Chapter 14: Pansy
February 16, 1992
(three weeks ago)
"Gryffindors lost a hundred points, making them the house with the lowest house points," Pansy was grinning across from him, Draco, at the Slytherin table. "I could sing!"
"They were third yesterday," he commented, frowning. "What happened?" He still asked even though he knew the answer.
"Someone told me that Potter and Weasley were caught by Professor McGonagall and Mr Filch last night after curfew. In the Astronomy Tower," Pansy explained with glee.
He raised an eyebrow. "All right… So, Potter and Weasley broke a few house rules again. I still don't understand why you're so happy."
"Ravenclaws' third," Pansy grinned.
"And Hufflepuff's second to us? What's so good about that?" asked Daphne beside Pansy.
"Yeah, Pans," he seconded. "Enlighten us."
Pansy's cheeks blushed. "Well, Hufflepuffs are tolerable. Even Professor Snape could see that. What's not tolerable is the group of crying Ravenclaw girls, cursing Hermione Granger for being studious."
Draco's heartbeat doubled. Has she gone soft on Mione this early? He raised an eyebrow at Pansy.
Pansy gave them an eyeroll. "Come on… They're nice… and they can be charming."
"I knew it!" Daphne almost exclaimed. "You have a crush on Diggory!" she said in a hushed tone. Luckily, there were only a few students at the table because it was Sunday.
Pansy tossed back her long, raven-black hair. "I don't."
Daphne grinned. "I've known you since we were in nappies. I know you better than my own sister."
"Then I feel bad for Tori," Pansy rolled her eyes.
"I grew up with my grandmother," Daphne said in defence.
"No. You grew up with us," said Theo from behind his book.
"And you grew up with books," Daphne said in retort. "Just like Granger."
"Maybe she's your soulmate," Pansy giggled, to their surprise.
He raised an eyebrow at Pansy.
Pansy rolled her eyes once more. "Oh, don't give me that look. Theo's nana is… you know."
"So, you don't hate Granger?" asked Daphne quietly.
"Why would I hate her?" Pansy asked Daphne as if she had just grown a second head.
Daphne shook her head slowly. "No reason."
.
Hermione was hidden in between two elder trees near the lake when Draco arrived. It was a Sunday and still snowing, but she cast warming and notice-me-not charms the moment she arrived on the spot earlier.
"Thanks for the warming charms," Draco sighed when he sat beside her.
She grunted in response.
"Why do you want to meet here? Why not in the Room of Requirement?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Fresh air?" Draco groaned. "Don't be such a baby. You know why."
"It's not my fault you can't keep your hands to yourself," he said smugly.
"Look who's talking," she deadpanned.
"Just when Pansy's being a softie for you…"
She turned to him so fast. "Really?" she asked in awe.
Draco smiled. "She was cheerful this morning, about the Hufflepuffs being second to us."
"The house points…" she surmised. "Glad Harry still thought of sending Norbert to Charlie this time."
Draco frowned as if remembering something. "That's not what Uncle Sev said."
She gave him a questioning look.
"It took almost a week to send the dragon away because… I think Potter didn't think about it this time. He was waiting. Uncle Sev. Then, three days ago, he finally went to visit Hagrid and said that he knew about the dragon. Hagrid didn't ask why. Uncle Sev told Hagrid he better tell Professor Kettleburn about the dragon himself before someone reports him to the board. Professor Kettleburn is still in touch with Charlie Weasley, so he wrote to him and arranged the dragon's transport."
"You're pulling my leg," she gasped.
Draco gave her a serious look and shook his head. "No."
"Then why were Harry and Ron in the Astronomy Tower last night? Why did they lose points?"
Draco shrugged. "Theo was watching the Map last night. I'll have to ask him."
She nodded. "If they were up to no good again… Oh, I don't know," she sighed.
"Hermione Granger isn't there anymore to save their sorry arses," Draco chuckled.
She smirked. "Damn right. The only people I care about now are the five of you… and some of my housemates, of course. Speaking of Pansy…" She gave him a questioning look.
