Hermione Granger, one-third of the Golden Trio, has returned to Hogwarts to complete her 7th year of magical education. To celebrate the ending of the war, the newly appointed headmistress Minera McGonagall wishes to promote unity and acceptance amo...
'Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.' ― Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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8: Adoration
By the time dinner had finished that evening, no one had seen Hermione or Pansy since the incident with Parvati Patil. Draco had spoken to them when he had finished with his Quidditch practice and it was safe to say that the Head boy was furious.
In the short weeks since returning to Hogwarts, Hermione had marvelled out how much Draco had changed since the war. However, the moment he learnt of what had happened to Pansy, Hermione had seen a piece of the old Draco emerge within the depths of his grey eyes. But this, surprisingly, had neither frightened her nor come as a surprise.
As she watched Draco's grey eyes become stormy with anger, she both understand his fury and admired how protective he was of those close to him.
They stood in the kitchen, Pansy resting comfortably on the couch in the room next to them, and spoke in hushed voices to not disturb her.
'How dare she!' Draco said feeling the urge to throw something in his frustration, 'How dare Patil think she can get away with something like this!'
'She most certainly hasn't gotten away with anything, I can assure you, ' Hermione replied softly. She was trying her best to keep her own anger at bay in the hope of calming his.
'I know,' Draco's features softened as he took in Hermione, 'I know you made sure of that. And thank you...for, you know...for being there for Pansy.'
'You don't have to thank me for anything, Draco. Believe me, it was my pleasure to put them in their place. These last few years haven't been easy on any of us and we've all done questionable things to survive, but that is all in the past now. Nothing can excuse the way they treated her today.'
'Still,' Draco said as he took Hermione in his arms, 'Thank you. You tried to remind them that people are capable of change. I mean look at me. I'm finally starting to feel like I'm becoming the man I was always meant to be. And that's all thanks to you.'
'You don't have to be someone you don't want to be anymore, Draco. You are free to be however you choose. And you don't need to change or become a new person for me. The man standing before me now is more than enough.' Hermione smiled as she laid her head against his chest, 'You are enough.'
*
Leaving the Great Hall with Blaise, Draco fought the urge to groan as he was stopped by two redheads and the Chosen One.
