Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It and any characters from the franchise that may appear in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. This story was written for entertainment purposes only and no profit is made from this story.
- September 1st, 1992, the Hogwarts Express –
Draco had been watching Ginny like a seeker looking for the snitch ever since they arrived at platform Nine and Three-Quarters. At one point, Theo had even jokingly asked if Harry would need to fight of competition for the redhead's attention. The blonde had just rolled his eyes at that and tried to be more inconspicuous when it came to studying the girl. So far, there were no indications of her being influenced by any dark magic. Strange. From eavesdropping on his father, Draco and Deandra had figured out that the dark artifact had belonged to Voldemort at some point. That he used it to drive people mad and obey his every will. It wasn't a horcrux in itself, but it would bring out the worst in people. A clever piece of dark magic, since it could never be linked back to the Dark Lord if someone ever found it. Instead, it had been passed on through families since the 1950s, bringing power to some, and demise to others. Mostly demise, which was what had Draco so worried.
He'd suggested to Harry to invite the youngest Weasley into their compartment and Harry was happy to oblige. Seriously, his crush on the only Weasley daughter was so obvious. Why had this not happened the last time around? Weasley's mentioning of his annoying little sister to his best friend? Fate being more kind to Harry this time around? Who the fuck knew. Maybe it was the so-called "butterfly effect" he had read about in one of Hermione's science fiction novels. Good for them.
When Harry and Draco approached the compartment Ginny was sharing with her brother Ron and some of the second-year Gryffindors, Ron immediately started complaining that she was going to spend her time with snakes instead of the rest of the lions. Ginny, never one to back down from a fight with her brother, said she'd bring Luna with her to keep said snakes at bay.
"As if Loony is going to be much help," Ron muttered as they left the compartment. Mr. Weasley had been right it seems. Ron still needed some growing up to do, despite their adventures at the end of their first year.
As if by magic, Luna suddenly showed up in the hallway next to the compartment that they had just left, wearing her signature Dirigible Plum-shaped earrings, a smile on her face. "Ginny, Harry, you've found each other already. That's lovely," she said airily.
Harry just blinked at the small blond girl, her hair going down all the way to her waist. "Ehm, have we met?" he asked, confused that the witch knew his name.
"We have," she answered. "You just don't remember. And even if we hadn't everyone knows who Harry Potter is." The tiny witch extended her hand to him and introduced herself as Luna Lovegood, one of his future coolest friends. Harry just nodded amused, as Ginny leaned over to him.
"Luna might seem strange," she whispered to both boys, "but she's honestly very fun to hang around with. My brother Charlie thinks she might have seer blood. Just take everything she says with a grain of salt, but don't necessarily doubt its truth."
Oh. That would definitely explain some of Luna's strangeness. At first, Draco thought that she'd been abducted and put in the Malfoy Manor dungeons just because of her father's writings in the Quibbler, his support for the Light and Harry Potter too damaging for the Dark Lord's media campaign. Perhaps, there had been more at play? He would never know now.
Luna looked at Draco dreamily and tilted her head, studying him. "Good morning, Draco. I see that you haven't told them yet. Don't worry. Your wife will understand, you just need to give her some time."
Draco did a double take on the inside, but as he was so used to keeping his occlumency in place at all times, he didn't even flinch. No way Luna remembered. No way she knew. Is this what Ginny meant? That there was always some truth in the strange things the blonde uttered?
"His wife?" Harry asked perplexed. "Mate, did your dad get you into a secret betrothal I know nothing about? It's not Pansy is it? Because if he did, I swear Sirius and I will do everything-"
"Oh no, Draco and his wife were very willing to get married," Luna interrupted him. "Or they will be. They did?" the young witch frowned, shaking her head. "Honestly, sometimes it is very confusing keeping everything straight. There are too many nargles flying around. Anyway, let's go to the snake's den, shall we? I'm excited to meet Blaise for the first time, even if we originally weren't meant to be."
"Are you sure she's alright?" Harry mouthed to Ginny and Draco, who honestly was still a bit in shock after what had just happened. Luna had referred to Hermione as his wife.
"Luna seems to not have forgotten in the same way as everyone else did," Deandra mused. "I remember her mother Pandora died after one of her spells went wrong. I'll have to visit my old friend Chassipullus and see what happened there."
"Who now?" Draco asked as he and Harry led Ginny and Luna back to their compartment, Harry, Luna and Ginny chatting away.
"The spirit residing at Ottery St. Catchpole, of course. Why else do you think so many wizarding families have established their homes there?"
"Yes, of course," Draco thought sarcastically. Perhaps he should take a page out of Hermione's book and start learning more about the spirits that dwelled under the leylines in magical Britain. Who knew how many of them there actually were?
Harry introduced Ginny to Hermione, Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, and Theo, even though all of them already knew her, even if indirectly through Harry's praise of her flying skills. He offered her the seat right next to Hermione who smiled in greeting at the youngest Weasley. They had met at the Burrow before and had exchanged letters back and forth during the previous school year, the beginnings of a tentative friendship. Draco was glad that Ginny wasn't Hermione's only female friend this time around. Daphne was steadily turning into her best girlfriend, with Tracey, Hannah, and Susan joining her circle of friends. She got along well enough with her Gryffindor housemates the last time around, but most of them were quite intimidated by her bossy, no-nonsense attitude. It also didn't help that Hermione was a bit of a tomboy at times, whereas especially Lavender and Parvati were very girly. Draco remembered how Lavender had one time dropped her quill in front of Draco and Theo at the library, in what she thought was a flirtatious manner, giving the boys a peek at her assets in the tight shirt she was wearing under her robes. Instead of getting the response she was hoping for, Theo and Draco mocked her for attempting to get close to Sacred Twenty-Eight. Hermione had smacked him with a very heavy tome in the restricted section a few days later, saying she had to listen to Lavender cry about that unfortunate encounter for two days straight.
Luna didn't need any introductions as she waved at everyone and greeted them all by name, even though she had never met any of the people in the compartment before. Totally unbothered, she dropped herself down between Theo and Blaise, Theo having to scoot over in the last second so Luna wouldn't end up in his lap. "I'm Luna Lovegood," she said. "But most people call me Loony."
"Don't say that about yourself, Luna," Ginny hissed.
"Xenophilius' daughter?" Blaise wondered out loud, catching Luna's attention. The whole compartment was now looking at him expectantly. How had the young wizard known Luna's father? His face heated up when everyone started at him, his cheeks and ears getting a reddish tint as he said. "My mother thought Mr. Lovegood was an eligible bachelor at one point in time," he admitted. "Thought he would make a fine seventh stepfather…"
"I told Daddy it would not be wise to marry the mother of his potential future son-in-law," Luna casually stated as she took out the Quibbler and started reading it upside down.
"Excuse me?" Blaise said, choking on his own spit at the surprise of what Luna had just said. He remembered Luna had always been very good at reading auras and magical connections. Guess she had simply followed the thread to Blaise.
Ginny was shaking her head at the Afro-Italian wizard, indicating that he shouldn't ask. Draco and Harry smirked at each other. Luna would be fun to have around and stir things up, that was for sure. Especially if she would finally get Blaise out of his shell. Honestly, that boy should get out from under his mother's control. Dating the Lovegood girl in the future would certainly help with that.
