December 2nd, 2011
A/N: It's the day before my mother's birthday on December 2nd, everyone, so I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday (: I love you Mom! Thank you for supporting me in my dream to become an author and for always being there for me and raising me to be the person I am. And thank you, Cat, for editing this! :D Oh, and…there are some Starkid references in here xD Thank you J.K. Rowling for creating Teddy!
Disclaimer (I sometimes forget to do these): I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter Sixteen
Hermione stared at Harry upon hearing that she would have to kiss him to escape from under the mistletoe. I suppose it wouldn't be too bad. We've been best friends for years. If I can hug him, I can kiss him, Hermione told herself. Harry seemed to be thinking the same thing, at least in her eyes, and after a moment he shrugged.
What neither of the two was aware of, however, was Ginny Weasley's clenched jaw, and the fact that Draco was the one holding her back from jumping up and protesting.
While Harry and Hermione internally prepared themselves to kiss their best friend, Draco spoke to Ginny rapidly and in hushed tones, retaining his snarky attitude because he knew he had nothing to worry about. He wished he could say the same about the Weaselette.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked, grabbing Ginny's arm and pulling her down onto the couch next to him.
"Don't tell me you're completely at ease about watching those two snog!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "They're not going to snog. Your brother clearly said they just had to kiss to get out. And I doubt they would kiss of their own free will, much less make out. Besides, Potter's obviously head over heels for you, has been for a while, I'm sure. You have nothing to worry about and neither do I."
"Hermione's been telling me that ever since they got back from the horcrux hunt," Ginny said, much more quiet than she had been before.
"How come you haven't started believing her yet?"
Ginny's brown eyes flashed with impatience, anger, and underneath it all, shame. "Have you seen them interact? I spent years adoring Harry and having him think of me as a little sister. I couldn't believe it when he finally gave me the time of day. I'm still trying to get to know him as well as Hermione does."
Draco hadn't been expecting that confession. He had actually thought that Ginny would simply assure him that she did indeed believe Hermione, but he should have learned by then that females usually did the unexpected.
"Ginny, Hermione never has and never will love Potter as more than her brother. You're the girl in his life, and I'm the bloke in hers. Do they really seem like the kind of people that would cheat on someone?"
"Ronald didn't seem the type either," Ginny muttered. She coughed and looked at Draco. "If you tell my mother or father I said that, you're a dead man."
"That goes without saying, Weasley," Draco said, smiling slightly. He couldn't pretend to feel the same as Ginny, but he got where she was coming from in her insecurity, and he definitely understood her thoughts on her brother.
When Draco turned his head, he saw that Hermione and Harry had already kissed and were making their ways back to him and Ginny. He glanced at her one last time before Hermione reached him.
It only took Hermione a second to register that something was off, so she grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him out of the Burrow.
To her surprise, Draco grinned at her.
"If you try to kiss me right now I guarantee that I will run away," Draco informed her.
Hermione hadn't been sure if Draco would be displeased or not by the fact that she had kissed Harry. She was, needless to say, rather shocked when he joked about it.
"You're not upset?" Hermione asked. Draco opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace, wrapping her own arms around his torso tightly.
"Of course I'm not upset. You told me, very clearly and a very long time ago, that nothing ever happened between you and Potter. I trust you, 'Mione," Draco replied, smiling down at her. His promise to run forgotten, Hermione reached up and gave him a peck on the lips before she did the same to his cheek for being the sweetest ferret she had ever gotten to know.
Exactly ten minutes later, Draco and Hermione walked back to the house, hand in hand. Ginny looked up at them long enough for Draco to wink at her, and grinned. She winked back and continued to give Harry her full attention.
Draco smirked at Hermione, and for once she did something childish and stuck her tongue out at him. He laughed and eventually she joined him. Arthur entered the room and a small smile lit up his aging face.
