The train ride home was filled with exciting chatter. I shared a compartment with: Ginny,Luna and Neville—just as I had when we all returned in September. Even if our company looked the same on the outside—I was a different person than the one who boarded the Hogwarts express all those months ago. Back then was a scared,nervous and lost mess. I wanted to hide from the world and keep to myself. Now... I was happy,excited and very much alive to the world and everything around me.

Life was beautiful again. Thanks to one very wonderful person—Draco Malfoy. I grinned widely at the mere thought of him.

"Someone's happy." Said Neville with a big smile.

W were all in good spirits. The promise of home does that to people. Except me of course. That was the one dark spot in my life—my parents and their anger towards me. I pushed those sad thoughts away and answered Nevile.

"Yeah. Happy to be going home." I told him. I wouldn't do to reveal the true source of my joy.

"We are all. I can't wait to see Daddy,he says he has a surprise for me. I wonder what it could be." Said Luna dreamily

I shared a knowing look with Ginny and Nevile at Luna's remark. Knowing Mr Lovegood the 'surprise' would doubtless be something interesting and strange.

The rest of the ride passed by pleasantly and the it was time to leave. We all gathered our things and got off the train. We walked until we saw Mrs Weasley waving at us excitedly. Ginny and I hugged Nevile and Luna goodbye as they both went to meet their own families. My parents weren't coming to meet me—I had told them in on of my letters that it wasn't necessary and they accepted it without further question. I didn't feel the need to have them come fetch me when things were so strained between us already— no reason to expose them any more than necessary to the magical world which had caused the whole problem to begin with.

"Hello dears!" Shouted Mrs Weasley happily as she embraced us both. No one else came with her because they were all busy with work. I exchanged pleasantries with her before going off on my own—promising multiple times that I would go to Burrow soon before she let me go.

I took a muggle taxi home—trying my best to appeal to that side of my life so as to bridge the gap between my parent s and I. My trunk was expertly shrunk so that it fit neatly into a handbag. No need to freak the driver out. Crookshanks however, was nestled snugly under my arm.

In no time at all the taxi was pulling up in front of my house. I got out and walked through my gate and up to my door. I was home.

I knocked a couple of times before the door was opened. There stood my mother—looking as nervous as I felt.

"Hermione, dear." She said, pulling me in for an awkward and short hug before ushering me into the house.

"Is dad home?" I asked her.

"Yes. He'll be right out I'm sure." She answered.

As if her words magically conjured him, my father came in to the hallway just then.

"Hermione." He stated simply before giving me a brief hug similar to my mother's before.

We all entered the living room together and sat down to a tense silence. I was the first to break it.

"So, how are you guys? Work going okay?" I asked conversationally.

"We're fine. Work is the same as always." Answered my mother tonelessly.

"And you, how are your friends and your school work?" My father inquired, barely feigning interest.

"They're well. I topped my class in the recent exams." I informed them.

"That's lovely to hear,Hermione." Said my mother, meaning it. School was very important to them.

My father smiled at me too and for just a moment it was like old times between us. At last I didn't disappoint them in regards to education. That was something.

My mother then informed me that dinner would be ready in an hour or so and that I should go up to my room and get some rest before she called me down. I did as she asked and went to my room where I showered and took a light nap.

Dinner was a similar affair to our earlier meeting. Filled with drab talk and awkward silence.

Later in bed I was filed with anger at their behavior. I mean—couldn't they at least try to pretend that they weren't still upset with me. If this was how things were going to be I might as well go to the Burrow tomorrow and stay there—where my presence was actually met with appreciation. I wouldn't do that of course—it was my fault that they were angry and I had to at least try and fix it before running away.

My thoughts we're interrupted by a rapping noise on my window. I looked up to see an owl, perched on my windowsill with a letter tied to its leg. I opened my window and let him in so i could take the letter. I didn't recognize him but still petted him. I think I had a pretty good idea who he belonged to. Since he made no immediate move to fly away, I figured the sender wanted a reply right away. I opened the letter and it read like this:

Dear Hermione,

I know it has only been hours since I last saw you but to me It seems an age. I miss you so.

Is everything well with your parents? How are they treating you—still angry with you?

Anyway, I instructed the owl not to leave without response so you better give him one!

Thinking of you,

DM

My mood instantly lifts. Even from afar he knows how to placate me. My sweet boy. I grab a piece of parchment and wrote out my reply.

Dearest Draco,

I feel exactly the same. It's hard being without you. How shall I ever survive these 2 weeks!

My parents are fine. Things between us are still strained but I haven't given up hope just yet.

I trust you received a better welcome home than me.

Kisses from me to you,

Hermione.

I put my finished letter in an envelope and tied it around the owl's leg and watched him fly away into the darkness.


