Viridis Cum Laude

She awoke in mid-July to the sound of a tapping on her window.  Hermione rolled over, opening the frame, allowing two owls to fly in and land on her desk.  She fished out some owl treats from a drawer and, recognizing the Eagle owl on the right immediately opened the letter: 

Dear Hermione, 

I hope your trip to Greece was fun, I went with Father two years ago and the architecture was quite something.  We didn’t go to Muggle Athens though, so you’ll have to tell me all about it.  Our school lists were delivered this morning, 

She looked at the other owl and seeing the Hogwarts insignia pulled it from the leg of the owl, which immediately took off. 

and I’m planning to go to Diagon this Saturday if you want to meet up.  

Hope to see you Saturday,

Draco

P.S. I haven’t gotten a letter back from Harry all summer. I don’t know whether to be concerned, but maybe you could try using muggle methods to contact him? 

Hermione frowned, she hadn’t been able to stay in contact with her travels, and started to worry.  She penned out a response to Draco, agreeing to meet him on Saturday, and then wrote a second letter to Harry which she addressed to his Aunt and Uncle’s house to have her mother mail that afternoon.  

If she hadn’t heard back by the end of the week, she’d call on the number he gave her. 

-

Friday morning at breakfast she was greeted by Hedwig, hooting happily on the kitchen windowsill. 

“Well hello there pretty girl,” she cooed, stroking the silky feathers. “I guess Harry let you out finally?” 

Hedwig gave her a reproachful gaze and she chuckled and took the letter from her leg. 

Hermione,

Thanks for your letter, my aunt and uncle locked up my school things and wouldn’t allow me to let Hedwig out to return the message. I had an odd visitor this summer, urging me not to go back to school.  I think it was Malfoy’s father’s elf.  I wrote to him as well, but I hope he won’t be punished too badly.  

Dumbledore came to visit and took me to the Weasley’s house for the rest of summer.  

Hermione blanched.  Harry was stuck with the Weasleys of all people? She made a mental note to send him an extra nice birthday gift next week. 

Everyone but Ron has been really welcoming, so I just try to avoid him and his little sister.  She’s always popping up.  I think we’re all planning to go school shopping tomorrow as well, so maybe we’ll see you there? If not I’ll see you on the train! 

Harry 

How strange, Harry had been taken to the Weasleys.  What was Dumbledore playing at? At least she had the trip to London tomorrow to look forward to, and it appeared she’d be seeing both of her best friends. 

-

“Hermione!” she turned towards the shout, seeing a platinum blonde head hurrying toward her. 

“Draco, there you are!” she exclaimed as he pulled her into a hug.  “Mr. Malfoy, it’s good to see you again,” she smiled at the older wizard coming up behind Draco. 

“And you as well my dear, now where shall we begin shopping? Madam Malkins perhaps? I know Draco is in dreadful need of new robes.” 

Draco rolled his eyes at her, “Yes father.” And the three set off along the alley for their school shopping.  

Once they had new robes and refilled their potion supplies, Draco had dragged them over to look at racing brooms. 

“Now Draco, I know we’ll have to get you a better broom so you can properly try out for the house team, but I have one more errand to do before we finish up,” Lucius scolded. 

The children followed him through Knockturn alley, to a small hidden shop.  Hermione almost exploded.  All around them were piles of books, many of them looked to be decades if not centuries old, and many surely banned by the Hogwarts library.  Lucius led them towards the back of the small shop, right toward a very frail old woman who looked more hag than witch. 

“I’m looking for any information you might be able to procure on this book,” he asked handing over a small leather-bound black book. 

“Oh Monsieur, this ez no ordinary book,” Hermione rolled her eyes at the performed accent, as she turned to explore the stacks nearby. 

“Hey just don’t touch anything in case ok?” Draco whispered, “sometimes dark books have curses against non-purebloods..” he trailed off. 

Hermione started, yanking back her hands that were mere inches from grabbing a copy of A The Necronomicon. “Don’t worry if there’s anything you really want to know I’m sure we have a book on it in the manor library,” he smiled. They browsed the other books in the shop until Lucius had concluded his business, and clapped Draco on the shoulder as they left. 

“Now, let’s finish up at Flourish and Blotts before we look at brooms,” he winked at Draco who grinned. 

Flourish and Blotts was abnormally crowded, even for back to term shopping.  Hermione pointed to a sign: 

Gilderoy Lockhart Signing

For #1 Bestseller 

Magical Me

Draco snorted. “What’s wrong?” Hermione asked, confused.  She had seen Lockhart’s name on her school list several times, and looking over the books listed on a secondary sign, the new Magical Me seemed to be the only one left off of the list. 

“Just wait until you read them,” he smirked at her and she frowned, picking up the required books and adding them to a basket. 

“Hermione! Draco!” 

She turned, smiling at the familiar voice, “Harry! I was hoping we’d run into you!” 

Harry broke free of a cloud of red hair to come hug her and Draco. 

