They arrived at George's to hear cheers and the sound of a cork popping out of a bottle. Draco and Hermione were promptly showered with champagne—to Hermione's dismay—along with the rest of the small crowd that had turned up in George and Angelina's apartment.

Despite Hermione's disgruntlement, Draco laughed freely, his mouth turned up in a happy, free smile, and Hermione couldn't help smiling herself once she saw it.

"To Ginny!" Lee Jordan cheered.

"Ginny!" the rest of them cheered in response.

The redhead in question grinned happily as she accepted a butterbeer from her husband.

"Want any butterbeer?" Draco asked Hermione, pulling her in for a kiss.

She nodded. "Please."

"I'll go grab you one," he said with a small squeeze of her arm.

Music started playing, and Hermione grinned, looking around. George had dressed up the apartment with green and yellow streamers—the team colors of the Holyhead Harpies. Soon enough everybody was laughing and shouting and even dancing.

Her eyes caught on Ron and Claire—who were standing across the room near the hallway, and they appeared to be arguing. Ron was shaking his head sullenly while Claire made dramatic motions with her hands.

Hermione frowned.

Finally, Ron threw his hands up and stormed out of the room, down the hallway toward the bedrooms. Claire looked as if she wanted to cry, and promptly dropped down on one of the black couches in the living room area.

She glanced around the room, looking for Draco. He was deep in conversation with George, who held two butterbeers in his hand. They were both laughing. Figuring he would be fine on his own for a few minutes, she slipped away and followed after Ron down the hallway.

"Ron?" she called, as the noise of the party faded behind her. There was one door open, casting light into the dark hallway. She entered the room. It was George's work room and office, and Ron sat dejectedly in the a very cushioned spinning chair. "Hey," she greeted as she approached him.

He glanced up at her. "What do you want?" he muttered.

She sat on the desk beside him, ignoring his attitude. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," he responded, sitting back into the chair. "Go back to the party with your precious Death Eater."

She bristled. "Don't be like that. I came here to make sure you were okay. I saw you fighting with Claire. What happened? Are you two doing…alright?"

He sighed heavily as he rubbed his hand over his face. "I guess."

"You guess? What were you fighting about?"

"She's always on my case," he grumbled. "She's just really insecure sometimes."

"Is it because of Lavender?"

He looked up at her in surprise before frowning. "It's none of your business."

She shrugged. "Maybe not, but I'm your best friend, and I just am trying to look out for you. If you want to talk about it, I'm here."

He said nothing, just stared at the ground.

"How is she? Lavender, I mean? I hear she's living in isolation."

His shoulders seemed to sag even farther. He was silent for a moment before nodding sadly. "Yeah. She lives out on the moors. She never sees or talks to anyone."

"Because of her…affliction? Why not? She can still be a functional member of society, even if she is a werewolf. Look at Remus—he was a teacher at Hogwarts, for crying out loud."

He sat forward and put his face in his hands, rubbing his face again. "I know. That's what I tell her, but she won't listen."

"Have you seen her this month yet?"

He glanced up at her with a frown. "How do you know about that?"

She shrugged and offered him a small smile. "Ginny."

Ron rolled his eyes. "My sister is so nosy."

"Yes, but she's only that way because she cares. And so do I. Tell me what's going on."

Ron studied her for a moment as if trying to decide whether he wanted to discuss it or not. Finally, he caved. "I'm still in love with her."

"Oh, Ron," she sighed. "Then why are you dating another woman?"

He leaned back in his chair. "Because Lavender won't be with me."

"Why ever not?"

"She says she can't have a functional relationship with her…condition. She says it's hopeless. She wants me to get married and have children, and she says that's an impossible future for her."

"Because she's a werewolf?"

He nodded sullenly.

"Look at Teddy! His dad was a werewolf and he's perfectly fine. She can still have children—it doesn't matter if she is a werewolf."

"I know! I know, but she won't listen to me. I can't reason with her."

"But you still go out there every month anyway," she said with a small smile.

"I don't want her to be alone all the time. She gets really down after her transformation. I go out there to cheer her up—take care of her."

Hermione tilted her head to the side. "Are you cheating on Claire?"