"Yeah. So, we asked her what was so good about Hufflepuffs beating Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. She said Hufflepuffs are tolerable and even Professor Snape knows it. And she talked about you. She could… tolerate your bookishness. I think we're ready to bring her into the fold."
She felt a lump in her throat, but she wasn't about to cry. She was actually very happy. "I miss her. She's the friend I'd never expected."
Draco smiled sincerely and patted her head before dropping a kiss on her temple. "We'll be together again. All of us."
For a few moments, they just enjoyed the picturesque scenery in front of them, the distant sound of students playing outside with snow, and the hooting of the owls in the Owlery.
"Before I forget... Here." She reached inside her coat's pocket and offered him a galleon.
Draco faked an insulted look. "Ouch, Malfoy. Do I look poor to you?"
She raised an eyebrow. "I'm not Malfoy. You are."
"Granger-Malfoy's a mouthful," he scoffed but took the galleon from her offered palm. "When we get married again, I won't let you use the same double surname."
Gosh, he still wants to be married to me. How hot is that? If I weren't trapped in a twelve-year-old's body, only Merlin knows what I could've done, just hearing him say that. "Fine by me," she replied coolly, just to ruffle his feathers. "Hermione Granger it is."
"Hey! What about me?" he protested.
"Oh, I'm sure you can pay the Daily Prophet and other papers again to plaster our marriage announcement everywhere. No witch or wizard wouldn't be aware that I'm yours."
He smirked. "That wasn't me the last time. Theo."
She chuckled, remembering that Theo did it to annoy Lucius and his father, Nott Sr, who were sitting in their Azkaban cells. And Draco agreed to it to rub it on Harry's and Ron's faces.
Draco laughed as well and tucked a curl behind her hair with his free hand. "So, that's this galleon for?"
"Fake galleon. For communication. I'm sure you remember how you took a leaf out of my book in the sixth year."
"Great. I'll just carry a galleon all the time. D'you want me to put it inside my pants?" he snorted.
"I'm sorry, I don't have a ring."
In their past life, they used their wedding bands and Patronuses to communicate in the wizarding world. In the Muggle world, they had cell phones. All of them including Pansy, Daphne, Theo, and Blaise. Blaise especially needed it to communicate with Mary Magdalene (a.k.a. Maggie).
Draco turned to her with a fond look and cupped her cheek. "I'm going to brew Wolfsbane and other potions in a few days. Uncle Sev is going to help me earn money. He's secured a partnership with a potions store in Diagon Alley."
"Isn't he going to be in trouble for being a teacher and being a businessman at the same time?" she asked.
Draco shook his head. "The British wizarding society needs potions masters like him. There aren't many. And it's not like he's going to advertise it to his students. His business partner agreed to keep things private, so the public won't be aware."
"And in reality, it's you who's going to brew potions and earn the money," she surmised.
Draco smiled lovingly and planted a kiss on her nose. "I'm gonna buy you a ring and we're going to buy that house again."
"Thank you, Draco. I don't need material things. I only need you, my parents, and our friends."
"I know," he breathed close to her lips. "But a woman who doesn't ask for anything deserves everything."
.
"Professor Kettleburn was the one who handed the dragon to a couple of people. Unfamiliar names," Theo told them an hour later when Hermione and Draco found him in the library with Daphne. Hermione went straight to the Ancient Runes section, hidden behind a bookshelf, then Draco arrived minutes later with Theo and Daph.
"Why were Potter and Weasley there?" she frowned.
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Maybe Hagrid told them about the plan, and they wanted to see the dragon go. You know those two… They couldn't just keep their noses to where they don't belong."
"Daph's right," Draco said, looking at the Map lying on the floor in front of them. "Look at Pansy!"
They all buried their noses in the Map. They all saw Pansy Parkinson's name. She was in the first-floor corridor. She was talking to someone.
"Oh, my God!" she gasped. "Cedric…"
.
March 14, 1999
(Hermione and Draco's past)
It was Delphini's first birthday.
Hermione woke up to babies' squeals and house-elves voices… and to an arm wrapped around her from behind. She turned to face Draco with a smile. "I love waking up next to you," she admitted.
