He let go of her, and the world swam back into focus.
'Three o'clock, Granger,' he said, and dropped her hand.
'Wow,' she said weakly, and looked up at him. He was looking at her again with that funny little smile, half amusement, half regret. She knew he had just shown her how he really felt. And knew he would never, ever do it again.
He half-grinned at her. 'So?'
'That was…amazing,' she said faintly.
'And?'
'And if you ever try it again, I'll slap you.'
His smile widened, became a real grin. 'You love hitting me, don't you, Granger?'
he said. 'You might want to look into that.'
She grinned back.
'Shut up, Malfoy,' she said.
**** 'What'd Ron say?' said Hermione, curiously.
'He said it was about time, then he made a rude remark which I am not going to repeat. Then he said he told me so.'
'And what'd you say then?' asked Hermione, giggling.
'I turned his broomstick into a snail by pointing at it.'
'Did you really?'
'I was going for turning it into a frog, actually,' admitted Harry. 'And Pigwidgeon ate the snail, so now I owe Ron a broomstick. This Magid stuff is a lot of trouble, really.'
Hermione laughed, and reached for an apple. What a difference twenty-four hours makes, she thought. Yesterday it was raining and miserable, and now…They had brought their lunch down to the lake, as the sky had cleared completely and it was a beautiful June day. Harry was sitting with his back to a rock, and she was leaning against his knees.
'But you wouldn't want to not be one, would you?' she asked.
'I don't think so,' said Harry. He was lazily playing with a lock of her hair, pulling the curl straight and then letting it bounce back. 'I was talking to Dumbledore, and he said that he runs this sort of education program for untrained Magids over the summers in Ireland, and if I want to go this summer, I can.'
'Do you?' she asked, turning around to look at him.
'Well, it isn't the Dursleys. And it's only two months. So I could come and see you in August.'
'You know Draco's still coming to visit me, right?'
'I know,' said Harry. 'We can all hang out. Go to the beach. Watch Malfoy not get tan.'
'Hey!' They both turned, and saw Draco running towards them around the perimeter of the lake. He came to a skidding halt in front of them, and stood there, leaning his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. 'Harry-' he panted.
Hermione looked at him curiously. 'Did you run all the way here?'
He nodded.
'Why?'
'I had to talk to you,' he panted, looking at Harry. If the sight of Harry and Hermione together bothered him, he didn't show it. It was a talent he had. 'Potter' And Draco held out a white piece of paper to him. 'I just got this- by owl post.'
Hermione and Harry both stood up, and Harry took the paper from Draco. He unfolded it, read it, and went suddenly very white.
'Harry?' said Hermione, alarmed. 'Is it bad news?'
Wordlessly, he handed her the letter. It was from Sirius.
Harry and Draco, I decided to address this letter to both of you as this matter concerns you equally.
I wanted to write to tell you two things. One, my motion to be allowed to legally adopt Harry has been accepted, and should be finalized within the next few months. I'm very pleased about this, and I hope you, Harry, are as well. Secondly, as, Draco probably already knows, Narcissa and I have been talking, and we're planning to be married in August, as soon as her divorce from Lucius comes through. I'm very pleased about this as well, and hope you will be too' What does he mean, as you already know, Draco?' she asked, bewildered, lowering the letter.
'That letter came with one from my mother, that was just addressed to me,' said Draco, who was looking stunned. 'It basically said the same thing. I can't believe it,' he added, shaking his head. 'I can't believe it!'
'So that's what he wanted to tell me that time in the common room,' said Harry, looking equally thunderstruck.
'Sirius!' exclaimed Draco. 'That sly dog! And literally, too!'
'Well, I figured this would happen,' said Hermione, who was now pink with the effort of not laughing at their poleaxed expressions. 'Didn't you?'
'No,' said Harry and Draco in unison, shaking their heads.
'You do know what this means, don't you?' she said, pointing at the paper. 'If they get married, and Sirius
