Here is the second chapter! ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate
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CHAPTER 2: MOVING IN AND MOVING ON
As they Apparated into the large one story house Harry couldn't help but grin. The place really was quite fancy and remarkable and judging by the look on Ella's face, she thought it too.
"Wow Harry," She gaped, "I knew we had a little money but I had no idea that it could get this."
He shuffled a little on his feet.
"I mean, I wasn't really sure how much money you had but it must have been quite a bit..." She trailed off.
"My money wouldn't have paid for half the house...it's got complex charms and magic all over it for protection so really altogether it was pretty expensive." Harry told her quickly.
"Yes well with mine it might have helped," She frowned slightly, "Although I didn't think I had as much as you did."
"You didn't. And I didn't have much either." He mumbled. She looked alarmed for a moment before turning to face him directly.
"We did pay for this didn't we?" She asked seriously.
"Um," Harry lowered his voice, "Actually I didn't touch your money...just yet."
"Just yet?" She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, "What does that mean 'just yet'?"
"It means that I used other money." He told her quietly.
"Oh I see," She continued to glare at him, "Because I'm some sort of charity case is that right?"
"What?" His eyes widened. Ella's parents had left her quite a bit of money so he didn't think she was by any means poor. It took him a moment to realise that she meant that he felt so sorry for her about her family situation that he didn't want to take her money. It was only a little true.
"You heard me and I know you know what I meant," She took a few steps towards him, "Well?"
"That's...not...not it at all!" He stammered. She pulled a face.
"Then you tell me now Harry Potter where you got the money from to afford this place and why you didn't use the money I gave you!"
"It's Sirius' money," He told her sharply, standing up for himself, "He left it to me and since this is my place and I asked you to move in I thought that I was personally in control of what did and did not happen in this household!"
"You great selfish prat!" Ella fumed, "I've been here hardly five minutes and already you think you're in charge!"
"I am in charge!" Harry dared to snap. Ella in return narrowed her eyes dangerously, something she had never done to him before. He didn't like it.
"If you are going to be like this. Then I don't want to live here." She turned and walked down the hallway before slamming a door to one of the bedrooms. Harry knew if it wasn't dark she would probably have Apparated somewhere else and he sort of wished she had.
Five minutes later he was glad she hadn't.
"Ella?" He tapped gently on the door to the room she was in.
"You can come in Harry," He heard her voice say, "You own this house remember. You can do what you want."
He sighed knowing he probably deserved that and slowly opened the door. She was sitting on the small single bed in the middle of the room with her back to him. He couldn't help but grin at her childishness, she was supposed to be the older one. Well, technically she wasn't that much older but she usually loved reminding him about her maturity.
"I'm sorry El." He said his nickname for her softly and frowned when he got no response. He sat on the bed next to her and sighed.
"I mean it. I really am. I shouldn't have yelled and stuff. But you know what I'm like where Sirius is concerned and it was his money and everything..." He trailed off and sighed again, "Maybe you're right. I love you but it might not be good for us to live together."
"Maybe." Came the mumbled reply. Harry felt his spirits drop. His shoulders slumped and he looked down.
"That's alright. If you want to leave I'll understand."
Silence.
Then he felt her hand on his face and her thumb caressed his jaw. He smiled a little.
"I'm not going. But how are we going to do this if we fight every two seconds?" She asked him. His smile widened and he kissed her.
"We can always make up after them," His eyes sparkled cheekily, "It'll be fun."
Ella blushed as he kissed her again and remembered their first time together the other night. She allowed him to deepen the kiss and hoped that it wouldn't hurt again.
* * * *
"Ginny!" Draco snapped at the amused face in his fireplace, "Can you tone down your imagination just a bit?"
"I'll try, but I just thought it might be interesting to talk to you about it." She smirked.
Draco rolled his eyes. He would, to no end, deny any feelings for Ella to anyone. Even Ginny, and he trusted her a lot.
"There is nothing to say and don't bring it up." He warned.
"You're denying it too strongly, it makes it obvious," She paused, "Harry knows."
"Potter is an idiot. I don't know why anyone would think such a thing." Draco said finally, keeping his voice even. Ginny observed his impassive expression for a few moments before shaking her head.
"I can't read you. It's not fair," She glared at him, "But if you say you don't have feelings for her then I will just have to believe you then won't I?"
