a/n1: Hello and good evening (well, at least here) my lovely readers! I loved reading all your reviews on the last chapter and I'm so glad you all like Thomas. Since the birthday party got a lot longer than I intended (as always) you get two chapters today, I hope you enjoy them! All the beta-love goes to reynardinepttr!
5th June 1998, 19:09
Hermione looked around the forest and had to remind herself to close her mouth. There were fairy lights in the lower branches, the little bulbs shimmering in soft green and silver. Banners of fabric between the trees looked like perfect places to lounge and chat. The garlands hanging in the over them were moving in a soft breeze which seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere and kept the stifling heat of the summer day at bay. At every tree trunk there was a big glass jar which would later hold Bluebell Flames.
The soft, pale sand of the path to the lake was marked with fairy lights dancing in the bushes. The lakefront was illuminated by fairy lights as well and there were cushions and blankets around two wood piles. Out on the lake Hermione spotted a small island with a few trees.
"Theo, this is amazing," Pansy breathed behind Hermione who could only nod mutely, still too much in awe to form full sentences.
"Glad you girls like it," George answered, the grin palpable in his voice and when Hermione turned to look at him she saw a soft tinge of red at the tips of his ears.
"Which spells did you use for the garlands?" Hermione finally found her voice and of course her mind latched onto the safest topic: charmwork.
Theo suddenly spun on his heel. "Damn, I forgot Draco!" He apparated away before any of them could say a word.
George shook his head and turned back to Hermione. "We found the charms in a book in Theo's library. 'A Guide to the Perfect Garden Party' was really helpful for the hammocks as well."
"Oh, I know the book. Mother always insisted I should read it." Pansy rolled her eyes. "But if it has something like that breeze charm I might actually take a peek."
Pansy had just finished talking when they felt a powerful surge of magic that had them all grabbing for their wands. It was over in the blink of an eye, but the tension didn't leave their bodies. When they heard voices in the forest they drew their wands, walking up to the clearing. Pansy looked like she might bolt any second and George's face had turned to stone.
"Salazar's underpants you gave me a fright!" a female voice exclaimed when they rounded the corner and Hermione lowered her wand when she saw Daphne Greengrass clutching her hand to her chest. The other hand was obviously lying on her concealed wand and she was standing slightly in front of a smaller, brunette girl.
"I'm sorry, Daphne, Tracey," Pansy pushed past Hermione, putting away her wand as she went and Hermione followed her example. "Did you feel the surge of magic?"
"Yes, we just stepped out of the cabin when it hit us," Daphne said, pushing back her blonde hair with a shaking hand. "So that wasn't planned?"
"Maybe it was the wards," George suggested quietly. "I hope Thomas is alright."
Hermione froze in shock. She hadn't realised that the surge could have meant a problem with the wards they were trying to circumvent for Thomas. "Oh goodness, you're right!"
"Who is Thomas?" Daphne frowned, looking between them. Tracey behind her stiffened again, the girl had yet to say a word.
"Draco's cousin by marriage," Pansy explained. "He is Andromeda's nephew. He's a muggle, but Draco assures me he's great."
Daphne relaxed marginally and finally stepped sideways to stand next to instead of in front of Tracey. "Would you introduce us around Pansy?"
"Of course," Pansy smiled reassuringly at the two girls and Hermione was surprised to note the softness in her eyes.
"Tracey, Daphne, meet George Weasley and Hermione Granger," Pansy said with a wink. "You of course know them both from school."
Daphne smiled at both of them shortly, but Tracey only nodded, keeping close to the blonde's side.
"It's only a few weeks difference," Draco's voice permeated the uneasy silence that threatened to settle on them. "And I've been through far more, making me the older brother!"
"Nonsense, just because your life sucked more than mine you don't automatically get older!" a second male voice argued - that was probably Thomas then. Hermione smiled a bit at the sass, but she wondered why they were arguing about brothers.
"If you two don't stop bickering right this instant I will transfigure you both into stones and throw you into the lake." Theo sounded severely annoyed and Hermione had to hide a grin behind her hand when the three of them rounded the corner, and Draco and Thomas wore identical pouts.
