AN: I realize the last few chapters have been more plot and less of our favorite couple but I promise that ends here. I have been out of work due to minor surgery for just over a month, hence the jump back into posting. I go back to work April 1st. My promise to myself and you is that this fic will be finished by April 1st. To reach that goal I will be posting at least every other day til then. I do have some companion pieces that I will post later on, so please follow me if you wish read them. Currently, Famous Last Words and the Chaos that Follows only has one chapter. It will have at least 2 more, one being the night that the girls reference during the poker night and the other will be a shared Hen Night for Katie and Hermione.
Although Draco hadn't actually accepted the position he received an owl on Tuesday giving the team roster and a rather demanding training schedule.
Friday evening Draco met with the rest of the team. It was overwhelmingly biased with Ron as Keeper, Ginny, Angelina and Katie as Chasers, and George and Charlie as Beaters. Charlie, living in Romania, was the only one who was exempt from attending all practices. Everyone else was expected to practice every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday for the six weeks leading up to the charity event. Harry was obsessed with winning. They played the Department of Magical Games and Sports every year. Usually the DMGS was rigged with all professional players and won. However the last 3 years running the DMLE has won and Harry refused to let this year be any different. Angelina and Ginny agreed. It was both witches' first time playing after having had their babies and they were ready to prove they were back and better than ever. Draco was sore as hell after practicing so much in such a short time but it was a great feeling being back in the air and playing on a team again.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed from the announcers box in the borrowed Falmouth Falcons stadium. "It is my great honor to welcome you to the 86th annual Ministry of Magic Charity Quidditch Game!" In the box Harry stood with the head of the DMGS. They each waved to the crowd and shook hands as they were introduced. Then the Head of St Mungo's research division, whom the DMGS was representing shook hands with Headmistress McGonagall as the DMLE named Hogwarts its benefactor. McGonagall and Harry stepped to the next box over where the rest of the Weasley's were seated as the players were announced.
"And now representing the DMLE we have Keeper Ron Weasley, Beaters Charlie and George Weasly, Chasers Ginny Potter, Angelina Weasley and Katie Bell, and lastly Draco Malfoy as Seeker! Head Aruor Potter is making a statement with this team, keeping it all in the family as you can see. When I spoke to him before the game he told me he wanted to keep the DMLE'S winning streak going and knew this is the team to do it with. The DMGS might have all professionals but the DMLE team is a family and that dynamic is what Potter says is going to win them the game." Lee called as their team took the field. They all flew into place while Angelina, as team captain, flew out to meet her old captain Oliver Wood, Keeper and captain for the DMGS. "This is going to be a great game folks!" Lee called as they shook hands. "For those of you who don't remember your Hogwarts Quidditch, Oliver Wood was the Gryffindor captain who finally broke Slytherins 7 year winning streak back in 1994. And now the DMLE'S team he faces consists of 4 members of his original winning '94 team."
The whistles blows, "And they are off! The DMLE takes early possession of the Quaffle. Potter passes to Weasley, Weasley dodges a Bludger and throws back to Bell who shoots and…scores! 10-0 DMLE. " The entire DMLE box goes wild. The children and most of the adults never even bother to sit down as the DMLE Chasers keep the score climbing. At one point Katie, who was the only non professional Chaser on the field had scored more points then the entire other team combined. Even Lee, who was now a professional commentator and had learned to be impartial, was struggling in his commentary. The DMGS were good, but they just couldn't keep up. Anytime they would get possession of the Quaffle Charlie or George would be right there with a well hit Bludger. Angelina and Katie had obviously played together before at school and adding Ginny to their dynamic had been the right move. They had practiced hard and now could read and predict each other's moves. While playing to win they were also having fun taunting Oliver.
Through it all Draco flew above the game, circling slowly hunting for the Snitch. At the hour mark he had spotted it at the other end of the field, just a few meters away from where the DMGS Seeker was hovering. Rather than risk going for it and the other Seeker, who was much closer, getting it he dove straight down into a Wronski Feint. The other Seeker saw him and raced towards him and away from the Snitch. Once the Seeker was on his side of the field Draco looked where the Snitch had been but it had already disappeared. Now it was 2 hours into the game and they were so far ahead it didn't matter who caught Snitch, the DMLE would win. Of course pride demanded he be the one to catch it. It had been years since he had been on a pitch. And even more since he'd played in front of a crowd. He scanned the field, deciding to drop below the general play area hoping that a new view would help him find the Snitch.
"It's Weasley passing to Potter, and she SCORES!" Draco hears Lee announcing, "putting the score now at 340-160 DMLE."
It was at the beginning of his second pass from down below that Draco spotted the Snitch. It was hovering just next to Ron near his middle goal post. Draco quickly looks at the other Seeker and realizes she hadn't spotted it and since they were about equal distance from it he took off. Several things happened at once. Ron sees him coming and dodges out of the way, thankfully. The DMGS Beaters see him moving with purpose and send a Bludger his way. Draco rolls his broom to miss getting hit and pulls just ahead of the other Seeker to catch the Snitch. Draco holds the tiny golden ball in the air and smiles as the crowd goes wild. He could hear Jordan in the background giving the final score and congratulating the team but Draco didn't care. The entire team swarmed around him yelling and celebrating. As a giant blob they flew together to the box where the family was waiting. They landed and Scorpius went flying into Draco's arms, followed closely by his favorite bushy haired witch.
"Yay daddy! You did it!" Scorpius yelled into his father's ear while Hermione offered her congratulations much quieter. Everyone in the box took turns congratulating him on a great catch, the entire time Scorpius didn't leave his side and Hermione was always within reach.
