Chapter Sixteen: Singularity

Normalcy was something that most people do not aim for. They wish to be heroic, successful, happy, and unusual. Many people live their lives without achieving anything of newsworthy importance, but they are happy without these things. Deep down, though, everyone has had the dream of being the knight in shining armor, the brilliantly successful inventor, the action hero, or even the princess who lives happily ever after.

Not Draco. Draco wanted a normal life. He wanted to be able to be content, without any worries, just like the many little muggles who ran by St. Mungo's without a care but their shopping of the day. Draco wanted peace, not heroics.

And one day, when he was tidying up the ward, he looked at Hermione's sleeping face and started to admit to himself that he wanted peace with her.

Of course, before he could do that, Pansy walked into the room, and Draco nearly dropped his wand.

"Pansy?"

She clicked into the room on high heels, her forehead wrinkled in what might have been puzzlement.

"Draco, what are you doing here?"

She stopped just short of him, looking up into his face with a sort of placid curiosity that unsettled him. He didn't understand the question, really.

"I'm doing my job," he said, and though he really didn't want to know why she was here, asked: "And what are you doing here?"

She did a very good job of demurely looking at her shoes. "I heard you were here. I didn't know you were-" -her nose wrinkled- "-working. Are the Malfoy fortunes that low?"

"No," he said, gently. "I'm here because I want to be."

It took Pansy a moment to comprehend this fully.

She got the concept rather quickly, which surprised Draco to no end. Pansy wasn't stupid, but she was a pampered pureblood through and through, and she didn't see how things could be otherwise.

He watched disbelief, shock, hope, puzzlement, and finally acceptance cross her face before she perfectly composed herself and straightened her spine.

She'd come a long way, he mused. Pansy was never this refined, or in control, when she was in school.

Then again, he'd come a long way as well. It was a sobering thought.

"So… you don't want things to be like they were, do you?" It wasn't really a question.

Draco put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm okay now, Pans," he said, deliberately using her old nickname so that she would relax. "I have a lot on my mind. I need this."

She remained stiff for a moment, and then leaned in for a hug.

"Okay, Drake," she muttered, with her face pressed into his shirt. "Okay."

She left with the same impeccable posture, and the same regal bearing, but with his promise to owl her and maybe come over for tea.

Pansy had looked over at Hermione in the bed nearby before she'd left, and to Draco's surprise, the look hadn't been full of hate. It wasn't full of the desire to be friends, either, but she looked… remorseful. She'd even whispered something to Hermione when she left, something that had looked like "I'm sorry."

Pansy had surprised him. People really did change, he thought. She wasn't a muggle-lover, but she wasn't her old self, either. It was startling.

Was this how people felt when they looked at him, now?

Hermione stirred and roused him out of his musings. When her eyes opened, he was standing at the side of her bed with his hands on his hips.

"You've been awake for the last twenty minutes," Draco announced. "I know you, o nosy one."

She grinned, a little ruefully.

Draco went home that night, partially because Hermione was basically cured, and partially because he'd received an owl from Narcissa that stated "If you don't come home soon, I will come there and forcibly remove you from her bedside."

Because he didn't feel up to explaining such a spectacle to the rest of the healers, home he went.

His home had been taken over by a bunch of Weasleys!

Draco fled to his room under the pretense of making himself look respectable, locked the door, and stopped the panic attack which had been about to happen. So this was why his mother had lured him home. To continue fraternizing with the Weasleys.

He ran his fingers through his hair, torn between wanting to go see if George was there, and hiding under his bed until it was over.

Knock, knock.

"AAAH!"

It was, in fact, Mrs. Weasley, who swept into Draco's room with an air of belonging there, and crushing him in a giant hug.

"Draco! I can't thank you enough for all you've done for our family." She said, squeezing him until his face turned blue.

He let it happen. Molly Weasley was just so… comforting.

"It was nothing," he mumbled. "I would do it again."

