Draco had hoped to never see another battlefield in his life. Thankfully, Andromeda Tonks was apparently not one to be bowled over easily. She had set a protective spell around the house that was holding out the attack, but it was fading. Fleur grabbed him harshly, pulling him down behind some bushes. Greyback was at the forefront of the attack throwing spells at the barrier. He was joined by two other males and a woman; Draco assumed must be his mate.
"We just need to hold them off for a few minutes, until Bill can get hold of his family. We should be able to fight them off at least till the Weasley's arrive." Fleur said.
"If the Auror's make it here first, try to make it back to the cottage before they see you." She added, nodding to him and they began to move. The two males at the back of the group turned their heads when a breeze ruffled the grass. Draco was unsure if they had been heard or if their scent had been carried on the wind. They both began to fire spells. Draco and Fleur returned fire as soon as the first curse zoomed by. Draco saw that Greyback had taken notice of them, but he kept his focus on the barrier as his two packmates continued their attack.
Draco followed Fleur when she motioned for them to move to a position behind the house. Dodging and throwing curses the entire way. "There she is." Fleur said, but Draco was in the midst of returning fire and couldn't chance taking a look to find Andromeda Tonks' position. "I think she sees us." Fleur said, firing a spell that hit one of the pack members in the chest causing him to topple over.
The distraction proved enough time for them to better their position. It also gave Draco the chance to see Andromeda Tonks for the first time. He nearly toppled over himself when he spied her through the kitchen window. He'd seen photos of her when she was young and knew that she looked like Bellatrix, but seeing his dead aunt's face staring back at him through a window pane was a shock.
She nodded her head at them as they moved closer. The remaining pack member resumed firing as they took refuge behind a portion of fencing. "She's seen us." He whispered to Fleur, though whispering really wouldn't do much good if their hearing was anything like Neville's.
"Yes, I saw. I have a plan." Draco nodded to her as they returned fire. "The moment the barrier falls we apparate next to her. I'll put up another barrier to keep them out. You apparate with them back to the cottage." Fleur said.
Draco shook his head, "There is no way I am going back to your husband without you." He hissed back.
Fleur looked taken aback for a moment, "You'd better watch out Monsieur Malfoy, Neville is beginning to have an affect on you."
"New plan," Draco gritted out ignoring the insult, "we go in when the barrier falls, help her shore it up till the Weasley crusade arrives and all go back to Shell once Greyback has been captured."
Fleur nodded at him, accepting the plan. A curse flew pass Draco's ear creating a scorch mark just millimeters from his head. He winced; relieved it hadn't been a direct hit when he saw the hole it burned through the fence. "Now, Monsieur! It's falling!"
Draco grabbed his wand tight, firing as they moved. He and Fleur managed to get through the barrier before it shot back up and made no bones about breaking through the door where they found an exhausted Andromeda Tonks standing, wand in the air as she poured all her power into the barrier; the Lupin boy at her feet clinging desperately to her legs and wailing in terror.
Draco had to adjust his eyes, first the sight of his aunt's face and just now he could of sworn the child's hair had changed from brown to blond when it looked up to him. "Ms. Tonks, are you and the child alright?"
"Yes, we're fine. Glad to see you though, Mrs. Weasley." She said panting as sweat poured off her body. She smiled tightly at Draco as he lifted his wand to aid her barrier. "Have a plan?" She asked as the child at her feet continued to wail. Draco could see that he was pulling on her legs in an apparent attempt to climb up her body. "If you'd like to attend to him," Draco nodded to the child, "I think we can take over for you here... uh, Madam."
She pulled her wand down as he and Fleur began shoring up the barrier. "Now that our magic is a part of the barrier we should be able to cast our spells through." Fleur called to him. "Yes, of course," He said.
Ms. Tonks dropped to the floor, attempting to console the upset child. Draco watched as she hugged him tightly and sang into his ear. Draco lifted his face, feeling he was intruding and began firing off hexes through the walls. They couldn't see if any of them were landing, but it would give the pack something else to concentrate on and give them more time.
