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Please continue to leave your thoughts, comments, whatever at this point haha. Thank you again for reading! Also happy belated to our favourite Dragon.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The moment Hermione Granger left their presence, Hades' Circles of Hell opened right in Pansy Parkinson's front entryway. Pansy was the closest to Draco so naturally she was the first shoving him back inside her flat. Draco looked surprised at the force the smaller witch had but he steadied himself as the other two joined them back inside.

"Were you dropped on your head as an infant or are you still suffering from blood loss?!"

Pansy screeched at him while Blaise closed the door behind her. All presence of softness that Pansy showed when Draco's imprudent actions caused them all to panic just hours earlier left as soon as Granger had left. He couldn't blame them, but that didn't mean he was going to agree with them. He was tired and cranky. Draco wasn't expecting to see Granger when he came to see his best friends; he didn't expect to face Granger so soon, especially after the recent emotional turbulence from earlier.

"That was totally uncalled for, Draco."

Theo said, walking in.

"Not to mention a bloody lie to add onto your previous ones."

Blaise added. Blaise closed the door behind him, and they were all in Pansy's flat once more. Draco couldn't help but to roll his eyes at his friends. He hadn't come for this. He hadn't wanted to come at all. But at the insistence of his mother, he did. Now he fully regretted it.

"I wasn't lying. There is nothing going on between me and Granger."

Draco forced himself to say, the words tasting like ash in his mouth. He controlled himself to appear collected despite the inner turmoil he felt. Why can't they just let me be? He couldn't help but think to himself. But then they wouldn't be his best mates. Pansy scoffed at his words while Theo rolled his eyes at him, shoving his fingers through his curls. Draco didn't like the look on Blaise's face.

"I came to apologize, but I realized it is bad timing. I'll be leaving."

Draco said, turning away from them to make his way back to the fireplace he foolishly had stepped out earlier before.

"Please tell me Lady Malfoy didn't put you up to this farce."

Blaise's words stopped him cold. Draco turned around.

"What farce?"

He asked.

"This moronic one of,"

Blaise said, in a mocking tone,

"the 'I'm head of the family now, I must abide by the Pureblood code of conduct' shite."

Blaise snarled, stepping into Draco's personal space. He hid his shock, seeing Blaise's usual cool falling and being replaced by a heat of frustration. While it wasn't his mother who had made him give up Hermione Granger, Blaise was almost right. Draco had made the decision as soon as he saw his mother's scared look; he was Lord Malfoy now. He was in charge of his family's affairs, that meant he was the one responsible for caring for his mother and the Malfoy legacy. Draco had to step up and that meant duty before love – no matter how empty it made him feel. He wanted to make his mother proud and if that meant leaving Granger alone for the time being, possibly forever, then he'd do it. For the first woman he loved. Family meant everything to his mother – it would mean the same for him. With a heavy heart, Draco donned his usual mask of indifference when Hermione Granger apologized to him. He resisted every fiber in him to accept her apology and cling onto her. He even took it a step further and insulted her – knowing where to hit her weak points. He hated himself, but he needed her to hate him too.

"She didn't."

Draco replied.

"Then you are a fucking imbecile suffering blood loss."

Blaise hissed before turning away from his friend and stalking into the kitchen. Pansy sighed before glaring at him.

"She's my only girlfriend. If you ruin this for me, I'll never forgive you, Draco Lucius Malfoy."

She said, nose high in the air but Draco spied her lip trembling at the end; Pansy loved to put on a good front when she felt the most anxious. She walked after Blaise. It was now only Draco and Theo. Theo's blue eyes stared sadly into Draco's gray ones and all Draco could think about was how they reminded him of his mother's. Draco could feel himself faltering. He was tired physically, emotionally, drained.

"What are you doing, mate?"
Theo asked. Draco couldn't help the sigh that left his lips, looking up towards the ceiling.

"I don't know."

He confessed. Gratefully, Theo murmured a silencing charm and stepped closer to Draco. Draco didn't look back down.

"Don't do this, Draco."
He heard Theo whisper to him. Draco forced his eyes shut, fatigue creeping into his bones. The peculiar feeling of his own heart slowly coming undone, thinking back on at his actions made him extremely despondent.

"You didn't see her face, Theo."

Draco whispered back. For a few seconds, moments, maybe minutes, Draco used the time to steady himself, Theo didn't respond. Finally, Draco opened his eyes and tilted his head down to look at his friend. Concern was carved into the young Nott's face and that made Draco uneasy. He hated his friends worrying about him. He hated his mother worrying about him. This whole day had gone to shite, and he was making it worst.