"So, you guys planning on becoming fellow snakes?" Theo asked, changing the subject. Draco was actually curious about what would happen this time around. He'd already made Harry and Hermione switch to Slytherin. Would more be joining the snake's nest?
"Oh no, Ginny is very much a Gryffindor like Hermione and Harry," Luna quipped from behind the newspaper. "Even though Harry could probably convince Ginny to join him. But they would never be able to beat each other in Quidditch, which would be a shame considering he bought all those brooms for the Slytherin team."
"You did what?" Blaise, who had been practicing all summer to become the team's new chaser, asked. Even though his mother was drowning in money, she had told Blaise to take his father's old Cleansweep, saying he would first have to show his skill before she would buy him a new broom.
"Don't get your hopes up," Draco sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned back. "Mr. Noble over here considered how unfair it would be to the other teams afterward, and bought 28 new Nimbus 2001s, for all of the teams."
"Well… If I want to beat Ginny fair and square…" the spectacled boy answered.
Ginny beamed at him and jumped up, hugging Harry tightly, expressing her thanks. Even the tips of Harry's ears had turned red at that.
"Oh, young love," Hermione and Daphne snickered, making the two jump apart as they blushed.
Luna lowered her newspaper, looked over at Draco dreamily, and winked. Oh, that little witch definitely knew more than she was letting on…
- September 19th, 1992, the Kitchens –
The first few weeks of school had passed relatively quietly. Deandra had notified Draco that Chassipullus confirmed her suspicions. Not only had Pandora Lovegood come from a long line of seers, as well as veela blood, but she had also been a spellcrafter. As a seer, and being ever interested in the future, she was wondering how to share her ability with others. To be able to target her abilities more. On one such afternoon experimenting, a spell had horribly backfired and settled onto the only living being in the house at that time, Luna. Luna's seer blood was activated at a much younger age than usual, and what Pandora had tried to accomplish with her spell, had seemingly worked after all. Luna could see all the possibilities, of all the choices people would make. Meaning, she could also see what would have happened if Draco had been an obnoxious git to Harry, just like he'd been the first time around. Deandra assured him that he had nothing to fear from Luna and that she probably didn't know he had actually travelled through time. She was probably just impressed by the choices he had made so far, considering what the opposite would have led to.
Draco was also pleased to learn that Hermione had quickly become disillusioned with Lockhart and his supposed accolades. True to her word, she had read all of his books before the school year started and noted quite a lot of discrepancies. When she mentioned these to the Professor, he had laughed and waved it off, saying his editor wanted to spice things up a little. What a load of rubbish. He granted Hermione 10 points for Slytherin, however, as he was ever so pleased she had already learnt all of his books by heart. Fucking wanker.
During the same class, the wizard had managed to set a bunch of Cornish pixies loose on the second-year students, some of them hoisting up Neville by the ears to hang him from the chandelier. Hermione was definitely not impressed by the Professor running away, leaving the students to fend for themselves. Luckily, Hermione and Draco rounded up the annoying pixies, locking them back up again as Harry, Daphne and Blaise had done their best to get Neville down from the chandelier, Theo standing ready with a cushioning charm in case the boy would fall.
"I cannot believe that Professor Dumbledore would allow such an incompetent fool to come and teach the students D.A.D.A.," she huffed as she was eating some of her red velvet birthday cake. Hermione had turned 13 today, officially turning into a teenager. The usual study group, now expanded with Ginny and Luna, were all sitting around a large table in the Hogwarts Kitchens, celebrating.
Susan and Hannah nodded in agreement. "Auntie says that he has no qualifications to teach," the redhead agreed, sipping her tea. "She's even admitted that some of his so-called adventures don't add up, but she can't find any proof of it not being true either. He flunked out of the Auror Academy when she and Uncle Sirius joined over ten years ago." After Amelia and Sirius had moved in together, Susan had begun calling Sirius her uncle, much like Harry was now referring to Madam Bones as his aunt.
Harry had been antsy for a few days now, claiming he had heard the walls speak after his detention with Lockhart. Draco and Hermione had met with Deandra in an empty classroom, Hermione becoming fast friends with the spirit of Malfoy Manor. They had discussed what might be bothering Harry, agreeing it could neither be a ghost or a spirit residing in the castle. What Deandra and Draco could not tell Hermione, was that their best friend was probably hearing a Basilisk crawling through the pipes in the walls. Someone had opened the Chamber of Secrets, but Draco was almost one hundred percent sure that it was not Ginny Weasley this time around. The Gryffindor looked extremely happy and did not show any signs of being cursed or possessed. Draco had even attempted doing some analytical spells on her from behind the bookshelves in the library when they were studying together and he acted as if he was getting a book, but nothing came up. Yet he'd seen that damned book falling into Ginny's cauldron. Where had it gone?
"I wonder why Dumbledore is unable to keep a single educated D.A.D.A. teacher on board? Auntie said they had a new teacher every year when she went to school in the seventies," Susan mused.
Luna, who had been talking to Harry suddenly exclaimed. "Why, the position is cursed of course. Every Professor teaching D.A.D.A. either dies or is forced to leave at the end of every school year since 1955."
Draco stared at the blond. Of bloody course! Why had he never thought of that? A curse on the position of D.A.D.A. would explain why their teachers ended up disappearing ever single year.
"Then why has Dumbledore not gotten rid of it?" Hermione asked, frustrated. "As Headmaster, he is perfectly tuned into the Hogwarts wards and he would notice immediately if a position was cursed. I still can't believe he claimed to not know that Quirrel was possessed. I'm pretty sure if you'd ask any portrait in the castle if they felt something was up with him, they would agree." The brunette had taken her interest in wards very seriously and had been conversing with Bill Weasley ever since they met the previous Yule holiday. Draco was starting to wonder what lay in Hermione's future. She would be a wonderful politician and lawmaker at the Ministry. She could be a scholar and receive her masteries in Potions, Charms and perhaps even Runes and Arithmancy if she kept going the studious route. Honestly, he couldn't wait to see what she'd do.
Hermione had become disillusioned by the Headmaster much faster this time around. Draco had something to do with that, but he liked how she was not blindly following her Gryffindor determination anymore. This time, she was using it together with her cunning, figuring things out for herself. He was honestly so proud of her.
"The Headmaster knows?" Susan blinked. "But why has he never contacted the D.M.L.E., the goblins or any other curse breaker for that matter? He can't possibly think that not educating almost four generations of young witches and wizards in D.A.D.A. is a good thing? Auntie would have a fit if she realized the Headmaster could solve her auror issues that easily."
Just like the first time around, the auror department was lacking new aurors. Not only because of Fudge and Draco's father making sure the D.M.L.E.'s budgeting was kept low, or even thanks to Severus Snape only allowing Outstandings to take up potions N.E.W.T. classes. Even students who had perfect scores in potions often lacked the basics in D.A.D.A., making sure that they would either not get invited to the Auror Academy, or that they would fail during the first months because they simply could not keep up. If Voldemort was the one to curse the position, leading to less aurors in Wizarding Britain, then Dumbledore was the one who had allowed it to continue.
