Pictures for this collage were generously provided by Google but the credit of that Blaise Ginny picture goes to RZZMG.
This story was written for the Spring Fest organised by Strictly Dramione group in Facebook- a wonderful haven for all Dramione lovers. I urge you to check it out.
Prompt: St Pat's Day.
Yes, that was all I got. So, I took huuuge liberties with this story.
Beta love: Thanks for MMLV for helping me grammar wise. And a huge huge round of applause for SeraNeko Chan who really had her work cut out for her. She helped make sense of my rambled words and pointed out those things were looked really fine to the person who wrote this (yes, me!).
My eternal love to my Alpha reader, my bestie, my cheerleader - Puja who' the neverending spring of motivation for me. And a big thanks to my fellow geek, WinchesterGranger who's sweeter than the sweetest cotton candy.
Hope you guys like this story.
P.S: This is a song fic. So, here's the list of songs I've used in the order they appeared.
Lana Del Ray- Young and Beautiful.
The Vamps- Somebody to You
Magic!- Rude
Ariana Grande ft Weeknd- Love Me Harder
ABBA- Take A Chance On Me
P.P.S: Voldemort died in the First Wizarding War. The Death Eaters were found and punished accordingly. As a result, Lucius Malfoy was not present in Draco's childhood. Eases the story, you know.
P.P.P.S: This story will be updated every three days! Yay to finished stories! See, once I have a finished story, I'm gonna update them real fast.
Onwards now!
Chapter 1
"How is our favourite power ranger today? Saving the world one villain at a time?" asked Harry when Hermione slid across his seat in the Ministry cafeteria which Harry was sharing with Ron. Ron merely raised his brows to greet Hermione since he was busy stuffing his face like the Drought was about to hit.
"Not good," Hermione replied after a pause.
"Why not?"
"The changes I want to enforce in this backwards society are getting rejected at every turn. It seems like even after the war, the people are rigidly set on following the archaic rules and norms," Hermione huffed.
"Don't worry, Hermione. They'll see the light soon," Harry reassured.
"I think by then it'll be too late, Harry. Looks like I have to try plan B."
"And plan B is?"
"Induction by exposure to the change. Very slowly. So that the subject doesn't get startled and can see the change without hostility. The change must be induced in such a way that it becomes the new standard and then slowly input in the larger changes as the subject doesn't fear the change any longer. In fact, the subject shall crave the change. Objective accomplished." Hermione ended with a proud grin that would have looked deranged on anyone else, though on Hermione it seemed to fit pretty well.
"It sounds like a good plan. But unfortunately, I understood zilch of it." Harry's confusion was clear in his voice.
"Metal rock genre was the sound of Devil, remember?"
"I seem to recall so, yes." Harry nodded.
"And with repeated exposure to such music, it slowly got accepted as a genre of music, didn't it? People didn't run the other way anymore on when hearing the music. It became accepted."
A light bulb flashed in Harry's head. "The boiling frog problem. Yes, I get what you are saying!" he said excitedly.
"Why would you boil a frog?" Ron asked, confused when he finally tuned into the conversation.
"You know if you try to put a live frog in a pot of hot water, it'll jump out and escape. But if you keep it in cool water and slowly heat it up that water, by the time it realises the water is dangerously hot it cannot jump out as it has lost all its energy adjusting to the water's increasing temperature. So in the end, you get a boiled frog," Harry explained.
"Merlin's beard, she's rubbing off her genius on us," Ron commented.
"You were at an impressionable age when I met you. I can congratulate myself for being able to make at least some of your grey cells tingle." Hermione replied in a deadpan voice.
"Hey, I did use my grey cells, thank you very much. They were only blocked because they were exposed to too much of Ron Weasley," Harry said indignantly.
"And this Weasley shall make them stop tingle with a nice hex I learn from 'Mione the other day. So shut your cake hole," Ron said without any heat.
Hermione laughed as Harry and Ron began squabbling like two seven-year-olds.
"So what's your plan?" Harry asked after they sobered up.
"Let's just see. I'll take each day as it comes. I hope I can find the way to change soon," Hermione said hopefully.
"And cheers to that!" Harry toasted with his bottle of Butterbeer.
"Cheers, mate!" Ron added.
"Cheers!" Hermione said optimistically. The three of them, then, clinked with their bottles together.
