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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
- 37
- 38
- 39
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 39

Greg felt a shiver of revulsion run through his whole body, but forced himself
to smile, �I like that one, too, Mil.�

�Only three more,� she huffed and went back up the stairs.

Greg grimaced and crossed his arms moodily as he sat on the couch in the
Slytherin common room the Friday night before the ball. At dinner Millicent had
informed him that she wanted him to help her pick out her dress for the
Halloween ball because she hadn�t figured out which gown to wear. He�d
acquiesced, figuring she meant a dress or two. But, as he sat waiting for her
to show him her twelfth ugly, shapeless dress he wondered how he�d gotten
there.

He liked her well enough and she was very funny when she wasn�t being mean or
rude. But, he knew he wasn�t in love with her. Not like his friends were with
their girlfriends. He was with her more out of a need to be with someone,
rather than alone. As a first girlfriend, he figured he couldn�t have done much
better. She�d shown him things and allowed him to do things when they were
alone that he hadn�t thought he�d ever be able to do.

But, in a strange way, he was still kind of lonely. Hermione and Draco were
hardly around anymore, as they preferred to spend time alone together talking
and studying. And, when they were with the group, everyone could tell they just
wanted to be alone, even though they protested. Whenever Pansy and Ron were
together they laughed and teased one another. The newness of their relationship
had not yet worn off and they reveled in just being together. They were both so
happy it was kind of sickening to watch sometimes.

And, Theo and Parvati had all kinds of shared jokes between them and whispered
together all the time about their future as they made plans. At least her
disastrous parents �meet-the-boyfriend� dinner the previous Sunday at one of
the caf�s in Diagon Alley hadn�t pulled them apart.

�That�s an understatement,� Greg sneered to himself as he thought back on that
evening.

To provide moral support everyone went
with them and sat at a nearby table. Parvati had been a nervous wreck and Theo,
in his panic at meeting her parents, had been almost as stiff as if he�d been
jinxed with a Petrificus Totalus.
Then, as Parvati had predicted, her father couldn�t have cared less that Theo
came from a long history of purebloods. He hadn�t even blown up when Theo�s
last name was finally mentioned, though he did sniff in derision and look away
from the young man. No, none of that had been the biggest problem. The large
Indian man had looked down his nose at Theo, forbidden his daughter to see him
again and stood to leave the table when it was confirmed that he was not of
Indian heritage.

Parvati had started to cry and Padma, Pansy, Hermione
and Ginny had all gone to her aid, as everyone else started yelling about
prejudices and young love. It was then that Greg had seen Blaise sitting at the
bar watching the proceedings. He then saw the expression on Blaise�s face when Padma started to yell at her father in her sister�s
defense.

�Daddy, stop! Why are you acting like this?! Can�t you see what you�re doing to
Vati? She loves him. And, Theo loves her. They�re perfect for each other! But,
you�re too blind to see it. You raised us to be fair, to give people a chance,
but what are you doing now? You don�t know anything about him and you forbid
their relationship?! Why? Because he�s a Nott? Because he�s not Indian? That�s not his fault. He didn�t ask
to be born to his family! Is that all that matters to you? What
about your daughter�s happiness?!�

As the conversation continued, Greg kept his eyes trained on Blaise�s face. He
saw the moment the conversation turned personal for his friend; when Blaise�s
Adam�s apple bobbed with his nervous swallowing. When Parvati�s father had spit
that he�d ��rather his daughters end up with muggleborns
or squibs than someone like that who would sully their bloodlines!� Greg had watched
Blaise�s face mottle in anger. But, just as he stood and looked as if he was
going to join the fray, another look, one of dawning comprehension, replaced
the fury and he sank back down on the barstool; his eyes going to Hermione.

Draco at that point had had enough. First the man had insulted his best friend,
but then he�d also embarrassed his own wife and made both of his daughters cry.
The final straw for Draco was the look of horrified hurt and disbelief on
Hermione�s face as her bloodlines were spat with such detestation.

�Stop, for Merlin�s sake! What the hell is wrong with you?! I learned prejudice
and pride at the hands of a master. And, I thought my family took the prize for
racism and stupidity, but you have us beat hands down. In all my years of my
father teaching me all of that misplaced hatred, at least he never set out to
embarrass his family in public. And, he NEVER hurt me, as you�ve just done your
daughter! You make me sick! Congratulations, Mr. Patil!
You�ve just sunk lower than Lucius Malfoy.� In the stunned silence that
followed, Draco turned to Mrs. Patil and apologized
for his rudeness; sent a sad glance at Padma, Parvati
and Theo; then slid his arm around a shaken Hermione to lead her out of the
place.

