A/N: Long wait??? Sorry 'bout that. I've gotten an increase in hours at work, not that I wanted them, mind you? Or expected them in the very least, as I'm on work probation for always being late (too much typing) you'd think I'd see less work, but no. Anyhoo, if you're reading other stories of mine they will all get updates this week as well.
Disclaimer: hmm… Maybe… nope, no matter how much I think about it- only this little plot is mine, not the characters.
--
Almost 6 months Later, December 16th 1998
"Ginny, remind me to never go Christmas shopping with you this late again." I say following behind her and Tonks.
"I know, I know, but with the Pure Killers still striking whenever they want it's hard to go shopping with all those guards around." Ginny said as she continued up the street.
"And what am I?" Tonks said feigning being hurt.
"Oh Tonks, you know you're like family to me, and you're a girl. I can buy the guy's presents without having to worry about them telling each other." Ginny answers.
"Who's left?" I ask.
"I still have Harry, Neville, and Bill's." Ginny replies.
"Harry's? I got Remus's gift ages ago." Tonks says.
"I did too, but he found where I hid it, and opened it. I told him I wasn't getting him another one, but I can't go out like that." Ginny say while looking in one of the shop windows.
"What about you Hermione?" Tonks asks me.
"Just Fred and George. They seem to have everything they really want." I reply.
"Just do what I do then" Ginny advises.
"And what's that?" I ask.
"Don't get them anything" She says simply.
"That's rude Ginny. I'm sure I'll find something." I state.
"Good Luck even Angelina gave up. But who cares about them-" she starts.
"Ginny" I say.
"What I really wanted to know is what you got Dean?" She says turning around to face me.
"What?" I quiz.
"You heard me, what did you get Dean?" She repeats.
"Why? Wait a minute…" I say realizing what she's implying.
"Oh Come off it Hermione. You two have been getting along quite well." Ginny states matter of factly.
"Yes, well friends tend to do that form time to time." I say, heavy on the friends.
"Close friends. And if I didn't know the two of you better I'd be mad that you're getting over Ron-"
"I'm what? Listen, I don't what you think, but I don't like Dean that way." I reply.
"That's what you used to say about Ron" She replies.
"That's not fair" I remark.
"Unfair, but true" she answers.
"Come on now. No arguing." Tonks interrupts.
I'm actually more hurt than mad at Ginny's allegation.
"I know from your point of view it would seem that way, but really, we're just friends." I repeat.
"Uh-hun. So what did you get your 'friend' for Christmas?" She asks again.
"Art supplies." I respond.
"Hermione" she says in that nagging voice.
"What?' I reply over Tonks chuckles.
"How could you get him art supplies? That's so regular" Ginny says exasperated.
"Because I asked him what he wanted and he said 'art supplies'" I respond truthfully.
"You were supposed to read between the lines" Ginny says desperately.
"Did you forget he's an Unspeakable? He answers everything truthfully… weirdly, but truthfully." I say.
"This won't do. We'll have to find something else for you to get him today" Ginny says turning around to start walking back up the street.
"I'm not buying him anything else. You just don't want me to give him the same thing as you." I say knowingly.
"How did you know we got him art supplies?" she asks turning back around.
"He said he tells everyone to get him art supplies. It's the only thing he ever really wants." I explain.
"Fine. So did your 'friend' ask you what you wanted for Christmas?" She asks.
"Yeah, but I couldn't think of anything for him to get me." I say truthfully.
"Hermione" Ginny says again.
"What now?" I say over Tonks chuckling again.
"You two are funny" Tonks says still smiling.
"Now you'll probably get a crappy gift with no meaning" Ginny states annoyed.
"I doubt it. He said that I should let him paint something for me" I reply.
"That's nice of him" Tonks says seriously.
"Hmm? I guess it depends on what he paints then. You should let him paint you nude." Ginny says with a smile.
I feel my face turn red at just the thought of someone other than Ron seeing me naked…
"Well a bloke leaves for a year and a half and comes back to hear Hermione Granger is letting someone paint her starkers" a voice drawls behind me.
I see Ginny and Tonks surprised faces, before I turn to see the face of the voice. Though I had a pretty good idea it was-
"Draco?" Ginny says walking by me to get a closer look.
"Hello Ladies." He says simply.
He looks the same, but already in the way he speaks I can tell something is different.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asks, slightly rude.
"Same as you… well I'm not going around letting people paint me au natural, but-" He starts with his trademark smirk.
"Ginny was joking"
I say coming out of my stupor to speak.
