A/N: Hello all, how is everyone during this lockdown of the world? I hope everyone is safe and thriving in our new normal of Netflix and wait. I have been working on this chapter for a while, and in my original idea, this was not what was supposed to happen. This was to be the engagement party chapter. All the pretty frills, but I forget, I am not that kind of person, so frills this is not. What this is, is way more than even I had bargained. I wrote the bulk of this chapter during CA lockdown, at 3 AM. Let me just tell you, 3 AM me has way more ideas than 4 PM me does. I had always had an idea of where I wanted to go with Rodolphus, his regret is so strong, it overtakes him most of the time. Same with Bella, but as she is not home yet, she will come soon. I just finished this chapter, it's currently 3:22 AM and I haven't read through this chapter more than to fix spelling errors. I hope it makes sense, I hope you enjoy it and I hope I can continue this streak of a chapter before the of the year. I hope you are all safe, if you are an essential worker, thank you for all that you do.
Peace, Love, & Slyther,
Gimi aka Jess
Chapter 20
"Hermione," Harry talked through the door as the music wafted up the stairs and down the hall towards him.
"Hermione get out here."
"I've changed my mind," Her distorted voice came from under the door. "Harry, tell everyone to go home."
Harry chuckled and knocked again, "Hermione, come on. Narcissa and Andy are waiting for you."
"Harry… I… I can't," Hermione's door cracked open and her dark head peeked around the side.
Harry could see the nerves on her face. "Hermione?" He pushed the door slowly, allowing time for Hermione to stop him. When she didn't, he walked in and clicked it shut.
"Harry, what am I doing?" Hermione asked as she began to pace the path in front of her large bed, "How did this happen? How am I here?"
Harry looked on at his best friend in her deep blue dress that sparkled like the night sky, her black hair pinned half up and cascading down her back. She looked beautiful but was clearly breaking again.
"Hermione-" Harry began. She looked up at him, her blue-grey eyes shining from the tears threatening to fall.
"Harry, this can't be real. Maybe I've been dosed with a potion. Maybe there was some effect from the cruciatus curse and the real me is in a coma in St. Mungos? Maybe I'm dead." Harry growled in anger at that thought, and Hermione refocused her eyes on her friend, "How else do you explain how I, Hermione Granger, muggleborn know it all. The girl who had painted the bullseye on her own back, how could I be this pureblood princess?"
"Hermione stop rambling," Harry said calmly, "You've always been this person, as a Granger and as a LeStrange. You haven't changed…" Harry looked over her dress again and chuckled, "Well, your wardrobe has, but you, your brain and you, as a person, that has not. You know that, why are you-"
"Freaking out?" Hermione finished his question. Harry nodded and she sighed looking into the full-length mirror, "Because while I have grown accustomed to my new features. No one outside of our friends and families has. I stand tall when I walk the streets of Diagon Alley or go to the ministry, but I'd be lying if I said the looks I get or even when I glimpse myself in the morning, I'd be lying if I said I didn't still jump occasionally. And everyone down there... This is my first official debut as Lyra LeStrange. It's weird feeling like the real me is buried under this face that I no longer recognize as me. As Hermione. I can't take comfort or be confident in myself because there are days I literally can't recognize myself and it scares me."
Harry nodded, "It's like you don't know what they think of you, whether bad or good, they have this expectation of you and you're unsure if you can live up to it."
Hermione nodded, "But unlike you, my family is dark. So those people will be polite to my face, in fear or possibly suspicion, but I can never truly trust them. It's like Padma. I once considered her a friend, an ally. But with this change in blood status and family, she considers me an enemy. Because I didn't disown the lot of them."
Harry sighed, "Hermione-"
The door creaked open, "Hermione Granger, stop punishing yourself for things outside your control," Ron's voice reached her ears before she saw his ginger head. Hermione looked up just in time to see him walk through the door, in his crisp black dress robes and blue dickie bow. His hair, shorter than the last time she had seen him, was slicked back and slightly curled at the ends and a faint scar above the left eyebrow. Overall, he was her Ron.
