.
"Ron! Owl for you!" Hermione balanced a plate in one hand, her wand keeping their clean pile steady with the other. Harry narrowly avoided Ron's legs as he barreled down the stairs three at a time, taking the letter from the tawny Owl's beak before she could land and rewarding it with a gentle pet to the head. Hermione placed the plate on the pile, using her wand to direct them all into a cupboard neatly and in stacks of four, "Who is it?" She asked him.
Ron scanned the envelope quickly as he absently kissed Hermione on the forehead, in a morning greeting. He'd barely read the first sentence before he scoffed, "Just mum."
"'Just mum'?" Harry asked, taking a seat at the table and thanking Kreacher for a plate of breakfast pancakes, "I'm sure she'll love to hear you say that."
"It's not that." Ron said, sitting opposite and reaching for his newly-made mug of milk, "I was just expecting something else."
"Like what?"
"Hm? Oh. Nothing really." Ron shoveled half a pancake into his mouth in a poor attempt at seeming mysterious, "Just post."
"You mean this?" Hermione asked, flicking a letter at him from where she stood, nursing a hot cup of coffee, "It came yesterday morning."
"What?!" Ron grabbed it, ripping open the black coloured seal, "Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione just smirked over the rim of her mug, watching as Ron's eyes darted over the paper, slowly getting more and more excited, "Yes!" He suddenly exclaimed, looking up at them both. Hermione didn't look too surprised at his reaction which made him slump a little, glaring at her, "Did you reseal this?"
"Of course not!" She looked offended enough for it to be the truth and Ron looked sheepish, "I just have a lot of faith in you, obviously." Ron's ears turned his usual red and he glanced back down at whatever it was that in his hands.
Feeling a little excluded, Harry raised an eyebrow at him, "Well? What is it?"
"Oh, sorry mate." Ron beamed at him, showing a folded certificate within the envelope, "It's my test marks and certificate. I passed!"
Harry grinned at him, "That's great!" Hermione joined them both at the table, reading the letter that had been sent from Mrs Weasley, "That's all of us now."
"Yeah. A year late, but I got there in the end." Ron's excitement was infectious and it reminded him of his own when he'd first passed the Ministry's APC [Auror-Public-Care] Module, just a year ago. Ron had been behind by just a few marks so his passing now was inevitable but it still felt like something to celebrate. Now the three of them were once again working together, like their school days.
"We knew you would," Harry assured him, gesturing with his head at Hermione who still reading the letter, "We should write to your mum and tell her."
"Yeah," Ron said, "She'll be so pleased, she knows how angry I was last year at that mark."
"Mm." Hermione agreed, her eyes glued to the pages, and they both shared a look past her that she caught on to, "Sorry. I'm just reading."
"What does Mum say?" Ron asked, "That she misses us?"
Hermione smiled, "Well, I don't think we'll have to write to her to tell her about your passing. She's invited us to stay for a bit."
"Oh really?" Ron peered over at the letter, "Good. It's been a while since since I've been home properly," He and Hermione had been renting a small apartment in London a year after the War, when the Burrow had proved much too crowded for two couples to stay together in the same room. So, at around the same time that Harry had officially moved himself into Grimmauld Place, Hermione had shopped around for an apartment within their budget as trainee-Aurors.
"Yes, it'll be lovely." Hermione murmured, "Especially since it's for a wedding."
"A what?" Harry asked, thinking of Percy and Penelope.
"Whos?" Ron sounded just as bewildered as he did.
"Your brother," Hermione answered calmly, "Charlie. He's getting married next Tuesday and we've all been invited."
Ron blinked twice, swallowing the last of the milk from his mug before exclaiming, "Charlie? My brother Charlie? Charlie Weasley?"
"The very same." Hermione nodded.
Harry frowned, looking down at the letter himself, "I didn't even know he was seeing anyone."
"Me neither." Ron muttered, coughing into his hand, "Blimey."
.
.
"Ron!" Mrs Weasley dropped the washcloth that she was holding when she saw the three of them apparate into the back garden, running toward them and pulling him into a tight hug, "Oh I've missed you so much." She ruffled his hair while he grinned down at her, clearly having felt the same though he didn't say it. Mrs Weasley then turned her hug to Hermione, squeezing her just as tight, "It's so nice to see you again after all this time!"
"You too," Hermione's smile was bright.
"And Harry! Oh Harry, come here."
"Hello Mrs Weasley," Harry smiled at her, opening his arms and hugging her before she could do the same to him, "You look well."
"Oh thank you. I've been using this cleansing-potion that Charlie's fiance made for me last month," She placed her hands over her face, "I feel so refreshed whenever I use it."
"You've met them?" Ron asked, suddenly a lot more interested, "Why did you never mention them to me? I didn't even know Charlie had a someone let alone a fiance."
"I only found out very recently as well, Ron, don't you worry," She beckoned them, "Come in, come in. It's so cold out here."
They all followed her inside, shedding their coats once with the fire from the Burrow doing a perfect job of keeping the place toasty. The clock showed the family at 'Home', all except Charlie, Bill and the newly-added Fleur, who were 'travelling'.
"You said 'last month' Mum, so by recently do you mean a 'year', or - ?"
"I hadn't met them that month, I'd only received the potion and a letter from Charlie informing me that he'd gotten engaged." She started chopping some olives over the counter, gesturing that they sit and ignoring their protests that they had literally just eaten before coming, "And what a shock that was! No letters in two years and then suddenly, 'guess what mum! I'm getting married!' Honestly."
Harry laughed, "But that's good isn't it? I thought you always wanted Charlie to get married."
Mrs Weasley plopped her ingredients into the pot, stirring a little too harshly, "Oh I do, of course I do! I was just a little - surprised, is all. When I met him." She wiped a hand across her forehead, "Charlie's fiance, that is, and - " There was a knock at the door and she dropped the spoon, hurrying toward it, "That must be them now, they were staying at Bill and Fleur's for the week. Take over the soup, would you Ron?"
Sighing, Ron heaved himself up and continued from where she'd left off, following the recipe book beside it, "So Mum isn't much of a fan. Not a good sign."
"She didn't say she didn't like him." Harry corrected, "Just that she was surprised."
"Well mum's known Charlie was gay since he was 11 so it not because it's a guy. Why else would she say that unless she didn't - "
"She had a problem with Fleur before as well, remember." Hermione reminded him, "And look how well that turned out."
"Oh yeah." Ron's expression cleared, obviously remembering all the arguments between his mother and her daughter-in-law. "That's true."
