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Pansy's Volcano	By : Bluemidget57 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 206382 -:- Recommendations : 6 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Pansy's Volcano
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 19-Nineteen
- 20-Twenty
- 21-Twenty one
- 22-Twenty Two
- 23-Twenty Three
- 24-Twenty Four
- 25-Twenty Five
- 26-Twnety Six
- 27-Twenty Seven
- 28-Twenty Eight
- 29-Twenty Nine
- 30-Thirty
- 31-Thirty one
- 32-Thirty Two
- 33-Thirty Three
- 34-Thirty Four
- 35-Thirty Five
- 36-Thirty Six
- 37-Thirty Seven
- 38-Thirty Eight
- 39-Thirty Nine
- 40-Forty
- 41-Forty One
- 42-Forty Two
- 43-Forty Three
- 44-Forty Four
- 45-Forty Five
- 46-Forty Six
- 47-Forty Seven
- 48-Forty Eight
- 49-Forty Nine
- 50-Fifty
- 51-Fifty One
- 52-52
- 53-53
- 54-54
- 55-55
- 51
- 52
- 53
Beware of long rambling note on British schooling at the bottom. I do not own these characters, in case you had forgotten who actually does.

52

It was a subdued crowd of Gryffindors who passed through the barricade and onto Platform 9 � the morning of January 2^nd. The partying at Grimmauld Place had gone on long into the wee hours of New Years Day, and thanks to a judicious new product by the Weasley entrepreneurs, most of the occupants of the house were still nursing sore heads and delicate stomachs a full thirty six hours later.
Ginny dropped her bags on the floor and collapsed into a seat in one of the empty carriages and massaged her temples. Harry flopped down beside her and carried on going until he was laying with his head in her lap, and she abandoned the right side of her head to rub Harry�s. �I don�t know why we carry on trusting Fred and George,� she muttered. �I think if Mum hadn�t been so hung over herself, she would have gone with you to their store.�
�Yeah, how come Tonks was the only one without a hangover?� Ron whispered feebly. He had not spoken above a mumble all day; his headache couldn�t cope with it.
�She wasn�t using their Hangover Potion,� Hermione decided. It had taken her until the afternoon of New Year�s Day to work out why no one seemed to be getting any relief, and a short but irritated visit to the twins� shop late on New Years Day had confirmed their use of the party at Grimmauld Place as a venue to unveil their Double Anti-Hangover, Hangover Potion; a particularly vile and sinister piece of Dark Magic which had the dubious benefit of increasing fivefold the effect of any drinking the victim had been indulging in prior to imbibing the supposed restorative. Hermione was quite sure that both Fred and George�s ears were still ringing with the echoes of the lecture she had shrieked at them before returning to her room at Headquarters, and commencing the brewing of an untainted cure for the rest of the suffering party guests.
�You�re pure evil,� Harry muttered darkly from the depths of Ginny�s skirt, forcing one eyelid open to glare at her, and totally missing her point. �You mean you knew what they were up to and you didn�t warn us?�
Hermione snorted. �Well, to start with I didn�t drink so much as you, nor am I so easily deceived by the twins� innocent look as you lot seem to be. Honestly, after all this time, and you can�t tell when they�re up to something? Frankly, if you�re that gullible you deserve the pain! I�m going to go down to the Prefects Compartment. Are either of you up to accompanying me?� She asked the Weasleys. Silence greeted her, and she sighed. �Well, I suppose the train will be empty enough that you can recuperate a bit before I have to assign duties. Here,� she took pity on them and removed a small bottle of cloudy blue potion from the pocket of her robes. �Share that out; you should feel better in a bit,� she said, tossing it Ginny, who seemed most likely to be able to catch it. �I don�t need any of you throwing up on the way!�
Hermione was secretly quite pleased they had over-indulged and had purposely withheld the hangover remedy until now, so that she could ensure some private time to search Draco out and indulge in a pre-reunion reunion. She didn�t really want her first moments with him to be tainted by her fears about her parents� intentions of reporting them, or her abortive attempt at damage control, but these were subjects which needed addressing with some urgency.
