Two: One wine, two whiskeys, and a few beers
Previously; Harry and Daryl share their first kiss a little bit unexpectedly, and the group help a settlement out by offering them space and sanctuary. Shane and Merle seem to fit in better than expected, and everybody is trying to make life work again in their way. New people are moving in, and December will roll around earlier than probably expected since they are too busy with planning for a wedding. Yule is after all a time for celebration.
Musical notes:
A: The fear – Robin Loxley
B: Punisher main title - Tyler Bates
C: Heroes dress in black - Blues Saraceno
I'm sorry this chapter took longer than before. I've been quite sick recently, and needed some time to get all my affairs in order for me to get some peace and quiet to write again. In the meantime I have written six chapters or so, but I'm back to editing and adding some stuff again.
Thanks to my lovely beta Salllzy! She has been updating some amazing works lately, so give her a shout-out, and check out her work on AO3!
Hope you enjoy this one. If you are interested in Harry's and Daryl's appearance, you could always check out the one-shot in the last part of this series; "Death doesn't want to know" one AO3 (because of the ratings). Enjoy!
Past time Grimmauld Place, London (Music: A)
Ron, Draco and Harry were lounging on one of the dark green sofas that the reception room had to offer after Harry had redecorated the whole place. Grimmauld was now a townhouse that a family could be proud of again. Both Harry and Ron were wearing lounge clothing, and sipping on a cognac in Harry's case, and a cider in Ron's. Draco had only removed his outer robes as he had crashed their 'party' a few hours ago, and nursed a cognac too while he had his feet in Ron's lap. His shoes were placed neatly next to the sofa.
Ron had come back late that morning from the Ministry, and he was venting all his frustrations at once while his friends were listening to him. A record player was set up in the corner, and playing some tunes.
"Mum is livid about her ordeal, but Ginny is on house arrest under the current Lady of the House. I do believe Fleur has asked her aunt to help out, and Ginny is not happy about all of it." Ron snorted.
"Even Aunt Muriel has involved herself, the old bat. Mother was unhappy with that, because Aunt Muriel is a tough ass. She doesn't let people walk all over her. She does call me her darling, nowadays." Ron now smirked, as Harry shook his head, but he waited for Ron to continue with his story.
"Aunt Muriel has also been telling all her tea party friends how I defeated the Dark Lord. I haven't had the heart to tell her that it was mostly you and Neville, but .." Ron lingered, and Draco smirked and Harry shook his head in laughter.
"You are a hero, mate. No matter who killed what." Harry touched Ron's shoulder while Draco sang in an eerie voice; "You are our hero, Weasley!"
"Alright you two, I got the memo. Let me be." The tallest of them just shook his head, and went on with his story.
"Bill wants to leave the Burrow for father, and they are looking for a house closer to London than Shell cottage now that he has to travel a lot more with his new titles. Charlie has offered to help build one, because we don't think that the Burrow is going to make it. Especially since Dad doesn't want to live there anymore. It's a house that needs magic to survive."
Ron sat shoulder to shoulder with Harry on his left, and Draco on his right on the living room sofa that Harry had just brought in. Ron had his hands across Draco's feet absentmindedly, while Harry was fidgeting with his wand. His old wand, that was giving him more problems every day.
"I'm so sorry, Ron."
"Nonsense, Harry. What they did was completely wrong, and we can only hope that the implications on the family don't ruin the reputation that our family already has." Ron said in a firm voice.
"Aunt Muriel has come down from her cottage in Scotland, and has taken it upon herself to help Ginny get back into line with Fleur. On one hand, it wasn't Gin's fault," mused Ron, "on the other hand, she knew what was happening before Mum confounded her, and she would always let it happen. She never spoke back, she never told Mum explicitly 'no'. I always told her that she should say something to Dad, Bill or Charlie. They know how to handle Mum in the worst cases." Ron shook his head, his sleeves all propped up against his elbows, not caring about his appearance.
Harry took a deep breath, and let Draco be the one to comfort Ron, as Harry laid his head back on the sofa to rest his eyes. It was a true mess, and he felt responsible for it. He had offered to pay for Ginny's tuition and extra lessons that she needed now she couldn't return to Hogwarts as she was medically not stable enough. Bill had tried to refuse, but Harry wouldn't budge. He had enough to share it with the Weasleys; the ones he considered as family.
"I would have never guessed that mum would place her own daughter under a variant of the Imperius and that Diggle had the guts to try and kill you. He would have succeeded, if you weren't you. It truly is despicable." Harry tasted the venom from Ron's words, and he noticed how worked up the man had become next to him.
"Father has been rousing all houses. Most of the Wizengamot, old families or not, are angry on your behalf. The fact that those people went against magic herself with these actions, is so not done. This will get a follow-up. I promise." Draco's voice was laced with steel.