"Exactly." Hermione turned the page when Ron's elbow couldn't manage, "It's probably just her way of coping with giving her sons away." Ron just shrugged, looking up when Mrs Weasley finally came back. She immediately replaced him and continued with the soup, gesturing that he go into the other room. Harry and Hermione both stood to follow him in, nervous and excited all at once.
Harry had only seen Charlie Weasley a total of three times but it wasn't as though he was a complete stranger either, and there was something wildly different about him and the other Weasleys. Probably because he lived in Romania, or that he worked with Dragons for a living, which gave him the look of a battle-worn hero - something that Harry was also seen as, though his looks did not come off quite as chiseled.
"Charlie!" Ron was engulfed by his older brother's body when they hugged, arms wrapped around shoulders that only a Quidditch player could build and when they pulled apart, Harry could see Charlie's smiling face. He had a new scar on his cheek, making his features look a lot more defined, "It's so good to see you!"
"You too," Charlie knocked him upside the head, an inch shorter than Ron, adding, "Little brother's not so little anymore," Before turning to Harry with just as wide a smile, "Hey Harry. How've you been?"
"Good. Really good." Harry shook his hand, Charlie's warm grip rough against his skin. His hair had obviously regrown a lot since he'd last seen him but it was a cleaner cut this time, tied neatly back with a small ponytail.
"Better now that You-know-Who's finally gone, I'll bet," Charlie said and Harry laughed in agreement, nodding. He noticed Harry looking at his hair and smiled, "Draco sorted it out for me. I'd been meaning to get it cut, kept flying into my face when I was flying with the dragons, but I didn't want it as short as Mum likes it."
Harry's thoughts stuttered to a halt and he watched as Charlie turned to Hermione, greeting her warmly as well. Draco?
"It really has been so long, I'm glad you're well." Hermione was stammering, blushing, "And yes. Ron and I are - um - we're fine," Charlie raised an eyebrow, looking at Ron over his shoulder, "We are!"
"Yeah I'm sure. 'Fine'. I'm just glad me and Draco won't be the only couple under watch at night," This time Harry was sure he heard right.
"Draco?" Ron sniggered, "Who's - is that him? Your fiance?" He glanced at Harry as if to say 'poor guy', which cleared Harry's head a little. Of course, lots of people were called Draco, weren't they? It couldn't be Malfoy. Charlie wasn't stupid enough to marry a Malfoy.
"Yeah," Charlie grinned at them, "I was hoping you'd know him. He did say he went to Hogwarts, but Slytherins and Gryffindors never really mix so I wasn't sure if you'd actually know each other or not."
"Hold on." Hermione stepped between them, the three of them forming a tight line, facing Charlie headfirst. "Are we talking about the same person here, because - "
"There's no way." Ron's voice cracked and he was staring at Charlie like he'd never seen anything so horrific before. Charlie was oblivious however, and he just nodded.
"Well I hope so. Hogwarts can at least be something that you all had in common, let him find his footing in England again. Well, just for the wedding anyway, you know?" Hermione hummed slightly whilst Harry and Ron just gaped, "I'll just go get him, he's with Bill and Fleur outside. They've got a new car, did you know?"
"No. I didn't." Ron murmured and Charlie left the room, leaving them in silence. Harry stared after him, not quite sure if this was real or not, but before he could say anything Ron said it for him, "Am I dreaming?"
"Let's not react until we're sure," Hermione said, but Ron held up a hand, looking calm despite his words.
"He said Draco. Then he said Slytherin, and then Hogwarts," His face then morphed into panic, "Who else could that be?!"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but it was lost when the doors opened again and Charlie stepped back inside. They all turned toward him, tensing, because right behind him, stepping into the light from the windows, was also Draco Malfoy. And there was no doubt now, it was him. His face had softened slightly since they had last seen him but his hair was just as blond, tucked behind both ears in a cut that just reached the collar of his shirt. He looked different, dressed in casual muggle clothes and a small black hat, and they each shared a look between them.
"Guys," Charlie straightened and Draco gave him a small smile before turning to them, "I'd like you to meet my fiance," Malfoy gave them a wave. He had a long scar down his forearm that looked similar to a claw mark and he wasn't as pale as he'd always been. Harry was even surprised to notice that he had freckles now, a light dusting over his nose and cheeks that was likely due to the heat from Romania.
"Hello," Malfoy looked at Ron first, his grey eyes calculating and Hermione's hand twitched near her wand-pocket as she waited to hear what he'd say after all these years, "Ronald?" His smile became something a little wider, more polite, and they all braced while Charlie peered through the open door to say goodbye to Bill.
"Yeah ..." Ron narrowed his eyes, "And before you start on us Malfoy, maybe we should do this somewhere - "
Malfoy spoke over him, however, "You're taller than I expected," He said lightly, and Ron glared,
"Look - "
"But really," Malfoy continued and Harry clenched his fists at his syrupy tone, "It's so good to finally," Hermione stiffened, her lips thin, "Finally meet you." Charlie shut the door fully with a solid click, turning back to them all with an unwavering smile, while Malfoy's words were met with shock.
"What?"
Harry choked on his breath, turning away and clearing his throat but his hand was grabbed by Hermione before he could say anything. He almost ignored her to ask just what kind of game Malfoy was playing here, but then he noticed her gesturing toward Charlie and he relented. Whatever they could say, they'd say when he wasn't around.
"Meet me?" Ron managed to force out. "Are you - ?"
Malfoy nodded, "Yes, Charlie told me a bit about you but - well. Hogwart's was so big, it's hard to meet every single student so I wasn't really surprised to hear that we'd never met."
"Really." Hermione's gesturing had obviously reached Ron too but he was still practically vibrating with anger. "You'd think that some people would be memorable enough."
Malfoy's smile faltered a little but he picked it right up, "You'd think." He agreed, nodding, "But like I said. Big school." Charlie ran a hand down Malfoy's side, turning him toward Hermione.
"And this is Hermione Granger, Ron's girlfriend and also a future Auror," Malfoy offered his hand with a smile and Hermione took it, her nails digging in until they released each other with a yank, "Might even be your sister-in-law one day too."
Hermione forced a laugh, her teeth clenched together but Ron stepped up before she could say anything, "She's the brightest witch her age. I'm sure you'd remember her."
"Of course I do." Malfoy laughed, "I remember all of you, you were famous. I just didn't know you. Personally anyway," He tucked a stray hair behind his ear.