Draco gave her an emotional look and touched her cheek. "I know we haven't talked about the future… but… Here, waking up with you in my arms, with those beautiful giggles and voices… I can't help but imagine you and me building a family."
She didn't feel uncomfortable or scared of what Draco said. They had just been together for less than two months, but the fact that he had been in love with her for a long time made her sure of him. She was sure, no other man could love her like Draco, and she wanted him. She wanted him by her side. She wanted to love him, too, for the rest of their lives.
She moved forward and nuzzled her neck. "I want that, too, Draco. I want that with you."
She pulled away from his neck to kiss him. They kissed languidly. Even after many weeks of Draco's kisses, his kisses could still make Hermione's toes curl and do a lot of things more to her body.
"As much as I want to stay in bed longer with you, I promised Aunt Dromeda I'll help her today," Draco said.
"Oh, Merlin! I'm going to meet her today! As your girlfriend!"
.
February 22, 1992
(three weeks ago)
"Am I still asleep and dreaming? Hermione Granger is still in the Hufflepuff common room…"
Hermione looked up from the book she was reading at a table by the window. Justin was smirking at her, teasing her. It was a Saturday. Most Hufflepuffs still wake up early on weekends and study either in the library, the courtyard, or the common room. Upper-class students also tutor the young ones. She was a bit surprised when she learned there were different study groups, especially for Potions and D.A.D.A.
Being the loner she was, and because her heart was with Draco, she preferred studying alone. Sure, she would interact with her classmates and other housemates, and they were friendly toward each other, but she didn't really spend time with them. Today, she decided to stay in the common room and let Draco concentrate on brewing. He started brewing potions for business two nights ago, in Professor Snape's private laboratory. The first-ever potion he worked on was Wolfsbane.
"Hey, sorry. I haven't been a good companion," she turned to Justin with an apologetic look.
Justin sat across from her and smiled. "No problem. We all know you like being alone. But you don't mind me studying here with you?"
"Be my guest," she smiled sincerely and returned some of her books to her bag so Justin could have more space. They worked in silence. From time to time, they would compare notes and recall what their professors discussed in class. A little while later, Cedric Diggory came to their table, wearing his charming, yet polite smile.
"Hey, Hermione, Justin… Do you take notes in History of Magic? I just need to read something that happened during the goblin rebellion for my Muggle Studies class."
"I don't think you would understand my handwriting, Ced, sorry," Justin said, a little embarrassed.
"It's alright," Cedric assured him before turning to her.
"My handwriting is too small," she replied timidly. "But you know what? Maybe you can borrow Pansy Parkinson's notes. I heard from Theo Nott that she likes history, and he wouldn't survive this year without her notes."
Cedric perked up. "Really? Brilliant! Thanks, Hermione!"
.
March 14, 1999
(Hermione and Draco's past)
Hermione helped Daphne and Pansy decorate late Mrs Nott's sunroom for Delphi's first birthday. It was just the nine of them: the six friends plus Delphi, Teddy, and Mrs Tonks. As much as possible, Mrs Tonks kept Delphi away from the public eye, although some hospital and ministry workers knew about her.
"The cake is gorgeous!" she gasped when she saw Pansy carrying a tiered cake with her wand and placing it on the big table. It had three purple layers, and on the side was a blue and pink baby dragon climbing to the top tier.
"I know!" Pansy grinned. "And it's as delicious as it looks, I'm sure of it!"
"I bet Teddy's cake will be as gorgeous as that!"
"Yes, of course," Pansy said happily. "I already had it planned. Teddy's cake would be red and yellow to honour his parents' houses."
"So, who made it?" she asked curiously.
Pansy turned to her with a smile, but not a happy one. It was more of a sad smile. "Mrs Diggory."
She stared at her for a moment, trying to remember who Mrs Diggory was.
"Ced's mum," Pansy explained.
"Oh, I didn't know you were close," she muttered.
Pansy gave her a friendly smile. "Soon, Hermione. Soon, I'll tell you about my wonderful memories with Cedric. Let's just enjoy this party for now. And maybe, if you get me drunk tonight, I'd tell you everything."
She laughed and patted Pansy's arm before getting back to work.
