Love Potions and Their Many Uses (Dramione)

Chapter 20 - Intoxication

The Defence Against the Dark Arts exams had overall been brutal.

The examiners had lined up a bunch of life-sized puppets along the wall and every now and then, one would raise a wooden arm and shoot a spell at random. The students had to use an array of advanced-level spells to parry, attack and protect themselves.

Luckily, thanks to Quidditch, Ginny had amazing reflexes and she felt confident she did well. It was probably the only exam she felt confident about- and thankfully, it was her last N.E.W.T. exam of the year.

She was huddled on the couches in the Gryffindor common room with Demelza, Jack Sloper, Jimmy Peakes and a few of her other Quidditch mates. Jimmy had some spiked Butterbeer that he'd smuggled in and they celebrated raucously. They had a lot to celebrate this year, considering they'd won the Quidditch tournament and Gryffindor was in the lead for the House Cup to boot.

It had been a good year.

Well, almost.

Ginny took a sip of her drink, contemplating everything that had happened.

It was hard to believe she would be graduating soon.

Madam Hooch apparently knew the coach from the Holyhead Harpies and promised to put in a good word for Ginny.

The future seemed bright.

Perhaps, with Hogwarts coming to an end, this would be a good time to bury the hatchet.

She thought about her last, late-night Floo chat with Harry.

"Hermione's been having a rough time. Maybe you should just talk to her? I know she misses you."

Ginny scoffed.

"How can you forgive her so easily? Forgive him so easily? You of all people should be the most upset by this!"

"She says he's changed and...I believe that. You didn't see him in the astronomy tower. I think he's been different for a long time now. War makes people grow up fast."

Ginny sighed.

"I know that...I just...It's his face. He looks just like his stupid, bastard father. It keeps bringing me back there. Back when I had the diary and..."

"I know, it's okay,"

"Why did she have to pick him? Out of all the snakes here, she had to go for the one that personally tried to kill and hurt half the people I love!"

"Maybe you should ask her. It's Hermione. She might not have an answer you'll like, but she'll have a good one. With bullet points, footnotes and probably a bibliography."

Ginny snorted.

"Maybe you're right. Let me just survive the exam apocalypse and we'll see about it after."

"Ginny?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you. Miss you and can't wait for you to come back."

Ginny grinned.

"Love you too, you big softie."

Ginny felt something tug at the sleeve of her robe, snapping her out of her flashback.

A nervous-looking second year shifted in front of her.

"Ginny Weasley? Erm...someone is outside for you. D-Draco Malfoy."

Ginny's face hardened. The second-year looked like they were about to wet themselves.

"And pray tell, what does he want?" Ginny asked, finding it hard to keep the scorn out of her voice.