Happily Ever After?

Why?

A few hours later, everyone was sitting at the table for one last butterbeer. Draco cleared his throat and stood up.

"An anonymous survey is about to be taken," he announced. "Please answer both questions as truthfully as possible..." He gave everyone a piece of parchment except himself and Harry. Everyone scrambled for a quill. Harry raised an eyebrow at him.

"There are two questions?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yes, there are," Draco said teasingly. "I was just wondering about something and..."

"DRACO!!!" Hermione screamed. "I can't answer that!"

"Yes, you can," Draco said. "Come on, it's an anonymous survey, no one will know..."

Hermione sighed, frustrated, and folded her parchment as she handed it to Draco. "Did you tell him to ask that?" she asked Harry.

"No," Harry said. "Whatever it is, no. But I just wish I had an idea what you're talking about."

Hermione threw up her hands and sat back down, mumbling about stupid boys and unfair questions. "Everyone done?" Draco asked. "Great... just give them to me..."

Everyone handed Draco a folded piece of parchment, and Draco started counting votes. Harry tried to sneak a peek over his shoulder, but Draco kicked him without even looking up. Finally he smiled.

"The results are in," Draco said. "All ten people said Harry is just as good at Quidditch as James, and three people said if not better. Wonder who those could be." Draco threw glances at Lily, James, and Sirius, who looked innocent. "And I do believe you owe me three Knuts, Harry."

Grumbling, Harry handed over the money. Draco chuckled. "For the second question... a curious nine people responded the Harry and Hermione would get married within the next five years."

Hermione choked and Harry made a noise in his throat. "I DEMAND a recount!" Hermione said, slapping her hand on the table. Harry slapped Draco very hard.

"Ouch," Draco said lamely. "It was an innocent question, guys... Hermione... Harry... what are you doing? Please don't kill me..." Draco backed away slowly as Harry and Hermione advanced on him.

"Help me," he whispered. "Someone... anyone...?" No one moved. Draco grimaced and sprinted out of the room as fast as his little legs would carry him. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, turned, and started advancing on the people at the table.

"Hey, hey!" Parvati said. "In our defense, I would like to say... IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO!"

"Who says?" Hermione said. "I could - I could - I could be thinking of dumping Harry at this moment, and what would you say then?" Harry turned to Hermione with his mouth open. "Not that I am, of course," she added quickly. "It was a strictly rhetorical question."

"Good," Harry grumbled. "I'm going to bed. Good night." Harry left, and Hermione followed.

Draco, I'm going to kill you.

Beaky... it was just a joke...

Honestly, Harry, you know you will...

It's the PRINCIPLE of the thing, Mum! Just ASKING that question...

"When you're done," Hermione said. Harry just realized she was there.

"Oh, hi Hermione," Harry said, blushing.

"You know and understand that you were speaking out loud and what you have said could be used against you in a court of law?"

"I do," Harry said, heart sinking. Hermione kissed him.

"Thanks, Harry."

"Any time." By this time they were in their wing, and Harry kissed Hermione good night. Hermione headed into her room and changed into her nightgown. There was a squeal in the hall as she climbed into bed, and Draco opened the door and closed it quickly, leaning up against it and clicking the lock

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked. Draco looked at the door and, realizing Harry wasn't tearing after him yet, walked towards her and went into her closet.

"Hiding," he declared, peeking at her overtop of a large box.

"From who?" Hermione asked, bemused.

"Harry," Draco said shortly.

"Come on, get out of there, Harry can't get you in here," Hermione said. Reluctantly, Draco moved the big box aside and got out of her closet. "Sit," Hermione gestured to the end of her bed. Draco sat.

"You're not going to kill me, are you?" Draco asked worriedly, inching away from her. Hermione laughed and shook her head.

"No. I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Draco asked.

"For, in a way, saving me."

"From what?" Draco asked, moving away from her and she inched closer.

"Harry."

"No, no, Winger, you saved me from Harry," Draco reminded her. "He's probably hunting down my blood as we speak."

"I'm serious, Draco," Hermione said, coming closer. Draco stopped moving and Hermione sat next to him. "I don't - I can't love Harry, Draco."

"You've been doing a good job so far," Draco said. "Harry's crazy about you."

"I know," Hermione sighed. "And I love him, don't get me wrong, I love him a lot, but - not in the way he thinks. In a strictly platonic way."

"Then... why did you say that you loved him in that we-could-be-friends-but-let's-not kind of way?" Draco asked.

"Because... promise not to tell Harry this?"

"I swear."

"Because I thought if I was going out with Harry, no one would guess who I really liked."

"And who is that?"

Hermione bit he lip and hugged him. Slowly she raised her face to his.

And she kissed him.

It took a moment for Draco to respond. Then he slowly kissed her back. Kissing Draco was different than kissing Harry, Hermione thought. Harry's kisses were often rough, and his lips were bruised from kisses in the past. Kissing Draco was like kissing an angel. His kiss was soft and gentle. His lips were pinker and smaller than Harry's, and they were unscarred from kisses past. Hermione closed her eyes. Everything was perfect.

Until a moment later.

The door flew open and the lock broke. There, standing white-faced and open-mouthed, was Harry, holding out a blistered hand.

There, lying in his palm, shining a deep red, was the Clitoral Band Draco had given him twenty years ago.

Draco let go of Hermione abruptly, but it wasn't fast enough. Harry had seen. He stared at Hermione, a lump forming in his throat. Then he turned to Draco. He stared at Draco longer. Draco hated the way Harry stared at him. There was something in Harry's eyes that made him want to look away. Was it anger? Sorrow? Misery? Or was it... it couldn't be... disappointment? Whatever it was, Draco didn't turn away. He swallowed.

"Harry..." Draco whispered. Harry didn't move, he only blinked.

"Why?" Harry whispered. "Why?" There it was again. Disappointment.

"Harry..." Draco said again. "No..."

But Harry didn't hear him. His eyes wandered to Hermione again, who looked away. Harry dropped the Clitoral Band to the floor and shook his head. Harry watched Draco again, opened his mouth to speak, but he was trembling too hard, so he just Disapparated.

Harry reappeared in his bedroom. There wasn't much time... Draco would have the whole house searching for him in a matter of seconds... he snapped his fingers and an envelope appeared in his hand. Throwing a glance at the door to make sure no one was coming, he Disapparated again.

A second later he appeared in Diagon Alley. He sighed and walked over to the ice cream shop, which was closed for the season. He sat down at a picnic table and stared at the envelope in his hand. He opened it. And took out one of the many pieces of parchment in it. He read it.

Dearest Harry...

Harry read the letter six times. Finally he Disapparated yet again and this time appeared in front of a very large building. He entered it and walked up to a counter. The lady behind it smiled.

"Good evening. Welcome to the British Ministry of Magic Headquarters. I'm Joanna Crolli, head of the Department of Populace. How may I help you?"

"I'm Harry Potter, and I'm looking for the records of a certain person named Laura Hillman," Harry said calmly.

"Do you have any proof of your identification, sir?" Ms. Crolli asked suspiciously. Harry lifted up his bangs. "I see. What relation are you to Mrs. Hillman?"

"Miss Hillman," Harry stressed. "Casual acquaintance."

"And what is the reason of your wanting to find Miss Hillman?"

"Ah - Hogwarts reunion, class of..." Harry did some quick math, "1977."

"Uh-huh," said Mrs. Crolli, scribbling down information. "Is she married?"

"I - uh - don't know," said Harry, blushing. "That's what I want to find out."

"Wait here please, Mr. Potter." She disappeared behind a door and returned barely a second later with a folder.

"There's a research room two doors down to the right," Mrs. Crolli said. "Please return the files when you're finished."

"Thank you," Harry said. "Very much." He entered the research room and pulled out a piece of parchment, some ink, and his wand.

"Calamus," he muttered. His wand sprouted a quill tip and he stared at the folder.

This was it. This was what he had been waiting for.

He opened the folder. Inside was a picture of her. She smiled and waved at him. It was her Hogwarts graduation picture. She was a little bigger than Harry remembered, but this was two years after he knew her... she had hardly changed. Harry's eyes almost filled with tears as he turned to the next file. It was a copy of her Apparation license. That picture smiled at him too. It was her three months ago, when it had last been updated, Harry saw. She still hadn't changed much. It was like looking at Hermione if you added about twenty years. But he shook Hermione out of his mind. He turned to her current files.

"Current residence," Harry read under his breath. "31268 Augury Lane. Status: Unmarried." That was all he needed. He scribbled down the address and shoved the parchment in his pocket and ink in his pocket. "Finite Incantatum," he muttered. His wand was back to normal. He gave the files back to Mrs. Crolli and thanked her. He walked out of the building and quickly Disapparated to 31268 Augury Lane.

Harry stood outside the house. He was about to see her again. It took a moment for the thought to sink in. He was about to see Laura again. After both two weeks and twenty years. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He heard someone mutter, "- at this time of night?" Harry kicked himself; it was nine o'clock at night. He should have waited until morning. Ah, well, too late now. The door opened. And Harry knew it was her.

She had hardly changed. She had the same beautiful blue eyes and the same wavy brown hair. Harry took a step back. "Who are you?" Laura asked. "What do you want?"

And realization struck Harry. What in the world was he supposed to say? 'Hi, you may not remember me, but I'm Harry Potter-Finnigan, and I was your boyfriend twenty years ago. I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by for some tea.' He was doomed.