However, when she arrived in the prefects compartment, she found it totally empty. Confused, she checked her watch. She knew that given the varying states of her friends� sore heads, they had been later than she would have liked getting to the station, but she had never imagined that after a week apart, Draco would let anything delay him. Maybe the lure of Greek sun and nubile purebloods had been greater than he protested.
Hermione frowned at the direction of her thoughts. She was absolutely not going to turn into one of those paranoid, jealous girlfriends who assumed that every witch in the vicinity was trying to steal her man. Even if it was pretty much the truth given who the wizard in question was. She might still not understand how this inexplicable attraction could have sprung up between herself and Draco Malfoy, but she had no doubts about its exclusivity, on either side.
She was settling herself to wait for the appearance of any other prefects, when she spied a parchment on the small table below the compartment window. It was addressed to her in Professor McGonagall�s sharp, precise penmanship. Hermione opened it with some trepidation; it seemed somewhat ominous that her journey should start with a mysterious note from the Professor she had most recently seen departing from Grimmauld Place the morning before, with a large tartan pillowcase full of ice pressed to her aching forehead.

Miss Granger,
I regret to inform you that Mr Malfoy will be unable to make the return journey to school on the Hogwarts Express today. Pressing family business has led to his having to stay in London for another day at least.
I trust his absence does not cause undue pressure on yourself and the other prefects, and I ask for your understanding in this matter.
Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

Hermione sank down onto the seat and the letter from her Head of House slipped from her fingers to lie beside her. She could not help but think that the succinct wording of the note concealed some far more ominous news. She found that her breath was hitching and her heart beat racing.
The sudden opening of the sliding door almost caused her to squeal in shock, but she managed to stifle the sound, allowing only a startled hiss of breath to escape between her teeth. The new entrant was unfortunately Anthony Goldstein, who immediately became concerned at Hermione�s flushed face nervous expression.
�What�s the matter, Hermione?� he asked, moving quickly over to sit beside her. Hermione turned her head slightly to look out of the window; Tony was getting far too involved and perceptive for her to be comfortable looking him straight in the eyes.
�It�s nothing,� she said. �I�m just having to revise some schedule stuff, that�s all.�
�Are you sure?� Tony asked, shifting his weight. Hermione knew he was moving closer, and was just about to leap up and away when they both heard the distinct rustle of parchment being crumpled. Hermione gasped and made to snatch for Professor McGonagall�s letter, which Tony had just sat upon, but he reached it first, picking it up disinterestedly and glancing at it with little curiosity until the words sank into his mind.
Hermione could tell the exact moment the significance of message registered with the Ravenclaw prefect, for a satisfied smile began to tilt up the corners of his mouth, as he passed the parchment back to her without comment. Damn! Why was she letting Draco�s paranoia influence her every interaction with this boy?
�So, Hermione�did you have a good New Year?� Tony asked innocently, stretching himself out comfortably on the seat so that his knee was brushing against hers, but not so overtly that she could protest it as an invasion of her personal space. �Did you go to any big parties?�
�Just the usual,� Hermione answered, frustrated with herself for allowing him to perpetrate the farce that this was just a casual conversation between colleagues, when they both knew it was anything but. �I spent it with the Weasleys and Harry. We had a good time, even if the twins did get a bit raucous, and test out a new product on us. How about yourself?�
�It was quiet,� Tony said. �I hope next year I might have someone special to share it with. It�s not the same when you have no one to share a kiss with on the strike of midnight, is it?� Hermione scowled. How irritating of Tony to have hit exactly on how she had felt seeing Harry and Ginny, and even Ron and Luna hugging each other as Big Ben rang in the midnight hour. If she hadn�t known Draco was away, she might have even used his damned Portkey and taken herself to his room at that very moment.
