Things were progressing well for the recently freed prisoners as not a month after their release life had gone and performed a 180 degrees. Admittedly, things would never be the way it was before the war but maybe in some ways it was better.

Narcissa was now free from her malicious husband and a megalomaniac no longer inhabited her home. Though she missed the finer things in life, she enjoyed the warmth and welcoming air that now floated through Grimmauld's Place. She's taken knitting recently after a visit from the Weasley matron. She found it quite therapeutic. The little hats and socks she made gave her hope as babes were wont to bring with them. She remembered Draco as an infant, such a colicy child but so beautiful. She wondered how they would fare without house elves.

House elves.

While she did not retain her assets or access to her bank account, she wondered if her house elves were still present. They lived by a set of rules bound my magic above those imposed by the ministry.

"Twinkie." She mumbled to herself almost too afraid to hope.

A few minutes passed and Narcissa was close to giving up hope until a little pop sounded and a pretty little elf stood in front of her.

"I is here mistress."

"I now reside here and would like you to provide your services to this home, discreetly," she added thinking that maybe the Potters would not welcome such a new addition. But she certainly would enjoy it.

Happy with herself Narcissa returned to knitting. Something about working her mind again and sneaking about to make her life more comfortable brought her joy. She enjoyed being a Slytherin, when it was harmless and benefited her.

She smiled contently as she sipped on the tea set in front of her.

"Good, Twinkie."

Somewhere the little house-elf was smiling at the compliment happy to be home again and ready to care for the new baby.

Somewhere in muggle London, Blaise wished we were better at being a Slytherin. This was the second time he'd brought someone home after he and Ron frequented a bar. Ron never seemed to care nor did he attempt to bring anyone home either. Blaise was frustrated to say the least. Usually he just cast a quick sleeping spell and let the drunken men sleep in his bed while he brooded.

When he finally sent out the buffoon he'd seen fit to take home, he turned to the kitchen where Ron had prepared a hearty cup of brew for him. That man was a saint.

"Nice looking man," Ron grinned at him happily.

"Yeah…" Blaise trailed off a little curious to what he meant by that. Did he also notice that the muggle man looked suspiciously like him, with the red hair and the tall stature?

He remembered seeing the man's buttocks briefly last night and he wondered briefly is Ron's behind would also have a cute scatter of freckles across it.

Dear Merlin, he was in deep.

"Blaise!" Ron snapped him out of his daze. "Haha still thinking about last night? Was asking what you wanted for breakfast. Well… actually mum invited me to breakfast and the invitation is extended."

"Your mum?" he asked a little worried. "Does she know?"

"About you or me being gay? Yes to both."

"Let me go get dressed then" Blaise mumbled as he headed back into his room his mind reeling. He was going to go visit Ron's mother. Better make a good impression.

When he emerged, Ron was still in the kitchen holding onto his steaming mug of coffee not half finished.

"Why are you all dressed up?" Ron asked as he eyes the man up and down. He was quite the looker in a sharp suit. His neck cloth, or whatever it was called, matched the light colour of his eyes and he was beautiful. Wrong felt a tinge of something deep in his chest, jealousy? Longing to be like this man? But he was Ron Weasley, the boy with dirt on his nose.

"I wanted to make a good impression on your mother," was all he said before he turned his wand onto the other man and quickly changed him into a collared shirt with a Weasley sweater over top and light dress pants.

Blaise considered fixing the man's hair but there was something absolutely adorable about his mussed hair and freckles.

"How do I look?" Ron asked with a grin and going along with the makeover.

"Perfect,"

For a moment awareness almost dawned on Ron that it the sharp nudge in his chest was not jealousy but longing.

Things were going much smoothly at Hermione's home as she and Draco have begun a lovely courtship full of sweet words and sweet kisses.

Hermione woke in her own bed that morning to Draco petting her hair. He smiled at her sweetly as she woke and gave her a light kiss on the nose and then on the lips.

"Good morning my little lion," he bid her as she stretched and the burrowed back into the side of his body trying to steal all the heat she can before she has to get a start on her day again.

