Chapter Two: Bittersweet Reunion
Harry's first "lesson" did not go well. He had wanted to fall into a hole and be forgotten. With everyone's eyes upon him, he felt useless to the class. He then thought of his old friend and mentor on the Quidditch team-Oliver Wood. He had been strong-willed and brave. Harry, despite his many obstacles at Hogwarts never felt brave-even though many others, including Dumbledore thought he was. Ron and Hermione had always been his strongest encouragers. They stood by him when he was being persecuted-cheered him as the seeker, and even defended him when others thought he was the heir of Slytherin many years ago.
As these thoughts entered into his head, he paused to reflect everything for a moment, and then was interrupted by loud voices down the hallway. He stood quietly next to a pillar and listened. It was a beautiful young woman, with long blond flowing hair, full red lips and bright blue eyes. Harry had never seen someone as beautiful as her. "I don't want to be here!" She said in a malicious voice to the man who had his back to Harry. "We have already discussed this!" The man said in a booming voice that sent chills down Harry's back. It was Draco Malfoy's father. He frowned. "I wanted to finish out my term at the other school. All of my friends are there, father you cannot possibly understand" the young girl spoke in a way that Harry never would to the Durseys or to anyone else. "Draco is here, he will keep you company and see that no harm shall come to you," he said. "Draco is a stubborn, stuck up know-it-all who cares more about his reputation than he does magic!" She said angrily. Her father seemed stung by her remark. "Watch your tongue!" He said acidly. Harry was also stung by her remark. He could not believe how she spoke about Draco. No one dared say something so reckless.he admired her already. "You shall be taken up towards the lobby and sorted into your group. NOW GO!" Mr. Malfoy demanded. The young lady frowned just as acidly and walked steadily down the hall.
Harry had just then came out from behind the pillar. He stood there, taking in her features. She was even more fascinating up close. "Please move from my path, I must go to the great hall," she said with a great sigh. He looked bewildered. Had she not.recognized him? "I can walk you there" he offered. "I can walk myself, thank you," she said, trying to hide her animosity towards him. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter" "Please don't bore me with any more details" she said, abit acidly. He raised an eyebrow, "you don't know.me?" He asked. "Why should I?" She asked, "is there a reason that makes you more special than anyone else?" She said thinking he was acting trivial. He respected her all the more now. She didn't know who he was, and for the first time, he could be himself without his fame reflecting how he was suppose to act. "Now if you will excuse me." "I'd like to know your name" he said slowly, with more confidence. She huffed abit, "everyone seems to" she turned abruptly and gave him a somewhat interested glance. "Please, just your name" Harry asked once more. She raised somewhat off her feet to obtain a better look at him. He had dark, untidy hair, rounded glasses and was somewhat gawky but he had a handsome smile and bright, alert eyes that immediately interested her. "Its Lydia Malfoy" she said with a curve of her mouth. He never realized that Draco had a sister-perhaps because she was an embarrassment to him? She clearly did not admire her brother. Lydia. Harry found himself thinking. "I must go," she said, leaving him with a renewed sense of anxiety.
Harry had arrived just in time to watch the first years being sorted. He noticed Lydia among them. "But you-are not a first yea' " he heard Hagrid speaking. "But I must be sorted" she said softly. "Anywhere but Slytherin!" She whispered. Dumbledore had consented to allow her to be placed into one of the houses that afternoon, and everyone was surprised-even Draco to see her there. Draco's friends Goyle and Grabbe eyed him with interest. Apparently no one knew his sister even existed. Ron had watched Hermione roll her eyes as her name was announced. "I'm sure she's just as rude and uncompassionate as Malfoy," she said. Harry wanted to tell Hermione to hold her tongue, but Ron spoke up first. "All Malfoys all like that" he snickered. "Not her," Harry whispered. "I've met her, she speaks her mind-she hates her brother" Harry said with a gentle smile. "Hates Draco? How can anyone possibly hate Draco?" Ron joked. Harry laughed softly as the sorting hat was placed onto Lydia's head. She already gave the bearing of being somewhat opinionated-as she had demanded that Hagrid and Dumbledore allow her to be sorted fairly. "Much regal bearing and commanding of presence I see.would be quite useful in Slytherin, you have much power.that has yet to be seen" the hat whispered to her. Lydia was frowning. "Not Slytherin, my talents would be useful elsewhere" she coaxed. "Where to put you then?" The sorting hat asked. Many were well aware that most 'undecided' first years were placed into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw-"then how about Gryffindor!" The hat had made its decision.