"Hey, it's not any of my business" he says smiling now "but yes, I'm Christmas shopping as well. Mother has been hinting at some robes she must have out Madame Malkin's.
"Where've you been? You just sort of disappeared. You're mother said you were fine, but wouldn't comment otherwise." Ginny states.
"Sorry to interrupt, but maybe he'd like to join us for Lunch. If Harry were to turn up to check on you, I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate us just standing still in the middle of a 'potentially dangerous crime scene'" Tonks says imitating Harry's worries.
"You're right. I'm surprised he hasn't shown up yet." Ginny says looking around as if expecting to spot an Auror easily.
Harry was still technically training, but anytime something happens he's always involved trying to make it right. Most rookies get stuck doing the paperwork.
"So how about it Draco, join us for Lunch?" Tonks says to him.
"How could I resist an offer to accompany three beautiful witches to lunch?" He says smiling "one of which is a cousin, I've never had the pleasure to really know."
He puts out his elbows inviting any of us to take hold.
"No way. Don't know if you know, but I'm Mrs. Potter now, and walking down the street with you arm and arm would make Harry flip… flip you actually…" Ginny says declining his arm.
"Well I'll take one" Tonks says hooking her arm in his right one.
"Tonks, how can you hold his elbow? Lupin could show too you know?" Ginny points out.
"True, but like Draco said, we are cousins aren't we? No harm there" Tonks replied.
"So what of it Hermione?" He asks looking at me.
It still feels weird to hear him say my first name.
"Why not?" I say anyways.
"Lucky me" He says.
I decide to start testing this different Draco.
"You know Muggles have a saying "Flattery will get you no where" I say waiting for his reaction as we walk down the street.
"Yes I've come across it in my travels. But Muggles had never met me, had they? So of course they wouldn't know that with my smile, flattery will get you everywhere." He drawls.
It's still a very Malfoyish answer, isn't it? But did he just say-
"Travels?" Ginny quips.
"Yes" He states simply.
We reach the Leaky Cauldron. We go get seats as Draco reacquaints himself with Tom. As he walks towards our table he seems to be trying to keep a low profile, from the few people who are in here. If anything he's just drawing more attention to himself.
"Trying to keep a low profile?" I say.
"Yes." He says simply.
"Well, no one's see you for a while" I admit.
"Sure and it is me, isn't it? I've always been an attention magnet." He says smirking.
"Only in your world" I reply.
"The only world that matters" He replies still smirking.
Tom comes over to personally take our orders and then leaves.
"So spill it Draco, where've you been on these travels?" Ginny asks at once.
"Well, I got some advice before I left and it made me realize I needed to go some place where I could meet new people and make real friends." He says.
I remember back to our conversation that night when Ron proposed. Who knew everything that would come after it?
"So what'd you do?" Ginny asks.
"I knew I never really liked school, but there really weren't any interesting options open unless I did go back… so I did." He answers.
"No you didn't. McGonagall would've said something." Ginny retorted.
"I didn't go to Hogwarts. I went to Durmastrang" He announced.
"What?" I say.
"Why" Ginny adds.
"If I would've gone to Hogwarts it would've been awkward. Too many memories…" He says letting the sentence hang.
He's right; he didn't exactly leave on a good note, did he?
"Plus, there'd definitely be no way of knowing who was really trustworthy or just trying to befriend a war hero" He finished.
"Fair point" Tonks says.
"But why'd it have to be Durmastrang? Why not Beaubaton's?" Ginny questions.
"That fairy school with those prats in tights and muffs, doing back flips? I wouldn't be caught dead there. Besides I didn't believe they could guarantee my privacy in France like they could way up north." He admits.
I laugh at the thought of Draco in tights doing a pirouette… it is humorous; his hair would probably be in the way.
"Plus" he continues "after speaking to Viktor it was the easiest choice."
"Why Viktor? He's done with Durmastrang." Ginny asked.
"Besides the fact that we're friends, I'm one of the few people who knew Kakaroff and wasn't afraid of him" He states.
"What does that have to with anything?" Ginny quizzes.
"There school's been trying to change direction ever since Kakaroff left, but it's been tough. Viktor's been trying his best not to let anyone else like Kakaroff start running things. It's hard as he's not supposed to have any say in what goes on, but everyone up there really loves him. Famous Quidditch player, helped in the war, what's not to love? So everyone is owling him about the coming and goings of the school." He explained.
