Luna looked at her notes with an odd feeling of satisfaction. She leafed through her papers. Labelled under theory no. 23 she had allowed for the possibility that Draco had feelings for Hermione. It payed off to be meticulous about every possible angle. She nodded to herself.
She bent to Neville and showed him her notes. "See, Neville, I covered this angle."
Neville looked at her. His eyes were wide open. "I did not expect that."
"Believe me, Longbottom, no one expected that," Luna heard someone say from behind them. She turned and saw one of the Slytherins from the year above her. The dark-skinned handsome one. He looked thoroughly amused about the whole situation. He had been absent in her sixth year, when Hogwarts had been hell. She remembered dimly that he had fled to Italy. He had an Italian name. Bizani?
"There was a possibility, even if it did not seem likely." Luna pointed at her notes. She turned some of her pages and reached theory no. 28. She showed it to the wizard behind her. "There is now a distinct chance that his feelings are reciprocated."
"Reciprocated? No way!". The Slytherin laughed and Neville shook his head several times. Hannah at Neville's other side looked as if Luna had grown horns. Luna really wished she knew why she attracted so many magimites, the invisible creatures that made people see things that were not there.
"Look it is easy. Love in general attracts limpiepinkies, and limpiepinkies double their activity in dangerous situations. So, if there is danger involved, and the person in love saves the other person, the limpiepinkies enhance the probability of reciprocation!"
"Limpiepinkies?" The wizard behind her repeated.
"I thought, wrackspurts were the only little creatures messing with our heads," Neville said.
"Limpiepinkies do not mess with us," Luna corrected him. "They thrive in loving human relationships and are in symbiosis with us. We benefit from their existence." She snorted. "Really Neville, they are completely different from wrackspurts."
"So, what are the odds of reciprocation?" The dark eyes of the wizard behind her shone with amusement.
"80% at least. If what Harry said is right, and he has loved Hermione for quite some time, there must have been many limpiepinkies and considering the danger and his efforts, it would be very unlikely that Hermione remained unaffected."
"Would you bet on that?" the wizard whispered.
Neville turned around. "Zabini, what would you even bet? That Luna is right, or that she's wrong?"
Ah, Zabini, that was the name. He smiled and laughter danced in his eyes. "Care to bet against me, Longbottom? Considering the odds, I'd take her side." He pointed at Luna.
Neville seemed to think for a moment. "There have been so many strange turns in this trial, that I haven't bet on anything. And I'm not going to start now."
Luna patted him. "That is very sensible."
"Don't you want to listen to what the prosecution has to say?" Zabini asked.
Luna shook her head. "I didn't even include Sloane's interpretation in my notes. His take is absolutely illogical."
Sadly enough, logic and an open mind to many different angles was not widespread in this courtroom. Luna saw that Ron was nodding along to Sloane's argument. He was not the only one. Luna had tried to piece the evidence together as Sloane saw it, but it would have meant that Draco used a confundus on that little elf and everybody should know that it was impossible to confound elves. She had struck out theory no. 16 early on. Briefly, Luna chided herself, that she had forgotten to tell Hermione about elves' immunity to confundus charms. On the other hand, Sloane had just outright refuted the elf's testimony like so many in this courtroom. Luna sighed.
Luna tried to catch Hermione's eyes when it was time for her speech, but her friend seemed too nervous. Hermione's focus seemed off and Luna cringed when she began reading from her notes. But she caught herself and Luna looked at her theory no. 28 and felt very proud, when she ticked of one point after the other during Hermione's speech.
It all made sense, in a wonderful and satisfying way, and she was surprised that everybody seemed to be dumbfounded at Hermione's revelations.
Neville sat slumped as if he had been hit over the head. Hanna at his side had her mouth open like many other people. The noise in the room was incredible. Luna hoped that it would not attract wrackspurts.
Zabini tugged at her blouse. "How did you guess this?" he asked. His eyes were wide.
Luna raised her eyebrow. "Logic? Knowledge about limpiepinkies?" She tapped her lips with her wand. "The marriage was a surprise, though. I wonder how they managed that?"
"Who knows what is possible with a Muggle registry," Zabini mused. "Maybe they didn't even need to be present."
