CHAPTER 21:
When Hermione dressed up in a knee length dress to go to manor, Oliver stilled looking at her. "It's the first time I'm seeing you in a dress," he whispered softly, walking towards her and tucking a stray curl of hair behind her ear and then bending down to kiss her. "Start stripping the second we get out of the fireplace tonight. You're already in my bad books for ruining my weekend getaway with my new bride. Keep me happy or I'll rip you apart every other hour tonight," he warned her with a heated look.
"If I let you have a go now, will you take me as soon as we're back?" she counter offered, knowing he'd never refuse it.
Oliver immediately pulled her to him and pushed her panties down till her ankles, kissing whatever came his way. He bent her by their dresser, the nearest piece of furniture he could find, just as she stepped out of her panties, and got her to support herself the way he needed her to. Then he went to stand behind her and pushed her dress up, rubbing at her slit and groaning at her sopping wetness. "I absolutely love that you're always so ready for me," he growled out unbuttoning his pants and pushing at his boxers, without bothering to step out of either he ground himself in her. Her loud calls of pleasure making him go harder. When they both came together, he held on to her for a bit before cleaning them both with spells and taking a step back.
Panting, he spoke, "Every time we come here, we should stay in a different room. Let's make naughty memories in the entire house, so when we grow old I can keep teasing you with every piece of furniture around," he laughed, hugging her close as she blushed.
...
Somehow they still made it to the manor at forty past four, a respectable enough time Oliver thought, all things considered.
The minute they stepped out of the fireplace, Jenna teased Oliver. "Look who's finally here! You're late, little one. Thank Merlin you at least arrived before your guests did!"
Oliver quickly looked around to check for his parents. When he didn't see them, he hit back his elder sister's teasing in kind. "I gave up my weekend getaway plans for this. I'm allowed to be late. I should be ravishing my sexy wife right now yet I find myself here to dine with you, Jenna. Me showing up instead of locking Mini and myself up in a room full of mirrors, a bed and quick snacks is a gift enough. Punctuality or not," he threw back at her.
His first sentence itself had Hermione reddened and her eyes widened and she stood rooted to the spot after the entire dialogue.
"Geez Oli, let the poor girl breathe," Jenna continued, unrelenting.
"Only if she lets me do the same," he winked.
"Oh shush! Ma was worried, you idiot. She almost sent me get you two."
"You could've come, but I'm not sure you'd've appreciated seeing that much of us." "Believe you me Oli, I know! Mini how do you put up with this twit?" Jenna chuckled. "Probably the same way Gerard does with you," Oliver laughed.
"You've always been a prat," Jenna grumbled and finally hugged her little brother who stood a good foot above her dainty frame.
"Takes one to know one," Oliver hugged his sister back and kissed the top of her head. "Now, cait a bheil an toileachas beag agam? (where's my little joy?) She's the only one who makes my trip here worthwhile."
And on that note they made their way to the sitting room. Harry and party were to arrive at 5:30, so they had quite some time for themselves. Oliver made a bee line for Ana and she squealed with joy on seeing him, throwing her arms up in the air and bouncing on the floor, in the age-old gesture of babies all world over to lift them up.
"Ah Ana, mo phunca beag (my little monkey)" he cooed and picked her up in his arms, "Uncle Oli missed you so much pheata." And he kissed her and immediately twirled her around and moved out to the lawns and threw her in the air, catching her as she came down. And the little girl's sounds of delight could be heard all the way in the large hall.
Hermione smiled at the sight as Jenna sat her down by the dining table and they engaged in small chat. Irene soon joined them with a tray of teapot and teacups and immediately jumped in the air with delight, her sounds of happiness rivalling her granddaughter's. "You're wearing the clan's ring! Oliver made you the promises! Oh by Gods do we need to celebrate!" she exclaimed and almost ran to John and hugged him crushingly speaking nineteen to a dozen as both of them disappeared out.
Okay, that was odd thought Hermione and turned to Jenna again.
"Where's Gerard?"
"Uni. Some urgent work came up. Should be here by the time your friends come," she smiled then and looked down at her ring, "I'm sorry I should have noticed it earlier. I just didn't think he'd do something this big in such a short span of time."