"Don't give up on Hermione, Draco."

Theo's forced whisper wasn't what Draco expected. Draco stared at his best mate in confusion. He wasn't offering any solutions to his problem just restating what the others were saying – how could he ask him to not give up? He knew – they all knew what this meant, they knew the responsibility of being Pure-Blood.

"I have to… for now."

Draco whispered back. Theo shook his head. The curls bouncing around, Draco was reminded of Hermione Granger's curls. They weren't the same pattern or the same texture, but like the besotted fool he was, he couldn't help but to think of her. His saliva soured.

"Don't. She won't forgive you, she'll never come back if you do."

Theo replied. The sad look on his friend's face and his confirmation of one of his worst fears made Draco snap.

"Don't you think I know that?!"

Draco snarled, frustration igniting his tired person. He turned back around, unable to face his friend anymore.

"I know what I'm losing, Theo. Shite, theoretically losing because I never fully had it."

Draco said to the emptiness in front of him. It reminded him of his therapy sessions with his mind healer in the beginning of their relationship; he was unable to face the serene mind healer so he spoke to the ceiling, the floor, the space behind her, anywhere but her. He was falling back to old patterns. He couldn't look his best mate in the eye as he spoke of something so vulnerable. Healer Ursa is going to press about this no doubt, Draco couldn't help but to think.

"But I have to take care of my mother before I can take care of – "

Draco started saying but Theo cut him off,

"Yourself."

Theo finished for him, even though that's not what Draco was going to say. Draco stayed quiet.

"Talk to Narcissa before making this senseless decision, Draco."

Theo said. Draco turned back around to stare down his friend, suspicion rippling off him – what did he know that Draco didn't?

"She could surprise you."

Theo said before turning to leave. Draco quickly took hold of his friend's closes arm and held on.

"What are you on about, Theo?"

Draco whispered. Theo looked to him and shrugged him off; Draco let him, assuming he wasn't going to run off without explaining himself.

"Your mum, she loves you, Draco. Talk to her about Hermione."

Theo offered before leaving the confines of their privacy bubble and back to their friends. This left Draco baffled, questioning not only his own decisions, but his mother's as well.

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Ginny stared out into the field; lights bewitched around it so that the players could practice during evening hours. The field was kept tidy, the grass never growing more than an inch, the wooden poles supplying the light around her always clean, always ready to activate in the night. Her hair swayed in the light breeze, out of her face in a tidy ponytail. Ginny wasn't practicing, just mindlessly riding around to clear her thoughts of the current wizard who was plaguing them. It was half past 10 and she didn't know when she would tire herself out so she could go to bed and a get a good night's rest. She gripped onto the Firebolt's smooth wooden handle and made her laps around the pitch. After eight more laps, she heard her name being bellowed from the ground below. Stopping, Ginny plunged down towards whoever was calling her and stopped sharply before almost crashing into them. A wild grin on her face at the adrenaline she felt of her skills; her grin quickly left once she saw Xander's face. Shite, she couldn't help but to think.

"What Jude?"

She rudely inquired, hovering her broom to be close enough to hold a conversation. The brown skinned player's shoulders deflated at her tone, but he wasn't surprised. He was wearing the team's gray joggers and sweatshirt. After ditching Ginny as her date for Harry's party, there was a frostiness between them. Xander assumed it was because he had bailed and while that was the case at first, Ginny couldn't be sure now.

"I wanted to apologize again for not making it to your friend's party."
Xander said.

"Don't worry about it."

Ginny replied shortly before tilting her broom handle back up to fly higher. She was done with the conversation.

"Ginny!"

Xander exclaimed. Forcing herself to halt, Ginny looked down at the smaller figure before her. His eyes implored her to stay, to talk to him, to accept his apology. Ginny shoved away the guilty feeling that was creeping up – she wasn't totally heartless.

"Jude, don't take it personally. I'm over it, I'm over you."

She stated simply before proceeding to fly away. She ignored his hurt look as she flew higher, the air turning cold against her skin. She also ignored the flash of a smirk on a certain Italian wizard that crossed her mind before and after speaking with her co-player.

"Fuck."

Ginny whispered to herself as she flew laps yet again. She wasn't going to bed any time soon.

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Hermione hiccupped for the fourth time against Harry's chest, his familiar scent mixed with the citrus she was accustomed to enveloping her in the warmness she didn't realized she needed; her arms wrapped against her best friend's torso.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Harry whispered. Inhaling deeply, but not letting go, Hermione said, closing her eyes,

"H-He said there was nothing between us anymore. He didn't accept my apology for ignoring him like I was ignoring everyone else."

