A/N Happy new year! That is all, enjoy!
Ginny stood in the foyer of Malfoy Manor, looking around in awe of the large room. She shifted her weight, resisting the urge to run her fingers over everything in the room while she waited for Hermione. The house elf had said it would only be a few minutes but it felt like hours. Ginny heard echoing footsteps and straightened, taking a step forward, expecting it to be Hermione. It wasn't, but she wasn't disappointed at the sight of Tonks. Even if she did have to force her eyes not to wander.
"Wotcher, Gin. What's up?" Tonks greeted, slightly startled by the redhead's presence.
"Oh, I'm just waiting for Hermione." Ginny shuffled her feet awkwardly, trying not to squirm under Tonks's gaze. "How's it been? Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks, it's been busy. We've got everything at the prison all settled and the new Minister should be elected soon unless something happens. We're hoping it doesn't, especially Hermione and Aunt Bella."
"I'm sure they're ready to put all this behind them."
"Yeah. What about you? How've you been?"
Ginny shrugged. "School went well. It's nice to be able to see Fred and George again, but I still don't really like to be at home. It's a bit weird."
"That's understandable."
Ginny nodded as the conversation came to an awkward halt. Both witches fidgeted, neither quite ready for it to end but not sure what to say. Ginny silently cursed Hermione for taking so long. She felt awkward enough just standing in the large house but the silence between her and Tonks made it so much worse. Tonks shuffled her feet, thinking back to the conversation she had with Hermione.
"So, erm, I was wondering if maybe you'd want to grab lunch sometime?" Tonks asked, scratching the back of her head nervously.
"I'd love to," Ginny said quietly, smiling softly.
"Great. Awesome. It's a date. Or, not a date. Whichever you prefer." Tonks clamped her mouth shut, cheeks burning. Her hair matched her cheeks, and she willed it back to its normal color.
"A date, then," Ginny whispered, blushing faintly. Tonks nodded, quickly leaving the room to save herself from further embarrassment. She almost tripped but caught herself just in time, sheepishly looking back at Ginny. She saw Hermione lean out from behind a corner, smiling innocently as she walked toward Ginny. Tonks shook her head, a grateful smile on her face.
"Hey, Ginny. Sorry I took so long." Hermione stopped in front of Ginny, examine the slightly dazed expression on her best friend's face.
"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it, Tonks kept me company for a bit." Ginny shook the expression on her face, narrowing her eyes at Hermione. "Wait. You totally set that up."
"What? That's ridiculous, Gin." Hermione struggled to keep her face innocent, but she knew Ginny saw right through it.
"Don't lie to me."
"Fine. I heard the two of you talking and I hid to see which of you would give in first."
Ginny punched Hermione's shoulder playfully, if a bit hard, before hugging her. "Thanks."
"No problem." Hermione rubbed her shoulder, gesturing with her head for Ginny to follow.
They walked through the Manor in silence, Ginny absorbed in their surroundings before asking, "Where's Draco?"
"He's in the garden, I think."
"Is he choosing flowers for the wedding?"
"No, he might be practicing with Bella or Lucius." Hermione turned into the drawing room, flicking her wand to open the drapes. Sunlight streamed through the glass, lighting the room with soft light.
"So, the wedding. I assume I'm your Maid of Honor?" Ginny sat on the chair Hermione gestured to, reaching for the cup of tea on the table.
"Funny you ask. Draco asked this morning if he was my Best Man."
"There's no reason you can't have both. Fair point, but you have to wear matching colors."
"Oh, that's a total deal breaker, then," Ginny joked.
"I figured as much." Hermione smiled at Ginny over the rim of her cup, the two bursting into fits of laughter.
"Okay, seriously, have you told Harry and Ron, yet?"
Hermione shifted her weight, shaking her head. "Not yet. We're still on the mend and I don't know how they'll take the news."
"Well, just so you know, they're already aware of your relationship with Bellatrix."
"How?"
"One of the Order meetings. It was the one where Tonks and the twins left, actually. Plus, you're kinda obvious, 'Mione."
"I guess I'll have to talk about it with Bella, then. Anyway, how are things going? How was school?"
"They're going. Being in the house is better now that everything is kinda worked out. It's still awkward but not so much. And school was fine. I really like your castle. It was cool to end the school year there."
"It's not my castle anymore. I gave it to Hogwarts as another location."
"You did? That's awesome!"
"Yeah, I suggested Minerva use it as a place for research and maybe build a new Quidditch pitch."
"You? Suggesting a Quidditch pitch? You hate Quidditch." Ginny raised a brow in disbelief.
