Chapter 28
The Plotters Overheard
North Stands, Bodmin Moor Stadium
"We're going to win this time I can feel it" Ron said eagerly staring out at the empty pitch bouncing Hugo on his lap "I read that Dorkins has introduced a new training regime and let's face it Gudgeon has never been flying better"
"You mean he might actually stay on his broom this time" Lavender smirked
"Oh haha" Ron said kissed his wife "Cheer up Perce" he said to his brother who was sitting morosely on the other side of Lavender "The Winbourne Wasps chasers are alright, I reckon you might be in there when they drown their sorrows"
"Ron" Lavender hissed in a 'don't you think it might be too soon to say stuff like that kind of way'
Percy continued to stare at the floor silently tearing up his programme.
"Maybe he wasn't ready to come out" Ginny whispered from the other side of Ron
"So we should have just left him to stew in his own misery" Ron muttered "Nah, at least this way he can experience actual sunlight again"
"Hey you think Neville and Luna are ever going to show up?" Harry said
"They'll be here" Ginny said "The match doesn't start for another twenty minutes and it was only Hermione who said she couldn't make it"
Sure enough Neville and Luna could soon be seen making their way along the stands to the Weasleys
"Luna can I talk to you?" Ginny said yanking her friend's elbow from the stands as soon as the Longbottoms reached them. Luna looked startled at the lack of greeting but consented to be dragged through the excited Chudley Cannons fans nevertheless.
Ginny led her to the wooden covered stairs which at this moment were thankfully empty and looked round furtively like a meerkat to see if anyone was lurking in the shadows.
"Did Hermione tell you?" she asked in a hush whisper.
"Tell me what Ginny, I must say you're being very secretive." Luna said thoroughly confused "Is this about Percy getting depressed because his wife dumped him, because Ron already told us about that."
"No it's about Narcissa Malfoy. Did Hermione tell you?"
"Oh yes." Luna said serenely.
"Well…well aren't you worried?" Ginny spluttered "What if she tells? What was Hermione thinking letting her into the pact?"
"Not really" Luna shrugged referring the first question "Hermione knows Mrs Malfoy much better than we do and she says we can trust her."
"I suppose so but I still don't feel good about this" Ginny conceded "I know the woman saved Harry during the final battle and for that I will be eternally grateful but she's still a Malfoy for Merlin's sake"
"But if she's taking the pills too then she's just as much as risk for taking contraception." Luna reasoned "She'll go to Azkaban with the rest of us."
"I still don't like it" Ginny said with a dark look "I mean we can tell Narcissa Malfoy but not our own husbands?"
Luna face hardened "That's different Mrs Malfoy is a woman, the men wouldn't understand."
Ginny looked as though she didn't entirely agree with this assessment but a musical trumpet sounded signalling the start of the pre-game presentations and so they returned to their seats.
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Ministry of Magic
"Well if nobody has any other items of business I think we can wrap this up" Amos Diggory said concluding the monthly meeting of the Being Division "Except to say that for those of you haven't heard I would like to offer my congratulations to Kenneth Towler who has been promoted to the Gringotts Liason Officer in the Goblin Liason Office"
There was a smattering of polite applause and Towler looked pleased but slightly uncomfortable at the attention. Several people congratulated him and those sitting nearby shook his hand
"For those of us have worked with Kenneth I'm sure you'll agree that it is well deserved" Diggory concluded "And now I think I can hear all your stomachs grumbling to I will release you for lunch"
A few people chuckled. Hermione who had sat at the far end of the long oak table got up quickly to catch Towler as he left the meeting room.
"Congratulations Kenneth" She said
Towler looked at her suspiciously "Thank you" he said warily "You're not after more gold for your Wolfsbane Project because I don't think the goblins would be particularly amenable to that particular cause."
Hermione sighed "No I'm not; I was just offering my congratulations. Really you deserved it." she said honestly.
Towler still looked as though he did not believe her.
"Look, I know we didn't get off to the best start. Carrying out the same job at the same level probably didn't help matters" Hermione said pushing her hair behind her ears "But clearly the department has enough room for both of us to build our careers so I thought we could have a fresh beginning."
Towler shuffled awkwardly "I suppose so" he agreed eventually shifting his eyes from side to side "A few of us are going to The Leaky Cauldron after work, you can come…if you like."
"Oh actually some friends of my husband are having a dinner party tonight, but maybe next week?" Hermione suggested brightly.