�Maybe we both will,� she forced the expected platitude out politely, knowing it would just encourage him, but unable to think of an alternative.
�Hermione,� Tony sat up suddenly and leaned towards her, his eyes burning, and Hermione felt panic bubbling up in her veins as she scrambled for a way to divert whatever he planned on saying.
At that moment a snort of disgust reached them from the open door of the prefect�s compartment, and they swung around to stare at the intruder with expressions ranging from relief to annoyance. Hermione had never thought she would be so pleased to see Pansy Parkinson in her life.
�Pansy,� she muttered, sliding away from Tony and standing up to assert her authority. �How was your holiday?�
�As if you even care, Mudblood,� Pansy retorted rudely. �You�re probably mad because I broke up your little tryst with pretty boy here.� She looked at Tony with disdain. �Still, I suppose he�s a step up from that red-headed pauper. Maybe you got some taste at last.�
Tony was on his feet even as Pansy began to speak, but Hermione stayed him with her hand. She was staring curiously at the Slytherin girl; her first reaction had also been anger at the other girl�s words, particularly as she recalled the blonde�s sneaky little device to track Draco�s fidelity, and how that affected her. But closer inspection led her to see just how bad Pansy actually looked.
The other girl�s once bouncy hair was limp and stringy, her face - hardly beautiful at the best of times - looked wan and sickly, and there were dark purple smudges under her dull blue eyes. Pansy looked terrible, and Hermione remembered Draco informing her with much relish that their Head of House had assigned her a detention immediately after the holidays, although Hermione was sure that he didn�t realise she might have some inkling of what the detention was for, and she had no intention of enlightening him. It was just far too embarrassing to discuss. Pansy however, looked as if she had spent the whole Christmas break fretting herself into a total wreck about whatever punishment Professor Snape had devised for her detention when school recommenced.
Unfortunately, Pansy seemed to sense what had stayed Hermione�s hand, and the very idea that a Mudblood should feel pity for her made her even more vicious, and she spat several more insults at the Head Girl, prompting Tony to move beside Hermione and rest a hand encouragingly in the small of her back. Hermione was frankly too tired to object, and she wished fervently that the hangover potion she had given Ron and Ginny would hurry up and work, so they could get here and act as a buffer between herself and everyone else.
The two Weasleys were not the prefects who entered the compartment at that moment, but Hermione was grateful for the appearance of the Hufflepuff fifth year representatives, as it caused Pansy to cease her tirade. Not seeming to notice anything out of the ordinary the Hufflepuffs sat down, and before long other prefects began filtering in to the small room. When Hermione determined that everyone who was going to show up had done so, she cleared her throat and waited for silence before addressing them.
�Professor McGonagall has informed me that the Head Boy is detained, and won�t be traveling with us today,� she began, glaring at Pansy as she seemed about to interrupt. �The train isn�t too full today, and even the first years know their way around better than they did in September. It shouldn�t be a problem that Malfoy isn�t here. Just make sure that you keep an eye on things and if anyone seems to be having problems, intervene before it gets out of hand.� The prefects nodded agreeably. �Any problems anyone? Anybody need to bring something up?� Hermione asked, and was greeted by almost universal shaking of heads. Pansy still glowered.
The prefects filtered out of the compartment to begin checking the train, but Anthony remained, unmoving from her side where he had assumed the position of the absent Head Boy. Hermione was quite annoyed about it, but with Pansy watching her every move she preferred not to make a fuss about it. Finally, Tony could no longer justify standing there whilst receiving no response from Hermione, and with an unwarranted semi-hug, he reluctantly left the compartment and drifted off down the corridor.
Hermione returned to the cabin she had left Ron, Harry and Ginny sitting in. She scowled at the recovering Weasley prefects but couldn�t really summon up the enthusiasm to berate them for not appearing at the prefect meeting. Her pleasure in the return to Hogwarts had been sapped away by the Head Boy�s absence, and she really wanted nothing more than to return to their study and wait until he could tell her in person what had delayed him from returning to school. She had an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach that it couldn�t possibly be anything good.