"Exactly." He said simply. He walked over to a desk near the fireplace and picked up a few folders, flipping through them while Ginny continued to tell him about the beginning of her summer.
"Oh Draco," Ginny grumbled, "Not business!"
"Yes Ginny business!"
"But you've been out of school for what? Two weeks? And you're already starting everything..." She turned around alarmed, "Oh it's Mum! She'll kill me if she catches me doing this so late! I'll see you later! Bye!"
"Bye." He didn't raise his eyes from the folders he was reading but he knew that Ginny knew he had acknowledged her. He pulled out a chair and sat down, reading through folder after folder of information about his father's business. It wasn't something special but it did keep the money rolling in and that was the only reason Draco was interested in keeping the business running.
It really wasn't something that interested him greatly. He would much rather have preferred being an Auror or something similar, but that for him would have meant certain death. It was easy enough for Potter and Weasley to train for the career; their father wasn't a Deatheater that would certainly kill them if they betrayed him too much. And Draco knew his father would definitely kill him if he discovered he was becoming an Auror.
"Are you still up darling?" His mother's voice distracted him from reading. She was in her nightgown and standing in the doorway smiling at him, her eyes tired. Draco knew how she felt. He had no idea how late it was or how early in the morning but he was surely nodding off.
"I'm fine." He mumbled. His mother sighed and walked over to him, kissing him on his head. She'd taken to doing it lately and it still surprised him considering she hadn't done it since he was a small child.
"I'll get a servant to bring you some coffee. Go to bed soon please." She chided him gently. He nodded and she ruffled his hair, leaving him.
* * * *
"Ginny, go away!" Ron snapped. His sister stopped taunting him momentarily before grinning and continuing.
"Ron l-o-v-e-s Hermione! Ron loves Hermione! You do and you won't admit it!" She teased. He rolled her eyes. This was Ginny. Serious and mature one day, childish and annoying the next. Today she had decided to be a child.
"I do not! Now go away before I tie you down and," He paused, "Cut off your hair!"
She froze, "You wouldn't!"
"I would!"
"Then I'd just charm it to grow again! God you're stupid! How are you becoming an Auror in the first place?" Ginny pulled a face, "Ron loves Hermione! Ron loves..."
"Ginny you stop that right now and leave your brother alone!" Her mother demanded, entering the kitchen. Ginny plopped down on a seat.
"Fine," She huffed, "But mum I am so bored."
"You'll be wishing you had this kind of free time when you're back at school in a few weeks!" Mrs Weasley told her daughter wisely. Ginny nodded meekly, having heard her mother say this several times each day for a while now.
"Well I'm off then." Ron said standing up. Mrs Weasley raised an eyebrow.
"Off to where Ron?" She asked him sternly.
"Mum," He said gently, "We've been through this. I'm eighteen and I want to get my own place. I've told you already twice that today I was going to go and have a look at some places to live."
His mothers bottom lip trembled, "But you're my baby boy!"
"Mum..." Ron trailed off as Mrs Wealsey engulfed him a bear hug.
"I'm going to miss you so much." She said, crying softly. Ron patted her on the back comfortingly.
"I'm not gone yet mum," He reminded her, "And I'll be back for dinner. I just want to look at a few places."
"Go with him Ginny." Mrs Weasley suggested pulling away from Ron much to his relief.
"No!" Ron and Ginny both protested.
"It'll be fine. And it will give you something to do. I have the members of the Order coming over and I'd prefer if you both weren't here." She told them simply, turning to the stove and preparing a meal.
"Mum I'm eighteen!"
"And I'm seventeen soon!" Ginny said with as much anger as her brother. Mrs Weasley stopped and turned to face them. They cowered a little under her intense stare.
"You two are my babies and the only children I have left with me," She said slowly, "Bill and Charlie have their own lives. Percy...Percy had just gone and Fred and George are all grown up and busy."
"Mum," Ron muttered, "We are grown up."
"No matter what you think Ronald Weasley you are not grown up," She turned to her daughter, "And you are definitely not. When Dumbledore pleaded with me last year to let you two go on that mission against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named I thought I might just break down altogether."
"But you let us go." Ginny pointed out.
"Very reluctantly," Mrs Weasley held up her chin and shook her head passionately, "And never, never again am I going to let the two of you get involved with the matters of the Order. Never again. And that includes Harry and Hermione!"
