Dancing with Fire

If he’s learned anything in the last week it’s that sleep is important and Narcissa is just as terrifying as Hermione.

That last part Harry kinda guessed, but thinking and seeing are two very different things. For instance, he logically knows that since Narcissa is Draco’s mother, it’s completely natural for her to do the weird hair-rising-when-upset thing, but seeing it was a completely different, and bone-chilling, experience.

The first part he also knows, but just because it’s exam week doesn’t mean he has to start going to bed early. No, instead he, and the rest of his sadistic friends, stay up into the night studying. 

All that studying, all those hours watching Hermione’s hair get steadily bushier, reading his notes to Geia, playing with LuLu while Draco and Hermione quiz each other. All of that for him not to remember a single Godric forsaken test.

Harry knows he took them all, obviously he took them. He hopes he took them at least. He remembers going to each classroom for the exam, but he couldn’t tell you a single thing covered. Not a single question, much less an answer, Godric, he doesn’t even remember what he did for his Transfiguration project, and he knows Draco and Hermione are talking about the Ancient Studies test they all literally just took, the last test of the year, but to him it just sounds like Hermione finally got around to learning French.

“No,” Draco’s telling her as he idly plays with Harry’s hair, “I think we’re both right, I mean, Curse Breakers have long determined that the Library of Alexandria isn’t actually gone, it’s just heavily-”

“-warded! Exactly! And since the wards are there in the first place, it must have been some sort of magical library! We all know how magic thrived in Egypt, Sphynx are still there to this day-”

“Yes! Also, it was literally dedicated to the muses, who we all know were witches.”

Harry tunes them out, fully content to lean on Draco’s shoulder and focus on long fingers carding through his curls.

Or he is until he hears the door open and Theo’s annoying voice rings throughout the room.

“Merlin, are you always this disgustingly cute?”

“Yes.” Ron answers before Harry can even open his eyes. 

He does open his eyes though, taking a moment to wonder why he’s always a little annoyed by Theo’s presence before saying, “We’ve only been dating for a week.”

“Yeah!” Draco and Hermione nod, but Pansy, who was napping on a pile of pillows by the fire just sighs. “You started dating in December, idiots.”

“December isn’t real anymore.”

“Wait.” Theo shakes his hands, “You’ve only been together for six months?!”

Draco yawns, “Five, technically. June has only just begun.”

“Which reminds me,” Pansy begins, gently leaving Luna to nap by herself. She slaunters over to their peaceful little couch, opening her mouth for something horrendous, he’s sure.

A slamming of the door cuts her off.

“You get back here you-you-”

“You what?! I’m perfectly right and you know it!”

Harry twists in his seat to see Neville pointing an angry finger at Blaise’s chest. Blaise, to Harry’s amusement, doesn’t seem the least bit threatened. 

“You are not right! That is not the proper way to handle a mandrake!”

Blaise curls his lip into a sneer, “No, you think it’s not the proper way to handle a mandrake, but it’s effective and entirely more practical!”

“It’s abusive and cruel!”

“It’s a plant!”

Neville gasps, hand coming up to clutch at his chest, “How can you say that?! It has a mouth!”

Blaise laughs at him, an actual genuine laugh, and Harry’s not sure if he should interfere or watch on. Theo seems to make the decision that interfering is necessary, walking over to them with a wary expression.

“Okay, okay, what happened? Did someone hurt Martha?”

“No,” Neville sniffs, “He hurt Burt.”

“I did not hurt Burt!”

“You hurt Burt?!”

“No!” Blaise glares at them both, “I didn’t hurt anything! I’ll have you know that my little baby Alice is and will continue to be perfect! Neville is just upset that I didn’t treat Burt the way he does! I treated him fairly, just like I do to Alice, and once again, Alice is perfect!”

No one else in the room has the faintest clue what they’re on about, except for Hermione who snorts. 

“Did you three really name your mandrakes?”

“Yes?” All three of them look at her, “Did you not?”

