The Train
Hermione was standing at the front of the train, watching the younger students getting settled as the train was getting ready to pull away from Platform 9 ¾. Draco, now Head Boy, was standing next to her, causing the younger students to give him plenty of room as they skittered by him to their car.
Harry had informed them that Neville would be arriving tomorrow, via the Knight Bus as his grandmother was still in the hospital and he was spending as much time as he could with her while visiting his parents at the same time. Harry took up a car with Ron, who had fallen asleep already snoring loudly like usual; Luna, who seemed a bit lost without Neville, and Ginny who was practically asleep in the corner, her head resting on her brother's shoulder.
"HURRY BACK!" Harry had mouthed to Hermione who waved at him and began walking down the hall checking one side of the car, Draco the other to make sure all the students were accounted for. Hermione was responsible for showing Draco the duties of Head Boy, though he pretty much knew them already.
Hermione gave the all clear to leave the station and the train gathered speed as it hurtled down the tracks, out to the countryside.
"Alright, now we have to gather the Prefects and tell them of any messages that Dumbledore has sent over the holiday's; you for example." Hermione turned to Draco, who was indeed an imposing figure for any 11 year old who walked by. Black school robes, Slytherin tie, crest, Head Boy badge, hair brushed a bit to the side. She remembered the photo of him and Ginny from the dance, smiling and wondered if it wasn't some twin she didn't know about. She couldn't remember seeing him crack a smile like that, since…well, at all really.
"I think I saw Pansy head down that way, but the others are probably still in their car. Do you want to go 'round them up while I find the meeting room? There's one in the last car." Hermione pointed down the hall. Draco nodded, momentarily shocking Hermione that he didn't have a sharp comment to her telling him what he needed to do. He turned and made his way to the first car, finding the Prefects that should already be making their way down the train to Hermione.
Draco found a Ravenclaw Prefect snogging a fifth year in the first car and managed to get them to come up for air long enough to listen.
Halfway down he found the Hufflepuff Prefects, one passing him in the hall, another enthralled by the latest Daily Prophet which Draco snagged from her, folded up and stuck in his pocket, causing her to practically run down the corridor.
Now, he had to find the Gryffindors-- just one since he saw one jump out of the loo and dash towards the last car. He glanced in to where Harry was sitting, staring up at the ceiling as if asking for someone to save him. He saw Ron's head against the window, asleep, Ginny leaning up against him, looking like twin candles with their red hair. Harry was sitting next to Luna who was explaining something, using her hands and arms.
Draco pulled the door open and heard Luna say, "…you would think everyone would know that Griples exist in just about every body of water…oh, Draco, hello," Luna slid from one subject to another without any effort. Harry turned his head towards him, the back of his head still lying back against the seat. He looked utterly bored and they still had about a six hour ride to go until they got to their stop.
"Time for Miss Weasley to wake up and join us in the last car." Draco glanced at her, unsure whether he should step into Gryffindor territory.
"GINNY!" Harry yelled and she started, glaring at him.
"What?" she demanded and Harry nodded towards Draco. Her gaze slid to him and she sighed, standing up slowly.
"I hope this doesn't take long. Not much could have happened during the past few weeks could they?" She mumbled and squeezed by him. Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I'll trade you places?" Harry asked hopefully and Draco shook his head, turning it so Harry wouldn't see the smile that started as he closed the door.
Silently Draco followed Ginny down the hall as she buttoned up her robe and pulled her hair back into a ponytail, all without missing a step. He knew enough to leave a grumpy girl, woman, alone…though he wasn't sure why she was so tired.
He followed her into the meeting room in the last car where Hermione was leaning against the window and gestured for him to take a seat in the front row, that consisted of Pansy, Ernie, now Ginny and himself. He sank into the chair next to her and resisted the temptation to put his arm around her, receiving the evil eye from Pansy.
Hermione started out the meeting by passing along the change of Head Boy then launched into a few new rules Filch had sent up. She also said Dumbledore had given permission for a Valentine's Day dance which was met with clapping; she enforced the fact that the 5th years were studying for OWLS and 7th for NEWTs so they other students needed to be reminded to be quiet in the library. It wasn't long until Draco felt Ginny's head leaning against his arm, and he nudged her.. She mumbled she was awake, and cracked open her eyes, her head still on his arm.