"Hello?" Laura said.

"I - I wanted to - to talk to you," Harry said, taking a deep breath and looking in her in the eye. "Just - talk."

"What's your name?" Laura said, irritated. Harry opened his mouth.

"Umm..."

"Listen," Laura said, sighing, "I don't talk to strangers, especially teenage boys who show up in the middle of the night and won't even tell me who they are. That includes you, doesn't it? So if you'll excuse me."

"Wait," Harry said. He did some fast thinking. "I'm Harry - Harry Finnigan."

Laura paused and turned to look at him. "Wha - what?" she said. "No - you couldn't be - but you are - you look just like - " She paused. "Come in," she said shortly. Harry took a deep breath and thought rapidly as he stepped inside. Laura led him to the parlor and sat down. Laura stared at him as he looked around.

"Well," she said expectantly. "Go on, sit." Harry sat on the edge of the couch. "How old are you, anyway?" Laura asked.

"Fifteen," Harry said.

"Oh," Laura said, disappointed. "I knew you couldn't be - I mean he was - when I knew him - "

"Knew who?" Harry persisted.

"Harry Fin - " she paused. "But - that's not why you're here. You wanted to tell me something...?"

"Wha - oh!" Harry blushed. "Right... you knew - Lily and James Potter, didn't you?"

"If I did?" Laura asked. "Why do you care?"

"Did you ever meet their son?" Harry persisted.

"Harry?" Laura asked. "Oh, Harry... he was the sweetest baby. He was so... of course, that was before...why are you asking me this?" Laura said abruptly. "Why are you here? What do you want me to tell you? Don't beat around the bush. Just ask me, or tell me, or something, so you can get out." Laura was obviously getting annoyed.

"Fine," Harry said, not losing his cool. "I lied to you. I'm not Harry Finnigan, I'm Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter is dead," Laura said, standing up. "I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing here, but I'm giving you sixty seconds to explain yourself before I get Hit wizards in here." Laura held her wand in her hand. "And don't think I won't." Harry's eyes darted to the table, where an unrolled newspaper lay.

"Harry Potter is alive all right," he said calmly, taking the newspaper in his hand. He unrolled it. As he had suspected, on the front page was a huge picture of him. THE BOY WHO LIVED LIVES AGAIN. Harry never thought he would be so glad to see his face. He turned the page so that Laura could see it before tossing it back onto the table. He stood up and lifted his bangs. Laura's hand trembled.

"What do you want?" she whispered.

"I want to know if you remember me," Harry said.

"Remember you?" Laura cried. "I don't even KNOW you!"

"I told you," Harry said serenely, "I'm Harry Finnigan."

"I'm giving you another sixty seconds," Laura said in a throaty whisper, "to tell me what you're trying to say straight out or leave my house before I call the Ministry." She stepped towards the fireplace. Harry blinked.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes," Laura said maliciously.

"Fine." Harry took a deep breath and started. "Most people call me Harry Potter, but when you knew me, and yes, you did know me, you knew me as Harry Finnigan, or at least you remember me as Harry Finnigan, so that's all that really matters." Harry sighed. "And now you think I'm crazy because Harry Finnigan was your age when you knew him, twenty years ago, but I'm telling you, it was me. It was a Time Potion that transported me and... and... and that lying piece of scum that some people call Malfoy back twenty years ago, that's why they thought we were dead, and I met you, and I fell in love with you... and I know that it's impossible for you to feel the same way after all these years, but I had to get away from that place as fast as I could and I thought if I could see you again everything would be all right... and now you don't believe me and you still think I'm crazy, but I can prove it if you'll just trust that I wouldn't hurt you, even if I could." Harry took a deep breath. "Well, that's about it."

Laura looked at him. "And why should I trust you?" Laura persisted. "How do I know you're not some crackpot old fool? Why should I believe you?"

"What can I say to make you believe me?" Harry asked, throwing up his hands. "I can tell you anything you want to know, anything! I can tell you I asked you to the Founders' Day Ball, while at the same time making a gigantic fool of myself! I can tell you that you said yes! I can tell you what you were wearing that night! It was a light pink dress with frills and your hair was pulled back with jeweled barrettes and you were carrying a matching person, and I'm not usually the frills kind of guy, but you looked BEAUTIFUL!" Harry shouted. "I can tell you who went together! Bastard pka Malfoy, and Susie, Remus and Patricia, James and Lily, and Sirius went alone because Narcissa was off with Lucius! I can tell you the songs that were playing! They were Muggle songs, but one of them was I Think I'm in Love! I can tell you what we talked about! My first year at Hogwarts, only you thought it was my first year at Beauxbatons, and the Mirror of Erised! I can tell you who was singing! Celestina Warbeck, with Arabella Figg on lead guitar! I can tell you what we did! We went for a walk and then I kissed you and then I ran away because I'm so stupid... and then I came back, and I told you I was a jerk and we got back together and it was the best feeling in the world. And I can tell you what happened the next day. It was Remus's birthday and you thought he and that stupid Malfoy were from Yugoslavia," Harry had long stopped making sense and was ranting, "and he got a chessboard, and he told you he was a werewolf, and you didn't react that great, so I was a jerk again and dumped you again, and then we made up in the library and Arabella was watching us, stupid old lady that she is, and I said I'm sorry and then I had to go back early and then..." Harry took several deep breaths, and after finally calming down, looked at Laura.

Laura watched him with eyes softening. Harry's gaze never left her eyes. Finally Laura sighed.

"Just one more thing," she said quietly.

"What?" Harry whispered, his voice hoarse. "Anything."

"Do you have the letter?" Laura said quietly. She stared at him, waiting for a reaction. Harry blinked. Slowly, he took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to her. Laura sat down as she carefully unfolded it. She traced the writing with her finger and looked up.

"I believe you," she said quietly.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay then..." Harry took a deep breath. "Etaivilbo." A streak of light fled from Harry's hand and Laura jumped up. Harry backed up and fell down on the sofa. He looked exhausted.

Laura blinked rapidly. "Harry?" she said finally. Her tone was quiet and dazed. "Is - is that really you?"

Harry smiled weakly. "Yea," he whispered. "Yea, it is."

"Harry... are you hurt?" Laura asked, sitting down next to him. Harry shook his head.

"No... it's just... magical exhaustion, that's all..."

"What?" Laura asked, feeling his forehead.

"I... I've never done that spell without Malfoy before, and... and I just used up most of my magic... I'll be fine in an hour, tops..."

"Harry..." said Laura quietly. "Why - why are you back? Why did you come back?"

"I told you," said Harry, pulling himself up. "I had to leave. I ran away."

"Why?"

"Because... because I walked in on Malfoy and Hermione kissing... she was my girlfriend, God, I'm sorry, Laura, I really am, it was stupid of me... and I hate that I did it and it was horrible but I was confused... please forgive me, Laura. Please," he begged.

Laura blinked. "You... you what?" she asked quietly.

"I... I'm sorry," Harry whispered again, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry, okay? And I know it'll never be enough just to say I'm sorry, and I - I'm just really, really, sorry."

Laura didn't answer. She stood up and watched the clock tick on the mantle. Finally she turned back to Harry. "You should go home."

"I told you... I can't," Harry said through gritted teeth as he tried to breathe. "I ran away... I know what I'm doing..."

"Then where are you going to go?"

Harry paused. "I haven't a clue."

Laura sighed. "Come on, Harry. You need to sleep, and I need to think. We can talk in the morning." Laura helped Harry up and led him down a hallway. "Just go to sleep," Laura said to Harry. "Lavatory's down the hall, first door to the left. I hope you feel better." Without another word, Laura walked away. Harry plopped down on the bed in the room, too exhausted to really notice or care. He immediately fell asleep.

Laura sat down on her couch with a sigh. She looked up at the ceiling.

"What am I supposed to do?" she whispered. "I mean, he's back, and I should be happy... why am I not happy? Is there something wrong with me?" Knowing that her ceiling was an inanimate object and could not possibly respond, she sighed again despairingly and sunk back down into the sofa.

"I guess..." she said slowly, to herself. "I guess it's because I expected that just because I never saw anyone after him, that he would do the same. And that was stupid. Just because I thought it was real..."

He said he was sorry.

Laura was startled when this thought came to her head. What?

I said he said he was sorry. He's still a kid, you know. What's he supposed to say?

I don't know...

Well, he doesn't either. You may have grown since you were with him last, but he hasn't. He's a teenager. Cut him some slack. He's been through a lot.

So have I!

Yea, but you're thirty-five. You've had time to get over it. He's a kid. A kid.

Exactly! Of all the people in the world, I had to fall in love with a kid, a kid twenty years my junior, a kid who's world-famous, a kid who can't possibly love me, a kid who has been through war, and my greatest fear is spiders. Laura gave a frustrated sigh. So what am I supposed to do now that this kid is back in my life, no, not just my life, but sleeping in my spare bedroom, and I just find out that he's been seeing another girl, no, not JUST another girl, the one girl I specifically told him to think of me when he's around her?

He said he's sorry...

And the words echoed through Laura's head for a very, very long time.

Harry awoke the next morning feeling much better. For a moment, he almost forgot what had happened.

Almost.

But not quite.

Laura's head peeked through at him. "You're awake," she said, smiling. "Breakfast?"

