THE PHOENIX

Chapter Twenty-One

After the two teams showered and changed, it was to the Great Hall they went, where the closing feast would be. Later there would be a celebration at the school, then afterwards across the lake. This was the final night before some of the guests departed from Hogwarts.

Glen and Alex had shown up for the feast, and joined Hermione and Draco at the guest tables. “I have the pictures for you to go through of the last shoot Hermione,” Glen said.

“I can go through them after dinner, if you like,” Hermione replied.

“It will be hard to choose,” Alex said smiling, “the ones in the water turned out really good, especially the last ones,” she added smirking.

“Those ones won’t be chosen for the layout,” Hermione said after looking to Draco’s scowl.

Draco put his arm around her waist possessively. “Bloody straight, they won’t,” he said grinning. He leaned over to kiss her cheek, while his fingers slipped up her short t-shirt at her back.

“I took some great shots of you racing and just hanging out with your friends also,” Glen said smiling.

After the dinner was over, Glen brought the pictures out as they sat in a corner of the Great Hall. This time there was also Harry, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Lavender, and Ginny helping Hermione and Draco pick out the pictures. There were quite a few pictures of all of them together as they sat outside, that were duplicated and enlarged for whomever wanted a copy. The actually shoot pictures of Hermione, Draco, and Harry were chosen effortlessly, along with some racing photos.

“I’ll add the others to your book Draco, along with the last few of the shoot,” Glen said smiling when he was alone later with Draco and Hermione. “Thank you again Hermione.”

She stood when Glen stood and held out her hand. “No, thank you Glen. The pictures looked great,” she said as she shook his hand.

“Maybe we’ll do it again someday,” Glen said smiling.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe. Are you going to the party later?” she asked.

“Probably. Sirius had asked me to get pictures of some of the gang over there,” he replied.

“Could you possibly get a good one of Harry and Sirius and maybe the Weasleys. I’d love a copy for myself and maybe to give them all a copy of it for Christmas,” Hermione requested hopefully.

“Yeah, sure. Sirius asked for one too. Won’t be a problem getting copies for you,” Glen said.

“Great,” Hermione said smiling. “Well, we’ll see you there then.”


After the celebration was nearing to an end at the school, the party moved across the lake into the large tent. The tent was huge and magically heated so one did not need their jackets. Glen was there taking pictures, along with Colin Creevey. Draco or Hermione, or sometimes both were pulled every which way for pictures. Some of them quite comical as the night wore on as the drinks were consumed.

Most of the professors also attended the fun. Hermione was surprised when Severus came up to her and asked to speak with her privately. She nodded and was led to the corner of the tent. He handed her a beer before he spoke and sat down across from her. “Miss Granger....were you serious about becoming a potions professor?” he asked.

“Yes, I was,” she said smirking. “I want to race for a year first, then continue with my studies.”

“Why potions? I would have thought you would have specialized in another field?” he asked.

“Potions is challenging to me,” she said shrugging her one shoulder, "and I do love a challenge,” she grinned.

Severus grinned back. “Yes, I can see that from the way you managed to get Draco. If that wasn’t a challenge, I don’t know what is.”

“Does that bother you?” she asked.

“Why should it? You make him happy,” Severus said. “You two are good for each other.”

Hermione smiled, “you really think so?”

“Yes,” he said standing up.

Hermione put her arms around his waist. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you’re okay with us.”

Severus had looked surprised at first at the contact, but then hugged her quickly back then stepped back. “When you need to apprentice, I would be willing to help you in any way I can,” he said trying not to grin too widely.

“Thank you again Professor. I will keep that in mind,” she said smiling. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.” Then continued to pull him towards the bar by the hand.

Draco had watched the exchange between Hermione and his godfather, and openly smiled. The look on Severus’s face when Hermione hugged him was priceless. He sauntered over to the bar to the pair. “Hello, so how are two of my favorite people?” he asked grinning, kissing Hermione’s cheek.

“I was just telling Miss Granger here, if she wanted any help in becoming a professor, I would help,” Severus said.

Draco hugged him tight. “Thanks Sev,” he said.

“Really, two hugs in one day is a bit much,” He said trying to hide back his grin as he hugged Draco back.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Draco said stepping back smirking at Severus.

