Chapter 20 – Good To Us

May 27, 2001

"Come on! I don't want to keep them waiting!"

I'm standing at the fireplace waiting for Draco to finally be ready. Why did he have to look his absolute best tonight? I honestly have no idea. We're simply going to Harry and Ginny's place for dinner.

"I'm coming! Just one more minute!" He calls from down the hall.

I sigh. Everyone thinks it's me who makes us late, but he must look perfect all the time. I didn't notice it at the Manor, but we had a lot of our own space there. I never realized how annoying it could be to live with a person who is so focused on their appearance. It's funny how certain things never really change.

"Alright, how do I look?" he asks, waltzing down the hall to give me a kiss.

"Fabulous," I reply sarcastically.

"Hermione, I'm being serious. It's a big night," he scolds.

"Right, your announcement. You look very handsome. I just don't understand why it's such a big deal. They're only friends," I tell him.

"Your friends," he clarifies.

"That's how you choose to see it. I know that you know it's absolute rubbish. That childhood rivalry is long gone. You're both different people now. You both also refuse to accept that you've become friends," I say.

"Acquaintances. I will compromise with acquaintances."

I roll my eyes. "Come on."

Grabbing a handful of floo powder, I step into the fireplace and throw it down at my feet. I still don't particularly enjoy the strange stretching and twisting sensation of going through the Floo network. In fact, wizard travel in general has never sat well with me.

I brush off the excess dust that has clung to my clothing and step out into Grimmauld Place.

"Hermione!" Harry calls and I am suddenly drawn into a tight hug.

He pulls away and I see Ginny standing a little ways behind him.

"Always good to see you," she says, a smile on her face.

Things are still a bit tense between us, but getting better. She's continuing to deal with the fallout of what happened with her own family and facing how wrong she was in her judgement of me. I forgave her a long time ago, but she struggles with letting it all go.

I hear Draco floo in behind me and Harry greets him with a genuine smile and a welcome hug.

"Friends." I mouth the word to Draco.

"Those two are ridiculous," Ginny says quietly.

"I know; they are so adamant that they aren't friends."

"Old habits I guess," she responds.

We watch as the two men greet each other happily, marching off into the next room and leaving us girls behind.

"You need any help in the kitchen?" I ask Ginny.

She seems hesitant.

"Really, Ginny. What can I do?" I repeat.

"I guess you could set the table," she replies, and I smile.

I can tell she wants to ask something as we move into the kitchen and I hate that she won't. She doesn't want to just pretend everything is okay. What she doesn't understand is that it already is.

"Ginny, just please ask. I know that look," I say.

She pauses another moment, contemplating her words.

"Have you considered what comes next?" Ginny finally inquires as I begin levitating the plates towards the table. It seems like she's trying to bring our friendship back to normal, but still sounds a bit unsure about the intimate question she's asking. "I mean, you and Malfoy seem to be getting on quite well and all . . ."

"I have," I admit. "Just not sure I'm ready yet. Don't really like making permanent decisions."

"If I could give you some advice," she pauses again, takes a breath, and continues when nod my head. "Stop thinking so much. Sometimes, you just know," she tells me far too timidly for my liking. "What do you feel?"

"Everything. Literally, everything," I respond.

"Oh, that bond thing, right? Still not sure how that whole thing works."

"It's confusing, because I can feel how right we are, the love we share, but also the frustration, the annoyance. One moment I know he's the one and the next I'm questioning everything."

"To be perfectly honest, marriage isn't everything I thought it would be. Sure, there are some times that are absolutely amazing, but there's also a lot of shite you have to deal with." Ginny takes another breath. "What I'm saying is; the frustration, annoyance, anger, is something that goes along with tying your soul to another human being. Love is what keeps you pushing on together."

I stand there in silence, letting her words sink in. Wizard marriage bonds are broken only through death, and then still, a remnant clings to the soul. The thought terrifies me. On the other hand, even though they aren't always done anymore and I know Draco would never force me to add another unbreakable bond between us, there is also a hint of unrestrained excitement that follows the fear of the idea.

