"And we found that this whole village drank gillywater," Neville paused mid-story to catch his breath. He gave a brief chuckle before plunging into the conclusion. "Their gillyweed to water ratio was far too high! Everyone was diving into the river for hours because they kept growing gills."

Harry raised a hand to his neck, "That is an experience I can relate to, Neville."

The table let out a far too appreciative and loud laugh, glasses clinked together, tears wiped. They'd been at it for hours and whatever tension existed disappeared after the third or fourth shot of firewhiskey. Draco leaned back into his seat, chuckling softly. The alcohol certainly loosened everyone, he decided, because in no other scenario would he expect the three Gryffindors to accept his presence this easily. Especially after he created the crack that destroyed Hermione and Ron's relationship.

"I remember Viktor Krum brooding about you after that second task," Malfoy added. The Durmstrang students and Slytherins got along quite well during the tournament. He certainly tried to befriend the famous quidditch seeker. "He couldn't believe you stole second place from him."

Hermione nodded in agreement, "Vould you believe it? A boy of fourteen defeating vorld-famous quidditch star Viktor Krum?"

Her Bulgarian accent was way off, which led to another round of laughter.

When Malfoy first sat down at their table, the stares were incredulous. He was certain his plan to explain already failed, but there was no turning back now. He took a deep breath and unleashed everything: how Voldemort assigned him to the assassination of Dumbledore, a seemingly impossible task; the fact that his family's safety depended on him completing it. He told them of the disgust he felt watching his Aunt Bellatrix and Fenrir Greyback come through the Vanishing Cabinet, and the vague hope he felt when Dumbledore offered him protection.

His slightly drunk audience listened without interruption until then. Harry nodded his head at the last part, having been frozen at the astronomy tower. "You lowered your wand," he said in a whisper, staring emphatically at Malfoy.

Draco broke his rival's gaze, "Yeah, but I did horrible things after that. I even tried to bring you to him during the Battle. I thought it would fix… everything. Still, you saved my life."

If it hadn't been for Harry, he and Goyle would never have escaped the Room of Requirement. "You saved mine too," he responded. "At your mansion."

It was true that he recognized Harry through his swollen face, but did that one act make up for all the others? Hermione wondered the same thing. It impressed her how open and welcoming Harry was being, but she stung with resentment. Throughout their youth he insulted her blood and questioned her right to practice magic. He had been nearby when his aunt tortured her. He fought against them until the very end. She needed to know if his apologies were real.

"So, is that it? You've seen the error of your ways?" Hermione asked.

"I'm still prone to certain prejudices, Hermione," Draco admitted. "But I can assure you that I'm not bathing in the blood of muggle-borns."

The tension began to break with a snort from Neville. He raised his glass of firewhiskey. "If there's one sentiment I can approve of toasting to, it has got to be that."

The night continued on with stories, laughs, and drinks. Hermione felt better than she had all month, especially when she managed to pull a smile from Malfoy while relaying the story of punching him in third year. Harry countered for him, bringing up the short but embarrassing period of time when Hermione dated Cormac McLaggen.

A short time past midnight, Harry stood. He announced that if he didn't arrive home soon Ginny would be waiting with a curse, which was not an idle threat. Neville thanked everyone for celebrating with him before the two staggered off and drunkenly apparrated out.

"There really should be a law about apparrating under the influence," Hermione said. "I am sure accidents would be down by—"

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Draco interrupted while he offered his hand to her.

She stared at him queerly. She almost forgot he was there or at least who he really was. She felt foggy, not quite making the connection of his question and his outstretched hand. The pub seemed stuffy then and fresh air the perfect solution. Her finger wrapped around his, and he pulled her gently from the seat and guided her onto the streets of Hogsmeade. At this hour all the shops were closed and only The Three Broomsticks outpour of light and sound filled the road as they passed.

Draco stopped when the train station came into sight, and he tugged at Hermione's hand. She felt a flutter in her stomach when he met her eyes, but she found herself desperately wishing she had full control of her senses. Drinking around Draco Malfoy would stop immediately, she vowed.

"I needed to tell you," he started. Had this been the same opening he used at The Leaky Cauldron? Being impaired around Hermione Granger needed to end from here on out, he declared. "I meant everything I said earlier. I do regret what I've done. But, I wanted you to know that you… you affected me more than I wanted to admit."

"Affected?" she squeaked out.

"You were the first muggle-born I knew, really. Obviously, I was surrounded by them at school, but I couldn't even remember their names. I was jealous of you, I think. You were always the best. I couldn't handle that so I hated you."

This confession was the furthest thing from what she expected. She stood, hands clasped with him in the darkness of Hogsmeade, her brow furrowed. She wanted to say that it didn't matter anymore, but she could see the desperation in his eyes. Then again, maybe it did matter. She hadn't been brooding over him (not until he reappeared at least), but there was a piece of her that never moved on. She nodded, acknowledging she understood and encouraging him to continue.

"I always felt this… burning desire because of you," Draco said, grimacing at how truthful he was being. "It wasn't physical desire. Not until our sixth year, in that detention, when nothing seemed more important than having you."

Hermione blushed and found her voice. "Did that satisfy you?"

He almost let out a laugh before he realized she didn't mean if it sexually satisfied him. His satisfaction at the time was clearly evident. "No, you were still there. Plaguing me worse than before."

She let out a shaky breath. She built her whole world around her work and her relationship with Ron. Now that one half of that was gone, seemingly for good, she didn't know where to go. At the very least, Hermione knew that she could not fill the void Ron left. They were together romantically for four years and best friends for so much longer. The very reminder that he wasn't in her life anymore made Hermione queasy, and Draco's excessively honest confession did not help.

"Where does that leave us now?" she asked, taking a step back. This suddenly seemed all too real and serious.

The movement unnerved Draco. He stumbled on his next words, "I-I would like to take you out."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "On a date?"

"Yes. This upcoming Friday, on Halloween."

She managed a laugh but nodded her acceptance. It seemed preposterous to her that a witch and a wizard would be going out on Halloween, but then again, it also seemed unreal that the wizard happened to be Draco Malfoy.