All Is Fair

"In love and War"

All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, I did not own those characters or the original story/plot.

Another week had gone by and nothing much had changed. The Weasleys were able to rebuild what was left of their home in order for them to have a place to stay, and so they had left, which included Ron. Hermione felt like whatever had happened between Ron and herself, might have just been something that happened in the moment. She felt like the whole thing had built itself up, but sometimes things weren't just meant to be, and Hermione knew that. The orphans who had been left at Hogwarts were either sent to whatever other relatives they still had (usually non wizarding relatives), very close family friends, or in the case of older orphans, sent to stay in the dorm of their houses, or with a close friend who was part of their house. Hermione had decided that she would stay at Hogwarts, she though they might perhaps need her help, or at least someone's help when Hogwarts started reopening classes again.

She stood in front of the mirror of her dorm. She was the only girl in her dorm that stayed here at Hogwarts, everyone else finding that family is the most important thing right now, something that she knew but couldn't act upon. She sighed, putting her hair up in a ponytail so it wouldn't be dealt with today, and then pulling on a Gryffindor jumper as she exited her dorm. The Gryffindor colours felt like warmth to her, like a family member giving her a hug. She really needed some of that house pride right now. Harry had also decided to stay. He was one of the few other people in Gryffindor who did. He felt it was his responsibility to help set Hogwarts back up again, or at least help anyone possible, which Hermione completely understood, and he also wanted to make sure Hermione had a true friend while she was still here. Neville was also around somewhere. She saw him a few times, and she loved that he had grown to become so brave through their years at Hogwarts and there the battle. They hadn't really spoken much recently, but Hermione felt like no one had really spoken much. She walked past the fire place in the common room and felt it was time to exit the tower which Gryffindor hid.

Her fingers danced across the columns the held up the library, as she looked at the books that had been left out on the floor, those that had been singed by fire, and those that piled up awkwardly on the reconfigured site saddened her but if there was any place Hermione Granger would go, it would be the library. She knew that the teachers and students here had other things to focus on than just cleaning up a library. She walked in and picked up a few books from the floor, deciding that she would look through a few and find their rightful places on the shelves, knowing full well that probably no one else would. The first book in her pile made her smile a bit. Hogwarts: A History. Reminded her of her first year here. She thought it was going to be so simple. She was glad that it wasn't but, she wasn't sure she would be facing many more challenges that would be so exhausting in trying to over come. She took the books with her and walked down the aisles of the library, finding their appropriate place. She came back, grabbing book after book, looking through those that had been burnt, try to restore what was left of them with a little bit of magic. She liked putting the books back on the shelves manually, even if she did have to climb one various objects to get them up a little higher. It felt like something that she had to do right now.

Hermione had climbed upon a desk to put a book up on a higher shelf when she heard a noise coming from the back of the library. She froze. No body else would be in the library but her. Unless perhaps Neville had wandered in to find some books on herbology, take his mind of some things, but herbology was in a completely different direction from where the sound came from. She heard a book close and her hands moved slowly towards her wand. Sure she was still a little on edge, who knew what was to come after Voldemort. She heard footsteps coming her way. She stood still, trying to figure out who it could possibly be in the shadows. She felt a little silly, preparing for another battle so suddenly, like everything would be against her. But she also knew she had to be prepared for anything.

A moment later she had dropped her guard, and stood upon the table with arms crossed, and a frown across her head.

"Malfoy?" her sarcastic tone yelled 'of course' as she stared at him.

The blonde haired boy was tall in his white buttoned up top, Slytherin tie, and black trousers. He had a book under one arm as he flicked through another. He looked up at her.

"Granger." He replied. Nothing in his voice showed hostility.

She frowned and jumped down from the desk. She didn't even realise Malfoy was at Hogwarts. She wondered if he had just come back, or if he had been at Hogwarts for the past two weeks. She also wondered what side he was on now. Hermione knew full well that there wasn't really good or evil here, but she wondered where he stood in the midst of all this mess.

"Are you just going to stare at me, Granger?" he asked, emotionlessly.

She hadn't realised that she was staring at him.

"When did you get back?" she asked, attempting to make this whole thing feel less awkward for herself.

"A week ago."

He didn't look up from his book.

So, he was away. But why did he come back now? Weird timing. Hermione thought. Draco closed the book and walked towards her. He placed the book on a shelf near her and the book under his arm was placed on a shelf a few rows up.

"Look," he said, "I know things are strange. I know you know it to, but we're supposed to be at peace now or something, right?"

She didn't say anything. She had learnt that silence can be very affective.