Towler's face fell a little "Yeah maybe" he said dispassionately and walked off.
Hermione gave a heavy sigh. It was a little lonely sometimes working on her own in Werewolf Support Services and given that she would rather eat slugs than socialise with Henry St James again she had begun to approach her other former colleague. However trying to talk to Towler about something that didn't revolve around work was a little like drawing blood from a stone. He was a little like Percy in that regard she reflected.
At the end of the corridor outside Hermione's office was something that put her in a far better mood, Luna.
"Hello Hermione" sang the ever ethereal witch "I brought grindylow sandwiches."
"Yum" Hermione smiled as she rolled her eyes "Come on in."
Hermione cleared a space at her desk and transfigured her normal visitor's chair into a stuffed comfy armchair for Luna to sit on before they tucked into their lunch.
"They're not really the best filling for sandwiches" Hermione commented as she picked up a slimy tentacle that had slipped out in-between the bread and onto her desk.
Luna shrugged "The Vietnamese eat them with rice and chopsticks. According to Rolf it's meant to be quite delicious" she said "But I've never used chopsticks before."
"How's Neville?" Hermione asked politely.
Luna looked down and it struck Hermione that she almost seemed sad "I'm not sure really. He spends so much time studying for his Auror exams that I see him almost as little as you."
"What are you talking about Luna? We see each other all the time." Hermione frowned.
"Well yes to exchange the pills but I can't remember the last time we just hung out" Luna said "You didn't come to Seamus' New Year's Party or Audrey's baby shower or Ron's birthday party. With Snape and your new job, you're just never around anymore Hermione."
Hermione began to feel guilty as she recognised the truth of Luna's words "I guess I have been busy lately" she admitted.
"It's not your fault Hermione, we're all really proud of how you are helping the werewolves" Luna said "And clearly things are going better with Snape."
"Why do you say that?"
Luna smiled "Last week you passed up the chance to go to Professor Lima's lecture on leithfolds with Rolf and I because Snape had bought a new cauldron and you wanted to see it in practice. Plus you're glowing."
Hermione blushed "Well that's still no excuse, I'll try to be a better friend I promise" she said "We'll go dinner on Friday and I'll shut up and you can tell me all about what's going on between you and Neville."
"I told you nothing's going on with me and Neville."
"Luna" Hermione chided "I may not be that present at the moment but I know you two are unhappy."
"Well I don't see how that's really any of your business Hermione" Luna snapped uncharacteristically coldly.
"Well it's not but I thought you could use someone to talk to" Hermione countered.
Luna shifted in her seat uncomfortably and very deliberately did not look at Hermione "I already have someone to talk to" she said eventually "I better be going."
"Wait I have your contraception" Hermione said as Luna got up. "Do you know when Ginny next has a Hogsmeade weekend?"
"Well there was the one last weekend when she came to a quidditch game with us" Luna said pointedly "But you didn't come to that either."
Hermione ignored the jibe not wanting to further upset Luna "Rats I'll have to ask Narcissa to deliver it when I give her share."
Luna said she guessed so and said a stiff goodbye before leaving the office at a brisk pace as Hermione wondered whether it was Ginny or Rolf that Luna was confiding in.
The Spinel Room, Malfoy Manor
Hermione accepted a chalice of elf made wine that her husband brought over "Ophelia Zabini is here" she nodded toward the glamorous witch who was chatting merrily to Tiberius Ogden, stroking the elderly wizard's arm in the process.
"Hmm, it seems as though Blaise will soon have a new stepfather" Severus observed.
"Don't you want to go and say hello?" Hermione challenged.
"Not really I find I'm quite enjoying the view from here" Severus said looking at Hermione.
She felt herself getting warm but stared back "Do you think it would be rude to leave at this hour?"
Severus looked a little surprised and Hermione was pleased at the effect. He glanced at the grandfather clock which showed that it had barely gone past half nine.
"I think we can risk it" he muttered and Hermione beamed as he put his hand on her lower back and led her through the throngs of guests.
They were quickly caught however by Narcissa Malfoy.
"Oh honestly you are not leaving already?" she cried.
"Unfortunately some of actually have to work in the morning" Severus replied.
"The pair of you seem to need more sleep than Draco did as an infant" Narcissa said crossly "And besides you cannot leave as I have yet to show Hermione the tapestries."
