Fic: After Effect, Harry/Draco, NC-17, [Complete]
Title: After Effect
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Summary: No one knew Draco had a daughter, but due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding the end of the War he'll have to bring her to school for his eighth year. Perhaps a bit of innocence can help to open eyes.
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Five
Hermione sat down next to Ginny on a couch in the Gryffindor common room. She was attempting to read something for History of Magic, though it didn’t look like it was going so well.
“Hi, Gin,” she said, leaning back into the couch casually. She noted that Harry and Ron were not yet back from the pitch where they’d decided to go for a ride. Quidditch had been canceled this year and the boys hadn’t had a chance to fly yet.
“Hey, ‘Mione,” she mumbled, keeping up her attempt at reading. Hermione chuckled.
“Mind if I ask a question?”
Ginny finally looked up from her book.
“Er-sure. What’s up?”
“Did something happen with you and Harry?”
She knew immediately that she’d been right; Ginny’s face flushed and her teeth clenched.
“Why do you ask?” Her eyebrows dipped suddenly. “Did Harry say something?”
“No, nothing like that, I just noticed that you two hadn’t spoken today and, well, you’d said you were going to hang out in his room last night, so…”
Ginny sighed and looked back down at her book, though her eyes weren’t focused on the words. After a silent moment she closed the book and faced Hermione, bringing her legs up under her.
“I was kissing him,” she began, “and he wasn’t responding. Not at all. So I asked what was wrong and he starts up with this nonsense about Malfoy being gay. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t care if he’s gay, but who the hell brings that up while their bloody girlfriend is kissing them?”
Hermione pursed her lips in thought.
“Yes, that’s rather odd,” she said, scratching her head. She’d decided not to mention to Ginny that Harry had already told her about this. It would most likely only make things worse. “Did he say anything else about it?”
“I don’t know,” Ginny groaned, running a hand through her hair. “Something about being overwhelmed with new information… It was a load of rubbish. He was hard, Hermione, and it wasn’t because of me.”
Hermione’s eyes went wide. She certainly hadn’t been expecting that.
“Really?”
“Yes!” Ginny yelled, gesturing wildly with her arms. “So I walked out. Harry needs to figure his crap out, because this is ridiculous and I’m not dealing with it.” She looked at Hermione and narrowed her eyes. “Oh no, I know what you’re thinking. I’m not being hard on him, Hermione! We’re dating! How am I supposed to react?”
“I know, Ginny, and you have every right to feel the way you do,” she said. Ginny laughed humorlessly and folded her arms. “But what if Harry’s just trying to find himself? You have to admit he didn’t have much time to do that during his adolescence. He was constantly thinking about Voldemort! And I don’t think he’s not attracted to you, I think that maybe he’s just, you know … also finding that he might be attracted to Draco." Ginny rolled her eyes at the use of his name. "Merlin knows it would make sense with the way those two went at it in past years.”
“So, what, has he told you that?” Ginny asked quietly. “Does he fancy Malfoy?”
“No, he didn’t tell me that,” Hermione sighed. “But, Ginny… Look, I love you both and I don’t want either of you to get hurt. Maybe it’s time you and Harry took a break, just to see what happens.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this.” Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. Hermione bit her lip. She felt horrible, but in her heart she knew it was the right thing. If Harry really did like Malfoy then this would give him an opportunity to explore that. If not … well, then he and Ginny would get back together. “Do you want them to be together?”
“I want Harry to be happy.”
Ginny dropped her arms to her side.
“What do I do, then? Break up with him?”
“No, I think you should just leave it be for now. Harry’s a good person, you know that. If he decided to try anything with Malfoy he’d end it with you first. We should just leave him alone for now.”
“Yeah, alright.” Ginny picked her book back up. “I’m sorry I’m being so irritable,” she said. “It’s just very sudden.”
“I don’t blame you, Gin.” Hermione wrapped an arm around the other girl and hugged her. “Harry will always love you even if you’re not dating. You know he will. And so will I.” Ginny smiled at her and nodded.
“Yeah, yeah,” she laughed. “Go plot Harry’s life, I need to study.” Hermione smirked and got up off the couch, intending to do just that.
