HUNTED BY MEMORIES
CHAPTER 7: CHANCE MEETING
Life at Hogwarts was becoming busier as the months went by. Students had given more homework each day, due to the fact that there will be a Homecoming Alumni that will take place after the Easter break. Staffs and students were busy preparing for the upcoming event and even the house- elves are working really hard. Reservations in every hotel in Hogsmeade are starting to get filled. Hogwarts is even planning to have a camping ground, which made it even more hectic for teachers because hundreds of owls are arriving each day. The Ministry of Magic already provided some portkeys and an Apparition ground just outside Hogwarts, courtesy of the Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley. Even students are excited for the upcoming event. It was an exciting event since it will be the very first Alumni that will take place in Hogwarts' history.
~*~*~*~*~
James had been sitting in Weasley's Bookstore and Café for almost an hour now. His waiting for his friends to arrive, they were supposed to meet at 11 am and now it's almost 12 pm. How he hated to wait for them especially when it was only himself sitting there. He was about to leave when a certain blonde girl entered the store and walked to the book section. It was Destiny McBride, his long time crush. He watched her every move and how he love watching the way she gracefully walk. James eyed her with interest and hoping that she will glance on his direction.
"If she weren't a Slytherin and John's number one enemy" he thought followed with a sigh. James can't bear the fact that his crush belongs to Slytherin house. Although many people have said that Destiny is nice, many students cant still avoid judging her for being a Slytherin. And it seems that asking her out is out of the line. One more thing he doesn't have the courage to do it so. Since his bestfriend John had some major issues with Destiny regarding to their performance in class. It was no doubt that John is genius then Destiny just suddenly appeared and she's even smarter than John. And John hated that fact that someone is smarter than him.
James was deep in his thoughts when someone tapped his shoulder. He looked up. It was Hermione Granger Weasley, John's mother. Without his invitation she seated beside him.
"Hi Aunt Herm" greeted James.
"Hi John, where's everybody" she asked.
"Still at school I guess" he replied and he look at Destiny once more without noticing that Hermione followed the direction of his eyes.
"She's beautiful isn't it?" she said. James just look at her and then he suddenly blushed.
"No, its not what your thinking" he tried to denied it but it seems that Hermione doesn't believe him by the way she look at him.
"Come on James it's like that I don't know that why you always come here early before your friends during your Hogsmeade trip just to watch her alone while buying some books" she said. Of course Hermione knows that it became a routine to James to go to café early just to watch the blonde girl. As the owner of the store she knows every regular costumer. Especially the blonde girl who always spent lots of galleons for books. It reminded her of her younger days in Hogwarts. Not just her passion of reading that caught her attention but also her beautiful face. How she look like their long forgotten enemy, only that she's a girl. If he were only alive she will think that it was his offspring.
"So.you finally noticed" James admitted shyly.
"Long time ago James, why don't you ask her out?" she asked. She smiled again remembering the days when Ron used to look at her that way and how Harry watched Cho from afar.
"Its not that easy aunt Herm" he said followed with a sigh ".she's a Slytherin, what will John say if I dare to ask her out? You know that he had some major issues with her"
"John told me about her, why don't you just try it. Well you know John, he cant just admit that there's someone who is better than him." Stated Hermione and she doesn't sound like she's angry at all. "He's really like his father"
"What about the other's? How will they react if they found out about it? My dad I'm not sure if he will approve it" he said and he sighed again.
"James there is no easy answer when it comes to love. Sometimes we must have to risk some things just to prove to ourselves that we are capable to love and to be love. So what if she's a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor"
"But everyone knows that Slytherin and Gryffindor don't associate with each other" he said.
"You are really your father's son. Well if that's what I think. James not all Slytherin's are bad. There are few Slytherin from my days who married a Gryffindor. And during those times the Dark Lord is on his height of his power"
"Yeah I know that aunt Herm. There are Pamela Wood's parents Oliver Wood and Pansy Parkinson. The late Mrs. Parvati Flint to Professor Flint" he said naming a few of Slytherin/Gryffindor couple.
"There's more James, the very first Slytherin and Gryffindor couple. Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy" James gave a surprise look "If you don't happen to know the Weasley/Malfoy affair during those days" she added.
"Dad used to tell me that Professor Malfoy's dead son used to his number one enemy during his school days, but he never mentioned the name Ginny Weasley. Is she related to your family?"
"Of course she is, she's my sister in law" followed with a slight laugh.
"But how come we never heard her name and we never see any pictures of her when we used to visit the Burrow?" he ask, James is starting to get confuse due to fact that the Weasley's had another child.
"Because all her things had been burned. It was too painful for the family to see anything about her. You know before the Malfoy's and Weasley's are enemies. It was a rather a painful memory for them"
"Where is Ginny Weasley if Draco Malfoy is dead?" he asked.
