Potter's Shadow (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter 27

The boys had gone back to normal so Ginny and I had returned to our little friendship bubble, nearby but not involved as we ensured they didn't do anything else to jeopardise our friendship. Since I made up with Ginny, as Harry wanted I hadn't been around the Slytherins or the Durmstrangs. Till that morning. 

"Hello Rose, I 'aven't seen you in veeks," Gregor sat opposite me and Ginny alongside the rest of his friends, Stan, Alek, Ivo and Viktor Krum. Viktor smiled before not very sneakily glancing down the table at Hermione, who was reading the daily prophet. 
"Hi Gregor," I smiled. "This is my best friend Ginny Weasley. Ginny this is Gregor, Ivo, Alek, Stan and Viktor Krum." 
"Hi," Ginny squeaked out as she looked up at the Durmstrang boys, who were seated along the bench opposite us. The boys all smiled and greeted her before pulling food onto their plates. 
"Vhere have you been?" Gregor continued.
"Hanging out with Ginny in the common room and around." 
"I think ve should hang out more," Gregor insisted. 
"Um... sure." I answered before sharing a glance with Ginny before eating some more food. Harry's words reflecting in my head. 

I noticed the owls arriving with more mail, mainly packages. Owls now came in waves during breakfast due to the large amount of students currently residing at Hogwarts. A brown barn owl dived down with a square brown box in its clutches giving me just enough time to push my plate out of the way before it fell in front of me. A small envelope was lodged underneath the string of the packaged.
"Who sent it?" Ginny asked looking it over.
"Not sure. I wasn't expecting anything," I explained as I pulled a small note out of the envelope. Immediately I recognised the familiar scrawl, "It's Uncle Remus." 

Dear Rose, 
Padfoot and I hope you'll accept this gift as a down payment for 13 missing birthday and Christmas presents. We saw it and it reminded us of something your mother owned.
Enjoy the Yule Ball. 
Remus Lupin & Padfoot

The end of the letter was also marked with a muddy pawprint. Out of curiosity I pulled the string before carefully pulling the brown paper open. The box was marked with a muggle dress shop logo. Confused I pulled the lid off slightly noticing a beautiful folded emerald green dress. Ginny leaned forwards and looked in as the lid was blocking it from the view of most of the Gryffindors around us.

"That's so pretty," She spoke gaining the boys attention as they tried to glimpse a peek so I slammed it shut. 
"Vhat is it?" Alek asked as he slid back into his seat. 
"Just a present from my Uncles," I answered not wanting to lead them on to the topic of the Yule ball. 
Ginny leaned in and whispered in my ear, "You have to try that on later." I turned and smiled at her. 

"Ginny these must be for you," Ron spoke walking over with an ugly brown dress. I laughed as Ginny almost dropped her spoon down as she looked horrified at the atrocity in his hands. 

"I'm not wearing that it's ghastly," Ginny turned Ron away as Hermione laughed from her seat opposite Harry. 
"What are you on about?" Ron wandered back to them still holding the dress up against him. 

"They're not for Ginny, they're for you!" Hermione explained causing the rest of us at Gryffindor table to laugh including the Durmstrang boys. "Dress robes."
"Dress robes? for what?" 

It didn't take long for an answer to be found as the houses were each requested to report to a classroom of their head of houses choosing during 1st lesson. Although excited as the schedules had never been changed before, I was also upset because it meant I wouldn't have positions. Ginny was pleased to not have to deal with Snape but I enjoyed his classes, he was a good teacher and favoured me over the others. All the Gryffindors made our way to the Transfiguration classroom, which had been arranged with benches either side of the room and a gramophone in the centre.