Chapter Two
Hermione sat across from Ron and Harry in the bedroom at the top of the stairs at the Burrow. "You two have to go back!" She exclaimed.
Ron shrugged, "I don't see the point."
Harry nodded in agreement, "Kingsley already said he'd accept us into his auror program. What's the point of another year of school?"
Hermione was distraught, "The point? It was one thing to miss school for the horcrux hunt, but that's the only valid excuse for missing an entire year of schooling. You can become an auror after eighth year, but you only get one more chance to go back to school." She looked out the window wistfully as she imagined the Gryffindor common room, the Great Hall, and the library. "Harry, you've always said that Hogwarts is your home, don't you want to go home one last time?"
Since yesterday, when they received their letters, Hermone had been pestering the two about going back to Hogwarts. There was no way she could let them not go. It wouldn't feel right to go back without her two best friends. And yes, just best friends. After the big kiss in the Battle of Hogwarts nothing really happened between Hermione and Ron. There were a lot of awkward hugs, and maybe a peck or two on the cheek, but nothing progressed from there.
"Mione-" Harry began, but was interrupted by a flurry of long red hair bursting into the room. Ginny was still dressed in her Quidditch robes, as she had been invited to practice with the Holyhead Harpies for a couple of weeks.
"Did I hear that you're going back to Hogwarts?' The youngest Weasley asked hopefully taking Hermione's hand and dragging her out of the room and down the steps to the second floor room they shared.
Hermione jumped up and down in excitement, "Yes! Headmistress Mcgonagall made an 'eighth year'! But Harry and Ron don't want to go, how can they not want to go back to school?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and shrugged as she began taking off her quidditch robes behind the purple privacy barrier, "Maybe it would be a good thing for Harry and Ron not to go." She muttered not meeting her eyes.
Internally the Hermione was kicking myself. How did she get so wrapped up in her own affairs that she forgot about Ginny's, "Are things still that weird between you and Harry?" Ginny looked down and bit her lip uncertainly, Hermione sighed, "Gin, you know you can tell me anything."
"It's just that after the battle I expected for Harry to come back to me like he said he would. Instead he just says that he simply isn't in love with me anymore." The red haired girl sighed, "I just don't understand. It's frustrating, and yeah it's been terribly awkward."
"I'm sorry Gin, I didn't even think about it." Hermione gushed, feeling embarrassed.
Ginny shrugged, "I haven't been here so I doubt it was the top of your list."
"We should go to Diagon Alley, I'm all out of school robes. All of mine are too short, and too tight, that's not the message I'm trying to send." Hermione said quickly in an attempt to change the subject, giving a wry smile. "I want to get some more before the rush in August."
Ginny, who still seemed down, shook her head, "I don't really feel like going, I just got home and all. I think I'm going to take a nap."
Hermione didn't mention to Ginny that it was only eight o'clock, much too early for a nap, but hurried upstairs back to Ron and Harry's room instead. "Will you two come to Diagon Alley with me?" She asked as she arrived at the orange bedroom.
"Sure." Harry nodded as he stood.
At the same time Ron averted his eyes, "I was going to go play a bit of Quidditch with Charlie."
Hermione looked at Harry, knowing that he would want to go play as well. To my surprise Harry just shrugged at Ron, "See you later then." And walked out the door, Hermione said bye to Ron and left too.
After they flooed to the Leaky Cauldron she noticed that Harry kept fidgeting. Hermione waited for him to say what he wanted to, but he stayed quiet. "What is it, Harry?" She finally asked.
"I'm in a pickle." Harry answered after a moment, she had to stop from laughing at his choice of words, "What you said is true, Hogwarts is my home. I'd love to go back for another year. But another part of me feels like I need to grow up."
"The auror program still going to accept you next year, but I think this is our last chance to go back to school." The frizzy haired girl replied sincerely.
"Last chance you say?" Harry gave me a small smile. "I think I have to go back then."
Hermione grinned, "Now we just have to convince Ron. Let's go get a butterbeer to celebrate."
The two sat down at table Leaky Cauldron, it wasn't very busy. Most people still wanted to spend time cherished time at home with their families, but with Harry being an orphan, and Hermione's parents choosing to stay in Australia, they weren't most people. They ordered butterbeers and were about to toast when a familiar voice chimed, "If it isn't Granger and Potter."