* * *
Over the next few days Hermione got a plan together, while simultaneously attempting to direct each boy’s attention to the other whenever possible. She needed a bit of time to fully develop the plan, so she figured putting them in situations where they inadvertently flirted was a good way to use the extra time.
It was on Tuesday of the following week that she decided to push the boundaries a bit. She asked Draco to go out by the lake again in the evening and asked Harry to join. She’d spoken to Ron the day before in order to make sure it would be only her, Draco, Carina, and Harry.
“I need you to pretend to want to do homework tomorrow,” she’d said. In return Ron had taken on a revolted expression.
“Why in Merlin’s name would I do that?”
Hermione carefully introduced her suspicions to Ron. Initially he’d begun yelling at her, shooting down her every word with insults and curses. She’d expected it-after all, Ron hated Malfoy, and, up until now at least, he’d been secure in the knowledge that Harry, his best friend, did too. Not to mention the issue of his sister, who was dating Harry. He’d stormed out of the room and only later in the evening had Hermione been able to talk to him again. He’d eventually given in and listened to Hermione harp on about Harry’s feelings and how he deserved to be happy (and slowly explained that she’d spoken to Ginny) and, though reluctantly, he’d finally acquiesced to help her.
“You’re sure about this?” he’d asked, looking worried. “You really think Harry fancies … him?”
“Yes,” she’d said with certainty. “I really do. I just need to get them alone for a bit and let them talk.”
Ron had sighed resignedly but agreed, so after dinner on Tuesday night Harry and Hermione left the common room without Ron, who rather convincingly reported a sudden drive to do his Charms essay. Harry had been stunned, but gone along with it.
The weather was becoming chilly as the four walked down to the Beech tree by the lake, Carina holding onto Draco’s finger loosely.
“Papa, can I look for fishies again?”
“Of course,” Draco laughed. Hermione jumped at her chance.
“I’ll help you look,” she said. Carina squealed with excitement and dragged her father along more quickly toward the lake. Harry and Hermione followed, Hermione smiling broadly and Harry looking as nervous as ever.
Hermione did not sit down next to Draco, but followed Carina to the water’s edge. Harry, feeling incredibly uncomfortable, sat down next to Malfoy, who was just out of reach of the shade from the branches and therefore highlighted by the glow of the setting sun.
Harry swallowed tensely.
“She really likes Hermione,” he said, fiddling awkwardly with his fingers in his lap.
“You’re not kidding,” Malfoy laughed. “The kid doesn’t stop talking about her.”
Harry smiled widely, a sudden burst of happiness shooting through him at the knowledge that Malfoy’s daughter liked Hermione so much.
Silence ensued for several minutes, neither boy knowing quite what to say, a definite tension hanging in the air.
Er-Malfoy,” Harry began uncertainly. Malfoy looked over at him, his gray eyes seeming to stare straight through him. Harry cleared his throat. “Hermione told me about-er-Carina’s mum, and … well, I’m sorry. That’s really awful.” Malfoy looked toward the lake, his gaze settling on his daughter.
He nodded slowly.
“Thanks,” he said. Harry's stomach clenched. “I didn’t know her very well. I assume you heard the whole story?”
“Most of it, I think. Hermione told us what you told her.”
“’Us’? She told Weasley, too?” he asked, though he didn’t look upset. Harry flushed nevertheless. Malfoy smiled. Harry’s heart palpitated. “Emilie was just a girl I met during a holiday in France. She was two years older and I was in the middle of an oncoming War.” Harry bit the inside of his lip. “I saw her once between the time we left France and when she died. I went to see her just before our sixth year started-a few weeks before Carina was born. We picked out a name during that time and talked about Carina’s future.”
“How’d you come up with Carina?” Harry asked, remembering the way Hermione had smirked when she’d first heard the little girl’s name.
“It’s a star formation,” Malfoy explained. “All the males on my mother's side of the family are named after constellations. My grandfather, Orion, my cousins, myself, all my ancestors. Carina’s not a boy, but I wasn’t sure I’d be having another child, so I skewed the tradition a bit.” He shook his head, inwardly it seemed.
There was another semi-long silence.
