AN: Alright my lovelies, this is the last chapter I've completed...though the next chapter is coming along nicely.

I could use a muse...that's not a twat. there seem to be loads of them about. twats I mean, not muses.

*kisses* my pretties *kisses*

Chapter 17 – Birthdays & Nargles

"Malfoy, it's your birthday." Draco arched his eyebrow at his frazzle wife, even as she whined.

He wasn't looking forward to his birthday or any other festivities for that matter yet his mother and Hermione wouldn't hear of it. Narcissa rallied for a full blown pureblood affair, which was quickly vetoed. It wasn't as if this particular birthday was noteworthy. It wasn't as if he was turning, Merlin forbid, thirty. It was only his twenty second birthday for Merlin's sake. All he wanted was to have a quiet dinner with his wife, a bottle of wine and if he was lucky, the evening would end with copious amounts of nudity.

Draco had been spending more than a few evenings in his Potions lab, to his wife's great irritation. There had been many a night when he hadn't gone to bed at all, only to wake with his face pressed upon yet another research tome. He knew Harry and Nick were doing their best to cross suspects off their list and he appreciated their efforts. However, the very thought that a madman was seeking to do his wife harm interrupted his sleep patterns.

Quite honestly, he had forgotten it was his birthday. He couldn't believe it had been a month since Molly Weasley became Harry Potter's number one suspect. He knew he had been the one to suggest it, but the very idea that frumpy, broken Molly Weasley was capable of the maim and murder of witches and wizards she'd known personally was disconcerting to say the least.

"Granger, I just want to spend it with you. Is that too much to ask?" Draco sidled up behind Hermione, his arms slowly coming around her waist while she stood at the sink basin.

She stared out the window into the back garden into nothingness. She stiffened, feeling him untie her dressing gown and spreading it open. She was unable to suppress the shiver as his palms gently stroked her exposed skin. His lips kissed her neck, his chin nudging her dressing gown off her shoulders. Draco's hands splayed across her flat stomach, his thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts.

"Draco." Hermione hadn't intended his name to sound as if it were a sigh, aching with need. She wanted to have the consternation to push him away, refuse him as she had done since Luna's first visit.

"Don't." Draco breathed into her hair, grinding into her backside. "Don't deny me. Not again. Not today." He vanished her knickers, along with her skimpy night shirt.

Hermione's breath caught in her throat the moment she felt his tongue behind her ear. Draco suckled her neck, holding her fast against him. As one hand grasped her breast, hefting its weight, the other wandered down her hip and across her thigh. He chuckled lightly, feeling the tremble in Hermione's knees when his fingers slipped between her legs. She sagged against him and he knew he had won.
With a pop they were in their bedroom, Draco pressing her down into the crisp yellow linens, capturing her lips with a need Hermione had almost forgotten.

She'd faithfully taken her Daily Potion, allowed Luna to perform her weekly ritual and still she had denied Draco. Hermione was remiss to admit, while she wished for a child, she was terrified; especially in the face of potentially being the next murder victim. Draco tried to understand, he whispered promises of waiting as long as she liked. He made vows of contraception charms, verging on begging, as much as it pricked his Malfoy pride.

Draco groaned with relief when Hermione's fingers twined in his hair, her back arching against him, pressing her breasts into his hands. He greedily accepted her silent offerings, his mouth worshipping taut peaks as he settled himself between her thighs. He moaned in surprised when Hermione's hand snaked between the scant spaces between their bodies and grasped his length. She'd never done such a thing before and while he'd never complained of her inexperience he was pleasantly surprised by her actions. Draco shuddered, feeling her small, cool hands enclosed around him, applying a gentle, tantalizing pressure as she stroked him.

"I need you." He whispered, tugging her earlobe between his teeth. Hermione gave his chiseled chest a gentle shove, nipping his collarbone.

"Not yet. Turn over." A lingering flash of confusion flickered in his silvery eyes, even as he acquiesced to her sultry request.

Hermione slowed straddled Draco's hips, removing his hands from her waist to pin them over his head. She knew she wasn't strong enough to hold him there, that wasn't her intention. Her caramel eyes begged him to still and he nodded despite his desires.

Hermione sucked the sensitive spot at the base of his neck, satisfied with the circular red mark left in her wake. She teased the small pebbled peaks on his chest, with feather light kisses. Her nails teased his ribs, the jutting bones of his hips and her plush lips followed soon after. Hermione smiled against his skin when Draco held his breath. Her fingers dug into the tops of his thighs, his teeth embedded in his bottom lip, refusing to allow the groan to escape his lips. He thought he'd died and gone to heaven when Hermione grasped him once more, her thumb pressing on the underside of his length, her breath ghosting across the tip.

