Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Returning to Sanity	By : AchillesTheGeek Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 31212 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter books or films, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 75
- 76
- 77
76 Returning to Freedom
Monday 14 September
It was eight twenty six in the morning and the nine students who were being tested that week sat together in the Great Hall silently, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. They were as well prepared for the coming week as they could be; but examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, and each student was wondering just exactly what the day would bring. Some had eaten a hearty breakfast; nothing was going to put Ron Weasley off his food. Some had tea and toast; some couldn't face anything at all.
As Transfiguration was the first subject to be examined, it was no surprise to Professor Flitwick that all of them had that textbook open in front of them, doing the last-minute cramming that every student indulged in.
"Ready?" the Professor said, and they all looked up, startled, their faces showing their varying degrees of anxiety, before nodding. "Good!" he continued. "Follow me."
They stood quietly and made their way to the meeting room adjacent to the staff room, which they found was set up ready for them, with nine desks arranged in a three by three square. They took their seats, to find that in front of them was the exam paper, turned face down.
Flitwick surveyed them, waiting till they were all seated. "Very good," he beamed approvingly. It was always a delight to have well-behaved students, and the focus these nine students showed boded well for their performance.
"For the Transfiguration Theory paper, you have two hours. You may turn over the paper and begin."

Once the examinees had left the Great Hall, Headmistress McGonagall came over to the eighth year table.
"I know that you have revision today," she said without preamble, "but I do want to take ten minutes of your time. Could you all please meet in the library meeting room at nine o'clock?"
Intrigued, the students nodded, then went back to their breakfasts. This request was unprecedented. Just what did the Headmistress want? And why had she waited until the examinees had left before having this meeting?
Eva Thillin's mind was working overtime on this. She still could barely recall what she had said the previous evening – some saccharine guff about being an orphan and so 'keenly appreciating the feeling of family you 'ave developed 'ere' or some such rubbish – and just hoped that the Headmistress didn't intend to out her. For she was quite sure the Headmistress knew perfectly well the role Eva had played in the attack on Mr Potter.
But in the event there was no cause to worry. When they reached the meeting room, the Headmistress was there together with another woman well known to many of them.
"Mrs Weasley!" Seamus exclaimed. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Don't be cheeky," Molly replied, but the grin on her face belied the words. "I've come to invite you all to a party. Saturday is Hermione Granger's birthday, and her mother and I decided that the perfect thing to do was to have a combined birthday and break-up party. The Hogwarts Express is expected to have you back at King's Cross Station by three o'clock at the latest, so you are all invited to the Burrow for an evening party. We are hoping to keep this a surprise from Hermione, so the Grangers will pick her up from the station and occupy her until five o'clock. So we want you all please to be at the Burrow between four and four-thirty so we're all ready to surprise her. We will serve dinner at six and it should be all over by ten so you have the rest of the evening to go off and enjoy yourselves as you please."
"This is wonderful!" Madame Dubois said. "And it is true, we are all invited?"
"Oh yes, Madame," Molly replied. "Ron is aware that we're doing it and he will tell the other examinees. So I want you all to promise me you won't breathe a word; Margaret Granger and I are hoping it will be a total surprise for Hermione. We've planned to have an Australian-themed party. So come along dressed appropriately."
Everyone accepted the invitation, and promised not to tell. There was a general feeling of delight at the announcement though. Headmistress McGonagall was rather glad that the examinees would be sequestered away for most of the day; she was sure that if Hermione saw the excitement in their cohort she would know that something was up.
Even Eva's face was flushed with delight. Though for a different reason: now her fellow students had something else to talk about, to take their mind away from possibly thinking about her; and it just might provide a smoke-screen, if her plans came through. Oh yes, she thought with glee, this could work well!