Neville waves them back to the topic after sending a disappointed look to Hermione, “Don’t think naming your plant makes what you did any better!”

“I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“What did you do?” Theo glares. Harry can’t tell if they’re upset or not, it’s really rather amusing. 

“He changed Burt’s soil early!”

Theo blinks twice, “You what?! Blaise! You know how easily their roots get shocked! What were you thinking?! That was our end of the year project! What if you killed them?! I wanted to take them home!”

“I didn’t! Listen, if you’d shut up a second I’ll tell you why I did it! Burt was shivering! Okay?! His roots weren’t getting enough oxygen, he was developing a nasty case of magical root-rot and he wasn’t getting enough sunlight! Poor lad didn’t even cry when I took him out!”

“His leaves looked fine! And I’ll have you know if you would’ve listened to me at the beginning of the year-”

“We weren’t friends then!”

Theo shakes his head, “Both of you shut up! Are they still alive?”

Blaise and Neville both nod, Harry almost feels like he’s watching some sort of sitcom, though Aunt Petunia doesn’t watch enough of them to be sure.

Pansy, thank Godric, decides that's the perfect time to break up their little conversation, loudly clearing her throat and glaring their way. “As I was saying, we need to discuss your birthday.”

Harry sits up just enough to see Draco’s frown.

“Why?”

“Because it’s four days away and I refuse to not celebrate it.”

“Come off it,” Draco sighs, settling down on Harry’s lap, long blonde hair across his thighs. Harry almost lets his tired eyes stay focused on them, but Draco’s still talking. “We haven’t celebrated it since first year, it’s rather pointless now.”

“Since first year?!” A multitude of people chorus. They’re loud enough to wake up Luna and Ginny.

“Yes? And what of it?”

Harry lightly smacks his head before playing with the soft locks. So soft...softer than LuLu and that is impressive.

“What of it?!” Harry yawns, “It’s your birthday!”

“I’ve already said I refuse to ignore it, and we have nothing to keep us from celebrating it. Exams are over, and we have a full two weeks to prepare Harry for the final task after.

“Reminder that Harry could die in that final task.”

“That’s all the more reason to celebrate!” Hermione protests. 

Draco glares at her before giving in and shutting his eyes. He’s had a long week too, definitely worse than Harry’s. 

Firstly, he was terrified of giving his presentation, absolutely horrified at the mere thought that McGonagall might not like it. She did, of course. Harry remembers her bragging about it before the exam, but that’s only because she said ‘Draco Malfoy’ and Harry tends to remember the important things. Something about her being thoroughly impressed, something about him being innovative. Harry remembers bursting with pride during her rant, but that’s about it. 

He also knows Draco studies just as much as Hermione. He can pretend to be nonchalant all he wants, but it doesn’t fool any of them. Honestly, Harry’s not sure why he bothers hiding it, everyone within a mile radius can see the bags under his eyes during finals week. They make him look all soft and sweet, lessen the sharpness of his features, plus it means that Draco is tired and a tired Draco is a cuddly Draco.

Harry loves a Cuddly Draco. 

Cuddly Draco is currently falling asleep on his lap, and he’d be lying if he said it didn’t make his chest warm.

“-you even listening to me? Harry James Potter, get your eyes off your boyfriend and pay attention!”

Harry looks up to see the entire room glaring in the fondest way possible. Somehow the twins and Millie have appeared, though he doesn’t recall them coming in. Hermione stands with her arms crossed, similar to Pansy’s exasperated expression. 

“Sorry…”

Theo shakes his head, but it’s fond and Harry actually isn’t annoyed by it, “Disgusting, now help us plan your boyfriend’s birthday party.”

Draco hates all of them. 

Every last one of his friends are the worst, absolute meances, an irritation compared only to his boyfriend, and by Merlin they know how to make him feel warm on the inside.

It’s all very annoying, but Pansy and Hermione have taken charge so he knows better than to interfere, which sucks, because they’re all being secretive for no reason. He hates not knowing what’s happening, but Pansy told him that it was Karma, so he’s just been keeping his mouth shut. 

