A Magic Stronger Than Darkness ~ Book 2: Forever & Always

Chapter 2 ~ Facts & Fiction

By the time that I stepped into my dorm room, Hermione and Ginny were in the middle of unpacking their own belongings. Textbooks, parchment rolls, Quidditch equipment, bottles of ink, spare cauldrons, and various articles of clothing were strewn across the floor as the pair attempted to put everything into its proper place. Usually my friends and I kept the dorm very tidy, but our room was always a bit messy the first day back each term. This year was certainly no different. Both witches looked up from their sorting as I entered the room and dropped my bags and trunk onto my bed.

With my hands and arms finally empty, I went over to give each of my best friends an enthusiastic hug, tiptoeing over some of the more chaotic piles. "V!" Hermione welcomed me with a wide grin.

"Hey guys!" I responded happily as we pulled back from the three-way hug.

"How was your train ride?" Ginny prompted.

"Surprisingly good. Maleficent almost ate Parkinson's rat and Draco insulted the wretch too, so it was fun." I answered.

Ginny leaned forward to scratch Mali's chin. "Good girl," She laughed as she praised the long-haired kitty.

I turned to Hermione again and frowned, remembering what had occurred between Harry and Draco as we headed to the thestral carriages. "I'm sorry about Draco's outburst and overall behavior earlier, Mione. He's seemed a little tense as of late, and when I met his parents, his father was rather abrupt with him." Hermione nodded, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

"It's fine, Veronica. You can't control everything that he says and does. I'm just happy I haven't seen him call people Mudbloods anymore. You've made a real improvement with him." She complimented me.

Ginny interrupted the conversation, "Wait a minute, when did you meet his father?" The red-haired girl asked.

I turned to her again, "Today. Draco introduced me to his parents at Platform 9 and ¾ before we boarded the Express."

"He must really like you then. He never introduced Parkinson or Greengrass to his parents, despite the fact that Lucius and Narcissa wanted to meet them." Ginny pointed out thoughtfully. I smiled and looked down shyly, pleased to find out that the meet and greet with Draco's parents was more of a big deal than I had realized.

Before I could comment on her previous statement, Ginny continued, "Did he try to snog you on the train?" The Weasley girl smirked devilishly and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me. I gaped at her, blushing a deep shade of crimson that matched the curtains of our four-posters.

"Draco? No, he was a complete gentleman! Now, enough about Draco and I. How are things between you guys, Harry, and Ron?" I turned my attention to my best friends.

Hermione shook her head and sighed in annoyance, "They're still as daft as ever..." A pang of sympathy shot through me as I listened to her words. Still, I wanted to remain hopeful for my friends.

"They'll come around soon. I'm sure of it!" I encouraged them.

Eventually we made our way back down to the Great Hall for the annual welcome feast. Together the three of us approached our housemates and said hello to the other Gryffindors we hadn't had the chance to speak to yet.

As I scanned the room, I noticed a new woman sitting at the professors' table. She looked to be in her forties, but she was shrouded in an absolutely ridiculous amount of pink clothing. Staring at this unfamiliar witch was like staring at the human embodiment of a bag of carnival cotton candy.

Though she was just sitting there and observing her surroundings, she had an air of authority that seemed to cling to her. In fact, she was acting as if she owned Hogwarts itself. I watched her suspiciously, already deciding that I did not like this woman, mostly due to the feelings of unease and discomfort that had accompanied her presence in the usually joyous Great Hall. Based on the way that Harry was eyeing her, I could confidently assume he shared my sentiments regarding the woman.