Apparently, Ravenclaw House had already been briefed by Professor Flitwick on Trevor's return and how he had been cleared of all charges, for that particular table was just as anxious as Draco, Hermione, Ginny, and Zacharias appeared to be at dinnertime.
Hermione was less than enthusiastic as she ate her lamp chops, while Draco ate ravenously, claiming that he needed to build up for his own Quidditch tryouts tomorrow night. Ginny looked rather tired from all the intense lessons they'd received in class starting Monday, and Zacharias looked ill after his encounter with nature's nastiest last night. They ate less than Draco, but still more than Hermione. Trevor still had not arrived towards the end of dinner, and Hermione, not wanting to have to witness his sure-to-be awkward return, suggested that they all retire to Montecino Tower early.
So Ginny and Zacharias went up to Montecino Tower first while Hermione dragged Draco to the familiar painting of a bowl of fruit. She tickled the pear and it transformed into a doorknob, which she turned, and then they were inside the Hogwarts kitchens.
"What're we doing here for?" Draco asked grumpily, although he enjoyed watching the house-elves scurry to and fro getting dessert, which we missed thanks to those two, Draco thought darkly.
"Ginny looks terribly tired, and Zacharias looks like he's slightly ill. We're getting them things that will make them feel better. Also, I feel a tiny bit guilty for cheating you out of dessert, so we'll get some of that, too." she replied bossily, scanning the large room for a certain elf. Draco gazed at her appreciatively. Merlin, this woman is too perfect. he thought.
Suddenly, his Hermione smiled. "Kreacher!" she cried delightedly as a wizened house-elf braked to a stop in front of her and bowed. Draco inhaled sharply. He recognized the elf from his stay at Malfoy Manor during the Christmas holidays in his fifth year. Although he had liked the elf, it was his mother and aunt that were kindest to him. Draco had never really recovered from losing Dobby, as he had grown up with that elf, and although he was encouraged by his father to treat him harshly, growing up at Malfoy Manor without any siblings, Dobby was the closest thing Draco had to a little brother he could boss around but also take care of. Another reason why I used to hate Potter: he stole my childhood friend from me!
"Mistress Hermione." Kreacher croaked. He turned to Draco and bowed again. "Master Draco."
Draco smiled loosely, and replied, "Hello, Kreacher."
Hermione suddenly remembered that Kreacher had gone to live with the Malfoys after Sirius had kicked him out, and so understood how the two already knew each other. She was glad she didn't have to ask about it, for it would be awkward to Kreacher, since his stay there pretty much culminated in the murder of his master.
Kreacher had turned back to Hermione again. "Is there something Mistress would like in particular? Is she feeling ill? Kreacher will put on a pot of nettle tea if she is!"
Hermione laughed. "No, Kreacher. It's our friends, you see. One of them is very tired, and the other might be sick. Could you get me anything that might help them? Oh, and some dessert, too. Draco's still hungry."
Kreacher bowed low and answered throatily, "Of course, Mistress." before scampering off to order some house-elves who were preparing desserts to load a basket with lemon meringue pie, apple tarts, chocolate gateau, and rice pudding. He then proceeded to boil some nettle tea and prepare some of his strongest coffee.
Draco and Hermione watched fondly as Kreacher readied the foods assiduously. Draco looked forward to the amount of dessert he would be having, before realizing that Hermione probably intended for him to share with the rest of them. Malfoys don't share. he scoffed internally, thinking of ways to keep all the goods to himself.
Finally, a basket filled with the desserts and drinks was given to Draco by Kreacher. "Master and Mistress, you can just leave the basket in your common room after you're done. We elves will pick it up when we come by to clean tonight."
"Thank you, Kreacher." said Hermione, giving the beaming elf a hug as Draco nodded his thanks fervently. With that, the couple left the kitchens and headed up the spiraling staircase to Montecino Tower's common room. When they reached Lady Montecino's portrait, she eyed the basket warily until Hermione said it was for Ginny and Zacharias because they weren't feeling well, and she let them in after Draco said, "House Unity."
Ginny was curled up on one of the armchairs, asleep, while Zacharias was sitting on the floor in front of one of the twin fireplaces, holding his hands out towards it and seeking warmth. He muttered a weak "Hey" when he saw Draco and Hermione come in. Draco set the basket on the table and wasted not a moment to helping himself to an apple tart, while Hermione frowned at his rather selfish behavior and set out the teapot of nettle tea and the empty cup and saucer.
Draco felt the least bit guilty when he saw Hermione give him a disapproving look for being so gluttonous, and suddenly realized that he was acting a whole lot like someone else he knew. So he shoved the apple tart whole into his mouth, and went to help Zacharias into the other armchair just as Hermione handed the poor boy a piping hot cup of nettle tea. He wrinkled his nose at it, but drank it when Draco glared at him. Hermione woke Ginny up and gave her the coffee, which immediately brought the life back into her. Note to self: if you want a hyperactive Ginny, no matter which state she's currently in, give her coffee. Hermione thought amusedly as Ginny downed the drink and then started chattering about Quidditch tactics.
Zacharias was still quiet, but regained the color in his cheeks, and after Hermione put the palm of her hand on his forehead, she decided that he would be all right as long as he drank the entire pot of nettle tea, to his disgust.
Draco, on the other hand, had already settled onto the couch and was talking avidly to Ginny about the tactics Trevor was sure to use, focusing on the patterns of the Tutshill Tornadoes, where he was sure to get them from his brother Brevis. He was eating the lemon meringue pie in its plate, and Hermione grimaced when she realized that he intended to eat the whole thing. Ginny, however, helped herself to the chocolate gateau, and when Draco didn't object, Hermione claimed the rice pudding, testing him. He didn't even notice, and Hermione settled down next to him and ate.
