There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you, it's me
I kinda gotta figure out what I need
-Chris Brown Say Goodbye
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Return To Hogwarts
The train ride back to Hogwarts was filled with lively chatter about their holidays. Harry applauded Hermione and Ron for finding her parents. However, instead of moving back to London, they had decided to stay in Australia. They loved it there, and after the memories of Monica and Wendell combined with their own, they found they couldn't abandon the people they have met and had grown to be friends with, as well as their clients. So, as a present to Hermione, they signed over their house in England to her, as well as the cars and opened up her trust fund since she had turned 18.
Ron laughed at Harry's discovery that he was dating a half veela and that he had drooled over Daphne's mother the whole holiday. That was until he saw the Christmas photo they took with Elaine and almost starting drooling himself, much to Hermione's annoyance.
"So, what else did you do in Australia?" asked Harry, putting the Christmas picture in his pocket.
"Well, after we found my parents, we did a little sightseeing." said Hermione, pulling out pictures. "The beaches were lovely, the water felt so warm. We even popped over to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkeled."
Harry and Daphne looked at the photos. It was mainly a lot of beach shots, but some were of animals that they saw, the reef, and of them enjoying the sun. There was even a funny one of her and Ron attempting to surf.
"Ron? You're actually surfing?" asked Harry, impressed.
Ron rubbed the back of his neck, modestly. "Yeah. Took bloody forever for me to get the hang of it, but I guess I'm alright"
"Oh Ron, stop being modest. He's absolutely brilliant on the board. He can do tricks and everything!" said Hermione, proudly, causing Ron to blush.
Daphne smiled at Hermione's enthusiasm over Ron. She could see that Hermione took pride in helping Ron to feel better about himself.
"So, Hermione, do any surfing of your own?" asked Harry.
"No. Snorkeling was enough for me." said Hermione, disappointedly.
"Anything else? Did you leave with something and not come back with it?" asked Harry, sneakily.
Ron's ears turned red immediately knowing what Harry was hinting at. Hermione was still slightly confused.
"What do you mean? Like money or something?" asked Hermione, clueless.
Daphne rolled her eyes and nudged Harry. "You're such a git. He means did you two shag Hermione. Not like he should inquire. He didn't do any shagging either."
Hermione gasped. "Harry!"
"What?" laughed Harry. "It's only a question. You would have asked the same.,
"I would not! That's none of your business." said Hermione, only slightly cross.
"Can we change the subject?" asked Ron. "Did you hear from Ginny any?"
Harry and Daphne looked at each other and then back at Ron. Harry then put up a Muffliato charm so no one passing would overhear.
"She sent me a card along with my Christmas present. Her and Malfoy are getting back together." said Harry.
Hermione and Ron looked floored. "BACK TOGETHER?!" they both shouted.
"When the fuck were they even together?!" asked Ron angrily.
Harry sighed. Apparently during her sixth year."
"Right." agreed Daphne. "For quite a few months actually until they broke up under a misunderstanding."
"I can't believe this." said Hermione.
"I knew something was up!" snapped Ron. "The letters, the way that bloody ferret fawns all over her, especially since she 's been dating that git Krum."
"WAIT!"shouted Hermione. "She's dating Luka! And isn't Malfoy dating Romilda Vane?"
"They are going to break up with them when we get to school." said Harry.
"Well that's not going to happen." said Ron firmly. "She can break up with Krum all she wants, but she isn't dating that fairy princess Malfoy!"
"Ronald, you can't stop her!" said Hermione.
"Why the bloody hell not?!"
"Because obviously something is right between them if they are choosing to get back together."
"They should have never been together in the first place, Hermione!"
"Maybe she sers something we don't see in him, Ron. There are like of people that say I shouldn't be with you for numerous reasons but they don't know you like I do." said Hermione calmly.
Ron sighed and admired defeat. It was true, a lot of people didn't root for their own relationship. Saying things like he wasn't good enough for Hermione. But Hermione deemed him worthy of her love and affection. And if she looked past him and his mistakes, then he figured that Malfoy showed something to Ginny that she liked. And who was he to interfere?
