"Malfoy? Wake up, you stupid wanker,' Ginny poked his prone form with the tip of her shoe. 'Oh come on, you can't really be hurt, I've seen you shake off a lot worse than this just so you could get the satisfaction of smirking at me. Please, Draco, you have to be ok…" Ginny's anguished pleading died down to a whisper as her eyes filled with tears. Her heart felt like lead at the thought that she'd really hurt him because as much as he infuriated her, Ginny had never wished him actual harm. Well, maybe a little.
--------
As Ron moved through the throng of dancing ministry employees toward Hermione, his heart began to beat faster.
"It's just because I don't want to bugger it up,' he rationalised to himself. 'That's all it is…"
He stopped about five paces away from her and the twins and watched them. Hermione's normally bushy hair had been charmed into a sleek, chestnut bob that hung straight to her shoulders. It whirled around like a shining halo in time with her dancing. The black dress she wore clung to her toned limbs, a result of her required Auror training and the curves that were, more often than not, hidden under bulky laboratory robes were displayed in a very pleasing way. Hermione's understated glamour contrasted with the twin's gaudy attire. Fred and George wore matching suits of royal blue velvet, which combined with their fire-red hair made them look like extras from an Austin Powers movie.
Ron had to admit they made a very handsome picture, laughing away in their own world. Ron's determination wavered and with a sigh, turned around to go back to his table. As he moved forward, he was relieved to see that Harry and Luna had detached themselves from their fervent game of tonsil-hockey. As he got closer he was surprised to see a disappointed look on Harry's face. Before he had a chance to ask him about it, Luna suddenly launched herself into her husband's lap and from what Ron could see, proceeded to wipe all traces of disappointment from his face. Feeling slightly uncomfortable at the thought of returning to that particular table, Ron began to walk towards his family's table when they seemed to close ranks, effectively shutting Ron out.
After glancing around the room, Ron decided he'd put in enough of an appearance at the gathering and headed for the double doors at the end of the room. As he was about to grasp the handle to let himself out, he was accosted by two red and blue blurs.
"Going somewhere Ronniekins?" asked Fred with an eyebrow raised questioningly.
"I'm going home. I've had enough. I give up." Ron stated tiredly.
"You know, I don't think he's talking about this boring-as-bat-shit party anymore." Said George.
"I'd have to agree brother dear. Nice analogy, by the way." Fred said smoothly.
"Thank-you." George countered.
"My pleasure," said Fred as he turned to Ron, who was trying to make his escape, "Right. We've decided something regarding you."
"Oh?" asked Ron, warily.
"We've decided that even though you make our princess upset sometimes, she was a lot happier when you were her best friend." George stated airily.
"And since we like our princess happy, you are going to apologise to her… now."
"But should you ever feel the need to make an arse of yourself and insult her again, just know that we have ways to make sure that you'll never be found."
"Because even though you are our brother, Hermione is our princess…"
"And no-one is allowed to hurt her." The twins finished menacingly and strode over to the Weasley table.
Leaving a very stunned Ron with a lot to think about.
-----
Slightly dazed, Harry gazed into his wife's blue eyes, the fog beginning to recede from his brain.
"Uh, Hon? Not that I'm complaining, but why the sudden urge to jump me?"
"Can't I just show my husband some well deserved affection?" Luna batted her eyelashes coyly.
"…"
"Fine." She huffed. "He was giving up and coming back."
"Who? Ron?"
"Yes. He got scared and was coming back to the 'safety' of our table. I figured that since we made him leave last time…"
"Manipulating Ron, huh? It seems you've become an honorary Weasley at last, Mrs Potter." A deep voice resonated from behind them.
"And with that black mop of hair you've acquired Perce, I'd say you've become an honorary Potter." Luna retorted.
Running a hand through his recently dyed hair, Percy grinned wryly and sat down at an empty chair.
"So how's life as a barber treating you?" asked Harry.
Rolling his eyes good-naturedly, Percy said "You know, I don't think that the title 'barber' really suits the five-time winner of Witch Weekly's most innovative hair stylist but otherwise, it's brilliant. Urgh, I think I reverted to my ministry persona for a minute there! I'm not sure about my new hair colour yet, but apparently my clients don't want to trust a hairdresser with orange hair."
Harry snorted, "Ha! No one trusts anyone with orange hair. I think it has something to do with the fact that everyone has heard of Fred and George."
"So Perce,' Luna said, leaning across the table toward him, 'I saw a picture of Oliver in The Daily Prophet on Wednesday. Were the corn-rows your idea, perchance?"
Laughing, Percy said proudly, "Yeah, I got the idea from Victoria. Apparently she did the same for David and it worked wonders for him in the way of sponsorship. He changes his look all the time and the fans love it."
