Of Rings and Family
They had been at it for several hours now and Draco had finally successfully surrounded himself with shimmering golden runes that seemed lit from within. They had both stood there for several long minutes just admiring the ring of swirling magic; it was beautiful. You could always sense the magic of other witches and wizards around you, but this was different, Hermione could feel it in a tangible way. Draco was smiling widely in the center of his ring.
"What does it feel like?" Hermione asked.
"It feels like a ward in a way, I am in a barrier of my own magic, but I also feel the weight of the Malfoy magic behind me, grounding me," Draco replied.
Hermione hummed her acknowledgement. She turned back to the table, looking at the runes she knew would represent her. That had been the easier part. Actually, getting the magic was entirely different. Draco stepped up behind her and squeezed her shoulders, planting a kiss on the side of her neck. Hermione leaned into him.
"Come on, let's take a little break, it's been hours," he said gently.
"No, I can do this," she had gone quite rigid in his arms before turning and nearly shouting in his face.
Draco only took a breath and held up his hands in surrender. That took the wind out of her sails. Harry or Ron would have risen at that bait but having a partner who would stay calm in the face of her irrational outbursts was wonderful. Hermione remembered when she first started to really hang out with Greg. He was like this too, and he had to be to deal with Pansy's ever-changing moods. Hermione remembered the first time Greg had surprised her in school when he had been a voice of reason and calm one night after Hermione had broken up with Ron for the first time. Pansy was ready to burn the world down with her, but Greg had been gentle and kind. His soothing deep baritone had soon lulled them both back to reality. He had given her one of the best hugs of her life, he really was like a giant teddy bear, and told her if in the morning she still wanted to hex Ron he would go with her. Greg continued to be like that even when he worked for her. He could almost sense her moods she thought and would appear when she was about to tip over the edge. Even if he wasn't absolutely brilliant about magical creatures she joked she would keep him around as the office emotional mediator because no matter who it was Greg just had a way of bringing calm with him to a room.
"You are right I am sorry I raised my voice I am just frustrated," Hermione said apologetically.
"I think you are right there on the cusp of it, you just need to step away for a bit so you can come back with a fresh perspective. Come on, I will make us some tea and we can discuss the floral selections my mother has insisted you need final word on," Draco said with a wry smile and heavy eye roll.
Hermione snorted, "tea sounds fantastic, floral arrangements sound awful."
"Just wait until you plan the gala with her, she will have you trained as a high society wife in no time," Draco said with a laugh as he headed down the stairs.
The fireplace chimed as Hermione entered the kitchen.
"Were you expecting anyone?" both asked at the same time.
"No," Hermione said, and Draco just shook his head in response.
Draco went to answer, and the head of Pansy appeared in the green flames.
"Are we interrupting coital relations, or can we come through?" Pansy said dramatically and Hermione could see her eyes were closed.
"Who is we?" Draco asked skeptically.
"Just me," said Greg from somewhere behind Pansy.
"Come through if you must," Draco said with mock annoyance.
Pansy stepped through first then Greg. Both were casting cleaning charms as Draco headed back to kitchen.
"Did either of you want tea?" Draco called over his shoulder.
"Yes, I'll have a cuppa," Pansy said, followed by Greg's, "Sure mate."
Hermione entered the kitchen to get two more mugs down while Draco got more water for the kettle.
"Are you planning to share the reason for your surprise visit or are we meant to guess?" Draco deadpanned.
"We just wanted to see how you both were doing with everything. The wedding is in just a few days and I feel like I have hardly spoken to you," Pansy said more to Hermione than Draco.
"Pansy is also of some ridiculous opinion you need stag and hen parties," Greg said with a significant eye roll in Pansy's direction.
"I just think it would be fun. It could just be a party with your friends, come on," Pansy whined.
"Oh yes because the last one was such a blast," Draco drawled.
Hermione couldn't help but agree.