Fleur turned suddenly casting past Draco out the back door they had broken down. Just on the other side of the barrier was their pursuer trying to break through. Ms. Tonks moved quickly to prevent the child from seeing the stranger attacking their home. "We'll need to come up with another plan if they're not here soon." Draco shouted to Fleur above the noise. "Do you think you're strong enough to apparate to the Manor?" He said looking down to confirm that Ms. Tonks had heard him above the noise.
"I'm not sure I can do it by myself right now, much less sidealong with Teddy, but even if I could there's no way I'm stepping foot on your father's land!" Draco pressed his lips together tightly, "You'd be safe there. Mother and father are at Mungo's, so you'd be alone at least for a while."
"No." She answered succulently. What the bloody hell had his grandparents done to create the three most dangerously stubborn women he'd ever known?
"Fine, then I guess we fight." He said throwing few more hexes through the barrier. He heard a yelp from the back of the house. "Did you get him, Fleur?"
"That was not me." She said as her face lit. "It's Harry and Ginny!"
"Thank Heavens!" Ms. Tonks said. Draco turned his head as he heard voices shouting at the front of the house. He stopped casting as did Fleur, not wanting to accidentally hit their saviors. "Dromeda, you can drop the barrier now, Greyback's gone." Potter called.
He looked to Fleur, who risked sticking her head out the back door. "It is clear." She said pulling her head back in.
Draco dropped his wand and the barrier. Once the barrier was down he heard several familiar voices. Potter, Ginny and Ron Weasley, Author Weasley and thankfully Granger, were out there. He heard Granger and Ron Weasley barking orders at someone not to move. Draco assumed it was Greyback's fallen packmate, since he had not seen him rejoin the battle and Fleur's spell had certainly leveled him.
Andromeda Tonks stood slowly, the softly crying child in her arms as she surveyed her home. Draco took notice for the first time as well. It was a wreck. Between the part of the attack that must have occurred before she was able to put up the barrier and their response, the home was nearly destroyed. A shifting sound in the house caused them to all to start. They released a breath when the burnt out remains of Ms. Tonks' Christmas tree fell sending ash into the air. That relief was short-lived when the child's crying ratcheted back up. Draco watched as the boy pointed to the tree and large fat tears rolled down his face.
With all that had happened he'd nearly forgotten that Christmas was only a day away. Potter popped his head in the back door, "Dromeda, I'm sorry, but Mione says the house doesn't look stable and..." He gestured for Ms. Tonks to leave, looking to Fleur and Draco when she hesitated.
"This..." she began, halting when emotion started to get the better of her. "My house." She said, exhaling heavily as she continued to try to calm the weeping child, patting his back as her tears joined his. Draco felt uncomfortable, but being her relative, thought he should try to comfort the woman. "I'm sorry." He said patting her on the back. She lifted her face a slightly manic chuckle coming from her as she turned to him. "You're sorry. Well, that isn't going to rebuild my house is it?"
Draco felt his stomach drop; he didn't know what to say. Most of this woman's family had been killed in the last year and now her home was falling down around her. A shout from outside drew all their attention. If it were the auror's he'd have to leave. "Who's that Harry?" Ms. Tonks asked frantically.
"Oh, we've got one of the pack down. I think he's trying to provoke Ron into something. I should get over there before..." Potter opened his eyes wide when Ms. Tonks shot past him heading for the noise. Draco looked to Fleur, who was just as wide-eyed as they all followed her around to the side of the house, where Author Weasley and his daughter were standing with Granger and Weasley, there wands surrounding the man Fleur had dropped.
"You nearly killed my grandchild. You bastard!" She screamed as she drew her wand. Author held up a placating hand, "Dromeda, stop. You know this would be murder."
"Murder!" She seethed.
"Dromeda, please calm down." Potter pleaded as she turned clutching the child in her arms.
They were eyeing Ms. Tonks warily, Draco knew they were trying to decide if they would have to draw on her to protect the man.
They all turned when the man hissed from the ground, "Do it!"
"Shut it." Ron Weasley ordered the man, inching his wand a little closer.
"You deserve to be locked back in your cage!" She said, turning her back to him and taking a few steps away, re-focusing her attention on the child. "Malfoy you should go, half the Ministry will be here any moment. I can explain us showing up here, but you..?" Author Weasley trailed off as his voice rose into a pleading tone.
"The Ministry?" Ms. Tonks turned as she spoke. "What's the Ministry coming for?"
