Disclaimer - Still not mine :(

Chapter Five - Friends?

Draco and Hermione's friendship continued to grow and develop over the following several weeks. He had been to her cottage for dinner a few times and they had continued to study together. Her cottage was a safe place they could hide away from the world in and just be two trainee healers, studying, rather than being Draco Malfoy reformed Death Eater, and Hermione Granger war hero.

Needless to say they had both received O's for their healing potions assignment. The class was now learning some of the more advanced healing spells relating to spell damage and curses. Again certain elements were familiar to Draco and Hermione, reminding them of everything they had faced. Sitting through the lecture on the after effects of the cruciatus curse had been particularly hard and had left Hermione and Draco sitting stunned in the classroom after everyone else had left.

"I need a drink after that" Draco mumbled.

Hermione turned to him and nodded "my place?"

Draco stood and nodded, as they left and headed to the floo. Once at Hermione's cottage she fixed them both a shot of firewhiskey and then filled two large glass knowing there was a lot of pain to numb. It was a while before either spoke.

"So what do you think the chances are of either of us having some of these long term side effects?" Hermione asked, quietly, not really sure if she wanted an answer.

"Well I'm presuming Bellatrix was the only time you were cursed". Hermione nodded, "then I've been cursed more than you, but Bellatrix always appeared to be particularly vicious with the cruciatus and she certainly went hard at you".

Draco took a mouthful of firewhisky before continuing, "honestly Hermione I have no idea but I think it will be a miracle if neither of us show at least one side effect".

Hermione wordlessly summoned the bottle of firewhisky before topping up her drink. "Its not fair, I wanted to be a healer to learn to help people, not to learn what side effects I might or might not have to live with" she exclaimed, feeling as if this war was never going to go away.

"That's one of the things about learning, you always find a few things you wish you didn't know or learn" Draco responded.

"Like Divination" Hermione laughed, as the alcohol was beginning to take effect, thanks to her lack of food.

"Or how to raise blast ended skrewt's" Draco sniggered.

The next few hours past with the pair drinking and recounting all the things they had learnt at Hogwarts and if they were useful or not. Hermione had stumbled to the bathroom when her fire turned green and Ron's head appeared in the floo. "Hermione" he called, before yelling "what the hell?" and pulling his head back. Seconds later he appeared through the floo with his wand pointed at a semi-drunk Draco.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing here Ferret? Where's Hermione? What have you done to her?" he screamed.

"Ron" Hermione said as she came through the door, instantly sobering up at the sight in front of her. "Put your wand down".

Ron didn't lower his wand but turned to look at her. "I said lower your wand Ron" she said more forcefully as she walked further into the room, "Draco is a guest in my home".

Ron started to splutter and Draco used the opportunity to slide to the other end of the couch, away from Ron's wand.

"Malfoy, a guest" he spluttered, "have you gone mad?" before turning and realising Draco had moved.

"Expelliarmus" Hermione said, causing Ron's wand to fly to her, and Ron to snap his head towards her.

"Today was a pretty rough class so Draco and I came back here to unwind and appear to have lost track of time, and before you start Ronald, this is my house and I will invite who I see fit into it, understood?"

Ron stood gaping like a fish, turning his head between the pair. Hermione standing with her hand on her hip and her 'don't mess with me' glare on her face, and Draco sitting on the sofa looking slightly uncomfortable, but also trying not to laugh. Even he knew not to mess with Hermione when she made that face.

After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only a few minutes, Ron walked over to Hermione, retrieved his wand and floo'd back to the Burrow, without saying a word.

Hermione flopped onto the nearest chair, shaking her head, "oh dear" she muttered.

"I should go" Draco said, standing ready to leave.

Hermione looked up, "you don't have to, I was going to offer you dinner".

"I should go, mother will wonder where I am" Draco replied "but thank you for this evening, it was what I needed" before he floo'd to the Manor.

Hermione sat in the chair for a while longer, trying to process the entire day. She was feelings completely overwhelmed and incredibly drained. Crookshanks come in and curled himself up on her knee trying to offer her some comfort. Hermione was just starting to doze off in the chair when her floo activated and Harry stepped through. As she looked up she could see the mixture of hurt and anger in his eyes.

"Is it true?" he asked.

Hermione nodded slowly, not quite sure what his reaction would be. He tended to be more controlled than Ron, but then she also knew his opinion of Malfoy.

Harry sat on the sofa and looked at her as if waiting for an explanation, so she started.

"We were paired up for potions and actually spoke to each other and worked together instead of sniping and arguing, and we worked well together. Plus he's on the outside too". Harry looked at her confused by her statement.

"You know what its like, everyone thinks they know who you are because you're Harry Potter, or don't want to get to know you because they are intimidated by who they think you are. Its the same for me and the same for him, especially after the war".

Harry nodded "I guess" he answered reluctantly.

"We're not the only ones changed by the war, bit didn't we fight for a better world, a free world, an equal world" Hermione said.

Harry looked at Hermione as she spoke, he knew she was speaking honestly and right as always. He took a moment to answer her, and then he said "I don't trust him but I trust you, so just promise you'll be careful".

"I promise" Hermione nodded, "and thank you for listening".

Harry smiled as he stood "you know Ron's always been the hot headed one. Just give him time".


AN: So what do you think?