As the week progressed, the eighth years found themselves in a new dynamic. The examinees were given lunch in a separate room, so that their concentration would not be interrupted by hordes of gabbling students. Though the teachers marveled at the focus their students had, at least until Robin pointed out that all of them knew the Prosecho spell and were presumably using it. During Wednesday's Defense practical exam, they were each quizzed about this and it was found that indeed they were all using it and were able to cast it to a high degree of proficiency. That, and the very impressive shield-work they all displayed, earned them enough bonus marks to guarantee that every student examined in Defense was given a grade of Outstanding. Well, every student except one.
Meanwhile, the students doing revision found that their study sessions were extremely worthwhile; the Professors generally adopted a question-and-answer format, but included example questions from the exams that were going on concurrently, which stimulated a great deal of discussion. Ivan Smetana was particularly impressed at the standard of the questions; he made his two students sit the exams as mock NEWTs and decided that even his charms hot-shot, Anderssen, would only have rated an Exceeds Expectations.
And of course there was a lot of chatter about the party; all of the girls were wondering just exactly what "Australian-themed" meant, and whether they had to wear bikinis. Millicent Bulstrode shuddered at the thought; while many of the other girls had the figures for it, there was no way she was going to be seen dead in such a state of undress!

It was Wednesday lunchtime before Eva got the letter she was so desperately waiting for. Like most of the letters that the visiting students received, it was delivered by one of the school owls; the Ministry had asked that letters go through them for co-ordination purposes, and then they were forwarded in bulk and redistributed at the school. So it wasn't the owl itself that surprised her: no, it was the fact that she got a letter. She never got letters!
She opened it and scanned it quickly. To her delight, it had exactly the offer she had hoped for, and all the instructions she would need. And the sender was obviously quite used to the need for clandestine communication: the letter was charmed to read like a quite innocent missive from a friendly uncle. Not that she had any uncles, that she knew of; but that was alright, he could be a newly-discovered relative. That would work.
"Eva!" Padma Patil, one of the few students who was still openly friendly with her, broke in on her thoughts, "you have a letter!"
"I do!" Eva replied, and the joy in her tone was entirely unforced. "It seems I 'ave a long-lost uncle!"
"Ooh!" Parvati exclaimed. "Can we see?"
"Of course!" Eva said, and passed the letter over. With Potter away being examined, she doubted that any of the students would be able to detect the charms on it; and indeed, the other girls showed no evidence of having cracked it; on the contrary, they just seemed to be happy for her.
"It is true, Eva?" Madame Dubois said.
"Yes, Madame," Eva replied demurely. "He 'opes I will be able to visit 'im next week during the vacation."
"Ah," the chaperone replied. "I suppose we will be able to arrange something like that."
"Zank you!" Eva said, her eyes bright. But she knew perfectly well that she couldn't wait that long. No, the French girls were all staying for the birthday party on Saturday; and it did not escape Eva's notice that that meant they would be in Britain while it was technically outside term time, and so they would not be covered by the visiting study arrangement. She was quite sure that this arrangement was the only reason she was still free. If these British Aurors knew what they were doing, and the evidence was that they did, she would be in custody long before the party even got going. But she had a plan; and now, with the letter, she had everything she needed to execute it: the contact in France, the route to get to him, and a most useful contact in the British Ministry to go through. Not to mention the fall girl she had just chosen here.

The Australian-themed party was causing consternation in other places besides Hogwarts. At Malfoy Manor, Narcissa was wracking her brains to think of some appropriate clothes to wear. She had been told about the hats with corks around them, to be sure; but there was no way she was going to be seen in such ridiculous garb!
In the end it was Lucius who had the great brainwave. He thought of a way that they could go dressed to the nines – which would definitely please his wife – and also fit in with the theme. There was only one slight snag: they needed certain accessories that he knew were only available from one shop.
And so it was that, on Thursday morning, Lucius Malfoy put on his bravest face and entered Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
George and Fred were absolutely delighted.
"Welcome, kind sir! / What brings you to our humble emporium?"
Lucius chuckled and decided to play along.
"Good morrow, kind gentlemen," he replied. "I come in search of such fine products as I know are only obtainable at this estimable establishment."
"And what products might these be, good sir?"
"I have it on good authority that you stock a most interesting range of headgear," Lucius replied.
"Ah!" Fred said, and led the aristocrat over to the appropriate part of the shop. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
It turned out that the twins didn't have exactly what he wanted; but that was all to the better, really, because they took some items that were close and adapted them, rather brilliantly Lucius thought. Which meant he left the shop knowing that the items he had were one-offs; the twins promised they wouldn't repeat them until after the party, so Narcissa's great fear, that someone else would dress identically to her, wasn't going to happen.
All in all, it was a good morning's work, and he left with a lightness in his step and a feeling that the price he paid in pride wasn't too high given the camaraderie it bought him. The twins were delighted, too; the news that Lucius Malfoy had visited their shop got noised abroad pretty quickly, and it definitely had value for them in encouraging other pure-bloods to come along and see what they might be missing out on. And it didn't hurt that he'd taken the hair-colouring spell in good part, and even left the shop still sporting bright blue hair.

