Chapter 6
Hermione stood frozen with shock and looked up into a pair of familiar cold gray orbs, that towered over her. She seemed to have landed in Madam Malkins robe shop and quickly wondered where Ginny had landed. Hopefully not too far.
"Ahem . . . I uh . . .um . . ." Hermione stuttered.
"Wow, I never thought I'd live to see a day Granger speechless." His hands were shoved in his pockets as he leaned on one of the dressers full of robe materials.
"Shove off Malfoy," Hermione said regaining some confidence.
"Hey, I was just trying to help Granger, no need for any attitude." Malfoy mocked putting his hands up in surrendered, a small smile played at the end of his lips.
Hermione walked over to a rack of fancy dresses and pretended to be interested in them. She could feel Malfoy's eyes watching her every move.
"You know, I'm a bit surprised that Weaslebee isn't here kissing your shoes or puking up some slugs."
Malfoy swaggered over to the opposite side of the dress rack and leaned his elbows on the hangers, trying to act causal. Or as casual you could be with your enemy glaring across from you.
"I'll have you know, that Ron and I—you know what why am even talking to you?" She trailed, and mentally scolded herself. She knew that Malfoy was just trying to get a rise out of her.
She slowly circled the rack of clothes and then another, trying to get closer to the door while stirring up a plan to escape. Malfoy followed behind her nonchalantly.
"Probably because you think I'm super good looking with a great personality and loads of money."
"Oh please, get over yourself," Hermione said rolling her eyes. "You know . . . I'm a bit surprised of the lack of girls waiting to swoon over you. Isn't there usually a line? Now move," she said bluntly and headed for the exit.
"Ah ah ahh not so fast Granger, I'm not taking orders from a Mudblood," he said standing tall and arrogantly in front of the door.
Hermione stared at him in utter disbelief and clenched her fists. He had to be joking right?
"You—you have honestly got to be kidding me Malfoy!" Her voice rose and anger spread throughout her body causing her hands to shake at her sides, "After this whole bloody war, after so many people died and had to go into hiding, after innocent people were tortured in your own damn home, you have to be completely mental to call me a . . . a Mudblood. After what you did to me, my family, and my friends, how dare you even speak a word around here!"
Hermione stood flustered from yelling in a shop, and shoved him aside to open the door. Just as she stepped out she ran into Ginny.
"Oh there you are Hermione! I've been looking for—" she paused to see Hermione, whose face was beet red and breathing heavily. "What happened?" She asked and glanced around to find the cause of her friend's distress. Her eyes fell on Draco Malfoy, in the doorframe of the robe shop, his arrogance had faltered after Hermione's outburst.
Ginny glared at him and made a rude gesture in his direction; one that her mother would certainly disapprove of. She turned back to Hermione, who looked harassed, and looped her arm with hers to march away.
"Come on, let's go."
Hermione glanced back to the shop, to give her enemy another look of disgust, but the Slytherin was already gone.
-•-•-•-•-•-
Ginny and Hermione walked around Diagon Alley to waste some time before Harry's party and to make sure that Malfoy had for sure left Madam Malkins robe shop before they returned.
Diagon Alley still held the exotic shops selling telescopes, cauldrons, animals of all sorts, and silver defense instruments. Windows were stacked with barrels of gills and eyes, quills, tottering piles of spell books, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles that fizzed and bubbled, Quidditch supplies and the latest broomsticks. After circling around twice and admiring the new additions to the alley, the girls ventured back to the shop. Ginny cautiously nudged Hermione to see if she was still mad.
"Hey what happened back there?"
"Oh just Malfoy being Malfoy," Hermione responded, not wanting to go into detail about her yelling; and opened the door to Madam Malkins. The little bell at the top of the doorway rang, as Hermione held it open for Ginny.
"Really? Cause you seemed a little ticked off when I showed up."
