Skeletons

Chapter 2 - Of Ferrets & the French

Harry and Hermione walked through the courtyard past the crowds of students waiting with excitement to see the contenders from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons arrive. It was cold and Harry was glad for the heavy violet cloak he was wearing. He glanced at Hermione as they stood in the cold grounds waiting.

'Are you nervous?' He asked curiously.

'No,' Hermione said, denying it a little too well.

'That looks like them,' Harry said as he pointed to the sky where something was beginning to come into view.

'Such a grand entrance, like last time,' Hermione said, shaking her head in amusement as the pale blue carriage drew closer and the students gasped in surprise. The carriage landed gracefully on the ground and a few moments later Fleur stepped out, she flicked back her blonde hair, looking as beautiful as ever, many male students gaped at her. She made her way towards Harry with a line of French girls following her.

'Harry!' Fleur said happily when she reached him, she hugged him warmly and kissed him on both cheeks, Harry did the same, just as instructed by Hermione.

'Fleur, it's fantastic to see you,' Harry said as he led her into a covered area of the courtyard, he knew how cold the girls from Beauxbatons found Hogwarts, 'how are the girls?'

'Fantastic, they were sad to see me go of course, but how could I miss out on an opportunity like this?' Fleur asked, the question was obviously rhetorical but Harry nodded, 'Oh, of course, it would be horrible to miss out.'

'It is rather sweet, that we are doing it for Cedric,' Fleur said as Harry got her and her girls settled in the covered area set aside for them.

'It's nice,' Harry agreed, Fleur used the brief moment of silence to pull a girl forward, 'You remember my sister Gabrielle?'

Harry had to fight not to gape, the girl looked around 17 and she couldn't have looked more like Fleur had at that age if she had tried. The long silvery-blonde hair and blue eyes, the pale skin and even the similar face shape, it was slightly scary how alike they were.

'Bonjour,' Gabrielle said with a smile as she curtseyed to Harry and blushed when he greeted her with a kiss on each cheek like he had to her sister. He had seen her at the wedding, but that was nearly 7 years ago now, she had grown up.

'Harry, Durmstrang are arriving,' Hermione called so Harry excused himself and made his way over to where she was standing. He didn't need to wonder where to look, his eyes found the lake immediately. It was all happening the same as last time, but this time he and Hermione were sort of in charge which was a slightly scary thought.

'Something's different,' Harry said as he squinted through the semi-darkness at the boat.

'The colour scheme…' Hermione said in disbelief.

Harry gaped slightly, Hermione was right, the boat had previously been ornately decorated in red, however it was now glistening green.

'Hang on a minute…' Harry said in surprise as the boat surfaced properly, 'wasn't the logo red?'

'Yes, it was,' Hermione said.

'And now it's green,' Harry stated.

'It appears so.'

'Did he really change the school logo just because it was red?' Harry asked, completely astounded.

'Yes, I think he did,' Hermione replied rather matter of factly.

'Is he that sad?' Harry asked, shaking his head.

'Harry,' Hermione said slowly, 'the first thing you did when you became Headmaster was redecorate the great hall red and gold.'

'That's not the same thing Hermione.'

'It sort of is,' Hermione teased as the ship anchored and the students began to embark, at the head of the group was Draco Malfoy, his blonde hair glistening in the moonlight.

'Here we go,' Harry muttered as Draco approached Harry and Hermione.

'Headmaster Potter,' Draco said politely with a small bow of the head towards Harry.

'Headmaster Malfoy,' Harry said, with a similar bow of the head. Hermione watched on, biting her lip.

'I noticed that you changed the colour scheme of the Durmstrang flag. I see you didn't add a ferret however,' Harry said, all in a very polite tone, he then grimaced as Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

'Yes, well I've heard rumours about the redecoration of the great hall Potter. Once again we may be more similar than we choose to believe,' Draco said with narrowed eyes.

Harry smiled at this and shook Draco's hand, 'It's good to see you Malfoy.'

'You too Potter,' Draco said, smiling slightly too as he shook Harry's hand, he then turned to Hermione, 'and you Granger, it's been a while.'

Harry interjected, 'Uh, actually, she's not Granger anymore.'

Draco wrinkled his nose slightly, 'So you really did marry the Weasel then?'

'Not exactly,' Hermione said, glancing at Harry.

