Chapter Twenty Nine

Pansy and Draco sat in the sunshine by the lake.

Draco had laid out a generous picnic on a thick brocade picnic blanket. Pansy had kicked her shoes off, she was wearing the anklet that William had made her and kept twisting her ankle so the charms sparkled in the light.

"I love this weather." Pansy said, she lay flat on her back, her head on Draco's lap, "I might even get a tan."

"Pansy I've known you for most of our lives; you'll burn, go bright red and then back to porcelain again." Draco laughed.

Pansy sat up on one elbow and wiggled her fingers into his ribs. Draco laughed and moved away, shoving her off his lap.

"Meanie." Pansy said, sticking her tongue out and sitting up.

She grabbed an egg custard tart and put it on her plate along with a few sandwiches, "This was such a nice idea."

Draco nodded.

"Hi guys." Harry said, coming over and flopping on the blanket, "They've put our year's final exam results out to parents today, Dad told me."

"That's good news. Fingers crossed." Pansy smiled.

Harry nodded and dug around in the picnic basket for another glass and plate. He helped himself to a slice of treacle tart, determined not to go off his favourite pudding because of Dumbledore. He didn't take too much food, he thought they could have gotten a bit more but at least it was dinner soon.

He took a large mouthful of treacle tart and looked over, small picnic, romantic setting…

"Oh shit, you two are on a date aren't you?" Harry said, the colour draining from his face.

Pansy and Draco laughed,

"Yes. Yes were are." Draco told him.

Harry stood to leave, "I'm so sorry, I didn't think I just. Well food and we always come here and I didn't think."

"It's fine Harry." Pansy said, "Sit back down."

"Are you sure?" Harry asked, a little confused.

They both nodded so he slowly took a seat again. Pansy reached over and filled his glass with pumpkin juice.

"We're actually 'breaking up'" Pansy told him.

"Why?" Harry asked, he'd never even seen them fight.

"Because we only got together because it was what everyone else wanted. It was no mystery that our parents liked the idea of us being together but, we tried and we just never really clicked." Draco shrugged, "Not like that."

Harry wasn't sure what to say.

"It's OK, we're not upset or anything. It's been fun pretending to be all grown up this year but we're really are just happy being friends." Pansy smiled.

"So I didn't crash your date to much then?" Harry smirked.

"No. We'll have more fun with you here anyway." Draco told him.

Pansy rolled her eyes jokingly, "Boys."

"How's your mum thinking about you coming back next year?" Draco asked.

Harry shrugged, "Ok I think. It's possible that she has just given up on not getting grey hair because of me."

"I think that's Hermione." Pansy said, shielding her eyes and waving Hermione over.

"What you up to?" Pansy asked.

Hermione sat down and stretched her legs out along the edge of the blanket, "I just went to see Professor McGonagall about my classes next year." She looked around to make sure there was no one else around, "I gave my time turner back."

"Really? Why?" Pansy asked.

"I just couldn't manage so many classes, even though it let me get to all my classes I wasn't allowed to use it for homework so I was up till midnight every night and then normally up at six to finish of anything I had left to do. I want to have a normal work load next year." Hermione explained.

"Well we all know who is coming top of the year." Draco smirked.

Hermione shook her head, "Nope. Professor McGonagall said I was only allowed to publicly declare the normal amount of classes until I leave school. She said it would be to suspicious otherwise and other students might feel it was unfair. She had to pull a lot of strings in order to let me use one this year."

"I can imagine." Harry said, "They're kept locked up tightly in the ministry most of the time."

"Yeah I can see why. I also was getting very worried about carrying it around. What if someone else found it? And I worried so much about someone getting hurt by using it improperly." Hermione shook her head, she helped herself to an apple, "A picnic was such a good idea with the weather. You could have brought some more food though."

Draco rolled his eyes while Pansy laughed.

"We're on a date!" Draco said, "There's more than enough food for two people!"

"Well that depends on the person." Harry pointed out, for two of him it would have been just about enough if they were both hungry.

"What are you doing here if they're on a date?" Hermione asked Harry, "I'm sorry, we'll go." She stood up and tried to drag Harry with her.

"No it's OK. It's a long story but please just sit." Pansy assured them.

Hermione looked between Draco and Pansy before relaxing a little, "I wasn't sure if you two were even dating still."

"We sort of were, it's a long story." Pansy said with a wave of her hand.

They sat for a moment laying in the sunshine and it wasn't long before they were squashed in a train carriage heading quickly for London.

Pansy lent against the window and fanned herself with a bit of parchment.

"This heat is to much." She moaned, pushing the window open a little further open, "Cooling spells, first thing I want to learn next year is cooling spells."

"Seconded." Hermione said, putting her book down.

A brown owl flew up by the train and popped in the window. Harry pulled the small table out and let it land. Draco gave it a few of Armilda treats before taking the letter from it.

"It's for you." He said, handing it over to Harry, "Was sent a few days ago, must have gotten lost on the way to Hogwarts."

