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┄┄ .•* 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓 *•. ┄┄

𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒎 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔

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"AARGGGHHH!"

That. . . . sound. . . . was what woke Hermione up the next morning, causing her to jolt into a sitting position, with a scream of her own.

"HERMIONE!?"

"GINEVRA?!" Hermione asked back, copying the red-headed on the bed. 

Apparently, Ginny wasn't let in on the news that Hermione would be mysteriously appearing at her house in the middle of the night, sneak into her room, and sleep on the mattress on the floor.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were coming today!" Ginny said putting her hands on her hips, looking scarily like Mrs. Weasley.

"I did!" Hermione defended herself. "Only it was in the middle of the night."

"How come?"

"Dumbledore," Hermione huffed rolling her eyes as she stood up. "He took me and Harold to meet this old teacher and get him out of retirement."

"Who?" Ginny asked frowning.

"Slughorn," Hermione answered with a grimace, "He's this guy who likes to "collect" students. Anyway, he's the new Potions Master."

"Wait, isn't Snape the— Oh!" Ginny gaped, and then her face morphed into the face of someone who just bit into a lemon. "He's the new DADA teacher, isn't he?"

"Bingo!" Hermione said with a laugh.

Both of them got dressed quickly and headed down to the kitchen of the Burrow for breakfast—because of their screaming fest, Hermione had woken up earlier than usual. The first thing she saw once she entered the kitchen was the sight of blonde-silver hair sawing around, as the owner helped with the dishes.

"Flower!" Hermione exclaimed and the girl in question turned around with a big, beautiful, veela, smile.

"Mimi!" Fleur exclaimed as Hermione approached her in a hug. 

"I heard about you and Bill!" Hermione exclaimed, grinning as they pulled away. "I'm so happy for you guys!"

"Thank you," Fleur beamed, her whole face lighting up, "Bill is very wonderful! He brought me 'ere to meet 'is family properly. I am very glad you are 'ere, Mimi."

"I'm glad too!" Hermione beamed before turning to Mrs. Weasley who was eyeing the blonde. Hermione decided to ignore the gingers'—both mother and daughter—dislike for the french beauty, and wished good morning to Mrs. Weasley, as she took a seat at the table.

After a few moments, Ron came down to eat. Let's just say breakfast was pretty awkward.

When Ron and Hermione finished—earlier than the others—they exchanged looks, nodded, and asked Mrs. Weasley to stand up, then they bolted up the stairs to Fred and George's room, where Harry was staying.

Ron dramatically burst the door open, sounding a lot like cannon fire, and proceeded to pull the curtains back, to let the sun come in, causing the messy-haired boy in one of the beds to sit bolt upright. Shielding his eyes with one hand, he gropedhopelessly for his glasses with the other. Hermione snorted.

"Wuzzgoinon?" 

"I didn't know you were here already!" Ron said loudly and excitedly giving Harry a sharp blow on top of the head.

"Parson, you hit like a three-year-old," Hermione said reproachfully.

Harry's hand found his glasses and he shoved them on, though the light was so bright he couldhardly see anyway. A long, looming shadow quivered in front of him for a moment; he blinked andRon Weasley came into focus, grinning down at him.

 "All right?" 

"Never been better," said Harry, rubbing the top of his head and slumping back onto his pillows."You?"

"Not bad," said Ron, pulling over a cardboard box and sitting on it.

"Well, I'm fine," Hermione said sarcastically taking a sit on Harry's bed, "Ignore me, it's all peachy."

"Dame," Harry started with a deadpan look, "we were living together all summer."

"Well, this is how it's going to be now?" Hermione gasped dramatically. "You live with me and suddenly you get tired of my amazingness!?"

"Wha—I'm not even—No," Harry said in exasperation shaking his head and Hermione laughed. "I just woke up. What's the time? Did I miss breakfast?"

"Don't worry about that, Mum's bringing you up a tray; she reckons you look underfed," saidRon, rolling his eyes. "So, what's been going on? How is it living with Sirius?"

"Wicked," Harry grinned. Hermione smiled happily for Harry. "It's a bloody mess there, too. Moony sometimes comes around, too."

"Yeah," Hermione nodded.

"That's great," Ron said with a smile, looking genuinely happy his friend was out of the muggles' place. "How was it with Dumbledore?"

"Boring," Hermione said and Harry rolled his eyes, but nodded nonetheless.

"It wasn't that exciting. He just wanted us to help him persuade this old teacher to come out ofretirement," Harry said, "His name's Horace Slughorn."

"Yeah, now Umbridge has left, obviously we need a new Defense Against the Dark Artsteacher," Ron said with a sigh, "don't we? So, er, what's he like?"

"He looks a bit like a walrus, and he used to be Head of Slytherin," said Harry. Hermione snorted.

