Ron and Katie's wedding was beautiful! It was also hectic and yet again Draco asked if eloping was an option. He was only somewhat joking. Two weeks before the wedding the girls decided to have a joint Hen night and went out all together to muggle London. Meanwhile Draco swore up and down he wasn't having a Stag night. The night of the girls Hen party Draco planned to have a drink with Blaise at the Leaky. It was a trap. He arrived to find everyone in a back room and it was declared his and Ron's joint Stag night.
As Ron handed the reluctant blonde a shot of Firewhiskey he pointed out, "You can go along with this or not but either way you're staying." He shrugged, "If you insist this isn't your stag night you know in 3 months when it's your turn they will just insist on another outing to call your party."
At that thought Draco agreed to call the night their joint stag party.
After Katie and Ron's wedding Hermione stated it was time to start focusing on theirs. And so it was on one of their reestablished Tuesday nights at Paddy's that they began planning.
"Engagement party first." Draco stated as he swirled his scotch.
"We need to find neutral ground. I want everyone to feel comfortable and not like outsiders. I know that puts the Burrow out. Even though mum will be put out about it. The obvious place would be our place however..." Hermione pauses. The hunt for the perfect home was going even worse than finding a place for the engagement party, ceremony and reception combined.
"Let's focus on one problem at a time. Tonight it's about the engagement party." Draco replies. "How many people are we thinking? The Weasley's, mother, Gryffindors and Slytherins, anyone else? And Luna right? Are we having just couples or kids too?" He pauses in thought, "I kind of like the idea of just adults. Everyone can let loose a bit and if insults, fists or curses start flying the kids are safe."
Hermione laughs at this. She takes pen and paper from her always present beaded bag and starts writing the guest list. "Ok then, without kids that puts us at 19. So we don't really need anyplace to big. We could do it at a restaurant?"
Suddenly Draco smirks, "what about a Pub?" He says looking around. "I'm pretty sure I've seen a backroom here that might work? Or we could even see if we can rent the entire place for a day."
"We did reconnect here, this place is pretty special." Hermione conceded. As soon as they were safely able to, they started back to Tuesday night drinks at Paddy's. It was where they had started and they had greatly missed those nights just the two of them.
"And since it's muggle, everyone will have to be on their best behavior. No one knows of this place so there won't be any issues with the press." Hermione nods happily so Draco jumps up, "I'm going to go talk to Sean, start thinking of a date."
"Sean, did I see you have a banquet room here?" Draco asks once Sean is able to get to him.
"I wouldn't really call it that. Just a little private room, why?" Sean asks curiously.
"About how many people does it sit?"
"30 or so comfortably?" He answered
Draco grins, "perfect! We have been racking our brains for a place for the engagement party and it just dawned on me, why not where it all started? Would you be willing to rent it out to us for a private party? Maybe do something simple like a cocktail party?"
"Sure, just get me the details."
Back at the table Hermione was looking at her calendar. "Sean is on board, we just need a date."
The day of the party Hermione started to freak out early, "what the hell were we thinking?" She yelled while trying to get her hair done. She was stressed and unfocused so the charms she usually used to tame her hair were not working. Finally she gave up and was trying to get it up into a somewhat manageable bun. So far she wasn't having any luck. "Why would we do this in a muggle pub? If hexes start flying the Statute of Secrecy is going to be broken. Then Sean and whoever serves will have to be oblivated." She muttered as she looked at him in the mirror, "I don't want to risk our spot. What if our family embarrasses us and we can never go back?"
"Granger, you are borrowing trouble." He coaxed the brush out of her hand and gently turned her to face him, "We specifically chose Paddy's so no one would be tempted to throw hexes. Besides, the only person who will be there that isn't a regular at the Burrow is my Mother."
"That's not a comforting thought. Molly literally killed her sister. She doesn't boast of it but she is very unapologetic about it. To my knowledge they've never even been in the same room since that night."
"I promise that is the last thing my mother is likely to cause a scene over." He interrupted, still running his hands up and down her arms.
"Still not comforting." Hermione growled again.
Draco continued before she could interrupt again, "Mother loves Theo and Blaise so they will run interference for us. Dean has even agreed to be introduced as Blaise's boyfriend if a distraction is needed. Luna, being Luna, will probably just introduce herself. Actually I think Theo hopes she does just to see what she introduces them as. He's still completely lost when it comes to that witch."
"That's Luna" Hermione sighed, slowly calming down.
"Ron and George have agreed to stick with Arthur and make sure he doesn't raise any suspicions by asking about muggle things. Now I am going to take the kids over to Andy's house and I'll be right back."
The sound of the floo activating stopped her from responding, "who is here?"
"I called in reinforcements." Ginny popped around the corner and smiled at the panicked look on Hermione's face.
"Never fear for I am here." She paused as she took in Hermione's hair and complete lack of makeup, "and just in time it would seem. OK Ferret, I can take it from here." She added making shooing motions at Draco.
Draco kissed Hermione, glared at Ginny and left the bedroom to find the kids. His aunt Andromeda had volunteered to take the children tonight. She also still had Teddy and had agreed to baby James as well. Tippy was recruited to help and absolutely thrilled at the thought.
Two hours later and everyone was present and mingling. Thus far the only incident had been when Arthur asked the waitress for a Firewhiskey. Narcissa and Molly were being occupied on opposite sides of the room however they did make eye contact multiple times. Draco knew it was just a matter of time before they spoke. It was the whole reason for this party anyways. Everyone else knew each other.
