Everyone started to head toward the Great Hall. Both Hermione and Draco stayed under the cloak. Past Hermione and Draco were on opposite sides of the large room, but they suddenly disappeared, along with the invisibility cloak. "Where'd we go?", Draco asked in a confused tone. A moment later, the material covering the two of them slowly vanished.
"Your past self disappears when the time frame is back on track. I guess time is giving us a second chance to enjoy what Voldemort destroyed", Hermione stated as she saw Pansy come into view. Draco seemed to notice as well. "Go to her, Draco."
As he saw Pansy talking to Blaise and Theo, he turned back to see that Hermione was already gone. "Welcome back, Draco. We knew you could change everything", said Theo.
"You guys know?", Draco was taken back when he discovered his friends were aware about the time change. How could they know about the time-turner if him and Hermione were the only ones who went back?
"Apparently, something just stuck with us. Granger may not have been the best partner along that journey, but things are a lot better than they were before", Blaise said as he looked back and forth between Draco and Pansy. Draco realized that Blaise, Theo, and Pansy were unaware that Draco's feelings toward Hermione had changed over the last few months. However, he decided it was best not to say anything, and worry about the issue later.
Draco looked over at Pansy with a soft look. He tried to convince himself that he would be happy to see Pansy again. As he looked at the girl who stood before him, Draco felt nothing. He saw her as another human being and nothing else. Both him and Pansy currently looked like they were having their own conversation with their eyes. The whole time that Draco was talking to his two friends he kept his eye gaze on the girl that stood in front of him.
"It was a nightmare..", he said mainly to her. "The other world we lived in was miserable. Bellatrix was a teacher, my parents and Theo's parents were dead, all the joy was taken from the world, and Pansy... they killed you as well. Granger and I helped each other to fix everything and..." He suddenly stopped rambling when he saw Pansy's face, and it was basically like they were back to having a conversation with their eyes.
"Well, Theo, I think we should go talk to other people. I think I see Daphne...", Blaise said as he started to pull Theo aside, and even though Draco wasn't looking at them, he still thought his friends were complete idiots.
"Sometimes, I question why I hang out with them", said Draco while laughing. "Something's wrong." She looked up to see Draco stealing glances at Hermione.
"Look Draco, I have loved these past seven years we've spent inside these castle walls. Even though each year got weirder and weirder cause of three people, we still had a great time. I care about you so much." She paused to look down at the ground for a second. "...and that's why I'm letting you go."
All of his focus was now on her words. "What?", he asked almost heartbroken, but maybe that's how he wanted to describe it. It was more accurate to the fact that Pansy had realized how and what he was thinking at that moment, and that's something he didn't want.
Suddenly from a different part of the room, in the distance they heard a familiar voice shout "Daphne isn't over here!"
"We weren't a good match, Draco. We are not the same people we happened to be three years ago. I can see that this other world has changed you quite a bit. I also know that the results of the war is going to have an impact on everyone, but everything will change for the better." Draco was surprised to find himself relieved by Pansy's words.
Once upon a time, Draco and Pansy truly did love each other. During their third year and fifth year, Draco and Pansy's feelings of love were authentic. However, things went downhill during their sixth year of Hogwarts. The task the Voldemort had given Draco caused him to push everyone away, including his close friends. Draco only stayed in the relationship to keep his parents happy. They wouldn't allow Draco to marry anyone other than a pure blooded witch. The fact that Pansy was the one to end the relationship made Draco feel quite relieved. A slight smile appeared on his face. Pansy couldn't even remember the last time she saw Draco Malfoy smile instead of smirk.
The two of them were like two siblings who teased each other at the littlest of things, but at the same time she was absolutely right. He did care about Granger, and he didn't even try to deny it. Not even a minute later, Blaise walked back over to Pansy and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Go to her, Draco."
"You're absolutely right, Pansy. This war is going to affect people in many different ways." Draco glanced up one more time to see the golden trio embrace in a hug. "I realize there's someone I need to talk to."