"If you're wondering what I'm thinking, it's not that all of the death eaters are going to suddenly rise up, or that I'm still against you lot. It's done. It's over."

"I'm sorry," was all Hermione felt she could say. After everything that has happened, even if she didn't know what she was apologising for, or if she needed to apologise after what Malfoy had done to her, to them, she just felt like it was needed.

Draco walked passed her and towards one of the piles of books. He grabbed a few of them and disappeared into the aisles. Every now and then she caught a glimpse of his pale hands, putting books back on shelves. Hermione had almost forgotten that Draco had been second to her in almost every class, so he would have had to of spent a lot of time in these libraries. Though he probably could've just purchased all the books he needed anyway. Hermione saw that he knew where almost every book need to go, and she continued putting piles of books back onto the shelves, restoring whatever she could in a place that was her haven.

It felt strange. The 'peace' between them. The silence that held in the room as Hermione and Draco worked together to fill the shelves with books. After everything that's happened, all the disgusting names Draco had called her, the punch she had thrown against him, the academic competitiveness, and the war, this is what it came down to, silence.

She frowned as she noticed that Draco also wasn't using magic to place the books up on the shelves. Of course every now and again when there was a book that needed to go to high up that he couldn't reach, he'd flick his wand and send it up, but for the most part he just placed them on the shelves, no magic. Hermione assumed that maybe he was tired from the excessive use of magic they'd all been privy to. Now that Hermione thought about it, they were all exhausted. She frowned and sat down next to a pile of books. Leaning on a bookcase as she did so. Looking through the books, she piled them up in alphabetical order to make it easier for herself when she decided to get back up. If she decided to get back up.

Draco continued to place books upon the shelf. He knew that keeping his mind busy would be the best thing for him. He also felt like he had to make up for something, perhaps for how he had treated people, even how he had treated Dumbledore. What had happened left a heavy weight on his heart. Something he thought wouldn't occur, and he couldn't tell if it was because of Dumbledore's belief in him that made him suddenly feel this weight, or because he couldn't do the one thing that was supposed to help his family. Or because none of that mattered now. He walked over to grab some books, noticing Hermione's legs on the ground. She must've taken a break, he decided. He went over to see the alphabetised piles and Hermione, who had sort of fallen asleep against the books. He chuckled a little. This seemed about right.

"Granger?" he called, waving his hand in front of her. Yet nothing. He picked up a pile of books under 'A' and put them in their according section. He came back, and she was still asleep. Thinking the situation was a little funny, Draco took out his wand and allowed a feather to tickle her ear. She whacked at her ear and he sniggered a little bit. She frowned and Draco put away his wand, the feather falling beside her. Hermione's eyes opened a little.

"Having a bit of a snooze are we, Granger?" he smirked, "Didn't think you were the type to fall asleep on the job. And leaving a Slytherin with all these books nonetheless."

She groaned, "haven't been sleeping well."

Draco shook his head.

"Who are you to judge anyway? I'll sleep where I need to sleep," she stated triumphantly.

"Maybe I should've hexed you then? Write some incriminating words on your forehead? Isn't that something muggles do?"

"What are you on about?" she stood up, knocking down some piles of books.

"Oh now you've done it, Granger."

"Shut up, Malfoy," she snapped, then groaned at the books she'd let spill onto the ground, "have you had your fun teasing yet?"

Draco inhaled deeply, ignoring her. He took out his wand and waved it, muttering a few words and allowing for a large majority of the books to go back to their places on their shelves.

"I think this was easier than your way, Granger."

She shook her head while looking at the books that were left. There were only a few of the burnt ones that remained. Of course magic would be easier, but it didn't feel the same, and she knew Draco didn't get that.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?" she looked at him, slightly concerned, slightly curious.

"I'm fixing this library. I'm doing a better job at it than you are, I might add. You would think this library was more precious to me, than it is to you."

"That's not what I meant," her words dominated, "You've been here as long as I have, well over a few hours. You could of fixed this all in the first place and then left. So my question remains, what are you doing?"

Draco clenched his jaw.

"You've been more kind to me today than our whole schooling experience together. You haven't yet shouted an insult, or disregarded my feelings or worth. Sure, we're at peace, but that never would've stopped you before. Why would you stay here, in a library with me, a muggle born witch who is so 'obviously' the opposite of your kind."

Her words had a hiss to them. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

At a point where Hermione swore that he would say 'shut up, Granger' instead, he stayed calm and regale. His hand lightly grazed her cheek.

"Things change, Granger."