Luna saw with alarm that Ron had wrenched himself away from George and was running towards Draco gaining speed. Harry was already there shouting at Draco, demanding to know what he had done to Hermione, while Dawlish tried to separate him from the accused.
She shook Neville. "Please, try to stop Ron. There are already so many wrackspurts here. A brawl will not help." Luna wondered if Ron had been under the misguided impression, that Hermione's breakup with him had not been serious.
Neville looked at her, for a short moment he seemed as if he had just awoken from a dream, and then he jumped up and hurled himself at Ron, catching his arms and holding him just a second after Ron had managed to put in one punch at Draco's stomach.
Judge Prewett shouted for order. Hermione had lowered herself at Draco's side who had doubled over in pain.
It was only due to the presence of so many aurors, that after ten minutes or so, there was a semblance of order in the room again.
"Ms Granger," the judge said.
"Mrs Granger-Malfoy", Hermione corrected him.
"You do realise that this muggle certificate means nothing according to wizarding law?"
"That is not entirely true. It is my right as a witch to get a muggle marriage registered with the ministry."
"But Draco Malfoy is not a muggle."
"Do I need to remind you of the exact words of the law? 'Witches and wizards are allowed to marry people who cannot perform a wizarding magical bond and have the right to let their marriage be registered with the ministry to enjoy the rights of a legal marriage.'"
Hermione must have thought about this. The judge studied her with a bent head.
"I see," he finally admitted. "So, do you insist that the minister himself, Arthur Weasley, registers your marriage."
"Indeed, I do"
"I protest that." Lucius Malfoy pushed himself forward.
The judge looked at him with a frown. "Mr Malfoy, get in line. We're in the middle of a trial, and I have yet to call the wizengamot to vote on a sentence."
He called for order again and hexed some very loud people to silence. "Mr Weasley, resume your seat or I will have to order you out of the room," he shouted at Ron.
Judge Prewett studied the accused with a resigned look. "As entertaining as this was, I somewhat regret the decision to make this my last trial before retirement. This did certainly not go at all how I expected it to go."
He looked at Hermione. "This was a highly irregular defence, Ms Granger or Mrs Malfoy or Mrs Granger-Malfoy or whatever. As you certainly know, it is not forbidden to defend a spouse, but marrying the accused during the trial is somewhat unusual and it might be argued to call for a resumption."
The murmur in the courtroom grew again.
Judge Prewett glared at the audience. "I am tempted to close this trial to the public right now."
He resumed his speech when silence had fallen again. "Since I do not see how a resumption of the trial could unearth any new evidence and since you did reveal your bias, I will not adjourn, although this would be within my rights as a judge. I call on the wizengamot to vote for a sentence."
Luna saw her father approach the judge on behalf of the wizengamot. Prewett sighed so loudly, that Luna could hear it at her place. Neville had retaken his seat after bringing Ron back. Luna had heard him telling the Weasleys to hold on to their brother in any case. Percy had nodded with a grave mien.
"The wizengamot calls for a short break to discuss," her father told the judge.
Luna could practically see the wrackspurts dancing happily around Prewett's head.
"Half an hour," he balked, raised his wand, and conjured the shimmering silver wall that separated the wizengamot from the courtroom and would ensure privacy. Luna's father vanished behind it.
Judge Prewett turned his attention to Lucius Malfoy again. "Now, Mr Malfoy, you can tell me, why you would protest Ms Granger to get her right as a witch. I can only advice you to not say anything about her muggleborn status."
"I am the head of the house, Draco cannot marry without my permission."
"That is incorrect. Mr Draco Malfoy is of age and can do what he wants. The permission of the parents is just customary." Prewett scowled at the man. "And don't you start about pureblood families' traditions, Mr Malfoy. Tradition is not law. I guess you are as astonished as about every other person in this courtroom, but I will not stand for disregard of the law. I suggest you get over the fact that you now have a daughter-in-law."
Lucius Malfoy's face grew an alarming shade of dark red. "You expect me to stand by when a gold-digger has ensnared my son?"
Prewett was visibly at a loss for words.
Zabini bent to Luna. "A gold-digger. Granger as a gold-digger." He chuckled. "Do you have this somewhere among your theories?" he asked.
Luna looked at him sideways. "I've never seen lividgrains around Hermione. Never ever."