Hermione looked at the ring curiously. She hadn't been able to find anything about it at the Hogwarts library and that fact alone bothered her. Seeing how she sat there lost in thought, Jenna spoke again, "I'm taking it Oli did not explain everything to you." Hermione shook her head.
"Would you like me to read the ring and tell you?" Jenna offered kindly. Hermione's exuberance knew no bounds.
"Yes please!" she exclaimed and pushed her finger at Jenna.
Studying the silver ring Jenna's smile broadened more and more. "Mini, he has given you the complete works!" she declared happily. "The ring is silver, the most auspicious metal of our clan, meaning the feelings are true and the promises honest. No malice." Then Jenna pointed out to each and every symbol on the ring and explained its meaning. "This one is for fidelity, this one honesty, then here is integrity, here is a promise to keep all his promises, this is for truth in words and deeds, this one is love and this inter-connected one with it is to love and cherish you more every day. Those are the big ones and not many promise it, you know." Then she continued, "And this last one is the killer. It means he'll worship you. As his goddess." Then after some thought Jenna asked, "For it to be on the ring, all his promises must be made with absolute true intentions." Hermione nodded in understanding and Jenna kissed her cheeks in pure delight. "Mini he has not just accepted you as his mate for life, he has excepted you as his life, it means he'd bend the world to your will. He'll happily stay at home to look after the kids while you go out to work. He'd do anything to please you, to keep you happy and his happiness, his entire existence solely depends on you and your emotions. So basically, he has promised to stay whipped by you all through his life."
"Who's whipped?" Gerard asked, sitting down beside his wife, kissing her as he came.
"Oli!" Jenna happily exclaimed.
"Yes, what?" Oliver asked from just a few steps away. He'd got Ana in to greet her father. And he froze when he saw his sister bent on his wife's ring. Fuck! "Jenna what did you say?" he asked in menacing tones.
"Nothing much," Jenna bit back her smile.
"Yes, nothing much. Just that I own your ass now," Hermione looked him in the eye and grinned. "You're so done for, Oliver," she said twisting the ring around her finger. And he groaned.
"So where does this ring come from? Is it ancestral?" Hermione asked.
Jenna shook her head. "No, it's old clan magic. Only clansmen can evoke the powers to summon a ring to mark their partners. But I'm pretty sure Ma's just searching for the book that'll explain everything."
"There's a book!" Hermione screamed in joy. And Oliver's heart sank furthermore.
He replied before Jenna could. "Aye, there is. It's with me. I was gonna give it to you next Sunday, before I left so that you could read it and be prepared for it when time came. But... it all kind of snuck up on me..." he grimaced. "If you want it I'll give it to you tomorrow once we're back at Hogwarts. It's in the wardrobe there."
Jenna tsked. "Oli go tell Ma that. She must've summoned half the library down by now." He nodded, gave one parting look to his wife and left without a word.
"What does he mean by it snuck up on him? And why does he look like that?" Hermione asked quietly, feeling a little unsettled.
"You can't decide the time. You just know it when it happens. He probably wasn't expecting it to happen quite this soon, but that it did is a very good thing. As for your second question, we Scots in general, and our clansmen in specific are very proud people. He is not gonna like his entire family knowing what he's done with his wife in privacy, more so because he's gone and done the one thing that takes people years to do. Mini, I don't think you understand this, but he's signed off his entire life to you without asking for anything in return. And he's gone ahead and done that in what, a week?"
Two days actually but Hermione was not going to correct Jenna on that.
"And for it all to actually be represented on the ring, it means his feelings were strong and true. He is not just smitten, he's down in love, deep! And he has put it all for you on this ring! You must have felt both your magics swirling together after a strong bonding like that."
Hermione nodded, remembering the electromagnetic swirls around her.
Jenna gave a soft smile. "Congratulations Mini. Oliver Wood is now basically off the market for anything with anyone else. He is now yours. Since the day you wore this magic ring till posterity."