"Oh and he's the new Potions master," Hermione added and both boys' expressions morphed into confusion.

"Isn't Snape the Poti—" Ron cut himself off, much like Ginny, and gaping like a fish.

"Oh, no," Harry muttered, his eyes bulging out of his skull—two months living with the Blacks had apparently brought out his dramatic side—or better yet, his Prongs side.

"Oh, yes," Hermione nodded, "Snape finally got it." 

"Well, he can't be worse than Umbridge, can he?" Harry asked while grimacing.

"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," said a voice from the doorway. Ginny slouched into the room, looking irritable. "Hi, Harry." 

"What's up with you?" Ron asked. 

"It's her," said Ginny, plonking herself down on Harry's bed. "She's driving me mad." 

"Come off it, Gigi," Hermione scowled at the girl, "Flower is awesome."

"But Mione! It's the way she talks to me...you'd think I was about three!" 

"Well you sound like you're three, right now," Hermione scoffed. 

 "Can't you lay off her for five seconds?" Ron asked furiously and Ginny scoffed, ignoring Hermione.

"Oh, that's right, defend her," snapped Ginny. "We all know you can't get enough of her."

"Who are you...?" Harry started but his question was answered before he could finish it. 

The bedroom door flew open again, andHarry instinctively yanked the bedcovers up to his chin so hard that Hermione and Ginny slid offthe bed onto the floor. Hermione scowled at him and made to sit on the bed opposite, along with Ginny who was partially ignoring her. 

Fleur was standing in the doorway, looking all breathtaking and gorgeous, carrying aheavily laden breakfast tray.

"'Arry," she said in a throaty voice. "Eet 'as been too long!"

As she swept over the threshold toward him, Mrs. Weasley was revealed, bobbing along in herwake, looking rather cross. 

"There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!" 

"Eet was no trouble," said Fleur Delacour, setting the tray across Harry's knees and thenswooping to kiss him on each cheek: He felt the places where her mouth had touched him burn—Hermione almost burst out laughing in amusement, thanking God she brought her camera and taking a picture. 

"I'ave been longing to see 'im. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about'Arry Potter. She will be delighted to see you again." 

"Oh...is she here too?" Harry croaked. 

"No, no, silly boy," said Fleur with a tinkling laugh, "I mean next summer when we...but doyou not know?" 

Her great blue eyes widened and she looked reproachfully at Mrs. Weasley, who said,"We hadn't got around to telling him yet." 

Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it whipped Mrs. Weasleyacross the face."Bill and I are going to be married!"

"Yes, you are!" Hermione grinned. "Your babies are going to be gorgeous, Flower."

Fleur smiled at her.

"Oh," said Harry blankly. "Wow. Er...congratulations!" 

She swooped down upon him and kissed him again. 

"Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts formy Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleasedto 'ear you would be coming...zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless you like cooking and chickens!Well...enjoy your breakfast, 'Arry!" 

With these words she turned gracefully and seemed to float out of the room, closing the doorquietly behind her. 

Mrs. Weasley made a noise that sounded like, "tchah!" 

"Mum hates her," said Ginny quietly. 

"I do not hate her!" said Mrs. Weasley in a cross whisper. "I just think they've hurried into thisengagement, that's all!" 

"They've known each other a year," said Ron, who looked oddly groggy and was staring at theclosed door. 

"Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course. It's all this uncertainty withYou-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing allsorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, peopleeloping left, right, and center..." 

"Including you and Dad," said Ginny slyly. 

"Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?" said Mrs.Weasley. "Whereas Bill and Fleur...well...what have they really got in common? He's ahardworking, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she's..." 

Hermione intervened before Ginny could call Fleur a cow.

"I don't think that's the case," she said looking slightly disappointed at the Weasley women. "Fleur was worthy enough to enter the Tri-Wizard tournament. She has respect for magical creatures. I mean she lulled the dragon into sleep instead of harming it. So I think that gets Charlie's approval. She's also trying really hard to fit in and try to help you, Mrs. Weasley. And I know she truly loves Bill. And with all due respect but I think you two should give her a chance," Hermione said, "Flower is awesome."

Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were quiet for a few seconds.

"Well, I'd better get on..." Mrs. Weasley said nodding in Hermione's way—Hermione knew Mrs. Weasley was a really proud person (just like her children), however, she also knew that that nod was the older woman mildly agreeing with Hermione. "Eat your eggs while they're warm, Harry."

Looking careworn, she left the room. Ron still seemed slightly punch-drunk; he was shaking hishead experimentally like a dog trying to rid its ears of water. 

"Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence. 

"Well, you do," said Ron, "but if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then..." 

"You don't really want her around forever?" Ginny asked Ron incredulously. Hermione rolled her eyes.

When he merelyshrugged, Ginny said, "Well, Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything." 

"How's she going to manage that?" asked Harry. 