Her feeling of disquiet only increased later that evening when they made their way down to the Great Hall for dinner and found that the Headmaster was missing from the High Table. Even Harry looked perturbed; Professor Dumbledore had been absent frequently since Sirius� death at the end of their fifth year, strategizing - planning for the next war no doubt, but for him to be so blatantly missing on the first day of a new term seemed ominous and ill-advised for the morale level of the student body, many of whom after seeing the direction of Harry�s frown were sending concerned glances towards the Headmaster�s vacant chair.

*******
Draco put his arm around Narcissa and glared at the reporters who were already congregating beyond the doors outside the Ministry of Magic. Even though it was supposed to have been a closed hearing, somehow word had leaked out that Lucius Malfoy was on the premises, and the vultures had closed in, sensing a kill.
The last thing Draco needed right now was to deal with the press. His mother had burst into tears at the verdict and was still weeping quietly, even though she tried to compose herself before leaving the room, as it was not becoming of a Malfoy to be showing such emotion in public.
In spite of the external influences bombarding him from all sides, the litany in Draco�s head seemed unable of moving on from one word. Fuck, fuck, fuck his brain was yelled at him. We�re absolutely Buggered! He was assisting Narcissa through the crowds, shielding her automatically from the calls and in some cases curses which were being flung around, whilst his mind was working on overtime to work out how to deal with a liberated Lucius.
It wasn�t happening today; but the Wizengamot - after agreeing on the necessity for a second day of evidence, had tentatively supported the proposal of limited parole for his father. Lucius would be released under house arrest; he would be bound to the Malfoy estate, and his wand impounded until the demise of the Dark Lord. As the Speaker described it, the restrictions on his father would be highly invasive and the slightest hint of Lucius stepping out of bounds would result in some very nasty consequences. But Draco knew his father, and the elder Malfoy was sly and cunning in ways the Ministry officials knew nothing of. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and despite his mother�s uncontrollable outpouring of joy, Draco just knew no good could come of Lucius� release, no matter how restricted it was.
Professor Dumbledore, who was following Draco and his mother down the steps further supporting Draco�s efforts to shield Narcissa, obviously agreed with him. The Headmaster had not spoken outright against the release of Lucius, but his cautions that such a move might be equally as perilous for the prisoner as the general public whilst having been considered, had ultimately been dismissed. However, several additional layers of wards and charms had been added to the list of deterrents being cast on their home at his recommendation.
Draco held no hard feelings against Professor Dumbledore for his reluctance to see his father released into the world again. Indeed, were he in the older wizard�s place, he was sure he would have been a whole lot less accommodating about the whole matter than Dumbledore had been. Narcissa was actually grateful that Hogwarts Headmaster had been there to cast restraint on some of the more lenient members of the Wizengamot. She wanted her husband back; the young man she had married - not the Dark Lord�s right hand man, and Draco thought she saw the multitude of restraints the Ministry was imposing as a way to try and bring back that person. Draco was less optimistic; in his opinion, if the evil pain-in-everyone�s-arse wanted Lucius out of the manor and back by his side, he would find a way to achieve it. Malfoy Manor was not Azkaban, regardless of how well the Ministry might think they had fortified it.
They finally escaped the crowds thronging the Atrium into a small antechamber off the main lobby. It was a private Floo chamber for distinguished or important guests, and Narcissa was planning to travel back to the house from here. Draco�s school bags were stored in the corner, as this was where they had arrived earlier this morning, before the hearing commenced. As Narcissa had suggested, her son was planning to return to Hogwarts with the Headmaster, after she had left for home.
Dumbledore retreated to speak with a small portrait of Armando Dippett which was hung over the fireplace, to give Draco and Narcissa a moment of privacy to make their farewells. He smiled tiredly at Narcissa as she came up beside him and touched him on the arm.
