{11} Hermione's Decision

Hermione decides to talk to Draco.

Hermione lay awake all night tossing and turning. She could not believe that she sent that pathetic letter to Draco Malfoy. What the hell was I thinking? She thought bitterly. She hoped that he would not stop talking to her or revert back to his old ways. She prayed that he would not turn a cold shoulder on her for sporting these feelings. She was already guilty for feeling them, but she really couldn't help them anymore. Her vision was filled with his handsome face and his blue eyes.

Sighing painfully, she decided to get up. She quickly peeked into Rose's and Hugo's rooms to make sure they were okay. They miraculously didn't wake up during the fight and she was very grateful for that. She shuffled back in her room and laid back down in bed. Her hands covered her face and she was quite annoyed with herself, until she heard the tapping of a owl at her window.

Grudgingly, she got up out of her bed and let the owl in. Her heart did a familiar swooping sensation at the sight of the owl and let out a heavy groan. She needed to stop this but how she did not know. She gave the owl a friendly pat and some owl treats while taking the letter from her beak. Hermione watched the owl disappear into the clouds.

Nervously, she leaned against the wall, and opened the letter. Her eyes widened as she read through the letter. So Draco is feeling the same as her? Should I trust him? Should I give him a chance? He seems sincere in his letter. Hermione was in a daze again. She chewed nervously on her lip. She didn't know what to do. Battling her mind again, a knock came to her door.

She brandished her wand for safety as she approached the door with caution and breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was Harry. She quietly ushered him in, doing her best to put her worries behind her. Sitting down on the couch, she wordlessly handed the letter to Harry.

Harry slowly read the letter, his head nodded. He returned the letter to Hermione and spoke in a calm voice, "Hermione, I can't tell you what to do, nor what you should be feeling. The only piece of advice I can give you, is that you know what's best for yourself. You need to decide if you want to take that chance or not. I haven't seen you happy in years, Hermione."

It dawned on Hermione that for the first time in seven years, Harry Potter was not acting conceited, he was not concerned with himself but with her. Harry was being sincere for once, it gave her great pride.

Her eyes shone with tears as she reached over and hugged Harry tight to her. He wasn't going to judge her nor complain, like Ron would have.

Sniffling softly, she looked at Harry and said, "I think I am going to take things slowly to see where things lead. I need to get out of this house and find my own place. Hugo and Rose will come with me, of course."

Harry smiled at her decision and asked about Malfoy. Hermione fidgeted a bit, her eyes not quite reaching Harry's gaze, before she said quietly, "I am going to take up his request for dinner after work." Hermione blushed a deep red and turned away.

Harry slowly nodded in her direction and said, "I need to go, Hermione. Just wanted to stop by and make sure you were doing okay."

Harry stood up and secretly thought that he needed to have a quick chat concerning someone. He gave Hermione a hug and left.

Hermione stared wide-eyed at the door and dragged herself to bed, where she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.