"What exactly does that mean?" Zabini asked.
"Let me guess," Neville chimed in. "Lividgrains induce greed and Hermione doesn't have a greedy fibre in her."
Luna smiled happily at Neville. He really had gained a deeper sense of understanding since she had come to know him.
Judge Prewett was calling for order again, this time the aurors had to detain Draco who had tried to reach his father. There was a myriad of wrackspurts around him.
"You are bloody insane, father, if you think that you can hide your prejudice against muggleborns behind this gold-digger accusation. Did you make a resolution this morning? A resolution that you would come up with the most ridiculous thing ever?"
The older and the younger Malfoy were trading insults in an alarming speed. Draco insisted that he was done with paying for the sins of his father, while Lucius told him off for being friends with muggles and voiced his opinion that Draco was faking the scutum spell.
"Rita Skeeter is having a field day," Zabini remarked. "She'll write about this trial for months."
Luna was distracted when she checked the Prophet's journalist, who had two quills writing for her and was writing herself with a third. When she turned to look at the Malfoys again, the commotion had died down, but father and son still stood opposite to each other, but while Lucius still sported an alarming colour, Draco had paled.
The shouting had stopped though, and Draco's next sentence was only spoken with a hiss, that nevertheless carried through the room.
"I will not give up my chance at happiness for your outdated bigoted opinions, father. You've done enough damage to my life."
"If you insist doing this, I will not stand by you."
"Lucius, no, please, no." Mrs Malfoy pleaded.
"You're not better than a squib and I will take care that the Malfoy fortune will not be yours. I would take your name away if I could. You might keep it and that ring to remind you of what you lost."
Mrs Malfoy began to cry.
"You're no son of mine and I cut you out of my mind and my heart for ever and all eternity." Despite the fact, that Lucius spoke his words with a low voice, he was easily understood. Luna could feel a heaviness to the words that made her sure, that she had just witnessed a curse. She shuddered, wondering what kind of curse Lucius had invoked.
"Please, Lucius, do not do this to us, take that back," Narcissa Malfoy pleaded.
Draco stared at his father as if he waited for lightning to strike him down. When nothing happened, he reached out with his left hand and found Hermione's.
"So be it," he answered. He turned his back to his father.
Lucius Malfoy looked at his son's back for the time it took Luna to draw several breaths. He called his wife and left the courtroom. Narcissa stayed behind, pressed Draco's free hand for a short moment, but followed her husband when he ordered her to come. Luna wondered if the older Malfoys had done a traditional wizarding marriage oath that involved the wife's obedience. Narcissa did not look like she wanted to go.
"Wow," Neville said. "No magic and disinherited. If he gets Azkaban now, I might feel sorry for him." Hannah at his side scoffed. "Sorry, for Malfoy! Neville your heart's too big."
Luna bent to him and whispered in his ear. "I've felt sorry for him for a long time, no need to be ashamed for that."
The shimmering wall that separated the wizengamot vanished and Luna's father stepped forward and placed a piece of paper on the judge's desk.
Prewett unrolled the piece and stood up. For the last time, he called for order.
"Mr Draco Malfoy, hear the verdict of the most esteemed wizengamot."
Draco was shivering. He straightened up. Hermione held his hand, her face was so pale, that Luna could see her small freckles standing out even from where she sat.
"In dubio pro reo, Mr Malfoy. You are a free man. Disowned, but free."
"Blimey", she heard Zabini say in her back.
Luna could have sworn that she saw the limpiepinkies overcome the wrackspurts around Draco and Hermione. What a day!
Notes:
My first chapter from Luna's PoV. It was absolutely fun to write her...
Also there is some Blaise/Luna action in this chapter, just a little bit.
Hope you like it and tell me what you think!
Chapter 61: The wardrobe incident
Summary:
Neville and Pansy unearth some secrets, some helpful some disturbing.
Notes:
This is a chapter heavy on Panville...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
When Neville arrived at Hermione's, Blaise and Luna had already made themselves comfortable on the sofa, but Pansy had yet to arrive. Easter break would start tomorrow. The children would be back then. For now, it was just Meg and Robert, and Luna's Penny had come along as well. Neville let himself fall into a chair and gladly took the glass Draco gave him before he vanished into the kitchen.
