Parvati and Kaitlin took the Knightbus home while Hermione went back to the Burrow with us where Tonks would apparate her home after dinner.
When we arrived, we climbed to the attic and were greeted with an unusual sight.
"It's so soft. . . And you really don't bleach it?" Harry asked as he and Ron combed their fingers through Draco's hair.
"Really. It's this pale and scary looking all on its own," Draco said.
"No wonder Hannah's always touchin' it. It's nice," Ron said.
". . . Okay. . . How about Hannah's the only one that touches Draco's hair from now on, because that was pretty weird," Ginny said.
"We've kidnapped Hermione for you, Ron. She's here until after dinner. Then her parents are coming with her ransom money and we'll be forced to let her go," I said.
"You're really able to do all that with an auror here?" Ron asked.
"Yes. The ministry is in on the whole thing. The ransom money is going to pay for more parchment to be made into standardized tests at Hogwarts," Hermione said.
"Oh the horror," Harry said.
"We have to take NEWTs next year anyway, Harry," Hermione said.
"You do. I have to take them in March," I said.
"Oh, that's right. You must be nervous," Draco said.
"Out of my mind nervous. I have to do not only learn all of my seventh year course work in two months but I have to take the worst test known to wizards immediately following," I said.
"You'll do great. You always do great," Harry said. "Just study hard, don't screw around and everything will work out fine. You deserve it after all the crap you've been through."
"Yes, but the universe does have a way of being evil. Even if I do well on my NEWTs and get my license I can't escape the feeling that something outrageous is going to happen and everything will be ruined," I said.
"You are so worst case scenario," Ron said.
"I'm sorry, have you paid attention to her life the past 16 years? I would be too," Ginny replied. "But still, try to stay positive. Things have a funny habit of working out in your favor when you stay positive, don't they Harry?"
"I should say so," Harry agreed, blushing slightly.
I smiled, not because I was going to maintain a positive attitude, but because my brother was with a girl who could actually make him blush.
"So we heard about what happened in the cafe with Lupin? Was she really that frightening?" Harry asked.
"Yes. She looked like a man. She had more muscle on her than Viktor," Hermione said.
"She was like one of those female body builders. The one's that take steroids," Ginny said.
"And Lupin used to date her?" Draco asked, slightly disgusted.
"Well I expect she wasn't as masculine when she was 15," I said.
"I certainly hope so, otherwise I hope Lupin's taste have improved these days," Draco said.
"That's what Tonks said," Ginny said with a chuckle.
Someone was coming up the ladder. We looked over to see Fred.
"Hi Fred. . . You are Fred right?" Draco asked.
"Yep. You spend enough time with us you tend to learn what we look like. So girls. . . what can I expect in March?" Fred asked.
"You know we can't say, Fred," Ginny said. "But I will tell you she looks lovely."
"Yes. You'll need to super glue your jaw back on when you see how stunning she looks," Hermione said.
"You're not lying are you?" Fred asked.
"No," we said.
"Alright. . . I'll leave you guys then. . . And mum says if you're to be up here, leave the door open," Fred said. "Oh, and Hannah, I know this is moot, but Sirius wants to talk to you."
"Tell him that-."
"She'll be down in a moment," Draco said.
Fed climbed back down the latter.
"Nice, babe," I said.
"I told you to talk to him," Draco said. "So now you're going to."
I leered at him, but climbed down from the ladder and bumped right into Sirius.
"Oh, hi," I said. He opened his mouth to say something. "Look, I'm sorry I've been being so difficult recently. You have every right to be suspicious of Draco even though you're completely wrong. But I wish you could do me a favor and try to trust him because I love him and I also love you and it would be awesome if you could be as accepting of him as he is of you. 'Kay?"
"Uh. . . Yeah," Sirius said.
"Excellent," I said starting back up the ladder.
"Are you okay?" Sirius asked.
"Never better. Why?" I asked.
"You've just been. . . Very up and down recently," Sirius said. "Just the past few days."
"Oh. . . No explaining that is there," I said. "I mean, I haven't noticed any difference but I'm a girl. I'm 16. I'm always off the wall."
"Yes, but more so than usual," Sirius said. "You're sure everything's okay?"
"Yeah," I said.
Sirius stared at me for a moment. ". . . Okay."
888
"So you finish your seventh year studies when?" Tonks asked.
We were headed back to Hogwarts today and as my friends flooed back through to Hogwarts, I was giving Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius the rundown of my schedule.
"First week of March," I said. "Then the very next week I'll be home because I'll have to be at the ministry everyday to take my NEWTs. The following week is break so Harry and the others will be home as well for Emily's wedding that Sunday."