Lydia made her way past the Slytherin table and Draco's piercing gaze of betrayal as she slowly made her way to the Gryffindor table as they cheered their newest member. "Did you see the look on her brother's face? It was priceless" Ron laughed. "I doubt my brother is pleased by the hat's decision but I am quite satisfied" Lydia apparently overheard Ron's comment. Others at the table laughed along with her. As the feast went underway, Harry knew this would be the last time he would be eating with his friends. Hermione was going home to get her affairs in order and start her new position with the Counsel of Magic and Ministry. Ron was going off to visit his family and then join her oldest brother in Romania. When Hermione was speaking with Neville, asking him what his plans were after graduation, Harry used that time to ask Ron about his dilemma. "Have you asked her.?" "No.every time I go to do so we are interrupted or I lose my nerve," he sighed. "You do want to.marry her?" Harry asked quietly. "Of course I do, but I feel jinxed!" He sighed. Harry shook her head. "She's leaving tonight you will be losing your chance" "I know!" Ron growled under his breath right as Hermione turned around to give her attention to them. "Who's leaving?" She asked quietly. "Neville, right?" Harry said, covering for Ron. He was hoping he would have forgotten that he was, since he was notorious for forgetting things. "But I'm not." Ron out a hand over his mouth before he could talk. Hermione thought something suspicious was going on, but she kept her silence.
The new head boy was showing the newest members of each house to their chambers. Lydia felt strange being not only the tallest but also the oldest of the "newcomers" all the first years looked at her with curiosity in their faces. Just simply being here already frustrated her. She had already received five letters from her owl from her friends asking her why she had not returned to her school this last semester and why Hogwarts. She was in too sour a mood to respond to their inquiries just yet. Yes, why Hogwarts father? Lydia thought coldly. He was surely planning something. She was sitting quietly in the Gryffindor common room, gazing about her surroundings, wondering what secrets this place was hiding. She was also admiring the moving paintings on the wall. She was surprised when she had seen the school poltergeist Peeves float into the room. He was cackling and screaming about something. He stopped abruptly when he had seen her. "What a bonnie belle!" He joked, "are you frightened of me?" He was grinning. "No" Lydia said plainly, eyeing him calmly. Peeves stopped grinning. Everyone was either annoyed or afraid of him. She appeared to be neither. He simply floated out of the room, but not undaunted. He would be back. Lydia had gone to the girl's dormitory. She was joined by three other first years. "You're awfully tall for a first year" one of them remarked. "That's because I'm not-at least not here" she sighed. "How old are you?" She asked. "Seventeen" she answered, unpacking her things. "Then you must know all sorts of spells and things" she replied. "Yes" she said. Lydia took out her wand and lit a fire in the room. The little girl looked amazed by her simple spell. "Wow!" She said. "Can you show me?" She wondered aloud. "It is something you will learn eventually," Lydia said quietly. She had already found her roommates to be a dull sort, but she was willing to tolerate this young girl. She reminded her of herself once. "Come sit next to me by the fire" Lydia offered. The other girl's eyes lit up. "What is your name?" Lydia asked. "Courtney" the other one spoke. "Lovely," she said, "here, this will help you" Lydia handed her a book of spells. "But we have a standard book of spells for first years." Courtney replied. "Not like this one" Lydia smiled. Courtney curiously opened the book, and out came a spirit to verbally guide her through the table of contents. "Turn to page four for basic spells-I sense you are only beginning to learn magic" the book spoke to her. Courtney was wide eyed. Lydia smiled at her. Lydia picked up the book, "ah, welcome back miss Lydia" it replied. It turned towards the end of the book. "The fascinating thing about this text is that it will guide you. You simply have to ask it a question and it will tell you what to do" Lydia said. "Wow!" Courtney said, in an amazed voice already growing to admire Lydia.
