Hermione Zabini

Chapter Fourteen

A/N: I'm baaaaack!!! Did y'all miss me? Sorry for being MIA. Anyways, let's continue the story!

Ariana POV:

The months are passing, and before I know it it's time for final exams. I receive top marks, predictably - once a know-it-all, always a know-it-all. Hogwarts lets out for the summer, and I board the Hogwarts Express with my friends. Sitting in a compartment that we've commandeered, we laugh and talk. When the train pulls up to Platform 9 3/4, where our parents wait to greet us. I embrace them, after which I wave goodbye to our friends, who we'll likely see in a few days anyways. We Apparate home to Zabini Manor, where we then unpack our trunks and greet Lottie, who stayed with the house elves while our parents fetched Blaise, Emory, and me. After dinner, our parents call us into the sitting room. "Children, we have some very exciting news for you," Mum says. "We secured tickets to the Quidditch World Cup, as did the other pureblood families. We leave in three weeks, and your friends will come with us to meet their parents there." My father adds, "Your mother and I will have some business to complete while we are there, so it is essential that the four of you stay with the other children when we go to complete it." They dismiss us, and my twin and I head to our wing while Lottie and Emory head to their rooms.

Blaise is practically bouncing off the walls of our common area, excited as a schoolboy. "Krum is playing in the World Cup, Ari!" "Who?" I ask, rather confused as I don't follow professional Quidditch. "Viktor Krum, Ari! Only my idol!" I roll my eyes, then I smirk mischievously at him. "Any chance that a Miss Ellie Weasley will be in attendance?" My brother's light brown skin goes cherry red. After their initial Hogsmeade date, they spent quite a bit of time together. "I-i don't k-know," he stutters. "I guess I'd have to ask her."

I exchange my mischievous tone for a more serious one. "Blaise, is Draco coming to stay this summer?" He sighs. "I don't know. He's been my best friend for years, so I extended the invitation. He never told me whether or not he's coming. I know it's still...awkward between you guys. Kayla is planning to come, though. And," he says, tone becoming playful, "so is Theo." I give him a light slap on the arm, and he chuckles. I get up from my seat on the couch and head into my room to go to bed. "Night, sis!" Blaise calls. I turn back over my shoulder and call back, "Night, Blaise." 

Three days later, our friends arrive. The Pansy and her brothers are first, followed by Astoria and Daphne. The Nott triplets arrive next, Theo giving me a kiss on the cheek when I greet him, making me blush. The Malfoy siblings are last to arrive, both of them. I catch sight of two platinum blonde heads, one male and one female. We're up in the common room, so when the house elves Apparate them up, we all look to them. Kayla grins at us, but my gaze goes to the boy standing behind her, no expression on his face. He locks eyes with me, and I freeze. Draco.