Ron smoothed the front of his new dress robes. Harry was sitting on his bed, his feet dangling over the edge and swinging with excitement. Ron glanced at him and both grinned at the same time, Ron flopping down on his own bed.
"You'll get it wrinkled," Harry practically chirped.
He was really hyped up. Unlike the calamity that was the Yule Ball, this he was looking forward to. This was Ron and Draco's show; they were the center of attention. Which mean he didn't even need to get a date for himself. No pressure, no worries. Yes! He managed to learn how to dance thanks to coaching from Ginny and Lavender. He had a feeling Draco was just being the usual jerk when he told him to learn how to dance, but he really didn't know how to dance. So now he did. He was Best Man, Hermione told him what to do, he had the rings all safe in his pocket, he was going to eat chocolate cake. He resolved to find some way to annoy Snape. And… He brushed up on his curses. So it was going to be a good party. He scooted off his bed, and grabbed Ron's arm.
"Hermione'll be ready in a few. Let's go!"
They met up with Hermione and Ginny, endured the girls' scrutiny of their robes and were pronounced acceptable. With the rest of the invited Gryffindors, they trooped down the tower stairs.
The wedding party was being held outdoors on the lawns leading to the Forbidden Forest. Professor Sprout grew a living arbor of vines and flowers as a backdrop for the ceremony. A wooden dance floor was conjured up just for this occasion and the small tables from the Yule Ball were also there, with centerpieces of glistening and unpopping iridescent bubbles, courtesy of Professor Flitwick. The Slytherin contingency were not there yet. A conglomeration of redheads was streaming towards them from the direction of Hogsmeade.
"Mum! Dad!" Ron waved.
Even Bill and Charlie were present, and there was much back slapping and hugging. Molly was wiping her eyes already with her handkerchief.
"You look so handsome in that robe, Ron!"
Ron smiled self-consciously. Hermione and Ginny settled on a warm bronze color for it, trimmed with dark chocolate brown and gold. The effect made his hair pop in intensity and his eyes' blue to deepen.
"Hello," Narcissa stepped forward. "You must be the one who's made my son so very happy."
Ron shook her offered hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Mother."
Narcissa turned. Draco walked up, and she air-kissed his cheek.
"Late as fashion dictates, Draco?"
"It hasn't started yet. As if I'd be late for this," he took Ron's hand.
Narcissa smiled archly and went to find a seat.
"Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley. I'm glad you came."
Harry held back his smile when Draco was unceremoniously enveloped into the patented Weasley welcoming hug. Molly stepped back.
"You look wonderful too. Welcome to the family, dear."
Draco's robe was a frosted green with gray and emerald green trim. Standing next to Ron, the impression was freshness and clarity, the brown and green an emblem of spring and growth. The Weasleys also left to find seats. Harry and Hermione went to help seating the newly arriving guests. Draco smiled at Ron.
"You look positively edible. All cinnamon and chocolaty."
"Down, Draco."
"In front of everybody? My, aren't you the exhibitionist."
"Draco…Quit trying to piss me off."
Draco pouted.
"But you're so glorious in bed when you're pissed off!"
"Oh, you're definitely going to get what's coming to you."
"Promise?"
Hermione frowned. Pansy Parkinson and her friends were making their way towards the party area. The wedding was a known event, but they had nerve coming to where they were not invited.
"Invited guests only."
Pansy smirked.
"We have invitations. See?"
Hermione surveyed the card she managed to politely wrench from Pansy's grip. It was inconceivable. But, she plastered on a smile.
"Find a seat, then."
She turned and found Draco and Ron.
"Is that a good idea?"
She pointed at the group. Draco stopped nuzzling Ron and at the sight of Pansy and her gang, bared his teeth.
"What are they doing here?"
"I thought you'd invited them."
Draco sneered.
"That cow and her sycophantic pack of cackling hens can rot!"
"Then why are they here? They have invitations."
"Forgeries."
Hermione held the card up.
"The parchment and ink check out."
Draco snorted and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they alighted on another just arrived guest.
"I'll get the explanation for this."
Blaise was leaning against a stone urn, an enigmatic look on his face as Draco approached. Harry would later say that both had the air of snakes wary and ready to strike at a moments notice. And he should know.