"I'm Harry." Harry spoke up before the fight that Hermione was trying to prevent could happen, "Harry - "
"Potter, yeah." Malfoy stretched his hand out again and Harry took it numbly. "It's wonderful to meet you."
"Sure."
"Listen guys," Charlie walked around them all to grab his wand from where he must have left it, "I'm just going to help Draco set up his stuff for tonight so we'll leave the rest for later. We aren't allowed to sleep in the same bed, Mum's orders." Hermione's face twitched, "Goes for you two, too." He pointed at Ron with a smirk.
"I think it's better that way," Malfoy said, raising an eyebrow at him, "We can get to know each other better."
"Very true," Charlie said.
"Woah, wait, what do you mean?" Ron asked but Mrs Weasley chose that moment to enter the room.
"Charlie what are you still doing down here?" She frowned, "Those beds won't make themselves!" Shooing him away, she smiled at Malfoy, "Hello again dear. I've got a soup on the way, would you like a bite?"
"Oh no, thank you." Malfoy gave her a sickeningly sweet smile, "We ate at Bill's, already," Mrs Weasley just nodded, her eyes kind despite her words from before, "I'll just go help Charlie with the beds, he's - not so good at domestic spells."
"But you are?" Ron blurted. Malfoy ignored him and left the room to head upstairs, missing how Mrs Weasley hit her son with the end of her spoon, "Ow! Mum!"
"You are not allowed to be rude to him under this roof!"
"Mum!"
"No! I won't have it!" She brandished the spoon on Harry and Hermione as well. "That goes for you two, as well!"
"But mum is he serious? It's Malfoy!" Ron rubbed the back of his head, his cheeks red from anger, "How could Charlie be so stupid?"
"I know it's a Malfoy, Ronald, but your brother is very serious about this." She sighed, putting her hands on her hips, "When I asked him the same, he refused to listen about 'family-feuds'. Said they were a thing of the past and that we should all grow up." She chuckled, "I suppose he's right, in a way, and I've decided to ignore the past. I suggest you do as well."
"Fat chance," Ron scoffed, "I am not having a Malfoy as my bloody in-law." Mrs Weasley gave him a warning look but left the conversation at that, heading back to her soup. The three of them stood in silence for a while before Hermione finally sank into a chair, staring up at Ron, "Ron, maybe your mum's right."
"Are you joking?"
"It's been four years, don't you think we should we should let let this all go?"
"No." Ron said shortly.
"Ron. If your brother thinks Malfoy is someone he wants to marry then maybe Malfoy gave him a reason to think that."
"Yeah, and maybe it was a big fat lie parceled and packed with a rich-blond-bow." Hermione rolled her eyes at him but, thankfully, Ginny came downstairs in a ginger blur and dissolved any of their tension.
She saw their faces and sighed, "Malfoy right?" They nodded, "Did you see how he looks now? It's just not fair."
.
.
Harry spent the evening with Ginny in the garden, catching up. She'd had her first practice-match a fortnight ago and she was still brimming with her excitement about it all, bursting with new anecdotes and tips which he followed up with on his Auror work. It was nice but eventually their conversation steered toward the Wedding.
"So. Charlie," She murmured and Harry nodded, letting her lean against his shoulder, "I can't believe he's getting married. He always swore that he never would."
"Maybe Malfoy spiked him with love potion."
She laughed into the darkening sky, "Nah. I already checked." Harry looked at her, realising she was serious. "What? I had to be sure! George helped."
"And?"
"And ... nothing." She sighed. "Charlie is completely of his own free will. No imperio, no potions, no blackmail. Nothing. We were thorough too. Even got dad to do a little digging, soon as he found out who Charlie's perfect fiance was." She grumbled, "Course he's now fallen for 'Draco's' charm as well. Just like mum."
"Your mum said she was just giving him a chance."
"That's what she says." She glared at nothing, "Did he pretend not to know you as well?"
"Yeah."
"Git." Harry laughed. "Well. The truth'll come out one way or another, and I hope it bites him hard. I'm not having him as my brother-in-law, Harry, no way."
"How did they even meet?" Is what Harry wanted to know. What had made Malfoy go all the way to Romania?
"His Ministry sentence," Ginny answered. "Right after the War, when his dad was thrown into Azkaban, his Mom was put under a year's House-arrest. Malfoy was put into community service and Professor McGonagall suggested Romania. A rehabilitation and learning experience, she said," Harry looked at her and she smiled, explaining, "I watched it in my dad's pensive."
Last year, Mr Weasley had confiscated a pensive from a wizard merchant who had been trying to con a muggle family into using it, and as thanks he'd been allowed to keep it. It was polished everyday and kept stored in his study.
"So Malfoy was there as a punishment." Harry clarified and she nodded against his chest, "And he comes back with a future husband. Doesn't seem fair does it."
"Nope. Especially not with how he looks now too. I hate that more." He grinned, missing being with her every day more now that he'd gotten this little bit of time together, "I didn't even know he was gay."
"I think I did," Harry said, "Somewhere in my subconscious. I mean, I wasn't too surprised to find out he was marrying a man, just more surprised that it was Charlie than anything else."
"Yeah," Ginny hummed, snuggling in closer, "Yeah I think I know what you mean." They stayed like that for another half hour before Mr Weasley came out to both greet Harry and inform them that dinner was ready.
Malfoy sat beside Charlie at the table, two seats away from Mr Weasley; a man who he had regularly mocked not so long ago. He seemed right at home where he was, talking to Charlie mostly and eating everything that Mrs Weasley put in his plate.
"So, Ron. You're trying to become an Auror?" He asked over the table, passing the bowl of soup to Ginny at the other end but she only levitated it from his hands, "Just like Harry?"
Ron clenched his fists over the table and his mother gave him another of her warning looks, "Yeah just like Harry, and like Hermione too," He smiled then, looking around the table, "Er - actually. I wanted to say it before but I completely forgot." He turned to his Mrs Weasley and smiled, "I passed. I'm in the program officially, I start next month."
"Really? Oh Ron that's wonderful!" Mrs Weasley pressed a hand to her mouth, "Oh, I'm so proud of you!" Ron grinned but then was suddenly lurched over the table when Ginny came up behind him with a hug. Hermione quickly saved his plate.
"Well done!" Ginny pressed a kiss to his head, knowing how embarrassed that that would make her brother and laughing when he finally managed to shake her off. Charlie gave him the thumbs up, excusing himself to go to the bathroom and Malfoy smiled at him as he went, keeping up his act well enough that Harry was almost impressed by it all.