"There she is; the love of my life."
Hermione turned her head in the direction of Draco's voice. She found him in the doorway to the sunroom, a woman that could pass Bellatrix Lestrange's twin sister was beside him. But of course, Andromeda Tonks would be the angelic twin, making Bellatrix the evil one.
"That's my girlfriend, Aunt Dromeda. The Great Hermione Granger."
Of course, she already met Mrs Tonks, at the funeral of Nymphadora and Remus Lupin. Draco wasn't there because he was detained before waiting for his trial.
"Mrs Tonks," she greeted the woman politely.
Andromeda walked towards her and reached for her hand. "It's good to see you again, Miss Granger."
"Hermione, please.
"Hermione. Call me Andromeda."
But before she could respond, she was already enveloped in a hug.
"Thank you for making our Draco happy," she whispered. "And for accepting Delphini."
"It's hard not to love the two dragons," she chuckled.
.
March 1, 1992
(one week ago)
Hermione got a message from Draco after dinner through the galleon, asking her to come to the Room of Requirement. He said he had good news, and she couldn't help but feel excited. To her surprise, the room turned out to be the Slytherin common room. She hadn't been to the Slytherin house, but with just one look at it, she knew. She recognized it from the photos of Pansy and Daphne in the past.
She found Draco by the fireplace, and he wasn't alone.
He was with Pansy.
Her heart skipped a beat.
And when Pansy turned in her direction with a sheepish smile, Hermione felt like her there was a lump in her throat.
"Hello, Hermione," Pansy greeted in a small voice.
"Hi!" she greeted back with a sincere smile.
Draco was watching them with amusement.
"I found out that Drake, Daph, and Theo hang out with you. So, I asked them if they could help me meet you up," Pansy said as she walked towards Hermione. She stopped two feet away from her, still looking shy. "I just wanted to thank you for… Uhm… What you said to Cedric about me."
"Oh, that…" She smiled. "It was nothing."
"Still, thank you. And… they all said, including Ced, that you're nice. So… I hope we could hang out, too."
She beamed. "I would love that, Pansy."
.
February 29, 1992
(eight days ago)
Severus Snape should be babysitting third to seventh-year students today at Hogsmeade. However, he was running low on some potions ingredients he couldn't order by mail because they were fragile. Therefore, he informed the headmaster that he needed to be in Diagon Alley, making orders.
But in reality, he was an errand boy of Draco Malfoy.
If only he weren't my godson. If only he was not that special like Miss Granger, he thought with a shake of his head.
He had a couple of things to do today:
One, bring the different potions Draco brewed perfectly to Fawley's Potions, a shop in Diagon Alley where you could find healing and other kinds of potions. He had secured a secret partnership with the owner himself, Hector Fawley. They went to Hogwarts together and became secret friends. Hector was a Hufflepuff, much like Miss Granger. He was one of the few people in his year he could tolerate.
Hector was a good friend. When Severus came to his shop after the Dark Lord's defeat and his trial, Hector welcomed him with open arms. No questions asked. No accusations. But their friendship remained a secret. Severus didn't want to put his friend in a compromising position.
His friendship with Hector also made it easy to help Draco earn money for his future.
Once done with his business in Diagon Alley and expressed his thanks to Hector, Severus left to fulfil his second and third tasks for Draco.
Time for the second errand. He Apparated in front of a modest cottage in a secluded village in Exeter. The house was painted yellow, but the gates were green. It looked like a normal Muggle house. There was even a doorbell at the gate. He pressed it just once and waited.
The door gently opened, and a woman stood there, looking at him with a surprised (but not unwelcome) look.
And Andromeda Tonks walked towards the gate and pointed her wand at him. "The last time Severus Snape set foot in my home."
"April 7th, 1988," he replied and drew his wand as well. "How many hours did I brew the potion for Ted Tonks that day?"
"Sixteen hours, fifty-one minutes."
They dropped their wands and Andromeda opened the gate to let him in.
"Severus, what a pleasant surprise," she smiled.
"It's good to see you, Andy," he nodded with a small smile he rarely gave to anyone. "I regret to say this is not a social visit. I came here to ask you two favours."
