Chapter 14: Blankets and Bindings

October 26th: 1am.

"My mother loves you." George chimed happily from the couch in Pansy Parkinson's room.

"I'm very lovable," Pansy called from her private bathroom.

"Where do you think Draco and Hermione got to?" George asked as he stared at the closed door, wondering what was going to emerge.

"Probably couldn't keep their hands off each other," Pansy responded as she pulled the door open, to reveal herself standing in a small t-shirt and cotton pants.

"Muggle clothes?" he asked excitedly, sitting up and clapping his hands.

"Granger had her mother do a small shop for me, just a few things, I must say, they know how to feel comfortable, this tee shirt is wonderful." She pulled at it.

"You…" he stood up and walked towards her "are" he lifted her from the ground, and she wrapped her legs around him "spectacular."

"I want to have sex now," Pansy said plainly as he spun her, he stopped and looked her in the eye.

"I'm not ready." He said quickly.

"Will you at least tell me why?" she didn't unlatch herself from his torso, she cupped his face in her hands and gently petted him "George Weasley, I love you, I love you very much, and I understand if that's a lot to throw at you so soon… but you make me feel happy, and I didn't think that was something I'd get." Tears were welling in her eyes, her legs loosened, and she dropped to the floor with cat-like agility, she stood toe to toe with him, he was looking down at her with concern or sadness in his large eyes.

"The last person I slept with died." He said suddenly.

"Who?" Pansy looked up at him through her thick lashes.

"Sarah Wilson, muggleborn Ravenclaw in my year, I didn't really know her… she just came to the order and died in the battle." He cleared his throat, nobody knew about Sarah, not even Hermione. They hadn't laid in a bed together it was just a rough quickie against a cellar wall, hours before the battle because they knew It might be their last.

"Sarah Wilson…" Pansy walked to her bed and sat down indicating he should join her "she actually wasn't technically fully muggleborn, her father was a pureblood who got a muggle girl pregnant." She smiled, ever knowledgeable "hell of a powerful witch, you know she got the top grades in everything in her year."

"How do you know all this." He asked wondrously.

"I know stuff, and I drink" she took a sip of scotch from the glass on her sideboard to punctuate her point "My father, wanted to impress Voldemort, so he had me learn every student's name and heritage and any other pertinent information." She shrugged, she wished it was possible to forget it all, but she had a retentive memory thanks to her father's 'tinkering'.

"you make me happy too," he said suddenly, staring at his knees.

"good." She smiled at the side of his head and played with his hair

", and I love you." He said the words quickly, he was scared, it had been so long since he'd expressed them and meant them.

"Thank Merlin." She exhaled and climbed onto his lap, kissing him soundly.

"I'm still not putting out!" He yelled as she pinned him to the bed.

"You frustratingly beautiful boy." She kissed him hard once more "fine." She relented and slipped from on top of him, into the crook of his arm and flung her leg over his stomach.

"thank you." He said prudishly, turning to kiss her head.

"You have a raging hard-on," she said nonchalantly as she wiggled her toes.

"and it's impolite to talk about it" George scolded mockingly "It'll go away on its own."

"I can get it to go away quicker." She grinned at him.

"Pansy! I want it to be special." They'd had this chat, at this point the only thing holding him back was the fear that he'd be entirely inadequate. He wasn't sure where this fear of intimate touching had sprung from, he assumed it was the result of his brain being permanently melted by grief, but he was sure if anyone could solve the problem it was Pansy.

"George it's a penis! I'm a woman who wants to get acquainted with your penis, why won't you introduce us?" she bellowed slapping the mattress and glaring at him.

"It's… complicated." He swallowed, the one good thing about his current anxiety was that it had started to put an end to his erection.

"at least tell me, you know if anyone could understand that kind of thing… well, it's me." She smiled sadly, she was amazing. That was the only thought in his mind, she was bloody amazing. It was like the universe had finally thrown him a bone… when Hermione had broken up with Ron she'd said something to him which he finally got, she'd said "it's wonderful to be loved but profound to be understood… and I don't feel that" but here he was, with someone who could understand the fucked-up jumble of feelings that made him. All he had to do was tell her.

"I'm having some… performance anxiety. I don't want to let you down." He stared at the ceiling, too ashamed to look at her.

"Georgie boy," she whispered, grabbing his chin and turning his face to hers, she placed a sweet kiss against his lips "I want you to take as much time as you need," she kissed him a little harder "but when you're ready you need to know that just being in the same room as you, turn me on. Nothing, and I mean nothing you could do, would disappoint me. The fact I get to lie here beside you…" She nibbled on his bottom lip "is enough." He grinned as he felt one of her hands graze across his stomach, he rolled quickly to lie on top of her, capturing her lips in hers, his tongue fighting hers. "I'm still not putting out," he stated when he finally came up for air.

"clothes on, dry humping?" she countered with a grin.

"sold." He shouted loudly as though at an auction, and she laughed hysterically tilting her head back and kicking her legs, he chortled, she was lovely.

October 26th: 2am

"Hermione?" a whispered voice came through the darkness, her eyelids fluttered open. Draco was wrapped around her, much like he had been when they'd been stuck together, with his nose against her shoulder and his arm draped over her waist. She lifted his arm and slid out of bed, looking around for the source of the voice.

"Hermione… is that Draco Malfoy in your bed?" the voice sounded a little scandalised, she looked at the fireplace and saw Harry's head floating there.

"An Auror beat him up, he's concussed." She tried to explain away

"Are you wearing a Slytherin top?" Harry gasped, affronted by the vision.

