A Life in the Past

Ron and Hermione had said they wanted to take one last walk around the castle together before they went back to the present era, so they had been excused for the past hour.

Draco had gone off to the toilet, and the Weasleys all had their places to be, leaving Ginny and Harry sitting alone at the round dining table.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Harry found the silence too uncomfortable.

"We were really worried about you and Ron," he said. "We knew you could find your own way, but we worried just the same."

Ginny nodded, but didn't speak.

"I was really looking forward to this summer," Harry continued. "And this is my last year at Hogwarts, my last year at school with you. But then I'd still visit you in the summer again."

Ginny nodded again, avoiding Harry's eyes.

"So do you want to tell me what's going on with Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Don't get angry," said Ginny. "But it isn't as though..."

"I won't get angry," Harry cut her off. "Do I ever get angry?"

"I suppose not," said Ginny, voice quiet.

"Well then," said Harry.

"I don't want to tell you," said Ginny.

Harry was about to say something, but he never got the chance to, because at that moment, Draco re-entered the room, smirk in place.

"Where is everyone?" he asked, completely clueless.

"They've got stuff to do," said Harry, scowling.

"And what's wrong with you, Potter?" Draco asked, noticing Harry's expression.

"What's it to you?" Harry retorted.

Draco shrugged, taking his place at the table next to Ginny. "So what now?" he asked. "The Mudblood and her boyfriend still not back yet?"

Harry clenched his fists under the table at hearing Draco call Hermione a Mudblood, but he thought it better to not start anything.

"No, not yet," said Ginny.

The three of them sat quietly and uncomfortably for a few minutes, nobody daring to speak.

But Draco, being the clueless one, decided to jog up some conversation. "Wonder who we get for Defence Against the Dark Arts this year?" he said, casually.

"Sirius Black," said Harry, knowing because his godfather Sirius had written to him earlier in the summer telling him the good news.

Draco arched an eyebrow. "An escaped convict," he said. "Hogwarts is really going down the drain. First they had Voldemort's servant; then there was a brainless celebrity; a werewolf; another of Voldemort's servants; that old bat, Professor Figg, she wasn't that bad though; and then there was last year, the werewolf's brother."

"Sirius was innocent," said Harry, temper rising.

"How he ever escaped that Dementor's kiss, I'll never know," said Draco. "That was the same time that Hippogriff escaped. Some things are just too weird for me."

Harry smirked to himself; he and Hermione had rescued Sirius and the Hippogriff, whose name was Buckbeak.

"Erm, so Professor Snape must be really pissed off," said Draco. "Always felt sorry for him, his enemies always got the job position he craved."

Neither Harry nor Ginny spoke.

"Wonder where everyone is," said Draco, now beginning to feel uncomfortable.

Again, neither Harry nor Ginny spoke.

"Can't wait to get back," said Draco. "Bet my father missed me. He wanted to take me to Knockturn Alley to get me a present for such excellent marks."

"How'd you do it?" asked Harry. "Who'd you cheat off?"

"I did not cheat," said Draco. "I'm actually really good in school. It all came from my brain."

"Yeah, I'm sure it did," Harry said sarcastically.

"Why are you so suspicious?" Draco asked. "It's not as though I've taken anything from you; you were made Head Boy, but it's not like I really care."

"How do you know about that?" Harry asked.

"I know more than you think," said Draco.

Harry had nothing to say to this, so once again, they sat in uncomfortable silence.

***

"So this is the end of this nightmare," said Hermione. "We're finally going back."

Ron nodded.

"You know, this place is really starting to grow on me," said Hermione. "I'm going to miss it once we're back in the present. Won't you?"

Ron shrugged.

"I wonder if this experience will change anything back in the present," said Hermione.

Ron shrugged again.

"Ginny and Malfoy seem to get along well here," Hermione said. "Do you think they'll get along when we're back home?"

Ron shook his head.

They were sitting side by side on a bench on the grounds outside the castle. Birds were chirping happily, the sky was a bright shade of blue dotted with fluffy cumulus clouds.

"Why not?" asked Hermione.

Ron shrugged.

"You're doing it again," said Hermione. "Why won't you talk?"

Ron shrugged.

Hermione smiled at him. "Talk, dammit, talk!" she said.

"What's there to talk about?" asked Ron, finally talking.

"Too much," said Hermione. "Think about how much has gone on!"

"You said I couldn't change history," said Ron. "But what about the time you and Harry went back in third year and saved Buckbeak and Sirius?"

