Chapter Three: Chaos named Harry
Fred was stationed at the door watching for the guest of honour. George was ready behind the bar with drinks and a little potion designed to make Draco forget everything. Harry couldn't help pace up and down with nerves. The waiting was killing him. Why on earth were they late? Had he miscalculated something?
Harry jerked up from his thoughts as the squawk of the fake alarm went up over the music. Fred had come up with that idea; he would set it off when Draco arrived, but so that it would not raise eyebrows amongst the guests who were old friends and enemies, they had been told there would be free drinks served during the hour the alarm was sounded. It had worked. Now everyone was crowding the bar for a free drink, Harry now had a clear path to the door.
Stepped through the doorway holding the hand of a tall, slim chestnut haired girl. She smiled nervously at Draco, who smiled back. What Harry did not see was the Draco squeezed her hand reassuringly then led her down the steps towards the floor. Fred however did see and suddenly he thought that perhaps plan "Seduce Sexy Slytherin" was not so hot after all.
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The first people who came up to greet Draco were his old ball and chain, Crab and Goyle. Perhaps it was because Goyle's younger brother was with them. But Draco felt uncomfortable about them; he did with most Slytherins these days. He felt as if their eyes looked straight through him and focused on the last heir of Slytherin who stood quite rigid beside him. Epona never liked to refer to her Slytherin heritage or the fact the chamber of secrets could be opened age again, and she could do something about the fact the monster within was dead. Voldermort had revealed a secret to Epona before his death, and it had made her cautious about her heritage and no doubt would make her cautious about her children's too.
"Malfoy!" Goyle greeted Draco with a faked happy tone. "Long time no see."
"Goyle," Draco said adding the same fake tone to his voice and grasping Goyle's hand and shaking it. " Indeed a long time." Wish we had never met again, Draco wished silently.
Though the war was long over, some families still held others responsible and the Malfoy family could do without that. The stain upon his name had once made Draco think long and hard about taking Ravenclaw as a new surname. It was possible for a wizard to accept his partners name, especially as Epona was a Ravenclaw there would be not fuss about it, well except may be from his father.
"Draco!" A fizzy haired blur ran towards Draco, and threw her arms about his neck. Draco couldn't help but laugh as Hermione Granger, well formally Granger she was a Weasley now apparently, flew into his arms. Despite earlier dislikes, after the battle in their seventh year Hermione and Draco had overcome their differences. Draco had felt ashamed about him calling her Mudblood. A spell as head boy and head girl had sorted out a lot of Draco's ideas about what was right and wrong.
Goyle and Crab sneered for a moment before melting into the crowd. Draco was rather glad they did. Should Weasley find a Slytherin within a mile of him, there would probably be an investigation or something. Apparently Weasley due to gossip was a top secret something or other in the ministry working with Potter on the more darker elements that had to be a secret. And of course it being a secret everyone knew. Behind Hermione following in her wake was Ron Weasley.
"Malfoy," Ron said coldly.
"Ron, be nice." Hermione said turning towards her husband and then back to Draco. "Nice to see you again Epona, and congratulations! I couldn't believe it when Draco owled me! Have you got pictures?"
Epona nodded and quickly reached into her bag. Within an instant, Draco found himself alone with Ron and an approaching Harry Potter as Hermione dragged Epona off to a seat booth. A smile twitched at Draco's lips; no doubt they would spend the rest of the evening pouring over baby photographs. Hermione was one of the few who did know he was a father. Hermione had remained a contact to which he wrote to often, and he could rely on her keeping secrets even from her husband.
"Where did Hermione go?" Harry asked Ron.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ron replied. "No idea mate."
"Probably women stuff," Draco said shaking his head as he saw Epona pull out the special tiny photo album that she had enchanted to increase in size when opened.
"So what have you been up to Malfoy?" Ron asked. "Making sure your Malfoy bloodline doesn't run out? Or been working with some dark arts?"
"A Malfoy would not be caught dead doing the Dark Arts, Weasel." A female voice injected as Draco was about to speak. Turning behind them stood Pansy. Why now? Draco thought. If getting howlers set to his parents wasn't bad enough, the woman Pansy had become could not just let go.
"If fact I wouldn't be surprised if this Malfoy even did any magic at all." Pansy continued with out mercy. "Last I heard Draco you lived like a Muggle in a little village with Muggles and you even have plans to marry into a Muggle family. True is it not?"
A roar of laughter erupted from Draco's side. Weasley was laughing so hard he was going bright red. "Oh how the mighty have fallen," he managed to laugh out.
Why did everyone else think that he had been forced to live like that? At first when Epona and Draco had gotten together, she had explained the wizarding way of life was a bit too abnormal for her. She liked washing her own dishes and doing the weeding herself. So he had agreed to live as a Muggle for a month, he was allowed to magic and potion tests but not in order to help with the housework or making the dinner, and the house elf was not to do it all alone. Nope Draco Malfoy had to learn how to wash dishes, make coffee, use the microwave and even learn how to use a washing machine. Flash was not a slave he was a helper and everyone pitched in otherwise they left.
