Disclaimer: Not even gonna try.

Also written for the QLFC.

Prompts: history, chasing, "So...what exactly is that?", Reducio

Theme:Spirituality(inner peace).

Hermione Granger's day had started with a bang. Quite literally.

She was sleeping very peacefully in her four-poster bed, curled up under the blankets when there was a persistent knocking on her door.

"Five more minutes," mumbled Hermione, not opening her eyes.

The rapping on the wood continued, and growling, Hermione flopped onto her stomach and buried her head under the pillow, trying to block out the noise. She had barely settled back into the arms of sleep when a loud bam made her jump with surprise.

Wide awake, she stared as Ginny Weasley slammed the door open and scurried to her bed, the springs groaning in protest to her bouncing on it.

"Ginny, is everything okay?" asked Hermione worriedly, all sleep vanished from her as she looked at the girl breathing heavily, her hair tied hastily into a ponytail.

"Yes-no, actually, everything is not okay! Why is it that I get to know through Parvati that she heard Blaise Zabini demanding from the Fat Lady where you were, and that Draco Malfoy was missing, and after about an hour, you enter our Common Room and sneak off to bed, wet to your bones?!" hissed Ginny hurriedly, her eyes glinting in the early rays of the sun peering in through the window.

Hermione groaned and mumbled, "That's what you woke me up at...six am for?"

"Well, I would have come sooner, but bloody Parvati was throwing up after last night's Butterbeer, and everyone else was still asleep, so I had to help her with her throwing up," grumbled Ginny, snapping her fingers suddenly and retorting, "But that is not the point!"

"Ginny, I assure you, Malfoy was just acting up," Hermione replied dryly.

"Well, if that is the case, then why did Zabini come to you to know where Malfoy was? And where was he?" pat came Ginny's reply.

Blinking dazedly at the volley of questions, Hermione slowly responded, "Well, he came to me because they couldn't find him anywhere and he said he'd seen us in each other's company, thus presuming that I'd know where he was. And Malfoy was...in the grounds," hesitating, not wanting to reveal his spot to Ginny.

Her reply earned a pompous snort from the redhead who scoffed, "Yeah, it's not just Zabini; everyone sees you two around each other all the time."

"That is so not – we don't – he jumps in – " protested Hermione hotly, and was broken off by a genuine wide grin from Ginny.

"What?" she asked self-consciously.

Ginny smiled and said, "Look, I'm not judging. You seem more relaxed these days, and I don't know what it is between you and Prince Platinum, but I'm glad you're happy."

"There's nothing between Malfoy and I! We're just friends, that's it!" Hermione furrowed her brow and responded.

"So...what exactly is that? Anyway, whatever you say. Though, I do want to know some time soon, how did the two of you get talking? I mean, you weren't exactly penpals before the War...and well, ever since the beginning of the year, you've grown far ahead of the nod across the hallway – oh shoot!" Ginny mused and was broken off by the bell.

"I've got to get ready before everyone stirs awake now and starts chucking their stomach down the drain!" she cackled as Hermione grimaced at the image.

Patting Hermione's cheek, the Weasley swung out of the bed and whistling to herself, walked out of the room.

The matter soon dismissed itself from Ginny's mind as the day progressed, but Hermione kept mulling over her parting words. How did we become friends, she wondered silently to herself as she went about her activities for the day...

=o0o=

It was about a month after the War had ended. All burials were done, all deaths were mourned and life was slowly beginning to move on. It was on a rainy June afternoon that an owl flew into the Burrow, now fully reconstructed and furnished, and dropped off four letters on the table. Harry and Hermione had Apparated from Grimmauld Place, and Ginny and Ron rushed down from the stairs to rip open the envelopes emblazoned with the Hogawarts crest, and Hermione read out in a loud excited voice:

Keeping in mind the recent War, and the disruption of studies at Hogwarts, this is to inform Miss Hermione Granger that Hogwarts shall be calling all those students who were in their seventh year for an honorary eighth year. Further intimation about beginning of classes shall be sent after restoration of Hogwarts to its former glory.

With best wishes,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Oh, this is positively amazing!" she shouted, and Ginny grinned from ear to ear as she scanned her letter.

"What's more, we're all in the same dorms! Only, we'll be super crammed, as we're still in the seventh year, and they're going to admit new kids too," Ginny scowled but broke into an easy smile at the thought of returning to Hogwarts.

"Bloody hell, we'll have to study one more year? I cannot believe that this is happening to us..." grumbled Ron, but broke off as Molly glared at him.

Harry remained quiet and pensive, looking at the paper in his hand. His mouth was set in a hard line and his brow was furrowed as he chewed the inside of his cheek. Hermione noticed it, and stopped waving her letter about excitedly.

