Chapter Six
For the first time during the summer holidays Hermione had friends. Friends she could write to. It was their first week away from Hogwarts and already, Draco had written to her. After spending the day at the museum with her parents, Hermione came home to an owl sitting on the balcony off her room.
She strode over to her window and let the tawny creature inside. It fluttered over to her desk and held out its leg to her. She carefully unwrapped the letter and read it to herself.
Hermione,
It's only been a few days and I'm ready to go back to Hogwarts. Father has had some of his acquaintances over the last few days and I'm always stuck entertaining their children.
Crabbe and Goyle were here one night, with a few others and we played Quidditch in the gardens. They are absolute rubbish to be honest, but I think I might try out for the team this upcoming year. I might have to convince father to buy me a new broom.
How is your summer holiday so far? What do muggles do for fun?
I'll be waiting for you letter.
Draco
Hermione finished reading and pulled out a piece of parchment to write back. She looked over at the owl perched on her desk, patiently waiting. It was a beautiful bird. Admittedly, not as majestic as Harry's owl, Hedwig, but this bird was lovely. She finished her letter to Draco, and after letting the ink dry, she rolled up the parchment and tied it to its leg. Almost instantly the owl took off into the night, back to its owner.
While she had her parchment and quill out, Hermione decided to write a letter to Harry and Ron asking them about their summer. She knew Harry would welcome the letter. When she became friends with him, she learned he didn't have the most pleasant life outside of Hogwarts. These letters, however, would have to be sent by muggle post, and she wasn't sure quite how long they would take to get to their destination.
When she finished, she carefully put away her things and got dressed for bed. It was still fairly early in the night, so instead of going right to sleep, Hermione dug through her Hogwarts trunk and pulled out Hogwarts A History. She had read it before, but she enjoyed re-reading some of the passages. She found the history of the castle fascinating. She couldn't wait to make a trip to Diagon Alley and buy some new books at Flourish and Blotts.
That is how the next few weeks passed. Hermione would spend her days making memories with her parents. Her nights were spent writing letters to her friends and reading about the magical world. Ron had written back to her once. Mostly to ask if she had heard from Harry. She hadn't. From what she had heard about them, she wouldn't be surprised to find that the Dursleys didn't even give him his letters when they arrived. Draco, however, wrote back every week.
It was the beginning of August when Hermione received another letter from Ron. She had to read the letter three times, because she just couldn't believe what it said. Harry had used magic outside of school? According to Ron's dad, who worked for the Ministry Of Magic, Harry received an official warning from the Improper Use of Magic Office. Ron had concocted a plan, with his twin brothers, to go and get Harry from Privet Drive and bring him back to the Burrow, Ron's home.
Hermione couldn't help but worry. There were so many things that could go wrong. And just how exactly did Ron plan on getting Harry to the Burrow? His letter didn't say. Surely, he wouldn't do anything illegal. Hopefully. He was making plans with the twins and they weren't exactly known for following the rules.
Errol, the Weasley's family owl, looked tired and bedraggled. She wasn't sure how long of a trip it was from Ron's home to hers, but she wasn't sure how many more trips this owl would be able to make. She had to write Ron back though, if only to demand answers. Hermione gave Errol some water and let him rest up a bit. While he was resting, she wrote a lengthy letter to Ron asking for information. She had received Draco's letter shortly before Ron's inviting her to meet up in Diagon Alley the following Wednesday. So, in her letter to Ron, she invited them to meet up with her as well. That is, if they were all alright.
It was a long time before Errol was up to making the journey back to the Burrow. But when he did finally leave, Hermione pulled a small wooden box from under her bed and placed the letter inside with the rest of the letters she had received from her friends. She ran her fingers over the letters and smiled to herself.
On Wednesday her parents accompanied her to Diagon Alley. They exchanged their muggle money at Gringotts and set off to the variety of stores. Hermione met up with Draco early in the morning while buying new quills and parchment.
"Did you come alone?" She asked him
"No. Father is here with me. He had to meet with someone about work and I didn't care to join him."