�Albus, thank you for all your efforts on our behalf,� she said quietly. �Please take care of my son for me, and try to guide him towards wise decisions.�
The smile Dumbledore bestowed upon her reached his eyes this time, and he took her hand bending over and placing a courtly kiss on the back of her fingers. �My dear Narcissa, take care of yourself and Lucius. I pray that all your endeavors in this matter will turn out as you wish. Good luck to you.�
They exchanged a wry look which Draco was at a loss to interpret, before his mother stepped into the fire stating clearly, �Blue Room, Malfoy Manor,� and then she was gone.
Draco waited a moment to see if Professor Dumbledore would speak, and when he simply continued to stare contemplatively into the fireplace, he offered. �Are we going back to the castle now. Shall I get my bags?�
The Headmaster turned to him, his twinkle somewhat restored. �Ah, Draco. Certainly - you should get your bags,� he paused and extracted a golden pocket watch from a pocket somewhere deep in his midnight blue robes. �But look at the time. I think we must have missed dinner. Let�s go and have a bite to eat first, why don�t we?�
Draco stiffened. Go out for a meal? Just the Headmaster and himself? �I would quite like to get back to the castle,� he began cautiously. �I�m really not particularly hungry after today, and there are things I should be doing -� like Hermione - hard and fast and a dozen times to make up for today and this whole horrible week�

�Nonsense!� Professor Dumbledore interjected jovially. �As you say, it has been an unpleasant experience. I am sure Miss Granger won�t miss you for a couple more hours, while we unwind after a stressful meeting.�
Draco swallowed and stared in shock at the Headmaster. Had he just read Draco�s mind, or was that a genuinely innocent remark? He didn�t dare protest lest he make more of the matter than was actually present, and he breathed a sigh of relief when the Headmaster continued blithely - if somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Draco couldn�t tell - �I have found myself somewhat impressed by your ability to work harmoniously with Miss Granger this year, Draco. I won�t insult your intelligence by saying that I didn�t have my doubts about appointing the two of you to these positions together, but I am proud to see that you have risen above your past enmities and created a strong partnership for the example of the school.�
Draco mumbled an affirmation. He still wasn�t entirely unconvinced that the Headmaster was ignorant of how strong and what kind of partnership he and the Gryffindor Head Girl had forged together, but he also wasn�t going to be the one to admit it out loud. Particularly with his father on the brink of parole.
�I am sure that if any emergencies arise at Hogwarts that Miss Granger will be well able to deal with them,� Dumbledore continued, and Draco couldn�t very well say that a sense of duty had little to do with his desire to return to the school speedily. He came back to an awareness of what Professor Dumbledore was saying as he heard, ��..fully capable. It�s so comforting to know that someone as competent and helpful as Mr Goldstein is there to step into your shoes in your absence, don�t you think? I know he regrets losing to you, but I think he has been very gracious and courteous about the matter, lending a hand where necessary and coming forward to do whatever he can to help.�
Draco stared at the Headmaster with rising horror as he delivered this speech with totally deadpan expression which was belied by the decidedly teasing twinkle in his blue eyes. At that moment there was not the first shadow of a doubt that Professor Dumbledore knew every minute detail of his romance with Hermione Granger, his fears of Goldstein trying to steal her - and probably even that dream he�d had the night before Christmas break!
�I think we�ll go to the Leaky Cauldron,� Dumbledore continued thoughtfully. �They do a spectacular steak and kidney pie there on weeknights, if I remember correctly. After you, my boy - let�s be off.�
And Draco collected his bags obediently before Flooing through to the pub - for really, what else could he do? He knew quite well that Floo access to Hogwarts relied on his being accompanied by the Headmaster, and he didn�t want to make the walk from the Hogsmeade Floo hub back to the castle alone in January in the cold and dark.
