Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of its affiliates.

For DemmaLova: Sorry this is so late. But here is chapter two! :D


"You're not packed!"

Lavender twirled around quickly, letting her hair and long skirt go with the movement. Her skirt caught on one of the open suitcases down by her feet and made her stumble slightly.

She mumbled out a curse and righted herself. Her bedroom looked like it had been sucked into a black hole and then spat back out again haphazardly. Shoes were overflowing in one suitcases, some shirts were already packed into another, along with pants, her delicates, and some swim-suits.

The rest of her wardrobe was currently hanging in her open wardrobe (how it all fit in there Ginny would never know) or draped across any open space available in the small room.

Lavender glanced around her room and hesitated upon her answer to Ginny's shrill question. "Well- well, that depends on how you define...packed." She twisted her fingers together as she prepared for the inevitable blow up.

She finally managed to look at her red-headed friend and she swallowed - almost akin to a gulp of fear.

There was no tell-tale red upon the Weasley's when they got angry, their signature red hair did that all for them, instead, when they were angry, the family members lost all the colour in their faces.

Ginny was currently rapidly losing the colour in her lips and the pinkness in her cheeks was long gone.

Lavender held out a pleading hand and tried to step backwards from her friend, she stumbled over the odd ends that had fallen in her packing flurry. "Gin - I know that we leave -"

"In less than an hour!" The red-head shrieked while throwing her hands up in the air, she didn't notice the ducking action Lavender performed, instead she marched into the room and picked up random articles of clothing and sneered at them in disgust.

"Honestly, how hard is it to pack? You throw in the essentials. Some shorts, skirts and pants, a couple of shirts, swimsuits, underwear, one or two sweaters to keep warm, a spare pair of shoes, your toiletries, and a some nice clothes for going out. Bing, bang, boom. You are done."

Lavender hesitated, "Well yes, normally packing is quite easy, when you know where you are going, In this case..." she looked at the fuming red-head currently close to exploding in her room and immediately stopped talking. Ginny was not in the mood for excuses.

Ginny poked out her forefinger to emphasise her points. "You pack all the time, how on earth is this difficult for you? Of all people, you pack better than anyone I know. Even Hermione with her special charmed extension bags."

"Ginny." Lavender sighed with exasperation. She didn't mean to, from the look on her friends face, Lavender being tired and exasperated was not warranted, at all. "I don't know where I am going, because you won't tell us where we are going - a fabulous idea, by the way." She added on the last part seeing the colour recede again from Ginny's face. "Which means I have to pack for all eventualities. Plus, I just got back from freezing temperatures, only to be told that hey! We are all going on holiday - pack tonight and I will see you tomorrow." Lavender gestured uncaringly to her open and unpacked bags. "I got started yesterday, but then I feel asleep. I was tired Gin, okay? I was thinking maybe I could come over tomorrow instead of coming with you guys today, It will give me a bit more time to sort out a couple of things, and pack correctly."

Lavender almost thought she had her. She could see the softening begin, her shoulders relaxed and her eyes changed from stormy sapphire blue to a shimmering bright cerulean. The fingers on her hips stopped digging into her skin and shirt and her lips lifted ever-so-slightly.

However, she had taken it one step too far. The minute Lavender had suggested that she arrive later, all that calmness had been bottled up again with a very tight stopper. Her body went rigid and her eyes began to change colour again in her anger.

"No." Ginny began, "no, no, no no, no." Ginny had raised and waggled a finger in time with her word. "You, like everyone else, are coming today. I refuse to leave anyone behind."

Lavender took a moment to stop listening to her friends diatribe and instead wondered whether Ginny had been a part of the military in a former life.

Ginny drew herself up to her full height, which happened to be up to Lavender's shoulder and gave her friend what could only be described as a sickeningly triumphant smile. "We have to be leaving in forty-five minutes. We are meant to be having fun in one hour. I'll be damned if I let you mess with the schedule."

Lavender blinked, "Blaise has really done a number on you, hasn't he?" Ginny glared at her, "because of your..." Ginny looked around, "impediment" she drew out the word, like Lavender had a disease. "I have to go Molly on you." She finished with a serious face.

Blaise and Ginny - lovely couple that they be, were also extremely eccentric. One of their peculiarities was comparing actions and emotions to members of their family. When they wanted to annoy someone, they would do a Fred. When they wanted to scare someone, they would use Blaise's mother as the example. And when they wanted something done. It would always be a Molly.

