For Ed, the Giant Racoon, as well as hand3 and hippiechick!
Ed: thanks for the encouragement J
Hand3: I understand about the reviewing—I'm terrible about it sometimes, but I really appreciate that you reviewed the last chapter. You're awesome.
Hippiechick: You're right, reviews help you write faster J. Actually, this fic is mostly done…I'm stalled on chapter 14, but we've got awhile to go before that, right? I just hate posting too much before I'm done because you never know what you'll need to change…
To everyone: I won't be updating tomorrow night since I go in for eye surgery tomorrow morning…hopefully I should have my sight back by Wednesday. Have fun with this chapter and I hope to hear from you!
--Aimes
Hermione watched as her friends left and turned to Draco, who occupied the couch with a goofy smile on his face.
"So what was your aptitude for?" she asked immediately.
"Painter. What were you actually doing?"
"Painter? That's great; I told you that you're a fantastic painter!"
"Thank you," he said modestly. "What were you doing?"
"Persistent bugger, aren't you? I was meeting a woman named Callah Riese. I'm supposed to work for the Order until the war is over. After that, it's up to me."
"I see…Callah…why does that ring a bell? Hmmm…I'll have to think about it..."
"While you do that, I'm going to relax in my room." Hermione stretched and padded toward her room, kicking off her shoes as she walked. The plot thickens. Heh all I need is a handlebar moustache.
"Mmmhmmm," Draco agreed absently. Mentally, he's already in bed with Harry…ugh, don't go there Mya. Sick.
Hermione tossed herself on her bed and stretched out, sinking into the soft comforter and mattress. She gave a soft sigh of contentment and began mentally organizing herself to leave. Return books to library and pack up the ones that are yours…that'll take a few hours in itself. Of course, that's the bulk of your stuff, so after that it'll be easy. I gave gifts to all my professors, so I don't have to worry about that. Gave gifts to all my friends too…oh, except Draco, gotta remember to do that. What else? Clothes won't be hard, neither will knick-knacks. I'll separate them according to how delicate they are then charm the boxes when I pack. Is that really all? I mean, other than whatever I've forgotten? Guess so…I should get dressed for dinner…and by get dressed I mean tug a brush through my hair.
Hermione rolled out of bed and pulled her hair up into a quick bun. Curls escaped, running loosely and randomly, but she ignored it with a shrug and went outside.
"Are you ready Draco? Everyone leaves tomorrow morning except us. This dinner is our last here together at Hogwarts."
"Are you getting soppy on me?" Draco asked warily.
"No," Hermione laughed. "I'm trying to get you to move your lazy arse so we won't be late!"
Draco hauled himself off the couch with a grunt and offered his arm. Hermione took it with a flourish and they began the walk down to the Great Hall, laughing and chatting. When everyone had arrived and was seated, Dumbledore rose for his end of year announcements.
"Let us take care of first things first. You are all wondering who has won the House Cup, I trust? For one of the first times in remembrance, we have a two way tie for second place, and two winners of the House Cup." Everyone cheered as Dumbledore twinkled. "In second place we have Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, tied with 415 points." Another round of cheering ensued. "And in first place we have Slytherin and Gryffindor with 823 points each!" The Great Hall erupted in roars of jubilation. Banners of Slytherin and Gryffindor unfurled alternately, filling the room. "Finally, before we settle down to enjoy our feast, we must say good bye to our Seventh Years. You have been one of the most memorable classes in Hogwarts History and I speak for everyone when I say you will be missed." There was a moment of silence and another round of deafening cheers before everyone settled down to eat.
Hermione sat with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and a host of other Gryffindors, chatting as they ate. During a lull, Harry turned to her.
"What was it you wanted to ask me when we came in for dinner, Hermione?"
Hermione grinned. Her plot had been brewing for some time and it was finally coming to fruition.
"Well, I haven't given Draco a goodbye gift, and I haven't given you a proper gift either…"
"You gave me a gift. The helmet, remember? So I don't get a concussion the next time a Deatheater tosses me across a room or I fall off my broom?"
"That isn't a real gift, idiot! That's a gag gift! But I do have a real gift for you…so come up to my Common Room after dinner and I'll give it to you."
"Okay," Harry said easily, with a bit of a furrow in his brow. You're going to like it, Harry, I promise you that!