'She's Mrs. Potter, actually,' Harry said, and for a moment Draco surveyed them.

'Interesting,' Draco said finally, sounding very similar to their former potions professor.

'Yeah, that's two years now,' Harry said with a smile as he wrapped his arm around Hermione.

'Any mini-Potter's?' Draco asked, slightly disgusted.

'No,' Hermione said, glaring at Harry a little, 'and I'm not Mrs. Potter, I'm still very much Miss. Granger. That was Harry's idea of a prank.'

'I see,' Draco said with a smirk in Hermione's direction, 'does that mean you're available?'

'Really?' Hermione asked in exasperated disbelief, 'great, now I have to put up with two womanising gits at Hogwarts this year.'

Draco frowned slightly as he walked with Harry towards the area where the delegates from Beauxbatons were waiting, 'Two?'

'Harry,' Hermione stated, 'has become something of a…magnet for desperate single women.'

Draco snorted in amusement, 'The thought of Potter as a magnet to any woman amuses me.'

Hermione tried to hide her smile, but Harry caught it, and so did Draco.

They reached the other delegates at that point and all chit chat ended.

When everyone was settled in the great hall, the Durmstrang students at the Slytherin table, and the Beauxbatons students split between the other tables, it was time for all the speeches and announcements that Harry hated so much. The seating arrangement had changed slightly for the duration of the tournament. Fleur was now sitting on Harry's right and Draco was sitting on his left. In between Draco and Neville was Hermione, and Daphne was sitting next to Fleur.

'Students of Hogwarts,' Harry said loudly, grabbing everyone's attention, 'I am pleased to introduce you to Madame Delacour-Weasley, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy for Magic.'

Fleur stood up at the head table and curtseyed as the students clapped.

'And Professor Malfoy, Headmaster of Durmstrang Institute,' Harry said, and at the head table Draco did a small bow and got some claps, mostly from the Slytherins and his own students.

'Tonight the delegates from all schools, including Hogwarts will enter the tournament, through this,' Harry pulled off the silk sheet covering the goblet at the top of the hall, 'the goblet of fire.'

The students ooh-ed and aah-ed and Harry continued, 'it will be placed in the entrance hall at 7pm tonight, and students may enter their names up until 5pm tomorrow. To explain more is the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Hermione Granger!'

Harry walked back a few steps and Hermione passed him, shooting him a glare and muttering, 'I'm going to fucking kill you for this.'

Harry merely grinned as Hermione addressed the students, 'To enter all you need to do is write your name and your school on a slip of paper and throw it into the goblet of fire. There will be an age line around the goblet, but as an extra precaution an Auror will be guarding the goblet at all times and anyone under the age of 17 caught trying to enter will be severely punished by the Headmaster.'

'Thank you Hermione,' Harry said with a small smile as Hermione made her way back to her seat, he addressed the students once more, 'So don't try and enter if you aren't 17, or you'll get hunted down by the Ministry!' he joked on a final note, leaving most of the students laughing.

Harry then made his way back to his seat and sat down. In seconds Hermione was giving him abuse over Draco who was sitting between them.

'I swear to god if you do that one more time I'll tell Daphne and Sinistra that you're fucking both of them,' Hermione hissed.

Harry grinned and said, 'They both know.'

'Ugh, you disgust me,' Hermione hissed as she spun around to talk to Neville.

'You and Daphne? Daphne Greengrass?' Draco asked, not believing Harry.

'Yes,' Harry replied simply, 'she's my mistress, my potions mistress that is.'

'And you're sleeping with her?' Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Yes, I am, you can ask her if you don't believe me,' Harry said casually as food appeared and he tucked into it happily.

Draco shook his head in disbelief and turned to talk to Hermione, Harry spent most of the feast catching up with Fleur.

When the feast finished around an hour or so later Harry was one of the last to leave the hall, he said goodnight to Fleur and Draco and waited until all of the students were on their way to bed before leaving.

'I'm going to bed,' Hermione said as she kissed Harry on the cheek, she was sleeping temporarily in the teachers quarters since her whole job here was to keep an eye on things and make sure everything went smoothly.

'Goodnight,' Harry said to her and was about to walk her to her room when Daphne appeared by his side, 'so, are we still on for tonight?'

Harry grinned, thinking how much of a pity it was that Draco wasn't here to see this, 'I never break promises,' he teased, 'I'll show Hermione to her room and meet you in my office.'