.
March 2, 1992
(six days ago)
Hermione was feeling very happy. She was lying on her stomach on the rug by the fireplace, and she was surrounded by her friends. Draco was reading a book on Potions beside her, his head resting on her back, using her as a pillow. Pansy was doing her History of Magic essay at the desk behind Hermione. Daphne and Theo were snuggled together on the couch, looking at the map.
Only Blaise was missing. She hoped by their third year, he could join them.
"Oh, my… Pans!" squealed Daphne, breaking the silence. "Look! Cedric Diggory is in the dungeons, outside the Slytherin common room!"
Pansy jumped from her seat and approached Daphne. Pansy tugged Theo away from their blond friend. "Where, where?"
"There, look! He's pacing back and forth!" Daphne squealed again.
"Do you think he's looking for me?" asked Pansy, her cheeks blushing.
"Show yourself and pretend you didn't know he was there. Don't be too obvious. Let him chase you," quipped Draco.
Pansy turned to her, silently asking. Hermione nodded. "I think that would be a good idea. It'll put a good impression on your parents if he would... chase you, as Draco said. You really like him?" she grinned.
Pansy smiled shyly. "Of course." Then, she was on her feet. "I think I'll go down and see if he's really looking for me.
"Don't be too obvious!" Draco and Theo yelled together.
Pansy turned to them. "Yes, daddies!"
.
March 14, 1999
(Hermione and Draco's past)
After the two infants were home at Andromeda's, the six of them remained at the manor. The wizards went to the other parlour to play poker, while she, Daphne, and Pansy remained in the sunroom. Her dark-haired friend took a swig of elf-made wine, then sat beside her on the couch and placed her thighs over Hermione's lap. Daphne enjoyed her cake opposite them.
"I'm ready to tell you, Hermione," Pansy began.
"Yeah?" she smiled and patted her friend's thigh on her lap. "So, tell me how it started with you and Cedric."
.
December 25, 1994
(Pansy's past)
Pansy exited the Great Hall and made her way to the dungeons, leaving Draco pine for Hermione Granger. She wasn't jealous. Not at all. After all, Draco was like her brother, and they had already accepted the fact that he was in love with someone he could never have.
Poor Draco. She shook her head. This is why I don't waste my time on Muggle-born or half-blood wizards. There's no point getting to know them. It's a waste of time.
Besides, there was only one wizard her heart was yearning for. A wizard from another house, but a pureblood. Someone she could fight for against her parents… If ever there's a chance for him and me.
"Retiring to bed early?" came a beautiful male voice she would recognize everywhere.
Pansy couldn't help but smile at the wizard blocking the stairs to the basement. He looked so handsome in his white and black attire. His brown hair was a bit messy, and she felt a pang of jealousy at the image of some witch running their hands in his hair.
She and Cedric Diggory had been very friendly toward each other since her first year. They found each other three years ago in the History of Magic section of the library. He was surprised to see a first-year studying the subject seriously. When she teased him about taking History of Magic seriously, Cedric was quick to explain that he wanted a job at the ministry, and he was open to trying any department that would welcome him.
When he needed to know something about Morgana Le Fey, the goblin rebellion, or the Four Founders of Hogwarts, she happily told him about them.
"Where's your date?" asked Cedric again, pulling her from her musings.
She smirked. "I could ask you the same. Chang left you?"
Cedric sat on the stairs and patted the space beside him. She carefully sat close to him. Their knees and shoulders were touching.
"So, what's up?" she asked.
"Where's Malfoy? Why did he leave such a beautiful girl like you?" he whispered, eyes on her.
"Where's Chang? Why did he leave a handsome wizard like you?" she teased back.
"You think I'm handsome?" he asked, cheeks blushing.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "They call you Pretty Boy Diggory. Don't you know?"
"She's pining after someone else." Cedric shrugged. "Why did you go with Malfoy? I was about to ask you to be my date, you know. Malfoy just beat me to it."
She snorted, but deep inside, her belly was fluttering, and her heartbeat doubled. She had to grip the skirt of her lace dress to stop herself from touching him.
