Chapter Seventeen

Return to Hogwarts

The entire platform was surrounded by the distinctive white smoke of the Hogwarts Express. The new first years were shouting at each other, excited to begin their studies at the prestigious Scottish school.

Ginny, on the other hand, had a grim face and her arms were folded as her mother hugged her one last time. She had tried all summer, but she hadn't been able to get her parents to let her skip her final year at Hogwarts.

Ron, Harry and Hermione weren't coming back, and they hadn't finished studying either. It wasn't fair. They should all go together or, better yet, Ginny should stay and look for a job in the wizarding world.

After many talks with Harry and Hermione on the subject, she had decided that she wanted to become a professional Quidditch player.

And she didn't need another bloody year of school for that.

Molly Weasley sighed, stepping back and letting go of her daughter.

"You're impossible, Ginny. This is the best for you."

She narrowed her brown eyes, glancing sideways at the golden trio.

"You're not forcing them to go back!"

Ron rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

Harry and Hermione tried not to smile. For the past two weeks, Ginny hadn't stopped complaining about the same thing.

And, if anyone was more stubborn than her... it was her mother.

"I'm not going to argue with you anymore. You're going to Hogwarts and you'll finish your final year. You can do whatever you want in summer," Molly said with her hands on her hips, giving her a warning look.

Ginny glanced sideways at her father, who shrugged.

"Your mother is right."

She rolled her eyes, snorting reluctantly. Her parents smiled one last time and walked away to the other side of the platform, giving her room to say goodbye to her friends and boyfriend.

Ginny threw herself at Harry and he wrapped his arms around her. Ron cleared his throat, averting his gaze.

"You're coming to Hogsmeade, aren't you?" she asked, looking up.

Harry nodded.

"I'll be there every weekend they let you go out."

Ginny smiled, lifting her chin until their lips brushed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her tighter against his body, kissing her back.

Ron grunted something under his breath and Hermione grinned, nudging him.

"Stop complaining. They can finally be together and they love each other," she murmured, pointing her gaze at the couple.

Ron wrinkled his nose.

"Yeah, but I don't need to see it. She's still my little sister."

Ginny pulled away from Harry, still holding his hand.

"Will you write to me, Hermione?"

"Every day," she assured her with a nod.

Ginny's smile widened and she looked back up at Harry.

"And you?"

He twisted his lips.

"No."

Ginny opened her mouth, probably to curse his entire existence, but Harry stopped her with a gesture. He pulled a small, rectangular box out of his pocket and held it out to her.

"Hermione helped me charm it. I have another one just like it on my bedside table."

His girlfriend frowned quizzically. She took the packet and opened it, gasping at the thing inside.

"Is it what I think it is?"

"It works just like... like the one Sirius gave me," Harry replied in a whisper, clenching his jaw as he stared down at the mirror Ginny held in her hand.

Hermione took a few steps towards her friend and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. She knew Harry still felt guilty about it.

"Can we talk every night?" Ginny asked, staring at the silver-rimmed mirror with fascination.

Harry couldn't help but smile.

"All you have to do is say my name and it will connect with mine."

Ginny smiled again, wrapping them both in a hug.

"Thank you so much. I won't feel so lonely there without you guys anymore."

Hermione and Harry hugged her back.

"We'll see each other most weekends, Ginny. Don't worry," she said, stepping back and taking her best friend's hand.

"I hope so. You should come to visit me, too."

"I will," Hermione promised with a nod.

Ginny's eyes fell on her brother.

"And you too, Ron."

He nodded, giving her a small smile.

The four of them heard the train whistle. It was already eleven in the morning.

Ginny kissed Harry again and ran to one of the train carriages.

"See you soon."

He let out a long sigh.

"I'm going to miss her."

"I know," Hermione replied, resting her head on his shoulder.

Ron stood beside them, watching the gleaming Hogwarts Express as it pulled out of the station with dozens of children leaning out of the window and waving goodbye to their families.

"She, Luna and Neville are the only ones who have agreed to go back," he commented quietly.

"Draco says Gregory Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode are going back too, but I haven't seen them around," Hermione muttered, scanning the platform with her gaze.

Ron snorted.

"Why didn't the ferret come with you? I thought he might want to join you."