'I look forward to it,' Daphne said as she strutted off in the direction of the grand staircase.

'I know where I'm going,' Hermione said with a smile, 'you don't have to walk me.'

'Are you sure?' Harry asked, and Hermione nodded, a look passing across her face that he didn't understand.

'Goodnight then,' Harry said as he watched Hermione disappear up the marble staircase.

Harry was about to make his way up to his office after Daphne when something stopped him.

'Harry!'

He spun around and smiled when he saw Neville approaching, 'mind if I walk with you?'

'Nah, course not,' Harry replied, Neville's quarters were on the 6th floor so they often walked together.

'That seemed to go pretty well, you didn't punch Malfoy, he didn't insult me, and you managed to piss Hermione off again,' Neville said rather matter of factly.

'I must agree, but I don't know what I actually did to piss off Hermione,' Harry said thoughtfully.

'Uh, apart from making her speak again because you couldn't be bothered doing it yourself you mean?' Neville asked, vaguely amused at how clueless Harry could be.

'Well, I understand that, but she was pissed off with me before that,' Harry said, really not understanding what he had done to annoy his friend.

'You really don't know?' Neville asked in disbelief.

'No…should I?' Harry asked with a frown.

'Harry, you're my best friend, but you can be so clueless sometimes it's unreal,' Neville said, shaking his head in amusement.

'I think it has something to do with Daphne, I mean Hermione really hates her,' Harry mused.

'Well,' Neville said, not wanting to say the wrong thing and face Hermione's wrath, 'she does hate Daphne and you're flaunting the fact you spend a lot of time with her. She probably feels a bit left out.'

'Hmm,' Harry said, 'you're right Nev, I've been neglecting Hermione. I'll apologise tomorrow.'

'Good,' Neville said, glancing at Harry and narrowing his eyes, 'You're still going to sleep with Daphne tonight, aren't you?'

'Yep,' Harry replied, 'I'm just not going to tell Hermione,' he said playfully.

'Oh Merlin Harry,' Neville sighed in despair as they reached the 6th floor, 'I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight.'

'Night Nev,' Harry said, he then made his way to his office and into his bedroom where a certain potions mistress was waiting for him. Harry felt slightly bad about neglecting Hermione, she was, and always had been, his best friend after all.

The guilty thoughts quickly vanished from his mind though, Daphne made sure of that.

Hermione was tiptoeing as quietly and quickly as possible through the empty, dark corridors of Hogwarts at 3am in the morning. She hadn't done this since she had come back to do her N.E.W.T's. She had been thrown in with the 7th years, and a few others from her year who had returned. Hermione and Ginny had always gotten on, but they hadn't been incredibly close. For the first little while of the year they had stuck together, but Ginny had her own friends in her year and when Harry broke up with her just before Christmas Ginny turned her back on Hermione slightly because of it. Hermione had ended up spending most of her time with the other students from her year who had returned, there was only 8 of them after all. She had become good friends with the Hufflepuff girl Hannah Abbott and she had become close with a Ravenclaw called Mandy Brocklehurst. It had been hard, being at Hogwarts without Harry and Ron, but she had a good time, and she had even become friends with the only returning Slytherin, a guy called Theodore Nott. He had been quiet, but hilarious once you got to know him so he and Hermione had hit it off, they had spent a good few nights eating ice cream in the kitchens talking about everything from their perspectives on the war to what they were going to do next. Hermione hadn't actually seen him since they graduated Hogwarts which was 5 years ago now.

Hermione got as far as the bottom step of the marble staircase leading into the entrance hall when she ran into trouble, she tumbled but managed to catch herself before she fell flat on her face. She frowned as she looked around, there was no one around and nothing on the ground that she could have tumbled on. She listened carefully and heard shallow breathing then realised what was going on.

'Harry, is that you?' She asked in exasperation.

'No…' A disembodied voice said from somewhere at her feet. Hermione felt around the area where she had heard the voice and found the thin silky material that she knew well. She lifted it up and slipped under, sitting down next to Harry on the marble steps.

'You're watching everyone put their name in the goblet, aren't you?' Hermione asked as she looked at her friend.

He smiled mischievously with a twinkle in his eyes akin to Dumbledore, 'Yes, I am.'