Let him chase you. She remembered what Draco said.
"That wouldn't sit well with Potter. He might refuse to help you again if you associate yourself with a Slytherin like me," she teased.
To her surprise, Cedric scowled. "There's nothing bad in being a Slytherin, and they don't know you as I do."
She was silent for a while, just resting her hands on her lap, caressing her lace skirt with her thumbs, looking down.
"Draco asked me as a friend because he couldn't have the witch he wanted to ask," she whispered. "And… I heard some Ravenclaws that you were planning to ask Chang," she admitted, still not meeting his eyes.
"Some of my classmates thought it would be a good idea, but I wanted you to be my date. I was about to ask you, but then you already told me you were going with Malfoy."
"Because I heard the Ravenclaw girls," she explained. She looked up at him. "So, I was your first option? As a friend?"
Cedric's beautiful face was marred with a pained expression. He reached for her face, holding her chin gently so she could look directly into his eyes. Then, without a word, he kissed her.
.
March 14, 1999
(Hermione and Draco's past)
"It wasn't intentional, mainly because their friends set the two of them up," Pansy said against her shoulder, a bottle of wine in one hand. "But when he was dancing with Chang that night, all he could think about was me. Same long, black hair and fringe. I was one lucky girl… My dream wizard wanted me… Kissed me."
Pansy paused, breathing heavily against Hermione's shoulder. She patted Pansy's free hand. "So, you were in a relationship with him for months?" she asked quietly.
Daphne was watching them silently, but she had also a pained look on her beautiful face.
"Yes," Pansy whispered back. "Six months. He was taken away from me a day before our sixth monthiversary. I blamed Potter; you know… Ced's mum told me what happened. I blamed Potter because Ced asked him to take the Cup. But Saint Potter played hero. He wanted to show everyone he was good; that he shared his eternal glory with Ced."
"I'm sorry, Pans…"
"You have the same birthday. I always visit his grave, you know… Every year. I love him. 'Mione. He's all that I ever wanted."
Hermione's heart was bleeding for her friend. If Draco spent six years watching the witch he loved from afar, thinking there was no chance for them, Pansy grieved. She grieved for a loved one that was never coming back.
"If only we could turn back in time, Pans…" She sighed.
.
June 2004
(the past)
"Bad wizard! Bad, bad, bad!" Tenny chanted, glaring at the wizard in Auror robes. The one who defeated the Dark Lord but hurt his master and mistress. Tenny watched Gus crying over the unconscious bodies of their master and mistress on the floor.
Before Harry Potter could recover from the shock and say something, there were faint pops of Apparition directly inside the house. Tenny's eyes widened.
"Missy Pansy! Missy Daphne! Master Theo! Master Blaise! Bad Wizard hurt Mistress and Master!" she wailed.
Two witches and two wizards drew their wands and pointed them at Harry Potter, who was still in shock and didn't even bother to defend himself.
"What have you done, Potter?!"
Tenny had never seen Missy Pansy angry like that.
Master Blaise grabbed Harry Potter by the collar, looking like he was ready to murder him.
The bad wizard deserves Missy Pansy and Master Blaise's anger, she thought.
Master Theo and Missy Daphne knelt in front of Master Draco and Missy Hermy, checking them for pulses. Tenny knew they were still breathing.
She could still feel their magic. Weak, but it was still there. All over the house.
Tenny loved Master Draco. She helped raise him. He was a good wizard. He fell in love with Missy Hermy, a kind and loving witch. They had been married for a couple of years now, and Missy Hermy had told Tenny recently she wanted to have a baby this year. Missy Hermy said she wanted to try and that tonight, she was going to tell Master Draco.
But Bad Wizard came and made Missy Hermy very angry!
Tenny and Gus had been wanting to hold little Granger-Malfoy babies. Tenny and Gus wanted little babies around the house and serve them like they served Missy Hermy and Master Draco. Now that their magic was weak and they were unconscious, Tenny worried they would never wake up.
"Keep the time-turner, Theo," Missy Daphne whispered, but Tenny and Gus could hear them. It was part of the abilities as caretakers of the house. "Keep it somewhere safe. We have to know later where they went."