"And when do you take your teaching exam?" Lupin asked.
"Depends on how well I do on my NEWTs. If I do exceptionally well then I should be able to take it the week school starts after break. If not, I'll need to wait until the summer," I said.
"And if you pass your teaching exam in March what will you do then?" Sirius asked.
"I'll have to keep up my student teaching and what not but, next year if all goes well. . ."
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Professor Slughorn has only been hired to teach potions for this year. Dumbledore says if I actually manage to get my license before the summer that I could take his position starting next school year," I said. "With help, of course, from Professor Snape because I'll only be 17 after all but it's exciting none the less."
"That's great! Why didn't you tell us before?" Tonks asked.
"Well I didn't want to get my hopes up, you know. I'm counting on not getting my license until the summer so we'll see what happens," I said.
Sirius pulled me into a hug. "You're gonna do great, Goober!"
"Thanks," I said.
"Alright, let her go, she's got to get to school," Tonks said.
"Good luck," Lupin said.
"Thanks," I said stepping into the fireplace. I took at hand full of floo powder and POOF, I was standing In McGonagall's office, in her fireplace.
"Hello, Potter. Don't get ash on my carpet," she said.
I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the fireplace.
"After you're settled in Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to you," she said.
"What about?" I asked.
"Perhaps the ALTAP. Perhaps engagement to Mister Malfoy. Perhaps both," McGonagall said. "I really couldn't say."
"Oh, no. You're not getting all nostalgic and parental on me are you, McGonagall?" I asked.
"Well I have watched you grow all your life, Potter," she said. "You have a very bright future ahead of you and you're excelling in the ALTAP which is wonderful and now you're just making even more moves to being an adult. . . I'm quite proud of you."
"Thank you, Professor," I said.
I headed upstairs to Gryffindor tower. Harry and Ron were already there but stood outside the door.
"What are you two waiting on?" I asked.
"We don't know the new password," Ron said.
"Abstinence," a voice from behind said. We turned to see Hermione smiling at us.
The portrait hole opened and we stepped inside.
"Sounds like that password was made special for you, Hannah," Harry said.
"Oh, ha ha," I said.
"But, Hannah," Ron started, "I thought you and Draco already-."
Before he could say another word, I elbowed him in the stomach.
"Down goes Weasley," Harry said.
"Were your holidays good? Hermione asked, helping Ron to his feet.
"Yep, except for our whole shopping excursion," I said. "What a terrifying woman."
"You'll get over it," Hermione said.
"Yeah, but I don't think Lupin, Veronica and Dana ever will," I said. I shuttered. "I'll never call Pansy ugly again. . . That's probably a lie, but after Lisa, my whole perspective on ugly has changed."
"Likewise," Hermione said. "Anyway, we'd better get these dresses upstairs before Emily gets here and has a conniption."
Hermione and I headed up to our room where Kaitlin was sitting on her bed staring ahead at the wall.
"Uh, you okay, Kaitlin?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," she said.
Hermione and I exchanged glances.
"Dude, what's up?" I asked.
". . . Did you know my dad is a death eater and that he left when I was ten years old?" Kaitlin asked. "Yep. He worked as an attaché to the United States Ministry of Magic as a cover but me and my mum always knew he was trouble. Then last year it turns out he attacked and nearly killed your friend Tonks with the help of Fenrir Greyback, but she's so amazing she still somehow managed to get them both in prison. . . I found out this morning he escaped though. He's the only dad I ever knew even though he's actually my step father. He got angry when he left and my mum wouldn't let him see me. They're afraid he'll come after me now."
"But you'll be safe here, at Hogwarts," I said, letting Aria out of her little cage.
"Yeah I know, and they've got Hit Wizards protecting my mum," Kaitlin said. "It's just. . . He's probably more dangerous now that Voldemort is back isn't he?"
"More than likely," I said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. . . " Kaitlin went on.
I pulled Hermione aside. "I have to go see Dumbledore. Talk to her."
"Obviously," Hermione said.
"And feed my cat," I said.
I walked out of Gryffindor Tower and made my way to Dumbledore's office.
I knocked on his door.
"Come in," he said.
I pushed the door open and smiled at him,
"Hello," I said.
"Hannah, come in," he said. "We have something to talk about I heard."
"I'm guessing you're talking about me and Draco being engaged?" I asked sitting down.
"Yes, that would be it," he said.
"You probably think I'm crazy too then don't you?" I asked.
"Well, when I asked you to keep an eye on him I didn't mean you had to marry him," Dumbledore said.
"Of course I knew that. This is something I wanted," I said.
"And you're positive you're making the right decision?" he asked.
"I'm always sure," I said.