He can’t even get anything out of Harry, which is insane because Harry is probably the worst liar he’s ever met! Luna just smiles whenever he asks her anything, and the one time he tried to bribe Blaise the fucker went and told Pansy on him. There’s really no way to win this, which is why he and LuLu are spending the day before his birthday in the hospital wings with Poppy.

“Stir it for a minute longer, then I want you to come talk with me.”

Draco raises an eyebrow and shares a look with LuLu, who yawns at him. She’s gotten so big over the year, and yet she still fits perfectly on his chest when they cuddle. She is also very loud and very upset at her lack of affection. Draco pets her as he stirs, carrying her over to Poppy’s desk even though he swore he’d stop carrying her everywhere.

“Yes?”

Poppy offers him a biscuit, he wonders if her and McGonagall shop at the same places, and then waves some tea over for them. 

“I understand your birthday is tomorrow.”

Draco groans. “Not you too!” He points a finger at her, “And I read in a book last year that using your patients records to gather their personal information is highly illegal!”

“I didn’t get it from your records, your godfather told me.”

Okay, that bit he wasn’t expecting. LuLu sits up fully, trying to take a bite of his cracker. 

“Severus told you?”

“Yes.”

Draco doesn’t like the sly look in her eye. “Why did he tell you?”

“Because we found it interesting that you’ll be fifteen, which is a year closer to sixteen, you know.”

He has no idea where she’s going with this, but she’s usually as straightforward as his mother, he doesn’t like the new development.

“Yes, I am aware of how years work. Thank you, professor, are you feeling alright?”

“I’m fine you brat,” Poppy smiles. “I know it’s uncommon for fifth years to act as an aid, but if you were interested I would like to have you be mine.”

Draco’s hand stops petting LuLu, she’s very upset about it. He wouldn’t hate being her aid, hell he’s been spending Saturday mornings with her since the Yule Ball, plus the more he learns about medicine now the more use he can be when Harry inevitably gets hurt. Maybe the next time Lucius gets himself cursed they won’t have to kill him for it, maybe Draco could help. 

He could help. 

“How do you become an aid for a hospital? You're not teaching a class are you?”

Poppy scoffs like he personally offended her, “Merlin, no. I’d rather deal with a Basilisk again then keep up with that many papers. No, no. If you choose, I can teach you more when we’re not busy. It would allow me to do some cleaning I keep having to put off year after year, and, if you’re interested, it would put you in a better position to understand what you’d be getting yourself into should you choose this career.”

Merlin, he asks for one healing year so he can do a project and suddenly everyone is convinced that he’s going to become a healer. Not that it’s a bad idea, but he was hoping for something like surviving his teenage years and becoming an Unspeakable who just so happens to know every healing spell in the books. 

“You don’t have to answer now, of course, the term isn’t over for a few more weeks, and you have the summer to ponder over it. I just wanted you to be aware of your options.”

LuLu meows at him, Draco kisses her forehead and asks something he’s been needing to know for the longest time.

“Professor, what house were you in?”

“Nevermind that, here, a birthday present.”

The book appears out of thin air, The Annual Wizard’s Medical Guide. Draco flips through the table of contents, growing more and more excited. There are potions, salves, meditations, experiments, an entire thirty pages dedicated to discoveries. 

“I thought you might like it, consider it a thank you for all the hard work you’ve done this year.”

He’s not foaming at the mouth to read it, but his leg is trying to shake out of excitement, so he’s close. He’s also willing to bet that Poppy is a Slytherin.

His house always gives the nicest gifts.

The next day Draco wakes up early to have tea with Severus, but unbeknownst to him, Severus has other plans. When Draco steps into Snape’s room, he is not in his pjs like he usually is for their morning teas, but in a sweater and slacks, hair pulled into a ponytail of all things. 

Ellios really is a good influence for him.

Severus also doesn’t tell him where they’re going. He just holds out his arm for Draco to take, and then he steps into his fireplace.

