General POV
The curtains are closed so that no light enters the room and its occupants. Two dark figures, a female and a male, stand anxiously watching the sickly pale figure in bed. A whimper escapes, followed by a twitch, then another. Another groan sounds through the room, one of pain, as the slow bone-deep burn flares once again inside the bed ridden figure.
“Draco? Draco my love is the pain back?” A gentle voice asks the pale man but the only response is a pain filled groan.
“He’s burning Lucius. What can we do?” The woman asks her husband as he keeps a watchful eye on his pale son.
‘We’ve done everything we can Cissy. We all have to just wait it out.”
Hermione’s POV
I smile up at Ginny as she suddenly drops to the floor in front of me, her broom in one hand and a quaffle under the other.
“Alright Mione?” She asks as she throws the oddly shaped ball high into the air and immediately it’s gone, swiped by a passing red blur.
“I’m fine, just catching up on some reading for school.”
“Always the bookworm.”
“Not this summer.” I shake my head. “This is the first time I’ve picked up a book.” I smile at her shocked look and can’t help but giggle.
“I think you’re sick.” She laughs with me as she drops the floor beside me.
“OI GINNY! YOU PLAYIN’ OR WHAT?” Ron yells from somewhere above us, making us both look up to the sky.
“ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. KEEP YOUR PANTS ON.” Gin yells back as she stands, dusting herself off. “Bloody git.” She mutters, both of us smiling before she takes off once more.
A few hours later
“Hermione, tell us who won.” Ron demands as I shake my head with a scowl.
“Ron I’m not getting involved. I wasn’t even watching for goodness sake.” I add for good measure.
“But you must have seen! I saved that last goal, didn’t I Harry?” Ron spoke again as he looked to Harry for back up.
“Sorry Ron, I didn’t see.” Harry shrugged with a small sympathetic smile.
“What good are you lot if you’re not watching?” He questions both of us in a huff as we sit down at the table for dinner. Mrs Weasley gives me a secret wink before the food appears before us and in typical Ron fashion his attention is suddenly swayed and the drama over the quidditch match is over. I duck my head and chuckle quietly before I start fill my plate.
“Everyone got all their supplies for the new school year?” Mr Weasley asks from the head of the table.
“All packed dad.” Ginny says, placing a kiss on her father’s cheek.
“Harry? Hermione?”
“All done Mr Weasley.” Harry smiles and I nod in agreement.
“Very good, Ron? What about you son?” He asks knowingly.
“I’ll uh… do it tonight before bed.” Ron mumbles.
“Last and final year you three.” Sirius speaks from the other end of the table.
“Never thought I’d see the day you three graduate.” Mad-eye joins in with a rare smile.
“Seems like only yesterday we were doing the same.” Lupin smiles sadly.
“Have you given any thought about what you three will do when you leave Hogwarts?” Tonks asks we all dig into dinner.
“Shouldn’t focusing on the war be our first priority?” Harry asks with a smile.
“After the war then.”
“Auror if I can get in.” Harry shrugs as he looks to Ron.
“Same, but who knows maybe I’ll be picked for a professional quidditch team.” Ron laughs while I snort into my dinner.
“What about you Hermione, dear?” Mrs Weasley asks and I frown.
“Oh I don’t know, it’s not something I’ve thought about.” The whole table stares at me and I can’t help but shift uncomfortably. I give a small smile and a shrug before going back to my dinner.
“A healer maybe, a medi-witch? I don’t know.”
“Well you have a whole year to decide and with your grades you have your pick of jobs.” Molly spoke happily as she patted my hand making me smile.
Platform 9 ¾
“Now you write at least once a week and we’ll see you for the holidays. No getting into trouble, you hear me?” Mrs Weasley warns us.
“Be careful what you write in your letters, the owls are being intercepted. Keep an ear to the ground and keep under the radar.” Mr Weasley warns and we nod.
“Right now off you go.” Molly shoos us off.
I climb the steps to the train and smile at Neville who greets us.
“Hello Neville, have a good holiday?” Ron asks as we search for a compartment.
“Not bad. You?” He asks as I enter a compartment, the other all following behind me.
“I’m officially free and living with Sirius.” Harry grins and I can’t help but smile. It was quite the mission to move him undetected but we did it without incident.
“Mine was pretty broing until Hermione and Harry showed up four days ago.” Ron shrugs as he lounges on the seat opposite me.
“Hermione?”
“Oh mine was pretty uneventful for the most part.” I offer with a slight smile.