'Did you have fun with Daphne?' Hermione asked, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice and failing.

'Oh we didn't sleep together,' Harry lied, bearing in mind what Neville had said to him after the feast.

'You didn't? Why?' Hermione asked, not able to hide her surprise.

'I was just tired, and worried about this,' Harry lied, pointing at the goblet.

'Oh, fair enough,' Hermione said thoughtfully as she too looked at the goblet whose fire was currently gently swaying in the breeze coming in through the draughty walls and windows.

'What were you doing up so late?' Harry asked Hermione curiously.

'Oh,' Hermione said, trying to think of a reason for her wandering around so late at night, 'I was on my way to the kitchen to get ice cream…I crave it late at night sometimes.'

Harry narrowed his eyes at Hermione and said, 'You're not pregnant…are you?'

Hermione glared at Harry and punched him in the arm, 'Are you saying I'm fat?'

'No! I just…because of the ice cream…' Harry floundered and Hermione rolled her eyes, 'I'm not pregnant, I just wanted ice cream.'

'Good, because if you were I'd have to kick Krum's ass, you know that?' Harry said, and Hermione was surprised to see him blushing a little.

'Yeah, I know,' Hermione said with a fond smile, 'Don't worry about it I didn't see him enough to…' she trailed off and Harry chuckled, 'see, this is why deep fried twinkies are essential.'

Hermione chuckled and said, 'Well for you maybe, but not for me. I couldn't sleep with someone I didn't know that well…I couldn't just have that sort of relationship, it wouldn't be enough for me.'

'It's not enough for me,' Harry admitted, in one of these rare conversations when he let his wall come down, 'it doesn't fill the gap that Susan left, and it never will, but it's something,' he frowned as he stared at the goblet of fire, 'it's human contact, proof that I'm alive, something that gives me an adrenaline rush.'

'Something that makes you feel the way you did during the war,' Hermione finished, understanding Harry more than he knew at times.

Harry nodded, not saying anything for a moment, 'I've had more flings than I've had real relationships.'

'I can't say I know the feeling,' Hermione admitted, 'I've only really had one or two flings, but there have always been feelings involved for me.'

'Apart from that one time,' Harry said with a small smirk as he caught Hermione's eye, 'with Neville.'

Hermione rolled her eyes and nudged Harry in the ribs, 'That doesn't count, that was the last and only time I've ever been that drunk.'

Harry sniggered and said, 'Well, you know what Neville is like when he's had a few…'

Hermione chuckled at this and then slipped out of the cloak to get ice cream. She managed to sneak past the Auror on duty fairly easily, she only saw him from behind though so she wasn't sure who he was. Hermione returned from the kitchen with a sizeable tub of vanilla ice cream and two spoons. Once more she snuck past the Auror who was too busy reading the prophet to even notice her, she found Harry again and slid under the cloak.

Harry grinned as Hermione handed him a spoon and balanced the tub on her lap.

'So, what's happened so far?' Hermione asked, her eyes flicking over to the goblet.

'Well it's only been a few of our kids,' Harry said, referring to Hogwarts students, 'I suspect that the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students will do it tomorrow morning when everyone can see them.'

'So who's put their name in so far?' Hermione asked, a little too eagerly as she dug into the vanilla ice cream.

'A couple of 7th year Gryffindor's who are quite shy, a Ravenclaw kid whose crazy smart, like Hermione smart,' Harry said, missing the proud smile that spread across Hermione's face at this comment, 'and a Hufflepuff girl who I've seen speak once in the whole time I've taught here.'

'Hmm,' Hermione said as she handed Harry the ice cream tub, 'so what are our bets for who will be chosen?'

'From here?' Harry asked as he thought about it for a moment, 'I think it will be a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw, no offence to Hufflepuff but Cedric…he was an exception.'

Hermione nodded, putting her hand on Harry's knee, 'He was exceptional,' she agreed.

'Why do you think it won't be a Slytherin?' Hermione asked curiously as an afterthought.

Harry shrugged, 'They are alright all-rounders Slytherins, but they aren't great at any specific subject apart from potions occasionally, although one of my favourite students is in Slytherin, I hope she enters. The Ravenclaws that I think will enter are like you, great at everything.'

Hermione blushed and shook her head, 'I would never have made it in that tournament.'