"Yeah, yeah," Ron glared at Ginny when she tried to ruffle his hair, his ears predictably red, "I've still got a lot of work to do so don't get too excited."
"But you're well on your way to being a full-time Auror." Malfoy added, taking a sip of water from his glass. Ron looked at him, narrowing his eyes and trying to see the sarcasm for what it really was, "That's something."
"Yeah, well, what about you?" Harry snapped, swallowing when Malfoy turned his cool gaze onto him, "How did your life turn out after Hogwarts? Or are you still planning on sponging off of your dad's money for the rest of your life that it doesn't matter how hard you work?"
Malfoy blinked at him, visibly startling when Charlie came back inside and looked at the table; confused by the sudden tension that had arisen. Mrs Weasley was frowning at Harry, something that was very rare to see, but no one spoke for another minute to lighten the air.
"Er. No." Malfoy finally answered, clearing his throat, "After I left for Romania, my father died in Azkaban. He left his money to me, the manor and other savings to my mother, and I gave the majority of it away. I didn't have any need for that much money where I was and I thought - well I thought that Hogwarts could use it better. Professor McGonagall suggested I give half of it to the Bystanders foundation and the rest to the Muggle-care."
"To charity?" Ron scoffed, "You expect us to - " He winced when Hermione kicked him under the table.
"Dennis Malaroy?" She asked, looking at Malfoy without any sort of scorn at all and it took a while for Harry to understand just what she was asking.
Malfoy shrugged, glancing at Charlie, "I didn't think they'd accept the money if they knew where it came from." He frowned then, "But - how do you know?"
Mrs Weasley scraped her chair out as she stood, "Hermione works with a lot of charities in her spare time." She explained, looking so utterly proud that Hermione looked down at her plate with her cheeks pink, "She even started her own in Hogwarts, for the house-elves."
"SPEW." Harry added, "You might have noticed the badges that she made for them," Malfoy looked down, "Didn't - didn't you make badges in Hogwarts once, Malfoy? What did they say again?"
Malfoy scrunched his bottom lip, taking another sip of water before replying, "You obviously have a better memory of Hogwarts than I do, Harry. I can't even remember the teachers that I had in my first years, let alone what I did in my free time."
"Right, of course." Harry looked Mrs Weasley then, noticing that she was still standing, "Are you alright Mrs Weasley?"
"What? Oh. Yes. I stood up for a reason, I just can't seem to remember what it was now."
"Dessert?" Charlie suggested and she clapped her hands and hurried into the kitchen. He snorted, "Always food with mum."
"Mm, like mother like son." Malfoy rolled his eyes at him, making Charlie give him a faux-stern look.
"So how did your father die?" Ginny suddenly asked, her voice strained. Harry held her hand under the table, remembering how Lucius Malfoy had snuck her Voldemort's diary in her second year, and how that obviously still affected her.
Charlie shifted to face her, his cheery face now becoming something a little more disapproving which let them all know that they were all on thin ice, "Can we have a different table conversation, please?"
"No it's okay." Malfoy shook his head, staring at Ginny head-on, "The - er. The letter that told me that he'd died said that he just stopped eating one day," Mrs Weasley chose that moment to come back inside then, holding two pies in each hand, "They said he was depressed."
"Good riddance." Ginny muttered into the noise that her mother had created setting the pies down but it was unfortunately heard nonetheless.
"Hey." Charlie gave her a dark look, "That's enough."
"Look I know my father was a horrible person, to you and to your family." Malfoy's voice had lowered into something almost inaudible, if not for the awkward hush over the table, "But I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak ill of the dead."
'What, like you used to?' Harry almost spat but Charlie looked thunderous and he didn't want Malfoy to win this round.
"I'm sorry Mrs Weasley, I'm going to head upstairs. Dinner was lovely but I'm too full to eat anything else."
"That's quite alright, dear," said Mrs Weasley with a smile.
"Ever the impeccable manners." Ginny muttered to Harry, ignoring how Charlie slammed his fork down when he heard her and followed Malfoy upstairs.
"Well." Mr Weasley spoke for the first time, blinking quickly, "Who wants pie?"
"Can you believe this?" Ron spluttered, a pillow under his arm, "We have to share? With Malfoy." Harry just nodded. "Well I'm not. I'm taking the sofa."
"You can't." Ginny told him. "Charlie's sleeping there. He didn't want to make Mum and Dad move and if you sleep down there too, he'll only ask why."
"Then I'll tell him why. I'll tell him how his fiance is a dirty, lying, slimy little ferret that's going to pull him under the rug as soon as he's gotten what he wants from him."
"And how do you think he'll react to that?" Ginny asked, sounding amused, "You heard what he said to mum."
Leaving them to it, Harry decided to head upstairs with his own pillow and to see how the room had been set up himself. If he was going to share with Draco Malfoy, he could at least be comfortable during it. As he neared Ron's old bedroom however, he heard voices from inside and remembered how Charlie had followed Malfoy upstairs before.
" - told you this was a bad idea." Malfoy was murmuring and when Harry looked through the crack in the closed door, he saw him sitting up on a mattress with only a white t-shirt and a pair of shorts on.
"They're just being difficult." Charlie said, though Harry couldn't see him from where he was, "Give them a chance."
"Maybe I should just go and stay with my mother for now."
"How are you supposed to get to know them if you don't live with them, Draco?"
"I'll visit!" Charlie sighed and Malfoy looked down, "I'm not welcome here and I don't want to sleep here if I'm not."
"Mum loves you already. And so does dad. It'll only be a matter of time before - "
"No - Charlie, you don't understand."
"Then explain."
Malfoy sucked in a breath, pressing his lips together, before shaking his head, "It doesn't matter." Harry darted back when Charlie sat next to Malfoy now, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"Listen. If you really want to go to your Mum's, that's fine by me. I'll drop you off right now if you're serious." Malfoy shut his eyes. "George'll be coming tomorrow morning anyway so it'll be crowded here, it's not a problem - "
"No." Malfoy picked at a strand of his hair, "I'm not running away. I'll give it - I'll give it another few days." Charlie beamed, pulling him closer.
"Thank you." Harry groaned inwardly, watching Malfoy smile that 'I just got hit by a Hippogriff, feel sorry for me' smile at Ron's older brother, and he knew that he had to interrupt before Weasleys could be painted in any more bad light. Charlie didn't see his family nearly enough to know what they were really like nowadays, and he knew how persuasive Malfoy could be.