"But mum-" Ron whined. She glared at him and he stopped.
"Fine," Ginny sighed in defeat, "Come on Ronniekens. Let's go and look at some places where we can get rid of you...I mean. Accommodate your lovely self in."
"Whatever." Ron mumbled. He bent down and kissed his mother on the cheek before grabbing his coat and leaving his parent's house as quickly as he could.
Three hours later Ron and Ginny were walking down Diagon Alley. Ron had found a place, a small yet comfortable cheap one, and put down the deposit. He would move in a few days from now and was enjoying the company of his little sister, who had left her childishness back at the Burrow.
"Fancy a Butterbeer Ron?" Ginny wondered as they walked past a small Inn. Ron nodded and they entered 'Sparkles'. The Inn was unlike its dark, dirty-looking exterior. Inside it was bright, clean and roomy.
"Well this is nice." Ron said thoughtfully as they sat down at a corner. They ordered two rounds of Butterbeer and began to drink, talking mildly between them.
"You excited about your last year Gin?" Ron wondered. His sister seemed to flinch.
"Not really. Well, yes and no."
"Yes because?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Yes because it'll be my last year and then I won't have to work anymore," She paused, "No because Voldemort is still on the loose and without you and Harry and Hermione and Dumbledore at school it's not going to be very safe."
"Ah," Ron swung his arm around her, "You know I'd never let anything happen to you. None of us would."
She smiled up at him fondly, "I know that brother dear, but it doesn't mean I won't worry."
"I promise Gin." He told her seriously. She nodded.
"How's Auror training going? I didn't mean it before when I said it was stupid you were becoming an Auror." She smiled sheepishly.
"That's alright," Ron took his arm off her, "We've only been training for a few days but it seems really interesting."
Now she was engaged, "Really? Like what?"
"Well," He lowered his voice, "Like we're being taught lots of Defence Against the Dark Arts spells and dueling, Harry's the best at that, some Potions making and stuff. And...we've been told about possibly of training to become Animagus."
"You're kidding?" Ginny asked startled. Ron shook his head and smiled.
"It's going to be the best," His eyes were shining, "I just cant wait to see what I'll be."
"How long does it take?"
"A while. A few months if we train really hard. But it's not definite that we'll be doing it, it's just a suggestion. But I told them how keen I was about it and it might be falling through..." He trailed off as his name was called across the Inn.
"Ronald Weasley!" A young man in dark robes with dark blonde hair and an Irish accent walked over to Ron. He introduced himself to Ginny as Connor O'Mara.
"He's my boss." Ron told her. He glared at his boss as the man examined Ginny with obvious interest.
"You've got a pretty girlfriend Weasley." He told him, sitting on the other side of Ginny. Ron's face became flushed.
"I'm his sister actually." Ginny pointed out, shifting away a little.
"Yes," Ron said, his voice edgy, "My little sister. She's sixteen."
"Oh," O'Mara seemed to lose interest immediately, "Well in that case I'm glad I caught you. I was about to Floo you after I had a drink. You're needed down at the Ministry, both you and Potter."
"Now?" Ron wondered in disappointment. He was enjoying spending time with his sister and figured it was just his luck for his boss to spot him.
"Yes now," O'Mara said sharply, "Get Potter. At the Ministry in fifteen...make that ten minutes. Nice to meet you Ginny."
"Yeah," Ginny forced herself to smile as the man disappeared, "Jerk."
"Well," Said Ron dejectedly standing up, "We better go and get Harry then."
* * * *
Ella smiled sympathetically at Hermione as Harry paced the floor in front of them. Both she and Harry it seemed were fond of pacing when they were distracted or anxious. He looked up at his friend of seven years before shaking his head and pacing some more.
"You can't." He said simply, stopping.
"I can and I am." Hermione replied. She was having a hard enough time with this and her friend's reaction wasn't helping.
"You can't Hermione," Harry sighed before adding, "I don't want you to. It's too far away. What about Ron?"
Hermione reddened a little, "What about Ron?"
Ella stifled a giggle and covered her mouth with her hand. Hermione had to be the most stubborn person she had ever known. Of course Ron and Harry were stubborn too, but Hermione just took the gold.
"You know...Nevermind," He added in a pleading voice, "Please don't go."