Author looked flummoxed for a moment. "They've mobilised every division associated with protection and defense since the break out this morning." Draco saw Ms. Tonk's eyes grow distant as she looked to her grandchild. "That seems extreme don't you think?" She said distantly.
They all eyed each other. Perhaps it would seem so to an outsider, but if the Ministry knew what Voldemort and Greyback had been up to they would be on full alert until they captured him.
"I got a letter..." Ms. Tonks was still looking at the child as she spoke, "the Ministry's ordered me to bring Teddy in for a series of tests." She looked up at Granger's shocked gasp. Her eyes moved to Draco's. "Got it, just after your 'attack' a couple of days ago. I've had my solicitor fighting them on it."
The child wasn't even a year old...
"What. Is. Going. On?" Ms. Tonks looked from eye to eye as spoke. Draco looked to Granger; surely the words would be easier coming from her.
"They're going to lock up your babe if he's got any wolf in him is what they're gonna do, Missy." The prone man said laughing through the words.
Ron stepped on the man's chest forcing him back to the ground. "What did I tell you about talking?" He said, putting his wand between the man's eyes. Draco had just a moment to be impressed before a series of pops drew all their attention to the front of the house. "Fleur take them to Shell." Arthur ordered his daughter-in-law, then added, "And tell Bill not to leave, not until we find out what the Ministry is up too."
Fleur's eyes grew large. Bill hadn't received a letter, but that didn't mean he wouldn't. Draco walked to Ms. Tonks with Fleur. "We'll take care of things here." Potter tried to look reassuring as he spoke to the woman. She was beginning to waver slightly, either from shock or exhaustion. Fleur looked to him as they linked arms around Ms. Tonks and the boy. He turned his face when he felt Draco's arm around his back, his eyes turning blue, Draco tried to give him a reassuring smile as he concentrated on Shell Cottage.
Draco and Fleur reappeared in the same spot they had left from. There was a rush of activity around them as Bill and Neville ran to them. Draco exhaled for the first time in what seemed like hours when he felt Neville put his arms around him and inhale deeply. The child in Ms. Tonks arms whimpered slightly at the added weight of Neville's arm on his body causing Neville to pull back and take notice of Ms. Tonks and her grandson. He stared down at the boy an odd look coming across his face.
"Would you mind Fleur?" Ms. Tonks said pulling the boy from her body as Draco and Neville dropped their arms.
"Can I?" Neville asked Ms. Tonks, holding out his hands for the child. Draco turned his head, bewildered. Neville had avoided Victoire Weasley like the plague, but now he was asking to hold a strange child?
She looked to Draco, seemingly for reassurance, so he nodded to her. Neville would not hurt the child of that he was certain. She handed the child to him and Draco saw a broad grin grow as he took the child and pulled him close. He grinned in return when Neville looked up from the boy to him. "He looks like you." Neville said in awe, then stuck his nose in the boy's hair. "Smells like you too." He inhaled deeply of the child's scent, a strange look crossing his face. It was similar to the look he had when he tried Fleur's cooking and just couldn't figure out what ingredient she had added to the dish.
Ms. Tonks exhausted face drew tight. "They've never met before today."
"Oh, his real scent," Neville explained, then looked to Draco. "His essence, pheromones. I suppose because we are related?" Draco theorized.
Neville shrugged as he looked at him, accepting Draco's theory as he lightly bounced the child, who was already dropping off in his arms. Draco couldn't blame him. It was a nice place to sleep.
"Andromeda, I will fix a bed for you and Teddy," Fleur said pulling from Bill's embrace, "you need some rest."
"Thank you Fleur, but I need to know what is going on before I can rest." She looked to Draco. "What does the Ministry want with my Grandson?"
Draco felt Neville stiffen next him and step closer so that their bodies touched. He wasn't sure if it was because Neville needed reassurance or if he could sense Draco's apprehension. Draco looked to Fleur for permission to have Ms. Tonks take a seat.
She sat, lifting her eyes to Draco and putting her arms out for her grandson. Neville looked disheartened, but gave the sleeping child to her and stepped away.
Draco paced back and forth a few steps trying to decide the best way to tell her that his parents -her sisters, had been experimenting on werewolves and that apparently the Ministry has some concerns about her grandson.