"Hermione dear, your father and I are going to take a little break. We might go over to the ice cream parlor for a bit. Will you be okay shopping with your friend for a bit?"
Hermione knew what her mother was doing, and it made her smile. "Mom, Dad, this is Draco Malfoy."
"Hello, Draco. It's nice to finally meet you. Hermione has told us so much about you." Her father said.
Draco straightened and looked the two adults in the eye, as if years of etiquette training had taken over. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."
"We'll meet back up with you in an hour. Don't wander. Stay together." Her mother said to both of them with a slight trace of apprehension in her voice.
"Bye." Hermione waved as her and Draco walked out the door together.
"Where do you have to go?" She asked him.
"Madam Malkin's. The Apothecary. Flourish and Blotts. Quality Quidditch Supplies. My Father wants me to meet with him after he's done with his meeting though, so I don't have much time."
"Let's go to the apothecary first." She said as she took off in the direction of the shop.
The two chatted for the entire walk. And they chatted some more once they were inside. While he talked, Hermione couldn't help but think about the letters he had written her and how she much preferred his presence.
When the hour was over, they had only Flourish and Blotts and Quality Quidditch Supplies to go to. As they walked out of Madam Malkin's, Draco looked at his watch and sighed.
"I've got to go. He won't be happy if he has to wait on me." He looked at her for a moment.
"This was fun. Maybe I'll see you later?" She asked hopefully.
"Yeah, maybe." And he walked away. He looked back to her, but she was already walking in the other direction toward the ice cream parlor.
She had just sat down with her parents when a red-headed, freckled faced boy came running up to her.
"Hermione! Hermione! Have you seen Harry?"
He was sweating. A look of sheer panic across his face.
"Harry? But I thought he was with you?" She asked, completely confused.
"He was. He got lost in the Floo."
"You took the Floo?" She shot back, incredulously. She had read about the Floo Network. It was efficient, but unpredictable. You had to be precise on saying where you wanted to go. "He could be anywhere."
"Hermione, I know! The others are looking for him, can you help?"
She got to her feet. Then looked at her parents who were on their feet as well. "We'll help too." They both said in unison.
"Oh! Mom, Dad, this is my friend Ron Weasley." They all exchanged hellos and together the four of them took off. They checked Olivander's. They checked The Apothecary.
As they were looking through the alley, searching, Hermione saw Draco walking with a tall, blonde-haired man. That must be his father, she thought. They were headed toward Knockturn Alley. An area of shopping that Hermione never dared adventure to. She hardly had time to wonder what they were doing though, Harry was out there somewhere, lost and alone.
They went to Madam Malkin's. Then they went to The Three Broomsticks. They didn't see him in any of the shops they stopped in. The people they talked to hadn't seen him either.
They were headed toward Gringotts to meet up with the rest of the Weasley Clan to figure out what to do next when Hermione noticed Hagrid coming from the direction of Knockturn Alley. To her surprise Harry was beside him, engulfed in his shadow and completely covered in soot.
"Harry!" She yelled and ran to him. The Weasley's right behind her.
"Where did you come out?" Ron yelled to him.
But it was Hagrid who answered, "Knockturn Alley."
"Brilliant!" The twins cried out together. "Mum never lets us go there."
Mrs. Weasley was fretting over him, trying to brush the soot from his clothes. Mr. Weasley removed the glasses from his face and quickly repaired them. When they were satisfied that Harry was alright they set off to Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Mr. Granger stepped up to exchange a bit more muggle money with the goblins and stood at the counter uncertainly. With all the commotion settling down Mr. and Mrs. Granger waited nervously to be introduced. Before Hermione got the chance, Mr. Weasley cried out, "you're muggles! This is wonderful. I have so many questions. Wait here, when I get back, we'll get a drink at The Three Broomsticks."
Harry and the Weasleys descended to the vaults below to retrieve their own money, and Hermione was left waiting in the lobby with her parents.
"They seem nice." Her mother said a bit wearily.