"Long day?" Blaise wanted to know.
Neville nodded. "Teacher conference. And I haven't seen Pansy all week. I must admit that the double courses take their toll, even though I share the DADA lessons with Astoria. I won't be entirely unhappy when Dawlish returns."
"Rachel says, you both are much better teachers," Luna told him.
"Some parents don't seem to think so."
"They are not the ones getting the lessons," Hermione scrunched her face. "And I think I know the kind of parents who complain. Am I wrong?"
"That was a rhetorical question, wasn't it, Hermione? You are never wrong, and I suppose you could name each and everybody who sent me a howler over my teaching methods."
He shook his head.
"You know, Neville, it is impossible to please all." Luna observed.
"Who would have guessed?" It was a testimony to his exhaustion that he snapped at Luna. Luna of all people.
Luna was not put out. She waved her wand to perform her anti wrackspurt move and Neville sighed, not with exasperation, but with affection. He still did not believe in wrackspurts, limpiepinkies, magimites or any other ridiculous small creature Luna believed in, but the fact that she cared always left him feeling better. Luna had that effect.
Draco had finished whatever he had done in the kitchen and joined them, just when the doorbell rang.
"Half an hour, maybe forty minutes, until food is ready" Draco said.
Neville stood up eagerly. "Must be Pansy," He went to open the door.
Pansy looked somewhat out of it. She had obviously run in the rain and was wet all over. She must have done some sleuthing in Muggle London again, because it was not like her to forgo drying spells.
She stepped in, spraying droplets all about her and Neville was alarmed at seeing her face.
"What is it, love?"
She shook her head and cast a quick drying spell. It did not help much. She still looked a little bit as if someone had tried to drown her. She looked at herself, grimaced and then called out. "Hermione, can I borrow something? My clothes have been positively ruined in the rain."
"Of course, if you find anything that fits your taste. You know the way." Hermione shouted back.
"I'll take the opportunity and show Neville the new plissés you have upstairs, o.k.?"
Pansy didn't even wait for Hermione to acknowledge her request. She pulled Neville upstairs, without even saying a proper hello or giving him a kiss. Neville was quite alarmed.
When they reached the small closet adjacent to the Granger's bedroom where they kept their clothes, Pansy pulled Neville in for a kiss, a hot, desperate, searing kiss, that left Neville quite breathless and aroused.
She pressed herself against him and fumbled at his clothes.
"Love." Neville cleared his throat, trying to keep a straight head. Ever since they had been at the Fawleys their lovemaking had been needy, urgent, and frequent and they had not seen each other for a week. Still, Neville usually needed privacy, and the small room at his friends', that was just an enlarged wardrobe was not the most romantic of settings.
Pansy showered his face with kisses though, as if a fever had taken hold of her, and his mind became a bit foggy.
He thought he saw small tears on her lashes. Her day must have been very bad indeed. He let his lips trail over her eyes, drying her tears.
"Make love to me, please," she whispered. To his own surprise that was all that was needed to persuade him.
"I love you, I love you," he told her and let her take the lead, kissing her fervently, sinking into her, oblivious of his surroundings, giving in to the demands of their bodies as if they would never had another opportunity to make love.
Afterwards Neville was certain, that they had been much too loud, and he tried to regain his composure after his high. Pansy was all business, cleaning up, angling a black skirt and a green shirt from Hermione's wardrobe. Her cheeks were glowing though, and she gave him another deep kiss. She looked better, as if Neville had relieved her of some burden.
Pansy put her own clothes into a bundle and dropped it at the entrance to retrieve them later. They entered the living room together, hand in hand.
Blaise raised his eyebrows, smirking at them. "Took you quite long," he remarked. Neville felt blood rush to his face but refused to take the bait.
"Did you like the colour of the plissés?" Luna wanted to know. "I rather think they would not go well with your wallpaper."
Usually, Neville would assume that Luna's question was innocent, but this time he was not so sure. He had absolutely no idea what colour the plissés had, and he was at a loss for an answer.
"The wallpaper has to go anyway," Pansy remarked with a straight face. Neville was sure, she had no idea about the colour of the plissés either.