"Well he was being a stubborn little git and called me a Mudblood again," she sighed. "I know that I shouldn't be bothered by it, he's done it so many times before, but after everything I've been through, even after everything he's been through, I can't believe that he has the audacity to say that word to my face! And anyways . . . he was on the losing side, he was with the Death Eaters. He shouldn't even be showing his stupid ferret face." Hermione wished she could rant for while longer, but she saw Ginny's grim expression, and decided to drop the subject.
"C'mon, let's just find our dresses and get back."
They both spread out through the shop, and searched for something nice to wear. Malfoy seemed to have left for good, so Hermione tried to push their confrontation to the back of her mind and enjoyed her time with Ginny.
There were many stunning dresses that she fancied. Big wedding gowns, short and tight ones, and long and loose ones. She couldn't find one that fit her right or looked aesthetically pleasing. She circled the store several times looking for the perfect dress to wear at Harry's party, but nothing too formal. Finally in a rack of clothes she seemed to have missed, Hermione spotted an aqua floaty dress that ended just above knees, with small diamonds around the top. It was an elegant material, soft and silky that felt like a cloud in her hands. She also found a shiny leaf patterned necklace and silver flats to match the rest of her outfit.
On the other side of the store she found Ginny who had went with a skinnier black and white dress, with flowery designs and black flats. She also got some dangly gold earrings and several bracelets to top off her look.
The two girls paid for their items and exited the shop, readying themselves to Apparate back to the Weasley's home and prepare for Harry's party.
Hermione and Ginny landed in the middle of the Weasley's yard. The first thing they saw were the decorations. They were everywhere. Red and gold streamers were draped all over the house, the tent they had put up earlier had a collage of movie pictures, the Quidditch posts were decorated in red and gold too, and the boys seemed to have enchanted the Quaffles to float and let loose the golden snitch.
Hermione and Ginny scurried inside to get ready for the party and tell George and Mr. Weasley's how wonderful their decorations looked.
The kitchen smelled even better than before with new aromas mixing together; it too was decorated just like the outside of their house.
"House looks great dad," Ginny smiled at her father.
"Thank you Ginny," he grinned proud of his work. " I believe your mother wanted you two to put yourselves together, little Teddy and Andromeda should be here soon.
"Come on," Ginny said dragging Hermione up the stairs and into the bathroom. "Alright right, you change in here and I'll change out there," referring to her room.
It only took a minuet for Hermione shut the door and strip from her clothes and into her silky dress. It fit perfectly.
"You done in there 'Mione?" Ginny called from outside.
"Yes, come on in!" She said back.
Ginny opened the bathroom door to admire herself. Both the girls spun around to check themselves out, then started on their make-up.
Hermione and Ginny didn't need much, they complimented their eyes with some liner and mascara. They painted their nails to match the color of their dresses. Then they slipped on their new shoes and accessories after they started on their hair. Hermione tried some of George's potion again and gawked at how well it worked.
"George has really got to sell this stuff. He'll make a fortune just from me," Hermione said.
"Nah I think you'll get it for free, George likes you," Ginny shrugged while clipping her bright red hair back with a twisted braid and a small pin.
"Will you do that to mine as well?" Hermione asked,"I'm not that great when it comes to hair as you can probably tell."
"Of course," Ginny said grabbing a handful of Hermione's dark luscious hair and braiding it with her nimble fingers. Ginny slipped the pin at the end of her hair and said, "There you are, as beautiful as ever."
"Thanks Gin, you look wonderful too," she smiled bashfully at the compliment.
It was later that afternoon when Mrs. Weasley's called them from the kitchen, "Girls!! Teddy and Andromeda are here!"
The girls looked at each other and squealed. They raced down the stairs, pushing each other into the walls, trying to reach Teddy first, and at the same time not to topple down. Hermione had reached him first.
"Hermy!" Teddy cried and wobbled over to Hermione.
Teddy had become very taken with Hermione, as well as Harry, since the war. While the adults were helping rebuild homes and Hogwarts, they had gotten to spend a lot of quality time together.