"Harry, are you alright?" she asked quietly, and everyone fell silent. Harry raised his eyes to look at all the concerned faces and shook his head.

"I'm fine. It's just...I feel we should help. With Hogwarts, you know. Restoring it," he spoke in a strained tone, swallowing a lump in his throat. Ginny walked over to him and rubbed his shoulders understandingly.

"I agree," spoke George suddenly, and everyone turned to look at him. Ever since Fred's demise, he had not spoken much, but the boy now walked to the centre of the room and spoke in a gruff voice, "It's the best way we can honour the d-dead. I'm going to help. Is anyone coming with me?"

He looked at Hermione and her shoulders sagged a little as she let out a sigh and rushed to hug the boy. Ron strode over and enveloped the two in his arms. Ginny and Harry walked to the three and the children stood there awhile, overwhelmed and determined.

It was this group that Apparated to Hogwarts and found Neville Transfiguring the rubble to daisies and lilies. They stood there for some time quietly, watching the boy swirl his wand and transform broken pieces of the building to freshly bloomed flowers. He stopped in his movement and suddenly whipped around, alarm in his eyes as he rose his wand defensively. The trapped look in his eyes vanished as he saw his friends and he broke into a small smile.

"Oh, it's you guys. I thought...never can be sure..." he broke off nervously and no one protested. They'd all themselves had more than their share of fears and nightmares.

"We came here to help. What are you doing?" asked Ron and the formerly buck-toothed boy shrugged.

"I'm going to scatter these flowers in the grounds. You know, the rubble reminds me too much of the War. Plus, the flowers look really beautiful, and it'll be like lessening the pain of the dead," replied Neville and added, "You guys can split up and help Luna and Professor McGonagall too. They're there by the Owlery."

Taking their cue to leave, they walked to the Gryffindor Head, George staying behind with Neville. She whirled around when she heard footsteps and smiled, "Ah, children. I presume you must have gotten my letters?"

Nodding, Harry replied, "Yes Professor. We're here to help with the restoration."

"Very well then. Let's get started. Harry and Mister Weasley, please go to the Great Hall. Professor Flitwick could use hands to help him. Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood is near the Astronomy Tower. I suggest you help her out. Miss Granger...I hope you can do the task?" instructed Minerva and peered through her spectacles at Hermione.

Hermione nodded vehemently and replied, "Of course, Professor. Just tell me the task."

"It's not easy for you, mind you. I would like you to go down to the Quidditch grounds and help the person assigned the same. But, please keep your calm...it's a personal request," frowned Minerva and nodding encouragingly, went back to repairing the infrastructure of the ancient building.

The group split up and Hermione trudged down to the grounds, muttering furiously to herself, "It's not easy, it's not easy. Why, we defeated Volde-bloody-mort together! I really hoped she'd think me to be up to the task. If it's easy and everyone else gets the difficult ones, I am so swapping with them. . . " Just then, she sighted a figure crouching near the base of the high hoops, their back toward her.

"Hey," she called out, but to no response. "Hey!" she shouted out, to no effect yet again. "Oh, what the actual hell-" she stopped short when the person rose and a very familiar platinum head turned to her. Draco Malfoy. Oh no no, she thought to herself. No wonder Professor wanted me to handle him. The rest of them would have hexed him halfway by now, she thought grumpily, her fingers curling toward her wand in preparation of any attack from the former Death Eater.

"Granger?" he squinted in the sunlight, raising a hand to block the rays from his eyes.

"Yes, Malfoy, it's me," she replied and trudged up to him. Before she could say anything, he raised a finger to his lips and gestured to the ground. Warily, she followed his gaze and peered at an egg. "Um, okay? It's an egg. Are you hungry?" she asked, puzzled.

The Slytherin rolled his eyes majestically and whispered, "Shh, it's a Krancklehurt egg. They need complete silence while hatching, or else the chick is born deaf. Don't you remember?" he furrowed his brow, glancing at her.

She huffed and began hotly, "Yes, I do. We studied it in Care of Magical Creatures. I passed my NEWTs too, you know, and I got-" Draco waved his hand at her and hissed, "Would you keep quiet!"

Hermione scowled and glared at him. Just then, the shell shook rapidly and it broke off, a tiny bird about the size of her palm poking its head through the thin membrane. The boy bent and scooped it up in his hand, running his finger along the tiny furry head of the chick and Hermione stared at the sight, dumbfounded. Since when did Draco Malfoy become Mister Caring, she wondered to herself. She watched as the bird chirruped and flapped it wings in his cupped hands. Then, it hopped one foot after the other, and he gently set it on the grass, crouching as he followed its tiny steps with his eyes.