Seven Months Later
Welcome everyone to our Witch Weekly November special interview of the hottest couple in the block on the one and only Magika Watch. We are your gossip buddies for the latest news on the who's who and who's with whom in town. Today's interview is featuring the Ever Young couple. None other the Malfoys. No, not the oh-so-handsome Draco Malfoy but the elder generation! Today we have with us the elusive Narcissa Malfoy who has agreed to spill the beans about their renewed love life. This is your favourite host Perihaan Bagshaw ready with the top questions posted by other listeners themselves.
Perihaan: Welcome and thank you so much for this interview, Mrs Malfoy.
Mrs Malfoy: It is my pleasure.
Perihaan: So, Mrs Malfoy, care to share your side about the latest spin at the Ministry Ball that took place on the New Year's Eve.
Mrs Malfoy: All I can say is that the spice is back to our life. We realised we have been missing out on a lot of things. But now, we are up to speed again.
Perihaan: You both are a sight to see on the dance floor. Even I was awed by the grace and the beauty of both your moves.
Mrs Malfoy: The right partner makes everything all right. He complements you and brings out the best in you.
Perihaan: We have no doubts the walls of the Malfoy manor have been privy to this. But after so many years, what brought upon this PDA through dance?
Mrs Malfoy: A lovely witch and her music mended many cracks that were forming due to how monotonous the everyday routine our life had become. She taught that music can be a beautiful way of expressing your love.
Perihaan: Ahhh… a cupid? We would love to hear about this special witch. How did she cast her healing spells?
Mrs Malfoy: She is a special witch all right. I am not shy about sharing this one. She saw us fight bitterly at a private party, one day. I'll admit that being a woman I feared that I'll lose the battle of age in time. It is, after all, inevitable. But a woman needs reassurance. I can vouch that for every woman out there. But it also hurts our pride to ask our other half if we look as beautiful as the first time we met. If…if we still look the same to them. This…this lack of communication was creating upheavals in our private life. He couldn't understand my despair and I saw him not paying any heed to my insecurity. It felt as if…as if he no longer cared. Lovely Miss Granger one day came up to me when I was silently mourning my troubles and she assured me that she wanted to be a kind ear for me.
Perihaan: I don't think Miss Granger and you have the same social circles, do you?
Mrs Malfoy: she is an excellent planner. And I have often used her services to organise for the various party and balls we host. That brilliant girl was a kind soul to this old woman.
Perihaan (interrupting): I don't believe anyone will call you old, Mrs Malfoy. You still reign as the social rose.
Mrs Malfoy: You are making me blush. (A tinkering laugh). Well, this girl then gave me a song. She told me that nothing can help us express ourselves better than a song and that miscommunication will often ruin relationships. And I listened to her. I planned this private dance at our ballroom and we danced to it while Lucius paid his full attention to the song's words. And he knew. Merlin, he knew the troubles that were aching me. He reassured me that not even time will be able dull his love for me. In fact, it will only serve to make it stronger.
Perihaan: Here I thought things like this only happened in novels.
Mrs Malfoy: May Merlin bless Miss Granger. She brought new vigour and colour in our fading life.
Perihaan: And what fateful song would that be?
Mrs Malfoy: It was a Muggle song. By someone called Lana Del Ray. It was Young and Beautiful.
Perihaan: With this, we come to the end of our short interview with the gorgeous and timeless beauty Mrs Narcissa Malfoy. Thank you so much for joining us today, Mrs Malfoy.
Mrs Malfoy: I had a lovely time.
Perihaan: So long then my listeners. This is Perihaan, your teatime friend. But don't forget to tune in for the next show where we are going to—
A click switched off the radio filling the room with a pregnant silence as Harry turned to face a squirming Hermione in the plush seat on the right side of the fireplace. Ron sat opposite to her and Harry slowly sat down on the loveseat facing the fireplace. The two men sat there, staring at Hermione who was visibly wriggling in her seat.
"Care to explain that?" Harry asked tonelessly.
"Yeah," Ron added.
"Eh… changing the world one song at a time?" Hermione said questioningly.
Harry and Ron's face didn't change their expression. After a little wriggling, Hermione huffed, "Oh for God's sake, I saw her sitting at a private table at the new bistro in Diagon Alley, looking very, very sad and forlorn. So I—"
"So you approached the Malfoy matriarch and brightened her day?" Ron quipped.
"Sort of," Hermione mumbled.
Harry didn't say anything more. He leant forward. "I am just…more like…very surprised."