Hermione had meanwhile finished her drink while watching the two. She put her arm around Draco’s waist. “Let’s dance,” she said as a slow song started up. Draco did not have to be asked twice. Any excuse to hold her close to him was readily accepted.

She led him to the crowded dimmed dance area and leaned in close to him, as his arms went around her waist. Her arms draped around his neck as she trailed soft kisses along his jaw to the corner of his mouth. His hand went to her lower back, his fingers drawing lazy circles against the skin that was bare from her short t-shirt and her low rider jeans.

He hugged her close as they slowly swayed to the music. He leaned in to kiss along her neck, feeling her shiver against him. He smiled against her neck, then stilled as a blinding pain shot across his back.

Hermione had first felt him smiling against her, then heard a hiss coming from his lips as he went still. He was starting to fall when her arms went around his back to hold him up. “Draco,” she said worriedly as they went down to the floor on her knees. A crowd of people started to gather around them. Hermione brought her hand up to bring Draco’s face up when she noticed her hand was covered in blood.


Meanwhile, Sirius was standing by the entrance of the tent when he felt someone or something bump him. He grabbed onto this someone when he heard Hermione’s cry for help. He heard a yelp of pain as his grip tightened. He called over Remus who was looking at him as if he was struggling with someone. He now knew he was holding onto an arm and dragged the person outside with Remus following.

“Must be an invisibility or ‘disillusionment’ charm,” Remus said as a set of scratches appeared along Sirius’s cheek. Remus took his wand and reversed the spell to have an angry Pansy Parkinson appear before them. She struggled even more as she saw she was now visible and dropped her wand.

“Well, what do we have here?” Sirius said grinning menacingly.

“Let go, you mangy mutt!” Pansy screamed out.

“Now, is that any way to talk to someone that could probably break that arm he’s holding onto?” Remus smirked evilly.

By now more people filtered out of the tent to see what the commotion was about. Remus bound Pansy’s hands and she was led to a smaller tent where five burly bikers watched over her.

Severus came barging into the tent. “What spell did you use?” he said coming towards her, his hands clenched, really wanting to hurt her for hurting his godson.

Pansy said nothing and glared back at Severus. “You will tell me or I will us Veritaserum on you to find out what I need to know,” he said as he hauled her up by her bound arms.

Pansy tried to shake herself free, then looked to Severus, scared at the look in his eyes. “Diffindo,” she said quietly.

Severus pushed her away and stalked out of the tent to head back to Draco, who was moved to Mitch’s trailer.

Mitch had Sirius help him lay Draco on his stomach, then cut the t-shirt off of his back. He looked up as Severus came in, “did you find out?”

“She used the ‘diffindo’ spell,” Severus replied coming closer, not liking the still form of Draco. “Is he....?” he began.

“He’s just passed out,” Mitch said, “probably a good thing, the healing will be painful.”

Harry was holding onto Hermione as she looked at Draco’s back. There was two long deep gashes that ran diagonally along his back. Mitch and Angie gently cleaned the blood from his back as it seeped out of the cuts. She looked up at Severus’s words. “You said she?” she said between clenched teeth, her mind raging.

Severus saw Hermione’s face change from anguish to hate. “Pansy,” he said simply.

She shook Harry’s hands off her and stalked out of the trailer. Witches and wizards alike stepped out of her way. She looked pissed. Her jeans and t-shirt were blood splattered, as well as on her arms and neck.

“Hermione,” Harry called out as he ran after her.

“Don’t even try to stop me Harry,” she said angrily as she kept walking.

Severus came up by Harry as they followed Hermione. “What is she going to do?” he asked.

“I imagine, she’s going to have a little ‘chat’ with Pansy,” Harry replied. “I’ve never seen her this mad before,” he said worry evident in his voice.

Hermione barged into the tent, past the guards. “Parkinson,” she said sneering to the seated Slytherin.

“What do you want mudblood?” Pansy said returning the sneer.

Hermione hauled Pansy up by her collar. “Why? Why Draco. The guy you supposedly care for?” she said tightening her grip at the collar.

Pansy spat in Hermione’s face. “I don’t have to answer to you mudblood,” she said glaring back at Hermione.

“You will,” Hermione started as she swung her arm back to hit Pansy across the side of her face, full force.

