Hermione tries a new spell

Surprisingly, Professor McGonagall was understanding about the situation. Hermione asked her if they could meet and if Draco Malfoy could join. They met in her office and Hermione explained that her and Draco would like to start a relationship, but that they didn't want to break school rules and asked for an exception.

Professor McGonagall was taken aback by this, but she had gotten to know Malfoy in a different way as a member of the faculty.

"It's a strange and unusual circumstance," she said. "Given that you're both the same age, yet circumstances have made one faculty and one student. I'll grant an exception."

"Thank you, Professor," they both said.

"But you are not to flaunt this relationship," Professor McGonagall warned. "You are to remain professional while at Hogwarts and in front of other students. I'll speak to Professor Slughorn about how to handle the two of you in class. Mr. Malfoy should not grade any of your work, Miss Granger."

They had agreed, thinking it seemed reasonable. After all, if Draco were to be respected as a faculty member, he couldn't be flaunting a relationship with a student.

"I want to flaunt it though," he said to Hermione after meeting with the headmistress. "I want everyone to know we're together."

"Everyone will find out," she said. "Nothing stays secret for long. Which is why I wanted to tell Professor McGonagall and get, well, her blessing."

Ginny was another matter. "So, what, now you're dating Draco Malfoy?" she asked. "It's one thing to be friends with him, but to date him? What about Ron?"

"I know," Hermione said from her armchair as they sat by the fire the night Hermione and Draco made their relationship official. "My head keeps giving me all these reasons why it's a bad idea, but my heart wants this. My whole heart. And I think I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't want this. That I didn't want to see where this goes."

"Ugh," Ginny said, putting her head in her hands. "I don't know what I'm going to do. As your friend, I must say that I think this is a bad idea. But it's obviously your decision and so I'll support you." She sighed deeply. "But Ron is my brother. And he's not in a good place right now. He's not over you at all from what I've heard. But that doesn't mean you need to live your life for him. If I thought that women didn't have the right to their own feelings, I'd still be with Dean or Michael."

Hermione leaned over and rubbed Ginny's back. "It means so much to me to hear you say that," Hermione said. "I was really nervous to tell you. Afraid I might lose you."

Hermione's chest tightened and with an effort, she continued, "I've been afraid that I'll lose your whole family because of what I did to Ron."

Ginny looked up at Hermione, her mouth open in shock and surprise. "Hermione, if you thought that my family would leave you for one thing like that, then you don't know us well at all. One hurt doesn't replace years of love, respect, and mutual support. We've all been through so much together. While we all want to protect Ron, you're family as well. Though it looks like you won't be in the way we'd all hoped."

Hermione's had eyes filled with tears. "I'm so happy to hear you say that. I'll still keep my distance while things settle out." Hermione recalled how Mrs. Weasley had been cold to her when Rita Skeeter had spread those rumors about her playing Harry. She could only imagine how Mrs. Weasley might treat her now with the way she'd broken the heart of her youngest biological son. "It might take a while for your mum to feel warm towards me again."

Ginny looked thoughtful. "Mum might be tough one," she agreed. "That doesn't mean she doesn't still love you though."

"I'm so grateful for you," Hermione said. "I'm so glad to have you in my life."

Smiling, Ginny asked, "Say, what are you doing for the holidays? They're coming up."

Hermione had been anticipating this question for a while. "I'm going to try to find my parents," she said. "I want to know how they're doing. See if they're…happier without me." Her voice broke off.

Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand. "That's huge! Do you want company?" she asked. Hermione was touched. She knew Ginny would want to spend the holidays with her family. With Harry. It was a sign of true friendship that she offered this.

Hermione placed her hand over Ginny's. "I really appreciate the offer," she said. "Truly. But I need to do this myself."

Ginny nodded. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help," she said.

"Thank you," Hermione said. "You're a true friend."

Hermione had debated writing Ron a letter explaining the situation but decided not to. She thought that giving him space was the best thing at this time.

If Hermione and Draco spending time together had caused rumors, it was nothing compared to the outcry about the two of them dating. Many Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws expressed their mingled feelings of shock and betrayal to Hermione. Slytherins sneered at her even more than ever. Many Slytherin girls in particular started being particularly nasty to Hermione.

