Chapter Text
Grimmauld Place was buzzing with excitement. Between Fleur’s delicate, romantic touches and Molly’s cooking, the engagement party could not be more of a success. Truthfully, the champagne tower George charmed to magically refill itself was also not a bad way to ensure everyone was in the celebratory spirit… but without a doubt, it was going to be a perfect night.
Hermione edged her way around the sitting room, welcoming guests and making small talk. Ten years after the war and you’d think she was used to rubbing elbows and chatting with so-and-so. War heroine and all… very casual. Never one to bask in the limelight, Hermione sipped her champagne at a steady pace to incite a little liquid courage. The fireplace roared with more guests flooing in every minute. With steadying steps, Hermione went to welcome the Weasley’s Great Aunt Tessy when she felt a large hand grab her elbow and lurch her backward.
Ron’s ashen face met hers as he squeaked, “‘Mione, this is a lot of people. Mum told me this would be a small occasion to celebrate the engagement but blimey… I think we’ve passed small at the arrival of McGonagall and the barmaid from the Leaky.”
“Oh, please Ronald.” Hermione huffed. “We both knew this would never be a small affair. Your mother hasn’t had this much to plan since Ginny and Harry’s big day over a year ago!” With both hands, she smoothed Ron’s shirt and straightened his necktie. “Now, you’re the man of the hour… go socialize! I can’t do this on my own, you know.”
Ron’s eyes squinted as he considered this. “I bet Ginny’s just chuffed Mum has stopped asking when they’re going to have babies,” he muttered. “Well… cheers then” Ron smirked, as he clinked his glass to Hermione’s and leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek.
Congratulatory wishes and questions about the upcoming nuptials were heard throughout the evening. Toasts were made, prior to the speakers being sloshed thankfully, and Hermione couldn’t help but shed a few tears. After all they had been through, love had conquered. Glancing around the room, everyone she loved was joined in celebration and nothing could have made her happier. Ron’s smile could have lit the Goblet of Fire in truth and there was nothing more that she wanted.
“Splendid party, wouldn’t you say?” Ginny said as she sidled up next to Hermione replacing her empty champagne flute. The two friends leaned against the wainscoting of the hall admiring the crowd that had gathered. “Oh, yes…” breathed Hermione. “Quite the affair. Molly has truly outdone herself this time.. and the venue couldn’t be more perfect!”
With a small hip bump to Hermione, Ginny smirked and said “Yes, yes… one can’t be concerned with the conception of children when there is a party afoot!”
The women giggled like school girls at the apparent ruse pulled on Molly Weasley. In truth, they both knew the matriarch was too clever to really be sidetracked from grandchildren. The engagement party was simply a temporary distraction from the weekly floo calls asking about Ginny’s monthlies and hinting at nursery themes. With a sigh, Ginny looped her arm through Hermiones and said, “Alright, let’s go gather the boys. I swear if Harry wasn’t already married to me this party would have been for he and Ron instead!”
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Outside in the garden was a conglomerate of aurors, ministry staff, Hogwarts alumni and St. Mungo’s healers. Ever since the beginning of the Healer Education for the Auror Department program, St. Mungo’s staff and the DMLE collaborated on more than just field healing tactics. Now, there were wizard chess leagues, Friday night drinks in Diagon Alley, trivia teams and real friendships being formed.
Hermione would never brag, but this was likely one of her best initiatives yet in her career as a Healer. H.E.A.D. had taken off much smoother than S.P.E.W. did during her formative years, although Hermione still spent a weekend a month knitting for the house elves of Hogwarts. Luna occasionally dropped in for the cause when she wasn’t chasing a story for The Quibbler and Neville kindly (begrudgingly) delivered the parcel to Headmistress McGonagall whenever he’d travel back and forth from his post as herbology professor.
Now, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate the engagement of their own on a balmy evening in June. Ginny, having had several glasses of champagne, sauntered over and melted into Harry’s lap while he was mid-debate about the Quidditch World Cup finals. Hermione plopped down in a chair amongst the circle of friends.