"Why don't you write to Bill?" Draco suggested to Hermione. "He's a curse breaker and works for the goblins. He also used to be Head Boy and is the future Lord Weasley after Arthur takes a step back. Madam Bones will listen to what he thinks about the matter, right Susan?"
The redhead nodded and said she would also write to her aunt about this issue as well.
"Perhaps, we shouldn't lift the curse just yet," Harry spoke up suddenly. "If he really is forced to leave after the schoolyear is over, wouldn't it be best to just remove it after Lockhart has fallen victim to it? Not that I want him to die, but since he doesn't have bloody Voldemort living on the back of his head, it can't be that bad. And we'd be rid of him."
"Your Slytherin cunning is showing," Draco told his best friend as he poured him some more tea.
"I do have to keep up appearances since people are starting to believe I should've been a Gryffindor after our little adventure last year," Harry smirked at his best friend before taking a sip of his tea.
"Then perhaps you should stop sneaking into the Gryffindor Common Room so often to hang out with a certain Mrs. Weasley," Draco replied. "Soon I will see you in red and gold instead of green and silver."
Harry smiled, and dreamily looked at Ginny. "It's not just to see Ginny or hang out with the twins and Neville," he admitted quietly. "I've always wondered what it was like for mum and dad to grow up in the Gryffindor Tower. I was just too curious not to see what it was like, sitting in their Common Room, helping Ginny and her friends with some of their homework… Even if that Colin guy keeps snapping random pictures."
Draco nudged his shoulder in a friendly manner, letting Harry know he understood, before he took an apple from the table in front of them, slowly nibbling on it as he watched his friends having fun together. Some of them were starting to hand their presents over to Hermione. He was glad to see not just his own, but Hermione's friend circle as well, had expanded so much.
Most of the others had gotten her books, Harry even giving her the original copy of Hogwarts a History which she had always wanted. Daphne had given Hermione some earrings which she thought would suit her friend well, and Blaise had gotten her a voucher to an expensive store in Milan, winking at her that she should go and buy a dress for the Yule Ball at Malfoy Manor this Christmas.
Eventually it was Draco's turn, and he gave Hermione a small box wrapped in gold. Hermione gratefully accepted it and gasped when she opened it, looking at the small perfume bottle he'd found in a tiny boutique in the Place Cachée while being dragged along shopping with his mother during the summer. One of the other customers was trying out the scent when he'd walked past, and it hit him like a ton of bricks. Grapefruit and apple. Hermione's perfume.
"Oh Draco, thank you so much!" she said as she hugged him. "Did my mum help you get this gift?"
Draco was confused now and raised an eyebrow at the brunette. Why would he have involved Jean Granger? "No, I found it in a small boutique when mother and I went shopping in France," he answered. "I thought it would suit you."
"Oh, must be a coincidence then," Hermione smiled. "It's the same perfume my great-grandmother used to wear, and my grandmère still has a bottle of it in her bedroom. I used to always go up and smell it when I was a small child. It smelled like magic to me," she giggled at her choice of words.
Hermione put some perfume on her wrists, letting the other girls smell.
"Oh," Ginny said, sniffing. "The apple fragrance is almost like the ones we grow in the orchard at the Burrow," she said. "Like the green ones Malfoy is always nibbling on. They only grow on magical leylines, so I'm surprised muggles have managed to make a perfume out of it. Where did you buy it?"
"I didn't buy it at a muggle store," Draco said. "But if Hermione's great-grandmother had it, then…"
Hermione blinked. Her grandmère had always said her own mother had been a bit strange, claiming she saw snippets of the future. Some of those often came true, even if it wasn't always in the way they expected it. Hermione and her mother had laughed at her grandmère's stories when she was younger, but now that she knew magic was real… Well.
"She was the last witch before me," Hermione whispered in awe at this revelation. They had always suspected both of her parents were squibs to some extent after the heritage test, but knowing that it had been so close on her mother's side of the family, made Hermione regret that she'd never gotten to meet her great-grandmother before she died.
Draco and Hermione were the last ones to leave the kitchens, after Hermione helped the elves clean up even though they protested when she began waving her wand around. Draco, not wanting Hermione to wander the halls alone late at night, had stayed behind and amused her by joining the elves in their protests.
Hermione took Draco's hand in hers as they walked down one of the moving staircases. "Thank you, Draco" she whispered. "Not just for the perfume, but for making it seem more real that I'm actually a witch. I know the heritage test claimed I had the ancestry, but it all felt so foreign…"
The staircase stopped moving, and they were stuck between two floors as Draco grabbed her hand more tightly, rubbing soothing circles over it. "What has brought this about, 'Mione? Who cares if there wouldn't have been even an ounce of magical blood in your ancestors? Sure, your magical core might have been smaller, but you would still be you, the smartest witch of your age. Harry and I would still love you."
She looked up at him slightly surprised, Draco noticing for the first time that his growth spurt had finally hit him, even if it only was just a little. Her eyes were watery. "I don't think your father would have approved of you associating with a mudblood," she stated. "He barely approves of me now, considering my blood is not as pure as yours. I wouldn't even have been sorted in Slytherin if it wasn't for that heritage test. We wouldn't have been friends."
Oh sweet Hermione. How right, yet wrong she was. He'd found her even when the whole world had considered her to be a muggle-born. Even when he'd grown up and was taught to hate her and others like her, she'd always shown him that none of that blood purity nonsense mattered in the end. Why was she doubting herself now?
"Don't ever use that foul word," Draco scolded her. "I don't want anyone ever using it on you. If my father would dare to say it, I would hex him. Besides," he leaned over and whispered in her ear "whatever my father thinks, our blood is not completely pure according to Deandra. Have you never wondered how my sleek pale blond hair has survived throughout the generations, especially considering my mother is a Black where dark and curly hair runs rampant?"
Hermione blinked up at him. She'd never encountered a veela before, so she wouldn't know what he meant. But her curiosity would get the better of him, and she'd figure it out.
"Oi, you," Draco yelled at the staircase, trying to cheer Hermione up. "You better start moving now before we call Lord Slytherin down here to give you a proper scolding for making two second-years get stuck in the halls right before curfew."
Hermione laughed as the stairs suddenly moved, making both of them stumble. Draco held her hand the whole way down to the dungeons, neither one of them noticing the slithering snake following them through the castle walls after what Draco had said.
- October 31st, 1992, the Dungeons –
True to his word, Dumbledore had offered Harry to sit out the Halloween Feast this time around. Harry had thanked the Headmaster for his offer, but answered that he and his friends had already been invited to Nearly-Headless Nick's Deathday Party in the dungeons.
Luna had become fast friends with many of the ghosts residing in the castle, and as Ginny and Harry often hung out with her because the rest of Ravenclaw House seemed to be dodging the small girl, they of course had been invited as well. Daphne, Theo and Blaise had declined the invitation, but Draco and Hermione had agreed to join them, both curious as to what a Deathday Party actually entailed. When running into Neville in the hallways, Harry had convinced the boy to come too.
