Author's Note: I am fixing the last chapter. I did not realize the last half was all in italics. I hope to get that done today. Thank you to all who reviewed! 'Puts out many freshly baked and frosted sugar cookies and a cooler of beverages.' There you all go! Now enjoy the show. 'FLUFF ALERT' Oh yes, and I have made it fluffier!
Disclaimer: You don't know this by heart already? Yeesh!
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The next week flew by. Hermione was bust flying and teaching her friends some new flying techniques she knew. Now that she was flying again it was like she had never stopped. She wished she never had. One stunt only she would try was to levitate her broom halfway between the ground and high place and jump from say, the roof, call out 'Accio broom' as she fell and land perfectly on it. No one was else was that brave.
She and Draco would fly at night, and she would tell him of her nightmares and he would share his fears. Once they had landed they held each other and watched the sun come up. If she slept too much Hermione was afraid the nightmares would return, and Draco was not going to let her stay awake all alone. So he kept late night vigils at her side.
Harry watched them from afar and sensed that this was something that Malfoy had never really felt before. This was a very pure love. The kind that lasted and could destroy someone. Then he would look at Ginny, and know that this was the same way. She made him want to conquer the world, and since he seemed to be destined to save it once a year – why not conquer it?
Ron watched his two best friends fall in love right in front of his eyes. Harry and Ginny he understood…he had known that was coming for years! He really didn't need any details on the relationship. As long as Ginny was happy that was all that mattered. Hermione and Draco – that hit him in blindside. It pained him to admit it, but Malfoy was turning into a real guy that he could like. But just like with Ginny, no guy would ever REALLY be good enough. Not even two of the most powerful wizards of their day – Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.
Soon it was time to board the train once more to go to Hogwarts. The holidays were over and the rest of the school year awaited them. Draco looked back at the Burrow and smiled. They had actually accepted him as one of their one. He was really growing to like the Weasley's. Even if he and Ron never got along very well, he had still taken him into his home. That said a lot about a person.
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Mags and Oliver were there waiting for the train. Hermione noticed that the new Flying assistant never let his arm fall from his cousin's shoulders and that didn't seem to bother Mags in the slightest. In fact she was glowingly happy for the first time in a very long time.
"Mione!" she cried as the two girls hugged and Mione waggled her finger at Mags in a scolding manner.
"If you EVER leave me alone with our relatives again I will hex you into next year."
Mags shivered in mock fright, "Yes ma'am."
Oliver rolled his eyes and shook hands with everyone else. Hermione took the opportunity to hug him and whisper in his ear, " I really do like you Oliver but if you hurt her or die on her I will hunt you down and make you sorry."
Oliver grinned, "Glad to hear it."
Mags looked at them like they were both insane and gave Mione the 'We really need to talk look' and then went back to listening to Ginny go on about her new dress robes. They soon were all in carriages and heading back up to the grounds of Hogwarts. Snape was waiting outside to yell at Mags for something… She rolled her eyes and went over to talk to him.
"Ms. Smythe! How dare you go off gallivanting with your boy-toy when there are lesson plans to make and work to divvy up. If you were a student I would give you so much detention your head would spin."
"Ah, but I am NOT a student. I am a student TEACHER. And your colleague and that just burns you doesn't it? Well, MY lesson plans are done for the week. As is my prep work. I suspect you can do your own work for both. Or is that beyond you?" Mags shot back with fiery green eyes, glaring into his dark ones.
The students were now used to this constant bickering and just filed back into the school for dinner. Mione stuck around with her friends to watch the show. Besides if her cousin needed her she wanted to be there. As she watched the drama, she felt two strong arms wrap around her and she smiled softly and leaned back against Draco.
"Should we tell him he doesn't stand a chance?" he asked conversationally as he rested his head on hers.
"Nah, let him find out the hard way." She replied tilting her head back for a sweet kiss.
Again made the gagging noises at the sight of Draco and Hermione kissing. Harry rolled his eyes, "Just some 'stimulating' conversation Ron."
"I am never going to live that down am I?" Ron groaned with a rueful grin.
Harry pretended to ponder this and grinned, "Not anytime in this lifetime no. But there is always hope for it to happen in the afterlife."
