Everything the Light Touches

Ginny sent word that they wanted at least 24 hours of time just for her and Harry to bond with the baby, so the group decided to go down to the pub and wet the baby’s head once they’d gotten news of her arrival. They’d decided to call her Lily, of course. So, they made their way down and brought the best bottles of wine that their money could buy there and began cheering and drinking. Draco caught Pansy touching her glass with the tip of her wand before drinking it and wondered whether she’d made it stronger. Several times they made toasts and hugs were passed around the group like sweets.

“How sentimental..” A voice drawled from behind them, Pansy looked over and made a disgusted noise as she turned back away from him.

“You should leave.” Neville said evenly as he stood up from his chair. “You know you’re not welcome here.”

“And why would I be, when you could have three death eaters here instead.” Ron sneered as he looked between Theo, Pansy and Draco. Draco looked over at Hermione with a concerned expression as Ron pointed at her. “Figures you’d let one of them into your home again, anything for a bit of attention with you isn’t it.”

“There’s no need for that.” Neville chastised as he stepped closer to him and began to guide him out of the door as he continued to throw insults at the group, ignoring Neville for the most part. They stepped outside and began to argue, Pansy rushed out with Hermione and Draco immediately behind her.

“Yeah, well, you would say that you fucking married one of them.” Ron spat at Pansy’s feet, and it was all Neville needed to see to fully lose his temper. Before anyone knew what had happened he tightened his fist and it careened into Ron’s nose, bloodying it on impact. He staggered back into a wall as Neville moved over to protect his wife and ask if she was okay.

“We’re fine, but if punching Ron is on the table I think I’m well overdue!” She tried to lunge over towards him, but Neville caught the back of her dress and pulled her back, revealing the telltale curve of her stomach. Draco reassessed why she would have charmed her wine earlier but kept it to himself since Hermione hadn’t noticed. She was too busy staring at Ron’s face.

“This is your fucking fault!” He pointed into her face as he yelled. “All of this is because of you!” She said nothing but her expression made Draco’s blood simmer.

“That’s enough now.” Draco stood between them; she placed her hand on his back as she looked around him. He could smell the alcohol Ron had consumed before arriving and wondered how he wasn’t on his back with it.

“Don’t pretend like you’d ever care about a filthy little mudblood.” Ron jeered, his expression faltered as Draco pulled a fist back and only just managed to show some restraint. “Go on, do it. I’ll go straight to the Wizengamot and tell them all about it.”

“If you ever come near her again, I will smile at you in the courtroom.” Draco stepped closer to Ron, almost nose to nose before continuing. “Don’t mistake my hesitation for weakness.” His voice was low and menacing. “I’ll break every bone in that sad pathetic face of yours before I let you say anything to her again.”

Ron had the nerve, likely from the vodka he’d been drinking all day, to look around Draco and straight at Hermione.

“This isn’t ov..” He didn’t finish his sentence before Draco took him by the throat and slammed him into the wall beside them, the sound of Ron’s head hitting the bricks made Hermione flinch. Draco rested his forearm under his chin with perhaps a little too much pressure as the blood from Ron’s nose streamed onto his shirt sleeve.

“Perhaps I’m not making myself clear here.” Draco seemed eerily calm for the situation. “This is a threat.”

“I’ll come back with others, we’ll see what you do then, death eater scum!” Ron struggle to speak past the arm constricting his throat. Draco smiled in a way that made Hermione’s hair stand on end.

“I beg you to make it look like self-defence..” Draco grinned into Ron’s face as he realised he meant what he said. It was surprisingly very rare that he found himself on the wrong side of violent promises.

“I’ll have you sent back to Azkaban! I have witnesses that have heard you threaten me twice!” Ron looked over at the other three with something akin to glee before they all turned around to inspect a rather conspicuous crack in the rendering on the pubs exterior wall. He’d get no support there.

With a loud crack Ron disappeared and all four of them looked around to make sure that no muggles had witnessed anything. Draco stepped over to Hermione, but she moved away, claiming to need a moment as she went inside and into the women’s bathroom. Pansy followed her, looking concerned and a little flustered.

“I think you handled that pretty well.” Neville remarked, offering to clean up Draco’s sleeve.

“I think you handled it better.” Draco countered, accepting the offer. “Congratulations by the way.” Neville gave him a confused look. “I know she’s pregnant. The question is, am I the only one who knows?” Both men adjusted their outfits.

“Yeah.” Neville sighed. “We got caught at the same time Ginny and Harry did, but she lost the baby the day after she told Gin. She’s sworn me to secrecy this time, she’s scared it’ll happen again.”

