Nothing belongs to me, except my plot!!!

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The room was filled with laughter and merriment as the red-haired man on stage addressed the people present.

"… And because of their wonderful work as a team this year averting what could have been bloody great disasters for the Wizarding world, it is my duty and pleasure, as Head Auror to present this special award for services to the Ministry, to Ginevra Weasley and Draco Malfoy".

The room burst into applause as Ginny and Draco rose from their seats and made their way onstage. Ginny was first onstage and reached over and kissed her brother on the cheek before claiming the award.

"Thanks Ron," she whispered before stepping to the front of the stage to pose for the cameras.

Draco strode onstage a moment later, to stand beside Ginny.

"What took you so long?" Ginny hissed snidely whilst maintaining a lovely smile on her face.

"Well, little Weaslette," sneered Draco back, not bothering to hide to look of disgust on his face, "I wouldn't have taken so long is someone hadn't switched my place at the front table with one at the back."

Ginny smirked when Draco glared at her and replied. "What? You think I could stand to share a table with you all night? Harry might not hate you anymore but that doesn't mean I don't see you for what you are!"

Draco leaned in until he was about ten centimetres from her face and whispered. "Oh? And what, pray tell, is this wonderful little insight you claim to hold of me, in all of your infinite bratty wisdom?"

Ginny became cold and her brown eyes glinted as she looked him right in the eye and said. "You, are an arsehole. A malevolent bastard, who by some twist of fate is not only believed to have turned over a new leaf by those who once wanted to kill him but one who has deemed it necessary to follow me in my chosen career path as a second shadow. The taunting of those he thinks are less than him have stopped but I see the looks he gives me. He still thinks he's better than me. Well, he's not and he never will be. You're just a… a… a sodding git!"

They stood there glaring at each other when the sound of a glass shattering broke them out of their reverie, at which point they realised the audience has long since become quiet and had heard every word of the tirade.

"Well Ginevra," drawled Draco, his strong voice carrying clearly across the room, "It seems you have once again claimed the spotlight for yourself. If you wanted to make the speech on your own that badly, all you had to do was ask."

With this, he strode offstage and out the double doors, banging them closed behind him. Ginny was left onstage holding the award, red-faced and fuming. "Oh the hell if he thinks he'll get the last word on this!" she screamed and ran off the stage after him. Her long red curls and green robes flew out behind her, giving those watching the image of an enraged pagan goddess, which was pretty close to the truth

Ron shook his head. Normally, anyone who dared to insult his baby sister incurred the wrath that was his temper but the tiffs between Ginny and Draco had become so frequent that Ron had begun to find them quite funny and more often than not found himself siding with Draco. The biting hostility between them had vanished over years of working together at the ministry and Ron was beginning to like the bloke, but he'd eat his old socks before he admitted that to anyone. He glanced down at his family, sitting at the front table and was glad to see they found it as amusing as him. Stepping up to the microphone, he cleared his throat and said, "I guess she didn't want to make the speech after all."

This earned him a hearty laugh from his family and a few titters throughout the audience. Grinning, he said, "Oh c'mon! You know if wouldn't be a proper gathering if those two didn't have some sort of a blow-up at each other." At this, the tension in the room eased and signalling to the band, Ron made his way through the dancing couples and sat back down at his table. Taking a swig of his drink he exclaimed, "You know, I almost feel sorry for the poor bugger."

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Hermione was sitting alone at her table, anxiously tapping her fingernails, waiting for the twins to bring her a drink. Which, she mused, probably wasn't the smartest idea.

She hated coming to these things. The bad music throbbed in her brain for days afterwards, the food almost always gave her indigestion and she was always at a loss for an intelligent companion. Unfortunately, as Co-Head Auror with Ron, she was required to attend. She wasn't good at mingling and it was now a certainty to bet that some point early in the night Ginny and Malfoy would have an argument which would result in someone finding them both unconscious in the duelling gym downstairs the next morning. Just as she was about to make a break for the doors and sneak down to her laboratory, a pair of callused hands slid around covering her eyes. Her nose was assaulted with the smell of furniture polish, Butterbeer and what could only be described as the just-been-flying smell that she instantly attributed to…

"Harry!"

She jumped up and spun around to look into the pair of green eyes that belonged to her best friend.

"You weren't thinking of sneaking off to your lab now were you? Hmm?" smiled Harry.

"Uh… Luna! It's lovely to see you again. It's been too long!" Hermione blurted, turning to see the blonde woman beside Harry.

