Chapter Text
New Year’s Eve was now officially, Hermione’s least favorite holiday.
Well, until a couple weeks ago it had been Valentine’s Day, but that was a story for another time.
It had been six years since she’d graduated from Hogwarts (and five since her break-up with Ron). Hermione really tried to enjoy life as a single witch (her relationship with Ron had fizzled more than sizzled), but there was a part of her which dreaded New Year’s Eve because for the past five years, she’d stand in a quiet dark corner of Grimmauld Place alone, while everyone else drank, snogged, and in general, had a rip-roaring brilliant time, while she left the party as alone as she’d arrived.
When Hermione graduated from Hogwarts a year late, but still at the top of her class, her perfect NEWTS (as well as being a noted War Heroine) had guaranteed her any job she’d wanted within the Ministry of Magic. But her heart was always set on working for the Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures. Her first year was spent buried in paperwork, revising outdated House Elf laws with a singular focus that saw her questionable relationship with Ron implode spectacularly like one of George’s dungbombs.
Thankfully it proved to be an amicable split and Ron, having the emotional range of a teaspoon, moved on quickly. Several times in fact, but he was now engaged to Luna Lovegood and as weird as it sounded, they were rather well-suited.
Harry, to no one’s surprise, went straight into Auror training after the war, foregoing returning to Hogwarts with Hermione and Ginny. There had been a few returning ‘eighth’ year students including most of the Slytherins. Of course, Hermione was given the title of Head Girl while Draco Malfoy was named Head Boy. Initially, they made a point to not interact much beyond their respective duties, but sometime before Halloween that year Draco apologized at length and a tentative truce was forged between them.
After Draco graduated, he surprisingly decided to go into Auror training too. Everyone, including his mother, was initially shocked. Well, everyone except Harry, who knew that Malfoy had spoken with Kingsley, requesting the opportunity to go through the program. Kingsley agreed, but when Malfoy finished at the top of his training class, no one wanted to partner with him.
So of course, Harry being the bleeding heart he was, stepped up and stepped in, taking on the job of being Malfoy’s partner and another truce was forged.
Except now they were rather good mates, and Hermione had found herself over these past few years, being force fed a steady diet of Draco Malfoy at most holiday functions, whether she’d liked it or not.
Then there was the issue with her parents. Hermione found them the summer after the War ended and restored their memories, but their righteous anger at her decision to take their memories was met with ignored pleas for understanding. She’d done everything short of showing those horrid memories of her time on the run and her torture at Malfoy Manor.
Hermione came to the regrettable conclusion it wouldn’t have made any difference.
They eventually sold their home in Hampstead Heath, deciding to remain permanently in Australia.
She received a short cursory Christmas Card every year, signed by Richard and Helen Granger, but that was it.
It never ceased to break her heart a little bit more with every year that passed.
The only consistent positive was her professional life. This past summer, Hermione was promoted to the Head of her Department; the youngest ever. However, the accolades in her professional life made the gaping hole in her personal one much more painful, which was exacerbated by the unwelcome realization that she was hopelessly in love with Draco Malfoy.
It started the same time last year after she’d shown up to Harry’s annual New Years party and noticed Malfoy standing off by himself, looking as awkward as she felt. She’d gone up to him and they’d talked, which led to a casual lunch date a few weeks later.
Then dinner after that.
They’d become fast friends sometime around midsummer.
It was just before Christmas when Hermione finally admitted she had serious feelings for the blonde wizard.
He was charming, when he wanted to be and aloof, when he didn’t want to be bothered. Sarcastic, when he was feeling cheeky, and caring, when no one was looking.
Draco had made an offhanded comment this past Christmas Eve (after one too many firewhiskey’s), that they should attend Harry’s New Year’s Eve party together and Hermione of course, was thrilled!
That was until yesterday, when she overheard Draco telling Harry in Harry’s office, that he was bringing Astoria Greengrass to Harry’s New Years Eve shindig.
And Hermione’s heart cracked right down the middle.
So now, it was New Year’s Eve and Hermione was staring at herself in the mirror, silently watching the waterfall of tears cascading down her cheeks. She just couldn’t face another New Year’s Eve alone, at Harry’s.
Not like this.
She glanced over at the time and noticed it was nearing nine o’clock in the evening. Walking into her bathroom, she opened a secret drawer where she kept an emergency stash of a few noted items. Grabbing a piece of fever fudge and a puking pastille, Hermione downed the offending objects and waited for them to take full effect. She knew it would be no more than twenty minutes now, before Ginny would notice her absence and be flooing over, demanding Hermione’s immediate presence, so therefore, she’d have to have a good reason for not attending.
