hey all, apologies once again. Work got a little crazy but here we are. Hope you all enjoy.
Note: I own nothing familiar here.
Poker night part 2
"Who is José?"
"Cuervo"
"And he is?" Draco asked again, feeling like he was missing something important.
"A brand of muggle tequila. '' Granger said as she finished off his Firewhiskey and stood back up. She walked over to a cabinet on the wall and opened it. He had seen it before but never knew what it was for. Upon opening it she revealed a rather large, well stocked liquor cabinet. She began pouring drinks as she spoke, "tequila is a Mexican drink in origin. It's the basis for margaritas."
"It is also rather potent for some people." Katie says, "as we found out the hard way one night. There are those whom it affects just like any other alcohol." She waves her hand between herself and Angelina. "Then there are those who follow the famous saying, '1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila-floor." She points at Lovegood and Granger.
"Ok, so far this doesn't sound like that big of a deal." Theo says still not seeing where this was going.
"There is a country song that just came out. The tile of which describes Hannah and Ginny." Granger answers, pausing her work at the bar to turn and look at him, "tequila makes her clothes fall off."
"Seriously?" Theo asked, raising his brow and looking at the rather meek looking Hufflepuff.
"Do not underestimate the power of José." She replied, finishing Longbottoms drink. Granger came back to the table with a tray of new drinks floating behind her. With a flick of her wrist the new drinks replaced the old. The ladies and Theo got a red fruity looking drink. The purebloods got Firewhiskey and Draco, Thomas and Potter got scotch.
Everyone looked pleased with their drinks except Theo and Abbott. "And what is this?" The Slytherin asked, eyeing his drink then looking at the others.
"Sangria, try it." Granger said, taking a sip of her own.
"And why did I get it and not Firewhiskey like the rest?" He pouted.
"Because I gave everyone what they would like most. Try it." She stared him down but he still resisted, "try it. If you don't like it I'll make you something else."
Still looking hesitant he takes a small sip. After a moment he smiles and takes a larger sip. "Ok Granger, I'll admit you were right. I definitely prefer this over Firewhiskey."
She smirked at his admission then turned to Abbott, "why are you pouting Hannah?"
"We were talking about tequila. I thought you were making margaritas." Draco noticed that while she was obviously sulking her drink was already half gone.
"The night is still young love. Besides, I have plans for later and I can't be passing out." She smirked at Draco then continued, "I promise last round of the night I'll make you a margarita."
"So back to tequila's effect on you ladies. What happened?" Theo asked leaning back in his chair and Lovegood leaned back into him. This time he wasn't as shocked and didn't jump.
Katie looked at Granger, she nodded back and waved her hand, "go ahead, you remember more of the night than I do."
"It started as a normal night out a little over a year ago. We went to dinner in Diagon but couldn't shake the media. Usually when we go out the media comes running. We take a picture and make sure we are heard talking about our next stop. We sneak out the back then go somewhere else instead. For some reason this night we just couldn't get away from the paparazzi. Finally we just apparated to a random street in downtown London. Hermione recognized it and knew of a bar nearby. We decided to give it a try. Four pitchers of margaritas later and Hermione and Luna are practically asleep at the table and Ginny and Hannah are half naked on the stage and a bar fight is started with the muggles. We called Ron and Neville to bail us out of jail. One well placed confundus from Ron and we are let go after they paid the bar owner for the damages." Katie told the story as if it were nothing, meanwhile all Draco could think about was his witch getting arrested for causing a bar fight. He looked at her with a new admiration. "You never cease to amaze me witch." He whispered in her ear before kissing her neck again. All the other couples seemed rather caught up in each other for the moment and Draco took full advantage until Weaslette jerked away from her husband and looked between Blaise and Thomas. She shouted, "pay up bitches!" As she held out her hand and smirked at her husband. Everyone groaned as they sent their Galleons her way. "Thank you everyone. This should be more than enough to cover our next vacation, including skydiving. " she smirked at her husband as he groaned.