Breakfast was a similar affair to dinner and I was honestly relieved when thy both left for work.

Before they left I told them that I would be going to the Burrow sometime today and not to worry if I wasn't here when the came home. I did the breakfast dishes and then went upstairs to read a little. During that time I received another letter from Draco informing me that his parent did indeed receive him well. Thy marveled at how happy he was but were glad for it. At least one of us had a happy home coming I thought bitterly. I was truly thrilled for him though, his parents and their love meant a lot to him.

I wrote back telling him I would be at the Weasleys later today and not to owl me till tonight. I didn't want them seeing his letter, it would definitely arouse suspicion—just about everyone who would writ to me would be at the Burrow so it couldn't be one of them and then the questions would come. I puttered around the house aimlessly until late afternoon when I apparated to the Burrow. I had waited till afternoon so as to catch everybody when the were home from work. Even though Harry had inherited Grimmauld Place, he chose to live a the Burrow for now so I would be seeing everyone all at once. My excitement knew no bounds.

I arrived at the Burrow within seconds thanks to the wonder of apparition. Before I could even catch my breath, the back door flew open and Harry and Ron came rushing out.

"Hermione!" They both yelled before enveloping me in tight hugs. Harry even picked m up and spun me around.

Without warning I burst into tears. The sheer joy of seeing my best friends overwhelmed me.

"I missed you two so much." I blubbered through my tears.

"We missed you to Hermione. So much." Said Harry. He then put his arm around my shoulder and led me into the hose.

I was greeted enthusiastically by the other Weasleys and I returned their love. It was good to be home—for this house and family I considered my own and they thought the same.

When everyone had gotten their fill of me, Harry and Ron took me upstairs to their shared room so they could have me all to themselves. After we all got comfortable, the questions came.

"So tell me, Hermione. How are you really? " Asked Harry in a serious tone.

"I'm fine Harry—better than fine actually. My parents and I aren't in a particular good place right now but I'm working on it but everything else is good. Don't worry about me." I answered truthfully, touched at his concern.

"Well okay. You do seem to be doing well, you certainly look it but what about earlier? Your first set of letters seemed kind of sad." Harry pressed on.

"Because I was sad Harry. It was hard going back there—especially without you two. Don't look like that Harry, I'm not blaming either of you f or not coming back so don't go feeling guilty now. Anyway, I got over it. I really am okay now." I assured them both.

"Alright then. Well as long as you're happy now It's all good." Said Harry, seemingly mollified. Ron only nodded in acceptance.

The boys and I continued to catch up until it was time for dinner. In contrast to my dinner last night, this one was filled with laughter and talk. Everybody was happy. It really was good being at the Burrow.

When it was time to leave, I was consumed in another round of hugs and kisses. I promised to come back again tomorrow—for my sake as well as theirs. This was a much better environment than my actual home.

The rest of the week went by uneventfully—I had awkward moments with my parents during breakfast and dinner, spent most of my days at the Weasleys and continued to receive lovely little letters from Draco.

Christmas morning dawned bright and beautiful. I was to spend my morning at home and lave at lunch for the Weasleys before returning home for Christmas dinner. Also. Draco and I planned to meet up for a short while after I left the Burrow in muggle London to exchange our presents and see each other—after all it was our first Christmas together.

After getting ready for the day, I went down to wish my parents a Merry Christmas and to open our presents together. It was the usual tense affair, polluted with false cheer and an undercurrent of anger. It was just too much for me—I wasn't having this nonsense on Christmas so I blew up at my parents—letting out all my pent up frustration at their behavior towards me.

"Listen, Mom and Dad. I know that what I did to you upset and hurt the both of you greatly. I don't blame you at all for how you feel but can't you see it from my point of view? I had no choice. Thy would have found both of you and use it as leverage to get to Harry through me. Make no mistake about it, a soon as you had served your purpose to the they would have killed you. They people I was fighting were complete monsters who loved killing. That was what I was protecting you from when I tampered with your memories." I said imploringly.

It was nothing that had not been said before but I felt that they needed to hear it again— they needed to understand the severity of the position I was in back then.

"We know all that Hermione but could you not have protected us some other way—could you not have given us a choice in the matter at least?" Said my father angrily while my mother nodded in agreement.

All this was familiar territory too but this time I wasn't going to take it quietly and give in—I was right and the had to see that. I was in a blind rage so I screamed out:

"You know what? Maybe I acted too rashly, maybe I could have done something better, safer to protect you but I was young, scared and helpless and short on time—those monsters were hunting anyone associated with Harry and muggle-borns and I fit both descriptions so no way were they going to leave me or you unscathed. I did what I had to and now everything is fine again. The war is won and you are both safe—memories restored as well. Would you have rather I left you unprotected and exposed to all the danger surrounding you? Would you rather be dead right now? I finished loudly.

