Reaching Maturity

Disclaimer: not mine. Ditto for Narnia. Really. Honestly. Verstehen Sie?

A/N: yes, I do have all the Quidditch scores worked out. I may not be that good at maths, but I did manage this lot, and I checked it. So there. Oh, and I'm really not that good at writing Quidditch matches, so please be kind.

Only a week till the end of term! Not that I've heard from my placement yet. I'm starting to get a little worried…

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Chapter 19: Easter Holidays

Before they knew it, Easter was upon them. The vast majority of students went home to spend time with their families, looking forward gleefully to two glorious weeks of sleeping in proper beds rather than in sleeping bags on camp beds in the Great Hall. A large proportion of OWL and NEWT students opted to stay at the school, as their exams would be upon them far sooner than they wanted.

Draco received a letter from his father, ordering him to stay at Hogwarts as he would be 'away' for the duration of the holiday. When Pomfrey heard of this, she briskly informed him that he was far too ill to travel all the way to Wiltshire and back again anyway.

Hermione managed to annoy Ron and Harry immensely by drawing up strict, detailed revision timetables for them – "as though we haven't been doing enough already," grumbled Ron, before announcing that he was going home for the ten days. Hermione would never know whether he stuck to the timetable or not. In any case, he had taken to spending most of his time with the other Gryffindor boys and Parvati rather than Harry and Hermione, and it was becoming more and more apparent that the three were drifting apart. He never even said goodbye to them when he left; Harry and Hermione were up in the hospital wing with Hannah and Draco.

The two girls were watching the boys play chess – a long, laborious process, partly because Harry was exceptionally bad at the game and also because Draco tired extremely easily. Eventually Harry found himself checkmated.

"I can't believe I've beaten you in the state I'm in," said Draco dazedly.

"You are aware that it's not exactly hard to beat Harry?" said Hermione teasingly, catching Harry's eye and grinning at him. This earned her a playful shove from him, causing her to fall off the bed with a small shriek. Harry offered her a hand up and she grasped it, but before she could use him as leverage, she glanced up to see McGonagall standing there. She did not let go of Harry's hand. "Professor?"

McGonagall took in the scene with a wryly amused smile. "Well, it's nice to see some of you are enjoying yourselves," she remarked lightly. "Mind if I sit down?"

"Of course not." Hannah stood up to let the teacher sit down.

She sat. "Professors Dumbledore, Snape and myself, along with all your subject teachers, have been reviewing your schoolwork and health from this term, Mr. Malfoy. We think that you should be able to sit your NEWTs, and that you should be permitted extra time to take the exams as Muggle schools do under certain circumstances, because you tire very easily. If you need a break partway through, or feel it is too much for you, you would be able to stop. It would mean sitting your exams in a separate room from the rest of the students, but it would enable you to sit the exams. There is also the option of remaining at Hogwarts for another year and joining the current sixth year, and sitting your exams with them. Do you want some time to think it over?"

Draco shook his blond head. "No. I don't need the time. I want to sit my exams with the rest of my year. When else would I be able to?"

"You could stay here for another year and redo your seventh year; it's not unheard of…" Her eyes twinkled as she took in the look of complete and utter horror on Draco's face. "I thought not."

He shrugged. "I don't want to stay behind after my three friends have left!"

McGonagall nodded, smiling, and got to her feet. "Take care now, Mr. Malfoy, and I'll see you at dinner – if Poppy lets you out, of course."

He snorted. "I wish. I can't even walk to the other end of the ward without having to stop halfway to rest and get my breath back. I was under the impression that fresh air was supposed to be good for you, but I'm not allowed out to see whether it's true or not." He coughed.

"Give it time," advised McGonagall. "The fever may have gone and you're not coughing anywhere near as much as you were, but you're too delicate to risk further illness yet."

"I'm not 'delicate'," he muttered irritably. He watched her go and then turned to the others. "Do you think I'm stupid, saying I'll do my NEWTs this year? After all, think about what the 'E' stands for." There was a genuine expression of worry on his face.

Hannah squeezed his hand comfortingly. "Remember McGonagall said you'd get extra time? It's really useful."

He gave her a weak smile. "I suppose so…" He was more than aware of the fact that her soft, warm hand remained closed over his, and he realised that he rather liked the feeling. A wave of sudden fatigue swept over him and he leaned back against the pillows, only half in control of his movements.

