A/N: A thank you to bookishbold, burbngmalam, and the Guest who commented on the last chapter! Your comments made my day brighter!

I would like to apologize for missing the update last week, life hit me hard and fast and I didnt have a chance to write (hell, this chapter isnt even edited.) I do want to add that the way Harry discovered he was gay is similar to how a friend of mine claims to have discovered that tidbit about himself (I still laugh at the story to be honest)

Also, as a warning, I plan on having lemons next chapter and if not the next chapter, the chapter after. I will remind ya'll again on the next update but I just wanted ya'll to know.

And, as always, enjoy!

Chapter 4

Hermione listened to George enthusiastically talked about his new products.

A smile grew on her face. She was glad that George had found himself again after the death of Fred, and Hermione was sure that Angela was a big part of that.

Ron, who had been explaining something to Ginny and Harry, pulled the two away to dram ally explain something to them. George took the opportunity to take a step closer to Hermione, leaning over slightly to speak quietly to her.

"So 'Mione," George began, "how have you been?"

Hermione gave a one shoulder shrug, a sad smile on her face. George had been one of the first people, if not the first person, to notice her depression after the war. He was the one to reach out to her and defend her when the Golden Trio went through a rough patch.

"I've been worse," Hermione said honestly, her eyes lifting to meet George's, "sleep is kinda hard to come by."

George hummed, "Dreamless sleep?"

"I don't want to get addicted, I'm dependent on enough already."

George seemed to mull over her words. He broke eye contact when Harry's loud, full bellied laugh, filled the room. Hermione watched her friends enjoy themselves from a distance, her heart twisting, her chest filling with affection for the trio.

"I have a proposition for you," George said, effectively changing the subject.

Hermione turned to George with a raised eyebrow, "I hope it's nothing too scandalous."

George chuckled, "No, no… I'm a happily married man," he teased, "but I have a proposition none the less. I want you to come and work for WWW."

Hermione choked, amusement quickly morphing into shock, "What?"

George leaned against a shelf with a smirk, "you heard me, Granger. Ron is going to be running the new store in Hogsmead, and I'm too busy to work on potions and charms for new products… I thought since you're the best witch I knew, I could ask you to come on board before I start looking for a stranger."

Hermione's mouth dropped as George went on. He was the only person other than Harry who knew that the Ministry wasn't her end goal anymore. Sure, at one point she wanted to be the Minister, but it was too draining, and her chronic condition, whatever it was, effected her ability to do work.

"Are— are you sure?" Hermione studded out, her heart pounding in her ears.

She could start working on magic again. It would be used for mischief, but it was enough

"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't," George said softly, his smirk falling.

Hermione nodded, throwing her arms around George's neck. She ignored the pain that shot through her at the sudden movement and buried her face into George's shoulder. The tall redhead wrapped his arms around her gently.

"I'm taking this as a yes," George whispered into her hair.

"Of course!" Hermione said, "I'll have to notify the Minister but I would love to work for the shop."

George let go of Hermione, holding herby the shoulders an arms length away. He beamed at her, excitement dancing in his brown eyes.

"Bloody brilliant," George said.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something when Ginny walked over and interrupted the moment, jumping onto George in excitement, causing George to almost fall over.

"Ron just told me that you're expanding! Congrats!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Thanks, Gin," George laughed, "Hermione just agreed to come in as my Magic's Specialist, so we have a lot to celebrate."

Ginny's head snapped towards Hermione so fast the brunette thought the redhead would have whiplash.

"Merlin! Thats fucking fantastic!" Ginny said.

The young redhead let go of her brother and yelled over to Ron and Harry, explaining what George use told her loudly to them. Harry seemed to perk up more and Ron gave a large, boyish, grin towards Hermione. Her two best friends ran up to her and engulfed her in hugs, saying their congratulations. Harry mentioned that even though she was abandoning him at the Ministry, she would be forgiven as long as he wasn't her guinea pig.

It was Ginny the broke up the group hug, claiming that they could celebrate later that day at the club they had gone to the night before and that she promised that she would take Hermione to the Flourish and Blots. The boys groaned, rolling their eyes causing Hermione to laugh at their antics.

Ginny scoffed at them, taking Hermione's sleeve and pulling her out the door. Hermione called to George and told him she would owl him on Monday about her start date, and with that, Hermione and Ginny left WWW with large smiles.

It took Hermione a minute or two to notice that Harry had followed them out. He looped his arm in Hermione's and smiled down at her.

"I'll take her to Flourish and Blots, Ginny, I know you have some shopping to do," Harry said to Ginny.

Ginny shrugged and headed to the Quidditch Supply Store, promising to meet them in an hour or so.

Hermione and Harry both knew that Ginny was underestimating the time.

"So," Hermione began when Harry began to lead her to the doors of the bookstore, "what did you want to talk about?"

Harry blushed, averting his eyes, "How did you know?"

Hermione smiled at the green-eyed man, "I've known you for how long?"

Harry muttered something under his breath, staying silent.

Hermione shrugged, "Fine," she began with a chuckle, "then lets move on. How are you and Ginny doing."