Hermione looked up to see a tall, attractive, dark skinned, young man with dark eyes and short dark hair. She noted his slight Italian accent, and very expensive clothes. He looked familiar too, but she couldn't quite place him. To her surprise Harry glared, "Haven't seen you since sixth year, Zabini."
The Italian gave a smirk as he sat down in a rickety chair at their table. "Well there was a war going on, you English had to get your shit together. Thank you for ending that by the way." He said sincerely to Harry. "Oh Tom, could you grab me a firewhiskey!" He called to the barman suddenly, before turning his attention back to the Gryffindors, "So what are you two doing here today? Not a date I hope, I'd owe Daph ten galleons if you were."
Hermione was awestruck, and by the look on his face, Harry was too. She couldn't believe the incredibly vain Blaise Zabini was talking to them as though they were old friends. "Excuse me?" She heard herself asking, "But did you just thank Harry for ending the war?"
Zabini gave me an odd look, "Yes."
"Er, why?" Harry asked.
It finally appeared that Zabini had come to his senses, as he glared and set his jaw. He crossed his arms and suddenly looked very different from the man who had just sat down at their table. Now he looked more like the boy from school. After a minute of glaring into Harry and Hermione's souls, he finally spoke, "Do you think I was Death Eater?" He spoke slowly, pronouncing each syllable carefully and practically spit the last two words. They were shocked, but didn't get a chance to reply, "I was not a Death Eater," He still spoke with the same cold tone as he rolled up his left sleeve to show his forearm. The only things on his skin was a tattoo of a compass rose near his elbow and another tattoo of a feather towards his wrist. "Nor a Death Eater sympathizer. After I heard of the fall of the Ministry I decided I was going back to England for seventh year. I stayed holed up in my Manor with my housemate Theo Nott, almost afraid to leave in case one of our 'friends' saw us and tried to make us join their cause. We didn't leave the house until May. So please, if you will. Do not judge me." As his speech ended Tom brought over his firewhiskey, and Zabini took a large gulp of it. Hermione was surprised that he didn't respond to the burn in anyway, instead he just gulped it down like it was pumpkin juice.
She recovered first, "I'm sorry, we had no idea." Harry nodded in agreement. She was somewhat suspicious, Slytherins aren't usually ones to walk up to you and share stories about their past. The fact that she had few encounters with Blaise Zabini worried her even more, he was a loose cannon that she knew almost nothing about.
Zabini rolled his eyes, "So how about we have a clean slate, yea?" Harry and Hermione shared a glance before nodding in agreement as the fireplace on the other side of the pub roared to life. Blaise gave a small grin, "Bloody took him long enough."
"Who?" Hermione asked, as she turned around to see who Blaise was talking about.
"Dammit." She heard Harry mutter, recognizing the newcomer.
Zabini's grin transformed to a worried look as he called, "Drake! Drake! Over here!" Malfoy looked slightly different than the way Hermione had last seen him, but considering that that was the Battle of Hogwarts it was to be expected. He was tall, lean, and still very pale. He began to walk towards the three, but stopped short upon seeing Harry and Hermione. Zabini kept trying to call Malfoy over but the blond wouldn't move. "A moment." Zabini said as he got up to go talk to Malfoy.
"What is going on?" Harry asked looking extremely confused. He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it and making it even messier.
Hermione looked from where Zabini and Malfoy were quietly arguing and then back to Harry. "I have no idea. This is strange. I mean he's a Slytherin, but he's being so open."
Harry still looked unsure, "Aren't Slytherins supposed to scheming and cunning. This doesn't seem like that. Could it be-"
"Shhh, they're coming back!" The brown haired girl whispered as she watched Zabini push Malfoy in the direction of their table.
Zabini gave a charming grin as he said, "Potter, Draco has something to sa-"
"Oi Hermione!" Someone shouted suddenly, and a flashbulb went off in her face, "Smile for the camera!" "Harry just out shopping today are you!? What did you buy?!" "Blaise are you here finding another date?!" "Draco where have you been!?" There were other calls from wizards with cameras and self writing pens.
"What's going on?!" Hermione had to yell over the the noise. Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and shielded her from the cameras as they backed away.