"God, you are just like your father!" She huffed. "He used to pace too when he was trying to think of the best way to cover his ass." She tilted her head to the side in such a manner, that the likeness to the Bella struck him and he felt a shudder go through his body. Her eyes narrowed at him in suspicion, which only added to the impression of her sister.
"They, the deatheaters,"
"Your father and his psychotic, murdering friends," She cut in harshly.
Draco struggled for a moment until he felt Neville's hand in his. "They experimented on Greyback," Neville continued calmly, "Greyback bit me, changed me more than a normal bite would because of what they'd done." He looked to Draco, who continued, "I'm not sure what the Ministry knows, but if what Greyback's man said was true, they may be trying to do some research on the affliction, how it's transmitted or why you grandson didn't develop the affliction despite be fathered by a werewolf?"
Draco had made the comment as a part of his stream of consciousness, but it gave him pause. He looked down to the boy as Andromeda Tonks drew him close, "You're not experimenting on him either." She said.
"Of course not." Draco threw his shoulders back. A sample of blood was not experimenting, it was analyzing. She glared at him even more intently. Damn! She was worse than mother.
"So, was it bad?" Neville asked placing a hand on Draco's shoulder. He was probably trying to end their uncomfortable silence or stop Draco's calculating.
"It was chaos. Greyback was so focused on getting the child I don't think he paid much mind to us."
"How did you know about the attack. I didn't even have to time to send up a warning flare -they came so fast." Ms. Tonks said, drawing the child closer and rubbing his back softly. They were both exhausted looking and in desperate need of rest.
"Mother called. Greyback attacked the Manor."
Ms. Tonks clamped her jaw tightly as Draco spoke. "He was looking for something, I'm afraid Mother was in a bit of shock and couldn't give us much detail and father was hurt." Neville rubbed his cheek to Draco's as his arms came around his waist.
"I have to find a way to go see them." He whispered, catching Neville's eyes.
"We'll find a way." Neville said. A gentle kiss to his temple to reassure him.
"Andromeda, let me show you to a place you can rest for a while. After, we'll decide on next steps. Yeah? Bill said coming forward and offering to carry the child for her. Neville rumbled a warning causing them all to freeze. Ms. Tonks eying him warily and clutching Teddy to her tightly.
"Oh, God I'm sorry." Neville said desperately, releasing his hold on Draco and backing away, a horrified look on his face.
"No, no," He said quickly, "it's...you said he smelled like me probably just your instincts kicking in. Everything's fine." Draco looked around the room as he spoke. Everything was not fine. Andromeda Tonks was looking at Neville in fear, while Fleur was sizing him up in case of attack and Bill looked like he was struggling to control his temper.
"I'll help you." Draco said coming to Ms. Tonks holding out his arms. She looked wary but handed the child to him. That look was replaced by rage when Draco held out his other hand for Neville once the child was settled on his shoulder.
Neville refused to look anywhere but Draco's eyes as he inched closer and took Draco's hand. "See. Everything is fine." He addressed the room, but his eyes never left Neville's.
"I'm sorry Ms. Tonks. I know you've had a trying to day." Neville swallowed hard, "I don't mean to add to it."
She lifted herself from the sofa looking to Fleur. "Perhaps, you should show us to this room? I think a rest may do us all some good."
"Yes, of course." Fleur said warily. Draco wanted to berate them. They should know that their fear would only make things worse and was useless. Neville was not dangerous! Though Draco did resolve that he would discuss re-starting their efforts to integrate the wolf more fully into Neville's personality. Neville had avoided the topic since turning a few days ago and Draco had not wanted to push, but Neville needed to learn to control the beast, not only for everyone's safety but for his own piece of mind.
Draco knew that the guilt of his momentary loss of control was weighing heavily on Neville. He could tell by the way he pressed close behind Draco as they followed Fleur down the hall and refused to raise his face. Fleur opened the door to an even smaller room than what he and Neville shared. It, too, had a small bed and what appeared to be some things they had put away for Victoire, perhaps gifts from her birth that she was not yet old enough to need.
Fleur gave an apologetic smile to Ms. Tonks, "I am sorry for the size."
