Chapter 122: 7-1

It was the day we finished the hellish O.W.L. exams. I watched the exhausted fifth years (Harry, Ron, and Hermione being no exception) as we settled down for dinner. 'Last time', a landslide of problems had crashed down upon us on this final day, but looking at Harry, he showed no signs of being lured by a vision of Sirius. Hagrid had managed to escape Umbridge's evil clutches safely, and since Hagrid got away, there was no need for Professor McGonagall to stand in Umbridge's way. Thus, we didn't have to witness the professor taking four Stunning Spells straight to the chest and collapsing. Step by step, we were steadily preventing the 'worst'. —Therefore.

"It has to be today."

"What a coincidence. I was thinking the exact same thing."

Meeting up with Draco by the lake after dinner, we exchanged a deep nod.

"With the exams over, the teachers are letting their guard down. Harry and the others' watchful eyes should be lenient right now, too."

"So we depart today, finish our business tomorrow, and return to Hogwarts the day after, huh? It's going to be hectic."

"If the exams had been before the Easter holidays, we could have taken more time. But with just the weekend, we definitely don't have that luxury."

Hidden away from the students who were basking in their newfound freedom, I gave a bitter smile. The fifth and seventh years, in particular, looked absolutely exhausted. I, too, had to squeeze every ounce of memory for the written exams, even if the practical ones were somewhat manageable. ...Just a little bit, I found myself envying the Weasley twins who had left Hogwarts to a grand round of applause.

"But,"

"It's now or never."

We reaffirmed our resolve. Once the summer holidays began, we Potter siblings would likely be placed under house arrest again. Draco would hardly be in a position to go out. —Assuming things went according to 'the plan'.

To sneak out of Hogwarts, it was now or never.

"I'll make a move on Umbridge first. You just need to drop your father's name or something."

"We should stagger our departures."

"Me first, you second."

"How are you planning to travel? I plan to ask Aunt Andi to take me via Side-Along Apparition."

"Hey now, have you forgotten? After all the times I snatched the Snitch right out from under your nose?"

As I grinned at him, he clicked his tongue in clear annoyance. I'd grown used to that smug, fake-composed face of his, but I still liked this familiar expression best. After all, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are supposed to be at each other's throats. ...Even though we're friends now.

"If I take a leisurely flight in the middle of the night, we should be able to meet up at a decent hour."

"Are you going to use a school broom?"

"Well, Harry's Firebolt is locked in the dungeons."

"...Will you be alright? Can it keep up? The broom, I mean, with your skill?"

"I'll make it keep up. That's a skill in itself, isn't it?"

We exchanged fearless smiles. —Smack! We high-fived as a signal and stood up.

"Operation go."

"Good luck."

Because our fight was far from over.

—In short, Umbridge was desperately struggling to produce what she considered an ideal, sweet voice. However, her efforts were completely ruined by her hands and lips, which were trembling with displeasure.

"So you are saying you wish to leave Hogwarts, even though it is not a long holiday? Is that right, Miss Potter?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge."

I smiled warmly, thrusting my most perfect, beaming smile at Umbridge. Opening her toad-like mouth as if nursing a migraine, Umbridge let out a heavy sigh.

"Miss Potter. You are naturally aware that the school rules stipulate students may only return home during the Christmas and summer holidays, are you not?"

"Yes. That is precisely why I am here to ask your permission, Professor Umbridge."

"Then you should understand. There are no exceptions."

"No, there are."

Umbridge's irritatingly trembling fingers stopped as if their batteries had died. The eyebrows lifting the flabby flesh on her forehead furrowed subtly.

"...And what kind of exception would that be?"

"I received word that there is something wrong with my cousin. It seems he went through a terrible ordeal this past summer. Since then, he hasn't been well, and they say his spirit is completely broken. —It is not strange to worry about one's family, is it?"

"........."

Calling that brat my 'family' was utterly laughable, but on paper, we Potter siblings were still in the custody of the Dursleys. That was exactly why she had sent the Dementors to Privet Drive in the first place. —This woman.

The fact that the Weasley siblings had started their Christmas holidays a little early due to their father being in critical condition, and that Montague's family had come to Hogwarts to tend to him after he went mad from being shoved into that Vanishing Cabinet, played a huge part in this. Precedents for family emergencies being treated as exceptions had already been set.

Now, try and refuse if you can. Because there isn't an Educational Decree that states you can't leave Hogwarts even if a family member dies—not yet, anyway.

"I wonder what sort of terrifying experience my cousin living on Privet Drive could have possibly encountered. What do you think, Professor Umbridge?"

Umbridge ground her teeth. This woman had unreasonableness on her side, but because of that, she was weak against legitimate logic. And then.

"According to information from a certain source, it seems Dark magical creatures were involved. Even though he is a Muggle... Magic was used. Do you happen to know anything about it? Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Professor Umbridge? After all, if a Muggle boy were to be harmed by something related to the wizarding world, it would be a major crisis for the Ministry of Magic. Ah, or perhaps..."

I took a breath.

"—Were you too busy chasing after the escaped Pettigrew to notice?"