"I know we're all famous in our own right, but he's a different sort of famous. One bad Quidditch accident and he could be forgotten in a matter of minutes" I say.
"Way to be happy for a guy hun, Granger?" He says.
"I just mean, he probably has to be grateful and listen because it could all be gone." I say.
"No wonder you two managed to get along, because he's thinking along the same lines. So he listens to the letters, and tries to help." Draco admits.
"Lovely. But what does this have to do with you Draco?" Ginny asks again.
"He asked me to keep track of things for him. He has no way of knowing what to take seriously- whether a student is writing to get out of a test or a teacher is writing to get a colleague fired." He explains.
"But what could you possibly do?" Ginny questions.
"You underestimate me. I could owl him if any real trouble arose, not just trivial rivalries and such, and finish my schooling at the same time. That way we'd both win." He states.
"Just like that you got in?" Ginny quizzes.
"Thorough aren't you?" Draco asks with a smile.
"You better believe it." Ginny answers.
Thorough was an understatement. Harry and Ron had broken her favorite cup while throwing a Fang Frisbee in the house. She asked them at least a dozen questions for three days straight trying to get them to admit they did it. Then she stopped asking. Just when we all thought she probably let it go, she asked the same questions again, and sure enough they both faltered on their answers. If she wants to know something she's going to find out.
"So when he brought up with the Headmaster and his staff it seemed I was the answer to their problems as well. Part of their new direction was changing their courses. They decided they want to be better rounded in other things besides the Drak Arts. So coming from Hogwarts I was the perfect person to ask if everything seemed alright." He explained.
"I bet you loved that?" I state.
"Of course. I thrive in the spotlight." He responded with another smirk.
"Not at Quidditch" Ginny piped in with a smirk of her own.
"Touché. So they told me about their new system. They'd test the sixth years in a variety of subjects before they could move on to seventh year studies. So to let me in, they gave me a sample test. It'd tell them if I'm ready for seventh year, and I could tell them if the questions were adequate." He stated.
"By your appearance here I take it you passed then?" I state.
"I won't dignify that with an answer, Hermione" He replies.
"Come off it Draco" Ginny say a bit testily.
"Only because I remember your bat bogey hex will I continue" He says smiling.
Just them Tom comes with our food, and we take a moment to get adjusted.
"I did average on Charms, better than average in Transfiguration, 100 percent in Herbology and Potions, and-" He starts.
"100 percent in Herbology?" I say interrupting him.
"I'll admit there Herbology part only consisted of five questions. Three of which were about Devil's Snare, so it wasn't really hard."
"Why only five questions, and no practical?" I ask.
"Herbology isn't big up there in the cold. They were a school for the Dark Arts if you recall, so if it wasn't a plant that kills like Devil's Snare it wasn't really important." He explained.
"Why don't they just build some green houses then?" I asked.
"Great minds think alike. As obvious as it sounds to us, it wasn't an obvious choice up there because who would run them? They actually offered me an honorary degree so I could teach Herbology if they got the green houses." He said smirking at the thought.
"You're joking" Ginny said.
"Surely not. I declined of course, told them Herbology really wasn't my subject, but I knew a bloke name Neville who's a genius at it." Draco replied.
"This is all very fascinating Draco, but what does this have to do with your 'travels'?" I ask.
"They asked whether I thought anything was too hard or too easy. I explained why with my reasons. That I often don't have the patience for charms; that both Charms and Transfiguration would have been harder if they included non-verbal casting-" He says.
"Nothing was non-verbal?" I cut in.
"No. They believe in saving non verbal studies for seventh year, after you've proved you can say them verbally." He answered.
"Weird" Ginny says.
"That hardly seems like enough practice" I state.
"True but they have Masters down there, so if you feel like you really want to practice more just find a master of the subject to help you hone your skills." He explained.
"Wow" Tonks said.
"Lastly there was the Dark Arts, which I did better than average in. This caused them the most trouble; they thought given my past as a death Eater I would have gotten 100 percent in that. But I had to tell them my Death Eater activity was quite limited. That the spells I did manage to learn in that time were definitely dark, but weren't asked on the test. And lastly, that I spent the first six years of my magical education learning Defense Against the Dark Arts and not doing them, which is completely different." He said.
"So did you go to school or teach it?" Ginny asked.
"I did my school year, kept Viktor informed, and gave my opinion to the staff when needed." He answered.
"Really?' I say.
"Yes really. In exchange for all that, they kept my whereabouts hidden from anyone who may have tried to inquire." He replied.