"Hermio- omph!" Ron huffed as she launched herself into his arms, pushing the last bit of air out of his body.
"I'm so happy you're here Ron," She whispered, looking into his blue eyes, relaxing at his familiar touch. "I know you'd rather be anywhere but-"
"Hermione," Ron said, cutting her off, he gave her a stiff smile, "I can't say this is where I want to be, but I told you I would try. I will always be here for you, the best way I can. I won't ever leave you again."
Hermione sniffled and nodded, understanding what he meant. Hermione felt the weight of her world lighten slightly at the sight of her former fiance, she still felt the lingering feelings of sadness, but they had lessened considerably since she had decided to look more into her feelings of Thorfinn. She always assumed there would always be something between her and Ron, but that was expected, they had been friends for most of their lives before they became lovers, they would be after. That was one thing she could see now, now that he was here, in her new home. Ron Weasley would always be there for her.
Harry stood next to his friends, reminded of all the times they have been together, solid, united. They had been with him through it all, even willing to die for him, he would be there for both of them. He slid his hand into Hermione's and gave her a smile. Ron did the same with the other.
Hermione looked at their linked fingers and finally felt like the Hermione she had been missing. Like the piece that had been missing all these months had finally settled into place. The missing piece that was Ronald Weasley. There were many different types of soulmates, she had decided, Harry and Ron were so deeply ingrained in her life, without them, she felt as though a limb was missing. While Ron was gone, healing, she felt incomplete. Now, she finally felt like herself.
Ron opened the door and looked at Hermione for confirmation. Taking a breath and standing straight, she nodded and the trio left her room. Hand in hand, just like their youth.
OoOoOoO
The party was only beginning, but Hermione would tell it would be the event of the year for the Wizarding World. She could hear the chatter of the room below them as they walked over to the staircase. Floating candles, reminiscent of Bill and Fleur's wedding, were dancing in the air, with tiny twinkles, which Hermione could only imagine were a modified Weasley wildfire whizbang. Hermione smiled, knowing that George and Charlie were slightly afraid of Andromeda and very wary of Narcissa, not to mention their own mother, so the fireworks would behave, unlike Percy's engagement party where… let's just say, the fireworks display was definitely something to be remembered. So was the maroon of Percy's face.
The smell of peonies filled the air. Narcissa was unsure of the simple flower, wanting something more fitting. Flowers had meanings, after all, it was more than sweet-smelling or pretty. Flowers were a description of you, of your family. Hermione, while understanding the language of flowers, was important to the Malfoy family and even her own. Hermione was a Granger as well, and peonies were her muggle mother's favourite. Hermione would not budge and for once, Narcissa conceded.
At the bottom of the stairs stood her father and her fiance, along with her aunts and uncle. Thorfinn turned his glacial blue eyes towards her as if he could sense her watching him. He glanced over to her side, to Ron and she could feel the redhead stiffen next to her. She squeezed his hand and as he looked over, a fleeting look of remorse flashed across his face before he put a smile on his face and pulled her down the steps.
The noise of the gathering crowd lessened as the trio descended the steps. Hermione Lyra LeStrange was officially coming out to the wizarding world. Thank Merlin her boys were by her side. As Thorfinn stepped forward, Ron brought the hand he was holding to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. Giving her a tight smile and a hug, he whispered his love into her ear before he stepped back and walked over to his family and friends.
Hermione bit the inside of her cheek so hard, the metallic taste of rust began to fill her mouth. She cursed at herself, saying a simple cleaning spell internally, cleansing her palate as Harry also gave her a hug and walked over to his wife.
Thorfinn waited for the men to leave his wife-to-be before he took her hand and held up a single jasmine stem, so delicate between his fingers. Hermione smiled, reminded of their significance. His own reminder to her to never let them see you falter. You are a LeStrange, strength and grace. Twirling her fingers, the single bloom took the shape of a bracelet, which Thorfinn smirked at as he put it on her wrist before pulling her close to his side and sliding her arm around his own, bringing her to the receiving line.
