Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 10

It was Tuesday before Hermione saw Draco again. She was at the library bang on seven o'clock and he was waiting for her at the same table they had used the previous Thursday.

He was studying one of the Transfiguration books but looked up when she sat down.

"Hey". He looked troubled and she wondered if he was still worrying about why she had run out on him on Friday.

"Hey" she replied.

"I was just wondering if, after you left the Owlery on Friday, you went to talk to Parvati."

She stared at him. How could he possibly know that?

"It's just that later that day she came to talk to me" He continued "And it was very strange. She didn't yell or anything but she looked like she had been crying. She asked me to tell her my story."

Hermione was shocked. She had not expected Parvati to actually listen to her and talk to Malfoy.

"Well, yes I did speak to her. You see, last Thursday, after I returned from the library, she was waiting for me in our dorm. She attacked me, calling me a traitor and accusing me of forgetting the war. At the time I couldn't think of a counter- argument, not a single thing! I ran from her, believing that I was weak and stupid. But then I went to the kitchens, got some good advice from a house-elf and had a long think about why I am trying to move on." She paused for breath.

"When I saw you the next morning, I realised that I was ready to start moving past the war, to start trying to forgive and I decided then that I had to confront Parvati. I am not wrong in this. I don't blame Parvati, her hurt runs far deeper than mine, but in talking to her I wanted her to see that not everything is black and white"

She stopped talking. She had said more than she had meant to say and she looked at D- Malfoy to gauge his reaction.

"Thank you Granger" he said softly.

She glanced up at him curiously.

"For what?"

"You stood up for me. You told her to ask me for my story, you wanted her to understand. I do not deserve it but thank you."

She nodded awkwardly and smiled at him. They both went back to studying for a while before she again broke the silence.

"You know, if we're going to be working together for the rest of the year it might be easier if we called each other by our first names. It might help with the forgetting thing if we're not constantly reminded of which sides of the war we fought on because of the reminders our surnames carry."

She spoke calmly but her heart was in her mouth. He looked at her thoughtfully and nodded.

"Yeah I agree… Hermione?"

She smiled." Great Draco."

There was another pause before she chuckled "Who would have thought it?"

She could see that he knew what she meant. Who would have thought that they would be there, two enemies, sitting peacefully? Who would have thought that one would ever seek forgiveness and the other would ever be prepared to grant it? Who would have thought it would be possible for them to be in the same place without a fight breaking out? Who would have thought it?

When they left the library at nine they separated, he going left, she going right. But this time, before turning away, he said "Goodbye Hermione".

"Goodbye Draco" she replied.

FF~FF~FF~FF~FF~FF

The next day Hermione had a free period first thing and she had promised Ginny that she would spend it with her. The day dawned sunny and warm, a novelty for that time of year, so they decided to take a picnic down to the lake. Ginny was prattling animatedly about a qudditch match she had played recently and Hermione had zoned out, enjoying the feeling of the sun warming her face. She closed her eyes and lay back on the grass, feeling it prick her back. Ginny's voice washed over her like a lullaby.

Suddenly a shadow passed over her skin and she opened her eyes. There was a large figure leaning over her, silhouetted against the bright light. The sun blinded her, concealing the person's features but nonetheless she knew who it was.

"Hagrid" she exclaimed, jumping up with a cry of delight and hugging him. It had been ages since she had talked to him and she was thrilled to see him now. Ginny greeted Hagrid after her and he beamed at them.

"Well, it's bin a while, ain't it Hermione, Ginny" he said. "I was hopin' to catch ye today, I knew you'd got a free period and all, and I was wonderin' if ye'd like to come in for a cup o' tea."

"Of course Hagrid, we'd love to!" Hermione exclaimed.

They strolled across the grounds to Hagrid's cabin, chatting about this and that. Hagrid told them about the creatures he was studying with his classes. Several times, when Hagrid mentioned a particularly dangerous creature, Hermione's smile became a bit forced and she thanked her lucky stars she was no longer taking Care of Magical Creatures.

When they reached Hagrid's house they were greeted by an excited Fang, who promptly leapt on Ginny, knocking her over. Hermione laughed as Ginny picked herself up and dusted herself down, fending off Fang as she did do. Once she was seated at the table Hagrid placed two big mugs of tea in front of them.

"So, Hermione" he said, sitting down opposite them "I hear you've bin workin' with Malfoy" She choked. She hadn't expected Hagrid to bring it up so bluntly and she wasn't sure how to react. She didn't have to because Hagrid continued.

"It's a great thing. It's all about inter-house unity and gettin' over the war an' if you and Malfoy can do it then people'll start realisin' that anyone can".

"That's exactly what we want Hagrid!"

Ginny looked surprised. "But… I thought you hated him. I thought you were only working together because McGonagall made ye".

"Well, I was but then we started talking and we realised that the only way we can start to heal is if we start to forgive the people who hurt us".

Ginny nodded. She still looked puzzled but she didn't speak so Hermione let it slide. The rest of the visit passed with idle chit-chat and when their free period ended they made their way up to the school, both lost in their own thoughts.

Authors Note: I just want to say that I am so sorry for the long wait! I'm going through a bit of a hard time at the moment and I haven't had the energy to write anything. I don't want to sound whiny but I feel I should give ye some reason for my absence. Also my updates might still be a little flakey for a while but I'll try my best to update as often as I can.

As always thank you to the people who have RFFed. I'm sorry if I haven't replied to you review, sometimes I forget, but each one of them was read and appreciated! Please tell me what you thought of this chapter:)

ShHpBookworm xxx