"I have literally been Avada'd 2 times. Ever since I entered the Wizarding world at 11 someone, somewhere has been trying to kill me. All I want is a quiet life." He looked at his friends, pleading with them to rescue him, "Seriously, I would be a house wizard in a heartbeat. Stay at home with the kids. Yes please!" He finally looked at his witch, "I just had to marry the adrenaline junkie. Why couldn't I have settled down with a nice, normal witch?" He moaned
"Like who?" Granger asked sharply, "we don't know any normal witches. Besides you would be bored out of your mind with a quiet life. You know you're going to do it and you're going to love it so stop your moaning."
Potter turned to look at Granger and narrowed his eyes at her, "you need to stop giving her ideas." She looked to argue so he added, "I know it's you! You can stop now."
Before she could agree or deny the accusation Weaslette interrupted, "you need to be thankful we are going in January and not July or we would be running with the bulls in Spain."
"Seriously, you told her about that?" He turned to Hermione again.
"Nope, I did," Thomas said, smiling smugly.
"Traitor. I'm surrounded by traitors." He shook his head then looked back at Hermione again, "by the way, that night you had dinner with mama Malfoy did you really come through the floo and tell Molly that you're going to succeed where Tom failed?"
"I believe the exact wording was, 'if Potters not careful one of these days I'm going to finish what Tom couldn't. '' Hermione said, primly sitting up slightly straighter. Draco couldn't help it. He snickered, as he looked around he saw everyone was trying not to laugh until finally Potter laughed and then everyone let loose.
"Ok, I have to ask." Blaise started turning to Hermione. Before he continued she quipped, "the answer is 42"
"What?" Confusion apparent.
"The answer to the Ultimate question of life, the Universe and Everything is 42."
"Yes!" Thomas said jumping up and meeting Hermione over the table for a high five.
"What?" Blaise looked around and was relieved to see he wasn't the only one confused.
"Purebloods," she shakes her head sadly, "Never mind, what's your question?"
"After everything that happened last weekend we used Theo's pensive to see if there was anything we missed. We noticed that not only did you know you could hold the shield wandlessly, so did they" he nodded across the table. "They weren't concerned at all. How did you know you could hold a shield that long? And under direct fire like that?" He asked. It was something he, Draco and Theo had discussed. Draco himself had refused to ask her himself because he had a feeling he wouldn't like where the conversation would lead. Now however Blaise had just enough alcohol in him to loosen his tongue.
"Because they have seen me do it." She said "After Bellatrix tortured me I swore to myself that I would never again let someone hurt me just because I didn't have my wand. I began practicing wandless shields. I got so I could hold a shield wandless then I had my friends try attacking me. Soon Robards heard about it and wanted to see it as part of my Auror training. So on the last day of training I held a wandless shield for 10 minutes while Ron, Harry, Neville and Hannah threw curses at me." Draco was trying to process that statement when yet again Theo came to his rescue.
"Wait a second, Auror training? Are you saying you're an Auror?" Theo asked Granger then before she could answer, turned to face Hannah. "And you, sweet little Hufflepuff who can't hold her tequila. You are an Auror as well?"
"We are fully qualified Aurors. We both went through training, the same class as Neville and Susan actually and qualified but we both turned down the job offer." Hannah replied, "Hermione told them from the beginning she wasn't going to become an Auror, she just wanted to take the classes. I truly thought I wanted to be an Auror. I had started on part time at the Leaky while waiting for the next Auror class to begin and kept it up throughout training. By the end Tom told me he was ready to retire and sell and I realized I was much happier feeding people and getting them drunk than chasing down the bad guys. So I qualified then turned down the job. I do keep my license up to date just in case though. I think we all do." As she finished she looked at the others and they all nodded.
"Remarkable. So we have two world class Chasers, two qualified Aurors and a highly successful business woman." Theo said pointing to each of the witches in turn then turned to the witch still perched on his lap, "what have you been up to then?"
