Together Again

Together Again

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Prologue

The sun began to pour into Harry Potter's bedroom window as the sun rose on an early Saturday morning in late August. He turned onto his side and glanced at his new wall clock, which read 7:30. Knowing he wasn't going to be able to fall asleep again he got to his feet, brushed his teeth, and made a simple breakfast of bacon and buttered toast. A feeble breeze slipped through Harry's kitchen (he'd recently bought an apartment on the Muggle side of The Leaky Cauldron) as Hedwig flew into his open window.

"Hello there, have you got a letter for me?" Harry asked affectionately as the beautiful Snowy owl landed on the table and nibbled on his bacon.

He took the letter attached to Hedwig's leg and stroked her silky feathers as a quick gesture of 'thanks.' Upon opening the envelope, Harry found that it was an invitation to an engagement party and a letter from his best friend of twelve years, Hermione Granger.

Dear Harry,

I know Hedwig got this letter to you in a timely fashion; she always does. I also hope you'll at least consider attending the Engagement Party for Draco and I. I know Draco (or 'Malfoy' as we used to call him) isn't a person you want to see right now, but it would mean a lot to me if you could be there. I've invited Ron as well, obviously, and a ton of other Gryffindors, so you won't be alone. We've only just recently got engaged, and I have no idea when the actual wedding will be, but I hope you'll plan on attending that ceremony as well. Thanks in advance and I feel confident I'll see you on September 20.

Your best friend,

Hermione Granger

He re-read the letter several times, getting lost in ambivalence as he began to absentmindedly stroke Hedwig once more. Hermione was right - Draco Malfoy wasn't a person he'd like to see after he thought he'd finally escaped the Dark Side for good. As the prophecy had foretold, Harry had destroyed Lord Voldemort once and for all in a vicious, blood-bathed battle the previous year, and removed the threat from the wizarding world. But on the other hand, Hermione was his best friend, and abandoning her just to avoid seeing a familiar (but not pleasant) face just didn't sit well morally with him. Before coming to a final conclusion, however, he decided to write a letter for Ron.

Dear Ron,

What's up, mate? I know you got Hermione's invitation to the Engagement Party. Are you going to go? I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a little appearance, but I wanted to find out your decision first. I know Malfoy isn't someone we want to see, but Hermione is. Besides, we won't be the only Gryffindors. We both survived the war - Hermione deserves the pleasure of our company. Are your brothers and sister coming? I'll look forward to seeing them. I think that's all I need to say for now, so I'll be looking for your response.

Your best mate,

Harry Potter

Harry didn't tie the letter to Hedwig's leg as soon as he finished it; he decided to give her a rest and wait until a later in the afternoon to send it. Stretching as he stood, he disposed of his breakfast plate in his (already quite messy) sink and crossed the room, trying to decide on what to do next. Since he was so close to Diagon Alley, a visit to a few shops couldn't hurt. Quality Quidditch Supplies never grew old, and he still had a large portion of the small fortune his parents left him in his Gringotts vault.

So he descended into Diagon Alley, first stopping at Gringotts to withdraw a little gold, then meandering through the narrow road to Flourish & Blotts, Gambol & Japes Joke Shop, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, and finally Quality Quidditch Supplies. The newest, most superb-looking brooms rested on the shelves and against the walls, including the legendary Firebolt. Of course Harry still had his own Firebolt; he still flew from time to time, around Muggle London (with a Disillusionment Charm, of course) and sometimes even into the countryside villages that the old Hogwarts Express passed. Upon returning to his apartment, Harry lifted Hedwig onto his arm, tied Ron's letter to her leg, then carried her to the window and watched her fly off into the sunset.

Hedwig returned the next day with Ron's reply tied to her leg. She looked slightly weary, but Harry wasn't worried about her to much as he untied Ron's response. It was scribbled in Ron's familiar messy handwriting, but Harry read it without difficulty.

Dear Harry,

Good to hear from you mate! I am going to Hermione and Malfoy's Engagement Party. Can you believe she's marrying that slimy git? I never thought I'd see the day, but Hermione knows what she wants. I guess we all have different ideas and views once we mature and get older. Percy's still being a prat, even after he saw You-Know-Who with his own eyes! I'm telling you, I'm gonna go stir-crazy here! Oh well, Ginny's company, and Charlie's home for a few weeks. I suppose you heard about Bill in the Daily Prophet; Bellatrix Lestrange managed to hit him with Avada Kedavra. Heartbreaking, that is. Lost one of the only sane brothers I have. Anyway, Fred and George should be at the Engagement Party as well. I can't wait to see you and Hermione; it should be really great! I'll talk to you on the 20th, okay?

Your Best Friend,

Ron Weasley

Harry smiled to himself as he read over the letter. If Harry didn't know his best friend any better, he'd say Ron was jealous of Hermione's new fiancé. Not only was she marrying another man, but that man was Draco Malfoy, their bitter enemy since the age of eleven. Obviously the animosity between the two houses remained; Ron continued to refer to Malfoy as a 'slimy git.' Harry hoped the two of them could get along for at least one afternoon.

September 20 had arrived and Harry was preparing himself for departure. He ate very little (as he knew there were going to be refreshments at the party), dressed himself in his best trousers, bought a half-pound of Floo Powder in Diagon Alley, and made sure he had the 500 Galleon chocolate brown otter necklace he'd gotten for Hermione. Harry, remembering the form of Hermione's Patronus, guessed she had a thing for otters. He lit a fire in his fireplace with a simple 'Incendio!' and threw a fist-full of Floo Powder into the flames, shouted "Malfoy Manor!" and disappeared.