"Draco dear, just how long do you plan to keep me away from your soon to be in-laws?" Narcissa asked as Blaise turned away to grab Dean. She gently takes his arm and turns them towards the Weasley matriarch.
Hermione, who had been speaking with Sean, sees the move and groans.
"Hey what's that about?" He asks nudging her.
"That is Draco's mother. She is leading him towards mine, I assume to force an interaction." Hermione sighed and turned back towards the bar. Sean, always prepared, had a small shot sitting in front of her. She quickly takes it, smiles her thanks and heads towards where Molly was walking to meet Narcissa and Draco.
Narcissa walked straight up to Molly Weasley then turned to her son and waited. Molly, in a rather uncharacteristic move, followed her lead. With both women staring at Draco he took a deep breath and gave the introductions, "Mother, this is Arthur and Molly Weasley, Hermione's family. Arthur and Molly, my Mother Narcissa Malfoy." Both women eyed each other and the tension in those around them rose as they waited for either woman to say anything. Finally Narcissa spoke, "introductions seem rather unnecessary, seeing as how Molly killed Bella." Her thin lips pursed. Hermione couldn't help the 'I told you so' glare she shot at Draco meanwhile, Molly, as the Gryffindor she is, didn't back down, "She was a constant threat to my family and at that moment a direct threat to my daughters. I had no choice, nor do I regret my actions." Molly looked the other witch in the eye as she spoke. Arthur doesn't say anything, just holds his wife's hand as she faces the youngest Black sister. Years ago Molly and Andromeda had made peace. Now it was beyond time for this conversation, especially since Draco was engaged to their Hermione.
Narcissa, to everyone's surprise smiled, "as you shouldn't. The Wizarding world should sleep better knowing she is gone. I know I do."
At that statement Molly visibly relaxed, "good, now that that's out of the way, onto more important matters. I don't know about you but I can't wait for more grandchildren." Molly says slyly looking at Hermione who just turns away in exasperation. Narcissa was still holding Draco's arm so he was trapped in the conversation, "of course but first we need to get this wedding planned. I'm beginning to wonder if it's going to happen at all with as few details as they have planned." At this she glared at her son, "We have a date and the ceremony is set, the rest will have to wait until we have a venue." Draco grit out. This was an argument they had at least once a week.
Hermione thought about bailing Draco out but then remembered him insisting that Narcissa wouldn't bring up Bellatrix. She decided to leave him be for a few minutes.
"That's not very nice." Luna said as she came up behind Hermione with fresh martinis for each of them.
Hermione tried, and failed to look innocent as she took the offered drink, "what?"
Katie and Angelina both laughed at the look as they walked up as well, "now I know where Bryony gets the fake innocent look from, I thought it was a Fred trait." All three witches laughed at the now indignant look Hermione was flashing.
Not to be detoured, Luna asks, "So how long are you going to make him suffer?"
"Just a few minutes more. He has been conveniently unavailable the last two times Narcissa has dropped Scorpius back at home. Each time I've had to deal with her questions about living arrangements and wedding planning." She paused as she took another sip, "unless one of you wanted to help him out?" Hermione looked hopefully at her friends.
"No way." Katie laughed, "If I go over Molly will start in on me. She's already asking when Ron and I plan on having children." She sighed, "we just got married for Merlin's sake."
"Get used to it."
"Welcome to the Weasley's" Angelina raised her drink in a mock toast.
As the witches were drinking Theo walked up behind Luna resting his head on her shoulder he asked Hermione, "are you going to rescue him?" He nodded to where Draco was standing looking quite pained in-between Molly and Narcissa. At this point even Arthur had snuck away from the witches.
"I'm still thinking, why are you planning to help?"
Theo sighed, "I guess I am." At the questioning looks he continued, "I kinda promised I'd bail him out if he got caught with both of them. Luna love," he asked as he stepped around her and held out his hand, "care to help?"
Hermione watched them walk away and looked back at those still gathered around her. "Fine," she whined, "I'll go help rescue him."
Walking up to the now rather odd assortment of people Hermione smiles when she hears Molly hinting that Theo and Luna should be the next to be married. Theo starts sputtering, almost spilling his drink. Luna in her signature Luna way smiling dreamily, stills his hand as she replied, "no, I don't think we are the marrying type. Maybe have a child though, a little girl would be nice. Actually no, I guess twins, one of each then." Luna just smiled lost in thought while Theo gaped open mouthed at her and Narcissa and Molly shared knowing looks.
"So how did you convince Theo to come to your rescue? Did you bribe him?" Hermione asked as they walked hand in hand to the nearest apporation point. The party ended quietly and, thankfully, with no bloodshed.
Draco smirked, "of course not. Why bribe when I could blackmail him?"
"Draco!" Hermione shrieked as she playfully hit his arm, "That's not nice! He's your friend. "
"We are also Slytherins." At her indignant huff he continued, "it was nothing too terrible."
"Merlin save me from scheming Slytherins. " She groaned as they turned down the alley the apporation point was on.
Draco pulled her to the side for a quick kiss, "too late, you're stuck with me now."
AN: And the mothers have met! That's one hurdle out of the way. We are getting closer and closer to the wedding and the end of this story. Hope you enjoy, let me know what you think!