Author's Note: Operation Ruin Harry Potter's life is a go. This chapter contains non-consensual potion use and infidelity (not between the main pairing).
Chapter 51
Spring 2002
Prior to going on sabbatical, Hermione had been having drinks every Friday with Ron, Harry, Adrian, her now former DMLE partner, and Ginny Weasley for nearly a year. However, once Hermione made it clear to Ron that she wasn't interested in having their relationship become more than friendship, he had joined them far less often, always using his burgeoning Quidditch career as a reason, until he only showed up about once a month if that. It was fine with Hermione after all. She had plans for Ron Weasley and did not need him at Friday night drinks in order to enact them.
Harry was late as per usual when Hermione walked into the White Wolf. They'd stopped meeting at the Leaky Cauldron years ago, desperate to just have a pint without someone from the Daily Prophet catching their photo. Hermione had suggested this place and it had become their regular spot ever since.
This pub was in a wizarding village near Brighton and was just an easy apparition from London plus the bar had an exit only Floo that they could use if they got too smashed to apparate.
Hermione ran her fingers over the nameplate as she walked in, thinking of Remus as she went by. She called out a greeting to Francine the tavern keeper, and the old werewolf flashed Hermione a toothy grin from behind the bar. A couple other older members of Francine's pack gave Hermione a nod. She nodded back politely. She gave the room a quick scan and didn't see Lavender anywhere and ignored the little sadness that brought. It had been too long since the last time that they "accidentally ran into each other" at the White Wolf.
Ginny and Adrian were already there waiting at their regular table, clearly comfortable together. Their easy conversation was already flowing as Hermione walked toward the table. She watched as Ginny blushed after Adrian said something about how well she'd flown in her last Quidditch game. Adrian couldn't help but look appreciatively at Ginny as she spoke animatedly about the Falmouth Falcons' defence strategy.
"Hey Hermione," Ginny popped up as though they had been caught doing something that they shouldn't be. That was certainly the plan Hermione had in mind for them, but the two of them didn't need to know that.
Ginny's tight hug was returned by Hermione with sincerity. Hermione remembered the time at Hogwarts that she'd cried about her mother's pressuring her to marry Harry and how little she wanted that. Ginny hadn't dared say anything like that aloud in years, but the sadness in her eyes never seemed to disappear.
Hermione felt nothing but pity for the girl caught in the machinations of her insufferable bitch of a mother. However, Ginny had never done Hermione or the others wrong, and Adrian had saved Hermione's life in the field more than once; they both deserved some happiness. Being linked with Harry Potter would only lead to more sorrow for Ginny. And while she couldn't trust the youngest Weasley with what was really afoot, she didn't want to see her suffer unnecessarily.
Hermione needed to have them secured and out of the way soon, as the Potter-Weasley wedding was currently scheduled just a couple weeks away.
"Hey there, Granger," Adrian grabbed her forearm familiarly as she came to his side of the table and she gripped his back.
"Glad to see you are still in one piece," Hermione greeted her old partner, who'd always managed to change out of his work robes for drinks, injured or not. Hermione didn't really have eyes for anyone other than her soulmates, but even she could admit that Adrian Pucey was a strapping wizard with nice shoulders and a handsome face. His brown curly hair reminded her slightly of Theo's own and his easy smiles were always kind.
"Barely. Still on desk duty, but that's better than them putting me out in the field with another moron who shouldn't even be called an Auror." Adrian laughed. "When are you coming back from that special assignment again?"
"Not for a while, my parolees need to either get to a point where they can get approved to live independently or go back to Azkaban." She suppressed the shudder at that latter possibility. "To be honest, they are in really rough shape; their healthcare at Azkaban is pretty lacking. Doubt they'd be capable of being on their own until they're healed enough."
Her Slytherin partner looked at her knowingly, hearing loud and clear what she wasn't saying. Ginny was looking over towards the door, obviously wondering where Harry was.
"You're brave to have Malfoy and Nott in your house, Hermione," Ginny added, turning back to the conversation.