Harry turned his head slowly to look over at Draco who merely gave him the perfect eyebrow raise.
"Father arranged the first trial on purpose when they thought you were dead, so the Wizengamot would take some action. Within those days that you were down, he was able to gather support, and show your side of the story." Draco explained, as Ron just shook his head.
"This way: Diggle's in Azkaban, and nobody can help or contact him now without permission from the head Auror. With Mrs Weasley in Ministry custody and her magic bound, she can't influence you or her daughter either. It was the safest choice."
It took a while before Harry reacted. "I wish it didn't have to be like this." He said softly, feeling more vulnerable than he had in years.
"We know." They almost said simultaneously.
"But what they did is unforgivable, even if it's my mother; it's insane. It is ridiculous. No sane person would do that to another, let alone to her children." Ron was breathing hard, and trying to hold back his tears.
"What else would she do to us, what has she done to us? I needed to get a whole flushing by the Unspeakables because Mum did this. It is customary to get a check-up in cases like this, but I've heard from other Aurors that they didn't find it a pleasant ordeal. I'm not even an Auror yet." Ron sighed.
"I know that Ginny will get the attention she needs, and Mother will get a sentencing that will be right for her crimes," explained Ron, but the tears were falling from his eyes. "But I feel guilty."
"Don't Ron. You never were the one to initiate anything." Harry said softly to him.
"Perhaps, but I should have told Mum that you and Ginny were just really good friends. You are like a sister to her. I should-"
Draco cut him off with a stern voice. "No, you shouldn't have."
The redhead shared a look with the blonde, and they held each other gazes for a while, before they both nodded. Ron and Draco hadn't moved in a few hours, and Harry wondered how they still managed to do it. To take care of him, of each other, with just a few words and looks. How they would hold him when he needed that.
Not realising he had actually spoken his words out loud.
"We love you too, stupid." Draco was wiping a tear away on his own face now, but Ron sat like the protector he was. His tears dried up a long time ago. Strong, like a warrior.
Those boys – now men - were his family. His lifeline. Harry just knew it.
Present time Hallow Manor, Deathly Inn – Harry and Draco
The room they were situated in had once been a study. It hadn't been too big, but was connected to the only outwards floo with a connection to the library. During the rebuild it had been Draco who had suggested to moving his office to his own wing on the third floor, since it wasn't common for a lord to have people able to wander in his office.
Harry had agreed immediately, and somehow the blonde had turned it into a communal space before Harry knew it. It did work out better this way, even Ron had agreed, for security purposes. The library had been cleaned by Harry and Draco, and books that weren't open to the general public had been moved towards Harry's private library. It had been Ron's idea to turn the ground floor for communal purposes, so they could close off the second and third floors if they needed it.
Ron had moved in with Harry on the same day, and had never complained. Draco had demanded his own room, which Narcissa already had prepared for him as well. They were the only two who were on the third floor as well in the Antioch wing whereas Blaise, Theo and George now shared the second floor of the Antioch wing since Daryl was more in his chambers than anything else.
Although Ronald had his own wing to share with Draco, he sometimes choose the second-floor wing where the other singles slept, to be close to his brother. Harry didn't mind it at all. As long as they were all encompassed in his wards, he would know they were safe.
Since the old study was now dubbed Deathly Inn by Luna, it had become a place where most people would find themselves after dinner for a light conversation, a game of chess or cards, a few drinks, or just listening to the music.
Today while Ron had been out with Merle, and Daryl was tending to the horses with Mack had been one of the first moments in a long time when Draco and he were alone again since their talk in the pond. That seemed way too long ago now. Draco was nursing a cognac, while Harry had progressed towards fire whiskey for the day. Both were wearing casual robes, Harry's a tad more casual than the blonde, but it had been quiet around the grounds for some time, and they were redressed in seconds if needed.
The wards had proven that they would hold no matter what, and the Walkers seemed to avoid Hadrian's lands. Probably because of the Death magic that seeped in and through the grounds.
A classical record had been placed on the record player, and they were both savouring the moment as it was. A drink, a good friend nearby, and some soft music to relax and take their thoughts away from work, and all that was going on.
"When do you know if you are in love?" Harry asked, seemingly out of the blue, after he had taken a few sips of his drink for courage.
"Jeez Potter." Draco always called him by his former last name if he'd done something wrong or if he annoyed the blond in one way or another. Harry guessed it was an old habit that you could barely break. "You kinda know, I guess." Draco shrugged, and looked up from his drink.
"That's the least eloquent I have ever heard you speak!" Harry retorted with a vague gesture of his hands. "If you could answer seriously, I would like that."
Draco stayed silent for a few minutes, but nodded his head after a while after he poured both of them new drinks. He realised that Harry was indeed serious. The Slytherin figured they could need another pick-me-up for the conversation.
