By Monday afternoon after the Ball, the Head suite had been redecorated and refurnished, after the monster had destroyed almost everything. Draco was barely talking at all to Hermione, which confused her somewhat, especially after they woke up spooned together at two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Amelie said nothing on the subject, which rather roused Hermione's suspicions, but she didn't ask. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

She and Ginny, or rather, Amelie and Ginny, started practising Quidditch during their free time since there had been no further news on Hermione's jewelery, much to her annoyance. Both Amelie and Hermione were adamant that they did not get caught practising flying of any descriptions, and Ginny could kind of understand this, because even though she and Amelie were teaching Hermione to fly on her own, it would look very suspicious for Hermione to suddenly be able to fly with enough skill to rival Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, the two best flyers in the school.

The quidditch practise gave all three girls a way to release tension, because in Hermione and Amelie's position, there was a small problem, aptly described to Ginny by Amelie.

"All stressed out and no-one to choke."

Ginny was having a 'need-to-choke-people' time in her life as well. Blaise was being singularly difficult, and was messing around with her, running hot and cold with his affections. Ginny was this close to telling him where he could shove it. Once he got the stick out his ass, anyway.

"Grow your own dope – plant a man!" Amelie called as she flew one handed, catching the quaffle Ginny threw at her.

"Nice one. But why grow some when it comes ready-made in Slytherin uniform?" Ginny shot back, catching the Quaffle and throwing it back. It only got half-way to Amelie before someone, a someone dressed suspiciously in Slytherin uniform, whizzed between them, snatched the quaffle from mid-air, and then turned to come back to where they hovered, arms crossed.

"Hello Ladies." Draco said congenially.

"Hello." Amelie said. Ginny glared.

"Ginny, you're starting to look rather cross-eyed. Try smiling for a change. It makes people wonder what you're up to." Draco said helpfully.

"You know what?" She snapped. "When I want your stupid little opinion, I'll beat it out of you." She flew off.

"What's wrong with her?" Draco asked, confused.

"She's all stressed out and no-ones volunteering to help her get over it. People are just too fond of being alive. Honestly, they take life too seriously. They just don't seem to get that it's not permanent." Amelie shrugged. Draco looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Blaise is being a dickhead." She clarified.

"Ah. Yes, he has, rather. I've spoken to him on that count."

"You have?" he turned, and saw Ginny floating behind him.

"I have. I told him to date you or leave you, but not both at the same time."

"That's very nice of you. How observant." Ginny said sarcastically.

"Yeah well. Friends help you move, but real friends help you move bodies." Draco shrugged.

"Whose?"

"I don't know, I'll think of someone." Draco smiled. "I might even let you choke him. Or her."

"Oh, goody." Ginny clapped her hands and giggled before sobering. "I really need to do something mean."

"Since when did you transfer to Slytherin?" Draco asked.

"Don't be stupid. Let's…I don't know. Let's set up Harry and Ron with Slytherins." She smiled, and Amelie and Draco looked impressed.

No!

Hush. The girl needs to relieve stress.

Amelie! Hermione shrieked. Amelie winced.

"How do you propose to do this?" Draco asked. "We need a plan."

"We need to work out who, first." Amelie pointed out.

"Duh. Weasel and Potty." Draco rolled his eyes.

"They arent going to date each other, dumbass." Amelie snapped at him.

"Good point."

"Miss Weasley! Miss Granger! Mr Malfoy!" The three looked down and saw McGonagall way below them, waving up at them.

"I don't suppose she just wants to say hi?" Draco asked hopefully.

"Sorry, mate. You're SOL on that count." Ginny said, starting to descend.

"SOL?" Draco asked, confused.

"Short On Luck." Amelie explained as they started descending, somewhat slower.

"I don't believe in luck." Draco said.

"You have to." Draco shot her a look. "How else are you going to explain the success of people like Harry?"

She dropped to McGonagall's level before Draco could think of anything suitably intelligent to say.

When the three of them were assembled before the teacher, she nodded sharply.

"Come with me, please." The three dismounted and trudged behind her.

"Why do I feel like I'm in trouble?" Ginny whispered.

"Um, I don't know. Maybe because-" Draco began.

"Oh, you arent in trouble, Miss Weasley. Dumbledore just wants to talk to you three."

"And give us a history lesson, by any chance?" Hermione asked. McGonagall gave her a shrewd glance.

"Quite possibly. Especially if you were identified as-"

"Students." Draco said helpfully. McGonagall gave him a confused look.

"He's embarassed about being the reincarnation of a woman." Ginny explained. McGonagall nodded.

"You neednt worry, Mr Malfoy-"

"Yeah, you could have been Helga!" Hermione put in cheerfully. Ginny snorted. "No offense, Gin."

"Nah, that's cool." Ginny smiled, but there was a calculating look in her eyes. Either she was still hung up on the setting up of Harry and Ron, or she was thinking up something really nasty for Hermione to suffer through.

"Yeah, after all, you're Godric."

"Except I have absolutely no problem being bi-sexual in the most literal sense of the word."

"Yeah, you could have been a hermaphrodite." Ginny offered.

"And if it had been Malfoy in that alley instead of Amelie, I probably would have been. Termporarily, anyway. Suicide would have probably followed that particular union."

Mainly because you can't date a guy who's bonded with you to the extent you're sharing a body.

Fuck off.