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” Draco clapped his hand on Neville’s shoulder. “I’m happy for you, and I’m so sorry for what happened before.”

“Thanks. Don’t tell Pans you know she’ll only panic.” They shared a knowing smile as Draco nodded his agreement before he took Neville inside and bought a round of whiskey for them.

Pansy walked into the ladies’ bathroom carefully, unsure of exactly how affected by the events Hermione had been. She found her holding onto the sink for dear life, staring at herself in the mirror, whilst taking deep measured breaths. There were no tears, which was a good sign. Pansy simply leaned against the sink beside her, she knew that Hermione would speak when she was ready. It didn’t take long.

“He’s such a fucking idiot.” Hermione’s words shook slightly.

“I know, he needs to accept the fact that you’re over.” Pansy agreed as Hermione turned her head sharply to look at her.

“Not Ron, Draco!” She sighed loudly. “I didn’t go through all of this just to see him back in Azkaban. I don’t think I could handle that.” Hermione ran the tap and washed her hands before adjusting her makeup slightly.

“You really like him, huh?” Pansy smiled at her.

“No!” Hermione rolled her eyes with a grin. “Ugh, yes. I do, against all of my better judgement.”

“Then get out there and thank him for defending you!” Pansy linked arms with her, and they assessed their reflections. “I personally cannot wait to thank that gorgeous husband of mine for defending me. He’s going to want to fight Ron every day when I’m done with him” She winked before pulling Hermione from the bathroom.

She spotted Draco immediately, leaning on the bar with all the casual grace of a man that never chose violence, sharing a drink and a laugh with Neville. She watched him with quiet adoration as he spoke and swirled the amber liquid in the tumbler he held. He looked over and when he saw her watching him, she felt something pull in her stomach. Something deeper than just primal need, it was almost otherworldly. He continued his conversation as he maintained eye contact across the room, smiling at her as she came closer. And that was the moment that she knew she was in trouble. He leaned into her ear as she came close.

“Are you okay?” His voice felt like velvet.

“If I say no will you take me home and make me feel better?” He looked confused until he clocked her expression.

“I won’t even finish my drink..” He vowed.

They regrouped the following day, after a leisurely morning filled with coffee and hangover potions. They wanted to show up separately so as not to overwhelmed the new parents, but Ginny was adamant that she wanted to see them all together. She didn’t want anyone to be the first or last to meet their newest addition to the group, and so they apparated together, laden with gifts and ready prepped meals. Draco paid particular attention to the moment Pansy held Ginny in a crushing hug, telling her how proud she was. He witnessed the moment Ginny whispered how sorry she was, and Pansy insisted that it was okay, things always work out exactly the way they’re supposed to. He gave Neville a half smile after they noticed each other watching the interaction before walking over to where the others had stooped over a bassinet.

Hermione was the first to hold Lily, and he didn’t think that moment could have been any sweeter until she looked up with tears in her eyes to tell Harry how perfect she was. Draco had to leave the room, otherwise he’d have welled up too. He entered the kitchen and saw some small chores needed doing, so he did them. He thought about how out of place he was as he washed the pots and scrubbed the sides, how he didn’t belong here. He wondered if he’d feel so ‘other’ by the time Pansy gave birth, just as she walked into the kitchen to find him.

“What are you doing?” She asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“I’m being useful..” He flashed her the sponge he was using. “And I’m giving everyone space to enjoy the little one.”

“And why aren’t you enjoying the little one?” Pansy watched him intently.

“I am.. She’s lovely, I just..” Draco shrugged as he stopped cleaning and discarded the sponge into the sink.

“I know.” She nodded softly. “I felt the same in the beginning too. But you’re here because we want you here.”

Pansy sat at the kitchen table as she told him about the first time she felt this way, when Harry and Ginny got married a month after she finally accepted their friendship. Neville had been the one to invite her, as his plus one, one month into dating her. He’d pulled her into the photos and danced with her in front of everyone. He’d told her that he was going to marry her one day, and they’d have an even fancier affair. And she’d spent the entire time crawling in her skin. She had been the first to leave Azkaban and the first to be adopted by the group, society as a whole wasn’t exactly inviting to her, not in the same way they had been.

“But it wasn’t because they didn’t make me feel welcome, they did. I just couldn’t get out of my own head, none of the things I thought were even being hinted at, it was just my own perspective.” Pansy crossed the room and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You were forgiven before you even left your prison cell, Hermione discuss the entire thing with all of us before she took you in. Harry forgave you the moment he decided to save you in the Room of Requirements.”