Their small group of friends had come to beware these actions. It was only very rarely that what they wanted didn't happen, and that was usually because the couple didn't really care about the outcome, or that the group had had time to figure out what their plan was and could somewhat combat it. The latter happened less often than the first.

Lavender paused for a moment before answering her friend. More often than anyone it was Draco who had come under the wrath of Blaise and Ginny. Occasionally Hermione - but that was usually in good jest. Harry and Ron, had once or twice been subject to the Zabini's but that was only when they had made a mistake - like scaring the trainee aurors, or trying to play a prank on Blaise or Ginny. Lavender had never been targeted. Ever. She had been very proud of it. And their friends had been baffled.

For someone as light-hearted, almost whimsical as Lavender, they had all been surprised that she had never been targeted. Lavender had put it down to rarely being around the couple, her job as an Overseas Magical Education Consultant for the Ministry kept her very busy. As the name suggested she was very rarely at home, and the only time she usually saw Ginny and Blaise was when she came back to report in.

Usually after a welcoming dinner and week - maybe two if she was lucky, Lavender would then be sent somewhere else to stay for an extended period of time. She didn't mind the constant travel - if anything she welcomed it. She hadn't been in England for longer that two weeks in two years.

Lavender raised an eyebrow. She had heard about "going Molly." She had never experienced it, nor had she seen it happen. Curiosity rather than fear overcame her as she watched Ginny walk towards the empty fireplace in her bedroom. She took a handful of powder from one of the bowls and flung it mercilessly into the grate. It roared to life with green flames.

Lavender twitched, the green that illuminated off Ginny, coupled with the knowing smirk on her face, made her look extremely sinister. Lavender felt her chest grow heavy, the blood from her face drain, and the urge to do nothing but collapse.

"I get that you are angry with me Ginny," Lavender whispered furiously as panic made her heart start beating fast. "But there is no reason to send him in here I promise you I will be ready in five minutes." She stumbled again, this time over an open suitcase. She managed to brace herself on Ginny by grabbing her shoulders. After bracing herself and thanking Ginny, Lavender clutched tighter, "please, please, please don't send him in here Ginny. As my friend - please don't send him in here. I promise you. I will be ready. I will - just-" Ginny grabbed at her friends elbows to stop the tirade.

"Lavender, really, you asked for this-" She spoke matter-of-factly but was cut off by a hyperventilating Lavender Brown.

"Ginny please!" Ginny looked up into her friends eyes and felt her stubbornness melt away. Lavender would beg if she had to. That's how serious she was about this moment.

It baffled her. Ginny had expected someone like Lavender to be over him by now. Two years without seeing him, without no contact whatsoever, and she should be alright. But here she was, close to being on her knees in supplication and begging her not to bring him into their little debate.

Ginny paused for a moment, "so you will come with us?" Lavender sighed and dropped her blonde head down, before nodding it. Ginny wasn't satisfied. "No matter what - you will be ready at midnight to travel via Portkey? No excuses, no not showing up?" Lavender kept nodding. "I promise Gin, just please!" Lavender stressed the please and Ginny could hear the hitch of near tears in her friends voice.

"Mrs Zabini?"

Lavender let out a choke and she whipped her head up in panic. He was just outside the door. "It's alright Theo." Ginny spoke authoritatively to the person behind the door. Her bodyguard and Lavenders ex-fiancé.

"Are you sure?" He asked loudly, probably hearing another of Lavenders sniffles. Ginny watched her friend dissolve into silent tears, "yes Theo. Everything is fine. Please assure my husband."

There was a quiet "yes m'am," and the footsteps receded away. The two women were silent for a long time. Lavender let the tears run down her face as she calmed down while Ginny kept her guilt to herself. "Are you ever going to tell us what happened between the two of you?"

Lavender shut her eyes, trying to will away the images and memories Ginny had just unwittingly put into her head. "You always say to us," Ginny bent down and picked up a light pink cardigan, "that it was nothing." She folded the cardigan gently, "but that didn't look like nothing." Lavender didn't reply, instead she turned her back to her friend and began to pack.