Hermione had always read to him to calm him down before his naps. When she read a particular part in his favorite story, Teddy's eyes would get big and wide, and his little mouth would hang open as the colorful pictures moved. Then by the end he would fall asleep, curled on her lap.
With Harry it was different, the kid loved him. Harry would take him on a broom ride or run around playing games with him. The two were just enough to keep each other company. Teddy even loved to be around Ginny. He would change his hair to what ever color Ginny's dresses or outfits would be.
"Teddy!" Hermione raced to him and scooped him up,"Look how big you've gotten!"
He giggled and looked over to Ginny who gave him a smile. Teddy took one look at her dress and turned his hair jet black.
"That's a dashing color on you," Harry said walking through the back door. He was wearing a neatly pressed dress shirt and some slacks on. His hair looked as tussled as ever, but you could tell he had tried to comb it.
"Harrwee!" Teddy yelled. He squirmed in Hermione's arms as she passed him to Harry.
"You want to go on a broom ride?" Harry asked, carrying the boy outside.
Hermione smiled at the two boys and greeted Andromeda.
"Hello girls," she said brightly and gave them both a big hug, "How have you two been doing?"
"Wonderful," Hermione answered, "How about you?"
"Fine fine fine, I've been trying to get in touch with my nephew lately . . ." she said knowing that they weren't exactly friends. "He's not responding to any of my owls," she frowned.
"Erm that's too bad," Ginny said awkwardly bobbing her head.
"Yes well, I do believe that everyone deserves a second chance to fix mistakes," she said. A long silence filled the air between them, "Well I'll let you two get back to the party," she said and walked into the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasley.
"That was awkward," Ginny laughed as she and Hermione sauntered outside to greet the incoming guests.
-•-•-•-•-•-
Hermione walked around most of the night speaking to some acquaintances and avoiding Ron. She talked with many of them seeing as they were other students and even some staff from Hogwarts. Seamus, Neville, Luna, Dean, Hagrid stayed for a while. George had a stand of several of his new Weasley Wizard Wheezes products up for trial. The Quidditch balls Charlie had enchanted zoomed through the darkening sky and flying over the guest's heads.
There were platters of food on every table and buckets of cold drinks refilled themselves after a while. Mrs. Weasley, who had put all her effort into making such a memorable party, seemed to be enjoying herself by dancing with her sons and at the same time sipping a bottle of Butterbeer.
Hermione strolled around the Burrow with a bigger simile she had worn in a long time. All their friends from Hogwarts were there, chatting excitedly and sharing jokes, adding to the cheerful euphoria. Kids ran around the yard chasing each other, laughing and screaming along the way. Games of Exploding Snap and Gobstones could be heard at every other table. The decorations sparkled in the night, drinks where clinked together, and peace was finally restored.
Professor McGonagall showed up halfway through the party. Hermione greeted her and pointed her in the direction she had last seen Mr. and Mrs. Weasley; McGonagall wanted to thank them for the invitation.
Another unexpected visitor arrived as Hermione wandered through the Weasley's garden, she only noticed him several feet before his figure walked towards her.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where to find Harry Potter?" the boy asked.
He looked strangely familiar, though she knew they'd never met. He had flat dirty blonde hair, a bigger frame, and watery blue eyes. He was wearing a clean dark blue shirt and a pair of trousers.
"Who are you?" She asked cautiously, slowly pulling out her wand from her dress pocket and hiding it behind her leg.
"Um I'm Dudley Dursley," the boy said uncomfortably.
"Oh, your . . . your Harry's cousin aren't you?" She said in realization.
"Uh yeah, he is here right?"
"Yes he's in the back, I'll uh— I'll show you to him," she said walking to the tent, searching for Harry.
She found him sitting at a table with Ginny, Neville, and Luna who were playing Exploding Snap. "Wait right here," she said to Dudley who stayed put. She walked behind Harry and tapped him on his shoulder.
"Harry someone is here to see you," she whispered in his ear, not wanting anyone else to get up.
