A Poetic Valentines Anniversary
Continued…
"Alright, so, just wait there while I do the walking," Ginny said, and she walked three times in front of the empty wall across from the Barnabas the Barmy's tapestry.
"Merlin, what are you supposed to think about?" Ron asked in his normal voice since there was no one around. "Are you supposed to think 'I need a place to snog my brother!' Or to pretend to," He added the last bit as Ginny glared at him on her way to the newly formed door.
"Oh no Ron, that's not what I was thinking, what I was thinking was 'I need a place to shag my brother senseless!" She said, clearly annoyed, then opened the door and she squeaked.
"What?" Ron walked up behind her and she tried to close the door.
"I was bloody well joking!" she exclaimed. Ron looked at her, then pushed the door back open all the way. He then started in shock. The room was lit by cinnamon scented candles, and a large four poster bed sat in the middle of it, with black shear material in place of the normally bulky hangings.
"Ginny! What exactly were you thinking?" Ron asked as he pushed her inside and walked in behind her.
"That we needed a place to play our next part," She said looking around the room. There was nothing else in it. She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Right then," was all Ron could say as he sat next to her, and looked at her.
XXXLXXX
"It is wonderful to see you again Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall greeted as the two girls walked into her office. As Lavender passed, McGonagall handed her a tiny pouch and a slip of parchment. Which Lavender slipped into her pocket.
"You too Professor," Hermione answered, still somewhat thinking about the next riddle. She looked over at the plate of sweets and took one, as she and Lavender sat down.
Lavender took advantage of Hermione grabbing a sweet and shared a head shake and a wink with her old professor. To which her old professor returned with a slight nod.
"Hermione dear, tell me what you have been doing since graduation."
"Well, I'm studying to be a healer, goodness knows having Harry and Ron as best friends I'm bound to use that training more then anything else I could learn!" Hermione explained with a mock exasperated sigh. They all shared a laugh.
"Oh, and 'Mione, don't forget the fact that you and Draco practically live together!" Lavender said after the laughter died down. Hermione blushed and glared at her.
"How are things with him going?" Asked McGonagall.
"Their good. Very good really. He actually helped pay for my training," She answered, getting a determined expression on her face. "Though he refuses to let me pay him back."
Conversations after then turned to Lavender and Dean, and then to the rumors of the Headmaster retiring. Which turned out to be just that. Rumors.
"Albus has no intention of retiring for a few more years. He says after you three," McGonagall explained, looking straight at Hermione, "graduated, things have quieted down a great deal, and he can relax as well as work."
Lavender laughed at the look on Hermione's' face, then widened her eyes as she checked her watch. They had been in there for over an hour and a half.
"'Mione, have you thought on that riddle anymore?"
"No, I haven't actually," She admitted.
"Maybe I could be of some help?" McGonagall offered. Lavender looked at her, but then shrugged. They were running late.
"Alright, it said; In a room, that is but not. You'll find just not one, but a two of a lot." Hermione recited.
"A room that is but not you say? My dear that is an easy one! Are you sure you are the same Miss Granger that got the highest scores all through school?"
Hermoine blushed again, and looked down at her hands. Lavender caught her old professors' eye and nodded.
"It means the room of requirement," McGonagall explained with a slight smile. Hermione looked up and her eyes widened.
"Of course! Why didn't I think of that!" She gave a hasty good-bye and pulled Lavender out of the room.
XXXLXXX
"What do you think is taking them so long?" Ron asked as he paced next to the bed.
"How should I know?" Ginny answered. She was currently trying to fight off fatigue that the bed had created for her. She sighed again, and sunk lower into the pillows.
"Don't fall asleep Gin. I still don't understand why we had to be here in the first place." Ron sat on the bed and looked at her.
"Because she has to see us- err, me- so that I can have an alibi. And the reason that you are here, and the reason that we had to be seen together earlier is because you have to shamelessly come on to her. And then reci-"
"I know the plan Ginny, I just don't get it." Ron sighed. "This who part could be skipped if you ask me."
"Well, start getting it cause they will be here any moment. And no one did ask you," Ginny said, irritation getting the better of her. In all honestly she didn't get exactly why she had to have a sotto date with her brother either. Or even a sotto date at all! But it's what Malfoy told her to do. And if it wasn't for Hermione, or the 15 galleons, she wouldn't have even considered it. 'Though, since he failed to tell me my date was my brother, I should get more then that'
"Lavender, I told you, the door shouldn't be there unless someone is already in there," came Hermione's voice.