They come stumbling out into his mother’s favorite living room, the one with the wall length windows facing the gardens, and Draco tumbles right into a set of arms he’ll always miss.

“Mum!”

“Darling!”

Narcissa releases him to kiss his forehead, then brushes a bit of his hair back. “Look at you! My darling is already fifteen!”

“Dear heavens, are you sure? He was only ten yesterday.”

Draco looks to the french doors to see his dad. His dad. Not Lucius, the abuser, or Lucius, the cursed man, not Lucius the weak helpless victim. Just dad, dressed in sweatpants and a black t-shirt. Holding a cup of coffee, wearing house slippers. 

His skin has lost the grey tint that Draco had grown used to, gone are the eye bags, the limp, the messy unkempt hair. 

Draco can’t remember the last time he saw his father so relaxed. For a moment he’s almost tempted to run and hug him. 

Almost. 

“Sirius and Remus would’ve been here, but the full moon is this week.”

“Sirius and Remus were going to come to celebrate my birthday?”

Snape scoffs behind him, all warm and cosy in his sweater. “Your mother wanted to throw a party today. A complete one, with all of your friends- even the Weasleys.”

“I still want to throw a party,” Narcissa huffs. She crosses her arms, “The only reason I’m pacified is because of Pansy and that Hermione child, they’ve done some remarkable work you know.”

No, no Draco does not know. But apparently his parents and his godfather do know. Which he’s totally not pissed about. Not at all.

“Oh stop making such a face, we only have until three. Now come with us, the elves made your favorite breakfast.”

Sicily is waiting for them in the kitchen, as the dining room is a bit too impersonal for his liking and his mother knows it. She bows and wishes him a ‘happy birthday’ and then breakfast is served.

Or the plates are put out and the buffet is revealed.

They really did make everything.

Apples, strawberries, bananas, muffins, eggs, bacon, spinach, quiches, biscuits, yogurts, parfaits, custards, any and every breakfast food he’s ever commented on liking is spread across their countertops.

Ron would fucking love this.

Draco entertains the thought of his friends at his home as they eat and the adults rant about Moody and the competition.

He wonders if they would like the gardens. Theo, Blaise, and Neville would have the best time of their lives, Blaise would particularly be interested in how well the weeping irises have grown. 

Pansy always loved the ballroom, but she’d also be interested in the painting corner that he never got around to showing her. Ron’s favorite place would be the kitchen and the game room, Draco can just vaguely see him and Lucius battling over wizard’s chess. 

Luna prefers the photo galleries, but she always spent a lot of time in the astronomy tower if he remembers correctly. Would she still go there?

He can see Hermione being fascinated over all of it, though she’d squeal if she ever saw the library. 

The twins and Millie would adore all the secret passages and hidden rooms. Draco’s honestly not really sure what’s in them anymore, but he’s sure they’d love to find out. 

And Harry….would Harry like any of it? The broom station, surely. The pools maybe? What about the-

“Dragon, love, are you ready for presents?”

Draco shakes himself out of his fantasy, nodding and smiling at his mother. 

He’s not quite sure what the hell he’s going to do with all the clothing his mother keeps getting him. He’ll definitely have to clean out his closet this summer, his whole room really. Snape’s gotten him more potions supplies, which Sisily so kindly puts in the brewery. 

Lucius hesitates a bit before handing him a small black box. 

“It’s nothing like what your mother got you, but I think it’s time you have it.”

The watch is old, probably eighteenth century. Encased in silver spines that branch out like a pentagram made of a serpent, all in the center of a woman’s bosom. It’s beautiful, intricate, and the longer that Draco looks at it, the more he realizes what it is.

“Open it.” Lucius whispers.

Draco slides it around his wrist, opening the silver hutch. Considering the links to his family, he’s not at all surprised when he sees the little names above the time. All three of them, Narcissa, Lucius, and Draco are on the cursive ‘home’. Next to home is ‘work’, then ‘friends’, ‘enemies’, and finally ‘danger’. He’s half tempted to ask why ‘danger’ is there, but considering their history he’s really not that surprised. 

