1993 - Third Year
Hermione sat at the large table in the Leaky Caldron beside Mrs Weasley, listening to Ron talk about his trip to Egypt with his family. It had been weeks since she had seen any of the Weasley's and she found herself sitting listening quietly as she watched the hustle and bustle that came with the family. She couldn't help but feel like they were a second family to her and she smiled to herself at the various conversations happening around her.
As she glanced around the room, she noticed a certain younger Weasley was absent from the table. Finally, her eyes fell on Ginny who had hidden away in a booth to the side of her family. Pushing herself away from the table as discreetly as possible, she moved over to sit opposite Ginny.
The youngest Weasley looked up from her book at Hermione with a confused expression on her face.
"Something tells me your summer wasn't as great as the rest of your family," she deduced.
Ginny sighed and put her book to one side before examining her surroundings, checking that her family were fully occupied on their own conversations.
"Mum wouldn't let me out of her sight! No matter where I went, she was there," she started. "It was suffocating."
"She cares about you Ginny, you almost died. Not only are you one of her children, which would be heartbreaking in itself but you're her youngest and her only daughter. She is no doubt terrified of feeling that way again, feeling like she lost you," Hermione tried to explain, but Ginny shook her head and interrupted.
"'Mione, she doesn't want me to go back to Hogwarts, she wants me to be homeschooled," she whispered.
"What? No, she wouldn't do that… would she?" Hermione suddenly grew concerned for her friend, the thought of not being able to return to Hogwarts was very unsettling.
"Dad is trying to change her mind but he only has three days to convince her," she shrugged and sunk down in her seat.
"I think she will change her mind, things will be different this year. What are the chances of something like this happening again?" Ginny sighed and shrugged once more, she doubted that her mum would change her mind about her decision to not let her return to Hogwarts for her second year.
"Shall we go upstairs, PJ's and snacks in my room?" Hermione asked, causing Ginny to smile and nod. "I'll meet you in my room in ten minutes, I'm just going to say goodnight." Ginny stepped out of the booth and before she could move an inch away from the table, her mother turned to her.
"Where are you going dear?"
Ginny turned to Hermione and rolled her eyes, implying that was the exact behaviour from her mother she had told her about.
"I'm going to bed, I'm going to sleep in Hermione's room tonight. I'll see you in the morning mum," she told her before she turned and headed towards the stairs.
Mrs Weasley sighed and turned to Hermione, "I don't mean to be so controlling, I can see she is getting frustrated with me but I worry."
Hermione shuffled her way out of the booth and now stood in front of her. "I understand why you're so protective Mrs Weasley," she smiled at her and noticed her shoulders immediately relaxed. "I do hope you change your mind about her returning to Hogwarts in a few days. As you know, it's an amazing school and she has the potential to learn a lot, it would be a shame for her to miss out on the education and experience due to something that she had no control over." Hermione added before she hugged Mrs Weasley and excused herself.
Hermione crawled into bed beside Ginny, surrounded by food, they couldn't have been more content and she immediately noticed the difference in Ginny's attitude now that she was away from her family.
"How was your summer then, 'Mione?" Ginny asked as she began shovelling crisps into her mouth. Hermione chuckled as she watched her friend eat in the same manner as her older brothers before she answered.
"It was lovely, thank you. I did some travelling with my parents, nothing as exciting as Egypt though, some studying, naturally, and some shopping. I met up with -" Without realising, she had started to tell her about her time with Draco over the holidays before she stopped herself.
"Met up with who?" Ginny asked noticing Hermione's cheeks turn pink, suddenly interested in what she had to say.
After a few moments of Hermione's silence, Ginny cleared her throat causing her to look up, "Just a friend," Hermione told her.
Ginny smirked as her eyebrows raised in disbelief, "Does this friend have a name?"
"Yes, but I won't be telling you who!" Hermione laughed and pulled the duvet further up to hide her face.
"Ok, well I won't push you to tell me his name," Ginny said as she picked up the bag of crisps to continue making her way through them.
"Thank you," Hermine sighed with relief.
"A-HA!" Ginny shouted as she threw the bag down with a grin, "So it's a boy!"
Hermione groaned and pulled the duvet up over her head further, hiding from her friend in hopes the conversation would go away.
"I'm tired, let's go to sleep," she said from beneath the sheets.
"But things just got interesting!" Ginny protested.
"G'night Ginny," she said, causing Ginny to groan in defeat as she removed the food from the bed and switched off the light.