With as much noise as he could make, he opened the door and dumped his pillow down onto the nearest mattress. Malfoy had a mattress by the end of Ron's bed, while Harry's would be right beside it, making it easier to talk during the night if they wanted to.
Charlie glanced up when he came in, "Hey Harry."
"Hey," He looked at them both, "Sorry I was just heading to bed. Not interrupting anything am I?" Malfoy glared at him from where he sat but Charlie shook his head.
"Nah. I was just leaving." He looked at Malfoy then, "You okay?"
"Fine." Malfoy shoved his shoulder, "Go get backache on the sofa." Charlie smiled at him, leaning forward to share a kiss. Ugh. Harry turned away, feeling a little sick, and a minute later Ron thumped his way upstairs and practically threw his pillow onto the bed. Charlie walked past him.
"Night Ron."
Ron lay facedown on the bed and his voice was muffled by the blanket, "Mm." Charlie shook his head at him and nodded at Harry.
"Night Harry." Then to Malfoy, "Night Draco." Malfoy ignored him, sorting his own blanket out, "Night Draco. Night Draco. Goodnight Draco - "
"Just go," Malfoy threw his pillow at him with a laugh and it was caught.
"Well I guess this is mine now," Charlie said, running down the stairs with it. Malfoy sighed, sounding truly amused, before getting up to go and get it back. They heard some running from downstairs, Charlie shouting in pain and Malfoy laughing some more.
Ron heaved himself up, looking at Harry slowly, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"Me too, mate," Harry muttered, "Me too."
.
.
Harry woke feeling more exhausted than he had been before he'd slept. He yawned his way to the bathroom, noticing that Malfoy's mattress was empty and didn't look slept in. He washed his face, brushed his teeth and put on something clean from the clothes that he'd packed for their stay here. Hermione's beaded bag had come in handy yet again, making their apparation here quick and light.
Ron grumbled in his sleep when he came back into the room but he left him there. Mrs Weasley could wake him if he was really needed but right now, he was just planning on having an early breakfast.
Everyone was already up when he came downstairs, however, and most of the family was sitting at the table. Mrs Weasley smiled at him when she saw him and beckoned him over, "Be a dear and wake Charlie and Draco up would you?" She handed him a plate of pancakes and he grimaced but she looked so earnest that he couldn't say no.
"Sure." She smiled again and he headed to the sofa. Charlie was on his back, lying over it with an arm around Malfoy who was lying on his side beside him, his head over Charlie's chest. Crookshanks was curled up between their legs, making the whole sight nauseating to look at.
Charlie shifted in his sleep, pulling Malfoy closer, and Harry decided that he'd had enough, "Charlie. Charlie, hey." He poked him. "Wake up." Malfoy moaned instead, jerking away suddenly when he realised where he was. He sat up, almost knocking the plate of pancakes out of Harry's hands and disturbing Crookshanks who only stretched and hopped down.
"Potter? Wh - " He ran a hand through his hair; it was sticking up Harry was pleased to find. Not so perfect all the time, then, "What time is it?"
"Nine in the morning." He dumped the pancakes on Malfoy's lap, "Here's your breakfast. Eat up." Malfoy took it before it could fall. His nose was pink from the cold, the fire having died down in the night. Harry left him to wake Charlie himself and went to have his own breakfast. He'd just finished his third pancake when Ron finally slumped into the kitchen, still in pyjamas and with a bad case of bed hair. Ginny joined him a minute later, looking much the same, and Harry and Hermione shared an amused look over their tea.
Mrs Weasley gave Ron and Ginny a plate of two fried eggs each, shouting over their protests at not having pancakes by informing them that they should have come down earlier if that's what they wanted. Ron just stabbed at his eggs until the yolk ran and he had to scoop it up with his fingers.
"Such a lovely sight." Hermione sighed at him.
They were spared Ron's answer by Malfoy and Charlie coming into the kitchen, both dressed and fully-awake now. Malfoy was holding Crookshanks in his arms and he was neither clawing to get down nor wailing in anger at being held. Hermione gaped and then scowled, holding a hand out toward him when Malfoy sat at the table.
"Crookshanks." She cooed, "Come here, boy," Crookshanks sniffed her fingers and turned his face away with a yowl. Hermione looked both outraged and hurt at that which made Charlie laugh.
"Don't take it personally, Hermione," He assured her, sitting beside Malfoy, "Norberta turned on me as soon as she decided she liked Draco better. I'm not even allowed to feed her anymore."
Malfoy looked smug, "That's only because she hates it when I'm angry." He showed them the scar on his forearm, "I shouted a bit when she gave me this."
"Never seen a dragon get into a bigger strop than Norberta when Draco won't come see her." Charlie looked so smitten that the table was suddenly a lot more interesting to look at.
"Speaking of," Malfoy turned to Harry then, "You should let Hagrid know how she's doing, she's gotten so big and she's the boldest of them all. Vicious though, especially if she doesn't like you." He looked at Charlie then, smirking.
"That's pretty surprising, seeing as Charlie's the best dragon-tamer there is." Ron snapped at him.
"Not the best, Ron," Charlie said, "And even I have trouble sometimes. Draco's been a real help out there, you wouldn't believe - "
"Charlie we're going to be late." Malfoy interrupted him, looking uncomfortable. Ron glaring at him outright was probably a factor in that.
"Late for what?" Hermione asked, looking at Crookshanks forlornly until the cat eventually clambered out of Malfoy's lap and ran around her legs under the table.
"Cake-testing," Malfoy smiled, now looking excited. "We wanted to get it done today before my Mother came, and Mrs Weasley wanted to come with us."
"Cake testing." Harry repeated, feeling lost, "For what?"
"Er. For the wedding cake?" said Charlie.
Ron choked on his egg and Harry felt much the same. With all the tension he'd completely forgot that that was what was happening here. Malfoy and Charlie weren't just together. They were getting married.
"Oh yeah." His voice sounded faint even to his own ears and Ginny drowned herself in her orange juice to hide her look of disdain. Charlie went to get Mrs Weasley while Malfoy petted Crookshanks, seemingly oblivious to the hurt on Hermione's face as her cat openly bathed in the attention.
"So Malfoy," Ron said, taking pity on Hermione and interrupting the petting, "What do you do in Romania, exactly?"