“I don’t know what you did all summer if you didn’t read.” Ginny says with a shake of her head and I shrug.
“Well I worked with my parents most days.”
“Hello everyone.” Luna spoke as she entered the room.
“Hello Luna, enjoy your summer?” I ask politely.
“Not bad, spent some time with dad and worked at the quibbler.” She spoke and I mentally groan as she starts to explain about a creature I’ve never even heard of.
“I’ve got to guys, I’ll see you at the feast.” I say as I stand and grab my jacket.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m Head Girl, I have to go and meet with the prefects.” I explain.
“Oh so we, you know, actually have to go to that?” Ron asks and I glare.
“Yes Ronald you do, now lets go.” I order as Harry sniggers.
“Any idea who the head boy is?” Ron asks as we walk to the Prefects Carriage.
“No idea to be honest.” I say as I smile at Dean and Seamus on the way through.
“Hopefully it’s not some tosser.”
“Like?” I laugh.
“Malfoy?” Ron snorts with laughter at the mere thought but I say nothing as I think it through.
“You can’t be serious?” Ron asks when he realizes I’m not laughing.
“He’s second to me, it would make sense.”
“Dumbledore wouldn’t give him that title surely. He’s not that daft.”
“Language Ronald. We’ll find out soon enough.” I scold.
At the feast
“Welcome. Welcome back everyone to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast I would just like to start the year off by mentioning a few important matters. Firstly, for the first years benefit, the forbidden forest is out of bounds to all students and it would be wise for all to stay away. Secondly, our care taker Mr Filtch has asked me to remind everyone that all Weasley products are banned from the school and if anyone is caught with anything in their possession it will be confiscated. And thirdly, I would like to congratulate this year’s Head Boy and Head Girl, Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Hermione Granger.” Professor Dumbledore finished as the great hall erupted in applause.
“Well done Hermione.” Dean claps and I send him a smile before glancing over at the Slytherin table. I frown as I scan the faces but come up empty.
“And now to the feast.” The headmaster announces and within seconds the tables are overfilled with food and the noise in the hall escalates.
“Hermione, where’s Malfoy?” Harry whispers to me and I shake my head.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him, he wasn’t on the train.” I whisper back as I run my eyes down the length of the Slytherin table once more. My eyes catch Blaise Zabini’s and he nods in acknowledgement before turning away.
“I think he’s gone and gotten the mark.” Ron whispers to Harry and I as we eat.
“I think you might be right, look Snape’s gone too.”
“Maybe he just missed the train, and Harry Snape is on our side.” I add.
“Hermione, Malfoy’s a death eater, you need to be careful around him this year. As for Snape I still don’t trust him.” Harry speaks lowly and I nod to calm him before turning back to my food.
Draco’s POV
“Are you feeling okay darling?” My mother asks again as she comes through the floo in Professor Snape’s room. I give her a small smile and nod once. The fireplace lit up once more and then out steps my father.
“Severus.” My father greets and my mother and I follow.
“Lucius, Cissy. How are you feeling Draco?” He asks concerned.
“Slightly better.”
“It will fade, give it a few more days, sooner if you come in contact with your mate.”
“Has Dumbledore been told?” My mother asks.
“Yes, both of us will keep an eye out for Draco and all teachers have been informed of the situation. We’ll do everything we can to keep him safe.” Severus promised.
“And the Dark Lord?”
“He knows nothing, if he does he has not spoken to me of it. Dumbledore gathered the order and filled them in on your alliance. I have put my neck out for Lucius, do not make me regret it.” Snape warns.
“I understand Severus but I need an out. I won’t let my family die.” My father promises.
“The feast has already started, we should get going Draco.” Snape says and I nod, turning to my parents.
“Let Snape and us know the minute you find out sweetheart, we’ll talk you through it.”
“And if it’s someone who you and the… HE won’t approve of?” I mumble quietly as I glance around the room.
“You have no control over it, we will just have to accept whoever it may be.” My mother whispered back while my father gave a nod.
“You let us handle… HIM.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful.” My mother whispers as she pulls me in for a hug and I hug her back lightly before stepping away.
“I’ll keep you informed.”
“Thank you Severus.” My father nods and I watch as they shake hands before my parents leave through the floo.
“Come Draco, let’s get you something to eat.”
“Professor, can I tell anyone about me? Being a Veela?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it given your houses’ loyalty however Zabini should be made aware. You will need some help.” He explains and I nod.
“Do you think my mate is at Hogwarts professor?”
“I have no doubt Draco, remember when you find your mate come to me.”