Oliver came back by then and quietly sat down beside Hermione, not knowing what to do any more than say. He had not wanted her to know all about it yet. That's why he'd hidden the book. He had planned on giving it to her as a parting gift at the end of the next week and then prepare himself during the month ahead and then come back and face the music. But now, he'd have to face it all tonight, if not right then and he was feeling ultimately foolish! Should've asked her keep the ring back at the apartment he thought for a second but knew he'd never do that. He had marked her as his own, he
wanted her to flaunt it! Simple! So he was back to square one, sitting sheepishly and playing with the hair at his nape.
Hermione turned around to see Oliver lost in thought. Sour ones, by the looks of it and she smiled warmly at the picture he made – his tall frame hunched over, elbows on the table while he played with his own hair. He looked way too cute than anyone had a right to look.
Hermione stilled his raving hand. "Oliver.." she whispered and he turned, his uncertainty reflected only in his eyes. "Me too," she said and kissed him.
Oliver could not believe what he'd just heard but Hermione was kissing him not yelling at him, so he didn't care. He held her by her waist and brought her closer, chair and all, tugging at her hair he angled her face and then his to deepen their kiss. Jenna blushed and turned, the moment too private to witness. She tapped Gerard's shoulder and they walked to the lawn with Ana to give the new couple some privacy.
Hermione ran her fingers through Oliver's hair, ruffling them and he rubbed her back, pushing her closer into him. They could've gone at it all night long without surfacing once for air, but a distinct cough finally cut through their hazy minds. They broke apart but only looked at each other. Later his eyes promised her and she blushed, the delicious color on her cheeks going predictably to Oliver's head.
"We're still here. And while I appreciate not having to see you two snog each other senseless, this feels more private than your kiss!" Harry complained as he and Ginny pointedly averted their gaze from the other couple. Teddy was the only one jovially screeching and Hermione, with great difficulty, switched her attention to them, Oliver's dark gaze being too hypnotic for her peace of mind.
"Come say hello to Teddy," she whispered, though her voice came out a little hoarse. She interlaced her fingers with Oliver's and led him to their guests.
...
The evening had progressed very well. Everyone had gelled well, including the babies. Though much to Oliver's dismay the hot topic of discussion over dinner had been 'love'.
John had smilingly informed that he had made promises to Irene within a month of knowing her. Jenna had smiled and said that she'd fallen head first for Gerard the first time she'd seen him in her class and then she'd gone ahead and dropped his subject just so they could date! And the minute she was out of his class Gerard had asked her out. Even her being a witch hadn't bothered him a bit, all he cared for was having her in his life with him after that point and Jenna had happily settled in his arms since then.
Ginny had topped them all saying she'd been in love with Harry since she was 10, when she'd seen him first at platform 934 when he'd asked her mum about getting on the said platform. Harry had promptly kissed her senseless after that, just like he always did, every time she made that bold declaration.
"What about you Harry?" Jenna had asked and he had flushed, stammering around for words. And Hermione had come for his rescue, "The immediate love recognition gene skipped us," she shrugged disheartened. Oliver grimaced and Harry scowled at that.
Teddy had charmed everyone with his metamorphmagus traits by changing his features to match the one who held him. When he was sat between Harry and Ginny, he promptly took different features from both of them and could've easily passed on as their biological child.
"Since when have you started doing that Teddy bear?" Hermione asked lovingly to the ginger headed, green eyed boy.
"Don't know, but we just saw it today. When Andromeda dropped him with us, he just," and Ginny pointed at him.
"Aww..." the other three women cooed.
Oliver's breath had hitched in is throat when Teddy had turned himself to resemble Hermione when she had carried him around, playing with the two kids. And Irene had almost cried when he'd turned into Oliver, happily adjusting on his lap and placing his head on the big man's chest, spanning his shoulders with his out-stretched arms and cooing contently as Oliver rubbed his back gently.
"Mione you need to see this," Ginny had pulled Hermione out towards where Oliver was sitting on the floor cross-legged, back to the couch as he held Teddy in one arm and Ana in the other, both toddlers sleeping in his strong arms, while he leant his head on the couch behind him, eyes closed for a bit.