Hermione shot him a hateful glare and spun on her heel, walking over to where Mrs Weasley was standing.

"He's gone to have breakfast with his mother. Besides, he didn't want to attract attention and the reporters wouldn't have left him alone," she said, pointing with her gaze to the three reporters who were trying to hide in the crowd with their cameras in hand.

Harry clicked his tongue.

"I don't understand what's so interesting about this."

"They want to know where the saviour of our world is at all times," Hermione replied mockingly.

Harry snorted in annoyance.

"Shut up."

"At least they don't come around asking us for interviews anymore," Ron said, twisting his lips.

"After four months of insisting, they should know by now that they're not going to get anything."

Hermione and Ron nodded at their friend's words. The three of them said goodbye to Arthur and Molly and walked together through the barrier that separated Platform 9 and 3/4 from King Cross, walking through the Muggles with distracted expressions.

"I've got something to do. I'll see you at home," Harry added, losing himself in the crowd.

Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance.

"Since when does he have secrets?"

"Harry? Since forever," Hermione replied, chuckling softly.

The two walked out of the station and turned right.

"Do you want to join us for lunch?"

"That's what I was going to do," Ron said, giving her a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes, letting out a snort.

"I hope there's enough food for you," she mumbled.

Ron arched an eyebrow and she smiled, shaking her head.

"I'll never understand why you and Harry need to eat so much."

"We need to feed our muscles," he replied, flexing one of his arms as he wiggled his eyebrows.

She burst out laughing.

"Yes, sure."

The nearest apparition point was quite far away, so they both turned into an alleyway and Hermione cast the Muggle-repelling charm. The people walking down the nearest street turned around, suddenly remembering something they had forgotten to do.

Ron cleared his throat.

"How's it going with Malfoy?"

Hermione stared up at him in surprise. Ever since they had started dating, Ron had avoided talking about it. He still wasn't happy that his best friend was dating a former Death Eater.

"Very well. Why do you ask?"

He averted his eyes uncomfortably, which made her feel even stranger.

"What's wrong, Ron?"

"You see, I... I have a date this weekend."

Hermione smiled, grabbing her friend by the shoulders.

"That's great, Ron. With who?"

His blue eyes returned to her.

"Padma."

Hermione blinked several times, trying to hide her surprise.

"Padma? But you haven't spoken to her since..."

"Since the fourth year ball. Yeah, I know. I was stupid with her because I was jealous of you and Krum, and I never apologised. Now that she works at the Ministry we meet a lot, and a few weeks ago we started talking... I apologised for all that and she said it was just kids' stuff and that it was all forgotten. On Friday I asked her out on a date and she accepted. I really like her, Hermione."

She ran a hand through his red locks of hair, tousling them as she laughed.

"I'm happy for you, Ron. I really am."

"I was a jerk to you, too," he added in a whisper.

Hermione waved a hand, playing it down.

"It's all in the past. You've always looked out for me and you're one of my best friends, Ron, and I hope you will be for a long time to come."

Ron smiled again, offering her one of his arms.

"That will never change."

He looked both ways, making sure no one was around, and the two disapparated with a crack. They reappeared a few seconds later outside the door of number 12 Grimmauld Place.

"By the way, speaking of Viktor... I got a letter yesterday. He's accepted the invitation to my birthday party," Hermione commented as she unlocked the door with her key.

Ron's eyes widened.

"Blimey, Hermione. Your party's going to be full of famous people."

She snorted, rolling her eyes. The two of them walked through the door and Ron closed it, walking down the corridor with her.

"We're famous too if you put it that way. I haven't seen Viktor since your brother's wedding and I'm really looking forward to it. He says another Quidditch team has made him an offer."

Ron gasped in surprise.

"Which one?"

"No idea. He'll tell us at the party, but I suspect it's some British team," she murmured, smiling at him.

"So Krum's moving to England?"

"Maybe."

Hermione felt something strange as she approached the staircase and she looked up to find grey eyes on her.

Draco stood at the top of the steps, watching her with the coldest stare she had ever seen. She held her breath, stepping back without realising it.

Ron grabbed one of her arms so she wouldn't bump into him, though he released her immediately and glanced sideways at the blond.

"Sorry, Malfoy."

He walked down the stairs, his gaze still fixed on Hermione.