"Which one was Harry, and which one was Ron?" Her dad asked in confusion.
"Harry was the only one who didn't have red hair, Dad." Hermione laughed.
"What is the Floo Network?" Her mother asked now that everything was calm.
"Oh! It's when you travel by fire. You take a handful of floo powder in one fireplace and tell the flames exactly where you want to go. You have to be very clear. And then, it takes you to that fireplace. It's awfully dangerous. You have to know when to get off as well. It's like a bus if you miss your stop, it just keeps going. I'm really shocked they had him use it. Honestly, they were lucky he was only in Knockturn Alley."
"Can you travel using our fireplace then?" Her Dad questioned her.
"No. It has to be hooked up to the Floo Network. We'd have to go through the Ministry Of Magic, and I don't think they'd be too eager to allow travel to a muggle household. They try to keep magic hidden from non-magical people."
It looked as if both of her parents had more questions for her, but at that moment Harry, and the Weasleys emerged from below. Mr. Weasley was at the front looking excitedly at Hermione's parents.
"How about that drink? We can all meet up in about an hour at Flourish and Blotts. Oh, I have so many questions."
Her father passed her some of his newly exchanged currency. "Stay together." Mrs. Weasley, who was already holding Ginny's hand, placed her arm around Hermione's shoulder urging her forward. When they reached the steps outside, everyone went in separate directions. Ron, Harry and Hermione set off to get some ice cream and explore the shops.
An hour later, when they reached the storefront, they were surprised to see the shop was overcrowded with a rather large horde trying to get in. They looked at each other. Flourish and Blotts was the place to get all their textbooks, but never had they seen it this busy.
Hermione understood why when she saw the large banner across the front of the store proclaiming the appearance of Gilderoy Lockhart. He was famous! He had written most of the books on the list required for their Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. "We can meet him!" Hermione squealed in delight. She had read a lot of his books already and admired this man greatly.
The three were able to squeeze inside among the throngs of women trying to get a glimpse of Gilderoy. As they made their way into the store, they each grabbed the books they needed before meeting the others who were already waiting in line.
It was only a few moments before Gilderoy Lockhart came into view. A short, irritated looking man beside him, hurriedly snapping photographs and yelling at anyone who got in his way.
When the man, who turned out to be a photographer for The Daily Prophet, noticed them standing there, his eyes lit up when he saw Harry. Sometimes Hermione forgot Harry was a hero to most of the wizarding world.
Gilderoy stood up, pleasure written across his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is." His arm was firmly placed around Harry's shoulders. The photographer snapping even more pictures now. "Let me share a little secret I've been sitting on for some time now. This year not only will the students at Hogwarts have the privilege of learning from all my books, but they will have the distinct advantage of learning from me personally." He let the statement sink it. "That's right I, Gilderoy Lockhart, will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year."
His smile widened, and if possible, glowed even brighter than before. Hermione couldn't help but squeal. She couldn't believe it. She would be learning from The Gilderoy Lockhart. He faced ghouls, trolls, and werewolves. His stories were quickly becoming legend. And she was going to learn from him. It didn't hurt too, that he was nice to look at. There was a reason he won Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row.
He handed Harry a stack of books, it looked like his entire collected works. Harry stomped off the stage, weighed down by the sheer weight of them. He didn't get back in line though, he kept walking toward the back of the room, out of the limelight. He reached Ginny and passed the books to her.
Hermione looked back. She wanted to get her books autographed, but decided her friend needed her more. She and Ron fought their way over to where Harry and Ginny were standing, and to Hermione's surprise they were in a heated exchange with Draco.
Ron immediately joined the argument while Hermione stood back and listened to her friends hurl insults at each other. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't take sides. She couldn't force them to like each other. But she didn't like it.
It wasn't until Ron made to use physical violence that Hermione, with Harry's help, pulled his jacket to hold him back. Just in time too, at that moment Mr. Weasley strode over. Noticing the tension, he pressed forward "it's too crowded in here. Let's go outside."