"I know you are serious, and that is probably the worst part about that! Harry, I know you had a fucked up life, but have you seriously never felt attraction towards someone?" The blond looked at him, and Harry just shrugged. "You never felt that you could not do without someone, that you wanted to be with that person? That this person was the only one you would care about?"
"Not until recently." Harry took a good breath and looked Draco in his eyes with an uncertain smile.
"Daryl huh!" Draco smiled at Harry in a way that the pureblood only reserved for the man on special moments.
"Yes, Daryl." Harry sighed and just shook his head. "He kissed me a few days ago. Not a peck on the lips, Draco, but a full-blown kiss. I mean ..." Harry made some nervous gestures with his hands, and shrugged again. "I knew he was spending more time with me than anyone else, but we'd only shared a few kisses on the cheek here and there, or one of those manly hugs. I never guessed that he would be like me until he held me like that."
"So it made you feel special? Like he would only want to do that with you?" Draco asked softly.
"He said it even." Harry let his hands rest on the counter and dropped his head in there. "We were talking about our relationship, and after I explained to him how I saw those things, he just held and kissed me."
The Master of Death blew out his breath, to take another deep one. "It was so soft, gentle, and raw at the same time. I felt like I belonged, like my magic was at peace – you know?" Harry had a slight blush marring his features as he thought about what had happened in his study just two nights ago.
"Then what you are feeling right now, is exactly what being in love is all about, Harry. I know it might feel a bit uncomfortable, but believe me that it is a very joyous affair."
"But what do I do now?" Harry's muffled voice sounded from under his hands.
"Go with the flow, let him decide, but don't hesitate if you want to cuddle or kiss. Enjoy what will come."
Harry did not know what to make of it. He felt so good with Daryl at his side, but he wondered if the hunter would like him back in that other special way. A way in which Draco had just helped him realise that Harry did like Daryl.
He was in love. Of all the things he could be it was just that.
Technically, he had known it for a while now. He had just refused to answer the feeling itself. Something he hadn't told his brothers was the way Daryl would hold him, put an arm around him or whenever they apparated that the hunter practically hugged him. The way he visited him at odd times during the day in his office, and even had slept in his bed when they both had been too drunk to walk after a night in the pub, and they had floo'd to the office that was connected to Harry's rooms. It felt a whole lot like a relationship.
Draco steered the conversation away, and started talking about Astoria and Scorpius, as Merle, Carol, and Daryl entered the bar. He had been over for a few days before, and Harry was interested to hear what they were up to. Scorpius was growing up fast, and it only be a few more years before he would attend Hogwarts too.
"I sometimes feel like I should home-school Scorpius," Draco sighed, as Harry nodded.
"I know how you feel. Andromeda has given me full custody of Ted for two months. She's moved into Malfoy Manor, but I feel like the war is haunting her. Now with the Death walking, I just want to keep him closer," said Harry as he tried to sort out his thoughts.
"It's not that I don't trust Hogwarts and Minerva, but we have loads of intelligent people here. Ted could learn a lot here, and take his exams through the Ministry."
"If that thing is still standing at the end of this year. Father had me read through the documents, it's atrocious."
"I agree. Have you and Astoria decided on his schooling yet?" Harry asked.
"Yes, her thoughts are in line with mine. For now, he's registered at Hogwarts, but if they continue with their policy as they do now in the Ministry, we will home-school him. He's just started with a few tutors already in the basic subjects, and luckily he seems to have gotten his mother's eagerness for learning." Draco sounded proud.
"That's really good!" Harry commented. "Just know we'll all help out where we're needed."
"Same for Teddy, Harry."
Both men looked at each other in understanding, as they nursed their drinks.
"How's Astoria doing?" Harry asked tentatively.
"She's worsening. The stress is eating at her, and that worsens the curse. Daphne is taking care of her full time which I think is very admirable. Astoria wanted to send Scorpius over for Christmas, but I've told her that she should use the time she has left to spend with Scorpius. I'll be fine afterwards with him. I think I do right to him, somehow, nowadays."
"You're a good dad, Draco. We've all seen it. Don't worry, even Lucius is a loving grandfather now the pressure's off." Harry assured him, and he saw the gratefulness in his best friend.
"Thanks, Harry, I appreciate it."
It didn't take long for everyone to arrive, after Merle and John had entered. Vicky was putting Reagan to bed before she and Carol would join them. The inhabitants of the Peverell lands would always find each other in the pub, talking about life, things to do, ideas, and plans to look over. Only Marriet and Severus had decided to stay in their own rooms, and the rest understood their need to be together now that she was pregnant.
Harry looked over at the dark-haired hunter again, while he tried to ignore that feeling in his stomach. He guessed that he should wait, and let Daryl make the next move. He had been wrong about these matters of the heart before, and he couldn't afford to misinterpret the conversation they had had. Not now. Not now there were feelings involved somehow.