“Thank you.” Draco says. He’s apparently accidentally interrupted whatever Lucius was saying, but his father just smiles at him and for a moment everything is okay.

It’s nice, actually. Warm, comfortable, happy. It’s almost enough.

Almost.

Blaise instructs him to change into comfort clothes, and since his friend is in sweat pants and a light sweater, Draco is determined to do the same.

He walks into his room and freezes on the spot.

Dobby and Winky stand dead center, one of them smiling bright and the other wringing her hands. Naturally, he’s suspicious.

“Master Draco!” Dobby greets, “Dobby and Winky are wishing to you to have the happiest of birthdays, sir!”

“Yes, yes. Winky and Dobby have been preparing a small gift for you, sir.”

Draco forces himself not to raise an eyebrow, but he’s not quite sure what to do here. He’s never gotten a gift from a house elf before.

He’s not disappointed.

Winky hands over a little green sweater. Clearly made with her own magic, Draco can actually see the fine threads in it, but it’s so soft that he can’t bring himself to care.

“Thank you.” He says to them both, smiling so they know he means it. 

From there Winky seems to calm down a bit, grinning back and handing over the ‘comfort clothes’ Pansy picked out. He’s happy to see sweats and his favorite lay-around shirt that’s usually reserved for the days he spends holed up in his room studying. She hands him a box of sweets from Sirius and a moon chart from Remus.

Then Blaise takes him by the arm and drags him to the Gang’s Room. Well, Draco thinks they’re going to the Gang’s Room, and then they turn a few unfamiliar corners and end up on the seventh floor, right next to the Barnabas the Barmy.

“Blaise-bear, I don’t think we’re in the right place.”

“Just trust me.”

Blaise walks past the same spot three times. Draco’s about to call him crazy, or make a joke about how much alcohol he’s consumed, but then a door appears and he’s dragging Draco into a pitch black room.

For a moment he’s sure this is it.

He’s finally pissed Blasie off to the point of murder. He is going to get cursed, or at least killed. No one will ever find him, and Pansy can easily be sworn to secrecy. 

And then someone whispers lumos and Draco blinks to see everyone shouting Happy Birthday at him.

He’s not really sure what the fuck is happening, but Pansy rushes forward to throw her arms around his neck. “Happy Birthday!”

“What is this?” He whispers in her ear.

“A party.” Is all she whispers back.

Whatever room they’re in is stunning. A giant wooden fireplace springs to life, lighting the room along with the glowing balls of pure magic that hang in mid-air. And while he can tell that the floor is a nice mahogany, there are several soft-looking rugs, floor-pillows thrown about the room, several couches and chairs, and a table full of food.

Draco’s favorite part is either the pile of presents or the flowing fountain that he just knows is all the alcohol he and Blaise have been saving.  

Pansy drags him around the room, first to Cedric and Cho who smile and congratulate him. 

“I’m just happy you’ve stopped denying things.”

Draco glares at them both. “It’s a secret. Okay? No one knows about this but us, got it?”

“Well,” Krum strides up to them. He has no idea why the man is here, they’re not friends but he is Hermione’s boyfriend, and friends with Harry, Fleur, and Cedric so he doesn’t really mind. “We are good at keeping secrets, and might I wish you a glorious day of birth.”

Pansy lets them chat for a few minutes before dragging him over to the fountain where Blaise, Theo, and Neville are.

“She promised us we’d be second.” Blaise explains, handing over a drink that is definitely sparkling wine, “Happy Birthday, dumbass. I’m glad you managed to make it for another year.”

“Really, Blaise, you warm my heart.”

“Only the best for my darling nuisance.”

“Truly, words of love.”

Theo snorts. “I’ve heard horror stories, it really is impressive that you’ve lasted this long.”

“Really!” Neville adds, “I heard you faced a werewolf! I’m glad you didn’t die, though, I mean um-well, Happy Birthday Draco.”

