Different people dealt with anger in different ways. Some preferred to scream and shout until the unwitting offender couldn't escape from the reminders of the 'crime' that they had committed, while others preferred to keep quiet and let the offender stew in their uneasy confusion. Draco Malfoy had perfected the art of the silent treatment at the tender age of seven, and had no qualms about maintaining an air of cool detachment while watching the offender obsessively dissect their actions. Hermione Granger was well versed in mind games, and had been unconsciously prepared to encounter a slew of them from her emotionally unavailable and maddeningly uncommunicative husband. She refused to give Draco the upper hand in the mysterious matter that had offended him, and knew that while his power lay in the fact that he could hurt her with his actions, her's lay in acting as though it didn't. This delicate tug of war had both parties effectively on guard, always ready to catch their opponent in a small mistake (be it a lingering glance or an accidentally uttered acknowledgement) and shift the balance of power. Unfortunately for Narcissa Malfoy, this led to a constant atmosphere of frustration pungently sifting through her house.
After two days of such fare, Narcissa slammed her teacup down on the table in anger. All this angst was sure to give her wrinkles, or worse, more awkward meal times. It was time she took matters into her own hands. She cleared her throat succinctly, "Draco, Hermione, I was wondering if you dears would do me a favour?"
Hermione looked up from her scone. "Of course Narcissa, what can we help you with?"
"I have the strongest urge for some lemon tarts. There is a shop in Diagon Alley that makes the best lemon tarts, and I was hoping that Draco would escort you there."
"Lemon tarts Mother? Surely the elves can make you some," Draco said carelessly.
"Or I can go by myself," Hermione suggested.
Narcissa sighed. "Nonsense dear, the Lady of the Manor does not go out unescorted to bring lemon tarts. Besides, you do not even know where the place is. Draco can show you."
"I have things to do today Mother," scowled Draco.
"I can use a map," said Hermione at the same time.
It was time to pull out the big guns. Narcissa inclined her head downwards and bit down on her lip so hard that tears sprung to her eyes. "Very well dear, it was just that Lucius always used to get them for me, and I, well, never mind. I understand that you both are busy."
"We'll do it," Hermione blurted, unable to see her mother-in-law that upset.
Draco looked up in surprise. Granger seriously fell for her act?
"Splendid dear!" Narcissa clapped her hands together in excitement. "I'll have the elves get the carriage ready for you right away. While you're there, I was wondering if you could run a few more errands for me? There are a few books I've been meaning to have picked up from Flourish and Blotts and this new restaurant I was hoping you both would try out. I am thinking of asking them to cater to our next gala."
"Sure," Hermione bit back a groan. Did I seriously fall for her act?
And that was how Draco and Hermione found themselves in Diagon Alley an hour later, with Narcissa's list of superfluous errands in their hands. They had insisted on taking Julius with them as a buffer, much to Narcissa's chagrin. Despite her best laid plans, neither Hermione nor Draco was willing to bend on their unspoken struggle, and consequently Julius Malfoy was single-handedly responsible for the maintaining the flow of conversation.
"Are you angry at mummy, Daddy?" he asked suddenly, as he looked from one parent to the other.
Draco stifled a groan. What is with the Malfoy family and insisting on putting me in awkward situations?
"Daddy?" Julius persisted.
"No Son, I'm not angry," Draco conceded.
"Mummy, are you angry with daddy? You both aren't talking," Julius turned on Hermione next.
Hermione gave Julius a fake smile. "Of course not. When grown-ups are angry, they talk about their problems and sort them out. They don't quietly stay angry without letting the other person know what has made them upset."
"I agree," said Draco through gritted teeth. "But being a grown-up also means that people should be smart enough to know what they have done wrong."
"Of course," Hermione agreed, her voice strained. "Though some grown-ups get upset over absolutely nothing."
"That may be true for some people," Draco spat evenly. "But most rational people don't get upset over nothing. They always have a good reason for being angry."
