Disclaimer:- I do not own HP characters etc
They all sat there contemplating on what to say, sipping their drinks it had been a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, apart from the glares that they were all giving each other.
" Hermione. Why don't you start from the beginning" Harry finally breaks the silence
Hermione didn't like that he just demanded to know with detail, and that neither of them had apologised, as much as she wanted to have things back the way they were many years ago, she didn't want to be the first to apologise again, it was always her, she was the one that always let things go and begged their friendship back. After being with the Slytherins for so long she realised that friendship was a two-way thing, and you work on it if there was problems, you don't turn your backs on each other. It wasn't easy when she first met them, especially Pansy, they had many fights and arguments, but each time either one of them would come back and apologised and talked things through, it was how they ended up being so close. It didn't matter that they all have their differences, their friendship meant more and they had put aside their differences for one another. When it came down it, even if they had a really bad argument they were still there for one another. Sighing out loud, Draco holds her hand under the table giving her a squeeze of reassurance.
" After the war I found out that my parents were already dead when I tried to find them-" She starts but was cut off by a female voice
" Yes we know Hermione, you wouldn't stop crying for days" Ginny scoffs as she spoke
" GINNY!" Harry yells at her, she rolls her eyes at him
" As I was saying! They had died by the hands of death eaters. Ron and I were dating already and I was trying to move on from my parents death, I thought things would go well, yes we all lost someone, we were all mourning, but we had each other and that kept me going. Then I come home one day early from visiting Harry and Ginny and find that my boyfriend at the time was in bed with another woman, and not only that, I found out that they had been at it for a while." Ron cringes at this point
" It broke my heart, I left and stayed at my parents house in England, but it just brought back memories being with them, I couldn't handle it. Harry and Ginny visited a couple of times, and I visited too, but the visits got shorter and eventually we only saw each other once a month. I decided to take time away and travel, get my mind off things. I didn't blame either of you for not talking that much, we were still raw from the war. As I travelled around Europe, I owled and barely got a response back. On my visit to Italy, I decided only to stay for a couple of months, but in my second week I ran into Draco and Theo, we ended up having coffee and talked." She smiles at the thought, it was so long ago but she still remembers them walking towards her, her first thought was to draw her wand but Theo had brought over an extra coffee for her.
" Turns out that Theo was visiting Italy and Draco was already living there, he was taking Theo on some sight-seeing and they invited me along, I took up the offer seeing as I didn't know my way round Italy. We kept in touch and I got to know Blaise, Pansy and Astoria through them. During my stay there, Blaise mentioned that he, Draco and Pansy were applying to Witches and Wizards University of Italy, I didn't even know there was a University for witches and wizards. So of course I wanted to enrol, a chance of learning more" Everyone smiles slightly as she carries on talking.
" We all got close around that time-"Hermione carries on their story when she was interrupted again.
" Why wasn't Nott going there too?" Harry questions
" My mother was on her own living in England, I didn't want to leave her, as you know my father was in Azkaban. I studied long distance" Theo answers
" How does that work? Long distance studying I mean" Harry wonders out loud.
" With exams I had to go over to take, which I usually crashed on Blaise's and Hermione's couch. Lecture notes were eagle'd to me every month, and I would eagle back my homework to hand in" Theo explains
" Eagle?" Ron says with a confused face, he didn't realise what Theo had said, but Harry didn't miss a beat, Blaise and Hermione's couch? How did Hermione end up with Draco instead?
" Seriously Weasely? You work in the ministry, surely you know that Eagles are used for long distance mail, they're faster than owls" Pansy snorts, Ron face reddens at the reply but say anything.
" So, we studied, got close, in our second year me and Draco started dating. We graduated, and then I worked at a law firm and got my licence, after that we decided to open our own firm-"
" You and Malfoy own a firm?" Harry questions
" No, me and Blaise" She replies
" Zabini is a lawyer?!" Ron cries out
" Yes Weasley, we studied Law together." Blaise rolls his eyes over the fact that they hadn't picked it up earlier when he was talking to Rita Skeeter.
" WE opened our own firm together. Then a couple of years after that Draco and I got married, and well, we had kids and many years after here we are" Hermione decided to round it off since they didn't need to know the rest of the story, as it wasn't really any of their business.
" Actually, me and Hermione got married the same year as Theo and Storie, Blaise and Pansy got married the year after" Draco comments
" We all practically got married in the same year, the only difference was ours was after new years, where as you lot was before, it was a hectic 12 months" Blaise states
" It was fun!" Astoria says, speaking for the first time, they all smile remembering back.
" I did actually send you invites" Hermione says in a serious tone to the three in front of them.