Harry arrived in the Malfoys' living room just minutes after he'd left his own. He picked himself up and grabbed the carefully packaged necklace just as Hermione approached him and began brushing off his collared shirt. Her hair was slightly more tamed than he remembered it, and her eyes were the usual mystical and beautiful brown. She did carry herself very differently without a backpack slung over her shoulders. The dress she wore was stunning, sparkling scarlet in the afternoon sunlight that shone through the ceiling-to-floor windows.

"I'm so glad you came, Harry!" Hermione squealed, yanking him into a rib-crushing hug.

"It's nice to see you too, Hermione," Harry managed to choke out.

"Come join the party! The food tray is in the kitchen. Everyone's here."

Harry spied many people that he hadn't seen since his Hogwarts days. The marauder twin Weasley brothers Fred and George stood in a corner together, obviously only present for the sake of their younger brother. They shook Harry's hand enthusiastically and gave him a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Joke Shop card. The address was located in Hogsmeade village; the Weasley twins' Joke Shop was sure to give Zonko's a run for its money. He passed several more familiar faces, including Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown, and Luna Lovegood. Harry suspected Lavender had come with Ron.

Harry then allowed Hermione to steer him in a different direction as he continued surveyed the scene before him. Numerous people he didn't know (he suspected they were Malfoy's guests) lounged on the small chairs in the sitting area. Turning the corner, he met the grim eye of Lucius Malfoy leaning against a wall, observing the celebration with apparent disgust. His eyes were icy and empty and his arms were crossed across his chest, as if in disbelief that anyone related to him would stoop to this level.

"Why if it isn't Mr. Potter," Lucius said as politely as he could.

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Harry responded.

"Miss Granger actually dragged you out to this little shindig, I see."

"She's Mrs. Malfoy now, isn't she?"

"Not yet she isn't," Lucius snarled, glaring daggers at the young brown woman in front of him.

Urging Harry onward, Hermione pulled Harry away from Lucius and toward the Gryffindors in the drawing room and the kitchen. Instantly, Harry spotted the flaming red hair, many freckles, and tall and gangly figure of his best friend of more than a decade. A smile made itself noticeable on Harry's face as he quickened his pace to match Hermione's steps.

"All right there, Ron?" Harry asked, making Ron jump.

"Harry!" Ron exclaimed in his happiest voice.

"I guess your happy to see me," Harry chuckled.

"Duh! We've been best friends since forever!"

"Right."

Remembering the gift he had in his hands, he handed the package to Hermione. She opened it, revealing the otter necklace that served as Hermione's wedding present. Her entire face lit up like the night sky and she threw her arms around Harry's neck once more. She handed Harry the necklace and turned around so as to give Harry an easier time placing on her cream-colored neck.

"It's beautiful Harry!"

"Yes, quite beautiful." The man of the hour had arrived.

"Hello Draco, darling," Hermione cooed, taking Draco's hand in hers and kissing him swiftly but passionately.

"Must you two snog in front of us?" Ron sneered.

"Ron, calm down mate."

"Yes, Ron, calm down," Draco said.

"Don't you tell me what to do!"

"Why don't we all go in the living room?" Hermione interrupted, stopping the brewing argument.

"Sounds good to me," Harry said.

So the foursome made their way through the many rooms in Malfoy Manor and back to the crowded living room. Harry was hardly surprised at Ron's snap at Draco. The two of them never got along and Harry didn't think they ever would. It also seemed that Ron hadn't matured much since graduating from their old wizarding school. Disregarding the Ron vs. Draco episode, Harry helped himself to the Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties, expertly stacked that were there for the purpose of snacks.

"May I have everyone's attention please!" Lucius Malfoy yelled so as to project his voice over the noise in the mansion and tapping his goblet of Elderflower wine.

"Oh boy, what're we in for now?" Ron muttered from the corner of his mouth to Harry.

"I'd like to propose while we're all here celebrating the young couple. To my son and his fiancée!" Lucius exclaimed raising his goblet, though Harry could still see the icy glint in his eye.

"I guess I was wrong about him," Ron said, raisig his glass and clanging it against Harry's.

Harry watched Hermione waltz around the dance floor in Draco's arms, catching the jealous glare of Ron in the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but be amused with his best friend's ways of showing affection, seeing as taunting and fighting with Hermione twenty-four hours a day for five years had gotten him nowhere. When Harry had been at Malfoy Manor for more than four hours, he felt it was finally time to bid the couple goodbye. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before he left, and he even managed a handshake with Draco. His eyes were as gray and cold as they ever were, but there was something different about the way they interacted. Gone were the sneers, snotty glares, and cruel remarks, and in place of that was actual courtesy and a certain bond, not of enemies, but allies.

His suspicions about Ron and Lavender had been confirmed as he spotted them doing a sort-of jig around the open area they'd created for the dance floor. He also noticed Fred and Angelina Johnson forming a large circle (much as they did at the Yule Ball) in the crowd of people on the floor. George Weasley was also circling the open area (in smaller circles) with his partner, Katie Bell. Harry smiled once more as he watched the dancing couples go on and on to the swift beat of Celestina Warbeck. He approached the Malfoys' fireplace, threw another fistful of Floo Powder into the crackling flames, shouted 'Diagon Alley!' (audibly and clearly this time), and disappeared in a blaze of emerald and soot.

He arrived in his own fireplace shortly after he left Malfoy Manor to Hedwig softly snoozing in her cage. Smiling and brushing yet more soot off of his shirt, he walked to the bathroom to change. As he put on his comfortable clothes, he couldn't ignore a feeling that told him things were going to be different among his old Hogwarts friends.