He still didn't like the git though.
The four continued swapping stories and conversing until the all got tired and went to sleep when they had awakened, they had arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
When they got off the train, they ran into Luka and Romilda, about to get on a carriage. They got on after them, and sat down awkwardly across from them, none of them wanting to look the two in the eye.
"So, how was everyone's holiday?" spoke up Romilda.
Ron eternally groaned. "It was nice. Traveled with Hermione. Met her folks. It was good." he said, trying not to say something that would cause him to slip up and tell it all.
"Same with me." said Harry, not looking Romilda in the eye.
"Sounds like nice holidays." said Luka. "I'm glad mine is over. I can't wait to start school here. And I can't wait to see Ginny."
Hermione gripped Ron"s hand tightly, to prevent both him and her from saying something. Daphne started chewing on the inside of her cheek.
"Oh yes, I know what you mean." said Romilda. "I missed Draco so much. We've got a lot of making up to do. I have a special present for him."
"Special present?" asked Harry.
Romilda winked at Harry and pulled at the collar of her shirt, revealing a lacy black bra strap.
"Hey!" said Daphne, jumping up and covering up Romilda's strap as Ron closed his eyes and Harry covered his. "What the hell do you think you are doing? These are taken men!"
"Relax, they didn't see." laughed Romilda. "Is there a reason why a bra strap would be trouble? You guys haven't shagged yet?"
"That's not your business! said Daphne, turning red.
Luka laughed. "Ro, calm down, you act like you aren't a virgin yourself."
"I've shagged before. Maybe not with Draco, but I have."
"Oh yeah. Shagging at seventeen is something to be proud of." said Hermione, rolling her eyes.
Romilda glared at Hermione, tempted to hit her. Luka sensed her frustration and put his hand on hers.
Ron took notice and scrunched up his nose. "You two seem awful chummy."
Luka quickly drew back his hand.
The rest of the ride was awkward and quiet. Both women were mad and Ron and Harry didn't know what to properly do about it. Romilda and Luka kept whispering, causing Ron to get suspicious.
When they arrived at the school, the six got out of the carriage and walked into the great hall. Ron and Hermione was ambushed by Ginny slamming into them, hugging them tightly.
"Ron! Hermione! I missed you!" she squealed.
"What about me?" joked Harry.
Ginny laughed and hugged both he and Daphne. "You didn't go to the other end of the world, Harry."
Ginny let go of Harry and took a good look at Hermione. "You look wonderful Hermi! What happened? A little thunder in the land down under?"
"Ginny!" yelped Hermione, blushing as Ron's ears turned a deep red.
Ginny laughed loudly at their embarrassment. "I'm only kidding. But I need to talk to you." she said pulling Hermione out of the hall.
"I'll save you some dinner." yelled Ron after Hermione. Daphne walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Blaise and started talking.
"So, are you going to remain a Slytherin, mate?" asked Ron to Harry.
"I'll forever be a Gryffindor, Ron." laughed Harry. "But I think Imma go back to Slytherin. That is if I can graduate a Gryffindor. I just like being near her."
Ron watched as his friend looked positively lovestruck looking over at Daphne. "Of course mate." he said shaking his head and smirking.
"Oh shut up." said Harry before he walked over and sat with Daphne.
"So, how are we going to do this?" asked Ginny as she sat on Draco's bed, playing with Arnold, her pygmy puff.
"I think we should just take them both aside tomorrow and tell them together. What do you think of that?" asked Draco, sitting on an armchair, shining his shoes.
Ginny nodded. "That's probably best. That way they won't be blindsided and feel like words are being mixed. And they will know how we both feel."
"You sure you want to be with me though?" asked Draco. "Truly?"
Ginny hopped off the bed and sat on Draco's lap. "I wouldn't be here having this conversation with you if I wasn't."
"Maybe, maybe not. This conversation could have an interesting turn." said Draco, rubbing on Ginny's exposed thigh as she was wearing boy shorts.
Ginny smacked Draco's hand away and giggled. "Down boy. Remember, none of that until our relationships are officially over."