"It seems so," Hermione stated the obvious.
"You are good at this," Harry commented. "I really didn't think you would be able to make the older Malfoy generation dance to Lana Del Ray. You remember, Ron, how Narcissa actually crooned the lyrics to a blushing Lucius right in front of everybody at the Ministry Ball?"
"It was bloody hilarious." Ron snickered, no longer able to hold the serious expression. And Harry joined him, laughing with his head thrown back.
"Wait… you guys are not…angry?" Hermione asked puzzled at her friends' antics.
Ron said between laughs, "Hahaha! Why would be angry? It was so brilliant. I mean, our genius here made the pureblood celebrities dance to a muggle tune. It was…"
"Too good." Finished Harry.
After the three of them subdued a little, Ron asked, "So… what's next?"
It was a Friday night and her friends had managed to drag her out of her home to get some fresh air. They had even managed to contact their closest DA friends and so right now Hermione was teaching them pub-crawling.
"So, basically we are going to go there and drink at as many different pubs as we can?" Neville asked unsurely.
"Yes," Hermione answered cheerfully.
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Seamus exclaimed excitedly.
"The catch is we are going pub crawling in muggle London," Hermione said halting the group in their tracks.
"But why?" Lavender asked.
"Give me the names of the pubs in Magical London," Hermione demanded, almost haughtily to Lavender.
After a pause, Lavender replied, "Okay, you got me."
"Come on. There's this great place I know to start from," Hermione suggested.
Hermione had brought them all to a place that seemed like a collection of small shops to those who had never visited the Muggle side of London ever before. There were flashing lights everywhere, and a crowd that barely stopped at anything. Everyone was busy doing…whatever they were doing. Many were walking past them engrossed in a flat notebook like thing that was glowing by itself. Hermione explained to them that it was something called a smartphone. The place where Hermione brought them was called a mall. It was huge, teeming with people who moved around carrying bags, talking and laughing with friends or family and every once in awhile someone raised that phone thingy with one arm and posed ridiculously in front of the phone and then got engrossed in the phone again doing…stuffs on it. There were strange restaurants too where one had to get their meals by themselves- no waiters or server. So strange yet so independent. It was a nice concept.
But they had come to go pub-crawling, so it was strange that they hadn't encountered a pub yet.
"Where's the pub, Hermione?" Seamus asked as he watched the place overflow with the people. The ones who had never been to the Muggle side were sticking pretty close to Hermione, Harry and Dean as he was doing. He had some idea about it but he went out to explore. He should have done it before, it was an experience worth enjoying.
"Harry, you know where the pub is, right?" Hermione asked Harry, who nodded to her. Lavender was stuck to Ron like a burr, dragging Ron along for window shopping and Luna and Neville were busy admiring a mime who was performing nearby, entertaining the kids in the store. Dean, Hannah and Ginny seemed to be whispering back and forth about some secret that no one else was privy to.
"Great! Seamus, Harry's going to take you all there. I think I saw a friend of mine. Dean, come with me?" Hermione asked and without waiting for a reply she grabbed Dean's hand and rushed away, the others oblivious to Hermione and Dean's swift exit, still busy doing what they were already doing except for Seamus.
"That didn't feel right, did it mate?" Seamus confusedly asked Harry who was now dragging Seamus along to somewhere.
"Let's get on this escalator first." Harry tried to ignore the question. "Hey, everyone. To the escalator, people!"
The group followed them and as soon as they reached the halfway point the escalator stopped.
"This doesn't seem right," Seamus said again looking down the crowd below when suddenly the people on the ground below them started dancing to loud music.
Luna, Lavender, Ginny, Ron, Neville, Hannah and Harry quickly climbed down the now static stairs and pointed their hands towards Seamus and shouted, "Yeah you! Yeah, you!" leaving Seamus standing dumbfounded there.
I used to wanna be
(The crowd was dancing to the rhythm, but Seamus could distinctly hear a familiar voice.)
Living like there's only me
And now I spend my time
Thinking 'bout a way to get you off my mind
(The crowd parted and Seamus saw Dean singing for him.)
Yeah you! (Their friends shouted in chorus.)
I used to be so tough
Never really gave enough (Dean approached the end of the stairs.)
And then you caught my eye
Giving me the feeling of a lightning strike (The crowd was dancing to lyrics without a care.)
Yeah you! (Hermione now joined her singing friends.)
