Harry grinned as he noticed another of the images of Saint George and the dragon decorating his family's estate. There seemed to be one in every room. It seemed so properly patriotic and very non magical. He traced his finger over carved wood of the door. He examined the scene carefully, wondering why his relatives had been so fond of this image. The knight stood with a part of the lance that dispatched the dragon, but he didn't appear triumphant. It was the same on every door, tapestry, and painting. It wasn't always the same weapon. There was quite a variety. They were always muggle though, and the knight always seemed too exhausted to enjoy the victory.
"It's the curse." A portrait in the room offered. "The Peverell curse. Three brothers, raised up by Merlin himself, tasked with finding a way to end the strife of the time. Arthur's the one they all remember, but Merlin had an eye for up and coming young men be they wizard or muggle long before he cast his eyes toward Arthur."
"What does that have to do with all the Georges?" Harry moved toward the portrait. His family hadn't been all that chatty.
Harry examined the man reclining against a toppled stone in the portrait. Hermione would probably deduce what decade the damnable thing had been painted by a flair of fashion or a paint color that had only been available for a brief time, but he didn't have her encyclopedic brain. The portrait was old. Really old.
"The Georges?" The wizard looked confused though the cracking of his paint made it hard to be sure. "Are they Norman boys?"
Harry sighed. He shouldn't expect every painting to make sense. It was nice to talk to someone though.
"Merlin knew the brothers?" Harry smiled in hopes of coaxing the painted wizard into further discussion. "I never really thought about that."
"Thought about the fact that that great wizard meddled in your family's past and all but destroyed your future, why would you think about that?" The portrait shook his head slightly. "Great wizards seem to like using you. Pity that."
Draco watched Hermione as she flitted about from person to person. Her feathers were a warm buttery yellow and her melodic songbird form still seemed to be able to lecture as she flew about. It was all very amusing.
Neville had tricked her into eating a canary cream. His wife's brother was doubled over with laughter. One had to admire his foolhardy bravery. Hermione was never one to let a prank go unanswered. He was quite sure Neville would suffer for this many times over.
Draco glanced out into the gathering night. The rolling fields pushing out from the greenhouses of the Longbottom demesne were sparkling in the dark indigo of nightfall. There was no artifice to it. The land was rich and the farriers danced. They didn't need to be shipped in and controlled with spells. He looked around him at the smiling faces and felt warm despite the bite in the air.
He'd come for the first of many family dinners expecting a formal event in the dining room and been dragged out to a picnic. They were all sprawled about on blankets eating with their fingers and laughing. Frank cradled Alice against his side and stole bits of fruit from her plate when she was distracted by Hannah's laughter.
"She's going to lock you in your animagus form again." Hannah tossed an apple at Neville. "It's all fun and games until she locks you up in a muggle zoo."
Even Augusta was curled up next to him on a cushion that Hermione transfigured for her. She chuckled as Hermione regained her human form and chased after Neville with her wand at the ready. The playful exchange of jinxes filled the air with splashes of colored light.
"It's good to see them playing. There's joy here again. You've been good for her." Augusta patted his hand with her surprisingly strong fingers. "She's truly happy with you."
"I hope so." Draco watched as his wife nailed her brother with a bubble jinx that affected his feet. He bounced higher with each step, and she caught him with the help of a quick breeze that pushed him toward her. She sprang up and slammed him to the ground. Draco winced in sympathy when she started pounding on her guffawing sibling.
"She practices dueling with me still. Once a week. There was a time I worried that the war had scarred her to deeply. She'd show up all grim determination despite her bond with the girls. Then, you came along, and she remembered how to truly smile." Augusta's fingers tightened around his. "I used you to bring her into my family. I'm not sorry for it. She's perfect for us. In fact, I'm rather glad I used you. I think you fit in quite well."
Ronald stared down at the book Luna was shoving toward him. He looked up at her and glanced toward the Slytherin waiting for her down the hall from his current lodging. Theo Nott seemed far more interested in the state of his shoes than what Luna was doing.
"Take the book, Ronald." Luna pushed it toward him again. "Hermione won't approach you, and you can't just rush up to her. She can't help you this time. You'll have to revise for yourself."
"Why are you here?" He looked back up to her wide blue eyes.
"I'm here because it was never our intention to hurt you." She frowned. "Well, not really. I did want to hex your bollocks off, Susan wanted to curse your line to never find peace, and Hannah was considering what size spiders to use when she cursed you with them. Hermione stopped us though."
"She always was forgiving." Ron rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.
"She still is. We were showing off a bit, but that magic would have honored you. The whole of our world would have believed that ridiculous story you came up with. I think you should have yourself checked over for multiple infestations." Luna shoved the book at his free hand again. "Take the book and read it. You'll need the guidance. This isn't going to die down. You must redeem yourself."
Ron looked down at the book and glanced up to see Luna being escorted from the building by a very protective Theodore Nott. His fingers tightened on the tooled leather cover, but he reined in his urge to throw the book at the retreating couple. Hermione and her friends were playing nice with snakes, so maybe it was time to get himself right. They might need his help someday.