"Er... yea, thanks," Harry said. He rubbed his eyes, smoothed out his robes, and followed her out of the room. Laura led him to a cozy little kitchen with a small round table with two wicker chairs sitting beside it. The table was laid out with toast and sausage. Laura gestured for Harry to sit and, timidly, Harry did so. They ate in silence. Suddenly Harry looked up.

"Thank you," he said.

Laura blinked. "For what?"

"Everything," Harry said, getting up and folding his arms. He turned away from her and stared at the wall. "For letting me stay in your house when I had nowhere else to go, for not telling Mum and Dad even though they were your friends and you're probably just dying to talk to them again, but most of all for listening to the troubles of a fifteen-year old boy you have no responsibility for and no relation to who showed up, heart shattered into millions of tiny pieces, on your private doorstep in the middle of the night."

Laura sighed. "I am responsible for you."

"No, you're not," Harry sighed. "I'm responsible for my own stupid actions and all the stupid reasons behind them."

"They're not stupid, Harry," Laura said. "They're your dreams. Your reasons for living. Draco, Sirius, Remus, James, Lily, ... Hermione," she said, swallowing hard. "You can't just give up on them."

"Well, I did," Harry said resignedly. "Well, most of them, at least."

"Harry, you have to grow up," Laura said, gently touching his shoulder. "See new things. Make new friends. Get new dreams. But that doesn't mean you just forget the old ones."

"Do you think I don't miss my mum and dad?" Harry choked. "I do. And I miss Sirius and Remus and Narcissa and Patricia and even Arabella, twisted old lady that she is, but I don't miss Malfoy and Granger, so that's why I can't go back."

"I think you do miss them," Laura said. "Even if you don't want to admit it." She paused. "I have to go to work. If anyone calls or Floos or knocks on the door, don't answer. If you desperately need someone, and it's really an emergency, call Susie. You remember her, don't you? Her number is on the fridge... you can use a telephone, right?" Harry nodded glumly. "Then I'll see you. I get home at six, fix yourself something to eat... later, then." She pulled on her jacket and grabbed her wand off the counter.

"Later," Harry nodded, and Laura Disapparated.

At six o'clock, Harry was sitting on the sofa, a bored expression on his face. When he heard a pop, he didn't bother turning around.

"Hello," he said, not taking his eyes off a fly that had been crawling on the table.

"Hello," Laura said. "Didn't have too much fun, did you?"

Harry looked up. "No, not really."

"What did you do all day?"

"Well, let's see. I alphabetized your collection of spellbooks by author, but then I decided to change that to the chronological order that they were published, but that was really hard, so I gave up and did it by title. Then I did your laundry and cleaned all the lint off of it. I started to get really bored so I went through all of your old movies and came up with this really bizarre one called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Absolutely insane, it was. I loved it. Then I made a pickled herring sandwich and weeded your garden - it was an absolute mess. I mowed your lawn, counted the bricks on your chimney, and then I came in here and watched that very fly, yes, the one right there, and then you showed up and here we are."

"Kept yourself entertained, I see," Laura smiled. "Now here's a guy who can make his own fun. How many?"

"How many what?"

"Bricks, of course."

"Four hundred thirty six point seventy-eight."

"How do you get point seventy-eight of a brick?"

"I got so frustrated when I realized how many there were, and there was this accident. I can fix it, if you want. And the purple is almost gone now, anyway. Don't worry, no one saw."

"Mhmm..." Laura said. "You like Chinese? I picked some up." She held up a bag. Harry shrugged.

"Not hungry," he sighed, leaning back.

"You sure? I can't eat all these egg rolls by myself."

"No thanks," he mumbled. "The herring spoiled my appetite."

"So," Laura said, sitting next to him and pulling out an egg roll, "you watched Monty Python?"

"Yea," Harry said, his eyes lighting up. "It was great. I loved Scene 24."

"Oh, me too," Laura agreed. "It was hilarious... So no one came?"

"No one," Harry said.

"Were you lonely?"

"No. I had everything from lint to the Knights of the Round Table to keep me company."

"I see." Laura paused. "Did you think about Draco?"

"Draco? I don't know anyone by the name Draco. If you mean Malfoy, we are no longer on a first-name basis. And please don't look at me like that, it's upsetting the herring."

"Ah," Laura said. "Denial."

"I'm not in denial. I'm simply forgetting that I ever stopped hating him."

"What about - Hermione?" Laura asked, her throat closing. Harry's face turned serious.

"I - " he said. He paused. "I'm sorry. Really."

"No..." Laura said. "No... it's all right."

"No, it's not. I'm really, really sorry."

Laura was silent for a moment. "No... it was stupid. Just because I had sworn never to see anyone after I met you, didn't mean you were going to do the same. No, of course not. I should have known in the first place that it's impossible... I mean, I'm twenty years older than you, I can't fall in love with you, and you can't fall in love with me... or maybe I can fall in love with you but you can't fall in love with me, I don't know, and just because I thought that maybe what we had was special..." Laura trailed off. "Forget it. No, just forget I said anything."

Harry blinked. "You - you did?" he whispered. "You... you love me?"

Laura turned coldly to him. "Yes, that's what I just said, isn't it? Yes, everyone come see the freak who fell in love with the famous Harry Potter who just happens to be twenty years younger than her. I..." Laura stopped. "Sorry. I don't know what just came over me. I shouldn't have said that."

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he looked Laura in the eye.

"I still love you, you know."

Laura blinked.

"I never stopped," he said quietly. "It was Hermione... I thought, no, maybe hoped that it was her instead of you, because I actually had hope with her, but I never really had any hope with you because when you're together for less than a day and you have a fight... I'm sorry. I really am."

Quickly Harry moved his head so that it was even with Laura's and very hurriedly, but still gently he kissed her. And then he got up and walked out of the room. Laura opened her mouth to say something, closed it again, and then opened it again in shock. She walked after him.

She found Harry sitting on his bed, his head facing the wall. He was hunched over, head in his hands. Laura felt a pang of guilt.

"Harry?" she whispered.

Harry lifted his head and turned his face towards her. A single teardrop ran down his cheek. Then he turned again.

"Harry..." Laura said desperately. "Stop..."

Harry didn't move.

"Harry, please... just don't cry, Harry, please."

Harry turned again. The tear was gone.

But it was replaced by many more.

This time Harry didn't turn back. He just stared at her, his eyes watering and he not trying to stop them.

Laura sat down next to him and hugged him. She felt so much better with him in her arms. "Don't cry," she whispered again. She tucked a tuft of Harry's hair under his ears. He looked at her.

She kissed him.

"I love you," she murmured.

Harry's eyes slowly stopped watering. Suddenly he put his arms around her.

"I know," he whispered. "I know."

The next morning, Harry woke up to Laura's hand waving in front of his face. He jumped.

"Don't... scare me... like that!" Harry huffed as he jumped out of bed.

"You're a heavy sleeper," Laura noted offhandedly.

"No kidding," Harry mumbled, straightening out his robes again.

"Food," Laura said simply. Harry looked up. "Hungry?"

"Yea..." Harry said. They both went into the kitchen and sat down.

"Toast?" Laura asked, holding up a piece. Harry took it. An owl swept through the window and dropped off the Daily Prophet. While Laura rummaged in her pocket for five Knuts, Harry stroked the owl and glanced at the headline for the Prophet.

"Oh no..." he said under his breath.

The headline read, The Boy-Who-Lived is... Missing?

"Oh no, oh no!" Harry said, standing up and pacing the kitchen quickly. "How could this happen? Oh, I knew it would happen, but why did it have to happen so soon?"

"Harry..." Laura said, here eyes following him, "just because they know you're missing, doesn't mean they know where you went. Because then you wouldn't really be missing, would you?"

"Even so, I -" There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Laura said quickly. She walked out of the kitchen quickly and opened the door. She gasped.

There stood a teenage boy with platinum blond hair, gray eyes, and pale skin that looked incredibly like...

"Draco?" Laura said under her breath, squinting. "Is that you?"

"You remember me," Draco said placidly, his eyes gleaming. "Harry's been here. Where is he?"

Laura blinked. "Come in," she said quietly. Draco stepped in.

"Laura," Draco said desperately, "I need to find Harry. He's been missing for over a day; his telepathic signal is off, and for all we know Voldemort could have killed him. He could be - "

" - anywhere," Laura finished. "I know. I understand. Just - wait here a minute." Laura walked out of the room.

"Harry, you're wearing a hole in the floor," Laura said quietly. Harry harrumphed. "And someone wants to talk to you."

Harry stopped in his tracks. "What? Who? Why?"

"Yes, someone, and you'll find out," Laura smiled. "He wants to talk to you."

"He. Well, that eliminates about half the human race.

"Just go."

Harry sighed and walked into the next room. Draco stood up. Harry opened his mouth, blinked, and seeing that he was really there, his face hardened.

"Oh," he said simply. "It's you."

"Harry... you're alive," Draco whispered.

"And well, no thanks to you," Harry said gruffly.

Draco opened his mouth, closed it, and then said, "Harry... we - I was so worried... I thought - "

"Well, you thought wrong," Harry snapped. "How could you do this to me? I trusted you. I had faith in you. I TRUSTED you! I trusted you when no decent person would! I trusted you when everyone else had the sense not to! Why, Draco? Just tell me why in the world you would do this to me, and then I can die happy," he said, trying not to sound too choked up.

Draco's eyes were filled with sadness. "I'm sorry, Harry."

"Sorry," Harry repeated. "So you're sorry. So am I. So am I." Harry paused. "Do you even know what you put me through?"