Look at me now, I'm falling
(Dean was lifted up and then made to fall abruptly only to be caught by the crowd. Seamus' heart almost stopped.)
I can't even talk, still stuttering
This ground of mine keeps shaking (The crowd was now stomping the ground.)
Oh oh oh, now!
All I wanna be, yeah all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah
Is somebody to you (everyone was singing and dancing now.)
All I wanna be, yeah all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah
Is somebody to you
(The other shoppers had stopped to watch and some even recorded the scenes.)
Everybody's trying to be a billionaire
But every time I look at you I just don't care
(Seamus climbed down the stairs and flung his arms around Dean.)
'Cause all I wanna be, yeah all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah
Is somebody to you
(Seamus kissed Dean without a care for the world.)
Yeah you!
(The crowd had stopped dancing now but everyone was clapping and whooping loudly for the pair who was lost in their own world.)
"Thank you so much, Hermione!" Dean thanked Hermione when he parted from Seamus for barely a moment.
The beaming smile on her face was all the reply Dean needed.
What Hermione didn't notice was a certain platinum blonde man, who had followed them all the way from Leaky Cauldron, in the crowd who looked utterly captivated by the smile on her face.
Draco had his own business…er…he managed the family business. But for some dealings of the business, he needed to be in contact with the absolute nincompoops at the Ministry. Since nowadays the Malfoy Inc. focussed on trading with international 'merchants', Draco frequently had to contact the International Magical Trading Standards officials of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. And sometimes, he even made detours through Muggle London in the name of experience. And know thy enemy and other such rot reasons that his father used to sprout when he was young. Now he understood that, like a true Slytherin, his father gave him permission to know about the Muggles without coming off as a Muggle fanatic like the Patriarch Weasley.
It used to be pleasant since a certain Ms Granger had made it her task to make that department the smoothest running department of the Ministry. After she resigned he declared it rather unfortunate that she had decided to leave. Yet internally he was cursing his luck that he hadn't acted sooner and had snagged that diamond before it got lost. Again. First, he couldn't gather the courage to date the most Gryffindor-ish girl ever in school and now he procrastinated and lost her. He should have told Hermione that he was interested in her and wanted to court her but now she's gone. The owls couldn't reach her and he didn't run in the same circles that she did.
'If I met her again, I would start by thanking her for her assistance in my parent's love life. Wait! That sounded really weird. I should come off as charming not like a bumbling fool. She has those two fools for that. Then I should thank her for…helping my parents. Yes, that sounds normal. And then I would ask her how she knew what to do to help my mother. Then she'll answer and I'll be polite but charming and the next thing you know- Hermione Malfoy! Sounds about right.' Draco nodded to himself and made his way out of the Ministry.
Only to remember the memo from Florean's that his stash of ice-cream had arrived. He Apparated and appeared in the Diagon Alley and made his way to Florean Fortescue's. Luck was smiling on him as he noticed a familiar no-longer-broomstick end but bushy like a properly conditioned lion's mane-haired brunette sitting with surprise! Surprise! The two bumbling trolls that saved the world with a healthy dose of luck. As he entered the parlour, he turned his head left and Hermione immediately spotted him. He gave her a nod and a smile and she smiled in return. But she quickly said something to her sidekicks and soon they got out only to go into the private section of the parlour.
To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. He finished half a pint of his ice cream right at the parlour and took away two more pints to accompany him in his days of darkness.
"Pansy's father said no," Harry said morosely as soon as they took their place in the private table at Florean Fortescue's. "He said he would rather watch me die in sorrow than to give away his daughter to me."
"Ouch, that was harsh," Ron said wincing a little.
"And so rude," Hermione snapped. And then her face gave a maniacal Cheshire cat grin, "Of course, rude."
"I am going to regret saying this in front of her, won't I?" Harry said as his panic grew in proportion to Hermione's widening grin.
"Sure, mate." Ron was proud that his voice barely shook as he said it and quickly shoved a spoonful of ice-cream in his mouth as an excuse to not talk anymore.
