Six
September 17th 1998:
“So how’s it been living with Malfoy?” Ginny asked as the two girls walked down the hallway.
“Weird. We had tea one night together and since then, we’ve been acting like friends.”
“You and Malfoy being friends,” Ginny paused, “Seems almost impossible.”
“I agree.” Hermione thought back to her interactions with the blonde. The way he’d smile at her, laugh with her, the talks they’d had about academics. He was smart and was a good person to have debates with about various topics. And even Hermione Granger couldn’t deny that he was attractive. She snapped out of her thoughts by a grinning Ginny. “What?”
“Have you heard anything I’ve said?” Hermione did not. “You were thinking about Malfoy.”
“No i wasn’t”
“Yes you were. Do you like him?” Ginny asked
“No.” Hermione answered almost too quickly. “He’s nice to talk to.”
“And nice to look at.” Hermione glared at her friend. “All I'm saying is no one would blame you if you had a little fun. You're the brightest witch of your age, the golden girl, you’ve fought in a war! You deserve to have some fun. Trust me when I say the rest of the Golden trio is. Harry especially.”
“Ew, Gin, I did not need to hear that.”
“But for real Mione, you and Ron tried dating and it didn’t work out. He’s out using his title of War Hero to good use. Maybe you should too. No one would blame you for having fun with Malfoy. From what I heard, he’s really good at having fun.” Ginny wiggled her eyebrows at Hermione.
“Just because I’m a virgin doesn’t mean you can’t say sex Ginny.”
“Just think about it, okay?” Hermione ignored her and opened the door to the Head’s room.
When the two girls walked into the common room, they were greeted with Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, and Theo Nott.
“Granger,” Draco stood from the couch. “I thought you were going to be in Hogsmeade all day.”
“We decided to stay back. Too many people asking for Hermione’s autograph.” Ginny replied for her.
“Ignore her. It started to rain and we didn’t want to walk around wet.”
“I hope it’s okay that I invited people over.” Draco looked nervous. He hadn’t expected Hermione back for hours. He told his friends that it would be just them.
“Of course it’s okay. This is your common room too.”
“You should join us.” Pansy spoke up. “We’ve just opened up a bottle of firewhiskey.”
“We’d love to.” Ginny pulled Hermione to the couches.
“Sorry about the whole, trying to sacrifice your boyfriend thing.” Pansy did not hold her tongue about anything. She spoke when she wanted to and about whatever she wanted too.
“No hard feelings. We all did what we had to do.” Pansy handed Ginny a glass of Firewhiskey.
“Granger,” Pansy handed Hermione one as well.
“Thank you.” Hermione took a small sip of her drink.
There was an awkward silence for a moment before Pansy spoke up.
“So Granger, I’ve been wondering. It was reported that you, Weasley, and Potter were traveling, living in tents for months while trying to find the horcruxes. What was that like? Having to live in a tent with those two for months?”
“It wasn't all bad. And it wasn’t always the three of us. Around December, Ron left and went off on his own. So it was just Harry and I.”
“Sounds about right that Weasley would leave.” Blaise said before looking at Ginny. “Sorry.”
“Oh trust me, when I found out, I yelled at him for days.”
“She’s not exaggerating either. It went on for three days.”
“I always wondered what the adventures between the three of you were like.” Theo spoke for the first time. “Is it true you had a time turner in third year?”
“How’d you know?”
“I was in three of your classes. I noticed you never actually walked into the classroom with Potter and Weasley but seconds later you’d suddenly be there. My dad did some experimenting with time turners so I knew how they worked.”
“Yes I had a time turner. McGonagall gave it to me so I could attend extra classes.”
“Unbelievable.” Malfoy muttered.
“Once when I used it, I got to relive the moment I slapped you. It was even better the second time around.”
“It was Granger that hit you in third year?” Blaise asked.
“Yes.”
“Bloody Hell Granger. I’m impressed.”
“Whose friend are you?” Malfoy asked
“I feel like now I need to be Granger’s friend. Wouldn’t want her punching me.” Blaise joked, switching sofas and moving to sit next to Hermione. Hermione just laughed.
The six of them sat around, drinking firewhiskey and reminiscing about their years at Hogwarts. Which did result in the Slytherins apologizing multiple times, but no hard feelings were held.
“I need backup on something.” Ginny announced. “Hermione’s birthday is in two days. I said we should have a party and celebrate. She doesn’t think we should. Tell her she has too.”
“Granger, Please have a party!” Pansy, who was most definitely tipsy, shouted. “It would be so fun!”
“You have to celebrate your birthday!” Theo told her.
“I don’t feel like there is anything to celebrate this year.”
“We celebrate you.” Draco spoke up. “You’ve done a lot for the Wizarding World and you’re only eighteen, almost nineteen. Let us celebrate.” Hermione saw Ginny and Pansy smiling.
“Okay fine. A small party.”
“Oh nothing these boys do is small.” Pansy said and everyone broke out in laughter.
“I believe it’s time we get Ms. Parkinson here, to bed.” Blasie stood up and took the bottle from Pansy’s hands and gave it to Theo. “Come on.”
“We’ll talk more about the party tomorrow Granger.” Pansy said as Blaise and Theo started walking out the door.
“Bye Mate. See you tomorrow.” Theo said to Daco before they left.
“I should go too. But I’ll Owl Fred and George to see if they will get us Firewhiskey.”
“I thought Fred passed away?” Draco asked gently.
“He was severely injured. We didn’t think he’d make it but he pulled through. He got out of the Hospital about a month ago. He’s back working at the Joke Shop with George."
“That’s good to hear. I’m happy for your family.”
“Thanks Malfoy.” Ginny turned to Hermione. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye Gin.”
Once it was only Hermione and Draco left, they started to clean up.
“Your friends are very funny.” Hermione broke the silence.
“Their humor consists of making fun of me.” Draco smiled. “But I love them. I truly don’t know where I'd be without them.”
“I never saw you in school with them. Well I saw and heard the rumors that involved you and Pansy but other than that, I didn’t see you with Blaise or Theo.”
“My father thought that they made me weak. He would tell me that I shouldn’t have friends who like they’re my equals. Hence my relationship with Crabbe and Goyle.” Hermione nodded. “I’m very lucky that Blaise and Theo accepted me back. I was an awful friend to them.”
“True friends will always welcome you back into their lives. I’m sure they understood the pressure you were under with your father. The things I’ve heard about Theo’s father,” Hermione paused.
“My father was private about his affairs and his abuse. Nott Sr. was not. At my eleventh birthday party, Theo, Blaise and I were running around the Manor and Theo accidentally stepped in mud. When his father saw it, he smacked him down into the mud. It was awful. Blaise and I went to do something about it but My father stopped us, saying it was between father and son. We didn’t hear from Theo until we arrived at Hogwarts.”
“That’s just awful.” Hermione reached over and took Draco’s hand in hers. “I’m sorry the three of you had to go through all that.”
“It was normal among purebloods.” Draco shrugged his shoulders. “But Theo and I are free from it now. His father is dead and mine is rotting away in Azkaban.”
“And what about Blaise?”
“Blasie never had a parent around to abuse him. He was practically raised by my mother.”
“Is it true his mother has had six husbands that have all died mysteriously?”
“I think she’s at seven now. That woman has been married more times than you can count.” Hermione sat in awe and listened to Draco talk about the many weddings he attended for the Zabini Matriarch.