"I travel the world seeking to prove the existence of so-called mythical creatures. Recently I photographed a Heliopath in Nepal. My article will run in January's Quibbler." Luna replied softly as she took a sip of her sangria. "I might not be as traditionally successful as the others but I've practiced with Voodoo Priestess' in New Orleans. I've rode a wild dragon in the Russian wilderness." Weasel snorted, "who hasn't rode a dragon?" He smiled at the witch, she rolled her eyes and continued, " I've actually seen the running of the bulls," she smiled at Potter, " by the way I'm the one who told Dean of the running a few years back. I assume he told Ginny about it when he learned of your side bet."
"Really Luna, you too? I'm surrounded by traitors." Potter said shaking his head at the blonde.
"I have been inside a volcano to photograph fire crabs in Fiji. I might be considered less of a success but I've seen and done things most people have only dreamed of." She smiled looking around at her friends.
"No one would ever be foolish enough to consider you less of a success Luna." Potter said smiling back at her.
"Of course not your published all around the world. Like you said you've done things most people wouldn't dare." Katie added.
"You lived with the Abarimon in India for 6 months. Your reports helped the Wizarding world better understand them. You helped get their classification changed with the Indian ministry. That's huge Luna!" Hermione said, grabbing her friend's hand, "Not to mention your photography and paintings have been featured around both the Wizarding and Muggle world." She flicks her wrist and everyone's drinks are refilled.
"So did you guys have a good night?" Katie asked as Granger stood and headed back to her room.
"You mean did we play nice with the Slytherins?" Weasel asked, smirking at the witch on his lap. "I'd say we did just fine. Wands weren't drawn even once, which is a bit unnerving by itself."
"And I had a great time taking their money." Twin said pointing to his larger pile of money. "You gents and your gold are welcome to join us anytime."
Just then Granger walked back into the room. Again Draco's breath was taken away by her beauty. She was smirking as she sat back down with him, "who tried to go into my room this time?"
"That would be us." Thomas said looking sheepishly at her then at Blaise.
She out right laughed at him then winced slightly, "I'm sorry guys. I take it you were sneaking away for a moment alone?" He nodded again, "lesson learned?"
"Yes. How long will it last?" He asked with a note of desperation.
"About 6 hours."
"How long will what last?" Blaise asked, looking concerned between the two.
"The impotence charm I attached to the door."
"What?" He exclaimed, losing his cool. Draco had known Blaise since they were 8 and in all those years he could count on both hands the number of times he'd seen his friend freak out. "Why would you do such a thing?"
"To keep people out of my room. No worries I promise you will wake up in the morning and everything will be back to normal."
He looked at Draco incredulously as if he could help. Then it dawned on him, "well jokes on you Draco touched the door when he turned the alarm off."
"He was added to the wards so he could turn the alarm off. Trust me I have plans for tonight. I made sure he wouldn't be affected." She then wiggled a bit as if to prove her point, "trust me no problems here." She winked at Blaise as the others groaned.
"Merlins balls Hermione please. I really have no desire to learn of my sisters bedroom prolectivities." Potter groaned glaring at the witch in question.
"Hey if I have to listen to Gin you can listen to a little innuendo from me." Granger quipped back at him.
"Seriously, you guys couldn't possibly be related by blood. So why do you act as if your siblings? I thought you were best friends. " Theo asked.
"We are best friends but truthfully we have always been more. Both outsiders to the Wizarding world, only children, orphans of the war. It's only natural that we are as close as siblings." Potter said, smiling at the witch.
"And their magic agrees." Luna added
"How does magic agree?" Theo asked obviously confused
Luna just smiled at Granger, "show them."
Granger pulled her wand (from where Draco wasn't sure… he was positive she hadn't been carrying it because her dress was so tight) and cast a spell he had never heard
"Et Vincula Magicae" and a burst of dark purple light shot from her wand and formed a ball of light in the center of the room. After a moment the ball filled the room with lines of different thicknesses and various textures pointing to the occupants of the room.
