"Such a cute bambino."
Draco's crest rippled.
"Your sense of humor has much to be desired."
Blaise shrugged and contemplated the speckled hypothetical offspring.
"Potter has quite an artistic eye. The resemblance to your husband's freckles and coloring is striking."
"Is there a point to your scrutiny?"
Blaise shrugged.
"I am curious, that is all. You always keep it under wraps."
"For a good reason. I can't let anything happen to it."
"How strange."
Draco shrugged.
"I don't look forward to parting with it. But I think…"
Draco changed, and took the egg, his fingers splaying over it's cool surface.
"A formal good bye before the wedding. And Hermione can take care of it for me."
Blaise's eyes narrowed in mirth.
"My uncle in Chicago tells me what that really means. Murder."
Draco snorted.
"Perhaps. But what can we do? It was all Hermione's idea."
"Ginny told me that everything was done. Now what?"
Ginny gave her brother an exasperated look. Hermione just continued her march, dragging on Ron's arm.
"The wedding is tomorrow. The last exams are done, and everyone's getting ready. You have to get ready too."
"All I have to do is change into my new robes."
Both girls rolled their eyes.
"No. You need to be all nice. For Draco. Really, Ron, have you seen your fingernails?"
"He likes them a little long."
"What?"
He didn't answer. Or, rather, the reddening of his ears answered for him.
"Oh. Just get them neater than they are now."
"Mrs. Malfoy sent us this," Hermione showed him a basket. It was filled with pastel colored bottles and tissue wrapped packages.
They entered the Prefects' Bath. Hermione sat down on a changing bench. Ron, sensing a lecture, sat next to her. Ginny was staring at the décor.
"That mermaid looks tacky."
"This is shampoo."
"I know what shampoo is."
Hermione repressed her eye roll.
"And this is conditioner. After you rinse out your hair put this in and rinse it out."
"Why?"
"It makes hair softer."
"So why can't shampoo do that?"
"Because shampoo is for cleaning."
Ron's eyebrows were crinkled.
"Why can't there be shampoo and conditioner together when we have something like Pepperup Potion? It shouldn't be too hard."
"Because the combination leaves a residue. Shall I suggest this as a new project for Professor Snape or shall we continue?"
Ron motioned with his hand.
"It wouldn't hurt for Snape to look into it though," Ginny grinned. "Personal benefits are obvious."
"This is soap."
Ron rolled his eyes.
"This is moisturizer. No comments. Just rub it in after you rinse off the soap and leave it."
"Leave it?"
"Leave it. Hmm… Tap this loofah with your wand and it should get rid of skin flakes. I hear these things have a really strong scrub so use it manually for the more sensitive parts."
She shifted some bottles.
"This is… depilatory potion. Mrs. Malfoy's humor, I guess. I don't know what hair you want to get rid of, but your leg hairs are a good start."
"What?"
"I'm not explaining everything. That's it, I guess."
Hermione set the basket down on the bench and both girls left. Ron sighed at all the new complications added to the previously simple act of washing himself and got started.
Draco returned from the library after dropping off the last of his borrowed books. He yawned and changed, a claw reaching out to pull back his covers. He stood very still, his pupils constricting. His neck craned forward, his beak pecking desperately at the sheets, his claws shredding them.
"Kreeeeaaach! Bastards! Kreee!"
Ron looked up. Percy, as pedantic as he was, did have a valid point about Weasleys being serially monogamous. It wasn't long after becoming officially married to Draco that he began to exhibit married Weasley behavior. Such as knowing just when Draco was near and quickly knowing his moods. Draco's face was immobile, despite Ron's greeting. Ron opened his arms, and Draco ducked into them, all of his muscles tense. Ron quickly backed into an alcove and tilted Draco's face up. His eyes were downcast and suspiciously bright.
"What happened?"
Draco shook his head.
"What?"
Draco's speech was muffled into Ron's robe.
"The Egg. I left it alone for just a few minutes. And. It's been smashed."
"It's okay."
"No, it isn't! It's my Egg! Our Egg! And it's dead!"
Ron sighed and began to rub Draco's back, trying to soothe Draco's shaking.
"Draco… It wasn't real. And nothing's happened."
"Yes, it has! It was my responsibility and I failed."
"Draco. You watched over it as much as you could. You did great. It's not your fault. Accidents happen."
Draco was silent.
"It wasn't an accident."
Draco's voice got stronger.
"Somebody. Smashed. It!"
"Then do something about it."
Ron pressed his cheek against Draco's
"Get it out of your system. Staying angry for a long time doesn't do anybody any good. I should know. Okay?"
"Yes."
"Blaise."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
Draco tossed him a bag of Galleons.
"I want you to do something for me."
Blaise set the Galleons aside.
"No haggling?"
"No."
Blaise leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"What is it?"
"My Egg. I know that somebody smashed it. It was not an accident, and I want you to find them. And I want them to suffer."
"You were going to have it 'taken care of'. What is the fuss?"
"I choose when. And somebody has decided to take that away from me. They bashed it in, the yolk was all over my sheets… smeared. Like blood. On the night before my wedding. Need I explain more?"
Blaise shrugged.
"That will be difficult."
"I know that it was not a male who smashed my Egg. I would be ripping him apart otherwise. You know I know every male's pheromone signature by now."
"Ah."
Blaise's face took on a far away look. Draco waited.
"I think… I will not take your money."
"I will not let this happen without retribution!"
"That is not what I meant."
Draco quickly got himself under control.
"A favor, then."
Blaise shook his head.
"In all our years in Hogwarts, you have never come to me, offered me your friendship. I would do… many things for a friend. You were polite. Wary, which was wise. But never my friend."
Draco walked forward, and offered his hand.
"Would you be my friend? Blaise?"
Blaise took it.
"Yes."
He stood up, and patted Draco's back.
"Do not fret. Your Egg's passing will not be in vain. I promise."
TBC