"Yes," Draco said, the temper in his voice finally showing. "Yes, I do. Because I felt the same way when I thought you betrayed me. Remember, twenty years ago? Because I remember. And I forgave you, because you said you were sorry. And now it's my turn. I'm sorry, Harry. I really am."

Harry stared at him. "I hate you," Harry said in a horrible, throaty voice. "I hate you and I'm never crawling back to you."

"Harry..." Laura said softly. Harry didn't hear her. Laura put a hand on his shoulder before turning and leaving the room.

"Well," Draco said quietly. "Okay then. If... if you're really not coming back," Draco gulped, "if you're really just going to ignore me, your best friend, who stayed by you through everything that happened, who was there for you when you were confused and didn't know what to do, who helped you get through everything you've been through, if you're just going to forget everything I've done for you, everything I went through for you, if you just want to forget you ever knew me, if you just choose to stay mad at me and not realize how sorry I am - fine. I can't stop you. But if you're really not coming back, then you might want to know that Lily misses you like crazy and is so obsessed with finding you that she won't even talk to anyone, and James - he went into a kind of trance a few hours after you left. He won't talk to anyone, not even Sirius and Lily, he won't eat, he won't sleep... all he does is sit on his bed and stare at the wall. Hermione - well, I'm not speaking to her, but I know if I was she would say she was sorry for hurting you, because even if she doesn't want to be your girlfriend, she still loves you like a brother. We all miss you, Harry, and we want you to come home. But I guess if you're not coming..." Draco swallowed, "then you should probably take this." Draco placed something in his hand. Harry looked down at it. It was the Key to their Blood Oath. "And this," Draco added, taking out something else. He shoved it into his hand. "Goodbye, Harry," he whispered. He turned and started to walk out the door. Harry looked down in his hand.

It was his Clitoral Band. The one Draco had given him.

But more importantly, it was stone cold.

Harry closed his eyes a thought hard for a second. "Wait," he said, not opening his eyes. "Don't go yet." When he opened his eyes, Draco had turned around and was facing him. Harry took a deep breath.

"Why?" Harry whispered. "Just tell me why you did it, and I swear I'll believe you."

Draco blinked. "I don't know why," Draco said slowly. "I don't think I'll ever know why. I just did. And I hate that I did it, and I hate that Hermione made me, which is why I'm not speaking to her." Draco took a deep breath. "I hate the fact that - well, every other time I've done something bad, I had a plausible excuse. Like, my father made me do it, or, it's not what you think happened. And now I don't."

"But I do know one thing. And it's that I'm really, really, really sorry, and that I want you to come back home. With me. With all of us. Where you belong."

Draco stared at Harry, his eyes unblinking. Suddenly and very unexpectedly, Harry swept Draco into a huge hug.

"I missed you," Harry said through clenched teeth. "I'm sorry."

And Draco hugged him back. "I missed you too," he muttered.

And Laura, who had secretly been watching it all, smiled.

When Harry and Draco finally let go of each other, Laura walked in, still grinning.

"Well," Laura said, "I think it's about time you go home, Harry."

Harry smiled at her, but despairingly looked around the room. "I'll miss this place, though," he said. "It's amazing how attached you can get to places by just hanging around them for a few hours. I'll miss your large, heavy, and incredibly complicated spellbooks, and Monty Python, and... you." Harry sighed. Laura hugged him.

"I won't be far away," she said.

"Whoa, hold on a minute," Draco said. "Am I missing something here? And what the heck is Monty Python?"

Laura kissed Harry lightly on the lips. And suddenly Draco understood.

Harry.

Draco.

HARRY!!!!!!!!!

Hi, Mum.

YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!!!!

Mum, please calm down; I don't have any aspirin with me.

"You don't?" Draco said despairingly. "Here, take some of mine then... I think we both need it..." Harry took an aspirin and so did Draco.

Laura raised an eyebrow at them.

YOU'RE ALIVE!!!

"Yes, I am!" Harry said out loud. "For Merlin's sake, calm down!"

"Harry... she can't hear you."

"I realize that."

"Anyway..." Draco sighed. "Harry."

"Draco."

"Beaky."

"Boa."

"Umm... mwah-ing with someone else now? Something you'd care to... tell me about?"

Harry burst out laughing. Laura chuckled.

"Maybe," she said. "Maybe not."

"I thought you were the one who was supposed to grow up."

"You were right. And I did. But I really miss annoying you."

"Darn." Draco smiled. "It's great to see you again. Really."

Laura smiled. "Right back at you."

"So... who says you can't come?" Draco asked. "Just to visit, I mean. We've got to get back to Hogwarts soon anyway." Draco made a face. "Which brings up the question..."

"...are we still worst enemies there?" Harry said, wrinkling his brow.

"I think," Laura said, "you should pretend nothing happened between you two. Otherwise... you both may be in danger."

'That's true," Harry said with a sigh. "Slytherin's aren't exactly bunny-loving people."

"And Gryffindors ain't no piece of pie, either," Draco smirked. "Remember, I was rivals with one for over four years."

"Oh, you've been counting?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have. It's kind of hard to forget all the verbal-abuse rallies." Draco sighed. "Oh, does this bring back memories."

"Remember that time in second year at the Dueling Club?"

"With the snake?"

"I wonder why there was never another lesson..."

"And the first time we met down in Diagon Alley..."

"You were such a smarmy git back then... well, some things never change, eh, Draco?"

"Harry? Shut up."

"I'd be glad to."

"So..." Draco said, turning to Laura. "Our little trip down memory lane doesn't really answer whether you're coming or not."

"I don't know..." Laura said. "Would your parents mind, Draco?"

Draco harrumphed. "My father's in Azkaban, and Mum loves company."

"Besides," Harry said, a gleam in his eye, "There are still fifty bedrooms left."

Draco slapped Harry. Harry smiled.

After Apparating to Malfoy Manor, Harry looked around.

"Hasn't changed a bit," Harry smiled.

"You were only gone a day, Harry."

"I know. But it feels like forever."

At that moment Lily burst into the hall. "Harry!" she cried, squeezing him. "Oh God, Harry, we thought - we thought... you might have been... Harry, why did you run away like that?! What were you thinking?" Lily let go of him and tried to seem angry, but she failed and hugged him. "Oh God, I missed you, Harry." She straightened up, wiping her eyes and looking down at her son. "Draco, where did you find him? And who are you?" She squinted at Laura. "Do I know you?"

Laura gasped. "Lily?" she asked under her breath. Lily inhaled sharply.

"Laura?" she whispered.

In a flash, the two were embracing each other. "You're - you're alive!" Laura said. "Oh my God, I don't believe it... after so long..."

"Oh, you haven't changed at all!" Lily laughed. "I don't believe it... fourteen years..."

"I know..." Laura said, smiling. "I know..."

"Oh my God... it's so good to see you... NAR!" Lily shouted. "SIRIUS! REMUS! JAMES! PATRICIA! EVERYONE, HARRY'S BACK!"

There was a sound of scuffling feet and, in the blink of an eye, people were surrounding Harry. Harry opened his mouth in surprise.

"HARRY!" said Sirius, hugging him. "Why did you run away like that? We were so worried!"

"You could have died!" Remus roared.

"Oh my god, Harry... are you all right?" Narcissa asked, feeling his forehead. Harry pushed it off, taking grasp of the situation before him.

"I'm fine," Harry said loudly. "Really." He turned to Draco and said under his breath, "You didn't tell them what happened?"

Draco had a guilty look on his face. "Never mind," Harry muttered so that just he could hear.

"I just - needed to be alone for a while," Harry said. "I'm okay now. Really." He looked around. "But... where is Dad? And - Hermione?" Harry swallowed. Laura put a hand on his shoulder. This seemed to make people realize she was there.

"Laura! Oh my God... it's so good to see you..."

Draco touched Harry's hand. "Come on," he muttered. "We'll go find them." Harry nodded. Draco took a corridor Harry had never been in before. He stopped in front of a door near the end of the corridor.

"James is in there," Draco said quietly. Harry put his hand on the knob, but Draco stopped him.

"Try not to be too alarmed," he said under his breath. "Like I said - he's almost not himself. He's sick with worry. He hasn't said a word since you left." Draco shook his head. "I'll go first." Draco opened the door.

It was a parlor-ish room with a few cozy couches and paintings from the Victorian era on the wall.

And there, sitting on the couch facing away from them, was the back of James's head. It didn't move, or even take notice anyone had entered the room. Draco glanced at Harry whose eyes were filled with sadness and despair. He grimaced and touched Harry's hand. Harry's stare turned to him, still shocked and sad. Draco walked up and faced James.

"James?" Draco said quietly. There was no response. Harry gulped and walked up to him. James was staring at the wall, his face pale, his mouth closed, and his eyes unblinking.

"Dad?" Harry said softly. James blinked once, but still didn't move. Draco backed away and Harry took his place. "It's me. Harry, I mean. I'm back."

James blinked again. His head turned slowly. Harry smiled weakly.

"Harry?"

Harry nodded. James stared at him.

"Harry... I thought... you might have..."

"I know," Harry said quietly. "I know. But I didn't."

"Why did you go?" James whispered. "I was so worried."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, a lump forming in his throat. "I am. I was stupid."

James squeezed him. "Never, ever scare me like that again," he said through gritted teeth. "Ever."

"I won't," Harry promised. "I swear."