The curtains are closed so that no light enters the room and its occupants. Two dark figures, a female and a male, stand anxiously watching the sickly pale figure in bed. A whimper escapes, followed by a twitch, then another. Another groan sounds through the room, one of pain, as the slow bone-deep burn flares once again inside the bed ridden figure.
“Draco? Draco my love is the pain back?” A gentle voice asks the pale man but the only response is a pain filled groan.
“He’s burning Lucius. What can we do?” The woman asks her husband as he keeps a watchful eye on his pale son.
‘We’ve done everything we can Cissy. We all have to just wait it out.”
Hermione’s POV
I smile up at Ginny as she suddenly drops to the floor in front of me, her broom in one hand and a quaffle under the other.
“Alright Mione?” She asks as she throws the oddly shaped ball high into the air and immediately it’s gone, swiped by a passing red blur.
“I’m fine, just catching up on some reading for school.”
“Always the bookworm.”
“Not this summer.” I shake my head. “This is the first time I’ve picked up a book.” I smile at her shocked look and can’t help but giggle.
“I think you’re sick.” She laughs with me as she drops the floor beside me.
“OI GINNY! YOU PLAYIN’ OR WHAT?” Ron yells from somewhere above us, making us both look up to the sky.
“ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. KEEP YOUR PANTS ON.” Gin yells back as she stands, dusting herself off. “Bloody git.” She mutters, both of us smiling before she takes off once more.
A few hours later
“Hermione, tell us who won.” Ron demands as I shake my head with a scowl.
“Ron I’m not getting involved. I wasn’t even watching for goodness sake.” I add for good measure.
“But you must have seen! I saved that last goal, didn’t I Harry?” Ron spoke again as he looked to Harry for back up.
“Sorry Ron, I didn’t see.” Harry shrugged with a small sympathetic smile.
“What good are you lot if you’re not watching?” He questions both of us in a huff as we sit down at the table for dinner. Mrs Weasley gives me a secret wink before the food appears before us and in typical Ron fashion his attention is suddenly swayed and the drama over the quidditch match is over. I duck my head and chuckle quietly before I start fill my plate.
“Everyone got all their supplies for the new school year?” Mr Weasley asks from the head of the table.
“All packed dad.” Ginny says, placing a kiss on her father’s cheek.
“Harry? Hermione?”
“All done Mr Weasley.” Harry smiles and I nod in agreement.
“Very good, Ron? What about you son?” He asks knowingly.
“I’ll uh… do it tonight before bed.” Ron mumbles.
“Last and final year you three.” Sirius speaks from the other end of the table.
“Never thought I’d see the day you three graduate.” Mad-eye joins in with a rare smile.
“Seems like only yesterday we were doing the same.” Lupin smiles sadly.
“Have you given any thought about what you three will do when you leave Hogwarts?” Tonks asks we all dig into dinner.
“Shouldn’t focusing on the war be our first priority?” Harry asks with a smile.
“After the war then.”
“Auror if I can get in.” Harry shrugs as he looks to Ron.
“Same, but who knows maybe I’ll be picked for a professional quidditch team.” Ron laughs while I snort into my dinner.
“What about you Hermione, dear?” Mrs Weasley asks and I frown.
“Oh I don’t know, it’s not something I’ve thought about.” The whole table stares at me and I can’t help but shift uncomfortably. I give a small smile and a shrug before going back to my dinner.
“A healer maybe, a medi-witch? I don’t know.”
“Well you have a whole year to decide and with your grades you have your pick of jobs.” Molly spoke happily as she patted my hand making me smile.
Platform 9 ¾
“Now you write at least once a week and we’ll see you for the holidays. No getting into trouble, you hear me?” Mrs Weasley warns us.
“Be careful what you write in your letters, the owls are being intercepted. Keep an ear to the ground and keep under the radar.” Mr Weasley warns and we nod.
“Right now off you go.” Molly shoos us off.
I climb the steps to the train and smile at Neville who greets us.
“Hello Neville, have a good holiday?” Ron asks as we search for a compartment.
“Not bad. You?” He asks as I enter a compartment, the other all following behind me.
“I’m officially free and living with Sirius.” Harry grins and I can’t help but smile. It was quite the mission to move him undetected but we did it without incident.
“Mine was pretty broing until Hermione and Harry showed up four days ago.” Ron shrugs as he lounges on the seat opposite me.
“Hermione?”
“Oh mine was pretty uneventful for the most part.” I offer with a slight smile.
