The Right by Parks and Fiction, Chapter 5.
Blink once if you've been in period.
She grinned at Theo over the top of her cards.
I couldn't. That's sort of the point.
Theo rocked back in his chair. It balanced precariously on one
leg, obviously stabilized by Magic in one way or another.
Oh, chosen 1? He called behind them.
Potter's shoulders stiffened, but he didn't turn around.
Overall, her friends had taken the news of her in Longbottom's
upcoming nuptials rather well, all things considered.
Theo had been rendered speechless when she and
Longbottom dropped by Monday evening with hand calligraphied
invitations to the garden wedding at his family's home on
Saturday. Blaze's gob smacked expression
and the rare crack in his flawless composure, however, had
been the true highlight of the experience so far.
Draco and Hermione had taken the news with a suspicious sort of
acceptance the moment Pansy pointed out the hypocrisy of the
two of them, of all people, not believing love could be found in
the most unexpected of places. Neville's set, however, was
another story. Weasel hadn't said a word when
they dropped by his flat, though Padma pretended to be happy for
them. Potter had gotten the same
squinty eyed look of suspicion he'd used on Draco all of 6th
year. Wieselt was another matter
entirely, immediately questioning him about Hannah,
even after Longbottom pointed out that they'd broken up six
months ago. It took Potter to get her to
cease demanding answers so they could leave.
Pansy knew better than to believe that any part of Harry
Potter suddenly accepted her, of all people, marrying one of his
best friends. Sure enough, Neville owed her on
Tuesday evening to inform her that the four of them had broke
into his home and attempted to stage an intervention.
Despite his reassurances that he'd handled it and that they'd
left convinced the upcoming wedding was real, Pansy never
left things to chance. She also never fought her own
battles if she could help it, So she dropped by the Ministry on
Wednesday. After 5 terse minutes in the
Ministry's cafeteria of Pansy barely saying a word, Granger
demanded to know if she was dying and Pansy finally brought
up the intervention the lesser 2/3 of the Golden Trio and their
partners tried to stage. It wasn't difficult to figure
out why Hermione was left out of that gathering.
A touch of holding back tears as she asked Hermione how long it
took for her friends to accept. Draco brought on Hermione
Granger's full righteous indignation.
There was a reason she was putting Gryffindor over
Ravenclaw. You were the 1 to reintroduce
Neville and I, you know. She told her.
I know what Potter and Weasel and the rest of them think when
they see me, but I thought at least they'd trust Neville.
Hermione excused herself from tea that moment.
According to Pansy's sources at the Ministry, she, Potter, and
Weasel had been in a silenced conference room for nearly an
hour before the 2 came out looking like dogs with their
tails between their legs. Unfortunately, however, that
wasn't quite enough for the golden girl.
Between her and Draco and Neville and Pansy, Grainger
decided it was time to merge their two groups.
She'd used some sort of traditional Mughal pre wedding
celebration as an excuse to get them all together.
It had something to do with farm or woodland creatures, but the
details on how it was related were vague.
Theo took any excuse he could to throw a party, but he might have
bitten off more than he could chew by inviting a pack of
Gryffindors, including two auras, into his home.
Said auras were conversing by the food with Wieselt and Padma.
Hermione and Neville had decided to attempt holding their own in
a card game against a bunch of Slytherins.
Sad, really. They should have just handed
over their purses to save them all some time.
I have a very important question for an aura.
Theo called in a sing song voice.
I'm also an aura. Weasel said around a mouthful of
food. Theo looked him up and down and
cringed. What?
Weasel asked. Potter sighed and turned around.
Yes. Not the imperious curse.
He said. There are signs, right?
He crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the winged
back chair. Just an individual acting in a
manner inconsistent with their usual personality.
He glanced between Pansy and Longbottom with the slightest
smirk. Not sure who you're implying it
applies to, though. Weasel gave Draco the side eye.
Or can think of someone. Hermione rounded on her two
friends. I warned you to.
Draco cut her off with a grin. Yes.
Neither you nor Potter would know anything about using that
curse first hand, would you? Potter made a show of selecting
a nut from a fruit bowl. He chewed it before shrugging.
Wasn't illegal any of the times I cast it.
There's the upstanding moral fibre our world has come to
expect from Harry Potter. Draco drawled.
Potter smirked. On the outside, little seemed to
change between how Draco, Potter and the Weasel interacted.
However, the layer of animosity was gone and now it almost
seemed playful, which was disturbing enough all on its
own. Theo won the hand and passed her
his cards before collecting his winnings.
Your ordeal, Parks. He paused and glanced at her.
What are we supposed to call you now, Longs Bottom?
His eyes danced with mirth and she nearly hexed him.
You are taking his last name. Her gaze flicked over to where
Padma was struggling to control her smirk.