"I only feel pain if you touch her skin."

She swallowed nervously.

"Hello, Draco. I didn't know you were back."

Draco stopped beside her and Hermione had to lift her chin to look him in the eye.

"I'm leaving. I don't want to disturb you."

He looked away and walked past her, heading towards the fireplace.

"Aren't you going to eat with us?" Hermione asked, turning to look at him.

He was picking up a handful of Floo powder.

"I'd rather go back to my house."

She was about to answer but the roar of the flames drowned out her voice. She glanced at Ron, frowning as she saw that he was holding back laughter.

"What's so funny?"

Ron chuckled, still staring at the fireplace.

"The ferret is jealous."

Her brow furrowed even more.

"Of you? Impossible, he knows you and Harry are like part of my family."

Ron shook his head, laughing harder.

"Hermione... you were talking about Krum and how much you want to see him. I'm sure Malfoy remembers seeing you two walking around the castle hand in hand with him kissing your knuckles every five seconds."

She nudged him, annoyed.

"He didn't kiss my knuckles that much. Besides, it's been four years now."

"So what? Krum was still looking at you the same way at Bill's wedding."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is."

Hermione snorted, wrinkling her nose.

"Do you really think he's jealous?"

Ron rolled his eyes, dragging her into the kitchen.

"He's not your boyfriend yet, is he? You two are not officially together and he's heard you talking very fondly about the first and only boy you've ever been in a relationship with..."

"That was not a relationship," she protested with a grunt.

"How would you feel if it were the other way around?"

He waved his wand and plates, cutlery and glasses for all three of them flew to the table.

Hermione thought carefully as she pulled a huge lasagne out of the fridge and put it in the oven.

An image of Draco kissing Daphne in one of the corridors on the fifth floor of Hogwarts invaded her mind. She remembered seeing them together several times while patrolling the castle with the rest of the prefects.

Even though he was a prefect himself, he hadn't fulfilled his duties that year. Hermione spent the year putting up with her classmates' complaints and listening to Harry's suspicions.

By the end of the year, everyone understood why Draco Malfoy had had no interest in being a prefect. He was too busy following Voldemort's orders and trying to save his family.

But he had time to snog Daphne in every corner of the castle.

Hermione pursed her lips. If she found out that she and Draco were exchanging letters, and he told her that he was looking forward to seeing her again...

Yes, she might feel a little jealous. But just a little bit.

Ron was leaning his hip on the table as he bit into an apple, waving his hand absently. Hermione blinked, surprised to realise that she hadn't heard anything her friend was saying.

"... I can admit it, I used to get really jealous of Krum too. I understand Malfoy, plus you haven't invited him to your party yet and now he knows that Krum is going, but..."

Hermione gasped, holding a hand to her mouth.

"It's true, I haven't told him about my birthday. But we've talked about it in front of him and he should know he's invited."

Ron arched one of his eyebrows, taking another bite.

"He's a very traditional pureblood, Hermione. I'm sure he's used to getting an invitation in cases like this."

Hermione groaned, plopping down in one of the chairs.

"I need to talk to him."

They both heard the oven beep and Ron waved his wand, levitating the lasagne onto the table.

"Later. Now it's time to eat."

"But Harry..."

"Are you talking about me? I'm back," he announced, entering the kitchen.

Hermione sighed.

"Yes, we've been waiting for you."

Harry sat down across from her, grinning at the huge lasagne Ron was cutting into pieces.

"Ginny and I made it together this weekend. I hope it tastes good."

After tasting it Hermione stared at Harry, her eyes wide and surprised.

"It's really good! What did you put in it this time?"

Harry made a face, chewing and swallowing before answering.

Hermione gave him a grateful smile. Ron was never like that.

"Malfoy saw us and came over and said we weren't making it properly. He gave us a new recipe, that's how it's made in Italy."

"I didn't know he could cook," Hermione commented quietly, taking a sip of water.

"Apparently, two of the elves who live at Malfoy Manor are descendants of Italian elves who served them while they lived there, and Malfoy used to sneak into the kitchen as a child. They taught him all the recipes they know."

Hermione wrinkled her nose when she heard about elf slavery. She knew the Malfoys had freed theirs months ago, but others hadn't been so lucky. If she could get the new law passed, it wouldn't just help Draco. The elves would also have a new life, they would no longer be owned by families and would be entitled to a living wage and holidays.

