Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters. If I did I would be lying on my bed rolling in my millions of dollars. As it is I roll over my twelve nickels sometimes. That's fun. Let me tell you.
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"Mr. Malfoy?" Draco turned at the sound of the voice. Before him stood a waitress that he recognized slightly.
"Yes?" he said, politely. He was slightly annoyed at the interruption, but he knew that it probably wasn't her fault and he had promised himself long ago that he would never treat servants as his father had.
"Mr. Potter wished for me to tell you that he had taken ill and had to leave early."
Draco nodded, dismissing her. I didn't even know that Potter was here, he thought to himself. He smiled at the man that he had been talking to, one of Ginny's father's friends from the ministry. "I'm sorry for the interruption. What were you saying about cauldron bottoms again?" Draco listened as the man began droning on again. The only other person that Draco had met that had been this boring was Percy Weasley, and Draco doubted that even he had been this boring. He looked up from the squat man's face for a moment and caught a glimpse of his bride, laughing as she danced with her brother Charlie. He had to smile at the sight, glad that she was happy. Suddenly he had a strong urge to kiss her, just as their eyes met. "I'm sorry, sir," Draco said, unable to remember the mans name at the moment. "I believe my wife needs me." He shook the man's hand before beginning to work his way through the crowd to Ginny.
"Draco." Draco stopped dead at the voice of a woman that he thought, or more hoped, he would never see again. He turned slowly to look into the puggish face of Pansy Parkinson.
"Parkinson. Fancy seeing you here. And it'll be wonderful to see you leave. I don't believe you were invited."
"Aww, Draky-poo...surely you don't feel that way. Really, marrying a Weasley when I'm still available...I never thought I'd see you in this sad state. You must really miss your father terribly."
"Pansy, if you weren't a female, I would kill you where you stand. However, I am a gentleman and I will be content with seeing you put in Azkaban where you should have been for the past five years." He pulled out his wand and performed a binding spell quicker than she could respond, causing the room to go silent and stare at them. What he said next he said low enough that only Pansy could hear it. "And if you ever, and I mean ever, mention my father or my wife again, you will pay with your life, cunt or not."
Just then two Aurors appeared, looking as if Christmas had come early. "We've been looking for you for years, Parkinson. Didn't think you would be thick enough to show up here," the taller one, Dean Thomas, said smiling. Draco felt Ginny's hand on his arm and looked down at her. She was looking angrily at Pansy, who now had a scared look in her eyes.
"Hey, Dean, Seamus. Too bad you can't stay, we're all having a blast."
"Yeah, maybe we'll stop back by after we get off in a few hours, Gin. I hate to miss out on all of the fun that I know you always have." Seamus grinned at her before looking up at Draco, holding out a hand. "You're a lucky man, Malfoy. There were many a guys who would have given anything to be where you are right now. But then again, that means that there are many men out there that would be more than willing to kill you if you ever hurt her. Congratulations."
Draco took Seamus' hand as Ginny broke out in giggles beside him. He looked down at her, amused at her laughter at his expense. "Think that's funny, do you?"
"I think we'll leave now," Dean said as they Disapparated with Pansy, unnoticed by the newlyweds.
Ginny nodded, looking up at him. "What are you going to do about it?" she said.
"Nothing...yet." He picked her up by her waist, pulling her into a kiss. He'd never been more happy in his life and he didn't see how it could get any better.
"Come on, lets dance." Ginny pulled him out to the dance floor as an upbeat number started.
"I don't dance, Gin. You know that." He tried to pull back from her, not really wanting to leave her side.
"Today you do. Come on." Draco gave up and let Ginny drag him out onto the dance floor. He stood there as she started to dance, and after a moment she looked up at him, anger flashing in her eyes. "Draco, if you don't dance, I'll make you dance." Draco remembered the dancing hex well, having done it on Potter once, and he also knew that Ginny meant what she said, so he started dancing, rather reluctantly at first. But then it started to be fun. They danced for a quarter of an hour before a slow song came on.
