Chapter seven – The Reunion.
"Remember that we love you, Hermione. And if anything happens, we hope you'll not hesitate to come back home." Hermione's dad said to her that following Tuesday, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Although we're not completely used to having you living at home, what with you boarding at Hogwarts for seven years, your mother and I had hoped to see you a little bit more often than that."
"You will dad." Hermione reassured him, looking over to the kitchen where her mother was busying herself packing something. "Tell me how mum goes without me, will you?"
"Sure, love."
Hermione's mum bustled out of the kitchen, and over to where the two Grangers were standing by the fireplace. "Here, Hermione my dear. I made you some brownies and a full pot of vegetable soup, just to settle you in."
"My, this isn't school camp." Hermione reminded her gently. "But I'll be glad to take it with me."
"Make sure you come and visit every Saturday night like you said you would."
"If not more often," Hermione's mum added quickly.
Her parents shared a look and her mum accidentally let one of her tears slip down her face. Hermione took a deep breath and said with a quaver in her voice, "Well, see you next Saturday."
She gave her parents a hug and a kiss, then picked up her bags, ignoring the tightness in her throat. "I love you both."
They voiced their love for her in return, then stepped back as Hermione took a handful of Floo powder, threw it in the fireplace and said, "The Malfoy Manor." She stepped into the fireplace and turned to face her parents, and as she saw her father standing with his arm around her mother's shoulders, watching her sadly, she sniffled.
A few seconds later, Hermione stepped out into the Malfoy Manor's living room. Draco immediately stood from the seat he'd been waiting in, and took her bags from her. Placing them beside the fire, he looked back at Hermione and noticed her eyes were shrouded by tears.
"If you want to go back home, I won't be offended." He said to her seriously. "You have just left school, I can understand if you'd like to live at home for a while longer."
"No Draco." She told him, wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "I want this to be my home."
Draco smiled at her, and kissed her gently on the lips. He pulled back, and only then noticed that she was holding Tupperware. "Um…what's that plastic thing got in it? Did you brew a potion?"
"No, actually my mum cooked a soup this afternoon, and said I should bring it with me." Hermione explained. "I suppose you think that it's stupid."
Draco frowned at her. "Of course not." He prized back the lid and smelt inside. "Hmm…I think we'll have this for dinner tonight."
Hermione smiled at him. Although she knew he'd meant it when he'd offered to go back to her parents place, she had seen it in his eyes that it would have been hard to let her go. She loved Draco, and knew that she would adjust quickly to living at the Manor. Draco picked up her bags and motioned her to lead the way to his room.
Once they had unpacked her bags and given the soup to the house elves down in the kitchens, they sat down in the lounge room. It wasn't long however, before their privacy was intruded by Harry stepping out of the flames of the fireplace. Before he spotted the two on the couch, he looked around the room in awe, "My God," He breathed, taking in the size of the room and the expensive antiques that filled it, "Hermione's going to be loaded."
"Good evening Harry." Draco said with a raised eyebrow. Harry jumped and noticed them sitting right in front of him. He smiled at them in an almost guilty way, and waved feebly in greeting.
"Hey." Harry stepped away from the fireplace, and glanced over his shoulder. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion. We just thought we'd come over and give you a house warming party…in a sense." He frowned, trying to think of a way to explain what he meant. "I mean, we know this is Draco's house and has been for eighteen years, so it's more of a 'Welcome to Draco's House, Hermione' party…except we didn't bring any party supplies, just ourselves. So it's more like a 'Welcome to Draco's House, Hermione' well wishing. You know what, I think you understand, so I'll just be quiet."
"Good idea." Draco commented, though he was smiling at Harry for doing something like this for Hermione. Draco knew she was still uncomfortable with the thought that if they never had any problems as a couple, she'd never live with her parents again. Having her friends around would surely make her feel more comfortable.
"We?" Hermione questioned, shifted over on the couch so Harry could fit next to her. "Unless my eyesight's failing, or the others have turned microscopic, you're the only person here."
Harry glanced towards the fireplace then at the clock on the wall. "We said six thirty, so I don't know what's taking them so long." However, the moment he said this, the flames in the fireplace turned green and, in a tumble of arms, legs, heads and torso's, five people fell unceremoniously on to the floor.
After the scramble to get up, Ron, Ginny, Pansy, Fred and George stood facing the three sitting on the couch. Hermione looked at the twins in slight confusion – she didn't expect them to come to something like this. Then she noticed them looking around the place with interest, and figured they'd come mainly to have a peek at the Manor.
"Hermione!" Ginny greeted her with a smile, placing a box on the ground and moving forwards to hug her. "This is so exciting! I can't believe you've moved in to Draco's place with him. And goodness me," she said, looking around her, "what a place it is."