"I help your brother manage his work,"Malfoy said, "I do the finance, care for the house, and help feed the dragons." He smiled down at Crookshanks, "It's good. Life in Romania's completely different compared to England but it is nice to be back. I'd forgotten how cold it gets here though."
"And Charlie trusts you with the money?"
Malfoy looked up, his gaze hard, "Why wouldn't he?"
"Are you actually asking me that?"
Malfoy scraped his chair back and stood, towering over Ron who was still sitting, "Listen Weaselbee - "
"Oh Weaselbee." Ginny said, "So you do remember us then."
Malfoy's glare faltered and he opened his mouth to retort when the door opened and Charlie came back inside. Malfoy slumped, looking relieved and Charlie stopped, looking at them all with a frown, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Malfoy smiled at him, untying a white sweater from around his waist and pulling it on. He looked different with it on, warmer in the figurative sense, and his hair became slightly static and fanned over his cheeks. The effect was all the more impressive considering how unconscious it was. Harry shared a look with Ginny; it really wasn't fair, "You ready? Let's go."
Charlie accioed his own jacket and Mrs Weasley came out of the kitchen dressed in a coat. "What was the shop you mentioned before?"
"It's called Dessart, and it's in Norbury I think. I've got directions," Malfoy said, completely ignoring the rest of them again, "My mother's wedding cake was from there and they do all sorts of different personalised designs."
"Wonder if they do the words 'prat'." Ron whispered to Harry but Mrs Weasley heard and knocked him on the head with her knuckles, "Or the darkmark." He then added, evidently having a death wish.
Malfoy and Charlie had left the room by then, however but Mrs Weasley didn't seem willing to let that one go quite as easily. "Ronald Bilius Weasley!" He winced, ducking his head.
"Well it's true, mum!"
"Why don't we go with them?" Hermione asked, diving in before Mrs Weasley could burst from anger, "I doubt Charlie knows the first thing about cakes."
"No but Malfoy obviously does." Ginny countered, sitting back with her arms folded, "And I'd rather stay here."
"But - "
"Thank you Hermione," Mrs Weasley said, "But I think it's better if the group is small. George will be here soon anyway so I think it's best if you all stay here to keep him company." With that, she followed Charlie and Malfoy out and they all heard the door shut. Ginny got up to watch them walk to the back of the garden before apparating.
"They were holding hands." She commented, sticking her tongue out, "Merlin it's actually disgusting to look at. What is he up to?"
"I think he genuinely likes your brother, Ginny," Hermione said, pinching the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb, "And I'll say what I said before. It's been four years. If Malfoy's going to be polite, so am I."
"But you haven't been entirely." Ron pointed out.
"More so than you." She argued angrily, "Why did you mention the darkmark? It's lucky he'd gone by then."
"I don't care. Serves him right." He shoveled the rest of his now-cold-egg into his mouth and spoke with it full, "'e made our luf hell, 'mione."
"We weren't exactly passive either, Ron." They argued for a bit longer, dredging up old memories and fights, where things Malfoy had done was countered with things that they had done themselves. Fights that they'd started and fights that Malfoy had. In the end, Harry had had to side with both of them.
"Look Ron. I agree with Hermione with that we were all as bad as each other, and that we were kids. We're 22 now, we need to let it go."
"What, so you'd be okay with Malfoy as a relative then?"
Harry snorted, "No. I wouldn't. I don't know why he's engaged to Charlie, but I know it can't be good."
"There! See!" Ron pointed his fork at Harry, glaring at Hermione, "Harry's never been wrong about Malfoy, he's up to something!" Hermione gave him a dirty look and stood, scooping Crookshanks up and heading upstairs.
"I think you annoyed her."
Ron sat back, looking a little guilty, but he just drank the rest of his juice instead, "I don't know why she likes to stick up for people like Malfoy. It always goes wrong for her and she always ends up being hurt by it, but she never learns."
They sat in silence for a bit then, Harry using his wand to get rid of the dishes and Ginny making them wash themselves with hers. Ron stood eventually to go and talk to Hermione but before he could leave the room he fell backward with a shout as George suddenly apparated an inch away, "Bloody hell!"
"Hey Ron," George grinned down at him, helping him up, "Nice to see your balance hasn't changed in your twenties."
"Nice to see you can still apparate in the house," Ron muttered, taking the hand and standing, "I thought dad stopped that."
"Changed it after the War," George explained, "I came round a few times to sleep in my old room and mum got sick of waking up to let me in the house," He leant closer, "Why? Does it bother you?" Ron just shoved him. "Hey Harry. Gin." Ginny flicked her hairband at him and he dodged, transfiguring it into a worm while she rolled her eyes and pulled another off her wrist to tie her hair back with, "You up for some flying later?"
"Why do you think I'm doing my hair? Don't want it whipping around, it's windy outside." She turned to Harry, "You want to come?"
"Yeah, alright." He'd missed flying. Not a lot of it was needed when being an Auror and he'd always felt most relaxed when in the air, "When?"
"Now." George said, looking around, "Where's Hermione?"
"Upstairs," Ron said, "We argued a bit about Malfoy." George's face suddenly darkened and he turned back to them.
"Oh yeah? Who's side did she take?"
"Malfoy's."
"Figures," George ran a hand through his hair. He had a large, furry ear in place of the one that he'd lost, and it changed colour when his mood visibly brightened, "But maybe they're right. Maybe we should involve Malfoy in the family stuff now."
"Don't you start," Ron muttered.
"No, I'm serious," George said, "If Charlie really wants Malfoy as a part of the family, then I guess he won't mind if we show him what that means."
"Er." Ginny gave him a disgusted look.
"Nothing sappy, don't worry," He rolled his eyes, "I mean prankwise. It is a family tradition, after all."
"You didn't prank Fleur." Ron pointed out.
"Didn't we?" The implication of Fred's hand in it seemed so natural now but Harry noticed Ginny glance down for just a second when she realised that too. It was still raw he realised, even now, but George continuously mentioned his twin in the lightest memories, "Fleur was a good sport about it so Malfoy's gonna have to be too, if he wants to survive living with us."
"Are you ... saying we should 'act out'?" Ginny asked, starting to grin.
"No." George looked scandalised, "I'm saying we should show him just what being a part of this family means." Harry felt himself starting to smile as well, before suddenly recalling the conversation that he'd overheard between Malfoy and Charlie last night. He almost mentioned it to act as further proof that Malfoy was already close to leaving anyway but something kept him from blurting it out. It had been a private conversation, he shouldn't have even listened to it in the first place let alone telling others about it.
