The afternoon went by in a breeze, a group of friends sharing a great time by the lake. Harry and Pansy had come back from brunch obviously smitten with each other. The other couples teased them but encouraged what was going on. Hermione knew about Harry's lonely nights at Grimmauld place and was very concerned about his solitary tendencies. But today he radiated joy. She had not seen him like this in years. Draco knew about Pansy's tendency to play games with men, not because she enjoyed it but because she had been told that way, same as he had. And the boys in Slytherin had made her worst, always using emotions like bargain chips. What she need it was a straight up Gryffindor, someone that would both be bold with his feelings and cut her crap if she got entangled in some silliness. And Harry Potter had always worn his heart in his sleeve. As a child, Draco had used that to rile him up. As young adults, he had learned to appreciate him for the honest friend that he was. And Pansy could definitely use some of that.
In the evening, the girls went to look for a bathroom and when they were alone Pansy said
"Harry asked me to spend the night with him at the Inn."
The other girls smiled with a hint of naughtiness.
"And what do you want?"
"I want to lock myself in a room with him and throw away the wands so he can't get out."
The other girls laughed and Pansy covered her face, slightly mortified.
"Is way too soon, right?"
The other two shook their heads no.
"Not with Harry, no. He may be impulsive, but he is loyal to the bone. He's not at all a one-night stand guy. Trust us on this."
Pansy smiled and signal for a group hug. Yikes. She was turning into a sappy Gryffindork. And it felt great.
0-0-0-0-0
The next day, Sunday afternoon, Hermione and Draco took a carriage to Hogsmeade. She was feeling very nervous, hoping that meeting with Narcissa Malfoy wouldn't be an awkward experience. She hoped that having Draco and Andromeda there would smooth any rough edges.
When they got to the town they walked towards the Three Broomsticks holding hands, Draco keeping her close to his body and rubbing circles with his thumb on the back of her hand to help her relax. They walked into the pub and Madam Rosmerta pointed to one of the private parlors. They walked in and heard a babbling
"Ni-ni-ni-ni"
Teddy Lupin, who had until then been very comfortably nestled in Narcissa's arms was now wiggling, smiling toothlessly and leaning towards Hermione with stretched arms. She laughed softly and moved quickly towards the baby before he slipped off the arms that were holding him.
"Hello sweetheart, I can't believe you remember me, I haven't seen you in a while," she said pulling the eager baby to her shoulder.
Draco reached for her mother, helping her up and hugging her tight. Narcissa was trying to hold her tears but it was a lost battle. Hermione moved swiftly to kiss Andromeda and give the mother and son a minute to hold each other.
After a minute they took a half step, and Narcissa gave her son a one over.
"You look wonderful, my Dragon. You look happy and healthy. You haven't looked so radiant since you were a little boy." She turned to look at Hermione "and I know who I need to thank for this miracle."
Hermione was frozen for a second and Andromeda took the baby to free her arms. Narcissa approached her with determination and put her hands on the younger witch's face.
"Thank you, Miss Granger, for saving my son. You saved him from going to prison, and now you saved him from a life of misery. I have no way to repay you for all your kindness."
Hermione's eyes tear up and she put her hand on the one cupping her face.
"Trust me, Mrs. Malfoy, it's been my joy to do it. And please, call me Hermione."
"All right, Hermione," she responded and slowly moved her hands to pull the young woman into an embrace. It only lasted a few seconds, because Teddy started yelling very loud
"Ni-ni- ni-ni ni-ni"
The witches laughed and Hermione turned to face her insistent admirer, picking him up again. She turned towards Draco.
"Teddy, this is your cousin Draco. He has been wanting to meet you for a while."
Teddy gave Draco a huge toothless grin and turned his hair platinum blonde and his eyes silver grey. Draco was astonished, but before he could react they heard a choked sob. Narcissa was looking at them, her hand on her mouth, a very clear image of a possible future right in front of her.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Not too far from there, in a quaint and comfortable room at the Hogsmeade Inn, a beautiful brunette witch lay naked on a bed, her hair cascading over the pillow, her dark eyes fixed on the green eyes of the wizard that had just made love to her and was now laid on his side next to her, his head perched on one hand, the other hand tracing the contours of her face, her lips, her neck, her breasts. He leaned down to capture her mouth on a kiss, then said
"You know, muggles call a woman a witch if her beauty can make a man forget himself and wish to spend his days doing nothing but worshipping her body. I guess by all possible definitions you are a witch."
She smiled. She wanted to stay there with him, forget about the rest of the world. She had never felt lust so overwhelming. It felt like it will be physically painful when they had to go their separate ways. Before she could think about that moment he planted a kiss on each of her breasts and then lay his head on them, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame. She looked down and thought this was the most erotic moment of her short life. His messy dark hair, his muscular arms, his sculpted back, all of it made Harry Potter the most sensual creature she had ever seen. She ran her fingers through his hair, making him purr. He held her a bit tighter, letting the scent of her skin fill up his brain and erase all thought.
But then, at this moment of openness and vulnerability, her feelings burst out like a broken dam. It started with sharp breaths, then she tried to hold her breathing until she couldn't stop the deep sobs that broke through. She covered her eyes with her hand, but the tears kept rolling down her face. Harry was already by her side, holding her in a cocoon of his arms, so she buried her face in his chest, mortified. He waited patiently until her breathing slowed down.
"What is it? Tell me, please. Let me be here for you."
She took a few deep breaths, trying to put into words the typhoon that was her mind.
"I'm sorry, this is so embarrassing." She looked into his eyes and reached to cup his cheek with her hand "I could have gotten you killed. I have never felt anything like this, never met anyone like you, and I could have lost you to my own stupidity"
He kissed her softly to stop her panicked diatribe.
"Pansy, you are not that powerful. You do not control destiny. You said one thing that popped out of your mouth in a moment of panic when a dark wizard was literally invading your mind. And you have paid dearly for it. You left your country, your mother, your school, all because people were pointing fingers at you for that one sentence. Baby, I think you had enough. And guess what? after the war, I had been feeling lonely and aimless. I joined the Aurors because I'm good at it. But every night I was going home to an empty house and I had to control myself because I was having a big glass of firewhiskey every night to sleep. If I kept that up I was going to end up a lonely drunk. So for weeks now I've faced insomnia and loneliness with nothing to hold on to. But guess what. Tomorrow I will go back to the Ministry and count the days until next weekend. I will write to you and hope that you share your thoughts with me. It makes me feel alive. You make me feel alive."
She reached to kiss him. He was so noble that she silently promised herself to take care of him. Then he smiled and said
"You know, the head boy and head girl are friendly with me. maybe I can convince you to stay with me tonight and sneak you back in the castle in the morning?"
She laughed "And how do you plan to sneak me back in?"
He wiggled his eyebrows "Hogwarts is full of secrets. And I know many of them."
