PREPARATIONS

IN THE MAIN YARD

It was for the first time in his life that Draco was solely responsible for the whole organisation of the Noble and Ancient October Hunt. (Formerly known as the Noble and Ancient Pureblood October Hunt). Having an ambitious, black- and-white personality had made it a momentous task. Months before this day he had started plotting and planning. The one thing actually not in his hands, the weather, looked to be bending to his formidable will as well. For it would indeed be a gorgeous, crisp, clear October day. All the leaves on the huge Malfoy estate had turned brown, red or yellow and the air smelled wonderfully.

Draco had been up since the crack of dawn, checking, ordering, barking and problem solving. Had Pansy, or (almost) any other Hogwarts girl seen him this morning, they would have swooned. A solid all male presence with a highly attractive face and intense gray eyes. His hair was slightly messy today. His commanding personality domineered the whole yard. He could be totally charming en persuasive if he wanted to, but today was a day for clipped commands that needed to be executed immediately. Draco was wearing part of the traditional wizard hunting robe. Tight, black riding breeches , and a white cotton oxford shirt, the sleeves rolled up, for now.

At the moment he was drilling a quivering house-elf. The piteous creature had almost been pounded on the ground by the onslaught of Draco's questions.' So, you are ab-so-lu-tely sure about your instructions, you are sure about your bearings, you know which areas of the forest to avoid, you have everything you need? Recite your coordinates once more to me!' Draco demanded.

The elf rolled his eyes at that (unseen by Draco, luckily) and checked off all his queries again, counting them of on the fingers of his little green hand.

Draco nodded curtly, finally satisfied, and sent him of with a final warning: 'Whatever you do, do not end up dead, get lost, or worse, get caught by the wrong hunters. And do not get bitten too much, as it will reflect badly on us. We get enough shit about this as it is, Timbly'.

'Do not fear, Master will not be disappointed in Timbly, Sir. I is preparing the whole night. I is ironing my ears, to make sure I is making no mistakes today. Timbly's father, and Timbly's grandfather, and Timbly's great grand father (Draco started fidgeting) and Timbly's great great grand father where good prey. Timbly will be good prey. I is making Master proud. And with an beatific smile and a very loud crack, he apparated away.

AT THE SAME TIME

'Hermione', Charley said once again, clearly running out of patience. 'I really think you are wrong about this.
I know I am the only one in this family that feels so strongly about it, but that's because I know. It is my work after all. I know animals, and I have seen with my own eyes that these horses and hounds are fine. More than fine actually. They are well fed and housed and are in pristine condition. They love to do what they are bred for. You trust Hagrid, don't you? He agrees with me on this one. Hermione clenched her jaw and shook her head. 'Sorry Charley, I hear what you say, but I still disagree. It was ever so nice of you to explain, but I will not ever be persuaded to see if differently.'
She nodded vehemently after her last word.
Charley gave up. He slumped back on his chair in the Burrow's kitchen, tilting it to sit on just the hind legs, something he would not dare if Molly were in the kitchen.
He watched this girl with exasperation and fondness. Looking at her, it was impossible not to like and love Hermione, he thought. If he did not have Tatiana waiting for him back in Romania, he certainly would have tried to see if there might be more possible than just a friendship with his brother's best friend.
For Hermione was simply stunning. All the more so because she had no clue. Long curly chestnut hair with a personality of it's own. Beautiful chocolate brown eyes, the window to her soul.
A pretty, flawless face with pink kissable lips. And her body, well, he reflected, covertly looking her up from under his eyelashes, and feeling his stomach clench a little, her body was.. -just-fine-.

At that moment, more Weasley's started piling in into the small cozy kitchen. Some, like Ron and George, definitely not quite awake. Hermione beamed at them all, excited and happy now.
She started handing out the badges that she had charmed in preparation for today. Ginny pinned on hers and grinned as it flashed alternatively S.P.E.W. and ' Malfoy stinks'. 'Well Mione, that's not really an insult au par with your usual wit and intelligence' Fred said, smirking. But Harry smiled happily in answer to that: ' I know mate, but she made it so, especially for me, since it was Malfoy who made the 'Potter Stinks' badges during the triwizard tournament. I think Malfoy will understand and appreciate this, we are stooping right to his level here'.

Arthur came busting in through the kitchen's backdoor. He looked as exited as a small boy on Christmas morning, eyes alight with manic enthusiasm. 'What do you think' he asked as he put up a picket-line like protestation sign. It read: 'we do not condone in any way, type or form, the hunting of house-elves, even be it that they themselves claim to like it. And also we do not think that other magical creatures such as hell horses and haring hounds should be used or abused in any way, type or form in such a hunt. Or at any other moment, for that matter, actually.'
All of this was written in tiny letters, to fit onto the sign. One corner of Hermione's mouth went up, as she exchanged a quick amused glance with Harry. 'Well…. Ehm… it is lovely, really, but ehm… but I think something short and strong will put the message across better. Arthur's shoulders drooped a little at this. 'I do know that that's exactly what protesting muggles would do….,' she added.
At that Arthur righted his shoulders again and said ' oh really, oh, alright, I'll go and change it then.'
'You might want to put something on it like 'Stop the abuse of house-elves in hunting' Hermione shot at him as he departed again.