"They both died in the war. You know it wasn't suppose to happen if their families didn't disowned them"
"Oh Merlin." he said in disbelief. "How did your family react when they died?"
"Each one of them blamed their selves"
"Does she have anything left aside from those things that have been burnt?"
"Have you heard about the Furtive Charm?"
"Yes we studied it. Why?"
"Ginny Weasley is the one who performed the charm, and she's the owner of that diary"
"What? So Ginny Weasley is the owner of the diary?"
"Exactly" James is surprise even more. He cant just imagined how John would react about the Furtive Charm. How will John swallow his pride for laughing that the Furtive Charm had been performed of his dead aunt?
"Aunt Herm, did you know that John used to tell me that the Furtive Charm is rubbish?"
"Oh yeah? I can't imagine how will he react if he will find out the truth" she said, it was then one of her staff called for her attention.
"Excuse me Mrs. Weasley, there's a costumer who wants to speak to you"
"Where?" she asked. The staff pointed out Destiny from the counter who was smiling at her. "Tell her to come here" she said and the staff leave. Not more that a minute Destiny was standing in front of her.
"Hi I'm Destiny McBride" Destiny introduced her self.
"Please be seated" replied Hermione. Destiny seated in front of her and she noticed how Destiny blushed when James look at her "Anything I can do for you?" she asked politely.
"Oh I was just going to ask how did you acquired those muggle books?" Destiny asked to Hermione.
"That was nice of you to hear that someone like you is interested with muugle books. Well I got those books from muggle bookstore" she replied.
"Ma'am I'm a muggle born" Destiny replied shyly that surprises both James and Hermione. Nobody knows in Hogwarts that the McBride twins are muggle born and muggle born witches don't get easily sorted in Slytherin.
"You don't have to be shy with that. I'm a muggle born too. Perhaps you're a half blood"
"No ma'am, my parents are both muggle's"
"Oh yeah" Hermione was beyond shock "That's why your interested with muggle books" she said cheerfully.
"And it wasn't just that, my mother is a writer on one of those books. Her name is Valerie McBride"
"Is it? I didn't know that a bestseller author like Valerie McBride has magical children. That's quite a surprise" finishes Hermione as doubts are starting to exist inside of her. She had seen Valerie McBride before on a muggle newspaper. She had a strong resemblance with Ginny Weasley. Only that Valerie McBride is not a red headed, she has a brown hair. Hermione was about to ask something but she was interrupted.
"Des, I was looking for you for about an hour now" it was Jet who was standing in front of Destiny and it seems that he didn't notice Hermione and James who's sitting in front of Destiny.
"There's nothing to worry about Jet, I got all the books that you want me to buy for you. Oh by the way Jet, this is Ms.?" she said turning her head towards Hermione.
"Mrs. Weasley" said Hermione.
"Hi Mrs. Weasley, I'm Jet. Destiny's brother" Jet introduced himself to Hermione while smiling at her. Hermione almost lost her words when she saw Jet's face and she was beyond shock. It was no doubt that Jet McBride look like a certain person and that person is Draco Malfoy.
"Mrs. Weasley are you okay?" asked Jet and not sure what to do when Hermione gave him a surprise look.
"Oh yeah, look sorry but I have to leave you here guys. Well as you see it's starting to get busy" said Hermione and she stand up while she still feel surprise, but she managed to hide it. Even though she haven't seen the face of Draco Malfoy for 20 years now she was sure that Jet McBride really look like him. Who would have forgot a Malfoy?
"It's okay Mrs. Weasley actually we also have to go, our friends are waiting for us" said Destiny and she stand up while Jet leaned over to carry all the books that Destiny bought for him.
"So we're leaving you here Potter and see you at school" said Jet.
"O..okay" it was all that James could say, he was bit surprised it was the first time that Jet speak with him
"Bye then" said Hermione and the twins leave them behind. As she watch them as they left.
~*~*~*~*~
That night Hermione cannot sleep, she was thinking about the incident in that café. She was wondered how those students look so much like Draco Malfoy. Somehow it didn't fit at all if they are both muggle born and also a Slytherin. It was not easy get sorted in Slytherin; it's the only house that thinks being a muggle born is quite big deal. Not unless if one of the students parents is a Slytherin.
"Ginny died when she was 18 and Draco was 19, the last person who saw them alive was Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. That was 20 years ago, they never had a child. But how could those McBride look so much like Malfoy? They are Slyterin, Jet was a seeker and the kids told me that he a lot of talent. How could he has a talent in Quidditch if he was a muggle-born? Their mother was a famous author, when Ginny was young she would to compose and write stories. It does make sense,but how?" Hermione thought as she drifted to sleep, determined to make a move.