Pansy went flying out of the tent, falling on her backside, her arms still bound behind her. Pansy shook her head as she struggled to stand up, keeping her eyes on Hermione who walked menacingly towards her. “What...you need to fight someone who can’t defend themselves,” she spat out.

By then there were on-lookers who surrounded the pair; students, professors and some of the bikers. Pansy looked to Professor McGonagall then to Hermione and sneered, “you could get expelled for that Granger.”

Severus stepped forward. “Actually, no she can’t. It is not on school grounds,” he smiled evilly. “It will be you most likely to get expelled for that stunt you pulled against Mister Malfoy.”

“Unbind her,” Hermione said in a deadly calm voice. Remus looked to Snape then McGonagall who nodded, then did the unbinding spell, where Pansy started to rub her arms once freed.

“So, why hurt Draco?” Hermione asked calmly, her nails digging into the palms of her hands.

“Because you contaminated him.....he was dirty because of you,” Pansy yelled out glaring at Hermione. “I thought the potion would have kept you away from each other....so I could get him back,” shutting up instantly realizing what she just admitted to.

Hermione laughed, “so it was you. You are such an idiot Parkinson. That little stunt you pulled brought us even closer together. We love each other Parkinson, something that you could never feel.”

“Stop!” Pansy shouted out. “He doesn’t love you....”

“Yes, he does,” Hermione smirked. “I can tell the way he kisses me....the way he makes love to me,” she added smartly.

Pansy had heard enough. She put her hand in the long side pockets on the sides of her pants, then lunged at Hermione, the glint of a small blade slicing through Hermione’s shirt then arm as she moved to avoid the attack.

Pansy smiled evilly seeing the cut on Hermione’s arm and advanced again. She swung the blade forward for Hermione to grab her arm to stop it slicing her again. Hermione held her arm and twisted it until the knife fell to the ground, Pansy crying out in pain. Hermione let go and picked up the knife then looked to Pansy.

Pansy backed up from the deadly look Hermione gave her. She kept backing up as Hermione came towards her, the knife held firmly but loosely in Hermione’s hand. She looked to Hermione defiantly as her back was pressed against the large tree.

Hermione stopped also and glared at her. She looked to the knife, then flipped it up to catch it by the blade, then looked back to Pansy smiling evilly. Her arm went back seeing Pansy’s face fill with sudden fear. She flung the knife towards Pansy.....where it embedded into the tree above Pansy’s head. “You’re not worth it,” Hermione said turning away.

Pansy then came after Hermione who was expecting this attack and brought her knee up to Pansy’s midsection. Pansy doubled over as she tried to catch her breath. Hermione grabbed a fistful of her hair to bring her face up where her fist then connected to Pansy’s nose where a sickening crunch could be heard. Pansy had reached up with her hand to grab whatever she could. Her nails dug into skin leaving gashes across Hermione’s face and upper chest which were visible thanks to the material tearing as Pansy was again hit by Hermione knocking her to her back.

Hermione came closer to Pansy as she lay on the ground, her nose dripping blood. Pansy reached out for Hermione’s leg to have her kick out, snapping the bone in Pansy’s forearm. Hermione kneeled down to grasp Pansy’s collar to pull her up. While the other arm swung again, hitting Pansy in the jaw, knocking her out.

Hermione pushed away from Pansy with disgust as she stood up, noticing she was surrounded by people. Her eyes fell on Dumbledore, then looked down at Pansy. She slowly walked towards him and looked at him squarely in the eye. “Sir.....I will not be sorry about this....and I would do it again. If you need me to pack my things, I will,” she said.

Dumbledore placed his hand on Hermione’s uninjured shoulder. “Hermione, although I don’t condone to fighting...I understand why you did it. You will not be expelled, as it was not on school grounds, and Miss Parkinson will be held until the Ministry gets here for legal action as to the harm she did against another student," he said smiling sadly. “Now, Draco is awake and asking for you. I’m afraid that Mitch has taken it upon himself to make sure his patient can’t move until the healing is complete.”

“Is he okay?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“Yes, he’ll be okay,” Dumbledore said kindly. “Now, go before Mitch does something drastic to young Mister Malfoy.”