"And so you finished then?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, top of my class too." He drawled.
"Never would've managed that with Hermione around." Ginny stated.
"Ginny" I say embarrassed, though I don't know why.
"No, she's right. One of the perks of going there was no Potter, Granger and Weasley's to attract all the attention." Draco said smirking.
"Had it all too yourself, did you? No one else even came close?" Ginny asked.
"As if they could. After being around you guys for six years, it would've taken someone really big to get the attention from me. I keep telling you I thrive in the spotlight- except against Gryffindor in Quidditch"
He said adding the last bit as Ginny was about to say something. She immediately smiled and closed her mouth afterwards.
We decided to start eating our food before it gets cold as Tonks reminds us we still have shopping to finish. Draco insists on paying, so we let him. As we stop out the door Ginny has more questions.
"So you graduated right?" she says.
"Of course" he replies.
"So what've you been doing since then?" she asks.
Besides showing up at a funeral late…
"Traveling" He says.
"Finally we get to the travels" Ginny says overdramatically.
"Yes, to work on the next bit of advice. To find some people who like me for no reason than being me." Draco drawls.
"Er… hard search then, was it?" Ginny asks smirking.
"Same Weasley charm under that Potter ring I see. But it was hard… at first." He says simply.
"Do tell." Ginny implores.
"Well I set out to just meet regular wizards, squibs, half bloods, muggleborn's-" Draco started.
"Except for the squibs they're all regular wizards you know?" I stated.
"I know now." Draco said.
"Do you now?" I stated unbelievingly.
"I do. I visited Africa first- I was tired of the cold; Brazil- Brazilian witches are… never mind; and Australia- wizard surfing is big sport down there, you know…" He explained.
"Sounds exciting" Tonks said.
"I'll say" Ginny adds.
"It was. And do you know how easy it was not to care about someone's ancestry? After a while I just stopped asking" Draco stated.
"You thought it would be hard? Really Malfoy, how thick could you get?" Ginny commented.
"I know. I knew I wasn't brought up properly but I had no idea, how improperly. It was at this point I decided to take the next step." Draco said smiling.
He was obviously pausing for dramatic affect. It worked… on Ginny and Tonks, that is.
"What big step?" Ginny and Tonks said together.
"I don't believe it." I said, getting a feeling of where he was going.
"Believe what?" they said together again.
"I hung out with Muggles." Draco drawled with a smirk.
"Come off it Draco, the first part was one thing, but Muggles?" Ginny exclaimed.
"I did I tell you… well I do is more accurate. I consider some of them to be my best mates." Draco said seriously.
"I can't believe it" I said.
"Believe it. I went to the States. Father said he always heard from the American Minister of Magic over there that his Muggles were always on alert, very smart when they wanted to be, so I started there… and I just wound up staying." Draco explained.
"And?" I asked.
"And what?" He replied.
"What happened?" I said.
"It was like socializing with muggleborns… personality wise that is." He said.
"How do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"Not all of them are kind, but not all of them are stupid either, like I previously thought. In fact if I had to some it all up-" Draco explained.
"Good idea, time's a wasting." Tonks interrupted.
"Tonks" I stated.
"What?" she replied.
"I'd say Muggles are just ignorant wizards." He said matter of factly.
"How charming" Ginny replied sarcastically.
"There's more. And wizards are just ignorant Muggles." Draco finished.
"Yes that's so much better." I replied.
"Hey you have your beliefs and I have mine. It's a lot better than before, wouldn't you say?" He asked.
"True" Ginny replied.
"And on that note I think we should finish shopping" Tonks said.
"I agree. It was nice running into you ladies" Draco said taking a bow to us.
"Yes nice…" I say absent mindedly.
This was still all too much for me, and I don't why…
"Why don't you shop with us? I want to hear more about the new Draco Malfoy." Ginny said to him.
"Sorry, but I really must be getting to Madame Malkin's. I'm only in town for the day. Hopefully none of the people in the Leaky Cauldron will see fit to spread around my appearance. I'm trying to surprise my mother." He admitted.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Ginny questioned.
"If it gets around Mother will be furious I didn't come visit her… but of course she'll forgive me when she talks me into admitting I was here for her Christmas present. So really the sooner I'm gone the better." He explained.
"You should just go and visit her then. How often does she see you?" Ginny asked.
"Not often. But I'm spending all of Christmas week with her… not that she knows that yet either." Draco said smirking.
"Aren't you full of surprises?" Ginny said.