"I… I… what are you doing in my fireplace Harry?" she tried to divert the conversation.

"Ginny's having the baby, I need you at St Mungo's." He said excitedly, all thought of his best friend in a Slytherin shirt knocked out of his head for the moment.

"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked quickly as she pulled on a pair of jeans.

"No, I just want you there. Ginny's got her mum and dad… I just, you're my family." He smiled at her from the fire, and she clutched her chest, touched by the sentiment "Minerva's been informed, this floo stays open… Hurry though, and take that bloody shirt off!" he finished and disappeared from the flames.

"Draco." She whispered loudly.

He groaned in response his hands feeling for her beside him "where are you?"

"I need to go, Ginny's having the baby" she pulled his sweater off and pulled a thick jumper on instead. "Stay here till I get back… or you know, till you get bored." She dropped an awkward kiss on his forehead and ran to the fireplace.

"Bye." He rolled onto his side and watched her disappear into the floo when she was gone he grabbed her pillow and wrapped it in his arms sniffing it, he closed his eyes and drifted off again.

"You want to talk about the whole Draco Malfoy thing?" Harry asked as they walked through the pristine corridors of St Mungo's, the walls were tiled floor to ceiling with white porcelain squares, and generous wrought iron lights hung from the roof.

"He likes me." She grinned, unable to make eye contact with Harry.

"and do you like him?" he asked carefully, she nodded and he couldn't help but smile a little. Harry Potter wanted nothing more than his loved ones to be happy, if Malfoy made her happy then he accepted it. "cool." Was all he could verbally muster because at the end of the day he was a boy who stumbled over emotional states like a bull in a china shop.

"Shouldn't you be in with Ginny?" Hermione suddenly asked, turning to look at her best friend who was going to be a dad soon.

"She was mean…" he cleared his throat, "Molly told me to take a walk."

Hermione stifled the giggle tickling her lips "mean?"

"She was calling me all sorts" he guided Hermione into a small waiting area where Arthur paced nervously, "Molly thought it best I wait outside."

"Hello, Hermione my darling girl." Arthur wrapped Hermione in his arms and squeezed tightly.

"I'm going to be a grandad!" He shouted excitedly.

"Yay!" Hermione cheered and popped her fist into the air, Arthur broke his hug, and the three took seats at Hermione's request.

"You're going to be such a good dad Harry." Hermione smiled as she watched him fiddle with his glasses.

"You think?" He asked, looking up at her apprehensively, Hermione nodded with the assurance of a know it all.

"You know what not to do" she grinned at him, and he chuckled in response.

"This fella will definitely not be sleeping under the stairs." He looked at his feet then up at her "I'm going to quit Quidditch… I've been offered a job at the ministry." He swallowed, Arthur stopped pacing and turned to look at them.

"Where?" the old man asked curiously.

"I'm not allowed to say." Harry smiled, that was answer enough.

"The department of mysteries?" Arthur gasped, he clutched his hand to his mouth.

"They've offered me a very flexible work schedule, it would mean Ginny could go back to the team when she's ready… and England can get their number one seeker back." He grinned with pride "You know she's on average 3.5 minutes faster than me at catching the snitch" he shook his head.

"yea, I read her Easter newsletter." Hermione smiled at the memory of her friend's incredibly brag laden missive.

The doors to the room located directly in front of Harry and Hermione flew open, and Molly burst forth, beaming ecstatically as tears poured down her face. "It's a little boy." She bellowed emotionally as she ran at Harry and Hermione wrapping them in a vice-like embrace "He's healthy" she continued to wail, her husband stepped forward and pulled her off of the pair. Hermione felt her nose burn as tears flooded her eyes, she looked around at Harry and saw that he was slowly standing, weeping. She stood, grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the doors which led to his future.

"I'm a dad." He said shakily.

"I know." Hermione squeaked, the waterworks freely falling down her face now.

When they opened the door, it was to discover Ginny, red with exertion, sitting in bed and drenched in sweat clutching a tiny bundle to her breast. "Come meet James," Ginny whispered.

Harry let out a shuddering breath as he stepped to his wife, he leaned over her and gasped at the tiny human before him. "Come on Hermione, come meet your godson." Ginny said looking at Hermione who hovered at the door careful not to intrude.

"Hello, James," Hermione whispered, placing a finger gently on his hand. A potent cocktail of hormones and human instinct flooded her, she wanted one, a little person of her own. Her mind flitted to Draco and the babies they could make, she had to physically shake herself away from the thought.

"He's perfect." She said to Ginny and Harry who were both staring transfixed by their son.

"Thanks for being here." Harry patted his friend's back.

An hour later Hermione was surrounded by Weasley's in the waiting room, each waiting to go in and see the baby of the family with her own baby. Ron meandered away from the group, the stupid hat he wore made him look like an olden day's paper boy.

"Ron," Hermione said the arrival of a new life had made her feel a little bit more compassionate than usual.

"What?" He asked, sulking no doubt.

"I'd like to say something to you, and I'd like you to listen." She stated quietly, he looked at her with confusion. "Can you do that?" he nodded, and she took a deep breath "We've been friends since we were eleven years old, best friends since twelve." He made to speak, but she held up a hand silencing him "I don't know if you just don't respect me or if you're going through something, but I don't like how you've been treating me. I think you need to go and speak to someone" she patted his arm, he just stared at her with incredulity.

"I'm fine." He started, but she stopped him

"You're not, you have to see that."

"If I get help, will you come back to me?" he asked hopefully.

