The Christmas holidays finally ended, taking the carefree and laid-back mood of the castle with them. As all the students returned, the teachers began teaching in earnest, burdening them with loads of work to do. The NEWTs didn't look so far away from this side of Christmas, and even Draco had started to take his studies more seriously. However, the end of the holidays meant another thing - the Quidditch season was beginning on Saturday, the first match being between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

Since Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had mostly been on good terms throughout the years, the match didn't bring about a sudden rivalry or violence in the corridors. It was a pity in Draco's opinion, since the animosity usually made the pre-play more interesting than it really was, and piqued interest for the match. However, Draco already knew the outcome, and he wasn't thrilled about it. The surety that Gryffindor would win was so matter-of-fact that even some Hufflepuffs were supporting them, but that didn't tune down the excitement for the upcoming game.

Draco came to know from his friends that, extremely surprisingly, Hermione had sent Christmas presents to Theo, Blaise, and Pansy as well, and it surprised him even more when they showed the common decency to say thank you, albeit a little stiffly. Hermione said it was because she couldn't be friends with him if she weren't friends with them, but Draco shrugged it off. Theo, Blaise, and Pansy in the same room with Hermione were horrifying to think of - but the horrific had started happening soon. Hermione could usually be in the same room with them now and Draco found that none of them would be maimed or killed by the end of the hour. In fact, all of them seemed to be doing pretty well together.

On Saturday early morning, a few hours before the match, Draco was in the common room with Hermione and his friends when Harry, Ron, and Ginny entered the place, all in scarlet Quidditch robes. Their noses immediately wrinkled when they saw who was in the room. 

"Funny whose company you keep nowadays, Hermione," Ron said, pure venom in his voice.

"And even funnier is that you were the one who drove me to find new company," Hermione said coolly. Draco grinned behind her.

"Anyway, we came to get you for the match, 'Mione," Harry interrupted hurriedly. 

"A pity it's not Slytherin we're playing against," Ginny added. "It would've been much more fun to kick your asses midair." 

"And then lose balance and fall thirty feet to the ground. Would I be too optimistic in saying they'd die after the fall?" Blaise said.

"Yes, Blaise, you would be," Pansy said seriously. "They've gotten their asses kicked so many times, they would've developed callouses and toughened up to falls."

Draco, Blaise, and Theo all snickered somewhat maliciously, and Hermione herself suppressed a giggle. Friends or not friends, the moment was funny.

"It seems you've taken lessons in dialogues, Parkinson," Ron replied. "For how long have you been waiting to use that one?"

"Oh, I didn't have to wait. You Gryffindors embarrass yourselves far too frequently for that."

"No offense to Granger here," Theo added, stretching himself comfortable over the sofa. "She's the only one among you with the slightest brains."

"Taken a liking to her, have you, Nott?" Ron advanced threateningly.

"Ease up, Weasel. We'll treat her well. Definitely unlike you," Blaise said.

Ron stopped dead and looked at Hermione, and she saw dangerous anger in his eyes. He turned and left the room.

"Coming, 'Mione?" Harry said. Hermione could see how uncomfortable all this made him. His tone was almost pleading.

"Yeah," Hermione said. "See you guys at the stadium," she said to Draco and the rest, then went along with Harry and Ginny.

"Ginny, could you go after Ron and see that he's okay? We want him intact for the match. He has his nerves," Harry said, once they were out of the Head Common Room. Ginny nodded, then hurried along the corridor, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

"Somebody's temper problems got out of hand, huh?" Hermione asked Harry as they walked slowly through the corridor. It had been such a long time since she'd talked to him. It felt very soothing.

"Well, he was never very good at managing his temper," Harry shrugged. "It just got worse after... you know."

"Yeah," Hermione said. "I'm just glad he has you and Ginny."

"We're always with him. But he tends to... I don't know... feel left out."

"Left out?"

"Of course, I and Ginny try to keep him looped in. But we can get... wrapped up among ourselves. He tends to be lonelier now you've left." Harry paused. "He misses you a lot, you know"

These words made Hermione feel a wide range of emotions at the same time. Pity for Ron, guilt for leaving him alone, anger directed at him for expecting her to be with him even after everything. Perplexity at what had happened to their bond. And, beneath everything, a tiny twinge of grim satisfaction that said, serve him right.

She had to control the flurry of her emotions before she managed to say, "I don't even know how it all happened. We simply drifted away."

"I know," Harry said. "It's just that... the three of us have been together for years. And suddenly, there was this rift between you two, and it understandably drove you away. But the Gryffindor Common Room does feel empty without you."

"I've missed you all too," Hermione admitted. "But you have to know, Harry, that I can't come back. It isn't so simple. Ron has to know where he went wrong."

"I'm sure he will," Harry said. There was a pause. Then he said, "Hermione, can you be honest with me?"

Taken aback, Hermione said, "Of course, Harry."

"Are you happy with Malfoy?"