"Honestly Harry," Hermione fought back some tears, "It's the best Magical University in the world. I'd be daft not to go. And it won't be a problem, I can always Apparate back here if something happens."
"But you'll be gone all the time and America is so...so..." He shrugged.
"Far away?" Hermione wondered.
"Very far away!"
"Well I told you, I can always Apparate here. It's not that much of a change." Hermione argued lamely.
"Not that much of a change?" Harry was incredulous. Ella gave him a piercing look.
"Harry, its Hermione's life. She's very smart and I know if I had the grades she did..." She stopped knowing that if she went any further to say that she'd also go to the University in America she'd be lying. Truthfully, even with excellent grades, she'd still probably be with Harry.
"I'm not leaving for a week, so how about we spend some time together?" Hermione suggested tentatively.
"That'd be good." Harry said sadly. Hermione smiled.
"Yes it would," Ella pointed out, "If you didn't disappear every hour to go to the damned Ministry. He's hardly around Hermione. Not that I don't love the house to myself..."
"Shut up El," He chided her before turning to Hermione, "I'll say I have personal issues or something and get the time off. Plus they haven't called me in today. I'm not called in every day you know."
"Whatever." Ella mumbled. Harry suddenly stiffened alarmed.
"Really Hermione! How are you going to tell Ron?"
There was serious of pops that echoed around the room.
"Tell me what?" Ron wondered. He smiled at his friends in greeting and frowned a little when they didn't really return the gesture.
"Hello Ginny. I say...I feel like some chocolate...some nice, hot chocolate. Would you help me make some please?" Ella stood up quickly. Ginny cast her a perplexed look.
"Help you?" She inquired.
"Yes, I forgot how to...oh who cares? They need to talk privately. I'll tell you in the kitchen." Ella gestured towards the kitchen and with a shrug Ginny followed her out of the room.
"Tell me what?" Ron repeated more sternly.
"You know that Ginny just Apparated into Harry's house and she's underage?" Hermione demanded. Ron rolled his eyes.
"She can do it really well and she's taking her test in a few months anyway. Plus it would have been too much trouble to Floo her home and since she was with me I thought I might as well...hang on. Tell me what?" He repeated it for the third time very firmly. Harry nodded at Hermione gravely, she didn't look like she was about to say anything.
"Hermione's moving away." Harry said simply. Ron raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"That's good. Go you for independence," He smiled, "I actually just found myself a place today. It's really good, not too big but I like it. And it's bloody great Harry, only about five minutes walk from here actually. Of course I could always Apparate but I suppose walking would keep me a bit fit...what?"
Hermione had gone funny all of a sudden. She was looking at him strangely. Kind of like she wanted to jump off Harry's couch and hug him tightly.
"I'm going to miss you Ron." Hermione said sincerely. He frowned in confusion.
"Why?" It suddenly dawned on him, "Where are you moving to?"
Quietly she replied, "America."
"America!"
"America?" Ginny pulled a face and Ella nodded.
"Yeah. She doesn't look to happy about going but it's meant to be a really good University or something..." She shrugged.
"It is. It's called the Salem Sisters Seminary. It's supposed to be the best all girls educational facility-" Ginny began.
"In the world? That's what Hermione said. So the S.S.S hey? I think I've heard of the acronym," She paused as loud angry voices echoed from the other room, "I don't think Ron will take this well."
"He won't. He's so stubborn I want to strangle him sometimes, especially where Hermione is concerned," Ginny looked thoughtful, "Come to think of it I want to strangle her sometimes soon. I can't believe she's leaving. How can she do that to Ron?"
"To Ron?" Ella pulled a face, "I think we both know Ron has not made a single move towards Hermione, ever. And she's independent and brilliant. She can't just give up her wonderful education for some guy."
"Yeah?" Ginny replied loftily, "Well you did for Harry."
"What? I did not," Ella argued, "I'm not giving up anything for him. I have sufficient enough NEWTs to let me study to become a Mystical Adviser and that's what I want to do in a year or so."
"Yeah! That sounds like it's hard," Ginny pointed out, "And you are putting it off for Harry."
"Ginny, I love Harry but I'm not going to be stuck at home like some housewife. We aren't married and I'm young and I just want to have fun. And becoming a Mystical Adviser isn't hard. I'm doing it after I relax a little and not putting it off for Harry." Ella said firmly.