"We have so much to do, a party right now sounds like more stress than fun. I would prefer just having a party after the wedding or something. I still have to pick flowers apparently. I still can't make the damn ring I need to be able to make. Honestly what are we supposed to do if I can't get it by Monday is Kingsley going to drag us off to Azkaban because I don't have family magic," Hermione was unraveling.
Strong arms were wrapped around her then. The familiar scent of juniper and sandalwood.
"Hermione, breathe, you are the most talented witch I know, you make the impossible possible all the time. And what is this rubbish about family magic. I think you are just overthinking this. Family magic is just something you feel, it's not a concrete concept. Likely why you Miss-it-must-be-found-in-a-book Granger are struggling. Well get over it, it's not in any dusty old book you could ever find. You just need to let go of the stiff need for concrete logic and reason. Also if you don't figure out how to relax I will personally collect Luna from whatever divination lesson she is teaching and bring her here to instruct you on getting in touch with your inner self," Greg said smugly.
Hermione laughed then caught Draco's eyes across the table. He had been watching this entire interaction. She saw a flash of emotion pass over his eyes that she could have sworn was jealousy. It was gone before she could be sure.
"Greg is right, Hermione; you are being too clinical. This magic is about feeling not logic," Draco said.
"Mi when was the last time you spoke with your parents?" Pansy asked gently.
Hermione looked back to Draco. His face had softened now.
"Christmas was the last time I think," Hermione said, rising from her chair and stepping around Greg, squeezing his shoulder as she passed him.
Hermione busied herself in the kitchen washing her cup when arms had wrapped around her, stilling her hands. Cedar and bergamot, Draco.
"If you want to see them, I can make that happen. I will arrange an International Floo connection tomorrow and I will go with you. Just tell me what you need," Draco said softly.
Hermione leaned back into his chest. Strong. Warm. Safe. And most impossibly home. Hermione turned in Draco's embrace and placed a hand on his chest to press him away. She drew her wand then in that moment, casting the ring around her. The golden light of the runes lit her from the inside out. She felt incandescent; her magic crackled along her skin. She smiled softly to herself before she looked up at him then over at Pansy and Greg with a watery smile.
"Family is not always your blood; family are the people you choose and who choose you. The people who feel like home when you haven't got one. The people who make life bearable when all seems lost and the dark in closing in," Hermione said and for the first time in seven years she felt truly home.
"Damn you Mi why did you have to go and say such truly horribly lovely things and force me to have feelings. Fuck," Pansy said before turning on her heel toward the powder room.
Hermione shook her head and dismissed the ring. Draco closed the distance and caught her face in his palms and placed a kiss on her lips. He stepped back still holding her cheeks in his hands.
"You are a wonder, I will kick myself everyday for wasting years tormenting you instead of chasing after you," Draco said with a smirk.
"I think we should all be grateful it wasn't like that, you were already insufferably besotted with her even when you were pretending to hate her. I don't know if any of your friends could have handled you actually chasing her skirt every day," Greg said while making a gagging face, "Plus can you imagine Potter and Weaselby back then if you declared your intentions for her," Greg devolved into a fit of laughter.
Hermione couldn't help it, she was laughing too until she caught Draco's dark expression.
"Come on Draco, if you thought I didn't notice your less than covert staring at Hermione for three years you are barking mad. Even Vincent noticed and he was as dense as the Whomping Willow. I was with you all the time it would have been hard to miss the longing," Greg teased.
Draco had not looked at Hermione, but she was staring at him.
"Draco," Hermione said as she grasped him by the forearm.
He looked at her finally, embarrassment coloring his face. Pansy chose this moment to reenter the room.
"Oh, Draco, stop looking so shocked, we all knew. I heard from the powder room that Greg has told you we all knew. Well, it's true why do you think I was so much nastier to her as the years wore on. I was jealous until I realized it was pointless and turned my sights to the one who had always been there when you were off brooding," Pansy said, lightly dismissing him with a careless wave of her manicured hand.