Wieselt didn't bother to show the same amount of restraint as
she sniggered silently. Next to her, Pansy shuffled and
then flicked her one to deal the next hand.
Yes. She admitted.
Next to her, Neville was as smug as a Kniesel who had caught a
dear recall with traditional pure blood contracts.
There was no way for her to keep her maiden name in any form.
At least she'd have her magic and her autonomy.
As far as trade-offs went, it was worth it.
Barely. Have you considered hyphenating?
Hermione asked. I'm going to go with Granger,
Malfoy. Draco's nose scrunched, but he
didn't outwardly say anything against it.
She wondered how difficult it was for him to suppress his
possessiveness and not fight her on that.
Potter patted him on the shoulder.
It's OK mate. He said.
I wouldn't read too much into it.
He jerked his shoulder to dislodge Potter's hand.
Piss off, you lot are no better than Neanderthals.
Hermione said Honestly. There's just something about
having a woman love you so much that she wants to take your name
and fully and officially join your family in every way.
Potter said with a smirk. Neville beamed at Pansy.
I couldn't agree more. Gag her.
The muscle in Draco's jaw twitched.
There's also something to be said for respecting the woman
you Love's autonomy and independence and being secure in
your relationship to not, as Hermione's said, be a
Neanderthal about it all. What a load of sanctimonious
hypocrisy. Wieselt looked about to call him
out on it, but Pansy needed to wipe that irritatingly smirk
smirk off Longbottom's face. Yes, yes, you can all take out
your ones and measure them later.
She leaned towards Theo. I'll tell you a secret though.
He propped his chin on his hand with an eager look.
Me marrying Longbottom has nothing to do with curses.
Oh. Neville lifted his glass for a
sip and she almost laughed at the perfect timing.
He gives amazing head. As predicted, Neville choked on
his drink and nearly spit it out.
All over the table, Theo's eyes danced with delight.
Merlin, Pansy. Neville said, still coughing,
his face bright red. She tossed A galleon onto the
pile in the middle of the table, smirking brightly at his
mortification. Now this was starting to become
a party. How would you know, though?
Theo asked. We all know how little you have
to compare him to. He threw a pointed look across
the table at Draco where he's let started laughing.
Bit of a late bloomer ferret gave up after the first try.
Fifth year. Pansy said, enjoying the growing
irritation on his face and Granger's frustration even with
multiple chances. 6th year to reciprocate Even 1.
Hermione transferred her glare to her.
Six years off limits, Pans. Granger was so fun to rile up,
and nothing raised her protective instincts higher than
Draco Malfoy. Once, even the mention of six
year sent Draco into the depths of his occulancy.
Thanks to years of appointments with mind healers and something
sappy like Hermione's love and forgiveness, he was finally
starting to forgive himself. The look he sent her way now was
one of exhausted exasperation, not horror or guilt.
She beamed at his progress. Padma glanced at Hermione.
Does the fact they used to date come up often?
Hermione sighed. Every few months.
She said Pansy gets extra feisty whenever she drinks and likes to
make everyone else uncomfortable.
Only when she drank. She was starting to lose her
touch. Our Friday night tradition.
Theo beamed at Padma. You're welcome to join us
anytime. He shot Potter and Weasel a fake
apologetic pout. Sorry, Longbottom maxed me out
on my Gryffindor allowances. Though neither of them looked
particularly put out by that fact.
He turned to look at Wieselt. Now.
Of course, I do make exceptions for particularly famous or
talented individuals, so win the Harpies Cup this year and you
can come too. Ignoring the implied insult to
her husband and brother, she tapped her chin with a
thoughtful expression. On the one hand, I'd have to
spend more time with the ferret, but on the other hand, more time
to make fun of the ferret. So why is everyone taking the
piss at me? Draco demanded.
Shouldn't we be doing that to Longbottom?
That would be like kicking a three legged puppy.
Theo said. Pansy almost spit out her drink
as she half laughed, half coughed at his words.
Plus, you make it easy and it's one of the few activities that
everyone in this group enjoys. Theo said.
Hermione said. Crass behaviour and teasing
people about their exes are customary parts of these events.
I'm just trying to uphold the noble muggle tradition of cock
days. Potter choked on his drink.
What did you just call this? Hermione splittered.
Theo smirked. Crock day, right?
She dropped her head into her hands.
Theo. She groaned.
Dricker's shoulders shook in silent laughter.
It's a hen do and stag night. Potter said.
Weasel turned to him. Wait, they're all called that?
He asked. I thought Dean came up with it
after your Patronus. He started laughing.
No, he said. Is that why you joked about
yours being a terrier knight? Hermione sniggered.
I thought you were being clever. He rolled his eyes.