Eva went to breakfast on Friday morning with a terrible cough. She sat next to Padma Patil, a perfect picture of misery.
"Eva?" Madame Dubois asked, worried for her charge. "Are you all right? Should you go to the 'ospital?"
"I am feeling unwell," she replied, her voice very croaky. "I think, per'aps Madame, I should return home a leetle early, if that is possible."
"I think that might be wise," the chaperone replied, "though it will be difficult – you will need to be accompanied."
"I will do that, Madame," Padma said, and Eva was delighted that her faith in the girl was well placed. She hadn't even needed any prompting.
"Very well," Dubois responded. "If you are still unwell at lunchtime, you may go."

One more exam, Harry thought. Just one more. Herbology was the last exam he had, and he was right glad of it. Hermione and Draco had been driving him insane – every spare moment outside the exam room seemed to have been taken up with study. The week had been a round of exams, hasty meals, books, study, scribbled notes, and pressure. He would be very glad to see the back of it; it was only the fact that it would soon be over that was keeping him going.
By the look of him, Ron wasn't faring much better, and he grinned encouragement at his friend.
"One to go," he said, and Ron nodded in agreement.
"Thank Merlin!" he said.
"Ron!" Hermione said. "These exams are important! Your whole future is ahead of you!"
"Yeah, we get that, Hermione," Neville cut in, his voice calm and all the more effective for it. "Doesn't mean we like it, or aren't happy it will be over. Now, let's get going; we can revise those notes about moonflowers if you want."
"Ooh, yes, I do want," Hermione replied, "I wasn't sure about where to find them …"
And with that, the examinees got up and headed for the meeting room.
One more, Harry thought. Just one.

Eva was no better at twelve o'clock, so she and Padma got Floo powder from Flitwick and Flooed out from the Green Room. To Padma's surprise, their destination was not Beauxbatons; they wound up in the Ministry, and Eva led them to a small office in the Administration section, where she knocked on the door.
"Come in!" a voice said cheerfully, and they entered to find Cornelius Fudge ready and waiting for them.
"Mr Fudge!" Padma said, her eyes going wide.
"Yes, my dear," he replied. "I am enchanted that you remember me."
"Padma has come with me from 'Ogwarts to make sure I am safe," Eva explained to Fudge, her voice sounding quite sore, then turned to Padma. "Mr Fudge has agreed to take me to Beauxbatons, so there is no need for you to leave Britain. Zank you so much for your assistance!"
"Oh," Padma said, "but I promised Madame I would see you to Beauxbatons! What will I tell her?"
"It weel not matter," Eva replied. "I will be quite safe with Monsieur Fudge. You can tell Madame you have seen me safely there from the Ministry, that will do."
"All right," Padma replied, then turned to Fudge. "Are you sure, Monsieur? You do not mind taking Eva?"
"Not at all," Fudge replied. "This young lady has been writing to me, and I feel she needs our full support and aid."
"Yes, zank you," Eva replied, a little anxious lest Padma show any interest in the ex-Minister's correspondence with her, "but we must not take up too much of your time. Shall we go? I am feeling unwell, and anxious to return to Beauxbatons."
"Yes, of course my dear. Unwell? I'm sorry to hear that," Fudge said as he bustled them out of his office and back to the bank of fireplaces. Eva was pleased when Fudge, with stuffy old-fashioned courtesy, insisted that Padma return to Hogwarts before he and Eva left for France; there would be no witnesses to what was to happen next.
Once Padma had gone, and before Fudge could react, Eva picked up some Floo powder, said "La Chétive Pécore", and all but pushed her companion through.
They arrived in a rather dingy room.
"This isn't Beauxbatons!" Fudge said breathily.
"Non, monsieur," Eva said, and her voice no longer sounded at all sore.
"You are in an 'ostelry in Marseille, and I 'ave the 'onour to be your 'ost," a voice said from behind him. Fudge turned to see the newcomer, an enormous man with a large bushy beard. "Gaston Gaspard, at your service," he said with a bow. "Welcome to La Chétive Pécore."
"Erm – well – I am Cornelius Fudge," Fudge replied nervously with a little bow of his own. "But I think there must be some mistake. I was escorting this young lady back to her school, the Beauxbatons Academy in Paris, and we seem to have got a little lost."
Gaston smiled, but the smile was not in any way reassuring.
"Oh, non, Monsieur, there is no mistake, I assure you. I 'ave invited Eva 'ere, and you are very kind to escort her. So I must insist that you accept my 'ospitality."
Fudge gulped. Somehow, he didn't feel that he was going to find the offer particularly hospitable. "Er, well, much as I admire your charming inn – what was it called?"
"La Chétive Pécore," Eva said again. "It means perhaps, 'the pitiful creature'. It is from a poem."
"A poem?" Fudge said, somewhat lost.
"Why yes, monsieur," Gaspard replied, "by the great French poet Jean de la Fontaine. Come, I will show you."
And Fudge found his shoulder clapped by a huge hand, and he was led into the bar proper, where there were drawings of frogs and bulls all around the room, and his host explained, as he set wine in front of him, "the poem is called 'La Grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le Boeuf', which translates as 'the frog who wanted to be as big as a bull', though of course it loses a little in the translation."
And whatever else the man said was a mystery to Fudge as he drank the – very potent – wine and remembered no more of his time in La Chétive Pécore.