"Lovely event," Blaise smiled.
"Indeed. However, it is marred by the presence of indubitably unwelcome people. At my wedding. You do have an explanation for this."
Blaise nodded.
"It was just a few deals…" he shifted slightly under Draco's withering glare. "A dozen deals I made. I let it be known that anyone who wished could be on the guest list. For a price."
"You dared."
Blaise held one finger up.
"I keep two percent for dealing with them. You and your husband receive the rest of the sum. My wedding present to you."
Draco lifted his chin.
"You presume entirely too much."
"I am a practical person, Draco. You and your husband need ready cash. Which I can provide. And I do. Is it not better to skin those you dislike than to pluck from friends?"
"What was the price?"
"Five hundred galleons gets them an invitation. You approve?"
"Yes. But it comes to the matter about why anyone was willing to pay such a gauche amount to attend my wedding."
"Your name still has cachet, Draco. And, I also let it be known that it was I who was responsible for the guest list. In its entirety. The fee was therefore, expected of me."
"Of course."
"They will behave, Draco."
"Unless you wish more profit before this is over."
Blaise shrugged.
"There is also another reason. Retribution will come today."
Draco's demeanor turned to ice.
"She's here? You-"
"Soon she will be punished and you will take her money. You will not be implicated and you will watch the reckoning."
Draco paused, automatically savoring that idea, as he was wont as a Slytherin.
"I thank you for your generosity. However, you will understand that both of us will not be on speaking terms for some time?"
"Entirely understandable."
Draco gave him a curt nod and returned to Ron.
"What happened?"
"Blaise capitalized on an opportunity."
Hermione puffed in indignation.
"How could-"
"Hermione, shut it. He did us a favor."
"How-"
"Slytherin business. Keep your nose out of it."
Draco's tone brooked no further argument.
The last of the guests took their seats. Everyone turned expectantly. Hermione and Ginny walked down the aisle first, standing behind Harry. Then, Ron and Draco, stopping under the arbor, facing each other. There was a hush. Draco could feel his heart beating, could sense the anticipatory nervousness of Ron. He winked, and Ron's mouth cracked into a grin. They recited their vows together, perfectly in unison.
"I come here today to join my life to yours before this company. In their presence I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow here that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward."
"Ronald Weasley."
"Draco Malfoy."
They exchanged rings and kissed. The twins whooped and shot off sparks from their wands and soon, everyone was following suit, clapping and cheering.
House elves believe cakes should be constructed like the adobe buildings of Mexico. The four tier chocolate wedding cake was solid, rich, and downright gastronomically imposing. It was delicious. Each slice was topped with mousse and a chocolate frog with the jump gone. Harry thoughtfully decided to commemorate the impetus to their first kiss, secretly telling Dobby to add that last minute touch. It was worth it to see both Draco and Ron unabashedly grinning at each other after they caught sight of the cake.
They whirled into a lively first dance together. Draco had more inherent grace and Ron had more energy. Later, Ron danced with his mother and Draco danced with his mother. Harry was surprising everyone by dancing all dances, including with Millicent Bulstrode, who apparently knew how to do an expert salsa. Narcissa even gave him a compliment on his quickstep and his strong lead. He waved at Draco, who rolled his eyes in return. Ginny exercised her right as the sister and sister-in-law to the grooms and as a Gryffindor by asking Snape to a dance. His eyes shuttered suspiciously and with distaste, but under the remonstrating look from Dumbledore, took her up on a waltz. Due to this precedent, Snape was not without a partner until he decided to forcibly capture the bar and mix drinks for the rest of the party. And in his opinion, that was a far better pastime in a party than dancing.
Blaise circled near.
"Draco."
"We aren't speaking."
"Perhaps. Crabbe and Goyle request audience with you."
Draco's face hardened.
"They should not be here at all."
Blaise made an eloquent motion with his shoulders.
"True. But they were not expecting to be invited. They wish to express gratitude."
Draco gave Blaise his annoyed expression.
"For the price?"
"I did not make those two pay."
Blaise walked off before Draco could question him. Crabbe and Goyle approached. They looked distinctly ill at ease.
"We want to thank you for inviting us to your wedding."
"And we hope that you will be very happy with your husband."