"Nonsense, I thank you for your kindness." She said as Draco felt the child rouse. Excellent.
"He's waking up. I think. Do you want to say good-bye to Neville?" Draco said smiling at the boy's still blue eyes as they landed on him. Draco was grateful that he didn't start wailing at being held by a stranger. Neville stepped back a bit as Ms. Tonks shot Draco a glare. She still had her wand at the ready and Draco had no doubt she would use it.
"Say good-bye to him." Draco offered, calmly. Neville stepped forward hesitantly. "Teddy, right?" He asked Ms. Tonks, who nodded in response. "Teddy, this is Neville." Draco said turning a fraction so that the child's face was turned to Neville.
A smile broke Neville's face when the child's eyes turned brown. "He's a metamorphmagus, like his mother." Ms. Tonks supplied neutrally, "That's why he looked like you earlier."
"I think he still looks like Draco. The shape of his face and eyes." Neville supplied.
"Yes, I see some Black in him, I suppose." Ms. Tonks said, but it did not sound like the thought pleased her.
Neville put his nose back into the boy's light dusting of hair and sniffed. Smiling joyfully when he caught Draco's eye.
Draco heard Ms. Tonks swallow uncomfortably, "If you'll give us a few hours, I'd like to freshen up and rest." She was still attempting to sound unfazed, but concern was etched into her face.
"Of course," Draco supplied, then without even thinking about it, he rubbed his cheek against Teddy's. He pulled away a little confused by his own actions and looked to Neville.
Neville's eyes bore into his as they met over Teddy's head. Draco really hoped that no one else noticed the color change as he quickly handed the child to Ms. Tonks. "Here." He said giving her the child, but keeping notice of Neville's demeanor as he did so.
"I think we need to rest as well." He said to Neville. "Yeah," Neville replied, his voice husky.
Draco grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the door as Ms. Tonks and Fleur stared at them. He didn't have to pull very long because Neville was soon behind him urging him to their room.
The door had barely shut before Neville was on him, pushing him against the wall and pulling at his clothes. Draco wrapped his arms around him, using the wall as leverage to give himself a few inches as he put his lips to Neville's ear.
"Neville?" He asked in a small voice. The question caused the hands unbuttoning his shirt to halt and fall away. There was confusion in Neville's face as he pulled back slightly. "It's me." He said and ...it was Draco could see that it was, but it wasn't just Neville either.
"I..." Neville faltered "...I think."
"Okay," that was not the most comforting answer. "Do you think there is a chance your about to transform?"
Neville shook his head, "No, I just...seeing that it just. It was a little like that night in the forest. I just knew."
"Knew what?" Draco could feel Neville pulling away and locked his arms to prevent it. "He smelled like you, but like me too. It was like I just knew I'd found...I don't know how to say it without sounding mad."
"I don't think you're mad. And you can tell me anything."
"Like he's a part of both of us. You were the missing part of me and now he's the missing part of us."
"You said that," Draco lifted Neville's face using both hands, "he smells like you...like a werewolf?"
Neville nodded his face still cupped in Draco's hands. "And...now you want to jump my bones because..?"
Neville's eyes which had grown distant, sharpened. "I always want you Draco, its just, I don't know... seeing you acknowledge Teddy. Like you knew it too...I.." apparently, he had no more words to describe what he was feeling as he pressed his body into Draco's causing him to gasp when he felt Neville's excitement at the thought of Draco staking a claim on the child.
Draco could barely catch his breath as Neville began undressing him anew, his hands roaming all over his body as he kissed and rubbed against him, so he sounded breathless when he said, "I..we don't have any claim on that child," he swallowed harshly as Neville's hands plunged past the waist of his now open pants to grab his ass, "he may be related to me through blood and you through the pack, but...oh God!" he gasped as Neville turned him around and dropped to his knees taking his pants down and grabbing his ass cheeks, one in each hand.
"He belongs...to his...Gran...Ah!" Neville buried his nose between Draco's cheeks inhaling deeply. The first time he'd done this Draco had come just from the feeling of Neville's hot, heavy breath traveling against him there. He'd gained a bit more control since then, but it was a near thing.