"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonksinstead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family."

"Yeah, that'll work," said Ron sarcastically. "Listen, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancyTonks when Fleur's around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things toher hair and her nose, but..." 

"She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm?" said Ginny. 

"Stop that, Gigi," Hermione finally snapped and the redhead looked wildly at her. "Look, I know you have this thing with Fleur but you need to get over it! Bill and her love each other, and you might be overprotective of your big brother, but Fleur is a great person. Besides Dora isn't opened for business."

"What? Why?" Ginny frowned, ignoring completely the first part of Hermione's little speech.

"Well, she has Moony," Hermione said as if it was obvious.

"Professor Lupin?" Ginny asked looking shocked.

"Duh," said Hermione, "but Remy is being a pratt. He's probably wallowing in self-pity because he's a werewolf. That's affecting Dora. He's been avoiding her lately and all."

"Huh," Harry said blankly. "How come I didn't notice it before?"

"Maybe you weren't wearing your glasses," Ron said casually before turning to Hermione. "So Lupin and Tonks?"

"Yeah," Hermione smiled.

The door opened again and Mrs. Weasley popped her head in. 

"Ginny," she whispered, "comedownstairs and help me with the lunch." 

"I'm talking to this lot!" said Ginny, outraged. 

"Now!" said Mrs. Weasley, and withdrew. 

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" said Ginny crossly and Hermione whacked her around the head, making the redhead put her hands up in surrender. Sheswung her long red hair around in a very good imitation of Fleur and pranced across the room withher arms held aloft like a ballerina. 

"You lot had better come down quickly too," she said as she left.

Harry took advantage of the temporary silence to eat more breakfast. Hermione was peering intoFred and George's boxes, though every now and then she would frown feeling as if she had forgotten something. 

Ron, whowas now helping himself to Harry's toast, was still gazing dreamily at the door. 

"What's this?" Hermione asked eventually, holding up what looked like a small telescope.

"Dunno," said Ron, "but if Fred and George left it here, it's probably not ready for the joke shopyet, so be careful." 

"Your mum said the shop's going well," said Harry. "Said Fred and George have got a real flairfor business." 

"That's an understatement," said Ron. "They're raking in the Galleons! I can't wait to see theplace, we haven't been to Diagon Alley yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extrasecurity and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent." 

Hermione beamed at that. She couldn't wait to see the shop—with getting Harry settled at Grimmauld place, and focusing on the Black-Potter-Lupin Holiday Project of trying to dismantle Walburga, she was too busy to go there or even see Fred at all—but mind you, he was also busy.

"And what about Percy?" asked Harry; the third-eldest Weasley brother had fallen out with therest of the family. "Is he talking to your mum and dad again?" 

"Nope," said Ron. 

"But he knows your dad was right all along now about Voldemort being back —" 

"He'll come along," Hermione shrugged. "It's Percy. And he's a Weasley. Weasleys are stubborn creatures and really hot-headed, but they love each other."

"Right," Ron said in the middle of scoff and a smile.

"By the way," Harry started conversationally. "Dumbledore's going to give me private lessons, this year."

Ron choked on his bit of toast.

"You kept that quiet!" said Ron. 

"I only just remembered," said Harry honestly. "He told me last night in your broom shed." 

"Blimey...private lessons with Dumbledore!" said Ron, looking impressed. "I wonder whyhe's doing that?" 

"I don't know exactly why he's going to be giving melessons, but I think it must be because of the prophecy," Harry said looking at his fork and Hermione rolled her eyes.

Ron didn't speak and Hermione started humming under her breath.

Harry had the impression that both had frozen. Hecontinued, still speaking to his fork, "You know, the one they were trying to steal at the Ministry." 

"It got smashed, Prongslest," Ron said confused, "No one knows what is said. Although the Prophet says..." began Ron, but Hermione said, "Let Prongsie tell the bloody story!" 

"The Prophet's got it right," said Harry, looking up at them both with a great effort: Ron seemed amazed, Hermione seemed on the know (which she was). 

"That glass ball that smashed wasn't the only record of theprophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore's office, he was the one the prophecy was madeto, so he could tell me. From what it said," Harry took a deep breath, "it looks like I'm the onewho's got to finish off Voldemort...At least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives."

The three of them gazed at one another in silence for a moment. Then there was a loud bangand Hermione vanished behind a puff of black smoke. 

"Hermione!" shouted Harry and Ron; the breakfast tray slid to the floor with a crash. 

Hermione emerged, coughing, out of the smoke, clutching the telescope and sporting abrilliantly purple black eye."I forgot it would do that!" she gasped. 

And sure enough, they now saw a tiny fist on a long spring protruding from the end of thetelescope. 

"Don't worry," said Ron, who was trying really hard not to laugh and not succeeding, "Mum'll fix—that, she's good—at healing minor injuries. . . ."

