Disclaimer: I own nothing from J.K. Rowlings wonderful world of Harry Potter.

Chapter 2

Draco stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom, still in his suit. He hadn't changed in three days. The bow was undone, resting on his shoulders like a heavy weight keeping him from standing up.

He wasn't crushed by the idea of not getting married, even with all the trouble his parents had gone through – from convincing the Greengrass family that this would be a smart move and "it's just good breeding, isn't it?" to the money they had spent bribing Rita Skeeter into fabricating an entire relationship history with Astoria, several articles at a hundred galleons a piece.

It wasn't as though he didn't like Astoria. She was beautiful, funny at times, and she had a brain. It truly would have been good breeding, a very smart match indeed. But he wasn't torn up about her skipping out on him.

"Still skulking?" A voice emitted from the doorway. His best friend leaned on the threshold with a mocking grin on his face. Draco smirked.

"No, Blaise. I'm counting flakes of asbestos."

His friend stared at him with his jaw unhinged. "I can never tell when you're joking." Draco sighed and finally lifted his shoulders.

"That's the point." Blaise didn't wait for an invitation. He strode to the far window and drew back the curtains to reveal a bright and cheerful day. Draco flinched at the sudden flood of light.

"Now that's just rude."

"Ahh, do you smell that?" Blaise spread his arms out and closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. Draco blinked several times before his eyes got used to the light.

He tilted his head. "Teen spirit?"

"Mm... No, my friend. That is freedom." The young wizard walked over to Draco's bed and leaned against one of the posts with a grin. "That is the smell of not having to deal with conversations about the future, babies, growing old..." Blaise shuddered as his voice trailed off.

Draco examined the bow on his neck before removing it finally. "I'm afraid my father won't be as optimistic." Blaise shrugged and Draco nodded in response. His friend looked around his room. It looked less and less like a teenage boy's room and more like a guest bedroom every day.

"All packed for Hogwarts, I see." The wizard nodded toward the suitcases in the corner. Draco gazed at his things. This would be his final year at Hogwarts. During the war, there was a small part of him that was glad he didn't have to go to school. What teenage boy enjoys school?

After many meetings and dismissive threats from the Dark Lord, Draco started to miss Hogwarts; the place he had once deemed unfit to teach high and mighty him became a place he preferred to his own home.

"You're well prepared, aren't you?" Blaise clapped him on the back. But even Blaise knew that there was no preparing for the amount of ridicule and, undoubtedly, hate he would receive as soon as he was there, not to mention the endless gossip about his wedding failure.

The bathroom resembled a scene from The Mist when Hermione stepped out of the shower. She dried herself off and wrapped herself in a towel before swiping her hand across the mirror to wipe away the condensation.

Hermione was startled by her own reflection, which looked like a skeleton of her former self. Her cheeks and collarbones were prominent and her jawline was sharp. The shade of her dark circles would make a zombie jealous.

She sighed and tapped her wand to the top of her head. A strange sensation dripped down her head to the ends of her hair, drying it right away. Hermione tied it into a knot and rushed to her room to change.

Almost as soon as she had slipped into her black dress, a knock came from her door. A moment later her father was calling up the stairs for her. "Hermione! Friend's arrived!" She mumbled a spell as she looked at her reflection again and a glamour appeared, giving her skin a glow. There wasn't much she could do to cover her protruding bones, but her friend would understand... She hoped.

At the foot of the stairs, Hermione recognized the fiery red hair and no-nonsense stance. She smiled and hugged her friend from behind.

"It's been so long! I'm glad we're going out!" Ginny smiled and turned in Hermione's arms to give her a strong embrace.

"I missed you too, Hermione." Ginny looked her friend up and down through narrowed eyes, and met the witch's eyes with sympathy. "Promise you'll come to the Burrow before school starts." Hermione agreed and they were soon apparating to a restaurant in Germany.

Ginny had the smart idea of going international to avoid the media frenzy that was almost constant since the war had ended. It was tiring and the main reason that Hermione stayed out of the public eye. As soon as they arrived, a young wizard with flattened down hair led them to a table in the dimly lit restaurant. They were greeted with champagne and placed their orders right away.

Hermione sighed and leaned back, taking in the ambiance. "Very nice choice, Ginny. You've outdone yourself."

"You needed a break." Her friend replied with a raised eyebrow. She looked at the redhead sheepishly. Ginny changed the subject, knowing that Hermione would argue that it was necessary. "Are you excited to go back?"

"Oh, I'm ecstatic! I'm having most of my things sent in advance." Hermione had special-ordered her books, robes, quills and most of the other supplies so she could focus on the reconstruction of the school. Hermione looked down at the thought of returning to Hogwarts without her two best friends. "How's Ron?"

"He's an idiot, but he's doing all right. If he passes the summer training, he'll be a fully fledged Auror. Bit frightening, really." Hermione smiled. She knew he would be fine as long as he didn't second-guess himself.

"I'm fine, by the way." She looked at Hermione pointedly. The witch jumped.

"Oh! How were the Quidditch trials?" Ginny shrugged. She had been working on her technique with several of the best Quidditch players all summer before her return to Hogwarts. The redhead talked animatedly about her experience in the program while Hermione sat and listened with envy.

At least she would have Ginny when she went back to Hogwarts.

When Hermione got home, she flopped down on her bed. Memories swarmed her mind of all the times she shared with Harry and Ron. They had certainly gotten off to a rough start, but over the years they had defended her and she liked to think she taught them a thing or two.

Hermione couldn't imagine life without the two and she was about to spend nearly a year without them. It wasn't the kind of existential crisis she thought she would ever have, yet there she was on her bed, tears streaming down the sides of her face.

A tap on the window startled her out of her thoughts. She jumped to her feet and unlatched the window to let the tawny owl fly in. It stuck out its leg regally and she unhooked the small package from it. It eyed her expectantly. She dug through her bad until she pulled out an owl treat, gave it to the bird and watched it fly out gracefully.

The package was from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She groaned at the thought of a prank package. Setting it on her vanity desk, she took out her wand and pointed it at the package, doing as many counter-curses and revealing spells as she could think of. When nothing happened, she unwrapped it and opened the box to found a piece of parchment paper folded on top of a circular tub.

Hermione

I am apparently a dim-witted prat. Angelina had me send this to you. Something about revitalizing your skin and other terms I don't understand because I'm a prat – and also, a bloak. See you soon!

George

Hermione read the directions on the side of the tube. It was a magical cream to reset the witch's skin and bring back that young glow. She looked up into the vanity mirror at her desk. She really did look like a corpse. With a sigh, she scooped a small amount with her finger and rubbed the cream across her face.

Her skin started to shimmer brightly at first before simmering down until there was just a healthy sheen across her skin. Her dark circles had all but disappeared. Without a second thought, Hermione readied herself for bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.

A/N: Next chapter, we're going to the Burrow where things are always bursting with food and wand sparks!