Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter franchise, nor anything afffiliated with it.
Hermione's POV
It's only been a couple of days since that afternoon in the Astronomy tower, but Draco's moved past it very quickly. He's only missed that one afternoon of class and hasn't had any other 'episodes' since, at least that I know about. He looks as healthy as ever, but I can't help but feel worried about him. I know what it's like to relive old memories, I also know how easy it is to hide it all if you've had as much practise as him. He's spent his whole life hiding emotion and any signs of weakness just like I have. The only difference is that if his mask broke, he would have either been tortured or killed. That's one of the things I admire about him. Even though he had one of the worst lives ever, he never cracked and never let Voldemort win completely. He rebelled in small ways, ways that seem insignificant to an outsider but are mountainous to a person who understands.
I've gotten up earlier than usual this morning and I'm pretty much finished with getting ready. It's about 7:30, which is when I usually wake up, but Draco hasn't come down yet. I know he's awake since I heard him in the bathroom but he isn't in the common room like usual. I sit down and pull out my notes for our exams. Hogwarts was originally tri-semestered with exams at the end of the year, but McGonagall has been experimenting with different things this year so we've adopted the system of having four subjects for each of two semesters with exams at the end of each one. I focus back on my notes and re-highlight certain parts. When I study, I write really detailed notes. Then I go back and take notes on those notes to refine them. Then I'll create an overview test on my notes and test myself like that. That way I'm learning it a couple times, then applying it to an actual set of questions.
I look at the clock and see that it's been about 20 minutes. Draco and I usually leave for breakfast at 8, so I go up and knock on his door to see what's happening with him. After a couple minutes of banging on his door he answers it looking rather dishevelled. His hair is messy like Harry's was in his younger years, his shirt is slightly crumpled, and his tie is askew. Not to mention his eyes are bleary and he has bags under his eyes. With a yawn he starts to speak.
"Hermione what are you knocking on my door at…" He glances down at his watch to check the time and then practically jumps out of his skin. "Wait it's almost 8 already! But I got ready earlier, what happened?"
"You probably fell asleep after that. Draco, how much sleep have you been getting in the past few days? Actually what about the past couple of weeks?" He takes a little longer to answer because he has to count it up quickly.
"Well I go to bed around 11:30 and get up at 6, so 6.5 hours."
"Draco! You can't do that and not have any consequences. My only question is how you've gone so long without any visible changes in your outlook till now. Wait, is 11:30 when you go to bed or when you actually fall asleep."
"Hermione, you don't have to keep asking me questions. I already know I have insomnia and nothing I've tried has worked." His bluntness shocks me then I realize he's probably really tired so his brain is doing weird things, or as I have titled that kind of behaviour, sleep drunk. I'm kind of shocked that he knew where I was trying to lead the conversation. I tried use non-leading questions, but I guess he saw through my ruse. I've been worried about him having insomnia because the war and the psychological effect I know it had on his mind. I had insomnia as well for awhile, but it's settled for the time being. I've also had less nightmares and more regular dreams. Anyway, I know he's been having nightmares and I'm pretty sure it's more than he's had for the last while. I look at him in concern before addressing him again.
"You had better freshen up quickly, we need to get to breakfast soon if you don't want to be late for class." He nods then closes the door to get ready. I walk back down to the common room and pack up my notes. After placing them in my beaded purse I put my shoes on and wait by the door. Draco soon comes down after about 5 minutes and looks a lot better. He must have used a glamour charm because his skin looks a lot better and the bags are all gone. Thankfully we're only put off schedule by about 10 minutes so we still have enough time to eat and get to class.
When we reach the classroom, Professor Carrington calls us in and we take our seats like usual. I pull out my muggle studies folder from my purse as well as a pen. She stands up in front of the class and then addresses us.
"Today we're going to be doing something slightly different. Seeing as how the unit we're going to be starting today is transportation, I've arranged for us to floo down to muggle London and take a small airplane flight from Heathrow airport to Manchester airport. From there we'll floo back here. The trip will take all day, but I've already given your teachers a heads up and asked that they excuse from class.
The flight itself is only a hour, but we have to allow about 1 hour to get to the airport from Diagon Alley, an hour and a half to get through security, 1 hour for the flight, 1 hour for customs and immigration check on the other end, and another hour to travel to the floo point. If we have time I may let you all have some free time to explore the airport in Manchester. I have already planned ahead and gotten some travel sickness potions and calming draughts from Madame Pomfrey so that we all can go. Are there any questions?" She looks around but only one person has their hands raised. "Yes Ms. Parkinson?"
"You mean to tell me that we're going to be sitting in a metal shell shaped like a bird for an hour with muggles, sit in a bus with muggles, and go through a muggle infested building? I can't believe we have to put up with this!" Half the class stares at her incredulously. Most of the students at Hogwarts have been quite fascinated with Muggle stuff and have gotten over their prejudices but there are a few students who haven't. Like Pansy.