"Oh, uh I'll be right back guys," he said to his friends and excused himself from the table.
"I'm sorry Harry I didn't know if should've told him to go away or not, and he wanted to see you so I thought it would be alright for him to stay." Hermione said quickly, leading him to where Dudley was waiting.
Harry paused a moment after he saw his cousin standing in the Weasley's yard.
"I didn't think you'd come," Harry said and walked forward to shake Dudley's hand.
"I actually wasn't planning on it, to be honest, I was sort nervous about coming to a dodgy party with a bunch of blokes who could turn me into a frog." He chuckled not wanting to meet Harry's eyes.
"Hmm I always do more cats than frogs, but you know, it just depends on my mood," Hermione joked.
Dudley obviously not convinced, fidgeted; looking extremely nervous.
"She's just kidding. Hermione wouldn't hurt a fly," Harry said reassuring his cousin. "This is much like a Muggle party, besides some of the decorations," Harry said, motioning to the levitating Quaffles and moving pictures.
Dudley nodded his head like he understood.
Boom!
There was a loud exploding sound that came from the end of the tent. Smoke whirled around everyone and several gave exaggerated coughs and gags. As the smoke dispersed George appeared in the middle of it looking slightly fazed. Hagrid who was standing next to him, looked particularly suspicious, his eyes darting around and hands ringed together.
Dudley waved his hand in front of his face to get the smoke out of his eyes opened his mouth before he was interrupted.
"Don't worry it was just George goofing around, who's this?" Called a person from behind them.
Ron.
Oh boy this should be fun.
"Wait a second, I've seen you before... Aren't you a Hufflepuff?" Ron asked.
Dudley looked at him quizzically, "What the hell is a Hufflepuff?"
"It's a house at Hogwarts, you know the school I go to?" Harry said and turned to Ron, "and no, he doesn't even go to Hogwarts, this is Dudley my cousin, remember?"
"Oh yeah! Yeah I do but why are you here? Haven't you been a big pain in Harry's arse since forever?" Ron said, defending his friend. Or so he thought.
"Ron be quiet," Hermione whispered.
"No! Hermione this is the little bleeder that bullied Harry forever, get out of my yard!" Ron pointed at Dudley.
He looked baffled at the comment and looked at Harry.
"Ron shut up! He's fine," Hermione scolded and grabbed his arm, pulling Ron back under the tent.
"Sorry about that," Harry apologized, embarrassed by Ron's statement, "you can stay."
Dudley awkwardly cleared his throat, "It's okay, I deserved it."
Harry steered his cousin over to the tent to where he was sitting before and introduced Dudley to their friends.
Hermione and Ron were at the other end arguing with each other.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you Hermione!" Ron said.
"Harry made up with Dudley before the war, and invited him here for the party. And now you just frightened the poor guy," Hermione responded defensively.
"Well how was I supposed to know that?" He said angrily.
"I don't know Ron! Use your brain for once, I'm not here anymore to give you mine!" Hermione said stalking away.
"Hey! I'm not done talking to you," Ron growled and grabbed her arm.
"Ouch Ron stop! Your hurting me," Hermione cried, ripping her arm free. She glowered at him and took a deep breath, recomposing herself. "Listen, now is not the time to fight, I can tell this," she motioned to his furious posture, "has something to do with our break up, so if you want to talk about it then fine, but not now." She said marching back into the midst of the tent to find Ginny. Leaving Ron glaring behind her.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Harry's birthday dessert had been the surprise Mrs. Weasley had shown Hermione that one sunny afternoon. Even seeing it carted out of the kitchen door Hermione was still as baffled as everyone else; not including Harry who had his hand over his heart, mouth open half wide in a mid-gasp and a smile, his eyes shining with tears of happiness.