"What do you have in mind?" Ron asked and the three of them leant in closer when George held up a finger, disapparated, and then apparated back with a bag in his hand.
"It's a new-product. Still a working progress," He winked, "Call it an early wedding gift."
Bill and Fleur came over to stay in the evening and they all sat over the cushions beside the fire, talking about old memories and sharing stories. Malfoy had helped Mrs Weasley make the tea for everyone, likely in a deliberate attempt to avoid any questions about his time at Hogwarts, but Ron had still tried to involve him in the conversations. Unfortunately, he was very good at evading topics and his manners had the rest of the family fawning over him.
With their tea drunk now, however, Bill had started telling them all how he had badly crashed his new car the first time that he'd driven it and had had to confund the policeman that had come to check his license. They all laughed when Fleur made a face in memory of the moment, putting her face in her hands, and the atmosphere became rather domestic.
Something warm and longing lodged into Harry's stomach and his hand found Ginny's while they sat. Malfoy sat in front of Charlie on the same cushion, cross-legged and leaning into him. He looked both relaxed and smug and Ron kept muttering under his breath about him.
"Sitting next to Bill like they're old friends. He's scarred because of his actions and he doesn't even bloody care." Hermione jabbed him in the ribs to shut him up, reminding him that it was Greyback and not Malfoy that had hurt Bill and at the time, Malfoy hadn't had a choice, "So he says."
"No, so Harry said, remember," She snapped back and Ron settled down, still grumbling.
"So Draco," Bill said, smiling as his mother shook with laughter from his story, "Why in Merlin's name are you settling down with Charlie, of all people?" He raised an eyebrow, "You're obviously very smart, you're funny - "
"What are you trying to say, William?" Charlie asked, sitting up straighter and giving his brother a look.
"Just that he can clearly do better." Charlie threw a pillow at him and Mrs Weasley quickly scrambled to save the rest of the tea, "Sorry mum."
Malfoy was smiling at the display and he leant even closer into Charlie, "To tell you the truth, I really hated him at first. He was so enthusiastic about everything. Up at 5am, feeding the chickens, killing the chickens to feed the dragons, cleaning the fields and sorting through finance forms. I wanted to bury myself alive." They all laughed while Harry shared a look with Ginny and Ron continued grumbling, "But you warm up to the life there and ... I warmed up to him. He - " He laughed, shaking his head, looking a little embarrassed, "We had an argument once, actually, which was his fault."
Charlie grimaced, "Do we have to?"
"Yep," Malfoy's smile seemed to glow. The way he'd managed to win them all over was almost effortless, it was painful to watch, "And I went out into the field to cool down. But this idiot had left Gregoir unchained - "
" - Gregoir's an Indian TriTail - " Charlie added.
"And he attacked me. I went flying into the mud and Charlie went - well. He went - "
"I was crying, I'll admit that. I thought I'd killed him because I was being a prick," He hugged Malfoy closer and Ginny gagged, "Elenda, our new healer, fixed him up and he spent about a week in bed."
"And then he made me dinner the day I was well enough to come down. Candlelit and everything, but I was still angry."
"He threw it all out and made his own." Charlie laughed.
"Food iz not an apology," Fleur stated and Malfoy pointed at her.
"Exactly." He said, "I think it was then, when I saw that stupid kicked-puppy look, that I thought 'maybe'."
"Well you said 'yes'," Charlie reminded him, "So not a 'maybe' anymore."
"No," Malfoy agreed.
Mrs Weasley had pressed a tissue to her mouth and George made a face at her, "Mum feels sick too." He said to Harry and Bill kicked his leg out toward him.
"Mock all you want, George," He said, "I've got plenty of sappy stories about you and Angela." George threw his pillow at him and Mrs Weasley's wand shot out to move the tea to a shelf.
"Boys! Please!"
"Who's Angela?" Malfoy asked, looking at George, "Are you dating?"
"Is that so surprising?"
"It's just a question George," Charlie said, his voice hard.
"Yeah so was mine." Bill frowned at George now and he sighed, "Yes. Angela's my girlfriend. We've been together for about two years now," He paused, "I think anyway."
Malfoy snorted at that, "You think?"
"I don't actually know when we started dating," He clarified, "I thought it was when we first started working together and she says it's when we first started a prank-war together. So it's debatable but around two years, yeah."
"She works with you at the shop?"
George nodded, "Yeah we have some good times." He grinned before snapping his fingers, "Speaking of. She sent this over," He produced the bag that he'd shown Harry and the others earlier, "It's for you."
Malfoy blinked, looking both surprised and pleased and he reached over to take it before freezing, "Don't you ... own a joke shop?"
"Yeah, but this isn't from there," lied George, "She brought it in London last week. It's for baths though, so don't open it now."
"Really?" Malfoy took the bag, cupping it gently in his hands, "So it won't explode on me?"
"I think Charlie'd kill me if it did." George scoffed, "Not to mention Mum."
"That's very true." Mrs Weasley said, giving him a warning look anyway, and the rest of them laughed. Malfoy smiled down at the bag and Harry felt something akin to guilt squirm in his stomach.
That night, Ron and Harry settled into their beds and mattresses for the night and Malfoy decided to join them. He'd changed in the bathroom already and just set to folding the blankets and climbing under them.
"So Malfoy," Ron said, "Is Charlie rich?"
"What?" Malfoy looked up at him, surprised, "Not really. Why?" Ron didn't say anything and it took a second for it to click, "Just piss off Weasley."
"My house. I'll do as I please." Malfoy rolled over and didn't answer, "Wonder when it'll come out that you only use our firstnames around Charlie," Malfoy's shoulders hunched but he still didn't speak. Harry nudged Ron, shaking his head, "What?" He whispered, "He deserves it. I almost died because of his poison and he gets to just get over it like nothing ever happened."
"Leave it," Harry whispered back, "It's late. Let's just sleep." And eventually, after talking about Quidditch instead for a bit longer, and then Auror-tactics and how the last time that they'd slept like this Bill and Fleur had been getting married, they fell asleep. Malfoy remained curled with his back facing them both, his head tucked into his arms and the blanket wrapped around him.
Harry woke feeling groggy and with the start of a cold forming. He sneezed as he dressed and noticed that Malfoy's mattress was once again empty. The blanket was folded and there were slippers beside it. Ron moaned when he tried to wake him up but he got up and dressed as well, especially at the reminder of having pancakes this time. The bathroom wasn't free however, and when they knocked they heard Charlie and Malfoy's voices in there.
