A/N: Yay! It's finally up! Please Review! I would really like to hear your suggestions. I was having a hard time trying to get this to work. Now I don't' have as much time to do this as I like seeing the semester started way too soon.
Chapter Seven: The Swift Departure
Luckily for Hermione, it was Seamus who helped bring Neville to his senses.
That night at their dorm, as they were getting ready for bed, Neville could not help but boast about the happenings of his exchange with Hermione.
"Indeed, I trust I have every reason for joy," he bragged, "Of course, I know Hermione's refusal naturally springs from her bashful modesty."
"Refusal?" Seamus chuckled, "With Hermione, that doesn't mean bashful modesty," he explained, "She's a very headstrong girl who knows exactly her own interests!"
"Headstrong?" Neville exclaimed disturbingly, finally using that organ between his ears, "Dear me! Mrs. Malfoy would never approve!"
After the lights were out, Neville tossed and turned about what Seamus had said.
"Spending all that time trying to pursue Hermione had all been in vain," he thought glumly, "I must not waste a moment in meeting Mrs. Malfoy's expectation."
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Two days before the students were to leave Hogwarts, a tiny brown owl tapped on the window of the girls' dormitory. Parvati and the two other girls who shared the room noticed the noise. Parvati went to the window retrieve the note that was attached. After examining it, she started to rip it open.
"But Pavarti!" one of the girls at the dorm protested, "You have no right to open Lavender's letters!"
"It's against the principles of Magna Carta," the other girl added.
"No right to open my best friend's letters?" Parvati replied, "I've never heard of such thing! Besides, Lavender will never have to know, I'll seal it back up later."
She took the note out with great haste, "I'm sure it's an invitation to Ron's estate for the summer, I can feel it in my bones!"
"My dear Lavender," Parvati whispered, reading the note to herself. A few more lines later, her facial expression morphed from a look of joy into a devastating frown.
"Oh! She's lost him!" Parvati gasped as she rocked back and forth in her seat, "She's lost him! She's lost him!"
Just then, Hermione and Lavender strolled in. They stopped abruptly as they heard Parvati's rant.
"What's lost?" Hermione asked curiously.
Parvati pointed to Lavender trembling, "Your boyfriend!"
"What are you talking about?" Lavender asked as they both head towards Parvati.
"Here," she handed her the note, "Read that! It's for you!"
Lavender received it, giving her friend an odd look.
"I thought it was a declaration, so I opened it," Parvati covering for herself, "They've gone! They've left Hogwarts!"
"Who's gone?" Hermione asked.
"Ron Weasley, his sister and Draco Malfoy! They've packed up and left without even saying goodbye," Parvati informed her, "Read it! Read what Ginny has to say!"
Hermione turned to Lavender, now in tears having just read the note. Covering her face and without a word, she quickly ran out the door.
Hermione stood still, sadly looking after Lavender.
"Well, nobody is going to miss that high and mighty Malfoy!" one of the girls remarked.
"Oh, do be quiet!" Hermione retorted annoyingly.
"Without a sign of affection!" Parvati cried angrily, "After his compromising attentions for Lavender!"
"Parvati," Hermione stated calmly, "He did not compromise Lavender!"
"He is very undeserving young man!" she exclaimed, "My only comfort is she'll die of a broken heart, and then he'll be sorry!
Hermione and Parvati made their way downstairs to the common room to look for their distressed friend. Just then, Harry entered through the portrait hole and spotted them.
"How do you do, Harry," Parvati greeted still in distraught, "You'll excuse me would you? I'm too upset to talk to anyone. Hermione will entertain you." Without waiting for a response, she left.
"I'm sorry you're disturbed," Harry called out after her. He turned to Hermione, "My rapprochement is ill time I'm afraid."
"No no, Parvati just heard some rather surprising news that's all," Hermione assured him, "She'll be herself again definitely."
They sat down on the sofa by the fireplace.
"I heard some surprising news myself this morning," mentioned Harry.