Luna laughed in her airy little voice and hugging Hermione, she said, "It has been too long and it is good to see you but don't think I don't know I was used as a subtle change of subject then".

The three laughed and sat down at the empty Weasley table.

As Harry and Luna unconsciously moved their chairs closer together, Hermione smiled and blinked back the tears in her eyes. It was moments like this that made those around them realise how in love with each other they were. It was the small touches of hands, the smiles, and the communications with their eyes that made Hermione thankful to the woman who had finally brought much-awaited happiness to The Boy Who Lived.

"So," said Hermione slyly, eying both of them as she leant back in her chair, "How's married life treating you?"

Both Harry and Luna laughed at her suggestive eyebrow raising, both used to the good-natured ribbing that came from their close friends. It was a running joke that everyone had caught them snogging in some variety of a cupboard, car or empty classroom at some point.

"Blissful as usual." Harry replied, gazing at his wife with an intensity that made Hermione wonder if she'd ever be the recipient of a gaze like that.

At Harry's comment, Luna had smiled her dreamy smile whilst rolling her eyes.

"Sure it's blissful… now that the twins have stopped dropping into Mummy and Dad's bed in the middle of the night", she remarked to Hermione.

Laughing, Hermione turned to Harry and said, "Kids cramping your style, Potter?"

Harry grunted. "Yeah, something like that".

Harry and Luna's twins had just turned five and while they weren't complete brats like Percy's children, being spoiled by everyone around them, didn't make them want to behave any better. The fact they looked like angels didn't help either. James (who, thanks to his mother's love of muggle literature is known as Jem) had inherited his mother's straight, blond hair. Sirius (who insisted on being called Russ since his brother got to shorten his name) had inherited his father's spiky, black mop, a fact which severely riled his twin who insisted on spiking his own hair into the same mess that was his brother's. Both boys had their father's green eyes but seemed as though they were channelling the mischievous personalities of their namesakes. This was not helped by the fact Uncles Fred and George persisted in sending their proteges boxes of the newest Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes products. The only thing stopping the twins from becoming full-blown monsters was their affectionate natures. That, and having smiles that could melt even Snape's heart, a fact which was proven after Harry witnessed his sons send the potions master flying into a snow embankment outside their house in Hogsmeade only to grin cheekily at him and receive a small smile in return.

"Oh, I feel guilty now! I'm Jem's godmother and I haven't seen him for months." Hermione exclaimed.

"Guess that means the little squirt hasn't seen either of his godparents in a while then," said a deep voice from above Hermione's head.

"There you are Ron! I was about to go look for you." Harry grinned, standing up and embracing his best friend.

"Sure you were mate. I know if I was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women, I'd be out looking for my lug of a best mate. How are you Luna?" Ron said, bending down and kissing Luna's cheek.

"I'm fine thank-you Ronald." Luna said lightly.

"Luna, how many times have I told you…"

Luna laughed, "Oh come on Ron, you know I haven't seriously called you Ronald since Hogwarts. I just love seeing the look on your face whenever I do."

Ron scowled when the other three laughed. "Laugh it up guys. You wait until you get Howler's from Mum and you see how much you like your full name afterwards."

This only made the others laugh harder.

"I see you've kept the masses entertained in our absence Ronniekins." The twins had arrived.

"Seems he's done a rather good job too, Fred. 'Mione here looks a half-step away from splitting that dress we poured her into this afternoon"

"Seems a pity she's hidden it away under all those robes"

Hermione, her face red whether from laughing or embarrassment, pulled a face at Fred and George and grabbed her long-awaited drink.

"Very funny you two. Just because I live with you doesn't mean you can make insinuating comments to my friends," swigging the rest of her drink she continued, "At least wait until someone remotely shockable comes along so we can make the Daily Prophets gossip pages again"

At this, the twins cackled and Luna giggled furiously while Harry and Ron just goggled at her.

"What?" she asked, noticing their stare.

"I think we're a little shocked at the influence the twins have had on you 'Mione" Harry said, to which Ron nodded.

"What? That I drink like a fish? Or that I'm encouraging people to believe that straight-laced, Head Auror Hermione Granger, is having a torrid affair with both Fred and George Weasley, the dashing pranksters?"

"Oh 'Mione, stop! We're blushing", the twins exclaimed, fluttering their eyelashes.

As Harry and Ron continued to stare at Hermione, a loud throbbing beat came over the sound system and instantly the twins stood up, eliciting surprised looks from Harry, Ron and Luna.

"They're playing our song," said George, matter-of-factly.