The pub was smoky and dim when Professor Dumbledore and Draco stepped through the Floo. Draco was still chafing at the Headmaster�s insistence that they delay returning to Hogwarts. At this point it wasn�t even about the sex, or being apart for a week; he just wanted to see Hermione, hear her voice, drown in her eyes.
He knew he would have to tell her what had transpired today; no doubt Dumbledore�s first action tomorrow would be to fill in his Golden Boy with all the particulars, and Potter�s next stop would surely be Hermione and the Weasel. Draco wondered exactly why Professor Dumbledore was so determined to spend this time alone with him; he supposed that the crunch time was bearing down on him rapidly.
The Headmaster was probably hoping to discern which party Draco was leaning towards, and he knew he would not be able to avoid declaring himself to one side or the other for much longer. It was a moot point anyway, and Dumbledore probably knew it; if he was serious about Hermione, there was only one possible choice available to him.
Professor Dumbledore maneuvered them over to a table in the back of the pub near the brazier, and Tom the landlord materialized almost instantly at this elbow, as if he had been waiting for their appearance. This seemed more likely when he opened his mouth urgently, but was cut off before he could speak by Dumbledore ordering his steak and kidney pie, then turning to Draco to ask what he would like for supper.
Draco had no appetite, but knew Albus Dumbledore well enough that he realised it was pointless to try and circumvent the old man�s plans. They were going to be sitting in this smoky, dark pub until Dumbledore was good and ready to return to Hogwarts, whether Draco chose to eat or starve himself. He gave in and ordered a roast beef sandwich and a butterum.
Tom shuffled away with their order, but not before giving Professor Dumbledore a significant look. The Headmaster settled back into his seat and observed Draco over the top of his half-moon spectacles. Draco stared right back; he might be constrained to sit here until the other man chose to return to Hogwarts, but he would be damned if he was going to give Dumbledore the satisfaction of speaking first.
Dumbledore seemed to realise this and apparently decided to allow Draco this particular battle. �I am happy for your mother that she will soon be reunited with her husband,� he began. �But I shan�t pretend with you, Draco.� He looked piercingly at the young man before him. �This is definitely going to put you in a very awkward position; we both know that your father is Voldemort�s man. He says he has re-evaluated that decision and found it to be a foolish one, whilst he has been languishing in prison for a year and a half; indeed this is the basis upon which the Wizengamot has been persuaded to consider even the most restrictive release for him. However, I don�t imagine that a young man of your intelligence can be unaware that when Voldemort summons, his followers must obey. The magics which surround Azkaban dampen the effect of His call, but there will be no such assistance for your father at Malfoy Manor. There will also be little help should Voldemort choose to make a house call and visit your father in person. We cannot keep him out, nor can we truly keep Lucius in. The only thing standing between your father and his master is his own will-power. And your mother. �
Dumbledore gazed piercingly at his student. �I think you will find that Narcissa has become a different person during your father�s incarceration, and I am sincerely hoping that this will be the saving of them both. Next time you visit your home, I warn you to be prepared for the dynamic between your parents to have taken a somewhat reverse shift. I do not think I am betraying any confidences in telling you that your mother does not wish the same fate for you which has befallen your father, and I hope that you will consider how one reckless decision made without due consideration during one�s arrogant youth, can ruin a man�s life for ever, and cast a shadow of despair over the lives of those who surround him��
�Okay. Enough!� Draco interrupted desperately. Good grief! How on earth did Potter put up with all this sermonizing? He was actually beginning to feel sorry for Scarhead; if he had to put up with Dumbledore�s long-winded dissertations on a regular basis, then he was obviously made of sterner stuff than Draco had ever given him credit for. �If you want to know whether I am going to follow my father, then just come out and ask me! But I can�t bear another half an hour of this beating about the bush. I want to get back to H�ogwarts some time this evening!�
Dumbledore smiled broadly. �Indeed, Draco - as do I, as do I. So then, tell me - what is in the future for Draco Malfoy?�
Draco shook his head. He had been manipulated after all, and he knew it. The old man was a master at the game. �I don�t see myself as the sort who could live a life of servitude,� he began vaguely. �And - recent events, up to and including my father�s potential release - have given me some very significant reasons to consider what the future will hold. There are people in my life who I am not willing to disappoint, and I promise that I won�t.�
Dumbledore smiled mistily; one would have thought that instead of being mysterious and ambiguous, Draco had stood up on the table and yelled at the top of his voice, I�m in love with Hermione Granger, and I will follow her to the ends of the earth and back! Draco shook his head, but was saved the necessity of replying by the arrival of Tom with their food. He found out that actually he was quite hungry after all, and when the landlord drew Dumbledore away for a private word, he demolished the sandwich with relish.
