She wakes head still in George's lap. Hearing voices and movement around her.
"Sorry I can't help with the table," she hears George says. "Lavender is still sleeping."
"Well she needs get up too," Molly says.
"Then I can't do the table. I need to help Lavender wake up," George replies. Lavender resists the urge to giggle.
"I know you're awake," he whispers to her. She rolls over so she's looking up at him and grins.
"Tell me honestly. How bad is my hair right now?" She asks.
"Your hair?" He grins "I could wax lyrically about your hair for hours. As gold as the sun shines..."
"That bad huh?" She says interrupting him and sitting up touching her hair. She groans. George summons her a mirror and hands her, her wand which had dropped on the floor. He watches as she fixes her hair. When she's done he stands up and offers her his hands. She takes both and allows him to pull her up. She wobbles a little but stays standing.
"See getting stronger all the time," she tells him.
"Yeah? So no help needed with the stairs tonight then?"
"Not quite there yet," she laughs.
She looks around to see the whole Weasley family is there again this time Harry and Hermione have shown up too. All were watching her interactions with George with interest.
It's probably weird that they've got this comfortable, this quick but after talking last night they have no secrets, no boundaries. Their usual seats have been left open for them. Everyone is already seated. Lavender takes her seat next to Ron opposite George. As she sits Ron smiles at her and pats her thigh.
"I'm sorry about last night, if I pushed things and made you uncomfortable," he leans in and whispers a faint blush on his pale cheeks.
"That's okay," she smiles at him. "We need to relearn our boundaries that's all. At least we know we still have chemistry," she winks at him before turning to serve up food. George smirks at her as he fills his own plate.
"How have you been Hermione?" Molly asks. "It's been forever since you joined us for dinner last."
"I'm well Mrs Weasley," she replies. Lavender doesn't hear much more of what she says. Busy blah blah, research and books etc. She notes a little smugly that Hermione is not on first name terms with Molly the way she is. Makes her feel a little smug.
"Mum this pie is amazing. The best one you've ever made," Ron says interrupting Hermione.
"Which one dear?" Molly asks slyly.
"This chicken one. The sauce is incredible."
"Oh that one wasn't me. That was one Lavender made," she replies proudly. "We spent the afternoon teaching her how to cook."
"You made this?" He turns to her incredulous.
"Yes but I couldn't have done it without Molly's help. It was really fun," she smiles at Molly.
"It was a pleasure to teach you dear. Although you didn't need much instruction. Making a pie that delicious on your first attempt is definitely something to be a proud of."
Lavender looks down at her plate and blushes. The redness around her scars has reduced allowing her blush to show through.
"Oh before I forget you had some mail come while you were sleeping," Mrs Weasley says pulling two envelopes out of her pockets and passing them over. Lavender can tell with one glance that both come from Parvati. The thicker is to be opened privately but the thin one has a pattern of distinctive dots. They'd agreed years ago any envelope with these dots was intended to be opened with an audience. She rips in open after placing the thicker one on her lap.
Lav,
My parents are back from India. Padma is refusing to go to the ceremony tomorrow. Can I go with you? And yes I'd love to braid your hair. What's the earliest I can come over tomorrow? It's been forever since we got to spend any time together.
Love Pav xx
She reads the letter out to the table and looks at Molly.
"Oh the poor dear. Let her know we have breakfast at ten and she's welcome to join us for that. Then you can have all day together before we go out," Molly tells her handing her a quill. Once it's been sent with the Weasley's new family owl. Hermione asks "Why would Padma not go? I heard she was doing much better."
"Physically yes. Although she's still having problems with her legs. Mentally and emotionally she's not doing good," Lavender explains.
"The war was hard on everyone.." Hermione starts to say.
"Yes but not everyone spent hours crushed beneath part of the castle next to the dead body of the love of their life. Just led there in pain waiting to die for hours unable to move away from Terry's dead body. Did you know they were engaged? Parvati thinks she may have been pregnant when the battle started. Nothing confirmed. Padma won't talk about it and Parvati doesn't want to ask," Lavender tells them. "I've been mutilated and the press hates me. There's a chance that kids I pass in the street will shy away from me and have nightmares about my face. Even you flinched when you saw me Hermione. Yet I know there's always someone who's worse off than you are. Padma is worse than any of us here." She finishes.
Hermione looks affronted and a little ashamed.
"Well maybe but George lost.."
"I can speak for myself. I lost Fred and an ear. She lost the love of her life. Her entire future is gone. Anyway it's not a fucking competition. Someone change the subject." George all but growls.
Lavender frowns at him but indulges him anyway.
"Hermione I heard you've been spending some time at the Malfoy residence."
"Yes I have. Did Parvati tell you what that awful man in Diagon Alley did (Lavender nods) it was so terrible. Narcissa was shaking. She hadn't been like that at any time during her own trial. The only time I saw her shake was during Draco's verdict. I got her home and she was so scared the world would never be safe for them. So the next day I took them both to Diagon Alley. Any time anyone so much as looked at them funny I was right there. People will get used to them. They aren't evil. They just faced some impossible choices," she finishes. Silence greets her outburst. The strangeness of Hermione Granger defending the Malfoy's is a little strange to everyone.
"So it's Draco now is it?" Ron teases her. She turns bright red as a smattering of laughter comes from all around the table.
"Leave her alone," Lavender says nudging him. "It's nice of her to help them." She smiles at Hermione who smiles back.
After dinner comes pudding. They all have some of the cake Lavender and Molly made exclaiming over how incredible it is. Once their finished Lavender gets to her feet. George nods to Ron who stumbles to his feet.
"Do you want some help again?" He says arm sliding around her back. She wraps her arms around his neck as he bends down to put his other arm under her knees. As he pulls her up into his arms her letter falls to the floor. In his arms they both look down at it. Hermione gets it first, she bends down picks it up and hands it to Lavender.
"Thanks," Lavender says brightly.
"Yeah thank you," Ron says. "Would have been bloody awkward us trying to get it." He laughs nervously. Hermione backs away smirking at Ron. That smirk is so familiar but new to Hermione. Just how much time has she been spending with Malfoy? Ron turns and starts to walk away.
"Oh Mrs Weasley I forgot to ask," Hermione says suddenly "Narcissa wanted me to ask if you knew of a neutral non-public place for her and Andromeda to meet before the ceremony tomorrow?"
Ron stops and turns back around waiting for the inevitable.
"Oh they can come here of course," Mrs Weasley says "Are they planning to reconcile?"
"I believe so," Hermione replies.
Ron's heard enough now. He turns again to make his way to the stairs.
"I'm going to miss this," Ron sighs.
"Miss what?"
"Carrying you to bed. When you're stronger you won't need me anymore."
"I'll miss it too. It's nice being in your arms," she tells him. He grins down at her as he begins his ascent up the stairs.