Rodolphus felt himself relax as his daughter stood next to him, the crowd that was mingling in their home was more than he was prepared for when it came to the party. While it had been months since he was released, this was the biggest crowd he had been around. As always, in crowds, he felt the loss of his wand more than normal. His only solace was the wards the Aurors had placed upon the estate prior to the party. On the orders of the Head Auror as well as the Minister of Magic. Both, who were not willing to risk the life of their friend and his daughter. For that, he was grateful. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the Potter boy, his own eyes scanning the crowd and the perimeter. Rodolphus was sure there were Aurors patrolling the grounds as well as within the crowd itself. Even so, Hermione was his calm place, she had that same aura that Bellatrix used to provide him with things like this. He shuddered to think of the last large event he attended. Needless to say, events during his time as a Death Eater were neither refined nor elegant.
Standing between her father and fiance, greeting witches and wizards into their home, Hermione was struck with the feeling of belonging. It wasn't often that she felt included in their world as a whole. She always knew she belonged with her family, her friends. But the wizarding community was always somewhere she had to fight to belong. To prove her worth, that she was beyond just a simple muggleborn. That she deserved to be there, just as much as Harry, as Ron, and even though he denied it in the beginning, as much as Draco. It's like, even though there were people who hated her parents, with good reasons, they still belonged and so did she. It was an odd feeling for sure.
Greeting the guests seemed to take hours, though Hermione knew it was only half-past. Her father was chatting lightly with the guests to the left of her, Thorfinn had been drawing runes on her lower back with one hand. She could see her friends flitting around the family and smiled. She knew exactly what they were doing, showing support for her and her family. United.
"No, Gran, we shouldn't be here," A voice came flooding into the room, from the direction of the floo chamber. The crowd of people fell to the sides as an imposing matriarch advanced upon the hosts. Her grandson, though two feet taller, chased behind her.
Rodolphus looked up and the blood left his head, trying to take a step back, he tripped on the steps and landed at his daughter's feet.
The old witch reached the steps and stared down at the man, Hermione, who had been watching the scene in slow motion, realised that Augusta Longbottom was standing in front of her. The crowd stayed silent as Harry and Ron moved forward, unsure what to do. Knowing what they knew of the older witch, neither really wanted to be on the other side of her wand.
"Rodolphus LeStrange, we meet again,"
OoOoOoO
"Mmm- Madam Longbottom," Rodolphus stuttered, his eyes taking in the witch and her grandson.
"Gran-" Neville had been trying to get his grandmother's attention, to pull her away. The matriarch brandished her wand more quickly than anyone could imagine and shouted.
"Legelmens!"
"NO!" The man screamed as the spell took over. Took him to a place he had tried to hide from.
Please, Save him! Please… the voice of his past screeched through his head, making more noise than when it was real. Rodolphus began to tremble, grabbing onto his daughter's leg, trying to ground himself within the real world and not within the memories of a mad man.
Many things happened at that moment, Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco, with the help of Luna, Ginny, and Daphne, ushered people into the ballroom, leaving the family with Harry and Ron. Both aurors in shock as to what to do next.
As the memories resurfaced within Rodolphus' head.
"Dolph! Please! He's just a baby." Rang through his head. Flashes from a night he'd rather forget. His psychotic brother, an equally crazy Crouch. Frank Longbottom writhing in pain as the duo took turns on torturing the man. He had the sense to send Bella to search the house, in order to mask her fear. He had known his wife had been on edge during their journey to the auror's safe house.
The Longbottoms were distant relations to Bella, the Dark Lord's apparent death had put all his followers on high alert. She had not wanted to follow her husband but knew she must. He remembered the kiss she had dropped on their baby's head like she knew it would be the last time she would see her. Bellatrix had no time for premonition, but she had known. Regret filled his heart as he watched the destruction his family had done to the man.