"Oi!" Ron knocked on the door, "Charlie, we need to brush our teeth."
"Just a minute," The door opened and Charlie let them in, "Dad built a second bathroom for guests remember, why don't you two use that?"
"Technically, I'm the guest," Malfoy said from where he was sitting, perched on the edge of the bathtub. Water was slowly filling it up and the bag that George had given him was in his lap.
"Exactly," Ron said, around his toothbrush. Harry sneezed again and he sniffed, his building cold getting worse, and Malfoy cringed at the sound.
"That's disgusting," He told him, but when Harry only rubbed at his nose, he rolled his eyes and said, "Accio Aegritufen." Lazily lifting his wand, and a second later a light blue bottle slapped into his palm, "Here," He held it out toward Harry, "It's my own recipe." Harry gave it a disturbed look, making it clear that that did not impress nor reassure him, "I got an O in Potions," He then added, looking offended.
"It works, Harry," Charlie assured him, "Does the trick better than PepperUp." Harry just sniffed again, now that he knew Malfoy didn't like it, but he took the potion despite his plans to not actually use it. There was some PepperUp downstairs and he would rather use that than risk something that Malfoy had created himself.
"Thanks," He mumbled, taking his own brush and paste and going upstairs to the other bathroom, only coming back down again when he was washed and refreshed. He slipped the potion into his bag with another sniff and went back to find Ron.
Malfoy was sprinkling the bath with some powder from George's bag when he returned, looking both intrigued and wary as he watched the water sizzle on impact, "Oh," The illusion of a beach gradually appeared inside the water, equipped with fish, sand and the colour of the ocean, "That's - actually very impressive."
Charlie was watching him, smiling, and even Ron peered over the bathtub to catch a look. Malfoy scooped a hand through, his smile widening when the illusion ended and showed itself as the water it was, "Good. No point in a bath if you end up covered in sand." He slid his wand out of his pocket and Harry tensed automatically, relaxing when he saw that he was only warming the water a little more, "Right. Out now, please."
Ron rolled his eyes, taking Harry by the arm and leading him out. Charlie only stopped to give Malfoy a peck of a kiss before leaving as well, "Enjoy your bath. You've moaned enough for one, I hope it's worth it."
Malfoy just made a face at him and shut the door afterward, locking it. After Charlie had headed down, Harry heard a splash from within a few minutes later and he shared a look with Ron, "Looks like we won't have to wait long to see what that powder does."
Ron sniggered, "Come on, let's go downstairs before we look suspicious."
Hermione had saved Ron a plate of pancakes when they came down and he was so pleased that he kissed her right at the table. She pulled away, embarrassed, and pushed the plate toward him, "Just eat your breakfast." Harry took some PepperUp first, wincing when the unpleasant burn of it pushed down his throat and through his ears. Once he'd recovered, he slid into a seat beside her and tucked into his own plate eagerly, his ears still steaming, "How was your night here, again?"
"Fine. Malfoy's so quiet, you'd think he muted himself."
"Unlike Ron, who snores enough for five people," Ginny said, passing Harry the jug of orange juice. George joined them, the question in his eyes meaningful until Harry nodded.
"He's having a bath right now."
"Brilliant," He turned to Ginny, "Pass us the honey would you?"
Charlie walked in then, in mid-conversation with Bill and Mrs Weasley, his muscled arms animated as he spoke, " - was thinking maybe Rebel Gems? Or even something Muggle. Draco loves Christmas songs and the Wedding's Christmas time so it's not too bad an idea."
"It's really up to you, dear," Mrs Weasley said, smiling at Fleur when she joined them all for breakfast as well.
"Yeah I know mum. I just wanted your input."
"Well I think a Winter themed wedding is lovely, if you both love the season enough," She smiled, "We could make snow! I know a spell for that, somewhere."
"You sure Malfoy'll be okay with a Muggle song?" Ginny asked as Charlie took a seat opposite her.
"Not all Purebloods are prejudiced, Ginny. We're not."
"But the Malfoy's are."
"Draco and I work around a lot of Muggles in Romania. Whatever his parents thought didn't pass onto him, alright?" Ginny just scoffed, stirring her teaspoon around the mug, "Anyway. I was thinking, white clothes, white table-setting. White roses. And then a red cake, red for the best man - that's you Bill - and white and black for me Draco."
"He'll be so pale you won't be able to find him in the snow." Ginny muttered and Harry choked on his tea. Charlie opened his mouth to retort when a sudden scream echoed around the house from upstairs. Harry snapped his head toward George but he looked just as surprised. There was a thud above them and Charlie bolted to his feet, swearing.
The rest of them joined him, running up the stairs and they crowded outside the bathroom. Malfoy was bundled in Charlie's arms in a towel, his skin bright red and dotted with bumps. His eyes were shut.
"Merlin's beard." Mrs Weasley gasped.
"St Mungos. Now." Bill snapped, helping Charlie up. Charlie lifted Malfoy into his arms and they headed downstairs to the garden to apparate. A hush fell over them all as they left and Mrs Weasley looked into the tub. The water no longer looked like a beach and had turned a dark red instead. It looked like blood. She rounded on George, "Just what was in that powder?!"
"I - " He gulped audibly, "It was just something that would colour his skin, I swear! I didn't - it wasn't supposed to hurt him."
"He must've been allergic to it." Hermione murmured, her face pale, "He could go into shock." Mrs Weasley swelled with anger.
"I didn't know Mum! I would never!" She gave him a cold look, "I didn't know. I swear on Fred's grave." That took the wind out of her and she turned away.
"Go to St Mungos," She told him, "Tell your brother exactly what was in that powder. And you'd better hope he's understanding." George looked pale but he nodded, turning to head downstairs, "And the rest of you. Did you know about this?"
Ginny chewed on her lip, "We knew it was a prank. We didn't know what it would do, though."
Mrs Weasley nodded, "Right. I can't even begin to say how disappointed I am. Clean this all up, all four of you." She looked at Fleur, "Let's you and I head to St Mungos with the rest and see what we can do."
"O' course." Fleur let her pass, following her downstairs.
"Um. Mum?" Ron called cautiously, "Hermione didn't have anything to do with this."
"Then in that case, she doesn't have to help."
Hermione shook her head, "It's alright. I'll help anyway, it doesn't matter." Mrs Weasley smiled at her but it fell flat and she continued back downstairs, "This could be serious, Ron."
"Save it Hermione." Ginny muttered, "We know."
.