To be continued.
Please review
CHAPTER 7: CHANCE MEETING
Life at Hogwarts was becoming busier as the months went by. Students had given more homework each day, due to the fact that there will be a Homecoming Alumni that will take place after the Easter break. Staffs and students were busy preparing for the upcoming event and even the house- elves are working really hard. Reservations in every hotel in Hogsmeade are starting to get filled. Hogwarts is even planning to have a camping ground, which made it even more hectic for teachers because hundreds of owls are arriving each day. The Ministry of Magic already provided some portkeys and an Apparition ground just outside Hogwarts, courtesy of the Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley. Even students are excited for the upcoming event. It was an exciting event since it will be the very first Alumni that will take place in Hogwarts' history.
~*~*~*~*~
James had been sitting in Weasley's Bookstore and Café for almost an hour now. His waiting for his friends to arrive, they were supposed to meet at 11 am and now it's almost 12 pm. How he hated to wait for them especially when it was only himself sitting there. He was about to leave when a certain blonde girl entered the store and walked to the book section. It was Destiny McBride, his long time crush. He watched her every move and how he love watching the way she gracefully walk. James eyed her with interest and hoping that she will glance on his direction.
"If she weren't a Slytherin and John's number one enemy" he thought followed with a sigh. James can't bear the fact that his crush belongs to Slytherin house. Although many people have said that Destiny is nice, many students cant still avoid judging her for being a Slytherin. And it seems that asking her out is out of the line. One more thing he doesn't have the courage to do it so. Since his bestfriend John had some major issues with Destiny regarding to their performance in class. It was no doubt that John is genius then Destiny just suddenly appeared and she's even smarter than John. And John hated that fact that someone is smarter than him.
James was deep in his thoughts when someone tapped his shoulder. He looked up. It was Hermione Granger Weasley, John's mother. Without his invitation she seated beside him.
"Hi Aunt Herm" greeted James.
"Hi John, where's everybody" she asked.
"Still at school I guess" he replied and he look at Destiny once more without noticing that Hermione followed the direction of his eyes.
"She's beautiful isn't it?" she said. James just look at her and then he suddenly blushed.
"No, its not what your thinking" he tried to denied it but it seems that Hermione doesn't believe him by the way she look at him.
"Come on James it's like that I don't know that why you always come here early before your friends during your Hogsmeade trip just to watch her alone while buying some books" she said. Of course Hermione knows that it became a routine to James to go to café early just to watch the blonde girl. As the owner of the store she knows every regular costumer. Especially the blonde girl who always spent lots of galleons for books. It reminded her of her younger days in Hogwarts. Not just her passion of reading that caught her attention but also her beautiful face. How she look like their long forgotten enemy, only that she's a girl. If he were only alive she will think that it was his offspring.
"So.you finally noticed" James admitted shyly.
"Long time ago James, why don't you ask her out?" she asked. She smiled again remembering the days when Ron used to look at her that way and how Harry watched Cho from afar.
"Its not that easy aunt Herm" he said followed with a sigh ".she's a Slytherin, what will John say if I dare to ask her out? You know that he had some major issues with her"
"John told me about her, why don't you just try it. Well you know John, he cant just admit that there's someone who is better than him." Stated Hermione and she doesn't sound like she's angry at all. "He's really like his father"
"What about the other's? How will they react if they found out about it? My dad I'm not sure if he will approve it" he said and he sighed again.
"James there is no easy answer when it comes to love. Sometimes we must have to risk some things just to prove to ourselves that we are capable to love and to be love. So what if she's a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor"
"But everyone knows that Slytherin and Gryffindor don't associate with each other" he said.
"You are really your father's son. Well if that's what I think. James not all Slytherin's are bad. There are few Slytherin from my days who married a Gryffindor. And during those times the Dark Lord is on his height of his power"
"Yeah I know that aunt Herm. There are Pamela Wood's parents Oliver Wood and Pansy Parkinson. The late Mrs. Parvati Flint to Professor Flint" he said naming a few of Slytherin/Gryffindor couple.
"There's more James, the very first Slytherin and Gryffindor couple. Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy" James gave a surprise look "If you don't happen to know the Weasley/Malfoy affair during those days" she added.
"Dad used to tell me that Professor Malfoy's dead son used to his number one enemy during his school days, but he never mentioned the name Ginny Weasley. Is she related to your family?"
"Of course she is, she's my sister in law" followed with a slight laugh.
"But how come we never heard her name and we never see any pictures of her when we used to visit the Burrow?" he ask, James is starting to get confuse due to fact that the Weasley's had another child.
"Because all her things had been burned. It was too painful for the family to see anything about her. You know before the Malfoy's and Weasley's are enemies. It was a rather a painful memory for them"
"Where is Ginny Weasley if Draco Malfoy is dead?" he asked.
