Recaps

After returning from France, Draco rewarded Dobby and reassured him that he would always have a place at Malfoy Manor. At dinner, Draco told Lucius and Narcissa how he had won Madame Maxime’s favor, and his parents praised the influence he had gained for the Malfoy family.

• Draco Apparated Mr. and Mrs. Granger to their destination, and they praised his skill before he returned to Malfoy Manor with his parents.
• Draco offered Dobby his wages and urged him to save the money for his own future, but Dobby returned some coins out of concern for the Malfoy family.
• Draco told Dobby to keep all his wages and remain at Malfoy Manor, promising that no one would mistreat him.
• Draco gave Dobby a House-elf doll, and Dobby delightedly accepted it as the best gift he had ever received.
• At dinner, Draco recounted his visit to Beauxbatons and how his French and flattery had won Madame Maxime’s trust and goodwill.
• Narcissa and Lucius praised Draco, with Lucius recognizing that he had opened a useful path into the French Wizarding World and European aristocratic circles.

Draco told Lucius he could help bring down Fudge and make him Minister for Magic by exposing the danger of the Dementors. He laid out why he believed the Dementors were close to revolting, leaving Lucius silent and considering his claims.

• Narcissa praised Draco for letting Hermione witness how a true aristocrat acted, while Lucius said Draco had upheld the Malfoy name and made useful connections.
• Draco asked Lucius whether he wanted to become Minister for Magic and claimed he could help bring down Fudge.
• Lucius and Narcissa warned Draco that meddling in Ministry affairs was dangerous, but Draco argued that Fudge’s weaknesses and public opinion could be used against him.
• Draco predicted that the Dementors were about to go out of control, alarming Lucius and Narcissa.
• Draco explained that despair, Peter Pettigrew’s imprisonment, guard shortages, and Voldemort’s residual Dark Magic had driven the Dementors toward rebellion.
• Lucius questioned Draco about the source and reliability of his information, and Draco answered with further details before Lucius fell silent.

Draco laid out a plan for the Malfoys to avoid blame for a potential Dementor uprising while using Fudge’s failure to expand their influence in the Ministry of Magic. Lucius accepted the plan, which aimed to leave him in control of the crisis and make others call for him to become Minister for Magic.

• Lucius weighed the political and reputational risks of Fudge’s downfall and a possible Dementor uprising for the Malfoy family.
• Draco reassured Lucius that the Malfoys would distance themselves from Fudge and outlined steps to weaken confidence in his leadership and gather evidence of his negligence.
• Draco ordered the family to prepare for the uprising by monitoring Azkaban, producing protective items and calming potions, and arranging relief channels.
• Draco planned to expose Fudge after the uprising began, then take charge of the emergency response with veteran officials and neutral aristocrats.
• Lucius accepted Draco’s plan, and Narcissa looked at Draco with pride and relief.

Draco persuaded Lucius to follow his plan to pursue the Minister for Magic position, then went with Hermione to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies. There, they ran into Neville and Hannah, who appeared embarrassed to be shopping together.

• Lucius agreed to let Draco direct the Malfoy family's next steps toward the Minister for Magic position.
• Draco explained that he wanted his father to become Minister so he could boast about him and swagger through the Wizarding World.
• The next morning, Draco Apparated to Hermione's home, and they left for Diagon Alley after Mrs. Granger wished them a safe trip.
• Draco and Hermione encountered Neville and Hannah near a dessert shop in Diagon Alley.
• Draco teased Neville and Hannah about being there alone together, and both blushed as they tried to explain.

Draco, Hermione, Neville, and Hannah shopped together in Diagon Alley, where they met Luna and invited her along. On the way to Flourish and Blotts, Hermione revealed she planned to take five electives, and Draco objected that she would have no time for him.