Friday night's dinner was an extremely festive occasion for the eighth year students. For the examinees, there were no more exams, no more stress, no more extreme concentration brought on by the Prosecho charm, which helped wonderfully but left them all feeling drained. For the other eighth years, there were no more revision sessions. And all of them had the prospect of two weeks holiday coming up. As the students were all of age, Flitwick and McGonagall even allowed them to have wine with their meal, a circumstance which the French girls commented on favorably – for wine with meals was the rule at Beauxbatons.
The relief amongst the examinees was palpable; even Hermione was smiling now, though a couple of times she did wonder if perhaps she might have got a question wrong; but Ron shouted her down at once, and poured her another drink. Not that she was getting drunk; in view of her condition, Ron and Draco had found some sparkling grape juice and transfigured the bottles to look like wine bottles, so she and Pansy could drink these quite safely without having anyone the wiser.
By the end of the meal, everyone was feeling quite jolly. The absence of Eva Thillin was remarked on; but Padma assured them that the girl was all right, she had escorted her away earlier that day and she would be recovering in the Beauxbatons infirmary by now. And perhaps it was uncharitable of them, but it must be said that nobody particularly missed her.

Draco made a point of taking Harry to bed early that night, and they lay together cuddling for a long time, dressed only in their boxers.
"I'm sorry," Draco said at last.
Harry, who had almost been asleep under his fiancé's ministrations, shuddered awake and looked over at him, startled.
"Sorry?" he echoed. "What for?"
"Well, I recognise that Hermione and I have been awful this week," Draco acknowledged, a guilty look on his face. " We kind of got all wound up in study and books and exams. And the Prosecho spell is wonderful for focus, but I feel that I forgot how special you are. How grateful I am to be here, free and with friends, instead of lonely, rotting away in Azkaban. And most of all I'd lost sight of how much I enjoy just spending time with you, alone."
Harry chuckled, shuffling over a little so that he could embrace his fiancé. "That's all right, I understand." He had kind of expected both Draco and Hermione's behaviour and certainly knew better than to take it personally. "Anyway, we're alone now …"
"So we are," Draco drawled, and smirked as he propped himself up on one elbow. "So, how do you think you went in the exams then?"
"RIGHT!" Harry said, and attacked his lover with tickling fingers. Draco hadn't been expecting this, and let out a rather shrill shriek of protest, which Harry silenced by the simple expedient of claiming his lover's lips in a kiss.
"Apology accepted," Harry said, once they broke off for air, then kissed again, slow and sensuous this time. Draco moaned in pleasure at that, and they soon found themselves drifting off to a contented sleep, wrapped in each other's arms.
Saturday 19 September
The following morning, Hermione woke up with a start. Something was wrong; it took her a few seconds to realise that she was in Ron's bed, but he wasn't cuddled next to her. She pouted when she worked it out; waking up with him holding her was one of her favourite things. But then all was forgiven as she felt his strong hands massaging her feet, something she particularly loved, especially since falling pregnant.
"Good morning, my love," Ron said, pausing in his efforts just long enough to hand her a small wrapped parcel.
"What's this for?" she asked, stifling a small moan of pleasure when Ron dug his finger into a particularly tight knot in her foot.
"Happy birthday," he replied with a grin, looking decidedly pleased with himself, and Hermione's mouth made a perfect 'O'. With all the focus on the exams and the wedding coming up, it had completely slipped her mind that of course today was her birthday.
"Oh," she said. "Um, thanks," and then she unwrapped the parcel. Inside was a rather lovely silver necklace with a small koala on it.
"Do you like it?" Ron asked diffidently, moving up the bed to sit next to her. "I bought it while we were in Sydney."
"It's lovely," Hermione said as she put the necklace on, Ron helping her with the fastening. "Now, where's my happy birthday kiss?"
Ron Weasley was not often early to breakfast; though he loved his food, he loved his sleep just as much. But today his tardiness had a different cause …

