𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐇𝐀 | 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦

twenty-eight

 Mrs. Weasley was overjoyed to have Ron and Hermione back in the same room again. She had disapproved of Ron's behavior more than anyone, but as a mother, she of course was happy to have all of her children together.

Hermione was sitting in between Draco and Bill. Bill and Fleur were in the area after learning of Ginny's incident, and Ginny sat across from them with Blaise. She was glaring at Ron. It was odd seeing the two Slytherins at the Weasley brunch, but not unwelcome. George and Blaise were apparently old pals- he and Theo had pulled a lot of pranks with Fred, George, and Lee, helping the Gryffindors out where they couldn't reach. Especially in their fifth year, with Umbridge. There was one particular prank involving Pansy upside-down over the Great Lake in the middle of the night- but that was when she was particularly bothersome. She giggled thinking of it, and shook her head when Draco looked at her in question.

Arthur was once again pestering Harry about something that had to do with Muggles. Charlie was complaining loudly on his other side, but Hermione was just glad that it wasn't her. As the one who was smarter than Harry (not to toot her own horn- it was fairly obvious), and more well-versed in the magical world, Arthur more often turned to Hermione's eloquent explanations. She was farther down the table, and Arthur couldn't very well shout. Harry knew this, of course, and sent her pleading glances periodically, which she promptly ignored.

Luna was there too. She had tagged along with Draco, or Ginny, or Blaise- well, Hermione didn't really know who she came with, but it wasn't the first time. She had dated George at one point, so it wasn't an unusual thing to see Luna in the Weasley household. Hermione wondered if Luna was going to pursue her love life anytime soon. She seemed pretty busy with the shop, but... Hermione looked at Harry, who was trying earnestly to explain Roombas to Mr. Weasley. His green eyes were lit up and he was animated, speaking with his hands and knocking his glasses nearly off in his eagerness to explain.

No, of course she wasn't thinking about setting up Harry and Luna. Unless... well, they were compatible. And they had been friends for years... no, not the point.

"Nice, isn't it?" Fleur asked, leaning around Bill to speak to Hermione.

"Sorry?" Hermione asked.

"I am just glad that Ron has stopped being such an idiot. It was getting quite ridiculous," Fleur said. Ron, sitting next to Blaise, protested. "Hey!"
"She isn't wrong," Blaise, Draco, and Hermione all said in unison. Bill laughed.

"You messed up big-time, Ron," Bill said. "At least you finally realized it."

Ron's face turned beet red, but he nodded. Luna was speaking to Ginny about something and suddenly stood. "I need something from the kitchen. Draco?"

Draco stood as well, more quickly than one would to get something from the kitchen. Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing?"
"Helping Luna."

"With what?" she asked. He just winked. Was this his big surprise?

Nobody else paid them much mind, and they disappeared into the kitchen with only Hermione's eyes following them. Blaise noticed as well. "What are they off to?"

"Draco's big surprise," Hermione said with a shrug. "I guess we'll see."

"He hasn't told you?" Blaise asked.

"Not a word."

"Damn," Blaise sighed, disappointed. "I would have thought he'd tell you, of all people."

"It's very hush-hush," Hermione said wryly, before Draco popped back into the room, holding up a wine glass in the typical 'may I have your attention' fashion.

"Ginny, could you come up here?" Draco asked.

Ginny scrunched up her nose. "No."

Everyone chortled. Draco sighed. "Please? Luna and I have something for you."
"Fine," she huffed. "Blaise, can you help me?"

Blaise stood and helped Ginny through the maze of chairs and stools. She stood next to Draco, Blaise at her elbow. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"Luna, c'mere," Draco called. Luna walked out of the kitchen, holding a vial and an eyedropper very carefully. Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Had they-

"Can you lean your head back and look at the ceiling?" Luna asked quietly.

"What?" Ginny asked. Realization dawned in Blaise's eyes, and a warily hopeful expression settled across his face.

"Do it, Gin," Blaise said, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh, alright," Ginny said, looking at the ceiling.

"This is going to be cold," Luna said. Before she could protest, Luna had placed five drops in each eye. Ginny was swearing loudly, squeezing her eyes shut. Molly crossed herself and muttered disapprovingly at her daughter's language.

"Wait-" Ginny opened her eyes, still teary from the liquid. "Luna- Malfoy, wait."

A smile spread slowly across Draco's face. "Luna, it worked."

"Oh, Merlin," Ginny breathed, attacking Luna with a hug. She giggled, and Draco smiled wider.

"What just happened?" Ron asked.

"Ginny can see again," Hermione said, beaming. When Draco reclaimed his seat beside her, she asked, "So is this what you've been working on?"
"Yeah," Draco said. "We didn't want to get anyone's hopes up."

"This is... thank you. Thank you so much," Ginny was saying to Luna. Draco grinned at Hermione as Mrs. Weasley bustled over and enveloped him in a huge hug. Hermione smiled softly at him. This was Draco. As kind and loving as she knew him as- and he was showing it to everyone else.

The table was bustling, even more so than before. Blaise was animated, speaking at top volume, Bill's loud laugh booming through the room at something he said. Luna had gone to perch by Harry's chair, and they were deep in conversation about something Hermione couldn't hear. Ron was laughing about something with George- Ron caught her eye and smiled hesitantly, bursting into a full-on beam when she smiled back. Charlie was reading Arthur and Percy and Percy's wife a book of one-liners, laughing uproariously after each one as Percy rolled his eyes. Draco came up behind Hermione's chair, released by Mrs. Weasley, and rested his chin on her head.

Hermione smiled.

This was her family.