"Good to see you're all in one piece." George was the first to speak.
"Why?" Theo frowned in confusion.
"We felt the power surge and got concerned whether something went wrong," Hermione explained, watching Thomas look around with unabashed awe on his face.
"Oh, yeah, Draco, why don't you explain the power surge?" Theo smiled sweetly and suddenly Draco looked like a deer caught in the headlights, or maybe like the mouse in the gaze of the snake. Hermione smiled to herself.
"Uh, um, well-" Draco started to stammer, scratching the back of his neck.
Thomas rolled his eyes and stepped forward, saving Draco. "Apparently you shouldn't grab anyone inside old wards, even if it's a muggle like me."
Hermione was momentarily derailed by how much Thomas looked like Draco, they could have been- "Brothers? I heard you talking about that."
Draco nodded resolutely, even though his cheeks were flaming red. "Yup, and not just brothers-in-arms or something like that."
Next to Hermione Pansy collapsed into a fit of giggles and she saw Daphne's lips twitch as well.
"Well, Narcissa is going to be delighted," Pansy gasped out between her bouts of laughter.
Hermione snorted. "I think overjoyed is more apt a description, but imagine Lucius's face when he finds out!"
Pansy met Hermione's eyes and they both started outright laughing. This time Daphne and George joined in with quiet chuckles and Hermione was sure that Theo had to work really hard to suppress his own laughter.
Percy and Charlie chose exactly that moment to step out of the cabin and looked around with matching expressions of confusion. "What did we miss?"
George composed himself enough to answer. "Draco and Thomas are brothers by magic. Imagine Lucius's face when he hears that he has a muggle son!"
Charlie started laughing as well and even Percy's face showed some traces of mirth.
"How wonderful to have you all entertained at my cost," Draco huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Sorry, mate, but even I have to admit that it is pretty funny and I've yet to meet your father," Thomas grinned broadly, clapping Draco on his back.
"Maybe you should call him Dad when you meet him," Pansy suggested, grinning slyly.
Theo shook his head. "We don't want him dying immediately, do we? It's enough that Thomas already looks like a relative of the Malfoys."
"You mean it isn't from the spell?" Daphne asked, amusement still tinging her voice.
"No, you should have seen him when he first met me," Thomas laughed. "Looked like he had seen a ghost!"
"If your hair was a bit lighter even old Lucius would try and remember any…indiscretions back in the day," George said with a wink, before sauntering over and throwing an arm over Thomas's shoulder. "Welcome to world of magic, please buckle in and prepare for a turbulent ride!"
Thomas looked a bit unsure at first, but then he relaxed. "Let me guess: 'We're all mad here'?"
"That too, yes," George said falsely contemplative. "But now that you say it; where is Ginny with Blaise and Luna?"
"Right behind you, jerk," Ginny answered, stepping out of the shadow of the trees. "Blaise insisted on walking and showing us the gardens a bit."
"I honestly didn't remember how far out this is, love," Blaise chuckled. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Hello everyone." Luna entered the clearing, absentmindedly brushing little twigs out of her hair. "What did you do to upset the wards like this? I can feel them whispering from here."
After a stunned moment of silence Theo answered Luna's question and she only nodded absentmindedly.
"That would make sense, I'll tell them to calm down. I'm sure Thomas is a delightful person and no danger to the house," she answered with a small smile. Then she turned to Thomas, stretching out her hand in greeting. "Hello Thomas, I'm glad Draco now has a real brother."
Thomas seemed somewhat stunned but he took her hand and shook it gently. "I'm glad you think so."
Draco then introduced everyone formally, and while they mostly knew each other from school it was still a nice gesture. Soon they had settled down in the hammocks or on conjured cushions on the forest floor. Only Charlie levitated a chair out of the cabin, saying something about 'his old bones'.
Hermione ended up in a hammock with Pansy and Ginny, Luna and Blaise sitting on cushions to their sides.
"Didn't you invite Millie as well?" Daphne asked Pansy from the next hammock over.
Pansy nodded. "Yes, but when she heard that it wouldn't be just us she cancelled."
"Well, she was never the most social," Daphne sighed. "But it would have been nice to have her here."