She lowered the lighting in the room then began tracing the different lines explaining them as she went. "This line is friendship" she pointed to the one line style that she shared with everyone present, "it's darker for those I've been friends with longest and have the strongest friendships with" Draco noticed that unsurprisingly it was thickest towards Potter and Weasel but was surprised to see the next thickest was towards Twin and his wife. She then lifted the friendship line altogether and the room got a little darker without those lines. "This is the line for life debts, both owed and recognized." She showed another line, this one was strongest towards Potter and Weasel but also had it going towards Longbottom, Twin, Weaslette and Lovegood. A closer look showed he was owed a life debt from her as well.
"You should see Harry's life debt line. You can light up an entire city just with the debts line." Weasel said smiling up at the magic in the air.
"Why is that?" Theo asked, equally amazed looking at the magic.
"He literally sacrificed his life for the Wizarding world. Which in turn created a life debt with everyone. I'd be curious if that debt extends beyond England and if it will extend to future generations." Granger said thoughtfully.
"Wait, how do you owe Draco a life debt?" Blaise asked. Draco wished he had kept his mouth shut because he could only think of one reason,
"I believe that would be when he refused to identify us that night at the Manor." She stated calmly.
"You know other than at the battle this is the first time we have all been together since that night." Lovegood added looking at each of those who were there that night.
"I thought of that earlier. " Weasel said quietly.
"Me too. Still have nightmares?" Potter asked looking around. All of them nodded in turn.
"Enough of that. One day we will get together with the intention of talking about that night but not tonight." Granger said with finality which was just fine with Draco. He had a hard enough time talking about it with her. He didn't know if he could talk about it with the others as well. Without even being conscious of it they had snuggled even closer into each other. As if remembering what they had been doing Granger goes back to sorting through the magical bond lines. She lifted the debts line and the room went slightly darker. "All lines that are based in love have this pulsing quality, the friend lines had it, this here" she pulled a different line to the top, again this one with various degrees of thickness to all of the others "which is the family line has it as well. Biological or not this is the undefined family bond. It took a lot castings and multiple people casting to figure out that there is this general family line. Then there is the parent to child line, and this is the sibling line." Granger smiled as she pulled another line that had that pulsing quality to it. And it pointed to Potter.
"See their magic agrees. " Lovegood says in her dreamy voice.
"What's the other one with that pulsing?" Theo asks, pointing to a thick, bright line that pulsed between Granger and Draco.
"That is romantic love. Like the line friendship it grows and strengthens the longer the relationship."
"A few years back mom and dad had a huge party for their 40th anniversary. Hermione taught them the spell." Weasel said, smiling at his friend. It was still kind of weird to see them together knowing they were once married but knowing it was strictly platonic made it easier for Draco.
"Damn near blinded everyone present," Twin laughed and everyone joined in.
"Dad left early and he said he could see the light from his house." Lovegood added.
"Even after I showed them how to lift all the other lines and all was left was the romantic line the glow covered the entire field."
"I wonder if past romances would still show?" Luna turned towards Dean and asked, "would you be willing to cast? I'm kind of curious. "
He paused a moment then pulled his wand, "Et Vincula Magicae"
A sky blue light burst from his wand. His lines weren't as bold and solid as Hermione's but he still had light going to everyone in the room except Theo. After the lines settled he picked through and lifted the debt and friendship lines, (he didn't have any familial lines) the brightest, strongest line went towards Blaise but there were 2 more as well. A very pale, thin line went towards Ginny and a slightly thicker, but still pale line went towards Luna.
"I wonder if that's a reflection of the seriousness of the relationship or they were stronger but fade with time?" Ginny asks
"I think a little of both. We were never serious," Dean pointed between himself and the red head across from him. "And that was almost 10 years ago. Luna and I were as serious as we wanted to be"
"As in we shagged when I was in town and wrote to each other while I was away but still saw who we wanted when we were apart." Luna added leaning back and playing with Theo's hair as she spoke.
"And that was only 2 years ago. So yeah, I think it's both."
