Chapter 20
Hermione stepped out of the courtroom, looking behind her to see Draco talking to Snape and Bellatrix. Lucius and Narcissa were also with them. And so was Arthur Weasley.
"Hey…Hermione?"
She turned at the sound of a familiar voice. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Ron walking up to her. He had an apologetic look on his face.
"Look…" he sighed. "I'm sorry about what I said to you back there. In the hospital. I was…I was in my right state of mind, but not really. I was immature and unfair to you. I'm sorry."
Hermione stared at him, then slowly nodded. "I appreciate the apology, Ron. But….it doesn't change my mind about us. We aren't a good match for each other-- I was too stubborn and infatuated to admit that from the beginning."
Ron slowly nodded, looking down at the ground. "Me too."
A moment of silence passed. Then Ron looked up and met her eyes. "Can we at least be friends again?"
Hermione met his gaze, then smiled. "Absolutely."
He smiled back. Then turned to look to the side. "Anyway….I'll get going. Gonna do some catching up on some Auror cases I missed out on while I was in my….pathetic conditions."
Hermione chuckled. She watched as he turned around to leave, but then clumsily bumped into a dark-haired girl that was walking out of the courtroom.
"Oops sorry--" Ron said hastily.
"No, I'm sorry…." the dark-haired girl turned to meet his gaze, and Hermione raised her eyebrows as she recognized Astoria.
She watched as the two of them awkwardly laughed off their clumsy collision and began talking about how clumsy they both had been lately.
Then Hermione turned to see that Draco was making his way up to her.
Hermione grimaced at him. "You look different, Draco," she said rather teasingly. "Like….you look happy, but it's a peaceful kind of happy." It was strange to see him smiling, without the prideful, bullying edge to it.
Draco rolled his eyes, though his contented expression still remained. "Ah, I'm just glad about Arthur's decision to remove all the cameras in all the Slytherin houses he's placed them in. Plus, Ron just gave a huge inheritance to Pansy so that she can afford all that she needs to take care of her child-- it was the least he could to help her in the mess that he left her in, Imperius Curse or not."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Hermione gasped. "Also….Arthur better start working on taking back all that prejudiced propaganda he's promoted against Slytherins."
Draco turned to Hermione as they both walked through the building. "Hermione, I meant to ask earlier…how'd things go with Weasley?"
Hermione's gaze faltered, though she didn’t look too disappointed again. "I have no interest in seeing Weasley again. Though, we did agree to just remain friends."
Draco nodded. "Got it." He paused, then said, "By the way….thank you."
Hermione turned to him. "I'm sorry?"
Draco met her gaze. They stopped beside the exit of the building. "Thank you. For being forgiving with me. By not rubbing it in my face when Arthur was highlighting all that prejudiced propaganda against Slytherins. Even though I totally deserved it."
Hermione stared into his eyes. She gave a small chuckle. "Well….thanks for showing me that everyone has the potential to become a healthy version of themselves." She winked at him. "Even people like you."
Draco smirked at her and poked her nose. "What a sneaky way to get me to accept such a challenge, Granger. You're lucky I now have a stronger moral foundation than before when it comes to handling any challenge."
Hermione was about to shoot back a teasing reply, but then she caught a glimpse of Harry and a pregnant Pansy walking out of the courtroom. They were also accompanied by Ginny and Blaise. And Astoria and Ron.