James let go of him and smiled. "Where did you go?" he asked.

"Umm..."

"Laura Hillman's place," Draco said. "She's here too."

"Really?" James asked. "Didn't you - and her - back then - "

"Well, there was this little mwah-ing spree with the two of them," Draco drawled, "and I think Harry's looking for an encore."

"Draco... I hate you."

"I know."

A while later, Harry, exhausted, headed up to his bedroom. His bedroom. It was so great to be here again.

He was so happy that he didn't realize someone was in front of him and he ran into them. "Oh, I'm sorry, I - " he paused when he realized who it was.

"Harry..." Hermione whispered. "What...?"

Harry's lip thinned. He stared at her.

"You're alive... I was so worried..."

Harry didn't move.

"I'm sorry, Harry."

"So am I," Harry said. He pushed past her. Hermione stared after him in disbelief before rushing after him.

"Harry..." Hermione said. "I'm said I'm sorry!"

"Yes, I know you said that," Harry said, turning to face her again. "But do you mean it? You lied to me when you said you loved me, so how do I know you're not lying to me now?"

"Harry!" Hermione choked. "Do you know what I went through? If you had been hurt, if you had died, it would have been all my fault! I was terrified!"

"Somehow I doubt that," Harry said. He made a face. "I'm not mad at you because you kissed Draco, Hermione, and I'm not mad at him for kissing you back. Well, not anymore, anyway," he added as an afterthought. "But the reason I'm mad at you is because you lied to me. You said you loved me, but you didn't mean it. And I just don't understand that. If you had just said that you didn't like me that way, I would have gotten over it. But now that I know you lied to me about that... what else would you lie to me about? Why did you do it, Hermione? Why?"

Hermione looked heartbroken. "I - I didn't want anyone to find out that I liked Draco," she said quietly. "I - I thought - I didn't think at all. But all I knew was if that Draco found out, he'd hate me, because you like me. Yes, I knew that, Harry. And look how I am now. I was right." Hermione bit her lip. "Now he won't even talk to me. And now you're not talking to me either. I'm sorry, Harry. Please, please forgive me. I just want to be your friend again."

Harry glanced at Hermione for a moment before sighing. "Do you promise you'll never lie to me again?" Harry said.

"Yes," Hermione whispered. "I promise, Harry. I swear on Merlin's grave that I'll never lie to you again."

Harry smiled. "Come here."

Hermione hugged him. "You're the best, Harry," Hermione whispered.

"I know," Harry grinned. "Come on, someone wants to meet you."

Hermione let go of him quickly and looked at him suspiciously. "Who?"

"You'll find out, won't you?" Harry smiled. "Come on."

Harry and Hermione went into the entrance hall. The mob of people was still there, James included in it now, talking about something or other that's not important. Laura looked over her shoulder and smiled.

"Harry," she grinned. She walked over to him and ruffled his hair. "What's up?"

"The sky," Harry smiled.

"Well, sure, if you want to take the easy way out."

"Laura..." Harry said. "This... this is Hermione Granger." He gestured at Hermione, who smiled weakly. "Hermione, this is Laura Hillman."

"It's - it's a pleasure to meet you, really," Hermione said, holding out her hand timidly. "Harry's told me all about you."

Laura stared at her, and then at her hand, and then at Harry.

Harry... that is, if you can hear me, are you friends again? Laura thought, staring into his eyes. Harry nodded. Laura looked at Hermione again and smiled.

"That's funny," Laura said. "I remember Harry telling me a lot about you too." She took her hand. "You look just like me," she mused. "When I was younger, I mean. I mean it. You could pass for a carbon copy of me."

Harry smiled. "Told you," he said to Laura.

Laura smiled. "Yea, you did, didn't you do?" She glanced at Hermione. "I, uh... well, yea, I think everything's basically said itself. I - I have to go talk to James." Laura walked over to the mob again. Hermione glanced at Harry.

"Did she like me?"

"I think..." Harry said. "I think she did."

"You told her what happened?"

"I had to."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did. I told you, Hermione, I'm not mad at you anymore."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Harry paused. "Do you want me to talk to Draco for you?"

Hermione made a noise in her throat and glanced over at Draco. He was laughing. She smiled slightly.

"Would you?"

"I could try."

"You're the best, Harry."

"I know," Harry sighed. He closed his eyes.

Draco...

Harry...

Draco...

Harry...

I want to talk to you.

You are.

I mean somewhere where Mum isn't eavesdropping.

Humph.

Oh. Draco walked over to Harry. "What - oh," Draco said, looking at Hermione. He turned away. Hermione closed her eyes and turned around. She walked away. Harry shook his head.

"Come on, Draco."

"Come on what, exactly?"

"Come on, stop making me be stuck in the middle and tell Hermione you're sorry for being such a stick-in-the-mud, that's what."

"I can't," Draco said, staring after the door Hermione had left through.

"And precisely why not?"

"Because... because. Just because."

"That's not a very good answer."

"Because I just can't, Beaky. Nothing will ever be the same."

"Nothing will ever be the same if you never talk to her again, either."

"But it's safer this way. For both of us. For all of us."

"Safer?"

"Oh, use your head, Harry," Draco said. "Hermione's in enough danger by just being your friend. If you just add the fact that I care about her, as a friend, strictly as a friend, but Voldemort may not think so, she's as good as dead."

"I think she made her mind up about that a long time ago, before she even knew you," Harry said. "Life is short, Draco. Short and precious. You shouldn't waste it on uncertainties. You've just got to live it. And that means dying at the end of it. You can't have living without dying. You've just got to live your life to the fullest, cherish each moment, and don't think ahead farther than your next meal, because you might not even make it that far. Do you understand what I mean? Hermione's trying to do that. She's not thinking into the future, and that's hard for her. She's just trying to enjoy the present. And she wants to do that with you as her friend."

Draco paused. "I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if she was hurt because of me."

Harry's eyes widened in realization. How could he have been so stupid? Why hadn't he seen it before? "You like her too, don't you, Boa?" Harry said, much more quietly. Draco's normally pale face turned red in an instant.

"You do," Harry said, smiling. Draco stood back, looking affronted.

"No... I mean, of course not! What made you think that?"

Harry grinned. "Don't worry. I won't tell her. Not yet, anyway."

Draco sighed with relief. "Thanks."

"No problem. But I do think you should just convince her to be your friend again."

Draco, his face still bright red, looked thoughtful. "Just promise not to tell her?"

"I won't. I swear."

"Okay then. I'll go talk to her," Draco sighed.

"She'll listen," Harry said. "I know she will."

"Thanks, Harry."

"Any time."

Draco walked out of the room through the door Hermione had left through. "Hermione!" he called. There was no answer. Draco sighed in frustration. "Hermione! Please come here! I want to talk to you!" No answer. Draco sighed. He walked slowly up to his room, calling her name once in a while. Each time he called it softer, until he finally stared at the number three on his door.

"Hermione," he whispered. He shook his head and walked down to Hermione's room. He didn't really expect to find her there. He didn't know what he was looking for, really. He didn't know what he wanted. A sign? Something that would point him in the right direction? Something that would tell him what to do?

Of course, he did have Harry.

And that was the most he could have asked for.

Face still thoughtful, Draco opened the door to Hermione's room. He glanced around carelessly, and then took a sharp intake of breath.

So did Hermione.

"Hermione," he said quietly. His face wore the same thoughtful expression. "I was looking for you."

Hermione didn't move a muscle. "Why?" she said finally.

"Why?" Draco asked, almost laughing out loud. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Why?" Hermione said, shifting just a little bit. Draco looked at her.

"I - because - I - I'm sorry for being such a git, Hermione." Draco winced. That hadn't come out right at all.

Hermione blinked. "You are?"

"Yes." Draco studied her features carefully. She bit her lower lip gently, as she always did when she was thinking. Her eyes met his. Her eyes were beautiful, as always. Her hair fell just down to her shoulders, wavy and smooth at the same time, shining like a star. She gulped, a lump forming in her throat.

"You - you shouldn't be, you know," she said. "I should be sorry. For doing something I wasn't sure of. I'm just confused right now, Boa. I'm not sure of anything anymore. All of this is happening so fast, and... I don't know what else to say, but I'm just really, really sorry. Forgive me?" Hermione looked at Draco hopefully.

"Anytime," Draco said. Hermione smiled, a real smile. If angels existed, then there were two options: either a) they had charmed her smile to make it make Draco go weak in the knees, or b) she was one. If angels didn't exist, then there was only one option: Hermione was the most beautiful girl in the world.

Which, angels or no, was true anyway, to Draco at least.

It made him want to smile too.

He did.

"Thank God for Harry," Draco said under his breath.

"Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Harry. If it weren't for him, I'd probably never have spoken to you again. And that would have been awful. I mean - just losing one of my best friends - no, make that one of my only friends, over a stupid little argument like that would have been a big mistake on my part."

Hermione smiled. "You rock, Draco."

Draco smiled back at her. "I know."

Days passed by with anxiety as Hermione, Harry, Draco, Parvati, and Padma rushed to get their holiday work done, while the adults watched them thinking, Thank God for graduation!

"I don't believe - there's not a law - against giving people - this much homework," Harry panted, waving his numb hand back and worth and staring down at the four rolls of parchment he had just filled.

"Honestly," Hermione sighed as she put down her quill. "You know how many rolls of parchment I've used so far? Twelve. And I'm not done yet. That's twelve animals killed for their hide just so I can write about stuff that I could tell just as well verbally. It's totally barbaric."

