Sinners and Saints

Part 5

Hermione's p.o.v

Hermione, still unsure about the encounter she had with Malfoy, turned on her heel and headed back up the stairs deciding it was safer to read her book in her bedroom, away from all the tension hanging in the common room. However before she even reached the bottom of the stairs Malfoy had already caught up to her and she really wasn't sure why.

"Hermione, wait... look, I know there isn't much I can say to make you feel any better about what I have done to you in the past and I wish that I could change so much of it. But I just wanted to say I'm really sorry and I hope that maybe one day you might forgive me and maybe even become friends." Malfoy said.

His confession left her stunned.

She was completely and utterly stunned, there was no other way to put it. Not only had she just had a civil one sided conversation with The Draco Malfoy, but the thing that left her the most shocked, was that he hadn't called her mudblood or beaver or golden girl or even Granger. He had just called her Hermione. A name so foreign on his lips to her that she had to check what he had said.

"What did you just say?" she asked, still bewildered.

"I said I was sor..."

"No before that, what did you call me?" She interrupted.

"Ummmm... what Hermione?" He questioned like it was normal.

"Yes Hermione, why is that something you would think was normal?"

Why was she getting more upset at the fact he had called her Hermione than the fact she was probably one of the only people in the world to receive an apology from THE DRACO MALFOY!!!!

"Look I understand if you don't want to accept my apology but what on earth are you going on about??"

"No, never mind it was just a surprise that's all. I think that if you can prove to me that you are changing, or have changed then maybe we can be friends but until then, seeing as we have to work together, I think we should put our differences between us aside and be civil towards one another, therefore I accept your apology... for now." And with that Hermione turned and left, once reaching the top of the stairs though she tilted her head slightly and said

"Goodnight... Draco." then walked to her bedroom and shut her door, leaving once more, although for entirely different reasons, a stunned Draco in their common room.

.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.

A few weeks later

Hermione woke up the next day with a large smile on her face. It was her birthday. Hermione Granger was nineteen years old. She got out of bed and looked in the mirror, she looked no different to how she had done yesterday. She didn't feel older, but the day had only just started and she was very excited.

Having got up and dressed she headed down to breakfast, it was a Saturday so she had the whole day with her friends. She hoped they hadn't forgotten, or that they were going to do that thing where they pretend to forget, because, if anything, that was worse.

When she got down to the Great Hall she saw Ginny, Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Theo, Blaise, Draco, Luna and even Pansy Parkinson was there, all waiting outside for her.

She grinned at them. Ginny ran over and engulfed her into a Mrs Weasley esque hug. She laughed and gave them all a hug, even Pansy, although it was a bit uncomfortable. They all wished her a Happy Birthday and told her they had a surprise waiting for her in the Great Hall.

She pushed the golden doors open and there were a series of round tables dotted about the hall. Hermione looked at her friends with a puzzled expression. Ron was the first to reply.

"We convinced McGonagall to let us all sit at the same table, just for today, but then she said she would consider changing it to this permanently if it promoted house unity." He answered with a smile.

"Then earlier a fight broke out between a Ravenclaw third year and a Hufflepuff fifth year so she said that after today it would go back to being house tables." Theo added with a laugh.

"At least it wasn't a Gryffindor and a Slytherin." said Hermione.

"I think," Pansy started hesitantly, "that because you and Draco have been living together these past few weeks and haven't really been doing that badly both houses have seemed to realise that if you two can do it then so can the rest of us."

Hermione smiled at this and gave her a nod. It was clear she was trying and Hermione knew it would be hard to build up enough courage to simply ask for forgiveness, especially seeing as Pansy was a Slytherin. So Hermione decided to do something.

"Thank you, you guys are the best! Go on in and pick us the best table. I was wondering, Pansy could I talk to you please?"

Warey glances were exchanged and Hermione could feel a strong sense of overprotection coming off Blaise and Draco.

Pansy nodded and gave a reassuring smile to the boys telling them she would be alright. Theo pulled the boys into the Great Hall and Hermione caught what she thought to be him reassuring them that Hermione was trustworthy and Pansy could handle herself. Hermione had no doubts about that.

"Pansy, I wanted to say that I understand the situation you were in and I get that you were put in such an awful position and before you tell me I have no idea what you went through, I was there for Theo through as much of it as I could be and I'm guessing it was fairly similar situation considering your outcome is practically the same as his. What I'm trying to say is that there is nothing to be forgiven, we all had to do what we had to do to stay alive and I want you to know that you can always come to me if you need anything." She paused for a breath. "I also hope that someday we can be friends."

Pansy looked dumbfounded and then she did something Hermione never predicted, she started to cry and gave Hermione a huge hug.

"This doesn't mean we're friends yet but thank you. It's not that I don't want to be your friend, it's that I have some healing to do before I can move on from what happened. You will tell no one that you saw me cry, the only other people who have, are in that hall." replied Pansy.

Hermione gave a giggle and agreed to her terms, before the two went into the Hall for breakfast. 

.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.

The rest of the day was better than Hermione could have ever asked for, she got beautiful presents from all her friends and two owls, one from Mrs Weasley on behalf of the rest of the Weasley's and one from Fred.

Fred got her the most beautiful charm bracelet with two charms, it was an otter and a hyena, it was their patronuses, she put it on immediately and began to tear up.

By dinner Hermione was so tired, they had been down to Hogsmeade, they went shopping, had lunch at The Three Broomsticks and then walked all the way back up to the castle, 'just for the fun of it' in Ginny's words. Once she was fed, she wished everyone a goodnight and decided just to go to bed. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.