looked back at the blond wizard, "And you certainly shouldn't go there alone, so why don't we go with you?"

Her friends nodded while Draco looked anxious and thoughtful.

"All right." He said, "Thanks."

"He also needs a place to stay." Hermione said, "Do any of you know of a place he could live? At least for a while." She asked the others.

Harry looked at Draco, considering a thought before he said, "You can stay at #12 Grimmauld Place. It's not much but it's shelter. There is a kitchen, loos, and beds."

"Thanks Potter." Draco said.

Ron huffed, "Wait until you actually see the place before you thank him. It's not exactly up to the standards of The Leaky Cauldron." He said sarcastically.

Harry laughed, "Yea, you might hold off on that thanks."

Draco shook his head, "No. I mean it. Thank you."

Harry nodded as Molly, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke up, "You lot must be cautious. You never know what You-Know-Who may have left there."

"We'll be careful, Mum." George said.

They ate breakfast before Draco and Hermione went to their rooms to change. Once everyone was ready, Draco used the fireplace in the main room of the pub to travel via Floo Network to the Manor. They each followed him, one by one, wands at the ready just in case.

They each arrived in the library of the Manor. It was dark and cold but filled to the brim with books and Hermione couldn't help but look around in wonder.

They didn't linger in the library for long. Draco led them straight to his bedroom, where they all began to magically pack his belongings into his old school trunk that had an extension charm on it.

They did this mostly in silence but at some point, Hermione noticed that Draco had a troubled expression as he hovered Malfoy family photographs into the trunk.

She walked over to him, while the others were focused on the task at hand and asked him if he was all right.

He nodded, "I'm all right." He muttered, though she knew better.

She was about to speak up again when they all heard a 'pop' in the hallway.

They rushed out there with their wands drawn and found a house elf in the hallway, looking terrified.

Draco sighed, letting out a relieved breath, "Hello Romy." He said.

"Master Draco." Romy bowed deeply before standing back up, "What may Romy do for Master Draco?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He said before pausing, a thought coming to him. "Actually, why don't you come here for a moment, Romy."

The lot of them went back into the room and Draco reached into his trunk, pulling out an old Slytherin scarf, "Here you are, Romy. You're free."

Romy's eyes went startlingly wide as he took the scarf in his small, boney hands.

Draco reached into the trunk and pulled out some gloves and a couple socks, "Could you possibly help me with one thing though, Romy? I'd like to free the others, could you show me where they are?"

Romy beamed widely, in utter shock but also complete joy, "Yes sir. Romy…Romy can show Master Drac…"

"Ah…" Draco said, stopping the house elf with a small smile, "Just Draco."

A tear slipped out of Romy's eye as he nodded, "Yes sir. Romy will be happy to show…Draco where the others are."

Draco nodded, not noticing how his actions made the others look at him differently. While it impressed the entire group that he would do such a kind favor, His actions impacted Hermione the most. She couldn't believe that he would do something so generous to creatures that his family had always held in such low regard. Her heart lifted at the sight.

They finished emptying Draco's bedroom and followed Romy down the stairs. Romy led them to the basement kitchen where the seven other house elves all looked at them with fear and uncertainty.

Draco nodded to them kindly and handed each of them an item of clothing, "You're free." He said each time., causing their eyes to nearly pop out in surprise.

One elf, a terribly shy one, quietly spoke up, "Where…where are we to live, sir?"

"Yes." Another spoke. "Some of us have families we can return to while others have nowhere to go."

Draco looked at them and said, "Well, you're welcome to stay here though I'm not sure how long my mother will be gone. I'm not sure where a good place would be…"

Harry nodded, catching their attention. "The ones who need a home could move into #12 Grimmauld Place." he said, "It's nothing near as extravagant as this place but we can make sure you all have beds."

"Thank you, sir!" one elf said happily.

"Will anyone else be living there?" a second elf asked.

"I will." Draco said, "Is that all right?"

The elves eagerly nodded their heads.

Harry worked out the details with the elves before the group headed back up the main floor.

"I erm…I need to do one last thing." Draco said, "It shouldn't take long. You are all welcome to stay in the library." He added.

They nodded as he entered the room just off the library, shutting the door behind him. He didn't notice that the second door to the room, that led to the corridor, was cracked open the slightest bit.

Draco looked around his late father's study. All the wood in it was ebony, giving the room a dark feel that made sure to match the mood of the rest of the Manor.

He looked around the top of the walls and saw the line of portraits. Each contained a male ancestor in the Malfoy lineage. They all glared at him angrily and he knew exactly why. They had undoubtedly heard about him killing Lucius. He looked at the far-left end and saw him.

The long platinum blond hair and furious, striking grey eyes that matched his own. Lucius Malfoy's portrait would have come to life the moment his last breath left his body.

For centuries, Malfoy men have taken a vial of their blood for the artist to mix into the paint for the portrait. The blood, along with a certain charm, made it possible for the man to live on in the portrait after his physical body had perished.

Draco never did like the idea. He figured that he didn't have to worry about that anymore.

He slid the Malfoy Heirloom Ring off his finger and set it on the family crest that rested on his father's desk before looking at his father's portrait.

Lucius sneered at his son, "Why would you kill me, your own father, over a stupid, filthy little Mudblood?!"

Hermione had entered the corridor, along with Ginny in search of a loo. When they suddenly heard Lucius's voice, both froze in shock. With their wands drawn, they followed the sound and found a door cracked open, seeing Draco inside as he replied to the portrait on the wall.

Draco shook his head, "Because I've seen her blood, and so have you, you bloody bastard! When she was being tortured by that nut job of witch, whom by the way is thankfully dead now. So, how can you still say that her blood is any different than yours or mine?"

Hermione was shocked by Draco's words, as was Ginny but both remained silent.

Lucius appeared to only get angrier, "That is no reason to kill me!"

Draco replies, "I disagree because you were going to kill her, and I couldn't allow you to do that."

"And just why is that?" Lucius scowled

"Because despite her blood being the same as ours, her soul is exceedingly different. You've called our blood pure for centuries, but her soul is what is pure!" Draco said with anger in his voice but also another emotion.

Hermione swallowed; her eyes were glassy as she observed. She never thought words like those could ever come from Draco Malfoy.

'No." she thought, 'Just Draco'

Little did she know how the words he was about to say would change her life forever.

The portrait of Lucius stared at Draco until finally speaking through clenched teeth. "Draco, do you…do you love the Mudblood?"

Draco shook his head, glaring up at his father with proud defiance, "No. I love Hermione Granger, and she is no Mudblood."