"Poor thing having to try and catch up with the train." Daphne said, stroking it's soft feathers, "He's lovely."

Harry ripped open the letter and quickly read over the contents, he sighed and sat back against the seat back, chewing slightly on his lip.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Petter Pettigrew, his trial didn't go well for him. Mum gave more evidence against him and so did a few other death eaters that are locked up. He'll never be able to apply for release again, not unless it's something huge." Harry told them, "Letter was from Mum, she wanted me to know as soon as possible after all the trouble he's caused this year. They still don't know who set up the appeal in the first place though. It just keeps getting lost in the ministry departments."

"You OK?" Daphne asked.

Harry nodded and crumbled the letter, shoving it in his bag, "Yeah I guess. Weird to get my head around, it feels like a lot has changed this year but nothing has."

The others nodded and smiled, reassuringly at Harry.

"Play chess?" Pansy suggested, pulling out the board.

Harry nodded, "I'm going to drop this guy off in the pet carriage. He can stay on the train until we get to London, give him a rest."

Harry held his arm out and let the tired looking bird hop onto it. He closed the door behind him and moved along the length of the train swapping over several carriages. Hedwig was happy to share her cage and gave Harry a loving nip on the finger when he said hello.

Harry was making his way back to the carriage when Ron popped his head out the compartment door just in front of him.

"Hello Harry." Ron said, with a giant smile on his face, "Did you get everything sorted the other night?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah no problem. Thanks for letting us in."

"I'm happy to help!" Ron beamed, "Especially since it was you. Have you thought more about the world cup?"

Harry shook his head, "Well I've thought about it but I haven't had the chance to ask my Mum or Dad yet. I'll let you know as soon as I have."

"It's going to be brilliant!" Ron said, "They've been preparing for years; it's a huge stadium. Don't know who is playing the final yet, obviously, but I really hope it's Bulgaria, Krum is my favourite player. And Britain, obviously."

"Yeah mine too. I leaned a lot of my Quidditch moves from watching him." Harry smiled, "I will ask as soon as I can, but Mum might want us to go with her." he didn't want to say that it was almost sure that Draco's parents would also get tickets for the Minister's box.

"Cool. Well I should let you get back to your friends." Ron smiled.

Harry nodded, "See you soon."

"Everything OK?" Draco asked as Harry got back and closed the compartment door, shutting the world away.

"Yeah I just ran into Ron. He wants me to go to the Quidditch world cup with him during the summer." Harry said, "But the idea of spending what might be days with Ron is exhausting in itself."

Draco nodded, "Well we'll use him to get any extra tickets that Father can't get."

"That's an idea." Pansy smiled.

"Good for you, doesn't solve my issues!" Harry laughed.

Daphne smiled, "Take one for the team Harry!"

"I agree." Hermione said.

"Really? Harry asked, "Not even the Gryffindor is on my side?"

"Well it would be so nice to all go together and the Minister's box is the best place to see everything from what I've heard." Hermione pointed out, "It's only logical."

Harry crossed his arms jokingly over his chest and huffed before breaking out in a grin and joining in the game of chess.

It didn't feel till long until they were pulling into platform nine and three quarters a cloud of steam passing the window as the train ground to a halt.

Harry, Draco, Pansy, Daphne and Hermione made their way out the train and looked around for their parents.

"Harry!"

Harry heard Danica's call of excitement, he said goodbye to the others, giving hugs and promising to meet up soon before making his way across the crowded platform to his parents.

"Why aren't you on shoulders?" Harry asked, "It makes you easier to see!" He laughed.

Danica stood very tall and smoothed her slightly muddy dress, "I'm too big now."

"For every day, yes you are." Lily said, stroking her hair, "Welcome home Harry."

She moved over and gave him a tight hug.

"Hi Mum." Harry smiled.

"I don't know if Severus told you but he'll be home tonight, just finishing up last minute paperwork. Sirius is with Nikka." Lily smiled.

Harry grinned, "They're back together?"

Lily nodded, "And very happy."

"MATER?!"

Harry turned around at the shout of surprise, he saw several other students and parents had also turned to look at the loud shout.

"My darlings!" Bellatrix said, holding out her arms. Gemini and Rodolphus walked quickly over to her.

"Sorry Madam, what are you doing here?" Gemini asked, giving her a curtsy.

Bellatrix pulled them both into a hug, "It's your first year! How was school?"

Gemini and Rodolphus looked slightly surprised at their mother's presence.

"It was good Madam." Rodolphus said.

"I'm so glad. We shall have a wonderful holiday." Bellatrix said, straightening up, "Shall we get going?"

The twins nodded and took their mother's hands, walking through the parting of people who moved out the way for them as they left quickly.

"Well that was..." Harry shook his head.

"I'm glad." Lily said, "I'm glad that she's back, she's looked miserable this last year, when people have seen her at all."

Harry nodded, "Yeah. Anyway, home?"

"Home." Lily smiled, taking his hand in one of hers and Danica's in the other, "Come on."