Pansy was a bit worried…okay…a very worried ever since Harry came to her father asking for her hand in marriage and her father's obnoxious rejection of such a good match. Pansy sneered as another house elf carried a long scroll in his hand to get a seal on it from her father. Pansy wrung her hands. Her father was determined to marry her off to just about anybody now since Harry, the half-blooded bastard, had set his eyes on his daughter. If worse came to worse,[looks like I ended up using a metaphor of my native language in English] she would elope with him- whether her father liked it or not. Pansy paced in her room when she heard a knock on her French doors that opened into her lavish balcony. Within a minute, she heard another knock. Pansy stalked towards the door wanting to dump all the frustration on the unfortunate owl and opened the door with mighty heave when a pebble hit her face.
"What the bloody hell!" Pansy shouted and looked out her balcony when the strangest sight met her eyes. Harry was there standing sheepishly with strange pole with a tilted thing on top of it. Hermione was fiddling with some long black ropes and some black boxes that were screeching slightly and Ron was moving around some more black boxes and casting some spell on them once it was done. Harry looked up at her and gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed 'You will love this' and a strange tune began. Harry was tapping his feet slightly and Hermione and Ron were behind him with that pole thing, swaying slightly to the music only they could hear. Harry tunelessly began to sing looking right in front of him where Pansy guessed her father might be standing glaring out of the window,
Saturday morning jumped out of bed and put on my best suit (Harry began slowly.)
Got in my car and raced like a jet, all the way to you (He looked up at her and smiled.)
Knocked on your door with heart in my hand (He placed his free hand on his heart.)
To ask you a question (He pointed out Mr Parkinson.)
Cause I know that you're an old fashioned man
Yeah yeah (Hermione and Ron crooned.)
Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes
Cause I need to know (Harry closed his eyes and sang with all his heart.)
You say I'll never get your blessing till the day I die
Tough luck my friend but the answer is no! (Harry looked at Mr Parkinson accusingly.)
(Then Hermione and Ron joined him singing really badly.)
Why you gotta be so rude?
Don't you know I'm human too? (Hermione and Ron waved their hands at Harry's person.)
Why you gotta be so rude?
I'm gonna marry her anyway (Hermione and Ron flipped Mr Parkinson the bird.)
Marry that girl (Hermione was grinning like a fool, looking up at Pansy.)
Marry her anyway (Ron pointed her out.)
Marry that girl (Hermione and Ron shook their hair to the beat.)
Yeah, no matter what you say (Harry was grinning full out now.)
Marry that girl (Hermione and Ron jumped to Harry's side.)
And we'll be a family (The two of them put their arms around Harry and swayed.)
Why you gotta be so
Ruuuuuuude (Harry actually glared at Mr Parkinson.)
The three of them kept on singing ridiculously, not caring that the Parkinson elders had moved away from their parlour window.
"I don't suppose you are thinking of throwing out the Golden Trio, the saviour of the Wizarding Britain from your lawn?" Mrs Parkinson sniffed.
"The reporters shall have a field day after that," Mr Parkinson said pacing in his place.
"Then the best course of action is getting our girl married to the boy who was brave enough to do this. Merlin knows, Gryffindors are stupid and brave enough to do much more to embarrass us into giving away our daughter. At least this can be seen as a very romantic and emotional gesture. The press will eat this up with joy. Think about the connections that will bring, Harvey?" Mrs Parkinson reasoned.
"I am calling my solicitor to draw up a proper contract. And you please tell the three, sorry, four crazy people," Pansy had long since left the security of her balcony and was dancing with Hermione to their tuneless singing, "to stop singing. If they had only sung like this in front of the Dark Lord he probably would have died sooner."
It had been a couple of weeks since Harry officially got engaged to Pansy. Mrs Parkinson had begrudged thanked Hermione for helping her daughter get the love of her life and for securing such a good match for her. Hermione was polite but didn't think much about it. What disturbed her a little was the fact her mind jumped to the time when she danced a couple of songs with Malfoy. What was more frightening was the fact that she forgot how many songs she danced with Mal- Draco. She had a pleasant time him. And secretly she was looking forward to it. But for now, her work was her only husband.
"I think she's losing interest in me," Ron complained as he dropped heavily into Hermione's sofa disturbing Crookshanks who was lounging in his human's lap. Crookshanks hissed at him and jumped into the sun patch on the windowsill.
"Lavender? Noooo. She'll lose interest in you the day this world ends." Hermione answered looking up from her magic proof tablet. Ah… the perks of muggle devices.
"She's not…she's not happy with me anymore." Ron tried to ease Hermione into the fact.
"You mean…not happy with the way you do 'it'?" Hermione confirmed.