After a few moments of silence and Ginny's restless movements beside her, Hermione started to feel her eyes become heavy.
"This conversation is not over," Ginny mumbled before both girls drifted off to sleep.
~X~
"I'm warning you, Hermione, keep that bloody beast away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cosy!" Ron said sternly to her whilst holding his pet rat close to his chest.
"He can't help it, Ron, he's a cat! It's in his nature," she said defensively.
"A cat! Is that what they told you? Looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me."
"That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush! That's right Crookshanks, just ignore the mean little boy," she said as she turned into the cat she held firmly in her arms.
"Harry!" Ron said in surprise, causing her to turn.
"Harry! You're here," she grinned at him.
"I see you two are getting along without me," he teased.
Hermione turned back to Ron and scowled before she moved to sit down at the table.
"Are you staying here?" Ron asked Harry as they both moved to sit at the table with Hermione. Ron kept his distance and sat opposite her, aiming a glare at Crookshanks.
"Yes, it's closer to the station for tomorrow. Figured I may as well, I hate staying at the Dursleys," he said and his friends nodded. They understood his disliking towards his Aunt and Uncle, but mostly towards his cousin who took pleasure in making his life at home a misery.
"When did you arrive here?" He asked them both.
"We arrived Saturday, so we've only been here for a couple of nights."
"I arrived on the 28th also. When Ron owled to say he was back from Egypt and having to stay here whilst his house was being fumigated, I asked my mum and dad if I could stay here until school started. They were a little upset they wouldn't get to spend the last few days with me but I said I'd meet up with them today in Diagon Alley."
Harry nodded at her answer before her words clicked and he turned to Ron with a puzzled look, "Your house is being fumigated?"
"Yeah, apparently whilst we were away the garden gnomes moved house and took residency in the Burrow. Mum and Dad had to get some professional to come and get rid of them. Mum wanted them disposed of as quickly as possible, but Dad wanted it done so that the Gnomes wouldn't be harmed, which meant it would take longer. So he got in some old-timer who specialises in capturing and caring for magical creatures." Harry nodded along to Ron's story before he spoke once more.
"How was Egypt?"
Hermione listened to Ron tell Harry all about his adventures from Egypt, a story she had heard several times already. Her eyes were drawn to the stairs when she noticed the familiar long auburn locks that belonged to Ginny sway as she made her way into the lobby.
She had avoided the topic they had discussed the first night she had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Although Ginny had tried to bring it up again, she wasn't sure what to say. She loved the idea of having a close female friend but she wasn't sure if she could entirely trust Ginny. If she told her about her relationship with Draco and she told someone, it could put a stop to it or worse, he could get hurt.
So instead, she figured if she finally sat down and continued the conversation with Ginny, she would lie and tell her the mystery friend was a muggle from her village..
"Not flashing that clipping around again, Ron?" Fred's voice brought Hermione's attention back to the present. She turned to Fred who was shaking his head as he reached over and removed the newspaper Ron had been showing to Harry moments ago,
"I haven't shown anyone!" Ron groaned.
"No, not a soul." George teased,
"Not unless you count Tom-" Fred said.
"Or the day maid-"
"The night maid-"
"The cook-,"
"The bloke who came to fix the toilet-"
"The old chap who came to fumigate the house-"
"And that wizard from Belgium." Fred finished.
The pair sat opposite Ron, on either side of Hermione as they teased their youngest brother.
"How long have you guys been here for?" George asked Harry and Hermione, causing her to frown at him.
"I arrived last night," Harry answered.
"And I arrived on Saturday when you did! I've been here with you the whole time, George!"
"My apologies, you shouldn't have stayed so hidden then," George said as he held up his hands.
"She doesn't look the same that's why Georgie, there's something different about her."
"It's the hair, it's less Lion's mane more.. squirrels tail."
Hermione slapped George on the shoulder whilst he chuckled at her, rubbing his hand over his shoulder where she hit him. She scowled and turned away from him.
"Have you seen the Firebolt is on display in Quality Quidditch Supplies?" Harry asked, changing the subject.
"No! But I think we should go there first today, are you guys going into the Alley?" George asked. Hermione immediately tuned out the conversation, completely uninterested where Quidditch was concerned.
"Ignore my brother, I think your hair looks nice." Fred whispered so that only Hermione heard. She felt a blush creep along her cheeks as she turned to whisper her thanks. He nodded with a smile and turned back to the conversation at hand.