***
"But... you were just there... and now.. you're over there... Blimey! How did you..?, Ron asked in confusion, and Hermione simply raised an eyebrow.
"Honestly Ron, how can someone be in two places at once?", as Hermione finished her statement, Harry started to laugh. This caused Hermione to join him.
"What? What's so funny?", Ron asked the both of them.
"I'll tell you guys another time, but can you believe it? We actually won!"
"Of course we won. Why wouldn't we? Risking our lives for the last seven years. Something good needed to come out of this. I wouldn't want to see a world where Voldemort won." Hermione fought the urge to say "technically you never did", but she stayed silent. Instead she embraced both boys in a giant hug. She had never been so happy to see her two best friends again. As they broke away from their embrace, Ron studied her face and noticed something was off. "What's wrong?", Ron asked her.
Hermione tried to focus her attention on the two boys that stood in front of her. She couldn't help but let her pupils focus on what was between their heads. She looked out the Great Hall doors and saw the familiar blonde hair. "There's something I need to do. I'll be right back." She moved to where she could see directly through the Great Hall door, through the corridor to the Entrance Hall, and all the way to the courtyard.
Those grey eyes burned into her brown ones. Hermione cautiously walked around the rubble on the ground, and tried to get around everyone who were engaged in conversation. A lot of people were excited to talk to each other, hug each other, and be with each other now that the war was over. Which is exactly what Hermione was trying to do as she made her way through the Entrance Hall and out into the Entrance Courtyard. No one was able to witness Draco and Hermione hug each other since everyone was already inside the castle catching up or getting cared to. Suddenly a realization came to Hermione. "Careful Malfoy, you're hanging around a Mudblood."
"Are you serious, Granger?!", Draco practically shouted at her. "I risked my life in a battle, defied the dark lord, and nearly got killed by a giant snake all for you. Do you honestly think that I care if someone sees me with you?"
"..Unfortunately, the reason for that is because you didn't want to live in a world ruled by Voldemort, and.." He grabbed her by the waist and brought his lips to hers. Sparks flew as their lips touched, but after a minute she pulled away. "Why did you do that?", she asked softly.
"Because it's the only way to get you to shut up", he said repeating the words she used on him a few hours ago.
"Everything's going to change now isn't it?" She remembered using these exact words in the end of her fourth year, but that was for Voldemort's return. Now everything was right with the world.
"Yes, but for the greater good", he said he entwined his fingers with hers. They walked hand in hand as they entered the Great Hall. Everyone had shocked looks on their faces. Including Lucius and Narcissa.
"Draco what are you doing?" Her blood is filthy!", Lucius said loudly to his son; catching everyone's attention to the two of them.
"You're moronic friends are staring at us", Draco whispered in her ear and earned an elbow to the rib.
"In love with a Mudblood?", Lucius asked coldly, and simply shook his head. "You are not my son."
"Well, alright then. That's that", Draco said boldly to his parents. Lucius Malfoy stared at his son with a disappointed look before making his way out of the Great Hall.
"..Lucius..", Narcissa pleaded almost in tears. "Our son.. our only son..." He froze in his spot.
"He is not one of us anymore", Lucius said coldly and a part of Draco's heart started to break. He loved his parents more than anything. He'd even attempt to kill Dumbledore in order to keep them alive. He just got them back from a world that they were killed in, and now they were abandoning him as if he was a stranger to them.
"Dra.. Draco..", Hermione stuttered as tears started to form in her eyes. "It's not worth it. You love them, and I'll always be a Mudblood to them. Don't do this...", Hermione said backing away. "What we said in the forest meant a lot to me, but I can't come between you and your parents."
"Mom, dad, I love you both so much, but I care about her, and I hope that someday you can accept us." She was shocked by his words, and waited for their reaction.
"Blood traitor, goodbye Draco", His father spat at him as they continued to make their way out of the castle, and Narcissa couldn't help but let the tears stream down her face.
"I can't believe you did that."
"Neither can I."