Draco ushered them to the table. Meg sat at Neville's side, showing him her newest acquisition, her phone, and told him that her siblings had them as well for emergencies even though there was no electricity in Hogwarts. Neville thought that Astoria's finding, that power banks could be charged with magic, was shared by her far too often. He wondered if he should make regular checks for phones in Hogwarts. Neville gave his own number to his goddaughter and was a bit frustrated, that Meg had no problem at all to put him into her contacts. Being raised in a half-muggle household put her at an advantage.
He was then preoccupied with learning all about group chats, and Meg confided in him that she now had a phone to call dad and her bracelet to alert mum in case of emergency and that she could not be more ready to go to Hogwarts in September.
Neville interest in the enchanted bracelet was piqued easily, and he felt that he was not out of his depth in regard to that subject. Meg explained to him in a low voice that the bracelet was set to Hermione's magical signature. If Meg wanted to, she could tear the bracelet and Hermione would be alerted and could come to the rescue. Neville inspected the slender silver bracelet curiously. Meg told him that there was a tiny bit of goblin silver worked into the bracelet and that this enabled the connection to her mother's necklace. Apparently, one of Hermione's Goblin clients had been willing to part with one of his pieces.
"She has portkeys attuned to our magical signatures, so that she can reach us in an emergency," Meg whispered. "We are not supposed to tell anyone, but you are my godfather."
"You secret is safe with me." Neville smiled. Something tugged at his mind, but he pushed it away, to be examined later, when Draco's chuckle suddenly registered with Neville.
"Are you satisfied now, Pansy? Having finally had comeuppance for the broom closet incident at your wedding?"
Neville stared at him, his embarrassment about his exceptional conduct just half an hour before vanishing in a bout of utter astonishment. "You have a nerve, Draco, bringing up the 'broom closet incident'. My mother-in-law walked in on you!"
Blaise laughed. "Do you remember her face?... I doubt it though, you and Hermione were absolutely and completely wasted."
"To be quite fair, they warned us that they were going to be wasted." Pansy shook her head.
"What was the 'broom closet incident'?" Meg asked, while Robert repeated the new word, he just had heard.
"WASTED" he shouted.
"Nothing you would want to know," Hermione answered her daughter.
Meg frowned. "Did you fight at Pansy's and Neville's wedding?"
"No, why would you get that idea? There was an abundance of limpiepinkies," Luna told her.
"Meg," Hermione bent down and hugged her daughter. "I told you. Dad and I had a fight, and yes, we shouted, but we sorted it out. There is no need to think that this happens all the time."
"You fought?" Pansy asked. "You fought? As in fighting? Not as in competitive bickering?"
"The other day." Hermione flushed. "When we came back from Hogwarts."
"I thought that day was a success." Neville was worried.
"It had nothing to do with the teaching. It was a bit silly, like all fights are," Draco waved his hand dismissively.
"I don't know if it was silly. You called mum 'dear'. You never call mum 'dear'. It was frightening." Meg analyzed everything as usual. And Neville tended to agree. He had never heard the word 'Dear' at the Grangers. His parents-in-law called each other 'dear' and it made his skin crawl.
"O.k. I admit it, Meg. It was serious, but we sorted it out. And we won't call each other dear anymore."
"WASTED" Robert's input made them all laugh.
The little boy was satisfied with his success. "POTTER", he added.
That was followed by an awkward silence.
"Blimey," Draco pressed his lips together. "Seems Robert was awake as well."
"What did Harry do?", Luna wanted to know. Her big eyes were suddenly full of worry. Blaise laid his hand on hers.
Draco stood up. He looked tense. "I'm not going to break unspoken agreements here. Anybody wants wine?"
Neville looked at Pansy. She was pale, which meant that she had an inkling. She knew something was on. It was as if there was a click in his head. He was about to open his mouth, but shut it again, when he saw Pansy send him a warning look.
"We don't want to spoil a perfect evening by speaking about the chosen one, do we? If you have some of the white wine you had last time, I'd like to take that." Neville smiled.
Blaise looked at him open-mouthed. "Yes, my lovely snakes, this is what Gryffindors call a subtle diversion. Try not to gloat at my clumsiness," Neville carried on.
Draco laughed somewhat shakily. "I'll fetch the white."
"I got an owl by Hannah, by the way" Luna announced. "I am sorry to say that the marriage of Earnest Abbot and Lucille Malfoy is a dead end. They died without issue."
