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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟑 *•. ┄┄

𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

────── *•. ⚡︎ .•*──────

"You'd think people had better things to gossip about," said Ginny, as she sat on the common room floor, leaning against Harry's legs and reading the Daily Prophet. "Three Dementor attacks in a week and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed across your chest."

Ron and Hermione both roared with laughter. Harry ignored them.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail," said Ginny, turning a page of the newspaper idly. "Much more macho."

"Thanks," said Harry, grinning.  "And what did you tell her Ron's got?"

"A Pygmy Puff, but I didn't say where."

"I love you, Gigi," Hermione said, dramatically wiping away a tear of mirth from her face as Ron scowled.

"Watch it," he said, pointing at Harry and Ginny. "Just because I've given my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it—"

"Your permission," scoffed Ginny. "Since when did you give me permission to do anything?Anyway, you said yourself you'd rather it was Harry than Michael or Luke."

"Who?" Hermione frowned, not knowing who Ginny was talking about. But was ignored as Ron talked over her.

"Yeah, I would," said Ron grudgingly. "And just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public—"

"You filthy hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels all over the place?" demanded Ginny.

"Who's Luke?" Hermione muttered to Harry and the other whispered back, "Lucas O'Flaherty. He's a Puff. His sister is Heidi, from the D.A.?"

"Oh," Hermione nodded in understanding. So that's who Ginny was dating.

"Teddy, BZ!" Hermione exclaimed as she saw them on their spot, this time with a really sick-looking Draco. "Hey, cousin Dragon."

"Black," was all Malfoy said and Hermione beamed at him. It was progress.

"Theo, you're still living with me, right? Or have you voluntarily joined the Death Shitters?" she asked casually, making Blaise snort and Draco cough up on the smoke he had inhaled.

"I am living with you," Theo answered, rolling his eyes and Hermione grinned.

"BZ, still going to Italia, right?" Hermione asked with a small smile.

"No," Blaise shook his head promptly.

"No?" Hermione frowned and he nodded.

"I told mother to shove it," Blaise said with a proud grin, "by letter," he added. "When you, um, were in that coma, I came to realize that I want to do something and fight. I'm staying here."

"Then where are you staying?" Hermione questioned, looking utterly confused.

"With Theo," Blaise shrugged.

"But Theo is—Oh! Right. You're more than welcomed, by the way," Hermione said sarcastically and rolled her eyes when he sent her a cheeky grin.

"Dragon?" Hermione asked, turning to Draco and saw him pale slightly. "Can I talk to you?"

Glancing at Blaise and Theo, who were giving him encouraging exaggerated thumbs-up, he grumbled under his breath but stood up nonetheless, and followed Hermione into an alcove.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said, as soon as she was sure no one was listening.

"What?" said Draco, looking wildly confused.

"I said I was sorry," Hermione sighed. "I wasn't supposed to miss half the bloody school year. I was supposed to help you through these months and made sure you didn't look like that," she said, gesturing to his corpse-like figure.

"Thanks," Draco huffed sarcastically, making to leave, but Hermione pushed him back.

"I meant unhealthy," she said with a sigh. "Not unattractive. Blacks aren't unattractive."

And she grinned when she saw his lips twitching up.

"No matter what happens," Hermione began looking at him, "we're family. And, I know you're like Teddy. You don't have a choice. And you're probably already paying for your father's mistakes. . . ."

Draco tensed up at the last sentence, his jaw twitching.

"And even though you're a little shit," Hermione said with a sigh, "I'm willing to help. Can I have your wand?"

"You're bloody joking, right, Black?" Draco said unimpressed and Hermione rolled his eyes.

"I'm going to key your wand mark into the wards of my flat in Whales," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not sure whether to trust you or not, but you have to have an escape route."

"Your flat?" Draco whispered looking confused.

"Yes. I bought a flat. And if you give me your wand, you can use it if you have to run away. It's hidden in the Muggle World—don't look at me like that!—and it's protected by blood wards—"

"—then everyone with the Black blood can enter," Draco pointed out and Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh! You're using the Hale bloodline."

"Duh," Hermione sighed. "That's why I need to key you in."

Draco was silent for a few seconds, observing any sign that told him she was playing a trick on him before sighing and passing his wand to her. "Thank you," he mumbled.

Hermione didn't even attempt to make a witty comment and just nodded with a smile. "I know it's going to be shit these next few months. Just, keep yourself safe."

Draco nodded.

"Also," she added, as she dug into her pocket and took out a Sickle. "Here. I have one that's the same. I've used the Protean charm so you can send me messages if you need help. But it's only for emergencies."

"I'm glad you're my family," Draco admitted and Hermione beamed, leaving the alcove behind.

It was a few days later when everything went down. And it all started with Harry frantically appearing in the common room as Ron and Hermione tried to hit themselves with water from their wands. They immediately seized that and turned to their friend.

"You're going?! It's today, isn't it?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening and Harry nodded, racing past them in order to get to his dorm, leaving Ron and Hermione gaping at each other.

Then he stepped back down the stairs and into the common room, skidding to a halt where Ron and Hermione sat, looking stunned.

"I haven't got much time," Harry panted, "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen..."

Quickly he told them where he was going and why.

"...so you see what this means?" Harry finished at a gallop. "Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so  Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!" he hissed angrily, as both Ron and Hermione showed every sign of interrupting. "I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here—" He shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hand. "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right? Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape's involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protection is, and how to avoid it—but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?"

"Harry—"

"I haven't got time to argue," said Harry curtly. "Take this as well—" He thrust socks into Ron's hands.

"Thanks," said Ron. "Er—why do I need socks?"

"You need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves and Ginny too. Say goodbye to her from me. I'd better go. Dumbledore's waiting—"

"No!" said Hermione. "You take it. I have mine, I can share it with them!"

"Dame, only yours won't be enough," Harry sighed. "I want to know you lot are okay. . . . don't look at me like I'm a moron, Mia! I'll see you later. . . ."

And he was off.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron, turning to Hermione.

"We prepare for the worst," Hermione mumbled.

"That's not frightening. . . ."

"Oh, it'll be worse during the actual war."

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—A/N—

I know it's a short chapter but I wanted to focus the next one on the fighting scenes and whatnot. 

I know I haven't been as active as I was a few months ago, but I'm trying to "change" my life—which basically means it'll work for a few weeks and then stop—and get more proactive in things that don't include the little world I created in my head. The keyword was trying.

Anyway, TWISTS is coming to an end. Just a few more chapters to get to Seventh Year and then it's finished (maybe that's why I'm procrastinating).

I really hope I was able to write a story you guys liked as much as I liked writing it!

Thank you,
~Lexi