Present time Hallow Manor, Deathly Inn - Daryl
When they walked into the pub, after Merle had herded them towards the place for drinks for the third time that week, Daryl hadn't expected to see Harry sit there as relaxed, and handsome as he was. The man usually had a very hunted look on his face from being as busy as he was. After having that conversation two days ago, Daryl felt more daring to flirt with said wizard now that he knew he wouldn't be turned down, but the hunter didn't know if he was able to do that while there were others around.
Their conversation from two nights ago had been more than an eye-opener, and Daryl was hesitant to overact on his feelings. He had done so before in his life, and he had gambled with his heart. Somehow, deep inside, he knew that Harry was in the same position, and that the wizard in question had always carried a heavy-duty with even lesser room for love in his life, but that didn't change the fact that Daryl did not want to rush into things. He just wanted to support the kind soul that did all those things for the Dixons, and Daryl didn't know where all that love and caring suddenly came from, but he had learned from Merle very early on that sometimes your gut would tell you something, and then you had to follow it. It had been the way they had dealt with loads of things.
The Dixon's had a good gut, and Daryl had relied on it more than once. It would always push him towards the path that he needed to take.
Daryl tried to be less obvious, and did not take the stool next to Harry, but when Draco and Harry moved towards the tables, one chair on Harry's side right side stayed empty as if the whole room and universe wanted them next to each other. Daryl decided that sitting next to him wasn't suspicious, as they hung out around each other a lot, and he casually made his way over to the plush currant red chair.
They had decided to see where this would go, they would have to do that on their own terms, without getting people involved, and Daryl intended to keep that promise.
Daryl knew that a relationship with a No-Maj, or Squib was frowned upon within the magical community, he had picked up on those conversations here and there. He hadn't brought it to Harry's attention, although Daryl realised that Harry did not care for those matters as much as others. He didn't want the wizard to get into bad blood with others since it was so raw and premature; they needed time to figure it out wherever they stood, and what they meant to each other before they would open up towards the general public.
Harry had been the first to talk about his experiences with dating, sexual encounters, and generally romantic life all around. Harry had even less experience than Daryl, and the man did not seem to mind. It seemed like Harry hadn't missed that at all in his life. He had smiled softly, as Daryl had put his arms around him again after hearing that story. There was something about Harry that made Daryl want to touch him constantly. Even if it was just an arm, or holding the wizards in his arms.
He never had that before, but somehow cuddling with the wizard was the thing that would drive him crazy in a few minutes. The palpable scent that would fill any room they were in, the crackling of magic in the air as he had learned to distinguish it. Daryl felt like he could sometimes sense it, whereas Merle would see it more. Vicky and John had explained it to them, that No-Maj's or Squibs often had some sort of magical gifts, but that they were not strong enough to use a wand. Mack was a good example; he could just smell if a plant would make it or not. He could feel if the ground was good or needed more water. It enhanced his senses.
Still, Daryl felt foolish for wanting the wizard around him almost constantly. It drove him mad and made him happy at the same time. He just knew that he needed it more, and more.
He had stopped feeling guilty for wanting more.
Present time Hallow Manor, Hellebore Pub
The British folk loved their pubs, and seeing as Peverell manor had its own pub, aptly named the Deathly Inn by Luna, it had been Neville who had called this one; "Hellebore Pub". The husband and wife had a way with things, so to speak. There was a joke hidden in there somewhere that went over Merle's head, and he choose not to pursue the knowledge behind it. As much as people thought he needed to know everything; Merle was fine not knowing it all. If he needed an answer, he would ask the people involved.
Although the Deathly Inn at Harry's manor was very cosy, and Merle was often found there, it hadn't been built to hold big parties. It had been the old study before Hadrian had started the rebuild, and Merle was told that Draco had repurposed it for Hadrian to have somewhere cosy for hanging out with friends and relatives if they would come over the pond, as the Brits called it. The little pub had a few mismatched tables that had been salvaged from the old decoration around the mansion that wasn't in use anymore. They were in the same colour scheme, a bar with five stools and dark wooden shelves behind the bar filled with several different bottles of alcohol, and a cabinet filled with records and a record player. Dark red seemed to be a theme there. Currant red was what Vicky had called it.
Whatever, it was dark and cosy, and Merle appreciated that.
The record player had been an addition from Ron whose hobby it had become to collect records and listen to all kinds of music. It had been Merle who had introduced him to country music which the redhead loved instantly, and which had created a bond the men shared very quickly. On their latest trip outside the compound Merle had taken Ron to a few stores that sold music, and they had found some old records here and there. Ron had taken them all, and distributed them fairly between the rooms, and people that liked to listen to them.
The former Auror had a newfound passion for Johnny Cash, that Merle completely understood. Maybe it was their army experience, maybe it was just because Cash did sing about the people, who knew. Merle had made a mental note to always check the houses that they passed for more records, regardless of the style of music. Which had already gotten him a few records to gift Ronald for Christmas.
