Draco reclined in the sweet smelling grass next to his brother in law and watched Hermione and Luna, pressed back to back, floating six feet off the ground. There was a circle of small glittering stones resting on the ground beneath them. From time to time, the rocks would glow and the girls would rise up just a bit higher. No words passed their lips. Their hands didn't move, and their wands were resting on the small table by the willow tree. They weren't using any discernible spell. It was just magic.

"You need to watch these two." Neville eyed them warily. "Not that you can stop them. They're the ones that do things just because they can. I spent days with hair that flowed blue every time I sneezed. It's Susan and Hannah that always have purpose, but Hermione and Luna like to experiment. It will be interesting to see what Millie brings to the mix."

"Millie tends to be cautious, but I think that has more to do with being around Daphne and Pansy all the time." Draco shrugged. "It's wonderful to see her opening up."

"I spent more time with the girls than anyone, but I never noticed how unhappy Hermione was away from them. I didn't notice how quiet she was around Ron. She never laughed unless George got to her." Neville stroked his finger along a blade of grass. "She's happy all the time now, and it shows. It's still odd to say it, but you're good for her."

"She's good for me as well, but there is one thing." Draco glanced toward the stairs where the beast lay sprawled in the sunlight. "How do you deal with the demon cat?"

"Sorry, can't help you. There is no dealing with him." Neville grinned. "I grew a special cat nip for him. He hates me still. Crooks doesn't like anyone but the girls and Gran. You just have to accept that he's not going anywhere and avoid the claws. They're razor sharp."

Draco sighed and looked back to the two floating witches. They were spinning in a slow twirl and about ten feet up. There was a flash of silver and Draco grinned as Hermione's guardian flew around the two women in a lazy circle.

"That thing isn't really jewelry." Neville narrowed his eyes as it executed a loop de loop. "Enchanted jewelry isn't capable of doing that."

"Hermione treats it like another familiar." Draco tilted his head and examined the thing in question.

"It's not a horcrux. Hermione would know." Neville settled back into the grass. "Maybe it's like the good equivalent?"

"The elves might know. They knew where it was. They insisted she wear it." Draco sat up and looked around him. "They just keep doing things. I don't even think about it, but they're rebuilding this place."

"They did say that you belonged to them." Neville chuckled. "Hermione admires their free will."

"I'm not complaining about them." Draco frowned. "I'm realizing how much I've just accepted."

"And worrying about how the rest of our world will react?" Neville sat up next to him.

"You're worried, too." Draco met Neville's steady gaze.

"I'm not completely lacking in political acumen." Neville rolled his eyes. "Plants are so much easier to put up with than people."

Draco chuckled and let himself relax. It was a lovely morning. There was no need to borrow trouble.


Lucius watched from his comfortable chair as Millicent Bulstrode's father paced across the room and back again. The wizard had arrived uninvited and overexcited, but the reasons for his distress had yet to make it out of his mouth.

"I can not help you if you don't speak to me." Lucius templed his fingers.

"Where did he get the money? Where did Goyle get the money?" Graham Bulstrode whirled around and faced Lucius. "Did you give it to him?"

"I didn't. I'm afraid I wouldn't have seen the purpose of it." Lucius frowned. "I would imagine Hermione is the source."

"What game is she playing?" The wizard crumpled into the chair across from his. "I've spent so long trying to protect my Millie. She was so weak as an infant, and her magic wasn't that strong."

"Hermione is no threat. None of the girls are." Lucius sighed.

"Millie's name is in the papers." The man sat back and shook his head. "How am I supposed to protect her when the whole world is watching?"

"I'm working on that." Lucius frowned. "I'm going to meet with Frank Longbottom later this week. Why don't you join us?"

"Longbottom?" Graham blinked twice and his face became very still. "Why would he meet with you?"

"Ostensibly, we are discussing the new unity of our houses." Lucius smirked. "My son and his daughter are planning to hold a ceremony to celebrate their bonding. It's all very complicated. Apparently, he has been doing research."

"I could use some help there." Graham nodded. "Millie wants a traditional wedding, but I've no idea how to help her plan it."