The silence continued as the occupants of the restaurant thought on the
departing man�s words and waited to see the reaction of the angry Mr. Patil. Greg heard a low rumbled apology from the man to
Theo and his daughters and everyone sat back down to try to have a civilized
conversation. But, Greg, who hadn�t been able to stop watching Blaise�s
reactions, saw him throw money on the bar and start to skulk out.

Greg caught up with him just outside the door, �Hey, Blaise, wait!�

Blaise hunched his shoulders and looked back at him, �What?�

Although he wanted to ask several other things, the look on his friends face
made only one come out. �Are you okay?�

Blaise grunted and shoved his hands in his pockets. Then he looked back at the
restaurant, �Kind of intense, huh?�

�Yeah.� He knew Blaise wasn�t ready to talk about what
he�d seen and heard, but Greg didn�t want him to go off and sulk alone, either.
�Want some company?�

They�d walked around the village not saying too much to each other. Then they�d
gone back up to the school and gone their separate ways. But, the next morning
in class, Blaise hadn�t picked on Hermione once. He�d also surprised everyone
in the class when he�d leaned over to retrieve her quill when she�d dropped it.
No one said anything to him, but they all felt hopeful that this was the start
of change for him.

�At least something good came of it,� Greg muttered to himself as he glanced up
the stairs to see if Millicent was coming back down yet.

When he saw her coming down in a dark brown, tight dress that made her curvy
body seem more like a large sausage than a body, he�d had enough.

�Okay, look. I�m gonna be honest, Mil. Now, don�t get
mad at me, but do you have anything that�s not like all of these?�

�What do you mean by that?!� she snapped, her hands going to her hips. �I
thought you liked them!�

�What I mean is they are all alike, just different colors. Don�t you have
anything��

Pansy saved him by coming into the common room just then.

�Hey guys. What on earth are you wearing Millie?�

�You know what? Maybe I just won�t go to this stupid dance!� Millicent said as
she turned to go back up the steps.

Greg started to follow, �No, Mil. I didn�t mean it. You look fine! All your
dresses are fine. Just wear any of them. You�ll look nice.�

Pansy sighed and put her hand on his arm, �Sorry. I guess I didn�t help just
then, did I?�

�Not really,� Greg sighed. �Now what do I do?�

Pansy patted his arm and asked, �How about I give it a try?�

�Sure. Good luck!� he said as he sat back down on the couch and crossed his arms
in annoyance. �I don�t even know if she wants to go to the ball together
anymore.�

A half hour later, Pansy and Millicent had returned. Pansy was beaming and
Millicent wore a lovely, light green, floor length dress that looked nice
against her skin and fit well.

�Merlin, Mil, you look fantastic!� he exclaimed coming to his feet.

Pansy nodded, �She�ll be one of the prettiest girls there tomorrow night.�

Millicent blushed and grinned a little, but ruined the moment by saying, �Well,
I�m not putting all that goop on my face though! And, I�ll hex you to London
and back if you come at me with those hair curling charms, Parkinson!�

xxxxxx

�But, you can�t get dress robes in Muggle London,� Draco said in exasperation.

Hermione nodded her agreement as she added another sentence on her potions
essay, �I know that, Draco. I got a gown, not robes. Now, shush.�

Draco, who had stopped trying to write his essay a few minutes prior, sat back
and huffed as he looked around the relatively empty library. They�d been going
around and around and he was no closer to finding out what Hermione would be
wearing to the ball. He taken guess after guess at the color and style and then
started trying to figure it out by where she would have bought it. Her comment
that she didn�t get it in Diagon Alley had thrown
him.

�Just tell me what color it is so we don�t clash,� he asked again.

Hermione looked up from her paper briefly to roll her eyes at him, �God, you
can be such a priss, sometimes. Relax. We won�t
clash.�

�I think I proved last night that I am most definitely not feminine in any
way,� he harrumphed. When she blushed and giggled he leaned back and asked,
�So, where in Muggle London did you get it?�

Hermione heaved a sigh and tossed her quill on the table, �If I tell you will
you stop talking so I can get this done?�

He nodded, but said, �You know we still have Sunday to finish it.�

�As if I have ever waited until the last minute to do an assignment,� she
laughed.