Harry didn't reply for a few moments before he squeezed her tightly.

"I'll talk to him. He can't have meant that."

He said softly back.

"No!"

Hermione exclaimed, her eyes shooting open as she pulled away from him to look at him. Shaking her head, her curls moving furiously around her before she spoke,

"No, Harry. Please don't get involved."

Harry opened his mouth to object, determination in his eyes but Hermione was just as adamant.

"Please. This is my mess. This is something I must fix."

She stated. Slowly, finally, Harry nodded, pulling her back into a hug she needed. If I can…, she couldn't help but to doubt herself.

"Enough about me, what has been happening with you?"

Hermione asked, quickly changing the subject after stepping out of the hug. She no longer wanted to talk about her and Draco; she no longer wanted to think of all the possible ways 'this' could go wrong. Besides, she had missed Harry – she wanted to know what he had been up to since her life was going through a tumultuous time. The question brought a smile to her friend's face and Hermione was glad.

"I quit the DMLE."

He said sheepishly. Hermione couldn't help the astonished look on her face.

"What! Harry – "

She interrupted.

"I'm going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."

He finished, a bright grin on her best friend's face. Hermione squealed, jumping back into her best mate's arms.

"Oh my gods, Harry! That's fantastic!"

She said. He chuckled against her, hugging her back.

"I am so happy for you!"

She said. The pair hugged for a couple more moments before sounds reached them. Hermione slipped out of Harry's embrace and stared quizzically at her best friend. His stare mirrored her own confusion and soon they heard,

"Harry! Where are ya'?"

Ronald Weasley's voice came from somewhere in the house. Harry's gaze became panicked while Hermione shook her head slightly as if nonverbally indicating that the red headed wizard's coming wasn't a big deal to her at the current moment. Soon his tall figure stood in the doorway leading to one of the dining rooms and he stared at the pair as if he was trying to figure out whether to leave or not. Ron had a brown tee over his lanky figure, and he wore simple, baggy jeans with dirty, white trainers. Hermione couldn't help but to smile fondly at her muggle influence; Ron loved muggle shoes. Her smile faded when he caught her eyes. Honey collided with azure. Hermione stared at her ex-boyfriend; she hadn't spoken to him since Harry's party. They were sloshed then and there for Harry so as usual, they avoided any topic of themselves.

"Uh Harry, I forgot I needed your help with the George's shop and I stopped by but – "

"Stay."

Hermione said, noticing Harry's pleading eyes.

"We can all catch up."

Harry chipperly said. Brown clashed with blue yet again, and Harry took the time to go into the pantry to fetch whatever he thought was needed – tea, whiskey, tequila – whatever. Hermione would take anything at this point. It had been a long day. Hermione opened her mouth to ask Ron how he had been doing, but he beat her to punch.

"I'm sorry about last time, 'Mione."

He said, almost whispering as his eyes fell to her feet and the tips of his ears turned red.

"Oh, it's okay."

Hermione responded, feeling as awkward as he did. Pressing the tips of her fingers to her palms to stop herself from crossing her arms over her chest. She hadn't expected an apology from him.

"I should have warned you beforehand. Y'know, repaid the gesture."

Hermione continued. Ron looked back to her and shook his head.

"Still. I shouldn't have lashed out like that. I am sorry."

He repeated. Hermione couldn't help but to smile at her friend. His sincerity warmed her heart.

"Apology accepted, Ronald."

She said. He gave her the lopsided grin she remembered, as Harry came back in with a bottle of tequila, an acidic fizzy, and limes.

"To Ron and I's new jobs!"

He exclaimed, setting the liquids and fruit down. Hermione looked back to Ron and his smile widened,

"Godric's wand, you left the DMLE too? Congratulations, Ron!"

She smiled back at him and his cheeks tinted pink.

"Yeah, I'm helping George with the shop for now."

Harry let out a whoop as began pouring drinks. Hermione couldn't help but to feel glad for the pair; they were following what they wanted, they were following their hearts. Hermione had no doubt Harry was going to make an excellent professor. As she also had no doubts that Ron would help his brother to the best of his abilities. They were good men, even better friends when the circumstances called for it – still learning, but still trying. Hermione watched her closest friends with grins on their faces and she was reminded of the Slytherin trio she left behind. Her heart constricted in her chest, her smile losing its sparkle as she tried to reassure herself. Hermione wasn't one to give up. She certainly wasn't going to start now.