"If you get the help I might be your friend again, but that's it. Till then, I don't think I want to be near you because you look at me like you think I owe you something… and I don't owe you anything, Ron." She didn't even want to go into the sober up spell debacle, "I can see you getting angry Ron, but I'm not saying this to make you mad, I'm saying it because I love you and I'm worried about you." He stopped in his shaking rage, and looked at her with round eyes, he almost looked like his pre-war self.

"there's nothing to be worried about…"

"You're an uncle Ron, there's a little boy who's going to look up to you… I want him to see the best man you can be, not this person you've become." She said emphatically, she felt like she was getting through to him.

"fuck off." He said quietly "you're not welcome here, you're not part of this family anymore. Fuck off" nobody else heard him, it was delivered in such a tiny needling voice. "Go be the great person you're supposed to become but leave my family out of it, we don't need you patronising us with your know it all…"

She stopped him "okay then." It came out in one breath if that's what he really wanted she'd respect his wishes. She turned on her heel, walked to Harry and gave him a hug "I have to go" she said quietly "I'm so proud of you."

And she was marching away from them, the Weasley's were staring at her in confusion "What did you say Ron?" she heard Molly ask, Ron didn't answer. Of course, he didn't, he was a coward.

Before stepping back into the fireplace Hermione checked her watch, it was 5am, she hoped he'd still be there. She needed nothing more than someone to make her feel wanted, someone to make her feel part of something.

"hey." He said when she stepped into her room, he was sitting up in her bed. Still topless only the bandages wrapped around his waist. She threw her jacket on the floor and looked at him sadly.

"is the baby ok?" he asked quickly, throwing the duvet back to reveal his dress trousers still on from the night before.

"Yes." She said softly, she shuffled uncomfortably in the middle of her room. "It was Ron, he told me to stay away from his family." She sighed, she didn't want to look at Draco, not wanting him to see that she was so weak.

"Well that's not going to happen, his mother wouldn't allow it," Draco said as he pushed himself out of bed, he still ached slightly.

"I know, I just… I don't think he sees me as an equal, you know?" she fidgeted with her jumper "I think… I think he thinks I'm less than him."

"well, he's always been thick as shit." Draco had his arms around her, holding her to him, as though they did this all the time.

He felt her small hand sneak around his waist and find his injured rib, she poked gently, and he let out a pained yelp. "You're not healed up yet" she scolded "back to bed."

"Alright Poppy" he huffed as he released her and slunk back to the mattress he was now wholly sure was better than his.

"Don't even joke Malfoy." She shimmied out of her jeans, much to his delight as she watched him sit on her bed "Are you wearing underwear?" she asked quickly.

"em… yes," he answered not entirely sure where this was going.

"those trousers can't be comfortable to sleep in." she walked towards him in all her bare-legged glory the blue cotton of her underpants visible.

"they are not." He agreed.

With a flick of her wand and the spell she'd used to disrobe him when he'd first stumbled back into her life, he was sitting in nothing more than his boxers and socks.

"wow," he whispered in a hushed tone.

"I can lend you some sweatpants if you like." She offered, as she walked to her dresser and retrieved her new favourite sleeping shirt.

"nope." He responded quickly, the fewer clothes either of them had on, the better.

He watched in rapt silence as she turned her back to him coyly, she removed her thick woollen jumper, unclasped her bra and slid it down her shoulders before grabbing his Slytherin Quidditch jersey and once again pulled it over her head.

"when did you steal that?" he asked, desperate to fill the silence, as he pulled the duvet over her body to hide any sign of his arousal.

She bit her lip as she turned to him, she looked guilty, "The day of our first flying lesson." She answered, and he looked surprised.

"I asked the Elves to pinch it from your laundry… I was going to wear it for a lesson, I thought it'd make you laugh." She beamed at him as she sauntered over to the bed where he lay "and then I tried it on, and it was so comfortable." She climbed onto his side of the bed and attempted to crawl over him, but he grabbed her hips mid-move and stilled her, so she was straddling him.

"Granger." He said quietly, the sight of her in nothing but his shirt had his heart thudding uncontrollably, she pushed her hair out of her face.

"you're still hurt." She reasoned.

"I don't care." He responded, leaning forward and capturing her lips in his, his fingers digging into her hips pulling her close to him, her arms found his neck and snaked around, her chest now pressed firmly against his.

"I do care." She finally whispered against his lips, pushing him back into a lying down position before settling in beside him once again.

October 31st

Hermione grinned happily at the plate before her, breakfast was, of course, her favourite meal of the day, he sat across from her smirking at his own plate like an idiot. They had decided for the sake of their privacy and the wizarding world's sanity, to keep whatever they had a secret. Neither had named it, as of yet it was a friendship that involved a lot of kissing which almost led to more but never entirely did, a lot of half-nakedness and rolling about… it was a lot of fun.

"you both look mental," George said looking up from his paper, he knew and so did Pansy, they'd been able to tell the moment Hermione had stepped from her room the day after the feast, looking dishevelled but happy.

"They look adorable" Pansy countered as she plopped herself into Georges lap and started kissing him aggressively.

"Pansy!" her aunt yelled from the dais.

"Sorry Aunty," Pansy said with a cheery wave as she slipped off her boyfriend's lap and into the seat beside Hermione, the students, who had returned from October break tittered excitedly. "By the way Drake," Pansy added as she poured herself some juice "I received an owl from my lawyer yesterday. The unbinding should be done by mid-November!" she grinned happily "bet that's good news for you Granger" she nudged Hermione playfully then stopped when she saw the blank expression on her friend's face.

"oops," Pansy whispered and gave Draco an apologetic shrug.

