DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns most of the characters and settings here—I own the rest.
I've had an interesting few weeks here, in the not-so-good sense, but I'm back on track now. Sorry for the delay. This chapter's title is taken from "Killer Queen," by Queen.
And...an extra big Thank You to all readers and reviewers-as always. Feel free to leave a further review in the box at the end of the chapter...on with the show!
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
Chapter 23 - Well-Versed in Etiquette
Within a very short time after the group's arrival, Ginny, Hermione and Walden were seated in the lodge's kitchen enjoying tea and toast, courtesy of Binkus. Evan, however, was charmed by the house-elf and immediately got up and ran after him for a tour of the upstairs, and Heather and Melissa headed after him to see about stowing some of their belongings.
"Thank ye, Mrs. Potter," Walden said, to Ginny, after a short silence.
"Call me Ginny," she said. "And it was nothing. We're used to those reporters, they hang round our London house. They did follow Harry to his work until he got a private office with a Floo connection. Pests, the lot of them!" She glanced out the window. "Er, I thought Harry said you lived in a castle, or something?"
"Me parents live there," Walden said. After he looked around to ensure that Evan hadn't returned, he added, "I was on house arrest there for the last few years. This is me house, I've come back to live here because there's more room for me family."
"Er, Ginny, before we continue, what's this about Ron's wedding?" Hermione blurted. "And why didn't you tell me about it?" She addressed this last to Walden.
Both started to answer her at once, to general hilarity. Finally, Ginny began the story.
"Well, the other morning after that rather disastrous dinner down Knockturn, Ron apparently went to the Burrow in the middle of the night because we weren't being nice to him, or so he said..." and she winked at Hermione. "...anyway, these two very intimidating wizards showed up during brunch...I think one of them was your father?" She nodded in Walden's direction.
"Aye, and the other one was me clan chief...me cousin," he said. "Had a letter about it and then me Da told me, and, well, there's been a lot goin' on, so I forgot to tell ye," and he looked at Hermione.
"Did you know about it that night?" Hermione said.
"Aye, but I was more concerned with the little plonker insultin' ye," Walden said. "Nae like he could get out of what was comin' to him anyway."
"The long and short of it is that Ron got that horrible Fiona preggers, and your cousin was there to draw up the betrothal contract," Ginny said. "Er, sorry, Fiona's your cousin, too, right?" she said to Walden. "I'm sorry, but she made a pretty bad impression on my entire family."
"She's been doing that with me family for years, lass," Walden said. "This will be a relief ta all of us."
"It does rather solve more than one problem," Ginny said, looking significantly at Hermione, as she stood up. "Thank you for the hospitality, but, er-" but her sentence was interrupted by Lucius Malfoy's head appearing in the fireplace.
"I say, brother, why didn't you ask me to meet you at the Ministry?" He glanced around the room through the Floo connection. "Welcome home, my dear," he said to Hermione, as he nodded to her. "And good afternoon to you, Mrs. Potter," he added, rather more formally, in Ginny's direction. "May I come in, Walden?"
"Nae like I could really stop ye," Walden muttered. At that, Ginny sat back down and nudged Hermione, while saying to her, quietly, "I don't want to miss this. Mum can handle things a while longer." Hermione rolled her eyes as Lucius stepped through the fireplace and flicked his wand over his robes to remove the ashes. Unfortunately, his wand chose that moment to malfunction, and his outer robes disintegrated into a circular pile of ash. It turned out he was wearing something rather like a green Union suit underneath, complete with bum flap.
"I bloody well hate this accursed stick!" Lucius shouted. Ginny attempted not to giggle, as Walden and Hermione disappeared the mess. Binkus trotted in, snapped his fingers, and produced a Macfarlane tartan for Lucius to wear.
"I have no idea how to wear this...garment," Lucius drawled, as he held the tartan up, a disapproving look on his face.
"Rather nae see ye rollin' on me floor," Walden said, with a chuckle. "Binkus, would ye assist?" Within minutes, Lucius was kilted and looked completely uncomfortable.
"And I'm going to have to wear one of these at that blasted wedding, aren't I?" he said.
"Aye, all the wizards have ta, unless ye want to answer to me Da," Walden said, still chuckling.
"I was hoping to not speak to him, beyond a simple greeting, if I can help it," Lucius replied, as he approached Hermione and Ginny. "My dear," he said, bowing to Hermione, and then kissing her hand. "Mrs. Potter," he added, with a bow in her direction. After this, he sat down gingerly at the table, and Binkus brought him tea.
"So, er, Mr. Malfoy," Ginny began, after she'd regained her composure. "I presume that's one of the restricted wands?"
"It is," Lucius replied, in a clipped manner. "As you likely already know, I'm required to use it for the next few years. Normally it's adequate for my needs," he sniffed.
"Well, when my brother received that Ministry contract, he did attempt to ensure that everyday spells would work, up to the parameters he was given..." Ginny trailed off.
"So George did make those wands! I thought they rather looked familiar," Hermione interjected.