"Well, not all of us are as smart as you, Winger," Draco mumbled under his breath. "You can't cheat on verbal assignments."

"Draco!" Hermione said, affronted. "You wouldn't!"

Parvati sighed. "He's right, you know, Hermione," she said. "I mean about us not being as smart as you. Are you a teacher's pet or something?"

"Parvati, say that again and I'll tell everyone where that underwear really came from."

"Shutting up now..."

"Good."

Padma snapped her quill in half in frustration. "Parv, what are the three key ingredients to a temporary Animagus potion?"

"Eye of newt, three powdered scarab beetles, and a cup of mare sweat," Harry and Draco answered automatically. They grinned at each other.

"Oh, and be careful with your quill," Parvati said. "Hermione might start STAWKTWW - Save The Animals We Kill To Write With - if we don't shape up."

"Is that an eagle feather quill?" Hermione asked angrily. "Did you know that they kill hundreds of eagles each year to make those?"

"Hermione," Parvati said. "One word. Chill."

Hermione took a deep breath. "Alright, I'm okay now. Yes. I am good."

"Hey, you know what I just noticed?" Draco said out loud.

"What?" Harry asked, glancing at him.

"Tomorrow's 1996."

"Wow," Hermione said. "It's taken you this long to notice that?"

"No, but it's just that..."

"... tomorrow marks another year," Harry whispered. "Another year we've all managed to stay alive in this miserable world."

"Exactly," Draco muttered, looking out the window.

"I never thought of it like that," Hermione said quietly.

"Most people wouldn't," Harry mumbled. "Most people don't appreciate life enough. They take it for granted. But they're better off that way. Because it takes a horrible experience to realize that we've only got a little time here, and we should enjoy it while it lasts." Harry felt a bulge form in his throat.

"And we should do our best to make use of it," Draco said, closing his eyes. "We're just lingering here. Pretty soon we'll all be moving on."

"I hope it's not pretty soon," Padma said. "I don't want to die."

"No one does," Harry said. "But we've all got to live with it." Harry smiled weakly at his use of words.

Draco smiled back at him. "It's just the circle of life."

A few hours later, Lily walked into the room and interrupted their studying. "Ahem. You'd better start ripping up newspaper or you'll never get enough."

"Yea... we only have five hours!" Hermione said in alarm, looking at her watch.

"Actually, Hermione, I believe that would be four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and... hold on a minute... thirty-three seconds."

"Shut it, Boa," Hermione said, annoyed.

"Newspaper for...?" Parvati said slowly.

"Confetti, of course," Hermione answered offhandedly.

"We could just conjure it," Harry said. "It would give us four hours, fifty-nine, and thirty-three seconds more studying time."

"Well, actually, Harry," Draco smiled, "now it would be four hours, fifty-eight minutes, and - "

"Shut it," Harry said. But he did smile.

"Oh, that takes all the fun out of it," Hermione pouted. "We have to rip it! Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Something tells me we're going to regret this..." Padma mumbled.

According to Draco's Rolex, one hour, three minutes, and forty seconds later

A while later, the five of them were sitting cross-legged on the floor of the library with dozens of huge metal bowls and hundreds of newspapers to tear up. "Okay, look at this one... I've got half of Celestina Warbeck's head," Harry said. Celestina blinked and scowled at him.

"Swap you for her arm," Draco offered.

"Hmm... which arm?"

"Which half of her head?"

Harry rolled his eyes and he and Draco swapped newspaper rippings. "Draco! That's not her arm, that's a hairbrush!"

"Gotcha," Draco winked.

Harry glared at him. Draco stopped.

"Oh, just keep ripping," Hermione said, finishing up another page.

"Let's do something while we're at it," Parvati said. "It's getting boring."

"I know, how about truth or dare?" Padma squealed.

"Oh, yes," Draco said in a high-pitched voice. "Then we can do our nails, and touch up on our lipstick, and go out for a pedicure!"

"You know what's really sad?" Harry said absentmindedly. "You actually know what a pedicure is, Draco. That scares me."

"Be quiet, Harry."

"Shut up, Draco."

"I have a better idea," Hermione said. "Confession Session."

Padma and Parvati gasped. Harry and Draco looked confused.

"Yes, let's!" Padma gasped.

"Okay, here's how the game goes," Parvati said as she ripped the sports page. "Someone asks a question, and everyone has to answer it, even the person who asks it. And you have to tell the truth. I'll ask first." Parvati cleared her throat. "Let's start slow. Has anyone ever... you know... done... it?"

"And don't play dumb, Draco you know what I mean by it. Hermione, you start."

"No," Hermione said. "You're sick, Parvati."

"Well, I haven't either," Parvati said, "so I'm only half a sicko, which is good enough for me. Padma?"

"You know, Parvati."

"But they don't, do they?"

"Fine. No."

"Harry?"

"All you girls are psychos. No."

"Draco?"

There was a pause. "Must I really answer that?"

"DRACO!" Harry shouted, shoving him. "Don't scare me like that! For a minute I thought you were serious!"

Draco broke a grin. "No, I haven't. But I've had a few offers, if you catch my drift."

Harry groaned. "He's hopeless," he groaned.

"I'll ask next," Padma said. "Who do you like? You first, Parvati."

"Dean... Dean Thomas," she said dreamily. Harry made gagging noises.

"Shut up, Harry!" Parvati said.

"What do you mean? I was, uh, choking. On air. Yea."

Parvati scowled at him. "What about you, Padma? Who do you like?"

"Well, Marcus Flint is such a doll," Padma said. Harry and Draco looked at each other, pale in the face. "But I'd have to Seamus Finnigan."

"Finnigan," Harry muttered under his breath. "Finnigan, Finnigan, Finnigan... Stupid name." Draco laughed.

"I'd have to agree."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione said.

"Don't even ask," Draco said. "Just - don't."

"Draco? Who do you like?" Padma asked.

"No one," Draco answered coolly.

"Oh, come on. There was to be someone."

"Not necessarily," Draco said.

"Everyone likes someone."

"Not me," Draco said. "Nope. I'm just a freak of nature."

"President of the Freak of Nature Club. Definitely," Harry said. Draco looked at him with pleading eyes.

Don't... please...

"I mean, I would know," Harry added. "Nope, he doesn't like anyone. Sad, really. Hate to disappoint all his fans." Harry smirked.

"And if Draco's the president of the Freak of Nature Club, then I'm his vice," Hermione answered. "I don't like anyone either."

"Well that's no fun," Padma pouted. "I wanted to get a whole bunch of juicy gossip from that question." She paused. "Harry? Who do you like?"

Harry went white. "Do I really have to answer that?"

"No," Hermione jumped in. "I will for you. Harry likes Laura. You guys met her, didn't you? Well... yeah."

"Isn't she in her thirties?" Parvati asked, her eyes wandering to Harry.

"You can't tell anyone," Harry said. "Anyone. I met her thirty years ago and... you just can't tell anyone. Please." Harry looked down. Draco squeezed his hand.

"This piece of gossip will have to wait," Draco said. "And that means the two of you." He glanced at Parvati and Padma. "Because he didn't have to tell you at all, because Laura really means something to him, so just - lay - off." He said the last part through gritted teeth. Harry did not look up.

"We won't tell," Parvati said. "Honestly, we won't."

"We swear," Padma said.

"I think we should stop playing now," Hermione said. "Really, we haven't got that much more time to keep ripping."

"Yea," Draco smiled. "Only three hours, one minute, and sixteen seconds left."

Two hours, thirty-five minutes, and fifty-six seconds to go

"How's it coming?" asked Lily, sticking her head in.

"Well... this is my eleventh bowl just by myself," Harry said, tearing up the front page of the Daily Prophet from May 27, 1983. "I don't know about everyone else. And these are pretty big bowls, I must say."

"Twelfth," Padma and Parvati said in unison.

"Thirteenth," Draco said. "Hah. Beat you all."

"Twenty-first," Hermione said smugly. "In your face, Boa."

Draco mumbled something under his breath. "How do you do it that fast? And your pieces are tiny."

"Experience," Hermione said simply.

"That's my girl," Lily said, smiling. "I'm afraid I have to pull my all-star ripper and Harry away for a few minutes. Just for a minute. Just chill for a minute." Harry and Hermione looked at each other, shrugged, got up and followed Lily out of the room.

"James and I wanted to talk to you about something," Lily said absently, leading them down a hallway. They turned into a small study where James was waiting.

"You brought Harry too?" James asked. Lily nodded.

"Well, it does concern him too."

"I guess it does..." James sighed. He looked at Hermione. "Lily and I have a proposition for you, Hermione."

"Oh, stop making it so business-like, James," Lily scolded. "Hermione, we - that is, James and I - we wanted to - only if you wanted to, of course, we wouldn't force you - "

"We were thinking of adopting you," James said quietly. "If you wanted us to."

Hermione blinked. "Wha - what?"

"It was just an idea," Lily said hastily. "It could be easily arranged, if you wanted it... I mean, you're like a daughter to me anyway, and you're like Harry's sister so we thought maybe..."

"I - I'd like that," Hermione said softly. "If - if you really want me."

"Of course we do," James blurted. "I haven't known you a month and I already adore you. And, if I remember correctly, you're the best witch in your year. It would be an honor."