After a month, Draco had found living like a Muggle quite enjoyable. In the sense he felt a pride in himself for doing manual labour that before he never thought about doing. And it felt great. Of course when Tammy had come along, Flash had taken over for a while some of the more pressing chores, like washing clothes, hovering, washing the dishes and so on, to allow the new family time to bond. But he had been rewarded with two weeks worth of holiday time to do whatever he liked and of course a set of clothes. It meant he was free and well would recent a decent wage and Draco promised never to think of any elf like that. Of course now Flash wanted to think about his own family. Meaning they would need a female house elf.
The sound of an alarm brought Draco out of his thought. Ron and Pansy he disappeared. Harry stood awkwardly beside him. Wonder what's up with Potter?
"Hello Harry," Draco smiled greeting the boy that lived with a smile. "How are things going with you?"
"Erm, going good." Harry replied smiling. "Fancy a drink? That alarm means the drinks are on the house."
"Why not a drink would do no harm," Draco said. "Hey Harry the past is water under the bridge right? You aren't like Weasley who blames me for a lot."
"Ron was just jealous, you know with Hermione and stuff."
As they reached the bar, George Weasley popped up and place to cocktails on the bar. Winking at Harry then disappeared. Ok, that was strange. Draco thought to himself. Harry picked up the orange coloured drink and smiled.
"A toast? To the old days at Hogwarts and to the new ones to come." Harry said.
"To the new ones to come," Draco said taking a long sip of the cocktail, which tasted rather nice. "So what are you up to now, Potter?"
"Bit of this bit of that." Harry replied watching Draco intensely.
Draco felt suddenly strange. Was the music getting quieter? Why was Harry watching him so closely? A blinding pain shot through his head. What on earth was going on? Another pain shot right through him. An apologetic look appeared in Harry's face.
"What have you done?" Draco demanded trying to grab Harry but failing.
"I am saving you." Harry whispered. "Hermione mentioned that you were going to marry Voldermort's daughter. Don't worry you soon won't remember her." "But.wait." a consuming blackness threatened to overtake him. Draco suddenly felt afraid. Won't remember but. What about him loving her? What about. "Tammy," Draco murmured and with that Draco Malfoy was consumed by darkness.
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Fred was stationed at the door watching for the guest of honour. George was ready behind the bar with drinks and a little potion designed to make Draco forget everything. Harry couldn't help pace up and down with nerves. The waiting was killing him. Why on earth were they late? Had he miscalculated something?
Harry jerked up from his thoughts as the squawk of the fake alarm went up over the music. Fred had come up with that idea; he would set it off when Draco arrived, but so that it would not raise eyebrows amongst the guests who were old friends and enemies, they had been told there would be free drinks served during the hour the alarm was sounded. It had worked. Now everyone was crowding the bar for a free drink, Harry now had a clear path to the door.
Stepped through the doorway holding the hand of a tall, slim chestnut haired girl. She smiled nervously at Draco, who smiled back. What Harry did not see was the Draco squeezed her hand reassuringly then led her down the steps towards the floor. Fred however did see and suddenly he thought that perhaps plan "Seduce Sexy Slytherin" was not so hot after all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first people who came up to greet Draco were his old ball and chain, Crab and Goyle. Perhaps it was because Goyle's younger brother was with them. But Draco felt uncomfortable about them; he did with most Slytherins these days. He felt as if their eyes looked straight through him and focused on the last heir of Slytherin who stood quite rigid beside him. Epona never liked to refer to her Slytherin heritage or the fact the chamber of secrets could be opened age again, and she could do something about the fact the monster within was dead. Voldermort had revealed a secret to Epona before his death, and it had made her cautious about her heritage and no doubt would make her cautious about her children's too.
"Malfoy!" Goyle greeted Draco with a faked happy tone. "Long time no see."
"Goyle," Draco said adding the same fake tone to his voice and grasping Goyle's hand and shaking it. " Indeed a long time." Wish we had never met again, Draco wished silently.
Though the war was long over, some families still held others responsible and the Malfoy family could do without that. The stain upon his name had once made Draco think long and hard about taking Ravenclaw as a new surname. It was possible for a wizard to accept his partners name, especially as Epona was a Ravenclaw there would be not fuss about it, well except may be from his father.
"Draco!" A fizzy haired blur ran towards Draco, and threw her arms about his neck. Draco couldn't help but laugh as Hermione Granger, well formally Granger she was a Weasley now apparently, flew into his arms. Despite earlier dislikes, after the battle in their seventh year Hermione and Draco had overcome their differences. Draco had felt ashamed about him calling her Mudblood. A spell as head boy and head girl had sorted out a lot of Draco's ideas about what was right and wrong.
