Chapter Seven

Hermione

After several hours of shopping, Hermione felt like her legs were going to fall off. She grabbed Ginny's arm and begged for a break. "Please, Gin?"

Ginny agreed and they settled on a table outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Ginny ordered a fudge sundae but Hermione didn't want anything. Her eyes drifted to the crowds trickling by them. She recognized multiple people from school while others were complete strangers. Three years' worth of students that weren't placed in school. The first years were going to be the biggest group yet.

"So what's next?" Hermione asked. They'd traveled across Diagon Alley getting things on Ginny's list that her mother hadn't already given her second-hand. They had a couple of hours before they planned to meet Harry back at the Cauldron.

They both took out their lists. "Um, All I need is dress robes, you?"

"Same here."

"I wonder what they're for," Ginny wondered out loud. "I hope they're not having another Triwizard Tournament."

"Of course not," Hermione assured her. "I'm positive they would never start that again."

"Good. I don't think I could take another one of those tournaments. Especially if Harry was chosen again." Ginny shuddered.

Hermione agreed. It was horrible watching her best friend go through those tasks not knowing if the next one was to be his last. "Poor Harry. It seems that he was in the middle of everything at Hogwarts. I mean we all were. Harry, Ron, you, and me."

"Now that Voldemort's gone we won't have that problem anymore," Ginny said louder than she should've. The people surrounding them flinched and shot glares at her.

"Luckily, we're all safe and, hopefully, there'll be no more excitement this year." All Hermione wanted was a year where she could relax and focus on her schoolwork.

"Not all of us," Ginny sighed, her eyes staring at her nearly melted ice cream.

Hermione's eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

Ginny glanced around them then whispered, "Well, I'm not supposed to tell you this... But Harry's not coming back."

"Ah, Harry got that job as an Auror," Hermione stated. "I'm not surprised. He's been mentioning it off and on for a while now."

Ginny sighed again. "Yes, I mean, I tried to convince him to attend. It's his last year for merlin's sake. But he's so stubborn." She ate a bite of ice cream but she wrinkled her nose and pushed the cup away.

"It's a great deal, Gin. Being an Auror means a lot to him and he has more experience than most people going into the field has..." Hermione hesitated before asking, "Do you think Ron's going to join him, or is he coming back also?"

Ginny frowned at her. "You still like that prick?" She had never forgiven her brother for breaking up with Hermione. Especially when he chose Lavender over her.

Hermione shifted in his seat and her cheeks warmed up. "I-I, well, yes. I don't think I can ever stop loving him."

Ginny cast a pitying look to her. "Too bad. Yeah, he's come only because Lavender insisted." Ginny rolled her eyes. "Maybe I can set you up with Dean or something. He is a great kisser."

Hermione suddenly stood up and said flatly, "I'm feeling well-rested now. We'd better get our last items or else Harry will be missing us."

Hermione wanted to go to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions where she'd normally get her dress robes but Ginny had another plan. She tugged Hermione along the crowded alley and stopped at Twilfitt and Tatting's. "I don't think we should," Hermione whispered, staring up at the daunting storefront.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" Ginny asked. "I've always wanted to go in here. Mum never let me, though. She said it was only for rich families." She shrugged as if being considered poor didn't bother her. "And I hear they have the best robes."

Hermione pointed out that everything there probably had the same dress robes as Madam Malkins but at a higher price.

Ginny rolled her eyes, and opened the door and raised a brow as if to say 'are you coming or not?'

Hermione sighed and stepped into the store. The first thing she noticed was how expensive everything was. The walls were painted an ivory shade and the fabrics lining the walls looked alone to cost half of Diagon Alley. "Gin, are you sure we have enough money for this?" Hermione whispered when Ginny appeared beside her.

"Don't worry about it," Ginny responded. With a little prompting from Ginny, Hermione hesitantly started exploring the store.

"Can I get you something, Ladies?" A tall woman with a long face appeared beside them. She had her graying hair swept into a bun and she wore an expensive purple robe. 

"No, we're just loo-" Hermione began.

"Yes," Ginny said, cutting Hermione off. "We are interested in dresses. Show us the best you have."

The lady's sharp brown eyes glanced over Ginny and Hermione's out-of-date clothing. "Hm, I see, and- if you don't mind me asking- how are you going to pay for them?"

Ginny's eyes flashed and she pulled out a bag full of galleons. "Will this ease your troubled mind, ma'am?"