"Oh, yes; they were going to use an American wandmaker but George's bid was more competitive," Ginny said.
"I am certain it was," Lucius growled.
"Ta answer yer question, Lucius," Walden stated, after a short, uncomfortable silence, "I didna ask ye ta meet us at the Ministry because I wasna sure exactly what time we'd be in, and I didna want things turning ta a spectacle."
"Hmph," Lucius answered, and sipped at his tea.
"It's fine, Mr. Macnair, I had come in to have lunch with Harry, anyway." Ginny said.
"So...er, when and where is, er, Ron's wedding?" Hermione asked.
"New Year's Day, and...well, apparently it's at your father's castle?" Ginny asked, with a glance in Walden's direction.
"Aye," Walden said.
"I've never quite understood why your father refers to that as a castle, it's really a hall house," Lucius said.
"Always been called that," Walden said, as he reached for the sugar bowl.
"I suppose standards are different up here," Lucius sniffed, as he examined the plaid. "This is terribly scratchy, how on earth do you stand wearing it?"
"Never thought it was scratchy," Walden replied. "But ye're nae supposed to wear yer pajamas under it."
Ginny was pretending to focus on her tea things, but Hermione caught her watching the interplay between the two wizards, a small smirk on her face.
"These bloody well aren't my pajamas," Lucius snapped. "It's cold up here! I always wore these to school."
"I remember," Walden said. "We used to laugh at it in Slytherin behind yer back, especially that trap-door part," and he addressed this last directly to Ginny, who began spluttering.
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Hermione said. "You two sound like an old married couple, can you give it a rest?"
With that last comment, both Walden and Lucius turned bright red, and Ginny stood up, unsuccessfully containing her laughter. "Pardon, Mr. Macnair, can you, er, tell me where your loo is?"
"It's down the hall to your right," Hermione gestured as she turned to Ginny, as Walden was presently looking as if he never wanted to speak again.
"Really, Walden, must you constantly antagonize me?" Lucius said, as soon as Ginny departed.
"Aye," Walden grunted.
"Well, I can see that it was a mistake for me to attempt any sort of politeness today-drop by the Manor when you've gotten over whatever it is that's stuck up your arse, why don't you? " He turned to Hermione. "Do feel free to visit the library any time, my dear, and give Mrs. Potter my regards," he added, in a much politer tone.
"Certainly," Hermione said.
"Thought he'd never leave," Walden said, after Lucius had stepped through. "Hope he doesna destroy me tartan. He shouldna be wearin' it anyway, Da will have conniptions."
"It's really just for the family, correct?" Hermione asked.
"Aye, although I'd like ye ta wear it as well," Walden said. "As me guest, I mean."
"Well, I suppose if that's proper," Hermione replied, warily.
"I told ye I consider ye part of me family," Walden replied, as he started buttering his fifth piece of toast. "Would like ta make that formal but I can wait."
"Er..." Hermione began, as Ginny returned to the room.
"Oh, he's left, pity that," Ginny said, smirking.
"Dinna fash, he never stays away long enough for anyone to properly miss him," Walden said, after he sat down his toast. Ginny giggled.
"I thought I heard his wife was in France?"
"Aye, she is. She'll come to the weddin' ta make things look proper, though."
"Well, my dad will just love that, I'll have to warn him. I can't say I've ever really forgiven him for that diary business," Ginny said, looking significantly at Hermione.
"He said, during the trials, that it was because he didn't get along with your dad, and it wasn't personal," Hermione reminded Ginny.
"Well, it ended up being personal all the same," Ginny said, raising her eyebrows.
"Indeed," Hermione said.
"It was because Lucius always, er, liked yer da, in school," Walden said, almost too quietly.
"Liked him?" Ginny said. "I mean to say-they got in that fight at Flourish and Blotts, it didn't look as if they were friendly, and Dad was always complaining about him-liked him how?"
"Ye know," Walden said, and he refused to comment further.
"Liked him?" Ginny spluttered again, and turned to Hermione. "Does he mean..."
"Well, Lucius is a bit...er...opportunistic, shall we say," Hermione clarified.
"Ah! Well. I, er, suppose that...does explain things," Ginny said. "I think I'll keep that bit to myself, though, when I warn my dad that Lucius will be at the happy occasion," and she giggled a bit at the end.
"It's certainly going to be a happy occasion for me," Hermione said.
"Very much of a relief for us all," Ginny riposted, sounding very much like her twin brothers. "And on that note, I really should be getting back. I do thank you, Mr. Macnair, for the tea," and she curtsied. Hermione realized, as she watched the small social ritual, that she still had an awful lot to learn about pureblood manners.
"Ye're welcome, Mrs. Potter," Walden said, after he stood up and bowed in her direction.
"Bring Evan by the Burrow, Hermione, in a few days?" Ginny added, before she turned to Walden and asked, "Do you need to lower the wards?"
"Left 'em down," Walden said.
"Cheers," Ginny said, and Disapparated.