Draco chuckled and nuzzled Ron's neck.
"You really have to admit, I put the nest in love nest!"
Ron's left eye twitched. Draco had coaxed him into the Forbidden Forest. In one of the old growth trees, Draco built a tremendous platform of sticks reinforced with dried mud and Sticking Charms. He also assured Ron that the nest cup was softened with a strong Cushioning Charm.
"Draco, it's up a tree!"
"More privacy."
"It's made out of sticks and solidified dirt!"
"Worked with what nature has to offer."
"You are nutters!"
"Ron. I've gone without proper sex for two weeks. You've gone without proper sex for two weeks. At this point, I'm relying on my Veela instincts here. And they say we do it up a tree. And we will."
"Draco?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you always make your point while playing with my balls?"
"You did make me promise to not resort to verbal manipulation as often."
"So it's just plain manipulation?"
"I would say so, wouldn't you? Like that? Yes, you do, don't you?"
"Up. Tree. Now."
"You're so cute when you're monosyllabic."
Narcissa carefully adjusted her gloves. She surveyed her new surroundings. The garden was scraggy and brown with some green emerging, for spring. Perhaps there would be a profusion of lovely flowers. She could not tell now. She walked up the path leading to the door, noting how though the house was decrepit, it was obviously lived in. The porch sagged in the middle and the paint was beginning to fade. Pots of plants adorned the windowsills and the floury, buttering smell of fresh baking wafted from behind cheerfully patterned curtains. Narcissa never lived in a house like this, but it undoubtedly had a homey feeling. She lingered just before the door, letting this unfamiliar impression settle in her memory. She then stepped up, rapping the door smartly with her knuckle. She did not have to wait long. The door opened, to reveal Molly Weasley.
"Mrs. Weasley? May I step in?"
Mrs. Weasley wiped her hands in her apron, looking Narcissa up and down. She finally stepped aside.
"Yes. Come this way, I'll have some scones ready in a bit."
Narcissa followed, her eyes restlessly looking over the interior. The living room was crammed with mismatched furniture, nicked and scuffed by generations of children. The walls had no formal family portraits, but the scrawled art of children and numerous photographs. She could see some Egyptian trinkets and other memorabilia from other vacations scattered over the hand-crocheted lace doilies on the tables. There was a scorch mark from one of Fred and George's more spectacular experimental failures, old magazines and Daily Prophets, and a chess set that was playing with itself. The whole room was coalesced with remembrance and sentiment. She gingerly sat down on a squashy armchair and was struck by how it easily cradled her, a welcome. Mrs. Weasley excused herself to fetch the scones and the tea things. Narcissa relaxed. Not genteel by any measure, but quite hospitable. Yes, this would not be the ordeal she imagined.
"Mrs. Malfoy, I have to say I'm quite surprised to see you on our doorstep."
Mrs. Weasley set down the plate of scones and the teapot.
"Yes, I suppose it is. I assume you know about our sons?"
Mrs. Weasley nodded. Narcissa took a bite out of her scone.
"Why, this is excellent!"
Mrs. Weasley beamed.
"Grandmother's recipe."
Narcissa nodded.
"This is rather awkward for me," she murmured. "I barely know how to begin."
She sipped her tea.
"The first thing I must say is that the prospect of my son living the married life is worrisome."
"Why is that?"
"He's very young. And has no way to support himself."
Mrs. Weasley nodded sympathetically.
"Yes, it was a shock when Ron owled me and Arthur with the news. But I'm sure they can manage."
"I'm not too sure about that. There is the matter about where they will live after Hogwarts, not to mention this summer."
Narcissa set her cup down.
"Draco must not return to the Manor. It's not safe for him there. Or any other place so long as Lucius is aware of where he is. I… I don't know what to do."
Mrs. Weasley felt a mother's empathy for another mother towards Narcissa after this admission. This elegant and cold woman felt worried over her son. A pleasant surprise. She had wondered how Draco's parents were taking this news. This was promising.
"Draco is welcome to stay with us this summer."
"Wouldn't that be an imposition?"
"No trouble at all! He's part of the family now."
Narcissa sighed.
"Thank you. You don't know how I've thought over this and nothing has come up."
Mrs. Weasley patted her hand.
"Lucius has been quite difficult lately. As long as Draco is safe, I can deal with him. There are other things I want to discuss with you. The upcoming wedding."
