Chapter 45

The Teacher's lounge was comfortably warm as the early October sun shown through large arched windows. One was slightly ajar to allow in a breeze for those who found the room too stuffy. Outside Madame Hooch was instructing first years in the finer points of broom flying.

Leaning back against the cushions of the only sofa in the room, Draco read over a letter from Nash, ignoring the room's other inhabitant. Percy Weasley was busy checking over homework assignments from yesterday and making notes in a large book that he'd taken to carrying around. It no doubt held all the grades for his unwitting students. Draco didn't pay him any heed, concentrating on the letter.

Nash was chatting in his usual manner about various happening back in Aukland. The Parata, Aukland's Quidditch team, was gearing up for another season with talk of an exhibition game or two in Europe. If they did come to Britain, Draco would consider leaving Hogwarts to see them. They were an excellent team. At first he'd thought no one could beat the European teams, but the New Zealand team had grown on him over the years. Having their games broadcast on the television helped his conversion.

Smiling at the usual debate over the Parata and the Hamilton Pekehaua's on going rivalry he flipped over the highly colorful stationary. Undoubtedly one of Trina's relatives had given it to her as a gift, and Nash was trying to use it up quickly. Draco didn't mind, it just meant he knew which letter was his.

Halfway down the page he heard Percy groan. Vaguely curious, Draco raised his gaze slightly. The young History teacher had taken off his glasses and was rubbing his eyes.

"Problem Professor?" Draco inquired resting the letter in his lap.

"Not a problem, more of an annoyance." Percy replied, replacing his glasses. "I received a letter early this morning, but since it was from Mum I figured I could read it later. I was wrong."

Not wanting to pry, Draco continued reading until another groan caused him to look up. The other teacher was running his fingers through his hair in an obvious sign of distress. Realizing that he probably wasn't going to finish his letter until Percy got whatever was wrong off his chest, Draco asked if it was serious. Shaking his head, Percy told him that that it was only troublesome.

Over the past few weeks, Draco had discovered that there was one Weasley he could get along with without much trouble. Being older than Ron, Percy didn't have the previous baggage, making it easier to resist sniping at him. Draco found it easier to be amicable to him without forcing himself to, unlike with Ron.

"Ginny is arriving today," Percy muttered, folding the letter. "I love my sister, but this seems a bit…"

"Unusual?" Draco ventured. Percy nodded. "Is there some family reunion I don't know about?"

"Heck if I know," the redhead grumbled giving up grading. He replaced the letter in between the pages of his book where he'd stuck it that morning. Until he'd flipped to that page he'd forgotten about it completely. Now he wish he hadn't. "It seems like half my family's here. Ron is here because he's guarding you and Cassie, Natalie's here because she's Ron's wife, and now Ginny. If Fred and George drop by, I'm holding myself up in my chambers until they're gone."

"From what I remember, that's only a small fraction of your family. But if your twin brothers come, I'll be doing the same. The last thing I want are those two near my daughter." Draco pointed out, refolding Nash's letter and slipping it in his pocket. Percy chuckled nervously, halfway agreeing with him.

Absently Draco looked at the clock. Reading the time, he realized he should be going. Classes started in fifteen minutes and he wanted to stop by the library. Cassie was under Hermione's watch this afternoon while Heather continued helping Madame Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing. The flu epidemic was hitting the younger students hard this year.

Standing, Draco excused himself. As he opened the door, Percy rose and hurried over.

"Might as well get going too. I need to find Natalie to see if Ginny's arrived yet," he said as they began walking. Draco simply nodded. "I just don't understand why she's coming. Unless Natalie invited her for company, but I don't see that."

"Natalie has plenty of company, their names are Heather O'Toole and Hermione Granger," Draco commented, straightening the shoulders of his robes. He'd gotten out of the habit of wearing them while in New Zealand, but as a professor he was required to return to them. Of course the second he was off duty, he dove back into a pair of comfortable jeans and shirt. They had their advantages when chasing a small girl around.

"Except Ron mentioned something about Ginny throwing Natalie a baby shower earlier this month. I wonder if she's coming to do that. Although, I thought that wasn't for another month," Percy grumbled, his brow furrowed as he tried to think.

"Possibly," Draco answered. Percy had probably gotten mixed up on the date because he was focused on his teaching. He tended to have tunnel vision about that. Draco tried to keep from rolling his eyes.

They continued on, Percy mumbling to himself and Draco half-listening. At one point Draco broke in to mention that the number of Aurors had increased to three today, although he'd not seen Mr. Longbottom yet.

Harry had assured him that Neville was coming that morning and they'd meet the Malfoys that evening. This way Harry would have ample time to prep the poor Gryffindor to their situation. Longbottom will faint from shock, Draco thought gleefully. He nearly laughed out loud at the thought, but it wasn't polite.

"It seems like Hogwarts is collecting non-teachers recently." Percy groused, waiting for the stairs to move to the next landing.

"Heather's family," Draco retorted. Percy sighed.

"I know, as is Cassie. I'm referring to my brother, his wife and Harry."

"The Auror's are necessary, we're in the middle of an undeclared war. Natalie's pregnant and leaving her alone isn't a good idea. Believe me, I know." He practically snarled the last few words. He remembered well his pregnancy and how vulnerable he'd felt. The memory of his suicidal moments crept back causing him to defend Natalie's decision to join Ron.

"But it'd be safer at my parent's house," Percy reasoned as they turned towards the library.

"It's not where her husband is," Draco pointed out. "Hogwarts is safe enough or else I'd be back in New Zealand."

"I suppose you're right," Percy conceded, pausing at the library doors. He tugged them open allowing Draco to enter. The DADA teacher nodded once and stepped inside.

The doors hadn't swung shut when Draco heard a distinctive voice.

"But Miss Hermione, they're sucking on each other's faces like Daddy and Papa!"

Behind him, Percy caught the door and held it open.

"Cassie, that's not polite." Hermione's anxious voice carried over the rows of books.

"Why isn't it polite?" She protested as Draco hurried to locate his daughter. No doubt she'd caught two seventh years kissing behind the herbology section. It was a popular spot in his time; he doubted it'd changed.

Leaping the three steps to the second tier, he heard Percy trotting behind him. Surprised, Draco let it slide, worried more about Cassie than the tag-along. Making his way towards the back he caught sight of them.

"Because it isn't." Hermione was trying desperately to remove herself and the little girl from the area. It was already embarrassing for the lovers who'd been caught and having Cassie announce it to the entire library wasn't helping.

"It's a private thing Snapdragon," Draco said gently slipping in behind the distraught librarian. Hermione threw him a thankful look while Cassie frowned.

"But you and Papa…" She protested as Percy's step faltered.

"Only do it in our chambers," he told her leaning forward and bracing his hands on his knees. "Now why don't you come with me?" She nodded, but cast one last look at the two figures frozen in the shadows. Draco followed her gaze finally seeing who the kissing fools were.

"GINNY?" Percy squeaked his face paling slightly before blushing in anger.

Her red hair and freckles were enough for Draco to recognize her as a Weasley. She'd been a bit homely as a child he remembered, but she'd apparently grown out of it. He felt a moment of pity for Percy when he realized whom the other figure was.

"Cassie, come on. Mr. Percy has to have a talk with his sister and Mr. Longbottom." He held out his hand to her and she took it quickly. Straightening, he nodded to Hermione who understood the unspoken offer. The three breezed out of the area leaving Percy to deal with Ginny and Neville.