She took her wand and made her anti wrackspurt spell. "That by the way, was a Ravenclaw diversion. And I'll take the white as well, Draco."
Blaise tried his hand at diversions as well and he and Luna shared tales about their journeys and soon the talk became lighter again. It was easy to slip into their usual friendly banter. School and children's pranks were always good for some tales as well, and even Pansy talked about a young boy who had been caught trying to break into the Weasleys' shop.
"There was no real need to apprehend him," she summed up. "I threatened that he would end up as George Weasley's guinea pig for their candies the next time he breaks into the shop."
Whatever Harry had done or not done, was forgotten for the evening.
When they reached home, Neville told Pansy about Meg's bracelet. The thought had sat in the back of his head the whole evening and he had finally worked out why the Grangers emergency system was so interesting. "This might be how the stoppers in the figurines work. You should check if there is goblin silver in them."
"You mean the figurines you shouldn't know anything about?" Pansy asked.
"The very ones. If a magic person handles the figurine, the stopper sends an alert to a recipient with his or her magical signature."
Pansy frowned. "We can run an analysis on the silver without triggering the stopper, I think. But if we try to detect which magical signatures are set in, they might notice us sleuthing."
She shook her head. "That was what was bugging me. When I redid the wards at Fawley's house duplicating his signature, I kept thinking that I should see a connection to the case."
Neville took her cloak and banished it to the wardrobe. Pansy still held on to her own clothes that had been ruined by the rain. Neville doubted that they were really ruined, but Pansy had other standards. Hermione's skirt sat a bit loosely around her hips.
She still looked detached, as if even one part of the riddle solved could not pull her out of her sullen mood.
Neville finally voiced his suspicion, the one that had hit him during their dinner. "They're under observation. Harry has put them under observation."
He could see Pansy's eyes misting over, her face contorting. He took her in his arms.
"You learned that today and that is why you were so out of it."
Pansy just nodded and pressed closer to Neville.
"Whatever for? I mean, this is ridiculous. Is Ron behind that?"
"Hex me, if I know. It might be Ron, but it makes no bloody sense. And I certainly do not think that Harry would instigate an observation just as a favour to Ron. Several aurors approached me. Teddy Lupin of all people spoke to me, Baxter told me he was ordered to tail Draco a few weeks ago. Eugenia Shape wanted me to take it to the minister as it would clearly fall under harassment. And Viola gave me several hints, that I only worked out after Teddy had come out in the open. Because I just did not want to believe it."
"Baxter," Neville was baffled. "Baxter. He is the absolute worst at fieldwork."
"Draco spotted him and that is probably how he knows. I just wonder why he didn't tell Hermione before last week."
"They must fear a repetition of the Amortentia mess. No wonder, they are tense. I wouldn't trust the auror department in their place either. But it makes no sense at all." Neville shook his head. Harry did rarely make mistakes, and to order Baxter, Baxter!, to tail a man who saw potential threats in every shadowy corner was botching it completely.
"That is not all. Dudley made a list of Fawley's contacts and it is huge, some of them are Muggle contacts, high up in the Muggle government. This might be the most serious case we ever had, and I don't know why Harry thinks he has to settle grudges that are decades old."
Neville thought about Harry's visit and kept silent for a while, organising his thoughts, running his mind through possible explanations. He almost wished, Luna and her habit of listing theories were with them.
"Draco was meant to notice Baxter," he finally concluded.
Pansy frowned.
"That is the only thing that makes sense. Harry gave you his cloak. Harry said, he trusts two people in the department, Teddy and you, which means he doesn't trust anyone else. He used me to get at Fawley."
"So, he pretends to look at an old enemy and covers up where he really looks."
Neville exhaled slowly to get his feelings under control. "I do not like it. This hurt you. He really has no qualms to manipulate."
"We've been worried about the leak in the department for ages." Neville saw that she was trying to control her breathing as well. She was as unhappy about this as he was, even if she defended Harry's reasoning. "I am relieved, if only a little. It's not another Amortentia disaster in the making. How very Slytherin of Harry."
She laughed, but it was a dry and humourless laugh.
Neville stroked her back and tried to breath in unison with her to calm down.