"Yes, that is right, some grown-ups think they have a good reason to be angry but in reality they are just overreacting to something so small that the other person doesn't even realise what it is."
"So you're not angry?" Julius tried to make heads or tails of the passive aggressive conversation.
"No," Hermione and Draco said together. Their words were negated by a heated glare that they exchanged over Julius' head.
"I think grown-ups are silly," Julius muttered to himself, washing his hands off the whole debacle.
The Malfoys finished Narcissa's carefully devised list of ridiculous errands and dutifully made their way to the restaurant she had suggested. Throughout lunch, Julius played with his stuffed silver dragon and pointedly ignored his parents' attempts at conversing with him. Draco surveyed his son with annoyed pride, clearly he inherited the Malfoy methods of dealing with problems: ignoring them. After Draco had paid the bill, the Malfoys stood up slightly awkwardly. They had finally finished Narcissa's list of errands.
"Daddy, can we go to Honeydukes and get some candy?" Julius pleaded, with his best 'Juls Deserves Candy' look.
"Sure little man," Draco said, feeling slightly sorry for subjecting his son to the awkwardness that was his marriage with the Bookworm Extraordinaire.
"I might go look at some books, there is a new antique bookshop towards the end of Diagon Alley," Hermione announced to her shoes. Her shoes stared up silently at her. Unhelpful traitors.
Draco remained firmly silent, pretending he hadn't heard.
"Does this mean we can wait for you at the new Honeydukes store? And that we can try out all their samples while we wait for you like good boys?" Julius jumped on the opportunity. Surely there was a way to get extra chocolate from this situation.
"Yes," Hermione conceded. A sugar-hopped Julius would not be her problem if she was at the bookshop. Draco glared at her unruly head, having realised the same thing.
They parted outside the restaurant and Hermione felt a wave of relief wash over her as she saw the two Malfoy boys retreat. For whatever unknown reason that Draco's convoluted mind had dreamt up, he had been extremely cool to her ever since their evening at the Enchanted Swan. Hermione had analysed drunken memories of the night several times, but she couldn't recollect anything that she might've done to upset her husband. They had been getting along great, spurred by their mutual dislike of Lavender Brown, and then out of nowhere he had turned sullen. She shook her heavy curls at the thought and firmly forced herself to put it out of her mind as she entered the antique bookstore. The tiny bell tinkled as she stepped inside, and she allowed the smell of old parchment and binding to wash over her like one of Madam Pomfrey's Calming Draughts. After a pleasant three quarters of an hour, Hermione stepped out, feeling pleased with her purchases. She slipped the books into the insides of her magically enlarged clutch and left to find her husband and stepson.
As she walked towards the main street of Diagon Alley, Hermione's war-attuned instincts picked up on something remiss. The smaller lanes that had led up to Diagon Alley had been oddly deserted for a Sunday afternoon. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention as she walked faster. As she turned the corner to the main street, Hermione was met with a scene of pandemonium. Wizards and witches were running askew, and for a second Hermione thought she saw the Dark Mark floating above every single establishment on the street. She squinted, and realised that it was a different mark, one of what looked like a black dove with a snake in it's beak. She involuntarily closed her eyes in horror at the memories it dredged up, and then her survival instincts kicked in, reminding her that standing in the middle of the chaos with her eyes closed was probably not the wisest move that the Brightest Witch of Her Age could make. Hermione pushed her way through the chaos trying to suppress the rising panic in the pit of her stomach. She was outside Honeydukes now, and neither Draco nor Julius was anywhere to be seen. She gripped her wand tighter in her pocket as she pushed past the throng of people trying to flee the street. She had to make sure they were safe.
"Hermione!" a familiar voice called out sharply, as Hermione turned to find Blaise pushing his way past the crowd to reach her. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief and safety as he quickly swept her in a brief hug.
"Oh thank Merlin, I seem to have lost Draco and Juls. How did you spot me?" asked Hermione breathlessly as they struggled to push past the pressing crowd of scared wizards.