Pansy started to make a comment, but Hermione raised her voice a bit to drown her out, talking about the upcoming Quidditch match of Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff, then she referred to her notes and gave the stats of the House Cup Points, which showed Ravenclaw in the lead, followed by Gryffindor, Slytherin and then Hufflepuff. With that, she dismissed the meeting and before Ginny could right herself to get out of the chair, Pansy came over.
"Nice picture of you two in the paper, when's the wedding date?" She sneered and Ginny scowled at her as she made her way past them and out the door.
Draco drew out the Daily Prophet and opened it while still sitting in his seat. There it was, on the front page…he tilted it towards Ginny who was trying to see, along with Hermione who had yet to read the paper. It had picture that was taken of them during their lunch with Nacissa over holiday; right in the middle of the page…Ginny was looking up at him as he leaned against the wall of the jewelry store.
"Can I see that?" Hermione asked and Draco handed it to her.
"Now I know why people kept looking at you Ginny." Hermione flipped through the paper, looking for where the article about them being seen together was continued.
"Looking at me?" Ginny said blankly, covering a yawn. "All I want to do is look for a place to sleep."
"You looked pretty comfortable using your brother as a pillow," Draco remarked watching her cover up another yawn.
"He's a loud pillow, and Luna is the annoying alarm clock. Is there an empty car around here?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"Just this one. Take a nap in here; we won't need it again." Hermione handed the paper back to Draco who stuffed it into his pocket. Ginny looked around and found a bench long enough for her to stretch out on and laid down after taking off her robe, folding it up and using it as a pillow.
"Guess that is our cue to leave," Draco said walking towards the door with Hermione.
"Wake me in a few hours Hermione," Ginny mumbled, hearing the door snap shut after them.
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Hermione showed Harry the Daily Prophet after she made it back to the car. Luna was now engrossed in writing Neville a letter; Ron was stretched out on the bench, taking up the whole thing and snoring away.
"Ginny was smart, staying in the last car," Harry mumbled after handing her back the Prophet.
"Sure was." Hermione pulled out a book, handed Harry his DADA book he had yet to pick up and read. "We need to read and get caught up."
Harry groaned. "And here I wanted to talk to you about our honeymoon, but I guess I will read."
Hermione snapped her head up. "What about our honeymoon?"
"Well, we should probably start talking about it so we can make plans, especially if we are going to travel the Muggle way." Harry said, happy to divert her attention from the books in their laps.
"Do you have anywhere you want to go?" She asked curiously, watching his gaze shift to the window. She knew that meant he did; not being used to voicing what he wanted, it took him awhile to gather his thoughts.
"Actually, I think America would be nice. You've been to a lot of the countries around here and that is one place neither of us, nor any of our friends, have been to." Harry looked at Hermione, who was smiling.
"I think that is a great idea! We could probably do two weeks there, then maybe come back and see if we can visit Beauxbatons and Durmstrang."
"Fleur should be able to get us into Beaux, think you could write Victor about Durmstrang?"
"Well, he's been out for a few years and if he isn't traveling with his team, I might be able to drop him a line. It might be easier just to go through Dumbledore," Hermione said thoughtfully.
Ron let out a particularly loud snore and Harry shoved him in the back with his foot.
"What?" Ron grumbled.
"Tone down the snoring, mate."
"Sod off Potter." Ron rolled over onto his stomach and promptly fell back asleep.
Hermione laughed. "Guess he was up late talking on the phone to Samantha."
"Yea, I heard him apparate home after midnight. Looks like Ginny was up late too."
"I heard her tossing and turning when I got home," Ron said sleepily, surprising his friends.
"Go back to sleep," Hermione told him and Ron buried his head into his arms.
"Think Dumbledore would let Samantha come and visit?" Ron mumbled from his spot across from them.
"I don't know. Maybe in the Spring when the weather is nicer." Hermione gave Harry her "all knowing look" so he knew she had something up her sleeve.