Zabini answered while putting both middle fingers up to the camera. "Paparazzi, they've become much more annoying lately. Flip off the cameras as we leave and they won't be able to use the pictures. We'll be leaving through the muggle entrance so get ready to move." Blaise stood in front of Harry and Hermione, blocking them from the cameras. She frowned as she put her middle finger up to the cameras, Harry did as well, "Let's go!" Blaise shouted over the sounds of the reporters questions, Hermione felt a hand on her back guiding them towards the muggle entrance.
Once they were outside the pub the noise stopped and they began walking down the block. "What was that?" Harry asked as the group gained more distance from the pub.
"Like you don't know." Malfoy muttered, it was the first time he spoke to them today. To Hermione's surprise he took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one with a bic lighter. He took a long drag and blew the smoke out.
She pursed my lips, "Can you not do that?" She demanded.
Zabini turned around and snatched the cigarette out of Malfoy's hand, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it. "What did I tell you about these!" The two began bickering like an old married couple.
Hermione looked over to Harry who looked annoyed. He tried getting the Slytherins' attention and failed. "Can one of you two tell us what the hell just happened!" Harry resorted to shouting.
The two stopped arguing and looked surprised. "You seriously don't know?" Blaise asked.
"No we enjoy asking questions we already know the answer to." Hermione replied, crossing her arms and glaring.
Zabini rolled his eyes, "I wasn't asking for your sass, Granger., your ass on the other hand, we'll talk about that later." Zabini even had the nerve to wink at Hermione.
That was unexpected, Hermione didn't know how to even respond as Harry glared, "Leave her alone or I'm going to kick your arse. Just explain what happened."
Zabini rolled his eyes, "In June the paparazzi suddenly became crazy. The wizarding population all wanted to know what's going on in the lives of those deeply involved in the war, ie you two, Weaslebee, Weaslette, Longbottom, Lovegood, Mr. Smokey over here, me, and a few others I don't really care about. Those magazines, Witch Weekly, Teen Witch, Witch Beat, etc are all paying big bucks for information on our lives." It was just like muggle superstars Hermione didn't even know they had those in the wizarding world. "It was especially bad for you all because you haven't left the Weasley's safe house in ages."
"If they're interested in people involved in the war, why were they asking about you?" Harry asked. Hermione could tell that Harry wasn't too fond of the way Zabini didn't do anything for the war effort, but at least he wasn't a Death Eater.
"Here we go again." Malfoy muttered. Surprisingly, he hasn't talked much at all. It was strange in comparison of the loud mouth boy from school.
Zabini gave the most arrogant grin Hermione had ever seen, "For one, I'm rich." He winked at her again, "I'm attractive, have you looked at me? I'm charismatic. I was Witch Weekly's most eligible bachelor last month. Who wouldn't want to read about me? I'm," The Italian paused for a moment, "Blaise Zabini."
"They print anything they can get on us." Malfoy said unexpectedly. "Most of which isn't even true." The blond fumbled through his pockets and took out another cigarette. He lit it and began smoking again.
Zabini glared at Malfoy's actions, but nodded in agreement, "According to them I've died once and Malfoy and I have been having some sort of love affair." Zabini gave Malfoy a disdainful look, "You are so not my type."
Hermione gave Harry a look as the other two started arguing again. These Slytherins are clearly insane, we should leave. Harry nodded, "Thanks for helping us out of that rough spot, but we've got to get back to Diagon Alley. We were supposed to be getting our robes fitted."
Zabini nodded, "But Potter, you should at least put on a hat or something to cover your hair. It gives you away. Granger, tie your hair back in a bun or something." In fact Zabini jogged over to a cart where they were selling London gear for tourists. We watched as he nicked two hats and two pairs of sunglasses and walked slowly back over to them.
While Zabini was stealing Hermione, Harry, and Malfoy just stared at each other. They were all uncomfortable with the situation Zabini had left them in. Why was he even helping the Gryffindors? Hermione was so confused.
When Zabini returned he gave a hat and a pair of sunglasses to each Gryffindor, "Are you going back to Hogwarts?" Zabini asked. When Hermione opened her mouth to answer Zabini held a hand up, "I wasn't asking you, we all know you're going back. Potter, are you?"
Harry nodded, "Are you?"
Zabini nodded, "I guess we'll be seeing you in September then." With that the Slytherins turned and walked to an alley, a few seconds later two pops were heard. The Gryffindors went back on their way.
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