Draco

Draco thanked the gods when his parents announced he had one thing left on his list. All morning he put up with the hateful glares as they moved along. Mothers grabbed their children's arms and stepped in front of them, almost as if expecting the Malfoys' to curse them.

He did his best to keep his head up and acted oblivious. But it was impossible not to feel the hate coming from all directions. He flinched when one woman spat at his feet snarling, "death eater."

The Malfoys were once one of the most respected wizarding families but it was obvious that it wasn't the case anymore.

They entered Twilfitt and Tatting's and Narcissa rang the bell for service.

"Narcissa," A woman cried as she went to greet them. Her purple robes swished as she walked.

"Andra," Narcissa replied coolly, embracing her friend.

Andra's eyes went to him. "And Draco, what a pleasure for you to stop by," Andra said. "What can I do for you?"

"Draco needs some dress robes," Narcissa said when Draco didn't respond.

"Right this way," Andra escorted them to the back of a section of the store. "You're heading back to Hogwarts? So is my cousin, Astoria. You remember her, correct?"

Draco gave a slight nod. Astoria Greengrass was a year younger than him. Quite a looker too. She had light blonde hair, emerald green eyes, a nice body. She was also sorted into Slytherin. He remembered how everyone mistook them as brother and sister.

"Yes, it's been a frightful time for her. Her father's death and her mother was taken to Azkaban. Bad luck," the sales lady clicked her tongue. "Maybe you can help her, Draco. Keep her company and such." Andra's eyes sparkled at the remark.

Draco opened his mouth to disagree but his mother beat him to it. "He'd love to keep her company, right, Draco?"

His mother gave him the agree-and-we'll-talk-about-this-later look and Draco's frown deepened. Old Draco would've jumped at the chance to be in the company of the stunning Astoria. But the new Draco could've cared less. "I don't know. We're not exactly in the same social groups at school," he lied.

"Oh, I'm sure she won't mind. Not at all," Andra chucked to herself. "Here stand right here, Draco, and I can fit you into something in no time." In the back of the room, Draco heard a series of giggles and murmurs of girls' voices. They sounded quite familiar... He craned his neck to see who was making the noise, but Andra ordered him to stay still. In the corner of his eye was a flash of brown curls.

Hermione

"I feel like a princess," Ginny said, twirling in the hundredth dress she'd tried. This time it was a deep violet that was a little too low cut for Hermione's liking and the collar was jeweled with-what it looked like- real diamonds. They'd been there for the last hour. Hermione sat on a bench watching her friend try on dress after dress. Each one costed more than the other. "Why don't you try one on? They feel wonderful."

"No, thanks." In truth, Hermione wanted to get out of the shop as soon as possible. She had several new books and couldn't wait to crack them open. "I don't have nearly enough money." She wanted Ginny to have her moment with the stunning dresses. It must've been hard-wearing hand-me-down clothes all her life. Hermione never had that problem, since she was an only child. She shook her head, as her thoughts went back to her parents. Not here, not now, she told herself.

"No worries, " Ginny was saying, "I can pay for it. It's not like I don't have enough."

Hermione still politely declined. She didn't want Ginny to waste her money on her. In the back of her mind, Hermione planned to go to Madam Malkin's the next day.

Ginny frowned. "At least try one. Please, 'Mione?" She batted her eyes for extra effect.

Hermione looked at the dresses. "One dress," she relented.

Ginny went through all her discarded dresses and picked one out. "This one."

Hermione retreated to a dressing room and quickly pulled on the dress. Looking in the mirror, she was surprised how elegant she looked. It was true the dress had a few more ruffles than she liked but overall it was a stunning dress. It was floor-length and a crimson red. She twirled in the mirror understanding what Ginny said. She pulled her curly hair up imagining it in an updo. Ginny was right, she did feel like a princess.

A little giddy, Hermione pulled open the curtains to her dressing room and went to search for her redheaded friend. She rounded around a rack without looking where she was going. Suddenly she felt something solid collide into her. She took several steps backward, stepping on the back of her dress, and she was falling toward the ground. Then she felt a strong hand grab her waist.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly. As soon as she was steady on her two feet she looked up to see who rescued into her.

"Malfoy?!"

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Mwahahahaha. I'm sorry but I was getting quite bored and had to set this ship sailing. Another apology for random updates on these story chapters. I'm trying to edit all my chapters as I go along.

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