“I don’t know what you did all summer if you didn’t read.” Ginny says with a shake of her head and I shrug.
“Well I worked with my parents most days.”
“Hello everyone.” Luna spoke as she entered the room.
“Hello Luna, enjoy your summer?” I ask politely.
“Not bad, spent some time with dad and worked at the quibbler.” She spoke and I mentally groan as she starts to explain about a creature I’ve never even heard of.
“I’ve got to guys, I’ll see you at the feast.” I say as I stand and grab my jacket.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m Head Girl, I have to go and meet with the prefects.” I explain.
“Oh so we, you know, actually have to go to that?” Ron asks and I glare.
“Yes Ronald you do, now lets go.” I order as Harry sniggers.
“Any idea who the head boy is?” Ron asks as we walk to the Prefects Carriage.
“No idea to be honest.” I say as I smile at Dean and Seamus on the way through.
“Hopefully it’s not some tosser.”
“Like?” I laugh.
“Malfoy?” Ron snorts with laughter at the mere thought but I say nothing as I think it through.
“You can’t be serious?” Ron asks when he realizes I’m not laughing.
“He’s second to me, it would make sense.”
“Dumbledore wouldn’t give him that title surely. He’s not that daft.”
“Language Ronald. We’ll find out soon enough.” I scold.
At the feast
“Welcome. Welcome back everyone to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast I would just like to start the year off by mentioning a few important matters. Firstly, for the first years benefit, the forbidden forest is out of bounds to all students and it would be wise for all to stay away. Secondly, our care taker Mr Filtch has asked me to remind everyone that all Weasley products are banned from the school and if anyone is caught with anything in their possession it will be confiscated. And thirdly, I would like to congratulate this year’s Head Boy and Head Girl, Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Hermione Granger.” Professor Dumbledore finished as the great hall erupted in applause.
“Well done Hermione.” Dean claps and I send him a smile before glancing over at the Slytherin table. I frown as I scan the faces but come up empty.
“And now to the feast.” The headmaster announces and within seconds the tables are overfilled with food and the noise in the hall escalates.
“Hermione, where’s Malfoy?” Harry whispers to me and I shake my head.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him, he wasn’t on the train.” I whisper back as I run my eyes down the length of the Slytherin table once more. My eyes catch Blaise Zabini’s and he nods in acknowledgement before turning away.
“I think he’s gone and gotten the mark.” Ron whispers to Harry and I as we eat.
“I think you might be right, look Snape’s gone too.”
“Maybe he just missed the train, and Harry Snape is on our side.” I add.
“Hermione, Malfoy’s a death eater, you need to be careful around him this year. As for Snape I still don’t trust him.” Harry speaks lowly and I nod to calm him before turning back to my food.
Draco’s POV
“Are you feeling okay darling?” My mother asks again as she comes through the floo in Professor Snape’s room. I give her a small smile and nod once. The fireplace lit up once more and then out steps my father.
“Severus.” My father greets and my mother and I follow.
“Lucius, Cissy. How are you feeling Draco?” He asks concerned.
“Slightly better.”
“It will fade, give it a few more days, sooner if you come in contact with your mate.”
“Has Dumbledore been told?” My mother asks.
“Yes, both of us will keep an eye out for Draco and all teachers have been informed of the situation. We’ll do everything we can to keep him safe.” Severus promised.
“And the Dark Lord?”
“He knows nothing, if he does he has not spoken to me of it. Dumbledore gathered the order and filled them in on your alliance. I have put my neck out for Lucius, do not make me regret it.” Snape warns.
“I understand Severus but I need an out. I won’t let my family die.” My father promises.
“The feast has already started, we should get going Draco.” Snape says and I nod, turning to my parents.
“Let Snape and us know the minute you find out sweetheart, we’ll talk you through it.”
“And if it’s someone who you and the… HE won’t approve of?” I mumble quietly as I glance around the room.
“You have no control over it, we will just have to accept whoever it may be.” My mother whispered back while my father gave a nod.
“You let us handle… HIM.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful.” My mother whispers as she pulls me in for a hug and I hug her back lightly before stepping away.
“I’ll keep you informed.”
“Thank you Severus.” My father nods and I watch as they shake hands before my parents leave through the floo.
“Come Draco, let’s get you something to eat.”
“Professor, can I tell anyone about me? Being a Veela?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it given your houses’ loyalty however Zabini should be made aware. You will need some help.” He explains and I nod.
“Do you think my mate is at Hogwarts professor?”
“I have no doubt Draco, remember when you find your mate come to me.”