Goyle and Crab sneered for a moment before melting into the crowd. Draco was rather glad they did. Should Weasley find a Slytherin within a mile of him, there would probably be an investigation or something. Apparently Weasley due to gossip was a top secret something or other in the ministry working with Potter on the more darker elements that had to be a secret. And of course it being a secret everyone knew. Behind Hermione following in her wake was Ron Weasley.
"Malfoy," Ron said coldly.
"Ron, be nice." Hermione said turning towards her husband and then back to Draco. "Nice to see you again Epona, and congratulations! I couldn't believe it when Draco owled me! Have you got pictures?"
Epona nodded and quickly reached into her bag. Within an instant, Draco found himself alone with Ron and an approaching Harry Potter as Hermione dragged Epona off to a seat booth. A smile twitched at Draco's lips; no doubt they would spend the rest of the evening pouring over baby photographs. Hermione was one of the few who did know he was a father. Hermione had remained a contact to which he wrote to often, and he could rely on her keeping secrets even from her husband.
"Where did Hermione go?" Harry asked Ron.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ron replied. "No idea mate."
"Probably women stuff," Draco said shaking his head as he saw Epona pull out the special tiny photo album that she had enchanted to increase in size when opened.
"So what have you been up to Malfoy?" Ron asked. "Making sure your Malfoy bloodline doesn't run out? Or been working with some dark arts?"
"A Malfoy would not be caught dead doing the Dark Arts, Weasel." A female voice injected as Draco was about to speak. Turning behind them stood Pansy. Why now? Draco thought. If getting howlers set to his parents wasn't bad enough, the woman Pansy had become could not just let go.
"If fact I wouldn't be surprised if this Malfoy even did any magic at all." Pansy continued with out mercy. "Last I heard Draco you lived like a Muggle in a little village with Muggles and you even have plans to marry into a Muggle family. True is it not?"
A roar of laughter erupted from Draco's side. Weasley was laughing so hard he was going bright red. "Oh how the mighty have fallen," he managed to laugh out.
Why did everyone else think that he had been forced to live like that? At first when Epona and Draco had gotten together, she had explained the wizarding way of life was a bit too abnormal for her. She liked washing her own dishes and doing the weeding herself. So he had agreed to live as a Muggle for a month, he was allowed to magic and potion tests but not in order to help with the housework or making the dinner, and the house elf was not to do it all alone. Nope Draco Malfoy had to learn how to wash dishes, make coffee, use the microwave and even learn how to use a washing machine. Flash was not a slave he was a helper and everyone pitched in otherwise they left.
After a month, Draco had found living like a Muggle quite enjoyable. In the sense he felt a pride in himself for doing manual labour that before he never thought about doing. And it felt great. Of course when Tammy had come along, Flash had taken over for a while some of the more pressing chores, like washing clothes, hovering, washing the dishes and so on, to allow the new family time to bond. But he had been rewarded with two weeks worth of holiday time to do whatever he liked and of course a set of clothes. It meant he was free and well would recent a decent wage and Draco promised never to think of any elf like that. Of course now Flash wanted to think about his own family. Meaning they would need a female house elf.
The sound of an alarm brought Draco out of his thought. Ron and Pansy he disappeared. Harry stood awkwardly beside him. Wonder what's up with Potter?
"Hello Harry," Draco smiled greeting the boy that lived with a smile. "How are things going with you?"
"Erm, going good." Harry replied smiling. "Fancy a drink? That alarm means the drinks are on the house."
"Why not a drink would do no harm," Draco said. "Hey Harry the past is water under the bridge right? You aren't like Weasley who blames me for a lot."
"Ron was just jealous, you know with Hermione and stuff."
As they reached the bar, George Weasley popped up and place to cocktails on the bar. Winking at Harry then disappeared. Ok, that was strange. Draco thought to himself. Harry picked up the orange coloured drink and smiled.
"A toast? To the old days at Hogwarts and to the new ones to come." Harry said.
"To the new ones to come," Draco said taking a long sip of the cocktail, which tasted rather nice. "So what are you up to now, Potter?"
"Bit of this bit of that." Harry replied watching Draco intensely.
Draco felt suddenly strange. Was the music getting quieter? Why was Harry watching him so closely? A blinding pain shot through his head. What on earth was going on? Another pain shot right through him. An apologetic look appeared in Harry's face.
"What have you done?" Draco demanded trying to grab Harry but failing.
"I am saving you." Harry whispered. "Hermione mentioned that you were going to marry Voldermort's daughter. Don't worry you soon won't remember her." "But.wait." a consuming blackness threatened to overtake him. Draco suddenly felt afraid. Won't remember but. What about him loving her? What about. "Tammy," Draco murmured and with that Draco Malfoy was consumed by darkness.
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