Chapter Text
I never believed in happy endings in books. If you didn't die, your story wasn't over. That's why I always wondered what happened after that 'happy ending'. For example, had Cinderella never heard from her step-sisters? Didn't Snow White have any problems and post-traumatic trust issues? A victory means eliminating the biggest problem. It means winning the war. But wouldn't there be a crisis after the war as well? Even if you were on the winning side, wouldn't you be dealing with a lot of problems?
This was our current situation. We had won the war. Voldemort was dead. But besides that, many of our loved ones were no longer with us. Death Eaters began to be punished but not every single one of those death eaters could be handpicked, of course. Not all of them instantly started to be on the winning side. Even none. None of them likes us so they were still a threat to us.
But today, we were pretty good. Now I was staying in the Burrow too because I didn't have a home. I made my parents forget myself. I didn't regret it, everyone had some sacrifices in this war. That was mine, too, but that didn't mean it still didn't hurt.
Ginny sighed from the side bed as my eyes filled with tears at that thought.
"Are you trying to upset yourself again?"
"I'm not trying to upset myself or anything." I said, "I’m just thinking."
"You have an excellent mind." said Ginny with a smile. "And this mind is trying to shut itself down if it doesn't occupy itself with something. Come on, get up, let's have some fun."
"What shall we do?"
"Let's go out, I don't know. How does a girly picnic sound?"
"Sounds good actually." I turned to her where I was.
"It's like I've been putting up with them for eternity." When she said that, I knew she was talking about Harry and Ron.
"Ask me about it." I sighed. "I should get ready."
"I'll get something to eat too. I'll meet you downstairs."
I loved Ginny. We became much closer after the war. Even though I was in a relationship with her older brother, she didn't meddle. She knew it was perfectly normal when I fancy a boy next to her or when I was bored with Ron. Well, girl power, huh?
Ginny was ready and waiting when I went downstairs in my jeans and white sweater. Molly smiled at me and handed me a beanie when I got my coat from the cloakroom.
"Look, I made this for you, dear."
"You are so kind." I said with a smile, "It's beautiful."
"I'm not going to tell you not to be late like those boys. In fact, be as late as you can, my dears. Get some distraction."
When we left the house giggling at Molly, we apparated at a picnic area in London. There was no one around, so there was no problem placing our stuff with magic.
"How are things going with you and Harry?"
"Good." said Ginny with a shrug. "It hasn't been long since the war. He's only just getting a chance to experience the sadness of everything.”
"You need that too." I said, taking her hand, "Don't underestimate yourself. No pain is greater than another."
"We've all lost something." she said, reaching down and saying, "Harry had lost a lot of friends in a row. I guess I could call them friends. I lost my brother, and so did Ron. You lost your family too. They may still be alive but you are gone for them. That too is a loss."
"That was the right thing to do." I said, stroking the grass. "No losses no war, right?"
"That's the problem." said Ginny with a sigh. "None of them died wrongly. They all died in a way that befits them. We lost them all for the right reasons. But does a true loss prove the loss was true in itself?"
"You're going to be a philosopher, huh?" I said laughing. "Hey, why are we picnicking here like two babies. Let's live a little! Come, let's have some drinks."
Ginny looked at me in surprise and smirked broadly.
"Wow. That's the spirit."
"Let's go to the Leaky Cauldron."
Even though we dressed a bit 'boyish' for the Leaky Cauldron, we were relieved the moment we sat down. The more familiar, louder environment seemed to loosen us both. We engaged in more age-appropriate conversations rather than serious conversations at the picnic.
"Who would you sleep with from Slytherin?"
Of course, Ginny's brain was getting naughtier as time went on.
"Oh, none of them." I rolled my eyes, "They make me sick to my stomach."
"Come on, I'm not asking about your moral taboos. I'm asking about your libido!"
"Then you answer first." I said, handing my glass to the bartender to pour a new glass. Ginny smiled as the bartender cast a Refillo spell with his wand.
"Of course Draco Malfoy." she said, "Come on, he used to be such a snobby kid-type but he's the only one in school who looks like a young man."
"Said the girl who was in love with Voldemort's killer."