" Yeah right!" Ron growls, Hermione scowls back at him
" Mia doesn't lie!" Astoria pipes in
" Oh yeah, that's right, she's not a Slytherin! but she might as well be from the looks of it" Ron said glaring at Astoria now.
" Anyone can lie, whether they're a Slytherin or not, not everything is to do with school houses Weasel!" Theo says coldly staring daggers at him for glaring at his wife.
" I didn't receive anything" Harry says interrupting them
" Well I know you both got the invite, but that's not a story for me to tell" The six of them all glanced over at Ginny who hasn't said a word.
Draco stands up, as the others watch him, wondering what he was doing. Putting his hand out for his wife, he turns back to the three.
" We have to get going, our children are waiting for us" He says in a cold tone.
Hermione takes his hand and stands with the other two female Slytherin follows.
" NO!" They hear Ron yell standing abruptly knocking his char backwards, turning their heads back, they see Ron looking like a tomato and ready to pounce, Draco instinctively stands a little in front of his wife.
" NO! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT HERMIONE WANTS!" He carries on yelling, Harry stands to try and calm him down but Ron wasn't having any of it this time. No one replies back to Ron as he carries on yelling.
" MY HERMIONE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED THIS, THIS IS NOT THE HERMIONE I KNOW, YOU LOT HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO HER!" Ron whips his wand at the closest person to him, which was Theo. His outburst hadn't shocked the Slytherins at all, but Hermione was wide-eyed glaring at him. Theo raised an eyebrow at him for his behaviour.
Before anyone could say anything, Astoria and Hermione had both whipped their wands out pointing at Ron, which made Harry point his at Astoria and Ginny pointing hers at Hermione. They were obviously out numbered, Draco and Pansy had their wand on Ginny and Blaise had his drawn on Harry.
" Your Hermione? YOUR? You lost the privilege to call me that years ago Weasley" She replies angrily, no one moved, all wands drawn, people had stopped and staring at the group, waiting for a brawl to happen. Draco couldn't help but feel a little amused hearing his wife call her ex by his surname instead, boy she must be really pissed.
" You need help Hermione!" Ron face softens slightly while looking at her but then turns back to anger
" You're delusional Weasl. You should think twice before pointing your wand at someone, there are two lawyers here and plenty of witnesses, come on Weasel, I dare you!" Theo said, he face was calm but he was so angry he couldn't stop himself. Hermione was going to tell Theo to stop provoking him, but then remembered that her friends wasn't the one that started it, her friends were being provoked by Ron, and he seemed to have lost control of his temper.
" You think I don't have the guts!? I would quite happy to be the hands of your death!" Ron grins evilly shocking them all, Harry wasn't sure if Ron was bluffing or not.
" Lower your wand Ronald, because I won't hesitate to hex you, if you do ANYTHING to Theo. You DON'T want to test me!" Hermione spat, growling at the end of the sentence.
" Please Hermione! I'm an Auror, I've been trained for things like this." Ron laughs making the Slytherins cringe, neither of them wanted to be at the bad end of Hermiones wand.
" Try it and I will personally make sure you suffer, and then you will be jobless and wandless because I would make sure your wand will be in dust!" Hermione says with a low growl, her wand was now so close to Ron's face it was almost touching his neck.
Harry was a bit scared from hearing how Hermione spoke, he was almost certain that she would do all those things. Hermione wasn't shaking, her posture was ready to duel, not many people would stay so calm when they were going to duel an Auror. Noticing that the Slytherins were all looking calm and in a dueling stance, par from Nott who was standing there with his hands in his pockets still, with Ron's wand pointed at his cheek. 'They probably think they can win by outnumbering us, is why they're so calm' Harry tells himself.
" MR POTTER, MR WEASLEY! What is the meaning of this?" A voice booms, Harry silently curses himself as he recognises the voice
Everyone lowered their wands, as the minister strolls over to them, with two Aurors at either side. Harry had his head down as Ron was standing up more straight looking a little smug, Harry wanted to smack him behind the head.
" Minister Shacklebolt" Draco says putting his hand out, while the others nod and Hermione smiles
" Mr. Malfoy, it's good to see you again" The man gives him a hearty handshake
" And you Sir" He smiles at the old man putting his arm around his wife's waist
" Mrs. Malfoy, how are you my dear? how are the children?" He smiles taking her hand and giving it a shake
" Please Minister, Hermione will do. I'm good thank you, the kids are growing up fast" She smiles back putting her arms around her husbands waist.