"Draco," Hermione said more quietly so only he could hear her, "I am flattered, it's not like you haven't already told me as much. Are you bothered because they all knew? I think your friends all knew you much better than you think. I know you imagined yourself as an island but Pansy told me early on that you never really believed the blood purity thing, you just wanted to make your parents proud. Your friends know you, that's a good thing," Hermione said, then changing to a more teasing tone, "I mean they know you are an entire prick and still want to hang out with you I would be grateful if I was you."
Hermione said with a growing smile and had started stepping away as she finished her sentence. She thought she was out of his reach as she turned to run. She had seen the incredulity and malicious grin spread across his face as she spoke. Draco snatched her around the middle.
"Is that your opinion of me then an entire prick who should be grateful his friend's stoop to still associate with him?"
"I might very well gag if I am forced to watch another moment of this foreplay," Pansy whined.
Hermione was about to shut her down when Draco spoke.
"As I remember Pansy, you always like an audience or was that just a thing you did when we were young?"
Pansy's eyebrows shot to her hairline. Hermione looked over her shoulder at Draco. Greg shot daggers out of his eyes at Draco.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy, that is my wife you are talking to," Greg warned.
"Greg, I never said it was a bad thing, I merely wanted to put this," Draco said splaying his hand possessively across Hermione's stomach, "behavior in perspective."
Hermione felt her heart rate jump. She had never been one for this overt manhandling but something about the way Draco did it had her mind reeling. Pansy broke the tension finally and snapped whatever thrall Hermione had been in.
"Fine, I will concede to your point, though you might want to check with Hermione next time before you decide to pull her into your cock measuring contest," Pansy sniffed.
Draco looked down at Hermione then and must have noticed the pink tinge staining her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I don't—"
"Draco, it's fine," Hermione said and lowered her voice again, "I would just like to voice that I apparently like being manhandled by you and would like that again in the future."
The heat in Draco's gaze set her ablaze. Hermione stepped away from him because if she didn't, they really would be putting on a show and she wasn't even sure she would have minded. He seemed to understand the need for distance and Hermione noticed he had to subtly adjust his trousers.
"Alright well can we get drinks or something since it seems the magic bit is out of the way," Pansy chimed from across the room.
"Pansy it is half three. I should get home and pack, I have so much to move," Hermione groaned.
"Actually," Draco said as he rubbed his neck and worried his lip, "The elves may have begged to be allowed to help their new mistress move her things and I agreed after being pounced upon when I told Mipsy you were going to move in tomorrow and had not thought to invite them to help. I—well—I told them we would likely be away all day."
"Draco Malfoy, are you telling me there are elves at my house right now packing my things?!" Hermione shrieked.
"Perfect so you are free, and we can all have a lovely evening," Pansy offered cheerily.
Greg shushed his wife as Hermione rounded on Draco.
"Hermione, they wanted to, they were so hurt you didn't ask them. I couldn't say no when they both looked at me with those large pathetic eyes brimming with tears. I am useless in the presence of a crying female ok," Draco said defensively.
"Fine, I suppose it is one less stress and I will be sure to show my appreciation," Hermione said with a groan.
"Yes, yes Greg, your displeasure with my tactic is noted," Pansy said as she slapped her husband's hands away, "If you are quite finished having a melt down we can spend this extra time doing more important things like going out together. I don't think either of you realize how excited I am that Greg and I finally have another couple to spend time with. Chop, chop let's go," Pansy said as she shooed them toward the stairs.
It had taken over an hour to get out of the house after Hermione had come down in apparently the wrong choice of outfit. Pansy insisted on dressing Hermione after that.
The group then Flooed to the Leaky. Hermione realized this was going to be one of the first outings she and Draco had been on in the wizarding world with their friends, and thanks to the recent articles heads turned the moment all of them and cleared the hearth.
"Why don't we go to the Witch's Brew," pansy suggested after glancing around The Leaky Cauldron.
