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Struggling Through New Beginnings	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 31233 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do
not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from
the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 23

It wasn�t until
after dinner that Harry found out what had happened to make Draco leave the
all-house common room earlier in the day. Greg had filled Pansy in afterward
and then she had told Ginny at dinner. Ginny then shared it with Harry on their
way back to her room after classes were over for the day.

�So, you�re really okay with this?� he asked her.

Ginny looked up at him and nodded as she shrugged, �Strange, huh?�

Harry nodded mutely, so she continued, �It�s just Hermione�s never been
romanced, you know? She�s not as confident as you and Ron seem to think she is
about, well, girl things. She needs to be pursued, to feel wanted.�

�Ron wanted her. And, what? You think Malfoy is going
to be able to do that?!� Harry asked incredulously as he stopped walking and
stared at his girlfriend as if he didn�t know her.

Ginny shrugged. �Well, yeah. He�s changed, too, Harry. He�s cute, smart, and
now that he�s not being an ass all the time, rather funny.�

�Are we talking about the same person, here?� Harry asked around his clenched
teeth. �The person who called her that horrid name over and
over again. The person who made her teeth grow so long she ended up with
Madame Pomphrey? The same person who��

�The same person who changed, grew up and lost enough to know what�s really
important now, Harry,� Ginny quietly interrupted. �Just like the rest of us.
The same person who maybe, just maybe, will treat her especially nice to make
up for all he�s done to her in the past. And, most importantly, the person she
seems to be interested in right now.�

Harry pushed his hand through his hair in frustration and turned in a circle as
if looking for an escape. When he faced her once again, Ginny stepped forward
and placed her hands on his chest. �Harry, it�s not for us to interfere, no
matter whether it�s Ron, Draco Malfoy, or even, I don�t know, Professor Snape.
If she wants our help or advice, she�ll ask for it and we�ll be there for her.
But, until then, we stay out of it. She can handle herself, even though she
doesn�t think so; she�s a grown woman. It�s time to step back and just be there
for her.�

�Okay, first, Snape? Really? Ewwww,
Gin!� Harry laughed softly and then closed his eyes and pulled her in for a
hug, �I know it�s stupid now, and pointless, but I dislike him so much, Gin.
For all he�s done to everyone, to Professor Dumbledore, just everything. Why
him? What is she thinking? What if she�s making a huge mistake? What if she�s
setting herself up for a world of hurt? And, it�s only been three days, what if
he hasn�t changed as much as he wants everyone to think?�

�And, what if he has and she decides she doesn�t want him after all?� Ginny
asked softly. �What if Hermione hurts him instead? What if, what if, what if?
There are no answers, Harry. All we can do is see what happens and react to
reality. If it is a mistake, then it�s theirs to make.�

�I hate this,� he sighed into her hair. �I just want to save her from herself.�

�I know,� she giggled. �That�s part of why I love you.�

He pulled back to look down at her seriously, �Is it? I thought that was part
of why we were fighting.�

�Oh Harry,� she smiled tenderly up at him, �believe me when I say I love you
just as you are. You do have a bit of a save-the-world thing going on, but I
find it kind of sexy, really.�

He smiled half-heartedly at her attempted joke, but asked, �Seriously, Gin,
tell me what to do to fix whatever is wrong with us. Even though I know I
shouldn�t try to fix it. But, I lost you once due to my own pride and
stupidity; I don�t think I could take doing it again.�

She leaned back in and hugged him close, �You aren�t going to lose me, Harry. I
fear you are stuck with me for years and years to come.� Then she sighed and
said in a voice so low he almost missed what she said, �I just have to figure
out who it is you�re stuck with.�

He heard Theo�s words from earlier and prayed he would say the right thing, �I
am so not stuck, Gin, I�m the luckiest wizard alive. I have the most beautiful,
smart, trustworthy witch as my best friend and girlfriend. I�m dating the Head
Girl of the entire school. I�m with a woman who can stand toe-to-toe with
Blaise Zabini, the head Slytherin git, and make him
back down. I�m with a woman who will fight with me and for me, who would
protect me with everything she has and everything she is. I�m the luckiest
person alive, Ginevra Molly Weasley, because I am with the person who has my
heart.�

She looked up at him with tears sliding down her face, but a smile lighting her
features. �I love you, Harry James Potter. Very much.�

�Not half as much as I love you,� he whispered.

