This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 946

Title: A Hope At Happiness

Note: AU, post-war bonding with a select group of eight year students

Warnings:

Beta: ViolaMoon

Hogwarts

Assignment 4: BONUS ASSIGNMENT: Herbology: Endangered Plants: Task #5 - Monkey puzzle tree: This conifer grows in Chile, and is sometimes called a "living fossil" because it is so similar to prehistoric trees. Task: Write a story set around a campfire, hearth, or fireplace.

Yearly:

Prompt 647 [Song] "Helpless"- Hamilton

366: [127] Grateful

"Who decided having a camping trip in the forbidden forest sounded like a good idea?" Draco complained as he watched Harry and Pansy walking ahead of him.

"Draco," Pansy replied, and he could hear her rolling her eyes at him. "This might not be our favourite place to hang out, but getting to know each other in a setting like a camping trip is good to boost inter house relationships."

"I'm already dating the prat," Draco insisted stubbornly, and Harry coughed on his laughter.

"Yes, but Professor McGonagall thinks this will be a good bonding experience," Pansy said. "I wish I had my bed."

"It's okay, Pansy," Ron said, catching up from behind them. "We used to go camping all the time, I am sure we can make you quite comfortable."

Draco watched the two of them, and wondered why he ever thought that there would be something between Ron and Hermione, it was clear Ron was smitten with Pansy. 'As I am with Harry,' he thought to himself.

By the time Draco, Pansy and Ron had caught up to the rest, Harry was in the middle of a large clearing. Harry and Hermione were setting up the tent, and Luna was sitting on a rock staring dreamily into space.

"That looks way too small," Draco complained.

"Never heard you complain about that before," Harry smirked, and Hermione and Pansy dissolved into laughter that drew Luna from her thoughts. After setting up the tent, they all busied themselves doing their own thing for a while.

"Where is Neville?" she asked, as if she had suddenly remembered her boyfriend.

"Neville went looking for edible plants," Pansy said. "He should be here soon."

"Draco, come here," Harry asked, calling him over to where he was busy setting up the campfire with logs.

"Yes?" Draco said, looking at his boyfriend with a puzzled expression.

"At least we get to share a room," Harry said suggestively.

"For goodness' sake, no," Ron's voice came from close by. "I think none of us really want to hear that."

Draco's lips moved into a small smile, almost unnoticeable by the rest of the group. Draco leaned in to whisper in his ear, "I'm having a day where I hate everything and everyone except you."

"I love you too, my Dragon," Harry said, pulling Draco close to him for a hug. Draco had never been keen on using the word "love" and he still found it strange that Harry accepted this without question.

Harry kissed him beneath his ear, and he felt a rush go through him. Harry always had a way of cheering him up, as difficult as things got after he chose to stand against his parents and Voldemort during the final battle.

Once the fire was set up, Harry pulled a couple of large logs towards it for them to sit on, and then he pointed his wand to the area where the campfire had been set up. "Incendio," he said, lighting it, and then returning his wand to his pocket.

"Don't tell Hermione," Harry insisted. "She wanted us to do it the hard way."

Draco shook his head, and took his place sitting by Harry's side, watching the flames grow and dance beneath the star-filled sky. He didn't react when Harry placed a hand on his own, although it made his heart lurch with emotion.

Once the rest of the crowd had joined them, Neville had sorted out plants, and Ron and Pansy sat on the other side of the fire, Ron was explaining animatedly to her how he used to do this all the time with his family. Draco watched the two of them by the firelight, and he realised that Pansy seemed to be just as interested in what he had to say.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Harry asked him softly. Draco nodded. He watched Pansy's usually stern eyes alight with wonder when Ron was telling her about the names of the constellations (that Draco knew for a fact she already knew the names of).

"Very," Hermione replied, arriving as if out of nowhere with a large black cooking pot for the fire.

"This is a private conversation, Granger," Draco said, but it was a testament to the change that she simply smiled and called Luna to help prepare the food.

"I never thought all this would happen," Draco admitted, looking at all the people around the fire, talking and working together as a team. "I didn't believe they would forgive me, especially Hermione."

"We were all just children, in many ways we still are," Harry said.

"When did you get so wise?" Draco asked.

"When I started dating you," he responded.

Draco laughed, it was a sound as rare as the spotting of a shooting star, and the noise made every single person in the surroundings stop talking. It was the first time they had ever heard Draco Malfoy happy.

"What's everyone staring at?" he attempted to shrug, as if it wasn't a big deal.

"I hope I get to keep making you as happy as you are tonight," Harry said, squeezing his hand with encouragement. 'Honestly, I hope so too,' Draco thought with a hint of sadness, although he knew he made the right choice, he was still working on getting over his parents just giving up, and his own father attempting to kill him during the battle. He couldn't be more grateful for having Harry when he had nobody else to turn to.

"Foods ready," Neville said, and he took a last look at the sky before he went over to the other side of the campfire, where Neville was handing out bowls of stew.