As this was an official Hogwarts break, the Hogwarts Express ran to take the students back to London; and during the trip Hermione discovered that, though she had forgotten her birthday, her peers had not; everyone wished her a happy day, and she received lots of little presents. It was obvious that they had all been in cahoots; many of the present were small sliver Australian animals that were charmed to happily climb her necklace and grip onto it, so by the time they arrived at King's Cross Station there was hardly any unoccupied chain visible. It was obviously a gift, or set of gifts, that a great deal of thought had gone into, and she absolutely loved it.
The Hogwarts Express made good time, and they arrived at the station a little after half-past two to find Margaret Granger waiting on the platform. The dentist explained that the Weasleys were rather busy today and so the Grangers had volunteered to pick both Hermione and Ron up from the station and take them out to a late birthday lunch.
"Where is Miriam?" Hermione asked, disappointed that her little sister was not there to meet her.
"Ah," Margaret said with an apologetic look as she led them out to Peter Granger, who was waiting in the car, "Miriam gave us a little problem. You see, both your Dad and I had full lists in our surgeries this morning, and Miriam went to play with her best friend Teddy, which happens most Saturday mornings now; when we went round to Andromeda's to pick her up, she threw a tantrum, and Andromeda insisted we could leave her with them. So she's still there. But we thought it would give us a chance to have a pleasant meal with you two, and then we can pick her up on the way to dropping Ron off at the Burrow."
"Oh," Hermione said, a little deflated as they finished stowing trunks and got into the car. "I was rather hoping that Ron could stay with us."
"I'm sure his mother misses him, dear, and will want him home," Margaret said, firmly, and Hermione knew there would be no arguing on the point. "Now," her mother continued, brightening, "your father has found a lovely Italian café to eat at, and they're open all afternoon, so we thought we'd go there."
In the event it was a little after four that they arrived at Andromeda's house to pick up Miriam. Naturally, Andromeda offered them tea; and, though Margaret was worried about trespassing on Andromeda's hospitality, she also knew they probably needed to kill about twenty minutes, so reluctantly accepted.
"Thank you so much for looking after her!" she said when they were settled comfortably, and the two children were sprawled on a rug together, cooing happily at each other.
"Of course," Andromeda said. "She was no trouble; in fact, Teddy is much easier to manage with her here."
"Dee?" Miriam asked, having heard the name mentioned; and then, when she didn't get a response quickly enough, started rocking and shouting, "Dee! Dee!"
All at once, Miriam levitated into the air, and, spying her friend, yelled happily, "Dee!" as she turned in the air and floated down next to him.
"What was that?" Margaret and Peter asked together, stunned.
"Wow!" Ron said at the same time. "Accidental magic!"
"It seems, Margaret," Andromeda said calmly, "that you have two witches in the family. More tea?"

