A/N – Welcome to my first story of the year. Obviously I didn't write over the holidays, and in fact I'd written very little towards the back end of last year, so I only have three completed stories ready to be published. I am hoping to really get back into my writing this year, and will hopefully soon have a few more stories to publish. But in the meantime I plan on publishing the ones I do have on a weekly basis. So this story, which has 10 chapters and an After the End, will be published every week on a Wednesday. This is a reunion story, and is split into two parts, part one dealing with the falling out and part two dealing with the reunion. I hope you all enjoy this story.
Part One.
In the small prefects lounge on the third floor, the head students, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, presided over a meeting of select seventh years as they planned an end of year party. The idea of a party to celebrate their time had Hogwarts had been raised back in early September, and when the head students had spoken to the headmaster about it he'd liked the idea, but had admitted that the school couldn't afford to fund such an event as once it had been done for one year, it would have to be done for all years. However, he had agreed to let them use the Great Hall one evening towards the end of term, providing that the seventh years sorted and paid for everything themselves.
After a few initial meetings with all the seventh years present, a committee had then been selected to carry out the organising of the party. And now with less than a week to go, they were having their final meeting to check that everything had been sorted and nothing had been forgotten about.
"I think that's all for this evening," Draco said, drawing the meeting to a close.
"And thank you all for your help," Hermione added. "This wouldn't be possible without the hard work you've all put in."
"It'll be worth it when we have the party of a lifetime," Blaise Zabini grinned. "Hogwarts will never have seen such revelry."
"He's not going to overdo it, is he?" Hermione whispered to Draco as everyone started to leave the meeting. Over the course of the year, the pair had learned to work together pretty well and they'd actually ended up becoming friends.
"This is Blaise we're talking about, he doesn't do subtle," Draco snorted.
"Please try and keep him under control," Hermione begged.
"What do you think I am, Granger?" Draco teased with a smirk. "Some sort of miracle worker?"
"Here was me thinking you were the Head Boy and had some clout down in the dungeons," Hermione joked back. "Or are you losing your grip on the Slytherin Prince title you've held for so long?"
"I've never heard that one before," Draco replied with a laugh. "The only nickname I've heard is the Slytherin Sex God."
"In your dreams," Hermione returned with a chuckle. "I can think of plenty I've heard you called, but I'm going to be nice and not prick that ego of yours by telling you."
"Spoilsport," Draco pouted as they exited the Prefects Lounge to find Blaise and Harry waiting for them.
"Are you ready?" Harry Potter, Hermione's best friend, checked.
"I am," Hermione confirmed. "Night, Malfoy," she said, smiling at the Head Boy.
"Night, Granger," Draco returned as he turned and headed down towards the dungeons with his best friend.
"What were you and Malfoy talking about?" Harry asked as they slowly meandered towards the stairs that would take them up to the seventh floor and Gryffindor Tower.
"Not a lot," Hermione replied with a shrug. "I was just asking him to keep Blaise under control."
"Fat chance," Harry laughed. "He's a live wire is Zabini. He'll certainly make sure the party goes with a bang."
"That's what I'm worried about," Hermione retorted.
Laughing about what sort of mischief Blaise could get up to, the two friends returned to their common room for the evening. When they eventually made it past the portrait of The Fat Lady, who had been adamant that they complimented her new hairdo before entering, they found their other best friend and Hermione's boyfriend, Ron Weasley, sitting beside the fire playing chess with his sister, Ginny.
"What took you so long?" Ron asked grumpily. "You've been gone forever."
"It wasn't that long," Hermione protested.
"It feels like forever," Ron grouched.
"You could have been on the committee," Harry pointed out.
"Boring," Ron snorted. "But is everything sorted now?"
"Everything is in hand," Hermione confirmed with a nod of her head. "We need volunteers to help with the décor the afternoon of the party, but aside from that everything else is sorted."
"Including food?" Ron checked.
"The house elves have agreed to provide us with some food and drink," Hermione explained. "The Three Broomsticks is also providing refreshments."
"Including several cases of butter-beer," Harry added with a grin.
"They're giving us that for free?" Ron questioned with a frown. "Because I made it clear early on, that I can't afford to put money towards this party."
In the early stages of discussion it had been suggested that if every seventh year donated a few galleons they could use the money for supplies, but several people, not just Ron, had protested and claimed they couldn't afford to use what little money they had on funding a party. There had also been a suggestion that the wealthier students put more money into the pot, but that was also vetoed as being unfair. In the end it was decided that if anyone wanted to donate money they could, but no-one was being forced into it, and that the best way forward was to try and organise the party without spending much, if any, money.
"No-one is asking you for money, Ron," Hermione informed her boyfriend. "Malfoy and Zabini have come to an arrangement with Madam Rosmerta."
"What sort of an arrangement?" Ginny asked curiously.
"They didn't say," Hermione replied with an indifferent shrug.
"Zabini implied his charm sealed the deal," Harry laughed, recalling the implications Blaise had made during the meeting.
"Are you saying he's giving Madam Rosmerta one?" Ron questioned.
"Ronald," Hermione scolded, shaking her head at Ron's lewd implication.
"I was just going to say that if he is, it's completely out of order," Ron said defensively.
"As if you wouldn't do the same if given half the chance," Ginny scoffed. "You've fancied her for years."
"It was a crush, and I got over it years ago," Ron hissed, glaring at his sister before turning to Hermione and giving her a pleading look. "Really, I never look at her these days. I only have eyes for you."
"It's okay Ron, you can have a crush on anyone you want," Hermione laughed. "I know you're not going to cheat on me with Madam Rosmerta. And for the record, I don't think Zabini is hopping into her bed either. He just likes to show off and act as if he's some sort of super stud."