She met him halfway by standing on her toes and they kissed softly. It wasn�t a
kiss of need or want, but of understanding; of simple love and forgiveness.

xxxxx

�So, let me make sure I understand this,� Pansy
said softly with a small nervous laugh. �Your mother has decided that, I am too
good for YOU?�

Draco rolled his eyes, but nodded. He watched Pansy stand and pace away from
the sofa they shared in the Slytherin common room. Her face showed relief, awe,
and a little panic. He wasn�t sure which to deal with first, so he simply
waited for her to speak again as he got lost in his own thoughts.

I wonder what Mother was thinking? Her missive was certainly sparse
enough on the subject. �Oh, and speaking of
betrothals, yours to Ms. Parkinson is ended. The Parkinsons
and I have decided it would be in the best interest of all concerned to sever
their ties and obligations to us. I sincerely hope this news does not distress
you, my son. I truly believe you will find true happiness and far exceed that
which this union would have brought you. Now, what was I, oh yes, your Aunt
Andromeda�s betrothal story. I still can�t quite believe all that I missed of
her life�� And, that was that. Draco
assumed from the way it was written that he and his mother were somehow letting
the Parkinsons off the proverbial hook. And, while he
knew both he and Pansy were happy about it, Draco wondered, wondered what, if
any, role Snape�s message to his mother might have played. Had Snape told his
mother about�no, he wouldn�t. But, he was a persuasive git
and as Head of Slytherin, as well as an Ex-Deatheater,
could twist things to his own purpose quite easily. Had his parting words to
Draco been sincere enough to make him suggest the breaking of the betrothal vow
to Draco�s mother? And, what would it have taken to make her swallow her pride
enough to do so. Begging out of a betrothal would not have been an easy thing
for a prideful woman such as his mother. Snape must have told her something�

Pansy finally turned back to face him and Draco was
startled out of his silent musings by the tears coursing down her cheeks. He
quickly stood, �Pansy? Pans? Are you�what can I�maybe you should sit down.�

She laughed through her tears at his near panicky reaction to her crying, �Calm
down, Draco. I just need to�understand this.�

�What�s to understand?� he asked. �You�re free. We�re no longer being forced to
get married at the end of the year. I thought this would make you happy, Pansy.
Not that I can even begin to fathom why you would want to, but you are even free
to go after the Weasel should you choose to do so. Though, come to think of it,
I do see where that could be a cause for hysterics. I mean, how you could
possibly entertain even the idea of him after thinking you were going to end up
with me?�

Her tears ceased as she smiled a sardonic smile at him, �Ever the prideful one,
aren�t you?�

Draco smirked and nodded, but then a frown formed on his face, �Seriously,
what�s with the tears?�

Pansy shrugged and sat down once again on the sofa, �I don�t know really, but I
think I�m just feeling too much all at once. I am quite relieved, as I am sure
you know, but it�s also just�kind of sad, I guess. I mean, we certainly weren�t
a love match, but I do think I like you, Draco. You know I wanted out of the
arrangement, but not because of who you are. Not because of what you�ve been
through. I would never do that to you. I just��

�You want the chance at happiness that you wouldn�t have with me,� he finished
for her.

�You make it sound so absolute,� she said softly. �Maybe we could have��

�No, we couldn�t,� he interrupted quietly. Then he added, �Not anyone�s fault,
but we�re just not like that with one another. There�s no strong pull, no��

�Spark,� she whispered as she stared at the dark green carpet under their feet.