Merle smiled when his thoughts went out to the snowy holiday, o yeah, he loved Christmas just as well as he did weddings. As long as the others wouldn't find out, he was busy with preparations for a Christmas tree for the little ones like Sophia, and Teddy who would be visiting. Perhaps had might or might not have looted a few sets of jewellery for Carol. Who cared? That woman deserved it, and much more than ole Merle could give her. He was happy for as long as she held him close.
Merle loved weddings just as much as Christmas, although that was a secret that he would take to his grave, he loved seeing a couple get hitched, and being able to eat and drink later on. Celebrate their lives. Live his own life.
The dour look on the potion master's strict face had been priceless when the ladies had started planning his wedding, with Luna as a frontrunner. Not the first woman he'd expected to love that kind of stuff but she was more than adept at it, and Marriet was happy that she didn't have to do everything on her own while pregnant, during an apocalypse.
Since Marriet wanted to get married before she was showing too much, Luna was aided by Carol – who seemed to vibe with the other ladies as if she'd been a witch herself – lady Vallder who seemed to take on the role as a perfect grandmother for everybody, and Vicky. The oldest Dixon understood what John saw in and loved about the woman - because next to being beautiful, she was crazy as hell – in a good way – and Merle smiled whenever he saw them together.
That morning Merle had been recruited by Carol after she had made breakfast for both of them, to help John redecorate for the wedding, and so he was on his way to help where he was needed. Merle was still skilful, and he didn't mind helping this bunch of crazies out.
Deathly Inn looked dark, cosy, and elegant. A gentlemen's room is what Draco had called it, and that fitted the description completely. Although Merle had had no choice of moving in with Carol – he could have protested it of course, but hadn't because ... well, he just hadn't -, and he loved to clear his head on a little walk from the castle where they had taken up residence, to the manor where Hadrian lived, with Daryl.
So it was that Merle was often found there, nursing a whiskey or a pint of beer while he conversed with whoever was around, or he just enjoyed the quiet time that he could have there with some music. He wasn't a great sleeper, and more often than not he found himself awake, not wanting to wake Carol up with his going around their apartment. It seemed that Hadrian also slept badly, just as George and Ron did now and then. He wondered about the less obvious scars these men had from the war as they had described it, and Merle did not envy them.
Every Friday and Sunday evening everyone was invited for dinner at Hadrian's place, in the big dining hall, and more often than not the whole table would be filled with (permanent) guests. Merle made sure that Carol and Sophia would always visit with him, because he wanted Sophia to be as accustomed as possible to magic and other magical people, beings, and what else there was under the sun, as humanly possible.
This also meant that Merle visited the little pub even more than he had done the big one, because every dinner would end there without a question. If it was for some fun and games, or just a beer to cool down. He was still surprised about the easiness they had about drinking during an apocalypse, but Ron had confided in them that they all carried a hangover cure, that would get them sober in an instant, in case they needed to fight. It was unfortunately one of the only ones he wouldn't be able to consume, because it had some toxic ingredients in there that had been known for messing with a Squib's health. So, he passed on that part.
Snape, the potion master, had told him that he did have a herbal remedy if he ever needed one in an emergency, but that he wouldn't hand the potions out without a good reason, since he found that real witches and wizards who drank, had to live up to their bad decisions. If they could drink like one in the evening, they could get up like one in the morning. Merle had shown the man one of his trademark smiles, and they had left it at that.
John, who had been the main contractor on the job, became a permanent resident of Hallow Manor with his wife and little boy. Merle appreciated him more than Mack, who was a bit more anti-social in a way. Mack seemed to do what he needed to do, but he was less enjoyable than John, who didn't shy away from anything. The former soldier felt that Mack did not feel at home here, and he could understand it, but due to the circumstances the man knew he was the safest here. Surrounded by magical walls even if he disliked a display like that.
John was indeed a guy that Merle never saw sitting still. Only on Sundays; when his wife forced him. Merle guessed the little witch even used magic for that. But it made sense: the man was a typical blue-collared worker. Work was his life, and before the dead people started walking, work made income, and he took care of his wife and family. Merle respected that about him.
Merle guessed that if he had found someone who would have kept up with him, he would have done the same thing. Hell, he probably was doing the same thing nowadays. Merle scoffed, and walked on through towards the clearing that would get two big barn doors where the entryway would come for the pub.
John had now taken the time to redo the big pub. It was an enormous build, and he had gotten loads of help from the Goblin Master with his apprentice, to get it done before the upcoming wedding. It had been a space without a cause until now. It had been used for storage, and other various things, since the building team had been on other projects that had needed their attention before this one.
Merle couldn't argue with the logic that food came before having a social space indeed. Especially when every apartment had been outfitted with a living room as well, and you could easily visit someone if you wanted to have contact with that person.