To say it was a cake would be an understatement. The dessert sculpture was the giant Gryffindor lion, it was at least the size of a normal house elf but twice as wide. It had had an incredible amount of detail, carved into the lions golden fur were thousands of fluttering snitches, the mane was made of heaps of maroon frosting, it's nose looked like broken pieces of Chocolate Frogs, the teeth were sharpened bits of sugar quills, and the eyes were some ruby shaped wizard candy that Hermione had never seen, they literally sparkled like the stars that hung in to sky above them; yet nothing was compared to the roar the cake beast bellowed. It was enchanted to sound like a real life lion.
"Make a wish!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
Harry, completely mesmerized by his cake, shook his head and then thought for a moment and blew out all the candles. Everyone cheered and clapped. Mrs. Weasley enchanted the knife to cut the cake and deliver it to the guests.
When Hermione got slice she looked around for an open spot to sit. At the corner of the tent there was an open table with only one occupant. Dudley.
She thought she would be friendly and perhaps stir up a conversation with him.
"Can I sit?" She nodded toward a seat.
He looked up from his cake and replied with a,"Sure."
They say there awkwardly eating cake until the silence was to much more to bare.
"So . . . Uh have you moved back into your house yet? You family had to move didn't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah we have, just the other day we finished unpacking the last of our boxes."
"That's nice," Hermione politely.
He responded with a curt nod.
More silence.
"Uh, how's your school doing?" He asked putting down his fork and pushing his plate away, "It was destroyed, right? Harry was telling me."
"It's alright now, most of the wizarding community helped contribute to rebuild it, so by the time we go to back for our seventh year in a month, it should be as good as new."
"That's good to hear, you seem to be one of those people who like school, am I right?"
"Yes, in most of the wizarding headlines I've been called: The Brightest of Her Age." Hermione shrugged, "But it's not entirely true, of course, there are plenty other students who are just as smart as I am."
He gave her a sad look, "I wish I liked school at least a little bit. I had an easy childhood, I mean everything I ever wanted was delivered to me on a golden platter. When I didn't get something I wanted I would whine and it would be brought to me before I could finish a fake cry. I just wish I would have gotten a 'no' for once. I wish I could have faced more problems in my life, so I could turn out to be some great guy in the end. But now... Now I'm just a big arse."
Hermione was dumbfounded by his words. She had never expect Harry's largely intimidating cousin to start up a conversation with her, let alone spill his feelings to her.
"I know deep down that Harry still hasn't forgiven me. And I wouldn't blame him, I've been a pain all his life. Sure he invited me to this party, but I know he's just trying to put our differences behind us." Dudley said, running his hands embarrassingly through his hair.
Hermione bit her lip, trying to think up a kind way to put her statement nicely, as well as giving helpful advice. "Well, maybe—maybe some of what you say is true . . . but over time, I have learned that Harry wants you to work for forgives. You've just got to put in some effort and he'll know that your trying to become a better person. He'll come around."
He considered what she had said and slowly nodded his head. "You think so?"
"Defiantly," Hermione replied.
There was another silence as Dudley sat back in his chair, while his eyes wandered aimlessly around the Weasley's yard.
"So how exactly did your whole war thing start? I mean it takes a lot of angry people to destroy a whole castle, doesn't it?" He asked, genuinely interested.
"Uh well it was a while ago. Back when Harry's parents were still alive when it started. I won't go through the whole story or else we would be here all night. But anyway, it was all has to do with blood statuses. Pure bloods are witches and wizards who were both raised with magical abilities, and they were the ones who started all of this mess," Hermione silently thought of Draco and his cruel family, "the halfbloods who consist of one pure blood and a muggleborn. And finally the muggleborns who are raised like normal people like yourself, and then brought into the wizard world with magical abilities in their blood," Hermione described.
He looked confused for a second then said,"So an example of a halfblood would be Harry. . . ? Right?"
"Yes, that is correct. Harry's mother was a muggleborn and his father a pure blood."
"So does that mean that Harry's dad was a bad guy then?" Dudley said with a quizzical look upon his face.