"These I know," Draco said, pulling Ginny close to him. The world disappeared as they twirled around the floor, Draco leading expertly.
"Let me guess. Your parents made you take dancing lessons?" She had an impressed look in her eyes, and he almost hated to tell her the truth.
"Er...no. I decided to take lessons when we were first engaged. I had no idea how to dance, and I didn't want to embarrass myself, because I knew that we would be dancing."
"You did it for me?"
"Gin, just about everything I do these days is for you. There's no one else worth doing them for." He smiled down at her, pulling her closer. They didn't speak anymore as Draco swept her away with the music once again.
***
Ginny danced with her new husband for a few minutes after the song had ended, not realizing that it had done so. They decided to sit down after pulling apart (still holding hands), knowing that it was getting late and they still had to toasts to do.
"I really wish that Albus could be here," Ginny said as they made their way to the head table, looking around at the guests. Dumbledore had been died while killing Voldemort, the spell he did draining the last of his seemingly endless energy. Everyone, even Draco, had said that it was almost not worth being rid of Voldemort to lose Dumbledore, but they all knew that it was a choice that he had to make.
There were, however, a large number of Hogwarts professors there, including Snape, who Draco had chosen to be his best man. Apparently there were no other people that Draco had known as long as Severus that weren't in Azkaban, and he and Severus had gotten to know each other well working against Voldemort. They had been the only people on the side of good that could stand the other, so they had spent a lot of time together, which led to a friendship forming. Draco had said that it had been Severus who had told him to go after Ginny in the first place, after growing tired of hearing the boy talk about her constantly.
They sat in their seats at the head table, Severus sitting to Draco's right, and Hermione to Ginny's left. Ron looked forlorn at his table with his parents and the twins. Ginny looked for the black hair that she knew should be sitting next to Ron, but saw an empty seat instead.
"Harry didn't even come. I thought he said that he was coming." Ginny felt slightly dissapointed, but she knew that it was for the best. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of the last time she had seen him, though with his new reputation that wasn't likely to happen.
"Oh, I forgot. One of the waitresses told me that he got sick and had to leave." Draco kissed her hand, leaving the feeling of burning cold that always seemed to follow his lips touching her skin.
"I saw him talking to Amy a while ago, Ginna," Hermione said, leaning over to speak quietly. "I think he likes her."
Ginny looked at Hermione, surprised. "Well, I'm glad. He needs someone."
Conversation was halted as Severus rapped sharply on the side of his glass, standing. Ginny had been dreading this part of the evening, and she closed her eyes, putting a hand on her stomach hoping to be able to drown out his speech with her own thoughts. However, for the first time that day her mind was amazingly clear as her least favorite professor cleared his throat. Ginny had always done well in Potions, even skipping a year after she showed on her O.W.L.s that she could do seventh year Potions. Severus Snape, however had always been extraodinarily cruel to her, often reducing her to tears in the middle of class. She sighed resignedly and reached for Draco's hand as Snape began his toast.
"As all of you know, Draco and I became good friends, overcoming our generational gap purely out of need of human companionship. (Good lord, this is going to be worse than I thought, Ginny thought to herself, sinking slightly down in her chair) What most of you don't know is that it was more than that that made us true friends. Draco and I shared things that people should not have to go through, and we helped each other when there was no one else to help. Draco found someone to replace me in that capacity, and I him, not long after the war ended, but there are some things that simply cannot be forgotten. However, I could search the world over before I found a better person for Draco that Virginia Weasley."
Ginny couldn't help but open her eyes and look up at him in surprise as he said that. Surely he didn't say what I think he just said, she thought. But there was a look of pride in his black eyes that she had never seen before.
"Virginia was one of the best students that has ever passed through my classroom at Hogwarts. She was better than even I was at Hogwarts, and that's saying a lot, if I may say so. But she is also a caring person, and just what Draco needs. I know that these two will be very happy for a very long time and I wish them the best as they embark into their new life." With that, Snape lifted his glass a movement followed by everyone in the hall.