Hermione's friends were all trying to hide the amused look on their faces from seeing Harry, Ron and Ginny's shocked look. Many people were also taken back from seeing the display, they couldn't hear anything since Blaise's muffliato was still up, but they could see the smiles between the minister and the Malfoy couple.
" So will someone tell me what happened?" Kingsley says straightening up again
" Sir, it's nothing major, we just had a little spat, I had it under control" Harry says quickly
" It didn't look under control to me" Kingsley raises an eyebrow at him in disbelieve
" THEY'RE up to something Minister, they've got Hermione!" Ron yells pointing at the Slytherins, Hermione rolls her eyes at his words, how stupid is this man she says to herself, what on earth is going through his mind to accuse people in front of the Minister of all people.
" WEASLEY! Be careful of what you say!" He bellows out making Ron snap his mouth shut
" Minister Shacklebolt, if I may.." Blaise steping forward
" Of course Mr. Zabini" He says waving him to continue.
Blaise gave a very detailed explanation of what had happened, he purposely quoted both Harry and Ron from conversations that they had before, he would have said more if it weren't for Hermione 'coughing'. Hermione could tell that he had switched on his 'work mode' voice, being professional and firm, he was explaining everything so easily, each word was rolling from his tongue. She had to admit, he made a pretty damn good lawyer. When he switches off his 'work mode' he can be so different, but that's the fun side of Blaise, the side that showed her how he really is, the caring and sweet guy. After Blaise had told him everything he takes a step back, Kingsley did not look happy, he looked at Harry and Ron with a displeased look.
" Mrs. Mal- Hermione, it was really good to see you, you should come over for dinner again sometime, bring the kids, I know Marie would be delighted to see them again" Kingsley turns and says to Hermione
" That would be lovely, tell Marie to owl me and we'll sort something out" She smiles in return
" Mr. Malfoy, Zabini's, Notts" He nods at them all, giving Draco another handshake before turning back round " Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, my office 8am tomorrow. I suggest you go home now." He barks at them
" Mark my words Hermione, I will find out what happened and I will save you" He says slamming one hand on the table.
" MR. WEASLEY!" Kingsley yells, Harry pulls Ron away with Ginny and his kids.
" She's not yours to save Weasel, let it go" Draco says before pulling Hermione with him, the rest of the Slytherins following, Blaise drops the muffliato as they walk away.
She didn't turn around to say bye, she let her husband pull her and she was willing to go. She could hear Ron yelling at her to go back and cursing all colors of the rainbow. After telling them most of her story, missing out bits and pieces as she didn't think it was important. She didn't think Ron would react that way, he may not have been happy about it but she was being honest and after all these years she thought that he would at least respect her enough to leave them alone, but instead he has an outburst making things more uncomfortable than they already were, if that was even possible. However she was proud that Draco didn't let them provoke him, there were many times where she thought he would have jumped up and yelled or hexed one of them. She knew that it must have been difficult for him to hold back his temper so much, and she knew it was because of her. Hermione was always grateful that she had got to know the group of friends and Draco, but right now, she had never been more grateful in her entire life, she felt more appreciation towards them. They had all tried to act civil for her sake.
Harry couldn't think straight and Ron wasn't helping, he got Ginny and his kids back home dragging Ron with him. Ron was yelling and pacing around their kitchen, Ginny had taken the children upstairs away from Ron's colorful words. Harry knew that they couldn't stop Ron right now, they will have to wait till he finishes his ranting.
" Do you really believe her? This isn't right! Something's wrong" Ron say still pacing
" I don't know Ron" Harry exhales trying to get his head to stop banging
" We have to do something Harry! They're using her. Hermione's being manipulated or something by that bastard" Ron said pulling a chair out and slumping into it
" We can't do anything right now, it's been a long day and we're in trouble with Kinsgley now" He replies leaning back in his seat letting his head hang
" Hermione's probably with them cause they've got money, she was alone for a while remember" They hear Ginny say as she walks in to the kitchen
" What!? No, she's not like that, besides she's wasn't exactly poor, she managed to travel a lot" Harry shakes his head at his wife's comment
" She's got a point Harry! She must have used all her money when she fucking left us, and they must have blackmailed her or something!" Ron jumps up a little to excited
" That doesn't even make sense Ron! She seems fine today" Harry sighs, he knew that Hermione's parents had left her everything in their will, and on top of that they were all given a big reward after they defeated Voldemort.