Which, of course, made her hug him so tightly that the remaining air was pushed from his lungs.

Once he'd made it downstairs (alive), he thought he was completely ready to be overwhelmed by Weasleys. Of course, that is never truly possible.

There was a banner in place, strung up below the chandelier, proclaiming in loud purple letters "THANK YOU DRACO!" and there were streamers strewn all over the place. Mostly green and silver, he noted with the remnants of his Slytherin pride.

The detail that really hit him, however, was Hermione, sitting delicately on a chair in the middle of the dining room.

And just like that, he was overwhelmed.

He tried to casually discover how she'd left the hospital so quickly, but to no avail. He was swept up in a happy group of Weasleys, so pleased that he was their friend, so pleased that he had changed.

It was an interesting thought. He contrasted someone like George Weasley to Pansy, and was surprised to find that they were equally important to him, if George didn't have the greater claim.

This was so disconcerting that Draco had to sit down.

Of course, he wasn't sitting down for long.

George enlisted him to play a prank on the entire crowd, and Draco went along with it, filled with glee.

They worked perfectly together. Draco knew all the right places to put the fuses, and George snuck around, nonchalantly putting the pieces in place, as Draco distracted the Weasley clan. When that was ready, Draco snuck out of the room, met George in the front hall, and between unmanly giggles, they said the incantation.

There were several loud POPs, and some shrieking and laughter as the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Tickling Balloons inflated and attacked the crowd.

"GEORGE WEASLEY!"

They crowed, and ran away from the avenging fists of Molly Weasley.

Hermione had been laughing so hard she fell off her chair, and Draco was inordinately pleased at the sight. It was satisfying to know that he was the one who had caused a smile on her face, and put those roses in her cheeks.

The thought that his father would be greatly disapproving of the company he was keeping now made him even more determined to be sociable. The knowledge that his mother did approve was even more heartening.

Once they'd all left, (and Draco was sad to see them go), Draco told his mother about Pansy's visit to St. Mungo's. Narcissa appraised him, and once she'd determined that he wasn't upset about it, said slowly:

"Take her up on tea, Draco. I think you could be a good influence on her."

And then, of course, she had to add:

"You don't have to worry- I'm not going to arrange your marriage!"

It was rather odd, he thought, that he could be considered to be a good influence on anyone. But he was sure that he could get used to the idea.

A/N:

Hello again. I'm sorry it's been so long- life has been busy. Plus, I am attempting to do NaNoWriMo, so forgive me for neglecting Draco.

I do not, once again, own Draco. How very, very sad.

To my reviewers:

Fulgance: Thank you very much. That's a remarkable choice- I agree. When there's something I read which I thought was brilliant, and I tell someone to read it, I like to watch their faces as well. There's something magical about watching someone discover good literature. Thanks again for your continual reviews :D

The Silvermoon Wolf: Thank you! I really enjoyed writing it. Fluff is just plain fun. Yeah, I know, but Narcissa wiggling her eyebrows was just so amusing that I couldn't resist.

Pug1998: Thanks so much! :)

Llamagirl/Stardrop5: Yes, I am perfectionista, as you say. Just a busy one. So here's a chapter for you to read xD. Thank you.

KodeV: If your mother resembles my Narcissa, she must be awesome. Yes, I think Draco is really gaining emotional depth (gasp! A Slytherin with emotional depth?) and as a result, his interactions with others are going to get a lot more fulfilling. Thanks so much for the in-depth review! :)

Lady In Red: Thank you! I am so pleased to hear that it's making you laugh. :D

Ice-Kitsune-317: Haha, I try to update…. But here's another chapter, so hopefully it makes up for it.

Silverbellekait: Sorry it's taken so long! Hopefully, this chapter is just as good. Thank you!

Fletchling: Update… now! Thank you :)

Wow… there are so many reviews! Thank you all so much for your support and for following the story.

-Isefyr