Draco had run up the stairs and ended up on his bed, on top of the covers, staring blankly at the ceiling. He'd forgotten to lock the door though and Blaise came in and silently sat at the edge of the bed only a moment after. They stayed silent until a muffled crack resounded above their head. Draco finally shot him a glare:

"You're a wanker."

"You could have joked. She wouldn't have …"

"No. I …" He rubbed his face in both hands and sighed. What was the point in keeping it to himself? Blaise, except maybe when he was making reckless jokes, was his best and probably only friend. Plus Draco was sick of overthinking it all.

"I was about to kiss her when Brown came in."

"Oh! Good!"

"No, I shouldn't have."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because she was crying in my arms about ten seconds before! It was in the moment, I don't think she really understood what …" The words died in his mouth as he realised he'd almost taken advantage of her. She'd been a crying mess twice that day, he'd comforted her and she'd probably smiled at him in gratitude. He'd misinterpreted the situation for sure. Seeing how Potter had hugged her and pecked her forehead easily she'd probably expected him to do the same. He was such an idiot.

"Mate, she knows." Draco blinked. Blaise was attentively watching his knuckles, his face guilty as shit. What the hell was he talking about? What did she know? Draco sat up on the bed, his voice apparently absent. Blaise rolled his eyes and sighed: "She knows you like her." Draco felt his face blanch as the blood drained out of it. Panic took him next. She knew? How? Had he …

"YOU told HER?" His friend lifted his hands in defence, and justified:

"Blondie told her she thought so, after you went to Mungo's. I … I told her I thought so too after the funeral."

"Why would you do that?!"

"Because you weren't going to! Even Potter saw something was off between you two!"

"So she was right, you decided to poke your dirty nose where it didn't belong."

"Exactly. And you know what? I'm glad. You haven't seen her face when I told her that you couldn't bear being her friend. She was about to faint until I said it was because you wanted more. She was relieved mate."

"What are you …"

"You have a shot Draco. I'm certain you do." Draco lost his angry tone at those words. How could he know? It was just impossible … "You said you were about to kiss her?"

"Yes."

"Did she push you away?"

"No but … "

"But what? Mate she knows! If she hadn't wanted you to kiss her she'd … Draco she would have set you on fire …" Right. With the day's events, and the intensity in which she'd been emotional Draco had almost forgotten. It was Granger, she'd set the Lestrange hiding on fire, killed Flint in the process, fought back Macnair on her own until he'd been arrested, resisted Bellatrix' curses at seventeen, she'd also helped the two idiots take down Voldemort. Damn. She might have been on edge recently, but she was still not one to let things happen if she had no wish for them to. Crying mess or not, she had to have seen what he'd been about to do, she couldn't just think he'd be a slimy hugging friend as the scarred goggled idiot and his purple henchman were.

"You think … you really think …"

"Yes! And man I'm the best friend ever! It's all thanks to me. Next time kiss her senseless and stop being so grumpy all the time it's annoying."

"I don't need advices from a guy who's afraid to make a move. I made mine, I was just interrupted."

"Well speaking of that …"

"All right, let me summarize." Said Lavender, lifting a finger to keep count of the issues. They'd ended up lying on Hermione's bed, atop the covers, Hermione's head resting on her shoulder, and her hand tightly wrapped in Lavender's. "You feel like shit because you have nightmares practically every night." Hermione hummed in response. "You can't walk properly and that cane is annoying. Your parents are finally getting treatment, and you feel guilty as shit. You don't know where to live later, nor what job to take but Blaise might have had a brilliant idea for a career right? And finally you think you like the ferret too, he's hugged you twice today, and you were about to let him kiss you when I came in like an interrupting idiot."

"That sums it up yes."

"All right. Easy fix Mione. Tomorrow night we'll talk things through, it'll help with the nightmares, and even if you still have some, I swear with time and if you talk about it they'll go. I've had my share you know."

"I know."

"Next, your leg is healing and I just want to point out that your cane is missing."

Hermione blinked. The cane had burnt too.

"Oh."

"You were obviously in pain earlier but you stood right away and took a few steps to Ginny quite easily …"

"Shit I didn't even notice …" Lavender winked and went back to her list of solutions.