Dinner continued uneventfully and at its end, everyone proceeded to their rooms. Harry followed Hermione to her Common Room after she'd systematically hugged nearly everyone in Gryffindor and Slytherin (in his opinion) and promised to see them off in the morning.
When she had Draco and Harry seated on the couch with drinks, casting glances at one another, she sat on the armchair and began.
"You two need a vacation. You also need each other. I've decided to give you both. I've reserved a resort cottage in the Caribbean for you both. It's a sweet little one bedroom deal…you'll get sun and fun and hopefully by the end of the two weeks that you're there you'll have decided whether you love or hate each other. Harry, I've arranged it with Dumbledore so that you have an appropriate cover story…Draco, I leave it up to you to get there. I've even given you aliases and made sure that this island is wizard-free so that you're not spotted together." Draco opened his mouth and Hermione held up a hand. "No, I don't want to hear it. You're going and that's final." She reached down into her bag, which was conveniently resting on her lap, as she spoke. Ready…steady…now! She took a picture as what she'd said registered with them and their mouths dropped open with shock. I'll treasure that picture always. I'll blow it up, even, and paste it on the Headquarter walls! Ah, the joy of blackmail.
"Are you serious?" Harry asked quietly.
"Of course I'm serious!" She tossed them two plane tickets and a set of reservations as well as two gift wrapped boxes.
"Open them," she urged.
Before they could rip into the boxes, or even thank her, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter!" Draco called out. Ginny, Ron, Blaise, and Milli piled in laughing and arranged themselves on the various pieces of furniture.
"What're those?" Ron asked, gesturing at the boxes.
"These? Our graduation presents from Hermione," Harry replied.
"Open them! 'Mione's a great gift-giver!" Ginny urged. Oh, they're going to kill me.
Harry ripped his box open at the same time as Draco and they displayed their presents to the room…before turning beet red and stuffing them back in the boxes.
"Cor blimey," Ron muttered, awed.
"They were for your vacation," Hermione offered deadpan.
"Was that a leopard print thong?" Blaise asked. "It was a leopard print thong. For a man. I'm scarred for life."
"Leopard print thong and edible body paints," Ginny said with a grin. "I'll rehabilitate you later, darling."
Milli was on the floor laughing while Ron stood there, jaw hanging open. Hermione entertained a moment of delusion wherein she thought she might be fine…right before Draco attacked.
Ten minutes later, Hermione was screaming for mercy as she gasped on the floor. Draco paused for a moment, looked up at Harry, and continued tickling her relentlessly. Ginny took mercy and hauled him off, shooting a glare at Harry to prevent his intervention. Hermione twitched for a moment before pulling herself off the floor.
"I'm going to miss this, you guys."
"Being tickled mercilessly?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Yes," Hermione replied flatly. They started laughing again and Hermione hugged him. Within moments it was a huge group hug.
They pulled apart and Milli yawned widely. "I'm going to turn in guys, goodnight."
That was everyone's cue to take their leave and Hermione saw them to the door like a gracious hostess. Last time, everyone. Smile, nod, make it last. You'd swear we weren't going to keep in touch. As though we could avoid it.
Finally, the room was emptied and only Hermione and Draco remained. Draco stretched and hauled himself off the couch.
"I'm going to bed, Bushy," he yawned. "Thanks for the gift." He went upstairs toward his room. Before entering he stopped for a moment and turned to her. "By the way, I remember where I've heard that name before. Severus said it once, when he was a bit sloshed."
"What exactly did he say?" Hermione asked curiously. Ooh, fun, a mystery! I can be Nancy Drew with bushy hair!
"Ummm….something about it being his mistake for believing it could work for him with someone as good as her? I think. Don't really know…I was eavesdropping, you know. Can't pay great attention when you're worried about getting caught." Well, wasn't that helpful? Even Nancy Drew had better clues than that.
"You were always a little scamp, weren't you? Off to bed then, I'll clean up, don't worry about it."
"Leave it for the elves. 'Night, Bushy."
"Wouldn't want the elves tossing your edible body paints. Sleep well, Fairy."
Hermione picked up quickly and went to her room, knowing the next day would pass in a blur. She grinned slightly as she fell into bed and slipped into a deep slumber.