"That was different," said Hermione. "We only went back a few hours then; not much had happened in those few hours, not enough time for much cause and effect to take place."

"But you changed what was supposed to happen," said Ron.

"Yes, but if you had killed Elias Malfoy, Draco Malfoy would have never been born," said Hermione.

"I fail to see the down side," said Ron.

"We would have never found Ginny," said Hermione. "It was Malfoy who helped Ginny get to us. We owe him a lot."

"No we don't," said Ron. "He owed it to us. All those years of torment and arrogance from him, he owed us for all that because we're helping him to get back to the future."

"But could we get back without him?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged.

"I don't think we could," said Hermione. "It was thanks to him Ginny found her way to us, and then it was also partially due to him we found the trunk that'll get us back."

"How is it?" asked Ron.

"Everything links together someway," said Hermione. "But it's inexplicable."

"It's sort of like us, isn't it?" said Ron. "We've both wanted to be together since fourth year, but it's taken us this long to make a move."

"Exactly," said Hermione. "Well, no. It's different, but I suppose you could compare it to that, everything that's happened leads up to one thing. I just hate that it took your disappearing to make me realize it."

"Yeah, me too," said Ron. "But this whole experience has had some really bad results, like Ginny's new friend."

"Yeah, I thought you'd be unhappy about that," said Hermione. "But maybe he's not that bad..."

"Oh, don't you start," said Ron. "There is nothing good about Malfoy at all."

"Ginny seems to like him," said Hermione. "And think about it, he's been really generous these past few days. And you should be supportive of Ginny, no matter what decision she makes."

"But Weasleys and Malfoys are not a good combination," said Ron. "And I honestly thought this summer would be Ginny's chance with Harry, he's over Cho Chang by now."

"Ginny's moved on," said Hermione.

"Harry is our best friend," said Ron. "I can't believe you're taking Malfoys side; he's the enemy!"

"Goodness, Ron!" cried Hermione. "I am not taking his side, I just think we should want Ginny to be happy."

"And she'll be perfectly happy with Harry," said Ron. "She's been talking about him since before her first year at Hogwarts."

"But that isn't Ginny's decision," said Hermione. "She should be able to do what she pleases."

"She most certainly should not!" Ron shouted, face darkening to red. "She has a loving family who cares about her, the least she can do is not go making friends with the enemy!"

"If you love her, you'll support her!" Hermione shouted back.

"But it's wrong!" said Ron.

"Can we not talk about this?" Hermione pleaded. "We've got so much on our minds. And we shouldn't be yelling at each other, we should be quite happy, we're together again, and we're going to be fine. It's just a matter of time, and everything will be back to normal."

"Except that I'll have to watch Ginny fall for Malfoy," said Ron, grumpily.

"But at the same time, you'll be falling for me," said Hermione. "Where will you find the time to watch Ginny?"

Ron grinned. "Who says I'll be falling for you?" he asked.

Hermione smiled. "We'll both be too busy to even care what Ginny's up to," she said.

"Too busy doing what?" asked Ron.

"We're going into our seventh year," said Hermione. "There's going to be tons of homework, we won't really have time for anything else."

Ron frowned.

***

Paquerette entered the dining room to clear the plates from the table on Mickey the house elf's orders. (Yes, the house elf had power over a human being)...

The moment Paquerette stepped through the door, Draco's mouth fell open. She smiled at him, receiving a dirty scowl from Ginny.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," said Draco.

Paquerette dropped the dishes she was holding.

"Still got the Malfoy charm," said Draco, rather proudly.

Paquerette hurriedly cleared up the dishes she had dropped, cautious not to look at Draco.

The door to the chamber opened once more, admitting Wilfred Weasley.

"Paquerette!" he said upon seeing the French girl. "I have not seen you for days!"

Paquerette smiled politely at him. "My master Wilfred as returned," she said. "Anything I can get for you?"

"Ah, why do we not go outside?" asked Wilfred, offering his arm to Paquerette.

"I must first do my work," Paquerette said.

"I shall help you," said Wilfred, eagerly.

"No, master is too kind," said Paquerette. "Do not act this way."

"But we have been separated far too long!" said Wilfred. "I must help." He opened the door, allowing Paquerette pass through, holding a pile of dirty dishes. He followed her, closing the door behind himself.

"Pathetic," said Ginny, rolling her eyes. "It's the stupid accent that does it for her, she's got no brains whatsoever."

