30 May, Sunday, 1915 BST
Hermione took in a deep breath as she knocked on the door of the two-story home in Godric's Hollow. She adjusted the baker's box that housed the freshly baked cheesecake that she held in her arms as she waited.
"Hermione," the younger ginger haired witch said as she swung the door open. She pulled the brown haired witch into an embrace. She looked at the older witch. "Why didn't you just use the floo network?"
"I needed some fresh air anyway," she gave a weak smile. She handed the white box to Ginny, "I baked a cheesecake."
"You didn't have to," Ginny smiled as she ushered her in.
Ginny led her former housemate into the dining room. Hermione took in a breath as she looked around the room. Everyone nodded at her in acknowledgement as she entered. The younger Potters came running at her legs.
"Well let's get started with dinner shall we," Ginny said smiling.
Hermione looked up at the rest of the guests. She took a deep breath as her eyes settled on the platinum blonde sitting next to an empty place setting. James and Ronda pulled their parents' best friend to the table.
Draco stood up and pulled her seat out for her. She took another deep breath before nodding at her former nemesis. He nodded back at her.
The conversations around the table continued as if the presence of Draco Malfoy was a usual occurrence at the Potter residence. Hermione concentrated on opening her napkin, being very conscious about averting her eye contact with the grey-eyed wizard. Draco passed her the basket of rolls as Harry waved his wand. Their dinner plates filled with the evening's entrée and vegetables.
She accepted the basket as she finally looked up into his face. She nodded at him. She took another breath. 'What did this mean?' she pondered as everyone began to tuck in.
o-o-o
She had helped Ginny tuck the two youngsters in bed at around eleven. They surely had stayed up way past their bedtimes. But, the chance to see their grandparents and the other guests again was well worth it.
Draco was the only other guest remaining as the two witches entered the living room. The platinum blonde wizard nodded at the brunette witch as Ginny led Hermione toward the two wizards.
"So, Draco mentioned in his debrief for the Ministry that your wand shattered during the rescue," Harry said as he took a sip of his fire whiskey.
Hermione took in a breath before nodding her head. She glanced at Draco who was downing the rest of his own drink.
"Haven't you a replacement, yet, Hermione?" Ginny asked, a little surprised. A wand was definitely the one thing someone from the Wizarding world should not do without.
"Haven't had the time," Hermione answered as she began to put her coat on. To her surprise, Draco helped her into it. She nodded her thanks to him. "Besides, the floo network is available."
"I don't know, Hermione," Ginny began. "It's nearly midnight. You know how unsavory the characters are at the travel point. Then you'd still need to walk home from there."
"I can accompany Granger home," Draco offered.
Hermione shut her eyes for a moment. "That's very chivalrous of you, Malfoy," she turned to her two oldest friends. "But really, I'll be fine."
"Nonsense, Hermione," Harry said as he patted Draco's back. "Draco's actually offering to do something nice for a change. You should take advantage of it."
Ginny, Harry and Draco began to laugh. Hermione tried to give a weak smile. Draco offered his elbow to her. She gulped as she glanced at his elbow. She gave one last look at her Gryffindor Housemates and shrugged. She gingerly took a hold of the Pure-blood's elbow. The young man nodded at his two hosts before he waved his wand. Both Harry and Ginny smiled inwardly as they watched the two vanish.
o-o-o
Hermione's knees went wobbly as they landed in her bedroom of the apartment. She noted that it was interesting, yet slightly disturbing that Draco chose to apparate them specifically to her bedroom. He held her in his arms for a moment before she took a step back.
He took a seat on the edge of her bed as he looked up at her. She frowned slightly. What was he expecting from her?
"I'm not as evil as you've imagined me to be, Hermione," Draco said, smirking at her.
She didn't really know what had come over her. But the incredulity of the situation came to a hilt. She couldn't stop laughing as she took a seat next to her former rival. He eventually joined in.
o-o-o
They had talked well into the early morning hours. Hermione had felt comfortable, leaning into his chest as they both lay on the bed above the covers, both still in their evening attire.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hermione said, sleepily.