"Coming from you Mrs. Potter I'll take that as a compliment. I thought you were going to say I was full of shit." Draco said honestly still smirking.
We all laughed at his comment. Who was this charismatic Draco Malfoy, and why do I see to care so much?
"Hermione, you might as well join him." Ginny said suddenly.
"What? Why?" I replied.
"You said you needed to pick up your new dress robes for the dinner… Draco are you coming to the dinner?" Ginny said switching into Hostess mode.
"He probably doesn't even-" I started.
"I haven't decided yet." He responded.
"You know about it?" I asked surprised.
"Of course. Mother told me of it last year, but I declined fearing too many questions. Plus, Viktor offered me the chance to spend it with him on his Quidditch business. Mother really wants me to go this year. Probably so she can brag about her son this time around." Draco replied.
Ginny had come up with an idea last thanksgiving, for a dinner on Boxing Day to celebrate making it through the war. She believed the time for mourning was over. She managed to get the Ministry to approve it (with help from Harry of course) and all the wizarding community was invited to come. And come they did. It was a wonderful event. But this year, it would be on the 6 month anniversary of the first Pure Killers attack. Ginny just thinks that it's an even better reason to have then, isn't it? To celebrate living again… those who died would not want us walking around moping.
"So are you going?" Ginny asked Draco again.
"I really don't know…" Draco replied.
"Well, do consider it. It was loads of fun last year." Ginny advertises, and then turns to me "Hermione meet me and Tonks by the Owl Emporium. I need to get more owl food for Hedwig, Hermes, and Pig after leaving Quality Quidditch Supplies for Harry."
"But…" I start to say.
"We'll save time this way, and you won't be alone. We can kill two birds with one spell" Ginny points out.
"Fine, unless Draco minds." I say, not that there's anything I could do about it.
"I don't mind." He says simply.
"Good. And do try and convince him to go to the dance." she whispers to me.
"Ginny" I whisper back.
"Bye Draco, nice seeing you" Ginny says and turns to leave.
"Bye Cousin" Tonks says following her.
We watch them walk up the street.
"You know, I think you've rubbed off on her. She's a lot bossier than I remember." Draco drawls as we start to walk.
"Oh shut up" I reply.
"Easy there. That's no way to convince a bloke to go to the dance is it?" He says.
I have no idea how he heard us, but I know my face is flush with embarrassment at his statement. I pull it together though…
"I could care less. There might not even be a dinner." I say.
"Because of the attacks right?" he asks.
"Yeah…" I say a bit sadder than I meant to.
"I know we… that is, Ron and I, didn't always get along but… I'm sorry about what happened to him." Draco says sincerely.
"Oh… thank you" I say awkwardly.
"I know it seems about 6 months too late, but I tried-" He starts.
"I know" I sat simply cutting him off.
"To- wait, how do you know?" He asks curiously.
"I heard you asking Filch the day of the funerals to get in. I was on my way through the castle, but by the time I got to the entrance you were walking away and Filch was closing the door." I explain.
"Bloody Squib" He states.
"So it's not all your hate is gone is it?" I say smirking.
"Come off it Granger, its Filch" He replies.
"Back to Granger is it Malfoy?" I reply.
"Old habits die hard. But really… when I heard-" He started again.
"You don't have to dwell on it and act all upset. I know you and Ron never really-" I started.
"Not everything is about you, you know? I meant when I heard in general. Ron wasn't the only person who died. Ernie's parents were welcomed guests in my house, our mother's were distant cousins but they were always close, and then there was Pansy…" he says leaving the sentence open.
I feel about the size of a flobberworm. I forgot about Pansy, let alone that they were good friends…
"We never went out" He said suddenly.
"How did you… I mean-" I started.
"That's what everyone thought, so I heard. I managed to see Ernie after Filch turned me away, he assumed the same thing, and enlightened me to this belief." He said.
"Oh" was all I could say.
"So as I was saying, when I heard what happened, I had been in Africa a couple of weeks. I had meetings planned out, and engagements to attend to. It was hard to get even a day off to come and pay my respects; otherwise I would have tried to reach you again. By the time I could get a decent amount of free time mother didn't want me to come back," He explained and then added "she was afraid for me."
"For you?? Oh… right"
The next attack by the Pure Killers was in Diagon Alley about a month and a half later. Actually, Knockturn Alley to be exact, but it was still too close for comfort for most (hence why Harry won't let Ginny can't shop alone). And even though Knockturn Alley is known for attracting dodgy characters, those dodgy people are usually Pure Bloods. Hence their name- Pure Killers, they kill Pure Bloods. And their leader S.H.A.M.'s name stands for Squibs Half's and Muggles- because those are all the people he's trying to protect from 'evil pure blood supremacists'. Nobody shopped in Diagon Alley for weeks. We had to beg Fred and George to stay home.