"This is so embarrassing… yes." Ron said with his face red as a tomato, his complexion clashing badly with his hair.
"And what do I look like? A marriage counsellor?" Hermione jibed.
"You are a great match maker. Thought you could help," Ron was mumbling now. "I mean you helped Harry. Hell, you even helped Dean and Seamus. So I thought maybe…maybe you could have a song that could…I don't know…help us."
"Awww… Ron, you have grown up," Hermione gave a fake sniff. "They grow up so quickly." More fake sniffs.
"I don't think you should work with the twins anymore. They are rubbing off on you rather too much." Ron glared.
"Our ickle little teaspoon. Grown to be a tablespoon." Hermione teased as she pulled Ron's cheek and made baby noises at him.
"Hermione!" Ron whined. "I really need your help."
"Ron, go home to your pregnant wife. I'll search for the right song and let you know. Okay?" Hermione said as she got up and pulled Ron out of the seat. "Don't forget to take her favourite mint chip ice cream and crackers. It's her IT food of the day or so. Go home now!"
"You won't forget, no?" Ron asked.
"I am Hermione Granger, Ron. I don't forget."
"Okay, I forgot. I am a busy person, Ron!" Hermione snapped at Ron when he interrupted her in the middle of an important legal contract read through for the proposal of the introduction of pens and notebooks. Ron had come there directly from Quidditch practice. He was so sure that Hermione must have had made some really cool plans for him to woo Lavender again. But…
"But you promised!" Ron whined sadly.
"Yes, but I became busy. Look around me, Ron. Do you think I slept in the past two days? No! I have been working and working and working. Just go home now! And come later when I am not drowning in work!" Hermione snarled at him.
Ron nodded his head sadly and Floo-ed out of her study. As he stepped out of his house's fireplace, a soft music came to his ears. He quickly made his way to his bedroom, which was decorated with rose petals and perfumed candles. Lavender stepped out, her slightly bulging, pregnant belly looking alluring in the pink, lacy, short and ever so indecent dress she was wearing. The soft music continued a little longer as he eyed his wife reach him gracefully.
Lavender was merely lip-syncing the song, it took a little effort. It was a catchy song but dang! The expression on her husband's face was worth the effort she gave into this.
Tell me something, I need to know
Then take my breath and never let it go (Lavender sang this in his ears softly.)
If you just let me invade your space
I'll take the pleasure, take away the pain (Lavender moved away from him only to be stopped by Ron who caught her wrist.)
And if in the moment I bite my lip (Lavender deliberately bit her lower lip.)
Baby, in that moment, you'll know this (Ron's eyes were blown wide and he was panting a little.)
Is something bigger than us and beyond bliss
Give me a reason to believe it (Lavender nodded at him and he smirk at her.)
'Cause if you want to keep me,
You gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta got to love me harder (Lavender quickly embraced him and remained that way.)
And if you really need me, you gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta got to love me harder (She looked up at him and he nodded at her.)
(Gotta love me harder)
Love me, love me, love me
Harder, harder, harder
Everything else was forgotten as Ron gave her a searing kiss. He quickly picked Lavender up bridal style and made his way to their bedroom, the song forgotten as it played on in the background where it finally stopped after a couple of minutes. The sounds of bliss could still be heard long after the burning candles dwindled down and late at night they finally melted away and went out.
"Matchmaker, huh? I didn't see this one happening." Harry said smirking as he folded the Daily Prophet and laid it on the dining table.
"Yeah, Hermione. You are a natural this," Ron added as he thought back about his improved relationship with Lavender.
"Guys, you forgot my plan already?" Hermione asked giving them her 'You-are-incorrigible' look.
"Huh?!" Were their intelligent replies.
"Boiling frog, remember? This is just phase one. The frog is in. Now I have to crank up the temperature. And wait for the end result."
"So what's next?" Ron asked, finally getting the hang of the complete plan.
"Wizarding London doesn't have any amusement parks, does it?"
"Noooo." drawled Harry as his eyes brightened at the idea of having a magical amusement park.
"Nor does it have that annoying buzzing thing that's buzzing in your pocket right now. Or that quill with no inkpot thing. What was that called? Fen? Oh and ... and that parchment bound together by some springy things. I liked that, by the way," Ron babbled.
Hermione dragged her palm down her face. "So many things to do! Gods, I am never getting a break am I?" She huffed out loud. "I really need a break."