"Well," Ginny couldn't help but tease, "What happens when you do become the housewife?"
Ella laughed, "That's not going to happen. I don't want to get married, it's such a waste. I just want to live with Harry, have a career and earn money. End of story."
"Oh, but what if Harry asks-" Ginny began to tease again when Ron's angry voice stopped her.
"You can't leave!" Ron yelled, his face red. Hermione was standing now and facing him, her face as red with anger as his.
"You do not control my life and I am going to do what I want Ron! What I want! Not what you want!" She fumed.
"What you want?" Ron seemed to process this and his faced dropped. She didn't want him.
"Yes Ron. I want to go to this University and I want to study and do something with my life," She lowered her voice but kept it steady, "And if you have such a problem with that you will just have to remind yourself of something."
"And what's that?" Ron snapped.
"You do not own me."
There was a popping sound and Hermione Apparated from sight.
"I can't believe this," Ron shook his head and looked at Harry, "When is she leaving?"
Harry was grim, "In a week."
"So this is it then. We all go our separate ways and never see each other again." Ron sighed. Harry grinned a bit.
"I think that's an overreaction. We'll keep in contact, don't worry." He said reassuringly. Ron looked like he didn't believe him though.
"Just came by for a visit then?" Harry wondered, changing the subject. Ron's eyes widened and he seemed startled.
"No! O'Mara told me to get you! We're needed at the Ministry really soon. Practically now!" Ron urged him.
"Oh damn! I hate it when Ella is right, I'll just go tell her..." Harry made for the kitchen but Ron stopped him.
"No time. We'll be in too much trouble already. Come on."
Harry shook his head and they both Apparated from the house.
Ella gingerly pushed open the kitchen door and walked into the lounge room, Ginny followed her with a tray of hot chocolate.
"Where is everyone?" Ginny asked, turning to the other girl. Ella seemed to scowl.
"Where else."
* * * *
"The problem is this," Connor O'Mara examined the two boys before him skeptically. Yes they were boys, not quite men but he was going to treat them like they were, "We have to speed up your training. You'll be spending more hours here, less hours wherever else it is you do."
"Great." Mumbled Ron under his breath. Harry's expression was also unhappy with the news.
"Don't look so down about it," O'Mara snapped, "It may be hard and everything but by intensifying your Auror training you'll be able to get out there sooner. It also means that the two years of training you were going to go through will be shortened to about 6 months."
"Well that's okay then I suppose." Harry said thoughtfully. Ron had other things on his mind.
"What about the training to be Animagus? Is that going to-"
"Yes it is. It's one of the first things we'll go into. Now I need to know you two will be willing to work hard on this. Because coinciding with your training you'll also be accompanying me and the other Auror's on Deatheater hunts." O'Mara observed them carefully. Harry's face remained unaffected by this information but Ron smiled impishly.
"Cool."
"I don't think you take this work seriously enough Weasley," O'Mara rounded on the young man, "You are not here to have fun. You could die today or tomorrow and Voldemort just wouldn't give a damn. We're here to stop him and to do so you're going to have to take your work seriously."
"Ron has a hard time doing taking anything seriously, sir." Harry told his boss, grinning a little. O'Mara sighed. They really were boys. But, from what the recommendations he had gotten from various teachers and members of the Ministry, they were very talented boys. He examined them again and saw within them, behind the guarded exteriors of childish appearance and character, there was something hard that suggested they had been through a lot and would possibly save the Wizarding world as he knew it.
"Come on," He told them, "Let's start that intensive training now."
* * * *
Ron and Harry were in Harry's living room trying to morph into their respective animals. Harry had succeeded so far in growing a beak and Ron had managed to cover himself in fur. They collapsed on the couch exhausted. They'd been trying for several hours to no avail.
"I don't even know what I am yet." Ron groaned. Harry eyed Ron's current appearance thoughtfully.
"You have fur...and it's kind of red...so maybe you're a cat?" He suggested. Ron scowled.
"That'd be lame," He eyed his friend now, "Well you have a beak so you have to be some sort of bird."
"Yeah," Harry sighed, "I hope I'm not a duck or a chicken or something."
"Harry, Ron would you guys like something to-" Ella walked into the living room and gaped, "What the hell happened?"