�Yeah,� he answered just as softly. �I want you to be happy, treated well, respected,
and lo�loved. You deserve it, Pans. You�re an incredible witch with a lot to
offer.�

She snorted a little, �Just not to you.�

When he started to retort, she stopped him, �No, Draco. I didn�t mean it as an
insult to either one of us. It�s just true. I think we could be great friends.
I think I could grow to love you, but more like a friend, you know?�

When he nodded, she continued, �And, you should know and believe that what you
said is true in the reverse, too.�

This time he was the one to get up and pace as he spoke, �Oh, of course. I�m
the catch of the century, Pansy. I am Draco Malfoy, failed Headmaster assassin,
son of the recently deceased Lucius Malfoy, You-Know-Who�s best mate, the boy
who let Hermi�Granger get tortured, almost got Potter
and the rest killed, newly poor, publicly branded��

�Draco, stop!� Pansy shouted over his rant. She stepped in front of him and put
her hands on his upper arms to still him. �Listen to me.�

�No, you don�t understand!� he said as he tried to pull away.

But, she held fast, �No! YOU don�t understand. You are alive. You made it out!
You�ve been given another chance to choose who and how you want to be, Draco.
No, you weren�t a model wizard, but you paid for your choices. You�ve been
forgiven. All you have to do is reach out and take your life back.�

�You say that like it�s so easy; like everyone�s just forgotten all I��

�No,� she shook her head as she led him back to the sofa. �No, no one�s
forgotten. But, as silly as it sounds, time does heal things. Dumbledore�s
alive and Vo�Volde�Voldemort�s dead for good this time. No, you don�t have the
Malfoy fortune anymore, but you still have plenty enough money and you have your
mother. You have your health, your brains, your true friends, and even, I
think, some new ones. That is your new fortune. That is what you have to fight
for and with. You didn�t lose everything, Draco. You still have what�s
important; a new day to try to be better; be more. You have friends to help you
get up and fight each day. And, if you take a chance to go for who
or what you want, you might even have a reason to do it.�

Draco looked away and decided to pretend ignorance, �I don�t know what you
mean. What would I have to fight for?�

Pansy smiled softly, �Well, my now non-future husband, I guess that�s something
you will have to figure out on your own, won�t you?�

Draco shrugged and stared into the fire across from them in silence. Pansy let
him be for a while, but then thought it best to leave him alone. She patted his
leg and stood up. Just as she took her first step away, Draco cleared his
throat quietly, making her look back at him.

He didn�t look up at her, but instead asked softly, almost as if to himself, �How can things have changed so quickly?�

Pansy didn�t have an answer. She knew how he felt, but couldn�t explain it to
herself, much less him. With a sad, small smile she turned and continued up to
her room, all the way thanking Merlin that Theo, Millicent and Goyle had gone to
visit Blaise in his room, leaving her alone for a while with her thoughts.

She entered her small common room and leaned back against the door. She didn�t
notice the low fire that lit upon her arrival, nor the way the beige and tan
furniture played against the dark green walls and carpet in the soft light. She
was too lost in her own musings.

Crossing the room she said to herself in awe, �No more Pansy Malfoy. I don�t
have to marry Draco. I�m free.�

Then she collapsed into giggles on a chair in front of the fire, �All my
thinking and planning and Narcissa did it for me! Thank you! Thank you! Thank
you! I�m free!�

With a glee born of that new freedom she decided she needed to tell someone;
she needed to share her good news. She stood and made to run from the room,
only to realize she had no idea where she would go. She laughed a little at
herself when she remembered that her new girlfriends were Gryffindors and one
was the Head girl. She couldn�t very well go traipsing around the castle asking
for directions to the Gryffindor common room to see Hermione. And, with
everyone else already at Blaise�s, she couldn�t go see Ginny. With a sigh, she
moved away from the door and sat back down on the chair.

�Man, I wish�� she said as she stared into the fire in front of her. Then she
smacked herself on the forehead, �Duh!�

She hurried to kneel in front of the fire and took some of the floo powder from
the bowl next to the edge of the fireplace. Students couldn�t floo out of
Hogwarts, but along with the many other changes that year, the fireplaces had
been opened for messaging. They could contact friends inside the school freely
from their own fireplaces, and their family and outside friends from
specifically monitored ones in various professors� offices.