An unrecognisable guttural sound hissed from between his bruised lips when her lips wrapped around him, sucking hard. Draco's eyes were shut tight when Hermione glanced up at him. She chuckled, keeping her lips firmly clamped around him, making his buck into her. She gripped the base of his length, quickening her motions as his gasps increased in sound and frequency. Her tongue swirled around him; she felt his thigh contract beneath her free hand the moment before he forced her onto her back.

"No. No more. Can't." Draco's chest heaved with exertion, his face buried in the curve of her neck before plunging into her. He couldn't wait any longer. He didn't wish to wait any longer. He angled Hermione's hips, growling as he thrust hard and fast. Hermione's fingernails dug into the pale skin of his shoulders, raking down his back in painful pleasure. Draco claimed her lips, willing his body under control. He felt her constricting around him, knew she was seconds away from her own release and knew he wouldn't be able to hold back much longer when she exploded in a keen of gasps, moans and shivers, sending him quickly over the edge.

"Happy birthday." Hermione whispered the moment he collapsed on her chest. She wrapped her arms around him, stroking his back, peppering his exposed cheek in kisses until he rolled off her.

"Best. Birthday. Ever." Draco grunted, pulling Hermione into his chest.

"I can't believe you missed your birthday party." Narcissa railed at her son. Draco rolled his eyes and continued sipping his cup of tea while reading the Daily Prophet. "I had to explain away your absence to all your guests. They were more than understanding, of course, but the embarrassment, Draco. I don't know what you were thinking quite honestly."

"I was thinking I'd rather shag my wife than mingle with.."

"Draco!" Narcissa's perfectly manicured hand fluttered over her heart. Draco rolled his eyes in a most unbecoming fashion according to his mother. He was used to such dramatics. They no longer affected him in the least.

"It's about time." Luna smiled serenely, applying her special balm in an upward flourish with a twinkle in her light eyes.

"I can't believe you buy into this nonsense." Hermione grit her teeth not for the first time that day, regretting her decision to invite Ginny over for tea. She hadn't expected Luna's visit and now she was uncomfortable and irritated as well.

"About time for what?" Hermione ignored Ginny's jibe, concentrating on the cooling sensation as the balm soaked into her abdomen.

"That you've had relations with your husband, of course. It alters your aura and the balm does manage to be absorbed that much faster after relations." The tell tale blush on Hermione's cheeks was all the confirmation they needed. Ginny perched on the edge of the coffee table, leering at her old friend.

"Details!"

"How are things going with Gregory, Ginny?" Luna winked to Hermione as she segued the conversation.

"He's actually an alright bloke. You wouldn't think it to look at him. Not that there's anything wrong with him, he's much better looking than he was when we were in school. He's quite intelligent, which honestly I found surprising. Did you know he's apprenticing under Flitwick? He's first in line to become the new Charms Professor. He's actually been given funds from the Ministry for researching complicated Charms." Hermione hid a smile. It was strange seeing a flustered side to her fiery friend.

"I believe the war changed many people, what with the complete eradication of the Spriggle Mites. Nasty little creatures." Ginny and Hermione shrugged, waiting for Luna to continue. "Oh, you don't know of them then? Spriggle Mites attach themselves to ones deepest fears and compel unwitting witches and wizards into doing their bidding. I suspect Gregory Goyle was completely infested with them. They stemmed from Voldemort's excrement. I believe once he was destroyed, they were as well, which worked out quite well for Gregory, and in the end, for Ginny." Hermione never ceased to be amazed by Luna Zabini's moments of perceptiveness. She made a mental note to stop underestimating the strange witch.

"Did I tell you he wants to wait until our wedding night? He kisses me on the cheek for Merlin's sake."

"Does he know..." Hermione didn't have the heart to expand on her train of thought.

"Oh, he's aware." Ginny's brown eyes were wide in shock. "He knows I was shagging Theo. He knows I was with Harry as well. I suspect he has a suspicion when it comes to my involvement with Dean and Seamus, but I barely count that encounter. It wasn't a ménage a trois as much as a twosome and a voyeur. He doesn't even care. He thinks I'm smart and beautiful and worth the wait. Can you believe it?" Ginny was shaking her head, her eyes a bit glassy though Luna and Hermione would never mention such things.

"Why don't you send him an owl and invite him here for dinner. I seem to have an abundance of guests on a regular basis; we'll make a party of it."

"What about Daphne?" Ginny shuddered at the thought of being forced to break bread with the obnoxious Slytherin.

"Alright well, Nick would simply adore the invitation. I know she's horrid, but we're doing it for Nick not her. In fact, Luna, why not owl Blaise and Ginny send one to Ron and bloody Millicent. We'll eat in the garden, it's large enough to accommodate everyone and the weather is divine." Hermione shrugged, silently creating a menu which would appeal to the masses, knowing if Ron was in attendance she'd need to triple every dish.

