I am back, lovely people of the internet! Run for you lives! Or maybe stick around for the next part of the story, dunno, your choice. Thanks to all the beautiful, brilliant little muffins that took the time to review, I really really appreciate it. As the lovely lun27 pointed out, a lot of things were not cleared up in the previous chapter but I'll try to explain some in this one. Due to the second chapter being set a year later than the first one, I'll have to explain some things in the author's note. So, the re-purposed common rooms happened due to the destruction of the castle but also due to, I don't really know how to properly describe it, sensitive matters. For example, the great hall was not completely destroyed but it was used to gather the dead and the wounded. To respect the families' privacy, the moved the dead to a more isolated room, the Slyterin common room, and since the wounded were many more than the hospital wing could tend to, Madame Pomfrey got permission to transform the nearest room, the Gryffindor common room, in an additional hospital wing. Even with the bodies removed, no one could really bring themselves to just sit around and chatter in the same place where their dead friends had been previously located so it was a common agreement that they needed to find a new place for the dining hall, thus the Hufflepuff room. And the Headmaster's office was decided to remain locked for one whole day in respect to the late Headmasters, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, whose sacrifice aided in the end of the war. Also, indeed, the Ministry was practically in ruins right after the end of the war but there was a new minister, Shacklebolt, and he kind of carried with him the power of the whole Ministry for the time being. I hope it makes sense so far, the rest I will attempt to explain in this chapter.

Additionally, just to let everyone know, each chapter will be a different flashback, all the little changes that led up to the "Now". So, each chapter is dated accordingly to the present; the first chapter was five years ago from the present, this one is four years ago from the present etc etc.

Again, thank you so much for pointing all that out because it really helps me develop a better story, figure out the plot wholes and my own lack of coherence and hopefully become a better writer in the future.

Once more, all of these wonderful characters belong to the magnificent J.K. Rowling, whom we all have to thank for gracing us with the gift of Harry Potter.

Now, enough with the sappiness. Onto the story!

4 years ago

The year after the war ended had gone by in a flash. Most of the important trials were done, with the first and one of the most important ones being the Malfoy trial. Due to the information Lucius and Draco provided, the newly banded Ministry had managed to apprehend most of the Death Eaters that had managed to escape in the disarray caused by the battle. Minister Shacklebolt kept his promise to the family, thus Lucius got sent to Azkaban only for five years while his son only got one. The Golden Trio was called to testify in some cases, although due to Professor McGonagall's interference about them "needing to finish their school year" and "being just kids that are barely starting to get their lives back in order with some semblance of normality" they were able to avoid being there every single day of each trial and most of the mental torture that was facing every single person that had tried to kill them.

Harry threw himself into Quidditch and his relationship with Ginny, both teens using each other as the means to get over their losses and grief. Ron fell into a funk and it took a pretty brutal break up with Hermione to get him out of it. Since then, he had surprisingly turned his focus on his studies, set on becoming an Auror along with Harry in order to avenge his brother. Hermione? She grew cold and distant, for some part just simply going through the motions. The break up worked as a wake-up call for her too, That and the sudden letter from Draco Malfoy, one month after he was escorted to the highest security prison of the wizarding world.

"Granger,

I know this probably seems weird. Trust me, it is weird for me too. Being here is worse than any story anyone could tell. Before we are locked away, we each get one letter to someone in the outside. Mother is not allowed to receive owls so you were the next one that popped in my mind. I'm not even sure most of Slytherin knows how to read so it would be wasted on them. I wanted to thank you again, for that day back in Hogwards. I meant what I said. I'm tired of fighting. I never wanted to fight in the first place, not once I realized what fighting actually entailed. I'm not sure what you or your friends' stance is on this but I for my part am over this childish rivalry.

D.M."

That letter shook her back into reality. She hadn't seen Draco since the day of the battle and her last memory of him was the Malfoy family being taken away by the few Aurors they were left. She could still see it in her head, the sorrow in those silver grey eyes, the fear of the future marking his face in a frown. She would never understand why it had rattled her so much, that meeting. It could be logically explained; the repressed boy too desperate for his father's approval to even try and stand up to him that finally had too much and everything he had bottled up all these years exploded. It made sense, it could be explained - yes, it wasn't expected but it made sense. So why did it sound so crazy at the same time?