"From what I hear, he is," Ginny said with a grin. "He's got quite a reputation. As has Malfoy."
"I don't think you want to believe all you hear, Ginny," Hermione cautioned.
"Certainly not when it comes to the snakes," Ron agreed. "I wouldn't trust any of that lot as far as I could throw them."
"They're not that bad, Ron," Harry said. "In fact, some of them are rather nice."
"Now you sound like Hermione," Ron grouched with a roll of his eyes. "I'm sick of hearing how great Malfoy is."
"I never said great," Hermione argued. "I've merely pointed out that he's not as bad as we thought he was. It just goes to show if you give someone a chance, they can surprise you."
"So, everything is set with the party?" Ginny interrupted, jumping in before Ron and Hermione started bickering as they were prone to do just lately. "I have to admit, it sounds great. I can't wait."
"You'll be coming to the party?" Hermione asked in surprise.
A ground rule for the party which was set early on was the exclusion of other years. It had been agreed that if anyone wanted to bring a younger student as a date they could, but that was the only way they would be able to attend the party. After all, it was being arranged to celebrate the seventh years reaching the end of their time at Hogwarts and the younger students all had more time at the school, and their own chance to have a party when they were about to graduate.
"Of course she's coming," Ron said before Ginny could get a chance to answer.
"Who are you going with?" Harry asked, causing both Ron and Ginny to give him a strange look. "What?" he asked, wondering what was going on.
"I'm going with you, Harry," Ginny said slowly as if she was speaking to a toddler who might not understand her.
"No, you're not," Harry said, shaking his head.
"Of course she is," Ron snorted.
"No," Harry repeated, still shaking his head. "What made you think that, Ginny? I've never asked you."
"I assumed," Ginny admitted. "I thought you knew how much I liked you. I thought you knew that we're meant to be together."
"Yeah, everyone knows it's inevitable you'll end up together," Ron chimed in.
"I'm sorry, but I think both of you have jumped the gun here," Harry said firmly. "I am aware of your crush on me, Ginny, but I've done nothing to encourage it. You're a friend, and that's it."
"How can that be it?" Ginny demanded. "You spend every holiday with my family. Surely you've heard Mum talking about you being part of the family."
"Yes, but that's nothing to do with being with you," Harry argued.
"Of course it is," Ron snapped. "Mum thinks of you as part of the family because she knows one day you'll be married to Ginny."
"That will never happen," Harry insisted. "I have no idea where this is coming from, but I swear I've never encouraged it."
"So are you saying you'll not be taking my sister to the party?" Ron demanded, glaring at Harry.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Harry confirmed. "I never asked Ginny to join me as my date, and I have no intention of doing so. I don't see her in that way."
"But I've already bought a new dress," Ginny pouted.
"I'm sorry, but that's not my fault," Harry replied.
"You know how tight money is for us, Harry," Ron hissed, lowering his voice as people were starting to look their way and he didn't want to talk about money with people watching. "The least you can do is make sure Ginny gets to wear her new outfit."
"As I said, it's not my fault," Harry repeated. "I never asked Ginny out. I didn't make her go out and buy a new dress."
"But now she has, you should do the decent thing and take her," Ron insisted.
"No," Harry replied bluntly. "I'm sorry, but the answer is no. Not only do I not want to, but I've actually already got a date."
"With someone else?" Ginny spluttered. "Who?"
"Does it really matter?" Harry countered. "I'm sorry Ginny, but I will not be taking you to the party. Nor will I ever be asking you out. I'm sorry, but you and I will never happen."
With nothing more to say, Harry muttered a goodnight to Hermione and headed off to the boys dorms.
"I don't believe this," Ginny wailed. "How could he do this to me?"
"Don't worry Ginny, we'll show him," Ron said supportively. "You can come to the party with me, and then Harry will see what he's missing. He'll see that no other girl in this school compares to you."
"You'd really take me to the party?" Ginny asked, gazing at her brother in wonder.
"Of course," Ron confirmed. "And I'll help you win Harry around. Don't give up, Ginny, all is not lost."
"Didn't either of you listen to Harry?" Hermione asked sharply, annoyed that the two redheads had seemingly ignored everything that Harry had just said. "He's not interested, and nothing is going to change that."
"You haven't seen my new dress," Ginny said cockily.
"No offence Ginny, but a dress isn't going to change Harry's mind," Hermione said. "He's made himself clear, so the least the pair of you can do is respect it. I mean, he's even going out with someone else."
"Do you know who?" Ron demanded.
"No, I don't," Hermione answered honestly. "But even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you. It has nothing to do with either of you. If you want my advice, you'll accept what Harry said and respect his choices. Pushing him will do no-one any good."
"Nonsense," Ron snorted. "All he needs is a dose of reality. All he needs is to be shown that Ginny is the right witch for him."
"And what about me?" Hermione asked quietly.
"What do you mean, what about you?" Ron frowned. "What do you have to do with anything?"
"Obviously nothing," Hermione replied with a sigh. "Or have you forgotten than we were supposed to be attending the party together?"
"But Ginny can still join us," Ron protested. "You're going anyway, so it doesn't matter if Ginny takes the official place as my date."
"If that's what you want, suit yourself," Hermione said with a shake of her head. "But it'll only end in tears. Mark my words, this is a disaster waiting to happen."
Leaving her boyfriend to sort out his date with his sister, Hermione headed off to the girls dorms to have a long soak in the tub before she settled for an early night, all the time wondering how the party would play out and what the fallout would be from Ron and Ginny refusing to listen to what Harry was saying and accepting the fact he wasn't interested in Ginny.