Hellebore Pub had quite some built-in booths that had been handcrafted, and a rather varied assortment of tables that didn't match in size or all had different chairs around them. John had been plastering most of the walls to get them painted afterwards, and they were drying pretty quickly (probably with magic) so Merle guessed that he would be painting some walls today. It was a simple job that needed to be done in the right way, and he didn't mind. He had more muscle than brain in any case.
He saw the old house elf that ran the place popping in and out, and two littler creatures doing his bidding, as he looked up at John, who handed him indeed a paintbrush with a can with light green paint in it.
"I'm wondering, John," he started, "how do you still get your hands on so many materials?"
John smiled secretively and beckoned him over.
"Hadrian still gets supplies from the wizarding world, as you know. Plus I know Ron literally has raided so many stores before they found you guys, that it's almost ridiculous."
Merle nodded, that he understood and pointed his paint roller at the wall.
"That one?"
"Yep, thanks for volunteering. I couldn't get Mack in to do it for me, and this is a job that needs to be done by hand to get the result I want with it. Normally Vicky would enchant some brushes for me, but it won't work for my ultimate design."
"No problem, man. Glad to help out. Nothing wrong with some earnest labour."
Merle had gotten the wall with the gigantic fireplace that had been the only thing here before, and he got to work immediately. It wouldn't be long before the wedding. Just a few days now, and he knew from Carol that they wanted the décor to be ready two days before. Apparently, with magic they could get it to freeze in time, to say it in his own words, so that no plants wilted. It was true magic indeed, but he shrugged as John set up a record and both men started painting the walls without further ado.
Present time, a few days before the wedding Hallow Manor, Mack and Ron (Music: B and C)
Since Shane wasn't able to enter this side of the property, and Hadrian and Daryl had been out to do whatever; John had called upon Merle to take care of the problem since he did not want to take a stance in this fight as his brother was involved. Which Merle understood. If only Merle knew what had caused this, then he could solve the problem. In the old days his guys had always looked to him to solve these things, so it wasn't his first rodeo.
On their way here, Vicky had explained that Mack hated magic being used on him, and so she had stood back as well as to not cause any trouble with her brother-in-law. She also had explained that if Mack was angry, he could even lash out more at the use of magic than normally. It seemed the younger brother was a bit of hothead. Something Merle had expected indeed from the man.
Ron was standing in front of the burly gardener, and had his wand laid next to him like he had discarded it. The redhead stood in a defensive modus, like he expected to be attacked any time soon. In front of him stood a red-faced Mack, with his fists drawn as well, and they seemed to stand at an impasse. Neither man seemed to move, but they were both panting, and Mack looked furious. Sometimes it seemed as if their lips were moving, but nobody could get them to pay attention to them or understand what they were saying.
Merle had expected to hear voices, but that didn't seem to be the case as he didn't hear anything at all! Vicky had stopped next to her husband, who looked just as surprised as anyone else in the room did, but looking at both men said enough about their current mood.
Ron waved his hand slightly to let a barrier fall that Merle was able to see drop, and all of a sudden he realised that Ron had silenced the room around them with magic, when the fight had started, not to alert any of the kids, and this had angered Mack even more which explained why he was so red-faced.
"You should mind your own fuckin' business," Mack spat out, and it seemed like the conversation had been going on for quite some time, but now they were able to hear them.
"Oh trust me, Mack," Ronald bit back, "I fucking did. I have been doing that for quite some time, but your latest statements have gotten me pretty angry, I must say."
"Are you fucking him or what?" Mack spat back.
"No man, I don't swing that way, and you know it. It just happens to be that we've been friends since high school, and that I will kill for the man if needed." Ron growled softly, as he balled his right fist that was being loaded with magic. Trying to control himself.
Merle deducted that it must be about someone Ron went to school with, so this was about one of the British wizards. With Harry and Daryl giving each other doe-eyes when they thought nobody was looking, it had to be someone else. Merle cocked his head to the side, and waited patiently. He had seen enough brawls to know that sometimes people got more heated than they meant, and they would break apart soon. On the other hand, if he needed to constrain one of them, he hoped Vicky would take Ron upon her, as he realised his only concern would be Mack.
It was a trick he had once learned. If a man and a woman were fighting, you would always pull the man off the woman. Women were feisty, and knocking them over the head would do no good, whereas a man would just accept that you had punched him, and could forgive you in the end. Merle did loads of things, but hitting women was absolutely out of the question. He would step in anytime, as he had proven to Carol.
This fight wasn't any different, only for the fact that he didn't have magic and Vicky did. Yep, he would punch Mack out of it, he knew it. The ex-soldier preferred John anyway he thought, while he tried to get his game face on. Bad Ole Merle loved to play games, and he grinned nastily.