Time passed quickly for those trying to build their lives back up from the ashes. Before the trio knew it, their final exams were upon them and all thoughts of imprisoned snakes had been banished. To no one's surprise, Hermione Jean Granger passed as top of her class and one of the highest scores in Hogwards history. Harry and Ron didn't make no honors but they passed, which was good enough for the both of them. The only problem with the whole ending? They had drifted apart, a fear no one had dared to mention during the war. They still talked but it was mainly superficial small talk and the occasional subject discussion. That's where Molly Weasley came in, who, afraid of her son's slowly developing depression, organised family nights every Saturday, in which Harry and Hermione were of course invited. It was awkward at first, uncomfortable silence and even more uncomfortable mindless chatter ruling over any mindful conversation. Hope seemed to be lost for the Golden Trio, the traumatic memories and the press pressure seemingly enlarging the gap growing between them. But there was one thing that brought them all back together, one unplanned little accident.

It was the usual Saturday afternoon at the Burrow, everyone was sitting around the softly burning fire with their newly knitted sweaters, Mr. Weasley's chair left empty in memory of the man whose heart couldn't take the loss of his son. Ginny was sitting next to Harry, their hands linked on her lap, the pair chatting happily about some Quidditch thing that was apparently a big shock for the young athletes.. Somehow their relationship had survived and Harry, as he had informed them while the youngest redhead had gone to the bathroom, was thinking of proposing. It was fast and sudden but everything in their relationship had been that way and it seemed to work for them. Ron was playing chess with George, testing out the brothers' own tweaked game before they started selling it in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Hermione was halfway laying on the sofa, proofreading her book on elf rights with Crookshanks asleep on her lap and Molly was knitting away on her knew projects: Sweaters for the orphaned kids of the war.

They were the picture of peace and quiet, a quaint little family enjoying an afternoon together. Such a pretty image but so frail, like a broken porcelain vase held together with flimsy duck tape. The gentlest touch could break it again into a million little pieces and that touch came in the form of a majestic grey owl landing on their window, on its leg tied another fateful letter for the wise girl.

"Miss Hermione Jean Granger,

The Malfoy family has already started making plans to change the negative connotation that follows our name. We would like to, once our time of house arrest is over and the company is back in our hands, meet with you personally and discuss the possibility of you joining the Malfoy Foundation for our mutual benefit. As a show of good faith, we are willing to fund your S.P.E.W. campaign that, if the Daily Prophet is correct, is currently trying to build an Abused Elf Center of Rehabilitation.

Highest regards,

Draco and Narcissa Malfoy"

Suffice to say, the rest of the afternoon was not quite as peaceful. All this time, Hermione had failed to mention the little conversation she had with the Trio's school nemesis back in the Day of the Battle and Harry, understanding her need to keep it to herself, hadn't mentioned a thing to their redhead, hot-tempered friend.

"What do you mean Draco Malfoy sent you a letter?!" boomed Ron's voice throughout the Burrow, echoing in the deafening silence of everyone else present. "Why on Earth would you be talking to that disgusting ferret, Mione? He was the one who mocked you all throughout Hogwarts, he made all our lives hell! He just looked on as you were being tortured - he killed Dumbledore! How can you be on friendly terms with a bloody murderer?"

"He never murdered anyone, Ron" came her reply in the form of a resigned sigh. Hermione folded the letter and tucked it carefully into her enchanted bag before sitting up and locking eyes with the enraged younger Weasley boy standing in front of her. "You know as well as I do that he wasn't the one who killed Dumbledore. And may I remind you that his help was what gave us victory in the end. Yes, he was mean to us at school, but that seems like so long ago, Ronald. He was just a scared boy trying to earn his father's affection in the only way he knew how. Isn't it time to put such petty rivalries behind us?"

