"Legality, Gryffindor, is a technicality."
"But-"
"Do you like the people?"
"Um. No?"
"Really?"
"No. I guess."
"It's just a little favor. For me. And Blaise Zabini always remembers those who do favors for him."
Blaise smiled.
"We have a deal, Creevey?"
"Yeah."
"Excellent. You take good pictures for the business, Creevey, and you won't need to worry about anything else."
Hermione lost no time ranting at Ron and Draco when they finally emerged from the forest. Ron stood the haranguing, looking just a bit chastised. Being a son of Molly Weasley does that to you. Draco, however, rolled his eyes.
"Pardon me, if my taking time off to enjoy conjugal bliss was upsetting your schedule."
Hermione's jaw tightened.
"Excuse me if I'm trying to do a favor for the two of you!"
"Favor? Who said anything about a favor? I certainly don't want a favor from you."
"Draco," Ron tugged on his sleeve.
"No. Hermione, you took this on your own. Don't go pinning it on either of us. Understand?"
"Fine! You can plan the wedding on your own!"
"Who said I wanted that?"
"You just said-"
"Don't you understand English? You-"
Both of them were going full tilt. Harry ushered Ron away.
"They'll figure it out. Just save your eardrums."
"But she's really angry."
"Yeah. Well, be glad she's not ragging us on NEWTs. Ginny? How are the plans, anyway?"
"Well. How organized Miss Granger is. She will go far, I daresay."
Narcissa was flipping through sheaves of parchment of Ginny's copies of Hermione's plans.
"She hasn't mentioned anything about rings, though."
Narcissa put the parchment down.
"I think I want to contribute."
"That would be lovely, Mrs. Malfoy."
Narcissa extended one hand.
"Please. I wish that you call me Narcissa."
"Then you can call me Molly."
Narcissa smiled.
"You can't do that," Harry was barely holding his annoyance in check.
Draco was getting that petulant look that made everyone in his general vicinity want to strangle him.
"And why not?"
"This isn't Christmas holiday, you can't just decide to go into the dorms," Harry's hand was exasperatedly going though his hair, making it stick up even more. "How many times do I have to say it!?"
"We aren't exhibitionists, Harry. Don't laugh, you prat! Both of us know effective charms that guarantee privacy."
"But the rest of us will still know what you two are doing!"
"Ron?"
Ron shrugged.
"I think we can stand not-"
"No, we can't. What is it with you Gryffindors and overestimating yourselves?"
Ron opened his mouth.
"What is it with you Slytherin and being so selfish?" Harry snapped.
"You're just jealous because you aren't getting any!"
"What!? That has nothing-"
"Yes it does, you spoilsport!"
"Decency, you git!"
"Why," Ron whispered to Ginny. "does he always have to pick fights?"
Ginny shrugged.
"Why do you stand it?"
"He doesn't act like this with me. Anymore."
"Could be because if you got mad, he wouldn't get any sex," Ginny concluded.
"Ginny!"
"Ron, beloved," Draco turned. "Harry says that we should do it in my dorm. Tell him how absurd that is."
"Uh… Why?"
Draco's left eye twitched. Harry crossed his arms, as if his point was proven.
"Why? Do you fancy another game of Snape Says? Because I don't!"
"McGonagall won't approve either," Harry pointed out.
"Oh please! She's much more of a romantic than my bitter, lonely, and utterly obtrusive Head of House!"
"Aaargh! Just do it wherever you two were doing today!"
"And not be available when Granger starts up again? I should say not!"
"I don't much like doing it out in the open," Ron remarked.
Harry boggled. Draco clapped his hand to his forehead. Ginny snickered.
"You what!?"
"Er…"
"You two are unbelievable! Ron, what were you thinking? Forget I said that, with what were you thinking!?"
Harry's hair was fluffing at an alarming rate. Apparently, when really aggravated, his head was capable of magically producing copious amounts of static electricity.
"And do you hear me? I'm sounding like Hermione! Aaargh!"
"That settles it. We do it in Ron's bed."
"I hate you."
"What's your damage?" Dean asked.
"Draco is being a git, that's what!"
Dean nodded sagely. Harry informed them of Draco's intentions.
"All complaints will be directed to the couple concerned. Any other remarks will be ignored. That is my final Prefect Announcement of the day, thank you!" Harry snarled.
Neville pinked.
"Um, Harry?" Seamus ventured.
"What?"
"So if that bed continues to shake in that alarming manner that it has for longer, it's not Peeves?"
"Seamus, because I will prove to Draco that I am a decent person, I will not inflict bodily harm upon you. Just so you know, I dearly want to chop you up into itty-bitty little pieces and donate you to Snape for potions ingredients. Have a nice day."
Harry stomped out.
"Well, if it isn't the Expatriate," Blaise murmured.
Draco spared him a lofty glance before sweeping into the dorm.
"Snape is irritable," Blaise set his Arithmancy homework aside.
Draco raised an eyebrow.
"When is our illustrious Head of House not?"
Blaise smiled and delicately sipped his drink.
"Some of it can be attributed to your recent behavior. Will you want to approve the people I have added to the guest list?"
"No. I trust you will make the right decisions."
"Buono."
Blaise stood, and poured some drink into another mug, offering it to Draco.
"Have some cappuccino, Mama just owled me the special blend."
"I thought Italians drink coffee only with breakfast."
"True. I am also a Slytherin, and rules apply only when it conveniences me. Right now, I need it to finish my homework. Mama does not need to know."
Draco sighed appreciatively.
"Excellent stuff."
"Si."
"It has the oddest effect of making you spout Italian for no particular reason."
"Reminds me of home."
Draco frowned suddenly.
"It's strange."
"What?" Blaise warily looked up.
"This. Sharing cappuccino, having a conversation about nothing at all. It's practically Gryffindor."
"Si, what would our parents say?"
Blaise shrugged.
"Sometimes it is just good to have something nice."
"Why couldn't we have been this cordial before? Would have saved me a lot of trouble," Draco remarked.
"And troubled a lot in Hogwarts in the bargain."
"Win win situation."
"Si."
They both snorted.
"Not bloody likely."
"Slytherin do not share turf."
Both raised their mugs in mock toast.
"How are the wedding preparations? You seem tired."
"It's not the wedding that is tiring me out."
"…Ah. But it is difficult, isn't it?"
"Hermione is capable. She's even more motivated now that I'm paying her for her trouble. Unfortunately, she's being such a girl about it."
"Explain."
"Undue amounts of romance that she feels she must inflict upon Ron and me at odd intervals. No, we don't need so many flower arrangements, no, we don't want Flitwick to decorate with fairy lights, etc. It's enough to drive one mad."
"With two grooms it must be something."
"Ha. She had a conference about how the two of us were actually going to get up front. Can you imagine?"
"What did Weasley say?"
"Couldn't we both just walk up at the same time?"
"Merlin."
"I know. She wouldn't shut up for such a long time after that. It was apparently just not done."
"Then how are you two going to do it?"
"At the same time. Harry put his foot down. Actually mentioned Occam's Razor, if you can believe it. Simplify, simplify. The sooner it was over with, the sooner the food can be served. You've got to admit, sometimes that Gryffindor tendency to just barge through things comes in handy."
"Whereas you were at standstill because of what was the proper thing to do."
"Yes. And that's just one small thing in all this. Thank Merlin we are already married."
TBC