That might have been the end of things. The five of them started to move toward the entrance, but barely even managed a step before,
"Well, well, well . . . Arthur Weasley." A sneering voiced beckoned. There standing with one hand on Draco's shoulder was his father.
"Lucius." Mr. Weasley said in a curt voice.
Mr. Malfoy reached into Ginny's cauldron and ignoring the stack of new books, pulled out a tattered, second hand book. He turned up his nose at the sight of it. "What is the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizardry if they're not even going to pay you well for it?" He stated in a mocking tone.
Mr. Weasley's face flushed in anger. "We have very different ideas as to what disgraces the name of wizardry, Lucius."
"Clearly." He snarled then looked over at Hermione's parents. "Really, the company you keep Arthur. And I thought your family could sink no lower."
There was a shuffle, a clanking of metal, chaos ensued as Mr. Weasley flung himself at Mr. Malfoy, knocking him into a bookshelf, causing dozens of spell books to fall on top of them. Even more commotion ensued as others began noticing the fight. Some there to yelp and cheer, others trying to break it up.
Hagrid had come over and, seeing what was going on, pulled Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy apart. Both looking worse for the wear. Mr. Malfoy was still clutching one of Ginny's textbooks in his hands. After straightening up, he shoved the book back in her cauldron. "Here, this is the best your father can give you. Come Draco." He sneered as the two left the shop.
The fight was over. Mrs. Weasley was appalled. "Really Arthur, what kind of example is that for your children."
The Weasleys and Harry were headed back to The Burrow. Hermione and her parents were headed back to their home. As much as her parents tried to engage her in conversation, Hermione remained quiet. It was hard for her to pay attention when she couldn't stop thinking about the altercation with Mr. Malfoy.
The look on his face when he looked at her parents. Disgust. That was the only word for it. He was disgusted by their mere presence. She knew there were wizards who believed they were better than others. Hadn't Draco told her his father was that way? But knowing something and seeing something in person were very different things.
Question after question flooded her mind. She was so lost in thought she didn't realize she was already home. It was her mother's voice calling her to dinner that broke her free from her own thoughts.
"Your friends seem nice." Her mother said, passing her a bowl of peas.
"Yeah."
After a few moments of awkward silence her father tried to get a conversation started, "Arthur is a bit odd wouldn't you say."
"Sure."
"He had a lot of funny questions for us. It was actually quite amusing."
Hermione knew she should ask what kind of questions he had for them. She was actually kind of curious, but all that came out of her mouth was "that's nice."
The awkward silence continued as the Grangers continued eating their meal. The clanking of forks against the plate as loud as cannons.
"May I be excused? I think I'm going to turn in for the night. It was a long day, I'm pretty tired."
They both looked up to Hermione and her mother said "Alright darling. We'll see you in the morning." Concern clearly written on both their faces.
After getting ready for bed, Hermione pulled the covers of her bed back and climbed in. A new Lockhart book firmly clutched in her hand. She opened to the first page and began to read. She kept reading until she fell asleep, book still in her hands.
Hermione had been asleep for a while when a loud tapping forced her awake. She sat up in her bed. Everything was calm and quiet, but when she went to lie back down she heard the tapping again. It was coming from her window. She slowly pulled back the covers and walked to the window. There on the perch of her balcony was Draco's owl. She pulled it inside and took the letter from its leg.
Hermione,
I am sorry about today at Flourish and Blotts. I wish I had an excuse for Father, but I don't. He doesn't like the Weasleys. To him they are the worst kind of wizard. What he said about your parents, it wasn't right. Please don't let his hatred, and bigotry ruin our friendship. I am not like that. I don't think like him.
Please write back.
Draco
His owl was waiting on her desk like it always did, but Hermione made no move for her quills and parchment. Instead, she held the note in her hand and got back into bed. She read the note again. Could they be friends? She wasn't sure, and that hurt more than any of the events that happened earlier. She forced her head back to her pillow, face pointed up to the ceiling. A silent tear falling from her eye.