"When she was just a girl

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach

So she ran away in her sleep

And dreamed of Para-Para-Paradise

-Paradise

Chapter 16: A Shoulder to Lean On

Again, past disclaimer applies.

"Hey, Mione," Harry yawned as he finally made it back to the Gryffindor common room. Upon doing so, he found his best friend sitting before the fire, staring more so than actually reading the book in her hands. She quite clearly had something on her mind. "What are you doing up so late?" he started.

Hermione smiled knowingly, "Waiting for you," she told him as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She then placed her book aside and motioned for the other teen to sit beside her. "I said I would, didn't I?" she added as Harry made his way over to her.

"Well yeah," he grinned, tiredly plopping down opposite her. "I just thought that with you being a prefect and all, you'd want to set a good example. Staying up past curfew isn't exactly the best way to do that," Harry teased.

Hermione hit him lightly on the arm, ignoring the false accusations that it had actually hurt afterwards. "I'll have you know that prefects are supposed to stay up at least thirty minutes or so after bed time to make sure the younger students don't go lurking after hours."

Harry smirked, "Never stopped us."

At those words, she turned her gaze back to the fire, trying not to reminisce too much at the moment. The memories were nice, but more painful than anything.

"Hey," he broke Hermione out of her reverie, "Smile, won't you?" Harry draped an arm around her shoulders. "It's been a long day," he have her a squeeze, "So let's not spend what's left of it upset, alright?" Honestly, Harry was simply too tired to deal with any more drama.

Hermione nodded in agreement, "You're right," she then changed the subject. "How did your meetings with Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and Draco go?"

"How did you know Snape-?"

"Well…" She then proceeded to tell Harry about her unusual meeting with Pansy. Hermione, did not, however, give him the details about what it was exactly the other girl had wanted to know. Although she hated lying, she merely told him that Pansy had come to her with questions regarding the last Prefect meeting as she was about to go and search for him. Telling Harry about the Slytherin's interest in his late best friend's sister would only put him on edge.

"Could this night get any odder?" Harry asked somewhat to himself.

"What do you mean?" she asked, not knowing the details behind either of his meetings.

Harry removed his arm from around Hermione and turned to face her, fully. "See, it all started when Dumbledore had me look at these memories…"

Towards the end of his tale, his friend snapped, "Harry!" she said disapprovingly, "You've already got yourself a detention? The term hasn't even officially started yet!"

Harry gave her a look of disbelief, "It wasn't my fault! Snape's just a-"

"Git?" Neville finished for him. The brunette boy had been woken up by the sudden shouting coming from below the dorms. Not wanting anyone else to be disturbed, he cast a silencing charm and made his way into the common room to tell whoever was there to keep it down.

"Oh, I'm sorry Neville," Hermione apologized, guiltily. "We didn't mean to wake you."

He simply brushed it off, "No worries. Just be grateful nobody else heard you lot. I placed a silencing charm about the dorms before I left," he informed them.

"Thanks," Harry mumbled, still slightly peeved. Hermione could be just as bad as Snape sometimes, the way she reprimanded him constantly.

"Do you want me to head back up?" Neville asked. They were each giving him the same look most people did whenever he showed up. It was the "Please go away" one. He knew it all too well.

"Please," Hermione answered, "It's nothing personal. I just wanted to talk with Harry privately for a bit," she smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I'll follow you shortly, Nev," Harry chimed in, not wanting their friend to feel out of place.

Still, the other boy merely nodded and turned away.

"I feel terrible," Hermione instantly admitted once Neville was out of earshot. She gave Harry a shameful look, "Maybe you should just go to bed. We can discuss the rest tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Harry inquired, knowing she was probably eager to know more about Dumbledore's approaching fate and Snape's role as a spy.

"Well," Hermione began, for knowledge truly was her weakness, "I suppose five more minutes wouldn't hurt."

At that, her friend smiled for the first time since she had angered him. He then went on to tell her about Snape's unusual demeanor regarding his question about the horcruxes, and how Malfoy, along with his mum, would be his new roommates. Harry ended it all with Draco's vague input towards the pendant he had received for his birthday.

"Hmm…" Hermione wasn't sure where to start. "It could be a good thing, you know," she spoke up several moments later.

"You mean living with the Malfoy's?" he gawked.

"Yes," she replied, shortly. "If what Draco said was true," Hermione said, referring to what the Slytherin told Harry about the relationship he had with his father, "Then maybe the two of you could finally get past-"

"You can't be serious," Harry cut her off from what he knew she was about to say. "Just because he now has this accuse for treating us the way he did in the past, doesn't mean that I'm willing to forgive the prat for it."