"You should ask him to cook for you one of these days," Harry added, grinning and raising his brow.

"I don't think he wants to. We think he's angry with me."

"We don't 'think' it. He is angry," Ron said, waving his fork in Harry's direction.

His brow furrowed and he looked back at his female friend.

"Why?"

"He heard me talking about Viktor."

Harry nibbled on his lower lip to keep from smiling.

"The poor bastard has become possessive."

"I'm not his," Hermione grunted under her breath.

Harry nodded.

"He can't help it, Hermione. He has trouble controlling his emotions."

"I know," she replied, sighing and poking at the leftover lasagna absently.

"Narcissa says Lucius was the same way, but he calmed down once they completed the bond."

Hermione gasped.

"Did she tell you about the bond?"

"No, that's all she said about it. What does it take to complete it? Do you know?"

"I haven't found anything in the books and Draco won't tell me."

"That means you won't like the answer," Ron opined, wrinkling his nose.

Hermione shook her head, dropping her fork.

"I think he's afraid I'll back out and that's why he doesn't want to tell me anything."

"Are you going to back out?"

Hermione tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, staring into her best friend's green eyes. She could be honest with him.

"I think I'm falling in love with him."

Ron spat his drink on the table, standing up with a start.

"Shit, Hermione. Warn me when you're going to say something like that," he grunted, coughing.

Harry rolled his eyes and waved his wand, levitating a handkerchief towards him. Ron used it to wipe himself, still mumbling under his breath.

Harry and Hermione ignored him.

"Are you sure?"

"No, Harry. I've never been in love."

He crossed both arms on the table and his gaze wandered off into the distance.

"When you fall in love... you spend all day thinking about that person, wishing you could see them again. And when you're finally together, all the problems disappear. Your heart races if she glances at you or smiles in your direction, even when you pass her by accident or see her from afar. You feel that there is no one better than her, that you can never love another person as much as you love her. She is perfect for you and you don't need anyone else. Just having her by your side for the rest of your life is more than enough."

Ron and Hermione were staring at him open-mouthed.

"Mate, that was a nice speech."

"Is that how you feel about Ginny?"

Harry nodded with a big grin on his face and his cheeks a little flushed.

"Maybe... maybe I'm starting to feel something like that. But the feeling is not that strong yet."

"You two have only been on two dates. It's still too early to tell," Harry said, shrugging one of his shoulders.

"Yes, but when we started spending time together my feelings for him started as well," Hermione admitted in a whisper.

Harry looked at her thoughtfully, making her blush.

"I should go talk to him," she added, getting up and levitating the three plates to the sink.

"You could invite his mother too, Hermione. Mine will be there, and you know they're getting on very well now," Ron said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"It's more than that. They're friends," Harry mumbled, a smile on his face.

Hermione nodded.

"That's a good idea. I'll be back in a bit."

After saying goodbye to her two friends, she walked over to the fireplace and threw a handful of powder on the fire, stepping inside as the flames turned green.

"Malfoy Manor."

Hermione closed her eyes and took a step forward when she felt she had arrived, shaking her clothes before stepping out.

When she opened them again, she felt completely frozen.

She wasn't in the hall of the manor. She was in Draco's room.

Why had she appeared there? Was it because she had been thinking about him and wanted to find him?

She glanced at the bathroom door as she heard the sound of running water. It seemed that Draco was taking a shower inside.

Hermione wrung her hands nervously, hesitating between leaving the room or waiting for him there.

Would he be angry if he saw that she had gone in without asking permission?

Her eyes widened further when she saw his dark suit on the bed. She approached it with slow steps, glancing over her shoulder to make sure he was still in the bathroom.

She sat on the edge of the bed and touched the right side of his jacket, where a bulge was visible.

Hermione chewed on her lower lip, hesitating. It wasn't a good idea, but...

Shaking her head, she opened the jacket and pulled out what was in the inside pocket, looking down at the cover of the small silver book with interest.

She opened it and read the first page.

Diario di Giorgio Malfoy.

Hermione gasped, clutching the book tighter and hearing the deafening pounding of her heart in her ears.

It was the diary of his Veela ancestor.