"All right, then, as for your parents all I can say is that you'll talk it through with them, they're your parents, even if they don't understand they'll try, it's going to be all right."

"I …"

"You'll think about it when the time comes Mione. Next week, and I'll stay with you."

"Thanks …"

"Welcome, then, you should keep doing your researches, and announce that you quit, so if you can't find a way to pass on wards you'll still have other options."

"I will find a way. There's one I'm certain."

"Then it's not an issue, future ward maker. Plus, you can move in with me when you start working, I have the extra bedroom and I'm never home, problem solved. And I'd very much enjoy the company."

"I don't know Lavender I can't depend on …"

"Look, I'll need you as much as you'll need me. You won't be able to afford a place of your own right away and frankly I don't see you living with Ginny …"

"You're right. Okay, but I'll pay …"

"We'll sort this out. Don't worry." She winked and gave Hermione a reassuring smile.

"Thank you …"

"No need, it's a win-win. Plus, I'll keep you updated on our work and you can still come as a consultant!"

"That's actually brilliant."

"I know. I am brilliant." They both chuckled as Lavender playfully lifted her chin in pride. It didn't last long, as next her smile morphed into a smirk. "Then the best … you like the ferret." There was no other way to put it. Hermione had tried but it all came down to that, she liked him, she wanted more with him than simply being friends, her annoyance and disappointment when Lavender had interrupted them were proof enough.

"I think so."

"He likes you too."

"Right."

"Then how is that a bloody issue?"

"Err …" Hermione had no response to that question. Lavender made a point.

"Right. Next time you kiss him first."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It is, if the feeling's mutual it'll just happen."

"Then why haven't you made your move with Blaise?" Hermione challenged.

"I did. But are we done with you first? You put the kitchen on fire, I want to be sure it won't happen again."

"I'm sorry but … I've always been a bit of a pyromaniac. I don't control it." And it was partially true. Maybe she shouldn't have used the word pyromaniac though, it felt a bit all too real and Lavender seemed to have taken it seriously, as if there was no doubt Hermione was.

"Err … we'll try and spare your feelings then." Or Hermione would have to learn how to control her temper.

"Right, so? Blaise?" Lavender's gaze swept over their joined hands and she squeezed Hermione's with a small smile before saying:

"We snogged."

"Shit! When?"

"At work. In Harry's office actually."

"No way!"

"And then I realised it would be serious with her, wouldn't be just a careless shag."

"You didn't tell her that right?"

"Err … not then, I ran off the room."

"What the fuck Blaise …" Draco couldn't believe his ears. The bachelor, Zabini of name, had run away from the woman he wanted. The world was upside down.

"I know it was stupid. But she caught me anyway and we talked …"

"About what? You being a moron?"

"Exactly. She called me quite a few names and it angered me. But now I'm sure she did it on purpose, she knew I'd spill it out. So, I told her I'd panicked."

"And?"

"And she said I was a chicken and we snogged again, in the meeting room this time."

"I'm never working in there again." Said Draco, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"Good leave it to us, the table's big enough to …"

"Shut up! So, you two are a thing then?"

"No."

"Eh?"

"We talked, and we decided it wouldn't be anything more than mindless flirting until I've sorted through my issues."

"Which are? Besides your drinking habit?"

"Very funny. I need to decide if I want something serious with her, she's made it clear she won't be a simple shag so … and Granger was right, I have a few things to say tomorrow."

"Err … me too. Why don't you go for it with her?"

"I don't know … Because I'm only twenty-two years old? Because I'm newly an auror and work with her everyday? Because I don't have a family and am nowhere near ready to start one?"

Draco had a flash of Hermione then, a little him with frizzy hair in her arms. He shook the thought away quickly as it was disturbing at every level.

"You seriously thought about all that?" Draco hadn't for sure.

"Well I have to. She wants something serious and I have no idea how to do that."

"Committing to one single woman isn't that hard mate."

"I suppose but …" He sighed. Draco hadn't thought this far. And he didn't see why he would. He tried to explain to Blaise:

"Look, it might not even work. If it does you'll sort through things together but if it doesn't then who cares?"

"I don't know …"

"You just lectured me about giving it a try. Why don't you follow your own fucking advices?"

"Because I'm a moron."

"Good thing you see it."

"So now you wait for him to decide?"