"Draco? Are you OK?" asked Hannah worriedly, seeing his already white face drain entirely of what little colour it had had in it.

He nodded briefly. "Just really tired."

"We'll go, then," decided Hermione, grasping Harry's hand and giving it a firm tug. "We'll be up later. Revision and all that." She practically dragged him out of the room, with him unable to break her vice-like grip on his hand – not that he tried too hard, it has to be said.

When they were a sufficient distance from the hospital wing and any intrigued ears, he wrestled free. "What was that for?" he demanded, rubbing his hand and glaring at her.

"I'm letting them have some time together alone," said Hermione, stressing the last word.

"Wha – Oh! No! No way! Malfoy and Hannah!" He stared at her in disbelief. "No way!"

But Hermione merely nodded sagely. "Yes, way," she contradicted with a knowing smile. "I'm just not sure they've admitted it to each other yet. It's sweet. I'm just itching to give them a shove."

"Like you did with me and Cho the second time?"

"Exactly. Mind you, though, who'd've guessed at Hallowe'en that she was two-timing you with Anthony Goldstein?" She scowled; that had been the end of her romance. Perhaps it's best that the Head Boy and Girl aren't romantically entangled; it makes for a far easier working relationship if they aren't.

"Who indeed," muttered Harry darkly. It had been just after Hallowe'en that he had vowed never to see Cho Chang again. She had been seen in Hogsmeade with Anthony Goldstein and they had been kissing very intimately and with a lot of passion, in public. Harry had angrily owled her to tell her to not bother contacting him ever again. And that had been that. Hermione, he reflected, had been brilliant afterwards.

Turning to the girl he cared about more than anyone else, he grabbed her hand and started leading her down the corridor. "Come on. Let's go and talk to Hagrid and see if he's got any more…creatures that he needs help with."

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After Harry and Hermione had gone, Hannah turned back to Draco. "You're not OK, are you?" she asked bluntly. "And don't lie. I can tell when you do; you look away from the person you're talking to and up at the ceiling."

"I – I'll be fine in a minute," he answered, his breathing harsh and loud as he fought for breath, as he lay back.

Hannah watched him struggle, getting more and more agitated as he made no signs of recovery. Abruptly she got to her feet. "I'm getting Madam Pomfrey," she declared, hurrying off. Moments later the mediwitch was at Draco's side, helping him to lean forward in an attempt to regain his breath. Eventually he did, and she gently eased him back against the pillows in an upright position. "I'll warrant you overdid it this morning," she remarked. "Hannah, maybe you should go, let him rest."

"No!" protested Draco. "Please – please let her stay. I want her to stay."

"I don't know…" Pomfrey began dubiously.

"I won't get him worked up, honest," Hannah promised. "I can just sit here and revise." She and Draco both turned pleading eyes on her.

Pomfrey threw up her hands in defeat. "Oh, go on, then. But be good." She disappeared back into her office.

Draco was now breathing fairly normally again, but Hannah anxiously observed the way he still struggled slightly. "Maybe – maybe you should do your NEWTs next year," she suggested hesitantly. "Unless you make a sudden dramatic turnaround – which I somehow doubt – it's going to take you all day to do just one exam!"

"I could make a 'sudden dramatic turnaround', as you put it!" he retorted. His grey eyes, though, were sad and unbelieving. He knew it wouldn't happen. "Look, I don't know why you're sitting up here inside when it's so nice inside."

Hannah stared at him. "And leave you here on your own? No chance. Besides, I want to be with you." She stood up and wandered to the window. She spotted three younger students chasing each other in what quickly became apparent as a game of Tag. It would be a long time before Draco would be able to do that again, she reflected sadly. As he had told McGonagall, he wasn't even able to make it to the end of the ward without needing to rest. This saddened her deeply, but she vowed to herself that she wouldn't give up on him, wouldn't let him give in. She promised that she would be there for him, even if it took him twenty years to recover. Even if he never recovered. She was too involved with him and cared too deeply about him to walk away now. There was some charm about him that had been hidden for six years under his old attitude, and it had bewitched her.

She made a snap decision. "Let's go outside."

He stared at her. "But Madam Pomfrey…"

"Forget about it. I'll clear it."

"Oh, you will, will you?" Madam Pomfrey inquired archly from behind her.