Hermione shrugged. "Right now the two of them are barely a danger to a cup of tea so I'm not too worried. Neville's babysitting them for me tonight. I think he brought a book on floral arranging to keep himself occupied."
Ginny's look morphed into one of surprise and Adrian's was even more knowing. He fiddled with his empty glass on the tabletop as though there was something else he wanted to say, but was restraining himself. She often wondered if Adrian had had suspicions about where his younger housemates' affections had been inclined, but he was Slytherin enough to keep his thoughts to himself. She never truly believed that her boys had never been caught with each other in the dorms for that matter. After all, Slytherins kept each other's secrets only as long as it benefited them to do so.
"Shall I grab a round, what's everyone having?" Hermione switched topics easily.
"The house pear cider," Ginny and Adrian answered simultaneously and then laughed awkwardly.
"Brilliant minds think alike," Hermione smiled knowingly. "I'll be right back."
"Hey, Francine, can I get two of the house pear and a pint of that cream stout for myself. I've missed it while I've been at home."
"And you've been missed around the place as well, when can your new house company be allowed out?" Francine's steel hair was tied up into a tight bun and the several times over grandmother was muscular rather than round. Hermione certainly wouldn't want to cause problems in her establishment.
"Hard to know with the Ministry, but probably bring too much scrutiny on you if I brought them in for lunch."
"Shame that," Francine sighed, sitting the ciders in front of Hermione and turning to pour the third drink. "I'll pack up a hamper for the lads and maybe a couple bottles of the pear for the house. And one of the cream for you, dear." Hermione smiled in thanks at the kindly woman.
"How's the new healer I found?" Hermione asked as she waited.
"The Moon Clinic lad?" Francine asked, and at Hermione's nod, she continued, "Well, other than being so young he makes me feel my age, he's very good. He's got plasters with little fairies and dragons and such for the pups and I think at least three of the single girls are half in love with him because of his 'nice hands.'" Francine laughed. "But no complaints Hermione. Yet another good turn you've done for us."
"You let me know if there is anything else that would help the pack," Hermione commanded not unkindly.
"We owe you so much already," Francine pointed out.
"It's my pleasure to help," Hermione smiled warmly at the old Alpha.
Francine set Hermione's stout in front of her, as she began putting some extra touches to the pear ciders. She discreetly took out a vial from the sleeve of her sweater and carefully tipped the blended Veritaserum and lust potion into each of the cider glasses. The clear liquid was undetectable, as it mixed in with the pale golden ciders except to Francine whose nostrils flared suddenly, but she flashed Hermione a wink. Hermione knew that she could rely on the witch not to say a thing.
Hermione had gifted her and the pack a livelihood after all. There was so much good that she had done and could still do with the Dagworth-Granger fortune.
She left her stout to settle on the bar for a second and then took the two pints to her companions. She was pleased that Harry still hadn't arrived, it was convenient that he was performing to her low expectations.
"Thanks, Granger!" Adrian took the drink and gulped quite a bit of it immediately. Ginny drank hers deeply as well. Hermione wondered what they had said to each other when she was at the bar, but it didn't really matter as long as the night went as she had planned.
"I'll be right back, left my drink at the bar," Hermione smiled and headed back to grab her stout. She watched the way Ginny and Adrian's body language oriented towards each other. She wondered if anyone else had realised that the two of them were always the first to arrive, always alone together for a time before Hermione, Harry and sometimes Ron arrived.
For ages Ginny and Adrian have had this subtle flirtation going, so subtle that Hermione thought that it verged on subconscious, and tonight was definitely no exception. Dare she say Ginny seemed a little more into it, probably with her impending wedding looming in the near future and she wanted to relish his attention while she still could. Adrian, as always, was attentive to the tiniest thing the redhead did.
Hermione just sat there and watched them, waiting for them to fall under the effects of the potion. She was hoping that the potion would work as quickly as when she and Luna had tested it a few weeks ago; she had just gotten here and was already anxious to get back to Draco and Theo.