"And what makes you the judge of that?" Draco asked.

"What gives you the right to speak?" said Harry.

"Shut up, Potter," said Draco.

"No," said Harry.

"Will you both just stop it?" Ginny screamed. "God, this is so annoying! Why can't you just get along for once? You're both on the same side here!"

"I want you to pick," said Harry. "Whose side are you on, mine, or Malfoy's?"

"What for?" asked Ginny. "What does it matter?"

"I want you to chose," said Harry.

"If she doesn't want to, don't make her," said Draco. "You're acting really jealous for the perfect, unselfish Potter."

"I know," said Ginny. "You're being really unlike yourself, what's gotten into you?"

"The way you've been acting," said Harry. "Malfoy's trying to take my place, and you and Hermione are letting him."

"I would never want to take you place, Potter," said Draco, spitting out Harry's name as though it were something most repulsive. "I don't care about the lives of others, I don't like Mudbloods, and honestly, I wouldn't want to be as ugly as you."

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Harry angrily.

"Harry, calm down!" Ginny cried. "You're being really selfish here. Draco isn't trying to take your place for crying out loud!"

"Yeah, you're life's a waste," said Draco.

"Ginny, choose," Harry said, firmly.

"No," said Ginny, stubbornly.

"At least tell me why you've changed your mind," Harry pleaded.

"About what?" asked Ginny.

"What Potter means is why have you suddenly decided you'd rather not follow him around everywhere," said Draco. "He feels lost without all the attention from his fan club."

"Stay out of this, Malfoy!" Harry shouted.

"Stop shouting!" said Ginny.

"I am not shouting!" Harry shouted.

"Yes you are," said Draco. "And I'm not going to stay out of this, because I don't even know what this is, therefore, I can't stay out of something which I don't know about. Or something of the sort."

"Get lost, Malfoy," said Harry. "I need to talk to Ginny."

"Draco," said Ginny, plainly.

"What?" Draco and Harry asked, both for very different reasons.

"You told me to choose," said Ginny. "I pick Draco. I don't want this to change anything between us, Harry, and we both know it shouldn't; I mean, you didn't mind when I was with anyone else and you always had Cho."

"But this is different," said Harry. "This is Malfoy, the enemy, it's not Seamus, or Colin, or even one of those Ravenclaws, even Ron didn't mind them that much, but this time, it's different."

"Why?" asked Ginny.

"It's not allowed," said Harry. "You're a Weasley, he's a Malfoy."

"I don't see what you mean," said Ginny. "I don't want to do something because it's what everyone expects. I don't want to follow in the footsteps of every Weasley before me, I want to be me, and make my own decisions."

"Even if it means hurting your family and friends along the way?" asked Harry.

"I'm not Annabelle," said Ginny. "I won't do anything stupid, I'll just live my life, whether they accept it or not."

"But why the sudden interest in Malfoy?" asked Harry.

Ginny shrugged. "Why do you have a sudden interest in me?" she asked.

"I'm sorry it took me a situation like this to realise how I feel," said Harry. "But you really mean something to me."

"For the past six years, I've settled for being your best friend's little sister, and nothing more, but now suddenly, you've changed your mind about me, but I've moved on," said Ginny. "It won't work, Harry, not now, it's too late."

"But you and Malfoy will never work," said Harry. "Not in a thousand years."

"Hold on a second," said Draco. "Don't I get a say in this?"

"What are you on about?" said Harry, rudely.

"Ginny picked me, but did I ever say I wanted to be picked?" Draco asked.

"Stop trying to complicate things," said Harry.

"But it's what I do best," said Draco.

"Is this what you want, Ginny?" Harry asked, pointing at Draco. "This insufferable git?"

"What if I do?" said Ginny. "Why is that so wrong?"

"It'll never work," said Harry. "Go ahead and do what you like, I won't stop you, but everyone else will. And after a few days, you'll realise exactly how much you hate him, but I won't try to stop you making the wrong decision, I'll let you figure things out on your own."

"And who are you to say it won't work out?" Draco asked.

"It's the most obvious thing in the world," said Harry. "Your families never have gotten along, you were born enemies, and Gryffindor and a Slytherin."

"Fine," said Ginny. "You can act negative all you want, but I'll show you, I'll prove you all wrong. And you'll be sorry you ever said I was making the wrong decision. I'll show you, Harry, just you watch." And with that, she stood up and left the room, nose in the air.