Hannah Grace and the Dark Arts

~Chapter Three~

Year Six

Hannah hadn't seen her friends for a few weeks, not since seeing them briefly in Diagon Alley while shopping for school supplies. 

"Hannah!"

"How was your summer?"

Thank goodness for her friends. They had met in the newly-established and extremely popular Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop. After Hannah had answered all their questions, and had asked some of her own, Hermione gave her a comforting smile.

"I read about your dad in the newspaper," she said sympathetically. "I'm very sorry."

"Thanks," said Hannah. "I know my parents never made an effort with any of you..."

"That's not your fault," said Harry.

"But a prisoner of Azkaban," said Hermione sympathetically.

"Yeah, it's been hard – I don't know how I feel about it, to be honest. I miss him, of course, but what he was doing..." She trialed off. "Mum and I spent a lot of time with Draco and Narcissa his summer – more time than usual."

Ron shook his head pitifully. "I can't imagine, spending the whole summer with the Malfoys. Some company, that lot." Hermione elbowed him and muttered to him about being insensitive.

Hannah shrugged. "It wasn't all that bad, really. I just kept to myself more than usual. Honestly wasn't that different from every other summer. Different circumstances, yeah, but we spend every summer together."

"Ah, look who it is." The four friends turned to see Fred and George, in identical yellow suits, distinguished only by an orange or purple tie, respectively, walking down the stairs towards them.

Hannah ran to hug them. "This is fantastic!" she praised the shop. "It's very you."

"Thank you," said Fred. "Have a look around. We offer a special discount for friends."

"We have something we think you'd like," added George. "Colour-changing eye shadow! It changes colour – randomly! There's over a dozen variations! So, one moment, your eyes will be green, and the next they'll be orange!"

Hannah laughed. "Sounds wonderful, guys. You're very in your element here.  We'll miss you loads at school, though."

"At least Hannah will," said Ron knowingly.

Hannah rolled her eyes.   "We all will," she assured them. 

"Ugh, speak of the devil." Ron nodded to the window, through which the group saw Natalia, Narcissa, and Draco standing out on the street, looking up in disapproval at the very colourful shop. The three certainly looked out of place, standing there in their dark clothes before the colourful building. 

"I've got to go," Hannah sighed.  "But first, I'm going to pick up one of those eye shadow palettes." 

~ ~ ~

She was studying in the library after class, watching as Draco moved slowly through the shelves, seeking out some book in the History of Magic section.

"Need some help finding something?" He jumped slightly as she suddenly appeared at his side.

This, them together in the library, made her recall the tutoring sessions she had led with him – not her suggestion, rather her father's – in their second year. Lucius had expressed his concern and disappointment at Draco's marks dropping, Draco blaming Hermione's superior marks, and Mr. Grace in turn suggesting that Hannah, a good student herself, help Draco. 

She actually hadn't minded all that much once the sessions began, as it felt like their old friendship had returned. 

Draco said nothing, only scowled, so Hannah continued. "Only, I know this section quite well." Hermione wasn't the only one who loved to spend time in the library in the company of books. "This one-" She tapped the spine of A Very Short and Really Only A Brief Account of the History of Magic in Italy. "-It's a good, light read. Very interesting. It's one of my favourites actually-"

"You really think I care," he cut her off.

She didn't know why she still continued to be taken aback by his inherent rudeness, and yet she was. Usually because it was so uncalled for.

"Go bother someone else."

"And I wonder why I keep trying to be your friend." She promptly gathered her things and stalked off, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible.

(Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))