"I'd wager he didn't even know that this was your house. I wonder what he would have done had he known." Ginny was trying to get a reaction from her friend, but it wasn't working. She needed a reaction, so she pushed harder. "He doesn't really talk about his personal life. At all, and I don't ask, as far as I know Blaise doesn't either." Ginny watched Lavender methodically move around the room, picking out specific clothing for the trip. She had been right - Lavender was a very good packer.

"However he knows that you are coming on this trip." Ginny paused letting it sink in as her silent friend continued packing. "And you should know that he is coming too." With that Ginny disapparated with a crack. The pink cardigan fell to the floor in a heap.

Because of the abruptness of the move, Ginny missed the reaction she had been hoping for, the one she needed. The gasp and the crying that followed her announcement.


"A trunk, Granger? Really? How many pieces of lingerie can one woman own?"

Draco's great amusement was enough to make Hermione blush. She yanked one of her pillows from the bed and threw it at him. He neatly dodged the square and moved into the room. He had been leaning on the door arch watching her rush around her room and pack.

The muggle way of course.

He chanced a glance into her trunk and smiled. Three quarters of the trunk were filled with books.

He turned to watch her pull out a large rain jacket and fold it up. "Hermione, we are going to a tropical island, somehow I don't think you will need that." Draco took out the rain jacket she had just squashed into her trunk. She furrowed her brow when she returned with a pair of jeans, "Draco. Give me back my rain jacket."

He returned by throwing the rain jacket away from them and pressing against her back. She felt the edges of the open trunk press into her thighs lightly. "What will you give me for it?" He asked playfully.

"How about a dye job?" Hermione asked pertly, she dug a elbow backwards, making him grunt and move aside. She continued with her packing and he sighed before flopping down on her bed next to her trunk.

"You do understand that packing lightly is not this," he waved a hand toward her trunk with an uncaring attitude. She ignored him lightly, and placed another book into the trunk. Draco groaned, "Chocolate, the Portkey is not going to be able to us off the ground."

She stopped her packing to glare at him. He raised himself up on his elbows and then raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to miss Dawes that much, that you have to make a mini-replica of him?" He gestured to the trunk.

"Draco it's less than an hour till we have to be at the Portkey, why are you not packing?" Hermione asked after getting her temper under control - something that greatly disappointed the man laying lazing upon her bed and pulling the ears of her stuffed rabbit Jacqueline.

"Because Chocolate," he emphasised the name to really annoy her, "some of us remember that we have magic flowing in our veins and can be packed in less than half a second, and all it requires is a few words, a small amount of concentration - only if you're like you and I - for others like Potter and Weasley I can imagine more is required. And a wand - much like the one I am extremely jealous of, residing in the back pocket of your jeans." He was delighted to see her blush again. "We who remember our magic, understand that in less than an hour, more important things can be done." He literally purred the last part of his small speech trying to make that flush extended down her chest - or what he could see of it.

"More important things, oh yes. Like remembering to take Crookshanks' pet food next door. Thank you Draco" She smiled sweetly at him while he rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Would you mind closing my trunk? And please stop molesting Jacqueline." She asked as she left the room. He watched her leave before falling back on the bed with a sigh. He looked at the ratty bunny in his hands for a minute before getting up, throwing it in the trunk and closing the lid.


"Why are we always the first here?" Ron asked Harry as they walked into Blaise's office. Harry grinned at his best mate, "because we know 'better' than to be late." Ron laughed and sat down in one of the chairs opposite the minister's. He did know better. The last time he had been in here alone he had made the mistake of sitting in that chair.

The last time he had he had immediately been vaulted into the doorway and knocked out cold. Once he came around the pain did not stop, he had to deal with Malfoy snickering at him and making snide comments about his never becoming Minister of Magic - and that even a chair had made it obvious.

"And here I was hoping Weasley would be lying on the desk out cold - Potter leaning over him, concern in more than just his eyes." Draco smirked wickedly as he came into the office. Ron rolled his eyes, "need more for your spank bank Malfoy?" He asked rather crudely making Hermione and Lavender gasp as they walked in. They both stopped and glared at him, while Harry tried to contain his grin and Draco didn't bother.

Ron blustered and pointed toward the cackling blond who was leaning against a bookcase on the other side of the office, the girls just shook their heads. Lavender smiled at Harry and went to hug him hello. Hermione walked over to a smug Draco, "I know you were baiting him," she warned. He looked shocked, "dearest," he put his hand to his chest as though overwhelmed with shock. Hermione remained unimpressed at his theatrics, "he was bullying me. And what is worse, Potty was helping."