"How would she get here?" Luna asked quietly from the corner of Harry and Hermione's bench.
"Good question," Ron mumbled.
"I am sure we can think of something, now go back to sleep so you're in a better mood." Hermione said gently, waving her wand towards the luggage rack so a blanket floated down on top of him.
Harry heard the caring tone in her voice, and realized that something had changed between his best friend and fiancée. She would have usually told him to stop complaining.
"Anyway, maybe it would help us narrow things down if we made a list of places we would like to visit in America," Hermione said thoughtfully, handing Harry a piece of parchment.
"Ginny told me Mrs. Malfoy is going there for a month. She would probably know where to go," Ron mumbled half asleep.
"Maybe Ginny could talk to her when she gets back," Harry thought aloud, scribbling down a few places he would like to visit on his parchment.
They chatted back and forth, with Luna interjecting comments every now and then, about everything from honeymoon's, to Quidditch, stopping long enough to have a snack from the cart that rolled by. The hours ticked by and Hermione realized that Ginny wanted to be up by now, so she got up, put on her robes, gave Harry a kiss and headed down the hall.
She helped a first year find the loo and another whose books had dropped out of his bag. They looked so small to her as
she helped the young boy, named Derek, gather his books and held the door for him to enter his car with his Hufflepuff
friends. Turning and heading back down towards the last car, she met Draco coming up who snagged two Chocolate Frogs
off the cart, throwing down a few knuts as he did so.
"Gryffindor car still partying?" Draco asked, pocketing a frog and opening another. Hermione cracked a smile as the image of her sleepy car came to mind.
"I am sure all three are asleep by now. Just on my way to rouse Ginny." Hermione hesitated, watching Draco toss his wrapper in the trash.
"Unless you are going back that way and want to do it?" Hermione held her breath, hoping what she was saying didn't sound to forward. He shrugged.
"Sure. I need to go scare some first years while I'm at it."
"How are your cronies doing?" Hermione asked leaning against the wall as the train took a curve.
"Snogging with their girlfriends, which is enough to scare even me, so I'm wandering the halls taking perverse pleasure in watching kids run away from me, thinking we couldn't have possibly been that small."
"Oh we were. Soon, they will be standing here saying the same thing," Hermione said wisely.
"Scary thought, those kids running the place." Draco moved to the side as a student walked by towards the cart.
"Guess I'll go wake Sleeping Beauty," he looked at Hermione for a second longer than she thought he needed to, almost like he was going to ask her something, but before she could question him, he turned and walked down the way he came.
Hermione slowly turned and made her way back to her car, her suspicions confirmed, now seeing Luna leaning against the window asleep and Harry stretched out, his feet almost touching Luna. She quietly walked in, lifted Harry's head and shoulders and laid them back down in her lap, pocketing his glasses. Absentmindedly she ran her hand through his hair, letting her mind wander.
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Draco slid the door open, seeing Ginny sprawled on her stomach, her arms under her head, facing the back of the seat.
He walked over and looked down at her for a moment, trying to sort through the feelings that settled in his chest. She
stirred in her sleep, her jean clad legs twitching slightly and her breathing even under her white shirt (with CANONS
written on the back).
Draco sat down on the chair that was closest to her and stretched out, trying to figure out what he was doing HERE but didn't get very far as the door opened and Pansy looked in with her current snogging partner at her heels.
She stepped in as her eyes moved from Draco to Ginny.
"Taken," Draco said coldly, knowing they were looking for a place to be alone. The 6th year boy glanced at Draco and managed to only meet his gaze for a few seconds before letting it slide away. Pansy stared at him.
"You better know what you're getting into, Malfoy. Daddy won't be there to pull you out of any problems."
"Thank you Parkinson, but I can run my own life, now go run along before you wake her up and find yourself another place to do…whatever," Draco waved his hand at her towards the door. She glared at him for a moment and with a swish of robes that would make Snape look tame, she slammed the door behind her, starting Ginny from her sleep. She raised her head and turned it, looking sleepily around and finding Draco.
"Good morning," Draco said, stretching his legs out in front of him. She let her head rest on her arms, but faced him.