“It changes everything, you know?” Harry whispered eventually. Malfoy quirked an eyebrow. “Knowing that you had a daughter during those years. Sixth year. Last year.” Harry brought his knees up to his chest and rested his chin there. Malfoy remained silent. Harry was afraid his heart was audible with the way it was thumping against his ribcage. He felt like a schoolgirl with a crush, trying desperately to say the right thing, while simultaneously hating himself for even thinking the word ‘crush’. “Do you ever feel like the War changed everything? Not just the obvious, but something else? Something you can’t put your finger on?”
He heard Malfoy swallow.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I do.”
“But then again,” Harry continued, unfolding his legs and sitting up straighter, “I feel like nothing changed sometimes. Voldemort’s dead, but I don’t feel like I defeated him. Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that so many people are gone.”
He looked over at Malfoy and was startled to see that a single tear had slid down his cheek.
“Fuck, I’m sorry.” Harry began to reach out toward Malfoy, not quite sure what he was going to do when he touched him, but was waved off when Malfoy shook his head.
“It’s fine. I just … I know what you mean. It’s always hard to believe my mother’s gone.”
Harry wanted to kick himself. He’d completely forgotten about that.
Very tactful, Harry.
Malfoy laughed darkly. “I guess that’s karma, eh?”
“No,” Harry said softly. “No one deserves that.”
“You lost your parents when you were one, Potter.”
“Exactly. I was one, not eighteen.” Malfoy only hung his head and sniffled. Harry had never seen him so vulnerable. It made him feel oddly … special. Privileged to be witness to something so intimate for a boy who’d never willingly shown any emotion at all. And despite how strange it sounded, he thought Malfoy looked quite cute this way-open and exposed.
“I feel so terrible that Carina has no one. No mother, no grandparents. Well, one, but he’s in Azkaban. Just me, and I don’t know the first thing about raising a child.”
“Seems like you’re doing okay,” Harry said comfortingly. “She’s a happy kid far as I can tell.”
Malfoy looked up at him suddenly, a look of contemplation on his face. Harry felt himself blushing.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
Malfoy gestured between them. “Talking to me. Being nice. I don’t know. It’s not like you owe me anything.”
Harry felt a little taken aback. He’d just been thinking how nice this was, but of course it couldn’t last long. Not when Malfoy was used to being suspicious. Not when their past dictated that they fight.
He sighed.
“Believe it or not, Malfoy, not everyone needs a reason to be nice.” Although, Harry realized, he did have a reason, in a sense. The reason was a completely obscure one, though. Malfoy stared at him strangely. Silently. Harry looked away, unable to keep his breathing controlled under the scrutiny of his most recent object of … lust? Interest? “We were all affected by this,” he said softly. “I know how much it hurts.”
“We should go inside,” said Malfoy. Harry felt his throat tighten. He nodded stiffly.
* * *
When Hermione went to join Carina by the lake she’d silently prayed that Harry and Draco would get along by themselves. To her great relief, whenever she looked over she found them both fully intact, presumably talking, though they were sitting rather far apart. If she was right, though, and they did have feelings for each other, they would both be feeling immensely awkward right now and it would make sense that they’d sit so far apart.
She smiled to herself.
Carina was happily leaning over the bank, trying to spot fish as they swam past.
“’Rina,” Hermione said, going to sit next to the small girl. Carina sat up and looked at Hermione. “How do you like Harry?”
She pondered for a moment. “I think he’s very nice,” she said eventually. “Papa likes him.”
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, leaning forward and grinning excitedly.
“Papa smiles more when Harry’s here,” she said simply, leaning back over the headland, entirely unaware of the implications of her words. Hermione wanted to hug the little girl and buy her as many fishies as she could ever want.
“Do you think you’d like for Harry to be around more?”
“Oh, yes,” Carina said enthusiastically. She squinted into the water, smiling when she spotted a fish. “I think Papa would like that, too.”
“How would you like to help me with something?” Hermione said carefully. Carina looked up from the water, eyes wide with excitement.
“Okay!”
“Wonderful. And I’ll even get you your very own fishy in return!”
“Really?!” Carina squealed.
“Absolutely. But only if you listen very carefully and do your very best!” Hermione said importantly. Carina nodded vigorously. “That’s my girl.”