Ron and Ginny looked at each other and hurried into position.
XXXLXXX
"I admit Malfoy, that was pretty good on your part," Harry said as he and Draco walked down the street to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Why thank you my dear, anything for the woman I love," Draco then proceeded to grab Harry's' hand.
"Enough Malfoy, I'm not your wife," Even as he pulled his hand free, Harry couldn't hold in his laughter.
"Do you think Hermione will like it?"
"Are you mad? She'll love it." Harry replied, and that caused Draco to smile and nod in reassurance.
It had taken them more time then he thought to get everything ready. But now that it was all taken care of, he allowed himself to relax.
"Say Potter, drinks on me, I think we deserved it."
As they walked into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry stood on his toes and kissed Draco on the cheek.
"That would be great darling, just let me pop up to our room and change," Harry took off at a brisk pace and left a gaping Draco behind.
XXXLXXX
"But the riddle clearly meant this room. Therefore, we must go in there," Lavender explained as she opened the door.
"I still don't know about this I- Ginny!" Hermione's' eyes widened. Ginny, and her 'date' quickly shot to opposite ends of the room.
"Her-Hermione! What a surprise seeing you here, I was just, erm, studying. Right, and now I'm done, so, bye!" With that Ginny sent a look to Ron, then rushed pasted Lavender, who slipped a torn off piece of parchment into Ginny's' hand.
"Hi there," Ron said after Ginny made her hasty retreat. "I don't believe we met. I'm Andrew…"
XXXLXXX
"Professor! Wait!" Ginny called as she hurried down the stairs. She had just caught sight of Professor Dumbledore turning the corner.
"Ah, Miss Weasley, I was just on my way to see what was holding up the operation," His eyes twinkled.
"Here you go sir," She handed him the parchment.
Dumbledore's' eyes twinkled merrily as he went off to do his bit.
XXXLXXX
"I do believe Malfoy, that this is the longest you and I have gone with out saying one insult."
"Indeed it is a record Potter. No need to worry though, tomorrow we can go back to being bitter rivals."
"If only tomorrow would come sooner," Harry picked up his shot of fire whisky and downed it.
"It will if you keep drinking those and pass out," Malfoy, who wanted to be perfectly sober later, took a drink of his butterbeer.
"I'm trying to erase the memory for being your wife."
"And there goes the record."
XXXLXXX
"Did you notice anything weird about Andrew?" Hermione asked as she and Lavender hurried down the corridor.
"No."
"Hmm, he reminded me of Ron."
"I guess it's true what they say," Lavender said after a brief, inward curse
"What do who say?"
"People. That girls look for guys who remind them of their brothers?" Try as she might, she couldn't help saying that as a slight question.
Hermione laughed, "Right Lav."
"Let's just work on the riddle."
"That's another thing, why would he know the riddle?"
"Hermione! Focus!" Lavender bit her bottom lip.
"Right. Up so high,
Is where I play
Get there soon
Without delay."
"Any Ideas?" Lavender asked, although that was the easiest riddles of the day.
"Of course. It's the quidditch pitch. Draco loves quidditch!" Hermione hurried on out the doors and toward the pitch.
Lavender, following at her own pace, looked at her watch and smiled. They were back on schedule. As soon as she was in the right spot, she turned toward the castle, and nodded. Then hurried to Hermione, who was just entering the pitch.
XXXLXXX
"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore nodded in greeting as he approached the duo's table.
"Professor," Harry slurred-err greeted, then nudged Malfoy, who didn't seem to have noticed the headmaster.
"Sorry? Oh, hi Professor," Malfoy, said, then looked at his watch, then back at Dumbledore.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, it is time."
"Already?" Malfoy, if it's possible, seemed to grow paler.
"Yes Mr. Malfoy. We have 10 minutes to be in place," Dumbledore placed his hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Alright, what are we standing around here for then?" Draco made no move to stand up.
"Err, Malfoy? We're sitting, not standing," Harry said, clearly finding it more amusing that it actually was.
"Shut it Potter. Have another Fire Whiskey."
"Draco, we must leave now," Dumbledore's tone was comforting, but had firmness to it. Draco nodded, stood, then froze. "I think it would be wise to tell me where we are apparating to, so I can take Mr. Potter here, who is clearly not up to it." He placed his hand on top of Harry's which was just about to pick up another shot glass.
