And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC

Chapter 7- It's good to be back

Summary: Like some magnetic force, like some unbreakable bond she was drawn back to him again and again. And now, staying away was an inconceivable notion. "Always." she murmured, one hand finding his, the other tangling into his platinum hair, "Always."

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After thirty minutes, Harry still hadn't returned to their compartment.

After forty five minutes Hermione began to worry.

After an hour Ron had grown tired of Hermione's insistent worrying and Avery also began to feel an underlying ripple of fear that Harry was in trouble.

By the time they had all changed into their robes, had their things collected and began to file from the train Hermione was positively jumping with worry.

"Come on guys, he probably just got distracted and went on." Ron amended, grabbing Hermione by her arm and leading her in the same direction as the crowd.

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded, "He's the chosen one, there are people out to get him! Who knows what could have happened?"

"Calm down woman!"

By the time they had reached the Great hall, Hermione and Ron still bickering and sat, without Harry at the Gryffindor table even Ron had to admit that he was worried.

"I'm sure he's fine guys." Avery said, "He probably just needs some time alone."

"Or some time with Luna." Ron said, confusion lacing his voice as he stared towards the hall entrance where the aforementioned blonde and their best friend were making their way through.

"He's bleeding." Hermione sighed, with a coveted, I told you something was wrong, glance towards Ron.

And Harry was indeed bleeding from his nose, though the actual appendage looked the same as ever, unharmed, which told Avery it must have been healed previously.

"Harry! What happened?" Hermione hissed and he slid onto the bench next to her, taking the offered napkin, dabbing at the drying blood.

"Malfoy happened." he replied in the same manner.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Ron scowled, murmuring something about punching the ferret, Avery began to question him but was interrupted as Dumbledore took his place on the stage and began his annual speech. It was different than usual, tinted with more fear and melancholy and the glint in his eye that Dumbledore was more than known for was dimmer than usual. The threat of death eaters and Voldemort had never seemed more real to Avery than it did in that moment, even after all they had faced, because once Dumbledore lost hope then they all did. Covert glances were shared between the DA members. Nevilles wide eyes glanced around the room, the usual dreamy smile on Luna Lovegoods face seemed less sincere than usual, even some Slytherins seemed nervous. As soon as the speech ended, however, with the usual rules of the school and the house sorting began for the shaking new kids who stood huddled in the hall, Hermione rounded on Harry with a barrage of questions which he answered diplomatically and honestly all the while glaring at the Slytherin table behind Avery and Hermiones back where Malfoy and his cronies had to be sat.

"Brilliant!" Seamus Finnegan exclaimed a little too loudly when the final first year, a small brunette, was sorted into Hufflepuff, "I'm starving."

The rest of the Gryfindors heartily agreed as a lavish spread appeared before them, "I might have to learn how to do that." Ginny grinned, pointing to the food.

"What cook?" Ron questioned over a mouthful of chewed meat he had already shovelled into his mouth.

"No Ron, I mean make it appear like this in no time at all." Ginny replied with a fond eye roll.

"You'd make a great wife if you did." Avery commented, lifting some shiny salad onto her own plate.

The chatter was loud and distracting, normal, which Avery could tell made everyone feel much calmer. Hermione broke the amicable silence between their friends with a, "Potions is the first lesson this week." Both Harry and Ron groaned loudly, to which Ginny laughed, "I have DADA."

Avery laughed at the glares that were shot towards Ginny, she had never really minded potions too much and if she were honest she was pretty good at it. Sure Professor Snape was pretty much insufferable and Avery, like all of her other house mates, didn't exactly like it when he took house points for no reason. Avery however, like Hermione and a couple of other Gryfindors was sometimes able to make some of those points back by doing a potion correctly, she needed to when she was sometimes paired with Neville, usually when Snape was feeling particularly mean. Being paired with Neville though was preferable to being paired with a Slytherin, even if it was Zambini, because if this were the case and the potion was correctly brewed it meant that the Slytherin got all of the reward, including the house points. She knew that Hermione was just as indifferent.

"Why does the world hate us?" She could hear Harry mumbling over his food, "We shouldn't have to learn potions."

"Potions are an important part of magical life Harry," Hermione admonished, "Many illnesses and ailments have been cured because of potions. We wouldn't be half as advanced as we are now if not for potions."

"Sorry Hermione." Harry mumbled guiltily.

Once the feast was finished and everyone was suitably stuffed, the tables cleared in seconds, who said magic didn't make things easier? And the first years led away by their assorted house prefects, which for Gryfindor meant Ron and Hermione, Avery and Harry leisurely followed behind the rest of their house towards the Gryfindor tower.