"No, Harry's dad was the complete opposite, from what I have heard, he was a hero. Everyone who knew the Potter's think Harry's just like him. Brave. Smart. Kind. And trouble maker," Hermione said.
"Then what are you?" Dudley asked. "If you don't mind me asking," he added quickly.
"I am a muggleborn actually. I was raised just like you. Went to a muggle school, had muggle friends and parents. But when I got my Hogwarts letter when I was 11 I realized what I was. A witch." Hermione said dreamily. She remembered the exact day when she had received her letter.
"However, most pure bloods for example, hated people like me and killed them. They called us they call us Mudbloods. It means dirty blood, common blood. A Mudblood is a highly derogatory term for a Muggle-born wizard or witch, only those who truly despise people like me use it. Pure bloods don't believe we should belong in the wizarding world or even live at all."
"Ha—have you ever been called that? A Mudblood?" He asked carefully.
"Yes . . . yes quit a few times actually," Hermione said shamefully and folded her hands into her lap.
"That's terrible! Don't they know that you are just like them?" Dudley said with an outraged look on his face.
"No, they could care less about us; we are dead to them. The dirt on which they walk upon." Hermione responded, again thinking of Malfoy.
Silence passed between them again and it had started to get very dark. Guests started to leave as the stars popped into the sky. Last minute presents were given to Harry. Dudley and Hermione got up, and along with some of her friends, they helped the Weasley's clean up the party mess.
As Hermione folded up chairs using her wand, she heard part of Harry and Dudley's conversation to the left.
"I uh—I meant to give this to you earlier, but you seemed to be talking to a giant man so I didn't want to interrupt. Here you go," Dudley said handing over a small bag.
"You didn't have to get me anything Dudley," Harry said kindly.
"Yeah, well I—I just thought we should, you know, try to . . . try to get along now," Dudley muttered.
Harry opened the bag which revealed . . . A pair of socks? Harry laughed and Dudley, surprised by Harry's reaction, laughed along too. It must have been some inside joke.
"Like 'em?" Dudley chuckled.
"Yeah, thanks mate," Harry said with a big grin on his face.
"I'm only joking, here's your real present," Dudley smiled and handed Harry a small package.
Harry took the box cautiously. As he opened the tiny lid, he gave a sad smile when he saw what was inside. Harry carefully picked up the small object: a toy knight riding on a horse.
Harry looked at Dudley, again with a grin, and held out his hand, "Thanks Dud."
"Happy Birthday Harry," Dudley said and took his hand.
"You children better come in now, we are going to Diagon Alley first thing in—oh sorry dear," apologized Mrs. Weasley, who had just come out from the kitchen and realized she had ruined the moment, "Uh . . . Carry on." She smiled and marched back inside.
The two cousins laughed, as did Hermione from a distance, and walked into the Burrow.
-•-•-•-•
With the yard all cleared, decorations gone, and guests home, the Weasley's house was quiet for once. Well this was until there was a shriek from Ron's room and hysterical laughter from Ginny's. Harry, who had just gotten back from driving home with Dudley had Apparated back, one glance at Hermione led them both sprinting up the stairs to Ginny's room.
Ginny and George laid crying, from laughter, on the ground and weakly pointed to the right side of the wall. Harry and Hermione turned to where their fingers pointed. In Ginny's messy closet she had parted the clothes that hung on hangers, and created what looked liked a misty, cloudy vortex on her wall. On the other said was Ron. She must have put a charm on the it so Ron couldn't look through on the other side.
Besides how messy Ron's room was compared to Ginny's, Hermione couldn't tell what was wrong with the scene in front of her. But then something above Ron moved.
A big, no not big, a gigantic spider leapt down from the ceiling of Ron's room. This was larger than some of the ones from the Forbidden Forest. He screamed like a girl and fumbled for his wand. Out of fear, of course Ronald dropped it and the spider snatched it with its pincers. Hermione covered a hand over her mouth and waited for the spider to make a move.
By now Ginny and George had regained themselves and grinned at Harry and Hermione's appalled yet excited faces.