"It's so pretty," Luna grabs her wand from a holster on her hip and casts the charm. A yellow with pink striped ball of light shot from her wand. As the lines formed they changed to a marbled coral color.
"I'm still jealous yours is like that." Ginny said as she cast the spell as well, sending a royal blue ball to join the others.
Around the room the others joined in casting the spell. Neville and Hannah were the first couple to have both sides cast. As soon as they were both cast the love lines came together and blended forming a line of Gryffindor red twisted together with Hufflepuff yellow that instead of coming from the ball broke off and formed a circle around them. George and Angelina were next, his neon orange circled her neon purple and formed a circle around them. Ron and Katie's burnt orange and teal wasn't as tightly twirled together but still formed a circle around them.
Ginny sat there looking at Harry expectantly, "well?"
He tried to look innocent, "well what?"
"Are you going to cast?"
"I think there's more than enough light in here."
Hermione chuckled, "you just don't want the Slytherins to see your color."
"Oh really?" Draco smirked, "and why would that be?"
"Oh please let it be Slytherin green." Theo asked leaning forward. Luna used the movement to press her back to his chest and sighed as she relaxed into him. Without even noticing it himself Theo had put his arm around her waist, holding her to him.
Looking around the table at all the eyes on him Harry sighed then pulled his wand. The green ball of light that shot from his wand was larger than all the others present. True to Ron's word Harry's ball pointed out a debt bond with everyone present. The Slytherins burst out laughing at the color.
"So what's the color signify?" Draco asked his witch.
"As far as my research can tell nothing really. Though they do seem to match the personality. I mean I can't think of a truer Hufflepuff or Gryffindor than those two." She pointed across the table at the witch and wizard in question. "Lunas is the only one I've ever found to have that unique marbling effect, and let's be honest, she is truly one of a kind." She smiled at her friend who was too busy looking at Theo with that dreamy, far away look in her eyes to be following the conversation.
"So how do you explain Potters Slytherin green?" Blaise asked
"I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that that's where the Hat wanted to put him?" Hermione said, shrugging. Blaise spit out the sip he was just taking and Theo about jumped up at that quiet bomb drop.
"Oi," Potter picked up a pretzel from the bowl near him and chucked it at her, "that's privileged information. "
Ducking to miss the flying pretzel as she laughed, "Hey, we're family here."
"Oh really eh?" Harry smirked at his best friend then looked back at her, "so you mean we can finally share the polyjuice story?"
The two shared very pointed glances while the rest of the room erupted,
"Yes!"
"Its time you shared, give it up!"
"That is extra privileged information. " Hermione sniped glaring at the two instigators.
"No such thing."
"Give in Hermione the time has come." Ron said wiggling his eyebrows at her ridiculously.
"Polyjuice story?" Draco asked, turning her towards him. She refused to look at him so he looked at the others questioningly.
"All we know is that in second year they decided to brew polyjuice potion and it didn't end well." Ginny told him.
"Brew polyjuice in second year? Of course that wouldn't end well. That's a N.E.W.T level potion. " Draco said incredulously. "What on earth were you thinking?"
"Listen here you arse, no one said the polyjuice wasn't successful." Hermione said punching him lightly on the arm. Her two cohorts both chuckled at his misfortune. "It was indeed successful, we got the needed information."
"Well then why is it such a big secret? " he asked looking around at the others. Everyone but the wonder trio just shrugged. Obviously they would be no help. "And why were you brewing it? Who did you turn into?"
She mumbled something into his chest. "Say that again Granger? " he asked, pulling her face from him.
"We were trying to figure out who the heir of Slytherin was." She said still not looking at him
"So… how was polyjuice going to help with that?"
She looked desperately at the other two and finally smirking Ron answered for her, "we may have thought you were the heir so we polyjuiced ourselves into Crabbe and Goyle to sneak into the Slytherin common room to question you."
With that Theo said 'excuse me.' To Luna and stood up as if to leave.
"Where do you think you're going? It just got interesting." Blaise asked him as he laughed at the sour look on Draco's face.