"But Harry, if you think about it, most of what took place wasn't really his fault," she said, honestly. "It may take some time-"

"Hermione, there isn't enough time in the world for how long it would take for me to be friends with Malfoy."

"I'm not asking for you to become best mates with Draco, Harry," she informed the other teen, "There's just no sense in fighting with him anymore. Especially since the two of you will be sharing the same house, like it or not."

Harry sighed. He supposed Hermione was right. Trying not to lash out at one another, he could manage. Becoming friends, well it was as he said, that wasn't likely to happen. Besides, the Gryffindor wanted his new home to be a peaceful place. If he was going at it with Malfoy all the time, Harry would have to be constantly looking over his shoulder, wondering what trap he would fall into next.

"If Sirius is okay with all of this, then there's no reason as to why you shouldn't be able to handle the situation also," Hermione pointed out, breaking Harry's train of thought.

"What makes you think he's alright with it?" he asked her, "I mean if Dumbledore asked for Sirius to share Grimmauld place, there wouldn't be much he could do about it." Harry said, for it was the truth. When the headmaster wanted something done, there was no defying him.

"He and Mrs. Malfoy are cousins, are they not?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer. He just nodded. "Well, your godfather has a heart, Harry. Regardless of whatever she may have done to him in the past, they are family. I'm sure he wouldn't just turn his back on her."

Although he didn't like knowing that his last remaining family member was related to the Malfoy's, Harry knew what she was saying to be true.

"Well, I don't have to like it," he murmured, looking away from the bushy haired girl.

Hermione laughed, "I never said you had to," she gently ruffled his hair, "Just try to deal with it a bit better, alright?" She looked into his eyes.

Harry smiled, unable to reject her request, "Okay, I'll give it a go." He then stood and lent Hermione his hand in order to help her up.

"Good," his best friend said once she was at her feet. Before they went their separate ways for the night, she let him know, "You might be able to get Professor Snape to talk during your detention."

Hoping she was right, Harry just responded with a short, "Yeah," but then added, "It is Snape, though…"

Hermione shook her head, "Anything's possible. Just don't irritate him too much."

"That's like telling me never to play quidditch again, Mione," he laughed. "Impossible." Seriously, how many unimaginable things was she going to ask of him tonight?

Unable to help it, she laughed as well. "We'll finish this conversation tomorrow, yes?"

"Of course," he agreed. "I would say during our free period, but I'll be using that time to arrange tryouts."

"That's right," Hermione beamed at him, "Congratulations on making captain."

"Thanks," Harry smiled brightly back at her. "I bet you'll be using that time to study anyways, right?" he prodded at his friend.

"You know me all too well," Hermione retorted sarcastically. "Oh, and before I forget," she suddenly remembered, "Remus-or should I say, Professor Lupin, will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year!" she said excitedly.

"Really?" Harry was shocked. "What about the parents, though? I thought they didn't want a werewolf living under the same roof as their kids." He reminded her. Back in third year there were so many objections that Lupin had no choice but to leave. Parents were even threatening to have their children removed from Hogwarts all together.

"Well, it's as you said," she smirked, "When Dumbledore wants something done, there's nothing anybody else can do about it. He can be very persuasive when he wants to be."

"Tell me about it," Harry rolled his eyes, still thrilled that his favorite Professor would be back to teach.

Hermione yawned, "I think I'll be going to sleep now." She then gave her friend a short hug and another peck on the cheek, "Goodnight, Harry," she told him before briskly making her way up to the girl's dormitory.

Blushing with a soft smile, Harry too made his way up to bed.

…

Upon entering the boy's dormitory, Harry couldn't help but to look over at the empty bed beside his. He stared at it for a long while before sighing and getting under his own sheets. However, it was then that the teen found it extremely difficult to fall asleep. The sound of Ron's loud snoring was no longer there and it made the room eerily quiet. The only things to be heard now were the sounds of Neville's toad's occasionally croaking, and Lyra's soft purring.

So, knowing that he would be unable to fall asleep this night, Harry pulled out a piece of parchment, along with his quill, and wrote a letter to his godfather.

He closed the curtains around his bed and softly spoke, "Lumos," before beginning:

Padfoot, (he used the man's nickname, still, despite the fact that he had been proven innocent)

I just heard the news that Moony has returned to Hogwarts. Did you know about this? They didn't introduce him during the Welcoming Feast for some reason…but I can take a wild guess as to why. Still, it's great to finally have him back.