"Potty? Draco?" Lavender asked smiling as she came over to the two. Draco held his theatrics for a few seconds before giving up with a smirk, "it was worth a try." He sniggered and then accepted her hug. "Looking lovely as ever. Did you enjoy Washington?"

The three conversed for a while until the rest of their party arrived. Ginny - who was looking slightly peaky and Blaise with his arm around her walked into his office. "Cutting it fine you two." Harry hopped of the desk and smiled at his ex-girlfriend. She smiled back weakly.

"Ginny are you alright?" Hermione asked. The attention she was receiving worried Ginny and she immediately assured everyone she was fine, just extremely tired. She made an offhand joke that Blaise couldn't pack to save his life. To which everyone laughed. They all knew Blaise was the one that packed. Ginny had a habit of just throwing things into her bags.

"Everyone pack lightly?" Blaise asked pointedly. Draco snorted loudly and together they shared a knowing look. "Is that one more reason to be in Slytherin? To know how to pack lightly?" Hermione asked tartly. The rest of the occupants in the room grinned and all looked expectantly at the only two Slytherins.

To their credit they both maintained their dignified facades. "Yes." Blaise answered in such a tone that suggested one would be mad to not want to know how to pack well. He then thrust out a hand that held an old picture frame. The glass was cracked, and there was nothing inside it. Draco was about to comment but was stopped by a pinch on the arm. He sighed and reached out a finger.

"Wait," Lavender looked up at Ginny who smiled as the Portkey jerked them out of the office.


Their feet landed on plush grass, the colour was expected to be green. The darkness kept away all the colour as the group took their miniaturised luggage out of their pockets.

As the rest of the group enlarged their trunks, Ginny rushed forward and produced a small key from under her cloak. She inserted the key into the keyhole and let it go. The group heard the locking mechanisms click as the double doors unlocked. After a few seconds the doors swung open and the light flooded their vision.

"Oooooh" Hermione looked over her shoulder and shared a grin with Draco who was levitating their luggage into the condo. Ginny's squeal of excitement, even though she knew exactly where they were staying, was contagious as the girls all started to look around the large living space.

The boys settled down onto the couches, the trunks still laid in the foyer waiting to be moved into specific bedrooms.

The squeals and cooing over the kitchen and bathrooms, "Do you even know how to cook Lav?" And "Granger, we are going to have so much fun in that bathtub." Both received glares from the girls and high-fives all around from the guys.

As the girls disappeared down a corridor, Theo apparated into the living room and made Ron jump out from his chair at the loud crack.

"Nott!" Draco laughed loudly and pulled his friend in for a handshake and a hug. Theo returned it. He shook hands with both Harry and Ron before turning his attention to the minister. "Premise secured sir." Blaise looked at his bodyguard before waving his hand to the chair next him. "Dude start your holiday, I don't want my wife angry on our first night. That couch does not look comfortable."

The guys laughed, "speaking of which," Theo sat down blissfully in the couch next to Blaise. "We got a little problem." Blaise shut his eyes, Draco looked at his friend with amusement the tight lines of a frown between his eyebrows burgeoned the beginning of a headache.

"Theo!" The boys turned to the hallway, the sandy-haired man stood up and walked to Hermione smiling and accepting the proffered hug. "You are looking well," Hermione smiled at him, he nodded sheepishly. Ginny walked past him and smiled her gratitude toward him. He nodded and looked past her.

He was lucky that years of practise made it easy for him to steel himself at seeing Lavender Brown again. She looked the same as she always did. Beautiful.

"Hey," He spoke, ignoring the chatter behind him. She didn't say anything for a few seconds, he willed her not to make this awkward. She didn't. She smiled lightly and spoke hello to him. He wanted to open his arms up for a hug but knew that it was too much. They hadn't seen each other since the day they broke up. Two years ago.

She started walking towards him and a ray of hope swelled, that hope immediately chilled as she walked straight past him to sit next to Harry and Ron on the couch. He berated himself quietly for inhaling her familiar musky scent before turning around and sitting opposite the large three-seated couch.

"WeaPott," Draco snickered to himself, "can share a room. They'd be used to it i'd imagine." Ron and Harry each threw a cushion at the blonde man, who only caught both of them before they hit his face and threw them behind him. He then pulled Hermione from her perch on the arm rest to sit in his lap to further block any attempt on his person.