Hannah started; she hadn't heard the mediwitch come up behind her. She turned round to face her. "Can we just see how he gets on?" She gave Pomfrey a beseeching look. "You never know; he might get better quicker."

"'More quickly'," Pomfrey corrected.

"Surely there can't be any harm in it?" chimed in Draco. "I haven't left this ward for three months apart from a couple of days. Cabin fever, don't they call it?"

"I'll look after him," added Hannah hurriedly.

"I promise I'll make sure I don't get cold," wheedled Draco, pulling the sleeves of his jumper down so his wrists were covered. "I'll wrap up really, really warmly…"

Madam Pomfrey felt the corners of her mouth twitching. "Oh, go on, then," she relented. "Seeing as you'll beg and plead with me until I give in. See that you don't get cold, though, Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you!" the two chorused gleefully, and scuttled out of the hospital wing before Pomfrey could change her mind. Hannah slipped her arm around Draco's waist to support him once they got out of the door, and had to fight to hide her alarm at how thin he had become. Draco leaned against her as they ambled down the corridor together at a relaxed, slow pace. He suspected that support wasn't the only reason that Hannah's arm was around his waist, and, if he was honest with himself, he liked it. A lot. It was a very pleasant change to have Hannah's firm, yet gentle and supportive, arm around him instead of Pansy's uncomfortable, stiff, vice-like grip.

They reached the Entrance Hall. "I'll meet you here when you've got all your winter outdoor things," Hannah said. "And for goodness' sake don't forget anything, or Pomfrey will kill me!"

"Yes, Mum," said Draco teasingly, saluting her and earning a light slap in the shoulder from her. "Ouch!"

"Wimp," she shot back, blue eyes glittering with laughter. She began walking in the direction of the Hufflepuff quarters. "Get a move on!"

He obligingly did, taking his time to get to Slytherin so as not to tire himself out. When he rejoined Hannah, they walked out into the grounds.

From his office high up in the castle, Dumbledore watched Hannah carefully straighten Draco's hat and slip her arm back round his waist. He leaned into her and said something that made her toss her thick blonde hair over her shoulder as she laughed. They sat down on the wall that Hannah had kicked in frustration back in February. Unseen by the couple, Dumbledore smiled down on them as the immersed themselves in a deep discussion – about what, he would never know. He observed Draco take Hannah's hand in his thin one. They were a good match in his view. She would take care of him and make sure he took care of himself, and keep him from turning to Voldemort. He would teach her what he knew of the Dark Arts – with Lucius Malfoy as a father, that was a lot – so she could protect herself as much as possible.

He let his thoughts turn to one member of his staff and the archrival of said staff member, carrying out their mission far from Hogwarts. That was not nearly as pleasant.

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"Where the hell are we?" Sirius grumbled that evening as he and Severus Snape sat by the campfire that Sirius had made. Although he had a cloak around his shoulders, he was still quite chilly. The tent wasn't much warmer. Sirius Black did not like camping, and never had done.

Snape glared at him. "I can hardly tell you."

"Oh?" Sirius bit into an apple.

"Not that many Death Eaters – or ex-Death Eaters – know of the existence of this place," Snape informed him coldly. "To be honest with you, I'm not sure of its exact location."

Sirius stared at him in disbelief. "Then how do you know whether we're anywhere near it, camping here?"

"I know roughly where it is, Black. I know it's in this area." Snape's brusque tone indicated that the conversation was over.

Sirius stood up. "I'm going to sleep. I'll become Padfoot and keep one ear alert so we can both sleep. Lack of sleep makes a person bad-tempered, and you're grouchy enough as it is." Upon receiving a furious glare from Snape, he hurriedly transformed into the big black dog and trotted into the tent. Snape cleared up the campsite as much as he could and made sure the fire was completely out, before retiring himself. Sirius, as promised, kept one ear open.

Both slept well, and they woke after a night completely devoid of anything other than the usual nocturnal activities of various creatures. Sirius' thoughts soon turned to his stomach and he inquired about what was for breakfast when Snape emerged from the tent.

"Not much," answered the Potions Master briefly. "Bread that we could toast over the fire if we want, some fruit – and someone must have put some sausages in."

Sirius grinned. "Sausage sandwiches. Sounds good." He built the fire up and Snape lit it. The wood was dry and ignited quickly, so Sirius turned to Snape. "So, are we going to be finding this place today?"

"No; we're skydiving off the Statue of Liberty in the US," Snape replied scathingly.