"What are the chances that the Grangers' house is bugged and that you'll get to see some very flustered aurors on Monday who witnessed us having a little bit of action?"
He could feel her smile into his chest. "I sincerely hope not. But I'll look extra hard for red faces."
Notes:
Pansy and Neville just keep creeping in... But there are also some important discoveries.
Chapter 62: Honeymoon Pillow Talk (March, 18 - April, 11, 2002)
Summary:
Draco's and Hermione's honeymoon - some glimpses.
Notes:
Hints at sexual activity. It should still be within the T rating range...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Your toes are so pink, they look like very small piglets."
"My toes are no piglets."
"I said they look like piglets, not that they are piglets. They are cute. You have cute toes."
"Take that back. Nothing about me is cute. That is preposterous."
"I really love that cake. You should have baked that for the wizengamot. And then I would have argued that nobody who makes cake like that can be evil."
"Would that not count as bribe?"
"No, not a bribe, evidence, character testimony, whatever."
"Do you think you could tell Prudy, that I love her, but that I do not care for her catching us red-handed?"
"To be fair, we did invite her for tea."
"Yes, but I almost got a heart attack, when she apparated on our pillow."
"We weren't even near that pillow."
"Have you called Malcolm yet?"
"A fortnight, Granger, we agreed on a fortnight of doing everything and nothing. And right now, I think I would like to be a pearl-diver."
"A pearl-diver."
He ducked under the covers. "There is the sea, wet and salty, and there is this beautiful pearl, and I want to dive in and find the pearl."
"Draco, do pearl-divers search for pearls with their mouth?"
"It's the best method, I'm sure. What do you think?"
"Hmm, I think I agree."
"Take pity on me. I am a nobleman fallen on hard times. I want to eat. I would be willing to work for my food."
"What would you be willing to do then? I am about to be a rich lawyer."
He nibbled at her neck. "I could fulfil every dirty wish you have. It would be an arrangement to our mutual benefit. Some of your wishes might align with mine."
She giggled.
"Your blush tells me that you have an idea. Tell me," he purred.
She blushed and whispered in his ears.
His eyes alighted. "I love you, Hermione, yes let's try that."
He picked her up, sat on the bed and put her on his lap.
"My knight."
"Why do you call me your knight? I don't have armour. I don't even wear clothes at the moment."
"Because of your mighty sword of course."
"Ah, do you like my mighty sword?"
"I am not sure. It is so menacing. I think I'd like it better, when it is properly sheathed."
"What would be the proper sheath though?"
"Right now?" She grinned. "Close your eyes and stuff your ears and guess which sheath I use!"
"Yes, Granger, please, my sweet gold digger."
"Of course, we'll bring flowers when we visit your parents. Even if it is only a single rose. I will not sink so low, that I won't bring flowers, when my mother-in-law invites us."
"As long as we don't bring sweets. They would abhor that."
"Anything else? I mean I really want your parents to like me."
"They already like you."
"Yes, because they don't remember your complaints about that damn Malfoy boy. I want them to like me in such a way, that they continue to like me, even if they happen to remember."
"Why? Have you grown fond of my muggle parents, Malfoy?"
"You got me there. And I feel bad, that I couldn't help them refurbishing their house."
"You know, we should look for a ring. I want a ring on my finger. I want to show it around and tell everybody that I married the love of my life. I want that engraved on the inside. 'March 14, 2002, love of my life'."
"Unfortunately, rings don't come that cheap."
"We could start with a silver ring, maybe an Irish Claddagh ring, so there wouldn't be a doubt, that it's a wedding band."
"Do you think our marriage has been registered yet?"
"Hmm. Minister Weasley might be reluctant."
He shrugged. "I don't care about the registration. We're together now. I care about bragging about how the love of my life married me in the middle of a trial where I was the accused."
"Let's just make pasta."
"You're a fiend when you're hungry. I wanted to make risotto."
"That takes too long. I need food now, or I might be forced to eat other things."
"Other things?"
"Earlobes for example. Although they are too small, it's not more than a snack."
"Do you want children?"
"Hmm. I haven't thought about that, to be honest. Not yet, I think."
"We have time. Just don't you forget the contraceptive charm."
"I'm not stupid, Malfoy."
"I definitely don't want to talk about my father"
"Do you want me to read out loud what the prophet says?"