"Ms. Parkinson, your current attitude is exactly why this class is mandatory in the first place. You would do well to not be so prejudiced if you want to pass this class. Also, if you actually tried to do the work in this class and learnt what you were supposed to, you might find that muggles aren't so bad after all. Many of the things they have accomplished without magic is marvellous. There are some things even we can't do." Pansy just turns red before ignoring everyone. I feel bad for Ernie, he has to put up with all of her nonsense and try his best to teach her or he risks a low mark.
"Well if that's it, we have to prepare for the trip. There are some things you can bring, and some things you can't. Phones, earbuds, and other electronics are okay in fact I encourage you to bring them as you may get bored. I want everyone to pick two people to sit next to during the flight and one person to sit next to on the buses. You are responsible for making sure your buddy doesn't get lost.
We can't bring any sharp objects or liquids. You can bring a water bottle but you have to empty it before we get to security." A couple students look a little confused at the mention of security but they don't bother asking about it. "Make sure you bring a small bag with you to put loose articles in. I recommend you bring a notebook to take observations or notes. I will be asking you all to write a short writing piece on today's journey so try and pay attention. I will dismiss you all in a moment to pack or get something, but just remember nothing sharp or anything that can be used as a weapon, and keep your luggage to a minimum. I will provide lunch when we get to Manchester.
Alright you may leave now, I just need you all back here in about half an hour."
We're about to get up when she suddenly stops us again. With many sighs and groans of frustration, we sit down.
"I forgot to mention, we will need passports for the flight. For the muggleborns and half-bloods, I know many of you carry them with you in case of emergencies. For those of you who don't, I contacted your parents and had them owl them over. For the purebloods, I was able to secure some for you through McGonagall, please don't lose them as we may use them more throughout the year." She then hands out the passports and dismisses us.
We all quickly get up and leave to pack. I practically run up to my room because I'm really excited. Flying in an airplane for me is amazing. I love being up that high and I feel safer in a plane than on a broom. Much safer. I've always wanted to fly ever since I was a child but seeing as how I couldn't, I took the next best option, airplanes. Even though I have motion sickness, the feeling of being in the air and looking at the clouds is so wonderful. The view is simply amazing and it's really cool to see different places in the world.
Once I get to my room I grab my laptop from it's charging spot and put my binders and textbooks on my bookshelf after removing my exam notes. I root around my trunk to find my passport at the bottom in a very small pocket. I place my laptop, notebook, my passport, a book I bought a couple weeks ago, and my notes in my purse after removing the more sharp/weapon-like objects from my purse. When I put the extension charm on my purse I made sure that I also put a few charms on it that would make it look like a laptop bag to muggles, would hide any magical objects from sight, and that would make the x-ray appear as it did to muggles. It took me awhile to develop the charms, but it proved very handy for travelling and meant that I could use it all of the time. I quickly re-sling my purse over my shoulder and go knock on Draco's door to see if he's ready.
He answers the door and immediately asks if I could come in with him. I take a step in and see that his room is extremely neat. It seems like he's completely organized it since I last saw him. His bed is perfectly made, his bookshelf is organized by author in alphabetical order and then by height, and his desk has a stack of parchment in one corner and a pencil holder with the stationary perfectly placed. I can't help but stare at it in wonder. I've always tried to organize my room like this, but it's always failed. It will be fairly neat the first couple of days, then get steadily messier before the next re-organizing session.
"Hermione, what were we supposed to pack again and what were we not supposed to bring?" He asks.
"You need to bring something to occupy yourself with, something to take notes in, your passport, ideally a water bottle that you can empty before security and then fill up again later, I recommend bringing some muggle cash as well, and put it all in a relatively small bag that can fit any other small objects. A smaller bag will make security easier to get through.
He starts to gather his stuff together as I'm speaking and puts it all into his usual messenger bag. He puts his binder on his shelf and I notice that he has a shelf devoted school stuff like I do. The only difference is that he organizes his work by subject then year, whereas I sort it by year then subject. Once he's one, he slings his bag over his shoulder and we both leave together.
We get down to our classroom before most people and wait for the rest to arrive. I ask Draco if I can see his passport because I'm curious to know how they got them without going to the embassy in London. The passport photo is his school photo from the beginning of the year, that explains how they got a photo, and I guess they must have a program with the Ministry of Magic to do this kind of stuff for wizards who want to travel the muggle way. I examine his passport for a little while longer before handing it back. Once I do, he asks if he can see mine. I comply and rummage around for it in my purse before handing it over. He looks at it for a couple of minutes and compares it to his own. He then hands it back and we just sit in silence till everyone arrives. At that moment Professor Carrington gets up to speak.
"All right, are we missing anyone?" There are few chorused 'no's and shaking of heads. "In that case, if you could pick you pairs for the bus trips and the flights."
"Professor, didn't you say that we would be in groups of 3 for the flight?"