As Ron's time to say farewell to Hermione drew closer, he had run into Snape. "Where are you off to?" "None of your business" he said acidly. He was too busy trying to find Hermione to care what Snape thought. He did not see Snape grinning in the corner of his eye. He simply loved to torment Ron. He watched him walk down the hall. Luckily he ran into her. "Oh!" He said. "Funny running into you here" she smiled, as she dragged her suitcase along with her. "Leaving so soon?" He asked her nervously. "Yes, Ron" she said, "walk me to the boats?" She asked. "Sure" he said. As they silently came down the hallway, Ron turned to her slowly. "Hermione?" He asked. "Yes?" Her eyes were shining. He silently extended out a hand to her. Speechless, she responded in kind and they held hands as they walked towards the boats. They stopped abruptly, and his eyes met hers. "I've been meaning to tell you." he said. "Tell me what?" She asked. "How I feel." Ron whispered. "How you feel?" She raised an eyebrow. "Come on Hermione, you are smart enough to figure out." before he could finish, she had thrown her arms around him and kissed him. He pulled back suddenly. He was obviously taken back by surprise by her action. That wasn't like her. "Hermione!" He cried out with a smile. "What took you so bloody long?" She asked him with a coy, yet demanding tone. "I-didn't know how to tell you," he said. She only laughed. "I'll miss you," she said. "I will miss you more than you know-but I won't have to anymore." he whispered. She raised another eyebrow. "I want you to-" he bit his tongue. "Marry me," he said. She dropped her suitcase. He had not flinched saying the words- but he dreaded her reaction. "I know it was your dream to join the council and mine to go to Romania.I can still go for a half year and then we can get married." Ron said carefully. She lowered her eyes "its not that easy" she uttered. "I know-but we can make it work. I desperately want to" he said. "We'd be too far from one another, I wouldn't want that" she sighed. She then surprised him by crying. "I can't marry you." she turned her back toward his and ran to the boats. "Herm-your suitcase!" Ron lowered his head sadly.
Harry was just leaving his quarters when he ran into Ron. His face was bright red-nearly to match his flaming red hair. "Whats the matter?" He asked, worried. "She said NO!" He said angrily. "No, but I thought she." "so did I! She kissed me!" Ron said, growing flustered. "She kissed you?" Harry's eyes became wide. "That isn't like her.she's never so forward, at least not that way." He sighed. "I need your help, I need to find a way to reach her once she reaches the Council" "Have your new owl send her a letter explaining everything," Harry suggested. "A letter? She'd not take it seriously. I'm going to borrow my father's new flying car and get over there, I'll not give up!" Ron said, clutching his fist. "But don't let your mother catch you, it's a damn hearty thing to do" Harry said. Ron rolled his eyes with a new fury that Harry rarely saw in him. "I know you love her, but do be careful!" Harry added, anger makes us do foolish things.I know.he thought vainly.
Harry's first "lesson" did not go well. He had wanted to fall into a hole and be forgotten. With everyone's eyes upon him, he felt useless to the class. He then thought of his old friend and mentor on the Quidditch team-Oliver Wood. He had been strong-willed and brave. Harry, despite his many obstacles at Hogwarts never felt brave-even though many others, including Dumbledore thought he was. Ron and Hermione had always been his strongest encouragers. They stood by him when he was being persecuted-cheered him as the seeker, and even defended him when others thought he was the heir of Slytherin many years ago.
As these thoughts entered into his head, he paused to reflect everything for a moment, and then was interrupted by loud voices down the hallway. He stood quietly next to a pillar and listened. It was a beautiful young woman, with long blond flowing hair, full red lips and bright blue eyes. Harry had never seen someone as beautiful as her. "I don't want to be here!" She said in a malicious voice to the man who had his back to Harry. "We have already discussed this!" The man said in a booming voice that sent chills down Harry's back. It was Draco Malfoy's father. He frowned. "I wanted to finish out my term at the other school. All of my friends are there, father you cannot possibly understand" the young girl spoke in a way that Harry never would to the Durseys or to anyone else. "Draco is here, he will keep you company and see that no harm shall come to you," he said. "Draco is a stubborn, stuck up know-it-all who cares more about his reputation than he does magic!" She said angrily. Her father seemed stung by her remark. "Watch your tongue!" He said acidly. Harry was also stung by her remark. He could not believe how she spoke about Draco. No one dared say something so reckless.he admired her already. "You shall be taken up towards the lobby and sorted into your group. NOW GO!" Mr. Malfoy demanded. The young lady frowned just as acidly and walked steadily down the hall.