"Just a few more things to do, sweetheart. Few more rules to break, ideologies to be changed and money to be made," Ginny said as she walked in on the conversation the trio was having. "I have set your meeting with the Twins in the afternoon today. I know that will take a long time so I postponed your meeting with the parchment makers to tomorrow. I hope I can squeeze in a day out at Luna's spa in the weekend."
"And you are?" Harry asked pretending he didn't know who Ginny was.
"Ginny Weasley, personal assistant to one Hermione Granger," Ginny replied cheekily.
"Really?" Hermione asked bemusedly.
"Really. I am having an off-season now. It's going to snow very badly for a month or two. So other than really early morning exercise, I am pretty much free the whole day. I thought of helping you out," Ginny explained handing out coffee for Harry, butterbeer for Ron and herbal tea for Hermione.
Hermione hummed in satisfaction as she took a sip, "This is good."
"And it'll help you relax," Ginny said with a soft smile on her face. "So, what do we do next?"
"Boil the frog now," Ron deadpanned.
"What?!" Ginny exclaimed while Harry and Hermione shared a grin.
"Well, it goes like this…" Hermione began.
Ginny had been her temporary assistant for past three weeks and Hermione was really enjoying the way Ginny kept everything organised. It was really relaxing; half of her work had been completed because of this. The amusement park was a big thing, so the Twins were helping her create an amusement house as a demo. But given the secrecy law, the amusement house was a fantastic idea. They could always spell the place to be bigger on the inside.
"I heard what you did for Ron," Ginny said, looking at Hermione accusingly as she came to 'work' that day at Hermione's home.
"Well...Technically, I helped Lavender which in turn helped Ron," Hermione said casually noticing the accusing look but not saying anything about it.
"And you helped Seamus and Dean too," Ginny mumbled but the look didn't change. "And Harry and Pansy. And the Malfoy's for crying out loud."
Hermione finally turned around and asked her up straight, "Spit it out, Gin. You and I both don't like the cloak and dagger business,"
"I need your help," Ginny blurted out.
"I'm...Surprised," Hermione said carefully. "You never had problems snagging a boy before."
"That's the thing. Boys are easy to lure in but men? Men are like this bundle of stubbornness and pride and ego in a hot package of rippling physique."
"This has got nothing to do with the fact that you are trying to get rid of the fact that you dated Dean?"
"Mione, he's a bi. I enjoyed the time with him and I'm happy for him. But I'm not happy for myself."
"Who's the guy?"
The renovated pub in Diagon Alley had a steady flow of customers ever since the fairy godmother, who goes by the name of Hermione Granger flicked her wand at it. Leaky Cauldron had been a go to place before but now it has become a hangout spot for everybody. And today was a special night for all the young people; what is was it wasn't mentioned. The golden trio and their DA member friends were all present- drinking, talking and having a merry time. It was a relaxing night when the door opened and in came the Silver heartthrobs- Draco, Blaise and Theo along with Pansy who made a beeline for Harry.
"Traitor!" Draco whispered angrily.
"You can't blame her. We are all wet blankets today." Theo justified as he watched Pansy park her butt on the bespectacled saviour's lap.
"You both are. Not me." Blaise said as he gracefully walked to the bar leaving his companions behind.
"He's a damn betraying rat. Abandoning us in the time we needed him the most," Draco said as he watched Blaise flirt light-heartedly with Hannah, who was the bartender for that night.
"You are the sinking ship, my friend. I am merely a wet blanket." Theo clarified.
They watched Blaise flirt some more when Longbottom angrily stalked his claim on the pretty honey blonde bartender. Blaise put his hands up in surrender and grabbed his drink and re-joined them.
"I fancy myself a drink now," Theo said as he walked away.
"I'll accompany you," Draco said joining Theo.
"Hey, you can't leave me alone like this," Blaise complained.
"We can. And we will," Draco turned back and replied.
Blaise rolled his eyes and enjoyed his drink. The Gryffindors were goofing around, but Draco's girl and the redheaded siren stood a bit away from the group. It seemed like Granger was counselling her on something and Ginny nervously nodded her head and walked towards the door beside the newly created stage at the far side of the pub. Blaise appreciated the swaying, fabric hugging arse tantalising him so badly and took a deep gulp of his drink.
"Welcome everybody. This is I, Lee your host for tonight! Today's special evening is happening courtesy one Miss Granger and her magic of music. A big round of applause for Hermione Granger!" announced Lee Jordan.