"I'm not going to sleep with him." she said, rolling her eyes, "We're just looking at the sexuality of the male body. You're not getting married, and you don't even have to talk with them again. Just sex."
"Oh, how poetic of you!"
"Come on, Hermione!"
Uh, that made me nauseous the first time I thought of it. But as I pushed aside nausea and looked at Ginny, I could see that she was somewhat right. Malfoy had a really nice body. Besides, he was wearing clothes that really suited him. His hair, which used to look like leeches sticking to his head, was now neater, adding a sharper vibe to it.
Of course, I wasn't imagining him in my head like a pervert, I wasn't that much in control of the details; if he hadn't been moving in front of us.
"Draco." I said in a low but firm and sharp voice. I frowned as Ginny shook her head with a smirked and looked at her.
"I knew it. I can actually see you two together."
"No, silly, it is Draco."
"I know! I was sure you wouldn't say Ron anyway. Ron isn't Slytherin. And even if he was Slytherin, Draco is the most suitible guy in Hogwarts for the job. By the job I mean-you know..."
As Malfoy passed by, I fake smiled at Ginny and pointed at Malfoy.
"Oh, Merlin. I'm an idiot."
"Let's get out of here." I rolled my eyes and continued, "I'm not in the mood to fight with a Death Eater."
"How do they allow him in here? Shouldn't he be on the run?"
"He wasn't involved in the war, at least in the field. He didn't kill anyone. He was only with his parents. His parents are wanted, not Malfoy. In fact, I think it's just his father."
"Maybe you should take him to a room and punish him."
I stare in surprise at Ginny's mischievous eyebrows and tap her hand.
"You're being ridiculous right now. Come here."
We turned left to pay and leave when we saw Malfoy standing right in front of us. While I was planning to wait for him to come out, Ginny stepped in front of me and shouldered him, clearing the way.
"Sorry, killer."
Although I wanted to look surprised at Ginny's bold and rude gesture, I fearlessly kept my serious expression from Malfoy's icy blue eyes. I didn't have much difficulty since his were looking at me the same way anyway.
"Granger."
"Malfoy."
"Can I buy you a drink?"
When I frowned at him, Draco still hadn't changed his dull expression.
"You do realize what she just said to you, right?"
"Yes. You realize that's not true too, right?"
"I'm not saying it's completely true. I'm just saying you haven't had a chance to be a murderer yet."
I didn't like the fact that it was a mocking smile the first time a gesture made its way onto his face.
"Be sure, Granger." he said, staring at me again, "I had."
I kept looking at him with a frown, so as not to compromise my demeanor, even though that look gave me goosebumps.
"Lovely." I said with a fake smile.
"You weren't thinking of leaving here at this hour, were you?"
"Should we stay here?"
"No, don't your boyfriends pick you up?"
"This is sexist." I said, crossing my arms to my chest, "I can protect myself better than you."
"With your wand, yes. But physically, no."
"Because of what reason I'm going to need physical strength?"
Draco rolled his eyes and looked around nervously. Draco looked like he was in trouble. What happened to me? I would love him to be in a distress, yes, I would love that. I resisted the urge to back off when he leaned over and whispered to me.
"Do you realize how many Death Eaters are looking for you? They want to torture you."
"Do you realize that this is none of your business? When did you start caring?” I said in what I hoped would sound cocky.
When Draco Malfoy looked at me with eyes filled with disgust and surprise, "That is familiar." I thought.
"You're right." he said, taking the last sip of the dark colored drink in front of him, "It's my fault."
He gestured to the bartender, and when his glass was full, he placed his hand on the table and looked at me.
"Good night, Granger."
"To you too, Malfoy."
I frowned at Ginny, who was giggling at the door as I hurried out of there.
"What are you laughing at?"
"God, I hate him. I really hate him. But in between the two of you bickering, I may have wished you had a little kiss."
I covered my mouth with my hand and stepped back in surprise.
"Hush, Ginny! You're disgusting. You know I'm with your brother."
"Yes. And to tell you the truth…" she said, taking my arm, "I don't think you love him."
Just as I was about to open my mouth, she shut me up and started walking. Oh, it felt good to walk while high.