"Kind of hard to miss that head of hair," said Blaise dryly as he undid his cloak and threw it over Hermione's already cloaked shoulders. "You're too conspicuous, what with your hair and red cloak. We need to get out of here using a Floo, the Anti-Apparition wards are up. Draco is a big boy and can fend for himself and Juls, you however need to come with me straight away."
"I can't possibly leave here without making sure they're okay!" said Hermione, her eyes widening in horror.
"I am not going to argue with you about this. You and Draco have the rest of your lives to be stupid together, but that's not going to happen unless you come with me now." Blaise was firm as he gripped her arm and all but dragged her outside Diagon Alley, right into the heart of muggle London, which appeared to be equally chaotic. Hermione heard the words "bomb blast" repeated several times, much to her horror. Blaise pushed Hermione through into a small, deserted laneway. He quickly checked for muggles before he pulled out his wand and shot a few non-verbal spells at Hermione's unruly head. She could feel her curls straightening out, and looked down at her hair to find shiny black ends instead of her light curls.
"There. Now I can take you to safety. I can't help you if anyone recognises you," said Blaise in response to her questioning gaze. He quickly pulled the hood of his cloak over her gleaming head and pulled her back into the throng, leading the way firmly.
They stopped in front of a magnificent building that the muggles didn't seem to see. Hermione was surprised to see a bellhop standing guard by the door, looking completely disinterested in the chaos on the street. Blaise straightened his shoulders and swept up the golden steps with a casually aristocratic air. Hermione nervously followed suit, trying not to look fazed. This felt oddly like the time she had to impersonate Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Good day Tamworth," said Blaise coolly to the Bellhop, who lost his air of indifference and looked almost nervous as he bowed grudgingly. "Dreadful business with this filth running around isn't it?"
Hermione stiffened at his words, but a discreet pinch from Blaise reminded her that she needed to get to safety instead of to berate him about his choice of methods.
"Terrible, you of course may go on in without any Blood Status checks, however his young lady…" said Tamworth, looking at Hermione with a piercing stare.
"My sister," lied Blaise smoothly, trying not to laugh at Tamworth's shocked expression.
"I wasn't aware Mrs Zabini had any other progeny," he stated, almost suspiciously. Blaise expected this, as his mother was too well-known and all her marriages too public for anyone not to be aware that she had two children, not one.
"She is my father's other daughter, not my mother's. It is not uncommon that it can take up to two people to create a child," drawled Blaise. Hermione bit back a snicker at the expression on Tamworth's face as he let them through.
Once out of sight, barely giving Hermione time to appreciate the fineness of the décor around them, Blaise quickly rushed them through to a room with at least twenty ornate fireplaces. He stalked over to the nearest empty one and quickly shook out a fistful of glitter Floo powder into Hermione's outstretched palm before replacing the bejewelled jar back on to the mantle piece he'd picked it up from. He pulled out his wand and tapped Hermione's fist twice.
"Now throw the powder into the fire, there is no need to give a location. You go first, I will literally be right behind you," said Blaise, all but pushing Hermione into the hearth after quickly taking a pinch of powder from her hands. She picked up on his discomfort at her presence in this obviously pure-bloods only establishment and quickly threw the powder and stepped into the fire. She felt herself get transported and made contact with familiar soft plushy carpet that her body sank into as she landed ungracefully on all fours. She was clearly at the Manor. She picked herself off the priceless Arabian carpet as Blaise entered the room behind her.
"Sorry about having to drag you unceremoniously like that," he said, sounding significantly calmer than before. "But that was the only secure Floo connection around and it was an exclusive club for pure-bloods and during the war, for Death Eaters."
"Death Eaters met at a club?" This stood out as a ridiculous concept to her. Somehow in her mind, the Death Eaters always met at places that were dark and dingy. Just like their souls.
"Well, you forget, most of them were used to a certain standard of living, which they could no longer maintain if establishments were closing left right and center, and the ones that stayed open never let them in. Plus, they needed a place where they could meet without having to bother with disguises." Blaise looked almost amused at her naivety.