Made sense to me. So that makes tonight lemur
night? Jinny asked.
Draco's eyebrows arched as he glanced at Neville.
Your Patronus is a lemur? Yep.
He said. The corner of his mouth rose in
a smirk. The creatures with giant eyes
who constantly look terrified. The black and white roofed lemur
is known as the Gardener of the Forest because it is the world's
largest pollinator. Hermione said.
They're essential to germination and survival of trees in the
rainforests of Madagascar. It's very fitting.
Pansy almost snorted. Of course his Brutonas would be
something that ridiculous, just like Draco's will be when he has
his ferret Knight. Weasel said with a smirk.
Hermione rolled her eyes. For the last time, his Patronus
is not a ferret. I'll believe it when I see it,
Weasel said. And since no one has, Hermione
had taught Draco how to cast the charm when he was her intern at
the Ministry. Although what that had to do
with how self writes, neither of them could explain.
It took a few months, but he was now apparently capable of a
fully corporeal Patronus, one that he had never let anyone
except Hermione see. Well, as lovely as each of these
options sound, I'd still say cock day sounds like the most
fun. Theo glanced up at Potter.
Wouldn't you agree? He winked.
Not personally, no. He dared panned.
He made a point to slowly check him out.
Let me know if you ever change your mind.
A moment later, he flinched and grabbed his leg.
Ow. Blaze settled back in his seat
with an innocent expression. Theo flashed him a bright smirk.
Oh, don't be jealous, you'll be there too.
He said. Someone has to show pot of the
ropes. The man turned bright red as his
wife cackled next to him. Can we literally talk about
anything else? Oh, this was delightful.
Embarrassing. Longbottom.
Draco and Hermione are now making Harry Potter blush.
It almost tempted her to ask Theo to lift the Gryffindor
restrictions for their usual Friday nights, but they were
best in small doses. I have a question.
Padma said with a small smirk. If you all talk about Draco's
exes, do Hermione's? No.
Draco and Potter slapped at the same time.
Wieselt rounded on her sister-in-law.
Why? She demanded.
Why was that necessary? She just laughed.
Theo beamed. Oh, you're talking about the
relationship that can never be named.
Jinny and Neville dated too? Hermione half yelled.
Pansy hadn't known that titbit, but all she could do was laugh
at Hermione's desperation to talk about anything other than
the disaster that was her relationship with Ron Weasley.
Granted, if she'd ever made that same mistake, she wouldn't want
it ever mentioned again either. Oh Merlin, this was going to be
her in 13 months with Longbottom, only involving
marriage instead of dating. Damn it, what was that thing
Hermione said? Some muggles believed in karma.
Perhaps she should stop teasing her so much.
But if the damage was already done, What?
Theo demanded. How is this the first time I'm
hearing about this? He turned to Wieselt.
Care to validate Pansy's assessment?
Weasel gagged. We went to the Yule Ball
together. Pansy said.
Nothing else happened. No, nothing is what happened
between Ron and I at the Yule Ball.
Padma said. At least Neville danced with you
instead of spending the entire evening staring at Hermione
Granger. At least Weasel had done one
thing right by choosing the fun Patil twin.
Pansy was starting to like her more and more as the night went
on. That had nothing to do with Ron
broke off. She was there with the enemy
Padma. Ron, you had a Victor Crumb
action figure. Weaslet said.
Why does everyone always bring that up?
He rolled his eyes. We've gone years without this
coming up again. And after one night hanging out
with a bunch of Slytherins, Padma just laughed harder.
Theo gave Pansy a knowing smirk. You know, Padma, he said.
As far as obsessions with Hermione Granger go, it could
have been much, much worse. Theodore not, I will hex you.
Hermione snapped. Why?
He asked. I'm not the one who mistakenly
called out your name in the heat of the moment with someone else.
It took them a moment, but Wheezlett and Padma caught on
the exact time in huge gasps. It was hard to tell who was
blushing harder, Draco or Hermione.
Potter and Weasel were staring at Draco like they were seeing
him for the first time. Pansy cleared her throat and
held up two fingers twice. Padma looked horrified.
And you stayed with him. She sighed.
Best of a bad lot, I'm afraid. Plus, knowing the true extent of
Draco's obsession with muggle born Hermione Granger was an
excellent leverage to have against him, just in case he
ever decided to leave her. I just pretended to not hear.
Could have continued pretending the rest of our lives just fine.
Draco muttered. Aw.
Said Wieselt with a teasing pout.
Unrequited love is so romantic though, Ferret.
You would certainly think so. He said.
Exactly how many of Potter's roommates did you date before he
finally noticed you? I shudder to think of what you
would have done once it was only your brother left.
She only smirked. I don't think I'm Malfoy is in a
position to make jokes about incest.
