Hermione stared into her glass, not even seeing the dripping foam slid down the side.

"What?" She managed to choke out, turning questioning eyes to him. "I thought you hated me?"

He met her gaze, ears and cheeks flushed deep red, and rubbed a spot on his neck.

"Well...yeah. I mean, I used to...but- I don't know, 'Mione."

He sighed, the breath exploding from him.

"Parvati keeps telling me I need to 'forgive and forget'. Something about it being good for my aura?"

He glanced to her from the corner of his eye. He took a gulp from his glass and winced as it burned its way down. Seeming more focused, he swung around on his stool to face her.

"Look, I know it wasn't your fault Dad...I mean, I know that. He loved you. Like a second daughter. When we split up, he was right upset..."

He made a face, as if he was not sure how to continue. Hermione was not sure if she wanted him to.

"I was mad at you for a long time. I mean, a reeeaaally long time. But I'm not anymore. I don't know why."

He shrugged.

"Maybe I've had time to grieve. Maybe I've gotten over you and Malfoy."

He paused a moment, meeting her watery eyes.

"Maybe I've missed my friend."

Hermione tried to swallow the knot in her throat. She gulped a breath of air instead.

Shaking her head and wiping her eyes, she smiled.

"I've missed you, too."

He grinned back.

After a few more drinks, they fell into deep conversation, the awkwardness gradually chipping away.

She took another sip.

"How is she, by the way? Parvati? Harry had told me the two of you are engaged now?"

Ron's cheeks reddened but he grinned.

"Yeah, she finally roped me in. Mum is thrilled, to say the least. I'm the last of the lot to tie the knot."

His eyes softened and his smile became more real.

"She just gets me...She really understands, you know?"

Warmth spread throughout her chest. A small smile hitched up the corner of her lips.

"Yeah, I think I do."

Ice ran down her back as the warmth seeped away. Her smile fell. Confusion clouded her brain.

She really did know how he felt. Like a piece of the puzzle had clicked into place. Like finding the perfect sentence for the end of your essay...Like everything made sense, even when it was not supposed to.

The only problem was, she did not have the know how of this feeling. She could not recall the moment it all fit together.

Suddenly flustered, she huffed and took a gulp of her drink, which had switched to water a few glasses back.

Ron did not seem to take notice. He reached for his coat, tossed up on the bar top beside his elbow. As he shrugged it on, he nodded to Tom for his bill.

"It was nice catching up, 'Mione..."

He reached out a hand.

"We should do it again." He chuckled. "Maybe after you get your memories back, you can tell me how you and the ferret ended up together!"

Hermione smiled, too. She grabbed his hand and was pulled into a hug. Then he was gone.

His last sentence hung in the air around her.

"Maybe someone can help me figure that out, as well," she mumbled to herself, lifting a hand to settle her own tab.

~*~*~*~

Hermione took one last look at the stars before opening the door and tiptoeing inside. She had spent the better part of an hour just sitting on Harry's stoop, counting the stars and pondering life. Her life in particular.

Catching up with Ron had been wonderful. Not quite what she had in mind, but nice all the same. Still, it did seem to bring up more questions than answering them.

A clatter of dishes brought her out of her thoughts. She moved to the dining room doorway and peeked in.

Ginny waived her wand, sending another bunch of dishware flying through the air. Her fiery mane whipped around her as she turned her head to Harry, who was leaning back in a chair, his arms crossed over his chest.

"How can they-!"

She cut herself off as her eyes found their way to Hermione. Harry sat up.

Hermione looked back and forth between them, an icy rock settling in her stomach.

She came into the room.

"What's going on?"

Harry made a face, one that seemed to worsen at his wife's angry glare.

Harry, clearly fighting for words, went to stand beside her. He laid his hand on her arm and watched her closely.

"Draco came by today. He wanted to talk to you."

Hermione's brows can together. "Okay."

Harry stole a glance to Ginny, who worried her lip but waved him on. He met her eyes and nodded, turning back to Hermione.

"The Wizengamot has decided to let Lucius free."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hi, guys! I know I haven't been posting regularly lately and I'm sorry for that. I was working on a book and devoted most (all) of my free time to it this past month. My first draft is finished so I am going to see about doing more fanficion while I edit revise. Hope ya'll are still hanging in there!

Author's Note:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations.