Harry

I heard a tapping on my window. I looked up from my bed and saw an owl. I walked to the window and gave it a treat after it settled inside. He got comfy and I took one of the letters from its feet. Hermione must have gotten more than one letter to respond to.

I sat down and opened up her letter.

'Dear Harry and Ronald,

Of course, I'm coming back Harry. It would be ridiculous if I didn't. I will see you in Diagon Alley soon. Owl me back when you are free.

Also, this part is for the both of you. I got a letter from Malfoy. And it seems as though he wants to apologize to the three of us on the back of the train. He specifically asked for the three of us. I particularly really want to hear this for curiosity reasons and I wouldn't want to be left alone with the ferret. Please consider going as I am.

See you all at Diagon Alley or just on the train.

Love, Hermione.'

I sat there in shock. Malfoy? Apologizing? I never thought I'd ever hear those words in the same sentence before. Would he really mean the apology? Why after all these years would he want to apologize? I should probably ask him this stuff when I see him on the train.

I grab my ink and quill and start replying to Hermione. I sent the current owl away so that letter could get delivered and summoned another one. When this one came, it was a light brown owl. I fed it a treat as it settled.

'Mione,

Meet me today? We leave in a few days so it seems reasonable. Ron isn't going to be with us for - reasons - so you don't have to be worried about seeing him. Meet me in an hour?

-Harry'

I tie it to the owl's foot and told it to go to Hermione. About five minutes later the owl I sent Hermione was returned with another letter on its foot. I unrolled it and started to read.

'Harry,

Okay, I'll see you in an hour then. Thanks for telling me about Ronald.

-Hermione'

Well, that does it then. I get ready and eat a quick snack before I meet Hermione at Diagon Alley.

"Harry!" She ran up to me and engulfed me in a hug. I smiled and felt happy about being reunited with my best friend. Ever since Lavender and the war, she has wanted time alone. Ginny and I have gladly given it to her but we did visit every now and then.

"'Mione! How are you doing?" She sighed a bit and nodded softly. I gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I'm alright today actually. The crying stopped a week ago and I've been slowly healing. Definitely seeing you and Ginny and going back to Hogwarts will definitely fix me right up." She smiled softly and she put her arm around my shoulder and sighed as I put mine around her waist.

"Well, our little trip today starts at George's shop. He could use some cheering up as well." As we were walking I saw a patch of blonde move quickly to get away from hateful stares. Hermione and I both nodded softly to one another and walked over to him, letting go of one another in the process. We followed him into an alley where he was sitting with his knees to his chest and head in his hands. We could both tell he was trying to keep his composure, but it wasn't quite working.

Hermione

I started to walk over to Malfoy. He seemed like he was going to break any minute. This was not the Draco I knew. The man I knew was cocky and arrogant and a self-righteous arse. But this was definitely not him. This man before me was broken and looked like he needed someone's shoulder to cry on. I let out a deep breath and continued to walk towards him.

"Dr- Malfoy?" I realized my mistake, noticing he might not like me calling him by his first name. He looked up quickly, looking terrified.

"Granger, Potter, what are you doing here?" He stood up quick and wiped away any trace of him being upset. Instead, he had a blank stare. It wasn't like any of his glares that were filled with hate. It was just an empty, silver stare. Looking as if it was the calm before the storm.

"We were getting supplies for school. Why are you in this alley? Especially without your friends?" I asked in a soft, quiet voice. He looked confused as to why I was being so kind to him.

"They're doing they're own thing at the moment. They don't know I'm here." I nodded and it started to get a bit awkward just standing around. Draco and I were just staring at one another for a while before Harry cleared his throat.

"Well, uh, Malfoy. Would you like to go supply shopping with us? Seeing as your friends are not here?" Draco looked taken aback and nodded slightly.

"Yeah, thanks, Potter." He gave a curt nod to Harry and when he looked at me, he gave me a slight smile. I took in a sharp intake of breath and felt a blush creeping up to my cheeks. I gave him a slight smile back and we all walked toward Weasley's Wizard Wheeze's to get some pranks and to say hello to George. Draco looked nervous about going inside the store and rubbed his neck.

"It's alright. George won't be mad you're in here. You'll be okay." I smiled at him and he nodded, the emotions in his eyes were going wild. Weird.