"I'm sorry if this is getting too personal-" she starts, but I interrupt.

"Nonsense. This is what I've been waiting for. It's about time you realized that I've put everything that happened between us behind me and you should too. This is the exact type of conversation we need to be having. I can't really talk to Harry about these things, it would seem strange. I need you back, Ginny," I tell her with a smile, pulling her into a hug.

I feel her arms tighten around me and it takes a moment to realize she's crying.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers.

"It's alright, Ginny. It's alright," I assure her.


By the time dinner is ready and everyone is sitting around the table, Ginny and I are a half giggling, half crying mess.

"Is everything alright here?" Draco asks, gesturing between the two of us.

"Everything is perfect," I reply, wiping the last of the moisture from my face and taking my place beside him.

"Good to hear?" Harry is very confused.

"Very good," Ginny tells him. "Now, let's eat."

I nudge Draco's leg under the table as I load a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes onto my plate.

"Not yet," he mutters.

I have to admit, I'm pretty excited for him. It's a big deal and I want him to know that there are others who are happy for him as well. I don't really understand why he is so nervous about saying it out loud when it's such a good thing.

I nudge him again and he completely ignores me, carrying on with his conversation about the latest Quidditch match with Harry. I roll my eyes and nudge him again with the toe of my shoe.

Draco looks at me like I'm insane before sighing.

"Fine," he agrees.

"What's going on over there?" Ginny asks from across the table.

"Draco has some very exciting news," I coax.

He clears his throat.

"It's really not that big of a deal," he says quietly.

"Of course it is," I assure him.

"I got a potions apprenticeship," Draco announces.

"That's so great!" Ginny exclaims.

"Good for you," Harry agrees with a smile.

It may not seem like much, but that apprenticeship is really a new start for Draco. It took a lot of time, effort and a terrible amount of stress for someone to accept a Malfoy into a program of any kind. Even the fact that it happened within these couple of months is amazing, and he was applying practically everywhere.

I made sure the media got it right about him after what happened. Kingsley even agreed to make a statement. But even though the world now knows about how Draco and Harry worked together to save me, it was still difficult to separate his new image from that of his family.

This apprenticeship is a start.

"You must be so thrilled!" Ginny says.

"I am. Honestly, it's what I've always wanted to do with my life," Draco admits.

"Well, it's definitely not what I saw Draco Malfoy doing," Harry shrugs. "I thought that slithering prick would end up in the ministry, a political snake. But, things change I guess."

"Wasn't the nicest child, was I? Just did like my father. Unfortunately, he wasn't the best of role models," Draco explains. "Potions is the one thing that's always brought me joy."

"I'm so happy for you," I tell him with a huge smile, giving his arm a slight squeeze.

"In that case, I propose a toast," Harry says, summoning the whiskey and pouring four glasses. "To Malfoy and his apprenticeship."

"To a new beginning," I add, raising my glass.


Author's Note:

So, there are a few things that I'm not quite sure about in this chapter, but it will have to do. This is the second story I've ever finished, so I have a tendency to not think it is ended well enough. I think the part with Ginny was a bit awkward, but at that moment, their relationship is a bit awkward. They both wanted to be friends again, but Ginny kept thinking of the past and everything that happened. It took real communication between the two of them for things to start their friendship back on track.

If you have any feedback on how I can improve my endings, I would love to hear it. (Not saying I wouldn't also love to hear about if you liked it ;P)

This is the end of my story.

That is, unless people keep telling me to write more.

But as of now, it's done!

I know there are some open parts, but I hope it wrapped up most things.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me through this story. I had a few constant reviewers who made this whole journey amazing. You made me stick with it and grow in my writing. Thank-you so much for taking the time to leave me some thoughts! You have no idea how much that has meant to me.

Thanks you to everyone who has read, followed/favorited, and reviewed!