Disclaimer: I donʼt own Harry Potter.
A/N I will upload here all my stories that somehow are connected with Draco/Astoria and/or young Scorpius. They are all set post-war and after Draco and Astoria became a couple (I do have a longer story about the beginning of their relationship, but I'm afraid I won't be able put it up for quite some time). They're mostly harmless, sweet little stories I think. Hope you'll like them a bit nevertheless.
Hermione put the book back on the shelf and put a hand before her mouth to hide a yawn. She had completed her Runes translation and the Arithmancy essay. This meant she only had to complete her Potions homework, then she could spend the rest of the evening on her outline for the enforcement of Elf-rights like Kingsley had advised her to do. But now she needed a short break.
ʻAngle magic?ʼ said a slightly haughty voice behind her. ʻYou have no idea how strange it is to be ahead of you for one time in my life.ʼ
ʻYou have spent almost a year more at school, Daphneʼ retorted Hermione, turning to the speaker. ʻI donʼt see any reason for me to be uneasy.ʼ
Daphne smiled weakly and forced a handbook between two other heavy volumes. ʻI know there is little glory in it. Just let me pretend for the moment.ʼ
Hermione shrugged. ʻYouʼll already take your N.E.W.T.s in December, by June a comparison between us should be fairer.ʼ
Daphne snorted. ʻDonʼt we know the outcome?ʼ She stared sinisterly at some point over Hermioneʼs shoulder and added, ʻYou know what I wonder? Why do last terms fifth years take their O.W.L.s in October, but the N.E.W.T.s are only in December?ʼ
ʻAs far as I know they want to give the seventh years more opportunity to deal with the past term,ʼ repeated Hermione the consideration she had heard many of her Order friends voice. ʻThe fifth years stay on and Professor McGonagall hopes it will be possible to convey the subjects of the sixth year in the rest of the time so that the following year will be orderly again. It is a bit unfair as they will have less time, but they will be allowed more opportunities for compensation.ʼ
ʻWell, at least in December we should still be rid of him,ʼ muttered Daphne, then, turning to Hermione, asked, ʻAre you going down to dinner?ʼ
ʻYes,ʼ said Hermione, leaving the Arithmancy section with Daphne who looked disproportionately dissatisfied at the sight of the working students. Hermione snatched up her bag and rolled up the essays. ʻDo you intend to stay on?ʼ she then said.
ʻStay on?ʼ
ʻThatʼs what Susan intends to do,ʼ explained Hermione. ʻShe wants to stay till the orderly end of term to support younger students together with Hannah.ʼ
ʻN-no,ʼ said Daphne hesitantly, glancing away. ʻWhy?ʼ
ʻBecause of what you said before, about us being rid of someoneʼ said Hermione. ʻDid you mean a teacher.ʼ
She followed Daphneʼs gaze and had the impression her former classmateʼs eyes were directed at Draco Malfoy who sat relatively far off with the little girl that seemed glued to him ever since they had returned to Hogwarts.
ʻNo,ʼ said Daphne roughly, looking away and walking towards the exit. ʻI was thinking loud. Itʼs nothing. How are your parents?ʼ
Hermione needed some seconds to grasp the meaning of the sudden turn in the conversation. ʻThank you,ʼ she said, eyeing Daphne curiously. ʻTheyʼre very well, they have fully recovered from the Memory Charm. Theyʼre a bit angry with me, but... they know why I did it...ʼ
ʻIt must have been hard,ʼ said Daphne sympathetically. ʻItʼs a good way of dealing with - what happened, letting people tell how they suffered.ʼ
ʻExcuse me if Iʼm being curious,ʼ said Hermione. ʻBut how does a pure-blood Slytherin change her point of view in a couple of months? How - I now risk being insulting - how sincere are you?ʼ
Daphne looked over at her with raised eye-brows. ʻI donʼt know,ʼ she said slowly, starting to walk down a flight of stairs. ʻIt is strange.ʼ She made another pause. ʻI suppose... it is because of the Carrows... for though I embraced - embrace - embraced... what they said, I never was a violent person... Iʼd say... nor have my parents ever embraced violence... the Carrows kind of harmed their cause more by their teaching than helped it. Many think like I do, you know.ʼ
ʻNot all.ʼ
ʻNot all,ʼ repeated Daphne, sighing. ʻBut most of them are now for some months in Azkaban. Pansy. Millicent. Gregory. Theo-ʼ
ʻJust those who were of age and could be proven to have willingly performed the Unforgivable Curses and cooperated with Voldemortʼ (Daphne flinched) ʻin the Battle of Hogwarts. But some are already free again like-ʼ
ʻSo whatʼs Draco Malfoy doing here.ʼ
Hermione turned, surprised at Daphneʼs aggressive tone. The Slytherinʼs expression was in perfect harmony (or rather discord) with the anger that seethed in her voice. Automatically, Hermione jumped over a trick step before she addressed Daphne again. ʻYouʼd rather have him in Azkaban?ʼ
Daphne looked straight ahead. ʻYes,ʼ she said gruffly.
