Hermione appeared with a loud pop outside the Burrow. Draco had left a note on the table telling her he was going early. She was suspicious. Never the less, she got dressed and did her hair. She knew not to eat a fully fledged breakfast; Molly would have cooked more than enough to feed the five thousand. Though she picked an apple from the bowl and rubbed it on her sleeve, taking a large bite.

Her shoes were snow proof and fluffy on the inside. Her nose was covered by her scarf and her hands warm in her gloves. Tendrils of her hair fell into her face, and a messy bun was piled on top of her head.
As she trudged through the closer and closer, she noted it was deathly quiet. That was never the case in the Weasley household. To many children.

She placed her hand on her wand: old habits die hard. She pushed the door so it creaked open. It was pitch black but her eyes hurt when suddenly the lights brightened. A banner floated from the ceiling singing "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder. The words 'Happy Birthday Hermione!' flashed green and gold, her favourite colours, with the words. The table was laden with food, almost to breaking point. All the Weasley's, their families, Harry, Blaise, Luna and Draco stood beneath the banner. The image was only just saved to memory before she was pushed to the floor being bombarded with hugs from all sides. It reminded her of all the times when they were younger.

She laughed as everyone shoved presents into her arms, urging her to rip open the garish paper. You could tell Molly, Ginny and Luna had wrapped every present. The wrapping was too perfect for the boys to have done it themselves.

Arthur hung back from the crowd, and waited until she was able to free herself from the pile of people and presents. She went over to thank him for all the trouble he went through for her.
"After all, you are family." He replied. "No go and look at the clock." She smiled in confusion, but did as she was told. Each hand for each family member and Harry pointed to home. Hermione noticed something. There were two new hands that decorated the clock. In carefully carved letters were the names-Hermione and Draco.

Arthur went up behind her, with his arms outstretched. She snuggled to him as she would to her father. He was her father, since all her blood family were gone. "I thought you might appreciate it."

"She's not the only one," mused Draco.

Ron came up behind Hermione. She had left the crowded house to look up at the stars and have a moment to herself.

"I just wanted to say congratulations," he mumbled. "And sorry." She smiled and hugged her best friend.
"I'm glad to have you back, Ron."

The party continued long into the night. Hermione and Draco were congratulated countless times. Often by the same people three times over. The Hogwarts students tipsily made their way back to the apparition point, and popped back to their dorms in Hogwarts, falling asleep on their beds instantly.

…

Draco woke to the sound of tapping on the window. He groggily got up and took the letter from the owl. It flew away without money or a treat. He gazed down at the letter in his hand. It wasn't even sealed.

He gingerly opened the letter, to see tiny, broken, scrawl. It informed him his mother had died-suddenly. It told him-

The dark lord rises again.

It took him less than a second to realise who had sent the letter. It was someone he thought was dead. Someone who destroyed him, and was determined to destroy the one who had fixed him. It was the person who killed his mother. It couldn't have been anyone else.

He drew his wand and burned the letter. He didn't bother to let go of the burning parchment, and burnt the tips of his fingers. The black ash dirtied his white carpet and the rest flew out the window.

He went back to a restless sleep, as the sun rose, drenching the sky blood red.

Back at the Weasley's, Draco and Hermione's hands on the clock slowly turned to mortal peril. No one in the house was awake to notice.

…

Hey guys! Hope you enjoy! Twists and turns up coming! Bisbee x