A Future Uncertain

Chapter 8: The News

Breakfast time at Hogwarts again.

She opted to eat all remaining meals in the kitchens yesterday in order to avoid her problem, Draco, and was grateful she hadn't had any classes with him. Today was a different story. To her chagrin, she had two classes with Malfoy- Potions and Transfiguration. She'd have to face him sooner or later. Face him meaning sitting in the same room without acknowledging each other.

Seeing him shouldn't be this difficult, but it was.

Hermione sat down, sparing a glance at the Slytherin table. Nothing was amiss, no winks or smiles, and no one was watching her. At least her mind wasn't playing tricks on her today.

She turned to Harry and asked him about his weekend. She had most of her classes with Harry yesterday, but after breakfast she had kept to herself, consumed with thoughts of her strange encounter.

"It was... different without you two here," Harry said, glancing at Ginny who was arguing with her brother about something or another. Hermione nodded knowingly. Anytime the couple was together Ron insisted that they should join them, but Hermione knew the truth: Harry wanted to spend more alone with Ginny.

Hermione watched him fix the strap on his bag and glance around the hall while they were leaving. Keeping his voice low, he confessed, "Something else happened over the weekend." His green eyes shifting between nearby people, making sure they weren't listening. "The Prophet confirmed that dragons were stolen over the weekend. The article didn't say much, but I think there's something going on, something dark."

Hermione's eyes widened for a moment. Dragons are incredibly dangerous. Before the ministry mandated that all the dragons were captured, they would to leave entire cities engulfed in flames. That's why they were only handled by professionals. That's why they were XXXXX classified creatures. But how could someone steal a dragon?

"Ron and I talked about it yesterday. If this is the work of dark wizards, we're going to take Kinglsey up on his offer and leave school to become Aurors."

She knew she couldn't talk them out of it. She knew this was something they wanted to do, so they would do it regardless of what anyone else said. "Only if necessary, right?"

"We're not leaving unless that's the case," he confirmed, solemnly.

"Do you want me to help?"

Harry shook his head. He didn't want her to think that she should to leave her studies again. "There aren't nearly as many of them as us anymore, and you can help us by staying here."

She knew he wouldn't want her to come with them, but she had to offer. That's what friends did.

She pushed the thoughts from her head. Thinking of Harry and Ron chasing criminals that were clever enough to steal dragons was something she didn't want to think about until she had to.

They were only two other people in the class when they entered. As the years went on, Hermione noticed that students no longer showed up to class early, most opting to come in seconds before the professor. The classes were different this year than ever before at Hogwarts. Students from all houses were in classes together, and there was about half a class extra of people, since so many were unable to continue their education during the war. This year there were the seven years, like Ginny, and the senior seventh years, like Hermione.

She led Harry to the front of the room where they took their seats and waited for the lecture. She heard Draco when he came in the room, and willing herself not to turn around, she listened intently to his conversation. He was talking about owling his family, and telling others to do the same. It didn't sound important, but his tone said otherwise. He sounded worried. Similar to when he had thought that she would want to stay with him in the future. It concerned her, but this wasn't her business, and worrying did nothing. She couldn't help him.