Robin Banks was more than a little annoyed. He and Dandelus Crockford had been part of a group of Aurors who met the train, intending to take Eva Thillin into custody; but instead, they had been met by a very surprised Madame Dubois.
"I am zorry," she said, when they explained who they wanted, "but Eva was ill yesterday and so 'as returned to Beauxbatons early."
"I see," Crockford said, quite obviously keeping a leash on his anger, with some difficulty. "And you did not think to tell us?"
"But no," the Frenchwoman replied, drawing herself up to her full height. "I did not think I was required to inform you of our movements."
Robin groaned inwardly. Crockford might be a lot better to work with than he had been, but courtesy was still not his strong suit. With the Frenchwoman's fiery temper added in, he knew he needed to stop this before it became a major incident.
"Well, never mind," he said out loud. "Did she return alone, or was she accompanied?"
"Of course she was accompanied!" Dubois returned, evidently scandalised that the Auror might think otherwise. "Mademoiselle Padma Patil went with her. Padma!" she called.
The girl came forward, a little concerned to see a group of Aurors talking to her chaperone.
"Yes, Madame?" she said.
"These gentlemen are interested to know what happened with Eva. Will you please confirm for them that you and Eva returned to Beauxbatons yesterday?"
Padma looked very sheepish.
"Actually, Madame," she confessed, "that's not exactly what happened."
"Non?" the chaperone replied sharply.
"No," Padma said, and took a deep breath. "Eva took us both to the Ministry of Magic, where we met up with the old Minister – Mr Fudge? Is that right?"
"Yes," Crockford replied, "that's right. And what happened when you met up with him?"
"We chatted, and Mr Fudge explained that he was going to take Eva on, so that I didn't have to leave the country. Then I returned to Hogwarts, and he took Eva on." Padma then looked at them wide-eyed as she realised that there must be something big going on for the Aurors to be involved. "Did I do something wrong? She is all right, isn't she?"
"As far as we know, nothing is wrong, Miss," Crockford replied blandly. "But we are anxious to get hold of the lady as soon as we can. Thank you for your help. We'll continue our enquiries at the Paris end."
With that, they left the poor unfortunate Padma to face the wrath of Madame Dubois, who was most unhappy not to have known the whole story, and made sure that Padma knew it as the party of French school girls made their way to their rooms at the Leaky Cauldron.

Somehow, the Grangers managed to get Miriam distracted long enough to get her away from Teddy and out of the house, and so it was that their car drew up at the Burrow just before five. So far, Hermione hadn't suspected a thing; but as they got out of the car and retrieved Ron's trunk, she looked around, pensively.
"Something's wrong," she said.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Too quiet," she replied as they walked up the path towards the kitchen door. And then Ron didn't go in, walking through to the back garden, and Hermione followed him obliviously …
"SURPRISE!" came a huge cry as the notice-me-not and silencing charms that Molly and Arthur had used failed, and a huge crowd was revealed gathered in the back garden waiting for her.
Hermione put her hands to her mouth. She had wondered if they were going to do something this evening, but had expected it would be just the family; this, this was incredible.

Hermione was amazed that all her friends had turned up. To Miriam's delight, even Andy and Teddy were there, having got changed into party clothes as soon as they left and travelled to the Burrow through the Floo. She wandered around the garden, which had a marquee up, with the usual bellflowers courtesy of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, though Neville did admit that he didn't grow these ones – 'and really, when would he have had time?' she thought to herself.
And it wasn't just her close friends. All of the eighth year students were there, except Eva Thillin who had gone off sick the day before. That was truly remarkable in itself – they had all known this was happening, and no-one had told her. Of course, it helped that she had been so focused on exams that she'd hardly said a word to anyone all week; and that thought made her feel a little guilty.
"You do not look happy?" she was asked, and turned to see Anders Anderssen looking at her with concern.
"Oh!" she replied with a deprecating laugh. "No, sorry, just thinking how unsociable I've been - I haven't really talked to anyone this week!"
"Well," the youth replied with a shy smile, "perhaps tonight you could remedy that?"
Hermione laughed. "Good point," she said, leading him to a nearby table and chairs. "So tell me, what will you be doing over the two week break?"