"Yes I did Hannah, but it turns out our tickets were booked for the window sections and those seats are in pairs. It makes it easier anyway in terms of groups because our class is easily separated into partners. Now, does everyone have their passports?" Again there is a chorus, but this time of 'yes's. "Okay if we have everyone and everyone has their passports we can move on now. We will taking the floo through Headmistress McGonagall's office to Diagon Alley where we will then take a chartered bus from there to Heathrow Airport. I'll fill you guys in on the trip details as we go along. I would also like to see Draco and Hermione once we get to the Headmistress's office." She says this as we leave the classroom and soon we are in the hallway. We all walk as a clump to McGonagall's office and climb up the stairs in single file as they are too narrow to do otherwise.
Once we get up the students travel one at a time and Professor Carrington pulls Draco and I aside to talk to us. "Alright, here is a physical copy of our itinerary for the trip with booking details. Make sure you don't lose this. As the Head's, you are the backup leaders for this trip if something goes wrong. I'm not of the opinion that it would, but it's just for safety/security reasons. Here is a flask of polyjuice potion and a couple of my hairs if you need to do something like a thumbprint for anything or you need to impersonate me at some point. Here is a copy of our boarding passes. Just remember that if something goes wrong, the safety of all these students are your priority. I have no doubt that you will both know what to do if it comes to that. Can I count on you guys for this?"
Draco and I both nod and take a set each of the items she's giving us and place them in our bags. We then walk over to the dwindling line of students to floo to Diagon Alley. I go first when it's time to go through, with Draco following closely behind me. We step out and join the group of students waiting for our teacher. Once she comes out we all walk as a group and find the bus on the muggle streets. Many of the purebloods shrink back due to the noise and chaos of the streets and cars. Some of them look really nervous, and to be honest I'm kind of skittish around cars so I don't blame them. We board the bus and though most of the students relax a bit, some of them are still a little nervous. Once we are seated Professor Carrington passes out potions to kids who need it for motion sickness, under the label of medicine since the bus driver is a muggle, and then we start moving.
Draco and I sit next to each other but don't talk much. I pull out my notes and study while he pulls out a sudoku book. After a little while I put in my earbuds and read. It's been about 45 minutes into our hour long journey when he speaks up.
"Hermione, how big are airplanes?"
"Well it depends on the size of the airplane. The one we are travelling on is an Airbus A320, which is about the length of about 2.75 large school busses. It's fairly small compared to some other planes, but still pretty big when you look at it. The largest airplane from the Airbus company is two times the size of the one we're going to be flying in today."
"Wow, that's pretty big. Have you ever flown on an airplane?"
"Yeah, I used to love flying on them when I was a kid. My parents often went to dentist conferences and I'd get to go with them. The last time I went on an airplane was about 4-5 years ago I think."
"Do you miss it? Being up in the air?"
"Of course. It's one of my biggest dreams to fly. To be up in the clouds looking down at the earth. I don't miss the motion sickness though, that was brutal. I wasn't able to swallow pills, so I had to have the liquid medicines instead. They are so bitter that it makes me want to throw up. I eventually got over the taste but it was still horrible."
"If you miss flying so much, why don't you ride brooms? In fact, I don't think I've seen you even touch a broom since our first class in first year."
"I like flying, but I don't feel safe on brooms. They feel unsteady to me and it doesn't seem safe to be sitting on a stick with barely anything to hold onto. If I was to fly, the perfect experience for me would be if I could have flight as a 'superpower'. I want to be able to just fly at the drop of a hat without the aid of an object. I wish there was a charm or spell for it. I've spent many hours researching it, but they haven't invented one yet."
"Wow, that's pretty cool. However, I'm sure that if anyone can find or create a spell like that, it would be you." I blush as he says this.
"Thanks Draco. You know I'm glad we've become friends, sorry, un-official girlfriend and boyfriend. I really like talking to you. We actually have pretty deep conversations, compared to when I used to talk to Harry and Ron. Wait, are we still girlfriend and boyfriend?" I kind of panic as I'm not sure if he wanted to take a break from it because of his mother's death or his nightmares. I hope I haven't offended him or anything.
"No, we're still girlfriend and boyfriend. Don't worry, nothing's changed." He looks like he's about to say something else, but we've reached our destination and Professor Carrington has called for our attention.
"Alright, now that we're here we have to check in. We are early but it will still be kind of busy. Follow closely and keep your 'quills' in your bags." I can tell she's referring to our wands, but I'm not sure everyone else does so I mouth 'wands' to the ones that look confused. They nod in acknowledgement and I sit back down. "We are going to check-in at section A-13 in Terminal 5. If you get lost, find a help desk and tell them that you are travelling with a group of students from Woodside High School and to make an announcement for Ms. Carrington."
With that, we step out of the bus onto the sidewalk drop off area. We all shield our eyes from the glaring reflection of the sun off of the glass windows of Terminal 5.
Author's Note: Sorry for the longer wait, but I'm trying to make slightly longer chapters and the idea I had for this section needed more time to write. I'll probably have about 2 more chapters following this 'arc' of the storyline. The years have been shifted forward from their original timeline to accomadate the inclusion of muggle technology, however they chronology is still the same. I forgot to say this at the beginning of the story. I'm planning on adding a bit more action not too much, but just enough to spice it up a bit more. Thanks for reading and all of your support. Please review! Have a great week, till next time.