Draco rolled his eyes slightly at the comment, but with a glance at him, Hermione could tell he was flattered with the compliment. Draco summoned the butler and asked if tea could be brought to the sitting room, and they all sat down on the couches.
"So," Ron started as he sat on the couch next to Pansy, a tea cup held awkwardly between his thumb and index finger. Apparently he had grown was used to holding bottles of butterbeer, as opposed to china tea cups. "This is your home now, Hermione." He looked around and tried his best not to appear intimidated, "Impressive."
"Thanks." Draco said. "Lucius designed it himself. Mum decorated it herself. And, well, I haven't done anything but live in it, but since the ownership situation has turned around, I think I'll be doing a lot maintenance work. There are many Dark Magic objects are the place that I think it's time to get rid of."
There was silence for a few minutes, and a house elf tip toed into the room and placed a plate of cookies and Hermione's mother's brownies on the table. When he had left, Hermione gave Draco a disapproving look. He sighed and shared a glance with Harry and Ron. "She'll win, mate." Ron told him. "You can fight as hard and as long as you want. But she'll always win."
"I think you're at the point where I should give you the same advice." Draco said, not intending to embarrass Ron, but doing so all the same. Draco glanced meaningfully at Pansy, who tried to keep a smile off her face when she saw Ron blush. "She's hard to handle, will find out any secret you have, and will not take much encouragement to go after what she wants, whether you want her to have it or not."
Ron, after appearing ill at ease for a few moments, simply decided to pretend he hadn't heard Draco speaking and continued, "I think it would be easier to just get rid of the house elves now to save time and arguments."
"And I think you should just ask Pansy out to save awkward situations and the embarrassment of being asked out by her when she decides she's waited long enough." Draco said raising his eyebrows. Once he said that, Hermione, Harry, Fred, George and Pansy all turned to face Ron. Ron sat staring at Draco in horror at what he'd just said. Slowly, he glanced around at the others. Hermione smiled at him encouragingly, Harry smiled sympathetically and shrugged in apology that he was unable to help, Fred winked, George glanced at Pansy and made a 'not bad' face, and Ginny sighed in exasperation. "Hurry up, Ronald."
Ron then turned slower still to look uncertainly at Pansy. She was watching him curiously, wondering if he'd be able to ask her out under such pressure. She'd never been so attracted to any guy before, but no guy had ever been so timid about her before. Pansy could tell that Ron was most likely about to pass out. Before the opportunity could be passed up, she quickly said, "Ron, I would love it very much if you would be my boyfriend."
Ron's eyes widened and then he sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God. Yes please, Pansy." Pansy grinned at his response, while the twins whooped in amusement and Harry breathed sigh of relief for his best mate. Pansy leaned forwards and kissed him softly on the lips. She pulled away and Draco could tell Ron had no idea where to look. He settled for grinning stupidly at his hands.
"Well, that settles that." Ginny said, clasping her hands together in conclusion of the matter. "I'm very happy for you, Ron."
"Yeah, so are we." Fred said, "It's a good thing she's a confident girl who had the guts to ask you, or you'd never get together."
"Then again," George added, "We could have asked her for you."
"I have a younger brother…" Fred said, adopting a high, childish voice.
"And he's your age…" George continued the imaginary conversation.
"And he likes you…"
"He's the red headed one, with arms like a chimpanzee…"
"The best friend of the black haired scar head…"
"And the bushy haired know-it-all…"
"Hey!" Hermione interrupted.
"But he's too scared to even talk to you…" Fred continued.
"So will you go out with him…?" They both said in unison.
"Shut up." Ron mumbled at them, while Draco chuckled to himself, remembering similar situations in primary school. Hermione smiled when she noticed that through Ron's embarrassment he managed to find Pansy's hand and hold on to it, gently caressing her skin with his thumb.
"Now that that's over," Ginny said, obviously wanting to move on to the next topic, "we have something to give you both. And we hope Draco doesn't mind, because we forgot to consult him on the matter."
Draco shifted worriedly in his seat, hoping it was nothing he would oppose to too badly. Ginny stood and walked over to the box she had placed on the ground upon her arrival. Picking it up, she handed it to Hermione and Draco, who exchanged a glance and then began ripping at the paper that it had been wrapped in. As they pulled the paper off and reached to lift the lid, the box gave a twitch. "Bloody hell! It's alive." Draco exclaimed, his curiosity piqued.
Hermione looked at Ginny with the faint suspicion of what it might be. In that time, Draco had managed to lift the lid, and when she looked down she found herself staring in to a pair of large, brown eyes. The brown eyes were connected to the most beautiful black puppy she had ever seen.