Pansy nodded and turned back to rummaging in her purse. She pulled out a brightly wrapped rectangle and positioned it behind her in the hammock.
This part of the evening had been something Hermione dreaded, because she had fidgeted with what to gift Draco all week.
She had thought she didn't know him all that well, but when she made up a list of all the things she knew about him she easily jotted down twenty points in the first ten minutes. When Harry had found her in the kitchen afterwards he had laughed and said that they had been bound to notice.
"Hermione," he had said. "From the first year onwards Ron and I kept commenting on the stuff he had or did. In the sixth year I honest to god stalked him. What did you expect? Of course we know a lot. And then you went and befriended first his mother and then him!"
She had sighed and conceded that he had a point. The next morning she had sent off her order for Draco's present and was suitably sure that she had found something he'd like.
"Now, my dearest Draco," Pansy had risen, conjured a glass and tapped against it with her wand. "Since I'm possibly your oldest friend along with Theo I'll say a few words. I promise not to spill any secrets, I'm not drunk enough yet." That got her a few chuckles and a glare from Draco. "But I have to say this: I'm so glad the war is over. You look more like yourself again. Well, maybe an improved self because you lost a good chunk of that arrogance.
"But this year when I wish you all the best, a fulfilled life, a year filled with happy memories and good people I'm confident that you'll actually get it."
Hermione caught Draco looking at her and smiled at him. She noticed Percy looking down and Theo gently knocking into George.
Pansy continued. "You don't, or better didn't, know this. But we were all so caught up into settling into our lives again, we didn't realise today would be you birthday until a week ago. So, please excuse that a few things aren't as over top as you're used to. Also there is no cake, because we thought ice cream would be much more appropriate for a summer evening." With that Pansy raised her glass which was now filled with sparkling fluid. "To Draco, many happy returns!"
Glasses where now appearing in front of everyone and they rose together to toast Draco. He was grinning broadly and when Hermione caught his eyes she winked at him.
"Thank you, Pansy. I think that was your best speech so far," Draco said, rising as well. Pansy did a small curtsey.
"I want to thank you all for coming," Draco continued. "I know that for some of you this life after isn't as easy as we all wished. But tonight I'm hopeful that we'll pull through eventually. To new alliances!"
They drank to that. When they put down their glasses, Theo announced that it was time for the gifts.
Luna was the first to present her gift to Draco: an amulet made of moonstone and hawthorn. The hawthorn made up an intricate cage around the gem and Hermione made a mental note to ask Luna about the spell she used to achieve that. Knowing the Ravenclaw, it could well be one of her own creation. Draco thanked her with a small smile that seemed a bit out of place on his face.
Daphne and Tracey gifted Draco with a box of home-made chocolate and tartelettes. Draco teased them that they didn't need to fatten him up and Daphne asked drily whether he was sure. Hermione was reminded that Slytherins look out for each other, and that Draco really had filled out since the Battle.
Theo went next, presenting Draco with a few invaluable books about curse breaking that Hermione was itching to get her hands on. From the look on Percy's face he was feeling much the same.
George winked at Draco and told him that he would see later. Hermione wondered whether she should dread whatever he had cooked up, remembering the twins' penchant for slightly destructive pranks.
Percy and Charlie presented Draco with an expensive bottle of muggle whiskey. Thomas seemed really impressed by it and Hermione thought she had once heard a friend of her father's praise the label.
Blaise and Ginny of course had brought a joint present. From what Hermione understood it was a signed Montrose Magpies Quaffle with which they had apparently made an especially daring move. It was accompanied by tickets for their next game in two weeks.
"It's the first game since the war," Draco said with big eyes. "How did you get tickets for that?"
"Well, it helps if the old Slytherin captain is on the roster," Blaise said with a wink.
"Flint?" Draco asked sounding somewhat flabbergasted.
"No, Montague. Of course Flint!" Blaise rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "He is apparently one of the few players who isn't in prison."
Draco nodded, a sad look flashing across his face. "Thank you, Blaise, Ginny. This means a lot."