• Draco teased Neville and Hannah about being together, and Hermione invited them to shop with her and Draco.
• The group met Xenophilius Lovegood and his daughter Luna, and Draco introduced himself and welcomed her as a schoolmate.
• Xenophilius left Luna with the others while he went shopping, and the group continued toward Flourish and Blotts.
• Hannah asked Hermione which electives she planned to take, and Hermione listed Arithmancy, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination.
• Draco told Hermione she could not take so many classes because she would have no energy left for him, and Hermione blushed and objected.

Draco helped Hermione narrow her subject choices from five to three, teasing her about their future together as their friends noticed their affection. The group settled on Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes for Hermione, and she hurriedly claimed Draco planned to take the same subjects before he could say anything embarrassing.

• Luna pointed out that Draco was worried about Hermione tiring herself out, and Hermione admitted she might not take five subjects.
• Draco teased Hermione by saying he had foreseen she would become his future wife, while Luna and their friends observed how closely the pair cared for each other.
• Draco advised Hermione to skip Muggle Studies and choose Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes, and Hermione agreed the subjects suited her interests.
• Draco urged Neville to help Hannah choose her subjects, leaving Neville flustered as Hannah encouraged him to share his thoughts.
• When Neville asked Draco which subjects he planned to take, Hermione cut Draco off and declared he would take the same three subjects as her.

Draco, Hermione, Neville, Hannah, and Luna browsed and bought schoolbooks in Diagon Alley, then split up while Draco and Neville went for ice cream. Hermione, Hannah, and Luna explored the Magical Menagerie, where they spotted a wary ginger Maine Coon among the creatures.

• Hermione stopped Draco from teasing her, and the group went into the bookshop to browse their textbooks.
• Hermione and Draco chose books for their three electives, Neville and Hannah bought books for the subjects they were considering, and Luna bought a Defence textbook.
• Hermione suggested visiting Honeydukes for sweets, while Draco went to buy ice cream and called Neville along to get Hannah some too.
• Hannah admitted Neville was nice and cute when he acted silly, and Hermione and Luna smiled at her embarrassment.
• Hermione, Hannah, and Luna explored the Magical Menagerie and saw Puffskeins, baby Graphorns, Crups, Nifflers, and a wary ginger Maine Coon.

Hermione adopted a ginger cat and named him Crookshanks, while Draco’s uncanny knowledge of the name sparked talk of a connection between them. After the group said goodbye to Luna and her father, Draco took Hermione to get her hair done before the school term.

• Hermione understood the lonely cat’s speech, bought him, and named him Crookshanks.
• Draco called the cat Crookshanks before Hermione had told him the name, prompting Luna and the others to suggest that he and Hermione shared a connection of the heart.
• Draco carried Crookshanks’s cage and gave Hermione sea salt caramel ice cream as the group walked through Hogsmeade.
• Mr. Lovegood reunited with Luna, thanked the others for keeping her company, and sent everyone home to prepare for school.
• Draco kept walking with Hermione and persuaded her to get a new hairstyle before term began.

Draco took Hermione to Madam Primpernelle's shop and insisted on styling her hair himself, then challenged her to a bet about whether she would love the result. Hermione raised the stakes to ten requests if she won, and Draco accepted before beginning the haircut.

• Draco brought Hermione and Crookshanks to Madam Primpernelle's shop for a new hairstyle, and Madam Primpernelle teased Hermione as Draco's young mistress.
• Draco took the styling tools from Madam Prim and said he would cut Hermione's hair himself.
• Draco bet that Hermione would love her new hairstyle and that it would dazzle everyone at Hogwarts, with one request as his prize.
• Hermione countered that Draco would have to grant her ten requests if she won, and Draco agreed.
• Draco brushed Hermione's hair and began styling it while Crookshanks and Madam Prim watched.

Draco gave Hermione a careful haircut and restyled her hair, leaving her secretly delighted despite insisting it was only passable. When customers clamored for him to style their hair too, Draco turned them down, calling Hermione the only young madam he would personally attend to.

