Just Old Friends

Chapter 25: Meeting

As the clock chimed eight and Dumbledore's door closed to everyone, few people were inside. He was, of course, at the head of the meeting with McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape, there representing Hogwarts interests.

Then Remus sat with Tonks who looked very tired as if she wanted to be anywhere but here. Dumbledore had insisted that she stay at home but she had refused saying she wanted in on any meeting.

Then there were Neville, Hermione and Ron sat together talking lightly. He hadn't asked anyone else to come to the meeting with the exception of Harry and Ginny who had yet to turn up. Maybe they were drunk; it was turning into a major problem with Harry, and, of course, Snape.

They would wait another five minutes for those two before having to start the meeting.

"Ginny, come on we're late!"

"I'm coming hang on."

She was bent over tying her shoelace just as the lift's door opened. Without hesitation Harry moved towards her and bending down scooped her up throwing her on his shoulder taking off at a run towards Dumbledore's office.

"Harry put me down this minute!"

"Not till we get into the office."

He carried on running and as he got to the door he threw it open and stepped inside. Everyone turned to look at him and he smiled lightly at everyone.

"Sorry we're late its Ginny's fault."

"Is not I'm not the one who got locked in the bathroom, now put me down."

"Oh no you didn't just say –"

"Yes I did, now put me –"

Ginny never finished the sentence as Harry let her drop in a heap on the floor he laughed at the look on her face and took his seat.

"So, what's going on then?"

Dumbledore looked at him and indicated for Ginny to take a seat.

"Things have changed;, for some reason, Draco has pulled out of his plan."

Everyone fell quiet and Tonks spoke up.

"Why?"

"From what I can tell he's going to give himself more time to get more people that means more time for us."

"But why?"

Harry wanted to know that as well, he shared a look at Hermione and wondered. What would make Draco Malfoy back down? It couldn't be time because he would want to surprise them, but what if he had learnt that to try now would be to fail.

Snape spoke up though looking at them all.

"Dominique's having a baby."

Harry looked around the room it seemed everyone understood the meaning behind those words except him he felt like an idiot among the wise. Tonks seemed to pick up on this though.

"Dominique is Draco's wife."

"Wait what about Pansy?"

"Mrs. Goyle now mate, Draco got lucky and got himself a looker in a wife."

He heard the smack that greeted Ron for this comment but he still felt a bit confused but luckily, Remus was still watching him.

"Dominique's French; her father was a distant cousin of Narcissa's. They decided to unite their family more closely and since Draco is Lucius and Narcissa's only son he had to marry her for the good of the Malfoy's."

Ron who was still rubbing his arm smiled.

"You should have heard Pansy when she found out, it was announced two days before we finished Hogwarts, I swear I knew she was big but I never knew she had such a large set of lungs the noise was enormous would have even frightened Remus when he was in wolf state."

Harry chuckled when Hermione just rolled her eyes but Neville smiling spoke up.

"He had a lucky escape, Ron was right she's gorgeous. She's one of these women that shouldn't exist, she's tall about 5"10 at least, blonde hair that flows in curls down her back, bright blue eyes and dimples when she smiles. Enough to make any woman want to kill her."

From the way that all the women were now looking Harry believed that to be true.

"So what we going to do?"

Dumbledore smiled at Ginny his eyes twinkling.

"We'll just wait I think we're safe for the next couple of years. Draco's a family man that's the one decent thing about him no matter what he wants to do within the wizarding world he puts his family first so we'll be safe for a while."

With that they all went home for another night.

Okay so not a lot but I changed my mind about the plot line and they were going to go to war and on the day before the battle Harry was going to declare his love for Ginny, but I've decided to take it in a completely different direction which means the war with Draco is pointless so I'm making him a dad and he's going to be a happy father for a while instead.

Oh sorry as well about the lateness of the posting but Annie was away and then I was ill but here's the next instalment and I hope to have the next one up at some point next week

Brilliant Author thanks for the review, at the moment they're just friends but its because of Harry's past, he's still madly in love with Luna but you'll see more of this in later chapters

Maiden of Hope thanks for the reply but I'm afraid I have let you down. I decided I wanted to make this big scene with Luna's grave but I didn't want to have an emotional scene twice because at the grave it would be the same thing, him trying to get over the death and move on. So the grave scene comes later at a more crucial point.

Harryp123 thanks for the review and I'm glad you like hope you like this one as well.

Chica91 thanks for reviewing well I'm a fan of Ginny and Neville and Luna with Harry. In fact the start pairings are my favourite but this is working out although it is rather slow at the moment. Hope you enjoy this and I've started posting another story on mugglenet.

Avadne I forget to add you at the bottom of FFMN and Choices so I'll do it here under each one. I like the idea of Ginny being so close to Hermione that she would take a curse for her, I think its one of those questions would you risk everything for a friend and I decided that in this case Ginny would, plus it helped the story along.

FFMN – Yes Peter's was my favourite fear to write I just love the idea that he's scared of his girlfriend's father. Keep reading though because we're going to have some major turns in the plot line (two certain Gryffindor purebloods get together – for a little while) but I'm having fun.

Choices – Yes in this case Remus and Lily weren't friends but now that they have both become prefects they're friends but it isn't going to be smooth running in fact there shall be a lot of twists, like the chapter I've just posted and the next two after it.

FT – Yeah I like Dean as well and look out for a squeal to it, I already have the first three chapters written and I know how it's going to go as well.

Okay I think that's everything for your review Ava and sorry for missing you out on those other stories but I hope that answers all your questions but if you have anymore you know how to review or you can just see Annie and she'll give you my email addy.

Jessie thanks for reviewing hun and yes it is very much like what happened with Claire in fact that is where the inspiration for the condition came from I think you might be seeing some orphaned children later on in the story.

Annie Zombie Ginny and Harry yeah I think I have another story now planned mate, I can just see the vows not even death will part them, watch out she may eat brains! No just kidding thanks hun.

EVERYONE okay this is in case like me you only zone to your own name on these things I wanted to let you all know that Luna's grave will be coming but it won't be straight away it comes later on as I didn't want to repeat it too many times.

So I hope that I can post more soon and I promise that I will try it all depends on work and University and my lovely beta having some time since she's back in school now.

Kris