Knowing he could do nothing to help the man, he had walked upstairs after his wife and began to search for the man's wife, he vaguely remembered the vitriol, the Dark Lord had mentioned about the aurors and their families. For some reason, the Potters and the Longbottoms were high on his priority list. The woman had been a… Prewitt… maybe a Fortesque before marriage. She had come after his time and was not a relation of his, at least not closely.
"Dolph,"
He remembered his wife's voice so clearly from that evening. She had stuck her head out of the room down the hall. Her face was filled with fear, a fear he had never seen before. Quickening his pace, the screams of the man filled the hall, and knowing from unfortunate experience, he knew the end was near for the wizard. Either death or the mind would break. Everyone reached the same point, the breaking point. Longbottom was there.
"Rodolphus, please hurry," Bella cried, her voice breaking as the screams began to dissipate. As he entered the room, his wife placed a silencing and locking spell on the door.
"Bella, what -" He had started and as he turned toward his wife, the blood rushed out of his head. Standing next to her was Alice, holding a sleeping toddler, tears streaming down her face.
"Bella."
"Dolph, we can't let-"
"Bella," Rodolphus interrupted, knowing what she was about to ask, but unsure how to proceed. It was common knowledge that the Longbottoms were in hiding. He didn't expect his brother's foolhardy idea of where the safe house was to pan out, but here they were.
"Dolph, please," Bella said, staring at the little boy. Looked to be the same age as Lyra, maybe a bit younger.
"Bella, how?!" He reasoned. He could see her begin to lose her composure. The famous Black exterior began to crumble as she knew what was to come to the woman and her son.
"Dolph, we can't allow Crouch to find this boy. You know what kind of man he is," Bella said harshly, her hand outstretched to touch the boy's curls. Alice flinched slightly, not knowing the kind of depravity could be in store for her son, but knowing all the same. "Dolph he's no older than Lyra."
"Love, what are we to do?" Rodolphus said looking around, he could feel the wards holding him down, Disapparation, not an option, there was no exit in the room. "How do we explain the man is home in his safehouse, alone? What would we say happened to his wife and child?"
"The- the room next has a floo," Alice whispered, holding her son tight, "Please. My mother-in-law, her home is the only connection to it. Please. My son."
Rodolphus began to think, he could hear the noise from below starting to come up the stairs. Moving quickly he grabbed the women and ran out the door, to the next. Closing the door, he locked it and moved to the floo powder, throwing some in the grate, He called out Longbottom Keep.
He looked back at Alice and held his hands out to her. Her green eyes were glassy with tears. Giving her son one last hug and a kiss, she reluctantly gave him to the man who had come to kill her. She had trusted her son to her enemy.
The flames turned green as he stuck his head into the grate, the uncomfortable feeling of spinning surrounding his ears.
"Madam Longbottom," He shouted once the spinning stopped.
"Please," He said with more urgency. He heard running from a distance and knew he didn't have much time left.
"Who are you!" A man said, pointing a wand at him.
"Algie put the wand down!" An older woman said as she entered the room.
"Who-" She had begun.
"I don't have time." He said he moved closer into the floo, bringing the young boy through, holding him close, keeping as much of the soot out of his face as possible.
"Please take the boy."
Augusta dropped her wand and grabbed her grandson, "Neville? Dear Merlin, Frank-"
The man called Algie began to shout again, but Rodolphus paid him no mind, "I-" He stopped because saying sorry was not enough. In a night, he had a hand in destroying a family. Maybe it was because they were so like his own. His wife, his child. Everything had changed that night. As he stared at the elderly woman cradling her grandson, he had made his… he wasn't even sure what, but all he felt was desperation.
She must have seen the look in his face, seen the emotions he had been so good at disguising for many years, flitter across his face. The woman straightened her shoulders and nodded, knowing there was nothing else she could do. With that, he pulled out of the floo.
As he stood, he siphoned the soot off his clothes and hair and transfigured the photo above the fireplace to cover it, putting a permanent sticking charm on it. His brother must not know it was there. Waving his wand, he glamoured the room to resemble a mess. As if he and Bellatrix had made sure to ruin it.