Twenty minutes later on the nose, when Hermione heard her floo going off, she was worshipping the porcelain god.
“Hermione?” Ginny’s worried voice broke through her retching. The red-headed witch threw open her bathroom door with a thud. “Merlin! Are you sick?”
Hermione’s face, which was swollen from crying, looked particularly awful, and Ginny grimaced as she rushed into the kitchen to grab a ginger tonic and some ice. “When did this happen?! You were fine yesterday!”
Ginny knelt down and placed a bag of ice on the back of Hermione’s neck, whose relieved pained groan was rather pitiful.
“I’m not today.” Was all Hermione could get out before she heaved again, almost laughing at the look of utter disgust on Ginny’s face. “Go back to the party, Gin. If this is contagious, I don’t want you getting it.”
Ginny rubbed her expanded belly with a sad nod. “Okay, but floo me if you need anything. I’ll let Harry know.”
“Thanks, and Happy New Year.”
“You too, Hermione.”
Ginny stood up and with one last look of empathy, she left to go back to Grimmauld Place.
Hermione however, sighed with relief and thrilled she wouldn’t have to brave another night of frivolity and then not having anyone to kiss at midnight.
Standing up shakily, Hermione went and grabbed her wand and locked down her floo and wards. She didn’t want any more visitors tonight.
When Ginny got back to Grimmauld, Harry was waiting, “Where’s Hermione?”
Ginny noticed Malfoy standing with her husband, his expression impassive but he seemed oddly interested in her answer.
“She’s really sick. Throwing up and high fever. I debated on whether to leave her, but she told me to come home and leave her be.”
Harry’s expression fell, and Ginny noticed Draco seemed worried too.
“Maybe I should go and check up on her?” Harry lamented, but Ginny just patted his arm soothingly. Hermione and Harry were like siblings in every way but blood and for a time, she’d been jealous of the other witch. But time and reality had slowly shown Ginny that Harry did love Hermione, just not in a romantic way. “If you need to.”
Harry nodded and went to call out Hermione’s address, but the floo didn’t activate. He tried it a second and third time and then scowled before disapparating, only to come back a few moments later with an even deeper frown marring his features. “She’s locked down her floo and wards. Stubborn witch.”
Draco chuckled knowingly, “Would you have expected anything else?”
Harry smiled fondly and shook his head. “Not really. Come on, Malfoy, let’s get this party started. Sorry about Hermione, though. I know you were looking forward to spending some time with her tonight.”
Ginny’s eyebrows lifted but Draco just shrugged indifferently, before giving his Auror partner a look of warning, “Nothing for it now. I need to find Astoria.”
Harry smirked as he watched the blonde saunter away. When he turned to his wife, her expression was in part confused and part eager. “Is Malfoy dating Astoria?”
“Not exactly.” Harry sighed. “Right before Lucius was sent to Azkaban, he tried to negotiate a betrothal contract between Malfoy and Astoria, which neither were thrilled about. Then Lucius died, and those negotiations died with him but Narcissa has been after Draco this past year to settle down and get married. I think he’s just trying to get his mum to back off.”
“And what about Hermione?”
“They’ve become rather good friends, I think. But you know how Mione is; she’s a tough nut to crack.”
Ginny snickered in agreement and took her husband’s arm, heading inside to their guests.
Back at Hermione’s apartment, she was currently sitting down on her couch with the television turned on and trying to watch a movie. The sound was off, but the pictures kept her attention for a bit. On the floor was a large opened shoe box and inside were the remnants of her previous life: photos of happier times. Her parents taking her ice skating, to the snow, making gingerbread houses, and celebrating the New Year as a family. She then pulled out the afterthought Christmas Cards and sighed before reaching for the last letter her parents had sent just a couple weeks ago. As she read through the indifferent words, her heart shattered a bit more.
She couldn’t blame them. She’d never told anyone that their memories had been restored nor their decision to all but disown her. She didn’t want anyone’s pity.
Placing the items back inside the box, she levitated it to the top of her bookshelf and sipped on her ginger tea. Fortunately, she was able to take the recovery treats for George’s pranks and now felt a bit better, at least physically.
As she turned the channel, the New Year’s Eve celebrations were fully underway and as midnight approached, Hermione grabbed her journal and tried to write down her resolutions for 2006 but after a while, realized she hadn’t managed to pen a single item. When the cheers started down the street and the clock struck midnight, she found herself writing down one thing: If I’m still alone by this time next year, I will quit my job and relocate out of Britain, start over fresh.
Staring down at her sole resolution, Hermione nodded with finality.
She could do it.
She could begin again.
Unfortunately, her thread of fate had different plans for 2006.