The Headmaster returned and ate his own steak and kidney pie with obvious enjoyment, but their departure was delayed again and again by patrons of the pub coming up and wanting just a quick word with the older wizard.
Eventually Draco and Dumbledore were left alone at their table, and Draco sighed in relief. At last they were going to be moving in the right direction! The Headmaster removed a small silver object from the pocket of his robes, and flipped it open. It shone with a blue light, and Draco looked at it with irritation; surely Dumbledore hadn�t found something else to put off their journey again.
�It�s a mobile phone, Draco,� Professor Dumbledore chuckled. �Muggles use them all the time. I�ve asked Professor Flitwick and Professor DiBona to charm a couple to work with magic. Voldemort may be powerful and persuasive, but he also refuses - quite foolishly in my opinion, and ultimately I think, to his own downfall - to accept the ingenuity and creativity of Muggles. I have found it to be most rewarding to use non-magical means to confound him on several occasions recently, and yet he continues - like many other tyrannical dictators before him - to arrogantly ignore the dangers inherent in dismissing the opposition as less capable than himself. I believe this will be his undoing.�
Draco chewed over the Headmaster�s words as he dialed some numbers into the object and apparently spoke with Professor McGonagall, asking her to standby the Floo in his study whilst they returned to the school. Evidently, Draco had not deceived the older wizard at all; he obviously had no fears that Draco would be running off to share this particular piece of information with the Dark Lord�s troops.
They moved over to the fireplace, and Professor Dumbledore took some Floo powder from his pocket, handing it to Draco and telling him that regular Floo powder would not transport him inside Hogwarts. �This is my own recipe,� he said. �Just call for the Headmaster�s study, Hogwarts Castle and step though. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape should be there to meet you. I will be along momentarily.�
Draco did so, thanking Merlin that he was on his way at last. He was flung around the chimneys separating London and the school for moments before he tumbled out onto the red carpet in Dumbledore�s office. Professor McGonagall greeted him with a flick of her wand which removed any lingering traces of soot, and he stood aside as the Headmaster appeared behind him.
Professor Snape was standing a short distance behind the Head of Gryffindor, watching Draco with narrowed eyes. �Mr Malfoy,� he said in greeting, �I hope you haven�t had too stressful a day. I am sure it has been a very trying time for yourself and your mother. If you wish to speak about anything at all, please be assured I will always be available.�
Draco nodded wearily. He found the Head of Slytherin to be a very ambiguous character; now that he had more or less declared himself for Potter, he wasn�t sure how much he dared reveal to Snape. He was confused by the man; both Dumbledore and his father seemed to trust and hold him in high esteem. Draco was not as easily swayed. Now the only thing that mattered was Hermione�s safety and his own; and much as it galled him to admit it, aside from himself, Potter was probably the only person he would trust implicitly to see to Hermione�s safety.