His hand trailed the curves of her back and began soothingly massaging her back.

Why was he so sweet? She couldn't help but wonder.

"Would you like some breakfast love?" he asked her softly as she peeked out from under the blankets.

She gave a nod and slowly emerged from the bed.

"What's your plan this weekend?" he asked curiously. "No working overtime again, are you?"

He knew full well that she had finished her last report on the welfare of the giants following the war. Her work on freeing the wrongfully accused has been stagnating and he knew she was simply using it to fill her time while bureaucracy worked slowly and her proposal was slowly being processed before it would go to the Wizangamot if all went well.

He knew she was free.

He would never ask her if he knew she wasn't. After all, when one was in control of it all, there was no losing. This was his game.

"I'm very free this weekend," she grinned. "Was there anything you wanted to do?"

He knew she would ask.

"I would like to take you on a date. A real proper date."

"Oh," she blushed the prettiest colour when she was embarrassed. For what, he would never know. They have kissed and touched each other for weeks. But she was a women and they were mysterious creatures.

"Tonight," he told her confidently. "Perhaps if you are free we could go take the Potters to brunch this morning?"

He would like to see his mother. Not only because he missed her but because he wanted her advice on dating. After all, if this was to work properly we had to give it his all.

And when it worked, he would come up on top of wizarding society again, next to the Golden Girl and the other two who helped save the world.

He wondered briefly if he should set up some photographers or something from the Prophet. One anonymous note and they would be the news of the week.

He glanced at the women who was now in the washroom brushing her teeth. She smiled into the mirror when she caught his reflection and smiled.

Perhaps he's call the reporters another time. It was too soon.

They'd arrived to the Potters 10 minutes after sending them an invitation to brunch. As expected, none of them had eaten either and were ready to go at a moment's notice.

While Hermione chatted with the very pregnant and waddling Weasley about baby names and baby things, Draco trailed towards the back with him mother who seemed far more her usual self. She was regal and stood taller now.

They still received odd glances and sneers in public but they were more muted now with the war heroes walking by their sides.

Upon arriving at a brunch place in Diagon Alley that recently opened and finally sat down, much to Ginny's relief, Draco had spoken with his mother about all that needed to be exchanged already. He learned of Twinkie's reappearance and the fact that she had access to his bank accounts and was still able to withdraw from it for him.

How convenient.

Things were looking up.

"Draco?" Hermione snapped him out of his plotting and he immediately smiled at him.

"Huh?" he looked at her sheepishly.

"Ginny wanted to know if you'd like to spend Spring Equinox at the Burrow," she told him hopefully. He knew that they had to stay together and that meant that they either both went or neither went.

"I would be honoured," he agreed knowing it would make Hermione happy. "That you for the invitation."

His mother smiled proudly at him and gave him a nod of approval.

It was then that a man passing by the terrace of the restaurant paused and looked menacingly at the group. Before any of them realised, the man had drawn his wand.

"Vile excused for a wizard!" the man shouted before casting a spell. Luckily Harry, having sharpened his skills in Auror training blocked the spell quickly and Narcissa had the man disarmed seconds later.

They had caused a scene, again. Except this time Hermione was quite furious.

She looked at the crowd gathering and grabbed Draco's collar from across the table and planted a steady kiss onto his lips.

At first the crowd was dead silent and then a whistle. And a cheer.

Why the time the kiss was over, the whole crowd was cheering. She grinned at a very stunned Draco and went back to eating her parfait.

"Well," Narcissa noted quietly. "For a Griffindor, you sure know how to make an impression on a crowd."

"I've been learning," she told the older woman with a wink to Draco.

Draco stared at her in amazement.

This woman was mad. Mad and unpredictable.

"Merlin."

A/N- Hello dear readers! As usual I appreciate the time you take to read my stories and either follow me, favourite me or comment. I will make an effort to write more frequently in the coming year. I've lost the plot I originally had for this story after switching computers so this story is now unplanned and going wherever the heck it wants!

Anyway Happy Reading and Happy New Year! :D