"No way!" she cried, reaching in and picking up the little pup, which gave a soft yawn of contentment. "I can't believe this!" she turned to look at Draco, whose eyes were wide as he stared in shock at the canine in Hermione's arms.
"Um…" he stuttered, apparently unsure of what to say. "I can't believe it either."
"Is it ok with you Draco?" Harry asked him quietly, once Hermione moved to sit with the puppy on the floor with the other two girls. "I mean, it is a pretty big thing to add in to the house hold. I have to admit that it was all Ginny's doing. She said you didn't have any pets aside from dragons…?" Harry trailed off, apparently wanting confirmation of this piece of information. Draco nodded at him, and Harry continued with an awed expression, "So she bought a puppy, then told us all to pay up, because apparently we all said we'd chip in."
"No, it's fine with me." Draco said, after watching Hermione for a few minutes with the puppy. She had the biggest smile on her face, and when she lay back on the ground, the pup padded over to her and climbed over her face causing her to laugh hysterically. "Anything that makes her that happy will have to stay."
Harry also smiled at Hermione's laughter, but when she turned to him ten minutes later, his smile vanished after she voiced a question she'd obviously been thinking about. "Harry?" she said.
To which he replied, "Hmmm?"
"Um, I was thinking…" she paused, obviously very unsure about asking him whatever it was. "This puppy is going to need a name."
"You want me to name it?" Harry asked her uncertainly, quickly considering this and coming up with Black Puppy and Doggy. "Or, do you want to name it after me?"
"Well, no actually." Hermione said, swallowing. "Is it too much to ask, or can I name it in memory of Sirius?"
Harry sat stunned with an unreadable expression on his face. He stared at the puppy, and as he watched its pure black little body padding around the room, a sad look crossed his eyes. This caused Ginny to move over to him and take his hand comfortingly. The puppy stopped sniffing Hermione's shoes to watch Ginny sit next to Harry, and then looked at Harry as if noticing him for the first time. He waddled over and attempted to jump up into Harry's lap, but failed and fell to the floor with a plop. Harry smiled sadly at him and picked him up. As if understanding Harry's pain, the pup raised its head and licked Harry on the face.
Harry looked at Hermione, and nodded. "Ok." He agreed. "Sirius it is."
That Sunday was the reunion Narcissa had planned. Invitations had gone out to all students who had been in seventh year with Draco and Hermione, and some students from other years who had been friends with them were invited also.
Narcissa stressed all Sunday morning, worried the food wouldn't be appropriate, the music would be hissed at and everyone would leave early. Draco told her sternly to stop being stupid many times, and in the end only stopped fretting when Hermione sat her down with a cup of tea and read her a book to take her mind off things.
Just before lunch, Draco came into the lounge and reminded Hermione that their friends would be arriving in half an hour, and she should probably get changed. Hermione nodded and finished reading the chapter to Narcissa, who in that time fell in to a light doze. Draco sat waiting on the couch opposite them, watching Hermione and thinking about how fortunate he was to have her. Narcissa needed her just as much as Draco did. There were some things that only females knew how to deal with; mainly when it involved other females. When she finished the chapter, Hermione placed the book on the table next to Narcissa and silently exited the room with Draco.
They walked through the corridor and came to the bottom of the marble staircase leading up to Draco's room. "I'll let you get changed in peace." Draco told her, stopping and resting his hand on the banister. "Otherwise I'll be tempted to stop you half way through…"
Hermione laughed and smiled at him fondly, then walked up the stairs of the Malfoy Manor, pausing half way up to glance over her shoulder at him. Draco felt his stomach flip slightly at the look in her eyes, and he reached a hand into his pocket to finger something small and smooth. 'Soon,' he told himself sternly. 'She can only handle one step at a time.'
Once Hermione finished changing and was walking downstairs, she heard a few familiar voices talking in the downstairs lounge. She entered with a smile, "Hello Harry. Ron." They looked up from kneeling on the floor petting Sirius to smile back.
"He is pretty cute." Ron admitted, indicating towards Sirius, who took the opportunity to crawl on to his lap and stick his nose in Ron's ear. "Aside from when he does that."
Harry laughed and walked over to give Hermione a kiss on the cheek. "How has it been living here?"
"Very different, but in a good way." She told him. "I'm so happy Harry."
Harry smiled at Hermione's happiness. "Well, now you can show off your new home to all your old school mates. Come to think of it…" he paused and exchanged a glance with Ron, "we were wondering if we could see the rest of place. Last Tuesday all we saw was this lounge room. I mean, we're sure there's more to it than this."