�Hermione Granger,� Pansy called excitedly as she tossed in the floo powder and
stuck her head in the flames. She prayed Hermione would be in her common room
and that Parvati would still be meeting with her Mental Health advisor,
Professor Trelawney.

It wasn�t until she heard Hermione�s voice calling her name that she realized
that she had just easily and without thought, called a friend. She, Pansy
Parkinson, had a girl friend. Someone she could call and talk to, just like
other women her age.

Hermione come into view with a bright smile, �Hi!�

Pansy watched Hermione cross the room to kneel in front of the fireplace and
released a breath she hadn�t known she was holding.

Suddenly, she was nervous, �Um, I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to interrupt you if
you were busy. I didn�t think before I��

�Pansy, stop,� Hermione laughed. �Hi. What�s going on?�

Pansy couldn�t control her nervous rambling, �Well, I had some news and I
wanted to share it with someone. A friend. And, well,
I thought of you and Ginny, but if you�re busy, I can go. I don�t want to
impose or anything.�

�I wasn�t busy, just studying. No worries. Spill,� Hermione ordered with a wide
smile as she adjusted herself to a more comfortable position.

�I�m free!� Pansy exploded with a laugh.

Having put all her personal thoughts aside as she studied, Hermione was
confused, �Huh? Free from what?�

�Draco! Can you believe it?! His mother is calling it off. She thinks it
would be bad form to force their family on mine now. Stupid reason really, but
whatever, I don�t care! I�m free. I don�t have to marry Draco!� Pansy beamed.

Hermione reminded herself to act surprised, and smiled a genuine smile, faced
with Pansy�s obvious glee. �Wow! That�s great, Pansy. Congratulations. Now, you
don�t have to think about how to defy your parents any longer! But, how did
this all come about?�

�Draco just told me downstairs. I don�t know how long he�s known, as I didn�t
think to ask, but apparently his mother contacted my parents and dissolved the
agreement.�

Hermione got a thoughtful look on her face, �But, what if your parents didn�t
agree?�

Pansy looked at her like she had grown another head for a moment before she
laughed, �That�s right, you�re muggleborn, you
wouldn�t know. It�s just the way things are done in wizarding families,
Hermione. The male�s family has all the actual decision making power. In most
cases they are the ones with the money and it�s considered a gift to you and
your family that they want to merge your families.�

�That�s so old-fashioned!� Hermione exclaimed with a look of distaste.

�I know,� Pansy smiled and then laughed, �but in this case it works out well
for me, so I�m not complaining.�

Hermione shook her head, but smiled at Pansy. �So, just like that you�re free
to marry anyone you want?�

Pansy shrugged, �Well, no, not really. I mean, my
parents will probably still try to make me a good match, but this at least buys
me some time to find a way to tell them how I feel.�

�And,� Hermione smiled knowingly, �time to plan how to try to attract a certain
red-head.�

�

Hermione laughed when Pansy stuttered and her blush could be seen even in the
flames that surrounded her head. Hermione tilted her head in thought.

�Doesn�t that hurt?� she asked.

Pansy looked confused by the change in the flow of the conversation, �Doesn�t
what hurt?�

�Kneeling like that? With your head sticking in a fireplace?�

�Oh,� Pansy giggled, �kind of. It�s hard on the knees sometimes. But,
since we still haven�t gotten around to adopting those muggle celliefunnies, it�s the only way, unless you want to wait
for an owl.�

�Cell phones,� Hermione corrected with a smile. Then she looked up at the clock
over her common room door, �But, you know, it�s not going to be curfew for a
couple of hours. Want to meet me in the all-house common room? We could get a
snack, talk, and study together.�

Pansy nodded happily, �Yeah. That sounds great. Thanks.�

Hermione stood and brushed off her pants, �Okay, see you there in about ten
minutes?�

Pansy nodded and Hermione continued with a sly grin, �Who knows. We might even
be able to come up with some of that plan for you.�

Pansy grinned back and nodded, but then her grin turned to a smirk as she
answered, �Who knows, is right. We also might find time to work on a way for
you and certain blonde to get a chance to talk.�

Before Hermione could answer, Pansy pulled her head out of the fireplace and
sat back with a laugh. The look on Hermione�s face had been funny; immediate
denial, mixed with a touch of interest and hope.