"Yes mother was frantic with worry" He said.
"Weren't you worried?" I asked.
"About her safety, not mine. I was amiditedly a bit scared at first, but when I thought about all those years when being a pureblood was an advantage, and how that didn't stop half bloods, and Muggleborns from living… well there's no reason I can't do the same now. I thought of you." He said smiling.
"Me?" I replied.
I could feel myself blushing.
"Yes, all those times I called you... well you know, you just sort of shook it off. You always seemed fine with it." He explained.
"I was fine with it" I stated.
"I know, and I'm fine with being pure blood. So if you could do it then I could do it." He stated simply.
"Is there a compliment in there somewhere Draco?" I asked wondering.
"I believe there is" He said smiling.
Thankfully we reached Madame Malkin's. I didn't like how this one conversation was making me feel.
Upon seeing Draco, Madame Malkin immediately grabbed him by the wrists and pulled him toward the robes his mother had been talking about. They were defintely nice robes.
"I have my mother's-" Draco started to say.
"No need dear, she's already had it fitted. It was just waiting for you to pick it up." She said smiling.
"Was it now? Do you have another one?" Draco asked.
"Of course not, this is an original; no one else will have it." Madame Malkin replied looking scandalized at the suggestion.
"No not that. Because I don't want her to know I've bought it. I may have been spotted you see- as I stopped for lunch; so if anything... you could just say I dropped by to look at it, or say I'd get it on Christmas eve or some other tale." He said thinking aloud.
"Ah, I suppose I could put a fake on the rack…" she said thinking.
"Why not just leave it here, and don't sell it to anybody, and this way you won't have to leave with any bags, and it'll still be here if your mum comes to Diagon Alley." I suggest.
"Then how would I get the robes? The closer it gets to Christmas the more likely my mother will be around." He asks.
"Madame Malkin will send them to you on the 23rd" I say.
"Why then?" He asks curiously.
"Because if Madame Malkin tells your mother that you said you would pick them up another day, what will your mother do?" I say smirking.
"She'll probably come here everyday to make sure." He replies slowly.
"Right, when she comes on the 24th and sees the robes gone, she'll assume you picked them up, until Madam Malkin tells her, that she sold them to someone else who had Galleons up front" I say still smirking.
"She'll be devastated… I like it." Draco says now also smirking.
"Mr. Malfoy-" Madame Malkin starts.
"Please, call me Draco" He says immediately.
"Draco...that's a horrible thing to do to your mother… the 23rd did you say?" she says smiling.
"Yes" He replies.
"No problem."
After getting the address down and all the technicalities of the story straight, the plan is set. I try on my dress- which I refuse to show to Draco; and we're on our way back out the shop.
"Why couldn't I see it?" He asks for the 20th time.
"Because" I say simply.
"Because what?" He says annoyed.
"Because…" I answer smiling.
I didn't really have a reason, call it shyness, or mysteriousness, but I didn't want too… then I saw Ginny and Tonks as we made our way to the Owl Emporium and I remembered something.
"Because… if you really wanted to see it, then you'd be at the dinner."
"That's your game is it?" he drawls.
"It is" I say simply.
"Then that means you've decided to go as well then?" He asked.
"I guess it does" I admit.
"Then I'll see you there" He says just as we reach Ginny and Tonks.
"Please tell me you guys are talking about the Dinner?" Ginny asks.
"We are" I say.
"Excellent" she replies with a smile.
"Well I have to be off." Draco says.
"Thanks again for Lunch" Ginny says.
"Yes it was fun" Tonks add.
"Anytime ladies. See you at the Dinner then." He says.
Before he can go Tonks gives him a hug. He's caught off guard by it. Ginny and I laugh at the look on his face.
"Right thanks for that" He says blushing.
"Anytime." Tonks said.
"Weasley. Granger." He says.
"Malfoy" I say as he disapparates.
"It's Potter" Ginny says to the now empty spot.
And we head back home, with Ginny and Tonks asking me dozens of questions along the way.
--
Ok, that's it for the information stages. Ron's died, Draco's back, and Draco's going to dinner next chapter… let the real work begin. Trust me.
A review or two gets things done faster… so I've heard. ;)