"Speaking of disguises," said Hermione, as she turned to look at herself in the mirror. "Excellent job on mine. Where did you learn such strong non-verbal cosmetic spells?"
"Cosmetic? Ha, you are a girl after all. I learnt these spells during Concealment and Disguise in my Auror training," said Blaise, trying not to laugh. Hermione felt herself blush at her ridiculous thinking. Of course he learnt how to conceal himself, how did her mind jump to thinking he used the spells for cosmetic purposes? There was only one answer: Narcissa. Before Hermione could inwardly curse her loving mother-in-law, the fire in the study blazed green and a second later Draco emerged covered in soot, with a trembling Julius in his arms. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the occupants of the room, obvious relief cascading over his features as he swept a startled Hermione into a hug and kissed her roughly on the forehead, much to Blaise's amusement.
"Thank Merlin, I was so worried you were still there. I was going to go back for you once I brought Juls here," he said, his free arm not letting go of Hermione's waist.
"How did you even recognise me?" said Hermione, feeling her heart warm at Draco's affection, as she gently cupped Julius' shaking head. The normally exuberant boy was too upset to be comforted by anyone but his father, and clung on to him tightly.
"As if I wouldn't." Draco rolled his eyes and walked over to Blaise. He knew better than to try hugging his friend, and settled for a firm handshake and a pat on the back.
"Blaise found me and brought me here," said Hermione, feeling her eyes well up as she watched her boys try -and fail- to look emotionless. Wait a second? My boys?She had only ever thought of Harry and Ron as her boys. Suddenly Hermione remembered the feeling of relief and safety she had felt when she saw Blaise. If anyone had ever told her she would feel as comfortable and safe around a Slytherin as she did around Harry and Ron, she would've laughed in their face. But somehow or the other, she had started to think of Blaise as a brother figure, much like Harry was to her. In fact, in a lot of ways Blaise reminded her of Sirius, whom she still sorely missed.
"I know Blaise located you," said Draco softly. "I would do the same if his wife was in the midst of that alone."
"I know mate."
Still holding a shaking Julius in his arms, Draco gave another gruff clap on Blaise's back and pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey from the handsome desk that stood in the corner of the room. He unlocked the crystal cabinet and gathered three engraved shot glasses and poured them all a generous helping of Firewhiskey. He capped the bottle one handed and on second thoughts, pulled out another shot glass.
"Surely you're not giving Juls any?" enquired Hermione, watching his movements as though she would never tire of seeing him.
"No, I'm not getting my son drunk," said Draco exasperatedly. "I'm giving him a mild Sleeping Draught so that he can go to bed." Julius struggled in Draco's arms, looking mournful at the thought, but quietly accepted his drink. Once he was asleep, Hermione took him from Draco's arms and tightly hugged the boy now that he would no longer be overwhelmed, while Draco transfigured a chair into a cot for him. She stroked his gleaming curls and gently set him down in the cot as Draco covered him with a soft blanket. Hermione felt her hair spring back into curls as Draco waved his wand again, and they walked back towards his desk. He handed Blaise and Hermione their drinks, and knocked his own back in one quick shot. He was clearly rattled, no matter how loathe he was to admit it. Hermione stayed standing as she watched Blaise and Draco take seats around the desk and pour themselves another drink. They were both unusually quiet.
The three occupants of the room jumped as the fireplace turned green again, and a frantic Pansy stepped out.
"Oh thank Merlin," she said, as she took in the occupants of the room, and swept first Draco and then Hermione into an unexpected hug. She paused awkwardly before Blaise and turned away.
"Drink, Pans?" asked Draco, as he got to his feet and poured her a shot.
"Thanks. I came as soon as I heard. I wanted to make sure that you lot were safe." Hermione felt her eyes moisten again at Pansy's words and sincere concern.