" Why are we even talking about her, she's not even worth it! She doesn't deserve Malfoy" Ginny scowls, standing up and starts bustling about in the kitchen
" Malfoy doesn't deserve HER you mean! She's worth it alright, she's meant to be my wife, you know that Gin, even mum said so" Ron cries
" Yeah, whatever!" Ginny retorts not even looking at them
Harry was taking in the conversation and he was sure there was a hint of jealousy in Ginny's tone of voice, but then what does she have to be jealous about. Ginny had been shifty around him ever since they got home, she wouldn't look him in the eye. Harry watched as she pots about in the kitchen, preparing for dinner, she was frowning a lot and mumbling to herself but he couldn't hear over Ron ranting again. He wasn't paying much attention to Ron and only heard snippets of what he was saying,"...get her out...following...mine..." He wasn't sure if he should believe Hermione or not either, but thinking about it, has it really been that long since they last spoken? She looked different, but the same, she was beautiful. There was so many questions unanswered, why had the Minister seemed close with them? They've had dinner before? Shacklebolts met their kids? Why didn't say anything to him, why didn't he tell him about meeting her. He remembered how she looked at her husband in front of them, the thought made him feel sickly but he couldn't deny that they looked like they were...in love. Sighing out loud, he leaves his wife and her brother in the kitchen while he goes off to spend time with the kids, his mind needed a rest.
The six approached the apparition point and went straight to grounds of Malfoy Manor. As they landed, neither of them spoke, it had been a tense afternoon and it was already early evening, all they could hear was the scrunching noise from their footsteps on the gravel as they walk towards the manor.
Opening the door to the sitting room, they see Narcissa on the couch reading with Cassie as the boys were playing on the floor with quidditch figurines, Lucius had Clayton in his lap while pretending to fight a mini stuffed bear that was floating in the air, making the toddler laugh. All heads turn to see the six of them walk in, the sight of their children playing brought smiles on all their faces. Cassie hops off the couch and launches herself at her mother with a hug, Scorpius gets up from the floor and strides over, even his walk was like his fathers.
" Is everything okay dad?" He pulls his dads sleeve so that Draco would bend lower to hear his son ask quietly.
" Yes, everything's fine champ, don't worry" He smiles back ruffling his hair, causing the young Malfoy to frown. Scorpius had heard many stories about his mother's adventures with the boy who lived and his ginger haired sidekick, she always started off the stories with a smile but then her smile would falter and he could see that it hurt her to talk about them sometimes, but she always told him and Cassie how they were some of the bravest people she's ever met. His dad would make a snide comment now again about them but they had already mentioned how they were rivals when they were in school. He was aware of the war that happened before he was born, since he was young he had inherited the love of reading from his mother and read many journals and newspaper articles from their library. It sounded bad but he wouldn't have wanted it any other way, if the outcome was different his parents would have never met and he and his sister would have never been born, he wouldn't have experienced how great their family were.
" All good?" Lucius asks them handing Clayton over to Pansy, he was really directing the question to Hermione
" Yes everything's good" She says giving him a smile, he could see right through it and frowns to himself, walking out the room he goes to his study to make a floo call.
" Dinner is almost ready" Narcissa announces standing up to give her son and daughter in law a hug.
" Actually, I'm not really that hungry.." Hermione says quietly
" Cissa, I think they have booked an hour at The Shooting Duels, we can save them some dinner" Lucius says strolling back in.
Narcissa merely nods as she understood that they all probably needed this and sits back down with Cassie.
" Are you sure?" Draco raises an eyebrow at his father who just nods in return
" Yes, you kids better get going before you're late" Narcissa says waving them away from where she was sitting
" But-" Hermione wanted to say that they've had the five children nearly all afternoon
" Don't worry about the little ones, we'll call if anything happens" Narcissa says knowing that Hermione was going to mention something about the children.
Hermione mouths a thank you to Lucius who smiles in return, Pansy kisses her youngest and hands the toddler back to him. They step out into the foyer, with Draco closing the door behind them.
" I wasn't told that we were scheduled to go the shooting duel today, I would have brought a change of clothes" Pansy whines
" We didn't, Lucius just knows that we all probably needed to blow off some steam" Blaise answers putting an arm around her shoulders.
" You can borrow some of my clothes, come on" Hermione says pulling the girls with her upstairs before they could say anything else, leaving the men standing there.
" Er, I don't think my clothes will fit you Blaise, well, maybe a shirt" Draco smirks at the tall dark-haired man
" I'll take what I can" He shrugs back.
" I'm all right in my pants, just give me a shirt" Theo says as the three head up after the women
" Ladies? We need to get change too you know" Draco knocks on their bedroom door.
" You can come in" They hear Hermione call from inside
The three girls were behind a room separator changing, while the men were on the other side.