My father's face was red and mother was crying. Instead of evoking sympathy it only enraged me more. I was shocked at the intensity of my anger but that's what keeping things bottled up does to you—it makes every feeling so much stronger so that when it all comes out there is no holding back. I was determined to settle this thing today so before either of them could speak I opened my mouth and continued my rant.

"Look, if you don't want me here all you have to do is say so and I'll be gone. Today is Christmas for god's sake. Couldn't you have put your anger aside for one day at least? I mean you've had months to accept and understand what I did—maybe even time enough to understand my position and forgive me but can see that's not going to happen. I really tried this week but today was the last straw. I've had enough." I said through tears. I didn't even know when the started.

My parents weren't saying anything so I made a move towards the stairs—indicating that I was going upstairs to get my things and leave, when my mother stopped me.

"Wait, Hermione." She said quietly.

I turned around slowly and raise one eyebrow at her.

"Your father and i are very sorry for our behavior towards you. We know that you did what you though was best. It was just hard for just to understand, magic may be normal to you but it is foreign to us. Having you use it on us in such a way and without our permission really hurt but I'm willing to work towards improving our relationship and making things between us good again. I'm sure your father agrees with me." She said with a small smile in my direction.

"Yes dear, I agree. I'm sorry Hermione. We both love you so much and want to fix things." Said my father.

Wow. I didn't expect them to relent so quickly after my outburst. Not that I was complaining.

"Thank you, it means everything to me that you're both wiling to try and move past it all and forgive me. I love you both too." I said softly.

"I'm sorry about all the things I said just now too—I was just really angry and I couldn't control myself."

We hugged it out and then spent the next few hours getting reacquainted with each other—sincerely this time.

Lunch with at the burrow was great, good food and lively conversation. I thanked everyone for their presents and received thanks in return for mine. After enjoying a great afternoon with everyone, I left to go meet up with Draco at a formerly agreed on location.

He was early. I spotted him first—noticing the unmistakable blond hair and posture that was so familiar to me. I sneaked up behind him and put my hands over his eyes.

"Merry Christmas!" I screamed in his ear.

He obviously recognized me because he shrieked with delight and dislodged my hands before turning around and scooping me up is his arms. He spun me around a couple of times before kissing me soundly.

"Merry Christmas to you too beautiful." He said brightly.

I blushed at being called beautiful. He noticed and laughed at my shyness.

"It's good to see you, missed you." I told him.

"Same here." He replied.

"How was your day?" I asked.

"It was good, had nice time with my parents. They're having a ridiculous party tonight and unfortunately I have to attend." He said with a pout.

"You poor thing." I replied, jokingly.

"So what about you, how was your Christmas?"

"Well, I started the day off with my parents. Things were tense as usual and then I got angry at their behavior and I lashed out. We got into a hughe argument and I threatened to leave if they didn't want me there any longer. My mother stopped me and we all apologized and agreed to work on fixing things. Then we had a nice time together before I went to the Burrow for lunch. I had a lovely time." I informed him.

"What a day you've had. Well I suppose it's all good now that you and your parents are in a better place." He said, kindly.

"Yes." I said simply.

"Well, where's my present, woman?" He said with mock impatience.

"I've got it right here in my bag. I didn't k now what to get the man who has everything money can buy so I went for something personal." I told him.

I took out a package wrapped neatly in shiny green paper and handed it to him. He opened it swiftly and I saw his face light up. So he liked it. Truth be told I was quite nervous about his reaction beforehand.

"It's wonderful. I love it, thank you." He said sincerely.

I had given him a framed picture of me taken with a magical camera so that it moved. In it I was laughing happily and blowing him a kiss. I had also charmed it with sound effects so that he heard my laughter.

"I'm glad you like it. Just a little something to remind you of me when we're apart. You ca look at it whenever you miss me." I told him lightly.

"My turn!" I shouted at him.

He took a long, thin and elegantly wrapped package i gold paper from his pocket.

"Here." He said quietly.

I opened it slowly and my jaw dropped. It was a finely worked bracelet, set in shining gold and inlaid with rubies and diamonds.

"Draco, this is amazing. It's so beautiful, thank you so much. I'm sure it must have cost you fortune, you really didn't have to spend so much on me." I told him in awe.

"You're most welcome. I saw it and thought of my little Gryffindor since it has the Gryfindor colors so I just had to get it for you. As for the cost,nothing's too expensive for you." He said matter-of-factly.

"How sweet of you." I told him and leaned in for a light kiss.

We spent another hour together, walking through the city, hand in hand—taking in the sights and scenes and stopping often to snog.

Before I left, we shared one last passionate kiss.

It was the perfect end to our day.

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