"So your nose is definitely okay right? Nobody asked through all the questions and Hermiones moaning." Avery enquired.

"Yeah, Luna fixed it."

"So did you find out anything? Before Malfoy found you that is?" She grinned.

Harry chuckled and adjusted his glasses on his face, "Not really, just Malfoy being Malfoy."

"Arrogant and conceited?"

"Exactly. Zambini and Parkinson seemed to think he was acting strange though. They kept asking questions."

"Really?" Avery contemplated, "So it's still a mystery then."

"Yeah. It is."

"Nothing new then right? Another year, another mystery." Harry hummed in agreement as Avery sighed, "It's good to be back."

"Isn't it?" Ginny asked, stepping into the middle and linking her arm through both Harrys and Averys. The latter of whom chose to ignore the small blush that formed along Harrys cheeks at the contact. She made a mental note to ask Hermione if she knew anything about any potential feelings between the two, after all she and Harry spent much longer at the Weasleys than Avery herself.

Once they had reached the portrait where the fat lady stood they realised that once again, and this seemed to happen every year, they had not acquired the password to get in. "Come on!" A frustrated fifth year cried, "Just let us in."

"No can do." The fat lady literally sang as Harry, Ginny and Avery pushed through the crowd to the entrance.

"Come on, we're exhausted." Ginny tried, though from past experience she knew it to be fruitless.

"You know the rules."

"We'll just have to guess then." Neville suggested.

"Or we could wait until Hermione and Ron have got the first years settled in? They're sure to notice we're not in there eventually." Harry replied.

"That could take all night if they start arguing again." Avery answered, "Dog ears?"

Nothing. "Pumpkin juice?"

Nothing. "driftwood?"

Nothing. "Polyjuice?"

Nothing. "Mandrake?"

Nothing. "Hogwarts?"

Nothing. "Moonbeam?" Neville called, earning incredulous glances the rest of the students, "Why would it be moo-" someone started as the portrait door swung open to shocked silence.

"How did you know that Neville?" Avery asked, as they began to file inside.

"I just- it's just that there's always moons somewhere around the portrait, there was one on the bottom of her dress."

"You're a genius." Avery grinned, "Somewhere in there is a certified genius."

Neville grinned and blushed at the compliment before wishing everybody a goodnight, with a cheery "See you in the morning."

Most students made their way yawning towards their room, but a few stayed behind in the common room. Avery and Harry on their usual red couch by the fire.

"It's a good thing we like red isn't it?" Avery mused, glancing around the common room at the usual red and gold decorations, "It's also a good thing I have red hair the same colour, even a shade slightly lighter would clash horribly. Poor Ron."

Harry allowed a bark of laughter, and replied, "When he's angry or embarrassed his skin goes the same colour."

"The first years must be having trouble settling in." Harry stated, "I'm sure it doesn't usually take this long."

"Hmm," Avery replied noncommittally, "Why is it always so cold in here?" she questioned as she moved to the floor, closer to the fire and stretched out, ignoring the fact that she would probably dirty her robes even before her first lesson, "Even with fires roaring it's still cold."

Hermione and Ron chose this minute to reappear, Hermiones hair bigger than usual, bits stood on edge, her face pinched. Rons robes crumpled, his face the same red Harry had mentioned previously. "It was messy huh?" Harry asked from where he was now led out on the sofa, feet in Averys vacated space. Avery leaned up on her elbows, warmed by her proximity to the fire. "You look like you just lost a war."

"I think we did." Ron grumbled, "They wouldn't listen to a word we said, I mean, I know its exciting and all but come on! They were asking these ridiculous questions and then when we got to the portrait they were talking so loud that she couldn't even hear us saying the password-"

"When did you find out the password by the way?" Avery interrupted from her spot on the floor.

"On the train." Hermione supplied.

"Thanks for telling us then. We had to guess, who've thought it would have been moonbeam?"

"Apparently Neville." Harry laughed.

"Well it's obvious really, she has moons everywhere and its all she talks about." Hermione intoned.

Avery snorted as Ron continued with his tirade on the first years and before she knew it the others were standing, ready for bed. "Come on Avery." Hermione sighed, "Lets head to bed."

She climbed off of the floor and brushed off her robes, following behind towards the stairs. It was just minutes before she was changed and ready to get into bed, hers was next to Hermiones and opposite Ginnys. "I'm exhausted already." Hermione sighed, "and that's before we even get any work or assignments."

"But it's good to be back though" Avery repeated, "It's good to be home."

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I know this was short and not much happened but it'll get going soon- promise!

Also more Draco soon.

I cannae remember if Ron or Hermione were prefects so in this they are =]

What did you think? Let me know if you wish =]