"Time to get up already?" she murmured and Draco nodded, realizing that a sleepy Ginny was one of the more appealing things he had seen in a long time.
"You said a few hours, and it's a bit over three," he nodded at the clock.
"Did I hear voices in here?" She looked down towards the door as if expecting to see someone standing there.
"Just Pansy and current snogging partner; told them to get lost," he said lightly watching her push herself up into a sitting position. He actually smiled when he saw the creases on her cheek. She reached up and let her pony tail out, running her fingers through her long red hair. Draco watched her silently as she made these slow, purposeful not-quite-awake movements. She caught him looking at her.
"It was supposed to be Hermione waking me up, not you, so I am sorry if I look a fright."
"No, I was just noticing the creases on your cheek," he watched her hand move to her cheek and a slight blush touch her cheeks.
"Where's Hermione?" she changed the subject, leaning over and slipping her feet into her trainers.
"We met in the hall and since I was coming back this way she sent me to wake you up. I suspect she is holed up with a bunch of sleeping Gryffindors. You all like to sleep."
"Neither Ron nor I got to bed until late, then had to be up at 6am to pack the Ministry car and get here." Ginny explained stretching her arms above her head, hearing faint pops. "And if they are all asleep, what am I doing awake?"
Draco shook his head and for a moment all he could hear was the clattering of the train on its track. Ginny stood up, tucking her shirt back into her jeans and grabbed her robe, shaking it out a few times.
"I can NOT wait until I can do magic. A pillow would have been nice." She smiled shyly as Draco stood and helped her with her robe, barely getting it on over her shoulders before the train lurched, throwing them both in to the seat, Ginny landing on his lap. His arm immediately went around her to keep her steady as the train barreled around a curve.
"Good God, who is driving this thing?" Draco muttered as it roared through a tunnel, sending the lights flickering for a minute.
"It's rougher in the last car," Ginny said knowingly, suddenly aware she was sitting on his lap.
"We start climbing the mountains at this point in the trip, so it's rough for awhile."
She carefully extracted herself from his grip feeling him stand with her. The train started its incline, toppling the two back into the seat, this time Ginny landing on top of Draco. She put a hand on either side of his shoulders to push herself up but she felt his hand go around her waist.
"Wait," he commanded softly and Ginny froze. "You get back up again as the train is still going up the hill, we will both be back down here."
Ginny didn't answer, feeling his body under hers had rendered her incapable of speech. His hand reached up and
traced the creases on her cheek.
"Is it so bad down here?" He whispered and before she knew what she was doing, she leaned down and touched her lips to his, resting her weight on her elbows. His arms tightened around her waist and he shifted his legs so one was bent and propped up against the back of the bench.
That's when she lost it, having tried to control herself around him until she knew where they were going, she pressed her lips to his and felt him respond, opening his mouth under hers. She tasted chocolate and thought it the most delicious thing ever, feeling his tongue trace the inside of her mouth, his hands sliding up her back and burying themselves in her long hair. The train gave a sudden jolt and they both toppled to the floor. Draco landing with all his weight on top of her.
"You ok?" He asked, his eyes searching her face, trying to catch his breath, regaining a bit of control.
"Fine," she breathed feeling his fingers reach up and brush her hair away from her face, making her close her eyes; loving the feel of his fingers against her skin and the way it sent a shocking message to the rest of her body.
"We should probably get up though, before someone comes in," Ginny whispered and reluctantly he stood, helping her up and holding her for a second.
She stepped away and sat down on the bench, feeling him sit down next to her and she asked him a question that had been nagging her the whole holiday.
"When we went to lunch and ran into Pansy, she said something about you not going "there"…what exactly did she mean?"
"I think you probably know what it means."
"I guess. I-I just thought that you and Pansy, that...," Ginny stammered trying to figure out how to have this kind of sex talk with Draco Malfoy.
"That is what everyone thought," he said shortly, his hands were folded in his lap and Ginny could see his knuckles were white, from the conversation or just talking about Pansy, she wasn't sure.
"Oh, well," was her way of an answer and she turned her head to look out the window.