Draco could do nothing but accept the obviously rehearsed lines of wishes the two laboriously gave him. But there were underlying tones of sincerity and when he nodded to them as custom, they smiled. Everything was all right. They pledged their eternal support and left Draco to muse on Blaise's grasp of the inter-relations of Slytherin House.
"What will it be?"
Narcissa deliberated.
"Negroni. If you can manage it?"
"Narcissa, if that is a challenge, I'll have you poisoned."
"Still the wonderful conversationalist, I see."
"Humph."
"All right. Be that way. Give me a Screaming Orgasm."
She smirked when the junction between his nose and forehead broke out in wrinkles. He gave her a very affronted look.
"Narcissa!"
"Well? Are you up for it?"
He brought the cocktail shaker down a bit more forcefully than necessary.
"Lucius must be falling behind on his husbandly duties if you must go about being a brazen."
Narcissa's lips tightened at the mention of her husband.
"I see. Still the same old sour misanthrope."
She fluffed the feathers on her collar in what could be a businesslike fashion.
"You need somebody. I can make arrangements."
Snape did a full body twitch.
"If you are implying what I think you are implying, I'll force an acid down your miserable throat."
"What do you think I am implying?"
Snape pushed a finished concoction at her. She took it and sipped.
"You did give me a Screaming Orgasm after all. Lovely."
Snape snorted.
"Now be gone!"
Snape shuddered again as Narcissa walked away. He really didn't need her interfering with his life. Dumbledore was bad enough, but at least the old man wasn't on a matchmaking kick. He suppressed a groan when he saw a grinning Harry Potter.
"Hi."
"What do you want?"
"Give me a Blowjob."
One horrible thing about being a teenager in the 70's and a Potions Master was that one was bound to know unfortunately named novelty cocktails. And to gall him, Harry even imbibed it all with one gulp and without hands, as custom called for with that infernal drink. Damn.
"Pointless displays done with?"
Harry shrugged.
"How about you serve me a Hard Dick instead of snarking?"
Draco tilted his head a bit.
"You look unhappy. Unacceptable."
Hermione shook her head after Draco guided her around Fred and Angelina's perilously flying heels.
"I'm just thinking about how I'm only going to dance with you, Harry and Ron."
"Oh, Hermione. Look at all these men," Draco jerked his chin. "There's bound to be someone just for you."
"How sweet of you. Quite a surprise."
Draco snorted.
"Please. I'm genuinely sure that there's some poor soul out there that thinks your personality is endearing instead of annoying-"
Hermione smacked his shoulder.
"-or violent."
Draco became distracted, moving Hermione around the dance floor with a slightly curious frown.
"Now what are you thinking of?"
"You know how I'm sure there's someone for you?"
"Yes."
"Mm. Someone's pheromones double when you dance by," he announced with relish.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"Are you sure?"
"Very. In fact… Something's up, and I'm not talking Slytherin schemes."
Hermione smacked Draco's shoulder again.
"Draco! That's a breach of privacy!"
"So you don't want me to tell you who is very attracted to you?"
Draco smiled and waited as Hermione debated with herself.
"You aren't having me on?"
"One time offer. And you know that I have special knowledge of such things."
Hermione shrugged.
"Fine. Who is it?"
"Zabini."
Hermione snorted.
"Really. You just had a stand off with him and now you say he's looking at me?"
"He did me and Ron a favor. In a supremely obtuse fashion. I think I can return the favor in an equally obtuse fashion."
"How?"
"Zabini wants to hug you, he wants to kiss you, he wants to-"
Hermione smacked him again to stop his singsong.
"Be serious!"
"I am. Zabini is a very reserved person. In fact, this is the first time I've detected any amount of attraction to any girl from him. If memory serves, he even complimented you. And Merlin knows how often that's ever happened for either gender."
"When?"
"Doesn't matter. Go on, talk with him."
"Why?"
"Must you be so difficult? Just go up to him. He's certainly not going to make the first move. Put him out of his misery."
"What an interesting choice of words, Draco."
"Isn't it? But really. He's not bad. He's got brains. He's interesting. He's Italian."
Hermione glanced to where Blaise was sipping his drink, watching other people dance.
"Are you sure?"
"Go on."