"They both died in the war. You know it wasn't suppose to happen if their families didn't disowned them"
"Oh Merlin." he said in disbelief. "How did your family react when they died?"
"Each one of them blamed their selves"
"Does she have anything left aside from those things that have been burnt?"
"Have you heard about the Furtive Charm?"
"Yes we studied it. Why?"
"Ginny Weasley is the one who performed the charm, and she's the owner of that diary"
"What? So Ginny Weasley is the owner of the diary?"
"Exactly" James is surprise even more. He cant just imagined how John would react about the Furtive Charm. How will John swallow his pride for laughing that the Furtive Charm had been performed of his dead aunt?
"Aunt Herm, did you know that John used to tell me that the Furtive Charm is rubbish?"
"Oh yeah? I can't imagine how will he react if he will find out the truth" she said, it was then one of her staff called for her attention.
"Excuse me Mrs. Weasley, there's a costumer who wants to speak to you"
"Where?" she asked. The staff pointed out Destiny from the counter who was smiling at her. "Tell her to come here" she said and the staff leave. Not more that a minute Destiny was standing in front of her.
"Hi I'm Destiny McBride" Destiny introduced her self.
"Please be seated" replied Hermione. Destiny seated in front of her and she noticed how Destiny blushed when James look at her "Anything I can do for you?" she asked politely.
"Oh I was just going to ask how did you acquired those muggle books?" Destiny asked to Hermione.
"That was nice of you to hear that someone like you is interested with muugle books. Well I got those books from muggle bookstore" she replied.
"Ma'am I'm a muggle born" Destiny replied shyly that surprises both James and Hermione. Nobody knows in Hogwarts that the McBride twins are muggle born and muggle born witches don't get easily sorted in Slytherin.
"You don't have to be shy with that. I'm a muggle born too. Perhaps you're a half blood"
"No ma'am, my parents are both muggle's"
"Oh yeah" Hermione was beyond shock "That's why your interested with muggle books" she said cheerfully.
"And it wasn't just that, my mother is a writer on one of those books. Her name is Valerie McBride"
"Is it? I didn't know that a bestseller author like Valerie McBride has magical children. That's quite a surprise" finishes Hermione as doubts are starting to exist inside of her. She had seen Valerie McBride before on a muggle newspaper. She had a strong resemblance with Ginny Weasley. Only that Valerie McBride is not a red headed, she has a brown hair. Hermione was about to ask something but she was interrupted.
"Des, I was looking for you for about an hour now" it was Jet who was standing in front of Destiny and it seems that he didn't notice Hermione and James who's sitting in front of Destiny.
"There's nothing to worry about Jet, I got all the books that you want me to buy for you. Oh by the way Jet, this is Ms.?" she said turning her head towards Hermione.
"Mrs. Weasley" said Hermione.
"Hi Mrs. Weasley, I'm Jet. Destiny's brother" Jet introduced himself to Hermione while smiling at her. Hermione almost lost her words when she saw Jet's face and she was beyond shock. It was no doubt that Jet McBride look like a certain person and that person is Draco Malfoy.
"Mrs. Weasley are you okay?" asked Jet and not sure what to do when Hermione gave him a surprise look.
"Oh yeah, look sorry but I have to leave you here guys. Well as you see it's starting to get busy" said Hermione and she stand up while she still feel surprise, but she managed to hide it. Even though she haven't seen the face of Draco Malfoy for 20 years now she was sure that Jet McBride really look like him. Who would have forgot a Malfoy?
"It's okay Mrs. Weasley actually we also have to go, our friends are waiting for us" said Destiny and she stand up while Jet leaned over to carry all the books that Destiny bought for him.
"So we're leaving you here Potter and see you at school" said Jet.
"O..okay" it was all that James could say, he was bit surprised it was the first time that Jet speak with him
"Bye then" said Hermione and the twins leave them behind. As she watch them as they left.
~*~*~*~*~
That night Hermione cannot sleep, she was thinking about the incident in that café. She was wondered how those students look so much like Draco Malfoy. Somehow it didn't fit at all if they are both muggle born and also a Slytherin. It was not easy get sorted in Slytherin; it's the only house that thinks being a muggle born is quite big deal. Not unless if one of the students parents is a Slytherin.
"Ginny died when she was 18 and Draco was 19, the last person who saw them alive was Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. That was 20 years ago, they never had a child. But how could those McBride look so much like Malfoy? They are Slyterin, Jet was a seeker and the kids told me that he a lot of talent. How could he has a talent in Quidditch if he was a muggle-born? Their mother was a famous author, when Ginny was young she would to compose and write stories. It does make sense,but how?" Hermione thought as she drifted to sleep, determined to make a move.
To be continued.
Please review