New Beginnings

Plot-Twist

A/N: Contains 'Star Wars' original trilogy spoilers, though I'll be shocked if you didn't already know them!

*****

Hermione came out of her room the next morning to find Draco levitating pancakes.

'That's cheating,' she said, leaning on the counter.

Draco squealed and dropped it on the floor, which was littered with pancakes.

'Dammit, woman!' He growled, pouring more batter into the pan. 'It's not cheating, it's using the skills and tools at my disposal.'

'Uh huh. Let me know if you need help.'

'I can do it myself,' he muttered. 'Wingardium leviosa!'

The pancake rose into the air, turned over and floated back into the pan. He grinned smugly, adding it to the plate of oddly shaped pancakes.

'Ready for that "Star Wars" marathon today?'

'Sure,' Draco shrugged. He served up two plates as Hermione set up the film.

'This is weird,' she frowned, settling on the sofa.

'Mmph?' Draco quirked an eyebrow at her, his mouth full.

'This!' She gestured at them both. 'Being...civil!'

'Well.' He fixed her with a serious look. 'We did sleep together...'

'What! No! We didn't!' Draco sniggered as she spluttered. 'We just...drunkenly passed out...on the same patch of floor...'

'Where, together, we went to sleep,' Draco smirked. 'What did you think I meant? Get your mind out of the gutter, Granger!'

'Shut up. The film's starting.'

*****

'No,' Darth Vader boomed, 'I am your father.'

'What?!'

'Nooooooo!' Luke howled.

'Merlin's balls! Plot-twist!'

Hermione laughed, enjoying Draco's open-mouthed shock.

*****

'I know,' Leia said softly. 'Somehow...I've always known.'

'And you kissed him anyway?!' Draco shrieked. 'Dude!'

'Shut up and watch the film,' Hermione shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

*****

'So, ready for the prequels?'

'There's more?!'

'Episodes 1 to 3, the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.'

'Ooh, that's why I couldn't watch them in chronological order, right?'

'It's the order they were made in, weirdly, but yes, couldn't spoil the plot twist! You're the only person I've ever met who didn't know it was coming. I wasn't missing out on that!'

'What about Weasel?' The question slipped out without thinking.

A flicker of pain shone briefly in Hermione's eyes.

'They'd already seen them. Bill was friends with muggle-borns and he showed the films to everyone else.'

'So, er, as it's my turn to ask a question - who broke up with who?'

'Want me to go get the Sneakoscope?'

'Nah. Believe or not Granger, I trust you. It's you who's struggling with the concept.'

'I broke up with him.'

'Do you regret it?'

'No...it was the right thing to do. We started a relationship in the aftermath of the War. Neither of us was in the right place emotionally for that. We needed space to figure a lot of things out.'

'Like what?'

'Like what to do next. Who we were as people. What we wanted out of life, and from each other. I figured we'd get back together in the end, once we were both ready to commit to it. Turns out I was wrong.'

'That why you came to America?'

'Yes and no. I got a job at the Ministry, but I've always wanted to study at NYMU. I applied for the internship and I guess I hoped he'd come with me. Then he met Astoria. It was all over the papers.'

'I know.'

'I needed to get away from all that. I couldn't face them both, or that bloody Rita Skeeter shoving a quill in my face every time I stepped outside. So, I hopped on a plane as soon as my visa came through. You're not the only one running away.' Hermione laughed, hollowly.

'Here's to running away,' Draco toasted her with a glass of juice. 'May we learn new things and find ourselves in the process.'

'Amen to that!'

They clinked cups, Draco smiling encouragingly at Hermione.

'So...about that next film...?'

'You are such a nerd!' Hermione laughed.