Link to Chapter Six
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Summary: No one knew Draco had a daughter, but due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding the end of the War he'll have to bring her to school for his eighth year. Perhaps a bit of innocence can help to open eyes.
This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Five
Hermione sat down next to Ginny on a couch in the Gryffindor common room. She was attempting to read something for History of Magic, though it didn’t look like it was going so well.
“Hi, Gin,” she said, leaning back into the couch casually. She noted that Harry and Ron were not yet back from the pitch where they’d decided to go for a ride. Quidditch had been canceled this year and the boys hadn’t had a chance to fly yet.
“Hey, ‘Mione,” she mumbled, keeping up her attempt at reading. Hermione chuckled.
“Mind if I ask a question?”
Ginny finally looked up from her book.
“Er-sure. What’s up?”
“Did something happen with you and Harry?”
She knew immediately that she’d been right; Ginny’s face flushed and her teeth clenched.
“Why do you ask?” Her eyebrows dipped suddenly. “Did Harry say something?”
“No, nothing like that, I just noticed that you two hadn’t spoken today and, well, you’d said you were going to hang out in his room last night, so…”
Ginny sighed and looked back down at her book, though her eyes weren’t focused on the words. After a silent moment she closed the book and faced Hermione, bringing her legs up under her.
“I was kissing him,” she began, “and he wasn’t responding. Not at all. So I asked what was wrong and he starts up with this nonsense about Malfoy being gay. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t care if he’s gay, but who the hell brings that up while their bloody girlfriend is kissing them?”
Hermione pursed her lips in thought.
“Yes, that’s rather odd,” she said, scratching her head. She’d decided not to mention to Ginny that Harry had already told her about this. It would most likely only make things worse. “Did he say anything else about it?”
“I don’t know,” Ginny groaned, running a hand through her hair. “Something about being overwhelmed with new information… It was a load of rubbish. He was hard, Hermione, and it wasn’t because of me.”
Hermione’s eyes went wide. She certainly hadn’t been expecting that.
“Really?”
“Yes!” Ginny yelled, gesturing wildly with her arms. “So I walked out. Harry needs to figure his crap out, because this is ridiculous and I’m not dealing with it.” She looked at Hermione and narrowed her eyes. “Oh no, I know what you’re thinking. I’m not being hard on him, Hermione! We’re dating! How am I supposed to react?”
“I know, Ginny, and you have every right to feel the way you do,” she said. Ginny laughed humorlessly and folded her arms. “But what if Harry’s just trying to find himself? You have to admit he didn’t have much time to do that during his adolescence. He was constantly thinking about Voldemort! And I don’t think he’s not attracted to you, I think that maybe he’s just, you know … also finding that he might be attracted to Draco." Ginny rolled her eyes at the use of his name. "Merlin knows it would make sense with the way those two went at it in past years.”
“So, what, has he told you that?” Ginny asked quietly. “Does he fancy Malfoy?”
“No, he didn’t tell me that,” Hermione sighed. “But, Ginny… Look, I love you both and I don’t want either of you to get hurt. Maybe it’s time you and Harry took a break, just to see what happens.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this.” Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. Hermione bit her lip. She felt horrible, but in her heart she knew it was the right thing. If Harry really did like Malfoy then this would give him an opportunity to explore that. If not … well, then he and Ginny would get back together. “Do you want them to be together?”
“I want Harry to be happy.”
Ginny dropped her arms to her side.
“What do I do, then? Break up with him?”
“No, I think you should just leave it be for now. Harry’s a good person, you know that. If he decided to try anything with Malfoy he’d end it with you first. We should just leave him alone for now.”
“Yeah, alright.” Ginny picked her book back up. “I’m sorry I’m being so irritable,” she said. “It’s just very sudden.”
“I don’t blame you, Gin.” Hermione wrapped an arm around the other girl and hugged her. “Harry will always love you even if you’re not dating. You know he will. And so will I.” Ginny smiled at her and nodded.
“Yeah, yeah,” she laughed. “Go plot Harry’s life, I need to study.” Hermione smirked and got up off the couch, intending to do just that.