"Now should a respectable young lady be talking like that?" Ron teased. Ella blushed. Ron knew what she and Harry did nearly every night and never ceased to tease her by sarcastically calling her 'respectable' and 'pure'. Harry tried not to smile. He didn't mind any of it at all.
"I'll talk however I want, what happened?" She asked.
"We're trying to become Animagi." Ron told her. Harry motioned for his friend to be quiet because he hadn't told Ella yet about him becoming an Animagus. Ella observed them calmly for a few moments, taking the unusual information in.
"Oh? Having a bit of trouble then?" She smiled at them in their current state.
"Just a bit." Ron grumbled. She ruffled his hair, something she did often and affectionately, and picked up a cushion off the lounge.
"It can help to grab something and squeeze it," She said quickly, "I know it sounds silly but when a person first starts morphing they're trying to leave their current state and it's something new for them. It's like when you go to the doctor at St Mungo's when you're little and you hold you're mother's hand because your scared."
"We're not scared!" Ron exclaimed.
"I didn't say you were. It also helps to close your eyes and breathe slowly," She paused before adding, "What are you doing this for anyway?"
"Just Auror training." Ron shrugged. Harry glared at him while Ella glared at Harry.
"Auror training. Here? It's bad enough you have to leave all the time for it but now you have to bring it here?" She scowled and threw up her hands and Harry avoided her eye contact, "You're hopeless Harry! Bloody hopeless! I'm going to the Burrow to see Ginny!"
"Ginny's getting ready for school Ella," Ron said quietly, realizing he'd said the wrong thing before, "She's really high strung about getting Head Girl and packing and stuff. She'd probably just give you hell if you did..."
"Okay. I know. I'll be back later."
With a pop she had Apparated out of the room and Ron turned to Harry, smiling apologetically.
"Sorry. I didn't know she'd go off like that. What's the problem?" Ron wondered. His friend pulled a face.
"She's been like that since I started training and ever since we came back from that Mission a few weeks ago, you know the one?" Harry rubbed his beak distractedly.
"Yeah." Ron nodded in memory. They had attacked a house full of Deatheaters. They'd been fledged into a small, open fight. Harry had been hit with the Cruciatius Curse and in the moment he had been free of it he Apparated out of the house and to the first place that was familiar for him, his home. Ella had been in the living room at the time and when he'd appeared out of nowhere, panting, sweating and bloody she'd done what most people would have done. Panicked.
"Since then she's even worse. She keeps trying to get me to quit." He shook his head. Harry didn't fully understand his girlfriend's motives.
"Ella? To quit! But she's always been so supportive...you're not going to are you?" Ron cried in alarm, "Because we need you Harry. Voldemort won't get destroyed any other way."
"I'm not quitting. I know how much I'm needed in that aspect. I don't think she's too serious about me quitting, she just gets annoyed," He wanted to change the subject, "You heard from Hermione yet?"
Ron lowered his eyes, "No. You?"
"Um. Just a few owls. She's coming to stay with us in a little over a week...just for a few days because she has no classes." Harry said quietly. Ron nodded and both boys went into a thoughtful silence. Harry suddenly jumped up and pulled a cushion off the couch.
"I can do it." He said determinedly, closing his eyes. He saw himself shrinking and getting smaller. After a while he gradually opened his eyes. Ron was looking down at him and gaping.
"Wow Harry," He said, eyes wide, "You're a Phoenix."
"What? Really?" Harry brought his head down and observed his golden, feathered body. He spread his arms and felt instantly strange to realise they were wings. He flew around the room before landing in front of Ron again.
"Well?" Ron asked tentatively, "Is it strange?"
"It feels strange but I can do things as easily as I normally do things," Harry was panicked, "Okay. Changing back now. How?"
"O'Mara said something like...um...imagining you were in your normal body or something," Ron frowned, "It's not fair. It's a lot easier to do when you know what animal you are...wow that was fast!"
Harry had morphed back into his former self and was smiling.
"That," He said happily, "Was so brilliant."
They spent the next few hours training again. Harry changing into and back from a phoenix and Ron trying to change into the furry unknown animal he would be.
"You got it Ron," Harry urged, "You got it. Nearly. I see paws...paws?"
Ron was clutching a cushion and had his eyes closed tight. He opened them and found Harry grinning at him in amusement.
"Well, you're not a cat," He said smiling, "You're a Welsh Terrier."