"Today is a karaoke night. People are going to come up to this podium and sing popular songs. The lyrics will be there, the music will be there, all you have to do is sing," Hermione explained cheerfully.
"Why don't you begin this evening with a song, Hermione?" Lee asked.
"They might be the saviours of the Wizarding world but they can't sing to save their lives. Trust me," shouted Pansy from the nearby table. Harry and Ron's loud laugh joined her.
"Pansy is right. But in my stead, my best friend…" Hermione began.
"Oi!" Ron shouted.
"Okay, okay. My best female friend is going to sing on my behalf." Hermione turned to face the door which opened to reveal Ginny. She was now wearing a white flock dress with pink lace overlay that ended at her knees giving her an innocent girl look. She joined Hermione on the stage and gave a dramatic spin and twirl that made her skirt billow around legs. Hermione handed Ginny the microphone and she flicked her hair to one side exposing her long, slender neck.
Blaise felt his mouth dry up. He quickly drained his glass, but couldn't bring himself to move his eyes away from Ginny to get another refill.
Ginny was singing into the microphone, her beautiful voice filling the pub but Blaise only focused on her full, pink lips moving so tantalisingly.
If you change your mind (Ginny sang looking only at Blaise.)
Take a chance
(Hermione, Pansy and Lavender had come near the stage and were singing the chorus, smiling at Ginny the whole time.)
I'm the first in line, Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me (Ginny gave a cheeky wink at Blaise at that.)
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
(Ginny then climbed off the podium and made her way towards Blaise who was sitting immobile in a chair, transfixed by Ginny's movements.)
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down.
(Ginny confidently took the whiskey glass from Blaise's hand and placed it on the table.)
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
(Ginny boldly sat on Blaise's lap sideways, still singing.)
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
(Ginny earnestly said the words and Blaise smiled back at her, placing his hands on her waist.)
Take a chance on me
That's all I ask of you honey
(The chorus girls crooned in the background from the stage.)
Take a chance on me
(With a big smile at Blaise, who was returning her gestures, Ginny kissed him.).
The crowd gave a loud cheer and whooped and clapped for the new couple.
"This round's on me!" Harry shouted and the crowd whooped again. Somebody began cat-calling when it seemed that Ginny and Blaise hadn't stopped kissing yet.
"Lucky bastard!" Draco hissed still sitting at the bar nursing his third drink of the night.
"Lucky indeed," Theo added.
Draco took a deep gulp and said, "You don't think Hermione would do anything like that for me, do you?"
"Nope," Theo replied popping the 'P'.
"So no songs for poor, handsome Draco here?" Draco asked bitterly.
"Well… if you hadn't insulted the girl you are pining for right now, then maybe there was a chance of planting an idea through Pansy. But you burnt that bridge long ago. Hell, you ruined the foundation before it could even set," Theo explained in a tipsy stupor.
"And you didn't even stop me from ruining it?" Draco accused Theo.
"I dragged you away from her at the Quidditch pitch but you shouted in your squeakiest voice how your father would hear about the mudblood who was trying to tell Draco the magnificent what to do," Theo spat out.
Draco flinched and with another deep gulp finished his drink. "I so want a time turner right now." He then rubbed his face with his palm and kept them covered.
"Well, at least you maintained a civil relation with her after the Yule Ball. That's a plus," Theo consoled him.
"That can garner me a song, right?" Draco asked hopefully.
"Nope," Theo answered popping the 'P' again. "You are destined to be alone. And pathetic. And miserable. And pathetic. And-"
"Okay, the drinks have gotten into your head. It doesn't look like Blaise is going to come with us." Blaise was busy sucking the face off the She-Weasley. Draco sneered at that. He would never be so inappropriate with Hermione. Ever. "Let's get you home, my friend." Draco put Theo's glass away and paid the bill and walked to the Floo along with Theo. But not without taking in Hermione's smiling and glowing face happy from being able to help her friend get the love of her life. When she smiled like that, his world lit up. But each day, that light seems to go away a bit...okay, a lot away from him. Soon, she'll again be that unattainable and untouchable person for him. He'd have to act fast.
The Valentine's Day seems a great plan for a declaration of love. After all, that's what the day is for. He'll have to make a good use of it. He's Draco Malfoy, for Merlin's sake, he'll figure out something amazing. Obviously.
T.B.C. . .
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