"Ron has been acting like such a prat recently," Neville complained as they came back from the party, the three Slytherins escorting both the Gryffindors and Luna back home. Hermione had started a conversation with the Headless Hunt at the party, and Ginny and Harry had both gagged when smelling the rotten fish that was served for dinner. Raised with proper etiquette, Draco managed to politely decline when the ghost of a house elf offered him some food. All in all, it was definitely an experience, and Draco got to know some of the ghosts at Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure if a Deathday Party was on his list of events to attend in the future. "No offense, Ginny," Neville continued. "Dean and Seamus have noticed it too, how he constantly keeps berating me for hanging out with you guys."
"No offense taken, Neville," Ginny answered. "My brother has always been a bit of a prat. The twins had him hanging by his ankles from the Common Room ceiling last week after he told them off for allowing Harry to come into the Gryffindor common room so often. He said snakes were not allowed in the lion's den and that he would tell McGonagall. She ended up scolding the twins for hanging Ron from the ceiling, but she also praised them for supporting interhouse cooperation. You should've seen his face," she laughed.
As the group rounded the corner on the second floor, they all came to a stop as they saw Mrs. Norris hanging from a torch bracket in front of a puddle of water. Hermione gasped as she looked at the writing on the wall.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
Before any of the children could respond, Argus Filch rounded the corner, screaming at them, blaming them for killing Mrs. Norris. Not long after, the Headmaster along with the heads of houses showed up, trying to revive the cat. Even though Filch did not believe that the youngsters had nothing to do with it, the Headmaster invited all of them over for a cup of tea in his office to figure out exactly what had happened.
"Excuse me, Headmaster," Harry began. "But if you will be talking to all of us concerning the petrification of Mrs. Norris and the writing on the wall, then I would like my magical guardian to be present, as well as his fiancé, Madam Bones."
"Now Harry, my boy, I don't think that will be necessary-"
"Kreacher!" Harry yelled, not letting the Headmaster finish. Draco was impressed. Seemed like both Hermione and Harry were growing a spine when it came to the Headmaster.
The old house elf popped up and bowed at his master.
"Please notify my godfather and aunt Amelia that they need to floo to the Headmaster's office as soon as possible."
The elf nodded his head once. "Certainly, master."
Severus Snape looked at Harry in approval, and Draco gave his best friend a smirk behind the annoyed Headmaster's back. Harry smirked back.
Once they got to the Headmaster's office, a very annoyed looking Amelia Bones and Sirius Black were waiting for them, already dressed in their night robes since they were getting ready for bed. Before Dumbledore could greet them, the head of the D.M.L.E. said: "As I am sure you remember, Albus, the Headmaster of the school is not supposed to be meeting with the students without any magical guardian present to defend their interests."
Sirius patted Harry's back and whispered: "Just let Amelia do the talking, pup."
- November 7th, 1992, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin –
After professor Binns' initial surprise that the students were actually interested in history had faded, realizing it was about the Chamber of Secrets, a place which simply did not exist and would not be worthy talking about, Hermione had camped out in the library together with Luna and Daphne for the past three days, trying to find more information. Luna had claimed the Chamber was real, and for all of the little witch's strangeness, their friend group had learned not to doubt the blonde.
Hermione had even called on Deandra, asking if she knew more. Since the spirit could not tell her of any of her future knowledge, she stated that the Chamber indeed did exist, but that none of the Malfoy family had ever seen it so she did not know of its exact location. That was not a lie, Draco had no clue where the entrance to the chamber could be. He was assuming it might be one of the bathrooms, as Harry always claimed he heard talking coming from the pipes. All he knew was that it was real, that Harry and Ron had gone to save Ginny Weasley, and that the bloody boy-who-lived had killed a Basilisk when he was only twelve years old. Draco shook his head and wondered how Harry's core would develop this time around now that Pomfrey and Snape had almost force-fed him nutritional potions during the first year, trying to undo the Dursleys' damage. He was already immensely powerful the last time around. Well. And lucky.
The girls had left the library, stating they would need Professor Snape or Professor Flitwick to sign off on entering the Restricted Section if they truly wanted to learn more about the Chamber of Secrets. To have a break from their studious efforts, they were currently seated in the quidditch stands. Luna was sporting a fake lion head of her own design but wearing a Slytherin scarf, stating she would do her best to cheer on both Ginny who had indeed become Gryffindor's seeker as Harry suspected, but also Harry, Draco and Blaise on the Slytherin team. Hermione and Daphne were holding up their wands, using them as umbrellas to protect the three of them as they excitedly watched the match.
The game was nearing its end, not a minute too soon for Draco as flying in the wind wasn't very pleasant, and Harry and Ginny were neck and neck, trying to catch the snitch. Draco could make out even his father being in awe in the stands. Sirius and Amelia also looked extremely proud. Perhaps Harry should consider becoming a professional quidditch player instead of an auror after all of this was over. As Blaise attempted to pass Draco the Quaffle, it was hit midair by an insanely fast Bludger, which was going straight for Harry and Ginny.
"It's out of control, just like last time," Deandra said urgently. "Why does every first match of the year have to be like this?" she wondered very annoyed, as both Draco and Blaise started diving down, trying to warn Harry and Ginny.
The Gryffindor and Slytherin looked up for a split second while chasing the snitch, seeing the Bludger coming straight at them. Ginny, considering her own health was more important than winning the match, made a turn to the left, expecting Harry to do the same. Harry however, stubborn as usual, saw his chance to catch the snitch. Draco cursed out loud. At this rate, Harry would get hit by it, just like last time.
"It's not being aimed at Harry," Deandra panicked as they all saw the Bludger turning ninety degrees to the left and going after Ginny this time instead. Even though she was sitting on a new Nimbus 2001, she could barely out speed the projectile coming for her head.
Somewhere in the background, Lee Jordan yelled that Slytherin had won after Harry caught the snitch as both Draco and Blaise, as well as the twins, were still speeding towards the small red-head Gryffindor. They wouldn't make it in time. The Bludger should have stopped now that the game was over, and Ginny had expected it to as well as Draco realized she had slowed down, no longer looking behind her as the Bludger kept coming for her. Dear Merlin. It was going to break all of the bones in her body at this rate.
Suddenly, out of fucking nowhere, Harry freaking Potter sped past below them, low over the ground, the snitch falling from his hands as he attempted to make his body as small as possible, hoping the airflow and less friction would bring him to Ginny in time.
Right as the Bludger was going to hit the small girl, Harry kicked of his broom once again, Draco cursing him on the inside for his Gryffindor recklessness. He knocked Ginny off of her broom mid jump, both of them tumbling onto the ground. This seemed to have confused the Bludger for a second. Harry looked up as the heavy ball was still coming straight for them after changing directions. Not having his wand on him during the game, he did the only thing he could think off. He cradled Ginny in his arms and put her under him, protecting her with his body.
A sickening crunch was heard throughout the whole pitch and when the Bludger flew back up and attempted to hit the two children again, the ball dodging the Weasley twins swinging at it, a huge black dog came running at them in full speed. It transfigured into Sirius right before the Bludger would hit them a second time.
"Finite Incantatem!" he yelled all out of breath, the Bludger now slowly falling to the side, rolling away into the distance.