"Oi, Luna, why did Blaise name the restaurant Mio Luna? I mean, I'm the last person to be able to claim I'm well versed in foreign languages, I've enough trouble with English but it doesn't sound quite proper does it?" Ginny was nothing if not blunt and while Hermione usually appreciated that particular trait, she felt a bit embarrassed by the question.

"Draco never told you? I'm surprised. I thought he would have said something by now." Luna smiled brightly, toying with the hem of her multi-coloured skirt

"Malfoy? What does he have to do with anything?" Ginny poured herself a glass of white wine while lounging across the plush butter throw rug.

"He has everything to do with it. Draco is Blaise's partner. We shouldn't have the restaurant without him. He didn't ask much really. He requested we hire Hermione as a consultant, which we did of course and well…" Luna paused, carefully studying the narrowing of Hermione's caramel eyes. "Blaise and Draco had a very long, incredibly boring conversation when it came to naming the place. Blaise vetoed every single one of my suggestions, but that's neither here nor there. Blaise was absolutely adamant he wanted my name in the title and Draco, well, you know he's fancied you Hermione and you know Astoria is his best friend and well…"

"Oh my gods. Meo-Mio." Hermione's hands flew to her face. She was feeling quite a bit conflicted. She wasn't sure if she should feel embarrassed or flattered or even somewhere in between, but in the end it didn't matter.

"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard." Ginny sniffled, distractedly wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Granger! What the bloody hell have you done?" Draco shouted from the bottom of the staircase while being jostled by guests stumbling from the Travel Room.

"Just send them upstairs Draco. Tell Harry and Nick to come up as well." Ginny was exhausted simply watching Hermione flit about.

The moment the owls returned with affirmative replies she set them to work. Dink, the house elf was thrilled with the prospect of serving guests and Hermione reluctantly set him to work as well. He practically skipped while erecting the tent. He joyously Apparated to Malfoy Manor to retrieve tables, chairs, linens and the centerpieces Narcissa insisted were required for proper etiquette.

"I could give a shit about proper etiquette." Hermione mumbled, using magic to stir the pots on the cooker, her hasty bun coming undone in the bustle while Draco resisted the urge to toss her onto the table.

"Hermione, Draco's got that look in his eye. It's a good thing he missed the flour fight. I don't believe he would have been able to resist." Stori carefully cut carrots and celery into perfect strips just as she was dutifully instructed.

"Flour? I missed the flour? That's my favourite part!" Draco whined, yanking on the gray vest Hermione demanded he wear to their impromptu dinner party. "I don't understand why we're doing this." He longingly fingered the dusting of flour remaining on the dining table.

Draco Malfoy was agitated. He didn't enjoy the hours upon hours spent in his workspace. He despised pouring over the piles of parchment without making any headway. He wished he'd never promised Shacklebolt his aid in the matter. He wanted the madman caught as much as the next wizard but at the same time he wished to fill his days with his wife. He'd never imagined this sort of life for himself, yet now that it was within his grasp he never wanted to let it go. He wanted to fill their home with the laughter of children. He wanted to feel his wife's body curled around him in firelight over glasses of wine and whispers. As much as he embraced these newfound emotions, they made him feel weak. Malfoy's were never weak; at least that's what he'd always been told. He worried about her, for her, with her constantly and it was wearing his nerves to the bone.

"You're worrying again." He felt as if his heart would shatter into a thousand pieces upon discovering her understated beauty. Hermione's fingertip brushed across his brow lightly, leaving behind the slightest trace of flour while she stared into his grey eyes. "Nothing's going to happen."

He removed the spoon from her hand, casually tossing it into the basin and pulled her into his chest. He studied her fingers, held carefully between his, in order to escape the intensity of her gaze. Draco didn't want to tell her they didn't have a suspect. She'd seemed so much more at ease believing they were closer to ending the mayhem. He knew she had allowed Harry Potter to convince her Molly was a viable suspect, which was absolutely ridiculous in his mind. Molly Weasley was no more the murderer than he was, but Harry refused to listen to reason, which was nothing new really.

Instead of laying his fears at her feet, he allowed his head to fall to her shoulder, breathing her in. Hermione sighed, pressing into his chest, feeling his arms encircle her tightly. His lips danced against her skin, his hands dropping down her back until they were grasping her hips. She knew something was bothering him, but she wasn't able to contemplate it further. She was distracted by the sounds of guests arriving and chatting in the garden even as her husband held her tight. Her brow creased, fretting slightly as she felt him tremble against her.

"Stori," Hermione called over her shoulder, unwilling to release him in such a state, "Would you please send for Narcissa. I'm sure she'll be absolutely thrilled to head the festivities." Without another word of explanation to the bright eyed witch, Hermione grasped Draco's hand firmly and led him upstairs.