Blaise and Theo look physically pained by their Gryffindor plant friend, but Theo smoothes it over quickly, promising him something interesting for his present. It doesn’t bode well, but Pansy drags him away before he can ask questions. 

They head to Fleur, Luna, and Ginny next. 

“Darling! You are old now!” Fleur kisses his cheek.

Luna, thankfully, just smiles. “Do you like the lights? I was told not to go overboard, but Pansy wanted something pretty.”

“They’re beautiful, but you’ve always been good at light magic.” Draco replies, poking her right on the nose. 

Ginny rolls her eyes, “I swear you’re an old man at heart.”

“Shut up.”

“She is right, you are closer to becoming Grandfather Malfoy.”

“You’re older than I am!” 

Fleur just shrugs, “I am content in my old age.”

“Yeah, be more like your cousin, Draco.”

Draco looks between Luna and Fleur, not sure of which one he should imitate, but Pansy just laughs and drags him to the next group of people. The twins and Mille.

“Happy Birthday!” Millie hugs him, “Let me know if you like the cake! I was told you liked lemon, but I was unsure of the icing.”

“You made it?”

Fred and George scoff, each throwing an arm over his shoulder.

“Made it?”

“She crafted it!”

“It’s a work of art, mate.”

“For your special day, of course.”

Draco rolls his eyes at them, but thanks them anyways. He even lets the twins ruffle his hair before Pansy nags them, fixes it, and then drags him to the people he’s been waiting for.

Ron and Hermione let Harry approach him first.

They share a kiss softer than LuLu, which is funny because LuLu meows from Harry’s arms as they pull apart.

“Happy Birthday, beautiful.” Harry whispers.

His eyes are so green. So pretty and bright, so warming. Like a little hug right around his heart, completely with a white Knealze demanding to be held.

Draco accepts LuLu. He tries not to squeal when she nuzzles his heart, but Hermione catches him smiling anyways.

“Have you enjoyed the day so far?” She asks, giving him a small peck on the cheek. Ron side hugs him, petting LuLu and grabbing Draco’s drink before it can spill.

Draco tells them about his morning, shows them his new watch.

“Hey! That’s like the clock we have at home! But ours says ‘mortal peril’ instead of ‘danger’.” Ron says. He calls for his family to come look right as Draco asks why in the hell the Weasleys have a ‘mortal peril’ setting.

“Are you talking about the family clock?” Ginny asks as she wanders over. 

“Yes, please, someone tell me why you lot need such a drastic setting.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Fred laughs right as George says, “I told mum it was overdramatic.”

Ron just shrugs, “I kinda get it. I mean, her and dad fought in the first war. Charlie works with dragons, Bill is a Curse Breaker, Percy is in politics, and she knows who the four of us are as people.”

“What on earth does that mean Ronald?” 

“Come on, guys.” Ron points to his little sister, “Cursed by Riddle first year,” He points to his brothers, “Family trouble makers,” Finally, he points to himself, “Best friends with Harry Potter.”

“Hey!” Harry slaps his arm. “I never mean to put you in mortal peril!”

“No, but you can’t deny that it always happens. She wants to add you in, but she’s worried that you’d constantly be around that-hey! Hermione! I wasn’t saying anything bad-”

Hermione hands him a drink to shut him up.

Eventually, after an hour of chit-chat, Pansy decides presents are in order.

Cedric and Cho get him new potions vials. Krum gives him a Romanian medical book. Theo hands him a sparkly see-through shirt. The twins got him a new ‘concept’ from their shop. He’s not sure what it does yet, but he fully intends to make sure they’re present when he finds out. Ginny and Ron each get him framed pictures of the group that he doesn’t remember being taken. Maybe they bribed Winky, that or they’re much sneakier than he gives them credit for. 

Pansy and Blaise get him new fancy quills and a blanket to replace the one he knows one of them stole. Neville gives him an awkward conversation about medical plants, in which he stammers a lot and hands over a book before explaining a quarter of it’s continents. Fleur presents him a silky navy robe, Luna has a beautiful silver stash to go with it, and matching slippers that he loves. 