Hermione and Daphne were running onto the pitch, elbowing their way through the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch team when they got closer to Harry and Ginny. Mrs. Weasley had done exactly the same and was crying out for her daughter.
Sirius and Draco were carefully trying to make Harry loosen his protective grip on Ginny, murmuring to the two shocked children that everything was alright now. Blaise was clearing a path for the Headmaster, followed by Lockhart, to get through the small crowd that had gathered around him.
"My arm," Harry grunted, in pain. "Ginny, are you alright?" he bit out, impressing Draco considering a piece of bone was literally sticking out of the boy's arm. The only positive thing about living through a war, was that something like that didn't gross him out any longer. Hermione and Daphne on the other hand seemed very squeamish.
Ginny sat up straight now, her knees tucked under her as she shivered and nodded, her mother patting her head and her back, making sure she was alright.
"You sa-saved me, Ha-rry," she stammered as tears started running down her cheeks. "How- how can I… Ever th-thank you?"
"Salrite," Harry slurred as he was losing consciousness. "Do it again."
Harry's eyes rolled back in his skull and Hermione screamed. Then dickhead Lockhart happily exclaimed what a hero Harry was, took out his wand, and said he'd easily fix the boy's arm.
Before Draco could stop him, Sirius had grabbed Lockhart's wand arm, pinching it painfully. "You will not touch my boy," he spat out. "I don't trust someone who cannot get through Auror Academy to know a simple healing spell, Gilderoy."
The Professor stammered as Madam Pomfrey knocked him out of the way and conjured a stretcher, the mediwitch murmuring that Quidditch as a sport should be banned. As Poppy started casting some basic healing charms and forcing a blood replenishing potion down Harry's throat, Amelia Bones showed up, Bludger in hand. "This is the second time a cursed object has attacked the children, Headmaster," she stated. "I would suspect after the first time, you would take better care to protect them considering Quidditch is dangerous enough as is."
Daphne noted it was good to have Susan's aunt on their side as they followed Madam Pomfrey and Mrs. Weasley who were hovering Harry and Ginny to the Hospital Wing. Draco could not agree more, and Hermione even called the head of the D.M.L.E. a "badass". Seems like she had found her new mentor figure to idolize.
- December 17th, 1992, Slytherin Common Room –
Snape was looking at the students in his House, his arms crossed, a scowl on his face. "For all of you wishing to attend the duelling club, let me get one thing straight," he said slowly. "I will not condone fighting and cheating, and I will expect you all to do your utmost best. If you have any questions, come to me or Professor Flitwick. For the love of Merlin, do not ask that bumbling idiot that calls himself your D.A.D.A. professor for any tips."
The eager students who wanted to join the duelling club nodded. By now, everyone had realized that Lockhart was nothing but a fraud, and when he wanted to start a duelling club, Draco had wondered out loud if Professor Flitwick should join them considering he had been a Duelling Champion in the past. Harry, who had always been exceptionally good at duelling since they started training a bit with both Sirius and Professor Snape during summer, had run off after class and asked the Professor for some pointers.
"It's a good way to distract us," Blaise murmured as they walked to the Great Hall where the duelling club's first meeting would be held. "I don't particularly like the Creevey kid since he always hangs around with that camera of his, trying to get Harry to pose for a picture, but now that he's the second victim to end up petrified in the Hospital Wing…"
Draco nodded. So far, the petrifications had happened in exactly the same order as last time. He hoped it would stay that way. He didn't need anyone to go dying on his watch. If only he could figure out who exactly was behind the opening of the chamber this time around… Hermione had been doing some digging around in the library with Luna and Daphne, but they didn't have much luck yet. In addition, she had started taking private potion lessons with Snape, along with Daphne. Draco had declined his godfather's offer. It would be way too obvious that he knew how to make most potions already if Draco joined their extra credit group. He didn't need his godfather mistrusting him. Perhaps he'd join them in a few years when he was actually expected to know all of the potions.
Just like the first time around, Snape easily disarmed Lockhart, who tried to play it off as a demonstration. Professor Flitwick, along with Harry and Draco's group giggled at that. What Draco did not see coming, however, was for his godfather to pair up Harry and Ron.
"Your godfather has his flaws," Deandra said. "One of them is his eternal hatred for Gryffindors. I'm sure he wants the Weasley boy to suffer a bit under Harry's duelling skills."
What no one, not even Draco, had expected was that Ron actually stood his ground against Harry.
"Where did he learn all of that? He couldn't have learnt it from Lockhart," Hermione wondered as they saw disarming spells and tickling charms being cast back and forth.
"Perhaps Percy or the twins showed him?" Ginny provided. "I've never seen him put any effort into his schooling though, so I am as surprised as you guys."
Ever since Harry had saved her from the Bludger, the two had been almost inseparable. Draco was not looking forward to the time when their hormones would kick in. Dear Merlin if he was a prefect, he would take that damned map with him every night to make sure he wouldn't run into those two snogging in a broom closet.
"Enough," Snape said, stopping the two boys, equally surprised by Weasley's skill. "Perhaps you should be showing some of your shielding charms?"
Harry nodded at his head of house, and yelled out a Protego charm, as Weasley suddenly conjured a goddamn snake.
Draco blinked.
"It's Weasley," he hissed mentally at Deandra. How did he miss the signs? Neville had mentioned multiple times how Ron had become more and more of a nuisance, always snappy and hateful. Almost as if he'd forgotten that they had beaten Voldemort together the year before. "But how? Did he get the book from his sister? How else would he know how to conjure a snake?"
Deandra concentrated, assisting Draco in his legilimency. There it was, right at the forefront of Weasley's mind. A book. Not a diary this time. But what seemed to be an instruction manual? How had this belonged to Voldemort? In his mind, Weasley closed the book and Draco could read the title. "The Dark Arts of Fulfilling your Deepest Desires by Gormlaith Gaunt."
"Gaunt?" Draco questioned. "Isn't that Voldemort's mother's name? Where did Father even find this if it's been passing through different families? It's drowning in Gaunt family magic… And it has snakeface's magical signature on it."
Hermione's hand grasping his suddenly, broke his concentration. "Oh no," she said. "Now they will all know…"
Draco looked up and saw Harry hissing at the snake to leave Justin Finch-Fletchley alone, just like the first time around. Professor Snape stepped forward and made the snake disappear, sending it back to wherever Weasley had conjured it from.
"You tried to kill me!" the annoying Hufflepuff suddenly yelled at Harry, pointing at him. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Harry looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean mate? I just told the snake to stop and leave you alone."
"He's a Parselmouth," Weasley spoke up, an evil grin in his eyes. "Just like You-Know-Who. Perhaps he's the heir of Slytherin who has been petrifying all the others."
The students started murmuring among themselves.
"Enough!" Severus yelled as he protectively stepped in front of Harry. "I will hear no more unfounded accusations against the members of my house," he snapped.
Draco looked around him and noticed how everyone, except himself, Hermione, and Luna had started slowly backing away from Harry, fear in their eyes. Even the Slytherins seemed unsure about what had happened, more curiosity than fear showing on their faces.