Draco dutifully followed his wife, unable to formulate words of explanation for his bizarre behaviour. Hermione pushed him into their bedroom until he was sat upon their bed. He didn't look at her. He couldn't look at her, not yet. He dropped his head into his hands, tensing as he waited for her reprimand.

"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione wedged herself between his knees, her fingers softly raking through his pale hair.

"I hate loving you." The bitter words spilled against her breast and Hermione froze, unsure she had heard him correctly. "I hate wanting you. I hate needing you. I hate waking in a breathless frenzy. I hate it when you're not there." Each statement was punctuated by the tear of fabric as he removed her flour dusted articles of clothing and tossed her on the bed. "I hate Harry Potter."

"Draco…Draco…calm down, please calm down. You're scaring me." Hermione's hands were pinned above her head, her apron the only speck of clothing left on her body.

Draco attacked her throat with a fervor, ignoring her pleas, lost in the thundering confusion of his own mind. She knew she was covered in bruises, from the pressure of his hands to the insistence of his lips yet the frantic whispers in her ear stopped her struggle.

"I hate how much I love you. I hate how I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you. I hate the threats. I hate this case. I hate my job. I fucking hate Harry Potter."

Hermione giggled, wondering how Harry would take the news of her being shagged into the mattress while her husband cursed his name.

"It's not funny Nee, it's not remotely funny." Draco released her wrists, kissing the fingerprint indentations with regret. He slipped his hand into her apron, caressing her breasts with a feather light touch.

"I know. I'm sorry, it's not often one can say their husband ravished them while cursing the very existence of Harry Potter." Hermione stroked his face, smoothing the lines of his brow with a small smile.

"It's entirely his fault. There's a madman about, intent upon seeking revenge for something Potter's done, though what it is we haven't a clue and they've included you in their death threats simply for the sake of hurting him. What about me?" He kissed her then, hard and unforgiving, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth until she winced.

"I don't understand what you mean." Hermione stroked his back lightly with her fingertips, studying the confliction in his grey eyes.

"There are two sorts of wizards in this world; those who adore Harry Potter and those who detest him. Now, those who adore him fawn and preen in his very presence. They also have a tendency to snarl, growl and be incredibly rude toward me. It doesn't bother me; I'm quite used to it. The others, the ones who detest him, they revere me. Why, I haven't the foggiest. I've worked with Potter for bloody years and married his best mate but that's the way it is. Therefore, my question really is, who is it that hates Harry Potter yet doesn't give a shit I exist? If they cared about me, even a little, they wouldn't be threatening to take my reason for living." Hermione was having difficulty focusing on Draco's impressively perceptive opinion.

His fingers stroked her legs, delicately shifting her apron until it barely covered the apex of her thighs. He bent her knee, teasing the ticklish spot behind the joint with his tongue until she squirmed. He smirked against her lightly tanned thigh, feeling the tension in her abdomen as she held her breath in anticipation. His breath was warm, causing gooseflesh even as his pale hands slid beneath her apron to rest on her abdomen.

"I want our child right here." He tapped the freckle to the left of her navel before kissing it. Hermione tugged the shaggy hair hiding his eyes from her.

"You can't say things like that after speaking to me of death threats." The rest of her thoughts dissolved in a breathless moan, flat palms against hardened peaks did it to her every time.

"I can. I have. It's logical, even you won't be able to refute the logic behind it." Draco dipped his tongue into her navel, his thumb brushing over her pebbled peaks until she couldn't breathe.

"I can't think when you do that." Hermione gasped, gathering his mussed hair into a tight fist.

"Good." His teeth tugged the tender flesh of her inner thigh, his tongue teasing her outer folds, her breaths stuttered with anticipation. "She doesn't murder pregnant women. It could save your life." His hands dropped from her breasts to dig into the flesh of her hips, pulling her into him, reveling in the sight of her arousal. He didn't want to give her a chance to refuse him. He teased the hardened nub, flicking it hard, growling as she clutched his shoulders.

Draco tore the apron from her and paused. His eyes raked her nudity, appreciating the flush on her cheeks which settled in the valley between her breasts. He adored the gentle rise and fall of her ribs and the freckles decorating the bridge of her nose. He climbed up her body slowly, focusing on her wide eyes.

"Malfoy wait…you said she…" She sighed, the sensation of his teeth grazing her throat almost more than she could bear.

"Don't be jealous love." Draco shoved his trousers off his legs with one hand impatiently.

"No, I mean you've got something there." Hermione pushed his chest and sat up. "The person you're looking for is a woman. She's a mother. Perhaps she's lost a child or even her husband. A true sociopath wouldn't give a second thought to killing a woman regardless of whether she was expecting." Draco pushed Hermione onto her back, completely focused on soothing his need.