"Let's get ready to go then," Ron announced, making the rest of the group stand up from the table.
"I'm going to find Ginny, we'll meet you there." Hermione told them. The thought of tagging along whilst they stood ogling over a broom and talking Quidditch was not how she wanted to spend her afternoon in Diagon Alley.
"I hate to break it to you, Mione but Ginnys going to want to come to Quality Quidditch Supplies too," Ron said sympathetically,
"Fine. Let me just put Crookshanks in my room, I won't be long." She sighed and made her way upstairs.
Once she arrived at her room, she placed her feline friend down on her bed before she heard a tapping on her window. Upon opening it, she discovered the familiar owl that belong to Draco, holding a letter in his mouth.
Meet me at our place tomorrow after everyone has gone to bed, feel free to bring the mask.
Hermione giggled to herself as she read his words. She did still have his mask from the night he met her after his Masquerade Party but she knew he was only teasing her about wearing it as she had asked him to wear it for their meetup. Shaking her head she placed the letter in her trunk and closed it shut before she left the room to join the others into Diagon Alley.
~X~
"Welcome everybody, to another year at Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledore spoke loudly to a hall full of students, all waiting eagerly for the start of the year feast.
"Now, I would like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I am pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Good luck, Professor." He finished and held out his hand as Professor Lupin rose from his seat, students across the hall applauded at the news.
"Potter," Draco whispered harshly over the sound of clapping, causing Harry to turn in his seat to face him. "Is it true you fainted? Actually fainted?"
Blaise sat beside Draco, sniggering as he pretended to faint against him.
"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron snapped, glaring at Draco and turned Harry to face away from the Slytherin duo.
"How did he find out?" Harry whispered to his friends, Ron shrugged beside him.
"Just ignore him, Harry." Hermione said, looking past her friends to Draco who hadn't yet turned around from his seat. He moved his eyes from the back of Harry's head and caught Hermione's who scowled at him. He knew her well enough to know it wasn't genuine and he smirked at her attempts to be angry with him. He gave her a wink before he turned back to his table but not before noticing the blush that danced across her cheeks.
"Ahh, it sure is good to be back," Blaise said. Theo gave a small laugh through his nose from across the table and shook his head at his friends.
"Back to tormenting Potter and Weasel, you mean?" He asked Blaise, who nodded with an unusually large grin on his face.
"So Draco, is there going to be anything as exciting as last year?" Pansy asked, her voice bringing the tone down a little as she did. Blaise turned to Draco, along with the rest of the Slytherins surrounding them, waiting eagerly for his reply.
"Not that I'm aware of I'm afraid. Father seems a little more preoccupied with the escapee from Azkaban."
Disappointed faces surrounded him and he took the opportunity of silence to turn away and look back towards Professor Dumbledore, who was finishing his speech and announcing the start of the feast.
~X~
Draco sat by the window in his family's secret room, waiting patiently for Hermione to arrive. He had told her to meet him after everyone had gone off to bed, which he now regretted not specifying a time as he felt like he had been waiting for hours.
The veil leading into the room moved slightly and Draco's eyes snapped to the entrance where Hermione stood panting and looking very flustered. His heart skipped a little at the sight before him and his stomach flipped as he stood and moved towards her.
"What on earth happened to you?" he asked whilst she tried to catch her breath. He chuckled slightly as he moved a curl that had fallen out of her bun on top of her head and pushed it behind her ear. Her cheeks burned a little brighter than when she first entered.
Hermione cleared her throat and composed herself before she finally answered his question. "On my way here I heard some noises coming from a supply cupboard," she said as she began walking over to the window seat.
"I couldn't quite figure out what the noises were and then I heard a crash so I went to make sure everything was ok and then..." The blush that had settled down slowly crept back across her face, causing Draco to smirk. He had a sneaky suspicion of what she had found in that cupboard, given the colour of her cheeks.
"Who did you see kissing?" He asked, trying not to laugh at how embarrassed she was getting.
"Your friends, Theo and Daphne!" she answered whilst hiding behind her hands.
"Did they see you?" He couldn't hide his laughter anymore, causing her to smile behind her hands.
"Yes! She was so angry, she started yelling at me, so I ran all the way here." she giggled and Draco laughed along with her as he reached forward to remove her hands from her face.
Hermione found herself calming down from her laughter as she looked up into Draco's eyes and only then did she realise how close they had positioned themselves on the seat. For the first time since she became friends with him, she was suddenly very aware of their close proximity and how it made her feel. Where usually it wouldn't have fazed her, she now noticed it very much.