Rather fuck him. Which I will, if you get a move on. Otherwise it'll be the summer and too late.

It's not even the tenth of November yet. Hermione argued.

Time moves fast when you're having fun.

I've had fun before. This isnt it.

Touche.

They arrived at Dumbledore's office without looking too suspicious, although when they passed Harry and Ron in the halls, both boys stared at Hermione, who was not only in the company of Draco and Ginny, but was also carrying a broom. That and the fact they were following McGonagall in the direction that was certain to end at Dumbledore's office.

Hermione ignored them, as much as possible, suddenly finding conversation with Ginny more fascinating that usual.

They followed McGonagall up the twisting stairs, trying not to feel dizzy. McGonagall did not knock, but walked straight in to where Dumbledore was waiting for them. And on the desk were four jewel-cases, identical to Hermione's.

I cant believe he kept mine. she said bitterly.

For the common good, dear. Amelie said sweetly.

"Sit down, please. Hot chocolate?" without waiting for an answer, he conjured three cups in front of the students.

"I've called you here because I believe the Valimo-bird may have been onto something. He opened the jewel-cases, the jewelery glittering inside them, and turned them so the students could see them. "I have a question, though. When you bought Miss Granger the jewelery, Mr Malfoy, did you touch it?"

"No. I saw her looking, so I knew which piece it was she liked." Draco answered. Hermione shot him a look and he shrugged.

"While it is quite obvious that Miss Granger, or Amy, or both, can touch the ruby jewelery, I wonder…"

Ginny was staring in awe at the jewelery in front of her, collectively the most expensive jewelery she had ever seen. She touched the topaz and gold gingerly, as though it would burn her.

"It's so beautiful."

"And Miss Weasley can touch the topaz jewelery, which leaves me to wonder-"

"If I can touch the sapphires?" Draco asked. Dumbledore nodded, and Draco reached out a hand and touched the blue stones. "Yep."

"But can you touch each others?" Dumbledore asked.

"I can touch the rubies." Draco put in. "I helped Hermione with the clasp when she first got them."

"Alright. I'm going to ask you to swap. And then touch the jewelery." They did so, so Hermione had the sapphires, Draco the topazes and Ginny the rubies. Then they touched the jewelery.

Both Ginny and Draco got an electric shock. Hermione quite happily picked up the sapphires and examined them in the light. Dumbledore chuckled.

"Well, that has made it clear. While Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger can touch each other's neither can touch yours, Miss Weasley, nor you theirs."

"And the point of that was?" Draco asked.

"This is inheritance jewelery, Mr Malfoy. It once belonged to the founders. You can touch both Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor's because of your link to Ravenclaw and Hermione as Godric , and the same holds true to Hermione. Ginny cannot touch Ravenclaws or Gryffindors because she has no such link. However, her link to Hufflepuff is sufficient to allow her sole custody of the topaz jewelery."

"And the emeralds?" Dumbledore lifted the necklace from the box and handed it to Hermione.

"Just that. Emeralds set in platinum to make a complete set which would sell better than if it was missing."

"So the emeralds are a fake?" Ginny asked with a laugh.

"Indeed. Although there is an emerald set somewhere. And that somewhere is what worries me."

My father has it. It was to be his wedding gift to Lily. Amelie suddenly spoke up.

Why didn't you say before?

I didn't remember before. The last time I saw it I was two. I haven't seen it since his return. Though if I were to hazard a guess I'd say it was at Malfoy Manor. That's where much of dad's valuables went when he disappeared. Malfoy held them in trust for him.

Hermione looked up to see everyone watching her.

"Did Amelie just tell you where they are?" Dumbeldore asked gently.

"At Malfoy Manor." Hermione said. Draco went pale. "They were going to be a wedding gift to…to Amelie's mother. But then she left."

"She did." Dumbledore said quietly. "Left for a rather happier, though much shorter, existence."

"Who is Amelie's mother?" Draco asked. Dumbledore looked at Hermione.

"Well?" he asked. Amelie sighed and took control.

"Lily Evans." She said quietly. Draco had that look on his face, the one he got when he was thinking.

"Red hair…" he said slowly. "Green eyes. Looks like…Potter's mother?" he asked incredulously. Ginny looked surprised.

"How do you know what Harry's mum looks like?" She asked curiously.

"There's a picture, at the manor. With…fucking hell, the emerald necklace!"

"It looks like Amelie was right then. The emerald set is at the Manor." Dumbledore said. "And mind your language, Mr Malfoy."

"Sorry sir."

"I'm always right." Amelie muttered. Everyone ignored her. She gave Hermione back control.

"So what are we going to do?" Ginny asked. "More to the point, what are we meant to do with this jewelery?"

"For now," Dumbledore waved his wand over the jewelery and it all compressed into three rings. One silver and studded with sapphires, one gold and studded with topaz, and the last bronze and studded with rubies. "Keep these with you at all times. I believe the time for them is not yet upon us, but if you find yourself being able to do things you couldn't do before, please tell me."

The three slipped the rings on their fingers, but the rings only fit properly on their left thumbs.

"Figures." Draco muttered, but he didn't say anything else.

"You're dismissed." Dumbledore said cheerfully, shutting the jewel cases in front of him, and slipping the emerald set into a desk drawer. "And, of course, consider the rings a gift. Or a return of valuables, in your case, Miss Granger." Hermione smiled tightly. "Off you go then , enjoy your evening."

They left.

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