Dumbledore watched Hermione walk away then turned to McGonagall and Snape. “Minerva, make sure Miss Parkinson is healed before the Ministry comes for her, to make sure there are no repercussions on Miss Granger,” he said to McGonagall. “Severus, make sure Hermione gets medical attention as soon as possible,” he added. They both nodded their heads and went their separate ways as Dumbledore and Sirius split the crowd up to resume their celebration.

Hermione walked to Mitch’s trailer, moving her arm experimentally. She looked down and was surprised to see blood coating her arm. When she came into the trailer it was to see Draco laying on his stomach with his arms under his chin. She rushed over to him and kneeled down in front of him. “Draco, are you okay?” she asked relieved that he appeared to be okay.

Draco had watched Hermione come in and saw the torn t-shirt and the blood. “Hermione! What happened?” he asked reaching out to touch the side of her face.

She shrugged her one shoulder. “Just something I needed to take care of,” shid gid grasping his hand to the side of her face.

“What did you do?” he asked as he saw her arm, the gash dark against her skin.

“Not much,” she started. “Why can’t you move?” She asked changing the subject.

“Mitch here,” he nodded to the healers direction who was coming closer to them after talking to Severus, “...decided to freeze my upper body.”

Mitch laughed, “you needed to be still for the healing to work, and you were fidgeting around too much,” he said looking to Hermione. “Now you......you sit here and remove what’s left of your shirt,” he said motioning to the stool that was set up in front of Draco.

Mitch helped Hermione with the t-shirt as Draco watched the injuries come to show. She sat there in her black lace bra while Mitch cleaned the knife wound before healing it closed. He then worked on the scratches on the sides of Hermione’s face and upper chest, along with some minor bruising from the fight. “I’m proud of you ‘Mione for not doing it,” Mitch said as Hermione slipped on another shirt that buttoned down the front.

“Proud of what?” Draco asked confused. “What didn’t you do?”

“She didn’t use the knife on Miss Parkinson,” Severus said as he stood beside Hermione.

“You mean, you were.....,” Draco began.

“The thought did cross my mind as I held the knife.....but then just as quickly I decided I couldn’t do it,” she said shrugging her one shoulder.

“Where’s Pansy now?” Draco asked, looking up at Severus.

“She was taken back to the school to await the Ministry officials......and to be healed,” Severus said.

“Healed?” Draco asked looking to Hermione then Severus.

“She was unconscious when she was brought to the school. Madame Pomfrey will heal the broken bones and the bruising,” Severus replied.

“Why would she do that?” Hermione asked.

“So Pansy can’t retaliate and say you tried to kill her,” Severus said smiling. “She will still feel the pain though.”

“What’s going to happen to her?” Draco asked.

“She pretty much admitted to putting the potion in your food and the spell she used on you tonight. She will be expelled and tried in front of the Ministry for inflicting serious harm against another person,” Severus said smiling at Pansy getting what is deserved finally.

Mitch checked Draco’s back to see the skin was unscarred. “Well, it’s looking good, just awhile more now before you can go,” he said.

“How much longer?” Draco asked frustrated.

Mitch grinned at Draco. “In about five or six hours. The outside is healed, it’s the inside that needs a bit longer to fuse back together,” he said smiling.

“Do I have to stay frozen?”

“That will go away once the healing is complete,” Mitch replied. He magicked the bed larger so that two could fit on it comfortably. “Hermione, you can stay, just don’t move him.”

Hermione smiled and climbed up beside Draco, laying her head on the pillows. She lay on her side, her head close to his. Mitch covered them with a blanket and left with Severus, leaving the two alone.

“Does it hurt?” Hermione asked motioning to his back.

“No, not really. Mitch put some kind of spell on my back where I can’t feel anything,” He said. “How about you? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, no pain what so ever,” she said grinning.

She took his hand and ran her thumb over his knuckles, then kissed them softly. “It’s been quite the week, hasn’t it?” she smirked.

“And I still haven’t gotten you in a bed yet,” he said smirking suggestively.

She leaned over to touch her lips to his in a brief kiss. “At least we can touch each other this time,” she said grinning.

She then gave him a pillow and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. She still held his hand in hers as she fell asleep beside him. He watched her sleep for awhile then he himself followed her example and fell into an exhausted sleep.


Thanks to Lessa for beta-ing