Harry had just then came out from behind the pillar. He stood there, taking in her features. She was even more fascinating up close. "Please move from my path, I must go to the great hall," she said with a great sigh. He looked bewildered. Had she not.recognized him? "I can walk you there" he offered. "I can walk myself, thank you," she said, trying to hide her animosity towards him. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter" "Please don't bore me with any more details" she said, abit acidly. He raised an eyebrow, "you don't know.me?" He asked. "Why should I?" She asked, "is there a reason that makes you more special than anyone else?" She said thinking he was acting trivial. He respected her all the more now. She didn't know who he was, and for the first time, he could be himself without his fame reflecting how he was suppose to act. "Now if you will excuse me." "I'd like to know your name" he said slowly, with more confidence. She huffed abit, "everyone seems to" she turned abruptly and gave him a somewhat interested glance. "Please, just your name" Harry asked once more. She raised somewhat off her feet to obtain a better look at him. He had dark, untidy hair, rounded glasses and was somewhat gawky but he had a handsome smile and bright, alert eyes that immediately interested her. "Its Lydia Malfoy" she said with a curve of her mouth. He never realized that Draco had a sister-perhaps because she was an embarrassment to him? She clearly did not admire her brother. Lydia. Harry found himself thinking. "I must go," she said, leaving him with a renewed sense of anxiety.
Harry had arrived just in time to watch the first years being sorted. He noticed Lydia among them. "But you-are not a first yea' " he heard Hagrid speaking. "But I must be sorted" she said softly. "Anywhere but Slytherin!" She whispered. Dumbledore had consented to allow her to be placed into one of the houses that afternoon, and everyone was surprised-even Draco to see her there. Draco's friends Goyle and Grabbe eyed him with interest. Apparently no one knew his sister even existed. Ron had watched Hermione roll her eyes as her name was announced. "I'm sure she's just as rude and uncompassionate as Malfoy," she said. Harry wanted to tell Hermione to hold her tongue, but Ron spoke up first. "All Malfoys all like that" he snickered. "Not her," Harry whispered. "I've met her, she speaks her mind-she hates her brother" Harry said with a gentle smile. "Hates Draco? How can anyone possibly hate Draco?" Ron joked. Harry laughed softly as the sorting hat was placed onto Lydia's head. She already gave the bearing of being somewhat opinionated-as she had demanded that Hagrid and Dumbledore allow her to be sorted fairly. "Much regal bearing and commanding of presence I see.would be quite useful in Slytherin, you have much power.that has yet to be seen" the hat whispered to her. Lydia was frowning. "Not Slytherin, my talents would be useful elsewhere" she coaxed. "Where to put you then?" The sorting hat asked. Many were well aware that most 'undecided' first years were placed into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw-"then how about Gryffindor!" The hat had made its decision.
Lydia made her way past the Slytherin table and Draco's piercing gaze of betrayal as she slowly made her way to the Gryffindor table as they cheered their newest member. "Did you see the look on her brother's face? It was priceless" Ron laughed. "I doubt my brother is pleased by the hat's decision but I am quite satisfied" Lydia apparently overheard Ron's comment. Others at the table laughed along with her. As the feast went underway, Harry knew this would be the last time he would be eating with his friends. Hermione was going home to get her affairs in order and start her new position with the Counsel of Magic and Ministry. Ron was going off to visit his family and then join her oldest brother in Romania. When Hermione was speaking with Neville, asking him what his plans were after graduation, Harry used that time to ask Ron about his dilemma. "Have you asked her.?" "No.every time I go to do so we are interrupted or I lose my nerve," he sighed. "You do want to.marry her?" Harry asked quietly. "Of course I do, but I feel jinxed!" He sighed. Harry shook her head. "She's leaving tonight you will be losing your chance" "I know!" Ron growled under his breath right as Hermione turned around to give her attention to them. "Who's leaving?" She asked quietly. "Neville, right?" Harry said, covering for Ron. He was hoping he would have forgotten that he was, since he was notorious for forgetting things. "But I'm not." Ron out a hand over his mouth before he could talk. Hermione thought something suspicious was going on, but she kept her silence.