The song ended. Hermione inhaled, and squaring her shoulders, went toward Blaise. Draco smirked as he felt Blaise's pheromones jump and become tinged with a whiff of adrenaline. Let's see how he can deal with this surprise. Draco watched, noting how Blaise kept his calm demeanor. He felt slightly disappointed, until he noticed Blaise fingering his silver armbands. Ha. A nervous tic, and one that was never observed before. Victory!
Draco grinned to himself as he made his way to get himself a drink. Ron found him, wrapping his arms from behind.
"What would you like?"
"Hm. Something… tall, strong, and hot."
Ron chuckled.
"Guess Butterbeer's out?"
Draco turned his head and licked Ron's earlobe.
"I'm thirsty for this."
Ron's ear pinked as Draco began to lightly nibble.
"Not here…" Ron gasped out.
"Mmm…"
"…Ooooh…"
"Pardon, but you two should save that for when there isn't an audience."
Harry was treated to the accustomed glower from Draco. Ron blushed and coughed.
"Harry. Just because you aren't getting any doesn't mean you can go and ruin our fun."
Draco smirked as Harry rolled his eyes and sighed in annoyance.
"That has nothing-"
"The great Harry Potter isn't getting any," Draco repeated with greater delight.
"Shut up."
"The Greaaaat Haaaarry-"
"Draco Malfoy screams like a girl."
Draco's jaw snapped shut.
"You bastard."
Harry raised his glass in toast and walked away, chuckling.
Squeals broke the happy atmosphere of the party. Pansy's friends were backing away, as she violently regurgitated her slice of wedding cake. Her face was a terrible shade of green and she didn't stop, dry heaving long after the vomit ruined her dress robes. Everyone was watching with shock and disgust. Mrs. Malfoy took out her handkerchief and held it to her nose. Colin, of course, snapped a picture. Draco's lips curled and he tightened his hold on Ron to keep himself from doing anything rash, after noticing Blaise's intensely pleased look. She was the one. Professor Snape was the first to reach her. His nostrils wrinkled under the assault of the smell.
"Mrs. Parkinson, you need to go to Madam Pomfrey's."
Snape reached out with one hand and holding her shoulder with a thumb and forefinger, jerked her upward.
"I suggest a prescription of a strong laxative. Someone has dosed you with Vomito Elixir. You won't keep down anything else you eat otherwise."
Pansy's eyes widened.
"Who-"
"You are unwell. Go."
Only the few such as Harry who had experience with the nuances of Snape's voice knew that he found this entire ordeal entertaining. Pansy left, her friends trailing behind her. Snape was sniffing a plate of cake. People were nervously watching. Snape picked up the fork, delicately skewered a piece and tasted it.
"Chocolate. Good quality Swiss chocolate. And nothing else untoward."
He glared at his audience, daring them to question the Potions Master of Hogwarts.
"Carry on."
He popped another piece of cake in his mouth.
"How horrible!"
Hermione was surprised to see Blaise's soft smile.
"La giustizia è cieca."
Hermione's lips pursed.
"I'll look that up, you know."
"As you wish."
"And you were probably behind what happened to Pansy, weren't you?"
Blaise's expression clouded.
"Hermione... with all my respect, I tell you. Do not question my business. I might have to take certain measures. And regret does not suit me."
Hermione's investigative expression did not leave, nor was she daunted.
"You think I might be in danger from you?"
She smiled challengingly and Blaise's eyes narrowed.
"You might."
"Hmph. You Slytherin. Always misbehaving and thinking you have that market cornered."
"I confess I do have certain monopoly in certain things."
"I don't think you've gotten into half as much trouble as Fred and George. And they are Gryffindors."
"Trouble is when you get caught."
Hermione's mouth quirked.
"Harry and Ron would agree to that."
"Harry Potter misbehaves?"Blaise's eyebrows rose.
Hermione grinned.
"Surprised?"
"It is news to me. I can't say I like being uninformed."
"Well. We have that in common at least."
"Yes."
"I don't follow the rules all the time. In fact, I've done some things that Snape would give me detention for in a heartbeat. How do you like that?"
Blaise stepped forward and leaned in, his breath tickling Hermione's ear.
"Look this up, then. Desidero misbehave con voi tutta la notte lungamente."