A thousand memories flashed into Hermione's head - her with Draco,  drunk on Firewhiskey, taking a stroll beside the lake, swallowing books whole for exams. She certainly had been happier with him than she'd been for a long time before him. So she answered truthfully, "I can't deny that we've built a bond, Harry. I do feel happy with him. He's as close a friend of mine as you."

Harry sighed - with relief or disappointment, Hermione couldn't tell. "That's all I wanted to know. If you're happy with him, I'm happy for you."

"Just to be clear, you won't get rid of me so easily either," Hermione said, smiling as she pressed his hand with both of hers.

"I hope not," Harry replied, smiling back warmly. Hermione threw her arms around his neck, and Harry held her closer to himself, neither of them wanting to let go.

Finally, when they broke apart, Hermione said, beaming, "Come on, now. Gryffindor have got a match to win."

***

The Quidditch stadium was packed full of the entire student body at Hogwarts. Whether or not people had interest in Quidditch, the excitement of supporting their own house won out at the end. The entire stands were a swathe of color - the red, yellow, blue, and green house colors standing out from banners, posters, hats, and scarves carried by endless people. The air was buzzing with energy. 

On the grounds, Draco could make out the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams coming out of the changing rooms, as Dean Thomas, who was commentating, shouted into his megaphone, "From Gryffindor, we have Captain Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Samantha Adders, Freya Gibbon, Ryan Shirby, Ginny Weasley, and Hudson Green!"

A loud cheer went up from the Gryffindor end.

"From Hufflepuff, we have Captain Ernie Macmillan, Megan Jones, Adrielle Drupe, Charles Dwayne, Jacob Liam, Violet Grippe, and Elijah Smith!"

 As the predicted collective cheer went up from the Hufflepuff end, the teams reached the center of the ground, Madam Hooch between them. She kicked open the box at her feet consisting of all the game balls, let the Snitch and the Bludgers fly free, and took the Quaffle in her hands. Then, she blew a shrill whistle as the players mounted, then another whistle to indicate the start of the match as she threw the ball high up in the air.

"And the Quaffle is immediately taken by Smith, Elijah Smith of Hufflepuff speeding towards the goalposts, obstructed by Hudson Green of Gryffindor, Smith passes to Jacob, passes back to Smith - no, intercepted cleanly by Ginny Weasley, Ginny Weasley of Gryffindor towards the goalposts - ouch, no, that Bludger must've hurt, Weasley drops the Quaffle -  Quaffle taken by Violet, Violet Grippe towards the goalposts - block the Quaffle, Ron! Ah, no, " Dean groaned as he said, "Hufflepuff score."

The Hufflepuff end of the stadium cheered loudly as the Slytherins booed. 

"And now, Ryan Shirby of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, throws to Weasley, passes to Green, passes back to Weasley, Weasley speeding towards the goalposts, Megan Jones rushes to stop the Quaffle but GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"

This time the Gryffindors went up in cheers as the Slytherins booed - again. They were on neither side. They were just enjoying booing both the houses.

"Violet Grippe of Hufflepuff takes the Quaffle, passes to Liam - no, intercepted by Green - no, snatched again by Smith, Smith of Hufflepuff with the Quaffle - watch out, Smith! - ouch, Smith gets hit by a Bludger, nice work there by Freya Gibbon - Gryffindor back in possession, Weasley with the Quaffle - wait, is that the Snitch?"

A collective gasp went up from the stands as Ernie Macmillan rushed towards the Gryffindor goalposts, where Hermione could just make out the golden flutter of the Snitch. So far, Ernie was in the lead by a wide margin, Harry was trying to close up on him, urging his Firebolt forward - he was inching in on Ernie every second, who had his arm outstretched to get the Snitch, but at the last second, the Snitch shot directly upwards. This gave Harry a distinct advantage since he had more margin to pull up than Ernie, and he was better than anyone at this sort of thing anyway. As he sped higher, he outstretched his hand, Ernie right behind him - Hermione had her eyes peeled through her binoculars - and Harry closed his fingers around the fluttering little golden ball.

The Gryffindors erupted into shouts and cheers, along with the Ravenclaws and several Hufflepuffs. The teams landed in a flurry of excitement, and they were all thumping Harry on the back, even though it was an easy victory. The game hadn't even lasted fifteen minutes.

Hermione rushed to the grounds with Neville and Parvati, and as she reached, she hugged Harry as she said, "Well done, Harry!"

As she withdrew, she saw Ron watching her a little sadly from amongst the celebration. On an impulse brought along by the euphoria of the environment, she went up to him and asked, "Friends?"

His face showed surprise, then he broke into a dazzling grin as he pulled her into a hug. For the moment, Hermione could not think of anything else - just that she was back with her friends. For the moment, all was right in the world.

***

A/N: So, how do you guys feel about Hermione getting back together with Ron and Harry? Do you think she should be with Draco and his friends only, or that some time with her Gryffindor friends would do her good?