Chapter 14 – Midsummer Festival
June 19, 1999
It's taken me a whole hour, but I finally got both of my ears pointed the way I want. I probably would have gotten done a whole lot faster but when you get stuck, you just get stuck. I am actually looking forward to today and enjoying the festival. The community deserves something like this after all it has suffered. I have kept myself from spiraling so far, so I quickly slam that book shut and resume my task of finishing my outfit. The twins said I did not have to dress up, but they were. Well why wouldn't I dress for the festival? This is something our people have celebrated for generations and although the celebrations became less frequent and done mostly at home, now we can bring back the joy of it all.
I stand back from the mirror and give myself one last look. My green top and mid-calf shorts are so comfortable despite looking like foliage. I adjust my belt that has a few small bottles of potions hanging from it (with impervious charms to keep them from breaking accidentally). I thought it would be funny to maybe sprinkle a giggle potion over some of the kids and after tinkering with the ingredients, I was able to get it to be a few different colors of blue and pink. I have a elven Celtic circlet on my head with golden leaves that dips down a little onto my forehead. I found it in our vault when looking to see if we had anything else that would go with the outfit. I also found some type of musical instrument at Theo's that looks cool but I'm not too sure what it is. It was with all of his gaming stuff, so it was kind of out of place, but fits the outfit either way. I place that around me as well and attach a small pouch to the cord. My shoes have been transfigured to look like leaves of all different shades and wrap around my feet and up my ankles, feeling softer than I anticipated.
I head over and take one last line before putting a small sack into the inside pocket of my pouch for later in the day. I see Granger's potion sitting on the table where I left it and pick it up contemplating if I should take it or not. She said it would not interfere with anything but my anxiety. I've taken uppers and downers at the same time though and that was not a good experience. I decide to place it in my pouch as well, at least so she knows I didn't just throw it away. I'm not sure why I care so much about what she thinks about it, but that's something to ponder another time.
"Mipsy, how do I look?" I ask and hear a small pop next to me.
"Oh Master Draco looks wonderful! And how bouts Mipsy?"
Mipsy does a little twirl in her pink poofy dress, white flowers all over the bodice. She used her own money despite me saying I would provide whatever she wanted to wear. I'm glad that this is all creature inclusive as well, which with Granger who would've thought otherwise?
"Mipsy, you look beautiful. Let's away, yes?"
She grabs my hand and we apparate over to the joke shop landing in the twins office. The office is empty when we arrive and after bidding Mipsy a good time, I started out towards the festival past the few customers that are inside. When I exit the shop, I'm hit with the smell of fresh flowers and bright colors from all of the different stands. The twins have a booth set up around the outer perimeter of the shop and it is swamped with people all around. I stand on my toes to see because, despite my height, it's hard to pick out the twins in the crowd. I finally see Fred floating up in his chair, covered in bright colored fabric and flowers. I head over to him looking at all they have on display on my way. Fred eye's me in the crowd and his face lights ups immediately.
"Malfoy! Look at you being all festive! Great outfit mate!"
"Thanks. I like what you've done with the chair."
"We've gotten a bunch of donations so far today and are really racking up the sales. I think at least half the wizarding community is here!"
"That's fantastic! Do you need any help?"
George walks over then, his hands full of inventory to be put out, "No we've got it. Put some extra security charms over the place so you can't walk away with anything without paying or it'll just disappear out of your hand. Pretty nifty actually so we'll probably put it on the whole store after this. You go have a good time. Don't forget to wrap your ribbon around the Maypole later!"
"Yeah yeah." I start to walk towards the next stand with a man selling handmade quills and special inks. There's a group of kids there looking at some brightly colored ones oohing and ahhing over the choices. I sneak up behind them and sprinkle a little giggle potion over their heads. They all start to bust giggle, holding their stomachs looking to each other to figure out what's so funny. I start to head out when I hear a voice behind me.
"That's a pretty good joke for today. I didn't take you for one to make children laugh."
Granger is standing with her hand on her hip and small smirk quirking one eyebrow up. She has a light green long Grecian style dress on adorned with petals that look to be falling and gathering at the bottom that barely touches the ground. The sleeves are sheer and open connecting from her shoulder to her wrist with darker looking vines sewn throughout. Her hair is down, the curls big and bouncy with little butterflies scattered throughout, wings moving every so often. She also has a gold circlet with little gems that look like dewdrops adorning it and coming down to rest right at the center of her forehead. Coming from her back is a pair of fairy wings that reach above her head and down to her knee. A shimmer radiating off them with swirl patterns moving at a slow pace and gently swaying in and out lazily. Her face has light makeup that gives the effect of an ethereal glow when you gaze at her bright honey eyes adorned with long dark eyelashes.