Bella had stood there, her arm around the silently crying woman. United in the only thing they could be, motherhood. Rodolphus went over to the women and pulled them to the corner.
"Stop it," He hissed. The noises outside their door closer than he'd like. "I'm sorry Mrs Longbottom, I could not let you leave with your-"
"I know," she whispered, her face still wet, but tears no longer falling, "I know."
"Your son is safe," He whispered to the woman, "He will grow to know of your bravery." He knew it wasn't much, but it was all he had. "He will know of your love."
Looking at the man who saved her son, the man who was on the opposite side of the war, who could have killed her as soon as he laid eyes upon her, she nodded. "Than-"
Rodolphus shook his head, not wanting this woman whom he knew, as did she, was likely going to die. He did not deserve her thanks. Did not want it. Not now, not ever.
Turning to his wife, he grabbed her by the arms, "Bella, Love, I need you to remember who you are. I need you to remember your part." He rushed out, if his brother or Barty saw Bellatrix like this, it would be the end. He was certain he lost his daughter, he couldn't lose his wife as well. "Love, you must play your part. You know this. Pull it back Bella. Put it behind the door. Lyra depends on you to stay alive."
"Dolph she may not-" Bella began, her voice showing signs of cracking.
"NO," Rodolphus growled, "Lyra will live, she will. She is a Black and a LeStrange. There is no other choice. PULL. IT. BACK. BELLATRIX." He bit out as the noise grew. Growing desperate, he slapped his wife, the only time he touched her in any way but love, hoping to snap her back into their world. He could not afford to have his wife break, it was their lives on the line. Lyra's life.
Looking over at Alice, who was shocked at the interaction, he growled out, "Run, I cannot save you, but maybe you can get out before they catch you." Looking at his wife, who was starting to piece herself back together, he said, "Bella, you need to go back into that other room and make it a mess, as if you were looking for anything. We need to make this look believable, or we all die."
Both women nodded, Bella opened the door slowly and rushed back, Rodolphus stuck his head out and heard the telltale signs of his brother's amorous grunts of copulation with Barty Crouch. Not for the first time. The two had no preference when it came to sex. Each other was just as warm as the next. Rodolphus didn't care, it might even work in Alice Longbottom's advantage. If they were occupied, then maybe they wouldn't notice her running off. Maybe even give Bellatrix and himself an excuse as well.
Looking back at Alice, he nodded and left the room, leaving the woman to find her way out. He had done all he could for her. The only other would be to kill her, but as his brother had been looking for a way to revive their master, death was not their objective. No, her death would not be good. Saving her son was the best he could do. Saving him from Barty, especially.
Entering the room, he saw his wife throwing things around, knowing she was still on the edge, as she was not using her wand. Going up behind her, he put his arms around her. "There is nothing we can do Love," he whispered as he felt her stiffen and then relax. "You know that."
As she nodded, they heard a scream. The door opened as they looked up and Barty ran in, glee on his face and pants unbuttoned, his appendage being pushed back where it belonged as the man shouted they found the wife. From his view, it looked as though Rodolphus and Bellatrix had been preoccupied as he and Rabastan had been. Thinking nothing of it, he ran back out.
Bella began to fall and Rodolphus swiftly pulled her around to face him, "NO Bella. You must hide it. Pull it back behind the door. She is not your friend, you do not care," He brought her close to him, and sighed, "You cannot care. This is the life we've chosen, you cannot help her. Remember Lyra, not her, not the boy. LYRA ONLY."
Bella let out a guttural sob and nodded in agreement, her grey eyes meeting his blue. Rodolphus could see the emotions close behind the door they had grown accustomed to locking them within. Closed and detached. That is how they would survive. Lyra was all that mattered.
"Madamm... " Rodolphus stuttered out, "Please… no." Rodolphus could hear the noise surrounding him like he was underwater. All muffled, no words. Only the screams within his head were real.