"Don't be put off right away. I don't think he loves you either. Yours was a pass. Ron's into girls. He's just into you a little bit more. And you… I don't know. I always thought you chose Ron to put someone else out of your mind."
"Who?" Even I did not know the answer to this question. Because it didn't have an answer.
"Here's the thing. Nobody. When I realized you didn't like anybody, I just realized you didn't like Ron that much."
"And you don't mind that because?"
"Because we're young and if we don't have relationships we regret, we won't be able to find stories to tell to our kids as we take them to Hogwarts in the future."
I laughed and put my hand on hers.
"You and Harry will be together forever."
"Yes." she said with a shrug. "But that doesn't mean I don't have moments that I regret."
I stood where I was as our laughter was interrupted by a burst of evil laughter, and I took out my wand.
"Who are you?" "Exp-" I said, pointing my wand at the man.
I felt my tongue sticking to my palate when the man took the words out of my mouth. Yeah, I definitely should have asked who it was after I make him drop his wand, not before.
"It doesn't matter who I am." he said in a hoarse voice. I couldn't tell who it was from the mask on his face. "You are my treasures."
I was already breaking into a cold sweat when he saw me trying to move my wand.
"No, little girl. Move your wand, and you die."
I turned my head to the right in disgust as he approached me and put his hand on my chin. I didn't want to be near his rum-smelling breath.
"Perhaps I should take you to the Palace after I have entertained you at my house tonight. What do you say, ladies?"
Just when I kicked under his balls and started running, I wanted to die from the pain that entered my body.
"Crucio!"
We were dealing with a man so bloodthirsty as to use the Crucio curse on two young girls. All I could do was cry. As my body took off, I felt that one of my leg bones was broken. In fact, I've heard of it. My stomach hurt so much it felt like a baby was coming out of me. Even though I was speechless, I heard a familiar voice as I was frantically suffering in the air.
"Expelliarmus!"
I couldn't see what was going on down there, and I didn't want to see it either. Even though I heard a few magic words, all I wanted was to pass out. Why couldn't I pass out from the pain?
After a while, I couldn't open my eyes when I was lowered down. I was aching all over. Especially my leg, and also my whole body. I didn't know exactly what had happened to me, although I felt some minor pain after the fracture in my foot.
"Hey, Granger. Look at me."
I didn't want to open my eyes. I felt like if I opened my eyes everything would be messed up. I wouldn't even feel sorry for myself if I died here.
"Granger, you'll be fine. Just look at me."
I didn't expect to see Draco Malfoy when I opened my eyes, but I wanted to hug him. It was impossible to describe how scared I was and how much it hurt. I just wanted to get out of here.
"I'm going to cast a spell on you now, but I want you to be strong, Granger. That way I can help Weasley girl too."
He grabbed my hand with his free hand as I gripped his leg tightly, even though I shook my head.
"You can squeeze it all you want, Granger."
I had only just realized that it had broken the spell when I noticed light sobs coming out of my mouth. As I looked at Ginny to my left and saw that she was unconscious, I looked at Draco, still crying, and shook his hand.
"Episkey."
I was crying uncontrollably when I gave a scream that could raise the whole world. The tears in my eyes did not stop. The healing of the fracture in my leg hurt more than its breaking.
"Look at Ginny. Please." I said between my sobs.
My throat must have been so hurt from screaming that my voice wasn't even coming out properly. Even when Malfoy got up from my side and walked over to Ginny, he still held my hand with his free hand. I was grateful to him. He's the only reason I didn't die tonight.
Although Ginny looked better, she didn't open her eyes.
"Why doesn't she open her eyes?"
"I do not know." he said, scratching his head with his wand. "Well, we won't be able to heal her like this."
When he got up I had to admit that I thought he was leaving. But he took Ginny in his arms and turned and nodded at me.
"Hold on tight, Granger. We'll Apparate."
"They'll kill us if we go home." I said in a voice that sounded like a whisper.
"I know."
I closed my eyes as I trusted him and hugged his leg. When I opened my eyes, seeing that we had arrived at the Malfoy Mansion made me scream.
He brought us to his father.