"Malfoy? Are you alright?"
"Mmm yeah I'm good. You look...great. Your outfit is amazing. Did you do all of that?"
"Oh thanks! I love festivals like these. Hermione being a Renaissance name and all that, I was kind of a nerd with it."
"Kind of? Did you meet your 11-year-old self or no?"
"Har Har. And who are you supposed to be Peter Pan? Oh wait! An ocarina! Your Link!"
"What's an ocarina? And who's Link?"
"Link. He's a video game character. Has a game called The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time? How do you have one if you don't know what it is?"
Granger points to the musical instrument on my side and I realize now why it was sitting with Theo's gaming things.
"Oh. I actually found it with Theo's stuff. I didn't know what it was, but it looked cool. I'll have to see if the game is there too."
Her face falls as I mention Theo, probably worried that I will set myself off on some type of depressive streak just bringing him up. I don't want people to just stop talking about him and I certainly don't want anyone tip toeing around me. I decide to just go back to the original conversation.
"Well actually, for your information, I'm Puck."
"Oh how ironic! I'm Titania hahaha!"
Her laugh rings out full and loud at the coincidence and I smile at her happiness as she folds her arms across her stomach.
"And where is your Oberon then my Queen?"
She wipes the tear of laughter gathering at her eye, "Oh no no. No King Oberon for me. Not yet at least. Do you have some of that flower by chance? Maybe you can help me out."
"Alas, I do not have any love-in-idleness. Maybe one of these fine booths have some for you."
"Well then, let's away Puck!"
She grabs my hand and pulls me to start walking with her, petals being left behind her every step. I look down at our hands, not entwined but just held together like a mother would her child crossing the street. This is some of the most prolonged physical contact I've had in a long time. I start to fixate on the softness of her skin and the heat from her palm spreading to mine. Her hand is so small compared to mine and there's a small freckle on the top of her hand by her pointer finger, just a little darker than her olive complexion. I'm brought out of my thoughts as she drops my hand and I look up to see where we are.
"Hermione dear I'm so glad you could come by! How marvelous you look! Spin for me!"
Granger takes a hold of her dress and does two quick spins, petals flying outwards as Mrs. Weasley claps and laughs.
"Oh that's just wonderful! Oh! I have something for too. I've been meaning to write but you know that owl is slower than anything and by the time he gets back someone else has already sent him off again."
The Weasley matriarch pulls out a box full of brightly colored scarves, hats, and tiny sweaters. Granger beams as she sees everything the box contains.
"Oh thank you so much Molly! I'll be sure to take this over to the office for them to be distributed. How did you find time to make all of these?"
"Posh, you know I have all the time now since everyone is grown and out the house. Well, mostly out of the house. This one is for you though dear. I know it's still early for colder weather clothes, but I thought a nice cardigan for lazing around would be something you could use."
Granger pulls out a light brown long sleeve cardigan that looks long enough to reach her knees. The material looks quite soft and warm. Perfect for her while she's got her nose stuck in a book at night. Wait, why would I think that?
"This is perfect. Thank you so much Molly!"
Suddenly, I'm being shoved a small parcel by Mrs. Weasley as well.
"Draco don't think I forgot your birthday. The twins told me about it and so of course you get something as well. Now don't give me that look. One day you'll get used to it darling. Now say thank you."
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, I appreciate the gesture even though you know you do not have to give me anything." I open the package as I'm speaking and find a dark blue blanket with my constellation in light yellow in the center and swirls of yellow and light blues around the edges. The thought that was put into this gift sends my emotions to a place that I haven't let them go in sometime. I quickly occlude and pull myself together before making a scene.
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley. This is a very thoughtful gift, and I will be sure to use it. I think it will go quite nice on my library reading sofa. I would also like to buy one of your pies while we are here."
I can feel Granger watching me as Mrs. Weasley helps me pick the best pie. Her eyebrows are slightly pinched, and she's got just the smallest part of her lip stuck between her teeth. I finish up picking out my dessert for later this week and walk back over to the front of the tent.
"Well thank you two for coming by! Have a great time loves!"
Mrs. Weasley turns to start helping the next customer that's walked into her tent and I see Granger start to shove the box into her bag.