“Mr. Potter, I’m pleased to finally make your acquaintance,” Mr. Malfoy drawled, though his eyes were warm. 

Harry smiled at Lucius, “You too sir.” 

“I wanted to express my sincere thanks for writing to Draco regarding Dobby’s visit earlier this summer.  And please feel free to write me personally should anything else odd happen.” 

Harry nodded, “Thank you very much sir.” 

“Now would the two of you like to join us for supper this evening? Narcissa would have my head if I didn’t extend an invitation.” 

“Oh sir I don’t think -” 

“There you are Harry!” and a trio of red haired people pushed through the crowd to join them. 

“Yes, sorry Mr. Weasley, I was just saying hello to Hermione and Draco.”

“Yes well I’m sure we don’t want to keep them. Mr. Malfoy has many other duties that will need to be attended to,” he finished with a sneer. 

“Harry Potter,” the group all turned to see a blond, dreamy looking man staring at Harry.  “Come then Mr. Potter together we might make the front page!” Hermione grinned at Harry’s surprised expression, as he was pulled to the front of the room for photos. 

Draco groaned.  “What Malfoy, do you wish you could be famous for something other than having a Death Eater father?” Ron shot at him. 

“Unlike some people, Weasley, Potter is actually friends with us and my father was going to take us to look at racing brooms,” Draco said looking up at his father who smirked down at him.  

“Come now Draco, Miss Granger, I believe you said it was Mr. Potter’s birthday next week? Would he like a new broom as well?” Lucius asked, and Draco’s face lit up. “And then I’m sure Narcissa has prepared a wonderful meal knowing your friends will be joining us - ” 

“Lucius, you can’t invite Miss Granger over,” interrupted Arthur. 

“By all means Weasley, please tell me who I can allow in my own home, but Miss Granger and Mr. Potter are most welcome to dine with us this evening,” replied Lucius. 

“Dumbledore had strict instructions to keep an eye on Harry. I’m sure letting him visit would be in direct violation,” said Arthur.  Lucius rolled his eyes. 

“Very well, Miss Granger you’re still welcome to join us, Draco run and say goodbye to Mr. Potter.” Lucius turned to Hermione, “Now, have you given any thought to what sort of broom you would like, Miss Granger?” 

Hermione blinked, “uhm no sir. I don’t really like flying.” 

“Come now, any reasonable person would hate it after only using those awful school brooms. We’ll get you a sturdy broom that’s built well and Draco can teach you to ride,” he eyed her, “no proper young witch or wizard would be without proper broom training.” 

She gulped, “Yes sir, thank you sir.” Draco made his way back to them then. 

“Come now children,” and he swept out of the shop. 

-

“Draco!” she screeched, only five feet off the ground, but all the same terrified.  He laughed, diving back down to her. 

“It’s okay, I’ll catch you if you fall,” assured Draco, guiding her back to the ground.  

“I need to use the loo, I’ll be back out in a minute,” she said as she dismounted. 

“Please don’t be sick Hermione, we’ll go slower next time, promise,” he smiled at her shooting back up into the sky as she walked back to the Manor. 

“-it’s a Horcrux Cissa!” Hermione paused as she heard Lucius’s muffled voice from the room next room over.  She moved towards the door slightly, “Do you know what that means? He’s not dead. He’ll be back, and in the meantime I have this book.” 

“Hush, what did he say when he gave it to you? Just that it would open the Chamber?” Narcissa asked.  There was a pause, and Hermione inched closer.  “Well then perhaps you can pass it off as if you’d never known. He must have more if he entrusted one to you without so much as an explanation.”  She heard footsteps moving in the room, and hurried back out to the garden. 

“Draco, I need to use your library.” 

“Honestly, I’ve just been waiting for you to ask,” he laughed.  I’ll take you after dinner and you can borrow whatever you’d like.” 

Dinner was lovely, Hermione thought.  The Malfoy’s were excellent hosts offering second helpings when she cleaned her plate of the blueberry pie.  Lucius answered every one of her questions regarding ministry politics and culture, while Narcissa helpfully provided context on pureblood etiquette, commending her on wishing to learn more and offering to lend her a book she thought might help during her lessons with Theo. 

“Wow this is huge!” Hermione exclaimed, knowing she could be lost in minutes in the many shelves of the Malfoy library.  Draco just smirked at her, and she blushed, catching the innuendo.  He showed her how to work the categlouge, and she entered her key term, watching several large tomes fly towards her. Secrets of the Darkest Arthad peeling gold letters and had a cold dead feeling radiating off of it.  

“Are you sure it’s okay if I borrow these?” she asked, turning to look at Draco. 

“Sure, Father said you were welcome to use the library. He even removed any curses that might, uh, prevent you from using them.” He stepped closer, “but what’s a Horcrux?” 

“I’m not sure, that’s why I’m researching, but I think it’s dark. Promise me you won’t ask your parents? I’ll do some reading and I’ll tell you when I know more, okay?” she pleaded.  He shrugged and nodded.