Ron's eyes widened. "No! Merlin, no. No, I wouldn't do that." He shook his head. "Lav wouldn't give me the time of day anyhow. Romantically, I mean. She always tells me not to come back. I tell her I'll see her next month each time. It doesn't matter to me. I'll always take care of her."

Hermione's heart warmed at Ron's words. He was so kind and caring. She had forgotten how deeply he could love sometimes. She was glad Lavender had him.

"So what about Claire?"

"What about her?" Ron asked, tiredly.

"Are you just going to string her along while you pine for another woman?"

He took on a hopeless expression. "I'm not trying to. I do like Claire. She's sweet and she always cheers me up. I just…I'm just trying to move on. That's what Lav always tells me to do."

"I don't think it's fair to Claire," Hermione said quietly.

Ron looked at her sadly before nodding. "Probably not. But what else am I supposed to do?"

Hermione shrugged. "You could present Lavender with the facts. We could compile a report of the actual stats—the statistics of having a family and being a functional member of society. Lots of werewolves do it. We could even contact someone from the Werewolf Bureau and find her a support group of kinds. I doubt living in isolation has done much for her sense of hope."

The corner of Ron's lips turned up in a smile. "Research? You're proposing we do research. Of course you are," he said with a small laugh.

"Hey, it might work," she laughed.

He sighed. "I hadn't thought about getting her in touch with other werewolves."

Hermione nodded. "Let's get her a good support system. Reinstate her sense of hope. Then maybe she'll finally give you a chance." She smiled at him.

His eyes lit up and he nodded. "Alright."

"But in the mean time…you should probably break up with Claire."

He grimaced. "Yeah, you're right…"

"It's just not fair to her, you know?"

"I know." He paused for a moment before looking up at her and smiling. "Thanks, Hermione. I forgot what a good friend you are."

She laughed. "Oh, thanks."

"No, I just meant that—I forgot how you're always trying to help people. It's been so long."

"Yeah it has," she said with a nod.

"I really am sorry for how I treated you after we broke up."

"Thank you."

"I was just really bitter about it."

She laughed again. "I could tell."

"It's only because I knew you were right. We didn't…it just didn't work between us, you know?"

"I do know."

He bit his cheek as if he wanted to say something.

She rolled her eyes, dropping down from the desk back onto her feet. "Go ahead, say it. What?"

"It's just…Malfoy? Really?"

"Draco is a really lovely man, Ron. I wish you'd give him the chance to prove it to you."

His nose wrinkled up in disgust. "How can you trust him?"

"Because he's earned it. You know, he has a hard enough life right now without you making it even more difficult for him. I wish you'd just let yourself see past your bias and get to know him. He's a new man, Ron. And more importantly, he makes me very happy. That alone should be reason for you to give him a chance. Don't you want me to be happy?"

"Of course I do," he said, leaning forward. "That's why I don't like him! Because I think you deserve better, Mione. You deserve the whole world. You deserve the best man there is on this planet. I don't think anyone can measure up to you!"

She laughed. "That's very sweet. But the man I want to fill that roll is Draco. You have to accept that."

He frowned. "I guess."

"No, you do."

He sighed. "And what if he's lying about everything? What if he's playing you? What then?"

"Then I'll kick his arse," Hermione laughed. "And I'll formally invite you to join in, if that makes you feel any better. But you're not even giving him a chance to prove you wrong!"

"He's so annoying though," he grumbled.

She nodded with a smile. "He is a little bit annoying at times, yes. But nobody's perfect," she chuckled. "Although in my opinion, he comes pretty close."

"Ugh," he said, rolling his eyes.

"All I'm asking is that you treat him civilly and stop pouting all the time."

He made a noncommittal sound.

She folded her arms and gave him a stern look. "You know, some people would say that you shouldn't date Lavender. You probably shouldn't have anything to do with her. Her kind is dangerous."

His sulky frown immediately turned angry. "She's not dangerous!" he insisted.

"Werewolves have a history of being dangerous creatures," she told him. "They attack others and oftentimes spread the infection. You could get hurt."

He shook his head, his frown deepening further. "Lavender's not like that. She keeps her condition under control. She would never hurt anyone! She's not like that!"

"Says you," she told him in a tone that sounded unconvinced.

