Draco knew he couldn't go home. Not to his parents, the Deatheaters. He woudn't go there ever again. But he knew he probably couldn't sleep in the Slytherin tower either. It wasn't destroyed, but no one was there. Draco didn't want to be alone. He watched the sky turn from evening blue to night black. The stars twinkled down at him. He closed his eyes and focused on taking deep breaths. He remembered what his Mum told him when he got nightmares as a child: Deep breath in, let the good air in; deep breath out, let the bad air out.

For some reason, his mind kept slipping to Hermione. Today, she strangely reminded him of his Mum when she would calm him down when he had those bad nightmares. He used to have horrifying dreams after learning what his father did for a living. Draco was taught terrifying things about Lord Voldemort as a child, so that he would be afraid and follow his commands.

Now I know what a bloody idiot I was for listening to them. They were cowards who taught me to be afraid instead of standing up.

His mind went back to Hermione again. She was such a strong woman, much stronger than his parents. She stands up for herself, instead of withering away like a bug avoiding the sunlight.

Damnit, why am I thinking about her so much? I have to decide what I'm going to do tonight.

Puzzled, he went back into the Great Hall to see what other students had decided to do. He walked up to Neville and Luna and cleared his throat. They simply stared at him bug-eyed.

"Don't look at me like I'm a bloody Dementor. I have a question." Draco said.

"Well the best thing to do when you have a question, is to ask it." Luna said serenely.

"Uh, well, I was wondering what everyone is planning on doing tonight. Where are you going to sleep?" Draco asked, looking down at the floor.

"Well, for a while, me and Luna and a few others thought we might sleep here. I'm not really sure." Neville said. His voice was much louder and more confident sounding than usual. He was obviously still feeling good about his "heroic actions" during the battle.

"Why, Draco, can't you go home to sleep?" Luna calmly asked.

Draco was hoping this question wouldn't come up. "No, I can't, alright? Look, I don't want to see my parents ever again...the bloody cowards. I'm going to stay with you guys."

Luna nodded and then looked into the distance, going into her own little world.

"I understand." Neville said quietly. But he really didn't. His own parents had been tortured and killed by Bellatrix LeStrange. He never had the choice of whether or not he wanted to see them again. Neither did Harry. That was the one special bond he and Harry always shared. As Neville looked around the busy room, he saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione talking to eachother in the corner. When they looked his way, he gestured for them to come over.

"Hey Neville." Hermione said as she sat next to him.

"Do we have a plan for tonight? Are we sleeping here?" Neville asked, looking to Hermione and Harry, because he knew Ron was going home with his family.

"That's what we were just talking to Ron about." Harry said.

"My Mum said it's alright if people want to stay at our house. We have a whole floor in our house for guests, and my Mum loves having people over anyways. It'll take her mind off...things...a bit." Ron said quietly. "But she'd like to have a number."

"Wow. Are you sure? That's so kind." Luna commented.

"Yes, that's great. Well, we have myself, Luna, Harry, Hermione, Dean, and, er, Draco. That makes..." Neville started to count on his fingers.

"Six. That makes six." Hermione blurted out.

"Draco? Staying at my house? I don't think so." Ron suddenly said.

"Weasley, you think I'm going to enjoy either?" Draco sneered. "But I've got nowhere to go."

"How about you go home to your mansion?"

"Ronald, stop it!" Hermione yelled.

"Stop it?" Ron asked. "Hermione, have you forgotton that his father slipped the diary to my sister, nearly killing her? Have you forgotton that he has been our enemy for years?"

"You aren't the same person as your parents! Besides, that was years ago. And it was Voldemort's doing. Voldemort's dead, Ron. It's over. So can we put this in our past and move on, please?" Hermione said forcefully. She took a deep breath, shocked that she had just defended Draco Malfoy. She looked over at him. He was looking straight at her. They made a connection.

Draco was the next to speak. "Guys, honestly, I never wanted any of this. But it's not my fault I was born into this family with these parents. You're all lucky to have such great parents. I'm just so tired...so sick of it all...I want it to be over."

Ron sighed. He cared about what Hermione thought of him. "So, what, then? Are we calling a truce, Malfoy?"

"I think it's for the best, Ron." Harry mumbled.

"So there." Hermione said, fighting a smug smile forming on her face. "Let's get some well-needed rest."