"I will be right back with my pensive. No way I'm not seeing this." He declared as he stocked towards the floo.
"Who says you will get the memory?" Hermione called to him. "I swore Harry and Ron to secrecy with a wizard's oath. Unless I let them give it up you will never know what happened."
Theo paused at that and turned to look at the smirking Gryffindor. "What do you want then?"
She looked around thoughtfully a moment then smiled a Cheshire cat smile, "you gotta earn it. There is a pensive in this room. Access it and I'll allow Harry to give the memory. "
"Easy. I noticed the charms on this wall as soon as I sat down." He said turning towards the wall that shared the kitchen. There was a small side table that had family pictures on it. He waved his hand before the wall and pulled the concealment charms down. Before he could get a good look at it Hermione conjured an hourglass and flipped it. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You have an hour time limit. And I know for a fact you will need the help of two others in this room. You must ask the correct people in the correct order. Ask the wrong person and you're done."
"Hmpf" he snorted as he turned back to the wall which now showed a small door built into the wall with a large padlock on it.
"Alohomora" he said right away, waving his wand at the lock. George loudly snorted as the Slytherin tried the lock.
"Well that will keep him busy awhile." Granger smirked as she stood up and began fixing more drinks. Talk continued around the table with random jeers and encouragement sent towards Theo as he worked. After a half an hour passed he finally turned, looking completely stumped.
"Are you ready to ask for help?" Hermione taunted him.
"I don't get it. It's just a lock, why can't I open it?"
"Because it's impervious to magic. It has to be opened the muggle way." She shrugged, "so who are you asking?" With her back turned Hannah and Angelina both pointed towards George. After a moment's pause Theo bit, "George, would you happen to know how to get past this infernal lock?"
The man jumped up, "Absolutely, love?" He held his hand out to his wife. She reached into her hair and pulled out two of the pins holding her hair back.
He strode forward and began bending the pins into the proper shape to manually pick the lock.
Hermione turned and glared at her friends, "you told him who to pick didn't you?"
"Of course we did." Katie said grinning back at her friend.
"Absolutely." Ginny said with no shame, "we have heard these two alluding to this for years. It's time we had answers." She said pointing between her husband and brother, "I just hope it's worth it." She added.
"Oh, it is."
"Absolutely. "
George began working in the lock and five minutes later stepped back victoriously, "thought you had me with that trick tumbler didn't you?" He asked as he walked back to his seat.
Theo rushed forward and began working on the wards she had set. Finally with five minutes left he jumped back as the wards lifted but still the door wouldn't open. He turned to the others who were now watching him closely and cheering him on. "I need that second person now." He said
"And who are you asking for now?" Hermione nodded. Before he could answer Harry stood up and came towards the wall.
"Cheater." She muttered as he stepped in front of the wall. With two minutes left on the timer Harry sent a push of his magic at the door and it clicked open.
The door opened to reveal a pensive sitting on a small shelf. Next to it was a framed picture sitting upon a stack of pictures and on the other side was a ring box. Without pausing Theo grabbed the box and whistled as he saw the ring inside. Rather than stop him Harry put the framed picture down then pushed the entire stack further into the cabinet.
"Whoa Granger," He pulled the ring out of the box and looked closer at it. It had 7 stones across the top of it, diamonds and sapphires alternating set in white gold. "Exquisite taste." He said smiling back at her with a goofy grin, making him look younger and more relaxed than she had seen him since their school days.
Hermione smiled sadly at the ring, "it's Bryony's. When she is old enough to learn the story behind it she will get it. Until then I keep it safe"
Hearing her tone Theo looked up at the witch and realized he had just intruded on something very personal. "I'm sorry Granger, I shouldn't have just grabbed it." He placed it gently back in the box and handed it to her.
"It's fine Theo." She looked down at the ring still with the sad smile.