"You're so wrong." said Draco. "You come to my room in a tight tank and those tiny ass knicker shorts and you expect me to keep from snogging the life out of you?"
Suddenly, there came a knock at the door.
"Zabini, we're busy here!" yelled Draco.
"We're?" came a girl's voice on the other side of the door.
"Fuck! Romilda!" whispered Draco, frantically.
Ginny leapt off of Draco quickly and crawled under the bed. Draco took Arnold and placed him on his shoulder and answered the door.
"Ro! Didn't expect you." said Draco, trying to sound as casual as he could.
"What did you mean by we?" asked Romilda, suspiciously.
"Arnold and I, of course." said Draco, pointing to the bouncing pygmy puff on his shoulder.
'He would used Arnold.' thought Ginny, rolling her eyes.
"Oh. Why isn't he with Ginny?"
"She asked me to look after him for a while." said Draco.
"Oh. Well, can I come in? I want to give you your Christmas present " said Romilda. That's when Draco noticed that she had her Hogwarts cloak on.
'NO NO NO NO NO!' thought Ginny loudly, hoping that maybe Draco could read her mind.
"Ummmm sure, come on in." said Draco, moving to the side to let her in. Ginny shook her head in shame.
Romilda gave Draco a kiss on the cheek, the sound of it making Ginny cringe. She quietly crawled to where she would still be under the bed and hidden, but be able to see what was going on.
"You didn't have to get me anything. Especially when. I neglected to get you anything. Sorry about that." said Draco, not sorry at all.
"That's fine Drayke. My present can be our present then."
Ginny had a sinking feeling, that was quickly confirmed when Romilda dropped her cloak to reveal a matching bra and knickers set, in lacy black.
Ginny's mouth dropped. She wanted to hex her badly. 'That little whore!' she thought.
Draco was taken aback. He didn't know what to say nor do. Though Romilda looked hot, she didn't arouse him. Not one bit.
"Ummmm Ro? What is all this?" he asked.
"Me, silly! Your present is me. All of me." said Romilda, as she walked towards him.
Draco backed away slowly until he hit the wall trapped. Romilda pressed her body against him, kissing his neck.
Ginny felt herself seething with anger. She wanted to just skip hexing, grab Romilda by those black curls of hers, and sling her across the room.
"Ro? Romilda? Romilda no. We can't do this." stuttered Draco, hands lifted as be looked nervously at his bed.
"What do you mean? It's just us. We can put up a charm if you're worried about us being overheard." said Romilda seductively as she tried to kiss Draco on the lips.
"No. It's not that." said Draco, gently pushing her off of him. "I just don't think that we should do this."
Romilda looked at Draco, eyes filled with confusion. "I don't understand. I'm baring it all and you don't want me?"
"Look, tomorrow is classes and I need to make sure I get enough sleep, okay? It isn't you at all, it's me. My shit. Okay?"
Romilda felt thoroughly embarrassed. "Fine." she huffed as she picked up her cloak and put it back around her. She left Draco's room without a word, but slammed the door.
Ginny crawled out from under the bed. "What the bloody hell was that?"
"I don't know. But you should be proud of me. I didn't even get a hard on." smirked Draco.
"Oh shut up. Let's go to bed." said Ginny.
"Before we do, answer me this. Do you own anything like that?"
"Maybe..."
Romilda stormed down the hall and pounded on Luka's door, as he had been sorted into Slytherin. The door opened but it wasn't Luka that answered it.
Romilda walked in and looked at the man, disgusted. "Can you just transform so I can talk to you properly talk to you?!"
"Why should I transform for? You look distraught. What's the matter? Your little plan didn't work?"
Romilda growled at the man as he laughed in her face. He then went to his dressed and drank the Polyjuice potion that was in his flask. A minute later, he was back to being Luka.
"He rejected me. Me! What the hell, is he a poof?!"
Luka laughed loudly at her a questioning of Draco's sexuality. "He isn't a poof. He just didn't want your ass."
"Oh. Is that is?" said Romilda once again dropping her cloak. "I guess that means you don't want me either then does it?"
"I never said that, child." said Luka, licking his lips.