"Hermione Jean Granger Malfoy, you will stop it immediately. Our house is filled with people and if I have to suffer through dinner with them to appease you as well as my mother, you will stop your incessant babbling and allow your husband to shag you." Draco wrenched open her knees and slammed into her.

"Well, I can't very well argue with that can I?" Hermione arched her back, flexing her hips to spur on his movements and of course, he complied.

"You're late. Your hair is a disaster. It's quite obvious what you've been doing. Absolutely reprehensible…with guests no less!" Narcissa gathered her daughter-in-laws hair at the base of her neck, attempting to smooth the errant curls.

Hermione allowed her these moments, knowing in her heart of hearts Narcissa Malfoy had always lamented never having a daughter. It was strange to feel the nimble fingers of the aristocratic woman tending to her hair, adjusting the white flower decorating the shoulder of her mint green cocktail dress. She had wanted to throw on a pair of faded jeans and a sweatshirt but she didn't wish for Narcissa to suffer a coronary. Hermione had dutifully allowed Narcissa to pluck the garment from her wardrobe and attach the flower.

"The gardenia complements the lemon of your hair products." Narcissa gathered the sides of Hermione's curls, twisting them gently, gathering them loosely at the base of her neck and tied them with a white ribbon. "Since I can't imagine you being comfortable in those delicious peep toe heels, the white ballet flats hidden beside the bureau would be the perfect choice." Narcissa transformed the ribbon lacing the back of Hermione's dress into the same shade of white as the ballet flat and declared her acceptable.

"Thank you." Hermione felt as if she had a mother for those few moments and while Narcissa could never be considered a warm woman, her efforts were appreciated.

"Come along then my dear, your guests are waiting. Quite an eclectic collection of witches and wizards if I do say so myself, I never would have imagined it, but it's lovely just the same." Narcissa adjusted the décolletage of her royal blue robes before removing the matching cloak.

"I know I wasn't your first choice but thank you for your kindness." Hermione slipped her bare feet into her ballet flats and opened the bedroom door.

"My dear, you misunderstand. You were the only choice." Narcissa's half smile was fleeting and then she was gone.

Hermione and Draco smiled, shook hands and waved to their assortment of guests before finally sitting in a lawn chair. Draco held his wife on his lap, pretending he couldn't hear her objections.

"You're insatiable."

"Nee, if I'm to spend the evening surrounded by Gryffindors, the least you can do is allow me to cop a feel." He kissed her bare shoulder, his right hand stealthily sneaking up the side of her cocktail dress with a leer.

"I thought it would be nice. I mean, the weddings will be starting soon and it'll be utter and complete madness. We robbed your mother of the opportunity host an outlandish birthday party for you and look how much fun she's having." Hermione gestured toward a laughing Narcissa engaged in a conversation with Blaise Zabini.

"She laughs so she does not cry. Luna is bloody plucking my mother's aura." Draco kissed Hermione's cheek, drawing her attention to a stiff Lucius Malfoy who was cornered by Pansy Parkinson.

"You should rescue your father."

"Absolutely not, he deserves it. He keeps eating all the bloody biscuits."

"Ginny and Greg look incredibly sweet." Draco lifted his head to see Ginny perched upon Goyle's lap while she fed him strawberries from a crystal bowl.

"Sweet Salazar, is that really Goyle? He's not a fat bastard anymore is he? D'ya suppose he's still dim?"

"You're so obnoxious. Goyle is apprenticing with Flitwick and he's quite enamored with Ginny." Draco snorted, eyeing a platter overflowing with chicken.

"Of course he is, Goyle's never had a woman's attentions before. Ginny is alright to look at for a Weasley and she loves sex, what's not to love? Theo on the other hand, looks downright miserable with his witch." Hermione sighed as she gazed upon an obviously forlorn Hannah Abbott who kept shooting furtive glances toward Neville Longbottom.

"I'll take Hannah, you take Theo. I can't bear to watch them look so miserable. This is a party and if they're determined to sulk, at least they'll leave completely stuffed. This spread your mother settled on is quite impressive." Hermione reluctantly left the safety and warmth of Draco's lap, pasted a smile on her face and waved at Hannah.

She didn't know the witch particularly well, but for Theo's sake she took it upon herself to do a bit of meddling. Hannah was a sweet witch, Hermione knew that much. She would have to be to have caught Neville's eye in the first place. It was such a shame the Ministry had taken it upon themselves to destroy relationships with their ridiculous law. It wasn't that she was against the idea of rebuilding the wizarding community; it was simply the manner in which they were going about it. Hermione knew the Ministry was claiming they were making matches based off genetic compatibility, but they refused to even entertain the notion of relationships needing more than scientific data to flourish. Though, she had to admit from observing various couples that evening, Neville and Pansy seemed to get on just fine.