Bellatrix took a moment to clean her face, the training she learned as a child, coming back. The wall back in place. Only her husband could see the glimmer of regret, the sheen of sweat at the hairline. They both knew that this was more personal than any of the others. The knowledge that this woman, there was little to save this one, and that little boy would grow up without. The very real chance that Lyra would as well.
As Rodolphus watched himself and his wife walk down the corridor, his mind began to race, no… please… he was saying within his skull, trying to find a way out, trying to break the spell. The screams getting louder, the laughter of his brother sounding even more sinister and deranged.
NO!
He finally pushed through the spell, forcibly removing Augusta's spell from his thoughts.
NO, no Madame, I cannot," He choked out, the sheen of sweat on his body as real as the one he remembered on Bella. "Please, you should not see what was to come. I will regret it for all my days. I should have tried to save her, to do something, but I saw no way to do so-"
Augusta dropped her wand, for the first time, Neville picked it up, confused at the move. His grandmother had always been the pillar of strength. His whole life he had heard the legacy of his father. He felt the disappointment of losing his father's wand in 5th year, even though his grandmother was proud of his escapade at the ministry.
Hermione knelt down by her father, concern all over her face, "Father," she called out to him, as he was looking at Neville with tears in his eyes.
"Did she suffer," Augusta said quietly, "Was-"
"She did," Rodolphus admitted, finally looking away from the man, "She was not violated, I was able to spare her that, but I could not stop… everything. I had hoped she would get away, Rabastan and Crouch were occupied, I had hoped she would run and apparate past the barrier, but," He took a long pause, before continuing, "She couldn't leave her husband. She was trying to take him with her when my brother caught them." Augusta nodded her head in agreement. Alice would have never left her husband.
Hermione helped her father to his feet once more, Harry and Ron both stood next to Neville and his grandmother. Rodolphus looked down at the small but powerful witch, "I do wish I was able to-"
"Stop," Augusta said, tears in her eyes. She surprised the group once more when she grabbed Rodolphus by the arms and held him close, "Thank you for saving my grandson. I had to know, had to see for myself. I remember that night so vividly, your face appearing in that grate, the sorrow. You… you didn't have to do anything. You could have let them both be caught, saved your wife and your daughter. But you and your wife saved my Neville. I never believed that hogwash Barty Crouch Sr spouted at that abysmal trial. He would not hear any of it."
Rodolphus shuddered at the memories, refreshed in his mind. The pain his brother had caused his family as well as others. Not to mention, his own doing. There wasn't a day that he wasn't glad his brother was dead.
"What?" Neville said quietly, though the room was silent while the two before him conversed. "Gran, what are you talking about? This man- he-"
Augusta turned to her grandson, "Rodolphus LeStrange sent you through the floo to me. He saved your life."
"But-"
"It's true Neville," She continued, "That is what I needed to be sure of. The night, as clear as it was, the LeStrange brothers look so similar, I could not be sure. He made sure you were safe, we always told you that you had been staying with me, but you were with your parents until the day of… until that day. It appears we owe the LeStrange family a life debt."
"No," Rodolphus and Hermione said at once.
"Yes," Augusta said firmly, "Your family saved my grandson. A Longbottom always pays their debt."
"Madam Longbottom," Hermione said with a smile, "Neville has saved me on many occasions. Maybe not in battle, but he was always a friend. My first really. He also remained so after he knew of my heritage, before this revelation. There is no debt between us."
"Nor for me, I do not deserve your forgiveness," Rodolphus said softly, "It… I… I know now what it is like to miss a part of your soul, of your family. I took that away."
"You gave him a chance to live," Augusta said with a thin smile, "He still has his parents, they may not break out of their minds, but he has them. I will share the memories with him as well, for him to see how much she loved him in her final coherent moments. That is a gift."
Rodolphus nodded, unable to agree completely, but not wanting to argue with the witch. His regrets will fill oceans many times over. He did not deserve her thanks. He was no Gryffindor, even to this day, he would save his wife and daughter over anyone else. It had been luck that saved Neville Longbottom, not his need for redemption. If anything, it was Bellatrix. This was her story of redemption.