How's work with the twin's going? Spending each day at their joke shop has got to be loads of fun. The pygmy puffs are annoying though, aren't they? Lyra never shuts up. It was nice of Ginny to get me one and all, it's just I honestly think this puffball has it out for me. Don't even laugh! It's true, I swear it.

So, have you been able to come up with any new ideas for pranks or tricks? Let me know, because I bet you have.

By the way, I had a meeting with Snape tonight. Before you go to ask, it's a long story. I'll explain it all over Christmas break.

What I wanted to know was how you feel about the Malfoy's moving into Grimmauld Place. Have you known about this for a while or was the news sudden to you as well? I mean, not to sound selfish, but it seems that just when I get out of living with the Dursley's, I get Malfoy as my new roommate, of all people. Without being sarcastic here, if it weren't for you, I'd probably stick with Privet Drive. My aunt, uncle, and cousin would probably be better than living with that prat. Oh well, I suppose.

On a better note, I made quidditch captain this year. It's probably the best thing to happen so far, even though it's only been a day…having Hermione around helps also, though. She keeps me from acting stupidly most times. Me finding out about the entire Malfoy situation would just be one of the many examples. Mione gives the best advice, truly.

Well, I really don't know what else to write for now so I suppose I'll hand this over to Hedwig.

Write back soon,

Your Godson

After folding the letter and placing it within an envelope, Harry put it on the nightstand beside his bed, planning on taking it up to the owlery at some point throughout the next day. For now, he would try in vain to get some sleep.

…

Over in the girl's dormitory, Hermione could be found quietly making her way over to the room beside the one she shared with the girls in her year.

Entering the small room filled with the sleeping fifth year Gryffindors, she gently woke up the only one with fiery red hair.

"Huh?" the younger girl asked sleepily, "What time is it?" she sat up, finding her friend sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Sorry," Hermione quickly apologized before casting a silencing charm around them, "I know it's late, but this really couldn't wait until morning."

Ginny shook her head, "That's okay," she put the other girl at ease. Rubbing her eyes, she asked, "What is it you needed to tell me?"

The brunette sighed, not exactly sure how to say what she was about to. After a few seconds she supposed it would be best to be blunt. That being said, Hermione came right out and told the youngest Weasley about her encounter with Pansy. She also told the other girl about the odd looks Draco had given her during dinner.

Once that was done, before the red-head could comment, Hermione added, "Just don't tell Harry. I told him everything except the part where she asked me about you. I didn't want him to worry," she bit her lip nervously.

"No, I won't," Ginny reassured her. "It's just all so weird," she admitted. "You don't think Parkinson wanted to know for Malfoy, do you?" she asked, hoping dearly that it wasn't the case.

Upon giving the idea some thought, everything started coming together for Hermione. "Of course," she whispered loudly, "That's highly logical." Giving her friend a pointed look, the older girl put in, "I'll make sure nothing comes of it, alright?"

Ginny only took a deep breath, attempting to absorb all of this disturbing information. "Why don't we just see what happens? Play it all out."

Hermione considered it for a brief moment, "But what about Dean? Won't he get annoyed at whatever Draco or Pansy might try with you?"

Her friend looked away, sadly. "We aren't exactly together anymore."

"What?" Hermione sputtered. "But just a couple of hours ago-"

"No," Ginny cut off, "We've been going at it for a while now," she said quietly, "As bad as this sounds, half the reason we even started a relationship was because I needed somebody to lean on after what had happened. Over time, I think Dean realized that and decided to officially call it quits. I don't blame him or anything, and I know we'll still be friends…it's still upsetting, though."

Instead of judging or putting her friend down, Hermione nodded in understanding. Surely if the brunette had been around or communicated with anybody so soon after the incident, she may have taken advantage of them too.

"Well, I'm still sorry to hear that, Gin," she placed a comforting hand upon the girl's slumped shoulder.

Ginny just shrugged, "It was for the best," she said truthfully, "Had I been in his shoes, I probably would have done the same thing."

Hermione really couldn't deny that, for she could relate. "I'll let you get some sleep now," she gave her friend a soft smile. "We'll do as you said," she told her as she got up, "Play this out and see where it goes."

The red-head nodded and rested her head back onto her pillow, "Should be interesting," she said.

"I'll still keep an eye out for any tricks, though," Hermione let her know.

"I know," Ginny smiled. "Night, Mione."

Making her way out of the room, her friend merely whispered, "Goodnight," before finally heading to bed.

A/N:Hey guys!

Alright, well, please let me know what you thought of this chapter.

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