Severus rolled his eyes impatiently "Well I'm sure you can show them another time. I doubt they are in danger of going bad."
"Actually Severus I did make Mrs Malfoy promise to show me her Plantagenet tapestries. It would be terribly rude to leave without seeing them."
Narcissa smirked triumphantly and Severus grunted in disapproval. Hermione reached up and kissed his cheek "I'll be back in twenty minutes" she promised.
"I'm sorry Narcissa" Hermione said as the two women quickly left the main party for a deserted side room until the clinking of glasses and soft chatter of guests could only be heard in the distance.
Narcissa laughed "It's quite alright dear, I remember being a newlywed."
Hermione blushed again, she felt as though she was doing that far too often these days. She pulled out a couple of boxes from her beaded handbag and handed them to Narcissa.
"Remember to stick to schedule and to…"
"Let you know if I experience any side effects" Narcissa interrupted "Yes I know Hermione, you said so the last time."
"It's just that muggle women usually meet with an actual medical professional before taking oral contraception and I'd hate for anything to happen to you just because we haven't been as careful" Hermione replied.
Narcissa gave Hermione an almost motherly smile before contorting her face so it seemed to resemble the hard surface of a diamond "Hermione I don't care if they turn me green and I break out in purple spots, as long as they work."
"There's one more thing I've already given Luna her share but Ginny doesn't have a Hogsmeade weekend for a while and I rather not owl them." Hermione said.
"So you would like me to deliver Mrs Potter's portion when I attend the Governor's meeting next week" Narcissa surmised.
"Would you?" Hermione pleaded.
"I suppose although I shall blame you personally if that little witch attempts to hex me."
Third Corridor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"Daddy says George could make a vault of gold if he worked for Gringotts and I agree. Georgie has such a talent for business" Romilda said as she walked back from Charms with her sister-in-law "I don't know why he wastes his time with that little joke shop. It's so childish"
Ginny wondered as they passed a large window if McGonagall would buy "It was horrible, she just tripped and fell out Professor, there was nothing I could do."
Instead she settled for saying "Yes but George likes working in a joke shop."
Romilda shrugged "I suppose and I guess it does bring in a little money. You're right, as long as Georgie's happy, I'm happy."
Ginny snorted knowing that Romilda knew full well her husband was rolling in gold. Miraculously at least from Ginny's point of view, her school bag ripped and her books and quills tumbled onto the stone flags.
"Oh no" Romilda cried in obviously fake sympathy.
"It's ok" Ginny said brightly bending down to pick everything up "You go on ahead, I'll catch up" and was delighted as she was left alone.
"You really ought to be more careful Mrs Potter" a cold voice said and Mrs Malfoy emerged from the shadows twirling her wand.
Ginny quickly covered her startled expression and began to magically fix her bag "What are you doing here?" she said sharply.
"A governor's meeting" Narcissa replied regally "Lucius is in St Petersburg on business so I am filling in in his stead."
Ginny rolled her eyes that somehow the Malfoys were still on the school board of governors "I see and you thought you'd take the opportunity to insult those you consider beneath you, even if my husband did save your pathetic son's life during the final battle."
Narcissa gave a patronising smile "Merely a bonus I'm afraid. I am actually here to pass on something from a mutual friend of ours" and she handed Ginny two boxes of oral contraception.
Ginny took them gingerly "Oh yes, Hermione mentioned she had let you in to the pact although Luna and I can't imagine why"
Narcissa raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow "That I would surmise is obvious, I am a woman and affected just as much by this law as you."
"That doesn't mean I trust you."
Daily Prophet Offices, Diagon Alley
Detective X felt a surge of triumph as they tapped frantically away at the old typewriter in the deserted offices of the Daily Prophet. It was eleven o'clock at night and the rest of the staff had gone home hours ago allowing the reporter to work undisturbed and in secret.
Rain lashed at the windows as they wrote their biggest expose since they had discovered the scandal at St Mungo's. Detective X looked at the ticking clock and hit the keys faster knowing they would have to finish their article quickly if they were not to be late for dinner with the in-laws.
Honestly they wondered what had the two women been thinking speaking about it so openly in public where anybody could overhear. 'Yes' Detective X grinned maliciously 'Madams Snape, Potter, Malfoy and Longbottom were practically begging to be caught'
So Detective X knows about the contraception pact but how did they find out?
Please review and let me know what you think, a new chapter will be coming soon.
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