The feeling of cool air traveling over him as Neville inhaled and the warmth of his exhale were very effective at getting rid of Draco's anxiety about this new development. At least for the moment. The first lick of his hole made him dig is fingernails into the wall. He barely had to time to cast a muffilato before Neville's tongue had him screaming and arching his back for more. He felt Neville's tongue enter him creating wave after wave of pleasure as it...it grew. Draco could feel the muscle as it widened and strengthened inside of him reaching farther in than a human could. He was trying to form a coherent thought as the sensation turned his brain to pudding when he felt Neville's tongue flick against his prostate.
He came quickly after that, Neville using his hand to prevent Draco's release from covering the wall. At least that's what Draco's sex-addled brain thought, until he heard Neville tear open his own pants and the slick sound of Neville rubbing Draco's come over his own erection.
Draco was still recovering when Neville pressed against him, bringing an arm around to support his weight and his mouth to Draco's ear as he always did before he entered Draco's body. Words of love and devotion falling reverently from his mouth while they mated.
Draco moaned when his erection tried to stir back to life as Neville entered him slowly. Draco's brain was functioning just enough that he was able to think that he was grateful Neville still had that much control of himself. The thought fleeing when Neville lifted him slightly to push in further. He gasped and Neville froze to allow him to adjust. Most of his body weight was being supported by Neville and despite to amount of strength he was displaying, Neville's movements were gentle as he began to rock into Draco's body. Thrusting harder and faster as Draco's body continued to open, burying his face in Draco's neck as he began to rumble.
Draco pushed against the wall as best he could to meet Neville's thrusts. He was going to come again any moment and knew from the sound of Neville's rumble that he was nearly there himself as they continued to rut. Neville hitting his prostate with every push causing Draco's eyes to roll back as jolts of pleasure radiated through his body. Draco moaned Neville's name as he came, hands scrambling for purchase as Neville's back arched, his rumble turning into a guttural grunting as he came deep inside Draco's body.
Neville was holding him close as they recovered. Their breaths finally slowing as Neville kissed his shoulder. A light knocking at the door brought both their attentions, "That's Mione," Neville said as Granger's voice called through the door, "Draco, Neville is everything alright?"
Draco could hear the trepidation in her voice. He knew he had cast a muffliato, but perhaps it hadn't been strong enough. "We're fine Mione," Neville answered as they pulled apart slowly. Draco was still shaking slightly as he turned. Neville seemed slightly embarrassed as he looked down at his torn pants. They were both awful and repair spells and probably going to have to buy another new pair.
Neville fumbled with the torn brass a moment before giving up as Draco took his hands. "Give us a few moments, Granger!"
"Of course," She called through the door, retreating quickly.
Neville was tilting his head as she left, his face contorting into a grimace. "They heard us, um me...they thought I was transforming."
"I think you may have been closer than you thought." Draco said as he began to pull himself together. Neville's eyes darkened, "Did I hurt you?"
"No," Draco felt his face grow hot, "it was actually quiet pleasurable."
"Open your mouth. Let me see your tongue." He said and Neville looked at him thoughtfully. "Oh, that...I...uh...I did that on purpose." His face turning pink as he stumbled over the words
Draco felt his eyebrow arch as a smile tugged the corner of his mouth. "You controlled it? Just allowed a part of your body to transform? That's miraculous!"
Understanding lit Neville's eyes, "I did!" He smiled brightly. "I knew I could do it. And that you'd like it and I...it's like it was there, but I was the one in control." Neville wrapped his arms around Draco lifting him and causing his pants to fall down his thighs. "You were right!"
"Actually, Granger was right, but we'll say it was me otherwise, she'll be insufferable."
Neville began kissing and licking him joyfully. Draco accepted the attention as relief washed over him. It was just a first step, but he could feel that Neville was more confident than he had been since transforming. "We need to take a bath." Draco moaned as Neville continued to lick and kiss him. Draco could smell his scent mixed with Neville's and was becoming excited again as was Neville.
"We need to have our own place." Neville grumbled as he rubbed his cheek along Draco's jaw.
"We will soon." Draco responded absently as he formed a plan. "Ms. Tonks and her grandchild need a home as well."
Neville lifted his head. "That would be brilliant." He said, smiling brilliantly. Draco still wasn't sure how he felt about Neville's bond with the child, but if it made Neville smile like that, he would do whatever it took to keep him close.