"Right, here," Draco took out the parchment that had the address already on it. He then took a deep breath, nodded once, and disapparated.
Dumbledore looked at Harry and chuckled, as The Boy Who Lived attempted to lift the shot glass from under Dumbledore's hand. "Right then Mr. Potter, we'll be off."
XXXLXXX
"Come on, Andrew," Ginny urged, tugging on her newly retransformed brothers arm.
"We have time Ginny, no need to rush," Ron pulled his arm out of her grip and rubbed the skin that she pinched when grabbing his arm.
"We have less then 10 minutes," She saw Ron's eyes widen, and he hurried past her. Ginny jogged and caught up with him as he approached Professor McGonagall's door, which swung open immediately.
"You're late. Well, don't just stand there, come in, come in. Miss Weasley, you first," McGonagall ushered them to her fireplace, and handed out the floo powder.
XXXLXXX
"Bottles, where bring my cloak, the emerald one, not that green one that looks moss," Narcissa Malfoy ordered as she stood in her foyer. The house elf appeared a moment later with the desired cloak, and Narcissa smiled. She made sure she had her gift, then left the manor before disapparating to the address her son had sent her.
XXXLXXX
"There is no way you are getting me up there Lavender!" Hermione stormed, her hands firmly planted on her hips.
Lavender glanced at the brunette next to her, then back at the hovering snitch, which had what Hermione presumed was the next clue tapped to it.
"You have to Hermione! It won't be that bad, I promise."
"Anything that has to do with my feet more then a few feet off the ground is indeed bad Lavender!" Hermione glared at the hovering broom from her spot at its tail end.
"You mean you don't want to know what's on that parchment?" Lavender glanced at her watch. She was running out of time! She had to get Hermione up in the air NOW!
"Of course I want to know, but why can't you go up and get it for me?"
"And risk breaking a nail? No Hermione, you have to do this and you know it." She glanced at her watch again. 7 minutes…. 'Oh Merlin Hermione…' Lavender sighed. Hermione was looking up at the Snitch, then back to the hovering broom, then back again.
'Please don't end up cursing me into oblivion' Lavender prayed repeatedly in her mind, before she pushed Hermione roughly forward, so she had no choice but to slide onto the end of it. Attempting to get off straight away, Hermione made the mistake of kicking her leg, which sent the broom up into the air.
After hearing a few choice words from Hermione, that Lavender didn't know her friend even knew, she managed to add 'Don't get hurt' to her silent prayer, before shouting "Since your up there catch that snitch! And DON'T LOOK DOWN!" With that said, and when she was fairly sure her friend wasn't about to fall to her death anytime soon, Lavender ran faster then she ever did in her life back into the castle, and to the nearest fireplace.
XXXLXXX
"Is everything ready? Is everyone here?" Draco looked around nervously.
"Relax, yes, everything is ready, and all we are waiting on is Miss Brown," Dumbledore said kindly, his eyes twinkling at the boys obvious nerves.
"Why isn't she here? Why-"
"Relax will you? I'm here now," Lavender brushed off the soot that clung to her clothes as she made her way over to where Draco was standing with his Mother and Dumbledore.
"What took you so long? You should have been here sooner."
"Brilliant making it all end at a broom you ferret! You know she's afraid of heights, I had to actually push her on the bloody thing!" Draco sighed. He had thought of that, but he had relied on that her curiosity would win over fear. He was glad Lavender did what she did, as long as Hermione wasn't hurt in anyway that is.
"Hermione will love this, and you don't need to be nervous, she loves you too." That said, Lavender joined Dean by stairs to wait
XXXLXXX.
"Bloody hell Draco! I'm going to kill you for this," Hermione grunted as the Snitch dodged her hand for what seemed to be the millionth time.
She was growing very tired, and was still very afraid to be up in the air. She ventured a look down and saw- nothing.
"LAVENDER?" She was getting more afraid now. "Where did she go?" Had barely left her mouth when- and she couldn't believe it- the snitch flew directly into her chest and stayed there.
Hesitating only long enough to regain her balance, which was thrown off when she started at the impact, Hermione grabbed the now hovering snitch.