"Really?" Hermione tilted her head curiously.
"Yes. But it was good news!" he declared, "Good news indeed!"
"Well?"
"Draco Malfoy has left Hogwarts!" Harry gladly announced.
For a split second, there was a remorseful look on Hermione's face, "So I hear."
"Well, uh" Harry continued, "Don't you want to know why he went?"
"I should like very much to know," Hermione replied softly.
He grinned, "His conscience drove him away Hermione."
"You mean he was ashamed of his behavior at the Yule Ball?" she assumed.
"Oh, that was nothing," Harry remarked, "Merely the insult that Malfoy likes to add to injury. Hermione, I'd really like for you to understand my story. Would it bore you?"
"No," she responded, "On the contrary, I am deeply interested."
"How kind and sympathetic you are," Harry praised with a smile.
He began his story, "Would it surprise you to learn that I was once considered great friend of Malfoy's?"
"Really?" Hermione asked, "Funny, your two personalities especially seem to loathe each other immensely."
"Yes, you see, the Malfoys are amongst the oldest pureblood line in the wizarding world" Harry explained, "It wasn't until one day, Malfoy found out about my muggle born mother. It was from then on, he decided to disregard me as a friend. He refused to acknowledge me on the street and ashamed to even be seen with me!
"Well how could he?" she listened on with disgust.
"For a man of honor, it would have been impossible," said Harry.
"I knew Draco was, proud and arrogant," Hermione paused, "I never imagine him dishonorable." She thought for a moment before standing up, "Its bigot and prejudice!" she cried out, "He should be publicly exposed!"
"Not by me Hermione!" He stood up to meet her eyes, "We grew up together," he explained, "He was like my own brother. I could never bring myself to disgrace him."
"I admire your generosity Harry," Hermione complimented.
Harry took ahold of her hand, "Thank you Hermione. Your sympathy means very much to me!" He kissed her hand politely.
A fit of giggles interrupts them. Some of the Gryffindor students were climbing down the stairs. Spotting Harry, they made their way over.
"Harry! There you are," one of the girls gave him a flirtatious look, "You've got to come and play with us!"
"I'm being kidnapped Hermione," Harry joked light-heartedly. The girl impatiently dragged him away. "We must keep in touch during the summer!" he yelled to Hermione before disappearing out of the room.
Hermione smiled as she went out to look for Lavender. She finally spotted her sitting alone with her head down by the side of the lake.
"Why Lavender!" she plopped herself next to her. Lavender looked up, her eyes, bloodshot and teary.
Hermione placed her hand on her shoulder, "You let that Ginny Weasley make you cry, I'll-I'll shake you."
"She says none of them will intend to be in touch or ever return to Hogwarts," Lavender sniffed as she tosses her the note.
"You mean she intends none of them to return," Hermione scoffed as she skimmed through the letter.
"Oh Mione," Lavender said, "How can you think that? After all, he is his own master." She pointed to the lower section of the note, "Look, read this part."
"My brother has long have an affectionate interest in Draco's sister," Hermione read on, "And during the summer, both families are hoping that their attachment that would flower into an event which would secure the happiness of us all."
'You see?" Lavender concluded, "She knows her brother is fond of someone else but doesn't want me to have any false hopes."
"She knows her brother is in love with you." Hermione sneered, staring into space "She doesn't intend he shall associate with people of such low descent."
Lavender looked at her, confused, "Mione, what are you talking about?"
Hermione gave her a comforting hug, "Never mind, you'll see dearest, he'll come back to you," she assured her, "Who could stay away from you so long?"
Lavender smiled weakly.
"Come on, lets start heading back in for supper," Hermione suggested.
"Alright," she replied. The girls strolled back towards the castle, chatting away.
"Mione," Lavender asked, "are you really as indifferent to Draco's departure as you seem?"
Hermione scoffed, "Indifferent? I am delighted that he's gone! Wait till I tell you about the monstrous thing he did to Harry Potter..."
Well? Tell me what you think! Next chapter coming soon!