In the ensuing silence, the trump card I had been holding onto for so long was finally played. The conversational tactics I had cultivated as the Head of the Auror Office proved useful here. Ah, you have my gratitude, our esteemed Minister for Magic, Mrs. Weasley.

Umbridge clamped her mouth shut tightly and blew out a loud huff from her nose. It almost looked as though the force of it would blow the documents right off her desk.

"...Very well. I shall grant you permission."

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge. Oh, and I will be traveling alone."

"That is fine, but the train..."

"I will arrange my own means of transportation. Please do not worry about it."

"...I see."

I left the room, turning my back on the frustrated toad. The moment I was out, I thrust my fist high into the air. —Total victory! I want to report it to you right away, 'my' Hermione. It's all thanks to your tireless education.

As I stood there, cheeks relaxed in a beaming smile of accomplishment, I heard a quiet chuckle from behind me.

"...Draco?"

"It seems the negotiations went swimmingly."

"It was a flawless victory."

"Indeed. It was a 'negotiation' truly fitting of a Slytherin."

Smirk. We faced each other with wicked expressions.

"Was the little lord eavesdropping? Oops, my apologies. Eavesdropping is practically synonymous with Malfoy, isn't it?"

"Well, a Potter makes a racket like a Howler no matter where they are. My delicate ears simply can't help but pick it up."

"My, my. They're as delicate as WWW's Extendable Ears."

We glared at each other—and then burst out laughing at the same time. It had been a while since we had an exchange like this. Realizing how long it had been—it made me genuinely happy from the bottom of my heart.

"Are you off on an elegant journey through the skies next?"

"Along with Umbridge's lackeys. Though I need to persuade Harry first. I have to borrow the Invisibility Cloak."

"I pity him. ...Flying alongside you is truly a pain in the neck."

"Am I going to run rings around you?"

"You already have."

Despite the light banter, Draco closed the distance between us and softly lowered his voice.

"Don't forget your wand. When it comes down to it, the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery won't matter."

"Who do you think you're talking to? Just try and say 'your' Harry Potter's profession out loud."

This time, we bumped fists. Asking if I would be okay on my own? There was no need for such worry. That was exactly the trust we had in each other.

""See you later.""

Our second high-five rang cheerfully down the corridor.

"Come visit anytime, Maria. Our little Secret-Keeper."

"I will, Andromeda."

Watched over by Andromeda Tonks's beautiful smile, we left the house. Draco and I sighed in relief. It was a success. —With this, all the behind-the-scenes work was complete.

"We managed to pull it off."

"If it wasn't for the Trace of underage magic, we could have cast the Fidelius Charm ourselves."

"I'm not sure what to think of fifteen-year-olds casting the Fidelius Charm."

"Thank you for your valuable opinion? Miss Potter, who mastered the Patronus Charm at fifteen."

I groaned, having a sarcastic remark thrown right back at me. Draco was in high spirits. Things were going incredibly smoothly. Now we had two safe houses. As long as I didn't die, the protection over the two houses wouldn't weaken.

"All that's left now... is to charge in when 'that time' comes."

"Yeah."

We stopped. The house, which had been funded by her relative Alphard back when Andromeda was still a Black, was located deep within the forest. Right before us lay the boundary between an ordinary road and the path. The Muggle-Repelling Charm wouldn't work beyond this point.

"This is far enough. You're heading back to Hogwarts with Andromeda's help, right? I'm going back to Grimmauld Place for now. For appearances' sake, I should probably show my face at Privet Drive. I'll ask one of the Order members left at the house to take me. I suppose I'll be relying on Side-Along Apparition for my return trip as well."

"Understood. ...Are you sure about this, really?"

I answered Draco's pained whisper head-on.

"Yeah. —I'll be your accomplice."

I ran my fingers through his hair, which had grown quite long. It was soft, fine, and fragile. If it had been silver-blonde, he surely would have looked exactly like Lucius Malfoy. Draco truly loved his family from the bottom of his heart. —He had something he wanted to protect, even if it meant bearing the stigma of being a patricide. Just like how I cared for my brothers above all else.

"Well then, see you at Hogwarts."

"Maria."

Draco's hand brushed my earlobe. Hanging there was my third-year Christmas present from Draco—an earring that shone in the moonlight. It had been incredibly handy as a companion for night flights, serving as a substitute for Lumos.

"Draco?"

"—See you at Hogwarts."

His scent brushed past me. It was a kiss on the cheek, the first I'd received in a long while. A thrill sent a flutter deep in my chest.

"A-Ah, yeah. See you."

Stumbling in an odd way, I pulled the Invisibility Cloak over myself. I crossed the boundary. The forest vanished, replaced by the sounds of cars and human voices. The busy time of Muggles was coming and going.

I rubbed the spot where Draco's cheek had touched mine with the back of my hand. My heart was pounding strangely. He—that's right—he... I like him.

"...Even though he's a Malfoy."

I muttered a completely meaningless curse. Unable to stand still, I rubbed my cheek again, and the earring caught on my finger, slipping off and falling to the ground. The white gleam rolled across the asphalt. At this rate, some Muggle would end up stepping on it.

"Geez, come on. What am I do────"

Spin.