Chapter Fifty-Six

The footsteps approached and Blaise, Aurelia and Draco waited for whatever evil might come.

"What on Earth?" Blaise exclaimed as a big white phantom owl swooped in through the door.

"Hedwig?" Draco said, recognising the ghost of Harry's faithful pet, but before he had time to wonder several figures appeared in the doorway, their wands poised for battle.

"Wait!" Aurelia shouted, realising that the newcomers were none other than several members of The New Order of the Phoenix. Harry headed up the group, followed by a fully recovered Neville and Luna, Dean Thomas, Pansy Parkinson and George Weasley, who was accompanied by the ghost of his twin brother Fred.

The group lowered their wands and stepped into the already crowded room. After noticing Hermione on the floor Harry looked at Draco and said, "What's going on here? We found Neville and Luna unconscious downstairs and now here Hermione is! What the hell are you up to Malfoy?"

"Oh sure," Draco said, "It was all me!"

"No, no!" Aurelia interrupted them, "Harry, you've got it all wrong, Draco hasn't done anything but try to save us all!"

"Yeah, I'm afraid you've missed all the action Potter!" Draco said sarcastically and then added, "I guess the chosen one is a bit rusty eh?"

"I knew nothing good could come of you getting together with Hermione!" Harry said, "You've only been together a few days and this happens!"

"Hold on, Harry!" Neville said, "Draco isn't responsible for this. I told you about Bertram Villanos."

"Well it's a bloody coincidence though isn't it?" Harry said.

"Oh this reminds me of the good old days!" ghost Fred said to his brother with a look of mischief on his ever youthful face.

"Yeah because the old days were so great weren't they?" George said, "right up until you died!"

"Well I'm still here aren't I?" Fred said.

"Oh yeah!" George said, "I should've bloody known I'd never get rid of you!"

"Not a chance!" Fred laughed, "Death can't stop me, I'm gonna hang around til you croak, you old sod!"

George laughed and the Weasley twins watched Draco and Harry's argument with thorough enjoyment.

"You don't love her!" Harry shouted, "Or you wouldn't have brought her here."

"So I was just supposed to ignore Luna's request for help was I? God you are so sanctimonious Potter!" Draco spat.

"I left my pregnant wife in the hospital to come here to help, so don't look at me like that!" Harry said.

"What?!" Fred and George shouted, "Ginny's in hospital?"

"Yeah, don't worry she isn't hurt. She's gone into labour." Harry explained.

"Oh I'm the bad guy!" Draco said, "I wouldn't leave my wife alone to have my first child."

"For God's sake!" An exasperated voice said, "Will you two give it a bloody rest!"

"Hermione!" Draco and Harry said at once turning to see Hermione sitting up with the sheet wrapped around her.

Both men rushed to her side.

"Are you al right?" Harry asked her.

"I'm fine." she said, "but I am disappointed in you. It was nothing to do with Draco. We're a couple now Harry, you'll just have to get used to it." Then she turned to see Dean, "I'm sorry Dean." She said, "It just happened."

"Oh that's okay," Dean said smiling, and he took Pansy's hand in his, "Pansy helped to chaperone the Halloween Ball and well... we... err... hit it off." He turned to look at Pansy and she smiled shyly at him.

"Wow! The world's gone bloody bonkers since I died!" Fred said, laughing, "Whatever next? Cats and Dogs getting married?"

"Yeah the next big thing in pets will be fuzzy little kuppies!" George added, chuckling to himself.

"And Draco," Hermione said, ignoring the twins' silly comments, "I thought you had gotten over your envy of Harry!"

"I have!" Draco protested, "He just winds me up, he is always..."

"Just shake hands and get over it for goodness sake." Hermione said sternly, "I love you both! Now do it!"

Harry and Draco put their hands out like naughty school boys who'd been scolded, and shook each others' hands, ever so slightly too firmly. The ghost of Hedwig floated down and pecked Harry's hand, in a gesture of punishment.

"Oh okay Hedwig." Harry said, and he shook Draco's hand properly. "I'm sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion." Harry said to Draco.

"You're al right Potter." Draco said and he smiled.

"That's better." Hermione said, "Now Harry, I don't mean to be rude, but will you get the hell out of here. Your wife needs you! I am sure the rest of us can clean up the rest of this muddle without you. No offence!"

"Yeah, right." Harry said sheepishly.

"And tell sis we'll be there soon." Fred and George said, and with that Harry appartated, Hedwig vanishing along side him.