A/N: Cliffie finished! But I don't know how much I like this chapter so please drop a review and tell me if it feels hurried! I had a little issue with it and just didn't know what to do!
Also SHAYMARS where were you?!

Dinner Dramas

Astoria shivered in Ron's arms, she had tear tracks on her face and she was cold from the afternoon. A small hiccup escaped from her mouth and Ron's arms only tightened around her. His nose pressed against the shell of her ear and she shivered again.

"Sweetheart relax." Ron whispered. "We're all safe now." His voice was soothing but it broke her heart again.

"She almost bloody killed you!" Astoria hiccupped again.

"I cannot deal with the disgrace of having a Weasley in our bloodline!" Melena screeched and brandished her wand a little more violently when there was a noise of outrage.

"You dare you troll faced hag." Molly Weasley had stood up and was in what Hermione had affectionately termed as 'Momma Bear mode'. She was in full Momma Bear mode and had drawn her own wand.

"I beg your pardon you dumpy little waste of pure blood?!" The two women were now facing off to one another, the room stunned into watching.

"You miserable cow, you are no mightier than me woman, we are human and we are both pureblood. We are both women so where exactly do you believe yourself superior to me?" The red headed woman growled and was unaware of her husband hiding Ron and Astoria behind him, his own wand drawn if necessary.

"I am a Greengrass!" She screeched. "I heard enough of your tripe about family bonding before the students arrived, why would I want my daughter in a ramshackle, traitorous family like yours?!" Her voice was shrill and without warning she sent a blasting spell at Molly Weasley who defended it.

"You are forgetting that I am your third cousin, we both share the name Prewett you stupid creature!" Molly twirled her own wand, cords erupting from it. "We are related loosely by blood, so family bond that one." She turned away from the now bound Melena Greengrass and rushed over to Run and Astoria, enveloping both in a hug and murmuring apologies to a shocked Astoria.

"Ri." Pansy's voice cut across the companionable silence that had fallen on the courtyard. The dark headed girl looked up. "Dinner? I hear they have pavalova tonight." She winked and Astoria smiled for the first time that afternoon. Normalcy, all she wanted was normalcy. "Let the aurors deal with the nonsense from today, we can scoff pavalova until the house elves run out." She stood up, cracked her back and kissed Harry on the forehead.

"Is it strawberry or raspberry?" Astoria shifted in Ron's loosening arms.

"They have pavalova tonight? Babe I am gone!" Ron kissed her quickly on the forehead. "To think I nearly missed it!" He stood up as Harry did and Hermione snorted.

"You always think of your stomach Ronald!" She admonished but also stood, laughing at Draco's mock pout as he grabbed at her waist again.

"Come on Blaise, I hope they have pudding." Luna said dreamily and in their friendship groups they left the courtyard and entered the Great Hall, ignoring the whispers between them. They were all thankful that no-one knew of the events in the Headmistress' office today.

They all trooped towards the Great Hall when Astoria suddenly grabbed Hermione's jumper hem and bit her lip.

"Can we talk please?" The younger girl whispered and Hermione nodded, a little uncertain at the Slytherin's sudden need. They dawdled on their way down the steps and Hermione could read the anxiousness on Astoria's face.

"What's wrong?" She stopped suddenly and turned to face the girl.

"Are you sure… are you okay with me and Ron?" She gabbled and was shocked to see the Gryffindor laugh.

"Astoria, honestly I think it's great you and Ron are together. I'm over my crush on him! I feel I should ask the same question back, Draco told me that the plan was for you two to get married so…" Hermione broke off, eyes twinkling but silent. Astoria dissolved into giggles as well.

"Hogwarts has really screwed up here hasn't it?" She snorted, feeling some of the unhappiness of this afternoon melt away. "I mean all this house unity stuff has sort of cemented itself in us, I never thought I'd see myself standing with Hermione Granger, bookworm of Gryffindor."

"Don't forget you're seeing Ronald Weasley, gannet of Gryffindor." Hermione hiccupped and wiped away a tear from her eye. "While I'm a dating the King of the Snakes!" The two girls laughter continued as they walked to the Great Hall.

"Thank you Hermione." Astoria said, suddenly serious. "It means a lot to know that even if my family doesn't care there are people who do."

"Hey that's cool. As much as you probably don't want to admit it, you're part of this big dysfunctional family, headed by Mrs Weasley." Hermione smiled.

The two walked in, parting as Ria headed towards Pansy and the small knot of Slytherins that weren't giving her death glares or ignoring her while Hermione slid between Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor Table, but as soon as her butt perched on the bench Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil descended to talk to Hermione.