"What are you doing?" she blurted out, causing him to stir and remember the girl beside him.

Furrowing his brow, he replied, "How do you mean? Its wings are too weak to let it into the sky anytime soon-"

"Oh, stop it. I mean, what are you doing here? At Hogwarts," Hermione cut him off rapidly, frustration writ on her face.

Draco fell silent and pursed his lips in a thin line. It was the better part of five minutes that had passed when Hermione grunted, "I asked you something-"

She blinked in a start when he spoke, "Is it too late?"

"Too late for what?" she asked, frowning.

"Too late to...try. Try to be...normal. Look, Granger, I understand the stares. The comments that you people pass at me. How I'm an enemy to you all. I know this counts for nothing to you, but I do not adhere to the principles of Voldemort anymore," the boy flinched slightly even as he said the name and continued, "Look, can you do me a favour?"

Hermione frowned a bit, and after a few moments, nodded in reply, "Only if it's sensible, logical, legal, socially permissible and-"

"God, Granger, I'm not asking you to give me a pound of your flesh! Would you relax? Never mind..." Draco stared at her, and shook his head. Hermione could've sworn she saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

"Hey, just say it," she protested, her pride bruising more and more by the moment.

"Isn't there some way you can get them to stop?" he spoke hastily, his eyes pinned to the ground. He jerked his head toward a couple of people, probably students, who were rootling about in the debris, their eyes straying to the Slytherin every so often as they scowled at him and threw him dirty glares.

Hermione darted her eyes between the two parties. The intense white hatred spewing out of their eyes, Malfoy's shoulders hunched defensively, the furious whispers, Malfoy's gaze unwavering from his shoes. This isn't right, she thought rationally, her empathetic side taking over her irritation at having been paired with Malfoy. No one, not even him, deserves this level of prejudice. It's almost like people still calling me a Mudblood. He's trying. Surely that counts for something, right?

"Alright. Let's clear out the stands, shall we?" she proposed softly, turning away from him as she raised her wand in the air, mumbling, "Reducio" as she shrunk the broken chairs and wooden planks strewn about in the ground.

Draco hissed, "Clear the stands?" as he frowned in surprise.

Hermione rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue, "If we stick together, they won't be so judgmental of you. Sorry if that hurts your feelings, but that's how things are. I'm trying to help you. So, are you going to help me or not?"

He looked at her for a moment, an incomprehensible look in his eyes as she raised her eyebrows at him, a small playing on her lips challengingly. Shaking his head in defeat, he quirked his lips upward and began following her movements...

=o0o=

"Granger...?" Her flashback was broken when Draco shook her by the shoulders. Gasping as she slit her finger, she dropped the blade she was chopping ginger with, a clatter sounding in the dungeons. The sting brought her to reality, where they were in Potions, and she was partnered with Draco Malfoy as per the arrangements. Snape was floating at the table, swivelling his misty head in their direction at the sound.

"Miss Granger, is everything okay?" he asked, gliding smoothly to their table. Draco gulped guiltily at the blood dripping onto the table, his brow furrowed with worry.

"It's just a cut, Professor. I'll be alright," she replied immediately, wincing as Draco pulled her hand for closer inspection.

He growled, "It's my fault; I shook her, Professor. It's quite deep too. I'll take her to the Hospital Wing," he shook his head disgustedly at himself and turned, pulling the girl with him, not bothering to listen to the man's reply.

"Malfoy...Malfoy!" Hermione protested as he grasped her wrist, her feet skittering against the ground as she chased him, trying to match his long strides. He stopped suddenly, and she smashed into his shoulder.

"What?" he muttered, glaring at his shoes.

"Will you relax? I can go by my own, and it's not your fault! I was daydreaming anyway. Now, it's just some blood. Go back, finish our potion, and it better be the best," she glared at him with her last words, and grinning, strode off.

Sure, the cut hurt. It stung.

But she knew that she didn't care. She didn't bother about the murmurs about her hanging out with the ex-Death Eater. She didn't fret about the looks she got when she smiled at him from across the Great Hall. She didn't care about their tense history, no, not at all.

She'd found inner peace, and nothing could penetrate her bubble at all.

A/N: Hi, lovelies! *dodges well-justified tomatoes* What can I say? College admissions, exams, family, health...things got crazy.
Anyway, here you go. Hope you all like this. Next update shall be posted in a couple of days, or a week, max. I need suggestions for newer chapters, so please check out the poll on my profile! It will help me greatly.

Thoughts and reviews are really, really welcome. Thanks again for the reviews, favourites and follows so far!

Love,

Ana