Chasing Reality

Surprise

Harry bent down to place a bouquet of lilies at the gravestone. Tears slipped down his cheeks.
Ginny came up behind him and entwined her fingers with his.
"You were right. The world isn't split into good people and death eaters. If only I'd believed it sooner." More tears fell from his eyes.
Ron joined them and sighed. He too placed a bouquet of flowers on the grave.
They turned and walked down the cobblestone path and approached a  bench near the entrance of the cemetery.
"I don't understand why you won't let me walk even ten measly steps." Hermione grumbled.
Harry grinned.
"Your leg's wounded. Pretty badly." He said.
"But it's Sirius' four year death anniversary. Harry, I just want to see his grave.
Harry sighed but shook his head. 
They apparated back home.

Later that evening, Ginny and Hermione sat together while James slept peacefully in the cradle. Ginny looked like she'd had enough of motherhood.
"I love James, but not his incessant wailing. He's a troublemaker too. Much like the man I married." She rolled her eyes and Hermione laughed.
Later, they sat discussing Hermione's ordeal.
"Look! Aunt 'Mione, you're on front page!" Teddy yelled as he ran in.
"Teddy! Shush! The baby's sleeping." Ginny whisper-yelled.
"Sorry." He mumbled and handed Hermione the paper.
Harry and Ginny had adopted the boy after his parents died. Harry felt it was the least he could do for Remus and Tonks. He wasn't any trouble at all. Teddy spent most of his time with his Grandmother, Andromeda.

Hermione read the article aloud.

Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger wrongly accused.

Good morning dear readers. Reeta Skeeter here, back with some splendid news.
Brains of the Golden Trio, Ms. Hermione Jean Granger, and the heir of the Malfoy household, Draco Malfoy, who were accused of murder almost a month ago, have now been proven innocent .
The real shocker, however, is who the true killer is.  As it turns out, Lucius Malfoy, convicted Death-eater, presumed dead from sustaining injuries while in Azkaban, was the man behind the curtains.
Ministry Official, Titus Tirsten, says he was witness to this statement. The ministry was informed by a fellow Auror, Ronald Weasley, of the battle between Lucius and his accomplice and ministry worker, Hannah Abbot and the Golden Trio as well as some of Draco Malfoy's friends, which almost resulted in the death of our War Heroine, Hermione Granger. The time turner was restored and the copy of the book of dark magic Malfoy Sr. used to harness powerful magic has been eviscerated. My sincerest apologies to the families who've lost loved ones in the course of these incidents.
The wizarding society is, once again, at peace.

Hermione sighed and threw the paper.
"What's on your mind 'Mione?" Ginny asked.
Draco. Hermione thought.
"Just, you know.....the whole thing." She lied.
Ginny took a pillow and whacked her with it.
"Hey! What gives?" Hermione retorted.
"I don't appreciate being lied to!" Ginny said crossly.
She sighed and Ginny smiled smugly, which scared Hermione a little.
"You've got the Cupid's arrow up your arse." Ginny cheered.
"I....wait, what?" Hermione asked.
"Thats my way of telling you that you're too stupid to realise you're in love with a certain blond." Ginny snickered.
"I am not!" Hermione huffed.

Draco was back home. Finally.
And after much pleading, he got St.Mungo's to agree on discharging his mother.
Ofcourse, that would put an end to his trips to the bar and his late night screwing.
But he didn't mind. He didn't feel like doing anything of the sort anymore.
He brought his mother up to the room after his cleaning it up and removing any harmful objects from it.
His mother was now asleep and Draco was now restless.
He was grateful to whatever all-powerful force that kept Granger alive. 

He decided he wanted to visit Florish and Blotts.
So he apparated to the bookshop and looked around the shelves, slowly stroking the spines if the books, until his eyes fell on a pair of brown ones. And a pair of blue ones, twinkling with mischief.
"Hermione. Weaslette." Malfoy nodded in their direction.
"Hello Malfoy. Stalking Hermione here, are we?" Ginny started, creating an awkward air between the other Gryffindor and the Slytherin.
"No, actually. I came to buy Blaise a present. He's quite an avid reader and it's his birthday tomorrow. So we're hosting a surprise party at his manor. His mother wanted him to have the best one yet." Draco added the last part sadly.
"Anyways, since you are here, I'd like to cordially invite the two of you. Oh, and bring a date. It's going to be quite the ball. You'll have fun." Draco laughed at the irony of it all.
Hermione and Ginny nodded happily and they turned to part ways.
Draco abruptly stopped in his tracks, but the girls kept walking. He turned and called out to them again.
"Hey!" They turned around.
"Granger, would you like to be my date? Weaslette, you'd still have to bring your own date though."
Draco asked Hermione and turned to Ginny.
Hermione thought about it.
"Merlin! Go with you? To another ball?" She said and he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, second time's a charm, right?" She said unsurely.
He smirked.
"I knew you couldn't resist me Granger." He said.
Hermione reached out for the biggest and heaviest book she found and smacked him across his head with it.
"What in Slytherin's saggy sausage! I was only kidding." The Slytherin yelled, earning a glare from the woman at the sales desk for the inappropriate language.
"You narcissistic git!" She laughed and walked away with Ginny, leaving Malfoy to rub his sore temple.

No one could ever throw a surprise party grander than this one.

The same ballroom where it all began.
Blaise cluelessly walked along with Draco, who told him there was a ministry official waiting for him somewhere.
Colourful confetti exploded from random corners of the room and everyone popped out of their hiding spots as they wished him.
As everyone settled, Draco took a glass of champagne and made toast to his best mate, who was almost in tears.
Later, Draco made his way through the crowd and found Hermione dancing with Ginny. Potter and Weasley were no where to be seen.
"Hey Red! Mind if I borrow little Miss know-it-all for a dance?" Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
Ginny danced away and signalled Potter who was sitting on one of the tables, to join her. He gulped and danced, it kind of slithered, his way to Ginny.
Hermione smiled.
"Wow! Potter's really bad at dancing." He said.
"Yeah. He the worst." She laughed.
The atmosphere in the room changed as the lights dimmed and an upbeat song played.
They danced for about an hour, all sweaty and hot.
Draco looked at Hermione for a minute. She smirked at him and brought her lips to his mouth.
Soon, it got heated and Draco broke away.
"Let's get out of here." He said and she nodded.

Draco banged Hermione into literally everything on the way up to the guest's bedroom. He was too addicted to watch where he was going.
He muttered a sorry for what seemed like the fifth time as his hands slipped under her dress and her legs snaked around his waist.
He carried her upstairs, Hermione's sleeves already slipping off her shoulder, exposing her bra.
As they entered the room, they mouths dropped open.
Ron was hovering over Pansy, who's legs were up on either of his shoulders. They were stark naked but the silk sheets covered any scarring sights.
Pansy, who'd finally noticed the couple at the door, shrieked.
Hermione's face reddened with embarrassment.
"We'll just leave you alone." Hermione said and pulled Draco out of the room.
Draco waved childishly at the two and grinned.
"Have fun." He said as Hermione dragged him out.
They went into the next room, locked it and continued their heated endeavour, relieved that no one was doing anything scandalous in this one.
"Wow. Parkinson's flexible huh?" He said. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"Pansy's not nearly as good as me." Hermione smirked confidently.
"Yeah? Surprise me Granger." He growled in her ear, making her shiver.

And she did just that.