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Dumbledore and Minerva watched from a balcony above as Mags and Snape argued and Draco and Hermione snogged. These were the scenes of normalcy. How long would they last this time? Fudge was coming at the end of the week to meet with Mags and Mione and to make the announcement to the school. Then only those two sixteen year olds down there would know what was to happen next. They watched as Harry teased Ron and Ron took it and then flipped Harry off in a joking manner as Lavender raced over to kiss him hello. Ginny walked over and hugged Harry and waited for Mione and Mags to join them for dinner. Those five also had roles to play before this was all over. If only they would be guaranteed that they would all survive, because right down there, those seven teenagers were some of the best wizard's and witches of their time. Then they turned and went to start the Welcome Back feast.
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Mags finally pushed Snape out of her way and stormed into the castle. Followed by the entire audience that had been waiting for her to finish with Snape. The group caused quite a few stares as they entered the Hall. Oliver had his arm around Mags' shoulder and she was muttering under her breath while he whispered in her ear. Suddenly she stopped muttering and looked him with raised eyebrows.
"In your dreams Wood."
"You have no idea how right you are."
Harry and Ginny walked in holding hands and talking to each other softly. Then Harry kisses her cheek and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Just what do you think you are doing to my baby sister there Harry?" Ron asked from behind them.
"Just some stimulating conversation." Harry called back as Ginny rolled her eyes at both of them.
Ron and Lavender were right behind them. Lavender trying to keep Ron from putting his foot in his mouth. Which really was not working so great. Ron being Ron however did shut up when he saw the food.
The couple that made the room go quiet was Draco and Hermione. There had been rumor yes. Theories even on how the Gryffindor Lioness and the Slytherin Prince were secretly in love. But never had a Gryffindor and a Slytherin walked in talking and joking softly. Kissing gently every now and them all the way up to the head table. Most had never heard Draco laugh or seen him smile until today. They were all rather stunned.
Once at the Head table however Cho reminded Mione she had to announce the new task. Hermione grinned, kissed Draco quickly and ran in front of the table and cleared her throat and waited for the noise to die down.
"Attention one and all. This next task will be the easiest yet. It is called Parenting 101. They do this in Muggle schools and we thought we could adapt it to work here. You will all be given an egg. This egg represents a child. It will be hard boiled so it won't break but will still crack! You will be graded on how few cracks your child has and how well a journal you keep. It is relatively simple but still requires much effort. The eggs will be enchanted so you can't use any spells on this baby. The eggs will be handed out next Monday. I wish everyone good luck!" And with that she went back to her dinner.
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Mags hid a giggle at this latest task. It seemed amazing how these Prefects kept coming up with these great teamwork ideas. And this would make them really spend sometime together. She looked over at Oliver as Snape stood up.
"And Ms. Smythe and Mr. Wood will be the supervising teachers this time around as I am too busy to do so."
Mags' jaw dropped and she shrugged and grinned, thinking 'More Oliver time…yay me!'
Oliver grinned and thought, 'More time with her? I could do that.'
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After dinner was over Mags pulled Mione into a conference room. Her eyes lost some sparkle and she sat down with dull eyes.
"You know what we have to do." Mags said tonelessly.
Mione also looked drained and tried for a smile, and really succeeding, "Yes I do. How will we do it?"
"We will take volunteers and then test them." Mags replied rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"And then we do what? Train them to DIE?" growled Hermione, with rage in her eyes.
"Nope, we train them how we want them trained. Not to be cannon fodder but to be warriors." Mags replied.
"God help them all." Mione muttered as she moved to stare out a window into the darkness.
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Hermione slipped quietly into her room that night to find Draco asleep with Quidditch Quarterly ion his chest. He had been waiting for her. She changed quickly on soon join him in sleep. It was the first night in while she slept peacefully with a dream or a nightmare.
Mags didn't want to tempt fate so she once again took to the skies until she was ready to fall off her broom and then tumbled into bed too tired to dream.
Dumbledore watched as the young girl flew in and landed on her windowsill. May the Gods be with her, may they be with them all.
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The next morning in Double Potions Mags was watching the class take a test when she got a letter from the Ministry of Magic. She read it, groaned and feed the owl a treat before responding. She hated dealing with red tape.
Mione handed in her test first and the two cousins sat there discussing the next step. Mags told Mione about the letter and Mione also groaned.
Soon the test was over and they were off to their next class. Draco and Mione had a free hour and decided to spend it in their classroom. He sat down and pulled her into his lap. Soon they were lost in each other. All they cared about was the soft silkiness of the other's hair. And the sweetness of the mouth they were kissing. The scent of cologne or perfume wafting into their noses. The comfort and energy they felt holding and caressing each other was amazing.
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AN: See I told you there would be fluff. 'Teases readers with more baked goods' Now hit the pretty review button and you too can have some yummy goodies….