�Thank you, sir. I�ll certainly bear that in mind,� he said now. �If you�ll excuse me, it was a tiring day, as you say. I would just like to retire now, as classes do start in the morning.�
�Certainly, Draco,� the Headmaster said. �I will see to it that the house elves take your bags back to your rooms. If you would like, you can Floo directly to your common room from here.�
This surprised Draco sufficiently to delay his departure. �Really?� he asked. �I didn�t think that was possible in Hogwarts?�
�Only in a highly limited manner,� Professor Snape replied after receiving a consenting nod from Professor Dumbledore. �Aside from the Headmaster�s office, this is a privilege only granted between the Head student�s study and the rooms of their respective Heads of House. It should only be used in case of extreme emergency. This is only the second year that we have created such access, but in the current perilous climate we felt it prudent to have immediate access to our peer leaders.�
�Well, perhaps it might have been useful to tell us that at the beginning of the year?� Draco muttered, not caring if he was being rude.
Dumbledore laughed. �You are quite right, Draco,� he said. �Do consider the fault rectified. I trust you will share this with Miss Granger in due course? Goodnight then.�
Draco gratefully stepped through the Floo, stating clearly, �Head student�s study,� and at last he was back where he belonged. He stood for a moment in the common room, finding it in darkness. A glance at his watch showed it to be nearly 11:00 at night, and he wondered how the old man had managed to drag a meal and a few conversations out so long.
Hermione had obviously gone to bed, and he wondered for the first time what she had thought when faced with his absence. He had totally forgotten to ask if anyone made his excuses to the rest of the prefects; he had been selfishly concerned with his own disappointment in being delayed, and had not paused to wonder how it might have appeared to his girl. He looked quickly into his bedroom but found it empty, and his heart sank a little. He had hoped to find her waiting in his bed for him; back in the study, he crossed to her room.
The door was slightly open, and he took this for a sign that she was welcoming him inside whenever he returned. As he slipped in and closed the door behind him, he saw her curled under the covers fast asleep and his heart skipped several beats; at last, at last! She looked so peaceful that despite the gnawing need in his belly, he chose not to waken her. Instead, he ripped his clothes off and threw them haphazardly onto the floor, before crawling naked into the bed behind her, and wrapping himself as tightly around her sleep-warmed body as he could fit himself.
She mumbled in her sleep, and asked tiredly, �Draco?�
He pressed his face into the riot of her hair, and sucked gently on her left shoulder. �Yes, it�s me. Go back to sleep, love,� he muttered. �I�m back now. I�m home.�
*********************
Hello, readers. Not so dreadfully long as the last time, but also a transitionary chapter. No smut, little action. However, there will be lots of fun in the next couple of chapters�
I just thought I might take a moment to talk about the education system in Britain, for all of the American readers who don�t know. The rest of you can stop reading now, unless you want to catch me out and correct me. I have been gone for 13 years, but my cousins who are in high school now are having the same experiences I did, so I don�t think it has changed too much.

British kids take their first set of important exams at 16 - these are called GCSEs. When I was at school, they were called O (for Ordinary) Levels; you could also take GCSEs, although they tended to be less difficult than O levels. Most kids take between 6 and 10 exams at this age, and if they do well, it is possible to leave school at 16 and take a job or apprenticeship. This is largely because full-day school starts in Britain at age 4 - none of this � day Kindergarten stuff where kids don�t actually participate in a full school day until they are nearly 6. After GCSEs, teenagers go on to do their A (Advanced) levels; at this point most do up to 4, and they are likely already specializing in subjects they wish to take in University. A Levels are particularly difficult; both sets of examinations are set by centralized examining boards, not by the teachers you had through school, and are marked by these boards. The results of your GCSEs and A levels are mailed to you mid-August, which is not a particularly ideal solution, as it can lead to a mad scramble to get a university place if your grades did not meet the offer previously made by your preferred university. But there it is.

JKR is in the same age range as poor old moi - so I am sure you can see the influence of her own schooling coming through in OWLs and NEWTs. I will leave you here going out on a limb - I believe GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education, at least it did when I was at school. I am sure if the acronym has changed, many of you will rush to correct me.
Until next time,
Blue 2.07.06
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