�What�s so funny?� Millicent asked from behind her.

Pansy jumped, fell back on her rear, and shrieked, �Millie!�

�Who else?� Millicent�s gruff voice answered back as
she came around the couch to sit. �Who were you talking to?�

Pansy hedged as she hurriedly got up and moved to the stairs, �Just a study partner. We�re going to study in the all-house common room.� Then, banking on
Millicent�s aversion to studying, she added, �Wanna come
with?�

Predictably, Millicent shook her head, �You�re such a geek. You�re almost as
bad as Granger with all this studying. Never mind that it�s only the first week
of school, so you can�t have all that much to do yet, but why on earth do you
study like it means anything? I mean, you�re marrying Malfoy. It�s not like you
will have to work in the future.�

�He doesn�t have his fortune any more, remember?� Pansy reminded the woman as
she moved up the stairs. She wasn�t comfortable telling Millicent about the
recent turn of events yet.

�They didn�t lose it all,� Millie answered back.
�I�m sure he�s still got enough to keep you and any brats you pop out in shoes
and clothes for life.�

Pansy just shrugged, �Maybe I want to be able to
earn my own way and not be just an accessory in someone�s life.�

Millicent harrumphed and shook her head as she got up and moved to the little
kitchenette area. �Barmy, if you ask me!� she mumbled to herself. Pansy
hurriedly grabbed her things and dashed out of the room, calling a goodbye over
her shoulder. She rushed down the steps and made it almost to the door before
she was stopped.

�Where are you running off to?� Draco called from the sofa he seemed to have
not moved from since they�d spoken.

�Oh, um, studying with a friend,� she answered vaguely.

Draco leaned back and studied her for a moment, �A friend, huh? That word sure
does keep creeping up. So, who�s this mystery person?�

Pansy pondered her answer for a moment and then smirked, �A girlfriend. We�re
going to study, but we�re also going to talk about boys and relationships. Wanna come?�

�No thanks,� Draco smiled a cheeky grin, �although I am sure you would both benefit
from my opinions and oh-so-vast experience.�

Pansy stepped out of the portrait with a laugh, but then just before the
portrait shut she answered, �I don�t need your opinions, but I�m pretty sure
Hermione would be interested in knowing them.�

xxxxx

Author�s Responses � Yes, for those
that caught it, that was a wink and a nod of thanks to
all of you who read my previous story and came back for more with this one.
Thank you all very much! And, if you would allow me to get a bit �fangirly� for a moment�EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! I love,
love, love you guys. I know some of you who write know the simple joy of
getting reviews, but I think that was my all-time high with this story. I
posted the chapter on both sites and then had to go attend to some inaugural
things. When I came home last night I had 26
messages from you beautiful, lovely, wonderful people (on both sites)! I don�t know how
to explain my joy at reading each and every word. You are all very funny, astute,
giving and thorough. I was pleased and surprised by some of the guesses and
thoughts on things. :-D I will let you know now that Professor Vector, as much
as I, and apparently many of you liked her, is very much periphery after this.
She was introduced more to let everyone know that Hermione does have someone
�safe� near her age to talk to about everything from here on out. But, anyway,
THANK YOU! You keep me going.

kazfeist: Thank you, hon! I hope you have a great, safe trip.

Mrs.DracoMalfoy: The scent thing
is actually from my real life. lol My best friend has
been married for almost ten years and still says to this day she knew her hubby
was the one as soon as she smelled him. He smelled like home to her. It just
seemed right for the story. And, no worries, Greg will get something to take
his mind off of her soon enough. ;-) Thank you!

