Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Give me five minutes, and I'll likely lose that, too.

The rest of the first Malfoy "group" night was a rousing success, with plans made to harass the peacocks in two weeks' time. After the happy grandparents left and Scorpius was tucked in bed, Draco and Hermione shared their impressions of the evening.

"Your father was charming. I didn't expect that." Hermione sat at her vanity, brushing her hair. She smiled at her husband over her shoulder as he put on his pajamas.

Draco shrugged. "He has to have some social skills about him. He caught my mother."

"I thought it was an arranged marriage?"

"Yes, but it also had the rare advantage of being a love match. Grandfather Black allowed Mother to have several suitors, and she was able to take her pick of the lot. The competition between Father and Nott Sr. was quite fierce."

"Well, I suppose it's a slightly less barbaric take on a perfectly abhorrent custom."

Her spouse moved to stand in front of her, and spoke with complete seriousness. "Glad you approve. I believe we should do the same for Scorpius when he's of age."

"You WHAT?!" His loving wife whipped her hairbrush at him. The witch had excellent aim, and she caught him on the left side of the head.

"Ouch, damnit! Stop, you madwoman!" Draco moved quickly to capture Hermione's wrists. "Circe's left tit! I just like to get you worked up sometimes. You're bloody hot when your eyes are on fire. There's no way I'd actually want to force our son into anything."

His spouse was less than mollified. "I swear on all that's holy, Malfoy, if you ever make a joke like that again, I'll strip you naked, dip you in sea-creature pheromones and mate you with the Giant Squid. Without the benefit of magic or lube."

"How about you stop at stripping me naked? I could live with that."

Granger snorted, and rolled her eyes. "Sorry, not in the mood when you act like a complete prick. Please try again later after you've been a good boy for a while."

He knew better than to buy her act, so he picked her up and tossed her onto their bed. "I'll try again now while I'm still bad. You and I both know you like that, regardless of what you say." Draco swiftly covered her body with his own, bringing his lips close to hers...

And then he tickled the freaking life out of her.

Several howling, giggling, gasping moments later, he retreated when she began beating him with a pillow.

"What, not in the mood to be near me anymore?"

"Quit pouting. I'll be near you later, when you're unarmed." He did his best to crouch in a dignified manner on his side of the bed.

She tossed the pillow aside, and opened her arms to him. "Truce."

He acquiesced, and they laid quietly for a while.

"It really was nice to see Father and Mother being so good with Scorp. And I was proud of you, love. You handled things beautifully after our son handed my parents their arses at the table."

She chuckled. "That was memorable, wasn't it? I figured they'd had enough by that time, and kindness would be appreciated. I was just glad to see everyone getting along."

"True enough. We haven't discussed the most important aspect of the evening, though. I've waited years for it, Granger." Draco's gray eyes looked wistful.

She stroked his face. "What's that? Reconciliation? Seeing your parents acting like decent human beings? I told you forgiveness was worth it."

"Psh. I said important. I get to chase the peacocks."

Hermione shook her head in mock disgust. "Go to sleep, you fool." She turned out the light.

He nuzzled his face into her hair. "Love you, Hermione Granger."

"That's Granger-Malfoy to you," came the sleepy response.

His arms tightened about her waist, and he closed his eyes. "So it is, my dear. And thank the gods for it."

_DMHG_

The next day was hectic at work as the Auror Department needed to coordinate three raids on extremely short notice. Potter had been in Malfoy's office for the past four hours, and they were hungry, out of sorts and sick of each other's faces. Draco's co-worker and friend, Blaise Zabini, had wandered in recently, sized up the situation, and hurriedly dragged both men to Tattage's.

Tattage's had been an exclusive wizarding gentlemen's club for more than a century, and it was famous for its service, its food, and most of all, its discretion. This made it the perfect place to grab a bite without worrying about security leaks. And Zabini hoped that the change of scenery would help to soothe Malfoy and Potter's frayed tempers.

Unfortunately, Blaise expected too much maturity from the Pureblood Old Guard. The party of three had been there just long enough for their food to arrive before the trouble began.

"You have some nerve, showing your face in here with a blood traitor and holier-than-thou St. Potter, Zabini. This club has standards, or had you forgotten?" The man in front of their table was short and squat, with an obnoxiously turned-up nose and heavy jowls. Basically a bulldog in dress robes.

Malfoy assessed the intruder coolly. "The standards can't be too high, Parkinson. I see they've still let your worthless hide in here, even though it's a known fact that you lost 90% of your wealth in the War. You're what, three steps away from the poor house?"

Parkinson bristled.

The blond shrugged offhandedly. "I misspoke. It's more like one-and-a-half steps, judging by the condition of your robes. Disgraceful." Draco's infamous "Hogwarts sneer" was like dumping acid on the offended aristocrat.

"You insolent little bastard!" Parkinson raised his wand, leveling it at Draco. "CRU-"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" The deep roar coming from behind Malfoy was heard clearly through all three levels of the club. The members were shocked to see none other than Lucius Malfoy stride forward, until he stood next to his son's chair. In the split-second since disarming Parkinson, Lucius had regained his frosty demeanor. "Accio Parkinson's wand." Somehow, he could even make boredom sound menacing.

The tool flew to his hand, and the elder Malfoy looked down his nose at the insolent wizard. "Curse my son, will you? And with an Unforgiveable? I think not, Parkinson."

"If your brat had followed the rules, none of this would be happening right now, Lucius."

"Well, thank Heavens he didn't, then. This way I can be assured that my grandson is intelligent, and he'll never be mistakenly sent to a kennel."

Parkinson was foolish enough to advance at this, but Lucius was ready for him. "Pullus Versavertremum!" An indignant chicken clucked where the bulldog had stood.

"A chicken, Father? Really?" Draco was unable to hide his amusement. Potter and Zabini were literally falling over laughing.

"Changing him to a rooster would give him too much credit. It's no secret who wears the robes in that family." The chicken clucked louder at this, and Lucius merely raised a blond brow at it.

Satisfied with his handiwork, the elder wizard saluted the trio casually and left to rejoin his own party. Harry couldn't help noting that between the roar and the billowing blond hair, Malfoy Sr. had resembled nothing more than a Gryffindor lion.

Probably best to keep that thought to himself. He hadn't had a duel with Lucius in years, and didn't desire one. Though he'd make a point of sharing the comparison with Ginny and Ron later.

Lunch ended soon enough, and Malfoy told Potter and Zabini to return to the office without him; he'd be along shortly. As soon as they left, he approached his father's table, and greeted the group politely.

"Father?"

"Draco?"

"Does your recent offer still stand?" The younger Malfoy schooled his expression into one of mild interest.

"It does."

"Very well. Consider all parts except employment accepted." Lucius nodded his acknowledgement sanguinely, and Draco took his leave.

The senior Malfoy finished his wine and threw several Galleons on the table. "Gentlemen, would you please excuse me? I have some business that requires immediate attention." He left as soon as his companions excused him.

He couldn't wait to tell Cissa.