~ When Insanity stops ~
An: Sadly this fic is coming to an end. It has been an enjoyable ride, but fear not this is not the last chapter! And as always, please let me know what you think.
The Burrow
Outside
Apparating with a soft crack, Draco found himself looking directly at the front of his former nemesis's home. Merlin, how things have changed. Who would have thought that Weasley and I would ever get along? Much less…. What the bloody hell?
"Draco," hisses Ginny quietly while waving her hands for him to come towards her. "Come here! And do be quite!" Glancing around, Draco doesn't notice anyone out of the ordinary. "Draco!" snaps Ginny her face becoming flushed.
"Ginny, what's going on?" demands Draco as she pushes him up the stairs.
"Hermione and Sirius are here," states Ginny glancing over her shoulder.
"So?" ponders Draco confused. "They come every year."
Huffing Ginny glares at Draco. Rolling her eyes, Ginny shakes her head.
"Hermione had an episode earlier," offers Vincent as he pulls Draco up the stairs. Stopping in front of Ron's old room, Vincent gestures to it. "She took a nap here. When she woke up she was scared silly. She sealed the room with Lavender in it. After tossing out both Ron and Neville."
Gasping softly Draco running his hand over the cut out doorframe. "Bloody hell," whispers Draco. "How did they get her to unseal the room? The last time she did this it took them a good seven hours before she calmed down."
"Well," laughs Gregory holding a drink in his hand. "It seem our illustrious Miss Granger, is on the mend. Apparently Lavender and her had a talk, which helped calm her down enough so that Severus and Sirius could break into the room."
"Cool," mutters Draco. "But I don't see what that has to do with me?"
"Draco," hisses Ginny slightly upset. "Her episode had to do with your father!" Seeing Draco's dirty look, Ginny's face softens. "I just don't want either of you getting upset. She's downstairs with Sirius."
"So," grumbles Draco angrily.
"Extremely over-protective Sirius," adds Gregory.
"Who already got into a fight with Ron, Sirius," adds Vincent.
"What does that have to do with me?" demands Draco.
"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" asks Vincent. "Because if you haven't, maybe you should."
Shaking his head, Gregory sighs. "Draco, I know you hate hearing this, but… you look just like your father. And with Hermione on the mend, Sirius has his wand ready for action."
"So what?" asks Draco slightly hurt. "You want me to leave?"
"No!" gasps Ginny clutching Draco's arm. "I really want you to be here. We just need to come up with a way to not set off Hermione or Sirius."
Ministry of
Magic
Central
Processing
Putting the finial touches on her report, Auror Chang smiles as she comes across the name of Rita Skeeter. Hmm, I wonder what she's doing here? It's not like she could have done anything too bad.
"Hey Parvati," asks Cho. "What is Rita in for?" Huffing as she waits for her co-worker to answer her question. "Any day now," mutters Cho under her breath.
"Disturbing the peace, stealing, unlawful acts of magic," rattles off Parvati, her co-worker. Putting away her rolls of parchment. "The Ministry himself put out a summoning for her arrest."
"Hmm," ponders Cho. Flickering her wand to beckoning for that roll of parchment only to be denied. Damn it! She couldn't have sealed it already. "What did Rita do that was so bad?"
"I don't rightfully know," answers Parvati. "Oh, look at the time," she gushes filling things away. "If I don't get moving I'm going to be late."
"Well you have a nice weekend, " states Cho as she walks over to the Department of Magical Transportation to apparate home.
Watching the woman leave, Parvati rolls her eyes. Stupid woman, like I'd tell you anything. Taking several breaths to calm herself, Parvati looks up just in time to see her twin sister Padma walk in.
"Hey sis," greets Parvati. Feeling her sister's gaze scrutinize her, Parvati offers a tired smile.
"Chang getting to you again?" asks Padma as she glances about the room.
"Not really, well not much anyways" mutters Parvati. "She just left."
"Really?" asks Padma pointing to Cho's desk. "I thought it was mandatory for all Aurors to lock up all of their summonings?"
"I don't know," grumbles Parvati glaring at Cho's desk. "But if she thinks I'm just going to put away she stuff, she has another thing coming."
"Look I had to deal with her at school," states Padma pointing her wand at Cho's desk. "The woman was positively vicious. Everything had to be abut her." Snapping her wand at the desk the rolls of parchment went fling everywhere. "She had to have the best grades, but Hermione beats her hands down. When Cedric died, she was the one everyone thought was the most devastated."
"Padma, I'm so sorry," whispers Parvati touching her sister's shoulder.
Waving a dismissing hand, Padma continues, "I got over it. She even tried to use Michael in to forcing Harry to notice her only it backfired and did the exact opposite. Ever since she's been trying to get him back."
"Listen," states Parvati putting away her finial parchment. "I suggest you talk to Harry about it, if this is bothering you so much. Cho's only going to be in my department for… maybe… three more weeks. I can handle her until then."
"Yeah," laughs Padma looking slightly happier. "I think I will talk to Harry."
The Burrow
The Family Room
"Fred! George! How did you get your hands on this?" questions Hermione as her eyes slightly bulge.
Sirius looks down at the book in Hermione's hands. Peering up at them, Sirius asks, "Do I even want to know?" Looking at both of them, Sirius narrows his eyes. "How you two managed to get your hands on this?"
"Ah," grumbles Fred grimacing slightly, mistakenly thinking that Sirius was upset. "We took it off Rita herself."
"She and that…. editor of hers where planning to spice it up," offers George. At both Hermione and Sirius's confused facial expressions, George attempts to clarify. "Hermione when did you meet Sirius?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" demands Hermione as she starts to read the book in her hands.