"Pansy can be very forceful and it was always a competition of power and control with her and I. Me keeping her back, she wanting more. Plus, with what Purebloods are supposed to feel when that kind of thing happens, it was never there with us. I mean, how're you supposed to go on kissing a girl when it feels like nothing?" Draco asked rhetorically in probably his second longest sentence of the day.
Ginny stifled a laugh. "I don't know."
Draco smirked, "I guess you wouldn't."
They sat in silence, legs touching as Ginny rested her forehead on her arms which were crossed on top of her knees. She was so confused. What did he want?
"You know, Malfoy," Ginny began, getting his attention with the use of his last name. "Sooner or later we are going to have to talk about this."
She kept her head on her arms, talking into her legs so he wouldn't see the nervousness and warm face she was sporting at the moment. She felt him lean back.
"I know. I don't want you to think I haven't thought that," his voice was low and quiet and she could sense he was as uncomfortable about this conversation as she was.
"So what do we do now?"
"Whatever feels right I guess. Ever single person at Hogwarts has seen that picture in the Prophet and will come up to you, and to me asking questions and making comments."
"I know. If they ask anything, I'll just tell them the truth. 'We had lunch, we went shopping.' I know people will make more out of that than it was, but I can't tell people what to think-- when I don't even know myself."
Ginny buried her head deeper, 'Oh Merlin, did I say that last part out loud?'
"Me neither, Ginny," Draco agreed quietly. He stood up and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her up effortlessly.
"Come on, we should get you back to your car before everyone thinks I kidnapped you." They pulled on their robes and Ginny deftly pulled her hair back into its original ponytail.
Ginny gave him a gentle shove out the door and they went in opposite direction, each walking to their respective compartments.
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Ginny scooted into her compartment quietly, seeing Hermione turn to look at her and smile. Ginny roughly shoved her brother's legs off the bench, who was now napping on his back. He immediately put them back up, over her legs while throwing an arm across his face as the sun shone in the window. Harry burrowed his head deeper into Hermione's lap, turning onto his side.
"I guess you talked with Malfoy?" Hermione whispered and Ginny nodded.
"A bit, after a bit of well…you know…," Ginny whispered back. Ron put his hands over his ears, eyes still closed and the girls giggled trying not to wake Luna or Harry. Ginny fiddled with the hem of her brother's pants.
"I have no idea what's going on. Especially now that school is back in session. He has NEWTS, we both have Quidditch, our duties and just studies in general. How do you do it with Harry? Establish a relationship?"
"You have to realize Ginny, it was pretty much six years in the making. And it also helps being in the same house, sharing a Common Room and having some classes together. You're a year younger than him and in six months he will be out of Hogwarts. Does he have any idea what he is going to do?" Hermione asked and Ginny shook her head.
"I mean, is it stupid of me to try and pursue this? My heart is pulling me that way, but my brain is saying it's a MALFOY and he is going to be gone in six months. He could go anywhere in the world with the money he has and I am stuck at school." Ginny put her face to her hands and rubbed her forehead. "This isn't supposed to be so complicated."
Ron sensing it was safe to take his hands off his ears let his hands drop onto his stomach.
"I know and I'm just realizing how much of it is so complicated. I'm a mess too Ginny. I tried getting through November and December without looking back at my miscarriage and how it affected Harry and me, which I shouldn't have. Then, I never really paid attention to what my friends went through at that point," Ron held up his hand half way into the air and Ginny slapped his leg.
"Well, it's true." Hermione agreed with Ron's nonverbal cue.
"Anyway, then I ping pong back and forth between telling my parents about the miscarriage, not telling them, getting into an argument with poor Harry about it, who is just trying to support whatever I want."
"And on the same day you shag him," Ron said pointedly.
Ginny clapped a hand over her mouth while Hermione looked for something to throw at him.
"We did not." Hermione retaliated and Ron opened his eyes and looked right at her.
"So, you mean to tell me that him coming out of your guys room with a smile on his face means that nothing went on?"
Hermione glanced down at Harry who was still sound asleep.
"I didn't say nothing went on."
"Oh, so you…OH!" Ron goggled at her and sat up pulling his legs off of Ginny who looked a bit confused.