• Draco carefully cut Hermione’s hair while Mrs. Prim and the customers watched in amazement at his skill.
• Draco dyed Hermione’s hair a warm reddish brown, shaped it into natural waves, and set the finished style.
• Hermione admired her new look but stubbornly called it only passable as Mrs. Prim and the customers praised Draco’s work.
• Customers crowded around Draco and asked him to style their hair, making Hermione feel an inexplicable tightening in her chest.
• Draco blocked the customers’ hands and said only the young madam received his personal attention.

Draco calmed a quarrel at Madam Primpernelle’s Beautifying Potions by giving the customers styling potions and promising Mrs. Prim notes on his techniques. After admiring Hermione’s new hairstyle, he teased her about their bet and took her home, where they arrived by Apparition.

• Draco ended the argument by offering every customer a bottle of hair-conditioning and styling potion.
• Draco promised Mrs. Prim styling notes and permission to teach his techniques to trusted employees.
• Draco teased Hermione about her reflection and reminded her that he had won their bet.
• Draco and Hermione left the shop hand in hand, and passersby admired Hermione’s new hairstyle.
• Draco took Hermione and Crookshanks home by Apparition after Hermione complained about the attention.

Hermione showed her parents the new hairstyle Draco had given her, and Mrs. Granger praised both the look and Draco’s skill. Draco began writing a styling manual while the Grangers’ reactions to Hermione’s makeover continued, ending with Mr. Granger mistaking his daughter for someone else.

• Hermione returned to the villa and showed Mrs. Granger her new hairstyle, which her mother admired.
• Hermione revealed that Draco had styled her hair, and Mrs. Granger praised his talent while he teased Hermione about how much she liked the result.
• Mrs. Granger joked that Draco could earn a living as a stylist and then went to prepare lunch.
• Draco wrote a styling manual with hairstyle sketches, potion ratios, and cutting notes while Hermione watched and commented.
• Mr. Granger came home, and after Hermione introduced Crookshanks, he stared at her makeover and asked who she was.

Hermione’s parents admired her new hairstyle and welcomed Draco during lunch at their home. After lunch, Draco brought Hermione to Malfoy Manor so Narcissa could see her new look, where Narcissa and Lucius greeted them with surprise.

• Mr. Granger recognized Hermione after her makeover and praised Draco for styling and coloring her hair.
• Draco sent his snowy owl to deliver his styling notes, bribing it with treats after it complained about the heavy bundle.
• The Grangers and Draco shared lunch, praising Hermione’s hairstyle while Draco fed Crookshanks a piece of fish.
• Draco asked Hermione to visit Malfoy Manor, and she checked her hair in the mirror before agreeing to go.
• Draco Apparated with Hermione to Malfoy Manor, where Narcissa and Lucius were amazed by her appearance.

Narcissa and Lucius praised Draco for styling Hermione’s hair, and Draco took Hermione to his room to teach her the Patronus Charm. He hinted that they might soon face Dementors, leaving Hermione pressing him for confirmation.

• Narcissa welcomed Hermione as family and praised her hairstyle, while Draco revealed that he had styled it himself.
• Hermione confirmed Draco had done the work, convincing Narcissa and Lucius of his skill and care.
• Draco led Hermione to his bedroom, where she worried about being alone with him until he said he wanted to study.
• Draco told Hermione he wanted to teach her Expecto Patronum because they might soon need it to fight Dementors.
• Hermione questioned how Draco knew they would face Dementors and asked whether the spell would definitely be needed after term began.

Draco and Hermione made a bet about her future Patronus, with Draco wagering that he could identify it and reveal why Dementors would come to Hogwarts. Draco then used the system to teach Hermione the Patronus Charm, and she cast it for the first time.

• Draco offered to tell Hermione about the Dementors and wagered that her Patronus would be a sea otter, while Hermione negotiated ten conditions if she won.
• Draco correctly named Hermione’s Patronus as a sea otter, and Hermione briefly tried to back out of their bet.
• Draco offered to teach Hermione the Patronus Charm, and Hermione refused to owe him another condition for the lesson.
• Draco secretly used the system to infuse Hermione with knowledge of the charm while pretending to guide her magic.
• Hermione raised her wand and cast Expecto Patronum toward the empty carpet.

