[A/N: Glad to be back everyone! My vacation was amazing (I caught a fish, had to put a worm on a hook – it was gross). My times in the backwoods of Ohio has given me some major inspiration so, onward!]
"Alright, Miss Potter, you are clear to get out of that chair then," the healer told me. "Take it easy for a while. I strongly discourage you from playing Quidditch if you're into that kind of thing."
"No worries there," I said. Now I had the perfect excuse to not try out for the team this year.
"Mister Black, I'm gonna need you to fill out some paper work," the healer said.
"Stay right here and don't let anyone kidnap you," Sirius said.
"You're going to be ten feet away. Don't worry so much," I said. He smiled at me and walked over to the desk.
I stood there waiting.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite little pen pal." I turned around and saw Cormac walking toward me, with no shirt on and his arm in a makeshift sling.
"Oh, McLaggen, hi," I said.
"Potter," he said, flashing me a smile.
-Stop staring.-
*I can't help it. Who knew he looked like that under his shirt?*
-He's looking at you weird. Say something.-
"You're very. . . Muscley," I said.
-I'm pleased to see you're making use of that extensive vocabulary you have.-
Cormac laughed. "Thank you for noticing. What brings you here?"
"Oh, I've been in a wheel chair since that incident at the Ministry of Magic. Just came to get permission to walk on my own two feet again," I said. "I'm guessing your visit has something to do with your arm."
"Oh, yeah, training for Quidditch you know. Your brother's a shoe in for captain, it's no secret that he doesn't like me, so I figure I gotta make sure this all works out in my favor," he said.
"Well you look like you're well on your way to doing an amazing job," I said.
-Stop talking. You're embarrassing yourself.-
"But enough about me, let's talk about you and your summer," he said. "How have you been Miss Potter? Heard about your nasty little break up with Malfoy through the grape vine."
I scoffed. "I'm sure that was all over school before I even left."
"That's Hogwarts for you," he said.
"I heard he's been seeing Astoria Greengrass," I said, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
"The little sister of Daphne who's always hanging out with Parkinson?" Cormac asked.
"The same," I sighed.
"What a prat? He could've at least upgraded, though I'm sure that's hard to do after you," Cormac said.
"Not really," I said.
"Ah, don't be like that, Potter. The way I see it, modesty is the same as lying, especially in your case, Beautiful," he said.
"I bet you say that to all the girls," I said.
"Only the single ones," he said. I rolled my eyes. "Look, I know all those things Granger says about me, but let me honest with you, she was clingy."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, I mean, I'm 17, I'm good looking, I've got my whole life ahead of me. She was a relationship girl. I'm not a relationship guy, so there's really no reason for us to even be talking if that's what you're looking for," he said.
"I just broke up with a boy I was dating for a year and a half. What makes you think I'm looking for something serious?" I asked.
Cormac cocked an eyebrow at me. "So you just intend to use me then?"
"I just need a distraction, not a boyfriend," I said. "Right now you're doing quite the job at being distracting."
". . . Alright, Potter, I get you," he said. "Look, my uncle, Tiberius, is having a party Saturday, small gathering of some important people from the ministry, politicians, a few classmates. You come, put on a slinky dress, be my arm candy."
"Arm candy?" I asked.
"Yeah, and I'm sure it would drive Malfoy crazy, because, you know, he and his mother are going to be there," Cormac said.
"Oh, really?" I asked.
"Come, you'll enjoy yourself," Cormac said, "or at least, Malfoy won't."
"So, who was that sparsely clad boy you were talking to at St. Mungo's?" Sirius asked at dinner that night.
"Sparsely clad?" Tonks asked.
"Yeah, some hulking best of a boy arm wrapped up in a poorly made sling and no shirt on just walks up to her in the middle of the hospital and starts talking to her," Sirius said.
"That's just Cormac," I said.
"That sounds like him, alright," Ron said rolling his eyes.
"He hurt his arm training for Qudditch because Harry doesn't like him very much and since, he supposes, Harry is going to be team captain this year he has to be able to prove his worth when we get back to school," I said.
"What were you talking about?" Lupin asked.
Another annoying part of the summer was that I now had to deal with Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius day in and day out. I'd gone from having no parents to having three overnight, and the fact that I'd spent the better part of the break crying my eyes out had left them constantly interrogating me.
"Nothing really," I said. "Except, well he invited me to his uncle's party on Saturday and I was wondering if it might be okay if I went."
Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius immediately exchange worried glances.
"I don't know how safe that would be," Sirius said.
"I don't think it'll kill me to go out and behave like a teenager for once," I said.
"Well there is kind of a dark wizard seeking to kill you and all," Lupin said.
"Well, I just happen to know that two order members are going to be at that party as well," I said.
"Really?" Sirius asked. "Who?"
"Tonks and Kingsley. It's Tiberius McLaggen's party. Cormac told me that he asked our brand new minister of magic to extend an invitation to all the members of his former department, the auror office, and that attendance was not optional," I said.
"Damn, you've got this all planned out don't you?" Tonks asked.
"Hannah is brilliant in the worst way sometimes," Kassia said.
"So, can I go?" I asked.
"Why do you want to go?" Sirius asked.
"I need a good distraction," I said.
"Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with the fact that an invitation was also extended to Narcissa and Draco and that they'll probably be there as well?" Tonks asked.
"On my list of top five reasons why I'm going that probably falls in at. . . Number seven," I said casually.
"I sure hope you know what you're doing," Sirius said cautiously.
"As long as Tonks is going, I suppose you can go," Lupin said.
"And don't go off canoodling with that boy. He smells like too much hair gel and trouble," Sirius said.
"Worry wart," I said.
