Sometimes when I'm at work I look at pictures of cats online. This does nothing but make me miss my fur babies, and then I go home and smother them with love until they run away from me in terror. I may need to rethink my downtime at work.

Chapter 10

Daphne scowled as they reached the large, double, front doors of Malfoy Manor. "Never thought I'd be back here," she mumbled. Harry gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and knocked. "I should have stayed home. I'm not really wanted here."

"The invitation was address to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter," he stated. "I'm fairly certain that means they invited you too. Or maybe they meant my other wife."

She elbowed him in the ribs, letting him know she didn't appreciate the joke. The door was opened by Hermione, who excitedly hugged the couple. "Oh, I'm so happy you could come," she said, ushering them inside. "Narcissa has the place warded to keep out anyone who didn't receive an invitation, so there's no need to worry about reporters who happened to sneak in. We purposely excluded a few friends who work for the Prophet on the off chance they might have the urge to give an exclusive."

Hermione led them to the ballroom and Ron. The two old friends hugged, happy to see each other for the first time in ten years. Smiling, she gave them some privacy and returned to her fiance. "He came," she squealed with delight.

"I see that," Draco replied, glad to see the love of his life so happy. "And his wife looks absolutely thrilled to be here. She's almost as red as Weasley's hair."

Hermione frowned, both at his comments and Astoria's behavior. "Harry said this was her idea," she shared. "I don't understand."

"Do you think it has anything to do with the time I dipped her hair in my inkwell?" he wondered. "Because she swore that she would never forgive me for that. I can't imagine holding a grudge for twenty years, but the Greengrasses are world champion grudge-holders. Do you think that's the problem?"

Chuckling, she shook her head. "No, I think it has more to do with the attention Harry's getting," she replied, gesturing with her chin to the crowd gathered around the wizarding world's savior. Even those who despised him greeted him as a long lost friend. He was polite and courteous, shaking hands and accepting hugs from those around him. Every so often, he would glare at her and smile before being whisked away to greet more guests.

After a brief discussion with her soon-to-be father-in-law, Hermione made her way to the bar. A cold hand closed around her wrist before she could order. "This is getting out of hand, Granger," Daphne stated, her voice harsh and low. "You said he wouldn't be mobbed."

"By reporters," Hermione clarified. "I can't help that Narcissa's guests flock to him. Harry's always attracted attention."

Daphne frowned as she crossed her arms over her chest. "He looks happy," she said flatly.

Hermione ordered a glass of wine and turned to observe her friend. "Is that a bad thing?" she wondered.

"If you had one life for ten years, a life you were happy with, and then it suddenly changed - how happy would you be?" Daphne asked.

A small laugh escaped the brunette. "I did have a different life before learning I was a witch," she reminded the woman beside her. "It was terrifying. I learned to adapt though. I made friends, and yes, nearly died a few times, but I wouldn't trade any of it. The life I have is one I love. That doesn't mean you can't go home when this is all over though. That's the nice thing about what the two of you did. You can have a little taste of England again, but you have a home far away from this place."

Daphne conceded that Hermione might be right. "I do love him. I just want you to know that," she murmured, turning to order herself a drink. With a small smile, Hermione assured her that she knew. "Was there ever...anything between the two of you?"

"Oh god no," Hermione replied, laughing a bit too loudly. Blushing, she shook her head. "No, Harry and I were always close, but not that close. Ron and I attempted to date, which lasted about twenty minutes. And then...then came Draco. I never thought it would be him. He sort of snuck up on me. One minute he was the only friend I had, and the next he said that he loved me."

"So, that's how grown up relationships begin," the blonde mused. "Harry helped me with a Potions assignment, and that's when it started for us. Then I found out I was pregnant, and my parents believed it would be better for me to have the baby somewhere far from home. With the war going on, I guess that was the perfect cover. They were ashamed, you know. Harry's a halfblood. But, oh, when they saw James for the first time, they could think of nothing else but my baby. He was beautiful and tiny and mine, and his grandparents adored him. I told Harry that we were fine, that James was healthy, but I never thought he'd leave the only home he knew."

Hermione put a gentle hand on Daphne's shoulder. "To Harry, home was never a place. It was the people in his life," she explained. "Having a family was all he wanted. I understand why he left. You gave him something no one else could."

Daphne smiled, grateful for the compliment. The women continued to converse by the bar while Draco looked on. "That girl will befriend anyone," he commented as his mother joined him. Narcissa scowled as she tucked an invisible stray blonde hair behind her ear. "It's not an insult. Calm down. I know you like her better, but try to hide it, Mother."

She laughed softly. "She's never been a problem like you are," Narcissa pointed out. "Although, I'm not thrilled that she forced me to plan this entire evening with only Pansy Nott's assistance. Really, Draco, it wouldn't kill the two of you to put in a little effort. It's your wedding, after all."

"Do you know something I don't?" he inquired. "Last I checked, I'm not getting married tonight. I assumed this was just your latest attempt to feed us. On and on and on about the both of us being too thin."

She swatted her son's arm and glared. "Don't sass your mother, young man," she warned. "An engagement party is protocol. Besides, Hermione seems to be enjoying herself, and thanks to Potter's surprise arrival, the Weasley boy has finally stepped away from the buffet."

Draco chuckled. It was the longest he had seen Ron Weasley go without eating. "I don't care how much Weasley eats or how much attention Potter pulls," he decided. "Hermione's happiness is all I care about."