"Not everybody does, though. Besides, if there's two it's easier for teams to practice without being in each other's way."
"Oh, so it's the rational side of you."
"Don't let her fool you, Ginny. Hermione secretly loves Quidditch, she just won't admit it," Draco said, entering the room with a broad smile. He ignored the glare from Hermione, sitting on the couch.
"No, she hates it. She knows all the rules and stuff because of me and Harry."
"I bet if she tried it, she wouldn't hate it so much."
"You know, you might be right." Ginny and Draco shared a conspiratory grin.
"We've got some extra brooms. Hermione, I'm sure Aunt Bella won't mind if you use hers." Draco and Ginny stood, each grabbing one of Hermione's arms to keep her from getting away.
"Fine. I'll give it a try. But we don't have enough for a game."
Ginny and Draco blinked in surprise, their grip on Hermione loosening. "We've got a set of stuff. We don't have to play a game, you can just try each position."
"If you insist," Hermione sighed, "We can go to the island once we grab the brooms."
Draco and Ginny made noises of celebration, dragging Hermione along with them as they trekked to the broom shed. Draco handed them each a broom, but Hermione could have easily guessed which one was Bellatrix's. It was made of dark walnut wood and a bit on the older side but that was to be expected. Draco gave Ginny his, a sleek, polished, black broom. It was clearly new and well cared for. Draco held a plain brown broom, one typically reserved for guests but he didn't mind. He also held a chest, presumably filled with Quidditch stuff. Draco and Ginny each put a hand on Hermione's forearm, feeling the tell-tale nauseousness of Apparating.
Kneeling, Draco set the chest down, opening the lid and revealing a Quaffle, two Bludgers, two bats, and the Snitch. Ginny grabbed the bats, passing one to Hermione and keeping one for herself. She mounted her broom, easily lifting off the ground. She let out an approving whistle, familiarizing herself with the broom. Hermione sighed, mounting her broom and kicking off the ground. To her surprise, the broom responded easily, barely requiring a thought. She figured it had something to do with the broom belonging to Bellatrix and the connection of their magic.
"Nice. I thought that might work. Ready?" Draco asked.
"Erm, ready for what, exactly?"
"A Bludger. Maybe just one, Draco. They're pretty awful," Ginny said, adjusting her grip on the bat.
"That was the plan." Quickly, Draco undid the latch keeping the Bludger secure, throwing himself completely against the ground to avoid it. Hermione ducked, narrowly avoiding the Bludger.
"You're supposed to hit it, Hermione!" Ginny yelled, batting the Bludger a good distance away from them.
"I'm a little more concerned with not being hit by it!"
"Don't be such a drama queen, love. It doesn't hurt that bad." Bellatrix was sitting near where Draco was, watching them with an amused expression on her face.
"Bella? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, ducking away from the Bludger again.
"I thought I'd be a spectator. Hit it, Hermione, before it hits you." Bellatrix flashed a grin at Hermione, momentarily distracting the young witch.
Hermione turned away, spotting the Bludger from the corner of her eye. She shrieked, holding the bat in front of her as a form of protection. Her eyes were closed tightly, her body tensed in preparation for the impact. The Bludger ran into her bat, bouncing off and veering away.
"Well, that's not exactly what she meant, but good job," Draco encouraged.
"Why would anybody do this?!"
"It's thrilling. Think of it like a duel."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Bellatrix's words but listened to her advice anyway. It's not as if she could ignore her soulmate. Hermione steeled herself, calming her breathing and adjusting her grip on the bat. She had seen a little bit of baseball to understand the logistics, and this was basically the same. Except the ball was enchanted and bigger and so much scarier. Hermione shook the thought out of her head, watching the ball as it careened around the island. She saw her opportunity and swung as hard as she could, almost expecting to meet empty air. The impact of the Bludger and the bat shook her arms, but it sent the Bludger flying away from her. Bellatrix, Draco, and Ginny clapped, staying wary of the Bludger. It swiftly changed direction, heading toward them again. Ginny batted it into the chest and Draco jumped on it, struggling to keep it in place while he locked it in place.
"That was nothing like a duel, Bella," Hermione said, landing shakily next to the dark witch.
"I never said it was, I just said think of it like one. I figured you would focus better."
"See, that wasn't so bad, 'Mione," Ginny said, tossing her bat to Draco.
"No, but I'm done for the day. No more for me."
"That's fine. We'll just have to do more another time." Draco smiled at Hermione as he took her bat, stowing it and closing the chest.
Hermione laughed tiredly, sitting heavily on the ground next to Bellatrix. "Maybe."