Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 14

Hermione was awake before sunrise again. Ron hadn't spoken to her when he arrived at home the previous night, but that hadn't bothered her. It hadn't even affected her when she smelled perfume off of him when he walked passed her in the hallway. She had known for some time that Ron was cheating on her; she only wished he would leave her for the unlucky woman he was sleeping with.

She was sitting in bed reorganizing a photo album when she heard a faint tap on the window. She looked outside and felt her heart jump.

"How...?" There was an elegant owl outside her window. She hurried quietly to open it and was surprised that the bird was able to fly in. Countless times she had witnessed Harry's owl unable to fly past the invisible barrier surrounding her home. This owl landed on the bed and hooted loudly. Hermione froze in place as Ron turned over in bed. When she heard his snoring start up again, she hurried over to the owl. She stared at the letter in surprise because it was addressed to her. She tucked the letter safely away in a book on the nightstand before turning back to the owl. "Can you wait here, please?" She asked softly. "Quietly?"

She rushed over to her desk in her library and wrote a quick note to Harry. But when she returned to the bedroom, the owl was gone. She ran to the window, but the bird was already off in the distance. "No, please," she begged quietly, dropping down to her knees. Tears were streaming down her face as she realized her only chance at communication with the world was gone.

Ron stirred in bed and she snapped out of her thoughts. She made her way to the bathroom, completely forgetting the letter she had hidden away. She looked herself in the mirror. When did I become so weak? she thought to herself.

An hour later, breakfast was ready and she sat in her usual chair. Ron ignored her as he ate his breakfast. She had done a good job at keeping herself from crying the whole morning. She felt miserable but was determined not to let him see her cry. He didn't bother to say goodbye before he flooed to work. It was then that she remembered the letter waiting for her in her book.

"Ugh.. How could you let me drink so much on a Monday night, Malfoy?" asked Harry. He had just woken up on the floor in Malfoy's study, the telltale signs of a nasty hangover already present.

"It's not my fault you couldn't control yourself. And it's Tuesday morning, now, Potter."

"Do you have anything for hangovers?" he asked as he moved from the floor to the chair he had occupied the previous night. Draco walked over to his liquor cabinet and picked up a vial and tossed it to Harry. "What is this?"

"Just drink it."

"What is it?!"

"Drink. It."

"What-"

"Drink it!"

Harry made a disgusted face at the thick green liquid in the vial.

"Will you just drink the bloody potion!"

Harry continued to stare at the liquid, but eventually drank it. His nausea and headache immediately disappeared and he was pleased. "That's actually pretty good."

"What did you expect? Poison?"

"Shut it, Malfoy."

"You shut it-" he cut off as his owl flew in through the window. It landed on the desk in front of him. When he realized his owl hadn't brought back any response, he was disappointed. The owl waited expectantly. "I don't have anything for you, Ares!" he snapped.

Harry noticed a change in Draco at that moment. His face was back to the unfriendly mask Harry was used to seeing in school. He had to admit to himself that after the night of drinking with him, he considered him a little more than an acquaintance. They weren't friends, yet. But they were getting there. "You should get some rest," he said, not wanting to pry. Of course he was curious about what had caused the sudden change in him, but decided it was best not to question it.

"Yea." Draco was staring out the window, no longer paying Harry any attention. He hadn't been able to get a certain witch out of his thoughts since the previous night.

"I'll take the paperwork back to the Ministry. We'll be in touch."

Draco closed his eyes, trying to conceal the pain he felt. He heard the familiar sound of apparation but kept his eyes shut. He had poured his soul into the letter he sent to Granger. My words meant nothing to her...

Hermione took the envelope delicately in her hands. She could smell the faint scent of alcohol on the letter as she unfolded it.

H. Granger,

I hope this letter finds you well. I know that there's probably no one you despise in this world as much as me, but I ask that you read this letter with an open mind and an open heart. I've done nothing to deserve your kindness. And yet, Potter told me that it's you I owe my thanks to for what he's done for me. I wish there was some way I can apologize you to for everything I've done to you. Neither of you deserved what I put you through in school. I don't know how it was so easy for him to save me as many times as he has. I am sure, however, that it was with your influence. I don't think he would be who he is today if it hadn't been for you, Granger.

I think it was in 6th year when I finally realized I had been wrong my entire life. You weren't the enemy, I was. But by then it was too late. The Dark Lord had already given me my task, and the dark mark was already on my arm. I lived in fear, not for my own life, but my mothers. I had to try to protect her from the Dark Lord, from her sister, and even from her own husband. I've made many mistakes, and I'm not proud of who I am. I allowed my father to mold me into the disgusting child that I was. I worshiped the ground that vile man walked on. And now i'm just as much a pathetic coward as he is. I'm ashamed of myself for everything I've done. I wish there was some way I could take it all back, but it's impossible. I have to live with the hatred I feel towards myself for every hurtful word I've said and all the pain I've caused.

There are no words to describe how sorry I am for all these things I've done to you. As a muggleborn, you were everything I was supposed to hate. Yet, you were always better than me, and you continue to be. You're intelligent, brave, passionate, and beautiful. I didn't understand. I was raised to believe you were stupid and worthless. But yet, there you were, almost perfect. My father punished me for allowing myself to come in second place next to you. I grew to resent you and hate you because you were better than me. I treated you like garbage because of it. But you deserved better than that. The fact that you never let any of my negativity affect you just shows how amazing you are. You are a true beauty. And I'm sorry. I'm so fuckin' sorry. I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I'm sorry for not protecting you. I'm sorry for hating you. I'm sorry. Please, please forgive me... I know if you of all people can forgive me, I can finally begin to forgive myself.

D. Malfoy

"Malfoy..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face. Her heart was aching for him. "All is forgiven."

A/N:
Thank you Honoria Granger for the review!