"unbinding?" Hermione asked she looked at Pansy then back at Draco "you two were bound?"

Draco nodded, his face was the picture of human agony "I didn't want to worry you… after the 'incident' and you said… you said I should" he stopped, George and Pansy were staring at him and the other students were obviously listening.

"cool." She said lightly, realising everyone could hear them.

"Let's go fly?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Yea" he stood up and followed her from the hall.

"Well, you've upset their little love boat," George whispered to Pansy.

"I was sure he'd have told her, I mean… I was sure it'd come up." She grinned, her particular binding to Draco had occurred when they were both children to ensure their later mating, it allowed Pansy free reign of her sexuality as her lineage was unimportant, she was merely an acceptable vessel for the Malfoy seed. Draco's side of the bargain had been a lot harsher, she was the only girl he was permitted to have sex with, anyone else and it just wouldn't happen.

"so, you're bound to Pansy" Hermione finally said when they reached the centre of the pitch and were sure they were out of earshot

"When you said that I should try and kiss you again I wrote to the ministry, I visited a lawyer… you didn't need any other obstacles." He tried to explain.

"What do you mean obstacles?" she asked, leaning on her broom.

"I mean… I'm me, there must be a million reasons in your head not to… like me." He stated anxiously "you just didn't need another reason."

"Draco" she clucked, stepping closer to him "you can't think like that, cause it's not true. I don't like you in spite of who you are, I like you for it. I mean I wrote you every week for a year…" she laughed as her hand found his and she squeezed.

"Do you know about pureblood binding?" he asked tentatively.

"it's a betrothal agreement, like a long engagement, and it makes sure you don't spill your seed in a dodgy cup" she repeated Fred's words from her youth when he'd tried to educate her on pure-blooded etiquette

"accurate." He responded, she was still holding his hand "Aren't you worried someone will see?" he asked furtively.

"I don't care right now." She looked up at him "You could've told me, you should tell me stuff… because beyond all the kissing and whatnot, I'm your only friend." She grinned at him.

"and whatnot?" he asked

"well it's not entirely clear what you would classify this as" she pointed between them.

"I'd classify it as something." He said cryptically and looked around him checking there were no intruders when he was sure the coast was clear he swooped in and kissed her soundly.

"and what would that classification be?" she asked surreptitiously

"Well," he thought for a second and smirked, "If I had it my way, you'd be my girlfriend, no other man would be allowed to touch you, and that would be that." He said only half joking.

"fine" she smiled at him with a blush "we'll do it your way." She grinned as his brow furrowed.

"just like that?" he asked in shock.

"What's the other option?" she pushed her hair back from her face "we dance around it for a few weeks till one of us cracks? We wait for another curse? You don't want anyone else, do you?" he shook his head adamantly "I don't want anyone else either… so if only for our own sakes… cause nobody else will know, I'm your girlfriend, and you're my boyfriend, and at some point, in November we're going to be having sex." She beamed up at him, she was full of confidence, born of the fact that when he looked at her, she felt like he wanted her more than anything in the world.

"excellent." He whispered and kissed her a second time.

"right, let's fly." She gave him a thoughtful look, pursing her lips and tapping her chin "now I read that the best way to learn how to make sharp breaks is buddying up, is that right?" she asked and watched as a grin spread across his face.

"That's right miss Granger." He slid his broom between his legs then spread his arms in invitation.

"Would it be totally counterproductive if I faced you?" she giggled, climbing on to his broom and facing the same direction as him, her bum nestled in between his thighs.

"If you got on this broom backwards darling we'd crash and die in minutes… but it'd probably be worth it" he gave her rear a squeeze with his thighs, and she smiled.

November 4th

Pansy Parkinson lay on the bed, her face a picture of determination "look at me" she said sharply, George turned and looked at her, she lay in nothing more than a pair of pink cotton underwear. She had put on a little weight since the beginning of the term, and he was glad, she'd been rake thin, but her hips were filling out again, and there was a small roll on her belly. She was perfection, he wanted to lie on top of her and smother her in him, but he was so freaking scared.

"I want you, George Weasley." She chewed on her puffy lips ", and I understand you're nervous, I do… so if you won't help me… I'll help myself." She smiled evilly in his direction, and his eyebrows shot up. When she'd summoned him to her room minutes ago, he'd expected more kisses, yes, he'd expected her to try to cajole him, but he hadn't expected this. Her laying on her bed in nothing but panties, all domineering and angry at him.

"Pansy!" he gasped, almost scolding her. She shook her head and slid her hand down her belly pausing for a second when her fingers reached the waistband of her underwear.

"You can go, George, if you want." She raised an eyebrow ", or you can stay" her fingers slipped below her underwear, and she let out a tiny gasp "and help."

Within the blink of an eye, George was on top of her, his hand wrenching her own away from its current position and replacing it quickly with his own paw. She mewed with delight and ground her hips into his hand, as her lips found his.

"thank Merlin" she sang as his fingers gained more confidence, making more self-confident motions, enough so that she could still her hips.

He didn't really know what had made his feet leap from their position near the door over to her bed, but the minute he'd worked out what she had planned a little voice in his head had started screaming, and he'd only been able to ignore it for so long. Here was a girl, a living breathing girl, who loved him… and wanted him… it had all seemed less scary and more promising than anything else. She was unbuttoning his shirt, as she panted against his neck, her breath catching. George smiled until he felt her hands on his belt. "no." he stilled his movements, and she sighed.

"fine" she mumbled, before gasping when his hand started moving again.