�So, where?� he persisted.

�Fine. I had it made for me at a place my mother uses,
called After Dark. Happy
now?�

Draco stared at her for a moment before he prompted, �And?�

�And, what?�

�And, what does it look like?�

Hermione laughed in his face, �Like a gown you don�t get to see until tomorrow.
Now, be quiet and let me finish this. You could get back to work on yours, too,
you know.�

�I know, but I don�t feel like it.� She didn�t even glance up, so he leaned in
and whined, �Come on, Hermione. It�s Friday night. Let�s go do something.�

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath before she spoke
patiently. �Okay, look. I need to get this done, or you know I won�t be able to
have any fun tomorrow night. Why don�t you go find someone else to bug for an
hour. I�m almost done and then I�m all yours.�

Draco answered with a smirk, �I only want to bug you, though.�

Hermione smiled, �And, you can. In an hour. Now, if
you aren�t going to study, go away and let me finish. The faster you do, the
faster I finish and can focus all my attentions on you.�

�One hour?� he confirmed.

�Yes. Promise.�

He leaned across the table so their faces were inches apart, �I�ll hold you to
that. One hour. Done or not, you�re mine.�

Smiling into his blue-grey eyes she giggled, �You make that sound almost like a
threat.�

He moved forward to kiss her slowly. When she sighed into the kiss, he deepened
it until her tongue was seeking his and her hands were reaching for him.

Just when she moved her hands into his hair, he pulled back and winked, �No,
love, that�s a promise!�

Hermione stared at his fluid movements as he quickly packed his things and
stood to leave. Then she watched him bend over her, his eyes darkening as he
stared at her lips for a moment before placing the softest kiss on them. It was
so sweet, that it took her a moment to realize he�d moved away. When she opened
her eyes, he was almost to the library doors. When he reached them he turned
and looked at her one more time, desire plain on his face, and she felt a
tingle of awareness run through her body.

As the door swung shut behind him she shook herself and glanced at the clock.
She was already down to fifty nine minutes. She blew out a breath and looked
down at her parchment, �Focus on your assignment, Hermione, and not his kisses!
Only about seven inches to go.�

xxxxxx

�It�s not that big,� Ginny smirked. But, then to soothe his probable
indignation she added, �But, it is quite perfect for me.�

Harry smiled and leaned across the bed to capture her lips. They�d started the
evening in the Head�s common room studying. But, the entrance of a pensive
Blaise had eventually run them up to Ginny�s room.

Blaise had barely spoken when he�d entered and hadn�t even attempted to taunt
them as he sat in a chair near the fire and stared into it. It was so unlike him
that they�d both felt the need to try and speak to him. But, his single
syllable answers and grunts told them how closed off to conversation he was.
Eventually, they�d given up and headed upstairs.

Once they reached her room, talk about Blaise turned to talk about the rest of
their friends. That had led to a discussion of Draco and Hermione and their
relationship. And, that led to Ginny sharing too much information about their
sex life, as far as Harry was concerned. In response, Harry, uncomfortable with
talk of Hermione�s sexual relations with anyone, especially Draco Malfoy, turned the conversation to their own relationship.

They�d made love for the first time during the summer after their
reconciliation in a field near The Burrow. And, while it had taken them some
time to find ways to pleasure each other fully, they�d finally reached a place
where they were both quite satisfied. Unfortunately, being at school had made
it easier to be together, but even more difficult to find time and the
opportunity to be alone together. When they�d first arrived at school the
Head�s rooms had been charmed much like the other dorms to not allow boys into
the girl�s rooms. But, a few weeks into the first month, Blaise, in a fit of
rage, had unknowingly made things easier.

One night after a long day, Blaise had stumbled into their common room to find
the two of them snogging on the couch and flipped out
at them. In his anger he�d yelled about how it was his common room, too, and he
shouldn�t have to see that kind of thing. Ginny had shouted back that it wasn�t
like they had anywhere else to go because unlike him, she couldn�t take Harry
upstairs for privacy. His response had been to stomp up the stairs and
magically switch their rooms, all the while shouting that that way he wouldn�t
ever have to see their faces again. When he was done, he�d walked into his new
room and slammed the door, leaving Harry and Ginny to stare after him in shock.
Then the shock had worn off and they�d approached the steps to see if it had
worked.

It had.

�Gin, I�m not really in the mood to study anymore,� Harry said against her lips
as his hand slid up her leg to rest on her thigh.

Ginny smiled as she leaned back and slid down onto the pillows. �What, may I
ask, are you in the mood to do instead?�

�Oh, I don�t know,� he laughed. Then his eyes darkened as he raised his hand to
toy with the buttons on her shirt, �Let�s see if I can think of something.�

Ginny giggled and stilled his hand, �Wait, I�ve been practicing a new charm. Wanna see?�

Harry honestly didn�t care about any new charms when he was so close to his
goal, but he figured humoring her might help him get there faster. �Sure, love.
What is it?�

Ginny slid from the bed, her gaze sultry, as she said, �Susan showed me and
I�ve been practicing for the past few weeks until I got it just right.�

Harry shifted on the bed as she retrieved her wand and lowered the lights. Then
she turned to him, �Ready?�

Harry nodded and sat forward now in anticipation of what she might have to show
him.

Ginny kept her eyes locked on his as she reached up and removed the pins from
her hair, letting the thick red locks fall around her shoulders. Then she
smiled and turned her back to him, looking back over her shoulder as she waved
her wand at herself and whispered, �Divesto.�

Harry almost fell off the bed as her clothes disappeared, leaving him looking
at the smooth, creamy skin of her long, lean back, rounded buttocks, and well
shaped legs. He knew his mouth was hanging open, but he couldn�t seem to close
it as she smiled knowingly at him and turned slowly to face him.

�You like?� she asked quietly.

He nodded dumbly and pushed off of the bed to stand in front of her. The low
light seemed to make her milky skin almost glow, and the fire set her hair off
like sparks were flying from it. She almost looked too beautiful to touch. As
much as he was a normal hormonal man, he was also a man very deeply in love.

�God, Gin. You�re beautiful,� he finally whispered as he raised his hands to
rest them on the gentle flare of her hips.

She blushed prettily, �Thank you, love.�

Then he smiled wickedly at her, �Man, I love magic. You will have to teach me
that one sometime. But, for now��

Ginny sighed as he leaned in to kiss her and his hands slowly slid up her body
and came to rest on her breasts. Their tongues dueled slowly as he toyed with
her nipple with one hand and slid the other around her back to pull her closer.
When the buttons of his shirt rubbed her sensitive skin, she pulled back and
looked up at him.

�Let�s see if it works on someone else.�

Harry smiled, stepped back a step and spread his arms trustingly, �Go for it.�

Ginny raised her wand, waved it at him and cast the charm once again. They both
laughed, �Close,� when they looked down to see him still wearing one sock.

xxxxxx

�So close,� Hermione breathed. �So oh oh
oh.�

Draco smirked from his place between her thighs, but kept the pressure of his
tongue pressed tightly against her and his fingers moving in and out of her
tight passage. She still wore her uniform, minus the knickers he�d removed
minutes earlier and the sight of her writhing against the couch in her common
room, with only the fire to light the room, was almost enough to send him over
the edge then and there.

He had to press his body against the cushions to keep from exploding in his
pants when her orgasm washed over her and she panted his name and her love for
him repeatedly. When he had his body under some measure of control he slowly
kissed his way back up to her lips and thrust his tongue into dance with hers.

Hermione�s hands came up to rake through his hair and hold him closer. She felt
the swell of his desire against her heat and groaned in need. She wanted him
without question. She knew in her heart that he would be her first. But, she
simply wasn�t ready to take that last step yet. Thankfully, she also knew how
to give him relief, so when he began to thrust against her rhythmically she
reached down to undo his pants and push them down his legs. Without breaking
the kiss he shimmied out of his pants and underwear and moved to lie beside
her.

Immediately, she had two thoughts. The first was that she hoped Parvati didn�t
break out of her normal habits and come back to their room early. That thought
scattered quickly though as the second took its place. Feeling him fit so
perfectly against her as he let her set their pace, she loved him with
everything she had and pondered just going for it. But, something still told
her to wait, so she held back and reached down to take him in hand.

Draco shook against her as the force of his desire swept through him. He felt
her soft body against his from head to toe and her heat so near his shaft
called to him. But, he knew she wasn�t ready yet and her simple trust in him to
not take that final step, kept him from leaning up to cover her body with his
own. Instead, he reveled in the feelings that coursed through him and thought
about the day he would be able to make her his. All too soon the feel of her
hand moving over him, her lips ghosting over his face, neck and lips, and her
body shifting closer took him over. And, he came with a groan of her name.

As he breathed heavily against her sweaty neck she ran her hands up and down
his back. Then a giggle escaped her lips.

�What�s so fu�funny?� he asked in between breaths.

�We didn�t even get undressed,� she giggled.

Draco lifted his head and laughed a little with her. It was then he finally
noticed one of the buttons on her school shirt digging into his stomach and
that his own was twisted uncomfortably around his waist.

�Sorry, love. But, I was kind of distracted.�

Hermione laughed as he pulled back a bit, �Yeah, I was, too.�

She charmed them both clean and got off the couch to reach for her underwear.
Draco had pulled his underwear up, but sat on the floor watching her bend over
to get hers.

�I think you should go to all classes exactly like that every day,� he smirked
at her. �Certainly spice up some of them.�

�Yeah, right!� she laughed as she pulled her knickers back up. �And, one day a
staircase moves, I slip and fall and get detention for life for flashing
everyone.�

�Well, I�d enjoy the view,� he winked. �And, I am sure several others would, as
well.�

Hermione grinned saucily, �Yeah, well, if you really want me to flash my
friends, or say Blaise my private parts��

The grin that had been gracing his features disappeared in a blink and he sat
up, �Uh, no. Bad idea.�

Her laugh floated back to him as she left the room and went into the bathroom.

xxxxxx

The next day at lunch Albus Dumbledore sat at the Head table looking down at
his plate, but mentally, he was not even in the room. He�d had a hard morning,
but he felt those new beginnings he kept pushing were finally beginning to take
shape. Lifting his head he glanced around the room at the people who had made
his morning so interesting and shook his head as he laughed to himself. He�d
always known they�d grow into strong adults; he�d pinned his hopes for the
future of the Wizarding world on them doing so. But, as he�d faced, the hurt,
resentful Ronald Weasley in the hallway before breakfast, the formidable and
surprisingly angry Hermione Granger in the library afterward, and the resigned
and forgiving Harry Potter during their rescheduled weekly session, he knew his
hopes were finally being realized.

His morning had begun as normally as he would expect. He�d awoken to a house
elf placing his morning tea and toast next to his newspaper and gone about his
morning ablutions. Consuming his morning potions, much like muggle daily vitamins,
and draining the last of his tea, he�d been ready to face the day, the students
and the excitement of that night�s upcoming ball. After he closed his door and
set the customary wards, he set off down the professor�s corridor with a
twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

He left the hallway and turned the corner towards the Great Hall for a
fortifying breakfast and the comfortable companionship of his friends and
fellow professors. He knew many thought of him as the greatest wizard to ever
live and he acknowledged his own strengths and weaknesses, but he also knew the
awe he inspired in others very often led to his own loneliness. It was very
hard to befriend someone you held in such esteem, and his own fear of failure
kept him from letting too many people get close. With the war over and people
beginning to heal, he�d found the warm acceptance of Minerva, Severus, Tonks
and Remus, and the Weasleys to be just the balm his
battered soul had needed.

He chuckled to himself, as he walked, when he realized he�d just described
Hermione Granger to a tee. She had often fallen under the same �perfectionist�
microscope that he had and her response had been much the same as his; to keep
only to those that knew her and that she really knew. Watching the young woman
come out of her self-imposed shell had been a revelation. The fact that part of
her growth included a young man who�d tormented her and her friends, who�d
challenged her belief, not on the world around them, but in herself, had given
Albus a hope he hadn�t even realized he�d lost. He made a mental note to talk
to her and tell her how proud of her he really was. He couldn�t remember ever
having done so, and he suddenly felt ashamed of himself. He�d spent a great
deal of time trying to show Harry how proud, humbled, and sorry he was of their
past, but he had not once sought out Hermione or Ron. He thought back over the
years he�d known them and shook his head at himself and how shortsighted he�d
been once again.