"Hermione and I were apart at the time it happened, but luckily Blaise got to her and brought her to safety," said Draco, as he affectionately watched Pansy finally hug Blaise. The three of them had been through so much together, and he was feeling oddly comforted to find them all in his study. Just like they had supported each other during the war on nights when they didn't know where their families were and if they would see them again, or if the Dementors already had their families and were coming for them.
"Funny story, I actually took her through Wort's" said Blaise, casually, as Draco drew a sharp breath and Pansy spilt her drink over her robes.
"You took her through Wort's?" screeched Pansy, in horror.
"Yeah, disguised her of course, said she was my sister," said Blaise, grinning.
"He pretty much scared the living daylights out of the bellhop," said Hermione, finding herself grinning back at Draco and Pansy and their horrified reactions.
"Gutsy, but wouldn't people have heard if you had a sister? Your mother is too famous for something like this to go unreported," said Draco, allowing grudging admiration to seep into his voice.
"Why does everyone think my mother conceived me all on her own? I do have a father that is probably more than capable of producing offspring you know," said Blaise, pretending to look put out. Pansy and Hermione laughed.
"You got me there." Draco's face was now openly admiring. Hermione felt herself sink into a comfortable armchair next to her husband. She had finally stopped shaking. She poured herself another drink, and looked up to find three Slytherin eyebrows quirked at her.
"What? You think a Gryffindor can't drink?" she enquired, mirroring their expression.
"No, more that you can't," mumbled Blaise, as they table burst into relieved laughter. Just like that, Hermione felt her fear slowly slip away. This easy camaraderie had always helped herself, Harry and Ron from letting horrors get to them, and Hermione was glad to find even more people to share it with, despite the unexpectedness of the people she found it with. She was jerked out of her thoughts as Narcissa, Harry and Ron burst into the room.
"Oh thank Merlin you're all fine," Narcissa exclaimed, tears running down her face. "Mr Potter and Mr Weasley just came to the Manor, and told me that there was an attack. In Diagon Alley, of all places."
"We're all fine Mother," Draco reassured, as he allowed himself to be swept in an embarrassing hug. Thankfully, he wasn't the only one being subjected to such outward displays of affection, for Harry, Ron and Hermione were all hugging each other tightly. Narcissa stepped back and took a deep breath to steady her nerves as she tenderly picked up her grandson and left to put him to sleep in his own bed.
"So what exactly happened out there?" Hermione asked, as she poured Harry and Ron a drink.
"We don't know the specifics yet, but apparently there were attacks in both Diagon Alley and the parallel street of muggle London simultaneously. They were similar explosions, though we don't know if anyone was hurt yet. Someone fired some sort of copy of the Dark Mark above all the stores, which obviously panicked people in the streets," said Harry, running his hands through his hair and making it stand on end.
"Everyone jumped to the conclusion that someone has it in for muggle-borns again," Ron added. "Our office is in uproar."
"We actually need to be going back on duty, but we came to make sure you lot were okay," Harry explained as he downed his drink. "Zabini, Podmore has assigned you to stay here just in case."
"Do you expect anything to happen?" Draco asked.
"No, but we can't shake the feeling that this is in some way related to the Arisen One," said Ron tiredly, as he put his empty shot glass down. "It's best to just be cautious I suppose."
"You both will be alright won't you?" Hermione bit her lip nervously as she surveyed her friends. Harry and Ron tutted, while Draco scowled at his wife's concern over her ex boyfriend.
"We will be absolutely fine," Harry reassured. "But we need to leave now. We'll Owl you lot when we have any information."
"You both take care, okay?" Hermione said fiercely, as she wrapped Harry in a tight hug.
"We will, don't fuss," Ron said easily, as he hugged Hermione and kissed her on the forehead. Draco glowered and downed his drink, a fact that both Pansy and Blaise's sharp eyes caught. They exchanged a look of concealed amusement at Draco's obvious display of his feelings. For a second, both Blaise and Pansy forgot that they were at odds with each other and fell back into their easy friendship. The spell was broken, however, by Blaise who got to his feet as soon as Harry and Ron had left.