"Narcissa would be glad to lend a hand." Lucius leaned back in his own seat. "She's grown quite fond of your girl."


Susan frowned as she sat next to Hannah at their monthly luncheon with their fellow Hufflepuffs. There was something different in the mix. She leaned back and watched MacMillan talk with Astrid Wenlock. The witch was kind, but as a conversationalist she ranked somewhere below a tree. Ernie never been one for a dullard.

"So, Susie, you've been keeping some interesting company of late." Zacharias Smith leaned forward and set his cup down with enough force to draw all eyes toward him. "Zabini?"

"Amongst others." Susan smirked. "We aren't in school anymore. I find life without the identifying ties so much more fun to navigate."

"Granger and that dotty Ravenclaw aren't so bad, but the rest are bad news." Smith was clearly trying to lead all his flock away from the big bad wolf. Being a direct descendant of Helga Hufflepuff had inflated his ego beyond imagining.

"Luna Lovegood is a decorated war hero." Hannah frowned at Smith. "She is kind and intelligent. She's a loyal friend. If you use anything other than a respectful tone when you talk of her, I will be forced to remind you that I know how to many things other than healing."

"So, you like cavorting with Slytherins?" Zacharias smirked, but couldn't quite cover the fear in his eyes.

"Grow up, Zack." Susan smiled as she used his despised nickname. "We aren't in school any longer. The war is over. Holding onto grudges is infantile and narrow minded."

"You cast aside Cedric's memory so easily?" Smith stood up and flattened his hands on the table.

"I honor it." Susan pushed back from the table. "He knew that building walls between us was wrong. He understood that community extended beyond the yellow and black. Nymphadora Tonks mother was the daughter of a Slytherin. Was she less of a Hufflepuff for it?"

Zacharias opened his mouth to respond, but Hannah hit him with a silencio.

"It would be best if you learned the value of silence." Hannah stood up and gathered her things. "You may be a direct descendant of Helga herself, but so are half the people at this table. Only you give a damn. If Blaise and Susan attend a wedding and dance, your only thought should concern their enjoyment of the event. Hermione Granger Longbottom Malfoy is my sister in law to be. Luna Lovegood is one of my dearest friends. Millicent Bulstrode is decent, sweet, and loving. I am honored to call her friend. If you think trying to separate me from my friends is in any way acceptable, you need to think again. Susan will hurt you, but I'll ruin you. I'll take you apart piece by piece until your little world in nothing more than dust at your feet."

Hannah patted Susan's arm and apparated away with an audible pop. Susan grinned maliciously at the stupefied faces around her. She flicked her fingers at Smith and released Hannah's spell.

"Loyalty means something to Hannah and to me." Susan stood up and looked around the table. She noted which of her housemates met her eyes and which did not. "It should mean something to all of us."


Lavender looked up as Ron walked toward her. It was obvious that he'd spent the last few days getting bad news. He wasn't walking with his usual swagger. Even his hair seemed dull in the bright light of the afternoon sun. She fretted with the hem of her jumper. Her father wanted her to keep away from him until he'd managed to regain his name, but she couldn't do that.

"Lav." He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb under her eye. "I was so worried you wouldn't be here."

"I'm your wife." She slid to the side on the park bench to give him room to sit.

"This isn't going to be easy." Ron sank onto the bench next to her. "I've lost my contract. They paid me a small sum to go away. It's enough to live on if we're real tight with it, but I'll need to find work."

"No one will hire you without a name." Lav frowned. "What are you going to do?"

"I can work in the muggle world." Ron swallowed audibly. "I sent an owl to Dean Thomas. Hopefully, he will help me."

"He won't. None of them will." She shook her head. "They're dependent on their reputations in our world, especially the muggleborn."

"I'll go to Harry then." Ron shrugged. "He will help me, and he isn't dependent on anything."

Lavender nodded her head and let him continue talking. She knew Harry wouldn't help him. Hermione would stop it somehow. She chewed on her lower lip. There was only one thing to do. Ginny had her secrets. She'd gladly help if it meant keeping them.