Millie’s cake is more than enough of a present, but she gives him a little silver trinket box too. Hermione hands him a little silver snake that appears to connect to something, though he has no idea what.

Lastly, Harry pulls him to the side.

“Okay, so. I didn’t know what to get you, and you know I’d get you anything, but I was kind of on a time crunch, and that’s not an excuse, I just. Well, I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

Like he could ever dislike something from such a sweet idiot. Harry hands him a silver box with shaking hands. It’s much larger than he expected, nearly the size of his lower body. He takes a few guesses at what it might be, but he’s not expecting the giant white snake stuffie that he pulls out.

“I know you like cuddling, and just in case we don’t see each other over the break, I wanted to give you this and if you don’t like it-”

Draco rubs his hands over the soft fabric, gives it a squeeze just to test how huggable it really is. Then he pulls Harry forward by the shirt and kisses him. “I love it.”

“Thank Godric.”

 “Hey!” Pansy calls, “You can’t make out all night! I have a plan!”

Her plans includes a drinking game of exploding snap that lasts for three hours. Krum, Cedric, and Cho eventually filter out. Fleur’s the next to leave, and since it’s the Gang that everyone knows and loves, Pansy switches it up to another fabulous game of ‘never have I ever.”

“Never have I ever worn green.” Ron hiccups, high fiving the rest of his family who are the only ones that don’t take a sip.

“Dirty, Ron.” Neville slurs, “Very Dirty. Never have I ever had parents.”

It’s inappropriate to laugh, but Harry, who’s drank the last seven times, seems delighted. He roars with laughter, reaching across the circle to shake hands with Neville.

“That’s not fair!” Theo groans, “You can’t use dead parents to avoid drinking!”

“Yeah!” Blaise nods, “That’s like, like number one reason to drink!”

Neville just shrugs, refilling their cups before they take a sip.

“Wait!” Hermione giggles. It’s her turn, Draco’s kinda interested to know what she’ll say. “Wait, before we get too drunk, I want to give Draco the rest of his present.”

“There’s more of Draco’s Presents?” Draco asks. He’s not quite sober, but he’s far from being drunk like the rest of them.

“Well, kinda.”

Kinda? 

Hermione reaches into her tiny bag, Pansy must have taught her that stupid expansion charm she always uses, and pulls out these weird boxy looking things.

“You got him a cell phone?!” Harry gasps, “Those are expensive! Your parents really are dentists, huh?”

Hermione scowls at him, “They’re not cell phones. They’re like cell phones.”

She tosses them each one of the boxy squares, and then proceeds to explain.

“I figured we needed something to keep in touch, plus, this way when one of us inevitably gets into trouble again, we can call each other for help. It took some time, of course, but I made it to where they function through magic instead of cell towers. Not all that tricky, did you know there are books on this type of thing? Your father would love it, Ron, you’ll simply have to show him.”

Draco pokes at his, “But what does it do?”

Hermione smiles, holding her own up like a trophy and says ‘phone Draco’. The box in his hand makes a strange ringing noise, and there are two buttons, one red and one green, and because green usually means bad, like the Killing curse, Draco presses the red one and the ringing stops.

“No! Draco, you press the green one! Try again.”

She ‘dials’ him once more, and he warily presses the green button. And then, he’d call it magic if he wasn’t a wizard, Hermione is talking through the little box.

“Holy shit! Wait! I can see your eyes!” 

Draco glares through the little glass bit to see Hermione and some of the room around them.

“Yep! I put two way mirrors on them all. It was my Transfiguration project, but I made more, because, well.” She gestures to the room, “We seem to grow a bit every few months.”

They all laugh at that, spending some time with the weird things Hermione and Harry call ‘phones’. 

But, eventually the fun of it wears off and they’re not sure how late it is, so Pansy summons some blankets and Blaise summons a book to watch.

They pile around, Harry and LuLu snuggle close to him.

It’s the best birthday he’s had in a while.