She looked dismayed at the black parchment and headed, jerkily, to the ground. Just as she stepped gratefully off of the broom, shimmery green words appeared on the parchment. She read them aloud to herself:
"I have one more thing," After being read aloud, the line faded to read: "To ask of you," Which faded to: "Hermione Granger, will you say 'I Do'?" Her breath hitched, "Oh, my-" She didn't get to finish, as she felt the familiar tug behind her navel.
XXXLXXX
In a second's time, she found herself in the largest library she had ever seen.
"So what do you say 'Mione?" Hermione turned around at the sound of Draco's voice, "Will you marry me?"
Hermione, still short of breath, only managed a "What?"
"Will you, Hermione Granger, marry me, Draco Malfoy?" She shook her head, then smiled widely.
"Yes! Yes of course I'll marry you Draco!" she threw herself into his arms, and he spun her around, before kneeling and slipping a ring on her finger.
It was then that she heard the sound of applause, and looked past Draco to the sight of all her friends and family.
XXXLXXX
"…I went to 'Mione's two bodyguards for their blessings, and before you even comment on that," Draco looked pointedly at the people gathered around him, "I knew Hermione would want their blessings. Merlin knows I'm surprised they don't approve or disapprove her wardrobe everyday. Then I arranged for all of this," He gestured with his free hand to their surroundings, "Activated the timer on the portkey and here we are!" The group smiled at the brilliance of Draco's plan; only three people looked back at him with a frown.
"Left out a lot didn't you Malfoy?" Ron commented.
"Like Ron and Ginny's date? Or our being married. I think Hermione would love to hear all about how I was you're wife before she will be." Harry's voice slurred a little.
"Oh yes Draco, do tell me all about that," Hermione turned to look at him, clearly amused.
"Ah, well that's simple," Everyone's attention was directed back to Draco. "You know as well as I that the Malfoy name isn't exactly in good favor anymore," Various people nodded knowingly, and Narcissa Malfoy shook her head sadly. "I needed to be able to purchase this Library," Hermione gasped, Draco nodded, "Yes, it is now your library- without causing a stir with the Prophet or Ministry for that matter. So using a variation of Polyjuice potion and Glamour charms- created by Hermione here- Potter and I posed as Mr. And Mrs. Mattings and bought this place as a wedding gift for our Daughter." Hermione, still stunned at having her own library, leaned up and kissed her fiancée.
There were some snickers from the group, who were picturing Harry Potter being married to Draco Malfoy. But one Ron Weasley and one Ginny Weasley were still tapping their feet impatiently.
"And what about all we did for your cause?" Asked Ron.
"Oh that? That wasn't necessary at all. I just wanted to have a little fun," Draco smirked at him, and Ron gapped.
"You mean I went on a date with my sister for nothing!"
Hermione let out a small "I knew Andrew was to much like Ron!" quietly to herself.
"Hmm, yes that's right."
"Malfoy, you bloody little ferret!" Ron lunged at Draco, only to be stopped by Harry, who couldn't help but chuckle. He was, after all, still slightly intoxicated.
Ron was still struggling to get out of Harry's grip when Ginny spoke up, clearly annoyed, but in semi good spirits.
"At least we got paid," That caused Ron to momentarily stop struggling.
"You mean you got paid for this!"
"You mean you didn't?" Ginny asked, now confused.
"MALFOY!" Ron broke free from Harry's grip and chased Draco through the library, while everyone else laughed and enjoyed the show.
I hope you all enjoyed that. I did enjoy writing it.
There are a few things I should clear up just so I don't get any flamers complaining:
1.) Ginny agreed to help not knowing the joke Draco was going to play on her. (She wouldn't have agreed if she knew Ron was in fact her date) There is meant to be no actual incest in this story, if it came off differently I apologize.
2.) The same goes for Ron. Only he, as you know, didn't get paid.
3.) Yes portkeys work on Hogwarts grounds. If you don't believe me you obviously didn't pay much attention to the final task in the fourth book.
4.) For the stories sake, (It isn't meant to be a war time action story, or have the threat of Voldie hanging over their heads) the war took place sometime after the last story ended. Good won… duh!
5.) Narcissa Malfoy, after her husbands' death in the war, warmed up considerably to muggls and muggleborns. Especially after she witnessed the effect Hermione had on Draco.
And just some things I couldn't work in, Hermione's library is both Magical and Muggle. Meaning it has both types of books. And Dumbledore help Harry's intoxication problem. Though, he didn't fully rid him of it. (That tricky headmaster!)
That said, I'll let you get on with the reviewing!