Her fingers spidered over his chest teasingly, when her gut started to wrench, and her legs trembled she held onto his shoulders and braced herself, the wave of relief that broke on her was shattering. It had been so long, and if this were all she could have of him just now then that'd be enough, he slumped on top of her, his knee between her thighs and kissed her lazily "thank you." She whispered against his lips.

"I love you." He mumbled quietly, as he nuzzled into her neck.

"I love you too." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed him to her.

November 10th

"You've got to be kidding me?" Hermione looked at her headmistress and the minister for magic in utter bewilderment. Draco was sat very still beside her.

"It's not compulsory," Kingsley said soothingly.

"It's how I got rid of Copperpot." Minerva added, "All I need is for you two to volunteer, just to show the other student's that it's a great idea."

"But it's not… It's eugenics!" Hermione slapped the arms of her chair.

"Do you know how many babies have been born into magical families this year?" Kingsley asked sternly.

"no" Hermione responded petulantly.

"eighty…that's the lowest birth rate in a century, and of those eighty… fifteen were squibs." He sighed "there is an epidemic, and the solution is this test. We test you and then offer you a list of compatible mates, we can predict if your offspring will have magic…" Hermione rolled her eyes at the minister for magic and Draco had to hold back his laughter at this.

"Kingsley, you and I both know the solution to the problem is purebloods marrying muggle-borns, but right now the purebloods are closing ranks, and the Muggle-borns are fewer and fewer. And there's so few of us because you lot think an appropriate way to tell a child that they've got magical powers is by sending a letter attached to an owl…" her pitch had grown theatrically.

"It worked for you." The minister shot childishly

"Yes, and we've since learned that Dumbledore approached my mother while she was giving birth to me, to plant some subliminal message about letting me go!" Hermione shouted.

"I did that." Dumbledore's voice came from behind a curtain.

"A test, a blood test isn't going to fix that… you need to change people's minds. You need to show them that Muggle-borns are valued, and not all pure-borns are evil, right now that's the problem you have!" she slapped the arms of the chair again.

"Hermione." Kingsley took a steadying breath "I need you to do this for me. I know it won't fix it, but if half the couples we match up have babies, we'll have saved ourselves from extinction in the long run… for another few decades." The minister for magic rubbed the bridge of his nose "I'm going to talk to your classmates in assembly and offer them the opportunity to be tested, all I ask is that you raise your hand and volunteer… you don't even have to look at the results." He pleaded.

"fine" Hermione groaned and rolled her head "fine… but I won't look happy about it." Her brow was furrowed.

"In return, I'll get the ministry working on some initiative to welcome muggleborn children to the wizarding world in a more… structured way… no more owls." Hermione grinned at this statement from the minister, she perked up.

"deal." She smiled excitedly.

After the minister spoke to the students in the hall, Hermione had done his bidding and raised her hand, to her shock most everyone followed suit. A wand was placed on her wrist, and a sample was drawn and labelled. George and Pansy hung back "don't." Hermione said through gritted teeth, "you two love each other, you don't need a test to prove that" George nodded and pulled Pansy away from the crowd.

Thankfully the younger students had been dismissed and hadn't been burdened with the pressure of finding an appropriate mate, Hermione was glad, it meant Maggie and Magnus weren't being exposed to this insanity.

"come on." Draco put an arm around her shoulders "If you stay here you're just going to get angry again."

November 11th

The minister for Magic sat in his office turning the file over and over in his hands thoughtfully, McKinley's name all that was visible at the moment. The Auror had approached him and told him of the 'Draco' situation, of the beating, of her admission. "they haven't told anyone." The Auror had confided in the elder statesman. Kingsley had commanded him to keep a closer eye and to report directly to him, the dossier he held contained two weeks of surveillance… and photographs that could have more political implications than anything he'd ever handled.

Hermione Granger's rant played again in his head, she was right about everything, of course. Hermione Granger was always right, it's what made her so utterly infuriating as a sixteen-year-old, no grown wizard liked being schooled by a little girl. "show them that muggles have value, and not all purebloods are evil" he said it out loud, repeating her words. "Muggles and Purebloods" he sighed into his beard and opened the file to look at the contents again.

November 15th

Hermione sat in the great hall, a small smile tugging at her lips, not ten hours before a certain blonde boy had finally delivered on his promise to kiss her everywhere. It had been an experience she was entirely unaccustomed to and had ensured her that whatever Ron had been doing to her all these years hadn't been sex. Draco had been deliberate and full of concentration as he'd kissed her knees and thighs when goose pimples had erupted in his wake he'd beamed with pride. He'd kissed her ears and her neck, her toes and her wrists, her stomach and her… everywhere. It had been the first time a man had come face to face with her most intimate of places, and despite feeling a little terrified, she'd been more than willing in participating. Her fingers had found his hair, and she'd tugged at the strands with every stroke of his tongue, her toes had curled in delight, and she'd let out a squeal of shock at the sensation she was experiencing in her gut.

"good morning," Draco said as he took the seat across from her, an all-out smirk painted on his usually sombre face.

"Someone looks happy," George observed as he joined them seconds later.

"I had an excellent dinner last night," Draco said haughtily, Hermione sprayed hot coffee out of her mouth and nose as she tried to suppress her shock.

"Well, now I know what you two have been up to," George answered, clear that he'd rather have not known.

The first wave of post arrived, delivering the morning papers and magazines. Hermione, Draco and George ignored the owls and continued to eat. As the packages thudded to the tables a sudden hushed silence fell, Hermione looked around and noticed that all eyes were on her. The kids were grinning hysterically as they watched her, a forkful of eggs halfway to her mouth, she looked around her own table for a copy of whatever it was that had the full hall in silence.