"They could easily pass off as your twins," Ginny whispered teasingly in her ears. "Ginny!" Hermione shrieked and dashed back to where she'd come from.
Irene and John soon took in both sleeping babies and called it a night, while the three young couples remained.
"Time for some fun," Gerard announced and pulled out two bottles of vodka that he always stocked at the manor for just such occasions, from the bar. Oliver and Hermione sat opposite one another on the lawn as the others wouldn't allow them to sit together.
"We'll never get them to stop eating each other's faces off if they sit together," Jenna laughed. Harry heartily agreed. "And I so do not need to see that again," he seconded. Hence, the other two couples joined them. Oliver had Jenna on one side and Ginny on the other, while Hermione had Harry on one side and Gerard on the other. Harry and Ginny sat beside each other with Jenna and Gerard opposite to them.
"What do you have in mind?" Ginny asked, eyeing the muggle alcohol with interest. "Never have I ever.." Jenna suggested looking tellingly at Oliver and he groaned.
"Yes! Let's do that!" Ginny agreed and fixed Harry and Hermione with a violent glare, daring them to ruin the fun. Mimicking Oliver, those two also groaned and sat back at the table.
"Mini don't hate me after this," Oliver pleaded.
"Ditto," she replied.
Harry snorted. "Oliver just fear her after this. That should help you live safely henceforth," he said and downed a shot of vodka for some liquid courage. Ginny was ruthless with such games, he knew, he'd suffered enough as it was.
"So I'm guessing everyone knows how to play it," Gerard asked around. All nodded. "Good," he smiled and filled the shot glasses.
"I'll start," Ginny announced, "since I'm the youngest."
"Works for her every time," both Harry and Hermione said in unison.
"Never have I ever... drunk myself into a stupor and woken up three days later." Everyone drank. "Lightweights," she snorted in her untouched glass.
"Never have I ever... turned myself into a cat," Oliver stuck his tongue out at Jenna, while Harry laughed his ass off. Both Jenna and Hermione took a shot. "How?" Oliver asked amused, looking at Hermione. "Polyjuice potion. I thought I had Millicent's hair, turned out to be her cat's." Oliver sat there staring at his wife. Jenna recovered a little more swiftly, "Okay.. full story please." Harry smiled, "She brewed Polyjuice back in our second year because we wanted to break into the Slytherin common room. Her hair was wrong so only Ron and I went ahead. She on the other hand spent a week in the hospital later. Actually, she spent most of her second year in the hospital wing since she was petrified a few weeks after that."
"Okay.. I really need to sit you down someday and hear about your entire life!" Gerard shook his head and took a shot just to do something with his hands. "Ditto," echoed through the table.
"What about you Jenna? What's your story?" Ginny asked to change the somber mood.
Jenna winced. "Transfiguration. I had to turn a goblet into a rat, but somehow..." she trailed off with a cute expression and Gerard kissed her nose. And their game continued.
"Never have I ever... flashed the school's common room," Jenna went next. Both Oliver and Gerard drank. "But I come from an all-boys school," Gerard laughingly assured. "Mine was a dare. From her," Oliver glared at Jenna.
"Hey I was dared to dare you. You didn't have to do the dare," Jenna shrugged. "Plus my friends really enjoyed the view, gross as it had been for me. Wish you were there Mini, would've been fun," Jenna winked at Hermione who flushed red and Ginny laughed. "Jenna I think I'm falling in love with you," Ginny smiled warmly at the other girl, seeing the similarities between the older girl and herself. "It's mutual," Jenna winked.
"Okay, my turn. Never have I ever... kissed a professor," Gerard said. Jenna downed her shot and kissed him. "You're very naughty, Professor" she smirked. Harry visibly shuddered and downed his glass too. "I'm not speaking of it," he said and zipped his lips.
"Never have I ever... tried to drown myself in the shower," Hermione smirked, looking straight at Oliver. He groaned and took a shot. "It was just a very long shower. Could you stop throwing that in my face!"