ʻDo you know anything that wasnʼt brought up in his trial?ʼ
ʻNo,ʼ the other admitted grudgingly. ʻI just donʼt like him being here. If he had not fought in the Battle of Hogwarts-ʼ
ʻHe didnʼt fight in the Battle of Hogwarts,ʼ interrupted Hermione.
ʻHe didnʼt? What for did he remain in the castle then?ʼ
ʻI donʼt know. I doubt that he knows himself.ʼ
Daphne made a huffing sound. ʻWell, that does sound more credible. Sheʼs so naïve.ʼ
Hermione looked at Daphne, startled, but didnʼt want to question the statement that seemed to bother the girl so much.
ʻWould you want your little sister infatuated with him?ʼ said Daphne abruptly, relieving Hermione a bit from her confusion.
ʻSheʼll get over it,ʼ said Hermione soothingly. ʻIf sheʼs younger than-ʼ
ʻSheʼs sixteen,ʼ interrupted Daphne. ʻBut how is she to get over it if Draco wants to marry her the day sheʼll be of age?ʼ
ʻIs your sister that little girl that constantly clings to him?ʼ asked Hermione, making the connection.
ʻYes.ʼ
ʻAnd she doesnʼt want to complete her education?ʼ
ʻShe has to,ʼ said Daphne with a certain satisfaction. ʻMum and Dad made her promise to wait until she finished school. At least, sheʼs got one and a half year without him here in which I ardently hope sheʼll forget him. He doesnʼt intend to stay on, does he?ʼ With sudden alarm, Daphne looked over to Hermione.
ʻNo, not as far as I know. But... few people marry those they dated with sixteen,ʼ answered Hermione reasonably. ʻI mean, I was seventeen when I went to a party with McLaggen-ʼ
Daphne laughed, but was almost immediately serious again as she paused before the final flight of stairs that led into the Entrance Hall. ʻAstoria may fall easily in love,ʼ she said sombrely. ʻBut with far more resistance out of it again.ʼ
ʻYou donʼt think your sister could be happy with him?ʼ asked Hermione, descending one step.
ʻHeʼs an egoist,ʼ hissed Daphne, continuing her way downstairs. ʻHe cares about no one but himself. Astoria always wants to please. Heʼll abuse her.ʼ
ʻHe appears much humbled ever since we restarted school,ʼ said Hermione questioningly.
ʻHow can you defend him?ʼ asked Daphne, turning to Hermione as if she wanted to blame her for her sisterʼs predilection. ʻAfter all he said about you!ʼ
ʻIs he still talking like that?ʼ asked Hermione, entering into the Great Hall. ʻI thought heʼd have become a bit wiser.ʼ
ʻNo, he doesnʼt talk much anymore,ʼ spit Daphne. ʻOnly with Astoria, huddled together in an armchair. And I canʼt even protest because he mostly tests her on the textbooks for her O.W.L.s.ʼ
ʻYou said yourself they must separate for one and a half year. Much can happen during that time.ʼ
Daphne nodded reluctantly and half-smiled, before she turned with a parting wave to join the Slytherin table. Hermione hastened in the opposite direction towards Ginny who was waving at her with a letter. Hermione grinned. Contrary to her suspicions, it seemed as if Ron would indeed keep his promise and do something completely against his nature – write daily to her.