The group stepped on to the streets and the looks and whispers continued to follow them. Hermione tucked her hand into the crook of Draco's arm as they walked down the street. He smiled down at her and she smiled back. A camera flashed then.
"Fantastic, another lovely barrage of articles to wake up to," Hermione groaned.
"I think I can improve your wake up tomorrow," Draco whispered into her ear before he led her through the door Greg had held open for them.
Hermione's lips turned up in a secret smile as a blush crept across her face. Another flash before an employee came out to shoo the reporter away. Blaise owned this club though he was rarely present unless it was the off season for quidditch. He had implemented a strict no press policy. Blaise was, despite his easy-going persona, a paragon of discretion.
The interior was dimly lit, and enclosed booths lined the walls. The group chose one in the corner and Draco ordered a bottle of Ogden's for the table.
"I had heard Blaise opened this place, it is very him," Draco said with a smile.
"It is," Pansy said with a smile.
"We actually crashed your house for another reason," Greg admitted.
"I figured you two had something else up your sleeve that wasn't a double date," Draco drawled, taking a sip of his whiskey.
"We have been hearing about this Gala and we want in on planning. This needs to happen quickly after your wedding. Do you know how many people we know have received these summonses? It is creating tension, the exact opposite of what the Ministry intended. I have even heard rumblings about Pureblood families seeking to push Kingsley out and replacing him with someone else; someone more sympathetic to our plight. Many of them are talking about Mr. Greengrass. You know how old school he is, and he hates your family at this point. You need to make your move and oust Kingsley but you need a replacement that is worthy of the position," Pansy said.
"I actually had someone in mind," Hermione said and all three looked to her, "Susan Bones followed in her Aunt's footsteps and is a rather outspoken and influential member of the Wizengamot. She is young and has a strong desire to fight for change in the wizarding world."
"She is a good choice," Draco said after a pregnant pause.
"Susan will have the support of born parts of Wizarding society as part of an old noble family and also Muggleborns because her entire family was slaughtered by Voldemort," Greg added.
"Exactly," Hermione said, "I just have to approach her about it. I figured I would see her at the wedding and go from there. I want to focus on the next phase of this plan now that I know this wedding can't be avoided, and I am stuck with this git forever," Hermione teased.
Draco did not look amused. Greg snickered.
"Alright now that we have aligned our plans to undermine the powers at be and avoid a coup by the old guard, let's have fun," Pansy said as she clapped her hands together.
Conversation with the group was natural and as Hermione shared drinks with her friends and soon to be husband she felt grateful for this slice of peace she had found. She considered telling her fourteen year old self that one day she would sit at a table with the boy she punched in the nose, his girlfriend, and his lacky and it would feel like home more than anything had in years. She laughed internally at her former self's reaction and imagined it would be a swift punch in the nose. Greg was telling some story about Draco and his famous whining when she came back to the conversation at the table.
"—Merlin we had to carry his books for nearly a month after that attack. Seriously, Malfoy, how your parents ever thought you would make a successful Death Eater when you were thwarted by a Hippogriff scratch is beyond me," and the table laughed except Draco.
"Yea, yea carry on why don't you; so funny to mock the spoiled rich boy," Draco said fighting back a smile.
"At least darling, you are a self-aware spoiled rich boy now," Pansy placated.
"What a catch," Hermione added.
Draco's hand landed on her thigh.
"I don't seem to recall you complaining too much about this catch last night," his hand inched past the hem of her skirt, "or the night before," his hand moved closer to her knickers before he abruptly removed it, "but I can see now I was mistaken in my interpretation of you screaming my name."
Hermione's lips were parted and she couldn't find her breath.
"If you to are going to start fucking on the other side of this table we are going to need to move this party to a private room," Pansy said with a raised brow.
Hermione shook herself and shot a venomous look at Draco, who wore a smug smile.
"That will not be necessary," Hermione said primly, smoothing her skirts but in a far corner of her mind, which was clearly being addled by alcohol, she considered Pansy's proposition for a moment before dismissing it entirely.