Chapter 8 – The Bonding

"Will you stop badgering me, Pansy? I've told you before, there's no other choice!" Draco was fuming. This was the third floo call from Pansy this week, and he was fed up.

"There is!" Pansy insisted. "Let me explain…"

"I have to go," Draco interrupted. "I'm right in the middle of something very, very important."

"A ritual?"

"Something like that."

"Fine. Call me tomorrow?"

"Right." Draco closed the floo to avoid more interruptions, and hurried back to the small parlor where his parents, Miles, Angelina and Katie were waiting.

"You were gone for ages, Draco," Narcissa reproved.

"Sorry," he apologized. "It's hard to get rid of Pansy, and I couldn't tell her Katie was teaching us to play poker. Whose deal?"

"Mine," Lucius smirked. "I'm finally getting used to this game and I expect to win."

Narcissa gave him a fond smile. She already knew she would.

"What should I wear in my hair?" Astoria asked. "A jeweled pin, or a flower?"

"Flower," Daphne advised.

"My hair is too short to fasten anything in it," complained Tracey.

"It looks fine," sighed Hermione. "If anyone has cause to complain about hair, it's me. I must have used a ton of Sleek-eazy on it."

Daphne had decided to wear her hair down, but pulled it back to display Harry's wedding gift- dazzling emerald drops to match her ring. Her dress was a simple creamy silk with long sleeves that had no embellishments, and needed none.

"You look beautiful," Hermione murmured.

"You do too," said Daphne honestly.

In a nod to Ernie's Hufflepuff roots, Hermione had opted for pale yellow, which did indeed suit her coloring. She had tried to wear some of the jewels Ernie had lavished upon her, but confided that she felt too much like a Christmas tree. In the end she'd only worn a thin gold bracelet, along with her ring.

"We'd better go," Astoria insisted. "We don't want to be late. Where's that portkey?"

"Here." Daphne held out a lacy scarf, and they were away.

"Where could she be?" Molly was tearful.

"Maybe she plans to meet us at the Ministry," Percy said uneasily.

"She's not outside, and she isn't anywhere in the house," announced Ron. "You don't think she walked up to Luna's place, do you?"

Molly shook her head. "No, Luna is staying with Dean Thomas. His stepfather has a pub in Stratford, and Luna's been there the entire week."

"We need to go, or we'll be late," announced Percy.

George nodded, feeling quite calm as he followed his brothers into the floo.

Susan Bones clutched the pretty bouquet Neville had given her, and looked across the atrium to where Hannah Abbott stood alone. Her friend hadn't seemed to mind being paired with Theodore Nott, but Susan still felt a bit guilty. Neville had admitted having a crush on Hannah in school, even though his feelings were unrequited. Still, Susan couldn't help feeling as if she'd stolen Neville!

Now he was watching her anxiously. "Ready, Sue?"

He took her hand, and led her over to stand behind Harry and Daphne.

The door in front of them opened, and Susan caught a glimpse of Griselda Marchbanks.

Then Harry and Daphne went in, and Susan realized she and Neville would be next. She took a deep breath, glad that Neville was still holding her hand.

In a few more minutes Harry and Daphne emerged beaming joyously, and it was time.

Neville looked down at her, smiled, and her nerves evaporated as he led her through the door.

"I still don't see Ginny!" Percy cried desperately.

"Well, we can't exactly search for her," Cho sounded exasperated. "We must not lose our place in line."

"Maybe she's been and gone." Ron sounded uncertain.

"Maybe." Percy calmed.

"There's nothing we can do about it now," Marietta pointed out. "She has to come home eventually, and we'll sort it then."

Ron was pleased at the way she referred to the Burrow as home.

"Are you nervous?" he whispered.

"A bit," admitted Marietta. "I hope the croquembouche doesn't collapse! I mean, I've been practicing and practicing, but pastry like that is always tricky, and…"

"I meant about the wedding!"

"Oh! Is that what you meant? No, I'm not. I feel confident everything will work out."

"Me too. Hey, it's our turn!"

Draco Malfoy held his head high, ignoring the cold looks from some of the assembly, secure in the knowledge that his dress robes were the finest silk and blazoned with the Malfoy crest.

He was happy that Katie had decided to wear dress robes also, in a shade of blue that complemented his beautifully.

He only hoped they could avoid a confrontation with Pansy! So far, his luck had held and he hadn't spotted her. Really, now he had gotten to know Katie, he could see that Pansy had always been difficult, both demanding and clinging. Life with her would have been one long drama.

Katie was much more satisfactory.

Kingsley Shacklebolt noted the thinning crowd in the atrium, as more and more couples bonded and departed.

"What shall we do about the ones who didn't show up?"

Croaker was unconcerned. "Nothing. If they want to face the consequences, let them."

"We can't do that. We'd better track them down and give them a final opportunity."

"If you say so. But I'm betting there's very few of them willing to risk the loss of their magic, and possibly their lives."