Losername & bLondpierogi: Thank you, both
very much!

margaritama: Hi there. You had
me smiling at your anger at Harry. Remember, Draco put them all, especially
Harry, through A LOT in the past from day one (referring to the books, not the
movies). Harry�s dislike is justified, he just has to
learn to not take it over the top. And, he will. Someday� ha ha ha And, you made me laugh out
loud at the image of �Blaise {sticking} his head in an ice bucket� to keep from
exploding. BWAH!!! Thank you, hon!!

dragonsgirl: Honey, I think
the idea of him just grabbing her and going for the gusto, so to speak, is a
GREAT one. lol It just doesn�t fit with this
Draco�sigh. Thank you so much for saying it is �unbelievably realistic and good.�
I love a good smut-tastic story as much as the next
person, but after about the first 40 pages I realized it was not going to go
that route. These characters seemed to have to tell the story their way, so I
let them. lol I already know the sequel (them 5 years later) will be more along
those lines, but for now, I can tell you we will get them at least through
their first time together. ;-) Hugs to you!

Dreamweaver: Honey, I could
NEVER get enough of your �ramblings!� You make me feel like I am talking to
someone about all these thoughts in my head and you give me things to think
about as I near the end of the story. So, I thank you. And, I can tell you,
that you have already affected the story several times, as I went back and
fixed or added a couple of things because of a question you posed or a thought
you had. Good on ya� for being a helper without even
knowing. lol Now, let�s see�

Chap
18 � Yes, you can be �a wayward naughty Slytherin who need a good (cough)
talking to (cough)� as soon as I figure out how to be the �good, strong woman
who brings out the tender, good, but naughty side of Lucius.� I�m working on
it. Blaise�s wake-up call is coming, but it won�t happen for a while. The good
news is he does relax a bit for a while. You know, you were the only one to
comment on Pansy�s thoughts on her parents. Thank you! I thought that was
pretty sad myself.

Chap 19 � �Theodore Nott, M.D., Couple�s Counselor.� I can see it. ha ha ha
And, no, Draco shouldn�t be so hard on himself, but he can�t help it. He has a
crush on the person he personally hurt more than the others, and he watched
while she was tortured in HIS home, by HIS aunt. Plus, with all that summer
counseling, he has had a lot of time to think about it. Guilt is a heavy load
to bear. I must say it was fun re-writing the Slytherin boys� new friendship.
They are kind of like ports in a storm to each other, even if they do have
their own personal troubles amongst them. But, Blaise�well�sigh�

Chap 20 � �It's cool to look at the menu (discreetly) as long as you eat at
home,� Loved it!! I am so glad I was able to make you giggle over the children
chastising them. It made me laugh, too! And, I couldn�t resist having Theo make
Harry swallow his words. ;-)

Chap
21 � Ginny is a lot more mature than I think she gives herself credit for
being. And, I know I used to think people didn�t know the �real� me, but people
who love you tend to figure you out. :-) I love that you love this Ron. I have
read so many stories where people put him in 1 of 3 categories (deranged
lunatic, cheater, or dead) and it was a challenged to me to see if I could
believably let them just have grown apart, but still be friends. Thank you. The
Aussie witch was created out of my love for
Australia. I have been three times and can�t wait to go back. As for your other
thoughts�time will tell is all I�m sayin�! tee hee hee

Chap
22 � You�d think Hermione would know better than to judge, but I wanted to make
sure it was shown that she too could jump to conclusions without full thought,
just like every other human. The movies made her a lot smarter than the books,
and ficdom has made her almost invincible. But, she
is just an 18-year old (she is almost a year older than the rest and would have
had her birthday on the run for the Horcruxes) girl
with all the same reactions as others. Greg�madflkajfadsjfasbfw;ohfaskfjs;adfj�
Did you get that? lol Translation�still not talkin�! And, GQ (Gentlemen�s Quarterly) is a men�s fashion
and style magazine that I now assume is only read by the metrosexual
men amongst us in The States. Sorry for the confusion. Sorry Pansy didn�t get
to be the one to break it off, but I hope you liked their conversation anyway.

And,
now back to our regularly scheduled updates�sorry. LMAO Hugs and flowers to
you, hon!

PutrescentQueen: I love your love
of the story! And, I am really glad you like the details. :-) I challenged
myself with a couple of one-shots at Christmas just to see if I could do it, as
I tend to let the story write itself usually. I am happy to know people
appreciate it. Thank you!!
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Struggling Through New Beginnings