"Hermione." Maggie was pelting towards her from the third-year table, her face red and a magazine clutched in her hands, she slammed the glossy pages down and grimaced sympathetically.

"shit," George whispered as he looked at the front cover.

"how…" Hermione started but the din suddenly grew, people were standing up to get a better look at them. She wanted to flee but knew that would only cause more speculation and uproar, she continued to eat silently, her eyes fixed on the picture a million witches would now be looking at. Hermione, grinning broadly trapped between Draco's legs as they flew over the Hogwarts' Quidditch pitch, the most critical part of the looping image was the smiling Draco Malfoy leaning in to kiss her neck… and her face in response… an almost gleeful expression she hadn't imagined herself capable of.

She saw a flash of light and realised a second year had snapped a picture of her, she blinked and looked at Draco for the first time since the ordeal started, he looked scared. It was all she could see in his eyes, fear. "it's okay." She whispered, staring directly into his stormy eyes. "It'll be okay" she added more for herself, with her plate now finally empty she picked up the magazine and walked from the hall, she knew he would follow soon. She made her way up through the castle avoiding the stares she got from younger students as she passed.

"who could've done this?" she asked herself quietly as she robotically found her way back to the seventh-year tower, she threw herself onto her bed and stared at the ceiling willing herself to look at the bloody cover again. She hadn't even read the words.

'Muggleborn Saviour Granger and Pureblood Millionaire Malfoy, prove that love is without barriers!' The headline declared happily, Hermione was slightly struck by this, she'd expected 'Malfoy bed's Golden Girl Granger' or 'Pureblood prince slums it'… she hadn't expected this, some sappy celebration of their society defying fondness for one another.

"what does it say?" Draco asked breathlessly as he finally entered her room, he'd run all the way to her.

"I haven't really read it yet." She answered honestly, looking up at him solemnly.

"The Hall's in pandemonium, Minerva is confiscating cameras…" he panted, hovering near the door, scared to touch her in case she erupted.

"I don't think it was a student." Hermione said thoughtfully, holding up the picture and showing it to Draco " it's taken from a distance… and nobody here is walking about with a high-end long-range camera."

"how do you know it's long ranged?" he asked curiously.

"the angle of the picture… the fact I put up a massive distraction charm when we walked onto the pitch…" she shrugged "I think whoever took this was in a tree in the forest. They're level with us."

"I'm sorry." He said suddenly "I should've been more careful."

He was shocked when she grinned up at him "it's a nice picture." She patted the open spot on the bed beside her "I didn't know my face looked like that" she pointed at her expression when he'd kissed her neck.

"You look beautiful," he said joining her.

"I don't know what's going to make Ron angrier, you kissing me or me flying on a broom." She blushed and ran her fingers over the black and white image, ignoring the red text flashing above it.

"we should read it." Malfoy finally said after a few minutes staring at the image.

Hermione flicked the page open to the containing story, there was another picture, this one showed her laughing as he screeched their shared broom to a halt her hands held firm to the wood by his. "I think these are the first pictures of a Malfoy smiling… ever." Draco watched his own face intently, like Hermione he was shocked he was capable of such expressions.

"Witch Weekly is excited to be the first to announce that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy are in love" Hermione stopped reading and looked at Draco, his nose was scrunched uncomfortably "well… this is awkward." She laughed nervously, but relaxed when he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap.

"I'll read it over your shoulder." He said quietly, annoyed that a magazine had declared his feelings before he'd had a chance.

A source close to the pair has confirmed that the head boy and girl of Hogwarts have been close since Malfoy defected from the dark side "she saved his life and from that moment he was besotted" our source confirmed. Hermione who recently ended it with Ron Weasley is said to have been inseparable from our Blonde Millionaire since they both returned to Hogwarts.

"we all knew they'd get together!" a fellow student told us when asked about the couples in flight canoodling.

It goes without saying that if this relationship keeps going in the direction, it's headed, it could mean a drastic shift in the wizarding landscape. Hermione Granger is arguably the most famous muggle-born in the history of Britain and her beau Draco… well, he's the richest… Hermione slammed the magazine shut.

"Jesus." She whispered rubbing the bridge of her nose "I don't need to read anymore."

He wanted to ask if they'd be alright, If they would stay together, but he felt it selfish "are you alright?" he instead asked.

"Actually…" she turned to look up at him, her face very close to his "I'm kind of relieved I guess, I mean I'm still mad as hell… but it kind of lets us off the hook." She stared up at him unblinkingly, he looked back at her not at all sure what off the hook meant, did it imply they were done?

"We don't have to tell people now, or announce it… everyone knows." She shrugged and pressed a kiss to his tense lips, he wanted to cry he was so relieved. He wrapped her in his arms and stood, holding her to him, not sure what he was doing.

"are you alright?" she asked softly.

"yes," he mumbled into her neck, cradling her in his arms, not wanting to put her down.

"We have classes," she said quietly.

"I know" he kissed her again then placed her down on the ground.

"want to hold my hand as we walk through the castle?" she asked puckishly, nothing but mischief and light in her beautiful eyes.

"yes" he responded quickly, grabbing both their book bags with one hand and hers with the other.

November 19th

George Weasley had been on best friend duty for the past few days, the younger and more excitable students had taken to following Hermione about and asking her ridiculous questions about her grooming habits and dietary preferences. He knew that several tabloids, some in America, were offering cash sums to anyone with information on the newly anointed COUPLE OF THE CENTURY. The pairing had really captured the public's imagination, he and Pansy had even been dragged into it, when a quote about them snogging up a storm appeared as a by-line to the Hermione and Draco story. George had been given prefect status by the headmistress and had used his power to strip points and occasionally throw detentions at anyone who got particularly weird with Hermione.