We walked into the store and people were laughing and joking around with one another but looked at the door when the bell went off. It got somewhat quiet and Draco looked uneasy.

"What are you doing in here Malfoy? You're not welcome here." It was some random Hufflepuff kid but I became enraged. I stepped in front of Draco and gave the kid a deathly glare.

"Piss off, anyone is allowed in here. It's a public store. Got that much of a problem? Take it up with Georgie- my best friend. Now get lost." You could hear the anger in my voice and the kid looked terrified and ran off to their friends. I sighed and composed myself before turning around to Harry and Draco. Harry was shocked, but Draco looked relieved and happy someone stuck up for him.

"Thank you, Granger. I owe you one." People were now mumbling towards one another, never having heard Draco Malfoy say 'thank you' and 'I owe you one'. I was quite surprised myself.

"You're welcome Malfoy." I gave a small smile and saw he was turning red. Curious. We walked to the front where we saw George. He looked happy to see both Harry and me, but he went rigid when he saw Malfoy.

"Malfoy. Didn't expect to see you here." You could tell he was furious, but he kept his cool as the shop owner.

"I didn't expect myself to be in here either." He looked at me and sighed. I gave him a small smile and he looked torn like he was trying to decide something.

"Well, what can I do for you three?"

"We're just looking for things to take to Hogwarts with us. You know, for old times sakes. We're all going back." Harry explained, not needing to say Ron's name as George already understood. The whole Weasley Clan knew of our breakup and what he did to me. They hate him for it. Molly hit her son over the head several times upon hearing, screaming at him asking why he let such a great girl go. He simply shrugged and pigged out on the dinner she had made.

"Ah, well I got loads of stuff, obviously. Anything in particular?"

"Well, I want to sneak Ronald some puking pastilles..." I stated bluntly and George smiled and laughed. Malfoy also sniggered in quiet at my comment.

"No problem. I got some right here 'Mione." He grabbed them from under the counter and I went to grab the eight galleons from my pocket to pay him. When I looked up they were already in a bag and being given to me.

"But I haven't paid yet Georgie?" I was very confused, did Harry pay for them?

"Malfoy paid for them." I looked over at him in shock and he was looking down at his feet, a blush rising up his neck. I smiled and decided to tease him later about it.

"Thank you, Malfoy. I appreciate it." I smiled and he nodded, continuing to keep his head lowered, avoiding my gaze.

"Well, Harry, what did you want to get?"

"I want instant darkness powder and an extendable ear."

"What's the ear for?" Malfoy questioned.

"Never know when you'll need to spy on someone I guess. Perhaps I can also use this on Ronald." I giggled and Malfoy nodded and quickly turned back to Harry.

"Going to use that instant darkness powder on me again, are you Potter?"

"Again? Harry, what's he talking about?"

"Tell you later..." Harry rubbed the back of his neck and I shook my head. This boy is going to be getting himself into some serious trouble.

"Okay Harry, fifteen galleons then." He gave him the money and George looked at Malfoy, looking a bit warily at the platinum blonde haired boy.

"Would you like anything, Malfoy?"

"I don't think so, but I'll probably come back during the school year to get something." George smiled and sighed.

"Well, if that's all for you guys, I better get going. I have to restock some shelves." We all nodded and said our goodbyes. We had a few stares while leaving the shop but I scoffed and decided not to comment on it. Some things were better off not said. Draco stopped and sighed while turning to me and Harry.

"Listen. I think it's best if we talk now, rather than wait until the train ride to Hogwarts. Please?" Our mouths dropped open by that simple word. 'Please'. Such a small word had such a lard impact on us, simply because he's never said that before in his life.

"What?"

"You've never said that before... Why are you saying it now?" Harry became curious and I already knew he was skeptical about the blonde. I was also curious, but I didn't feel like he was up to anything. He simply looked like he was trying to redeem himself.

"Because I'm trying to fix everything I've done. From trying to ruin your life, Potter, and from calling you a Mudblood, Granger." I looked down after he said that. Now that I think of it, he hasn't said that to me in over a few years. Since Third Year to be exact. Harry and I shared a look and sighed.

"Alright, let go get some tea and start talking." We walked into a coffee shop, ordered, and sat down in a corner to start talking.