"So Ginny, how is the wedding planning going? Are you excited for your big day?" Hermione asked nonchalantly, sipping her stout.
Ginny snorted. "Hardly. Mum's excited to get her hands on the Potter vaults and the clout that will come with having such a son-in-law. It's appalling. It's certainly not the kind of wedding I'd want for myself. Getting married in the Burrow's back garden…" She trailed off making a sound of annoyance.
Well, the truth serum was certainly working on Ginny. Hermione couldn't help but be pleased with its effectiveness. Even the werewolves in the neighbouring tables began perking their ears their way.
"Wait, you don't want to marry Potter?" Adrian was shocked at Ginny's admission and Hermione caught the way the corners of his lips turned slightly upwards, not at all upset to know Ginny's true feelings.
"No, it feels like marrying an absent-minded brother. I mean, where is he now?" The redhead waved an arm to showcase the absence of one Harry Potter. "I'm engaged to one of the most well-known wizards in history and I feel so alone. He doesn't ask me how I'm doing or how my day was and clearly he's in no hurry to be at my side. He forgets about my games, my birthday, and our anniversary. Mum says I should just be happy to be well taken care of. As though my Quidditch salary isn't more than enough to pay my own way." She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"That is not fair to you. An amazing witch like you doesn't deserve to be in an unwanted marriage. I'd never let you feel unwanted," Adrian's throat bobbed, as if he wanted to swallow the words he just let slip to the witch.
Ginny blushed deeply, but didn't respond to what Adrian had said, looking down at her lap. "My mum just thinks of me as a tool to be married off to up her prestige. It doesn't matter what I want."
"About to perish with the shame of having such a mother?" Adrian asked, with a nervous little smirk, clearly embarrassed about what he'd said prior and attempting to change the direction of the conversation a little. Neither of them had realised about the Veritaserum yet. Hermione wondered how long they'd been waiting and how many pints they'd had before her admittedly tardy arrival.
"Sweet Circe, Hermione didn't get you to watch that BBC Pride and Prejudice show, too, did she?" Ginny took another deep gulp of the adulterated cider.
Adrian raised his hands and laughed. "Absolutely guilty. I actually ended up moving into a Muggle flat so that I could get a telly-vision and watch all the muggle films I want, I love them that much. The other plus, too, is my mum can't just apparate over or floo in whenever she likes. A little privacy goes a long way, you know."
"I don't know at all! I moved out of the Burrow and right in with Harry! It's like someone has always been watching me and passing judgement on what I'm doing! They all expect me to quit the Harpies and turn into a breeder right after the wedding. I want kids, I do, but I'd like to have my Quidditch career a little more established first. I don't think that unreasonable."
"Not unreasonable at all, Gin," Hermione agreed and some of the eavesdropping werewolves subtly nodded, too.
Adrian bit his lip and his eyes wandered over Ginny in the low-cut red dress that she'd chosen for drinks. "Not unreasonable, but I can't deny that you'd look bloody good pregnant."
"Imagining putting a baby into me, are you Adrian?" Ginny asked breathily, taking a deep drink of her cider. Adrian's was already nearly gone. Both of their faces were flushed as they stared at each other.
"Only every time I wank," Adrian admitted, licking the last of his cider off his lips. A small cough from one of the eavesdroppers had Hermione hiding a smile behind her hand.
Ginny squirmed in her seat and Adrian kept crossing and uncrossing his legs. A drop of cider escaped from Ginny's lips and started to run down her chin. Adrian reached across the table and wiped it back up towards her mouth with his thumb. Ginny surprised him by sucking it between her cherry red lips. It occurred to Hermione then that Ginny had been very dolled up this evening. Had it been for her husband to be? Harry had slipped from both their minds as Ginny let Adrian lead her away from the table while Hermione laughed low into her pint glass.
Hermione was left to wait impatiently for Harry.