Fred and Angelina were sitting by the fire, oblivious to the others in the room. George was talking to Bill while holding baby Victoire in his arms. Fleur was amusing Teddy, which wasn't a hard job, and Molly even stopped cooking long enough to wish everyone a happy Christmas again. Only Ron and Lavender appeared to be having a less than wonderful time.
"Uncle Ron," Teddy said, running up to that particular ginger. "Who's this?" He stared at Lavender, like she was the most interesting person on the planet.
"Teddy, this is Auntie Lavender."
Teddy hadn't run out of questions yet, though. "Like the color purple? Auntie 'Mione's favorite color? How do you spell that?"
Hermione looked at Draco, who was struggling to hide his amusement. She opened her mouth to chastise him, and sensing this, he instigated a kiss.
Blushing furiously, Hermione tried to sit back, but even if Draco allowed her to break the kiss, he kept her close to his side. Hermione sighed and shook her head, snuggling into the former Slytherin as she did so, making her behavior seem terribly odd. Draco was used to it by then and could guess what thoughts were running through her mind.
"Auntie 'Mione, this lady has the same name as your favorite color!" Teddy announced, suddenly popping up in front of Hermione and Draco.
"Does she now?" Hermione asked, picking Teddy up and placing him on her lap. He nodded solemnly and made himself comfortable. "Did you know I went to school with Auntie Lavender, Teddy?"
"You did? You mean the school you went to with Ron, Uncle Harry, and Uncle Draco? What was it called again? Pigfarts?" (A/N: I was totally laughing while writing this. Just thought I'd let you know!)
Hermione chuckled and kissed Teddy's forehead. "No, sweetie, our school was Hogwarts," she said. "But yes, Auntie Lavender went there with me and all of your uncles."
"Wait, how come I didn't get an 'uncle' put in front of my name?" Ron exclaimed indignantly. A bubble of laughter escaped from Hermione before she could stop it, and it took Ron a few seconds until he could focus on Lavender again.
Unlike Hermione, Draco noticed this, and he suppressed the urge to ask Weasley why he was pining after a girl that had already moved on when he was sitting right next to the one he was dating. Where was the sense in that? Was everybody sure that Ron really had a brain in that thick skull of his?
"Oh, Draco, I keep forgetting to ask. Has Astoria had the baby yet? Did your mother find anything else out? Is it a boy or a girl?" Hermione asked, tucking her feet underneath her.
Draco rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "Um, Hermione, love, can we talk about this later?"
Hermione frowned, but she nodded, much to Draco's obvious relief. Whatever he had to say must have been important, if he couldn't tell her in the Weasleys' sitting room. She mustered a smile to show him she wasn't upset at not being told what was going on immediately and Draco kissed her on her temple.
"Get a room," George teased as he walked past the couple.
Fred waited until his twin had rounded a corner before he plopped himself down next to Hermione. "Hey, Granger, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, Fred," Hermione said, straightening as she turned to the devious prankster after exchanging a glance with Draco. "What can I help you with?"
"Do you happen to know any free birds that would be willing to date someone as crazy as my brother?"
Hermione blinked. "You want me to set someone up with George?"
Fred considered that statement and shrugged. "Basically, yes. Do you know anyone that would be…compatible with him?"
"I can't say I do. Sorry, Fred," Hermione said with a sad smile. "I know you just want him to be happy, but I'm not particularly close to any girls other than Gina and Ginny, and Gina's taken and Ginny is your sister…"
"It's alright, Hermione. Thanks for trying." Fred tilted his head to the side and grinned. "Don't get too busy in front of the minors, now."
Hermione's jaw dropped, but then she closed her mouth, and opened it again, and eventually kept it closed, although her cheeks stayed colored. Draco merely laughed and tugged her closer to him.
"You know, I always thought those two were funny during school," Draco admitted when he calmed down. "I'm sure my entire house would agree, but they would never say it out loud."
"They are funny," Hermione agreed, sighing. "And they know when to draw the line. But they both seem to take great pleasure in teasing me. They don't even tease Ron or Percy this much, and they're actually related to them."