"You wouldn't have to change your name," Lily said. "Granger is a lovely name. Not much would really change - you'd still be coming home to the same house every summer, which I'll explain in a minute, Harry, but it's just that James and Harry would be there too. What do you say?"

"I like the name Potter," Hermione said. "It's a nice name. I think - I think I'd rather leave the name Granger behind me."

"Are you sure?" James asked. "We don't want you to do anything you don't want to - "

"I'm sure," Hermione said.

"As to the other matter..." Lily said. "We - that is James and I - have decided that we should move back into our house, Hermione. Narcissa's had far too much of us, she's been far too kind... but we're looking into having wards being put up so it would be safe for... well, for you, Harry. And as for the matter of the Dursleys... it's been settled."

"We'll be going over there to get the rest of your stuff and give them a piece of our mind while we're at it," James said angrily.

And Harry smiled.

"Wait..." Hermione said. She turned to Harry. "What do you think, Beaky? Would you - do you want to be my brother?"

Harry smiled. "Do I really have to answer that for you, Winger?" Harry asked. "Honestly. Of course I do! Thanks Mum, thanks Dad," he said, hugging his parents.

"Thank you - Mum and Dad," Hermione said, smiling. There was a pause. "Well, Harry we'd better get back. We've only got... umm... gee, where's Draco when you need him?"

Harry smiled. "I guess you're right. Come on."

"We'll let you know when we get the papers," James said. "It should be any day now. We'll send you an owl because you'll be at school... and we'll give you the whole 'shush-up-about-everything-that's-happened' lecture when we're with everyone else... just so we only have to say it once."

"You can get back to paper-ripping now," Lily smiled. "And I'm glad you said yes, Hermione."

Hermione, looking considerably brighter, smiled. "Come on, Harry," she said. "Thanks again."

Lily and James beamed at each other as Harry and Hermione walked out of the room and down the hallway.

"This is great, Hermione," Harry smiled. "I mean this is just... wow."

"Yea," Hermione smiled. "It's great. I mean... you know what I mean, right?"

"Right. Come on... the twins are probably harassing Draco."

"So?"

"That's a sight I don't want to miss."

"Harry!"

"Yes?"

"You -!"

"Me!"

Hermione sighed. Harry smiled. They walked back into the library. Sure enough, the twins were harassing Draco.

"Oh, come on, Draco, just a little..." Padma was saying.

"Save me..." Draco whispered.

"Get ripping, girls," Hermione said. "As Draco has already so plainly stated, he does not like anyone, and that does include you. So just stop harassing him. I think you might give him a heart attack."

"Praises to you, Winger," Draco mumbled as Parvati and Padma turned away. "I thought they were getting just a wee bit out of control."

"What did she want to talk about?" Parvati asked as she went back to ripping. Harry and Hermione allowed themselves small grins.

"Just... things," Hermione said. "You know, the weather. Boring stuff like that."

"Like, we learned that the sky is blue, the grass is green, and oh, Mum and Dad are adopting Hermione. Not much," Harry grinned.

"Oh, that's nice - wait, WHAT?" Draco said, alarmed.

"Really?" Parvati asked. "Wow, that's - great! It's supposed to be great, right?"

"Great? It's fantastic!" Hermione said. "It'll be even better if you keep ripping, though!"

Everyone groaned and started to tear again. "You know, I think I have a motivational strategy," Harry said absently. "Just pretend each piece of paper is Snape."

There was a pause. Then, without warning, Draco started ripping a whole lot faster. So did Parvati and Padma. Harry sighed and speeded up as well. Hermione smiled.

"Beautiful plan, Beaky," she said. "Brilliant. Really."

"I thought it was too, Winger, thanks," Harry said, smiling. "Speaking of Winger... you know we've got to work on that."

Draco looked up with a grin on his face. "Yea... it shouldn't be that hard. Not for you, I mean. Besides... you've got help."

"What are you talking about?" Parvati asked with a sigh.

"Things that don't concern you," Hermione said, smile playing on her lips. "And I mean it."

Parvati mumbled something under her breath that Harry didn't hear.

"So... how much longer now, Draco?" Harry asked.

"Let's see..." Draco said. "Two hours, one minute, and thirty-five - thirty-three - no, no, thirty - twenty-eight? Twenty-six! Twenty-four, no, now twenty-one..."

Everyone groaned and got back to work.

One hour, thirty-six minutes, and 16 seconds to go

"I'm bored," Parvati said.

"Uh... yeah," Padma said. "And tired. What time is it?"

"Well, actually, it is ten twenty four and - " Draco began. Everyone groaned.

"Be quiet and keep ripping and wake up," Hermione said irritably. "It's not that late."

"Speak for yourself," Harry muttered. He ripped newspaper groggily. "This is so boring."

"Come on, the more we rip, the more we get to throw up," Hermione said. "Whatever happened to the Kill Snape by Ripping up Newspapers campaign?"

"The campaigners got sick of their hands turning black from ink," Padma muttered. "OH MY GOSH!" she exclaimed suddenly.

"What?" Draco asked. "What? What happened?"

"I THINK I BROKE A NAIL!"

"Shut up!" Harry groaned.

Padma whimpered helplessly. "Fine. BE that way!" She made a defensive sound and continued ripping.

"Don't mind her," Parvati said. "It's a miracle I can get her on the Quidditch field."

Padma made an offensive sound in her throat and glared murderously at Parvati. "Oh yeah? What about the time when you and Neville - "

"Shut up!" Parvati hissed.

"Parvati and Neville did what?" Harry asked. "What did they do? And do I want to know?"

"Stuff, and you probably don't want to know," Padma giggled.

Draco and Harry looked at each other and gagged.

"Be quiet!" Parvati snapped. "It was a one-time thing only!"

"But you and - Neville?" Harry said.

"Longbottom?" Draco choked. "Loser of all toads and cause of all things terrible?"

"Such as our untimely so-called "death", my whole love life going into ruins - "

" - the exposure of things all-too-secret about me to almost complete strangers - "

" - not to mention my ultimate demise - or I guess love is a more common word."

"The cause of our friendship..."

"The cause of everything that's happened between us..."

"The cause of all the shared secrets..."

"The cause of the friend that will always be by my side..."

"The cause of the friend that saved me from hell, or worse..."

"The cause of the friend that reminded me that heaven isn't such a great place if you're there alone..."

"The cause of the friend that changed my life forever," Harry and Draco finished together softly.

"Well..." Draco said, swallowing hard. "I guess I've got to rethink that Longbottom."

"I'll never understand you two," Parvati said, shaking her head. "One minute you're about to tear out each other's throats, the next you're all mushy."

"Don't bother trying to understand them," Hermione said, shaking her head as she finished up yet another bowl of rippings. "That's just how they are. They'd do anything for each other. And then they just get on each others nerves, but I don't think they've ever seriously been mad at each other."

"Uh... Hermione? You're making us sound like little angels," Draco said. "That is so not true."

"Have you forgotten the last week completely?" Harry asked.

"Not to mention the time with the whole Lily thing... have I mentioned I'm sorry for that?"

"Many times," Harry said. "Those are probably the only two times that it lasted for more than ten seconds. Other than our four-year hatred of each other."

"Yes. Forgot that minor detail, we did," Draco said.

"Are you ever not sarcastic?" Padma sighed.

"No, he isn't," Harry said. "It's sad really."

"See what I mean?" Parvati sighed.

"Aww, come on. He knows I don't mean it. Don't you, Boa?" Harry asked

"Of course I do," Draco answered. "Because you know what happens to people who really insult me."

"Yea... their heads go pop."

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy."

"You know," Draco said offhandedly. "You just called me Malfoy."

"So I did."

"Why?"

"Because you said you always loved to hear me say that, which, in the beginning, wasn't the point, but.... well, yeah. It's not like I hate you again."

"You ever hated me? I'm shocked."

"Oh, of course not. The years of name-calling, playground-bullying and insults are just part of my traditional friendship initiation ritual."

"And did I pass the test?"

"Well, you were clueless for a while," Harry smiled here, "but you caught on. And you passed with flying colors."

Harry and Draco grinned.

"And the paradox continues," Hermione said, smiling with them. "It's so much fun to listen to you talk to each other."

"And why is that?" Draco asked. "Are you implying - "

"She couldn't - she wouldn't - but she must - do you - " Harry said.

"Eavesdrop on us, Hermione?" Draco asked, offended.

"You see? It's starts to get creepy when you can finish each other's sentences," Hermione sighed.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "We don't - "

"Finish each other's sentences!" Draco exclaimed. He and Harry looked at each other and burst out laughing."

"They're supposed to be mature by now," Padma muttered.

"Don't bother waiting for them to grow up," Hermione said. "It's pointless. They'll always be immature little brats."

"We are not - brats," Draco said, breathing hard from laughter. "We just -"

"Like to have fun," Harry finished. "Yea Hermione, get over it. We like to -"

"Joke around and pull pranks and - "

"Make everyone around us think we're brats when - "

"We're really not. You just fell for a - "

"Well thought-out and prosecuted plan."

"Forget you," Hermione laughed.

"Forget you too, man," Draco said. He blinked. "Whoa, I think we spent a little too much time in the seventies, Beaky."

Harry chuckled. "How much longer now, Boa?"

"One hour, nine minutes, and fifty - forty-seven - forty-five - "

"Just keep ripping," Hermione laughed.

Forty-one minutes and eleven seconds to go

"Who do you think you're kidding? Dean is way hotter than Seamus!" Parvati shouted.