"Hannah, I haven't seen you in ages. I'm absolutely famished; would you like to have a bite with me? I think the boys would love to have a few moments. I'm sure they'll join us when they're done gossiping about us." Hermione grasped Hannah's hand, frowning slightly at the lackluster blonde hair hanging limply down Hannah's back.

"It was lovely of you to have us." Hermione was forced to sit uncomfortably close to Hannah in order to make sense of the whispers.

"Hannah, are you alright?" Hermione heaped their plates with sliced chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans slathered in butter and almonds, glazed carrots, slivers of tender beef in a succulent jus and crisp butter rolls.

Hannah's brown eyes stared at the overflowing plate until she shrugged and began picking at the selections. She didn't know how to explain the tumultuous emotions battling within her. She liked Theo well enough. He wasn't a bad bloke and he tried. He had been incredibly sweet and apologised profusely to her. He'd felt terrible knowing she wouldn't be able to marry the wizard she had loved, but she was quick to point out it wasn't his fault. Theo had brought her flowers for their first date and she hadn't the heart to tell him she was allergic to roses.

"What would Neville think?" Hannah sniffed, pushing bits of potato around her plate.

"You've got to be more specific than that. What would Neville think about what? Your budding relationship with Theo? I mean, I don't really understand the problem. Perhaps I'm being obtuse, but you were matched with Theo months ago and I thought things were going swimmingly. Neville and Pansy are moving things along quite nicely. They've just purchased a lovely townhouse and set their wedding date. I truly believe Neville would want you to be happy." Hermione was afraid she had overstepped when Hannah burst into tears. Hermione's fork clattered onto the obscenely large wooden table when she threw her arms around the sobbing girl.

"I slept with him." Hannah's ragged sob tore Hermione's heartstrings.

"Oi, Theo." Draco offered Theo a flask of brandy with a wink. "Granger said I'm to cheer you up. You look like you've lost your cock or something equally disturbing. Spill it before they come back."

Theo Nott gulped the spicy blend of alcohol with closed eyes, hissing as it burned its way down his throat. He didn't want to talk about anything and especially not to Draco Malfoy. He wanted to wallow in his misery. It was obvious Draco was disgustingly happy and dammit it all to Hades he wanted that as well. He had liked Ginny well enough, but not enough to commit to her for the long haul or anything and she understood that. When he learned he had been matched with Hannah Abbott, his first inclination was to curse himself for not marrying Ginny when he had the chance. Ginny wasn't exactly what he would call intellectually stimulating but it was better than marrying Neville Longbottom's sweetheart.

Until he met her. Until he spoke to her. Until he got to know her. Hannah Abbott was quiet, unassuming, a Hufflepuff and Theo was a bit smitten. He didn't want to admit it. It pricked his pride to know he and Longbottom had something in common.

Though from the looks of it, Neville and Pansy were moving right along in their relationship considering his hand was high on her thigh. Ginny was blushing while a fumbling Gregory bloody Goyle kissed her cheek and the gods be dammed if Millicent Bulstrode wasn't smothering Ron Weasley's face in wet kisses.

"What the hell is going on in the world, Malfoy?"

"Bulstrode is eating Weasley's face but on the upside she's much better looking than when we were in school. Pansy spent a good fifteen minutes telling Patil how sweet Longbottom's lovemaking is and I almost vomited all over the buffet." Draco snorted, intent on cheering up his mate.

"Which Patil?"

"Whichever one is here. Granger keeps insisting I learn which is which but I can't be bothered. I don't care."

"I shagged Abbott." Draco resisted the urge to snort or bark out in laughter. Instead he coughed lightly, rubbing his hand on the stubble decorating his chin.

"Uhm, er…I shagged Granger." Theo chanced a small glance at Draco and it amused him to see his cheeks a delicious shade of pink.

"Yea, gathered that from the moans earlier. Didn't your mum ever teach you to shut your bloody windows when you shag with guests about?" Theo quirked his head while wondering why Granger was embracing Hannah. It looked as though Hannah was crying; the shag couldn't have been that bad, could it?

"Is Abbott bloody crying all over my wife? Merlin, Theo what the hell did you do to her?" Hermione waved Draco away. It was obvious from the set of his jaw he had half a mind to storm over to them and demand answers.

"I don't fucking know. I've been seeing her for months. She's sort of grown on me and she's really quite smart. One thing led to another and we shagged after setting a bloody wedding date. I stayed over and when I woke up in the morning, she was crying in the lavatory, so I booked it and haven't seen her since. I don't know what to make of it." Theo pulled on his dark hair, suddenly furious with himself and with Hannah as well.

"You're an idiot. She was obviously overwhelmed because of her feelings for Longbottom yet she obviously feels something for you otherwise she wouldn't have shagged you. She's conflicted and when women are completely overwhelmed they cry. You being the blithering idiot you are and leaving simply compounded the matter and instead of making her feel better about the situation, you made her feel inconsequential. Sweet Salazar I sound like Granger."