"He looks like he's going to wet himself!" Hermione said, her face lighting up in a grin.
"Well that's what he gets for messing with our Hermione," said George, who was wiping tears of laughter from his pink face.
"Yeah, Ron more than anyone, should know not to joke around with Hermione–freaking–Granger," Ginny emphasized each word and refocused on Ron's terror.
They watched as Ron tried to bravely throw his underwear at the spider's face and make a run for the door. Sadly the door, which had previously been locked by Ginny, wouldn't budge for him. Poor Ron had now panicked and cowered in the corner of his room.
"Where did that thing even come from?" Hermione said turning away from Ron's punishment. She felt kinda bad for him. Hermione knew he was deathly afraid of spiders, and they had fought against many in the battle of Hogwarts. But he had ruthlessly ended what had seemed the perfect relationship, so he deserved this.
"I made it myself actually," George said, with a proud gleam in his eyes. "I call them Wild Water Wreckers. They are capsules about the size of your hand that you stick in some swelling and shrinking solutions."
"They?" questioned Harry.
"Why yes, I've made a variety amount animals, insects, some everyday objects, and I've even started working on people." George said explaining his new ideas and tapping his fingers madly together. "They should be in stock soon at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, but there are some minor setbacks."
"Like what?" Hermione asked curiously furrowing her eyebrows.
"Well sometimes—well that's what happens," George said pointing to the forgotten vortex.
Ron screamed once again; the spider now had two heads and and an extra pincer. By the looks of it Ron also seemed to have finally wet his pants and had given up trying to defend himself.
Ronald's scream must have finally attracted Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's attention, for they where half way up the stairs running to their sons aid.
"Quick, Gin hide the wall!" George frantically whispered. With a swish of her wand the vortex disappeared, along with their laughter.
"Hurry! Lay down! Pretend your sleeping!" Ginny instructed.
Hermione jumped on Ginny's mattress, alongside George; while Harry and Ginny quickly snuggled close together on Hermione's made up bed.
"GEORGE!!!" Yelled Mrs. Weasley from Ron's room. "What did you do this tim—" She stopped when she yanked open Ginny's bedroom door to find them all 'sleeping'.
From what Hermione could tell, cracking her eyes open just a bit, Mrs. Weasley couldn't decide if they really where sleeping or not, so she shut the door quietly and with a frustrated sigh, went to Ron's room to try to comfort him.
Once she was gone, George whispered next to Hermione, "Why is it always me."
This led the lot giggling up a storm as they each in turn mimicked Ron's shrieks.
-•-•-•-•-
"Hermione dear, please wake up. You have 20 minuets to get going until we leave for Diagon Alley." Mrs. Weasley calmly spoke as she brushed Hermione's hair soothingly, and then moved on the the next sleeping child.
Hermione sat up, groggy from sleep, and rubbed her eyes. She looked around Ginny's room and realized they had actually fallen asleep in the same positions as last night. As she laid next to George, Hermione still saw Ginny and Harry curled up next to each other. Gosh they were so cute together!
She sighed and headed for the loo to change and tame her animal like hair. Putting on a light cardigan and a matching shirt, she exited into Ginny's room once more to find it empty. Well besides George, who got to sleep in because he no longer need school supplies.
Hermione walked down the creaky wooden stairs spiraling into the Weasley's cozy kitchen. It was a beautiful day. The sky was bright blue with no clouds in sight and the sun looming down upon the world. Hermione took a seat beside Harry at the table and grabbed bacon, sausage, and an apple.
Ron finally came down as Hermione finished her breakfast. He glanced at them all, daring them to speak first. Hermione shot a look at Ginny and Harry who both seemed overly interested in a butterfly fluttering outside.
"Good morning Ron, sleep well?"
Mrs. Weasley asked, ever so kindly.
"It was fine," Ron mumbled and loaded his plate with food. "You guys didn't happen to hear someone last night, you know screaming or anything . . . ?"