A few students rushed by him and mumbled apologies for bumping into him as they
hurried to breakfast, and his reverie was brought to an abrupt end. He smiled
distractedly at the students and continued sedately on his way. He�d only gotten
a short way down the hall when he was once again stopped by a hurrying student,
but this time he knew it was fate that had made it so. The person who�d
literally fallen into his arms as he�d rushed around a corner was none other
than Ronald Weasley.

Ron�s face had registered surprise, embarrassment, anger and reluctant
acceptance all in quick succession before he blanked his features and he
stepped away to mutter, �Sorry, Professor Dumbledore, sir.�

Dumbledore nodded and smiled, �It�s quite alright, Mr. Weasley. I understand
tonight�s festivities have everyone in quite a state. Besides, I was just
thinking about you, Hermione and Harry.�

He noted that Ron�s face didn�t change from its blank stare, but took on a wary
look, �Why? Uh, sir?�

�Well, I realized quite recently that I had something important to
discuss with you,� Dumbledore smiled a bit.

Ron seemed to pull inside himself a bit more as he nodded, �Well, Harry should
be right along. He was right behind me.�

The Professor shook his head and tried to smile again, �No, Mr. Wea�Ronald�Ron, I had something important to discuss with you.�

He watched the young man�s face twist in confusion before he blurted, �But,
why? What about? You never, I mean, uh, why, Sir? I mean, about what?�

Dumbledore refrained from putting his hand on Ron�s shoulder in support, as he
wasn�t sure how it would be received. �Let�s get out of the flow of people,
shall we?�

Ron nodded, but asked, �Did I do something wrong, Professor?�

The chuckle rumbled and spilled forth as he shook his head, �No, not at all. Nothing like that.�

Dumbledore steered them to and through the large front doors of the building
across from the Great Hall and stood with his hands resting across his stomach
as he looked out over the grounds of his beloved school. He thought a moment
about what to say as he glanced over at the quiet young man beside him.

Ron stood as still as possible next to the professor with his hands clasped
tightly behind him. He wondered what he could possibly have done to gain the
professor�s notice, when nothing he�d ever done before had garnered it. No
matter how many times he�d stood beside Harry in his quest to rid the world of
Voldemort, or how many times he�d listened to words Dumbledore had supposedly
spoken to Harry, the man himself had never called Ron out on his own.

He heard the professor clear his throat and Ron braced himself. He guessed the forthcoming
words would be some sort of reprimand or bad news about his family; the only
two things his racing mind could conjure as to why the Professor would single
him out after all those years.

Dumbledore faced the morning sky as he spoke in a soft, apologetic voice, �I
owe you a long overdue apology.� He saw the young man�s mouth droop in surprise
out of the side of his eye, but continued. �For so very long I thought I knew
what had to be done and how it was to be done. As you know I did my utmost to
ensure a positive outcome to things. Harry is right in many ways; I did use him
for the greater good to get what I wanted. But, I also know that I used you and
Ms. Granger, as well. I depended on the two of you to be so much and do so
much, and I have never acknowledged, much less thanked you.�

He turned to face the younger man watched the play of emotions once again flit
across his reddened features. �Oh, well, uh��

He then reached out to put his hand on Ron�s shoulder as he continued, �Ronald,
for your many services to me, your loyalty to Harry, and your honor and
sacrifice at every turn, I humbly thank you. I also apologize for putting you
through all that I did.�

Ron nodded dumbly as he stared into the eyes of the former headmaster as if
waiting permission to ask a question. Dumbledore stepped back and smiled at
him.

�Am I forgiven?�

�Oh, yeah, sure. I mean, of course, sir,� Ron sputtered. Then, as if he couldn�t
help himself, he breathed, �Why didn�t you trust me?�

�I�m sorry?� Dumbledore asked, his thick, white brows
furrowed in confusion. �Of course, I trust you.�

Ron shook his head and looked away so the professor wouldn�t see his hurt, �Maybe
now, but you didn�t then. You�you gave me the Deluminator
because you thought�you knew I�d��

Dumbledore stopped Ron with another hand on his shoulder, �I never doubted you,
my boy, never! I never thought you would think�I am very sorry you thought
that.�

�Then why��

�I had very limited time, very few true allies, and I knew any obvious message
would be intercepted. I had lived with the despair, sadness and anger of a horcrux, Ronald. And, as I was sending you three out for
more than one, I knew those feelings would only multiply. One of you would
eventually have to get away, get yourself free from it for a while.�

�But, you knew it would be me,� Ron mumbled sadly. �You knew I would give up on
them, that I would desert them.�

�Well, yes and no, Ron. No, I didn�t think of you as deserting them, I didn�t
think of it as you leaving them. But, yes, I hoped, when the need arose for one
of you to go for a short while to ground yourself once more, that it would be
you who did so. I knew Harry wouldn�t, no, couldn�t leave, not with the tasks I
had given him; he had to endure. And, Ms. Granger, well I admit to having
depended on her tender feelings for the two of you. I�d hoped she would feel an
almost maternal need to not leave Harry alone. Knowing what the horcruxes would do to the three of you, knowing the sheer
madness you would face, you alone were the one I hoped I could depend on to get
away and regroup. One of you would need to be mentally and physically whole to
complete the plans I�d set in motion.�

He waited until Ron�s deliberation of his words seemed to be over before he
finished, �No, Ron. I didn�t give you the Deluminator
because I knew you would leave them. That, as I have said was the only way for
one of you to be clearheaded enough to pull the others through. I gave it to
you because once you were healed, you would have to have a way to find them
again and that was the only way I could think of at the time.�

Ron nodded slowly as he mostly accepted the words that absolved him of the
guilt he�d held onto for so long. But, one thing continued to bother him, �Um,
sir?�

�Yes?�

�Why didn�t you ever tell us of any of your plans? I mean, you put a lot of
stock in the three of us, especially Hermione, figuring out quite a bit. And,
all you left her was a children�s book. What if she hadn�t figured it out?
Actually, what if any one of the many, many things you seem to have hung your
plans on hadn�t happened? Honestly, what if we hadn�t been in
that particular part of the forest on that particular day for Snape to find?!�

�Professor Snape,� Dumbledore gently reminded Ron. Then, he sighed
heavily, but looked Ron in the eye as he answered, �I was a dying man, making a
final plan, Ron. I couldn�t leave room for doubts or failures. I simply had to
have faith that things would work out the way they were supposed to and that I
had done all I could. In the end, it was up to the three of you. And, in the
end, you, all three of you, did me so very proud.�

Ron blushed and nodded, �Thank you, sir.�

�Shall we go break our fasts then?�

�Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,� Ron smiled a bit.

Back in the Great Hall for lunch Dumbledore heaved another heavy sigh. After breakfast
he had sought out Hermione in the library to deliver his apology to her, as
well. He had been surprised by her reaction to his apology. Where Ron had been
saddened and hurt, Hermione�s hurt had manifested as long-held anger. He had often
heard of her legendary temper, but he�d never witnessed it directed at him.
Where Harry had made him feel sorry, and Ron had made him feel apologetic,
Hermione�s anger made him feel a shame he hadn�t before. He hadn�t understood
how much she felt he had put on her young shoulders.

When she had hissed, her voice lowered in deference to their location more than
her respect for him, �You somehow thought in the midst of a war, I should take
the time to learn a lesson about believing in fairytales! You honestly thought
that ruddy book was the best you could do?!� he�d known his forethought had not
been the best it could have been.

Just as Ron had said, he�d left a great percent of everything to chance. And,
whether or not she had finally figured out the complete truth in the riddle, he
wondered if it had been his place to put it on her in the first place. Thankfully,
her forgiveness was as quick to flare as her anger, and they�d left the library
together with a lot more understanding on both sides.

He glanced over at her table and watched her blush at something Draco Malfoy
whispered in her ear, and he felt a smile stretch his face. Hermione had definitely
met her match in him. He knew she would temper Draco�s wild, rebellious streak,
just as he would bring out more of hers. Together, they were like a fine
potion; a lot of volatile ingredients that when put together and nurtured
correctly, could produce something perfect.

Last, as Dumbledore sat back from his plate and picked up his glass of juice,
his eyes fell on Harry. He sat next to the Head Boy, Blaise Zabini, and the two
seemed to be in a deep, amicable discussion about something. Dumbledore was
glad to see the two finally beginning to get along. But, when Harry tilted his
head back and let out a deep, belly laugh, Dumbledore found himself
feeling sorry for the young wizard and guilty once again. Though he and Harry
had come to a place where they could once again talk almost as they had before,
and he believed he was regaining Harry�s trust, he knew there hadn�t been a lot
of those laughs in the dark-haired man�s life. Dumbledore also knew that it was,
at least in part, his fault, as he�d not only placed a huge burden on the
shoulders of an eleven year old boy, but then without giving him anything that
was near to the full story, proceeded to make that burden heavier by the year.