"Never have I ever... kissed someone of the same sex." Harry snorted as Ginny and Hermione downed their glass. "It was a dare," they explained. "But I know why you don't want to stop kissing her Oliver," Ginny winked at him while Hermione blushed. "Aww.. I feel left out now," Jenna grumbled. Hermione promptly got up pecked her on the lips, much to Oliver's surprise. "There, you're one of us now," she winked at Jenna and asked her do the shot.
"Will you kiss me if I say I feel left out?" Oliver asked Hermione and she stuck her tongue out at him. But he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her thoroughly anyway before letting her go back to her seat.
While Ginny had other plans. "You call that a kiss Mione?" she asked Hermione's head that was plastered to Oliver's and she got up and walked to Jenna and kissed her well on the mouth. "Now, that's a kiss," she explained and went and sat back down again, feeling proud of herself.
Gerard sat stumped through all the kisses his wife received and then laughed loudly on seeing the stunned expression on her face. "Be careful what you wish for Jennie-Bean," he said to his wife still laughing at her comical expression.
"Never have I ever... intentionally harmed a professor," Jenna said, her head still full of straw. But Harry, Hermione and Ginny took their shots. Jenna choked a little, "Okay, I wasn't really expecting anyone to actually take a shot at this, but stories please" she asked. The three shrugged, unconcerned.
"Quirrel. My touch burned him when he was trying to steal the philosopher's stone," Harry clarified.
"Umbridge. She was a menace! I let a herd of hippogriffs loose in the castle to rile her up and then led her to the forbidden forest to meet Hagrid's giant half-brother. She cursed a centaur there so his pack pulled her away," Hermione said, looking the epitome of innocence. Oliver's eyes were almost popping out of his head.
"The Carrows," Ginny shrugged. "They made Umbridge look like a chocolate frog! What could I do? I obviously had to bring them down a peg or ten!" Ginny explained and Harry kissed her, square on her lips. "I love you," he whispered and she replied the same.
"Never have I ever... been harmed by a professor," Gerard said, looking astutely at the three youngsters.
"I'm seeing a pattern here." Ginny smirked and drank her shot. "Alright. The Carrows, again. They were death eaters and I was a known blood traitor, plus Harry Potter's girlfriend," she shrugged, as if that answered everything. "You may want to pass the bottle to Harry for this one," she laughed at Gerard.
Harry shifted around a little uncomfortably. "Quirrel in the first year when he was possessed by Voldemort, Lockhart in the second because Tom Riddle had put Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets and we needed his help while he wanted to modify our memory and gloat while letting Ginny rot in the cell," then he turned to Hermione, "No one in the third year right?" Hermione thought for a minute before shaking her head. "Good year that was," he smirked and continued. "Moody in the fourth, well he was actually Barty Crouch Jr. on Polyjuice potion, but our teacher none the same. Umbridge in fifth year with her blood quills, and I'm not sure if I should count Dumbledore in sixth, with all the trips I made with him, but I think I won't count it," he smiled and downed his shots, refilling his glass a couple times more. Again there was silence around the table. "Your turn," Harry looked at Hermione.
She winced. "While I could swear Madam Hooch tried to kill me by putting me on a broom back in the first year," she laughed a little at that, "But I'd say Umbridge," she shrugged.
"What are blood quills?" asked Gerard.
"Quills that use your blood instead of ink to write. Whatever you write is carved into your flesh," Harry explained. Gerard and Oliver swore colorful and Harry just shrugged, "We had to do lines with them during detention. Mine was 'I must not tell lies', since I was telling people about Voldemort's return while the ministry was vehemently denying it."
"He's done that line so many times that I get a moral lesson on honesty every night," Ginny said, her eyes lacking their usual luster. Harry placed his hand on hers and offered her a small smile.
"That backfired on them spectacularly though. When Umbridge was led away by the centaurs, she asked Harry to testify for her and he turned around, apologized and said, and I quote here, 'Sorry professor but I must not tell lies'." Hermione laughed. "And of course Voldemort made an appearance
at the ministry at the end of that year and with his picture on every magical news item, Fudge fell off power," Ginny sniggered.