“The Cannons never stood a chance, Ron! You cannot honestly tell me you think they would win against Nigeria” Harry pointedly stated.
“Yeah, mate. Equiano is an exceptional seeker.” Blaise Zabini said cooly, twirling his wand and magically conjuring a bottle of fire whiskey from the bar.
“Unless of course…” drawled an aristocratic voice from the patio, “One Ginevra Potter would trade from the Harpies. Then at least the Cannons would have a decent Chaser.”
Ginny, currently starting Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies, huffed a laugh. “I’m worth too many galleons, Malfoy! They’d need a loan from your vaults to get their hands on me. Besides, the Harpies were in a transition year. We’ll be in the running next year.”
“Oi! Malfoy, you great prat! About time you showed your rich mug around here!” Blaise prodded, standing to greet Draco with a clap on the shoulder.
“Yes, yes I know. I couldn’t miss coming to wish our beloved Weasel well.” Draco said with a slight bow that only years of etiquette training could have forged. Hermione and Ginny made eye contact and rolled their eyes.
Ron stood and extended his hand, “Thanks for covering me tonight, mate. Mum would’ve killed me if I told her I was late to my own party because of paperwork.”
Draco, brandishing an expensive bottle of alcohol, placed it into Ron’s hand. “Not to mention how cross your betrothed would be. Never you mind… although your filing system is less than to be desired.”
“Ronald! I helped you reorganize those files a month ago!” Hermione piped up, cheeks now flaring with heat. He really needed to start listening to her, for Godrics sake!
Sheepishly, Ron glanced at Hermione and muttered something about how some things never change and cross referencing three ways took too long. Draco, now with drink in hand, leaned against the post illuminating the yard, engaging in conversation with his auror counterparts.
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As the night wound down, one by one the guests bid their farewells wishing the happy couple all the best. Remaining outside were Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Draco and a sleeping (sloshed) Theodore Nott.
“Well, I guess we should assess the damages then” Ginny stated bleakly. Harry stood to accompany his wife inside. From the window, pots, pans, dishes and serving ware could be seen flying about the kitchen in a magical cleaning dance, no doubt being manipulated by Molly and the house elves hired to tend to the event.
“Malfoy, would you levitate Nott to the guest room? He essentially resides there most weekends anyway.” Harry sighed.
“You mean when he’s not in mine?” Laughed Draco. Harry and Ginny disappeared through the door, waving a hand in dismissal.
Ron, now standing with a slight drunken fumble, turned to Hermione. “I’m going to go collect the gifts and thank any stragglers for coming. Care to join?” He asked hopefully.
Hermione glowered. “I think you can handle this one, Ron. I was stuck talking to at least three of your cousins four times removed earlier! I’ll pick up out here.” She began to vanish the rubbish left around the outdoor space. Glancing over at Draco observing Theo, she breathed a laugh. “He’s really got to stop ending his nights this way, you know. He’s going to get a reputation.”
“You mean the reputation he’s been working on since our Slytherin common room days, Granger?” Draco said slyly in retort.
“I… well… yes, I guess you’re right” she replied thoughtfully. “Do you need help with him? Regardless I have a bottle of hangover potion in my bag - he will certainly need it in the morning.” Opening her purse, Hermione placed the potion vial in the breast pocket of Theo’s jacket, just as she’d done many nights before.
As the two wordlessly prepared to haul the sleeping wizard inside, Draco considered his next statement. “You know Granger, despite me not being here for the entire event, I have to say it was much different than I anticipated.”
Hermione furrowed her brow. “Really? How so? Did our execution of the evening not live up to the glitz and glam of a Malfoy family affair?” she teased. “We don’t all have a Narcissa Malfoy with endless vaults at our disposal.”
Draco expelled a throaty laugh, one that Hermione had heard more often since they’d become friendly. A far cry from the boy he was at Hogwarts. “Ah yes, well besides all that…” he said sarcastically, waving his hand noncommittally. His gold was usually what his friends needled him with. Thinking they all needed new material, he turned his attention and caught her eye.
“No Granger, I guess I just always thought you would have been the bride.”