Post DH #6 . . . . . The pleasure of your company

Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

                                                              ________________

                                                         Mrs. Andromeda Tonks

                                                           Master Teddy Lupin

                                                             _______________

“POOF”

Draco and Astoria stepped out of the large brick fireplace into a cozy, uninhabited living room, filled with cheerful chintz covered furniture.

“Hello! Anybody home?” called Draco.

“In the kitchen, you two,” replied an answering voice.

Sweeping his arm to motion Astoria forward, Draco bowed and then swatted her on the bum as she walked by.

“Draco! Behave yourself!”  Astoria wagged a finger at him and then turning, walked through the doorway leading to the hall and thus to the back of the house where a teakettle could be heard starting to whistle.

“You’re just in time!”  Andromeda Tonks said over her shoulder, as she lifted the kettle and poured the steaming hot water into the fat teapot sitting on the counter.

“Hello, Auntie,” replied Draco, walking over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Draco, favorite nephew of mine, you look in fine fettle today.” 

“I’m your only nephew.”

“Details.”  She looked past him and her smile widened. “Astoria, my dear, how are you holding up?”

“Quite well, actually, as I’ve decided to let Mother have her little meltdowns about all the details and just enjoy the chaos,” giggled Astoria, as she hugged her soon to be aunt-by-marriage.

“That’s very naughty of you, but curiously sensible at the same time.  Olivia is really in her element with all of this organizing, so leave her to it and just agree with her about things.  The only important detail is that both of you get together with the vicar and get on with the vows!”

“And then make a run for it!” Draco suggested.   Seeing both of the ladies’ eyebrows shoot up, he added, “After the reception, of course!”  He scrutinized the tea tray and reached for a cookie.

“Don’t even think it, young man!” snapped Andromeda, as she smacked his fingers.

“OW!” Draco pulled his hand back, but smiled sheepishly as Astoria giggled. “Alright, I’ll behave.  Want me to carry the tray into the living room for you?” he asked innocently.

"As if,” his aunt replied, shaking her head. “I’m not so ancient that I can’t maneuver a tea tray, Draco.”

“Nice try, honey,” Astoria stage whispered, as she leaned against the counter. “By the way, where’s Teddy?  We have a favor to ask of him.”

“He’s out in the garden chasing the gnomes.  They don’t mind, as he really can’t hurt them.  They let him toss them over the wall and then just scurry back through the gaps, laughing; quite the gnome wrangler, our Teddy.”  Laughing, his grandmother looked out the window into the backyard.  “Oh!  That was a good toss, that was!  He seems to have gotten his release timing a bit better.”