LOVE AT FIRST PUNCH

Chapter 20 (H)

Hermione lay on Draco's chest and the two of them stared at the canopy above them. The wispy emerald green fabric was dreamy, and Hermione felt right at home underneath it.

"Again?" Malfoy suddenly sat up, annoyance in his tone.

"What?" Hermione asked. Before Draco said anything, Hermione heard what he meant. Faint echoes of yelling reverberated throughout the manor.

"Just wait till you and I have our own place, nobody will be around to interrupt us then," Draco grumbled as he stood up. Hermione smiled and the two of them rushed down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, Malfoy turned right back around and started climbing up the stairs. Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him down.

The sight before them was interesting, to say the least. Ruldophus and Fred were chasing each other, Bellatrix was sitting on the ground, observing the situation with her face in her hands.

"SHE'S MY WIFE YOU IDIOT!" Rudolph cried, throwing a hex at Fred.

"YOU DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT HER-- BESIDES IT'S NOT MY FAULT SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME!" Fred cast another spell, Rudolphus avoided it.

"WOULD I BE FIGHTING YOU RIGHT NOW IF I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HER?!" Rudolphus said at the top of his lungs. Fred turned a corner and stopped running. Rudolphus paused, catching his breath. Bellatrix walked up to the two of them after a few seconds. Draco and Hermione quietly observed whatever was happening.

"Fred, do you care about me?" Bellatrix asked quietly.

"I-- Uh, I don't know. I knew you liked me so I just kind of went with it, not even knowing that you had a husband. I don't really have feelings for you, but I wanted to feel again..." Fred trailed off.

"Bellatrix," Rudolph began. "Our marriage was arranged-- That being said, it has come with its share of complications. But I will never stop fighting for you, never ever. You've betrayed me, given up on me, for gosh sake you had a child with another... Er... Man? Anyways, I love you Bellatrix. And I will never stop fighting for you, even though you've broken my trust countless times." Tears started to glisten in Bellatrix's eyes. Fred awkwardly slapped Rudolphus on the back.

"That's true love right there. Sorry Bellatrix, I'm not willing to come in between you and your man..." Fred didn't get to finish. Bellatrix had run into her husband's arms, holding onto him as tightly as possible. He returned the embrace and a few minutes later-- Fred, Bellatrix, and Rudolphus disapparated. Hermione looked into Malfoy's face, completely bewildered.

"There you two are!" Lucius called, entering the room with Narcissa on his arm.

"What happened?" Narcissa asked, noticing Hermione and Draco's faces.

"You don't want to know," Draco and Hermione said simultaneously.