Puzzled, Harry said, "Victoria? David? Are you talking about the Beckhams? Aren't they Muggles?"
"Oh, please Harry,' said Percy, rolling his eyes. 'Not even plastic surgery could change that woman's body shape as often as it does. Metamorphmagus ring any bells?"
"You know, I'd never really thought about that." Harry mused.
"So, where is Oliver tonight? I thought he'd be here with you?" Luna asked.
"Puddlemere has him practising tonight. They have to play the Cannons on Wednesday and the Coach is insisting they can't lose to such an abysmal team, thus the extra practise. Which reminds me, I'd best be heading off to the stadium. I said I'd pick him up from practise." Percy said, as he stood up.
"Wouldn't it be easier for him to Apparate here and to catch a lift home with you?" said Luna.
"Of course, but apparently it's so much more impressive when his boyfriend turns up in a Mercedes to collect him. Lovely to see you both, acting so disgustingly married to each other, as always." Percy said with a grin. With a flick of his wand and a bang, Percy had vanished.
-------
Completely oblivious to all that was going on around him, Ron had sat dejectedly in the corner for a good thirty minutes, thinking about what the twins had said. It wasn't that he didn't want to make up with Hermione, he missed his best friend terribly, just that he was afraid of accidentally making things worse. After all, Ron was prone to severe attacks of foot-in-mouth-itis and Hermione often ended up baring the brunt of his tactlessness.
"Hermione? Please talk to me. I know I acted like a complete git before, but I don't want you to be mad at me any more." Ron said hesitantly, through the thick wood of the seventh year girl's dormitory door. The door creaked open slowly and a tired-looking Hermione appeared in the doorway.
"Ron, you're always sorry, but you've really hurt me this time. I know you don't always agree with how I'm living my life, god knows how many times you've teased me for studying and spending too much time in the library, but as my best friend I'd really hoped you could have supported me in my decision." Hermione croaked, her voice cracking with emotion.
"I know, I should have supported you despite what I believed. After all, you've supported me for the last seven years. I was just concerned about you an.."
"Ron, I've told you! There's no need to be concerned." Hermione pleaded.
"I can't help it. You bring out my protective side, like Ginny…" Ron explained.
At his words, Hermione's features hardened and leaning forward, she hissed, "Did you ever think that maybe that's why I like him? Could it possibly be because Blaise doesn't treat me like his sister?"
And with that, she slammed the door in his face and released the holding charm he'd placed on the stairs. Landing with a thump in the Gryffindor common room, a pale and shaky Ron got to his feet and turned around to glance up the stairs.
"I don't think of you as my sister, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to protect you, Mione." He whispered as he headed out the portrait hole.
Glancing over to the spot he'd last seen Hermione dancing, Ron sat up straight as he realised she wasn't there any more. Standing up, he was able to see over the heads of most of the part-goers and caught a flash of brown hair, slipping out the side-door that led to the laboratories below. Ron grinned as he subtly made his way over to the door and slipped through. It was nice to know that Hermione hadn't changed that much. As he started to walk slowly down the corridor, not bothering to hurry since he had a fair idea where to find Hermione, he heard a cheer go up from inside the ballroom. Funny, he thought. That sounded like Mum.
-----
Shooting sparks from her wand onto the identification pad beside her laboratory doors, Hermione tossed her formal robes onto a chair and closed the doors behind her. As she walked around, savouring the quiet and turning all the lamps on, Hermione thought about what had happened at the party. She smiled as she thought of the twins coming to her rescue. They didn't actually have a song, as such. What they did have though, was very good intuition as to when one of the other two was uncomfortable in a situation and as such, had a range of ways to escape them. Since the twins had recently discovered mobile technology, Hermione would often rely upon them to get her out of boring dates and board meetings, a job they delighted in doing.
The reason they had got her away from the table in the ballroom was so that she didn't explode at Ron and make a complete embarrassment of herself in front of the entire party.
Frustrated, Hermione grabbed her wand and began heating the various beakers around her in the hope of distracting herself. After several minutes of waiting for the beakers to heat up, Hermione realised she didn't know why she was heating them. Knowing that she'd never get any work done with something weighing this heavily on her, she turned off the burners and curled up in the reading chair she had in the corner.
She and Ron didn't used to fight this much. Of course they'd often had their infamous screaming matches in the Gryffindor common room, but those had always been settled soon after. A mumbled apology from him and a tearful hug from her and they were back to the easy friendship they'd always had. As they'd gotten older though, it had become harder for Hermione to forgive Ron. She knew he never meant the things he'd say in the heat of the moment but she couldn't help thinking that as her best friend, he should know how not to upset her by now. The fact that he was constantly interfering in her business didn't help either. From her boyfriends to how she spent her leisure time, Ron always had something to say about it.