Pansy was up next and smiled shrewdly at Draco. "Well, since our brunch in Manchester went over so well I've got a gift card from Harrods for you. After all the next time we'll have dinner I need you to be dressed accordingly."
Thomas eyes grew big and Hermione felt herself straighten in surprise. They exchanged a look that clearly communicated their astonishment.
"They have gift cards at Harrods?" Thomas asked just as Hermione said "You know about gift cards?"
Pansy looked between them with a slight sneer. "Of course they got gift cards at Harrods and of course I know about them. Just because I'm a witch doesn't mean I'm stupid."
Hermione was still baffled. "I didn't know you ventured that far."
Pansy blushed slightly and looked down at her hands. "Well, once I got used to the amount of people I liked the anonymity. Nobody knows who I am." She didn't need to say 'what I did', Hermione heard it clearly.
"Oh Pansy," she whispered, saddened on the witch's behalf. "If you have any questions feel free to write me, all right?"
Pansy nodded and smiled. "Maybe I'll take you shopping at Harrods one day."
Hermione snorted and just shook her head. Draco had meanwhile removed the wrapping paper and the muggle chocolate bar, and opened the envelope containing the gift card.
"How much are five-hundred pounds in Galleons?" he asked, looking up at Pansy questioningly.
Hermione and Thomas gaped.
"Two-thousand four-hundred sixty-five Galleons," Pansy answered calmly. "You two do know that I'm rich, right?" The last comment was directed at Hermione and Thomas who both nodded mutely.
"It's still another thing to hear that you can just gift your friend a five-hundred pounds gift card," Thomas explained weakly. "Just…"
"Stop right there and don't finish that sentence," Pansy said sharply. "Whatever you gave Draco I'm sure he values it just as much as any other gift he received today. If you weren't very important to him he wouldn't have invited you along."
Thomas swallowed and nodded, managing a small smile. Draco flicked him on the arm. "She's right, petit frère."
"I'm older than you," Thomas pouted, but Hermione saw the smile in his eyes and relaxed. She really didn't want Thomas to feel like he was being excluded.
"So, 'Mione, only you're left," George announced, breaking the moment of silence before it could settle.
"Thank you, George, I wouldn't have realised without you," Hermione remarked with a smile and George stuck his tongue out at her. She was so, so glad that he felt comfortable enough to joke around.
Hermione levitated her present over to Draco. "I hope you'll like these. It's bit of a mix but maybe a good introduction in muggle literature."
She watched his face closely while he carefully removed the paper around the three books. The first one had actually been Harry's suggestion, but Hermione had agreed that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee would certainly hit close to home in a way that would maybe help Draco.
The second book, or rather books, was one of Hermione's personal favourites, 'Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien had prepared her very well for the long-winded texts on wizarding history and with a little knowledge about Norse mythology it became an even more fascinating read.
The last one was the book which taught her to control her magic: 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl. If only she knew where she'd left her copy…maybe it was back at the Burrow together with all the other books she hadn't taken along on the hunt.
"Good choice," Thomas was looking over Draco's shoulder. "I like that edition of Lord of the Rings, where did you get it?"
"An antiquarian book-shop in London, it's around the corner from where I live," Hermione explained with a smile. "I know I should have chosen more belletristic novels, but I didn't want to overwhelm him."
"And Lord of the Rings isn't overwhelming?" Thomas asked teasingly.
Hermione laughed. "Not after the texts we had to read for History of Magic, after that it is positively vibrant."
"After that anything is positively vibrant," Theo argued, laughing. "I think the both of us and maybe one of the Ravenclaws are the only once to have ever actually read them, not just skimmed over them."
"You can't exactly blame us though," Daphne grinned at Theo. "After all you would rant about them anyway, why read them if you told us all the information we'd need?"
Theo huffed, but a smile was playing at the corner of his lips.
Draco vanished the last of the wrapping paper. "Well, I'm somewhat disappointed that nobody thought to gift me a bag with an Extension Charm for all these great presents! Thank you everybody!"
Hermione smiled at how happy Draco seemed, he was positively radiant and it slowly took over everyone else, even Tracey seemed to perk up a bit.
"Now, on to the next part!" Theo declared.