"Third year," answers Ron, Harry, Remus and Sirius together. Fred and George swallow hard, both are backing away from Sirius and Hermione. "Now Sirius was in Azkaban for how many years?"
"Twelve," answers Remus. "So…."
"Hermione being the first girl he was around," adds Fred moving closer to the stairs.
"Are you two incinerating that Rita and this editor would remotely suggest what I think you're suggesting," hisses Severus narrowing his eyes at the twins.
"We're not suggesting it," states George.
"We're telling you," adds Fred as they leave the room in a hurry.
"Bloody hell," snaps Severus abruptly standing up. "I need a drink!"
"What?" asks Hermione not understanding. Sirius groans as it dawns on him what the twins were implying.
"Mione," purrs Sirius hoping to distract her until he saw her eyes narrow at him. Oh well she was going to find out anyways. Using his finger, Sirius silently instructs Hermione to come closer to him. Lowering his head he whispers in her ear. Gasping, Hermione just sits there and blinks for a few seconds.
"She can't just do that," whispers Hermione horrified. "Can she?"
The Burrow
Vincent and
Gregory's Room
Shaking his head, Draco looks into the mirror with disgust clearly written on his face. Flickering his eyes in the mirror to meet with Ginny's, Draco barely resists the urg to roll his eyes.
"Do you really think," demands Draco, annoyed. "That this," hisses Draco while pointing to his hair. "Is going to work?"
"Ah," stammers Vincent looking to Ginny for help. "Sure, why not?"
"Because," hisses Draco. "I look like a freak!"
"Draco," soothes Ginny. "You look fine," lies Ginny. "Trust me." Huffing Draco sulks out of the room.
The Burrow
Outside
Four loud pops along with several gasps of shock erupt in the front yard gaining Severus and Arthur's attention. Both men look on in amusement as the Patil twins, laugh along with Albus and Minerva.
"It's a good thing that one group didn't land on each other," comments Arthur going out to greet them.
"A good thing?" sneers Severus only to get a soft slap on his arm.
"Behave," mutters Gwen offering him something cool to drink. "Don't make me regret giving this to you." Smirking down at her, Severus takes the drink from her hands. Swiftly placing it on the table next to him, he pulls her into his embrace.
"Yew," groans Ron turning pink. "Get a room."
"They have a room," laughs Hermione. "You just happen to be in it." A loud squeal comes from Hermione as she swats Sirius's chest. "Hey that's no fair!"
"Who ever said I was fair," laughs Sirius.
"Albus! Minerva," greets Molly enthusiastically. "You're early! Dinner's not ready yet."
"That's fine," reassures Minerva. "We decided to see if Hermione was up to have her wand back." Smiling brightly, Molly points to the family room, where Hermione was currently staring dreamingly into Sirius's eyes. "Well," laughs Minerva. "Something's never change." Clearing her throat, Minerva was surprised to note that Sirius blushed as she approached.
"Professor McGonagall!" shouts Hermione happily. "Sirius told me you wouldn't be here until later, but I'm so glad that you came."
Outside
Spying his girlfriend arriving right along with his old headmaster, Harry sneaks up behind her. When she wasn't looking Harry wraps his arms around her waist and hosts her up into the air.
"Harry Potter," shrieks Padma before she starts laughing. "You put me down this instant!"
"What do I get if I do?" questions Harry as he tickles her stomach, he was rewarded with more of her laughter.
"I'll give you a kiss," huffs Padma slightly out of breath.
"Just a kiss," pouts Harry lowering Padma but not putting her on the ground.
"Several," answers Padma and then adds. "Lingeringly long."
"Hmm," mutters Harry as gently lowers her to the ground. Not letting her out of his arms, he slowly spins her around so that she was facing him. "Deal," whispers Harry as he stares into her eyes.
Second Floor Bathroom
Rubbing his nose, Draco ponders how the day that started off so good could became this nightmare that he was currently living.
"Draco sweetie," Ginny calls out as she knocks on the door. "Please, it's the only way we could think of."
Signing heavily, Draco opens the door to see Ginny standing there holding herself. Stepping out of the bathroom and into the hallway, Draco let's Ginny embrace him. He can feel the tension radiating from her.
"I completely understand," mutters Draco into Ginny's hair. "You want to keep me safe. I want to stay safe. If this can accomplish that task, then who am I to complain?" Closing his eyes, Draco takes the opportunity to just hold Ginny for a few precious seconds. "Now," huffs Draco gruffly. "I think it's time we went downstairs and face everyone."
Draco feels Ginny take a deep breath before nodding her head. Enfolding her hand in his, together they headed down the stairs.
Family Room
Practically glowing Hermione attempts to reach out for her wand only to have Sirius grab onto her wrist. Pulling her hand back, Hermione found that Sirius didn't let go. Looking at him questionably, Hermione was slightly surprise to see a determined look on his face.
"No," states Sirius not even looking at Hermione but Professor McGonagall. "Absolutely not."
"Sirius?" growls Hermione lowly yanking her hand back towards herself only to feel him tightening his grip. "Let go."
"Please inform Molly," states Sirius as he slips an arm around Hermione's waist. "That we're sorry but we have to be leaving."
"What?" gasps Hermione shocked. Glancing towards her old professor, Hermione spies something like approval in her eyes.
"But…"
"Certainly," mutters Minerva standing up.
Opening her mouth to call her back, Hermione is sharply pulled close to Sirius as she feels her world bottoming out from under her.
Until Later