He looked incredibly insulted. "You don't even know her, Hermione! She's kind and she's loving and she's generous. You don't know her! She's not like she was in Hogwarts. She's a different person now, she's grown up. She's very responsible, and she's—" His eyes widened. "Oh."

She grinned victoriously, looking very much like the cat that got the canary. "Yes-oh."

He sank further into his seat. "Damn. I hate it when you do that."

"Use your own argument against you, you mean?"

He huffed. "Maybe you should have been in Slytherin," he grumbled.

She sighed victoriously.

"Fine," he said. "Fine. I'm still not happy about it, mind you. But we'll see if you're right about him or not."

She arched an eyebrow. "Good. And I want you to be nice to him."

"Fine, but if he calls me Weasel again, I'm going to punch him in the face."

"He won't call you that if you treat him like a human being. For godsakes, we're all adults. It's time to act like it."

"Yeah, yeah…"

"Why don't you come join us back at the party?"

He made a pouty face. "Alright."

She held out a hand and when he accepted it, she pulled him up. She began to walk away, but he grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Mione?"

"Yes?"

He smiled. "Thanks. I really did miss you. I'm glad you're safe and that you're here. I love you." He pushed a stray curl behind her ear and she smiled.

"I missed you too, Ron, and I love you, too." She pulled him into a hug.

He hugged her back and sighed, then released her and smiled.

"Come on, let's get back out there before Draco comes looking for—" she turned towards the door and jumped to see Draco leaning in the doorway with a thoughtful expression on his face and a dangerous glint in his eye.

"Malfoy!" Ron said, sounding as startled as Hermione felt.

"Weasley," he drawled, sounding the name out slowly.

Ron frowned at him as if he was confused before glancing back at Hermione. "It…er…I'll just…go…" He tried to walk past Draco, but Draco was taking up most of the doorway. Ron ended up leaning up against the opposite doorframe to squeeze past the blonde, who remained still, not making it easy for the redhead to pass, and not taking his eyes off Hermione.

Hermione shook her head as Ron disappeared down the hall. "Really? Was that really necessary?" she asked with a wry smile.

"Just making sure he knows where I stand." He eyed her carefully. "Looks like you and Weasley were having a rather…serious discussion."

She scoffed. "Jealous, are you? Please. That is so unnecessary."

He approached her slowly, his expression guarded. "I hope so."

"Draco Malfoy, you are jealous, aren't you? Oh my god!" she grinned.

He grabbed her tightly by the waist and pulled her against him, his eyes glinting playfully. "I'm allowed to get jealous sometimes. Especially when I walk in to you and your ex boyfriend saying you love one another."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You know it wasn't like that."

He brushed his nose against hers. "I know nothing."

"There's something I never thought I would hear," she teased.

He kissed her forcefully. She kissed him right back, feeling her stomach flutter.

He moved them backwards until she was pressed up against George's desk, and he lifted her up onto it, pulling her flush against him. She gasped at the sudden arousal that washed through her.

He wasn't smiling, and his demeanor felt dangerous, but she couldn't quite tell if he was angry or not—which only served to turn her on further.

"Feeling possessive, are we?" she teased, her eyes fluttering closed as he brushed his lips against her neck.

"I've been known to have my moments," he whispered.

Her breathing faltered. Merlin's beard, how could she be so aroused by such a primitive idea as jealousy?

"You have…" she swallowed. "Nothing to worry about."

"I know," he whispered as his lips grazed her ear.

She shivered. "You're the only one I want," she whispered.

He gripped her thighs and pulled her hard against him. She could feel his arousal through their clothes, and her heartbeat increased.

"Tell me more," he breathed.

She could orgasm from his voice alone. "I only want you, Draco," she told him. "I love you, I adore you, you're the only man I want."

"You want me?" he asked, pressing soft kisses along her jaw.

Her breath hitched. "Yes," she gasped. And it was true. "Yes, I want you. I always want you."

He pulled her harder against him and a soft moan escaped her lips. She waved her hand and the door slammed closed before locking.

"Did you just…perform wandless magic so we could shag in somebody else's house?" Draco asked in amusement, his breath tickling her skin. "Merlin, that's sexy."

She grabbed his face and kissed him hard. "Shut up and kiss me," she said, her eyes still closed.

And he did.

Spoiler: Pranks up ahead in the next chapter! ;)