"We felt the less who knew the better. Only Professors Dumbledore and Snape, Harry and the Minister knew about me being a double," he said yawning, as he fiddled with the silver chain he had had since Seventh Year. "I switched sides about a month after Weasley was killed."
Hermione took in a breath as she looked up at him. He gulped. "Kellen Tanner used the killing curse on him."
Hermione shut her eyes for a moment. A tear slid down her cheek as she remembered the tall ginger haired boy. Draco wiped it away.
"I know you two were an item," he said.
She smiled at him. "He and I both agreed that we were better friends than lovers," she said, taking in a breath. "We both felt like it was kissing our own sibling."
Draco tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as he looked into her eyes. "I told Harry that I would only switch sides on one condition. You would have to come back into the war."
"Why?" Hermione asked searching his face.
"You were the key piece in the Dark Lord's defeat. Your knowledge, your loyalty to Harry, and your stubbornness; you really riled up Voldemort, you know that."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Draco smiled at her. She blew out a breath. The wizard canted his head, as if in anticipation.
"Madame Pomfrey diagnosed me three months before graduation. I was feeling lethargic, sometimes weak. I thought it was just all the extra studying and war planning," she shrugged her shoulders. Draco laughed at the last part. "During Spring Recess my parents took me to get a Muggle doctor's opinion. He confirmed Madame Pomfrey's estimate of six months to live."
Draco's face paled. He looked into her eyes. "After graduation, you left the Wizarding World," he said.
She nodded. "I wanted to make the most of the time I had left. I wanted to pursue medicine; kinda ironic, don't you think. It was the hardest six years of my life; four years straight into medical school and two years of interning and residency."
"I guess the old mediwitch was wrong then," Draco said as he touched her cheek.
"Mum and dad must have suggested ten or so specialists during that time. I went to all of them. They couldn't pinpoint where the cancer originated. Medication after medication; they all just worked on the symptoms and helped me get through the day.
"Everything was going fine," she looked at him. "I thought I'd never hear from the Wizarding World again and as long as I kept myself busy, I thought I could find a way to beat the cancer.
"I was twenty minutes late for dinner; the emergency room was extra busy that night," she said, shutting her eyes. "When I got to my parents' home, there was already a nosy crowd out in the streets. Fire engines and the police were there. Smoke billowed from the back of the house where I knew the kitchen was.
"They said it was a gas explosion," Hermione looked into his face. "I had a feeling it was something else."
"I didn't know they were targeting them. Voldemort sent a group led by Kellen to . . ." he began as her shoulders started to tremble. He pulled her in for a hug. "The emergency room was busy for a reason. I didn't know what else to do. I found out too late.
"Kellen was supposed to ambush you at the dinner. Whatever collateral damage would occur was a plus. He didn't count on you not being there," he gulped.
"When Harry showed up again asking me to return to the war," she said as a tear rolled down her face. "I didn't know what to say at first. I'd just lost my parents. Then he told me about Ron. I broke down for a long time.
"I couldn't let them die in vain," she looked up at him. "And if I was going to go out, I would make sure that I would bring the Death Eaters down with me."
Draco studied her face, "You going into the Crabbe Mansion; that was a suicide mission wasn't it?"
She shrugged her shoulders. She shut her eyes for a moment; feeling exhausted all of a sudden.
"My Muggle doctor, my supervisor at work, Professor McGonagall, Madame Pomfrey, and you are the only ones, now, who know about me," she looked into his face. "I couldn't tell Harry or Ron. It would have hurt too much."
Draco took in a breath, knowing what she didn't say. She didn't want anyone else to know. He nodded at her. "You should get some sleep, Hermione."
She smiled with her eyes shut. "I don't have to be at the hospital until 9 a.m."
"It's 2 a.m. now," Draco said.
She laughed. "I can live on less than six hours of sleep."
"Good night, Hermione," the blonde haired Slytherin said, knowing there would be no reply as he heard her deep breathing. He smiled to himself as he too fell asleep.
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