Soul Mate - Chapter 14:
Harry, wake up. Harry!
After the chaos of last night’s graduation celebration, waking Harry Potter was no easy feat.
He was so deeply asleep that Ron could only stare helplessly at his best friend rolling over and
snuggling back into the blankets. On any other morning,
Ron wouldn’t have minded letting him rest a little longer but not today.
Oh, Harry, you’ve left me no choice.
Ron pulled out his wand and muttered a charm.
A handful of icy water splashed right onto Harry’s face.
Merlin’s beard! Who in the world.
Harry practically leapt out of bed, fumbling for his glasses. Once his vision cleared,
he saw Ron standing by the bed, looking far too amused.
Please, Ron, I went to sleep so late last night…
Ron only pointed to the clock hanging on the wall.
It’s not me you should blame. If you stay in bed any longer,
the ceremony at the Ministry will have to be delayed for you.
And believe me, you do not want that kind of attention.
Groaning, Harry flopped back onto the bed for a moment,
then finally dragged himself up, muttering under his breath.
I’ll be waiting outside, Ron said, satisfied with his success.
Give me twenty minutes.
When Ron left the dormitory, the Gryffindor common room was already bustling.
Everyone else was dressed and ready. Hermione turned immediately when she saw Ron.
Is Harry awake?
He shrugged. Awake, yes. Though to be honest, Hermione,
I had to use that charm you taught me. He was out cold after last night.
You really dumped water on his face? Seamus couldn’t stop laughing.
Oh, shut it, Seamus. It’s not funny, Ron sighed.
He could already imagine the payback waiting for him later.
Not many people realized Harry had inherited his father James’s talent for mischief.
Twenty minutes later, Harry finally appeared well-dressed,
though the redness in his green eyes betrayed the lack of sleep.
Alright, everyone. Shall we go?
The Ministry carriage has been waiting, Hermione said,
stepping forward to straighten his collar. We’d better hurry before we’re actually late.
The group moved out together. Some of the war heroes would be traveling by carriage to the
ceremony, while most Hogwarts students were already preparing to board the Express home.
The Ministry carriages waited near Hagrid’s hut. When Harry and his friends arrived,
Draco Malfoy and several of the Ravenclaw heroes were already there.
Draco stood apart, looking faintly impatient. He cleared his throat,
as if to say something, then seemed to decide against it.
Without another word, he turned and climbed into one of the carriages,
settling himself with cool indifference.
Sorry we’re late, Harry said sheepishly to the Ministry official waiting for them.
No trouble at all. Please, everyone, get in.
While others climbed aboard, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to Hagrid for a final farewell.
Harry hugged him tightly. Take care of yourself, Hagrid.
We’ll come back to visit, I promise.
Hagrid’s voice trembled as he looked down at him.
You’ve grown up, Harry. Can’t believe how tall you’ve gotten.
You’re an extraordinary young man your mum and dad would be so proud.
Thank you, Hagrid.
Hermione and Ron each hugged him in turn before
reluctantly climbing into the remaining carriage.
Only once they’d sat down did they realize whose carriage it was. Draco Malfoy’s.
Inside were only seven people: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Draco.
The silence felt heavy, almost awkward.
Harry shifted uncomfortably. So… Malfoy, what are you reading?
Draco didn’t even look up. The quarterly financial report of the Malfoy estate.
Harry blinked. He hadn’t actually expected an answer. You’re reading financial reports now?
Look at his ring, Harry, Hermione cut in before Draco could reply,
drawing everyone’s attention to the silver band on his finger.
That’s not the heir’s ring it’s the family head’s. Which means Draco is now the current Lord Malfoy.
Very observant, Draco said dryly. The famous know-it-all of Gryffindor lives up to her reputation.
It’s nothing, Hermione said modestly.
Harry stared at the ring, realizing that it had replaced the old one months ago.
So Draco had been head of his family for quite some time already.
Nobility really did live on another level.
Luna, gazing dreamily out the window, suddenly mused, I always thought flying carriages were
fascinating. But I do wonder what would happen if we crashed into a Muggle airplane?
Ron choked. Uh… well…
I can assure you, we’ll never collide with one of those inferior Muggle contraptions,
Draco said blandly. But even if we did, it wouldn’t be us falling.
How can you be so sure? Neville asked curiously.
Draco pointed at an ornate symbol beneath the carriage window.
Because this carriage was made by a company owned by the Malfoy family.
Harry leaned closer. Is that the Malfoy crest?
Of course not, Draco’s mouth twitched. Merlin, Potter, how can someone with your…
limited brain capacity be so consistently dense?
Do you really think we’d stamp the Malfoy family crest on a product sold by one of our companies?
Harry rolled his eyes. Alright, fine, I didn’t think it through.
Oh, Harry, don’t let an aristocratic brat get to you, Ron muttered, glaring at Draco.
Indeed, said Draco smoothly, it’s perfectly natural that commoners can’t
understand the ways of nobility.
Ron nearly exploded, and it took both Hermione and Harry’s combined efforts to calm him down.
Luna and Ginny, meanwhile, were blissfully lost in conversation about something completely
unrelated, while poor Neville sat quietly in the corner,
caught in the crossfire of tension swirling around them.
He sighed deeply. It was going to be a long ride.