Chapter Two

Hermione's New Companion

They were running late by the time they reached the station. Hermione wasn't surprised Ron and Ginny weren't waiting for them on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She and Harry had been due to meet them easily twenty minutes ago.

She'd gotten caught up making sure she had everything Ron might need to keep the ferret comfortable. Harry thought she might just be mad as he watched her purchase a spacious cage—which, of course, meant having to get a new one for Crookshanks, as well—nice bedding, a water bottle and plenty of food.

Harry lugged both their trunks as she hurried along the platform, carrying the two cages. She'd almost offered to get Harry a new familiar, but then she knew he'd say no—they were all painfully aware nothing could ever replace Hedwig.

He only hoped Ron and Ginny had managed to save them seats.

Somehow, they made it onto the train with their burdens just in time for the doors slide closed behind them.

It occurred to Hermione that she might've jostled the cages in her rush, and she set them down. Opening one, and then the second, she pulled Crookshanks out. Giving the sour-faced ginger feline a quick examination, she hugged him to her.

Harry could only watch, laughing. Anyone else tried to snuggle that cat and they'd lose a limb.

Replacing Crookshanks and locking his change, she turned to the ferret. He came to her hand easily—surprising after the fit he'd given the animal handler at the shop—and she eased him from the cage.

"Draco, you poor thing," she whispered, shaking her head as she met the creature's slate eyes. "Are you okay?"

Harry's brow furrowed as Hermione examined the sleek, furry little beast. "Never thought you'd say that, did you?"

She laughed, shaking her head. Draco seemed perfectly fine, if a bit startled. "Sorry, little guy," she whispered, hugging him to her, as she had with Crookshanks, before setting him back in his cage and locking it.

"All right," she said, climbing to her feet. "Let's find Ron and Ginny."

By the time they found the Weasleys, they were relieved to see the pair had, in fact, managed to save them seats. Ginny greeted Harry with a kiss, and Hermione with a hug. Hermione was happy Ron wasn't staring daggers at her, anymore. She wasn't certain she could ask for more than that.

Ginny pulled back from her embrace with the other girl to nod toward the second cage—the one that didn't have an angry, mushed orange face pressed to the door. "Crookshanks getting lonely, was he?"

Hermione looked to the ferret's cage as though she'd forgotten him as Harry hoisted the trunks overhead. "Oh, no," she said with a laugh.

Setting Crookshanks' cage on the floor, she sat across from Ron, settling the second beside her. "This is for you."

Ron's brows pinched together as he looked from her to the cage, and back. "Me?"

She nodded, opening the cage door, but Draco seemed reluctant to come out. "Things have been weird between us. I wanted to get you something special, because I . . . I want us to be able to be friends, again."

His shoulders slumping, Ron shook his head. "We're always going to be friends, 'Mione."

Hermione darted her gaze from Ron, to Ginny, and back. She reached into the cage to stroke the ferret's coat, hoping to reassure the creature. "What's that, now?"

Ginny shrugged, smirking. "Well, you can imagine, we talked about it all summer. Finally, the other night, he just . . . realized."

Hermione felt a weight lift. "Really?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said, smiling in spite of himself. "But you still got me a present, so let's see."

"Okay." Hermione slipped a hand around the ferret, but held him inside the cage a moment. "Well, we were thinking what would be the perfect thing for you. And then we factored in the legendary Weasley humor, and . . . ."

She gently pulled the ferret out and set him in her lap.

Harry sat down on the other side of the cage as they waited for some response from either of the pair across from them. Ginny's eyes lit up, first.

"Oh, my God," she said, laughing. "I totally get it!"

Ron's face puckered. "I don't know; reminds me of Malfoy."

Ginny leaned over, speaking in a stage whisper. "I think that's the point."

A slow grin curved Ron's lips as he shook his head. "Okay, fine. You got me; that's a good one."

Harry moved forward a bit in his seat. "She even named him Draco."

"Oh, that is too good. Give him here, then," Ron said with a chuckle, holding his hands out for the ferret.

Hermione reached over, placing the sleek creature in Ron's hands. The moment she let go, it started squirming and wriggling, trying to get free.

Frowning, Ron shifted the ferret to one hand. As he gestured for Hermione to give him the cage with the other, Draco nipped at his finger.

"Ow!" He opened his hand, releasing the little beast.

The ferret darted across the car, up, over Harry's lap, and up again, unto Hermione's shoulder. She barely refrained from shrieking. She hardly feared the thing, but its race along her arm to burrow beneath the hair at the back of her neck had startled her.

Ron seemed a little disheartened as he said, "I don't think it likes me."

"I'm so sorry, Ron." Hermione shook her head, reaching a hand to stroke the frightened creature comfortingly. "I don't know what happened, he's been friendly, so far."

"Maybe he's bonded with you," Harry offered with a shrug.

"Already?"

Again, he shrugged, turning his head to meet Hermione's gaze. "We can ask Hagrid about it when we get to Hogwarts, he'd know."

"Well," Ginny said with a grin, "looks like you're the one who gets to tell Draco what to do."

Hermione couldn't help a laugh as she sat back, still petting the ferret's warm, furry coat. Looking to Crookshanks' cage, she mouthed an apology to her cat.

Two familiars? She thought, chewing her lip as she listened to the little creature's breath so close to her ear. Who'd ever heard of such a thing?