"I'm allowed," Sirius said. "Your whole personality has done a 180 this week. It has me in a permanent state of concern."
"Hannah's existence is cause for a permanent state of concern," Ron said.
"Hey, I can walk again. Don't test me. I still owe you from last week," I said.
"When did I get so many scars on my legs?" I asked. I was sitting in the lounge Saturday evening, waiting for Tonks to arrive so I could go to Cormac's party. "I used to have such nice legs."
"You still have nice legs," Ginny said.
"So, what are you supposed to be doing this evening anyway?" Harry asked.
"Something along the lines of mingling," I said.
"And what do you plan to say to Draco?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing if I can help it," I said.
"Wishful thinking," Ron said. "Malfoy loves confrontation."
"And Cormac is bound to say something to piss him off," Harry said. "I mean, every time he opens his mouth I want to hit him and Malfoy has a worse temper than I do."
"And his mother is a bit of a bitch as well," Kassia giggled.
"Yeah, be careful of your temper," Ginny said.
"Well, as long as he doesn't bring Greengrass along I should be fine. I can handle Narcissa Malfoy and obviously I can handle her son," I said.
"Don't drink too much. You know how you get when you drink too much," Harry said.
"I know how you get when you drink too much," Ginny said giving me a wink.
"I wish I could remember, Gin," I said returning her wink.
"Will you two stop that?" Ron asked.
"Yeah it was bad enough we had to witness it but you both keep bringing it up," Harry replied.
Tonks walked into the lounge, seeming slightly irritated at that moment. Her hair was still a short and a mousy blonde color, as it had been every time I'd seen it recently. She wore a purple knee length, spaghetti strap dress and matching ballet flats.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked with a sigh.
"I see you're just itching to get there," I replied climbing to my feet.
"I hate going to stupid cocktail parties for work. I've been invited to dozens of them since that incident at the ministry. Kingsley too," Tonks replied.
"What for?" Harry asked.
"Well because of you two obviously. They're trying to get in good with you so can be their poster children or whatever and they're just thrilled with anyone who's on a first name basis with you," Tonks said.
"Oh, so apparently I'm about to go into a house filled with hoity-toity rich people swarming all over me and asking if I can do them favors," I said.
"Yes," Tonks said. "Just remember, you asked to go. So let's get going before I lose my job or something."
I waved goodbye to my friends and followed Tonks out of the house on the front stairs.
"So, how are we getting there?" I asked.
"Apparation. Dumbledore says you've done side along before haven't you," Tonks said.
"Of course," I replied.
"Good, then you don't need a lesson," she said, taking hold of my hand. "Here we go."
With a popping sound, there was the feeling of being sucked into a tube and blackness. Suddenly, there was light, the tube feeling was gone and I was standing on my own two feet. I fought away the feeling of dizziness and took balance on my shiny, black cane (sadly, there was no sword inside as Ron and I had wanted).
"Tah-dah, we're here," Tonks said.
We were standing at the front doors of a manor almost as grand as the Malfoy's, though not nearly as bleak and not nearly as old.
Tonks rang the front door bell and a moment later, it was opened by a butler. I'd never really been a big fan of Hermione's SPEW movement, even though I sympathized with Dobby, but it was refreshing to see an actual person open the front door to the house instead of a house elf like at Draco's house.
The butler ushered us inside and walked us through to a ball room.
Snooty rich people were the worst and I was in a room full of them. They were all sipping drinks and using that annoying laugh they all used with each other and they were all probably going on about how happy they were to have so much money.
"What are you thinking?" Tonks asked, looking just as uncomfortable as I was.
"I'm really glad that Ron's family isn't like this. I don't think we could be friends if I had to be around these people all the time," I said.
Tonks smiled. "Just be polite and you'll be fine. You're Hannah Potter. Nine times out of ten, all the people are going to be kissing your ass. You don't have much to worry about."
"Glad to hear it," I said.
"Oi, Potter," I heard the unmistakable voice of Cormac call out. I turned and saw him approach me.
"That the boy you came here to see?" Tonks asked. I nodded. "He looks like he's made of trouble."
"And aren't I?" I asked.
"Touché, Hannah," she said.
Cormac reached me and flashed me what I assumed was his flashiest, most charming smile. Tonks remained unimpressed.
"Glad you could make it," he said. He extended his hand out to Tonks. "I'm Cormac McLaggen, one of Hannah's classmates and fellow Gryffindor."
"I'm Auror Tonks, one of Hannah's many, many, many caregivers," Tonks said shaking his hand.
"Awe, you're the rookie that made the Greyback and Fitzpatrick arrest back in November," Cormac said. "And after assisting in the capture of a dozen death eaters I hear tell you're actually in the running for Dawlish for the position of Senior Auror now that Shaklebolt has taken over the office."
Tonks smiled. "I'm going to let you take Hannah, just let me speak with her for one moment."
"Of course," he said.
"You know, it's funny, I don't think I've ever heard Cormac talk so much about someone other than himself for so long," I said.
"That boy is nothing but trouble, trust me. Nothing good comes of boys like that. He has smooth operator written all over him," Tonks said.
"I'll be careful. Trust me," I said.
"The last thing I need are Sirius and Remus to throttle me for letting you get into trouble with him," Tonks said. "And when Malfoy gets here please try to behave. The press is here and they love writing about everything that you do. Stay on your toes. If we're lucky you'll be nothing more than a mention on article about the party on page 18 of The Prophet."
"I know. One toe out of line and wham I'm front page," I said. "Discretion is my middle name."
"No, Hannah, that would be indiscretion but let's try to deviate from your usual pattern of behavior," Tonks said.
