Childhood Sweethearts Remember
Chapter 8: The Cruise to Nowhere for No Good Reason
As Hermione and Draco arrived at 45 Flammel Street, a young boy no more than thirteen showed up and took their suitcases away. Hermione screamed after him to get it back but Draco covered her mouth. "Shut it, will you?" he requested. "He's just bringing the luggage to our room."
She smiled. "OUR room? We get to share our own room? Doesn't that go against all school rules?"
"Rules get changed for married couples," he explained. "For instance, no student at Hogwarts other than the Head Boy and Girl gets to have their own dormitory…except for us! We have our own kitchenette, our own living room, our own bedroom and bathroom…everything. And sexual activity is to be expected, another bended rule."
Her heart leapt. "You are brilliant! This cruise may be exciting after all…" She stopped speaking as Dumbledore appeared right before them.
"Good day, children," he greeted them. "So happy to see you could make it on such short notice. Allow me to inform you of your six other partners on this trip. They are Susan Bones, Pansy Parkinson, Ashley Ryans and Ralph Woodall, two new students to the school, transferred from Durmstrang, Ernie, he doesn't like me saying his last name. Says I pronounce it wrong. And then we have…Harry Potter. I know you already knew some of these people but I just wanted to make sure you knew who would be coming. Some of these students are obviously not prefects but that is because some of the prefects were unable to produce the monetary funds for this type of trip."
Hermione was nearly having a fit. "Harry's coming? I don't want Harry here! Send him back! Draco!" she whined.
Draco patted her back and laughed. "Headmaster, I'd like to know where our room is on the boat," he said, ignoring his wife's upset. "I'll assume we have he grandest accommodations that the ship has to offer?"
"Ah yes, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore replied, ignoring Hermione's very odd behavior. "Your parents have arranged for you to have the best suite on the ship. It is the Captains Quarters on the starboard side." Then they heard a loud POP and six other students appeared. "Now that you're all here," he continued, seemingly quite content since all the participants had arrived. "Let us discuss your duties over tea and biscuits."
He took them onto the boat that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and then led them to a dining hall and Harry approached Hermione. "What's going on? Are the papers true? Are you really Mia Reins? Did you marry Malfoy? I heard your mum and dad are deatheaters. Is it true? Have you really become friends with Crabbe and Goyle. Ron said…"
She was quite annoyed by his questioning and endless babbling and so she just waved her hand to shut him up. It worked well considering his lips then appeared to be glued together. "Don't talk, Harry," she told him. "Really, it's quite irritating. Why don't you go bother Susan Bones. She's your type, right? Stupid, fat, and a muggle lover. Oh I'll never understand your taste in women."
Hermione and Draco walked away laughing as Harry's lips were finally free to speak once more. "What is going on with her?" he questioned to himself
"That was absolutely brilliant!" Draco marveled once they were away from Harry. "I wonder why you weren't put in Sytherin."
Since the other night, Draco had become quite fond of this new Hermione. She was just like him now. Arrogant. Stuck up. Cruel. Selfish. Every single quality he was taught that a pureblood should possess.
But then, why had she never shown these qualities before. It was clear that this was not her true personality and that she was just being forced into this new persona but did he really care? Pureblood bitch or Stubborn Know-it-All. He loved her all the same.
They all took their seats at the table in the room and waiters served them their tea. "Now," Dumbledore began. "Let's get down to business. I'm sure you're all dying to know what the next two weeks hold in store for you. The truth is that all you'll be doing in the next couple of weeks is enjoying your time for the most part. On Tuesday, you'll be meeting in this very room at 9 A.M. with some of the most important ministry officials in politics today. That will include people of many different titles from Head of the Department of Muggle Artifacts, Mr. Arthur Weasley, to Minister of Magic himself, Mr. Cornelius Fudge."
Naturally, Hermione already had her hand raised. A simple head nod from Dumbledore set her off on a long and pointless interruption. "What is the dress code for this meeting and what is the agenda for it? What shall we be discussing? Is there even a point to it or are we just wasting dear Mr. Fudge's time?" It almost sounded as though she was being a smartass just to get on his nerves.
Dumbledore smiled at her though. He always enjoyed the inquisitive student mind. "You should wear nice dress robes, not too fancy though of course," he told them. "It's just a wee bit more formal than in school. As for the agenda, you will be surveyed on your experiences in the school system so far. They will try to find out how it is working for you and then they may or may not decide to change something about it. Then, they will talk to you all about muggle and pureblood relations. They just want an overall feel for how things are going and to see if any progress has been made over the years."