The evening went on happily, with much talking and laughter. Margaret was delighted to see that her daughter, usually happier with books than people, was clearly making an effort to talk to people, and quite obviously enjoying herself. She had been a little worried when they were organising the party that Hermione would find so much attention unfamiliar and overwhelming; but that wasn't the case. It helped that the people there were all so lovely: the students happily talked and joked with her, and she found herself explaining dentistry in some depth more than once, as the magical folk here showed a genuine and quite endearing interest in all things "muggle".
Molly's food was magnificent, as ever; and the wine flowed freely, courtesy of Peter Granger, and there was music and dancing, and sitting around in small groups, and generally getting along with friends, reconnecting with family, and the relaxed feeling that now, at last, term was really over, and there was no school for a fortnight for many of them; while the examinees may well only have their projects to complete. Of course, four of the students had a wedding to prepare for; but that thought could wait.
Most of the guests were wearing the Sydney uniform of t-shirt, shorts and that weird flip-flop footwear that the Australians (to the embarrassment and amusement of American tourists, who use the word for other garments) call 'thongs'. But some of them had gone to some trouble with their costumes: Fred, George, Neville and Angelina were dressed as a mob of red kangaroos, which was quite a hoot as they had pouches where they had stored prank items and would happily hop up to a random guest and shower them in some of their special powder, changing skin and hair colour. At first, Hermione was worried that people might take offense; but, as Ron pointed out when she commented on it to him, they were very careful to choose their victims. So, Seamus ended up with green, white and orange hair again, and only laughed; while the French girls, always concerned about their appearance, were left alone.
As far as costumes went, there was no doubting who the best-dressed couple were. Lucius and Narcissa had come as Australian birds, using two of the twins' hats to do it: Lucius was dressed as a sulphur-crested cockatoo, in a beautiful white suit, with frock-coat spelled to look like wings, and a headdress that incorporated the necessary plumage, and made the frightful noises that were associated with the bird; while Narcissa, resplendent in a beautiful black ball-gown, again spelled with feathers and a train that frothed up behind her, looked for all the world like a black swan, her hat incorporating the long neck and red beak that those birds have.
The effect, both the individual costumes and the contrast between the two, was absolutely stunning and Hermione was bowled over at the thought and effort that the two had put into their attire, and said so to them.
"Of course, my dear, it was a pleasure to have such a lovely event to attend!" Narcissa replied.
There was no immediate answer to that, so Hermione asked if they had got their hats at the twins' shop.
"Oh yes!" Narcissa replied. "Lucius visited their shop on Thursday. From what he tells me, it is a most wonderful place. I shall have to go and see for myself. Though I do hope they will take pity on me; Lucius came home with blue hair, which didn't really suit him and certainly wouldn't suit me!"
After a little more small-talk, Ginny, home specially for the party, came up to her, with a young man Hermione didn't at first recognise.
"Happy birthday!" Ginny said, kissing her. "You remember Dudley, from Harry's party?"
Hermione looked closely at the man Ginny was with.
"Dudley?" she asked. "Oh, of course, you're Dudley Dursley, Harry's cousin."
"Um, no, not any more," the lad replied. "I mean, I'm still his cousin, but I'm Dudley Potter now. As a Dursley, I was horrible to him, but he's given me his forgiveness and another chance. I hope you don't mind that I've gate-crashed your party; but Harry said I should come tonight, even though it's your party, because I really am part of the family and he wanted me here."
"No, it's great that you're here," she said, and surprised him with a big hug. "Have you met everyone?"
And so saying, she joined Ginny in taking him round and making sure he was looked after.