"Ginny," Hermione hissed in disbelief. "You cannot believe what your brother is saying. You know Harry. Even if he is… He would never. He saved you for Merlin's sake." Her head whipped over to Neville. "Neville, you guys were there when we found Mrs. Norris. Harry didn't leave our side for a second, how could he have done any of this?"
Harry's heartbroken "Ginny?" made Hermione look up at her brother in all but blood, worry filling her eyes as he reached out a hand towards Ginny and Neville, the latter of whom now looked unsure in a half-defensive stance next to his fellow Gryffindor.
"Leave my sister alone, you filthy snake," Ron spat. "Everyone knows you're the heir now. That it is you who's been opening the Chamber of Secrets."
Harry looked murderous as he put up his chin in the air defiantly and twirled his wand in between his fingers, Draco noticing he was itching to hex the boy in front of him. Draco took out his wand slowly, ready to cast a shielding charm to protect either one of them if it came to that.
"So, you claim that the heir of Slytherin has been opening the Chamber?" Harry asked, Snape trying to break them up. Harry was having none of it, however. His stubbornness made sure that he would have his say in this.
"That's what the writings say, don't they," Ron scoffed, crossing his arms and looking pleased at how this had gone.
Harry looked down at his friends, determination in his eyes. A small legilimency nudge from Draco to Harry, made Draco widen his eyes and mouth to him "Don't do it, Potter."
Well, too late it seemed as Harry threw every piece of caution to the wind, his Gryffindor recklessness showing, when he exclaimed in front of almost the entire student body that it couldn't be him opening the Chamber then, since he was not the Heir of Slytherin.
Weasley scoffed at that again. "Sure mate, how else would you explain that you're a Parselmouth then."
Harry grinned wickedly. "Well, I am Lord Slytherin. But I can assure you, I don't have any current heirs, so pretty sure someone else is opening the Chamber."
Chaos ensued as Harry now had his lordship ring showing. Some of the students started yelling both Harry's and You-Know-Who's names, the gasp of "Lord Slytherin" going through them like a damned Mexican Wave at a Quidditch match. Weasley was gaping at Harry like a fish out of water.
"Why does our friend sometimes act before he thinks," Hermione sighed as she facepalmed at her best friend's behaviour.
"It all makes sense now," Blaise exclaimed, coming closer again. "How that idiot with his Gryffindor bravery ended up in Slytherin. Bloody hat probably refused to put Lord Slytherin anywhere else, even if he's a Gryffindor at heart."
If only they knew, it was Harry himself who had convinced the hat to put him in Slytherin, instead of Gryffindor.
"We need to figure out how Ron is being manipulated by the book. Remember, it can bring demise to whole families," Deandra said as Snape was rounding up Harry and his friends angrily. Oops. His godfather probably didn't like being left out of the loop and must have noticed that none of them had acted surprised when Harry exclaimed that he was in fact Lord Slytherin.
"Are we sure he's being manipulated and not just being a git?" Draco asked as Deandra mentally smacked him in the back of his head.
"He's just a boy," she scolded him. "Much like you were the first time around. And you didn't have a cursed object influencing your every move like he does."
Draco rubbed the back of his head absentmindedly and reluctantly agreed. Well. Now that he knew who was controlling the Basilisk, all they had to do was figure out how to get to the Chamber, stop the Basilisk, and more importantly stop Weasley before he actually killed someone. Where to begin?
- About fifteen minutes later, the Slytherin Common Room –
"Mate," Theo said in wonder. "Are you saying that you actually are Lord Fucking Slytherin?"
"Language, Mr. Nott," Snape said, pinching his nose as he sat down in an armchair next to the fireplace. Draco and his friends were sitting cross-legged on the carpet, the rest of Slytherin house spread around them in chairs and sofas, and leaning against the cold stone walls.
His godfather had not been pleased to learn that the silver trio had known for more than a year that Lord Slytherin was sitting in their midst. Draco reminding his godfather that he didn't want anyone to treat Harry like he was the local celebrity, did not improve the head of house his mood. When Harry admitted he hadn't even told Sirius, even though he was responsible for the Slytherin Estate until Harry came of age, Snape called for one of the Hogwarts house elves to get Lord Black immediately.
"Why have you never told us, Harry?" Daphne asked, confused. "You know we would never treat you any differently. Merlin, you know we don't even do that boy-who-lived crap in House Slytherin. To most of us you're that scrawny kid who needs a haircut," she winked teasingly.
Harry leaned forward and rubbed his neck with his right hand, trying to ease his own tension. "We thought it wise not to tell anyone until I became of age, since… Since I got the title in a rather unconventional way seeing as I supposedly vanquished the last Lord Slytherin…"
Daphne gasped. Blaise blinked at Harry. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand in a supportive manner.
Severus Snape waved his wand and conjured two bottles of Firewhisky from his office. "Any of-age Slytherins, feel free to join me. I'm sure you'll need it," he said offhandedly as the bottle magically started pouring glasses.
"Ehm Professor, I'm pretty sure the younger students shouldn't be-" Harry began. He immediately shut up as Snape looked at him, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Now don't go around telling us snakes what to do," Draco joked casually, punching his best friend playfully in the shoulder. "You might be Lord Slytherin, but that doesn't make the lot of us your personal house elves."
Harry raised an eyebrow at that. "It doesn't?" he joked, making Severus almost choke on his Firewhisky.
Right before Sirius waltzed in through the fireplace, since Snape had opened the floo-connection, Marcus Flint asked: "Is that why you can talk to snakes?"
Lord Black almost stumbled as he saw the question aimed at his godson. "You're a Parselmouth?" he asked, dumbfounded.
Harry nodded sheepishly, Hermione scowling at Sirius, daring him to say anything bad to her best friend. Sirius just raised his hands in defense, saw that some of the other adults were drinking Firewhisky, and motioned to them to get him a glass too before he let himself fall into an armchair Snape had just conjured up for him.
"I have to say, the Slytherin Common Room still looks the same as all those years ago," he mused, trying to make everyone relax and show that he wasn't angry.
"What do you mean, Black?" Snape spat at him. "You were never welcome in the dungeons back then."
Sirius smiled wickedly. "In my younger bachelor days, I often frequented the Common Room to take girls on dates," he said. "I just made sure I wasn't seen doing it." He winked at some of the older boys, raising his glass at them. They grinned back at him.
"Before you start poisoning my snakes with your Gryffindor stupidity," Snape said. "I would like for Mr. Potter to explain some things to you. To all of us."
Harry began the story of how Draco had suggested that he and Hermione take a heritage test, considering life would be way easier, especially for Hermione if she wasn't seen as a muggle-born in wizarding society. Some of the older Slytherins actually looked ashamed when he mentioned that, considering that was exactly how they were raised. The heritage test had shown he was the Heir of House Potter, obviously, and that his mother actually descended from the Bones and Rosier family, as well as the Spellmans from the USA. One of the older students piped up explaining that the Spellmans wrote the first edition of the Spellman's Syllabary which was used in their Ancient Runes class. Draco noted that Hermione made a mental note to look up that book. Dropping another bombshell on all of Slytherin House, Harry proceeded to tell them he was also currently Heir Peverell.
