A big thank you to everyone who is reading the story, some of you have added it to alerts or as your favorite :D I can't describe how good it feels when I receive emails about it. It encourages me to write. Though I still wish that you guys would write some reviews as I have not finished writing the story and reviews would really help me to structure the yet to be written chapters better.

Now here is the next installment, Once again HP belong to JKR, even if I wish otherwise ;)

Happy reading!

Chapter 5

Hermione woke up on Christmas morning feeling excited like a child about the presents that were waiting for her. She had stayed over at burrow , as Mrs weasley had forbidden her to go back to flat to spend a lonely Christmas. She said "My dear it is the time to be spent with family, and you are a part of our family. I have been through two wars and realize that there is nothing more important than your loved ones."

She got up and looked at Ginny who was still sleeping. She silently got up and decided to quickly go to her flat to get ready and change her clothes, also to bring her presents here to open with everybody.

She changed into her dress as she had slept in clothes borrowed from Ginny and moved downstairs. It was around six o'clock in the morning and she believed nobody must be up yet and was surprised when she saw Malfoy entering into house. She suspected that he must have gone for a run as he was wearing running shoes. Just as she looked up from his shoes she noticed that he had seen her. She remembered what Ginny had said last night and thought of trying to be nice.

(Hermione is Bold and Draco is italic and their respective thoughts in brackets)

Good Morning and Merry Christmas.(okay that was little too cheerful)

morning and Merry Christmas(is she trying to be nice?)

You are up early I thought no one would be up yet.

Yeah! We get up early at reserve so it's a habit. You going somewhere?(why did I ask her that?)

I was going to my flat to change my clothes and also to get my presents here so I can open them with everybody. (could this conversation be any more awkward)

But your presents are already here, Harry and I got them last night. I am sorry if you have any problem with me going into your apartment but Mrs Weasley asked us to and I could not say no to her.

Oh! No Its okay, actually thank you. Its me who should be sorry about my behavior that day, I was just shocked , I never thought it would be you, I overreacted.

"Its alright granger really, I told Harry that he should go ahead without me but he is after all saint potter" Said Malfoy with a smile on his remark on Harry. "he said he had already informed you, but I should have known better, I should have known my past behavior can not be so easily forgiven" he noticed that Hermione was going to say something, so he quickly continued "Please let me finish, Granger, I want to apologize for my behavior in school, you don't have to forgive me though. I have truly realized that my behavior was so influenced by pureblood prejudice that even when I grew up I could not see the logical side of the argument. You were the most talented witch of our year, actually I won't be surprised if you are one of the most talented witch Hogwarts has ever produce, the sacrifices three of you made at such young age…..People like me were fools to think that you were beneath us, on the contrary if it were not you I would not have become the person I am. After the war I realized that this pure blood rubbish will get me nowhere, even when mother and I were in hiding I could draw inspiration from the three of you, when you guys could stand up to voldemort to make this a better world, why could I not live a reformed life. I am and will always be grateful to you for unknowingly giving me the hope that I could be someone much more than what I was and once again I am really sorry, I wish I could go back change it now but it's not possible. Still I do hope that one day you will forgive me"

To say Hermione was shocked would have been an understatement, she thought they would make some small talk, but here was Malfoy looking genuinely apologetic. Should she forgive him? Like Harry and Ron had, but they had also accepted him as a friend. Would he expect Hermione to be his friend if she accepts the apology? Is she ready to forgive him and let go of his past behavior?

She realize that he probably was waiting for her to say something, she tried but realize that no sound came out of her mouth. She cleared her throat and tried once again

"I…..I … understand that your behavior had a lot to do with your upbringing, but it is difficult for me to just let it all go, since day one I tried really hard to feel accepted, I learned all the books by heart before I stepped in Hogwarts, I was hell bent on proving that I might have been unaware about magic and Hogwarts for 11 years of my life but I could still be better than anyone out there. But the whole 'pureblood – mudblood' (she noticed him flinching on the latter word) thing, made one thing crystal clear to me, for some it would just not be enough. The word mudblood did not mean much to me, I had never heard of the term, but it was the fact that this whole blood issue will never let me be a part of the magical community completely. Also I did not belong to muggle world any more either. I was hanging in between these two worlds accepted fully by none."

He nodded and understood that it will take Hermione some time before she could forgive him, but he was glad that he got a chance to apologize. He meant every word he spoke today, and really hoped that she soon will forgive him.

Hermione decided it was time to leave, she quickly flooed to her apartment got ready, and went back. By the time she was back everybody was up, after eating a hearty breakfast, chatting, lounging, and everybody decided to play quidditch, which she decided not to participate but watch.

Once again her thoughts were focused on a certain blonde, he was playing with everybody and he looked happy, he was smiling, a genuine smile she had only seen him sneer or smirk, never smile. She thought it must be very sad for him to never have a reason to smile, she remembered her days in Hogwarts, although they would always end up in trouble, they had enough reasons to smile. But now come to think about it, he never seemed happy, sure he used be pleased about getting them into trouble but never happy.

Her chain of thought was broken by Fleur who came outside with steaming mugs of butterbeer for everyone. Just then Andromeda arrived with Teddy who was now six years old. He was visiting France with his grandma and his arrival filled everybody with joy. Teddy was best friend with Bill and Fluer's daughter Victoire and loved coming to burrow. Especially on Christmas when he would receive presents from everyone. Harry always grabbed the opportunity on Teddy's bday and Christmas to spoil him silly, which Andromeda never approved of, but secretly felt happy that Teddy would never be alone.

Hermione noticed that Andromeda went to Malfoy and remembered that she and Narcissa were sisters. She could see tears in both their eyes and averted her gaze to give them a private moment. Hermione knew that Draco Malfoy had become an enigma for her, a question she did not have an answer for, Has he really changed that much? The way he acted in school was it was really him or the son his father wanted him to be. She remembered their sixth year, on more than one occasion she saw fear in his eyes. The story as told by Harry of the happenings at the astronomy tower at that fateful night had convinced three of them that he would not have killed Prof. Dumbledore, but they or at least she till very recently believed he was pure Evil. But now she could see he was troubled, she knew the supporters of Voldemort faced ridicule from the wizarding society, but Malfoys were treated as traitors by not just those but also by whatever was left of the dark lord's supporters. This was also the reason they went into hiding. But what if he was using Harry as a shield to protect himself? After all he was a slytherin; he could just be using their name to regain their lost social status. This mental argument kept her busy throughout the afternoon.

By the time it was evening Ron had proposed Alyssa, who accepted. He took her for a walk in the woods and proposed her. Their news once again increased the excitement levels at burrow, the women got into discussion about wedding, while guys decided that celebrations were in order. To escape from Molly's wrath on ruining Christmas dinner by going out to drink everybody postponed the plan for following night. After dinner that night and bidding good bye to everyone Hermione left as she had to report to hospital next morning. That night she slept peacefully while reflecting back to the two days she had spent with her family. She realized she had been silly about missing the celebration for last couple of years, this realization did not let her mind wander to Malfoy much, but she still had had the strangest urge to touch him to check if his skin was cold or not.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much I enjoyed writing it. It has first unforced interaction b/w Draco and Hermione, quite civil too. I am taking time in building their relationship, keeping in mind their history, I believe it is necessary.

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