Hermione awkwardly patted Hannah's shaking shoulders, silently wishing she could finish her plate in peace. It wasn't the nicest thought she'd ever had, but she was hungry dammit.

"Is she alright Hermione?" Hannah immediately wiped her tear stained cheeks on the sleeve of her yellow blouse and smiled at Luna Zabini.

"Oh, we're all here. It's almost as if it's a Hogwarts reunion of sorts isn't it?" Hannah's voice shook slightly, but the witches present pretended they hadn't heard.

Luna poured glasses of pumpkin juice; Padma Patil ate an entire bowl of strawberries, her eyes never leaving a sulking George Weasley. Hermione folded her hands in her lap, listening to the bits of conversation floating around her and sighed. It was strange; she realised, to be surrounded by former housemates and classmates while there was a serial killer on the loose. Considering her brain never really slept, she flipped through the bits of information while she studied her guests.

It could be any of them really. She couldn't imagine any of them going to such lengths for some twisted convoluted form of revenge, but there was no other answer. Someone she had known from the time she was eleven years old was systematically murdering their friends, their classmates and perhaps even their relatives. It chilled her to the bone, and yet she approached it logically.

"Granger's doing it again." Blaise poked Hermione with the blunt end of his butter knife and pulled one of her curls.

"Go away Blaise, Draco and Theo are taking a nip from a flask they think they're hiding. Why don't you go join them?" Luna kissed her husband tenderly before sending him on his way. "This is the most fun I've had in ages."

"Where are Nick and Daphne?" Blaise stayed rooted, surveying the guests with a practiced eye.

"Daphne was being most disagreeable and kept trying to steal wands. He was forced to leave and drag her with him. She was literally kicking and screaming. She's most disagreeable. Go and discuss it with Draco and Theo. I'm sure between the lot of you it will turn into quite the discussion." Luna growled, finally reduced to shoving her husband until he slowly made his way across the garden.

"Draco thinks it's a woman." Hermione tapped her fingertips on the table, wishing she had a quill and a bit of parchment to jot down her thoughts.

"Oh here we go. I don't know why I bothered coming over here." Ginny rolled her eyes and walked across the lawn to sit beside Astoria. Their friendship was budding which pleased Hermione greatly.

"Tell us then!" Pansy Parkinson threw a grape, snorting with laughter when it hit Hermione's forehead. She wasn't exactly friends with Granger, but if there was another theory concerning the Hogwarts Harpy, she was all ears.

Cho Chang and Hannah Abbott sipped flutes of champagne, prepared to settle in for the long haul. After years of experience they knew Hermione Granger was nothing if not thorough.

"A woman actually makes sense. Speaking of women, where's Parvati?" Pansy Parkinson had manners which rivaled Ron Weasley's. How they weren't matched together was anyone's guess. Hermione supposed it had something to do with their genetic compatibility but Merlin she was sick of hearing about it.

"Parvati went with our parents to India. She's had a bit of a rough time since…" Padma paused, lowered her voice and leaned over the table. "She and Ernie MacMillan were in the midst of a relationship and my mum was bloody furious. Ernie, of course, being the spineless Hufflepuff that he is, sorry Hannah, disappeared. I suppose it doesn't matter, Parvati has a beautiful little boy now." Padma shrugged, quite pleased with the rapt attention.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure Pansy didn't mean anything by it…"

"Its fine, Luna. Now, what is this about a woman?" Padma loved watching Hermione's mind work. She wasn't about to allow the food falling out of Pansy's mouth distract her.

"I'm sorry but I'm starving and if you can bear Pansy eating, I'm sure you'll survive if I eat as well." Hermione savagely tore open a crisp dinner roll and shoved bits of chicken, green beans and slices of grapes between the folds and ate it quickly.

"I think Granger's hungry." Blaise looked completely revolted, yet he continued to watch the witches huddled together.

"Malfoy wore her out." Theo laughed, feeling the effects of the alcohol.

The passing of months between the friends gathering had not lessened their affection for each other. It would always be that way with them. They hadn't been what others would consider friends in Hogwarts, but as the times changed so had they. Draco Malfoy considered Blaise one of his best mates, even if he had married Luna Lovegood. Draco had never understood the attraction. He realised it didn't matter; it was obvious they loved each other and that's what really mattered. He supposed people wondered about the details of his relationship with Hermione as well, but dammed if he'd tell them a bloody thing.

"Shut it Nott, that's my wife." Draco growled, unable to contain the instantaneous anger which held him.

"How'd it happen anyway? You and Granger, I mean there had always been a bit of sexual tension and the flirting was ridiculous, but I never thought you'd actually…marry her." Theo scratched his head, his beady eyes squinting with a shrewdness Draco forgot his fellow Slytherin even had.