"Peverell?" Sirius whispered. "As in the Deathly Hallows?"
"Obviously," Snape sneered. "Why does that have you so surprised, Black?"
Sirius just shook his head, and Draco wondered what the man was thinking. What was so important about the story of the Deathly Hallows? It was just about the brothers gaining three powerful items from Death. A wand, a ring, and an… Invisibility Cloak. No way. Were the Hallows real?
"Like I told your father," Deandra spoke up. "All tales are just twisted truths."
After the initial shock dwindled down, Draco now noticing that Pansy suddenly looked way more interested in Harry than himself, dear Merlin help him, Harry continued stating that he was seen as Lord Slytherin by right of conquest. He also supplied that Voldemort had been an heir of the Peverell line, making them very distantly related.
"The rest of the school will see you as responsible for the attacks," Sirius said solemnly. "I hate to admit it Harry, but I was one of those assholes who believed all Slytherins were evil. You being a Parselmouth and Lord Slytherin… Bigotry in the wizarding world goes both ways."
Hermione had been frowning for a while now. Determination filled her eyes, as she looked up. "He could make a vow," she stated. "If Harry swears on his life and his magic that he isn't the one attacking the students, they will have to believe him."
Sirius put his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Beliefs are not that easily changed, kitten. But, you are right, we should try. In the meantime, we should figure out what is actually attacking everyone. And who's behind it."
All of the Slytherins were very supportive of Harry, promising him that they would stand by him, no matter what. It didn't matter to them that he was Lord Slytherin, or the boy-who-lived. The past year and a half they had gotten to know him for who he truly was. Not the bullcrap that their parents had been telling them, or even worse the stories that had been written about him. Snakes stuck together. They always had, and they forever would.
Hermione leaned her head onto Harry, whispering to him that everything would be alright as she hugged him with one arm, pulling her closer to him. What had hurt the raven-haired boy the most was the doubt and fear he saw in his friends' eyes. When especially Ginny and Neville had seemed unsure if they could trust him any longer.
When Justin Finch-Fletchly and Nearly Headless Nick were found petrified in the hallway only a day later, Draco, Hermione, and Sirius accompanied Harry to the Headmaster's office. McGonagall told them to wait for the Headmaster as he was currently visiting the Hospital Wing. Once Dumbledore came in, he was surprised to see the boy bonding with his familiar Fawkes, before the phoenix exploded into a fireball, a pile of ashes all that remained. Telling the Headmaster of the vow he was planning to make, the old Professor agreed, right as Hagrid ran in. The half-giant was ranting that the son of James and Lily Potter would and could never be the one attacking the Hogwarts students. Harry smiled at his first friend and hoped others might see the same.
- December 22nd, Slytherin Common Room –
Almost everyone was finished packing to leave for London the next day, but Draco and Harry were sitting in the Common Room playing a game of chess, Draco's back turned to the entrance of the common room. Harry had made his vow the day after that idiot Justin got petrified. Not a lot of the Hogwarts population seemed to care, however. The twins were a nice surprise when they came over to the Slytherin table during lunch, sitting down on either side of Harry. They acted as if nothing was wrong and were consulting him on some new prank that they were going to play on Filch. Hermione and Daphne smiled, happy that at least someone was showing Harry that they believed in him. Sadly, neither Neville nor Ginny had shown up to do the same, even if Draco had seen them stealing glances at Harry in the Great Hall and the library.
The common room entrance opened, and Hermione and Daphne were giggling, clearly up to something. Perhaps they were trying to cheer up Harry. Draco focused on the game and kept pondering what his next move would be if he wanted to beat his best friend. In his peripheral vision, he saw that both girls were now standing on either side of him, looking at the game.
"I think you should move the knight to E5," Hermione said.
Draco reached out to his right, grasping her hand, without looking up. "Don't try and set me up, 'Mione. I know that if I do that, then Harry-"
His best mate was coughing now quite obviously, pointing with his eyes to Draco's hand and then up to Hermione's face. When Draco looked up, he saw Daphne's blue eyes staring down at him in disbelief. Wait. What? He was sure that he'd grabbed onto Hermione, her magical signature so familiar to him that he would always be able to find her. Why did he just grab onto Daphne?
"How did you know that?" Hermione asked, standing on his left, flipping her hair back. Wait a second. Hermione never flipped her hair back. Only Daphne did.
"How did he?" what looked like Daphne, now asked, the famous Hermione Granger thinking frown on her face. "How is it possible that even a Polyjuice potion can't fool him?"
Oh. So that's what the girls were giggling about. They thought that they could fool him if they used some Polyjuice potion, the latest project he had overheard them working on with Snape. Apparently, they succeeded if his godfather had allowed them to run off looking like this. "Well, that's easy," Draco said, still holding the real Hermione's hand. He let his magical core tickle her hand, all the way up her arm, making her giggle before he pulled back his magic.
"What was that?" Hermione-Daphne asked.
"What was what?" both Daphne-Hermione and Harry asked at the same time.
"Draco's magic… Tickled me," Hermione who was now slowly morphing back into herself said, the potion running its course apparently as Daphne's hair became shorter and frizzier.
Daphne whistled, impressed, her hair becoming thinner and sleeker by the second. "Damn Malfoy, I had no clue you were that in tune with your magical core. At your age as well? That's damn impressive. But to be able to single out Hermione's as well? I thought only Luna could do that."
Draco shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "It takes practice," was all he said. "Helps with wandless magic."
All three of their eyes turned into saucers. "Wandless magic?" Harry asked.
"Silent too," Draco smirked.
"Mate. Why haven't you told me you could do that sooner? Do you have any clue how useful that is?"
The rest of the day, as well as the train ride home the day after, was spent practicing to feel their own magical core, Theo and Blaise joining them as soon as they learnt what they were on about. Draco had not been planning on showing them this skill, but he and Deandra agreed it would be useful to get them to learn early on how to use their magic as a muscle, especially if they ended up in a war again. It also kept Harry distracted, as he still had not heard from his Gryffindor friends.
As they got off the train, Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and smiled at him, knowing that he'd mainly been using the magical core training as a distraction. "Thank you," she whispered as she hugged him tightly.
"Now, remember to dress up boys," she told her two best friends as they levitated their trunks behind them. "As my two escorts to the Yule Ball at Malfoy Manor, I will require both of you to be dressed impeccably," she quipped.
Harry and Draco just rolled their eyes at her, as she pulled them along with her, eager to greet her family, Hermione sending a tingle down Draco's arm with her magic, surprising him that she'd actually started mastering the skill already. All she did was wink as she let go of him and jumped into her father's open arms for a hug.
- December 25th, Malfoy Manor Ball Room –
Narcissa Malfoy had outdone herself so much, that Madam Bones was jokingly asking her if she ever thought to be a wedding planner. Accepting the compliment, the witch told her future cousin-in-law that she could always ask for her help if needed. His mother raised her glass of champagne at him, as she noticed he was escorting Hermione and introducing her to some of the guests. Daphne was escorted by Theo, and Blaise was attending together with Tracey. At the last minute, Harry had notified Hermione and Draco that he would be expected to come with Susan. Hermione had laughed at all the pureblood etiquette and told Harry not to worry. They would all be meeting each other anyway.