"So you and Draco huh?" They grinned and shuffled closer until they were opposite the trio. They were not deterred by the pointed looks from the three. "Is he really as great in bed as all the rumours?"

"Does he really have a twelve inch dick?"

"I bet he's a dominator."

"I bet he's submissive!"

The pair peeled off into a mini debate about Draco and his sexual preferences, allowing Hermione a moment to put new potatoes and chicken on her plate. Just as she was spooning peas and then gravy they turned back with a squeal, gravy splashing everywhere as Hermione jerked in surprise. Ron hid a chuckle as she turned to stare at him, he just shrugged and carried on piling bacon onto his plate.

"So come on!" Lavender grinned; her eyes were like a vulture's, scavenging for something, anything juicy. Hermione remained silent but she looked up from her dinner and raised an eyebrow at the two girls. For their first time in their empty heads something clicked and but they didn't stop trying to pump her for information.

"Come on Granger, every girl in this hall wants to know how you managed to pull Draco." Pavarti's tone was sneering and Hermione froze. Draco was sat on the bench behind them and he turned at the insult.

"Because she's fucking amazing in bed." He whispered and the two Gryffindor girls froze. "Much better than you Brown, Crabbe told me about you." He winked and turned back to his own dinner. However the shock of the two girls wore off and they turned to Harry instead.

"So Pansy pug-faced Parkinson huh?" Lavender sneered, but Harry's temper was even shorter than Hermione's and his wand pressed into Lavender's knee under the table.

"Ask me one more question Brown I dare you." He growled and growing pale faced, the girl hustled her friend past Seamus and Dean to the other end of the table throwing dirty looks at the three.

"Thanks Harry." Hermione whispered digging into her dinner.

"Not just for you. That Lavender has been driving me up the wall since you got caught with Draco." Harry smiled, happily scoffing roast potatoes now they weren't being bothered. Well that was until Ginny plopped herself down in the space two girls' had recently vacated.

"All of your relationships have driven me round the twist. Do not look at me like that Ron, I am your sister, your ex-girlfriend" She had switched to Harry, "and your best friend." She turned to Hermione. "I can't believe you never told me!" She raised an eyebrow and gave each an expectant stare. "About any of it!" She hissed as she saw Lavender and Pavarti leaning towards them.

"Well…" They all began before staring at one another.

"How are we meant to broach the subject?" Ron grumbled, stuffing his face with more chipolata sausages.

"You told me it was a potion!" Ginny murmured.

"Oh yeah, the one Krum sent me? Well how else would you like to know that people around you have been struck by lightning and suddenly have the power to turn any pureblood into a puddle of lust?!" Hermione was whispering, her words were quick and quiet.

As dinner finished Ron spotted Astoria and Pansy by the statue of Salazaar Slytherin and bounded over to them pulling Astoria into his arms, her lips meeting his instantly. When people started to slow down and stare Pansy waved them one with a menacing wave of her wand.

"What are you staring at Weaslette?" She snarled as Ginny waited at the edges.

"My brother Parkinson, you should remember that we're related, you've taunted us long enough." Ginny snapped back and Harry stepped between the two.

"Pansy, be nice." Harry murmured, stroking her arm as a means to calm her. "Ginny knows everything." He whispered, pulling her back into the shadows and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Can we all just calm down." Draco's smooth voice came from the doorway.

"I still can't believe it." Ginny sighed. "I can't believe that Mione, you hooked up with Malfoy, after all the shit he put you through." She sighed then turned to the scowling blonde. "You hurt her, forget Harry, forget Ron. I will personally make your life hell." Her features were twisted into a scowl and Draco smiled slightly.

"I wouldn't dare. You wouldn't find my body if I ever hurt her, she'd have killed me beforehand." He grinned cheekily and Hermione laughed as well.

"Too bloody right." She mumbled under her breath but allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. Finally Ginny turned to Astoria who was now ensconced in firmly in Ron's arms and had thankfully stopped kissing him.

"I think to you Astoria I have to say welcome to the family…even if your taste in guys is somewhat doubtful." She pulled a face. "Really… out of all my brothers you chose Ron?!" She shook her head and she looked at the three couples in front of her. "Summers' are going to be nauseating aren't they!" She groaned. Hermione laughed again.

"No they won't Gin."

"Draco!" Blaise came flying down the corridor, skidding to a stop in front of the group. "We've got problems. Your dad is at the front door!"

Additional: Cliffie ;)