"Who cares Theo? The bloody Prophet's had their faces splashed all over the front page for months. I'm sick of looking at them. The Ministry is parading them about as if every bloody match will never end because look at the love of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. No offense mate, but I hate your face." Blaise conjured a bottle of Ogden's finest. They had long since abandoned glasses and the appearance of propriety.

"That's it, isn't it? I don't know how they did it, but they did, didn't they? The Ministry bound you and Granger in their Marriage Law. I can't say I understand why. The rest of us only have a five year contract, but you and her…" Theo swallowed the remainder of his thought process upon spying the deadly glower and the white knuckled fist.

"Do you really think the fucking Ministry could make me do anything I don't wish to do? Are you really attempting to cheapen my relationship and impugn my honour? Do you take me for a fucking pawn? You've insulted me and my wife, never let it happen again." Draco stood up suddenly, wavering on his feet and shoved Theo from his lawn chair.

It took every ounce of willpower Draco Malfoy possessed to keep from hexing Theo into oblivion. It didn't matter that the fucking Slytherin had guessed correctly, that wasn't what bothered him. Draco had always assumed the truth would eventually come out, but it was the laughter in Theo's eyes. As if the very thought of Draco Malfoy loving Hermione Granger was completely absurd. He wasn't capable of naming precisely why it enraged him, it simply did and he needed her. He'd always prided himself on never needing anyone; it was a sign of weakness after all, until her.

Draco's eyes scanned the tops of the crowd, sighing until he saw her. His peripheral vision picked up flashes of colour, arms waving in hello, robes swirling in fairy lights, his mother's blonde hair swaying gently yet none of it dissuaded him from reaching his wife.

"Let's just pretend for a moment. Luna if you were intent upon causing Harry pain and your mental state had degraded to the point where ethics were no longer an issue. Who would you kill?" Hermione tapped her fork on the table, eyeing the piece of apple pie until Cho slowly pushed it toward her.

"Why would I want to hurt Harry?" Luna's breezy lilting voice had never irritated Hermione as much as it had in that moment. She just wanted to tackle the godsforsaken Hogwarts Harpy case with fresh eyes.

"Because he ate the fucking Nargles, Luna. He ATE them." For a moment, Hermione thought she might have gone too far.

Luna's mouth dropped open with a silent scream of horror, her blue eyes instantly watering. Cho and Padma struggled to keep Luna from drawing her wand when she spied Harry chatting amicably with Ron and Nick.

"Nargles are innocent creatures! How could he?! It's absolutely reprehensible! How would I hurt him? I'll tell you! I wouldn't want to start too close to him, he'd be suspicious. I still want him to hurt, but I want him to wonder about it. I suppose I'd start with an acquaintance. Dean or Seamus would be a good start. It wouldn't get his attention, not really, but I'd know. It's difficult with Harry. He doesn't have a familiar, he doesn't have parents or siblings, and what does he have? Oh I know, the Weasleys are a safe bet. They are his surrogate family after all. Bill maybe, or Charlie, not Ron because he'd have to be one of the last victims, though he does have the Dursleys. I'm not sure if that would affect him or not but I'm unstable so fuckit. I'm a woman so I'd never touch a hair on Teddy's head, but I wouldn't be against killing you, Hermione or even your parents since Harry has met them, then Ron until finally Harry Potter himself." Luna Zabini reclined upon her white chair, quite pleased with herself and folded her hands lightly in her lap with a smile.

The stunned silence which followed caused the tiny hairs on the back of Hermione's neck to rise. Luna's Nargle induced theory was eerily accurate and the strange witch hadn't the slightest clue. Hermione knew Luna was quite intelligent and if she could formulate a killing spree off the top of her head, anything was possible. She studied the faces of the witches around her, wondering how much she actually knew these women. She never could have imagined Luna had a violent streak; she had simply been attempting to provoke the thought process.

Padma Patil looked as ill as she felt and even Pansy had stopped shoveling treacle tart into her mouth, for which they were all ever so grateful. Cho Chang's hands shook and she grasped her goblet of water with both hands, a light sheen of sweat decorated her forehead and it looked as though there were tears on her cheeks. Hannah's hands had flown to her mouth and her head shook side to side.

"Uhm…Hermione? Why uh why is Luna discussing my demise?" Harry Potter had wandered across the garden with a smile which quickly fell as he overheard the many ways Luna had thought to desecrate his life.

Luna's cheeks burned brightly and Harry knew it wasn't from embarrassment. She stood up so quickly he was forced to retreat. He risked a glance behind the infuriated witch and spied Hermione laughing at him. Luna reached into the one of the many pockets of her multicoloured, multi-tiered skirt and removed her wand. She shook it in his face and Harry simply stared, his green eyes following the bounce of her wand, speechless.

"You ate the fucking Nargles, Harry. You ate them!"