"May I ask, what's the story behind it?" Rather than answer she handed the box to George who was now standing just behind her. At her nod he explained, "this is the ring Fred carried everyday the last year of his life, just waiting for word that Voldemort was dead so he could propose. After he died I gave it to Hermione but it was too painful so we agreed that when we explain to Bryony her relation to Fred we would give it to her." George and Hermione were still looking down at the ring when Draco made his way to stand behind his witch. He hesitated to interrupt what was obviously a very personal moment but he wanted her to know he was there for her. He laid a hand gently on her shoulder and when she leaned back into him he knew it was the right thing to do. He looked at the ring and had to agree with Theo, it was exquisite. And it fit Granger's taste perfectly. Simple and somewhat understated yet breathtakingly beautiful.
"Oi! Save the melancholy for another day!" Ginny shouted from the table. "Let's get on with it'"
Granger laughed at her best friend's dramatics and turned to Theo, "if you would be so kind? " she asked, gesturing to the pensive.
He carefully lifted the priceless basin from its shelf and moved it over to the table. Potter sat back down in his seat and pulled his wand, "I've been ready for this day for years!" He said gleefully as he pointed the wand to his temple and closed her eyes in concentration. As he pulled the wand away the shimmering silver memory danced in the low light of the room. He dropped it into the basin and looked around the room as everyone leaned forward in anticipation. Draco saw Blaise throw back the rest of his Firewhiskey, "what?" His friend shrugged, "I hate dropping into a pensive. Makes my skin crawl."
"No need for that." Hermione said as she settled into Draco's lap once again and pulled her wand, chanting an incantation Draco had never heard before. As she finished the pensive glowed and images began forming above it. Somehow she had charmed it to project the scene rather than everyone having to drop into it.
"Malfoy, the heir of Slytherin? " Hermione was asking Ron and Harry in what had to be the Gryffindor common room.
"Really, you had to give the back story as well?" Hermione glared at her brother then sighed as she looked at her younger self. "My gods, my hair really was awful." She added to herself. Multiple snickers were heard around the room.
"Their might be a way…. It would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect."
"Of course Granger would worry about breaking the rules."
"But she will never back down from a challenge. Watch."
"D'you realize how much we are going to have to steal Hermione?" Memory Harry asked going over the textbook….. "what're we going to do, break into Snape's private stores? I dont know if this is a good idea…"
"Well if you two are going to chicken out, fine."
"Did you seriously manipulate them into doing this?" Ginny laughed.
"Merlin. I knew you were the brains but I never would have believed you were the one with the insane ideas Granger. " Draco said looking between the witch on his lap and the younger version before him. He watched as they met multiple times in the girls lavatory brewing the potion and making the plan. He honestly had no idea where all this was going.
"I think I'd better do the actual stealing. You two will be expelled if you get in any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."
Then they were in potions class, and this day Draco could remember because his nose had been hit with the swelling solution. He watched in amazement as Granger slipped into the store room and back out again without anyone noticing. He had complained loudly over the years that Potter and company were always breaking the rules and getting away with it. Seeing these memories shows how much they really did get away with. And that Granger wasn't just a reluctant participant but rather an instigator.
Draco listened as Granger explained the plan to trap Crabbe and Goyle and had to laugh when it actually worked.
"Were they really that thick?" Kayie asked in amazement. All three Slytherins present replied yes emphatically. Next they were all three in the lavatory again and Hermione was explaining how the polyjuice worked while she scooped the potion into goblets.
"You really brewed polyjuice in 2nd year." Draco muttered in amazement into the witches ear as he looked at the perfect potion. The trio turned away and each went their own cubicle, because it was Potters memory they only saw him turn into Goyle as Ron stepped out as Crabbe. They called to Hermione and he could hear the panic in her voice as she sent them along without her.
Next Potter showed Draco leading the polyjuiced Potter and Weasel into the dungeons and Draco felt as if his stomach had dropped out as he realized he remembered the conversation that follows. Draco had been in a foul mood that evening because his father had insisted that he stay at school and then refused to allow one of the elves to bring him his traditional treats for the holiday. None of which justifies the foul language to come. He remembered cursing the muggleborns and dropping the 'M' word that he hasnt said in 5 years at least a dozen times. As the scene played out he realized it was modified. He looked across the table at Potter to see the man staring at him instead of the memory. Looking into his eyes Draco realized that Potter had purposely modified the memory. Draco just nodded his head at him in thanks. Soon the potion was wearing off and they were running back to the girls lavatory.
