Harry took the small, velvet, ocean-blue box from Mrs Weasley and immediately thanked her, even before opening it. He then opened the gift to reveal a vintage watch. Hermione could not see it from where she was seated, but, from the look on Harry's face, it must of been quite something.
"I'm afraid that one isn't new like Ron's, it was actually my brother Fabian's and he wasn't terribly careful with his possessions, it's a bit dented on the back, but—" The rest of Mrs Weasley's babbling was lost as Harry got up to hug her.
"It's perfect," Harry reassured her.
When they let go, Ron's mum awkwardly patted his cheek, her eyes glassy, before they both returned to their seats. Hermione continued to watch as almost everyone else gave their gifts to Harry. Ginny gifted him a new pair of quidditch gloves with his initials on it from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Charlie gave him a Dark Detector, a device resembling a spinning top that would whirl and spark in the presence of dark wizards or nearby sinister activity. Fleur and Bill gifted Harry a snazzy enchanted razor. The twins gave him a box filled with an assortment of gadgets, gizmos, and thingamabobs—creations they had invented for the joke shop they were saving up for while working at Honeydukes.
And then the time finally came for Hermione's gift. She awkwardly got up from her seat and tried to ignore everyone's eyes on her. She walked over to Harry and avoided his gaze as she placed her gift on the table in front of him. Everyone looked to the jar and stared. Baffled.
"Ermm… Well, I mean—a jar of water could come in handy, you know. " Said Fred when no one else said anything.
"Especially in dire times of dehydration." Added George, nodding like a professor who had just stated something of crucial importance and intellect.
"Yeah. You can never have too much water… Hermy, are you ok?" Asked Ron.
Hermione blushed as she pulled out her wand and said, "Just give me a moment."
"Oh, maybe she's going to make tea." Whispered George without whispering.
"Will you two shut up." Called out Ginny from the other end of the table.
"Alright, alright keep ya hair from turning blue." Shot Fred.
Everyone fell silent again and Hermione could feel Harry's eyes on her in particular. Though she probably could have summoned the petal without her wand, she was not in the mood to show off more than she was already about to.
"Accio lily." Hermione said with a swish of her wand.
In the palm of her open hand the head of a white lily appeared. Hermione gently picked a single petal from said head and asked Harry to unscrew the silver lid to the jar. He did. Hermione caught Ron's eye and they shared a look before she did the honours. Hermione placed the petal upon the water and that was when she knew Harry knew. And Ron.
"Oh, shit." Ron breathed.
"Ron!" Hissed his mother.
Ron ignored her and watched intently as Hermione drew her wand closer to the jar and recited the spell she had been working on in private since the day she had first thought of what to get her best friend for his birthday. Harry sat as still as a statue in his seat staring at the jar before him. Everyone watched as Hermione finished her spell and the petal began to sink to the bottom of the jar. Before it could kiss the glass base it happened. And everyone gasped. Ron swore again—along side the twins and Charlie.
The white lily petal in the jar transfigured into a majestic, small fish with fins reminiscent of silk. Harry watched in stunned silence as it began to swim around in circles.
"Though your mother isn't here today to see—to see you become a man," Hermione began softly. "I thought, maybe, I could gift you something in her memory instead. So you can always have a part of her with you—even though of course she's always with you regardless—I just—it's just—well… I hope you like it."
Pause.
It was as if time slowed. The next few seconds of silence stretched out impossibly, into what felt like an eternity, before Harry finally reacted. Without saying a word he rose from his seat and pulled her into an embrace. Caught off guard Hermione tensed before she relaxed in his arms.
"Thank you, Hermione." He whispered in her ear with a tone that spoke volumes.
"Always." She whispered back.
Needless to say, Hermione had a certain proclivity for ancient runes, magical fire and potions, but she was also Outstanding in transfiguration. And she knew how much Lily, Harry's mother, meant to him. Thus, when the idea to replicate the gift young Lily had once given Professor Slughorn had come to her, Hermione could not not do it for Harry's seventeenth.
When they finally let go of each other the whole table broke out in a round of applause. Hermione lightly bowed her head in appreciation as she stepped in front of Harry to block him from view as he quickly wiped his eyes dry.
"See!" Fred exclaimed. "You're barking mad for not entering the championship!"
"You could even go for the tournament with your skills—we'd bet on you." George added with a wink.
"Don't even joke about gambling George Fabian Weasley!" Exclaimed Mrs Weasley as she gave him the eye. She then turned to Hermione and said, "That was exquisitely beautiful Hermione. I didn't know you were capable of such—skill. You truly are a gifted witch."