Ron growled, "A what?"
"A big ball of fluff and fun." Harry said mildly grinning. Ron seemed like he might jump up and bite his friend but instead he started barking happily in a manner Harry assumed to be laughing.
"Well, I beat the feathers off a stupid bird." He said happily and began running around the room. Harry laughed but stopped abruptly as his eyes spotted the time from the clock on the wall.
"We've been doing this for a long time," He frowned, "And Ella isn't back yet."
"Well," Ron said mildly, changing back into his regular form, "Where is she?"
* * * *
Draco tried not to smile as his friend began ranting and raving in front of him again. Her hair, usually in a neat ponytail, was coming out and falling down her back as she shook her head angrily.
"It looks nicer long." Draco told her lightly, remembering how short Ella had her hair in their Sixth Year. She frowned at him in confusion.
"What?"
"Nothing. Please, do continue." He sat down on his chair and waited for her to start again but instead she shook her head.
"Draco there is no point really. I shouldn't carry on the way I do," She paused, "Maybe I should just apologize to him?"
"If you want." He shrugged.
"No, I shouldn't. Because he never listens."
"Okay. Don't apologize."
"No. No, I should."
"Then apologize."
"But it seems like he doesn't care about me! I know that's not true but its all work, work, work for him!"
"Then don't apologize."
"But I know I've been moody lately so..."
Draco sighed. This was becoming rather tedious. He allowed her to continue for several more minutes before sighing and giving her a meaningful look, which she caught and ceased complaining.
"I'm sorry." She stopped immediately and held her stomach as it growled.
"Hungry?"
"Just a tad," She smiled, "I have some food in the oven at home. So I'll just eat that, but could I have some strawberries?"
"Strawberries?" He pulled a face, "Sure, I'll just get some."
He left her and came back almost immediately with some strawberries and cream.
"Thanks," She began to eat them quickly before adding thoughtfully, "How's your father's business going?"
"Quite well," He said truthfully, "It's very simple so I have a lot of time free and it's quite profitable."
"I never asked what it was..."
"Well, you know how wealthy my father was...is...well, you know," He picked a strawberry off the plate and put it in his mouth, "He owns several shops in Diagon Alley. All I have to do is make sure that they pay the rent for their shops and that they're satisfied and I handle and problems they might have."
"Wow, several shops. I'm impressed," She frowned, "Problems like what?"
"Like they had troubles with customers or their shipments don't come in or the worst one is that a Muggle sees their shop. Sometimes Muggles get into Diagon Alley you see and then it's a huge problem..." He shrugged and glanced up at the clock on his wall, "You better go. You've been here for a few hours. Potter wouldn't be happy."
"Potter is a prat," Ella smiled sweetly, "Tell me a bit more about it. It kind of sounds like fun."
Draco grinned and proceeded to inform her on all the interesting parts of his business, leaving out the boring details of paperwork and the long hours he actually had to put in. He yawned.
"You can't be tired," She cried, "It's hardly ten o clock!"
"I know," He yawned again, "I've been up late for a few nights...just to get things in order and such."
"You should get a secretary." Ella pointed out. He nodded. He'd been thinking about that but then he'd have to hold all of these interviews and he couldn't be bothered. She caught his expression and shook her head.
"Draco, if you don't get one you are just going to be awake late every night handling things that someone else could do for you. Get one."
"I would but-" He stopped as his fireplaces made a hushing sound. They both turned around to face Harry's head, bobbing in the fire.
"Ella," He sounded angry, "Will you come home for heavens sake?"
"I'm busy Harry." She sounded angry too. Potter glanced over at Draco who smiled at him.
"Busy doing what?" He mumbled, "I'm hungry and bored and I don't know where you put the dinner."
She stared at him before bursting into fits of laughter. Draco tried not to join her as Potter looked from her to Draco and back again.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing. I'm coming," She turned to Draco and hugged him, "Thank you."
"That's alright," He ignored the glare Potter was giving him, "I'll see you again soon."
"Get that secretary, I don't want you getting too tired. You'll get sick." She told him firmly.
He smiled and nodded and with a pop she disappeared from view.
~~!!!~~
A/N: Thanks to the people that reviewed! Yay! Three reviews!!! I really do feel lucky!
I hope you all enjoyed! I'll be posting the next chapter in a few days! ~ Later ~