She was wearing a cute, modest dark green dress, the earrings that Daphne had given her for her birthday glittering under all the Yule Light. She looked adorable. Draco, being ever the gentleman, had on black robes with dark green accents so his outfit would fit his date. Daphne had on a silver dress, making her white-blonde hair stand even out more. Susan showed up in a yellow dress, ever the Hufflepuff, Harry escorting her by the arm.
"Couldn't you guys have warned me that these events are so… Stiff," the raven-haired boy said as he adjusted his collar and tie. He was clearly uncomfortable in his suit. The boys just laughed at him.
"You look spiffy, Harry," Hermione complimented him as she let go of Draco's elbow to grab her best friend a glass of pumpkin juice. As the eight second-years talked about the grades they had gotten on their tests right before Yule, as well as their plans for the holidays, a blushing Neville suddenly showed up, on the arm of his Grandmother.
"Everyone," he began sheepishly. No one had seen him or talked to him ever since that fateful night of the duelling club, so Neville realized he'd walked in on a quite tense situation. "May I present to you, my grandmother, Lady Augusta Longbottom."
All of them greeted the Longbottom matriarch politely and the four girls engaged in conversation with her. Eventually, Lady Longbottom took the girls with her to introduce them to one of her duelling club friends, ensuring the boys she would take care of them. The boys were left with Neville, all of them looking expectantly at him.
"Look," the Gryffindor began. "I'm sorry about not approaching you at Hogwarts, Harry. Gryffindor House right now is…" he struggled to find the words. "Things have been very uncomfortable, especially for me and Ginny. The twins don't care what the others think, but Ron has been very adamant about you being the spawn of all evil. Well, all of you actually, considering you are snakes," he sighed, rubbing a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair. "Ginny has been suffering the most. It's as if Ron knows whenever she finds the courage to come up to you. It's honestly as if he's possessed or something… I tried talking to the twins, and they said they'd talk to their father, but…"
As Neville continued talking, Draco felt a familiar tingle at the back of his mind. Even if Hermione hadn't learnt to just waltz into his mind yet, she had become quite gifted at getting his attention when needed.
Trying to determine where she was before turning in her direction, he felt her familiar magical pull tugging him toward the other side of the room. She was no longer engaged in conversation with Lady Longbottom and her friends, but she was standing alone in a corner of the room, looking at him urgently, waving him over with her hand. As soon as he arrived, she grabbed his elbow, smiled, and said quietly. "We need to go to the library, now."
Wondering what this was about, he nodded his head at her. They were stopped quite a few times on their way out of the room, some people stopping them and asking who the bewitching witch – haha, old people humour, Draco thought dryly – at his side was. When Hermione introduced herself graciously as Hermione Dagworth-Granger, more than one eyebrow was raised. Draco could feel the impatience within Hermione growing, even though she had a perfectly pleasant smile plastered on her face every time they were greeted.
"Please excuse us," he said to the last couple that stopped them on their way out. "Miss Dagworth-Granger wanted me to accompany her to the gardens for a breath of fresh air."
As soon as they were outside of the ballroom and Draco closed the door behind him, Hermione kicked off her tiny heels, took her shoes in hand, and broke off into a run. "Dobby!" she yelled while running, Draco hurrying behind her.
The elf popped up next to her, bowing, his ears moving in confusion as she sprinted past him. The elf's little feet tried to keep up with her as he asked his Miss Hermie what exactly the problem was.
"Most of the library is catalogued based on the Dewey Decimal Classification, right?" she asked the elf as she lifted her dress to get up the stairs more easily, taking two steps at a time.
"Yes, Miss. Is there anything-"
"Could you put any books that could fit under classification 597.96 ready for me and Draco to read?" she asked, panting now, Draco struggling to keep up with her.
Dobby nodded and snapped his fingers, apparating away.
The doors of the library burst open even before Hermione had reached them, Deandra helping her in her pursuit of knowledge. Hermione dropped her shoes at the entrance door as she saw that Dobby had already put about five books on one of the three library desks and lit some of the candles so they could read. The little elf was still looking at the catalogue and apparating from bookshelf to bookshelf, looking if he'd missed anything, as Hermione threw open the biggest tome.
"Would you please tell me what this is about 'Mione?" he asked as he finally caught up with her, catching his breath as he leaned over her shoulder to see what she was reading. Her hair which had been tamed into soft curls was crackling with her enthusiasm, the magic making it frizzier than it had been before. He resisted the urge to tuck the few fallen strands behind her ear again. Suddenly a burst of triumph filled him. He almost felt high on Hermione's feelings.
"I knew it!" she yelled, taking Draco's hand and pulling him next to her now, showing him the book. "I must say, your mother has invited some less savoury individuals to this ball," she began. "But when I heard two men behind Mrs. Longbottom talk about "stabbing its eyes after the toad hatched the chicken egg," I suddenly remembered one of the things Daphne, Luna, and I encountered. We didn't think it could be true at first. It's illegal, and honestly who in their right mind would ever think about breeding such a thing."
She smiled at him as he read the page she was referring to. A Basilisk. She'd figured it out. Again. All this time he was wondering how he could bring up the topic without letting his knowledge of the future slip. And here she was, staring at him excitedly. She'd solved the puzzle. Well, partly anyway. What she hadn't figured out yet was that Ron was actually being possessed like Neville was starting to suspect.
He looked over to Hermione, smiling at her. "You're brilliant, you know that?"
She blushed at his praise but continued chattering. "If this is Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, do you think Harry could control it? As Lord Slytherin I mean? He could stop it without anyone else, even the Basilisk, getting hurt. Right? If not, we can always take some roosters with us, since-"
Draco tuned out and just basked in her feelings of excitement and pride. Was this why he had fallen for her the first time? He honestly didn't remember how it had happened. At some point, he had just realized he enjoyed her company after Vector forced them to work together. Her feelings were so pure, so unlike the backstabbing manipulations he'd been used to as a child. Hermione's chattering suddenly stopped, embarrassment filling her. No. Shyness? He looked up and saw a mistletoe growing from the ceiling, making its way down to Hermione and Draco. Draco looked over at Dobby who just grinned before apparating away. Sneaky little elf.
"Is this becoming our Yule tradition?" he joked. Hermione hadn't been this shy last year when they were caught under the mistletoe. She had just planted a big wet kiss on his cheek and ran off laughing. For a second, he thought, she might be… No. She was still nothing more than a child. No way she had feelings for him.
He picked up her hand and bowed as he kissed her hand, Hermione giggling at his antics.
"Always such a gentleman," Harry spoke up, ruining the moment as he walked through the library doors. "What had you two running off like that? I thought something happened."
Hermione grinned at Harry. "How would you feel about trying to befriend a Basilisk with that new-found skill of yours?"
Harry grinned. "Oh, it's just a Basilisk, is it? Good. I thought we'd be having to face off Moldypants again."
"There's just one problem though," Draco interrupted. "Who's controlling it?"
"I have a pretty good idea who might be responsible for all of this," Neville said as he showed up behind Harry out of nowhere, surprising all three of them.