"That sounds like fun. What time are we booked in to do it?" quipped Sirius, knowing full well that Snape was being sarcastic. He loved opportunities to annoy his old victim, and this effort earned him a withering look from the teacher.

They ate in silence. When they had finished, they packed everything up carefully and Snape made absolutely certain that no trace of their ever having been there remained, Sirius grabbed another apple – his third that morning so far – and the two set off walking through woods and across fields.

"You do know where we're going, don't you?" asked Sirius after a while. "Only, I don't see anything except a derelict farmhouse in the middle of that field." He pointed to the aforementioned building in the field directly ahead of them as they emerged form the trees. Snape immediately stopped and Sirius walked straight into him. "Watch where you're going, Snivelly!"

"Quiet!" hissed Snape. "That is where we're headed. The old Death Eater safe-house. You need to change into your wretched dog shape. If you don't, we're both dead. Or worse."

Sirius mumbled a few obscenities under his breath, but obeyed Snape nonetheless. He waited behind Snape as the teacher examined a map, not unlike the Marauder's Map. Not that Snape had ever worked out how to use that one.

"Come on, Black. It's safe," muttered Snape. With the rucksack on his back, hiking boots on his feet, dressed in Muggle clothes and long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, he looked like nothing more than a lone hiker out with his dog.

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TBC

author thanks:

Lucidity: here's quite a bit of Snape to keep you happy (I hope)! He loves veiled threats; people like Crabbe and Goyle probably wouldn't have the faintest idea that there was a threat! I think Sprout could hold her own against Death Eaters if necessary. She's the sort of person who really doesn't want to do so if at all possible. Glad you liked the birthday. Whether or not Ron forgives Harry and Hermione remains to be seen – although perhaps this chapter gives you something of an indication one way or the other.

CloudofDreams: I had to have them get him thoughtful presents; I hate it when really good friends who know you well just get you bath stuff (which I never use). I contemplated doing a running commentary on the Quidditch, but I couldn't be bothered and it was easier to describe it. Also, it wasn't the main focus of the chapter. I agree with you about Ravenclaw – but when it comes to Quidditch, that all goes completely out of the window! Plus remember they wanted revenge… I could see Lupin's 18th happening like that really clearly so I had to write it in! As for what's to come, you'll just have to wait and see.

Jmmy: I can't be 100 cruel and 0 nice to Draco; it's not fair on him and the poor guy does need a break from all that torment sometimes! It's reached the point where relationships need to be a lot clearer. Plus I was sick of them not really acknowledging stuff like that so I thought I'd do something about it! As the author, I have absolute power over them! (cackles evilly) I thought the Lupin's party would amuse you all!

A Monkey's Harp: The Ravenclaws aren't as goody-goody as people tend to think – certainly not when House pride is at stake! I've been there and seen it all; WCHS round House Drama and Sports Day is incredibly competitive. I'll check out the grammar thing. I'm a grammar obsessive too. And punctuation. And spelling. And formatting…

Samhaincat: I thought it was about time there was something sweet and fluffy, given all the traumas recently! Hermione still strikes me as fairly willing to forgive if she truly believes the person to be completely genuine. I like protective Snape too!

Rebell: Snape has feelings! He's just really bad at showing them (lots of psychological issues there that I'm not going into) and also it wouldn't fit with the whole really-scary-teacher image. For Quidditch, I'd be a Chaser or Keeper. My best positions in netball are Goal Keeper and Goal Shooter (which is extremely impressive for someone with aim as bad as mine!). I don't have the upper-arm strength to be a Beater. And go Hannah indeed!

TinorialPeredhil: Ravenclaw want revenge on Slytherin for well and truly stuffing them the previous year, remember! Hence the match resembling a Gryffindor-Slytherin match! And I thought I'd put this match in because JK never really writes scenes with Harry watching matches. Hannah won't kill Justin; she's too nice for that. I know I'm cruel to Draco, but it keeps the sympathy pouring in and I want to get my readers on his side! I'm contemplating doing a spin-off from this of Lupin's 18th; it has definite comic potential. Regarding the Draco-Hermione hug – I wanted something sweet and I wanted them to put the past behind them. So I wrote that part. I suspect Snape would quite happily bore holes into the backs of the vast majority of the wizarding world! Sounds like you've had a lot on; perfectly understandable! With Hannah, I suppose you'd write her HA or Ha.