"Call the Aurors, Daph," said Master Blaise who already cast a spell to keep Harry Potter's hands tied. "The Boy Who Lived is going to pay for what they did to our family."
.
March 8, 1992
(present time)
"You look so happy," she said in a manner of greeting when Draco found her in the Room of Requirement, reading a book on Animagus on the rug by the fireplace. The room looked like a library.
Draco sat beside her. "They found Remus."
That made her sit properly and close the book. Draco had her full attention now. "That's great!" she said excitedly. "Where? How did you know?"
"Aunt Dromeda wrote to me. Sorry, she said I had to burn the letter as soon as I'm done reading it," he said apologetically.
She squeezed his hand. "No worries, love," she assured him. "So, what else did she say?"
"It was Dora who found Remus. You know, with her Auror skills and all. She tracked him in a bar in Plymouth where he was working."
"Damn, that's far."
"It's not that far if you're a witch or a wizard," Draco pretended to mock her, causing her to pinch his side.
"Prat! So, what else?"
"Aunt Dromeda didn't mention it in detail, but she said Dora used her charm to befriend him."
She giggled, remembering a conversation with Tonks in the past about her crush on Remus when she went to her and Ginny's room in Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Tonks even joked about sneaking into Remus's room to sleep with him, but Hermione and Ginny bet the young Auror didn't have the guts to do it. But she said: "I'm a half-blood Black, did you forget? I might have some craziness in me ."
But Tonks left the room, Hermione and Ginny saying loudly she couldn't do it.
"She can be persuasive," she grinned.
"I heard," Draco grinned back. "Anyway, they became friends and Tonks confessed that she knew about his condition. She said someone from Hogwarts told her about it and asked for her help because they wanted to help him and supply him with Wolfsbane. He was reluctant. He declined at first, but you know her. She wouldn't take no for an answer."
"And I'm sure Remus didn't have the will to say refuse her. He'd been in love with her since the first time they met."
"How did you know?" he asked.
"He told me after they got married… on our way to collect Harry in 1997."
"Bet you can't wait to meet him again," Draco grinned.
She sighed. "I may not get to meet him again. We've changed a lot."
"Yeah, true. But you'll meet him sooner than expected."
She frowned and gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
Draco grinned from ear to ear. "Aunt Dromeda's inviting us to their house for the Easter break."
She wanted to ask how it was going to work. They decided to stay in the castle during the Easter break, so Draco could brew more potions and avoid his parents. But if they left the castle, his parents might know about it.
But before she could ask, Theo and Daphne entered the room and were running in their direction.
"What's the matter?"
Theo and Daph sat opposite them and laid the map in front of them on the floor.
"Look at this!" Daphne pointed at the Headmaster's Office on the map. There were a few names.
"Minister Fudge is here?" Draco muttered.
"And look at that. Kingsley. Kingsley Shacklebolt…" she quickly corrected herself.
"My cousin said he taught Defence for a year," Draco informed Daphne and Theo, to simply explain why Hermione was familiar with the Auror's name.
"Look, they're holding Professor Quirrell," Theo said.
Indeed, two Aurors whose names were familiar to Hermione were sandwiching Professor Quirrell.
"What's going on?" she muttered.
"There are people surrounding the castle," Draco pointed at the Great Hall and the stairs to the basement and dungeons.
Hermione noticed that Professor McGonagall and her head of the house, Professor Sprout, were talking to Moody. Her heart was almost clenched. Moody died fighting. His body was never found.
"Your cousin mentioned Alastor Moody," she said to Draco. "Why are there Aurors in the castle?"
"Looks like they're fighting!" Theo exclaimed, pointing at the Headmaster's Office.
The two Aurors beside Quirrell moved away from him, and Quirrell was moving towards Fudge and Dumbledore. But then, after a few seconds, they were all steady. Two Aurors approached Quirrell again and they walked with him.
"They're dragging Professor Quirrell!" Daphne almost shrieked. "They're arresting him."
"What's just happened?" Theo asked, astounded.
Hermione and Draco exchanged anxious looks but didn't say anything.