Both she and Zacharias just listened to Ginny and Draco's conversation, although one was significantly less pleased with what he had to drink nettle tea while everyone else was enjoying sweets.
At breakfast the following morning, the four were terribly surprised to see Ravenclaw House looking jubilant to have Trevor back, as he was sitting in the middle of Ravenclaw's table surrounded by many admirers. As Hermione and her friends walked towards their own tables, Ginny caught Luna's attention, and gave her a signal to join them up on their platform for a moment. As they sat down, Luna came to stand in front of Ginny and Zacharias's table, and Hermione was a little shocked to see that today, no one had bothered to come up to her for an autograph, for all the attention in the room was directed towards Trevor Birch.
"Good morning, Luna." said Ginny pleasantly. "Do you have a moment to spare?"
"Yes, I daresay I do." Luna replied dreamily. "I suppose you want to know about Trevor?"
Ginny smiled, and Luna went on. "Everyone thinks he's a hero since his brother Brevis bought the entire new Ravenclaw Quidditch team Firebolts, and that he's also been misunderstood for his actions, since his parents are Death Eaters and he was forced to do what he did to Jimmy Peakes. I guess he's really popular now, in addition to being made a Prefect."
Just then, a tawny owl swooped into the Great Hall and landed in front of Hermione, carrying this morning's Daily Prophet. Hermione gave the standard Knut to the owl and Draco untied the newest edition to allow all of them, (excepting Luna, who had flounced back to her table once she saw that she was no longer needed), to see this morning's headlines, which, to nobody's surprise, screamed, Birch Family Death Eaters?: Newest Scandal from Tutshill Tornadoes Captain Brevis Birch's Family!
Hermione didn't even bother to read the article as Draco skimmed it, with Ginny and Zacharias looming over his shoulders to glimpse it as well. She had a feeling that it would just be another repeat of Draco's story, and sure enough, her friends announced that there was nothing to report. Ginny was annoyed, however, that Trevor was thrown into a helpless light, snarling that the idiot had "cost her a great Beater." Draco grinned, remembering that his own tryouts were tonight.
They went to class, as usual, and ignored the new sensation, who was practically glowing with his new status of "Wronged Hero." Ravenclaws can be just as conceited as Slytherins. Hermione remarked internally.
"Saint Birch." Draco sneered, as Zacharias sniggered and Ginny rolled her eyes at the boasting Ravenclaw boy. I hope he doesn't have to spend too much time in the hospital wing this year. Hermione thought without much hope.
"No promises." Draco winked at her as if he could hear her thoughts perfectly.
After dinner on Thursday night, Hermione set off to retrieve the waltzing class sign-up sheets with Draco without either Ginny or Zacharias, for the latter had claimed he had "something vague to do" while the former said she was going to study with Luna tonight in gratitude for the time she had spent with them in the morning.
Hermione carried only a folder labeled "Senior Girl Duties" with her wand as well, and was dressed warmly after seeing Zacharias's state on Tuesday evening. Draco carried his new Firebolt and was clad in his Quidditch robes and armor, for they were heading straight to the Quidditch pitch after this task.
As soon as they had collected all the sign-up sheets, Draco Apparated them to the commentator's box and made sure Hermione was nicely settled in a seat and not cold before flying down to the field to meet the Slytherins who were trying out.
Hermione really wasn't interested in Quidditch at all, and would rather be writing Professor Phorces's essay right now, but was here for Draco's sake. He had wanted her to come and meet the team after it was assembled, and she also secretly wanted to see how he was as a leader, not of his goons Crabbe and Goyle, but as one trying to unite a group.
She had to admit, if she thought he was on the same level as Harry before at the waltzing class last Friday, she had been mistaken. Harry was no doubt a great leader, but he failed at asserting himself with confidence when he made decisions or was having to play fair at the cost of a friend. Except with that one time with Cormac. she thought, smiling. For some reason, one person that you could always count on to rile Harry up to his worst temper would be Cormac McLaggen.
The sun had almost set, and Hermione watched lazily. The weather had turned colder this year than it usually did, and she shivered a little when a big gust of wind blew at her. Thankfully, since Draco deftly auditioned each potential player quickly and efficiently, they were done much sooner than Ginny or Zacharias's tryouts on Monday and Tuesday.
As the rejected players trudged off the field and the new team assembled and congratulated each other, Draco flew up to Hermione and brought her down to meet the team. Harper greeted her first and seemed delighted that he was the new Keeper. Vaisey, whom Hermione knew had played as a Chaser on the team during her sixth year, also greeted her warmly, as he was friends with Harper and followed his example. The other two Chasers, two sixth year girls named Bridget and Rachel, were already acquainted with Hermione as they had asked for her autograph before, and had no problem conversing with Hermione. As for the Beaters, the other two boys in Harper and Vaisey's year, Peter and Roy were not unfriendly, but very shy towards their Captain's girlfriend and the fact that she was quite famous.
All in all, Hermione thought it was an enjoyable experience, and told Draco so as they walked back to Montecino Tower. Draco agreed, saying that he was proud of his Housemates for once, but did not crow about how good they were going to be, as there was no Ginny nor Zacharias around to intimidate. Or so they thought.
As Draco and Hermione walked past an empty classroom on their way back, they heard noises from inside. Hermione made Draco go in with her to remind whoever was in there, (if it wasn't Peeves, and Hermione really, truly, and sincerely hoped it wasn't Peeves), that it was getting late and it was time to head back to the dormitories, as part of their duties as Senior Boy and Senior Girl.
However, what they saw made them unable to say a word, for what could you say when you saw a pretty girl and Zacharias Smith snogging?