"Pass the salt, please," Draco said to Ron.

Ron's nose wrinkled and he gave Draco a look that could kill.

"Get your own salt," he growled and stabbed viciously at a cooked carrot on his plate. Draco smirked and leaned back regally in his chair.

"Mrs. Weasley… Ron won't pass the salt," Draco said loudly.

"Ronald!" Molly said warningly.

Ron snatched at the salt shaker and deposited it with a deafening thunk that made Draco's silverware rattle.

"Thank you," Draco said smugly.

He was obviously relishing the effect he created as he happily sprinkled the seasoning on his stewed potatoes. Harry rolled his eyes and went back to his conversation with Ginny.

"Lovely night, isn't it?" Draco continued.

Malcolm nodded, watching the exchange with curiosity. Draco took a slow bite as he looked up at the stars twinkling above them.

"Harry!"

A small boy with shocking purple hair was tumbling across the yard toward them. Harry barely had time to turn around in his seat before the boy flung his arms around Harry's neck.

"Hi, Teddy," Harry greeted him with a small hug.

"Guess what, Harry!"

"What?" Harry asked with a smile broadening on his face.

"Grandma says we're going to the Quidditch World Cup!" he said, nearly vibrating with excitement.

"Is that so?" Harry asked him with an unmistakable wink at Ginny. She grinned back.

Teddy nodded and caught sight of Draco. He stared wide-eyed at him for a moment and Draco had a curiously bewildered expression on his face. Then Teddy squeezed his eyes shut hard. Right before Malcolm thought the kid might lay a large egg right there on the lawn, there was a small grunt and the purple hair on his head turned a shining white blonde. Draco nearly tumbled out of his seat in shock. Malcolm was overcome with admiration and he began clapping. Everyone started laughing and Ron slapped a hand to his forehead.

"Show off," Harry said and Teddy giggled. He ran around the table and took an empty spot next to Draco.

"Hi! What's your name?" he piped up. Draco cringed as far as he could away from him until he was almost sitting in Malcolm's chair, staring at the kid with a horrified expression on his face. Malcolm was still laughing.

"My name is Teddy. I haven't seen you before. Do you like salamanders? I have a pet salamander. His name is Gary-" Teddy began babbling at Draco, seeing as Draco was apparently not participating in this conversation due to pure shock.

Hermione lifted her nose out of her notes and grinned at Ron, who was coming around enough to look somewhat pleased as the tide turned.

"I always liked that kid," he could be heard telling everyone.

But Teddy only had eyes for Draco as he chatted nonstop about Gary the Salamander.

"You are seriously freaking me out," Draco said in a strangled voice with a large gulp. Teddy gave him a somber look as Molly spooned food onto his plate.

"When Garry gets freaked out he sets on fire," Teddy nodded as if he understood how Draco felt. Draco's jaw dropped in horror and Malcolm gave Teddy a thumbs up.

"Teddy, leave your cousin alone for a minute so he can finish eating," said a low voice. A tall woman with dark hair and heavy lidded eyes was settling down next to Molly.

Draco looked even more horror struck by her presence. Andromeda gave him a haughty nod of the head and turned her attention to Molly who was asking how she was. Malcolm gave in and felt for Draco's hand under the table. The tight grip he received back told him everything he needed to know.

But he was still having the greatest time he had ever had in his entire life.