He'd honestly expected his bestie to freak when she read the article like she had when she and Draco had first been rumoured, but Hermione seemed quite relaxed with the whole thing. She now flaunted her relationship, moving from her usual seat beside him at meals to nestle into Draco, they held hands frequently and stole quick kisses. George thought perhaps love did win out, or maybe Hermione just knew when she was defeated.

"I've finished my paper." Hermione sighed, looking at the large scroll in front of her. George was still only halfway through his "Want help?" she asked, trying to read his words upside down.

"no!" he expelled, she was always offering them help. Like it would be impolite of her not to offer to do their homework. "Hermione" he took a breath, he had something to tell her, and he wasn't sure how she'd receive it.

"George?" she asked, staring at him intently, the common room was empty, most students attending the Quidditch match.

"Ron's in hospital." He said rapidly, Hermione's eyes widened in shocked horror.

"Is he hurt?" she gasped, tears welling.

"not physically" George responded diplomatically "He flew into a rage a few days ago, Dad heard him say some things that worried him… and he took him to St Mungo's he's on a week-long hold, but… I think it'll be longer."

"Oh my god." Hermione let out a blast of hot breath through pursed lips "What did he say?" she asked suddenly, wondering what terrible words could've driven the usually indulgent Mr Weasley to such drastic action.

"It doesn't need repeating." George offered sadly.

"was it because of me?" she asked, the tears now rolling freely down her red cheeks, George nodded "Is everyone angry at me?" George shook his head emphatically, observing Hermione.

"At James' birth, he told me he didn't want me near his family again." She scrunched her nose and tried to temper the breathless sobs rolling from her throat, George walked around the table and knelt beside her, holding her small hand in his.

"I wouldn't have let that happen Hemione." He soothed.

"I know… but he really hates me… he's hated me since… since we went after the Horcrux." George frowned as she spoke, Hermione had never really spoken frankly about her relationship with Ron to him, she'd told Fred about it a million times but not him "He'd tell me he loved me… but he always wanted to punish me. He became punitive and hurtful and… and I thought it was my fault… but George…" she looked at him seriously, "I think something happened to him and I think he blames me." She sobbed loudly and tried to catch her breath "tell the mind healers that?" she pleaded, "I just think he's really hurt and I'm…" more shuddering sobs fell from her lips "I'm so angry that we didn't help." Hermione let her head drop to her chest as she continued to cry for the sweet, dopey boy who'd loved her so much, once upon a time.

"what's going on?" Draco had entered and was staring at the two with concern and just a whiff of jealousy at the sight of George holding his girl, even though he knew it was irrational.

"Ron's in hospital," George said quietly.

"oh." Was all Draco could muster, the sight of her distraught face brought into question her feelings for the ginger idiot.

"He went mental" George said with all the tact of the elephant in the room.

"Oh!" Draco placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders, she sniffed, trying to pull herself together.

"who won?" she asked, her voice weak from all the crying she'd done.

"Slytherin." Draco couldn't help the grin plastered on his stupid face, the kids had played superbly.

"well then…" she stood, wiping her nose on her blouse before she attempted to pat the tears from her cheeks. "a bet's a bet."

"Hermione, you don't have to…" she stopped Draco's protest.

"If it had gone the other way I'd hold you to your end." She smiled a small smile and stalked into her room when she returned it was to a much fuller common room who cheered raucously when she emerged in Draco's old Slytherin shirt and a pair of shorts.

"MY EYES!" Seamus called loudly as he covered his face with his hands.

Hermione's face was clear of any sign of tears, only George and Draco knew that behind her easy smile was a broken heart.

"You look smashing!" Pansy roared as she hung onto George's neck, George for his part offered her an encouraging grin.

"Congratulations to Slytherin on winning today's match." Hermione raised a toast, a bottle of beer clutched in her hand, before turning to Draco grabbing his collar and pulling him into a grinning kiss.

"I'm never going to get used to that." Dean Thomas whispered to Luna, the blonde rolled her eyes and looked at him sidelong.

"They've been written a thousand times over, they out of all of us, were the only inevitability," she said cryptically, and Dean scrunched his brow.

"you know it turns me on when you talk loopy." He said giggling as his arm snaked around her small waist.

November 21st

"Ladies…" Luna smiled at Pansy and Hermione "I have invited you here tonight to take part in a ceremony."

"If this involves light lesbian petting, I'm not opposed," Pansy stated as she took an almost bottomless drink from the bottle of wine in front of her, Hermione snorted with laughter her own bottle of wine clutched in her hand.

"it doesn't" Luna assured them seriously "not this version anyway." She shook her head and looked at the cauldron between them.

"I have become a woman." She grinned sheepishly at her two friends "and is the tradition of my people" she never clarified who they were "I'd like my progression to be noted by my ancestors."

"What exactly does that mean?" Hermione asked pleasantly.

"Dean and I made love!" Luna waved a bloodied sheet at them, the pair of sitting girls recoiled.

"oh." The unshakable Pansy Parkinson was shook.

"right." Hermione said trying to be as culturally sensitive as possible "and what do you need us to do?"

