DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. None of these characters are of my own creation and I do not claim them to be. I have absolutely no money off of this adventure, I do it for mere entertainment and hope not to offend. All Harry Potter related characters are property of JK Rowling, Warner Brothers, and Scholastic. The title, once again, comes from a Barenaked Ladies song.
A/N: Yes, this is a long time in coming, but I've finally got the total story planned out in my head and feel confident this will turn out well. I followed the first ending because it will most closely follow the cannon.
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Hannah's father was waiting for her when she got off the Hogwart's Express. The look in his eyes told her he was worried and she flashed a pearly smile, hoping it would calm him. Though he returned the smile, his shoulder muscles refused to relax. Without a word, they caught a portkey back to their country house.
The cottage felt empty. During the holidays, a large Christmas tree had filled the gap left by her mother. Now, without mother or tree, the full meaning of her mother's absence hit Hannah for the first time since the funeral. She felt an instant longing for Hogwarts, for her little corner in the Room of Requirement. She missed the stability, she missed having something to do, but more than anything, she missed Draco.
Hannah and her father wandered the cottage, passing like ships in the night. They exchanged few words and spent little time together. Hannah stayed confined to her room, surrounded in every news publication she could get her hands on.
A month into her summer holidays, Hannah received her first letter from Draco. She turned the thick parchment over in her hands, inspecting every detail. It was addressed, simply, to Abbott and was closed with the Malfoy family seal in green wax. She imagined Draco pressing his ring into the hot wax just for her and her heart beat faster, if only by a millisecond.
It was several minutes before she could bring herself to break it. Even then, she carefully pealed the wax away from the parchment, like an obsessive mother trying to save every scrap of wrapping paper.
Abbott—
I'm all right. Things are beginning to happen. You must promise me you will return to Hogwarts in the fall. It's the only way I'll know you'll be safe. Your father will be fine, he's pureblood. Stay low and do whatever I tell you. I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express.
Yours,
DM
She read and reread the letter. It could have been written in Russian for all the sense it made to Hannah. With what happened at the end of last year, Hannah assumed Draco would be expelled from Hogwarts. As a consequence, Hannah had made no plans to return either. Through an intricate system of confidants, Hannah had been keeping tabs on the Weasley family and, subsequently, Harry Potter. Her goal was to follow and help him, in hopes of freeing Draco from the hold of the Dark Lord.
She wanted to write back to Draco, demand to know what was going on, but she couldn't. She had a feeling the only reason this letter had passed unmolested was because of the Malfoy family seal on the back.
Instead of writing to Draco, she took out a fresh scrap of parchment, wrote, "Never mind," and addressed it to Neville Longbottom at Longbottom Manor. Neville would let Luna know that there was no longer a need for constant vigilance.
A few weeks later, Hannah learned why Draco would be returning to school. Severus Snape was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts. Hannah cried when she read the article. Harry Potter had been sure to tell everyone who really killed Albus Dumbledore and Hannah couldn't understand why he was the new Headmaster when he didn't even finish out the year and murdered his predecessor.
Another two weeks later, Pius Thicknesse became the new Minister of Magic. The Daily Prophet arrived at a rare family breakfast. Hannah dropped her spoon when she read the news, sending a fountain of milk onto the table.
"What?" her father asked, looking up from some piece of work.
Hannah thrust the Daily Prophet towards him. She sat in silence as he quickly scanned the article. "Do you think Thicknesse could be one of them?" This was the first time Hannah and her father had discussed the impending war.
"Why else would Snape become the new Headmaster? Only another Death Eater could appoint him," she replied calmly.
With a gruff, Mr. Abbott moved to a chair closer to Hannah. "Hannah, sweetheart, don't go back to that school. What they did to your mother…" his voice cracked. Hannah looked away from him. "They'll do it to you. Stay here, where I can protect you."
With more courage than she felt, Hannah looked up at her father. His eyes were sparkling with tears he was too proud to shed. When she spoke, she was surprised to hear her voice so steady and determined. "Daddy, I'm in Dumbledore's Army. I have to go back. They wouldn't dare do anything at Hogwarts."
"I hope," she added in her mind.
Though he looked unconvinced, Hannah got up, kissed him on the cheek, and walked up to her room. She resolutely kept her shoulders back and straight. Her walk showed the dogged determination she did not feel.
In a month, she gave her father the same kiss as she got onboard the Hogwart's Express. And still, he seemed unconvinced and, this time, no brilliant smile could satisfy him.