I am back...briefly. More at the end of the chapter...

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Chapter 31: Reassurance?

"That feels so much better," Hermione sighed happily, sipping her hot chocolate. The whole group was in the Great Hall, along with the other couples who had finished.

"I know, our charms had worn off by the time we got out of there. It feels so much better to be warm," agreed Pansy.

"How do you think the others are fairing?" Harry asked.

"Who cares? We're blatantly going to win!" Blaise said confidently.

"Blaise...you and Ginny came last out of the three of us. That means Harry and Pansy have the best chance of winning at the moment," Hermione explained slowly, trying to repress a grin.

"Yeah, well we don't know how well we did in the questionnaires..." Blaise smirked.

"But you finished last in that as well!"

"Well maybe I was just being thorough?"

"Guys stop arguing! You're ruining the hot chocolate experience!" Draco interrupted.

"The hot chocolate experience?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Well, I've gone my whole life without having one of these babies... until last month. Now, they are sacred experiences, you can't fight when the hot chocolate is around."

"Right, so, Draco has gone mad...Hospital Wing or the lake?" Pansy grinned slyly.

"I haven't gone mad!" Draco protested.

"Sure you haven't," Hermione winked.

"But-but-but-"

"Ahh, Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger. I've been expecting you in my office." A new voice interrupted Draco.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione squeaked, completely startled.

"That is my name," mused Dumbledore. "Would you kindly follow me to my office? We have certain...issues...to be discussed."

"Of course," Hermione agreed, "We'll see you later," she said to the others. She pulled Draco up, who was trying to drink the rest of his hot chocolate before they left.

"Now," Professor Dumbledore said gravely. "What is it that we three need to discuss?"

Hermione sighed, and fidgeted in her seat whilst Draco explained the situation. He got out the letter from his pocket and handed it over to Dumbledore. He paused whilst the headmaster read it intently.

"This is indeed a grave situation. Firstly, I must make sure that you are both against this? You do not want to be repaired?"

Both students quickly shook their hands.

"Good. Let me begin by saying that Mr Malfoy does not have any authority in this school. So as long as you are here, you will be safe."

Hermione gave a small nod.

"Do you know how he has been allowed out so early sir?" Draco asked.

"I'm afraid I don't, not for certain. But I am sure he has bribed someone in the Ministry. Even though the Ministry is changing, there is still corruption I'm afraid. The Minister of Magic is doing all he can to ensure that your father stays in Azkaban as long as possible, but I'm afraid that it is not doing well."

"But that's ridiculous!" Draco blurted. He then appeared to remember his place and tried to control his anger.

"Indeed it is, but that's the situation at this moment in time. Now, what are you doing for the Christmas holidays?"

"We're going up to my home together, as a couple. Mother invited us at the beginning of this year, before this fiasco." Draco replied.

Dumbledore paused thoughtfully.

"Well. What does your mother feel about all this?"

Hermione winced and so did Draco.

"She...has recently shown her true colours. She doesn't like Hermione simply because of her birth. So she agrees with father."

"Ahh. And you are sure about this?"

"Yes."

"Well then. I will personally see to your arrangements and contact the Ministry plus Azkaban to let them know the arrangement. Do not worry, I will make sure you cannot be harmed."

"Thank you Professor Dumbledore." The couple stated, and left the office and retreated to their room.

"So how did it go?" Blaise asked the moment that Hermione and Draco entered the room.

"As well as expected I suppose. Father isn't out of Azkaban yet and Dumbledore is trying his hardest to keep it that way. But I think he is more worried than he seems. Father is dangerous, and if he has the power to get out of Azkaban, who knows what else he can do?" Draco said, sinking onto the nearest armchair, pulling Hermione down with him.

"You would have thought, no offence Draco, but the Ministry would do everything to stop him. He was a Death Eater for crying out loud!" Harry said darkly.

"I know, but the family name still holds influence in certain circles, he is bound to still have friends left, no matter what his past is."

"Are you alright Hermione?" Ginny asked, as Hermione had not said anything since she came in.

"I'm fine," Hermione rasped. Of course, she wasn't. But she didn't want to seem weak in front of everyone else.

"It's understandable to be upset," Pansy said.

"I know that. But there isn't much I can do, so I'd rather not sit and mope about it," Hermione replied.

There was a silence.

"Shall we...lighten the mood?" Blaise suggested. "We still have some of those movies left over that we haven't watched."

They all looked at Draco and Hermione. Draco nodded thoughtfully, and so did Hermione. If it pleases them, I don't mind. It will be a good distraction.

"Excellent! I'll get some popcorn shall I?" Pansy asked.

"Hey, why don't we have Ron and Luna over too? They haven't been over in ages!" Ginny suggested.

That was true, the movie night hadn't happened as Hermione had promised. Obviously, she wasn't feeling at her best, but she knew if she was around people who didn't know the current drama then she could pretend she didn't know as well.

"That's a great idea," Hermione smiled. "Shall I go and get them?"

The others nodded and Hermione left the room.

She walked to her right and came straight upon next door- where Ron and Luna were situated. She knocked on the door and Hannah answered.

"Hi Hermione!" Hannah smiled. "How are you? Wasn't that assignment fun? We're finding out the results of that next PRC lesson aren't we?"

"Hey, yeah we are I think! I really enjoyed it, but it was horribly cold," Hermione replied. "Listen, are Ron and Luna inside?"

"Yeah they are, I think they're in their room. Shall I go get them?"

"That'd be great," Hermione said. She felt slightly guilty she wasn't inviting her and Neville, but it was Ron and Luna who needed their friendship. Especially since Ron was still frosty towards her.

A few minutes later they appeared. Luna smiled brightly while Ron wore his usual befuddled expression.

"Hey guys, I just wondered if you were up for coming to our room and watching a movie? Like we discussed before..." Hermione asked.

"We'd love to, wouldn't we Ron?" Luna said, glancing at her partner.

"Yeah."

A flicker of annoyance passed through Luna's usually serene face.

"If you're busy...honestly, it was just a suggestion. Don't cancel other plans," Hermione backtracked.

"No, it's fine. Are you starting now?"

Hermione nodded uneasily. Clearly something was going on, and she wasn't so sure if a movie night would turn out to be a good idea.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Luna asked, pulling a seemingly reluctant Ron along. "Let's go!"

"Great!" Hermione said. She led the others into their room where the others had assembled. They had created an extra sofa so there was room for everyone and had a selection of snacks on the table beside the two movies they had yet to watch.

"Hey guys," Harry smiled. "Glad you could make it!"

Luna beamed, whilst Ron...tried.

Something was up.

So. This chapter is the result of weeks of writing bitty paragraphs. And then total deletion...Major writers block and I feel so guilty for leaving everyone in the lurch! I have a vague outline of what is going to happen next, but I actually had to read my whole story again to remember what had happened! Fail.

No idea when I'll next update...in year 13 now, and the pressure of UCAS is upon me! Sucks to be me. Plus, I'm still going through certain issues in my life which restrict my...motivation? Dunno how to explain, but I'm not forgetting this story on purpose!

Please review : ) And I really am sorry about the extreme negligence of fanfiction!