"It'll be fine, she was probably just embarrassed," He laughed once more before he moved to sit with his back against the window. Hermione took this opportunity to let out the breath she had been holding once she noticed how close he was to her.
"Did you know about them? That they were a... thing?" She asked, moving to sit opposite stretched her feet out beside him and he lifted them up onto his lap, something he had done so many times before and yet, she suddenly felt shy by the familiar notion.
"No I didn't, but it doesn't surprise me either. He's been trying for a while but she never seemed interested. Makes me wonder if something happened at the Masquerade Party at my house over the summer. They could've gotten up to anything when I left to meet you."
"I still can't believe I walked in on them," she laughed and shook her head, still embarrassed by the situation.
"It won't be the first time, the older we get, the more people you'll find like that."
"No thanks, I'm happy with this being the last time."
"Who knows, one day it could be you in a supply cupboard getting walked in on," he teased, causing Hermione's entire face to turn red.
"Do you always blush so hard or is it just me that causes that?"
"I blush easily," she answered, causing Draco's smile to fall slightly. "But I do have a tendency to blush a lot more around you," she added, and his smirk returned once more.
"It's good to be back," he told her and placed his hand on her leg casually. She nodded in agreement before they both turned and looked out of the window together. She really was happy to be back in her favourite place, with one of her favourite people.
After a few moments, Hermione yawned, having forgotten about how late it was and she rose from her seat.
"You're leaving already?" Draco asked sadly.
"I'm pretty tired,"
"Stay here? Wouldn't be the first time," he suggested, and before she had a chance to reply he was up and grabbing a blanket off of the sofa. He turned back to her giving her his irresistible Malfoy smile.
"Fine, but only if you read to me like you used to," she said as she kicked off her shoes and took off her robe before she jumped back on the seat.
He leaned over and grabbed the closest book, moving quickly towards the window seat to join her. He watched as she fidgeted opposite him, trying to get herself comfy and waited until she had finished before commenting.
"Are you quite done?" he raised his eyebrow at her and she smiled sheepishly at him.
"Good, now quit being weird and come over where you usually sleep when we're in here," he told her.
Hermione grinned before she crawled towards him, repositioning herself so that she was lying beside him and curled up, resting her head against his chest.
"Better?" he asked.
He felt her nod against his chest and began to read to her until she fell asleep, following not far behind.
~X~
"Now, who'd like te come an say 'ello?" Hargid asked as he turned his back towards his class.
At the start of term, Dumbledore had announced to the school that their previous Groundskeeper had been promoted to Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, news that hadn't pleased every student at Hogwarts.
Blaise sat on a rock, his face filled with disgust as he observed the rest of the students in his class step back in response to Hagrid's question, leaving Harry alone at the front.
"Well done 'Arry!" Hagrid boomed as he watched a nervous Harry turn behind him, noticing now that everyone had moved. Blaise rolled his eyes at Draco who stood beside him.
"Surprise surprise, Saint Potter looking brave as always," Draco said quietly to his friend.
"When in fact he's just an idiot," Blaise sniggered.
Draco pushed his way through the crowd to get a better look at what was happening at the front of the class. He turned slightly to his left and noticed Hermione staring intently at Harry, a look of concern splashed across her face. He watched as the cool summer breeze moved her curls away from her face, the sun reflecting off of her eyes in the way he'd grown so fond of. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to her elbows with the bottom untucked from her skirt which, he noted, sat further above the knee then it had done in previous years.
"Come on 'Arry," Hagrid's voice brought Draco back to the lesson as he turned back to face Harry.
"Now, ye have te let him make the first move," Hagrid told him, Draco watched Harry's hesitant footsteps as he moved closer towards the Hippogriff.
"Step up an give 'im a nice bow, then wait and see if he bows back," Hagrid told him, "if he does, ye can go an touch 'im, if not.. well we'll deal with that later."
The entire class inhaled in unison as the Hippogriff before them let out an almighty squawk as it flapped its wings and stared down at a bowing Harry.
"Back off 'Arry, back off," Hagrid urged.
Draco rolled his eyes at the dramatic scene in front of him. His eyes moved back to Hermione as he heard a branch snap beneath Harry's foot and his eyes flickered towards her hand that immediately reached for Ron's arm. He couldn't shake the jealous feeling in the pit of his stomach as he watched her. Trying to ignore it, he moved his gaze back to Harry who was now making his way towards the Hippogriff with his arm stretched out.
