Chapter Twenty-Eight – Meetings

JK Rowlings. Not mine unfortunately.

Hermione and Draco finished their breakfast and made their way up to McGonogalls office. They sat outside and were soon joined by a few other seventh years. Minutes later, the woman herself arrived and called Hermione and Draco into the office.

'You two have already been accepted. You do not technically need to finish your year at Hogwarts but judging by your faces, you will.'

'So, when are we going to visit them?'

'Next week. I have booked you into the actual rooms of the universities. You will go to Sunderland first for a week then travel to Kings Cross from Newcastle Central Station and change to the Cambridge train. Miss Granger, you will need to help Mr Malfoy here because he evidently has no experience on muggle travel.'

They were shocked that they had been accepted based on their former exams and were definitely going to celebrate it. A minute later, they left her office with mile wide smiles on their faces. They couldn't believe it.

Harry laughed when they told him what had happened.

'You two didn't expect this? For the two smartest people in the school, you two can be really dumb sometimes.'

Ginny congratulated them. Harry and Ginny were becoming friends again so any friction had died down. Ron was the only problem now. Ginny had apologised many a time on his behalf and they had very public shouting matches. Nothing worked; Ron just wasn't ready to grow up yet.

They had the whole morning off, so they decided to go down to Hogsmede and get some food and drink for their rooms. You never quite knew when you might get unexpected visitors.

They started at Quipsters Wizardmart; a lot of new shops had crept up in Hogsmede after Voldermort was killed. They got a basket and loaded up on crisps, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice. They paid and headed over to Honeyduke's for some sweets.

Draco loved the sweets here. Growing up, he had not been allowed them as his parents thought he might get a spot. So, starting third year, he loaded up for the summer holidays. He loved the gigantic gumballs. You sucked them and every layer was a different flavour. Jelly slugs were another favourite, He hated liquorish though, even the smell made him feel ill.

They bought some sherbet and gumballs and also grabbed some different flavours of caramel and fudge. It was freezing so they decided to go to Madam Puddifoots Tearoom. Hermione told Draco about Harry and Cho, when they visited it. Draco laughed like there was no tomorrow.

'Draco, when's your birthday?'

'5th of July. Why?'

'Well, it just occurred to me, that we are getting married and we don't even know these kind of things about each other.'

'We'll learn them though. I'm glad we only go to university for a year though, a fast course.'

'Only because its just for the experience Draco. I sometimes think I would rather study there for the full time. We get to do everything, take all of the classes and go on all of the trips and stuff but we have to use time-turners.'

'Good thing they made more after you smashed them all.'

Hermione giggled.

'So Miss Granger… what are you going to get a job as?'

'Well Mr Malfoy, I was thinking about becoming a healer so I can help people, but I have been offered a position in the ministry. After university of course, I have been offered the chance to start up a charity for Muggleborns who have been mistreated or cheated in any way. I get my own building and a huge grant to help.'

'Wow, Hermione! How come you didn't tell me about this?'

'I don't know if they only want me for my name.'

'No. They want you because you're the cleverest witch of our age, you're successful, you helped to defeat the most evil wizard of all time and you're a Muggleborn.'

'I suppose. I have to write back to accept the position if I want it. So I'll do it when we get back to Hogwarts.'

'Good. Now, back to learning more about each other. What's your favourite ice cream?'

'Chocolate. You?'

'Mint Choc Chip. Colour?'

'Blue, Green and Black, you?'

'Silver, Green and Black.'

They carried on quizzing each other until Draco decided it was time for lunch. They paid for their drinks and went to Madam Meals. Hermione got a cheese toasty and chips but Draco went all out and got a chicken pie with roast potatoes and vegetables. It was lovely, but even Draco couldn't eat it all. He was tempted to ask for a doggy bag, but Hermione said that he could just ask the house elves if they would consider making it for a feast someday.

They headed up to school and rejoined the rest of their class for Ancient Runes. This year, they hardly got any homework, because they all had coursework packs. They could do this at any speed they wanted. Hermione and Draco only had a few assignments left. They would probably finish those this week. Then they could chill out, or in Hermione's case revise, for the rest of the year.