"Not the best night of my life," Harry grimaced. "Sirius died and Mione was hit with a horrible curse from Dolohov. She didn't wake up for weeks." Everyone gravely nodded in understanding.
"Yeah," Oliver shuddered involuntarily at a flashback of the said night. "How do you know that?" Harry suddenly looked up at him astutely. "Order," Oliver shrugged.
"No.." Harry shook his head. "No one was privy to that information. Hell, even I wasn't told all about it until I reached Grimmauld Place, a month after the attack," he pressed, eyes shining sharp. Oliver cursed his big mouth in his mind, while Ginny gave him odd looks.
"Oh yes, I remember that now. He was the only one apart from us who ever visited Mione in that state. The twins and Charlie vouched for him. So we worked him into our rota since we were a few short, you were still at the Dursley's then Harry, Charlie had to leave for Romania and Bill and the twins had their hands full trying to thwart the death eater advances on them, so we brought Oliver in. He was with her after his practice every day from 6 to 10pm, and he took up full day shifts on his holidays, to free the twins and mom up for their work. He even had all his meals alone in her room instead of joining all of us," Ginny smilingly informed.
Hermione's eyebrows touched her hair. "You did that? For me?"
"I used to read to you whenever I was there," Oliver told her softly. "Helped take my mind off things. I sometimes could swear you even responded," he smiled at that.
"That was you?" Hermione's eyes bulged out.
"Oh good Godric! Mini was the girl from the Order?" Jenna asked Oliver.
"Don't tell me you remember him?" Ginny squeaked to Hermione. All girls speaking at almost the same time.
Oliver nodded at his sister sheepishly before turning back to Hermione, while she was answering Ginny. "No. Not him per se, but I remember being read to. From Hogwarts a History, then I think there Quidditch through the ages, followed by Brutality in Britain – Consequences of the First War, wasn't it?" Hermione asked him. Oliver stared at her as if she had an extra head growing out of her arms and mutely nodded. "But I never knew it was you."
"Why did you read to her though? I spent most time with her and all I ever did was our nails and hair," Ginny asked curiously to Oliver.
"After I was allowed to be with her, I spoke to my team's healer and found out that sometimes people respond to voices. Not that mine was familiar for her or anything, but.." he shrugged and continued. "I knew she liked books. Everyone knew that," he smirked, "plus it helped me kill the time."
"Why those books?" Hermione asked next.
"Hogwarts a History for obvious reasons, I guess. I always saw you with that book all through the three years we shared at school." Harry sniggered wickedly at that and Hermione promptly smacked him up the head. "Next one because it's my favorite, obviously." Hermione gave Oliver a soft smile that he
returned it in kind. "And the last one because I thought if you really were listening, the information might help you in some way or another in the second war," he shrugged.
"But why did you..?" Hermione whispered.
"I don't know. I just wanted to be there," he said, his eyes taking on a new intense shine that Hermione was sure had nothing to do with the alcohol they were consuming. "But that aside, you said Umbridge too. Were you also punished with a blood quill?" Oliver asked, trying simultaneously to change the subject and get more information on his wife's life so far.
Hermione winced and nodded. "What! You never told us that!" both Harry and Ginny screamed in indignation.
"Yeah, well, I guess now you know why," Hermione rolled her eyes. "What were your lines?" Jenna asked softly.
Hermione really did not want to say but knew she couldn't get out of this without offending Jenna and that she did not want to do. "I must respect my superiors," she whispered.
Ginny sucked in a harsh breath. "That biased bitch. I'm so gonna kill her!" she gritted out, hand on wand as she stood up in anger.
"I don't understand," Harry said, "what superiors?" tugging at Ginny's hand to get her to sit down again. "Later, love. Let's finish school first then we'll go get them all," he whispered to Ginny and pecked her nose.
"I had gone against her Squad when they caught me smuggling out of the Room of Requirement after DA and she felt that I did not treat them with enough respect," Hermione snorted and downed one more shot.
"I still don't get it," Harry said confused. This time Ginny smacked him on head. "Ow!" he rubbed his head, "what is it with you two taking turns to abuse me?"
