The street is dark as Harry steps out of the front door. Streetlamps light the empty pavement as he pulls his coat tighter against the bitingly cold air. These quiet roads are deserted, apart from the occasional car, headlights shining bright. 6 am is an ungodly time to be up, especially in late November. Wading through piles of leaves, Harry crosses the road, heading towards the glowing Underground sign on the corner. Descending the flights of stairs, Harry enters the network of tunnels running under England's capital. Air whooshes along the passages, chasing Harry as he passes through the turnstiles and walks onto the dark Eastbound platform, lit in areas by the occasional yellow overhead light. The platform is bare, the only other people stiff, suited businessmen with briefcases, waiting for the arrival of the train. There's an echoing screech and a deafening clackety-clack as the train pulls into view. Stepping through the sliding doors into the carriage, he pulls out his phone, surprised to see a text waiting from an unknown number.

Got your number from Hermione. Wanted to know if you're free on Friday.

Harry reads it, confused. Suddenly, his phone pings with a new message.

Oh, by the way it's Malfoy.

Harry grins, quickly tapping out a reply.

Draco?

You still haven't answered my question, Harry.

Harry smiles, enjoying the change from harsh surnames to softer, informal first names.

I am free on Friday. Why?

That's for me to know and you to find out. Meet you at 7 at Sofya's.

That's a plan. Have a good day.

Harry bites his lip, waiting for Draco's reply. What if that last sentence was too friendly, too domestic? Draco's reply doesn't come and soon the train is screeching to a halt at Harry's stop. Jogging up the stairs, he enters out onto the cold street and walks the short route to the offices.

It's late by the time Harry gets back to the flat. Shrugging off his jacket, he wanders into the living to find Hermione curled up on the sofa, asleep under a huge fluffy grey blanket. The television is on, showing an episode of some American series that Ginny likes. Harry, concerned, goes and sits down next to her, gently patting her shoulder. Hermione stretched sleepily and reaches up to wrap her arms around Harry's neck. Harry buries his face in her hair, holding her tiny body close. She pulls back and runs a hand through his messy curls.

'Get a haircut already, Harry. I bet Ginny has been on at you about it,'

'Hello to you too, 'Mione. I've missed you,'

'I only saw you a couple of weeks ago,' She looks at him oddly.

'Yeah, but you're always in a rush. It's never like this any more, just us. High-powered lifestyles and all that. On that note, what're you doing here, 'Mione?'

'I dropped round to see Ginny this morning for a chat. I ended up staying after she left for her shift and cooking up some meals for you two to freeze for late-night dinners. And I also tidied up a bit. You're a mess. Did you know there was loose change all over the carpet in the hall?'

'I did, Hermione, thanks for telling me,' Harry chuckles. 'Where's Ron today?'

Hermione turns her head to look out of the window. 'Working,' she says shortly, her voice strangely quiet. She swings back to look at Harry with a wide, if slightly forced, smile on her face and squeezes one of Harry's cold hands in her tiny ones.

'Enough about us, you need to tell me what's going on with you and Draco! Don't deny it, Ginny spilled the beans. You have to tell me everything. EVERYTHING!' She squeals excitedly, earlier topics forgotten.

Harry, predictably, blushes and squirms. 'Um, 'Mione, there's not much to tell really. We keep on kinda running into each other. All the time. Um, I saw him when I went to Contemporaries with Matt, Dylan and Adam,'

Hermione's face softens. 'Aah, those boys. How are they? I don't want any of them getting hurt on those ridiculous missions they keep sending you you on. You all could be killed, or worse!'

Harry snickers at Hermione's maternal instinct shining through her words. 'Don't worry, they are all completely fine. Adam's actually dating one of Draco's friends,'

'Back to Draco,' Hermione demands.

'Alright, alright, bossy. Soooo, this morning he texted me to the number YOU gave him without telling me. What was all that about, huh?' Harry digs Hermione in the ribs, who giggles and wriggles away from him.

