Sooooooo yeah, it's been awhile since I posted a chapter. I got busy with school and then after summer started I got a job. So I'll definitely try to keep up with this. I'm so sorry that I neglected my story and I hope you all forgive me for taking so long! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and I'll try to make the next chapter even better!

Months have passed since Hermione first gave Draco the keys to the apartment. The 6 year mark since the Great Wizarding War was quickly approaching. It was a national holiday for the people of the Wizarding World and most witches and wizards took the day off to celebrate the defeat of Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately, celebrating wasn't easy for every family. Those who lost children, siblings, parents, and friends in the Great War used the day as a day of remembrance. While they celebrated the downfall of Lord Voldemort, they also celebrated, remembered and mourned the lives of those they lost.

Hermione has been secretly meeting with Draco at least twice a week trying to help him in any way she can. Sometimes she cleans the apartment, sometimes she buys him food. Hermione is in the middle of making Draco's bed when a thought came to her that she never paid much attention to. Hermione hears the shower turn off and soon turns to find Draco in the doorway of the bathroom wearing nothing more than a short, dark-green robe. The sight momentarily distracts Hermione leaving her with a sense of surprise and discomfort. She had never seen Draco after a shower and she felt as if it was somehow wrong of her. Suddenly, she remembers the thought she had before.

"Draco, I need to tell you something. It's important and I don't know why I never thought to mention it before now", Hermione shyly says trying to avoid looking at Draco.

"Spill it then, Granger. I don't have too much time. Audrey has me running some errands today."

"Well, you see, you know how I've been coming here all these months and doing whatever I can to help out?"

"Yeah? If you can't come over anymore, that's fine. I know you have the wedding to plan and Weasel must get jealous…" Draco responded. He started to feel like his happiness was being ripped away yet he had no idea why.

"Well, yes I guess I do have the wedding still, but that's not it. Ronald actually… you see, Ronald doesn't know I'm coming here twice a week. He believes I'm just running errands for work since I tend to do that quite frequently. It's kind of a…" her voice drops down to a whisper as she says the last word, "secret."

Draco feels a sense of relief knowing that Hermione isn't going to drop him like everyone else does, but the relief quickly turns into confusion.

"A secret?" Draco asks. "Why is it a secret? There's obviously nothing more going on than you helping me. Weasel wouldn't really get upset over that. At least not too upset. Keeping it a secret makes what we're doing sound sketchy… Like we're lying to everyone because we have something to hide… which we don't."

Hermione still avoids making eye contact with Draco. She can tell Draco wants more answers; it upsets Draco that their friendship has remained a secret. Still looking at her feet, Hermione quietly admits why she can't tell anyone.

"Ronald isn't the same as he used to be. He… he gets angry over a lot these days. Sometimes he'll stumble into the house late at night after spending hours at the Leaky Cauldron. I think he's just depressed or something. He lost his brother and he seems to be paranoid a lot of the time. I know he doesn't really mean to be angry and hurtful… he just reacts sometimes without thinking."

Worry overcomes Draco as he hears Hermione speak. He never thought he'd be worried about a mudblood, but for some reason he is afraid for her. "Does Ron… does Ron hurt you? I swear if he is hurting you I'll go after his ass. Was that bruise on your face a few months back because of him? If I ever see that Weasel ass of his I swear I'll…" Draco yells.

"No, please! Please, Draco, just forget I said any of this. I just wanted you to know we can't tell anyone."

Silence surrounds the pair for what seems like hours but really is only a couple minutes. Draco shifts his body as he remembers the errands he was supposed to run. The entire conversation has put an edge on Draco and he doesn't like how worked up he's getting. He tells himself he only cares because she's been helping him out a lot, but deep down he knows that there is far more to it than that. He cares about her because he has a friendship with her. It may be a secret friendship, but a friendship nonetheless that he would have never dreamed of a year ago.

Hermione stands still as she watches Draco pull a clean outfit out of his dresser. The air between them has become tense and she wants to mend it if she can. "Draco… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward. Anyway, you know the anniversary of the war is coming up right? A bunch of us are getting together to celebrate and to remember the lost lives… I'd be thrilled if you'd come. I know you probably don't have anything else to do. It's this Sunday."

"Granger, didn't you just say that I'm your secret. Wouldn't me going to this celebration just give the secret away? I don't think I can do that." Draco continues putting his clothes on ignoring the fact that Hermione is blushing and feels uncomfortable.

"Not really! Not if I just say I ran into you on one of my errands and invited you to come! Afterall you are living in the Weasley-owned apartment. It'd be terrible not to invite you!" Hermione feels proud of herself for coming up with a seemingly flawless idea.

"Ugh, fine I suppose I can try to stop by. No guarantees though. Wouldn't want to start a fight" Draco says. Inside he knows that if he had the proof that Ron was an abusive drunk, a fist would be shot straight into Ron's face.

Draco heads towards the door and waves back to Hermione as he leaves. Alone once more, Hermione begins to smile. She hasn't felt so happy in a while and knowing that Draco might come to the party makes her thrilled. Forgetting about Ron, she dances around the apartment cleaning everything in sight before collapsing on Draco's bed and dreaming of Sunday when everyone will be together happily, or so she naively thought.