“Why are you telling me this?” He couldn’t bring himself to look at her, he knew she was right.

“Because you deserve to feel like you belong, Draco. We all do.” She gave him a quick hug before she made to leave the room.

“Pans.. Thank you. It’s nice to have someone that understands, I’m sorry you had to do this alone.” He gave her a small smile.

“I’m not.” She smiled back. “Because in the end, I got everything I always wanted. And so will you.”

Draco watched her leave the room and finished up his tasks whilst he mulled over what he’d been told. He knew she was right; he knew that they’d done nothing but welcome him with open arms since day one. He wanted to feel like he was one of them, like he had the day before, but this was different, this was deeper. He heard the door into the kitchen open, not the same one Pansy had come in through, one that led outside. He turned to look over and was greeted by Mr Weasley. They stood for a moment, as if assessing one another.

“Gosh, you look just like your father..” Arthur said, slightly above a whisper. Draco looked over unsure how to take it. “Oh, it’s not an insult, you just took me by surprise.”

“Congratulations on becoming a grandfather..” Draco offered.

“Thank you. Third time now, but it never gets old.” Arthur smiled. “What are you doing in here, shouldn’t you be in there?” Draco shrugged.

“I wanted to do something useful.. I’ve never really been around a baby before..” He scratched the back of his head as Arthur chuckled lightly. Draco hoped that he hadn’t heard about the scuffle the day before, this might have been far more awkward if he had. “Tea?” Draco asked as he took hold of the kettle, Arthur’s expression changed to curiosity as he watched him, the last time they’d seen each other Draco had been a pureblood supremacist through and through, and now he was using muggle appliances like it was nothing.

“Sure. Uh, two sugars. Shall I ask the others?” Arthur walked through the room, barely able to comprehend the difference, despite all he had been told.

“Ask Ginny first, she’s earned it.” Draco gave Arthur a small smile.

“Absolutely.” He stepped out of the room but then stepped back in momentarily. “It’s good to see you Draco, I’m glad you’re doing well.”

Arthur had spent enough time around Pansy and Theo to see the influence his daughter and her friends had on them, but he’d scoffed at the idea that Draco Malfoy could be reformed. He watched on as Draco helped him hand out the drinks, and it didn’t escape his notice how close Draco sat to Hermione. Ron’s treatment of her since the war had been his one great shame in this life. Lucius Malfoy had spent a very long time trying to tear down the Weasley family, and now his son played a hand in fixing what his own son had broken. Arthur had made his position on what Ron had done very well known from the beginning, and soon after that he’d realised how blind they’d been to the behaviour leading up to it. He’d accepted that his wife would never cut him off after losing Fred, but he thought that it was an insult to Fred’s name to use him as an excuse to not hold Ron accountable. Draco watched Arthur as he scrutinised Pansy, figures that he’d be able to sniff a pregnant woman out, and he could. It wasn’t some kind of sixth sense though, Arthur was just observant. He knew the tell-tale signs to look out for, and he’d known Ginny was pregnant before even she had. All she had to do was turn down a cup of tea, something she never missed an opportunity to have, and he knew. Draco tried to catch his eye to warn him against it but couldn’t.

“Congratulations to you two, too!” He smiled up from his seat at Neville, who stood beside his wife. Pansy’s face went white, as Neville took hold of her shoulder.

“No.. No, you’re not!” Ginny’s expression crumpled as she started to cry. Pansy nodded at her, her own eyes brimming with tears. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to distract from your moment..” Pansy looked like a deer in headlights as everyone asked how far along she was. “Sixteen weeks..”

“SIXTEEN?!” Ginny squealed.

“I just couldn’t bring myself..” Pansy choked on her words as Neville took over.

“We should have been due in two weeks, only Ginny knew about the baby before we lost it.” He ran his hand over her hair as she looked up at him, nothing but love and adoration in his eyes for his wife. “So, we just wanted to be sure this time.”

“Wait! Hold on.. None of you knew?” Arthur was slow to catch up. Draco had to hide his amusement at the fact that none of them had realised but Arthur had. It suddenly made sense why Pansy was in charge of making those cocktails on holiday, she had to charm hers to remove the alcohol without anyone noticing. She’d winced at the flavour, Draco had noticed just once, she’d clearly gone off the taste.

“Draco knew..” Neville said as Draco threw him a wide-eyed look.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” Hermione hit his arm lightly.

“I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I didn’t keep secrets now would I?” He joked back at her as she looked at him incredulously.

And that was the moment that Draco knew he was one of them. For the first time in his life, he had friends he could trust and – most importantly – they trusted him.