Next to him, Professor Snape, unapologetic for having read his friend�s
thoughts without permission, snorted, but then said quietly, �Forgiveness of
others is easy. It is self-forgiveness, Albus, that
takes the longest. He is a�goo�ahem, good man. You have not ruined him.�

Dumbledore didn�t even think to reprimand his friend for his intrusion as he
was awed by the words that had fallen from his mouth.

�Well, it seems new beginnings have indeed begun,� he smiled.

Severus� answering groan made him smile all that much more.

xxxxxx

Author�s
Responses: I don�t know, have I said it before? Hmmm� Thank you all!
It�s amazing how good you all make me feel.

tblunt:
*waves back* It was a odd, but happy
surprise to see your name pop up over here. :-D Welcome to the dark side. lol� I am really glad
what I put on ffnet and hpff
was not marred by having to cut so much from it, but I am really glad you found
the complete story here! Thanks for following it.

angeles:
Thank you. I am really glad you enjoyed that chapter. :-D

marie:
Well, I am well over 20 and I still often suffer from �forever� syndrome. lol I think it�s all about anticipation. :-) The more you want
something, the bigger it seems, the more time it seems to take in your life
proportionately. I am really glad you liked the Harry/Draco parts, as well as
the image of Teddy asleep on Draco�s chest. I�m a sucker for men who are good
with children. Hugs and thanks to you!

AriesGirl:
Never Twittered before and don�t plan to do so, but it sounds like you have had
a lot of online fun, recently. I hope Tom and Bonnie treat you right. I am
really glad you found the story here and hope I continue to live up to your
expectations. lol� A
porn script writer�hmm�there�s a thought. ha ha ha Thank you, dear!

Qui: YEAH! I hoped I would live up
to your expectations and am very glad I did. I like getting a �puuuurrrrfect!� and a �fabulosa�
from you. :-D� Thank you!!!

kazfeist:
A man is never sexier to me than when he is showing love to a child. mmmmmm So, how was that for a
confrontation? It�s amazing to me that we are so on the same wave length. lol I hope I fixed the typo you saw when I fixed the 2 (eek)
I was told about. Thanks, hon!

Dreamweaver: Thank you, hon! I didn�t think it was too quick, but I felt like I
should at least acknowledge those who did. Writing their first experience
together wasn�t all that hard, as I simply thought back (waaaaaay
back) to my first time and tried to recall all that was going through my head.
I guessed at what Draco would have been thinking, so I�m glad it read well. So,
you�re saying I owe you more tissues? lol Glad I got a
laugh at her sauciness. :-) I would say Snape giving Harry those points spoke
volumes as to his feelings. He couldn�t actually be nice to Harry, but he could
stop punishing him for simply being. I don�t know why, but something about
writing the Lupins just makes me happy. I�m glad you
enjoyed it as much as I did. I think you think a lot like I do. Even in my very
vivid imagination, where I can see Draco and Hermione coming together and
Lucius not killing her for it, I still can�t see Harry and Snape as friends,
nor Snape and (if he was alive) Remus. Sometimes in life there are things you
just can�t get over, and Sevvie can seriously hold a
grudge. lol Thanks, hugs, flowers and candies to you,
dear!

margaritama:
Hi there! Thank you, as always for your great review! How was it on the
re-read? tee hee hee Thank you for your compliment to my imagination.
Honestly, the reason I wrote the first story was to challenge myself. I wanted
to see if a story could be plausibly and well written with them not being in
the UK. I have pretty big personal issues with JK�s Voldemort-like dislike of
all things American, except our money. This time my challenge was to write a
Pansy that wasn�t a Draco-obsessed slut or harpy, AND if I could do it at
school. I am so happy that you like the way I see their �8^th� year. As
for Tonks, she just came across to me as a no-nonsense, but loving woman. I can
totally see her taking them to task for being petty after all they�d been
through. Yes, Draco needs more family to ground him. He is just starting to
find his footing and his only family was his mother. It was nice to be able to
give him a bit more. Thank you for noticing. Harry and Draco becoming closer�there�s
an idea�*evil laughter*.� ;-) Thank you
again, hon! Have a drink of your choice from me to
you!
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Struggling Through New Beginnings