Draco chuckled and gently squeezed Hermione's shoulder. "I think it's because you give such priceless reactions, 'Mione."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You shush."
Harry handed his godson another Christmas present, laughing when the two year old hugged it like it was a stuffed animal instead of a box. Hermione looked on indulgently – this one was from her.
Teddy tore the wrapping paper off and ripped the box open. Draco watched, amazed by how excited the boy was. Christmas had never been that special for him, so he had never seen something like that before.
Hermione had her hands clasped in front of her, biting the inside of her cheek. She would have to explain the small vials to Teddy, but Harry could help him. It was the best thing she could come up with, and she thought that when Teddy got older, he would appreciate it more. Hermione also thought that as soon as Teddy saw the color his mother used to change her hair to, he would do it often as well.
"Auntie 'Mione? What are these?" Teddy asked, holding up the two vials.
Harry's eyes met Hermione's and he grinned. Molly positively beamed and tears actually appeared. Ron smiled in approval, and the others did the same once they understood what was happening.
"Those are my memories, sweetie. My memories of your mummy and daddy," Hermione told him.
Teddy looked down at the objects in his hand. "But how am I going to see them if they're your memories Auntie 'Mione?"
Hermione took hold of Teddy's free hand. "They're a special kind of bowl that your Uncle Harry has, Teddy. He can help you see my memories in that, okay, sweetie?"
"Okay," Teddy said, clearly not fully understanding, but grateful nonetheless. He gave Hermione a tight hug. "Thank you."
"You're welcome sweetheart," Hermione whispered in his ear. "I hope you like seeing Mummy and Daddy walk and talk, how excited they were when you were born. Remus was so happy you didn't have to go through what he did. I'm sure he's really proud of you, and I'm sure your mummy is too."
"That's what Uncle Harry says every day," Teddy told her. "How did you know that?"
Hermione chuckled and hugged Teddy again. "I guess Harry and I just think alike is all, Tedster."
Later that evening, Neville and Luna walked through the door, followed by other former Order members the Weasley family was close to. To everyone's delight, Neville wouldn't leave Luna's side during the entire time they were at the Burrow, and quietly admitted to Hermione that, yes, they were indeed dating now. She of course squealed and passed the news on to Draco while Luna went around warning anyone that would listen to stay away from the mistletoe for fear of frightening the nargles and sending them flying around the house.
"Longbottom's certainly in for the ride of his life," Draco commented as Hermione brought him over to the Christmas tree, sitting herself down off to the side as the children finished unwrapping their presents.
Hermione smiled. "They're sweet, and they'll be good to each other. Harry told me that during the Battle, Neville asked where Luna was and confessed that he was, and I quote, 'crazy about her'. We've been waiting for this to happen for ages."
"Now that we've gotten the sentimental crap out of the way…open your present!" Draco ordered, his fierce tone marred by the goofy grin on his face. Hermione laughed and picked the box out from the pile.
Unlike Teddy and Victoire, who was still an infant and barely walking, Hermione took the time to try and preserve the wrapping paper. Draco managed to endure that for ten seconds before he threatened to just do it for her.
Gingerly opening the box, Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. How had Draco gotten ahold of those tapes? Had Ginny or Harry helped? She spotted an envelope peeking out from under the home movies from her childhood and read the card.
Hermione,
You're my sister and I love you, and I know Draco cares about you nearly as much as I do. He came to me with this proposition a while back. To be honest, at first I suspected he had an ulterior motive (Gee thanks, Potter) but I soon realized he just wanted to make you happy. I'll be setting the box of tissues by your side whenever you choose to watch these.
Love Always,
Harry
Hermione,
First of all, don't pay any attention to what Potter said. I can't believe he thought I had an ulterior motive. Anyway, I went to Potter before because I didn't have any idea what to get you, and he's your best friend. He knows you better than even I do, though I hate to have that written down. I hope you like what we've done. Consider it a gift from the both of us. I'm always going to be there for you, and I'll watch the videos with you if you want, but if you choose to watch them by yourself I completely understand. I love you.
