Wazzzzzzup!
Draco and Hermione had spent the last hour weaving through crowds in London trying to spot and sign of the underground that would lead them to Harry's location a feat that was made even more difficult by Draco constantly stopping to purchase clothes.
"Merlin, you cannot be serious Draco. In what event other than this would you ever where muggle clothing?" Hermione said with an exasperated sigh while rolling her eyes.
"Its not only for me, I have a list. Pansy, Cho and Blaise have all requested gifts from the muggle world," Draco shrugged, but struggled to do so with all the bags he held in is arms.
As Draco finished his sentence he quickly darted into other upscale store, some foreign name that Hermione couldn't make out.
"Excuse me, are your parents around? We don't let children play here so maybe you should go find your mommy." The sales woman said in a condescending voice with an equally irritating smirk on her face.
"Hi, there seems to be some kind of misunderstanding because my family has enough money to buy this store and everything inside that and that includes you. Not that that would dent our income all that much because with just a glance in your direction its easy to tell your not worth all that much." Hermione said with a sickly sweet grin and an icy tone in her voice. "So i suggest you keep very quite and assist my friend, which is your job."
When Hermione finished her small rant the woman seemed to be torn between fear and tears before nodding and jumping to Draco's every command, Draco who was stifling his laughs and the woman being reprimanded, she didn't even question Draco paying his very large bill in cash.
"Great now we're an hour late, thanks to you shopping like some kind of teenage girl," said Hermione, the words were that of someone who was annoyed but she would never let that show on her face.
"Oh, Im sorry. Were you not the one who wanted to get something nice for your future but couldn't decide what to get….. aah so sweet!" Draco said sarcastically while clapping his hands in mock Joy.
It was true, Hermione had spent quite a while trying to decide on a gift for her friend but there is no way she would admit that to Draco.
"No, I just prefer buying the correct things for people so that they will not have to spend time returning them later," Hermione said in her usual matter of fact tone.
"Last year you got me socks, socks!" Draco replied in a mocking tone.
"Yes and i must say they have done wonders in building your character, wouldn't you say?" Hermione replied with a tilt of her head and a questioning look.
" Honestly, I wouldn't," Draco said as they approached a small house on a long street.
Hermione looked around with distaste, if this is how muggle lived then she rather pitied their existences. They approached Harry's house and looked at Draco who nodded in her direction before she raised her handed knocked on the door.
"RUUUUUN!" Harry yelled as they all toppled out of the front door awkwardly with Harry's trunk hitting their legs as they tried to run with it.
"STOP! HALT!" Uncle Vernon yelled from the front porch, his face inflating with the effort, Aunt Petunia standing behind him, hidden by his large frame. The most visible however was Dudley who was wailing while blood was pouring from his nose, caused by a punch from an annoyed Draco.
Hermione would have laughed at the situation if she was standing outside of it, Draco's arms loaded with shopping while still trying to help lug Harry's trunk, Hermione full of feathers from carrying Harry's very calm owl and Harry with his glasses askew with a look of sheer fear on his face as he dragged his trunk.
"I hate you so much more, Potter," Draco said with his usual blank expression when they were far enough they could take a rest break.
"Yes, you must have been real worried Draco. What? Did you only spend three hours shopping instead of four just for me," Harry replied as sarcastically as he could while fixing his crooked classes.
"Boys, as much as I enjoy your bickering we have to get back to the manor. You know how much our mothers hate tardiness," Hermione said once again picking up the owl and walking, leaving the boys no other choice but to follow.
Hermione had been staying at the Malfoy manor for the past week and would be staying their until their return to school. Bellatrix shared her time between the two manors and made a real effort to train Hermione when Cissy was out.
"Okay, Potter this is my house. Don't touch anything and we'll be fine," Draco said before swiftly turning and walking away from the other two.
"Ignore him, he's in a perpetual huff, its just his personality," Hermione said with a grin, before waving Harry over to follow her. Harry fumbled with his trunk and attempted to keep up with her pace.
"So no one uses the North wing much these days, it used to be reserved for the Death Eaters but now it not used much so its all yours. We will cater for you but please try to stay out of view from the family because it will not be pleasant for any of us if they find you," Hermione said as she pushed open the dusty double doors in front of them.
It opened onto a surprisingly light and airy corridor that despite the layers of dust glowed in the warm sunset.
"I don't know how to thank you, there was no one else to turn to other than Ron and…..well you know," Harry said shyly staring down at his feet as he spoke, scuffing his shoe on the floor.
"Well, wether we like it or not we're all in this together now," Hermione said patting Harry lightly in reassurance before pulling back to leave.
"Into what exactly?" Harry asked raising his head, the shy look disappearing as he raised a brow.
"Im not really sure, but I have a feeling that this year will be even more interesting than the last," And with Hermione turned and left Harry to explore his new home for the time being.
A week later Harry seemed to haven settled in and used to keeping to himself during the few times the parents were around. It was the Saturday before the new term and four of the new faction were relaxing in Draco's room.
Draco's room was similar to Hermione's, except it was black and gold instead of her silver and green. A large four poster bed was in the middle of the room, surrounded by plush black carpet and even cushier furniture that was infant of a burning fire place.
"I cannot believe that this is all you got me Draco, I gave you a list. I was so sure you could read. Obviously not," Pansy drawled while looking through the bags that Draco had acquired on their muggle trip to get Harry.
"Well not all of us the brute strength that you posses to carry all of that, I mean your shoulders are built to carry heavy objects," Draco retorted with equal fervour.
"Draco, maybe you shouldn't pride yourself on your feminine frame so much. We all know your the prettiest one here," Hermione said from her place next to Pansy on the huge bed, all while rolling her eyes at Harry who was perched close by on the floor.
"Im sure if Cho was here thats not what you would be saying," Draco said wiggling his eyebrows.
Pansy grabbed Harry's attention at that remark and gave him a questioning look which he just returned with an equally confused expression. The foursome had been spending quite a lot of time together and their relationship with Harry had come along way, it was not perfect but it was developing.
"Sorry, are we missing something," Pansy asked with an annoyed huff, she hated when they kept secrets.
"Hermione is planning on declaring her undying love to our oh so kind Ravenclaw friend," Draco said with his hand on his heart in his best dramatic voice.
"Wha…what?" Harry spluttered trying to hide the giggle that was forming as he witnessed the terrified look that overtook Hermione's face.
"How dare you. That is not true, she is our mutual friend and I treat her as such," Hermione said with a deep breath as she attempted to regain her composure.
"You bought her a gift," Draco stated, sharing a loaded glance with Pansy.
"You bought her a gift?" Pansy asked with a shrewd look. "A gift?"
Harry had remained silent and was going to stay that way, his relationship had improved with the trio but he was not immune to Hermione's temper like the other two.
Hermione had bought Cho a golden bracelet that appeared to be a thin snake that was constantly eating itself thanks to a small charm, the snake was gold to represent Cho and the snake represented Hermione. She couldn't wait to give it to Cho, in a purely platonic way of course.
"Oh, shut up. Don't even get me started on you and how you swoon overtime you see Blaise," Hermione quipped, this time the roles were reversed and Pansy was looking away shyly.