Hermione summoned an otter Patronus, confirming Draco had known what form it would take, and paid off their wager with a kiss that Draco turned into a passionate French kiss. After Hermione used a potion to erase the evidence, Draco revealed the more embarrassing condition he had intended to demand, then hinted he could set another one.

• Hermione cast the Patronus Charm and summoned a silver-white otter, proving Draco had been right about its form.
• Hermione kissed Draco to settle their wager, but Draco pulled her close and deepened it into their first French kiss.
• Hermione pushed Draco away, complained that her lips were swollen, and demanded a potion to reduce the swelling.
• Draco gave Hermione a potion, and she applied it until her lips and the surrounding skin looked normal again.
• Hermione asked what Draco had planned to demand, and he admitted he had wanted her to ask him for a kiss in a crowd.
• Hermione refused to ask for another kiss, while Draco said he could still set one more condition.

Draco explained that Fudge would station Dementors at Hogwarts to keep them from rioting, putting students at risk, and proposed using the decision to destroy Fudge’s political standing. Hermione worried about her friends’ safety, but Draco promised to keep the Dementors away from the Hogwarts Express and secured another favor from her if he succeeded.

• Draco told Hermione that the Dementors had exhausted the prisoners in Azkaban and that Fudge would use Hogwarts students as a fresh source of happiness.
• Hermione agreed that Fudge had to be removed but worried about the students, and Draco said Dumbledore would prepare safeguards and keep Dementors out of the castle.
• Draco promised to stop the Dementors from approaching the Hogwarts Express if Dumbledore’s precautions failed, and Hermione asked whether he had a real plan.
• Draco asked Hermione to owe him another favor in exchange for taking on the risk, and she agreed while warning him not to fail.
• Draco pressed Hermione to praise his looks, and she reluctantly told him he was handsome.

Draco eased Hermione’s anxiety about Fudge’s schemes with teasing, then showed her his fiery lion Patronus. He carried her to bed for a nap, and she gradually relaxed in his embrace despite her embarrassment.

• Draco teased Hermione about her sea otter Patronus and asked her for a kiss in exchange for showing his.
• Hermione kissed Draco’s cheek, and he conjured a majestic fiery-red lion Patronus that gently nuzzled her hand.
• Draco joked that his lion Patronus made him a fitting Gryffindor leader, while Hermione insisted she was the head of their household.
• Draco carried Hermione to bed for her nap and held her from behind after she tried to get up.
• Hermione told Draco to let go, but stopped struggling as she gradually relaxed against him.

Hermione and Draco fell asleep in each other’s arms after a tiring day. Narcissa found them resting when she came to call them for dinner, reassured Lucius, and informed the Grangers that Hermione was safe at Malfoy Manor.

• Hermione relaxed into Draco’s embrace and drifted to sleep beside him.
• Draco and Hermione slept peacefully together as evening approached.
• Narcissa unlocked Draco’s bedroom door, saw that they were fully clothed and asleep, then quietly left them undisturbed.
• Narcissa told Lucius that the two children were resting and asked the house-elves to keep their dinner warm.
• Narcissa sent Mr. and Mrs. Granger a letter saying Hermione was safe and staying for dinner.

Hermione woke in Draco’s arms at Malfoy Manor, then shared dinner with him before he took her home. The chapter ended with Mrs. Granger greeting Hermione and noticing how distracted she seemed.

• Hermione woke to find Draco holding her, and he teased her before letting her go.
• Narcissa welcomed Hermione and Draco downstairs, where Lucius warned Draco that Dementors would inspect the Hogwarts Express the following weekend.
• Draco fed Hermione dinner, and she shyly fed him dessert in return.
• Draco took Hermione home, reminded her not to worry about the Dementors, and said good night.
• Mrs. Granger startled Hermione at the door and handed her warm milk, observing that she seemed distracted.