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Draco in boredom. Draco gave her a look that told her he felt the same way and then he took her hand in his. "At least we have our own room to sneak off to. We'll keep each other entertained," he whispered very quietly into her ear. She giggled in glee but that received quite a few odd looks from the other students, namely Harry.
"On Wednesday, you will go on an excursion to the French shores of Normandy," Dumbledore continued. "You will be meeting with some very prominent students there and some important French Ministry officials. You'll be on the beach all day though so wear your swimwear. Basking in the sun and talking politics, you should all prepare to have a really great time. I do believe you'll all enjoy yourselves."
Once again, Hermione's hand rose. "So you're saying that this trip is very pointless, is that it?"
Draco laughed but once again, Harry shot her an awkward glare. "This trip is to improve relations between all students and it's a convention as well. We're trying to address stereotypes and prejudice. Students today have been divided by the boundaries that the separate houses have formed and by speaking with students from other schools, you'll be allowed to see the difference between House Divisions and how they have been organized in their school. Comparison is the key."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh well," she whispered to Draco. "At least I'll have time to get a good tan. Honestly, who the bloody hell cares about changing House Divisions and stereotypes. Nothing is going to change. Especially not after just one little convention with a group of teenagers."
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore chuckled, apparently having heard everything that she just said. "Your attitude is severely lacking enthusiasm. I view this trip as a show of the school's appreciation, a reward of sorts, for all of your efforts over the years. Is it entirely productive? I wouldn't dream of saying yes; however, the few activities we have planned may prove to be quite entertaining and valuable. If you would like for us to truly involve you in ALL of the meetings going on during this cruise then by all means, just say the word."
"What other meetings are there?" she asked in curiosity.
"There are many high ranking officials on this cruise and we will be deciding what to do about the rising of a dark power. I will not speak too much more on this with all present. If you'd care to see me later, any of you who would like this trip to be less for pleasure and more for business, I invite you to meet me for dinner in the main dining area at eight p.m."
Hermione and Draco exchanged glances, silently deciding their decision.
- - - - - - - -
8 p.m.
Dumbledore sat down to dinner with three extra seats, knowing exactly who would be there.
And sure enough, there they were. "Ah Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Potter. How nice of you all to join me. I figured that you would."
"Let's here it then," Hermione commanded, making even Draco anxious and a little worried. "What is this cruise really all about?"
"I worry about you, Ms. Malfoy," Dumbledore sighed. "Nonetheless, I am here to tell you that Ministry officials have gathered to discuss the severity of the rising of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Hermione and Draco gave each other looks that confused the other people present.
"What do you mean by discussing the severity?" Harry said in outrage. "It's serious! Of course it's serious. People don't think that this is a serious situation? Are they insane? How can they not believe that he's a big threat?"
"Harry, you should calm down," Hermione said. "Some people just don't believe that he's truly bac…"
"THEN THEY'RE DAFT! How can they not believe something that is so obvious! People, muggle borns, they're disappearing by the day. And if that's not enough, then that day at the ministry should prove everything!"
"CALM YOURSELF, HARRY POTTER!" Hermione half screamed. "I want to hear the rest of what Professor Dumbledore had to say and we'll never hear it if you keep on overreacting."
"Hermione, I don't think I'm overreacting and you wouldn't have either about a month ago! What's happened to you? You're so different. You're married to Malfoy and you're snogging him in public. Then you're laughing while Dumbledore is talking, which is so unlike you considering that you never want to miss anything a teacher says and…"
"Don't you dare sit there and pick out every little change that has occurred in me, Harry!"
"Then don't you dare to sit there and yell at me!"
"You were overreacting. You needed to be calmed down!"
"Maybe the OLD Hermione had the right to step in and calm me down but not YOU! You're not my friend."
"Just because of my marriage to Malfoy? Or is it because of what you heard about my parents?"
"Ms. Malfoy, I really must insist we steer clear of the topic of your parents," Dumbledore broke in with a calm and resolved tone. "This is no time for all of your side arguments. Our topic here tonight is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Oh just say his bloody name already," Hermione sighed. "We're all fine with it."
"Relax, sweetie," Draco cooed into her ear. "You're so tense. Just relax and listen to what the Headmaster has to say."