"I guess. It's not like I have anyone else and I really like him."

"I know. He'll come around, I'm certain he likes you too."

"We'll see." They stayed silent after that, each of them thinking. Hermione wondered why everything always looked so complicated when she thought about it alone, and so simple when Lavender was around. Maybe it was why Lavender had always had more girlfriends than she. To sort through her feelings probably. It was comforting and she felt safe sharing, receiving and giving advices in return. She'd never been able to speak about those things with Harry and Ron.
Both boys had been surrogate brothers, which excluded the feelings talks, and then it had gotten more complicated when Ron had become more. She had never been able to talk about it with Ginny either, as he was her brother and Hermione had always felt odd confiding in her about him.

Now she was snuggled up against Lavender, her head still resting on her shoulder as Lavender was toying with the tip of her fingers. Hermione realised she'd never been this close to anyone else in her entire life. Being best friends with boys, even if Harry and Ron had never been reluctant to give her comforting hugs or words, had always excluded such a purely platonic intimacy.

"I'm glad we talked." She told Lavender quietly.

"I'm glad too. You know I don't really have anyone to talk about these things. I could never branch the subject with Dean …"

"Imagine me talking about it with Ron …" She said and then gasped. "Oh by Godric's beard Ron!"

"Shit, I didn't think about him."

"He's going to kill someone." Panicked Hermione.

"I bet on Malfoy." Smirked Lavender.

"It's not funny!"

"But it is! Cause he'll loose!" She extolled, shuffling on the bed to face Hermione.

"You're being mean! Weren't you there when he learned we talked on the parchment?"

"You mean the day he called you a slut? He has no right to take this wrong Mione. If he does I'll take care of him myself."

"No you won't! He's my best friend."

"Exactly. So he will take this like a man and respect your choices." Like that was possible.

"Don't you know him?" Hermione snorted incredulously.

"Right, then it will be fun to watch. I can't wait to see the ferret beat the shit out of him." Hermione was about to protest again when something felt illogically more important to point out.

"You really think Draco would beat him?"

"Yes. When Ron's angry he's lame. Blaise saved his arse twice when Malfoy tapped the coin to say you were at Mungo's."

"Oh."

"Yep, bet's on Malfoy."

"Stop joking, I don't want them to fight and we're not there anyway. There's nothing between us."

"Yet." She winked.

"Right, yet." They smiled fondly at one another and then Lavender's mouth twisted.

"Would you mind if I slept here?" She asked. Hermione realised Lavender too had more issues than she let show. Surely Blaise wasn't reason enough for her to need the comfort of her friend through the night.

"Have nightmares too?"

"Depends." Hermione gave her a compassionate smile and tugged at the covers.

"Let's try not to then." She said but her response to Lavender's grin was cut short by Harry's stag patronus.

Ginny's calmed down, I had to tell her things would be public next week. She made me promise that we'd talk to her. The three of us. I'll be there tomorrow night, have fun with your pet wolf, love you.

Lavender snorted and muttered "Pet wolf, who does he think he is?" And then she frowned: "Does he always tells you he loves you like that?"

"Only when I'm upset. He has no idea how to react to upset. It's his only way to help."

"He must have told Ginny about a thousand times then." She mocked with a stifled laugh. They both chuckled.

"Does Ron …"

"Err not since we broke up. Would be too weird."

"Right. Imagine him doing like Harry did earlier in front of Malfoy though. A little hug, a peck, and a love confession. I'd love to see the ferret's face!"

"Still not funny Lavender. Why do you want them to kill each other?"

"Would be fun to watch. And it might happen actually."

"No it won't." Stated Hermione firmly.

"Shame." She pouted. Hermione sighed:

"Blaise has no idea what he's getting into."

"Oh no, he doesn't." She smirked.

Ronald Weasley was many unflattering things, but he was not stupid, thank you very much.

Trying to speak one-on-one with the obnoxious ferret, constantly failed. Said blond wasn't stupid either, and had politely but decidedly declined every invitation Ron had sent his way. Ron would consider himself relieved if only he hadn't had something to tell to the too skinny abomination. But said abomination probably sensed that the conversation wouldn't be pleasant. After all, they couldn't stand the other.