Seeing these memories, Draco realized what Moaning Myrtle had meant in 6th year about the other boys who came to see her. Obviously she had interacted many times with them that year. Now back in the lavatory she was laughing, a rather unexpected occurrence.
"Ooooh wait till you see….."
The cubicle door open to reveal Granger. She had black fur on her hands and face and pointed cat ears poking through her hair.
"Oh my Merlin! A cat?" Everyone began exclaiming at once.
Granger blushed a violent red that would match any Weasley's hair. "How was I to know she had a cat?" She mumbled hiding her face in Draco's chest. He let her stay there until most of the excitement died down then pulled her away so he could look her in the eyes, "you brilliant, talented, crazy witch. That was amazing! Brewing such a difficult potion in 2nd year? In a lavatory no less! You should be proud of yourself." He saw her relax and the embarrassment fade. But he had to get one job in, "you earned that tail" he added with a wink. She slapped him but it was worth it to see her smile.
While everyone was busy roasting Hermione Harry quietly dropped another memory into the pensive. He cleared his throat as the new memory began to play,
"You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!" A slightly older memory Hermione declared as she pulled back her arm and punched Draco with Crabbe and Goyle watching from behind. He fell to the ground with his nose broken then jumped up and the three ran away from Hermione.
And the room erupted as everyone laughed at Draco's retreating back. Hermione looked back at the wizard and smiled at him. "Sorry again about that."
"I couldn't let Hermione be the only one embarrassed tonight" Potter said with a shrug when questioned about the memory. He stood and put the pensive back into the wall safe and Hermione called last call.
"Margaritas or shots?" She asked as she walked back towards her little bar.
"Shots!"
Hermione responded by summoning a couple limes from the kitchen. She sliced them quickly and prepared the shots.
"So who's going to demonstrate? " she asked as the shot glasses, wedges of lime and individual salt shakers settled in front of each couple.
Luna turned to Theo, "may I?" She asked in a sweet voice. Again he looked rather bewildered and again Thomas tells him, "just go with it."
Theo nods mutely as the witch stands up and turns to face him completely before sitting back down again, this time straddling his lap. "Hold this please" she hands him the lime then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. "Proper etiquette is salt, shot, lime." She then leans forward, licks his neck softly and shakes the salt there. She looks at him one more time, winks and licks the salt, takes the shot then bites the lime still held in his hand. Around the table all the other ladies begin doing the same thing.
Hermione had already unbuttoned Dracos shirt halfway before he realized she was even doing it. She grinned as she went right to his pulse point, the spot she knew drove him nuts and sucked there a moment. He knew he was going to have to glamor away the mark in the morning. After she took her shot she handed him his. He wasted no time returning the favor then growling, "I think the muggles are on to something here."
Blaise agreed from somewhere to his right, "thank Merlin for tequila." He muttered while Dean kissed his neck.
A loud crack sounded as George apporated him and Angelina home. Hermione pulled away just long enough to look at her remaining friends, "good night all." She was grinding her hips down into Draco's lap as she kissed him again. "See you in the morning. You have until the count of 5 before I start vanishing clothing. 1."
Ron muttered to Katie, "your place or mine?" "Dont care just get us…." Crack they disappeared as well while the others all made their way to the floo.
I hope you all love this chapter as much as I do! It was a fun one to write.
Memories from the first scene in the pensive are from Chamber of Secrets and the second is from Prisoner of Azkaban.
42 is in reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The song referenced is Joe Nichols Tequila Makes her Clothes Fall Off
on a side note I am working on a 3 part side fic, the second part will be the tale of the girls night in Muggle London, the discovery of tequila and their arrest. I will share the name of it once I upload it or follow me to know as soon as its loaded.