"You'd absolutely have flunked Hogwarts without Mione!" Ginny shouted. "Her superiors.. the bias bint made her write she should respect purebloods you idiot."
"What!" everyone around the table exclaimed.
"Yeah, well. I am a muggle born and the blood prejudices were pretty strong before the war."
"Oh my God, Mini. Don't you ever say that again," Jenna cried and crossed over Gerard to hug her as well as she could and kissed the top of her head.
"That's the scar on your right arm, isn't it?" Oliver asked.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"I've used enough glamour charms to know one when I see one Mini. I just never ask about it because I'm sure you'll tell me all when you're comfortable with it," Oliver smiled encouragingly at her. She gave him a small smile in return and looked down at the table between them.
Taking the cue, Ginny maneuvered them back to the game. "Never have I ever... repeatedly kissed my best friend to avoid being with my date," she winked at Hermione who scowled back at her, downing a shot. "Sixth year. I took McLagan to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party. He kept trying to come on
to me and catch me under the mistletoes. All night long I had to dodge him, hiding behind curtains, stuffing anything that even remotely mentioned garlic in it and I never left Harry's hand, so whenever I was under a mistletoe, I just pecked his cheek instead." She shivered as if to shake off the memory. Everyone laughed at her long ago plight.
"Never have I ever... dated my team mate," Hermione said next and watched in astonishment as everyone apart from her took a shot. "Each other," Harry and Ginny said. "Can't say I repent it though," Ginny added and kissed Harry.
"Cute," Jenna smiled, "I dated Charlie Weasley for a bit while I played as Gryffindor chaser under his captainship."
"You know Charlie!" Ginny exclaimed.
"You dated Charlie?" Hermione asked grinning.
"You've lived Hermione's dream," Harry joked and Oliver promptly threw the vodka bottle's cap at him that landed square on his forehead. "I already have a scar there, Oliver. Thank you," Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yes and yes," Jenna smiled at the other girls, "but you aren't getting any details out of me now, while I'm flanked by my husband and my brother! Meet me for a girls night and we'll talk," she winked.
"Moving on from my naughty wife, I dated my partner Yasmine from my grad program," Gerard said.
Hermione looked at Oliver, giving him a sly glance. "I dated Katie Bell in school, a chaser from our team. And later, it was Alicia Spinnet but we weren't team mates then," Oliver grimacingly informed and looked at Hermione.
She smiled, "They're both very pretty and extremely nice too. Why did you break up?" He scrunched his nose. "Guess I needed a beauty with brains."
Hermione winced. "Too bad you got stuck with me then. Looks like you'll only ever get one or the other."
Oliver glared at her but before he could say anything, Harry subtly shook his head at him so he held his tongue in check. "I don't think you're intelligence is that low that you need to question it, darling. In fact I'd go right ahead and call you smart most of the times," he said instead, looking straight into Hermione's eyes. Her eyes widened in shock. "What?" Oliver shrugged his shoulders, "You're beautiful Mini. The prettiest lass I've ever set my eyes on. And how you view yourself is not going to change my opinion of your beauty," he said simply and gestured for the others to continue the game.
"Correct! Alicia! My turn.. Never have I ever.. played nurse for a school girl.." Jenna winked at her brother. Oliver glowered at her and did his shot. "Ha! Guess what! He happily broke off with his girlfriend because he wanted to spend every single free minute of his taking care of Mini," Jenna smirked while pointing her index finger at Oliver.
"What!" Harry, Ginny, Gerard and Hermione shrieked in shock.
"Yep. Alicia broke up with him right here at the manor. She had come over and was all over him like a troll fever's rash while he was buttoning up his cuffs and stepping into the floo. And since she was here, he couldn't call out the HO's address and had to put up with her constant bickering. Finally, he lost his cool and asked her to wrap things up as he had a better girl waiting for him elsewhere and he
was running very late. She fisted her hands in rage, went red in the face, pulled him away from the floo and was off, never to be heard of again. The minute she disappeared, he called behind himself to let us know he was leaving, as if the din followed by the sudden quiet weren't enough of cues, and went off himself."