"I should go Owl Audrey and make sure she's safe."
Hermione bit back a groan. Of all the stupid things to say, this was right up there with insulting Pansy's dress sense.
"I should get back to work, I only came to make sure you were all fine," said Pansy, as she too got to her feet, without a second glance at Blaise. "Are we still good for dinner at yours tonight?"
Draco paused briefly before nodding. "Yes, why not? Who knows, it may take our mind off this mess. Though you two have to play nice." He pointed at Blaise and Pansy.
"What are you talking about Drakie-poo," Pansy almost purred. "I always play nice."
Draco groaned. Whatever she has up her sleeve, I really hope I'm not involved in any way.
Draco walked into the master suites feeling wretched. He was reluctant to admit to Hermione just how much the incident from earlier that day had upset him, but he figured that since the ice had been broken, there would be no harm in trying to get her to talk to him properly again. Even if it meant pretending to concede defeat. Hermione was perched on the ornate stool in front of their dressing table and was brushing her hair vigorously. Despite having heard the door click open, she did not deign to give Draco a single glance. He swallowed. Clearly she was still mad. Draco quietly walked over to their bed as he debated his best plan of attack. A stack of misshapen objects on Hermione's bedside table gave him the perfect opening.
Draco picked up a disfigured piece of knitting and glanced at it critically. "This is really lovely. I like this one the best out of all of them."
Hermione inclined her head slightly to face him. "Really now?"
"Yes, really. This design is really something. And the colours, who knew how good green and pink would look together?" he said politely, hoping the offending artefact wasn't for him.
"Thanks," said Hermione warmly, and gave him a small smile.
Draco grinned internally. This is too easy. "I'm sure the hat will look even better when you're wearing it."
Hermione's smile turned icy. "It's a sock."
Just great.
Mercifully, a house-elf interrupted the awkwardness by announcing that Blaise had arrived. Hermione took one last look at herself, and rearranged her robes carefully. Draco found himself checking her out approvingly as she walked towards the door. Perhaps a few well-timed glasses of Firewhiskey would help him with his wife where his words had failed?
"Blaise!" Hermione swept into the dining room with all the finesse of a pure-blood debutante. She elegantly kissed Blaise on the cheek and took a seat opposite him.
"Wow Hermione, you look great," Blaise said appreciatively as he took in Hermione's appearance. Hermione blushed and smiled sweetly.
Draco found himself scowling again and cleared his throat loudly as he took his place next to Hermione at the circular table. "Where's Pansy? And is my mother joining us? I was under the impression it would just be the four of us." Draco questioned, as he noticed the extra place settings that had been carefully arranged.
"Pansy should be along soon, and she's bringing someone," Hermione said casually.
Blaise froze. "She's bringing someone? Who?"
"I'm not sure, she just asked me if it would be alright if she brought a date," said Hermione coolly.
"How long ago did she ask you this? Why didn't you tell me?" Blaise demanded hotly as he poured himself a drink of Firewhiskey.
"She asked me this morning, and why should I have told you? I thought you said that there was nothing going on," Hermione said innocently, widening her eyes.
Draco grinned as he poured himself and Hermione a drink. His wife was a bloody evil genius!
"Sorry we are late everyone, Theo got me the most beautiful flowers and I just had to find the right vase to arrange them in before we made our way over," said Pansy, as she walked into the room. Draco and Blaise's jaws dropped as they took in her appearance. She was wearing elegant, yet well fitted white robes that set off her beautiful dark hair. Despite the outward modesty of the robes, they had been designed to flaunt every curve and set any wizard's heart racing. Besides her, Hermione recognised the former sixth year Slytherin prefect, Theodore Nott.
"Theo, long time no see!" said Hermione sincerely, after Draco and Blaise failed to greet the newcomers.