We never married our first cousins, Draco said.
Draco, becoming a blood traitor has made you so uncouth, Theo
said. One doesn't bring up such things
in polite company. Bit sensitive about that?
Not Wieselt asked. Didn't you write Potter a love
poem for your first year? Theo asked.
With one of those dwarves Lockhart dressed up as Cupids
Hamain. He started laughing.
How did you start it off? Eyes as green as a fresh pickled
toad. Oh, you want to talk about
embarrassing things that happened that year, Granger?
Wieselt demanded. How about when you.
Hermione's eyes widened with horror.
OK, no, I'm sorry, please don't. Wieselt's eyes narrowed as her
mouth quirked in 1/2 smirk. Tell me you've told Draco.
The man in question sniggered. Oh, I know, he said.
It's Theo who doesn't. He gasped.
I don't know what. Wiesel put her arms around her
husband and brother. These three were convinced that
Draco was the heir of Slytherin, so they concocted a brilliant
pan to brew Polyjuice potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and
disguised themselves as Slytherins so that they could
get them to confess. Theo's mouth dropped open.
You brewed Polyjuice potion in second year, but she
accidentally used cat hair and turned herself into half a cat
for the next month. Theo practically howled with
laughter. Hermione folded, tossed her
cards on the table, and buried her head in her arms.
Shame. For what was probably the first
time ever, it looked like she actually might have a winning
hand. Everyone else, even Draco, was
laughing at her as well. Draco patted her on the back.
Brewing a potion that advanced as a second year is quite
impressive. She shrugged off his hand.
Don't patronize me. Oh, I wish you'd told me this
years ago. And to think I thought the most
shocking revelation of the evening was that Longbottom was
good in the sack. Wieselt and Patmer traded
smirks. Theo noticed right away and
rounded on Wieselt. I thought you said nothing
happened at the Yule Ball? Padma grinned.
We just had some drinks with Hannah Abbott before Theo
watched them game. Entirely forgotten Longbottom's
eggs. Weaslet grinned.
Bit of a chatty drunk, slightly brown to exaggeration at times.
Padma said. Not if what Pansy said was true.
Weaslet said suggestively. Pansy glanced over at
Longbottom. He was fighting it, but there
was something smug about his expression.
He tossed down his cards, a winning hand in front of her as
he gathered up his pile of coins.
He shot her a smirk. Your deal.
Theo started complaining loudly about losing to a Gryffindor.
Pansy had far different things running through her mind.
Neville flew back with her to his grandmother's house.
Aside from the unpleasant trip back to her family's ancestral
home to gather her belongings during the day when she knew
Ivan and Petro were out drinking and with Grainger to help, she'd
spent the entire week there. It had been quieter than she'd
expected, peaceful in a way her home wasn't.
Augusta was busy organising things for the wedding and Pansy
spent her time working on her dress, even if it was small and
fake. It was her wedding day and if
she was going to be the centre of attention, she was going to
look spectacular. Neville ruffled his hair,
working out all the cinders. Well, that was an experience
every Friday night. She said.
Can't wait. He drawled.
She smirked. Something in his expression
softened as he stared down at her.
Tension stretched between them like a pull of unfamiliar magic,
heightening her senses, or just her awareness of him.
He towered over her, almost a full head taller.
She had to tilt her head back to continue to meet his eyes.
They were unreadable in the faint light from the dying
fireplace, but she found she couldn't look away.
The smell of damp earth clung to him, discernible underneath the
sharp bite of fire. Whiskey they did had that night,
warmth and comfort layered with spice, intoxicating in its own
unexpected way. He leaned forward ever so
slightly. Why don't you like pansies?
His question was like a cold bucket of water, breaking
whatever spell he was weaving. It's just so cliche, you know.
He slid his hands into his pockets, watching her.
She sighed. You're the herbologist, she
said. What's greater, add a flower
that has no scent and dies every year?
Pansies are actually perennials. Then why are they pulled up and
replanted each year? He scratched the back of his
neck. Easier maintenance, I suppose,
he said. They're really easy to plant,
but don't bloom well consecutive years without a lot of effort.
What girl would want to be associated with a scentless,
useless flower used primarily as a filler that was easier to RIP
up and replace than nurture? She smirked.
Does anything about me scream easy maintenance?
Pretty much the exact opposite. Perhaps that was the problem.
Easier to just RIP her out and replace her, especially
something that was just there to be pretty.
You strike me as more of a roser Scentifolia.
Actually, did you add those to my bouquet?
He smirked. Their thorns can cut through
dragon hide, and I assume you wouldn't want blood all over
your wedding dress Saw nor cute Longbottom.
His smirk spread. Sweet dreams, Pansy, he said.
See you tomorrow.