"Just give me the gist of it."
"Did you know you imperiused me? Skeeter is a bit unclear on how you managed to do this, though, but she has interviewed some people who swear that they noted my glassy unfocused eyes. I should send her a jar and tell her that she'd better not bug me too much."
She laughed.
"She interviewed Luna! Listen to this: The member of the Order and former Ravenclaw is certain she saw an abundance of limpiepinkies around the newly weds."
"Limpiepinkies?"
"Skeeter seems to think they are ominous. But they are not, they are attracted to love."
"So, Looney actually thinks we're in love? She must be the first!"
"Don't call her Looney. She's a sweet soul. And she's really quite observant if you sort out what all her little creatures mean."
"I stand chastened. We can't afford to call people lunatic who actually see that love is all around us."
"And she promised me that she would look after my bureau and my mail during our honeymoon." She crunched her nose. "Not, that I expect to get much mail or many clients."
"I am sure, once the dust is settled, people will see that you are the best lawyer they can get. You do not even shy from marrying your school nemesis to win a case. That is what I call dedication."
"I cannot in good conscience use this method more than once."
"In sincerely hope not. If you marry your next client as well, I'll have no option but to kill him and then I will go to Azkaban. All your efforts will be in vain."
"We can't have that."
"I think from all of Luna's creatures I like the magimites best."
"What do they do?"
"They make people think and see strange things around them, that they have grown horns or say strange things or wear funny earrings."
"I take it the magimites cluster around Luna?"
"Yes, Luna is sometimes quite put out, that she can't get rid of them, when she is so brilliant at dispelling wrackspurts."
"The Malfoy trial still makes the headlines in the Prophet. More ridiculous theories."
"Skeeter really milks it."
"She's become quite good at hiding her own takes in interviews… Just to skirt her agreement with me. Some interview mentions Amortentia, it's on page 5. That is preposterous. And they comment on the irony that the woman who argued to ban Amortentia has become a victim of the potion."
"Can you please show me how exactly you are a victim of the potion? Hermione, please? Come here. Kiss me, kiss me here."
"Here, there's your 'kiss', ferret boy."
"That's a cushion, not a kiss, Granger. Your addled brain doesn't get the difference, does it?"
"Leave that prophet, just throw it in the bin. No prophet for the rest of the honeymoon. I don't want another cushion in my face."
…
"Hey, I said, I don't want another cushion in my face. You'll pay for that, witch."
"You know what really sucks about the trial?"
"The outcome didn't suck."
"I would have loved to see 'The Lord of the Rings' in cinema… I was looking forward to it… and then I spent Christmas and the following months in that bloody abandoned bureau."
"Did you read Tolkien?"
"Yes, I liked it, even though Gandalf reminded me a little bit of Dumbledore."
"Less manipulative though. I think I'll never forgive Dumbledore for the fact that he basically ignored your problems in sixth year and led Harry like a lamb to the slaughter. Who's your favourite of the fellowship?"
"Boromir, obviously. Tragic guy, tragic death. I wanted to see that."
"We'll buy the DVD once it comes out."
"If we'll have the money."
"We won't be that hard pressed, I am sure. And we can always persuade my parents to buy it."
"Draco, please, don't."
"What is it?"
"I don't know, my breasts are so tender today. It feels weird. As if someone put a net over them. A net under tension."
"Maybe, if I do that, just very, very carefully…."
"I mean it Draco, there are other places of my body you can kiss."
"I feel so queasy. Are you sure that yesterday's eggs were o.k.?"
"I feel fine. You do look a bit pale, love. I'll make you some tea. Just stay in bed."
"Here's the tea. Do you feel like eating something?"
"I am not sure. I feel queasy but I also feel hungry."
"Hm. Should we see a healer? You are awfully pale."
"No, I don't want to spoil the honeymoon."
"Prolonged honeymoon of three weeks."
"Yes, because my husband is a lazy aristocrat and because, somehow, we had a house elf helping who shouldn't even be here."
"I did most of the cooking, though. Prudy just complained about my use of lemons. And she only came over on her free days."
"I might be able to eat some bread or toast."
"I could get you some French bread from the bakery next door."
"I'd love that."
"You stay in bed, love. Sip that tea, and I'll be right back."