Hermione slapped her hand on her mouth and only stared at Oliver after that. "I'm so sorry," she mouthed to him, finally getting her hand down and shaking her head. He shrugged, winked and threw her an air kiss as a response.
Slowly the tempo built again and Jenna and Ginny worked well around everyone and had most of their secrets out in the open, with Harry helping every once in a while.
"Never have I ever... been called by the name of cartoon character," Harry winked at Hermione, his green eyes shining like emeralds when Hermione downed her shot and shot him a glare.
"In all fairness, I don't call her that because of a cartoon character," Oliver tried to point out.
"Who said we were talking about you?" Harry smirked and Hermione punched his arm. "Okay, that settles it. I'm not sitting beside you for the next drinking game," he angrily announced to Hermione, "and you will tell everyone why you did that shot."
Hermione snorted and shook her head. "Make me."
"Don't have to. If you won't, I will." Harry pulled out a picture from his pocket and laughingly passed it around. "Knew it was gold when I saw it. I've been itching to use it since the past year but never got the chance until now."
Hermione leaned over Gerard to see the picture as Harry passed it onto him and he laughed and fell on the grass after passing it to Jenna. Hermione shrieked in consternation. "Where the hell did you find it?"
"Ron and I found it when we helped you clean up your parents' place."
Jenna passed the picture on to Oliver and he chuckled when he saw a muggle picture of a young Hermione, about 5 years old, he guessed, dressed as the Minnie Mouse Harry had sketched for him, complete with the big black ears and a cute little tail standing up from the back, grinning at the camera, showing of her big crooked teeth and colorful cream covered lips while a young couple kissed her on each of her cheeks. "I'm keeping this one," he said to Harry who waved his acceptance.
"I've made multiple copies of it. You can have this one. And by the way, her childhood albums are all at Grimmauld Place, if you ever need to.." Harry trailed off as Hermione lunged at him.
"I thought you were my friend!" she screamed.
He pushed her off himself and laughed. "So you want to tell the story or do I share my guesses?" he asked amused.
"Fine! I'll speak," Hermione glared at Harry, folded her arms in front of her chest and stared at nothing in particular on the table. "She was my favorite cartoon character so I dressed like her on my fifth birthday and my dad called me Minnie because.. ahh.." she groaned, "because I was cute and adorably mousy just like her," she pouted.
"Oh you are!" Oliver said and got up and pecked her lips before sitting back in his place again.
Everyone around the table hollered in laughter and the game moved on. They all took care to avoid the big questions then and successfully emptied a bottle and a half before calling it a night. Gerard stored the half full one back. Jenna and Ginny picked up Ana and Teddy respectively. Promising each other to meet soon, everyone left back for their place. The other couples used the floo while Oliver walked out with Hermione till the apparition point, re-checked the security wards around the manor and then they apparated back to their apartment.
"T'was fun," Hermione slurred.
Oliver laughed. "You're pissing drunk, Mini. Wait or else you'll hurt yourself," he said and carried her in his arms. Only this time there was a lot of toe stubbing and head hitting and they ended up in the kitchen instead of the bedroom.
"Twas here?" she asked.
Oliver opened a few cabinets before he found what he was looking for and handed a small vial to her and downed one himself, shaking his head vigorously to rid himself of the horrid after taste. "Hangover potion. Very handy wherever Jenna and Gerard are involved," he grunted, voice sore.
"I don wan it yet. D'me right here Oliver on the kitchen floor. I want to drunken sex you. I've nevher done tha before. I'll take it in the mornin," she said, smiling coyly at Oliver and swaying a little. "Juz don spin the room anymore okay? Tis much is enuf," she said and fell in his arms.
"You passed out lightweight," Oliver teased the little witch in his arms and picked her up, took the vial of potion from his hands and carried her to their bedroom. Setting her on the bed, he kept the potion vial on her bedside table, removed first her clothes then his and joined her on the bed. Pulling her into him and snuggling closer to her as they slept.
AN: Two extra-long chapters as an apology for the extra-long wait between updates...
And with pouting lips I plead your forgiveness...
Love,
CrazyA