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley." Hermione said as she walked back to her seat and sat down.
"Oh please, it's about high time you call me Molly." Mrs Weasley said with a warm smile.
Taken aback all Hermione could do was smile. Awkwardly. Since Tom Riddle's diary, in second year, and after opening the Chamber of Secrets, Mrs Weasley had given Hermione the cold shoulder. So much so that she had gone out of her way to do things such as gift Hermione the smallest chocolate egg out of the three she sent every Easter to Ron, Harry and herself. This. This turn of warmth was unexpected and so wonderfully nice that Hermione was terrified she would do something soon to turn that around and make the mother of seven cold toward her once more.
"Well, 'suppose we know who gave Harry the best gift…" Remarked George.
"By five quidditch pitches—I've never seen Potter leak from the eyes." Agreed Fred.
On the other side of the table Ginny rolled her eyes and told her brother to shut up for the second time before adding, "This is why you can't get a girlfriend Fred—you don't know when to keep your mouth shut."
"Alright." Exclaimed Fred with a hand at his invisible pearl necklace. "No need to cut so deep so early in the morning, Ginevra."
Ginny screwed her eyes at him but Fred only grinned in response. She hated being called by her first name.
"I loved everyone's gifts—please. I thank you all. This has to be my best birthday yet." Harry said with a soft smile.
The green in his watery eyes shone extra bright as he looked to everyone around the table. Hermione found she could not hold his gaze for too long. It held too many emotions in it. Unspoken, but loud nonetheless.
"Well," Mr Weasley announced as he rose from the table. "It's not over yet, my boy—er man—no that doesn't sing well—oh, never mind. I'm off to the Ministry I shall see you lovely lot this evening."
Everyone then faired Mr Weasley well and he departed for work, but not before stuffing his pockets with some of his wife's baked goodies. The rest finally got to properly dig into their breakfast and what a breakfast it was. Ron's cheeks were puffed up like a chipmunks throughout the whole mealtime. It made Maddy giggle. Which made Ron blush.
"So," Mrs Weasley said after most of the food on the table had been devoured. "I was thinking you could go to Diagon Alley for the day? Then be back for dinner?"
"What's there to do in Diagon Alley?" Ron moaned with half an iced bun in his mouth.
Hermione gave him a look that said real-charming-Weasel. He just gave a boyish shrug of his shoulders.
"Plenty," remarked Mrs Weasley. "You still need to buy your new school books—I'm sure Maddy needs to as well."
Mrs Weasley looked over to sweet Maddy and smiled as Ron then magically changed his tune.
"Oh, yea. Have you been yet?" He asked Hermione.
"Not for school stuff," she replied.
"Yea, but have you given her a proper tour?" Ron asked.
Hermione took a deep breath in and said, "A proper tour? No. But be my guest, Ronald. Madds wants a Crup too."
Ron turned to Maddy. "You want a Crup?" He asked with raised brows.
"Oh, yes. They're terribly cute." Maddy said smiling with her hands together as if in prayer.
"And definitely better than a half-Kneazle." Ron said with a smirk which he sent Hermione's way.
Hermione just glowered back.
"It's settled then!" Ron exclaimed with a clap of his hands as he stood up. "We're off to Diagon Alley—you don't mind mate, do you?"
"Of course not, I've got some stuff to get too." Harry replied.
"Excellent—help me clean up then you can skedaddle—floo powder I think. Have you ever traveled by the Floo Network Maddy, dear?" Mrs Weasley asked Hermione's sister.
"Oh, no I don't think so." She said with a slight cringe. "Is it anything like apparating?"
"Oh, nothing of the sort—I much prefer it actually. Apparition is quite aggressive and something to get used to." Mrs Weasley replied.
Maddy nodded her head in enthusiastic agreement and said, "I agree."
"Right, remember," began Mrs Weasley as they all stood around the Weasley's fireplace dressed and ready for Diagon Alley. "You must keep your elbows tucked in at all times—no fidgeting or moving about—and keep your eyes shut tight to keep the soot from getting in. Now this is very important—annunciate the destination loud and clearly. That's the most important thing to remember. You have an excellent grasp of English so that shouldn't be a problem."
Maddy nodded her head enthusiastically with much nervousness.
"How about—Fred and George you two go first. Show Maddy how it's done." Mrs Weasley said.
"Honestly, why are we always the test subjects?" Asked Fred.
"Test subjects?" Echoed Mrs Weasley partly outraged. "What on Merlin's green earth—oh Fred shut it—it's barely a test if you've done it practically your whole life. And anyway, you two need to get to work!"