The hall exploded with applause as Snape sat, and Ginny couldn't take her eyes off of him. After a few moments Draco nudged her and she realized that Hermione would be speaking in a second. Or should be. She looked over at Hermione and saw that she was staring at Snape in much the same fashion that she must have. She nudged her slightly, and Hermione snapped out of her trance.
"Oh. Sorry." She smiled sheepishly at the other guests, blushing a very Weasley blush as she stood. Ginny glanced at Ron and saw the look of love that shone in his eyes before he had to turn and settle Adam. Ginny smiled up at Hermione, leaning slightly into Draco as he put his arm around her waist. "OK, that was really good," she said, eliciting a laugh from the guests. "I've known Ginny for almost sixteen years now. We weren't always the best of friends, especially in her first few years at Hogwarts. I was too busy with my other friends, Ron and Harry. But then, as I started to get older, I needed someone who...understood more than they to talk to, and so Ginny and I began to confide in each other. We quickly grew to be best friends, almost more like sisters, which was something that we had both always wanted. We would tell each other everything, well...almost everything," she said, smiling down at Ginny. Ginny grinned back sheepishly, squeezing Draco's hand. Ginny had told Hermione about Draco merely a week before she had told the rest of the family. "Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, I have never really gotten along with. When we were at school together, Draco was pompous, self-centered, and...well, a brat." Ginny heard Draco grunt behind her and saw her brother give a silent cheer. "We were enemies to the core, each hating the other for what they were. If someone had told me that one day Draco Malfoy would change I would have accused them of taking some sort of madness potion. But today I present to you a changed Draco. I know that he has gone through things that no human should have to endure and he has more than survived, he has flourished. Anyone can tell by the look in his eyes when he looks at Ginny, or the gentle way that he touches her that he loves her more than life itself. I too cannot think of a better person for Ginny than Draco, and I toast to a long life...and many happy children."
Ginny couldn't help but grin as she clapped loudly before standing and giving Hermione a hug. "Thank you, Mina."
"Any time, Gin. Anytime."
The two women took their seats as the other toasters began to speak. Ginny's father gave a long and rather embarrasing speech about Ginny as a child, eliciting many laughs from Draco. Charlie gave a moving speech about how wonderful Ginny was. Several Professors spoke on behalf of both Ginny and Draco. Dean and Seamus came in halfway through giving short, humorous speeches before sitting. Over-all it was a very funny evening, and Ginny was sad to see it end.
"Don't worry, love. The night is just beginning," Draco said, sweeping her into his arms. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck to support herself as he them Apparated to their new flat, leaving the applause of the guests behind.
***
Fuck was the first thought that came to Harry's pounding head as his drapes opened themselves, flooding the room with early morning sunlight. He reached for his wand to close them but he couldn't find it anywhere on the bedside table. He looked over the side of the bed through squinted eyes, hoping that it had merely rolled off. He didn't see it on the floor either though, and he woke up more as he realized he didn't even remember how he had gotten into bed. He looked down at himself and woke fully when he saw that he was wearing pajamas that he had never seen before. The bed was empty so he knew that it hadn't been one of his...companions that had done it. Thinking past the pain in his head was next to impossible, however and he sat up slowly, wishing that his maid were here so that she could fix him some coffee, or bring an aspirin, or better yet perform the pain relief spells that she had proved so good at.
"Mr. Potter?" she called tentatively.
"Mary! Great timing." He winced at the effort that it took to speak, wondering what he could have possibly had to drink to give him a hangover like this. "There's no one else in here, Mary."
She entered the room, looking relieved. "Why is my timing so great, sir?" she said, picking a few things up off of the floor.
"I need a pain relief spell in the worst way. I don't know what the hell I drank to give me this headache, but I think my heads going to split in two."