'You made it in the war,' Harry said as he put his arm around Hermione's shoulder, 'if you got through that you could have gotten through anything.'

Hermione shook her head, not believing Harry, 'the war was different…I wouldn't have survived it without…well, without you.'

Harry passed the tub back to Hermione and shook his head, 'Don't kid yourself Hermione, if you hadn't been there that snake bite would have killed me. I wouldn't have gotten through the war without you, or Ron, I mean he saved my life in that lake.'

Hermione nodded, the conversation stilted for a moment until someone emerged from the dungeons and made their way over to the goblet.

Harry snorted quietly and Hermione frowned, 'What?' she asked in an undertone as the boy glanced around to make sure no one was looking and threw a bit of paper into the goblet of fire. He then speedily made his way back to the dungeons.

'That's the equivalent of Malfoy putting his name in the goblet in 4th year,' Harry said in vague amusement.

Hermione gave Harry a disapproving look, 'Harry, you may have hated him, but Draco was smart in school, smarter than you, he was always just a few marks below me in every class.'

'Yeah, he might have been smart but my point is he was a coward, and so is that Slytherin kid,' Harry said, snatching the tub from Hermione and eating some more ice cream.

'Harry, don't you remember everyone talking behind your back when you put your name in the goblet? This is what you're doing to these kids,' Hermione said, it was clear that she disapproved.

'But, I didn't put my name in the goblet,' Harry pointed out.

'It's the same thing.'

'No it isn't,' Harry said, and he then decided to change the subject, 'I reckon Gabrielle will be the champion for Beauxbatons.'

'It wouldn't surprise me,' Hermione agreed, 'if she's as similar in personality as she is in looks to Fleur then she will make a good champion.'

'She still has a crush on me,' Harry said with a chuckle, 'I felt so sorry for her the other day, I kissed her on the cheek like I did with Fleur and she got rather embarrassed.'

'She's 17 Potter, don't try anything,' Hermione said and Harry raised his arms slightly and said, 'hey, I sleep with my staff, not my pupils, remember?'

Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the goblet.

'What about the Durmstrang kids? Who do you reckon will get picked?' Harry asked.

'We can't really call them kids, can we? They're only 6 or 7 years younger than us,' Hermione said, but Harry merely shrugged and said, 'so what do you reckon?'

'I don't know,' Hermione said, 'they're all pretty cocky, you can tell they've been coached by their new Headmaster.'

'Have you noticed how many of them slick back their hair?' Harry asked with a snigger, and although she disapproved a lot of the time this was one area that Hermione rarely disagreed with Harry on so she let herself chuckle. It was true, the Durmstrang boys seemed to embody Draco slightly.

Hermione yawned and looked at the time, 'Are you actually going to sit here and watch this all night?'

'Nah,' Harry replied as Hermione's yawn caught on so that he yawned too, 'I'm going to head to bed soon. I have 1st year Slytherins and Gryffindors first thing tomorrow.'

'Good luck with that,' Hermione said, she then paused as the Auror that was on duty passed close by their spot on the stairs. Hermione hadn't realised until now who it was. Seamus stopped for a moment and listened and then continued his patrol of the entrance hall.

'Seamus is the Auror guarding the goblet?' Hermione asked in amusement.

Harry nodded with a slightly evil smile, 'I had so much fun making noises and throwing things. He was convinced it was Peeves, then I did my bloody baron voice and really freaked him out.'

Hermione sniggered as she remembered the time he had impersonated the baron to frighten Peeves.

'Well if you're quite done teasing Seamus I think I'll go to bed,' Hermione said, waving her wand and causing the ice cream tub and spoons to vanish.

'That's a good idea,' Harry said with yet another yawn. They stood up carefully and hunched over. They could just make it up the marble stairs onto the grand staircase without their feet showing. Hermione smiled as they walked up the stairs, it had been a good 7 years since she had been this close to Harry under the cloak and it brought back good memories from their Hogwarts days. When they reached the grand staircase Harry took the cloak off and kissed Hermione on the cheek, 'I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow.'

'You might not, I have some work to do so I'll probably eat in my quarters, but I'll come by your office in the afternoon to go over the preparations for tonight,' Hermione called as she walked away. Harry merely gave her a small wave and started the trek up the grand staircase to the 7th floor entrance to the Headmasters tower.

TBC :)

A/N: Thoughts? :P Thanks for reading!