The conversation was still going on, not particularly strong, and Merle decided to make his presence known to both men. Hopefully, that would get them out of their current predicament.
"Gentlemen," he started, but he was silenced by Mack in a few seconds.
"Don't you dare get involved, Merle. I like you right now, but you ain't no cop. Got it?"
Merle backed up with two steps, and held his hands up in the air. Don't look like the danger, but be the danger they don't expect. He noticed that Ron understood what he did, and the redhead seemed to relax a bit now that Merle had shown up.
"Yeah, I know I ain't Shane, Mack. No worries. But Ron used to be, and since we can't get the officer on these premises, you'll have to make do with me." Merle smiled greatly, and then decided to throw in his Joker. "Or I could ask Vicky to call Hadrian back, and let him settle this. It's your call, pretty boy."
"You've got a problem too, asshole?" Mack was spitting fire now, and Merle merely cocked an eyebrow.
"Don't start a fight you can't win, boy. Ol' Merle was good at this before we happened to live together. Don't underestimate me. I've washed piggies bigger than you, big boy." He changed his voice a bit, and puffed himself up a bit more.
"Merle is right, Mack," Ron added. "I didn't start this conversation to get into a fight. I just needed answers. You were the one who got aggressive. I've even put my wand next to me, to make this even for you. I don't care about punching my way out."
"Yeah, you're just so fucking special, aren't you. I think you are a real motherfucking asshole, who doesn't know what to do with himself after being in charge after all these years. Must have felt good to get under Harry Potter's shadow, didn't it, and now you are back under his wings. Does it give you a boner or what?" Mack spat out.
"You watch your words, you bloody wanker. You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about." Ron, who had calmed down a bit, was getting angry real fast.
"No? Don't fancy wanking him off." Mack seemed like an angry dog that needed to be put down, and Merle was getting himself ready for some heavy fighting. This was escalating.
"No, and you know that as well." Ron still seemed to control his anger and magic, but it wouldn't be long before the man would pop. Merle would bet a full pack of his ciggies on that.
"Then why are you getting into my and Draco's business? Huh?" Mack had taken a few steps forward, and stood eye to eye with Ron.
Ah, there was the problem. Merle smiled, and decided to be brave.
"Alright," he clapped Mack heavily on his shoulder, as he steered him a few steps back. "So if I might surmise – yes Merle knows big words, boy, don't give me that look – you're involved with Draco, and Ron had something against that?"
"Not entirely. I have no problem with the nature of their relationship, if Mack here hadn't been seen fucking another person outside the walls by Ezra's wife, who told me. While he had just agreed with Draco to keep it between them alone." Ron spat out now.
"Yeah, that ain't so nice then, no. Fucking is good if it's done with consent from both parties, yeah." Merle realised the problem, and he also knew that he needed this fixed before Draco came back from England, and Hadrian from wherever the fuck he went to with his brother.
Hadrian wouldn't be as nice as Ron was now, Merle knew that. That boy had a good temper underneath that perfect exterior. Draco and Ron were the only family he had left, and the black-haired wizard cherished that, almost to the extreme. Merle couldn't fault him, but Hadrian would not be reasonable, and he felt that Vicky knew this too. He completely understood why they had tried to get him involved before they had Hadrian.
"We aren't exclusive." Mack bit back. "I damn well had this conversation with him already. He agreed."
"No?" Merle intercepted before Ron could answer. "Well, easily fixed then." He turned to Vicky, and pointed at the fire that was burning in the heart.
"Ya'll do that funny thing where you connect, right?"
"Yes, I could. Want me to contact Draco?"
"Bullseye luv, let's ask Draco himself."
Vicky went to work quickly, as Merle turned back towards the fighting couple.
"Now, Mack and Ron; you both get nothing to say. Okay? Let Merle and Vicky do the talking. If one of you says a word, I will make you shut up with these two lovely fists. They've been missing some action, I will tell you."
Threatening might not be the smartest, but it was the only option he had now. He couldn't do magic, and he had no cuffs or anything else. Shane needed to get that part fixed for him, he mentally noted.
"Sure," both men said through clenched teeth knowing that Merle meant business.
When Merle turned back to the fire, he looked at a face that looked quite like Draco. In a weird way, but still.
"Alright blondie, answer me honestly. Were you in an exclusive relationship with Mack? In whatever way that was working for you guys? Did you two talk about this, and did you understand this from your point of view?" Merle got right to the point. No room for delay here.
It was clear from the hurt on Draco's face that it had not been as he had understood it, and the man cleared his throat.
"No, I understood that Mack needed a bit of time to think about our situation, and that he would get back to me, but that we were still exclusive, until he gave me his answer." Draco paused, and looked over his shoulder, before he continued. "I'm guessing this is my answer then?"
"Mila saw him fucking a woman from the group we rescued. I wasn't there, so I have no outstanding proof, but he just lied about being clear with you. So I dunno." Merle shrugged, and Vicky nodded her agreement.