"Madam Longbottom," Thorfinn said formally, the group around looked up, almost confused that there was more than the Longbottoms and LeStranges in the room. Thorfinn gave her a charming grin, "Would you like for me to lead you into the ballroom? You must stay for the party."
Augusta shook her head, "Thank you young Mister Rowle, but I would like Mister LeStrange to do the honours." She took Rodolphus' unoffered arm and said, "While you may not want the life debt, does not rid the debt for being owed. I do not take the life of my Grandson for granted."
Looking over at Harry she said, "Young Mister Potter, I require a meeting with you, as well as Kingsley."
Harry opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. While he didn't have issues normally with asserting his authority as head auror, something about Madam Longbottom brought him back to being fifteen again. Somethings never changed, and as no one was physically hurt, he wasn't sure what he could do anyways.
"Neville Dear," Augusta said, as Rodolphus began to walk to the door, "I do believe I saw Miss Abbot among the guests, be sure to invite her to dinner next week. Come along."
The three Gryfinndors and the Slytherin watched as Neville trailed after his grandmother, seemingly confused, but trusting the only parent he ever had known. Everyone knew that Augusta Longbottom was well respected. During the war, she was able to stand her own and only seem to get sharper with age. He had questions, but after everything, he knew there was more to the story than he had been told.
The three friends all looked between themselves and began to laugh. As odd as the whole event had been, it felt strangely familiar. The three of them, together, not exactly sure what was going on. Just like in school.
Thorfinn stood with, but apart, from the group. He watched as their dynamic returned to what he had remembered in school. Gryffindors were always so easy going. Most of them did not have the same familial duties as the other houses, so they were always the rowdiest of all. He remembered some of what these three had gotten up to, remembering the favouritism that batty old shit Dumbledore used to openly display towards the lions. Especially the "Boy who Lived" or whatever name this man went by back then.
As he looked at the three lions, he was happy to see a genuine smile on his fiancee's face. He was not delusional to think that he could put that kind of smile on her. No, they were still getting to know each other and while they had a bang on time in the greenhouse, he knew they still had a long way to go. Especially when it came to the fact that the man she had loved, maybe still, was her best mate. It was a weird place for the Viking to be in, he was not used to playing second fiddle to anyone, let alone a Weasley.
Ron's chuckle softened, giving Hermione one last smile, "Well Hermione, I think it's time you joined your party with yo- your fiance," His voice cracked at the last word, it was painful for him to be there, but he knew, he knew he had to be. He would not leave when she needed his support, not again. He was no longer 18.
"I'm sorry I'm late," A voice interrupted the awkward moment, "I had a last-minute patient…" Pansy ran out of the floo, her slate-coloured evening dress skimming the floor, "What did I miss?"
Harry chuckled and said nothing, giving both Hermione and Pansy a kiss on the cheek and walked to the door of the ballroom.
Hermione, smiling at her friend, gave her a hug and turned to Ron. Giving him a hug and a squeeze on the arm, she moved over to Thorfinn to take his hand. Ron, felt one final tug on his heart, watched as Hermione walked off with her husband to be.
"Weasley," Pansy said, bringing a hand to his pale cheek, feeling his clammy skin, "Do you need a moment Ron?"
Ron looked down at the dark-haired woman, almost forgetting she had just arrived, her hazel eyes filled with concern. Taking her hand from his cheek, he held it to his arm, "No Pans, I think I'm okay, do me a favour though. Stay with me through this yeah?"
Pansy, a bit confused as to what had just happened, just nodded, "Okay Weasley, but you owe me," She nudged him slightly with her shoulder, "And a Parkinson always collects."
The two friends, once enemies, snickered at the oddity that they made and walked to the ballroom. Stranger things had happened than a Weasley and a Parkinson arm in arm. So much stranger, that this was practically a comfort.