* * *
Over the next few days Hermione got a plan together, while simultaneously attempting to direct each boy’s attention to the other whenever possible. She needed a bit of time to fully develop the plan, so she figured putting them in situations where they inadvertently flirted was a good way to use the extra time.
It was on Tuesday of the following week that she decided to push the boundaries a bit. She asked Draco to go out by the lake again in the evening and asked Harry to join. She’d spoken to Ron the day before in order to make sure it would be only her, Draco, Carina, and Harry.
“I need you to pretend to want to do homework tomorrow,” she’d said. In return Ron had taken on a revolted expression.
“Why in Merlin’s name would I do that?”
Hermione carefully introduced her suspicions to Ron. Initially he’d begun yelling at her, shooting down her every word with insults and curses. She’d expected it-after all, Ron hated Malfoy, and, up until now at least, he’d been secure in the knowledge that Harry, his best friend, did too. Not to mention the issue of his sister, who was dating Harry. He’d stormed out of the room and only later in the evening had Hermione been able to talk to him again. He’d eventually given in and listened to Hermione harp on about Harry’s feelings and how he deserved to be happy (and slowly explained that she’d spoken to Ginny) and, though reluctantly, he’d finally acquiesced to help her.
“You’re sure about this?” he’d asked, looking worried. “You really think Harry fancies … him?”
“Yes,” she’d said with certainty. “I really do. I just need to get them alone for a bit and let them talk.”
Ron had sighed resignedly but agreed, so after dinner on Tuesday night Harry and Hermione left the common room without Ron, who rather convincingly reported a sudden drive to do his Charms essay. Harry had been stunned, but gone along with it.
The weather was becoming chilly as the four walked down to the Beech tree by the lake, Carina holding onto Draco’s finger loosely.
“Papa, can I look for fishies again?”
“Of course,” Draco laughed. Hermione jumped at her chance.
“I’ll help you look,” she said. Carina squealed with excitement and dragged her father along more quickly toward the lake. Harry and Hermione followed, Hermione smiling broadly and Harry looking as nervous as ever.
Hermione did not sit down next to Draco, but followed Carina to the water’s edge. Harry, feeling incredibly uncomfortable, sat down next to Malfoy, who was just out of reach of the shade from the branches and therefore highlighted by the glow of the setting sun.
Harry swallowed tensely.
“She really likes Hermione,” he said, fiddling awkwardly with his fingers in his lap.
“You’re not kidding,” Malfoy laughed. “The kid doesn’t stop talking about her.”
Harry smiled widely, a sudden burst of happiness shooting through him at the knowledge that Malfoy’s daughter liked Hermione so much.
Silence ensued for several minutes, neither boy knowing quite what to say, a definite tension hanging in the air.
Er-Malfoy,” Harry began uncertainly. Malfoy looked over at him, his gray eyes seeming to stare straight through him. Harry cleared his throat. “Hermione told me about-er-Carina’s mum, and … well, I’m sorry. That’s really awful.” Malfoy looked toward the lake, his gaze settling on his daughter.
He nodded slowly.
“Thanks,” he said. Harry's stomach clenched. “I didn’t know her very well. I assume you heard the whole story?”
“Most of it, I think. Hermione told us what you told her.”
“’Us’? She told Weasley, too?” he asked, though he didn’t look upset. Harry flushed nevertheless. Malfoy smiled. Harry’s heart palpitated. “Emilie was just a girl I met during a holiday in France. She was two years older and I was in the middle of an oncoming War.” Harry bit the inside of his lip. “I saw her once between the time we left France and when she died. I went to see her just before our sixth year started-a few weeks before Carina was born. We picked out a name during that time and talked about Carina’s future.”
“How’d you come up with Carina?” Harry asked, remembering the way Hermione had smirked when she’d first heard the little girl’s name.
“It’s a star formation,” Malfoy explained. “All the males on my mother's side of the family are named after constellations. My grandfather, Orion, my cousins, myself, all my ancestors. Carina’s not a boy, but I wasn’t sure I’d be having another child, so I skewed the tradition a bit.” He shook his head, inwardly it seemed.
There was another semi-long silence.