Harry stilled, "Oh—er— well."

Hermione's brows furrowed, "whats the matter?"

Harry swallowed thickly, "Ginny and I broke up a year ago, 'Mione."

Hermione froze. She looked up to Harry to find any deception in his eyes but when she found none, her eyes widened.

"What—Why— When— Harry, I'm so sorry," Hermione said, fisting the collar of Harry's shirt, willing him to see the sincerity in his eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You already had a lot going on, we didn't want to add to it."

Hermione breath left her. Did they really think that she couldn't handle her friends breaking up? She looked deeper into Harry's eyes to try and decipher what he felt about splitting with his childhood sweetheart and, yet again, found nothing.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, talking into the bookstore, lowering her voice as to not bother the other patrons.

"Well," Harry whispered, "I don't really know how to sugar coat this but I'm gay."

Hermione choked, coughing loudly, "What!"

Several other people in Flourish and Blots turned to them with disgruntled looks, frowns marring their features. Hermione quietly apologized, pulling Harry to an empty aisle.

Hermione had to admit she was hurt that he didn't tell her about something so important.

"When did out figure that out?" Hermione whispered.

Harry flushed, the redness of his cheeks traveling down his neck, "Ginny was talking about a fantasy about her being bent over a table and I kinda imagined that I would be the one bent—"

Hermione smothered her hands over Harry's mouth not wanting to hear more.

"Oh Harry, I don't think I want to know more," she laughed, she pulled her hands away, "why didn't you tell me that sooner?"

Harry shrugged, turning to the bookshelf only to pull a random book and thumb through it, "I didn't really know how to bring it up. I told Ginny first and after a few days she told me that it was okay and that even if she was heartbroken, we would always be friends. Ron knew next then the rest of the Weasley's when I was ready… and now you…"

Hermione listened quietly, and when he was done, she rested her hand on the book to get his attention back onto her. "I'm glad you told me, Harry," she said, "and I glad that you're happy… you are happy, aren't you?"

Harry nodded, "I haven't really been dating, but I'm happy."

Hermione gave him a smile, "That's all that matters."

Harry set the book back onto the shelves, motioning to the Quidditch section of the store, "if you need me."

Hermione chuckled but turned to the shelves, running her fingers over the books. Hermione shrugged off her jacket, draping it over her arm as she skimmed the spines of the Potion's books. Eventually she made her way to the History section set out to find the new edition of Hogwarts: A History. She browsed and when she found the clean, and hard covers of her favorite book, she pulled it off the shelf so fast it would look to anyone and everyone that her life depended on it. She cracked open the book, taking in the smell. Books were home. They were her safety when things had been hard and getting back to what she loved was something she would never do.

Hermione made herself comfortable on the dirty old wood of the aisle, laying her jacket on the floor to keep clean. She flipped though the crisp pages, severing every word. She was well into the first chapter when the floorboards beside her creaked. She looked over to find an expensive pair of boots and a cane a meter away intruding on her peace.

Hermione's eyes followed the body of the intruder to find Lucius Malfoy looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

Her defenses flared.

"Why, Miss. Granger," he drawled, "I wouldn't expect a person of your status to be sitting on the ground."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "I would expect that's exactly where you think a person of my status belongs."

Lucius flinched but only slightly. She doubted he knew she noticed.

"My apologies, ," he said. The blond wizard offered his hand to Hermione who looked at it skeptically.

She may have had an odd crush on his son and though Draco had changed, she doubted that the older wizard had.

After five decades of prejudice, Hermione doubted anyone could change.

Lucius only kept his hand steady, and when Hermione got the point that he wouldn't leave her alone, she took his hand and let him pull her up.

"A lady shouldn't be sitting on the ground," Lucius said clearly, "it's bad form."

Hermione blinked at him dumbly, was he really giving her a lesson in etiquette?

Lucius gently took the book from Hermione's hands and read the cover and Hermione took the opportunity to examine the man. His skin was shallow and his eyes hollow. Surly there was nothing troubling the wealthy wizard since the Malfoy's had mostly been forgiven for their crimes during the war with Voldemort.

It was mostly because of the man Draco had become. He had fought for the Malfoy Potions Company to rise back to the top and in the four years he worked beside Hermione, he had made potions more available to those in need.

It was one of the reasons that pulled Hermione to him.

"How's Draco?" Hermione asked nonchalantly, hoping to sound indifferent, "he hasn't been pestering me at the Ministry for the last few weeks."

The blond stiffened before he masked his shock with arrogance. "He's well."

It was short, to the point, and a complete and utter lie. Hermione was sure that Draco had inherited his father's skills in deception because she saw right though him.

"Right," Hermione said.

She rolled her eyes and reached for her book. Lucius handed it back easily and Hermione made her way to the counter to pay for it. When she returned to the aisle, Lucius was gone and so was her jacket.

She went off to find Harry. Nott she could handle. Parkinson she could deal with. Merlin, she could even put up with Greengrass's crying. But Lucius Malfoy was pushing it too far.

And Merlin did she need Ginny's promised night out if Lucius Malfoy was going to intrude on her life.