"Since when did you become the sensible one, Malfoy?" Harry snapped in anger and frustration, sad to have lost one of his best friends to one of his worst enemies.
"Since you stepped into the room and got Hermione's feathers all ruffled up! Honestly, I thought friends were supposed to make each other happy, not anger them to the point of insanity!"
"I USED to be Hermione's friend. But I don't know the girl sitting next to you."
"Harry, stop," Dumbledore interrupted once more. "We don't need this right now."
"I agree," Malfoy said. "Good thing we're thinking clearly, Headmaster. I think that these two lost their minds about twenty minutes ago."
"I think you should shut it, Malfoy!" Harry growled.
"I agree," Hermione declared, sending her husband a hateful glare. "Draco, you're really an arse sometimes!"
He rolled his eyes.
"Now children…" Dumbledore began but after receiving glares from them he wasn't sure what to call them. At least children knew how to be civil. They were more like monsters! "I'm beginning to think that you're not capable of handling a topic so mature as this."
"I'm beginning to think that you're not capable of handling three teenage wizards and their tempers," Hermione scoffed. "Maybe you've lost your touch, Headmaster."
"Hermione," Harry said warningly. "If you're angry, then don't bloody well take it out on HIM!"
"You're not in the position to tell me what to do, Potter!"
"If the three of you don't settle down this instant, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave right now. By leaving I mean leaving this ship entirely, not just this dinner. Your behavior is out of order and will not be tolerated. Five year olds behave better than you three."
They all looked at each other and bowed their heads in shame. He was right. They had behaved like children, all of them bickering and arguing over nothing.
"I'm sorry, Headmaster," Hermione finally sighed. "Please…continue?"
After a long pause, Dumbledore went on. "The other ministry officials and myself have selected you, along with two other students, to train to become aurors. Whether or not this is your intended profession, we want you to be prepared when the war comes, assuming you will be fighting in it. When school begins once more, you five will help teach these courses to anyone who signs up for the class. Those of you who take us up on this opportunity shall also be offered a spot in the Order of the Phoenix. I know Harry and Hermione have heard of this, but what about you, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco looked confused but then smiled. "My father told me about it, but as you can guess, he never had anything good to say."
"More will be revealed should you choose to take the training courses. These courses will not only be magical defenses and hexes but will also focus on your physical attributes. If my assumptions are correct, you will need a pair of strong arms and fast legs to carry you far. You do not have to answerimmediately but you will now be taking an oath that you will not share this information with anyone that was not present here today. It will be a magical one. We will all drink out of this glass," he said as he showed them a small glass cauldron.
"It is a potion that ties us all to the oath. Should you speak about this in the presence of another, even if you are unaware that they are listening, all they will be able to hear is jibberish." He took the first sip, assuring them that it was okay to drink and not just a random poison and then he passed it to Harry.
Harry had no hesitation as he gulped down as much as he could, still leaving enough for the others.
When it came to Hermione, she took her napkin and wiped it around the edges, cleaning off the others saliva. There was enough backwash already and she didn't want to add to the grossness. She took a small sip and then passed it to Draco.
He was very cautious of the liquid, looking around to make sure everyone else was fine. He would not be taking any chances now that his life finally made sense. Hesitantly, he downed the last big gulp and slapped the glass on the table.
"Good," Dumbledore said. "Now I'd like you all to take the evening to think about it. Just so you know, the other two students are Neville Longbottom and Ronald Weasley."
"But I thought Ron couldn't afford the trip?" Hermione questioned in annoyance.
"The ministry helps out when it involves the children of one of their own," came his short reply as his stood to leave. "We invited the people we thought could handle it."
"Longbottom?" Draco practically laughed. "You think Longbottom can handle it?"
"Be kind, Mr. Malfoy. Otherwise you shall have bad karma."
"I don't believe in all that karma crap."
"Such a pity…" Dumbledore trailed off as he walked away for the evening.
"I think we should go back to our room," Hermione said with a solemn face as she took Draco's hand. "Good night, Potter," she snapped as they walked off.
A/N…I know. It has been far too long, for myself included. It just takes so much more creativity for this one to come to me. I just don't think I have it in me to do all this.
I decided that instead of studying for my midterms, I would finish this chapter up. I was three fourths of the way done so I just closed it up with the way I thought it would end. Hope you liked it. Hope you still like my story. Hope you still READ my story. Hope you don't hate me. And finally I hope that you still REVIEW my story because all of your reviews light up my life.