And then, shocked by his own boldness, he stepped back and was about to escape, when Hermione grabbed his arm and drew her wand, twirling it.
"Little spell I read up... translates any language as long as it's based off of Latin. If you've insulted me, I want you to be around for the consequences. Something called fair play, Slytherin. Game?"
Draco chuckled to himself.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Who says I'm laughing at anything?"
"Because you aren't laughing with."
Draco gestured toward where Blaise was leaking adrenaline and pheromones like mad.
"Ron, beloved, look. Granger has a victim. Isn't it funny?"
"Zabini? What...? Oh."
Draco laughed. Blaise was making an abortive attempt to lead Hermione farther away from the party. She relented and they walked off together.
"He likes her."
"Hermione? But she's so... Hermione."
"That's what's funny, of course. I hope she doesn't do anything too outlandish. He's a very useful contact."
"You've been standing still too long, in my opinion. You're scheming too much."
Draco kissed Ron and tickled his side.
"Your solution?"
"Dance."
Draco instinctively adjusted his pheromones when dancing with Ron. With his chosen one, the effect was of being enveloped into a sultry cocoon, comforting and wonderfully private. This wasn't like the lust inducing dance that Veela were famous for, this was a true mating dance. Ron responded perfectly, whispering all the things he was planning to do to him later that night. Draco cooed.
When Draco returned to the Slytherin Common Room to change out of his dress robes, he noted cold looks being sent his way. He was unsurprised when one of Pansy's closer friends, Helene Cottington, approached.
"You did it, didn't you?"
Draco merely looked down his nose at her.
"I? You'd better think on what you are saying."
Helene stood her ground.
"It's aways been your style to kick people when they are down, Malfoy. You've strung her along since Third Year, and then you go and marry Weasley! She would have done anything for you!"
"Really. Done anything to me, more like."
"She's better off without a part beast like you, anyway."
Helene stepped backward, as Draco's hand shot out and he gripped her neck.
"Tsk tsk. Didn't you learn anything from Care of Magical Creatures? If it's got claws, it knows how to use them."
His thumbnail pressed her jugular. A glint came to Draco's eyes as he contemplated how by merely switching forms, his thumbnail's sudden growth would effectively impale itself into Helene's neck. Helene's mouth worked, but no sound came.
"Veela are beings, you insipid twit. Not that you would know. A Vomito Elixir takes nine days of brewing. It keeps for less than a week. So unless you wish to cast aspersions on Zabini-"
Helene blanched.
"or any of the others who would vouch for my near continual presence in my dorm, you had better learn to hold that tongue. Or I'll remove it for you."
Draco's sneer hardened.
"Parkinson was presumptuous and a fool. If I had wanted her in any fashion, I would have made it perfectly clear. I didn't brew the potion nor did I find a way for her to imbibe it."
The two Slytherin, confirmed liars, stared at each other. A soft tap landed on Draco's shoulder.
"What is the problem?"
Blaise was evenly gazing at Helene.
"She has accused me of dosing Parkinson up."
"Mama mia. Such quick assumptions," Blaise deadpanned.
Draco snorted and released Helene. The rest of Pansy's friends came and stood around her.
"But I can say for sure that Draco did not do it," Blaise continued.
Blaise was the most neutral of all the Slytherins. He was, after all, out for himself. He had no coterie, a la Draco or Pansy. Only business associates and they never wanted to spend time with him longer than was necessary. Helene and the other girls hesitated.
"Not at all?"
"I swear on my mother's womb. Draco did not do it."
The girls left, and Blaise gave a satisfied smile to Draco.
"Bad business is good today, si?"
The ride to Platform 9 and ¾ was a winding down from the party. Harry stared out of the window, Hermione was looking forward to going to the spa, Ginny was napping, and Ron and Draco were cuddling. The atmosphere was peaceful, with only the lulling sound of wheels rattling over tracks.
There was a tense moment when after Harry and Hermione said their goodbyes and Zabini strode off after offering a terse nod, they found the Weasleys absent. Ron could feel Draco's hand clenching tight around his own and every glimpse of a blond man made him flinch. They shouldn't have worried. The Weasleys appeared and they were gone. They left Lucius' anger coiling around Narcissa.
TBC