Well he used to, she amended. These past few months, he had been almost completely absent from her personal life, except for when they caught-up with Harry, and even then Ron still treated her differently. He never asked about her life and was completely professional at work, no longer making jokes at their meetings to lighten the situation.
Of course, she wasn't completely faultless. Goodness! She didn't even know if he was seeing anyone and whether he'd finished renovating the little town house he'd bought in London. Last time Hermione had been there, Ron had been cheerfully sleeping in his bathtub whilst his bedroom was being plastered. Seeing as the house was in muggle London, a dilapidated old house that suddenly became fully restored would have aroused suspicion with the neighbours, so fixing the house with magic was out of the question. Besides, Ron had said, I don't half mind this ekletricity.
Picturing his face as he had said this, dust smeared across his nose reminiscent of when she had first met him on the Hogwarts express, Hermione bit back a sob as tears ran down her face. Hermione not only realised how much she missed having that boy around, but how much she missed the man he'd grown into. As her body was shook with sobbing gasps, she was glad that only she had clearance to enter her lab unauthorised. As the door slid open and a figure appeared in the doorway as she realised her mistake. She'd forgotten that one other person had clearance all over the building.
"Hermione?" Ron called into the shadows.
-----
"Draco, huh? We must be alone if you're calling me by my first name.'
Ginny flew back from where her head had been resting on Draco's prone form after feeling the rumble of his deep voice vibrate through his chest.
'And in answer to your previous questions, I'm not hurt although if that's what it takes to have you falling all over me, I might reconsider my position."
"You sodding git! I was actually scared you were hurt. I'm sick of playing this little insult game because despite what you may think, I don't actually despise you and it stings when you insult me back." Ginny stood up and walked away. "Weas..."
"No. Let me finish. I know I protested at the beginning, but after you were so nasty to everyone I knew, how else was I supposed to react? Now, as I'm sure you must have realised, I've really begun to like you and when I saw you all sprawled out on the floor, I was terrified. You've become my best friend and I've never had one before, so I've never really known how to act and to think that I'd hurt you in some way…" Ginny turned away to hide the tears that had sprung from her eyes.
Draco stood behind her, his face ashen, unable to comprehend that Ginny Weasley, was crying at the thought of him, Draco Malfoy, being injured.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd get upset. I thought you'd kick me some more and leave me to rot. Of course, that was when I planned to curse you from behind, but I… probably shouldn't have said that last part because the sad look has gone out of your eyes." Draco stood his ground, despite the fact Ginny was giving him her patented evil eye.
"Draco Malfoy! Do you mean to tell me, that you pretended to be hurt because you thought I'd leave you alone? And then you were going to curse me?"
"…"
"And here I thought I'd rid you of your Slytherin tendencies." Grinned Ginny.
"Haha Weaslette! And I thought I'd rid you of your more annoying Gryffindor tendencies… like emotion." Draco cast over his shoulder as he walked over to his chair.
Suddenly, he found himself facedown on the carpet; Ginny's forearm embedded in his neck and her breath tickling his ear.
"Slytherin enough for you, Malfoy?" Ginny hissed into his ear.
With a skilled manoeuvre of his leg, Draco found himself on top of a surprised Ginny, legs entwined.
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, "Gryffindor enough for you, Weasley?"
Smirking, Ginny reached up to tug on one of the blond hairs that had come loose from his ponytail and said, "Much better. I don't like it when you get all sneaky; it's rather tiresome, because I can always outsmart you. At least this way, you have a small chance at winning."
Leaning in closer, he said "Only a small chance?"
"Very small," Ginny said, as she flipped him onto his back, "And since we're the only ones here, you can cut the last-name crap too. Besides, you know that isn't even my last name any more."
"Hmm, that's right. Pity the poor bugger that got saddled with you as a wife."
Flip.
"Ha! I know I wouldn't pity a guy who went to Las Vegas, got drunk, got married and was still smart enough to marry me, rather than some tarty waitress."
Flip.
"I dunno. Having a tarty waitress wife could have its advantages."
Flip.
"Like anyone in their right mind would marry you, tarty waitress or not."
Flip.
"Lucky my wife isn't in her right mind then, ey?"
Flip.
"You know Malfoy, I could have you done for spousal abuse for this."
Flip.
"Yes, Mrs Malfoy, but you'd rather hex me so we can still shag later."
Flip.
"Shut it and kiss me, ferret."
Flip.
"Yes, dear."
Flip