"NO! Seamus is so much hotter!" Padma hollered.

"You're BOTH wrong! Neither of them is hot at all!" Hermione screamed.

"Make it stop..." Draco said, writhing on the floor. "Please! Make it stop!"

"If all of you don't shut up," Harry said loudly, "the whole school will know about this conversation. I'm sure a certain Seamus and Dean - "

There was complete and utter silence. Draco cheered up considerably.

"Thank you, Harry," he said cheerfully, ripping up a picture of his face.

"You know I never knew how many newspaper articles were written about me," Harry said, tearing up yet another picture of his face. "It's disturbing."

"It is," Draco said distastefully. "Why aren't there more pictures of me? Bloody waste of paper, ink, and money, if you ask me."

Harry chortled quietly. "Oh yes. I can see the headlines. Self-loving Malfoy Falls into River and Drowns While Admiring his Reflection."

"Don't make fun of my mother, Harry."

"What?" Padma asked.

"They're implying to Narcissa's namesake," Hermione said. "According to legend, Narcissus was an arrogant man and the gods decided to teach him a lesson by making him fall in love with himself. As Harry said, he drowned after falling into a river while admiring his likeness. That's mean, Harry. Narcissa can't help what her name is."

"What?" Harry said. "I didn't know any of that. I'm just saying that Draco is almost exactly like that Narcissus guy."

Draco glowered at him. "Shut it."

"Gladly."

"I hate how you do that," Draco muttered.

"Do what?"

"Act so - so - "

"Innocent?"

"Yes."

"It's in my nature."

"You're right. Sometimes you're too much like your parents for your own good."

Harry smiled. "I know. And I only do it because I know it bugs you."

"You know me too well."

"You're right. I do."

Draco smiled. You are going to be my downfall someday.

"Hmmm," Harry said offensively. "You know I won't be. I might save you from it. You know I would."

Why are you so - noble?

"What? I'm not!"

"Yes, you are," Draco said firmly. "Too much sometimes. It makes me feel like I'm a bad person compared to you."

"WHAT?! That's insane! Don't talk like that!"

"Well, I am, aren't I?" Draco snapped back. "Little hero Harry with his minions that cry when people step on flowers!"

"You know I'm not like that!"

"Well now I'm not so sure!"

"What do you mean? I thought you were my friend!"

"I thought I was too! I hate you, Potter, and everything about you!" Harry opened his mouth, hurt. He turned away, picking his paper back up and ripping it much more fiercely.

Draco blinked. "I - I don't know where that came from," he said after a minute. "Harry..." Harry turned. "I..."

I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Really. I'm sorry.

I should really put a Concealment Charm on myself before you leave so I don't drive myself crazy. What the hell? I'll do it right now. As my final words: Listen to Draco, Harry. There was a sound of someone hanging up a telephone.

Harry stared at Draco for a minute. "I've got to stop taking your insults so personally," Harry said quietly. "If we're going to start hating each other again, I mean."

Draco smiled weakly. "Ummm... yeah."

"And the paradox still continues," Hermione whispered. "That was probably the quickest one yet. Thirty seconds. Wow."

Harry and Draco both glared at Hermione. "Yes," Harry said, "because you always get along with everyone like they're your best friend."

Hermione flushed. "You are a menace, Harold James Potter."

"That I am. That I am."

At that moment, Sirius stuck his head into the room. "Come on, are you almost done yet? There's only twenty minutes left!"

"Actually, Sirius," Draco said, rolling up his sleeve and looking at his watch, "there are eighteen minutes and.... Ah, let's see..."

Everyone groaned. Parvati threw an empty bowl at his head, which he ducked.

"Come on," he said. "We've got to move these bowls into the parlor ASAP. We've only got a few minutes left."

Eight minutes and thirty-three seconds to go

"Hurry up!" Lily urged. "Is that the last one, Hermione?"

"I think so," Hermione said, putting the last bowl of confetti down. "Harry! Draco! Parvati! Padma! Is that it?"

"By saying that, are you implying that it isn't enough?" said a cool voice behind her. "Because I counted, and there are precisely 203 bowls of confetti in this room."

"No, Draco," Hermione said, turning around. "We did pretty good. Considering all of you are amateurs."

"After five hours of doing that?" Parvati asked. "I think we count as professionals."

"And how many bowls did you fill, Parvati?"

"Thirty-nine," she said defiantly.

"Forty," Harry challenged.

"Err... twenty-three," Padma said. Everyone looked at her. "Hey! I broke a nail!"

"Forty-three," Draco said smugly. "Oh yea. Go me."

"Seventy-eight," Hermione said with immense satisfaction, "you amateurs."

Draco looked into her eyes as everyone groaned at her. Hermione didn't see him - she was laughing at their disappointment. Draco bit the inside of his lower lip. Merlin, she is so - stop. No. I'm not going to ruin this night by thinking like that. Draco shook his head. Harry looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

What's up with you, Draco?

Just... thinking.

Honestly, how long do you think you can hide it?

Honestly, I think I am doing a very good job at hiding it. She hasn't noticed yet, has she?

No, but she will. She's not completely stupid.

I know that, Draco snapped. Harry looked surprised. I mean... I know she's not stupid. I realize that. Duh.

To stop Harry from responding, Draco cleared his throat and said out loud, "Hey, people! Five minutes and three seconds to go! Round up the gang!"

"They're scattered all over the manor," Lily said. "I think we're going to have to go look for them."

"I think not," Draco said, smiling. "Time for the old Round-Up-The-People-In-The-Manor Trick." He took a deep breath. "You may want to plug your ears." Glancing at each other warily, they did so. Draco inhaled deeply.

"HEY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!! GET IN THE PARLOR ASAP OR DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Harry felt his forehead gently. "Ouch. I think I just lost ten years off my life there. Thanks a lot, Draco."

"You're welcome," he said, watching people skid into the room. "And the trick still works like a charm." He cleared his throat. "Ahem. We've got four minutes and ten seconds to get ready to throw up 203 buckets of confetti. Listen to the master." Draco gestured to Hermione.

"Okay, here's what we do," she explained. "On the ten-second countdown, everyone grabs... uh... Well, everyone just get ready to throw up at least fifteen bowls. Just split up the confetti. And don't ruin it. We spent five hours making that stuff."

"So you had to break our eardrums to tell us that," Arabella said, miffed. "Right. You conspirators. I think I went partially deaf."

"Okay, come on, its three minutes and forty seconds to go!" Parvati cried. "Just everyone grab a few bowls!"

Everyone stationed themselves near a couple of bowls. Laura walked over to Harry. "Harry..." she said. "Happy New Year's."

"You too," Harry said, looking down as he scuffed his shoe on the floor.

"Harry... you have to go tomorrow."

"I know."

"I - I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too."

Laura touched his face. Harry looked up. "Don't forget me."

"Like I could," Harry muttered happily, touching her hand. "I love you, Laura." Laura smiled.

"I know," she said quietly. "And I'll owl you as often as I can..."

"And I'll write you every day," Harry said. "I will."

"Two minutes, people!" Draco shouted, pointing at the large grandfather clock in the corner.

"And I'll see you at Easter," Laura said hurriedly. "And after that, all summer we'll be together. Right?"

"Right," Harry said. "And it'll be almost like we were never apart. Right?"

"Of course. I love you too, Harry."

Harry smiled. Laura dropped her hand. "Susie is going to have a field day over this, you know."

"I know," Harry said, smiling. "That's why I'm not going to tell anyone. Only Hermione, Draco, Padma, and Parvati know. And, if I have any control over it, it'll stay that way." They stood still for almost a whole minute, just looking at each other.

"ONE MINUTE, PEOPLE! STAND BY YOUR CONFETTI!"

Laura and Harry's eye contact broke as Laura bent down to pick up two bowls. "Ready?" she asked.

"Ready," Harry said, smiling. He poised his hand so that with a jerk of it, ten bowls of confetti would fly up and turn over. They concentrated for a moment.

"Countdown!" Sirius cried. "Ten!"

"Nine!" Harry and Laura exchanged quick glances once more.

"Eight!" Draco snuck a glimpse of Hermione. She was next to Parvati and Padma a few feet away. Draco moved over towards her, bowls in hand.

"Seven!" Draco tapped Hermione on the shoulder. She turned.

"Six!"

"Happy New Year," Draco whispered. Hermione smiled.

"Five!"

"You too," she said quietly.

"Four!" Remus grasped Patricia's hand and she smiled at him.

"Three!" Everyone roared together.

"Two!" The countdown was louder.

"One!" everyone screamed.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, two hundred and three bowls of confetti were thrown.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Parvati and Padma Patil grinned at each other in glee through the sheet of confetti falling upon them.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Remus Lupin and Patricia Patil held hands as they watched confetti sprinkle around them.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Sirius Black and Narcissa Harlem soon-to-be Black dumped bowls of confetti on each other's heads.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Arabella Figg whooped a glorious whoop and took the chance to take a leaf out of Sirius and Narcissa's book and dumped a bowl of confetti over Remus's heads. "Old lady my broomstick!" she shouted.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Lily and James Potter embraced each other tightly and simply cherished their moment together.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Harry Potter and Laura Hillman kissed each other for a full minute.

On January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Hermione Granger soon-to-be Potter hugged Draco Malfoy with all her strength.

And on January 1^st, 1996, at midnight exactly, at Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy had the happiest moment of his life.