As Harry moved closer, the Hippogriff snapped its beak in protest, the first snap caused Hermione to reached for Ron once more, her hand gripped his almost as quickly as she let go. Embarrassed by what she had just done, she immediately moved her hands and folded her arms across her stomach as a light blush covered her cheeks.
Draco scowled at the pair, he wasn't fully sure why but the idea of Hermione holding hands with Ron made him feel very unsettled. Deciding he'd seen enough, he huffed and move towards the back of the crowd, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, to join the rest of the Slytherins. Within a few short moments he heard commotion behind him - he didn't have to turn to know that Harry had taken off into the sky on the Hippogriff.
"Can you believe Saint Potter, loves to show off doesn't he," Blaise said as Draco rejoined the group.
"Does it surprise you that Golden boy was chosen and yet again had a chance to show off his amazingness?" Pansy whined as she moved closer to Draco.
"What's the matter Drakey, you look annoyed," Pansy asked, causing the Slytherin group to notice the scowl on his face.
"Nothing, Potty's undeserved fame grates on me sometimes, that's all," he lied. She nodded, satisfied with his answer and moved to sit beside him.
"Right, everyone else, turn te page thirty-four an we will begin the lesson," Hagrid told the students, all of which moved to get more comfortable and take seats on the grass.
Draco perched on top of a large rock, looking down on Hermione who was sat cross-legged facing towards Ron. Shaking his head he turned back to his book, trying to push the thought of her sitting the Ron out of his mind.
Almost an hour passed before the class heard the familiar flap of the Hippogriff wings.. Draco had the most unproductive lesson he'd had in a long time as he spent the majority of it watching Hermione. He noticed how her face lit up whenever Ron tried to cast a spell and failed. It was clear to see the admiration she had towards him, it was written plainly across her face.
Draco scrunched his nose in disgust as he spotted Hermione playfully shoving Ron in the shoulder after something he'd said.
"My my, not jealous are we?" Blaise said quietly over Draco's shoulder. He turned back to his book and shook his head, letting out a deep sigh before he answered Blaise.
"Not at all," was all he could muster up as a response as he aimlessly flipped through pages without paying attention to what was on them.
"What? No witty response? No sarcastic remark? You're losing your touch Draco," Blaise said with a smirk on his face. "It's no wonder she would be more interested in Potty or Weasel."
Draco felt a familiar flame brewing inside of him as he turned towards Blaise. Before he had chance to react, the sound of large hoofs touching down on the floor brought their attention to the front of the class.
"Well done 'Arry!" Hagrid clapped as the Hippogriff trotted forward to him. After helping Harry off the creature, he threw a smaller animal towards it as a reward for his good behaviour.
Draco spotted his professor pulling Harry to one side, leaving the Hippogriff unattended and an opportunity to prove himself in the eye of Blaise at the very least.
"Losing my touch?" Draco said to his friend who remained seated as he rose from the rock, Blaise's smirk grew wider.
Draco pushed his way through the crowd, passing the disgruntled students and made his way towards the opening where the Hippogriff stood.
"You're not dangerous at all are you, you great ugly brute," he snarled as he walked closer to the creature.
Before he had time to react, the Hippogriff stood tall on his hind legs, wings stretched out magnificently. The force of its wings moving frantically nearly knocked him off of his feet and Draco craned his neck to get a better instantly filled with regret once he caught eyes with it and the loud squawk rang through his ears. He threw up his arms to shield his face when the Hippogriff reached out and clawed at him.
Draco rolled around on the floor, holding onto the arm that had just been clawed yelling in pain. Hagrid paled as he rushed over to Draco's side, his arms fidgeted once he looked down at Draco's pained face and back up to Harry.
"Hagrid, you have to take him to the hospital wing!" Hermione shouted, moving quickly to stand beside Harry and get a better look at Draco on the floor.
The half-giant mumbled under his breath as he bent over and picked Draco's body up off the floor effortlessly. He turned to Hermione and Harry with Draco in his arms and gave them a nod as he walked back through the forest towards the castle.
"Class dismissed," was all he said before he moved completely out of sight.
Author Note:
Hey everyone! Thanks for keeping at it with my story, I hope everyone's still enjoying it and sorry for the late update. I'm so excited to be writing about the third year, I've waited for this moment for what feels like a long time!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I do not own the world of Harry Potter, I wish I did, but I don't.
MASSIVE shout out to KoraKunkel for being the best beta!