“It changes everything, you know?” Harry whispered eventually. Malfoy quirked an eyebrow. “Knowing that you had a daughter during those years. Sixth year. Last year.” Harry brought his knees up to his chest and rested his chin there. Malfoy remained silent. Harry was afraid his heart was audible with the way it was thumping against his ribcage. He felt like a schoolgirl with a crush, trying desperately to say the right thing, while simultaneously hating himself for even thinking the word ‘crush’. “Do you ever feel like the War changed everything? Not just the obvious, but something else? Something you can’t put your finger on?”
He heard Malfoy swallow.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I do.”
“But then again,” Harry continued, unfolding his legs and sitting up straighter, “I feel like nothing changed sometimes. Voldemort’s dead, but I don’t feel like I defeated him. Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that so many people are gone.”
He looked over at Malfoy and was startled to see that a single tear had slid down his cheek.
“Fuck, I’m sorry.” Harry began to reach out toward Malfoy, not quite sure what he was going to do when he touched him, but was waved off when Malfoy shook his head.
“It’s fine. I just … I know what you mean. It’s always hard to believe my mother’s gone.”
Harry wanted to kick himself. He’d completely forgotten about that.
Very tactful, Harry.
Malfoy laughed darkly. “I guess that’s karma, eh?”
“No,” Harry said softly. “No one deserves that.”
“You lost your parents when you were one, Potter.”
“Exactly. I was one, not eighteen.” Malfoy only hung his head and sniffled. Harry had never seen him so vulnerable. It made him feel oddly … special. Privileged to be witness to something so intimate for a boy who’d never willingly shown any emotion at all. And despite how strange it sounded, he thought Malfoy looked quite cute this way-open and exposed.
“I feel so terrible that Carina has no one. No mother, no grandparents. Well, one, but he’s in Azkaban. Just me, and I don’t know the first thing about raising a child.”
“Seems like you’re doing okay,” Harry said comfortingly. “She’s a happy kid far as I can tell.”
Malfoy looked up at him suddenly, a look of contemplation on his face. Harry felt himself blushing.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
Malfoy gestured between them. “Talking to me. Being nice. I don’t know. It’s not like you owe me anything.”
Harry felt a little taken aback. He’d just been thinking how nice this was, but of course it couldn’t last long. Not when Malfoy was used to being suspicious. Not when their past dictated that they fight.
He sighed.
“Believe it or not, Malfoy, not everyone needs a reason to be nice.” Although, Harry realized, he did have a reason, in a sense. The reason was a completely obscure one, though. Malfoy stared at him strangely. Silently. Harry looked away, unable to keep his breathing controlled under the scrutiny of his most recent object of … lust? Interest? “We were all affected by this,” he said softly. “I know how much it hurts.”
“We should go inside,” said Malfoy. Harry felt his throat tighten. He nodded stiffly.
* * *
When Hermione went to join Carina by the lake she’d silently prayed that Harry and Draco would get along by themselves. To her great relief, whenever she looked over she found them both fully intact, presumably talking, though they were sitting rather far apart. If she was right, though, and they did have feelings for each other, they would both be feeling immensely awkward right now and it would make sense that they’d sit so far apart.
She smiled to herself.
Carina was happily leaning over the bank, trying to spot fish as they swam past.
“’Rina,” Hermione said, going to sit next to the small girl. Carina sat up and looked at Hermione. “How do you like Harry?”
She pondered for a moment. “I think he’s very nice,” she said eventually. “Papa likes him.”
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, leaning forward and grinning excitedly.
“Papa smiles more when Harry’s here,” she said simply, leaning back over the headland, entirely unaware of the implications of her words. Hermione wanted to hug the little girl and buy her as many fishies as she could ever want.
“Do you think you’d like for Harry to be around more?”
“Oh, yes,” Carina said enthusiastically. She squinted into the water, smiling when she spotted a fish. “I think Papa would like that, too.”
“How would you like to help me with something?” Hermione said carefully. Carina looked up from the water, eyes wide with excitement.
“Okay!”
“Wonderful. And I’ll even get you your very own fishy in return!”
“Really?!” Carina squealed.
“Absolutely. But only if you listen very carefully and do your very best!” Hermione said importantly. Carina nodded vigorously. “That’s my girl.”
Link to Chapter Six