"we burn the sheet" Luna smiled dreamily and reached into a large chest which sat beside her, she withdrew a massive blanket which seemed to be made up of hundreds of pieces of fabric. The blonde girl stroked it sadly "Every woman who came before me added to it, my mother should be the one to do this… when a girl becomes a woman, she burns her virgin blood…" Luna sniffed, her eyes were welling with tears, Hermione realised that whatever this was… it was incredibly important to the loyal girl stood before her. "We pick the last scrap out of the ashes and add it to the blanket and then you both, you put it over my shoulders."

"What does it mean?" Pansy asked, her voice full of warmth and curiosity.

"This blanket represents every one of my foremothers all the way back to the witches of Skara Brae, it's all of them and when you wrap it around me… it's like they're all here with me, all of those women who had to go through the same scary thing, all tied together in this one blanket." Luna continued to stroke the fabric. "I won't be the first girl without a mother" she added sadly. Pansy and Hermione moved quickly to stand either side of her.

"It's beautiful," Hermione said softly, she lit a fire in the cauldron in front of them

Luna whispered some very ancient words, words Hermione assumed dated all the way back to those earliest witches, thousands of years ago. The blonde girl tossed the sheet into the flames, there was a noise like singing like a choir holding a single beautiful note.

Pansy was crying, Hermione felt her own eyes sting, there was something extraordinary occurring, and they were privy to it. The flames in the cauldron finally died, and Luna reached her hand in, apparently not at all scared to get burned. The voices of the women of Luna's bloodline slowly died out, and they stood in silence again. Luna placed her little scrap of fabric onto the blanket and whispered some more dead words, the piece vanished somewhere into the body of quilt and Luna smiled happily. She was part of the fabric now, part of a unique piece of cloth that would continue on long after she died, carrying a little of her with it.

"If you both take a corner, wrap it around my shoulders then hold it together in front of me… I think" Luna said breathlessly, all she knew of the ceremony had come from her father, and he seemed unsure of the exact ritual.

Hermione and Pansy did as Luna Lovegood requested and slowly wrapped their friend in the fabric of her ancestors, there was a whoosh of air as they met at her centre, they both looked at Luna she was staring open-mouthed in front of her. Hermione swivelled her head and realised they were no longer alone in the room of requirement, the spectres of hundreds upon hundreds of women surrounded them, the room seemed to have stretched to accommodate the crowd. They were waving and smiling, some of the girls were very young indeed.

"There's my mother." Luna gasped pointing at a woman directly in front of them, she wore silly earrings and had a goofy smile like Luna's, the woman waved at them and beamed proudly. And just as soon as they'd arrived, they were gone again.

"that was incredible." Pansy cried, large tears rolling down her usually powder dry cheeks "Thank you, Luna, thank you for including me." Pansy held Luna in her arms and Hermione feeling a suddenly overwhelming sisterly bond joined them in their tight embrace. The girls clutched onto Luna for a few minutes before the loopy blonde cleared her throat "now we drink."

November 22nd:1pm

Hermione did not have a hangover, that was a relief, but she was glad of the day off. The girls night had been intense and had involved a lot of sharing, it had been fantastically cathartic and pleasant to talk freely about their fears and past hurts, but it had also been exhausting.

She'd decided to spend the day in bed, reading, she had hoped that Draco would drop by at some point to see how she was but knew he'd probably be worried about her needing space. He'd been fretful since she found out about Ron's mental state and she knew he was scared that she might still be in love with Ron.

There was a knock at her door "come in."

Draco entered, and she smiled at him before frowning when she noted he was distracted and anxious.

"what's the matter?" she stood from the bed and toddled towards him, in ankle socks and his Quidditch jersey.

"I don't want this to seem like a demand, but I thought you should know…" he swallowed and ran his fingers through his hair, he was speaking very formally "I'm officially unbound."

"Oh!" her eyebrows raised, they both knew what being unbound meant for their relationship.

"Like I said, I'm not trying to force you into anything… or anything." He stumbled on his words clumsily.

"I didn't think you were." She beamed up at him, pushing her unruly hair behind her ears. "I'll get the elves to send some food up. We can stay in here today, and see what happens" she bit her lip as a blush crept up her cheeks.

"oh." He looked nervously around him, as though he thought Potter and Weasley were about to jump out and shout 'Prank' at him.

"or not…" she took in his anxiety and thought perhaps she was going to face the same problems Pansy was facing with George, they indeed had told each other everything the night before.

Draco in a bid to reassure her pushed a kiss against her lips so forcefully she stumbled backwards "I'll call for an elf" she muttered into his mouth as her knees hit the side of the bed.

November 22nd:1pm, elsewhere

"Something was taken from him." The healer said quietly as she spoke to the boy who lived and his wife.

"Someone stole something?" Ginny asked, confusion written on her face.

The healer shook her head "Hermione Granger asked that we be aware that his behaviour started to change after you were in contact with a Horcrux, is that right?" Harry nodded, it had been a subtle change, but Hemione was right. "we think the dark magic took something from him, we don't know what…" she paused thoughtfully "or put something in him, we're examining his memories and guiding him through therapy…. But If there is an external factor, then we may have to run more invasive tests."

"But if you find what it is… we can get Ron back?" Harry asked hopefully, the healer nodded.

"I'll tell mum and dad." Ginny nodded sadly and turned from her husband and the quiet healer.

"If he does come back to his self, he's going to be heartbroken." Harry said to no one "when he remembers all the shitty stuff he's done to her…" Harry shook his head and felt a wave of guilt, another broken person because of him.

A/N: See I felt bad leaving you with 6000 words and a sharp author note, I thought let's start pulling some of these threads together. So here, here's a significantly meaty bit of fiction with a magical blanket and some foreplay. You're welcome.