The new head boy was showing the newest members of each house to their chambers. Lydia felt strange being not only the tallest but also the oldest of the "newcomers" all the first years looked at her with curiosity in their faces. Just simply being here already frustrated her. She had already received five letters from her owl from her friends asking her why she had not returned to her school this last semester and why Hogwarts. She was in too sour a mood to respond to their inquiries just yet. Yes, why Hogwarts father? Lydia thought coldly. He was surely planning something. She was sitting quietly in the Gryffindor common room, gazing about her surroundings, wondering what secrets this place was hiding. She was also admiring the moving paintings on the wall. She was surprised when she had seen the school poltergeist Peeves float into the room. He was cackling and screaming about something. He stopped abruptly when he had seen her. "What a bonnie belle!" He joked, "are you frightened of me?" He was grinning. "No" Lydia said plainly, eyeing him calmly. Peeves stopped grinning. Everyone was either annoyed or afraid of him. She appeared to be neither. He simply floated out of the room, but not undaunted. He would be back. Lydia had gone to the girl's dormitory. She was joined by three other first years. "You're awfully tall for a first year" one of them remarked. "That's because I'm not-at least not here" she sighed. "How old are you?" She asked. "Seventeen" she answered, unpacking her things. "Then you must know all sorts of spells and things" she replied. "Yes" she said. Lydia took out her wand and lit a fire in the room. The little girl looked amazed by her simple spell. "Wow!" She said. "Can you show me?" She wondered aloud. "It is something you will learn eventually," Lydia said quietly. She had already found her roommates to be a dull sort, but she was willing to tolerate this young girl. She reminded her of herself once. "Come sit next to me by the fire" Lydia offered. The other girl's eyes lit up. "What is your name?" Lydia asked. "Courtney" the other one spoke. "Lovely," she said, "here, this will help you" Lydia handed her a book of spells. "But we have a standard book of spells for first years." Courtney replied. "Not like this one" Lydia smiled. Courtney curiously opened the book, and out came a spirit to verbally guide her through the table of contents. "Turn to page four for basic spells-I sense you are only beginning to learn magic" the book spoke to her. Courtney was wide eyed. Lydia smiled at her. Lydia picked up the book, "ah, welcome back miss Lydia" it replied. It turned towards the end of the book. "The fascinating thing about this text is that it will guide you. You simply have to ask it a question and it will tell you what to do" Lydia said. "Wow!" Courtney said, in an amazed voice already growing to admire Lydia.
As Ron's time to say farewell to Hermione drew closer, he had run into Snape. "Where are you off to?" "None of your business" he said acidly. He was too busy trying to find Hermione to care what Snape thought. He did not see Snape grinning in the corner of his eye. He simply loved to torment Ron. He watched him walk down the hall. Luckily he ran into her. "Oh!" He said. "Funny running into you here" she smiled, as she dragged her suitcase along with her. "Leaving so soon?" He asked her nervously. "Yes, Ron" she said, "walk me to the boats?" She asked. "Sure" he said. As they silently came down the hallway, Ron turned to her slowly. "Hermione?" He asked. "Yes?" Her eyes were shining. He silently extended out a hand to her. Speechless, she responded in kind and they held hands as they walked towards the boats. They stopped abruptly, and his eyes met hers. "I've been meaning to tell you." he said. "Tell me what?" She asked. "How I feel." Ron whispered. "How you feel?" She raised an eyebrow. "Come on Hermione, you are smart enough to figure out." before he could finish, she had thrown her arms around him and kissed him. He pulled back suddenly. He was obviously taken back by surprise by her action. That wasn't like her. "Hermione!" He cried out with a smile. "What took you so bloody long?" She asked him with a coy, yet demanding tone. "I-didn't know how to tell you," he said. She only laughed. "I'll miss you," she said. "I will miss you more than you know-but I won't have to anymore." he whispered. She raised another eyebrow. "I want you to-" he bit his tongue. "Marry me," he said. She dropped her suitcase. He had not flinched saying the words- but he dreaded her reaction. "I know it was your dream to join the council and mine to go to Romania.I can still go for a half year and then we can get married." Ron said carefully. She lowered her eyes "its not that easy" she uttered. "I know-but we can make it work. I desperately want to" he said. "We'd be too far from one another, I wouldn't want that" she sighed. She then surprised him by crying. "I can't marry you." she turned her back toward his and ran to the boats. "Herm-your suitcase!" Ron lowered his head sadly.
Harry was just leaving his quarters when he ran into Ron. His face was bright red-nearly to match his flaming red hair. "Whats the matter?" He asked, worried. "She said NO!" He said angrily. "No, but I thought she." "so did I! She kissed me!" Ron said, growing flustered. "She kissed you?" Harry's eyes became wide. "That isn't like her.she's never so forward, at least not that way." He sighed. "I need your help, I need to find a way to reach her once she reaches the Council" "Have your new owl send her a letter explaining everything," Harry suggested. "A letter? She'd not take it seriously. I'm going to borrow my father's new flying car and get over there, I'll not give up!" Ron said, clutching his fist. "But don't let your mother catch you, it's a damn hearty thing to do" Harry said. Ron rolled his eyes with a new fury that Harry rarely saw in him. "I know you love her, but do be careful!" Harry added, anger makes us do foolish things.I know.he thought vainly.