"Laugh all you want, Parson," Hermions said narrowing her eyes, "Because you won't be able to when I cut your toes off and feed them to you."

Ron gulped.

"Anyway," Harry said changing the subject, and Ron looked at him thankfully. "Dumbledore told me the OWL results would be arriving today."

"Urgh. . . ." Hermione groaned with a grimace. "Well, I'm going downstairs and see if Mrs. Weasley can make me look gorgeous again."

Hermione stood up promptly and walked out of the room, making her way down the stairs. All three women in the kitchen gasped at the sight of her and Mrs. Weasley immediately rushed to her to see if she could heal her injuries. Fleur gave her a horrified look and Hermione smiled sympathetically as Ginny laughed.

"It just won't budge," Mrs. Weasley was saying anxiously, standing over Hermione with herwand in her hand and a copy of The Healer's Helpmate open at "Bruises, Cuts, and Abrasions." as Harry and Ron came down the stairs, ten minutes later. "This has always worked before, I just can't understand it." 

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," said Ginny. 

"I'm going to kill those bastards!" squeaked Hermione. "They took away my gorgeous looks!"

"Yeah," Ginny said slyly, "I reckon Fred won't be too happy about that."

"You won't, dear, we'll find an antidote, don't worry," said Mrs. Weasley soothingly as Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ginny—the action hurting slightly. 

"Bill told me Fred and George are very amusing!" said Fleur, smiling serenely. 

"They are," Hermione said darkly. "And they will be way more amusing once their hair is all off and have their arms stuck to their skulls."

"What's with you and threats, today?" Ron asked Hermione and she just shrugged.

"Did any owls arrive, yet, mum?" Ron asked his mother.

"No, but it's barely nine, there's stillplenty of time. . . ." Mrs. Weasley said with a smile.

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked the room at large, but it was Hermione whoanswered. 

"You die," Hermione deadpanned and Harry only looked at her. "Fine, you have to talk to Minnie, which, if she's angry, it's worse than dying."

"Fair enough," Harry conceded.

"At Beauxbatons," said Fleur complacently, "we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eetwas better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then..." 

Fleur's words were drowned in a scream. Hermione was pointing dramatically through the kitchen window.Three black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time. 

"They're definitely owls," said Ron hoarsely, jumping up to join Hermione at the window. 

"And there are three of them," said Harry, hastening to her other side. 

"Well, who could they possibly be for?" Hermione asked sarcastically and Ron and Harry only rolled their eyes.

The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, three handsome tawnies, each of which, it becameclear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope. 

Mrs. Weasley squeezed past them and opened the kitchen window. One, two, three, the owlssoared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All three of them lifted their right legs.

Each teen went to the owl who had their letter, respectively, and Hermione took hers from it casually, giving the owl a pet on the head and some treats. She then sat down at the table and slit her envelope opened, unfolding the parchment inside.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results 

Pass Grades: 

Outstanding (O) 

Exceeds Expectations (E) 

Acceptable (A) 

 Fail Grades: 

 Poor (P) 

Dreadful (D) 

Troll (T) 

Hermione Aria (Granger) Black has achieved: 

Arithmancy: A

Ancient Runes: E

Astronomy: O 

Care of Magical Creatures: O 

Charms: O 

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O 

Herbology: P

History of Magic: P

Potions: E 

Transfiguration: O  

Hermione read the parchment through a couple of times (smiling at the name they put). She always knew she wouldn't pass History of Magic, even more so, because she wasn't even focused for more than half the test. She also knew she would get a crappy grade at Herbology, but besides letting Neville down (the latter who helped her study for it) she didn't really care. She wasn't impressed with any of her O's, as she knew she would be getting them, but she was rather impressed she scored an E in Potions—she could've sworn it would be an A. All in all, Hermione did great—even if it was with the slight help of her Solution Glasses.

"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?"  Ron said happily to Harry and Hermione.

"Same!" Hermione grinned, "Well, no because I don't have Divination. But I failed History and Herbology!"

"How'd you fail Herbology?" Ginny snorted and Hermione gave a sheepish smile.

"I got goo on my hair," she said simply and Ginny nodded in understanding along with Fleur.

"Here...swap..." Ron said to Harry. Both of them exchanged parchments.

"Knew you'd be top at Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Ron, punching Harry on theshoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

"Yes, we have!" Hermione beamed, exchanging parchments with Ron and getting Harry's. She skimmed through it before giving it back to the owner who was now looking at Hermione's.

"Well done!" said Mrs. Weasley proudly, ruffling Ron's hair. "Seven OWLs, that's more thanFred and George got together!"  

"Hermione, yours are great!" Harry beamed at her as Ron nodded and Hermione smiled.

"Well, I am great."

Ron rolled his eyes but still grinned. "We're N.E.W.T students now!"

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