"Well, then it's clear to me. Thank you for your answer, Mack." Draco's voice was cold, yet he sounded friendly in a business-like way. Like he had already shut that chapter completely. Not that Merle blamed him. He hated men like that. Honesty was his number one, even if it kicked him in the butt at the worst times.
"Yeah, this might be for the best." It seemed that Mack had calmed down a bit, and looked a bit embarrassed about the whole situation as Vicky closed off the call, and Ron summoned his wand back into his holster.
The redhead looked towards Mack again, and held out his hand as a peace offering.
"I did not mean to anger you. I just wanted the truth. Draco has enough on his mind, he needs a strong partner on his side. Somebody comfortable in his skin. I don't mean you any harm, Mack. I thought that you would have been perfect for him. That's why I was so surprised about hearing you having sex with another person. I thought Mila was lying."
Mack seemed to hesitate for a second, before he took Ron's outstretched hand and shook it.
"Yeah, alright. I should have been honest earlier. I just felt conflicted, and you're right; this isn't my way of operating. I just don't feel comfortable staying here anymore. I think I'll ask Ezra for a little house for myself. It's too much magic for me."
He turned towards Vicky and his brother and mouthed something, that John seemed to understand immediately, as he hugged him briefly. Vicky's smile was a sad one, but she nodded just as well, and then Mack left the room.
How quickly problems could be fixed, but the outcome was never nice. Merle scoffed. It stayed silent for a bit before Ron acknowledged Merle fully.
"I'm sorry that it had to come to this." Ron seemed more annoyed with the situation, and he looked guiltily towards his onlookers. "I know I can have a bad temper, but he just said something that felt wrong. I should have brought this to Draco myself, but I just …"
He looked towards the door, where a blown-out Hadrian stood with a shadow of Daryl behind him. They looked as if they had been walking through a storm, but Merle knew his brother well enough to not say anything. Both their lips were redder than normal.
Ron shook his head, and nodded towards the ex-soldier. "Thank you, Merle, for stepping in. You said the right things at the right time. I appreciate it."
Merle smiled softly, as much as he could, and he patted the younger man on his shoulder. "You did what I would have done as well. Don't worry. I think that the realisation of the situation got to Mack finally. Most of us have been going non-stop without a break to get things done. Everybody has a breaking point. This was his."
"My brother has always been a free spirit, I think that the outlook of an exclusive relationship with a pureblood wizard was probably too much for him." John added as he held Vicky in his arms. "The fact that Vicky is no pureblood, is the only reason that he could accept her. He always thought more like our mother than our father. He somehow hates pureblood wizards."
"I feel like Mack feels lesser because he doesn't have conventional magic, and being surrounded by pretty powerful people can have tipped him over." It was Hadrian who now spoke, and he stepped into the room. His shirt looked too well-pressed, like he'd changed it just now, or like he used an ironing spell. Merle wouldn't know the difference, but he knew it was looking too good for two people who had been out. He hummed in himself a bit. Oh his little brother was finally getting some.
"I don't fault your actions Ron, we both know I would have been even worse if I would have seen something like that. Just a few days ago Draco told me about Mack, and now this."
"I just hope he won't leave, he's my blood." John sighed, and held his wife close.
"He won't," Vicky reassured her husband. "He just needs time to cool off. I think we need to give him that. It's the same thing from our wedding all over again."
"Do you..?"
"Yes, love. I do."
There seemed to be a private conversation going on, and Merle looked over at his own brother, who just shrugged. They both couldn't care less who fucked who or what. As long as you treated your partner right. Old habits and such.
"I'll go see Draco, Ron. Do you want to join me?"
"Absolutely."
"Merle, up for checking the traps? I'm into some venison?" Daryl waved his bow around.
"Hell yeah. With some gravy on the side. Some mashed potatoes. I'm hungry already." Merle decided that this day ended better than he expected. He now had the chance to fish for information with his brother.
Present time Dress shopping with Marriet
"Luna, I think you are a sweetheart, but where on earth are you going to find a wedding dress during all this. All the bigger shops have closed down, and are working on appointment only. We should have done this weeks ago. My best dress will just have to do, I promise." Marriet was looking towards the young, airy blonde who had that unreadable look on her face, that permitted no objection, if she had set her mind to something. It was admirable, but could be difficult in situations like these.
"That's the easiest part. Elenoir has offered to tailor you one, and this is her foyer. That's why we're here. George and Harry cleared their wards yesterday, so they can go in and out of their own house again. It's not completely safe to live in the area, but it's good enough to see if we can find some textiles and make you something."
Marriet looked at the young woman with dread, fear, and all sorts of happiness going through her body at the same time. This pregnancy was wearing her down, and this marriage at the same time would be the end of her. She just knew it.