Not of it got to her, however. The opinions of these students meant little to her when she felt so happy dating Draco Malfoy. The idea of which still startled her, if she were being honest with herself.

Eventually, as the days passed into weeks, the hubbub around Hermione being with Draco Malfoy began to die down as people got used to the idea.

Draco started to join Hermione in the library while Hermione did her homework or researched. They would flirt under the table, him holding her hand or touching her thigh. They hadn't risked sneaking into his room in the faculty tower again now that the other staff knew about them and would probably be on the alert. That was a line they knew they shouldn't cross.

One day, in the library, Draco said to Hermione, "You know. You never told me what it is you're researching."

"I didn't, did I?" she said, realizing she hadn't.

"No," he said. "I was hoping it was a secret map to help us sneak around."

Hermione laughed. "Oh, that? That actually slipped my mind," she admitted.

He put his hand over his chest in mock pain. "You wound me, madam," he said. "I thought you cared more about alone time."

"I do!" she protested. "But I honestly forgot. You see, I'm trying to find a good locator spell that will help me find my parents."

His face sobered quickly. "Ah," he said. "Any luck?"

"I think so," Hermione said. "It's been challenging to find one that doesn't require a bit of the person, like Polyjuice Potion. But I think I've found one that allows you to use a photograph of the person instead."

"Interesting," Draco said. "Have you tried it yet?"

"No," she said. "I need to get a map of Australia. I know they're there because I sent them there, but I don't know exactly where they went."

"I'll help you," Draco said. "I'll find an atlas." He got up and disappeared into the stacks.

Hermione watched him go, smiling to herself. She really enjoyed spending time with him. Talking to him about what was going on really helped her process what was going on with her. In addition to the processing she did in her journal.

This spell she finally found would help her locate her parents. Was she ready for that? She was so worried that they were happier without her.

Draco returned with a large volume full of world maps. He flipped through the pages until he found a two-page spread of Australia.

"Here you go," he said. "Australia."

Hermione stared at the page, unable to move.

"What is it?" Draco asked, sitting beside her and putting his hand on her back.

"How am I even going to get to Australia?" she asked. "The only way I've been able to figure out is by Portkey. And getting an authorized Portkey between two countries can take weeks. And what'll I do when I get there? What will I even say to them?"

She put her face in her hands. "They're probably happier without me," she said, tears rolling down her face.

Draco pulled her to him and held her while tears streamed from her eyes and onto his front. He stroked her hair. "It's not possible for them to be happier without you," he said. "You're their daughter. They love you."

"You're just saying that," she said, hiccupping a little.

"True, I don't know them personally," he said. "But from everything I've heard you say about them, I know they love you and you love them."

"Thank you," she said, sitting up and wiping away her tears. "Hopefully no one saw that."

"Just some nosy first years that I shooed away," Draco said.

"Oh well," Hermione sighed. "Can't do anything around here."

"As far as getting to Australia," Draco said. "We can always make our own Portkey."

"We?" Hermione asked.

"We," Draco confirmed. "I'm going with you. If you'll have me."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears again, touched. "I'd love for you to come with me," she said. "I wasn't looking forward to going alone."

"You'll never be alone if you have me," he said. "Unless you want to be alone."

Hermione took his hand and squeezed it. "Thank you," she said.

He squeezed her hand back. "Why don't you try the spell?" Draco asked.

"Okay," Hermione said. "I've been putting it off long enough."

Hermione pulled out a picture of her parents and set it on the map. She held her wand loosely in her hand, just enough so that it stayed in her hand. Hermione murmured the incantation and her wand spun in her hand a few times and returned to its starting location.

"That's odd," Hermione said. "It's not pointing anywhere."

"Try again?" Draco asked.

Hermione tried once again. And again. "The same thing keeps happening," she said.

"Let's try something else," Draco said, flipping in the atlas to a world map. "Try this."

"I don't see what that's going to do," Hermione said. "I enchanted them so they would go to Australia. But it can't hurt, I suppose."

Hermione placed the picture on the map and repeated the incantation. This time, the wand pointed to the United Kingdom. "What?" Hermione asked. "That's impossible."

Draco flipped the pages until he had a large map of the United Kingdom. "Try again," he said.

Hermione did. Her parents were in London.