Chapter Six

The conversation flowed almost as easy as the wine. Narcissa's cheeks were slowly turning red and she was giggling a lot more. Lucius kept beaming at everyone. Draco on the other hand, seemed to get sulkier and sulkier, with every drink.

Lucius held up a glass, "Let us have a toast to the newlyweds, may your marriage be a long and happy one."

Harry and Ginny smiled and kissed before taking a drink.

Harry held his back up. "We should also cheer on Hermione for her study. Here's to the brightest witch of the age."

Hermione quickly shook her head, "Don't forget Draco, who passed that great act, and is also the newest delegate to the Confederation!"

Draco smiled and took a drink. Narcissa spoke up, "Is there going to be a gala in your honor? I recall going to one the last time a delegate was named."

Draco nodded, "On Friday," He paused when he saw a calculating glint in her eye. "I'm sure invitations will be sent out tomorrow."

"Hopefully that will be enough time to get new dress robes for us all. You are bringing a date I presume? Who is the lucky lady?" Narcissa took another sip of wine.

Draco shrugged, "I haven't decided if I am bringing one at all."

Lucius clucked his tongue, "Draco, you have to have a date to this magnitude of a social event."

Narcissa nodded, "You should take Hermione."

Harry snorted into his wine and Ginny delivered an elbow to his side. He winced and pretended to cough.

Draco glared at him, he didn't understand what was so funny. He understood that they were opposites, and mildly tolerated each other, but didn't think that the idea was laugh-worthy.

Lucius spoke up, "I think that is a grand idea."

Hermione blushed, "I'm sure Draco would like to take someone else. I will probably just pop in and out, and his date would need to be with him the whole time."

Draco shot her a look and said in a harsh whisper, "In and out?"

Hermione flushed a deeper red, and said in a shushed voice, "I'm trying to help you here."

Draco narrowed his eyes at her, and spoke up, "I would love to take you Hermione."

Narcissa sat back satisfied, "There you are, both of your date problems are fixed. Hermione, why don't we go shopping together for our dress robes?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes back at Draco, and then smiled sweetly at Narcissa, "That sounds lovely Narcissa. Does tomorrow work for you? I'm taking the day off, I think I deserve one after working non-stop for three years."

Draco rolled his eyes and threw back the rest of his wine. Lucius watch their exchange interestedly. Hermione had ever so subtly slid her chair further away from Draco and was gripping her dessert spoon tightly.

Narcissa beamed, not realizing that their agreeing to her plan was because of a power struggle between the two and not because of a reluctance of them admitting some kind of hidden attraction. "Tomorrow sounds fantastic. Why don't we go in the morning and we can have lunch afterwards?"

Hermione's smile was tense around the corners of her mouth, "Sounds great."

Ginny spoke up, "Harry and I had some other news."

Hermione almost kissed the redheaded woman for changing the subject. Harry smiled tenderly at Ginny.

Ginny grinned and said, "We are expecting a baby!"

Hermione quickly ran around the table and embraced the two. "Oh congratulations you two! Molly must be ecstatic!"

Harry had a sheepish smile on his face, "At first she wasn't. She put the timing together. She realized there was no way we could already know if this had happened on the honeymoon."

Lucius let out a guffaw, and Narcissa shushed him. Ginny grimaced, "Luckily Dad reminded her about Bill's conception. I never put two and two together, but he was born only seven months after their wedding. Mom used to say he was an early baby, but now I know why."

"I'm so excited for you guys." Hermione returned to her seat and took a bite of her dessert.

"I don't know if the world is ready for little Potters, but congrats you two." Draco tipped his head to Harry and Ginny and thanks to magical refilling, downed the rest of his wine once more.

Harry rolled his eyes, 'Thanks Malfoy."

The tension between Draco and Hermione was tremendous. They looked at anything but each other, and finally Ginny stretched and placed a hand on her abdomen. "I'm sorry to leave so soon after dinner, but all of these hormones make me tired."

Lucius and Narcissa stood up as Harry helped Ginny out of her chair. Ginny hugged the two and Harry shook Lucius' hand and embraced Narcissa. "Dinner was delicious. Thank you so much for inviting us. We will see you at the gala."

They waved to Draco and Hermione and made their exits.

Hermione stood up quickly. "I should probably get going too. I'll see you tomorrow Narcissa. Good night Lucius, don't stay up too late reading." She didn't look at Draco, but said in a hard voice, "Good night Draco."

Draco didn't answer her, even with his parents shooting him death glares.

Hermione left and before his parents could say anything, Draco muttered, "I'm going to bed. Night."

Lucius looked at Narcissa and shrugged. He kissed Narcissa and left to try and find where she hid that damn study.

A/N: I meant to get a chapter up last night, but I got distracted. I went to Barnes and Noble and ended up spending 65 bucks, ordered Chinese food and was busy writing an email to my brother who is serving in Iraq. Then I started on a great book that I bought from B&N and didn't put it down until one in the morning. I had this done…it just didn't get put up until now. Sorry :S. Thanks again for all of the great reviews….you guys are why I keep doing this!