A Hogwarts Reunion

Chapter Five

Draco watched his daughter's eyes widen in awe as they stepped through Platform 9 3/4. He chuckled to himself at how much she looked like a young Hermione.

"Where's mummy?" Lyra asked, finally tearing her eyes away from the large scarlet steam train ahead of the family.

"Mummy's right behind us," he assured her, trying to spot his wife in the crowd that was forming on the platform. "Let's go find your sister and brothers," he changed the subject, trying not to worry the young girl.

As the pair approached the engine, Draco felt an anxious flutter in his stomach. Although he would never admit it to Hermione, he was just as nervous for the reunion as she was. Despite whom he had grown to be in his years away from Hogwarts, he was still a former Death Eater who fought on the wrong side of the war. It hurt him to remember those days, but a certain mark on his body and the many sleepless nights he had since never let him forget.

Draco smiled as he caught sight of his wife in the mob of reunion attendees. He waved the brunette over, surprised when she playfully gave him a peck on the lips. Draco had to stop himself from turning the small act of affection into a full-blown snog, but he was painfully aware of his nerves and the eyes on the couple.

The train whistle sounded, causing Hermione's worries to overcome her. Through all of the anxiety, she was truly excited to go back and mend things with her friends.

"Where are Cassie and the twins?" Hermione asked as she boarded the train with Draco and Lyra. Unfortunately, the Hogwarts express was a must since Hogwarts had a strict no-apparation policy and Draco had forgotten to pick up more floo powder. Hermione didn't mind the ride, it just made it much harder to keep track of four children. Lyra ran ahead and plopped herself down in an empty compartment, smiling in excitement as she watched the Hogwarts Express pull away from the station. 

"Somewhere on the train," Draco shrugged and smiled sheepishly at his wife's annoyance.

"Do you think they boarded alright? What if they're still at Kings Cross?" Hermione began to panic before Draco held her shaking hands in his.

"Mione, they'll be alright," Draco steadied her.
"We raised capable kids; they know how to board a train. They're probably with Pansy and Blaise right now!" he reassured her. "This is our night. Don't worry about the kids, they can handle themselves."

As much as she wanted to believe him, she had a sinking feeling that tonight wasn't going to go as expected.

***

Cassiopeia lay her head against the smooth frame of the compartment's window, her temples throbbing from the bumpy ride. After what felt like hours, the train stopped with a screech and let out a sigh of steam it had been holding since leaving Kings Cross.

"I'm already exhausted," said Clarissa Zabini in annoyance as she followed the Malfoy off the engine. Cassiopeia nodded halfheartedly, trying to find her family in the crowd. Her patience was wearing thin until she spotted two familiar blondes a few steps away.

The twins both shouted in protest as they felt their sister grab their arms. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes and pushed through the bustling station to where her parents stood, Scorpius and Caelum still firmly in her grip.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief as she saw her children heading towards her, however her comfort was short lived when she remembered what she was about to do. Every time she pictured seeing her old friends again, she felt like throwing up last night's casserole all over her scarlet gown. She was grateful that the crowd hadn't recognized her or Draco yet, but she knew that her secret wouldn't be kept for too much longer.

Draco rubbed his wife's hand comfortingly, but he could tell that she was numb to the affection. Both of their worries were through the roof, confirmed by Hermione's panic every time she spotted a hint of Weasley hair. The parents motioned for their children to join them as they made their way to the castle. In honor of the reunion, Hogwarts staff had conjured a large bridge that stretched over the Black Lake. A good idea, since Hermione doubted the boats or Thestral-drawn carriages would accommodate all the extra family members.

The witch nervously twirled her hair around her finger, a habit she had left behind in her first year.

As the crowd moved closer and closer to the doors of Hogwarts, she recalled her first sorting at the school. It was the only other time she had felt this nervous to go to school, other than when her, Harry, and Ron had snuck back into the castle for the battle.

***

Hermione gulped as the first years approached the magnificent castle. It was beyond anything Hermione had read, seen, or heard. The inky black sky made the torches of the castle flicker and dance with the wind, a few stars twinkling at her.

She impulsively went to twirl her hair, then chastised herself for returning to the childish habit. Hermione found herself needing it now more than ever.

She was too nervous to listen to Professor McGonagall's voice as the woman explained the rules of sorting, but she did manage to pick up a few things. Mostly things she already had knowledge of, mind you. As the wide doors of the Great Hall opened, she felt her heart pound faster as she saw the staring faces of the crowd. She immediately looked to the enchanted ceiling of Hogwarts, finding herself nervously babbling about the magic within it to anyone who would listen.

The more names that were called, the faster her pulse got. She desperately willed herself to relax.

'Honestly Hermione, you're being a ninny. Nothing's going to go wrong, you belong at Hogwarts just like everyone else!' the young witch told herself, hands shaking as McGonagall's list got closer and closer to the Gs.

All too soon, the dreaded moment came. Bounding up the steps in a jittery skip, her worries turned to panic as the hat was placed onto her head.

'Breathe. Just breathe,' she told herself weakly, closing her eyes tightly as the sorting hat made it's decision.

It seemed like hours before the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR!"

***

An older Hermione Granger shook her head like a dog trying to rid its ears of water, and recalled her own advice from all those years ago.

"Just breathe," she repeated softly, inhaling and exhaling until her heartbeat had returned to its normal pace. She tried to savor the little time she had before those doors would open and she would have to come face-to-face with the past.