Ron glared at her and she rolled her eyes. "WeaPott?" Hermione asked quietly to Draco, he turned his head down to look at her and smirked. "Yes. Blaise's bachelor party." He spoke loudly, gaining attention from everyone and a groan from Blaise. "Blaise thought it...appropriate," Hermione smothered a smile - appropriate, another word for their Minister being completely plastered - "to give each couple he knew of, a name to cement their love." The group laughed loudly at Ron and Harry who edged away from each other - Ron went so far as to put a giggling Lavender in between them.

Harry glared at Blaise who shrugged apologetically, "blame the alcohol." Harry rolled his eyes. "So if we got that abomination." Ron glared nastily at his brother in law, "what did you and Hermione get?"

Hermione scrunched up her face in embarrassment, while Draco scoffed. "I am Draco Malfoy and she is Hermione Granger." He spoke imperiously. "We don't need a co-joint name." Theo smiled at the snobbery Draco was playing up, "yeah there's that - and the fact that you were also too drunk by that stage to remember what Blaise had dubbed you two."

The group roared with laughter, Draco gave his friend a vicious smile. "Ill get you back for that," he promised. Theo bowed his head in acquiesce.

"So back to the problem," Hermione spoke bossily. "Obviously there are eight of us and only six bedrooms. Obviously Ginny and Blaise will be taking a bedroom," The two nodded, "so that leaves six of us and five bedrooms. Some one else will have to share."

The room was quiet for a second, "I don't mind sharing," Lavender piped up and gestured to Hermione, "If you don't want to."

"What about your sleep-walking?" Theo suddenly spoke. The group turned to look at him. He looked at her nervously, as did the rest of them. Lavender swallowed, "well yes, there is that to consider. I am getting better..." she trailed off. She looked away from Theo and missed his clenched jaw. The only way she had gotten better was when she was wrapped tightly up in someone else's embrace. They had learnt that a long time ago. And the thought of someone else holding her like he did was enough for him to grate away the enamel on his teeth.

"As much as I would enjoy seeing these two spooning," Draco spoke leisurely and gestured to the two girls, "and as much as I would like to record for future blackmail the inevitable secret relationship of Weasley Male and Potter unknown," he grabbed another pillow inched from Hermione's face, "I think we all understand that Hermione is going to bunking with yours truly. Making the other four bedrooms available for the rest of you."

"I am?" Hermione raised an eyebrow to look at him. Draco grinned wolfishly.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"I can think of a few," Ginny yawned loudly. She and Draco smirked at each other.

"What if Hermione wanted to bunk with either of us?" Ron spoke up and gestured to himself or Harry who glared at his friend. "Not that it's completely awful," he returned to Hermione who smiled back at his apologetic face.

Draco snorted again, he tapped Hermione lightly on the thigh to get her to stand up. He reached for his wand and levitated both their trunks together before wrapping an arm around her waist. "Please, you snore like a Hippogriff in heat, and Potter is a blanket hog, and before you make another crude remark to upset the lovely ladies in here," Draco cut off Ron who then blushed sheepishly at a grinning Lavender and a curious Ginny. ("Another?" "You're surprised dear?") "I know this," Draco continued, "Because Hermione told me. Not in those words, they were my lovely addition, and besides like I said." He gestured to himself, "who wouldn't want to cuddle with this."

Hermione whispered her thanks to him quietly as he steered them toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms. "Okay Granger, you did the snooping before like we planned. Which bedroom is the biggest?"

Hermione hid a giggle as he slid his hand from her waist to her hand. He spoke loud enough for the rest of the group to hear. Just as they heard the loud part of footsteps moving Draco grinned at her.

"Run."


Sort of more than a filler chapter - But I needed to introduce Lavender and Theo more, get that small side story rolling. Plus it just set's up the story more, so you know where their sleeping, how they got there. Just more of a deeper insight to the group friendship. Something that maybe exempt for a few chapters later on as I focus more on specific couples.

Again, sorry for the long wait, I go through phases of having massive writers block - and this one has been in for a while. But I though I would get this out. It deserves to be. I hope you all enjoy it. Please tell me what you think. And if you have any questions, concerns, suggestions. Do not hesistate to ask! :D

Redenzione.