Hermione grinned and motioned the two out of the room. They followed her, but not before Ron had the chance to pick Sirius up and carry him with them. Hermione gave them the tour Draco had given Hermione upon her first arrival at the Malfoy Manor. By the end, Ron's eyes were popping out of his head and Harry looked at Hermione thoughtfully. "Did you have any idea that he lived like this?"
"Before I came here? Not really." Hermione said. "Although there was one time during the year that he mentioned inheriting the Manor and all Lucius had owned. When he put a Dragon in that category I figured the Manor would have to be fairly extensive."
"Draco has Dragons?" Ron asked incredulously, barely suppressing a scoff of disbelief.
"Just the one." Draco said from the doorway to the library. They turned to look at him as he leant against the doorframe casually. "But I may have to buy it a mate. I've been told that it's getting frustrated – if you catch my drift – and when that happens, he's a lot harder to contain. So…Hermione and I may have to take a trip to Romania to get one."
Hermione looked at Draco in shock. "You're kidding. I'm going to be choosing a dragon?"
"Sure, if you want to. It won't be too hard, because we'll have to make it's the same breed. A Romanian Longhorn. He's a beautiful creature, with dark green scales and gold horns. I've been encouraged to breed it, because Romanian Longhorn's are decreasing rapidly in numbers due to the gold horns being used as a potion ingredient."
The three friends stared at Draco as if he'd just grown a second head. "You're…going to breed dragons?" Ron asked, wondering what other highly profitable schemes Draco had in mind.
Draco nodded, then said to Ron, "I'd love to keep chatting, but I think someone has just arrived…" He peered over his shoulder to see back down the corridor. "It could be…Pansy?"
Ron's eyes lit up and he practically ran from the room. The others all exchanged smiling glances and walked downstairs to remain in the lounge to await the arrival of guests. Within the next half an hour, nearly everyone had arrived. Harry sat with Seamus, Dean, Ginny and Neville, talking seriously about the capture of Bellatrix. Neville had been given the invitation to watch the Dementor's Kiss being performed on her, due to what she did to his parents. Pansy stood in a small circle with Ron, Lavender, Parvarti, Padma, Crabbe and Goyle. Hannah Abbot and Justin Flinch-Fletchley sat hand-in-hand with the other Hufflepuff's who had shown up, still mustering up the courage to mingle with old students in a Slytherin's house. The Ravwnclaw's who had already arrived were out the back with Draco, who was showing them his Quidditch Pitch where the National Quidditch Teams often come to train. Hermione sat with Narcissa, chatting and thanking her for organizing such an event for them.
"Everyone's having such good catch up time." She continued. "None of us are used to seeing each other outside Hogwarts. But everyone's getting on fine. This is the sort of thing the Sorting Hat wanted us to do years ago."
"Sorry?" Narcissa asked in confusion.
Hermione shook her head, "Never mind, I'm just musing aloud."
"I think I'd better go check on the band. They're setting up upstairs in the hall." Narcissa said, standing and beginning to walk out of the lounge, when she was called over by Fred, to sit with George, Lee, Angelina, Alicia, and Katie. Hermione had invited them all, for although they had all left Hogwarts a few years back, she was still friends with them and thought they'd enjoy coming. Narcissa sat down tentatively with them, as she had never met them before today.
Hermione smiled when George started including Narcissa in the conversation by questioning her on if she'd ever visited their joke shop. She shook her head, and Fred slowly pulled out a canary cream and handed it to George. George looked at it with a smirk and stuffed it in his mouth. Narcissa laughed so hard when George began to sprout yellow feathers that Hermione made a mental note to invite them over more often.
Suddenly, Hermione felt a hand snake its way around her waist. She jumped in surprise and spun around to face Draco, who was looking at her pensively. "How's my girl?" he asked her, causing Hermione to smile.
"I'm alright." She replied, allowing him to take her hand and lead her out of the room. "What are the Ravenclaw's up to?"
"I showed them my Quidditch supply shed, and told them they were allowed to use any of it, but to make sure they didn't lose the snitch." Draco said, leading the way to the hall upstairs. "So they all decided to fly around for a bit, get themselves back in to the swing of thing, then challenge everyone from other houses for a friendly match. I think they're hoping to win a match…maybe win the final." Draco snorted slightly thinking about Ravenclaw beating him. "As if."
"Yeah, as if." Hermione agreed. "I mean, Harry is here, isn't he?"
Draco rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "When will you ever believe that I'm the better Quidditch player?"
"When you actually manage to beat him." She answered simply.
A/N – thank you for everything. Not finished yet, but it's drawing to a close. Please review guys!