"Alright—alright. I guess I'm the expert—I should do the valiant honours." Fred then cockily turned to Maddy and said, "Watch and learn Maddy—this is how the pros do it."
At Fred's wink Ron said, with mild displeasure entwined in his furrowed brows, "Yeah—yeah. Just hurry up."
"Alright Won-Won, don't get your wand in a knot." Smirked George.
"Won-Won?" Maddy asked.
"Fred—go." Ron ordered rather loudly avoiding Maddy's question.
Hermione smirked as she felt Harry come and stand beside her. They turned to each other and shared a look. A look that made Hermione look away before she could start flushing pink.
Fred finally got into the Weasley's fireplace and took a handful of glittering floo powder, before shouting, "Diagon Alley!" And disappearing in a magical puff of luminous green smoke.
George did the same. Then it was Maddy's turn.
"Alright, dear. Nothing to worry about at all." Mrs Weasley said softly to try and ease her nerves. It did little to help.
Maddy's dark eyes then found her sister's and Hermione gave her a small supportive nod that said it's-ok-I-promise. That seemed to do the trick, because then Maddy nodded back and took a deep breath in and a handful of green powder from the flower pot.
"Diagon Alley, remember." Mrs Weasley warmly reminded her. "Elbows in. Eyes closed. No moving."
Maddy nodded again as she brought her elbows in nice and tight by her side and then closed her eyes.
She flung the powder to the floor before quickly yelling, "Diagon Alley!" Which unfortunately for her accent, come out as, "Diagonally!"
Then she was gone with a puff of smoke.
"Oh, no." Whispered Mrs Weasley.
"Merlin's saggy balls—she did a Harry!" Exclaimed Ron. "I'll go and get her—Harry where was it you ended up?"
"Oh—um, Borgin and Burkes—I think—yeah, no definitely." Harry said quickly.
"Wait." Ginny said looking around. "Where's Hermione?"
They all then looked around to find Hermione missing.
"Did she apparate?" Asked Mrs Weasley in amazement.
"All the way to London?" Ron asked bewildered. "That's not very smart—she can't make it in one go—the floo would have been quicker."
"I'll go next Molly," Harry said walking into the fireplace before Ron could. "Sorry, mate—birthday boy first." He said to Ron.
Then he too was gone in a puff.
Crack.
Hermione apparated right into the shop she had hoped never to step foot in again. As soon as she had heard Maddy mispronounce Diagon Alley she had apparated without another moment's thought. She looked around, the shop was dark and almost quiet like the last time.
"What the f—" She suddenly exclaimed when she felt something grab a hold of her summer dress.
It was a hand. A mutilated hand. Ron's ha—
Hermione panicked and she tugged as hard as she could. Unfortunately, that made her fall backwards into a stack of books that must have been ancient because she suddenly found herself on the floor covered in a blanket of misty dust. Hard book edges poked into her back and dug into her ribs like bony fingers.
"Last fucking time I wear a stupid mugglefucking dress!" She grumbled passionately to herself.
"Well, well, well, this is a first—or rather a second should I say?" Spoke a smooth voice from above her.
Hermione froze for a millisecond. Then snapped her head upwards.
Draco Malfoy.
The Death Eater's son.
He was just as magnificent as last time, only this time he stood looming over her. Hermione instantly scrambled to her feet ignoring the gentlewizardly hand he offered her. A gentlewizardly hand that might have been sculpted by Michelangelo. It had to be the most beau—
Hermione shoved her impulsive thoughts to the side and aggressively brushed herself off. This time there was not a counter between them acting as some sort of protective barrier, just an array of books on the floor. From this lack of distance Hermione found his presence intimidating, which made the bullied Slytherin in her itch. Although, the intimidation was tempered by something else, as she could now discern nearly every detail of his fine features.
"And here I was convinced I wouldn't meet you here again…" He added.
Instinctively Hermione took a step back.
"You were convinced correctly," she responded, making sure there was bite in every single word. It made Malfoy raise an elegant brow questioningly.
"Then why, Miss Granger, have you returned?" He asked lowly.
Hermione frowned. "How do you—"
"Hermione?" Called out a soft voice.
"Oh," Hermione gasped. "Maddy! Where are you? Are you ok?"
Hermione then hopped over the mess of books on the floor and rushed past Malfoy toward Maddy's voice.
"Yes, I'm fine—don't know if I like this floo business either though. Maybe I'll prefer broomsticks." Maddy suggested.
"Something tells me no." Replied Hermione.
"Well, then I really am magically screwed." Maddy said unhappily.