Hermione reassured Mrs. Granger that she and Draco had not been intimate, while Draco told Lucius he would protect the Hogwarts Express with a Patronus barrier. The next morning, Draco met Hermione at her home, and they boarded the train together.

• Mrs. Granger asked Hermione whether she and Draco had been intimate, and Hermione said they had never crossed the line.
• Draco told Lucius he would create a Patronus Protective Barrier on the Hogwarts Express and asked Lucius's people to take credit for it.
• Lucius agreed to cooperate with Draco, and Draco returned to his bedroom and fell asleep.
• The next morning, Draco complimented Hermione's clothes as she waited outside her home with the fat ginger cat.
• Draco and Hermione traveled to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Draco and Hermione went to the train’s central carriage to prepare a Patronus Protective Barrier against the approaching Dementors, while Draco secured Hermione’s promise of a future favor. Draco began placing seven moonstone amulets to form the barrier, leaving the protection still unfinished.

• Crookshanks sensed the approaching Dementors and reassured Hermione, then teased Draco as they bickered over what Hermione’s cat should call him.
• Draco bargained with Hermione for another request in exchange for setting aside the dispute with Crookshanks, and Hermione agreed.
• Draco led Hermione to carriage four, explaining that its central position would help the barrier protect the entire train evenly.
• Draco revealed that he had designed a large-scale Patronus Protective Barrier and said he needed Hermione’s help to set it up.
• Draco placed seven moonstone amulets along the carriage’s magical nodes, beginning with one that he levitated into the ceiling.

Draco and Hermione created a protective barrier around the train using seven moonstone charms and Draco’s Patronus, then argued over Hermione’s promised favor. They settled into a compartment, where Cho Chang and Emock arrived and found them together.

• Draco and Hermione linked seven moonstone charms with protective runes and formed a train-wide barrier against Dementors, powered by Draco’s lion Patronus.
• Hermione disputed owing Draco a favor, while Crookshanks sided with Draco and insisted she should keep her promise.
• Draco and Hermione went to an empty compartment to monitor the barrier, with Hermione still denying she had agreed to the favor.
• Crookshanks curled up on the window seat as Cho Chang and Emock entered the compartment and froze at the sight of Draco and Hermione.

Hermione revealed that Draco had styled her hair, and Cho Chang and Emock were surprised to learn he could also arrange appointments at Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions. Draco refused to style anyone else's hair, while Hermione denied their requests too, and the chapter ended with Draco trying to win Crookshanks over with treats.

• Cho Chang and Emock admired Hermione's hair and asked where she had it done, so Hermione revealed that Draco was Hogwarts' stylist.
• Draco claimed he had learned hair care and styling and offered to book Cho Chang and Emock appointments at Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions.
• Emock asked Draco to style their hair, but he said he had promised Hermione to do only her hair, and Hermione refused to make an exception.
• Cho Chang and Emock praised Draco's devotion, while Crookshanks teased Hermione about being won over by his affection.
• Draco offered Crookshanks treats to gain his support, but Hermione stopped him and insisted the cat needed to lose weight.

Crookshanks argued with Hermione about his weight and laziness, then apologized after Draco promised him treats. As the Hogwarts Express departed, Draco and Hermione discussed visiting Hogsmeade while Ron and Harry wondered where they had gone.

• Crookshanks protested Hermione's claim that he was overweight and lazy, but Draco advised him to apologize and promised to bring him food.
• Crookshanks apologized to Hermione, who forgave him and told him to exercise more.
• Cho Chang and Emock were astonished that Draco and Hermione could understand Crookshanks, and Hermione said he was an ordinary cat who understood people well.
• The Hogwarts Express left King's Cross while Ron, Harry, Lavender, and Parvati speculated about where Draco and Hermione had gone.
• Draco, Hermione, and Cho Chang discussed Hogsmeade, and Crookshanks memorized the name Honeydukes so Draco could bring him milk toffees.