"Hermione, lovely to see you again," Theo said politely, as he kissed her hand. "Hello Draco, Blaise…"
"Have a seat you two," Draco finally said, realising that he was being a disgraceful host gawking at Pansy while his wife sat next to him. "Firewhiskey good for you two?"
Pansy and Theo nodded as they surveyed the place settings. Unfortunately for them, the two empty seats were on either side of Blaise. Hermione groaned, and wished she had inherited Narcissa's placement skills. After a slight initial hesitation, Pansy and Theo took their seats, as the appetisers appeared. Hermione broke the awkward tension by busying herself with passing the platters to their guests, while Draco struck up a conversation with Theo about his broomstick company. The next hour passed relatively smoothly as the guests dug into their food and the four Slytherins caught up on the gossip about their former classmates. However, just as the main course was starting to be served, Blaise began to shift uneasily in his seat, looking surprised. Pansy smirked as Blaise's expression turned from curious to livid.
"Theo, that is my leg you're trying to rub up against," Blaise said acidly as he moved his chair closer to Pansy.
"Oh sorry," Theo grinned, looking unrepentant.
"Better, love?" Pansy purred, as she moved her chair closer to the table. Blaise glowered as Theo winked at Pansy.
"I can still feel your legs moving about," Blaise spat. "Can't you two feel each other up when I'm not between you both?"
"Don't be in between us then," said Theo simply, as he gave Blaise a long look.
Draco groaned softly. The only saving grace of this fucked up dinner is that the food is excellent.
"Theo, darling, have you tried this magnificent chicken?" Pansy asked sweetly, as she leaned closer to Theo, managing to cut Blaise off from the rest of the table.
"I don't believe so," Theo replied as he winked. He leaned in closer to Pansy, as she speared a small piece of her chicken and delicately brought her fork to his lips. One second Pansy's fork was next to Theo's lips, and the other, somehow it had landed in Theo's silky dark hair.
"What the hell?" Pansy exclaimed.
"Clumsy, Pans," Blaise chuckled. Hermione could've sworn that she saw him discreetly replace his wand in the inner pocket of his robes.
"I'll just have to rectify that won't I?" Pansy shot back, as she gently wiped the sauce off Theo's hair using her napkin. Hermione bit back a chuckle as she saw Blaise's obvious discomfort at the smouldering eye contact that Pansy and Theo insisted on maintaining across Blaise's face.
"No harm done," said Theo easily as he interlaced his fingers with Pansy's.
"I'll make it up to you," Pansy said, lowering her voice to a slow, seductive drawl.
"Oh look, dessert is here," said Blaise loudly. He reached towards the center of the table, breaking Theo and Pansy's grip on each other's hands. "Sorry guys, I'm starving," he said cheerfully as he ladled lemon sorbet into his bowl. He caught Draco's eye as the latter gave him an amused smirk and the tiniest of approving nods.
"No problem Blaise, we always have later," said Theo suggestively.
"How lovely," muttered Blaise darkly to his sorbet.
"Do you get the feeling that we're surplus at this table?" Hermione whispered to Draco, as Pansy mouthed something that looked suspiciously like 'rawr' to Theo.
He grinned and whispered back, "I wish I could see my father's reaction when he realises that his precious Malfoy heir is currently nothing more than a piece of decoration in his own house."
Hermione laughed softly and leaned closer to her husband. She had missed his company while they had been fighting, but somehow after the events at Diagon Alley, it appeared that her husband was happy to forget their mind games for the time being. Draco and Hermione spent the rest of their dinner party talking to each other and ignoring Pansy's suggestive eating of her dessert, while Blaise and Theo looked at her slack jawed.
A/n: Thank you all so much for the reviews for my last chapter! I was previously stuck with tremendous writer's block, but your kind reviews, alerts and favourites have motivated me again! I especially want to thank my repeat reviewers. Thank you for sticking by my story! There will be some Hermione, Ginny and Luna action in the next chapter, and as requested, some Narcissa/Lucius in the chapter after that! Hope you are all enjoying my work. If you have the time, I would love to hear from you in a review! :)