The Engagement

Lucius Malfoy knew that for a happy marriage, the approval of one’s family was very important. His future son-in-law considered the Weasleys his family, so Lucius couldn’t afford to be in their bad graces anymore for there was a chance they would meddle and try to talk Potter out of the union with Draco. That’s why Lucius arranged for Draco to spent Christmas at the groom’s familiy’s home.

So, the young Malfoy heir found himself in a sea of redheads and clung to Hermione, to shield them off. “They won’t bite you, Draco” Hermione chuckled when the blonde tried to hide behind her. “I’m not so sure about that”, he retorted, eyeing the twins warily. They definitely were up to no good, as much as they whispered to each other and grinned mischievously.

Once he tasted Molly Weasley’s cooking though, he slowly began to relax and settle in. He was used to calm and admittedly lonely dinners. But here there never was one silent minute. Dinner was chaotic, as well as the whole house in terms of decoration and interior. But it was homely and somehow very charming.

Two days before Christmas though found the proud Malfoy heir in distress again.

„Absolutely not!“ Draco screeched. „Are you mad? I’m a boy! I have a penis! Should I show you to remind you I’m very much not a fucking girl?” The blonde Slytherin was livid. His parents already treated him like he was going to be a housewife. And now, Hermione wanted him to attend ‘girl’s night’ with her and Ginny.

“As per definition, I don’t have the genitals to have a ‘girl’s night’ with you, thank you very much” he hissed. He felt like everybody ignored his very manly manliness. Even the Slytherins called him 'Queen'. Those bastards thought he didn’t know but he wouldn’t be a good leader if he didn’t know what the people thought of him. He just chose to let it pass graciously. Maybe he should overthink that again, he didn’t feel very merciful anymore.

“Oh, Draco come on! You know I don’t doubt your sex, or gender for that matter. I just said, Ginny and I are having a ‘girl’s night’ and we wanted you to join. I didn’t intend to imply you’re a girl, too. We don’t even have to call it that.” Hermione tried to soothe the blonde. “Please, Draco. We will gossip, talk about the people we like, do face masks. It’s about enjoying ourselves and relaxing. Harry and Ron wouldn’t appreciate such an evening, they are too unrefined for that, which has absolutely nothing to do with their genitalia but their personalities!”

Hermione lowered her eyes and whispered “Also, I really want to bond with you, Draco. Until now, we always talk about academics. I want to up our friendship a bit. And Ginny wants to get to know you, too.” She fluttered her eyelashes when she looked up to Draco again. “So, what do you say?”

Draco watched her with narrowed eyes for a while. “Are we going to do hair care and manicure, too?”

“If you want to”, Hermione said hopefully.

“Fine” said Draco and Hermione squealed. “But under one condition: you let me do your hair! Honestly, it’s a disaster! Only Potter’s hair is more atrocious.” He sniffed imperiously.

“Deal”, Hermione said happily. This was her chance. She would deepen her friendship with Draco and silmultaneously get information about how Draco felt about Harry, so she could adjust the courting manual accordingly. She had her suspicions but wasn’t too sure. So far, her plan seemed to work.

Dressed in plush onesies and face clad in a yogurt mask, Draco slowly began to think that ‘girl’s plus one boy’s night’ wasn’t so bad at all. He leaned back into the pile of cushions and put cucumber slices on his eyes.

“So, Hermione. You and Ronald”, Draco made a face. Since he was residing in a house full of Weasleys he had to use first names in order to avoid confusion. He would never get used to it. “How did that happen?”

“Well, I had hoped that Ron would admit his feelings and just ask me out already. But he seemed to be in denial or thought his feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. So, last year when I catched him and Lavender Brown making eyes at each other, I decided to be an adult about it and confront him.”

“Oh, that was hilarious. She sent a flock of birds at my idiot brother and screeched like a banshee that she knew he was in love with her since first year. Then she screamed, he should man up and just kiss her already. It was the first and last time anyone ever heard Hermione swearing.” Ginny laughed as she remembered her brother’s dumbfounded expression and Hermione furiously cursing. “I wish, I had a pensieve” she sighed wistfully.

Draco giggled, “Yes, Hermione. How very mature of you”.

Hermione flushed and mumbled “Our relationship is more romantic than all that sounds. Ron wrote me very sweet love letters over the summer.”

“Apropos, love letter. I remember the love letter Ginevra composed in second year. ‘I wish he was mine, he’s really divine.’ Poetry at its finest!” Draco and Hermione laughed loudly.

“Hey, I was eleven!” Ginny protested indignantly.

Draco lifted his cucumber slices to look at her sceptically.
“But a fresh pickled toad? I mean, really! That’s so very unromantic. And weird. You and Luna would match perfectly, in that respect.”

Ginny blushed and Draco perked up. “Oh. I thought you had a thing for brunettes.”

“Nah.” Ginny waved her hand dismissively. “That thing with Harry was just my childhood fantasie. I noticed pretty quick that it wasn’t romantic interest but brotherly love between us when we tried to have a relationship.”

Hermione watched Draco’s smile attentively. That surely was relief in his features.

“Do you think, Luna would be interested in me?” Ginny asked.

“If she can see creatures no one else can, she won’t mind your terrible poetric skills and colourblindness”, Draco teased.

Ginny hit him with a pillow. “I’m not colourblind!”

“Oh really? Potter’s eyes resemble much more a smaragd than a frog! Actually, you know what? I’m gonna show you.” Draco fished his engagement ring from under his shirt. He didn’t want to wear the ring on his finger in school, to avoid any rumors. But he felt inclined to wear the ring nonetheless, so he put it on a simple chain around his neck.

Then the blonde rummaged in his bag and held up a small glas container. “I brought a pickled toad especially for this.” He said proudly.

“Come on!” Draco shooed Ginny and Hermione out of the room. “Who’s the weird one, now?” Ginny grumbled, but obediently followed the Slytherin to Ron’s room. Meanwhile Hermione’s brain went on overdrive. Draco was relieved that Ginny wasn’t interested in Harry anymore; Draco knew the exact shade of Harry’s eyes; he was even so obsessed about it that he’s showing them the difference. And he’s wearing the engagement ring which he didn’t have to do.

In Ron’s room, Draco marched up to Harry and held both the ring and frog container next to Harry’s face. Ginny ooooed and aaaaed to Draco’s immense satisfaction. “Now I see it. It’s really more an emerald green.”

“Told you.” Draco said smugly. He dragged Ginny out of the room and called over his shoulder “Thanks for your cooperation, Potter! You coming, Hermione?”

Hermione could barely hold her laughter. She winked at Harry and said, “Looks like you don’t have to do any courting after all, Harry.” Then she scrambled after Draco and Ginny.

Dumbfounded Harry looked after the blonde. Was he wearing a plush onesie? That’s hella cute. The black-haired boy turned to his friend. “Did I imagine this right now?”

Ron was equally dumbfounded and shook his head. “No, mate. I saw it, too.”