Harry showed up much later, long after Hermione had wished that she had brought a book with her. Maybe she should convince Francine to put a bookshelf in the back corner of the pub. Although she doubted that Friday night drinks would continue to happen here after tonight's culmination.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry called when he arrived. "You'll never believe this, but I forgot all about Friday night drinks. I went straight home after work and started watching the telly."
"Are you sure that you are doing alright, Harry?" Hermione asked in an approximation of concern. "I mean I know I've missed a couple weeks, but still."
"I just don't know where my head is at half the time these days," Harry admitted, his hands trembling. "It's definitely been getting worse lately. Here let me get a drink, and I'll be right back." Hermione watched as he ordered a pint and chatted with Francine who was nothing if not good at her job.
Harry returned to the table and began to regale Hermione about a mission this week where he'd literally forgotten what they'd been looking for in the middle of it and had to wait until one of the other Aurors said something to remind him. Hermione raised her eyebrows at the admission.
"Have you gone to St. Mungo's to get checked out?" Hermione asked.
"No, after the war I got checked out and cleared for duty despite some spell and curse damage and I don't want them to put me on permanent desk duty," Harry admitted. Hermione shook her head. Harry Potter always had to be the hero, and couldn't admit that he might be a danger to others. It was unfortunate really, but oh, so predictable.
"Where's Gin?" Harry asked. "She wasn't at home. I assumed she was here."
Hermione said, "Oh Ginny went to the loo a while ago, maybe I should check on her, she has had a bit to drink. Can you come with me just in case she needs help standing up?"
"Of course," Harry agreed, it was the least he could do after he left his fiancee waiting.
When Hermione rose to go Harry followed and as they got near the toilets they could hear the sound of someone getting absolutely railed inside. The moans and pleading was impossible to ignore as they drew closer. Hermione pinched her arm to keep from laughing when she realised that all the werewolves in the bar could probably smell and hear every bit of what was currently happening.
Hermione opened the door and found Ginny up against the wall, dress pushed up around her waist, her arms wrapped around Adrian's neck and her legs wrapped around his hips, he had his pants down and Hermione could see the hard muscles of his ass as he pounded Ginny into the wall.
Red hair slick with sweat, Ginny cried out his name. "Adrian! I'm about to come on your cock."
"You are mine, yeah, you know that?" Adrian growled into her throat.
"Fuck yes," she responded. And as she shuddered in orgasm she looked over and saw Hermione and Harry behind her. Their audience didn't seem to put a stop to Ginny's pleasure at all.
Harry was shocked. Hermione did her best to mimic a fish, opening and closing her mouth as though surprised. She really was happy with her potion brewing, she had to admit.
Ginny met Harry's eyes and snarled with venom, "As you can see, Harry, the wedding is off." Adrian grunted as he slammed into her one more time and finished.
His cum dripped out of her as he pulled out, putting his pants to rights. Adrian met Harry's eyes with menace as though he dared his colleague to do something about what he'd just seen. "She'll be in touch about getting her things from your place, Potter. Come on, love."
Ginny giggled as he led her by the hand towards the floo. Hermione saw the torn remains of her underwear lying on the floor, and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from chuckling.
Harry didn't watch Ginny walk away, he just stared at the scraps of knickers laying there abandoned on the tiled floor.
"Hermione, can you obliviate me?" Harry asked, clearly on the edge of tears.
"Harry, are you sure? There's always a risk and especially with your memory lately…," Hermione tried to pretend to be concerned while simultaneously hoping that he insisted.
"Yes I'm sure. I don't want to remember that." Harry shuddered. "Just let me remember that she left me and the wedding is off."
"Alright, let me use your wand, though." Hermione held out her hand and Harry put his wand in it without hesitation.
"You know you've always been a fool, Harry Potter," Hermione sighed, twirling his wand between her fingers like Draco used to do back at Hogwarts. "You just keep handing people the tools of your own destruction."
"What?" He looked at her in confusion, his eyes trained on the wand spinning between her fingers probably trying to remember why it looked familiar.
"Obliviate!"