"Oh, yes! Ginny's owled me that they will hold it in Hogwarts."
"Draco has been rather tight lipped about the plans. Such a boy about it, you understand. If you could give me some idea of what to expect?"
"I've got her letters right here…"
"Colin, I have a proposition for you."
Hermione ignored the snickering coming from Seamus' direction. Harry rubbed his eyes from behind his glasses. They walked up and Colin had immediately stuck his camera in his face and the flash went off about three inches away from his eyeballs.
"My retinas. Ow, my retinas. Colin, don't do that. I really don't need to know what the insides of my nostrils look like, thanks."
Colin nodded.
"Sure! Anything for you, Harry!"
"Yeah. About that. Ron's getting married."
"Wow! That's great! Who's the bride?"
"Draco Malfoy," Harry deadpanned.
Colin's mouth dropped open. Hermione shot an exasperated look at Harry, who snickered.
"Anyway, since you are the resident shutterbug at Hogwarts can you, you know… clicky clicky?"
"We want you to do the wedding photos for Ron and Draco," Hermione clarified.
"Oh. Wow! That's- No one's ever asked me to do that before…"
"Your first professional request."
"Okay, sure! But… Um. The fee. How much are you paying me?"
Hermione and Harry glanced at each other.
"Well…"
Colin frowned.
"Film costs money, you know."
"Somebody need help with funds?"
They looked up. Blaise drifted over.
"It would be a shame if Malfoy does not have record of such an occasion."
He smiled. Harry wondered how Draco could claim that that was Latino hot. Blaise's smile gave you the impression of being prey sized up and found satisfactory. Hmm. Must mean something when it came to Draco's preferences. Ew.
"I would be willing to bankroll Creevey's work, as a little wedding present for the happy couple. Sounds fair to you two?"
"Colin?"
He nodded eagerly.
"It's done then," Blaise smiled again.
"Okay. How many pictures will you want?"
"Around a hundred and fifty to two hundred, of the party itself along with some of Draco and Ron. We need a good selection to choose from for the album."
Colin's eyes lit up at the prospect of snapping that amount.
"Sure!"
"Creevey?"
"Yes?"
"If you would spare a minute? I have a proposition of my own for you… just a little business…"
Hermione shuddered as she watched those two walk away, Blaise's hand in an iron grip around Colin's elbow.
"Harry, no good could come out of that."
"Why?"
"Blaise?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
"What part of Italy did your family come from?"
"Sicily. Why?"
"If I get a cold, I blame you."
"You won't."'
"You never know. Seriously."
"Ron, you are irrevocably ruining the mood here. Oooh. There. Like that."
"How much am I ruining the mood?"
"No talking. Yesss…"
"…Draco?"
"What?"
"Did the branch just crack?"
"No."
"What if it did? What if we end up splat on the floor of the Forbidden Forest?"
"Ron."
"Hmm?"
"This tree, not to mention me, can take a lot more than what you are giving me right now."
Ron rolled his eyes and his hips.
"Ah! Yes!"
"Where are those two? I've got details that Draco needs to approve and I can't find them!"
"Hermione, relax. It's just a wedding."
Dean winced. Seamus, exhibiting rare prudence, began to back away. Neville gulped.
"Just a wedding?"
Harry nodded.
"Just a wedding!? This is the first time I'm Maid of Honor! I've got plans! Draco and Ron are going to have the perfect wedding and I need confirmation! If one thing goes wrong-"
Harry stood right in the blast radius, showing the world that yes, he was a Hero, because only a Hero could stand the amount of ire and fury of a stressed Maid of Honor.
"Heads will roll!"
One thing Harry knew was that it was rude for one to take one's glasses off in middle of a tirade to wipe spittle off one's glasses, so he didn't.
"Hermione! Hey!"
"What!?"
"Have some Butterbeer?" he proffered a bottle. "Just sit down, take some deep breaths and I'll take care of it. And Ginny will take care of it too. Okay?"
Hermione was somewhat mollified.
"But they're not here! And we haven't even gone over the-"
"Hermione. I think they don't want to be bothered right now. Hint."
This did no good. The sound that came from Hermione would do her House mascot proud.
"I'm stressing out and they are having sex!? How can they do this to me!? When I get my hands on those-"
"Uh… Ginny! Help!"
TBC