" When did we get that" Draco asks putting a pair of track suit pants on
" Mia transfigured the chair" Pansy answers from behind the panel
" What if the place is fully booked?" Astoria questions
" Father probably already booked it when he left the room earlier" Draco replies
After they finish getting ready, the six of them bid their goodbyes before taking the floo.
The Shooting Duels is a place where witches and wizards can duel each other as recreational leisure, it's similar to the muggles playing paintball, they can duel in teams or they can duel in a battle royal where its last man left standing. After the war it had become a sport of some sort, and local gyms started opening dueling centers, they would hold competitions. The group of friends had started taking up the hobby during their studies in University, it had become a way for them to relieve stress and have harmless fun, not to mention good practice. No unforgivable curses were used obviously, however each person would have a strong shield charm cast upon them by a staff member before stepping into the arena. If they were hit several times a red glow would appear around them to show that they were "dead" and would leave the arena. In competitions they would start with only having being able to be hit five times before the red glow would show, but in final battles it was only two. The six had participated in competitions as a team but never taken it seriously as they were all still students at the time, they had come third once, that was when they had bumped into Kingsley, apparently he was very into watching the competitions, he was just as surprised to see the group, and had actually tried to talk them into joining the Auror team. Obviously they declined as they were very much into their studies and already had a career in mind. Ever since then they kept in touch with Kingsley, more with the Malfoy's than the others, he had attended all their weddings. Also he, Draco and Theo had corresponded quite often as Kingsley also took part in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, hence why he was at the dueling competitions. Since graduation from University, they've never participated in competitions, only gone as a way of having fun.
Draco talks to the receptionist as they arrive, with the others waiting at the side talking.
" Hermione?" someone calls
Turning round they see a tall shaggy brunette man heading towards them.
" Hermione! Wow, I thought it was you" He smiles, then realising who she was standing with his smile starts to fall.
" Neville! how are you? It's been a long time" Hermione smiles back giving him a quick hug
" Er...yeah I've been good, how are you?" He replies, not sure if he should ask about the Slytherins who were standing quietly
" I'm good thanks, what are you doing here?" She asks him
" Oh, me and Terry Boot came for some dueling, he's just left, I was about to leave but saw you guys here" He says politely
" Oh we're here for some dueling too, you remember Pansy, Blaise, Theo and that's Astoria" She points them out, who all nod at him but Astoria gives him a smile.
" Er, yes, hello" He shifts uncomfortably, just as Draco comes over and slides an arm around his wife's waist.
" Longbottom" Draco nods at him
" ...and my husband Draco" Hermione smiles at Draco and looks back at Neville who had his mouth hanging open.
" Ye...Yes of course...Malfoy" He replies holding his hand out, Draco looks him warily but shakes his hand anyway.
" Mr. Malfoy? Arena 3 is ready for you" The receptionist calls
" Right, well..it was good seeing you Hermione, have fun" Neville says before walking quickly towards the floo.
" I don't think I've seen Longbottom that shocked before" Theo says as they head towards the arena
" He's probably fainted by now"Blaise snickers
" Neville's a good guy, don't make fun of him!" Hermione says jabbing her elbow into him lightly
" Oh come on, I'm just joking Mia" He grins at her, she couldn't help but smile back.
Once the two staff members had casted shielding charms on them, they were asked what they wanted the arena to be set for.
" Teams?" Theo asks stretching his arms out, getting ready for the action
" How about pairs?" Draco smirks
" No!" Pansy and Astoria both replied, the boys all look at the two questioningly
" You always bag Hermione as a partner, it's hardly fair" Pansy ends up saying, Hermione blushes hearing this, making the boys laugh.
" Last man standing, five hits?" Blaise finally says twirling his wand.
Agreeing to Blaises option, one of the staff went into the next room where there was a one-sided see through glass so that they can monitor the duel, it was also where the staff sets the arena to what the 'players' requested. Stepping into a small dimly lit room, they each stand on a lighted square in front of a white panel. In a row, the six all stretch getting ready, the girls tying their hair up.
" 10 Galleons?" Theo asks, cracking his back making the others cringe
" As usual" Hermione smirks
" Get ready Granger, don't expect me to go easy on you" Draco gives her the signature Malfoy smirk, the only time they call each other Granger and Malfoy is when they were dueling, it was a playful thing, but both very competitive.
" Wouldn't have it any other way Malfoy!" She gives the same smirk back with a wink
At the sound of a low buzz, the panels in front of them vanish and the six run into the arena that's filled with darkness to forget about the day they had, even though they were all aware that their moving back to England was now out in the public, no doubt that The Prophet will have released the news tomorrow morning, they knew that there will be a lot to endure.