Draco
So her two favorite boys in the entire world had collaborated to give her the most thoughtful present she had ever received. Harry noticed that Hermione was on the verge of crying first, and smiled understandingly before he gave her a hug.
"Thank you so much," Hermione whispered, her forehead resting on Harry's shoulder.
"It's the least I could do for the girl who's saved my sorry arse more times than I can remember," Harry replied, grinning. "And remember, Malfoy had something to do with it too, so don't give me all the credit."
"Yes, well, I know it was really your idea," Hermione said, offering Harry a small smile. "But he is incredibly sweet, so I'm going to let go of you now and hug him instead." She let out a kind of suppressed laugh and removed her arms from around the raven-haired Auror sitting near her.
Draco had been watching, merely watching, and was caught off guard when a less-than-calm Hermione started sobbing into his shirt. He stared at Harry in shock, unsure as to what he should do, since he had never been confronted by an emotional Granger before, but he managed to figure out what he ought to do and buried his nose in Hermione's curls.
"If I had known it would make you this emotional, I would have completely bashed Potter's idea," Draco told Hermione. She giggled and leaned back, allowing Draco to wipe the remaining tears away.
"I love them, Draco. Just like I love you and Harry," Hermione said, smiling.
"Well then, I love you too, Granger."
Hermione finished saying her last goodbyes and "Happy Christmases" and giving everyone hugs while Draco shook hands with the men and kissed the women on the cheek. Harry studied Hermione for a moment, but he was assured that she was feeling alright and reluctantly handed her over to Draco, the way a father might.
"Come on, before you start talking to Ginny again," Draco murmured in Hermione's ear. "Merlin knows you two can go on for hours."
Shooting him a reproachful look, Hermione held tight onto Draco's hand as he apparated to his flat. She stumbled, as she usually did during side-along apparition, and Draco caught her by the waist, smirking as she righted herself.
"Now, tell me what happened with Astoria," Hermione said, wiping the smirk right off of Draco's face.
Draco sighed and wandered into his bedroom. Hermione hung back, leaning against the doorframe.
"Let me get out of these robes and into something more comfortable and I'll tell you, I guess," Draco replied, kissing Hermione's nose. Her expression softened, so that it was not entirely obstinate but still very determined, and she nodded before going into Draco's kitchen to make some tea. She had a feeling this would be a rather long talk.
"Should I make chamomile?" Hermione wondered aloud to herself. Draco came up from behind her, looking past her hair at the stove.
"You might want some after I tell you what Astoria's done this time," he suggested.
Slightly worried, Hermione decided to make chamomile tea as a precaution, and when that was done and served Draco led her over to his couch. He set his mug down on the coffee table and sat next to Hermione, drawing her close with her back against his chest.
"Hermione, you have to promise me that you won't go on a rampage once I finish talking before I say anything," Draco said sternly.
"I promise…?" Hermione didn't see why she would want to go on a rampage on Christmas night, but Astoria did cause people to do things they normally wouldn't in their sane mind.
"I'll hold you to that promise, then. Astoria lied about being pregnant with my child."
Hermione's eyes widened. "You mean she slept with someone else?"
"Er, no, not exactly. She might be…different…but she's not a tart. She was never pregnant to begin with."
A/N: Cat said she called it. She's so funny xD It's sometimes hard to believe she's eighteen - no offense, you're the best beta reader that's ever existed. Here's what she said when Fred asked Hermione if she knew anyone that would go out with George: "ME! ME! I WILL GO OUT WITH GEORGE, FRED. PICK ME. PICK PICK PICK PICK PICK." Anyway, between school, my tutoring, Cat's finals...this took longer to upload than expected :P Sorry for that. But be glad I updated so fast, considering that I'm caught up in something else.
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