"No why do ask?" Harry said with a quizzical grin plastered on his face. He nudged Ginny who had to leave quickly, from so much laughter.
"Oh no reason," Ron said in a flash and averted his eyes on his food.
"Are you children ready yet?" Mrs. Weasley asked flattening out Ron's bed hair.
"Uh yes I believe so," Harry said. Ginny who had just returned from the other room with a red face, nodded her head, as did Hermione.
"Good, good, right on schedule, shall we use the Floo Network or Apperate?"
"Apperate," Hermione declared, not wanting to replay the same scenario as yesterday with Malfoy.
"Alright let's go out back, just before the stream."
They scurried through the green neatly trimmed grass, Hermione took a big whiff of the scent in. One of her favorite smells in the world. Freshly mown grass.
One by one they all Apperated and reappearing just outside the Leaky Cauldron. After they filed in and said hello to Tom they moved out the back door and Mrs. Weasley tapped the brick wall. The bricks magically folded back and brought the view of Diagon Alley.
It was busy today as witches and wizards scrambled around finding the best items they could in each shop.
"Does anyone need money from Gringotts?" Mrs. Weasley called through all the hustle and bustle.
Everyone shook their head as a 'no' and continued down the alley bumping into people.
Hermione pulled her required supply list to see where they needed to shop first.
All seventh years will require:
New robes (if needed)
Advanced Book of Spells, Grade 7
Magical Theory
Advanced Magical Drafts and Potions
A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration
Advanced Rune Translation
1 Cauldron size 3
2 sets of brass scales
1 telescope
Hermione had heard of several of the books already and knew she could get a full start on them by the time school came around.
"No need to worry about hand-me-down supplies any more Mum," Ginny said turning to her mother.
After the war, the witches and wizards who helped fight and rebuild were given a great deal of money from the Ministry, as well as those who were left with nothing and no where to return to. The Weasley's, Hermione, and Harry; who had all immediately declined their enormous share of money, were still given large sums by the new Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, who insisted on repaying them.
"Yes, you are right dear, but that does not mean we are spending our money all willy nilly," Mrs. Weasley said strictly.
"Shall we start at the book shop?" Hermione inquired.
"Hermione wanting to start at the book store? Wow that's first!" Ginny announced sarcastically.
Hermione shook her head and proceeded into the store with her friends trailing behind her.
The smell of parchment overwhelmed the store as Hermione took in the relaxing aroma. Another one of her favorite smells: parchment and book pages. She walked around the book shop, gazing at all the covers. Some where brand new, and others probably older than Nicolas Flamel himself.
Hermione continued throughout the store, stopping occasionally to pick up a school book she needed.
"C'mon Hermione we've got to go the the next shop," Harry shook her shoulder half an hour later, as she finished reading a lengthy book cover.
"Hm? Oh alright have you already paid?"
"Yes and I've paid for yours as well. I didn't want to disturb your reading."
Hermione hadn't even realized her books were gone until now as Harry placed them back into her arms. She gave him a warm smile, grateful for such a caring friend like Harry. Hermione told him she'd pay him back at the Burrow, and left the store with the rest of the Weasley's.
The remaining of the day was spent at Diagon Alley. Searching high and low for all the new supplies they would be needing for the oncoming school year.
Harry and Ron followed Mrs. Weasley wherever she went, Ron muttering quietly to Harry along the way. Ginny and Hermione trailing behind, joking and laughing the entire time. After traveling back to the Weasley's for a relaxing, and peaceful dinner with her best friends, Hermione laid in Ginny's room, listening to her snores, and drifted off in to an uneasy sleep.
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Hello everyone! I am soooo very sorry for not posting this chapter! Sorry! I'm out of school now so I'll defiantly be updating more often. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, as it is longer than all the rest. I defiantly liked writing this one. And YAY Draco was finally introduced!! Btw I'll be switching up the point of views soon and you'll see whose at the top, but normally it is just narrating.
Please comment and keep reading! Thanks!