Minister Shaklebolt and Lee Jordan make their way into the box with a few members of the press following closely behind.
"Congratulations team!" Kingsley's voice booms even louder than usual with the sonorous charm he had cast.
He shook Harry's hand first then moved to shake everyone else's hand on the team, "great to see you back out on the pitch gentlemen," he said to Ron, George and Charlie. "Hope to see you both on the national team next year," he said to Angelina and Ginny who both quickly voiced their plans to do so, Lee's microphone catching Ginny's murmur, "Damn right, plan to bring the cup back to English soil." Kingsley told Katie if she ever got tired of advertising she should make a go at Quidditch. Katie quickly said no thank you to everyone's delight. Kingsley moved onto Draco, pausing to make sure Lee and his microphone picked up the conversation, "amazing catch Draco." Hermione was still standing next to him but they had put a little space between them now they knew the entire pitch could see and hear what was going on, "My congratulations on your engagement, I can't think of a more well suited couple than you and Miss Granger.'' Kingsley said as casually as if he were commenting on the weather. Hermione quickly stepped closer to Draco, wrapping her arm around his waist, "thank you Minister, you are too kind." She said with a smile then with a silent spell released the charm on her concealed Malfoy engagement ring. In clear view of the stadium and multiple cameras she leaned in and kissed her fiance, strategically placing her left hand on his chest where all could see the traditional, though very gaudy, Malfoy engagement ring.
The picture of them kissing shared the headline of the evening Prophet that night. The other picture was one of the winning DMLE team. They had taken one serious pose and then Teddy, Scorpius and Bryony jumped into the frame. The picture that ended up making the front page was one Molly Weasley would cut out and frame to place on the mantel. In it Draco and Ron stood laughing down at something Bryony had just said, each with a hand on her shoulder. Katie and Ginny were dancing around and laughing in a circle with Scorpius while George dipped Angelina down low and kissed her scandalously. To the side stood Charlie laughing at his identical, but much shorter twin, metamorphmagus Teddy Lupin.
The very last thing before the team went to the changing room Lee asked Draco about the winning Snitch. Traditionally it would be given to someone of great importance. Draco, without even missing a beat, turned and presented the Snitch to a very surprised Molly Weasley, "Without this amazing woman we would not be here today. I can not think of anyone more deserving." He said with a deep bow.
"Well I think he just cemented his place as favorite in law." Angelina said laughing.
"In law? Hell, I think he just made favorite child period." Ginny countered as a speechless Molly wrapped Draco in one of her famous hugs. They all laughed as Draco pulled away with bright pink cheeks.
"After party at the Burrow!" George yelled to break the sweet moment.
It was later that night as they all sat outside near a bonfire that Draco and Hermione finally got a quiet moment to themselves. Now it was just the family, relaxing as they watched the flames. The children were all in bed in the house and now it was just the couples by the fire.
"Well, it's out now." Hermione said as she took another sip of her eleven wine.
"It is." Draco said with a somewhat sappy smile. "Not exactly the engagement announcement we planned but that will run in the society page tomorrow." They had already sent the announcement into the Prophet the day before. Narcissa had wanted them to pose for a picture, dressed in formal robes in the Manors gardens for the announcement but both Draco and Hermione refused. That just wasn't them and they refused to pretend. They both agreed to send the picture Molly had taken in the snow covered field behind the Burrow on Christmas day. In it Hermione had Scorpius on her hip while Draco had an arm wrapped around both Hermione and Bryony. They were all wearing their matching Weasley jumpers. The accompanying blurb simply stated that they planned to marry during the fall solstice in a small, private ceremony.
"So our engagement is announced, and our Death Eater Problem is solved" Draco said, "now what?
"Now we start planning our wedding." Hermione sighed.
Draco groaned, "any chance we can elope?"
Immediately several voices nearby yelled the negative,
"No way."
"Mum would kill you."
"Quickest way to go from favorite to the shit list, mate" Bill warned.
Draco groaned at being overheard, "is there no privacy in this family?"
Again a resounding no was called from all sides of the fire.
"Only place guaranteed privacy is the woodshed." Harry stated while wiggling his eyebrows.
Hermione glanced around the fire, noting everyone's presence, "well it is unoccupied…." She said, with a sly smile.
Draco, who in another lifetime, would have never even entertained the thought, jumped up, reached back to help Hermione up, "My Lady." She laughed as they ran together towards the shed. The groans and cheers followed them and above the din Ginny could be heard calling dibs next, adding to the catcalls.
Laughing as they stumbled their way into the old woodshed Draco paused a moment to look around. The small building still had a large pile of wood covering the left wall. On the right several axes and other tools were stored hanging from the wall itself and on the far wall was a simple wooden table running in front of the wall.
"Perfect" Draco said as he spun around, picked Hermione up and gently placed her other edge of the table.
Hermione laughed, "I was joking," her sentence was stopped when Draco stepped between her legs, placed his hands on her hips and kissed her.
He began a reply but was distracted, "Well I'm" said with a not so gentle nip on her throat, "not." His hands moved up to cup her breasts, pinching, "I need you."
45 minutes later
Draco and Hermione walk back towards their blanket and try to sit down before anyone notices. They were unsuccessful.
AN: so I see now why the creator said she hated writing Quidditch scenes. This will be my only one, lol. I only push forward with it because the scene with their engagement 'accidentally' announced was one of the first scenes I planned although originally it was Lee Jordan who slipped. I changed my mind and had Kingsley do it because it seemed more fitting since he is also the one who 'accidentally' announced Hermione and Ron's divorce.
Up next an engagement party! And the awkward meeting of Molly and Narcissa... eek, nothing could go wrong there eh?