The Journey

6. You First

"We have to do this Draco", pleaded Pansy.  

"Bullshit.  We don't have to do anything.  Just because Potter apologized to us doesn't mean I have to do the same", came the snarky reply.  But Draco knew he was being unreasonable.  He had read his letter over and over again, and felt something in him stir.  If he accepted Potter's apology, which let's face it, he knew he would, they could become friends.  Perhaps even, he thought with longing, something more.  His wild green eyes only looking at him.  Penetrating him with such a stare that it made his insides turn to jelly.

Almost the same conversation was going on outside beside the Black Lake.  Hermoine had gathered the troops, spoken to all of them how Harry had suggested they make peace with the Slytherins.  Calling a truce, and making amends.  Each of them had received a letter, although not as detailed as Ron and Hermoine's, but they were willing to give it a go.  If it would make Harry happy, then why not.  He had apologized first anyway, so they could too.

There were some in the group that thought the snakes should apologize to them first, because of the hell they had put them through, but Hermoine quickly changed their minds about that.  "This all has to do with healing", she said.  "Harry was insulted daily by them, as were Ron and I, and Neville, but he saw it in his heart to let go.  Why can't we do the same?", she asked.

In the common room, Draco had finally given up.  He agreed that they should start the apology process, and told her to write a letter to the Gryffindors, asking them to meet.  She did this and it was delivered soon after.  Hermoine had a look of surprise on her face when the owl arrived and dropped the letter in her lap.  She looked at her friends, opened the letter and read it out aloud.

Granger,

Meet us in the common room.  Ten minutes.

The Slytherins

It made her smile, and being the brightest witch of her age, she knew what was coming.  They all stood up, and made their way towards their common room.  Being back for an eighth year meant that they shared a common room, which in her opinion was a good thing.  Arriving at the entrance, she muttered the password - Bittersweet - and they all entered in unity.

Sitting on the couches were their former? enemies.  Pansy, Draco, Blaise, Gregory, Theo, Millicent and Daphne.  They made their way towards the carpet in front of the fireplace, and it was Pansy who spoke first.  "Granger, we need to talk to you about something".  But before she could continue, Hermoine rushed out.

"You received a letter from Harry, didn't you?  At least one of you did", she claimed.  Pansy looked at the girl up and and down,  hating her intelligence, but nodded anyway.  

"That is why we asked you to meet us.  We, that is all of us, would like to apologize for our part in your shitty years here at Hogwarts.  It would have been so much easier to be friends and a lot less tiring, don't you agree?", she asked.  Hermoine nodded and said yes.

"I know that we have been assholes, although you were too, but we can't go on like this.  We have to learn to get along, and if Potter receiving a fucking letter makes us do this, then yeah".  

Hermoine knew that they had no idea what their friend was going through, and she wasn't about to let them in on anything just yet.  "Thank you Pansy, we are also here to say sorry for what we did to you.  Yes you goaded us, but we could have walked away.  We chose not to, and for the sake of Harry and all our futures, I hope we can move past it, and even become friends", she sighed.

One by one, they all stood up and shook hands.  It was a moment to remember, and Hermoine promised herself that she was going to show Harry her memory of this.  He was going to enjoy watching it.  Even Draco, when he and Weasley came together had shook hands, and said nothing.  A silent agreement to lay off each other, mutual respect and all that.  They asked the house elves for some hot chocolate, and started talking amongst each other of what they knew and the letters that they had all received.

"First of all, let me start by saying that my name is Hermoine, and not Granger", she smiled.  They all agreed again to not refer to each other by their surnames, but by their given names, and what a wonderful start to something perhaps beautiful.

"Pot-Harry wrote to me, saying that he forgives me for trying to hand him over to the dark lord", said Pansy with a shaky voice, suddenly to break the silence.  All the Gryffindors looked at her in wonder.  

"Harry has a knack for that type of thing.  He doesn't want to hate, he only wants to love, so I think that is why.  He doesn't want you hating yourself for something that was out of your control, something that was forced upon you.  We were kids for god's sake Pansy, we all had to do things to survive.  If Harry has forgiven you, then we have too", said Ron.

It was a revelation.  Ron being generous?  Ron being sincere,  even though he had his initial doubts, Hermoine had guaranteed him that this course of action was for the better.  She wasn't wrong, it seemed.  Pansy did a very unlike Slytherin and pureblood thing, and threw herself into his arms.  "Thank you Weas - Ron", she exclaimed.  

Blushing he replied,  "You're welcome".

"Severus sent me a note saying that all potions classes have been cancelled until he returns.  Seems he has gone with Potter, wherever it is he's gone to", said Draco.  

"You call Snape by his first name?", asked Neville.

"Well, he is my godfather", said Draco.  "Sorry, I didn't know", came the reply.

"Hermoine, tell us what's going on.  Maybe we can put our heads together and figure out where he's gone and what he's up to", begged Blaise.

"You first.  Did you receive a letter as well?", she asked.   He shook his head and said no, only Pansy and Draco had.  She looked at the blond man with a raised brow, as if to ask him if it were not too personal, could he share it with them.  And so he did.  "He apologized for not taking my hand in first year, stupid Gryffindor".  

"Is that all he said?", she asked.  He nodded, not willing to tell them everything just yet, and she took it to be the truth.  

She looked at Blaise, then turned her attention to her friends.  Dean, Neville, Seamus and Luna had no idea what her and Ron knew, but she was convinced that if she were to tell them the truth, they would bear even more love for Harry.  But what to divulge and what not.  Could she completely trust them?  She decided to think on it a little while longer before she answered.

"The letter he received came from the muggle family that raised him.  Harry has no other family,  and his reaction was one of pure shock.  He didn't give details what the letter was about, only that this family had something of his, and he needed to get it back", she answered.

"What do you think it is?", asked Pansy.  Hermoine shrugged her shoulders, and said she didn't know.  "He has said that we could write him back, and I for one am going to, I need to know that he is all right.  He also said that he wouldn't be able to reply soon, but better late than never, right?", said Hermoine.

They fell into a comfortable silence, each with their own thoughts, and wondered if Harry was going to be safe.  He was a very powerful wizard, but that didn't mean that he couldn't hurt.  When it was time for class, they went to their rooms to collect their bags.

Their first class was actually a free period, so Draco decided that he was going to write a letter to Potter, replying to him.

Potter

Thank you for your apology.  It was unnecessary.  I will not apologize to you on paper, so get your arse back here so I can say it to your stupid face.

You believe in me?  Has anyone ever told you that you are weird?  

And what the bloody hell does that mean - having a down day look up?  Explain yourself!

Malfoy

He looked at the letter again, and decided it was perfect.  He called for his owl and sent her away, whispering Harry Potter.  She nipped his finger, and flew off out of the window.  Now all he had to do was wait.