The voice of reason was not enough to rule over the senseless yelling as it usually was and thus their evening was cut sort, with Hermione blasting out of the house, fury lighting her eyes in a dangerous way while Ron, hexed on the couch, relieved his worst moments of second year. Harry and Ginny just started dumbfounded at the whole scene, too stunned to intervene before everything was over while Miss Weasley had made quick work of transforming a vase into a bucket for her son before dashing off to find the cure for the slugs. George was the only one reacting, his hand pressed against his mouth to drown out his snickering. He didn't laugh a lot anymore, he didn't joke about as he used to, but these were signs that his old self was not completely lost in the darkness.

Due to her fight with her ex, Hermione actually forgot about the damning letter for a while. Only three days later, when she was doing her weekly cataloging and reorganization of her bag's contents, did she remember, the small, innocent-looking piece of parchment falling to her feet as she pulled a book on magical creatures out. It suddenly was her only focus, all other tasks forgotten, as she pondered the offer made to her. It was, practically, an ideal opportunity for any young activist, a wealthy foundation supporting you and backing your every move. It also made sense that her name's association with the Malfoys would help show they had turned sides, she was after all the most widely known war heroine of the decade. But Ron's reaction had put a little doubt in her mind, worming around and polluting her every thought. They were the Malfoys after all and they were known for their sly tactics and their diplomatic prowess. Snakes should never be underestimated and especially those snakes.

It all came down to her instinct in the end, but the parasite of second thoughts was there too. It was well into the night and she still hadn't made a decision and that's just plain rude, Hermione, leaving them to wait for so long for a simple answer of yes or no. She leaned back on her comfy desk chair, her mind travelling back to last year, to that stupid conversation. "I'm not here to fight. I can't fight anymore" she recited from memory, the words striking something in her heart even to that day. That was it, decision made. No more fighting

"Mister and Madame Malfoy,

I took the time to think over your proposition. Your offer was indeed very generous and I am flattered you wish to support my campaign. I'm open to further discussion of terms and I would gladly look over any contract you may already have in mind.

Please owl me when your sentence is over to arrange a day and time for our meeting. I will be pleased to work with your foundation if you have indeed new intentions towards the world. I promise to do my best to help the world accept the changed Malfoy family.

Hermione Granger."

Her answering letter was quickly but carefully scribbled onto her best piece of parchment and sealed with her own personal business stamp, portraying her initials surrounded by the Latin phrase "Homo Sum Humani A Me Nihil Alienum Puto": I am a human being; nothing human is strange to me. Before retiring for the day though she pulled up another piece and began to write, this time informally and hastily, as if to get it done before she changed her mind.

"I know it was you who convinced your mother to seek me out as a partner. Thank you for the thought, it really means a lot and it shows that there's at least one changed Malfoy in the family. Like I promised, no more fighting. I'm glad you made it out of Azkaban sane, I hope the same for your father. It's good to finally have you as an ally. Thank you for the opportunity."

With that, she was done. She quickly levitated the letters to the owl stand outside her bedroom's window for the morning owls to find them and finally went to rest, the whole ordeal leaving her more emotionally exhausted than she expected but also satisfied somewhere deep inside. The new era was truly here and it was time the fear truly went away.

Thank you everybody that reviewed and pushed me on. I'm sorry this took so long but exam period was a tough time and it took a lot more out of me than I had expected. I do hope to upload again by next week, although I make no promises.

Another thing I wanted to say, quite randomly and out of the blue, if you like Dramione fics and especially Draco and if you find he is a misunderstood character with a great potential for good, as I do, please check out a fanfic called Beautiful Things Can Come From The Dark by yesterdayschild4. I hope there are no implications with me recommending it to you because I seriously don't want to cause any trouble or anything but it's what I've been reading for the past few days and it was just beautifully written and the story just flowed effortlessly and I might be sliiiightly in love with that fanfic but if you read it, you won't be able to blame me. It's darker themed but it is just amazing.

Anyways, that is all for now. I really do hope you like this chapter and that it sheds some more light to the story. Sorry for the long Author's Note at the beginning but I had to explain some stuff that I just couldn't find a way to integrate into the story. Leave a review if there's anything you'd like to share, good or bad, and thank you so much to everyone that follows this story because it's you guys that encourage me more than anything. I hate being a cheesy cliche so I'll end this here and see you all in the next chapter!