The room they walked into was solemn. "My father?" Draco had almost forgotten his father had been on his way to Mungo's. "Oh, dear boy. My understanding is that your father is being treated and is doing well. Some of the Auror's who arrived at the Tonks' had just interviewed your parents or more precisely were trying to interview them through their solicitor." Mr. Weasley said with a note of understanding in his voice. Draco decided that he was possibly the least insufferable of all the Weasley's and nodded his thanks to the man.
"Granger I don't suppose you'd allow a swallow of polyjuice, so I could pop in to check for myself?"
"Of course," She nodded curtly. He could feel Neville getting twitchy next to him. He was becoming uncomfortable himself. All this stiff politeness was wearing.
"Thanks," he said to her.
"Well, it obvious you were talking about us, so what ever it is you would like to say I do wish you'd spit it out." He looked around the room in turn. Potter finally spoke up. "Nev, Malfoy, well we've spoke to Bill and though he says your welcome to stay as long as you need we were thinking maybe after Christmas.."
"We," Draco interrupted "were just thinking the same thing." He turned to Neville for confirmation taking his hand when he saw the uncertain look in his face. "We think sooner would be better than later though, so this evening after I return from visiting my family, we'd like to take you up on your offer of Grimauld Place."
Potter's eyes lit up, "Oh, that'd be grand. Give Bill and Fleur more room, especially with Dromeda and Teddy here now."
"They'll be coming with us actually." Draco offered confidently. Potter exchanged a confused look with Bill, whose eyes shot to his wife. She shook her head at him. "We should ask Ms. Tonks when she wakes where she would prefer to stay. I'm not sure she'd be up to staying at Grimauld yet." Bill offered cautiously.
"I think I can decide that for myself," Ms. Tonks announced as she came in the room, eying Draco as she moved past him to head toward Author Weasley. Draco really hoped she hadn't heard his rather declarative statement regarding her housing arrangements. He felt Neville's hand tighten in his.
"My house, Mr. Weasley?" She asked as she came to a halt in front of the man.
"I'm afraid it is quiet damaged. The Auror's were blocking it off and gathering evidence when we left. It may be some time before it is ready to inhabited again and..." Mr. Weasley's eyes traveled to Bill's for a moment, "I'm afraid they were not able to track Greyback's trail once he and the pack apparated, so they are still on the loose."
Neville's hand flexed in Draco's, he was worried. Draco gripped his hand tightly. Neville needed to show Ms. Tonks that he could remain calm and was not a danger to her or Teddy. "Potter has offered the use of Grimauld for Neville and I. It's under a fidelius and quite spacious from my understanding, so I'm sure we'd all be comfortable."
Andromeda Tonks looked at him over one shoulder. The look in her eyes a little too similar to Bellatrix when she was plotting something wicked. Draco felt a shiver run over his skin. Neville's arms went around him, rubbing his arms as though the shiver were from the cold.
Ms. Tonks eyes followed Neville's movements and Draco could see the cold replaced by sadness. He was unsure if it was for her lost mate...husband or her daughter and Lupin. "I would like to leave tonight," Ms. Tonks nodded to Bill and Fleur. "Not that I don't appreciate your kindness, but I don't want Teddy to get settled here, just to move again in a few days."
Draco felt Neville's chest expand in excitement. He leaned back to rub his cheek against Neville's chin to keep him calm.
"Of course, but eat first and we'll fill you in on everything we know or think we know and get some things together for you and Teddy." Bill nodded and Ms. Tonks dipped her chin in agreement.
Draco turned, smirking to his broadly smiling mate. Neville's excitement was shining through his eyes, as he bent down to whisper, "Thank you, Draco."
"I will do what ever I can to give you the things you need." He whispered as he leaned in for a quick kiss as the room cleared out for the kitchen.
"We've some planning to do, Draco." Granger called as she followed the group. The Weasley's had this odd habit of discussing things around the kitchen table. Draco rolled his eyes at the domesticity of it all causing Neville to huff against his cheek. "Let's go. I want everything to be ready when you get back tonight." Neville said, so excited and happy Draco couldn't help but to put his concerns aside and allow himself to be dragged to the kitchen.