While Harry kept being as evasive and blurry about it as possible, probably to spare his feelings, Zabini and Lavender hadn't been so subtle, Neville and his quick suspicious glances neither, and even Dean! Dean had seemed to know something was off too.

While Ron seriously doubted anything had happened between his beloved best friend plus ex-girlfriend and the slimy ferret, he had no doubt it would soon happen.

The first hint he'd gotten had been when she'd fiercely taken his defence before their intervention, and his initial and regretted first reaction had been to feel betrayed and hurt when he'd had no right to, hence why he'd apologised.

Then, he'd noticed the smiles during their camp night and the not-so-discreet parchment exchanges later, when they'd been away from the ferret. Hermione would pretext exchanging informations, which she surely had done, but her smile and stifled chuckles in the middle of the afternoon when he'd tried to sleep had not been lost to his attention.

Then of course, even if he hadn't witnessed it, the git almost beating Lee up to get to her, and then saving her life in the peril of his, had only proved that he, if not her, cared enough to die for her.

Ron had realised then and been, atop the monstrous worry for Hermione, the most angry he'd ever been in his entire life.

His secret laid in the fact that he'd overcome his anger on the first day Hermione had spent unconscious, and decided to talk with the ferret, and possibly thank him despite the misplaced feeling of betrayal. He'd saved her life for Godric's sake, he'd deserved at least a word. Plus Ron hadn't been able to bear with the sitting at her bedside any longer, his nerves breaking each second the more, so he'd decided to go to the ferret's room. He'd never made it inside though, as what he'd heard from the ajar door had froze him.

Someone, a male, was definitely crying in his hands.

"Come on mate she's going to be all right."

"Haven't you seen her? She's dead! I was too late! I was fucking too late … Fuck Blaise I let her die in there!"

"She's not dead! Lovegood said she hoped …"

"Hope is bullshit! When they hope they fucking don't know! She'll never wake up!"

His voice broke and he started sobbing.

Ron couldn't believe his ears. The pretentious and high rank Draco Malfoy, bully and, even if not so unpleasant lately, monstrous git, was crying over Hermione's well-being. His pride vanished, his manhood lost for the moment.

Ron had never thought it possible for Malfoy to feel anything more than contempt, and hearing him cry his heart out over her, broke something within him. He turned around and went back to her bedside.

After that he'd come back a few hours after to thank him, and had known that his swollen eyes had had nothing to do with the smoke he'd been into to save her. He'd known when he'd mentioned her name that the man's heart bled, even if his cold façade had remained intact. He'd noticed his shoulder tense, the hurt in his eyes, and he'd seen his jaw clench as he'd nodded in response.

Ron had known then.

He'd also chosen to ignore it. He'd thought Hermione would never return such feelings, that she'd probably liked him as a friend and that it was all.

But later, after the blond had come to see her once, and started making up whatever excuse not to take his turns at her bedside, Ron had realised something else.

Hermione, his dear Hermione, was pained, and hurt that Malfoy wasn't around.

Ron had decidedly stayed out of it then, not trusting himself, as even if he could see it happen right under his eyes, the very thought still turned him red.

But then, he'd seen the worry on the git's face the precedent morning, he'd seen him come back still worried, he'd seen him run out his office like a madman around six in the afternoon, his seemingly blank parchment in hand, and he'd realised she'd called for him, when Ron himself hadn't heard from her at all.

So, after breaking angrily every glass object he'd found in his office, storming out of the Ministry and walking like a muggle down the streets, he'd calmed down. If something was really happening between them, truth was it wasn't any of his business. It would have been if Malfoy had still behaved like a monstrous bully, or still been a death eater but if something was real, it was that she'd been right and Malfoy had changed. He was a good man. The very thought had twisted Ron's stomach until he'd thought he'd be sick.

The ferret was a good man, and he genuinely liked Hermione, to the point of risking his life for her. She deserved someone like that. And she was enough of a woman to make her own decisions. If he was honest with himself, Ron knew that things had and would never work between Hermione and he, they were too different. It pained him to admit that the ferret had more in common with her.

So this, this disturbing thing was happening, and the grown up thing to do, for her, was to acknowledge it before they thought of him as an issue. He could feel jealous all he wanted, Hermione would only hate him if he tried to interfere.

And seeing that even Harry was trying to spare his feelings, expressing his anger would only result in her hating him, and Harry, always the reasonable one, would surely side with her.