"Excuse me but what exactly are you doing? That thing can't hold more than some lip-gloss."
"For your information Malfoy, this bag can hold a multitude of things and…actually, I don't know why I'm telling you this."
"Because you feel safe letting a criminal know you committed a crime by performing an illegal extendable charm on your bag?"
Her eyes widen as she looks up at me adjusting her bag at the same time, trying to figure out exactly what to say. I start to chuckle at her look of indignation, and she straightens up.
"Committed a crime? Absurd. Not me, I would never. This bag was already like this."
"Sure it was. Come on, there's much more to see."
We walk through the festival, not holding hands again, but walking a little closer than we normally would. Probably because the crowds are so busy, and we don't want to get separated. As we pass a small gathering of children, I sneak over and sprinkle some giggle potion onto them as Granger does some fancy wand work to have tiny petals fall like rain above their heads. The children try to grab at them but ultimately double over with laughter holding their bellies. Their parents nearby give large smiles to Granger and slightly smaller ones when they see that I am also in on the fun. A smile is a smile, nonetheless. We pass by booths that have all sorts of homemade art and food and other interesting items.
Longbottom has a booth with starter plants he's been making, some of them being quite rare. As we are browsing he comes up to Granger and gives her a hug picking her up off the ground. He's grown even taller since the battle it seems and filled into his lanky frame. They start talking animatedly about some plant he has and what process he used to make it grow during this season. I continue to peruse his plants and find a small tree, only about 2 feet tall swinging slightly. As I get closer to it to try and touch it, one of the tiny branches swings itself at my hand, batting it away.
"Careful there Malfoy! Don't want Willow taking you out now."
I spin around at the sudden voice and find myself almost nose to nose in height to Longbottom. A quick scan shows Granger on the other side of the tent terribly pretending to not be listening in.
"Is that a Whomping Willow?" I ask him as I point to the now calmed down plant.
"Yeah, it's grown from the one at Hogwarts. Took me a couple of tries before I was able to keep one alive. This one is doing well and I'm pretty confident it's at the stage now that someone could easily manage at least planting it. After that, well nature should do its thing."
"That's incredible. I figured you were only making potions and such from all the plants. Not stuff like this."
"Well, there's a lot of different plants and such out there that are beautiful to look at or fun to have around. I'd like more people to see those aspects of the plants we think should just be reduced down to powders."
The silence quickly settles between us as we both stare at the willow, seemingly dancing for us. There's a reason Granger sent Longbottom over I'm sure. There's no way he decided to just come over on his own. We haven't spoken in...well I can't remember the last time we've spoke. I take a deep breath and clench my hands to keep the shaking at bay and turn resolutely towards Longbottom.
"Longbottom. Neville. I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry for the way that I treated you in school and how I talked about your family. I'm sorry for the things that my family did to yours that keeps you apart now. I know that words cannot change the terrible things that I said and did, and I don't expect them to, but I want you to know that I do regret my actions. I regret that I took your differences and made you feel bad for them and used them as a way to make myself feel better. You are a better man than I have ever been, and you deserve much more than the treatment I gave you. If there's anything I can ever do for you, please let me know as I know that actions will affirm my words."
I stick out my hand that's sweating and visibly shaking towards him with my head tilted down. After a tense and silent moment, I see his hand before it firmly grasps mine and I look up to see Longbottom's lopsided grin.
"Thanks for that Malfoy. I thought Hermione was just taking the mickey out of me telling me to come over here. She's got some great intuition though, so I don't know why I doubted her. She seemed to have a lot of confidence in what would happen between us. I accept your apology. I don't blame you for what your aunt did to my parents, and I don't blame you for acting the way yours raised you. I am glad to see you making your own decisions now though."
I blow out a sigh of relief as I say, "Thanks Longbottom. So, do you help with landscaping?"
As Neville and I discuss him helping me out with a garden at the Manor, I glance over to see Granger smiling at us. Of course she would be overjoyed at yet again sticking me in a position to heal myself. Despite the fact I feel like I should be irritated with her, I'm actually not too perturbed at her. I watch as she glides over to us and gives Neville a big hug and she turns to me.
"Malfoy, are you ready to go see some more booths? Oh and they are going to have some dancing later too!"
As I stare at Granger's beaming smile, her ethereal glow seems to radiate out from her and seep into my skin. Her pure joy is all encompassing, and I cannot help but to crack a small smile in her direction, hoping that I might start to give off some light to her as well.
"Yeah Granger, let's go."