"I should have guessed…took you awhile to come out and he was out first…oh, I get it." Ron winked at her and Hermione ducked her head, wishing she could dig herself a hole.
"What?" Ginny looked back and forth and Ron shook his head.
"Something I hope you don't find out about for a long time," Ron pointed at his sister who frowned and sat back...thinking through her limited knowledge of what they were talking about. She ran through all the conversations she had ever had with her girlfriends on the subject and combined it with tidbits she had heard from her brothers and male friends.
"Oh, I get it." Ginny let a smile play across her face. "Well, I hope you thanked him properly."
Ron howled with laughter, waking up Luna and Harry who looked around very confused. Hermione pushed Harry up, handing him his glasses as Luna stood up and stretched, excusing herself to use the loo.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked, seeing Ron clutching his sides laughing silently. Ginny who had a little smile on her face shook her head and Hermione wouldn't even look at him.
"You'll find out soon enough I'm sure," Ron said, winking at Harry, then dissolving back into laughter mumbling "thanking" and "properly" under his breath.
Hermione stood up and glared at them.
"Come on Harry, let's go find something to eat."
She took his hand and pulled him off the bench. He took of his robe and hung it up, knowing he wouldn't need it for another hour.
"Bring me back some…food that is!" Ron yelled before Hermione snapped the door shut cutting of his and Ginny's laughter.
Harry followed Hermione down the hall, snagging some snacks from the lady walking by with the cart and walked through the door Hermione held open for him. He looked around at the meeting room, wondering why she brought him here. He walked over to the window and looked out at the mountains, noting they were getting closer to school. He never heard Hermione lock the door and was startled to see her walking towards him like she was angry.
"Our friend Ron is way to smart."
Hermione carefully took the snacks out of hands and set it down on a table, grabbed his hand and led him away from the window.
"What?" he looked down at her as she took off her robe and carefully folded it. He was dreading another conversation about Ron and sat down. Hermione stood over him.
"Let's just say that he guessed what happened yesterday afternoon. You guys can't keep things quiet can you?"
Harry gave a small smile, remembering how she wasn't quiet.
"Well, yea we can. I didn't say anything."
"You probably smiled that smile that lets him know something DID go on." Hermione pushed him back onto the bench so he was forced to bring up his legs. She settled herself down on top of him.
"I have a smile for that?" Harry tried to keep the smile off his face as he said it but Hermione pointed at him.
He wrapped his arms around her asking, "What do you have in mind here?"
He felt her cool hands pull his shirt out of his pants.
"I think maybe turnabout is fair play." Hermione's hand moved to his pants and undid his button and she slowly pulled down his zipper.
"Turn…what?" He frowned then felt her lips on his, forgetting what he was thinking about. He kicked off his shoes as he went to unbutton her pants, but she swatted his hand away. Moments later he felt her tug his pants down as her lips moved from his.
"Hermione? What...?" he started then sucked in his breath as he felt her lips on his stomach and then he knew and tried to prepare himself for what she was about to do next, but nothing could have prepared him for the moist warmth he felt and for the unusual movements of her tongue that caused him to grab the back of the bench.
"Sweet Merlin…," he whispered and felt her move her mouth away for a moment, "don't stop!"
Harry felt her do something curiously exciting with her tongue and he totally gave into her, his hand caught in her hair, the other grabbing the cushion next to him as she made him lose control faster than anyone ever had. He said her name, at least he think he did, and felt her pull away slowly and that combined with the cool air pushed him straight over the edge, barely conscious of her kissing her way back to his face, laying a hand against his chest feeling the rapid rise and fall.
"Bloody hell…," Harry gasped and opened his eyes to her staring down at him.
"Did I do that right?" she whispered, then gave a nervous giggle. He nodded and pulled her head down to his neck, gathering his thoughts.
"I LOVE that turnabout thingy you said."
Harry felt her get up, baring her wand and performed the second Scourging Charm in as many days. She leaned down and kissed him.
"I'll let you get yourself composed." She gave him a wink and quickly scooted out into the hall, making sure the door was locked behind her.