'You two needed a bit of help getting stuff moving. If you were left to your own devices, you'd just dance round each other, nothing would happen. Also, I think it would do Draco good to have someone like you in his life, someone who experienced what he went through too. He regrets what happened in our Hogwarts years so much, but he always was so starstruck by you. I know it didn't seem like that but the pressure he was under to follow his father was so extreme; he was so jealous of you. You broke away, became the pioneer of the good side. You defied so many people, Harry, and the entire wizarding world is grateful for how much you gave up to do that. Draco isn't the Malfoy we knew in school any more. Really, you are both very compatible when you think about it. So, really, you should be thanking me!'

Harry smiles at her delighted voice speaking the last few sentences. 'How would you know all of this, Miss-Psychoanalyse-Everyone-In-Sight?'

'Well, I talked to him a few times, let him get some of that stuff off his chest. It's amazing how much people keep hidden away. Stashing feelings isn't healthy, you know?'

'And you, 'Mione? What're you keeping from me, sweetheart?' Harry says softly, shocked when Hermione's eyes fill with sparkling tears.

'It's nothing big, Harry. Just...me and Ron. We're going through a bit of a rough patch. I don't really know what to do anymore. I don't know what I've done,' She starts twisting the blanket anxiously between her fingers.

'What do you mean? What's happened?' Harry asks, worried. These two are unbreakable in his eyes. It's been years since he's seen Hermione this distraught.

'We're engaged! It's meant to be perfect! I don't understand him anymore!' Hermione's voice rises to a shriek, then breaks as she chokes back a sob. She starts to talk again, quieter.

'He's just always working, I never see him anymore. I'm too busy and whenever we schedule something, there's always some last minute excuse. Everything's a panic or a money worry or an argument. I miss him, Harry, I miss us. I was looking at the painting you did of us yesterday and our love just doesn't feel like that anymore. We're meant to get married in June. We're engaged. Why is it like this for us. I...I just feel like I've done something wrong,' Hermione stops and looks up at Harry, eyes full of unshed tears.

'Hermione, trust me, it's not anything you've done. Both of you are extremely busy and that's bound to have put some stress on your relationship. I'm surprised you managed this far without a fallout, actually. You're made for each other, anyone can see that, but you argued repeatedly all through Hogwarts and no couple is perfect. Keep in there, sweetheart, I can tell you it will get better. Money stress probably doesn't help either, what with a wedding coming up. But, really, what you and Ron need to do is talk. He adores you, 'Mione, but he can be a bit blind to your feelings so if you're feeling down, you need to tell him. Silent treatment doesn't usually work with guys, we just don't realize what we have done wrong. Sweetheart, promise me, when you go home, sit down and talk with him. It will make you feel so much better,' Leaning over to give Hermione a hug, he puzzles over his words. What good was he for giving relationship advice to his best friend? Argh, Ginny would be so much better at this than him. If only she was here.

In less than an hour, Hermione falls back asleep on the sofa, with the television on softly in the background. Harry picks up his phone and calls Ron.

'Hey, Mate,' Ron answers after just a few rings.

'Hey, could you come over to pick Hermione up? She's fast asleep,' Harry says wearily.

'Sure, has she been at yours all day?' Ron sounds confused.

'Yeah, apparently she came to speak to Ginny but ended up staying all day. She was asleep on the sofa when I got back,' He grins at the memory.

'Ah, good,' Ron says, sounding relieved. ' She wasn't answering her phone all day and I was worried. Err, things have been a bit strange recently. Did she talk to you?'

'Yeah, she did. She's quite upset. I think you need to have a talk with her, mate. Make a bit more of an effort to be around, cut back your working hours a bit, that kind of thing,' Harry advises Ron.

'I'm trying to get on top of wedding debt, mate. I don't want massive money troubles when we are about to start a new part of our lives. I will talk to her, I didn't know she was struggling with this,' Ron hangs up after planning to be round in 5 minutes.

The doorbell rings, loud and shrill. Harry opens the door and Ron walks in, red hair ruffled and dark circles under his eyes. After greeting Harry, he heads over to the couch to drop a feather-light kiss onto Hermione's head. He lifts her up into his arms, still shrouded in blanket and she wraps her arms round his neck, pulling herself closer and plants a kiss on his cheek. Ron grins at Harry, backing carefully down the hallway, Hermione looking tiny in his arms. Hermione gives Harry a sleepy smile over Ron's shoulder, mouthing 'Thank you!' as they walk out of the door.