Ron didn't want to loose her so he'd talk to the blond whether he wanted it or not.

If he had to accept this, it wouldn't be without a warning.

Draco went to work the next morning, his ideas a bit clearer, and his hopes a bit too high for him to feel comfortable with. Being hopeful had never been on his book, and the sudden change in the constant worry, which had overtaken the previous constant anger when he'd realised he cared about her, felt too good to last. Hoping she'd fall for him, possibly as hard as he'd fallen for her, just proved he'd lost it.

It just couldn't be and the main reason it was too good to be true was that it could make him happy.

Yes, Draco had finally lost all sense of reason, first because he was in love with Hermione Granger – and chances were that the book-worm at least fancied him a bit too - and second because the very thought made his belly jump with anticipation and joy.

It was over, he was crazy. But, as disturbing as it was, he didn't give a damn, he just hoped that the next time he tried something, she'd wrap her arms around him and never let go. Even if it happened only once. Surely the weasel would play a great part in ruining it all before it really started.

Speaking of which, the red but recently civil git had just stopped by his desk:

"Malfoy? You comin'?" Draco cocked an eyebrow, certainly he'd stopped at the wrong desk.

"Where?"

"To Grimmaud. It's seven thirty, we're all going."

"Ah." Draco nodded, grabbed his cloak and a few notes, then stood to go. He was surprised to see that redface was still there, apparently waiting for him. The nickname made perfect sense at that moment, as the idiot seemed in intense thinking, an ugly crimson patch spreading at the back of his neck. Draco ignored him and passed him, pacing to the lift.

Of course Weasley shared said lift. The sight of him, obviously trying to formulate something, opening and closing his mouth like a carp out of water, would have usually made Draco smirk mirthfully, but it wasn't the case right then. His hesitation wasn't a good sign, possibly a sign that what he had to say would not please Draco. What was it that could put him in this state? He'd hesitated less to apologise. Draco's middle name, patience as Hermione had baptised him, resurfaced.

"What the fuck is it Weasley?"

"No need to be vulgar." He scowled. "Lee's going to be there tonight." Weasley's neck turned entirely red but he cocked his head and examined Draco attentively.

"And?"

"And with what you did to him I hope you have a few words to say tonight." He answered frowning.

"Mind your own business weasel."

"I would ferret. It's just that I found myself incomprehensibly defending you to him and I hope you won't make me look like a fool by being a git."

"I couldn't care less about what you look like." Was Draco's quick answer. Old habits died hard, but Draco had heard. The weasel had defended him.

"That I know." Weasley answered and chuckled. It felt odd. The conversation was almost friendly. Draco decided to tell the truth then.

"I will apologise." Weasley nodded and then the friendliness vanished from his face, his stare serious as he asked:

"Why did you do it?"

"What?"

"Why did you … force him? Why didn't you follow protocol?" The words seemed to disgust him.

"Why do you care? I saved you little book-worm you should be thankful." Again a too quick answer. His defence mechanisms were intact when the weasel was concerned.

"I am. Why?" Draco didn't get time to sneer something hurtful to change the subject. He was cornered, the lift had landed in the atrium but the weasel was blocking the door. Half a second was sufficient for Weasley to realise that Draco was about to bluff his way out of the conversation. The Gryffindor smirked.

"Right." Then his smile vanished, his brows joined, and his stare became angry. Shit. "I have something to say Malfoy and you are going to listen very carefully. If you repeat one word to her I will kill you, and you should know that I, too, know many ways you've never heard of." His tone was deadly flat and Draco felt a sudden bout of hate take over.

"Who the hell …"

"No, no misplaced pride. This is just a warning and then I'll never branch the subject ever again."

Draco stayed silent, curious but raging that the git thought he could warn him. Like Draco couldn't beat him his eyes closed.

"I swear on my entire family Malfoy, that if you hurt her, in any way possible, if I happen to see a single tear from her because of you, you'll die. In the most painful way you can imagine. I would die for her too, keep that in mind."

Had he just … ? How the fuck had he known? When nothing had happened! Nothing! How? When Draco had decided to just ask, Weasley was already gone. The only certainty about this warning was that Weasley was sincere, he'd kill him. Or try to anyway.