"You two…dance…song…TOGETHER?" Ron spluttered. "No, you silly git," said Hermione shedding her robes to reveal the aforementioned dress. Her black silk mini-dress was complimented with spike heels held on by straps that went halfway up her tanned calves. "They're dancing with me. It's OUR song".

And with that she strutted towards the dance-floor, heads turning toward her and her red-haired escorts as they went.

Leaving Ron to stare after them.

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At the same time, Ginny had tracked Draco to the office they shared. As it was on the bottom floor, furthermost away from the conference hall, the long walk had not improved her temper. As she threw open the door, sparks almost shooting from her eyes, they became uncertain when they came across Draco's prone form, his grey dress-robes discarded in a pile on the floor. His head was resting on his forearms as he slumped over his desk, his shoulders shaking violently.

"Malfoy?" Ginny asked uncertainly, as she closed the door behind her.

Draco's head lifted at the sound of her voice and she was infuriated to find he'd been laughing, rather than crying. She marched around the desk and in one quick shove he was lying sprawled on the floor with his eyes shut. Ginny poked him unceremoniously with her foot and when he didn't move, she began to panic.

"Bugger. I've killed the ruddy ferret… and I didn't even mean to this time!"

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Watching Hermione as she danced with his brothers, Ron felt his mouth go dry and hurried to distract himself before the niggling voices in his head told him he wasn't admiring Hermione's figure in a purely aesthetic way.

"So, remind me again Harry," Ron blurted out, "Why it was we let Hermione move in with my brothers?"

Before Harry could respond, Luna broke into a hiccupping, laughing fit. "You," she gasped, "You let Hermione move in with the twins? Yeah, right! Oh look, flying pigs. Oh, and Snape called, he's in love with you. And Bill's gay. And your godson wants to be a Hufflepuff. And…"

"Ok Hon. I think he gets the picture." Harry said as he covered the giggling Luna's mouth his hand. He pulled back with a yelp as she bit him.

"… And the twins are aspiring lawyers…"

"Excuse us a minute, Ron", Harry said calmly before claiming his wife's lips for his own. Softly sucking on her bottom lip, he felt the tension go out of her body as she slid her arms around his neck to pull him closer. He slowly licked the roof of her mouth, feeling her shudder as he did so. Grinning against her mouth, he proceeded to make sure any thoughts of teasing his best mate were gone from her mind.

Staring off in the opposite direction to the snog-fest, which was taking place in front of him, Ron allowed his mind to take him back to the reason Hermione moved in with Fred and George.

"I don't think you should be living on your own Hermione," shouted Ron, a furious Hermione standing in front of him.

"And why the bloody hell not? You're not the only Auror around here, you know. I can take care of myself!!" screamed Hermione.

"The hell you could! I've seen what you turn into when you're left to your own devices. You don't eat, you don't sleep, and all you do is work! You can't look after yourself," Ron roared back at her.

Her eyes filled with tears and his heart clenched painfully at the sight. He stepped forward to apologise but she held up her hand to stop him.

"Don't, Ron. Just… Don't."

A door slammed and the twins appeared, stopping suddenly and within seconds had appraised the situation enough to be glaring at Ron. George placed his arm around Hermione and drawing a handkerchief the size of a small tablecloth out of his pocket he attempted to wipe her face, causing her to laugh.

"That's better, 'Mione. Now you tell Uncle George why big, bad Ronniekins made you cry"

Ron opened his mouth to protest and was stopped by Fred's quickly executed 'Silencio'.

Hermione said. "He said I wasn't capable of living by myself but he never stopped to think about who I'd live with if I didn't live by myself. I've imposed on your parents long enough…"

At this, all the blood ran from Ron's face and his heart plummeted into his shoes as he realised how cruel he'd been. Hermione's parents had recently been killed in a car accident and she'd been staying at the Burrow since then. The last thing she needed was some lout telling her she couldn't take care of herself when the people who were taking care of her, were gone. What she needed was someone telling her she could look after herself. Ron left the room quietly because hearing Hermione's acceptance of the twin's offer of a room and library in the old Victorian house they'd bought, would make him break-down altogether, he thought.

And that had been ten months ago, Ron mused. I don't think I even apologised. We just kind of sunk into an uneasy companionship at work. We don't see each other anywhere else, unless the twins bring her to the Burrow for family gatherings. At this thought, gazing at his former best friend he thought, "There is no way I'm letting her slip away again. We lost too much last time." He stood up, and made his way onto the dance floor, oblivious to the grins of both the now ceased snogging pair and his family behind him.