Mary laughed slightly as she pulled her wand out. "Subsisto dolor," she said, pointing her wand at him almost impatiently. He felt the pain melt away magically and thanked her as he stood, looking again for his wand. Out of pure habit he ran his hands down his front, and was pleasantly surprised as he found his wand in a pocket inside his pajamas. He reached inside and pulled it out, having to peel it away from his skin that had apparently sweated during the night.
"How the hell did it get in there?" he said out loud.
"I don't know, sir. Do you want me to make your bed?" Mary started towards the bed as Harry nodded at her, heading to the bathroom. He undressed slowly, studying the strange pajamas that he had ended up in, wanting for all the world to remember how he had gotten into them. He shook his head as he climbed into his spacious shower, giving up on remembering.
He showered quickly, and dressed, laying the pajamas aside as mementos of another forgotten night. Passing through his living room, however, he passed the picture of he and Ginny that Colin had taken of them when they had first started seeing each other is sixth year and it all came flooding back to him. The wedding, the champagne, and most importantly, the waitress. He also realized, with a string of swear words, that he hadn't asked her name. But he did remember that she had liked his flat and he was grinning as he entered the kitchen for breakfast.
"Would you like the usual, Mr. Potter?" his cook, Geoffrey asked, like clockwork.
"Not today, Geoff. And how many times do I have to ask you to call me Harry? No..I'd like some flapjacks today. With syrup, and butter. Could you also make me some bacon, fry a few eggs...Oh, and some porridge if you have it made."
"Hungry, sir?" Geoffrey gave Harry an amused look before retreating into the kitchen to make Harry's breakfast. Harry had to admit that it was vastly different from his usual dry toast and pumpkin juice, but for the first time in a long time he felt truly hungry. Just then Hedwig flew through the window, bringing Harry his mail and newspaper.
He saw with surprise that he had a letter from Ron and another from Ginny. He also noticed the leap his heart didn't take when he saw her handwriting. Both of them pertained to his leaving the wedding early and he made a mental note to write to both, apologizing profusely. Apparently he had missed a rather humorous speech in which Hermione said everything about Draco that they had felt about him all those years at Hogwarts.
He had just opened his newspaper when Geoff brought out his breakfast, a plate worthy of the Weasley household. Harry lay his newspaper in front of him and thanked Geoff with a smile before digging into the delicious meal. He surprised himself and Geoff by eating seconds and thirds, eating until he positively couldn't eat another bite, more than he had eaten in the five years since the end of the war.
"Big plans today, sir?" Geoff asked as he cleared the last of the dishes.
Harry hadn't really thought about it, but he decided that he was going to go find that waitress that had helped him home the day before.
"Yes, Geoff, I think I do have some rather large plans for today," he said, smiling to himself.
Thirty minutes later he found himself in the Weasley's kitchen, Mrs. Weasley trying to put even more food into him. "Honestly, Mrs. Weasley. I had a huge breakfast and I couldn't possibly eat anymore."
She sighed and put the pan down. "Alright then, Harry. But I still say you're too thin. Let's go into the living room to talk."
"I'm a seeker, it's my job to be thin," Harry defended as he followed her out of the kitchen. They settled themselves into a couple of the many comfortable chairs scattered throughout the room. "I came here for a couple of reasons. First, I would like to apologize for leaving early yesterday. I took ill and had to go home and rest."
"I trust you are feeling better today?"
"Yes, ma'am. Nothing a bit of pepperup potion couldn't take care of. My second reason was that I wanted to know if you knew the name of the American waitress at the wedding yesterday. She was very helpful to me when I became ill and I would like to thank her properly."
"Oh, well, yes, dear I have the list of all of the waitresses. I don't know which of them were American though. I simply went through resumes when hiring, I didn't meet any of them personally."
Harry felt his hope dwindle for a moment before he realized something. "Well, their resumes. Wouldn't they say which school they trained at. I know that this girl didn't go to Hogwarts, and her being American I assume that she probably went to Salem."
