Chapter 5 – The Adjustments
"I have to get more muggle clothes," Daphne told her sister.
"So do I," Astoria admitted. "Never thought we'd need them, once we were married, but now? When can we go shopping?"
"Tomorrow," Daphne decided. "Tonight I have a date with Harry, and I can wear those jeans Tracey insisted I buy."
"We'd better get Tracey or Hermione to come along," Astoria remarked. "We don't know the stores in London."
Daphne took note of the way her sister had used Hermone's first name so easily, but she didn't mention it.
"We have to get something pretty to get married in, too." Astoria seemed untroubled. "I know it is just a Ministry bonding, nothing too formal, but there's no reason we can't look nice!"
"You like Lee Jordan, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. He's funny and nice, and he's so pleased about the betrothal. I know it sounds strange, but I have the feeling I'll be happier with Lee than I would be with any of the pureblood boys I might have married."
Daphne nodded. "I know what you mean."
"Why are we stopping in Diagon Alley?" Daphne inquired. "I thought we were going to muggle London?"
"We are," Harry assured her. "But first I want to visit my vaults."
She assumed he meant to take out some galleons; instead he led her to a tray of jewelry.
"If there are no rings you like in the Black vault, we can visit the Potter vault."
But she immediately fell in love with a ring she was convinced was meant for her.
It was an oval emerald, the color of Harry's eyes, set in platinum and obviously goblin-made.
When Harry placed it on her finger, it immediately sized itself to fit her.
"Thank you." She breathed. "It's beautiful."
He smiled. "So are you."
After that, she didn't care how forward she might be. She just had to kiss him.
Draco Malfoy led his guests over the manicured lawns to the Quidditch pitch.
He'd been hesitant at first, since he hadn't played in a long time and wasn't certain how his former teammates would interact with Katie's.
But Katie had insisted. "We should start the way we mean to go on! We both love Quidditch. Yes, I know life is more than Quidditch, but I'm not about to give it up until I'm a little old lady. Besides, you're a first-rate seeker."
"I never beat Potter," mumbled Draco.
"Oh, Harry…I don't think even Viktor Krum could beat Harry. So what? Does that mean the rest of us should never play?"
Draco hadn't thought of it that way, but Katie had a point.
"Let's just invite a few people at first; we can increase the number later," Katie proposed.
So they'd asked Angelina Johnson and Miles Bletchley, who were about to marry anyway. Then there was Pansy and Seamus Finnegan, along with Blaise Zabini and Alicia Spinnet, Millicent Bulstrode and Zacharias Smith, plus an unaccompanied Theodore Nott.
"The numbers are uneven," Katie frowned.
"No, Pansy doesn't play. How will we do this?"
"Play minus the seeker? And with only two chasers? Whichever team scores 300 points first wins!"
Everyone was agreeable. They drew lots for team captains, and Katie and Alicia won.
Katie immediately chose Draco, who was pleased. Of course he knew he was one of the best players, but still it was a nice gesture.
Alicia was not as diplomatic; she selected her former teammate, Angelina.
Draco whispered to Katie, "Millie is a terrific beater."
She nodded, and Millie joined their side.
Only then did Alicia choose Blaise.
Eventually the teams formed: Katie, Draco, Millie, Seamus, and Theodore against Alicia, Angelina, Blaise, Miles, and Zacharias.
They were surprisingly well-matched: Millie was an excellent Beater, but Miles Bletchley was a much better Keeper than Theodore Nott. And that, along with some spectacular scoring from Angelina, gave their team the win.
"Angelina was always the top scorer," sighed Katie, looking to where Miles grinned proudly at her former teammate.
"You're every bit as good," Draco insisted.
Draco felt energized rather than exhausted by the game, and didn't even mind- too much- losing. There was always next time!
Theo fell into step beside him. "I want to talk to you and Miles. Blaise too, after the girls go home. It's important."
"Katie's not going home," Draco objected. "My parents want her to stay this weekend, so we can make plans for after the wedding."
Theo smirked. "Maybe you won't need them."
Hermione Granger sat in the back room at the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for the other girls, and very conscious of her engagement ring.
It was a gorgeous yellow diamond, and it was so big Hermione was almost ashamed to wear it, especially in front of others who might not possess the means of the prestigious Macmillan family.
But Ernie had looked so proud when he placed it on her finger… she hadn't the heart to object, especially since there was no fault to be found with the ring.
The Greengrass sisters were next to arrive, and Hermione was relieved to see both were wearing something sparkly too.
"Mine is an eternity ring." Astoria held out her hand.
They sat there, admiring each other's rings while they waited for Tracey.
Tracey walked in beaming and waving her left hand to show off the heart-shaped ruby.
Astoria squealed and hugged Tracey, but Daphne heard Hermione gasp aloud.
She recovered quickly, and pretended she'd just been admiring the ring, but Daphne knew something was off. A suspicion that the ring had been intended for Angelina Johnson, and that Hermione was aware of it, entered her mind. She firmly dismissed it.
Tracey was happy, and that was what mattered.