A little later, Hermione sought out one particular friend.
"Harry," she said, when she had found him, in the company of Draco, Padma and the other visiting students, "I just wanted to say, thank you so very very much," and she kissed him on the cheek.
"Um, thanks," Harry said, dumbfounded. "But what for, exactly?"
"Being you," Hermione replied. "Being the incredible man who has drawn all of these people together."
And when it was clear that he didn't get it, she continued, "For being the man who has, without even trying, got the pure-blood snobby Malfoys to attend a party for a Mud blood at the home of blood-traitors; and have them enjoying themselves. For being the man who still wanted the cousin who tormented him to be part of the family. For taking these people who were at one another's throats, and drawing them together as a family. Seeing them here, seeing them bother to dress up, knowing that Lucius braved the twins to get the hats they needed, that's the most amazing birthday present I could have."
"Yeah, it is something, I guess," said Harry, blushing. "We really are becoming one big family, aren't we?"
And then, as she spotted Ginny deep in conversation with Angelique and Blaise, it occurred to him that one family member was missing.
"Where's Robin?" he asked.
As if summoned by the question, the man himself came out the back door, dressed in Auror robes, his face like flint.
"Oh!" Padma exclaimed, rushing over to him. "Have you found Eva? Has something happened?"
"Yes," he replied. "We have found Eva. And Fudge. As far as we know, Miss Patil, your friend is all right; but something has most definitely happened."
Robin looked over to Arthur Weasley, and signaled to him to come over. Then Padma, Madame Dubois, Arthur, Harry, and Draco went inside for a conference with Robin, where he explained what the Aurors had discovered: Eva Thillin had not returned to Beauxbatons at all. She had, in fact, disappeared. Late that afternoon, Fudge had arrived at St Mungo's, and was very much the worse for wear, and was now installed in the Janus Thickey Ward, the ward for patients with permanent spell damage.
"He's been hexed and obliviated," Robin explained. "He only seems to be able to say one thing, and that's mumbled, but the healers are pretty sure it's 'La Chétive Pécore'"
"What's that?" Draco asked.
"It's the name of an inn in Marseille," Robin replied. "An inn with definite connections to the Marseille magical underworld."
"Oh no!" Padma exclaimed. "Poor Eva!"
Robin snorted. "I don't think so," he said, though not unkindly. "No, we believe Eva set it up. She was the one who got the fake galleons to Hogwarts, the ones used in the attack on Harry; we were going to arrest her this afternoon when the train pulled in. No, I think she's seen the writing on the wall, and skipped."
"Do you think we'll see her again?" Harry asked.
"Doubtful," Robin replied, with a sigh. "She's a wanted person now; if she shows her face in France, they'll nab her straight away. Anyway, now that I've told you all the news, I can go off duty. I've had quite enough of Eva Thillin for today; let's party!"
As the group made their way back outside, Fred came up to them.
"Oh good, I was worried the Ministry had nabbed Dad again," he said. "Come and get a drink, the babies have gone to bed and we've put Silencing charms so we won't disturb them; it's time for the fireworks!"
"Ooh!" Padma exclaimed. "Are we having fireworks?"
Of course they were having fireworks! There were bursts of colour, and light; and, just as people were settling down, expecting the usual starbursts and rockets to follow, the twins produced two amazing set-pieces especially in Hermione's honour.
Firstly, a strange blob of grey smoke appeared, then took on the form of a mountain troll, and Hermione clapped her hands in enjoyment at the twin's rendition of the scene from her first year at Hogwarts, the time when she had been trapped by a troll, the time she dated her real friendship with Harry and Ron from. There was even a rocket that streamed into the blob, dispersing it, and it did look a bit like Harry's wand which had gone up the troll's nostril.
There was much applause; and just as it was beginning to die down, another bang announced the second scene, as a green cloud formed itself into a dragon, with what was recognizably three people riding it, reminding them of their ride on the dragon earlier that year.
Hermione hugged and kissed the twins, thanking them for their amazing display. And then she went and sought out three very special mothers, thanking Molly and Narcissa and her own mother for organising the event.
"It's been a wonderful evening," she said, tears of joy streaming down her face as she hugged each of these special women. "As Harry said, we really are becoming one big family."
And each of the ladies happily agreed with her, and shooed her away as a dance floor and DJ seemed to appear from nowhere, as if by magic, and the unsociable bookworm, free from worrying and stressing about schoolwork, or exams, lost herself in enjoyment amongst friends, as they danced the night away.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Grateful thanks as always to the wonderful Bicky Monster for helpful suggestions.
Other locations: See my profile for details about facebook.
Thanks: To all who subscribe! It gives me a lovely warm feeling that you're interested. And double thanks and slices of Hermione's birthday cake to those who commented on chapter 75. I hope that you can forgive me for letting Eva get away!
Please please review; and do stop by facebook and let me know what you think!
I have set up a thread for replies at http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/56042-review-replies-for-returning-to-sanity/ . I will generally try to reply to posts before posting a new chapter.
- 75
- 76
- 77
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Returning to Sanity