Hermione finally found her sister—covered in black soot—by a black tiled and very dirty fireplace. Hermione laughed and tugged Maddy into her arms as she hugged her. When she let go Hermione wandlessly used the Scouring Charm to clean her up. They then both turned around to find Draco Malfoy eyeing them with a mixed expression of amusement, bemusement and something that was reminiscent of astonishment.
Hermione had not even heard him move. For a wizard his size it was unusual for him to be so stealthy. Unless—
"Stop looking at her." Hermione demanded sharply as she stepped in front of Maddy to block her from Malfoy who had been eyeing her for a second too long.
Malfoy's silver eyes drifted to Hermione's. They reminded her of ghosts.
"You do know I mean you no harm?" He said carefully, not gently.
Hermione burst out with a humourless laugh.
"By the company you keep, and by the name of your family, and by the blood running through my veins, I would beg to differ, Mr Malfoy." She said unsmilingly.
Pause.
A clock somewhere ticked toked. And something somewhere else whispered.
"You know, with the talents I've heard you harbour, Hermione Jean Granger, I'm rather convinced you should enter the Potions Championship this year." Malfoy said lowly. Almost as if he were enticing a lover or taunting a captive. "Japan's truly a sight to behold during the springtime."
Hermione's face hardened as her pulse quickened.
He knows my name.
He knows of me.
A Death Eater's son—or a Death Eater himself—knows of me.
"We're leaving." She said just as lowly.
She grabbed Maddy's hand and made for the shop's exit. That was until Harry shot out from the Borgin and Burkes fireplace.
"Did I fail to receive an invitation to the party?" Malfoy asked with an amused raised brow as he looked down to Harry.
"Hermy? Maddy? You guys ok?" Harry asked coughing from all the soot and dust.
He fixed his glasses then his eyes found Malfoy.
"If it isn't the Chosen One himself," murmured Malfoy—with something Hermione interpreted as—dangerously. "Why hello, Mr Potter."
"Malfoy." Harry said curtly getting to his feet, but even standing he did not reach Malfoy's height.
The two eyed each other in a stand off.
Hermione and Maddy looked from one to the other, before Hermione finally said, "Alright—we're done here."
And this time Hermione pulled Maddy toward the shop's exit and did not stop to look back. They walked past the mess Hermione had made—she decided not to clean up after herself. Once out of the shop Hermione dragged Maddy a little further up the alley, all they way up until she felt comfortable enough to stop and wait for Harry.
"That was him?" Maddy whispered.
Maddy looked over to the Borgin and Burkes shop in the distance as Harry stepped out from it.
"Yes," Hermione said darkly.
"He's—He's quite—" Maddy began.
"I know." Hermione said shortly. "But I don't like him—not one bit. There's something off about him."
Maddy momentarily raised her brows as if to say well-I-don't-know-if-I-agree-with-you.
"Off is not the word I would use to—" Maddy abruptly stopped talking when Harry made it to them.
"He didn't try anything with you did he?" Harry asked concerned.
"Of course not—" Hermione shot angrily. "You know I wouldn't let him even if he'd tired." She then realised her harsh tone. "Sorry—I mean—I didn't mean to—"
Harry smirked. "No need to apologise Hermy—I know not to take it personally." He said.
"But we may have a problem." She murmured, her face hardening once again.
Harry drew himself closer to her.
"He knows my name." Hermione said. "And he said I should enter the Potions Championship—said I was smart enough—that he'd heard about it—he called me by my fucking full name."
Harry's frown was harsh as he absorbed Hermione's words.
"Your name?" Harry asked.
"He knew my middle name—not even Ron knows my middle name." Hermione murmured. "How would he know that? And why would he say that? Tell me to enter the championship?"
There was a tense pause.
"We should get out of Knockturn." Harry finally said coldly.
"He's not a—is he?" Hermione quickly asked.
Harry stared hard into her eyes before replying, "I don't know. His father is—but he's currently locked up in Azkaban."
"Right," Hermione breathed. She then forced herself to perk up as she added, "Let's be on our way before Weasel finds us and makes a heroic scene about saving Maddy." She said with dry sarcasm.
It made Harry chuckle, but his frown upon his brows remained.
As they walked away, Maddy glanced back to see Malfoy standing by the entrance of Borgin and Burkes. Behind the grimy glass of the door, he simply stared. The white of his hair and the paleness of his skin a stark contrast to his black attire and the gloomy store. Maddy followed his gaze—it landed on Hermione. She quickly turned away and said not a word to her sister as Hermione and Harry exchanged hushed words. Maddy remained silent until they reached Diagon Alley, where they were reunited with Ginny and Ron.