"I think I do remember one who went to Salem. She had a wonderful resume, if I remember correctly."
"Do you still have it around, Mrs. Weasley? I would really like to thank her for her kindness."
"Of course, Harry, dear. I'll go look." She got up and walked back to Mr. Weasley's study.
Harry looked around the Burrow. In many ways it had changed from the comfortable little home that he had flown to all those birthdays ago, but in a lot of ways it hadn't. It was much quieter than it had been back then, with all of the Weasley children grown and married, most with children or children on the way. But the furniture, while just as comfortable, was also a bit more expensive than it had been back then. The Weasleys had come into some money, with Fred and George's very successful joke shop, Mr. Weasley's promotion to Minister of Magic at the beginning of the war, and an inheritance from an anonymous relative to Mrs. Weasley just a few years ago. Harry was glad that they had finally gotten what they deserved, smiling inwardly at all of the help that the Weasleys had given him over the years.
"Here they are, Harry." Mrs. Weasley emerged from the study with a large stack of papers. Harry jumped up and grabbed the stack from her as she staggered slightly under the weight. He looked down at the stack and saw that he was going to have a long day ahead of him, if he was going to find her. He looked up from the stack to smile at Mrs. Weasley.
"Thank you so much. I'll just sit here and look, is that alright?"
"Of course it is Harry, dear. And don't be afraid to make noise either. The one thing I miss about all of the children is the noise they brought here."
"Don't worry. You'll have a house full of grandchildren soon enough."
"I better get a few out of you too, Harry." With that she turned and went into the kitchen.
Harry was slightly taken aback at her statement. He had long considered her secretly to be his surrogate mother, but he had no idea that she felt the same way. He smiled, pleased, as he sat back in the chair prepared to go through the stack of resumes to find her, even if it took all day.
Three hours later he looked at the last resume, thinking that if he ever had to look at another one he would Crucio himself. He had found only three who had attended Salem, and he looked at them again now as he wondered what to do now. Suddenly he remembered something that Mrs. Weasley had mentioned earlier.
"Mrs. Weasley!" he called, jumping up to go to the kitchen. They almost collided with one another as she was moving towards the living room to see what he wanted.
"Is everything alright Harry?"
"Yes, yes, it's all fine. I found three girls who went to Salem, but I just thought that maybe you didn't hire them all. You said you had a list of all of the waitstaff from the wedding?"
"Yes, I do." She dried her hands as she stepped past him and back into the study. This time she brought a single piece of paper. "Here it is, dear." She smiled brightly at him as he took the paper, looking for the first name on his list.
He looked at the name on the top piece of paper. Samantha White, he thought to himself, looking to the list. He scanned it quickly and didn't see that name, so he looked to the next piece of paper. Regina Bowles, he thought, scanning the list again. Once again, a negative. Amy O'Connor, he thought, praying that her name would be on the list. When he saw it about halfway down the piece of paper his heart skipped a beat. Amy O'Connor. Must have been her Irish blood coming out in that temper yesterday, he thought, smiling. Now that he knew her name, the rest would be easy. He scanned the resume quickly, remembering small, vital tidbits that would come in handy later.
"Did you find her, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking more than curious about Harry's search.
"Yes ma'am. Thank you very much for this information and I'm sorry for bothering you after such a busy day."
"Nonsense. Bother me all you like. I like being bothered, especially by my children." Just then a knock came at the door. "That'll be one of them now."
Harry went and opened the door. Ron and Hermione were standing there, each holding a twin and kissing. Harry cleared his throat quietly and smiled at them when they looked at him. "Your mum will be glad to see you Ron. Unfortunately I was just leaving, or I'd stay and chat. I'll explain it all later, mate," Harry added, seeing the almost hurt look on Ron's face. He bent and kissed each of the twins before dropping one on Hermione's cheek. "I'll see you later. Thanks again, Mrs. Weasley," he said before walking out the still open door, truly smiling for the first time in a long time.
