The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter Five - Get The Party Started

~ The Great Hall ~

Draco watched, amused, as Seamus surreptitiously poured a whole bottle of vodka into the non-alcoholic punch. Ron's surprise party had officially started half an hour before but guests were still arriving. Ron wasn't due to show up for another hour. Harry was keeping him busy and away from the castle by playing a little one-on-one Quidditch down on the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch. He had strict instructions not to bring Ron back before seven pm.

The Hall was beautifully decorated with blue and silver candles hovering in the air above everyone's heads. The tables and chairs near the buffet matched perfectly and in the middle was a dance floor complete with a DJ.

Hermione looked around in satisfaction. Draco had delivered. He might have outlandish taste when it came to his and Harry's parties but when decorating for someone else, he knew how to please.

Harry had come through with the food as well. The buffet was well stocked with old favourites and new exotic dishes - something for everyone. Next to the buffet was a bar with Dobby serving drinks in a mini tuxedo.

Hermione smiled at her guests and moved towards the door to greet the new arrivals.

"Charlie, Justin, I'm so glad you could make it," Hermione said warmly, kissing them both on the cheek.

"I wouldn't miss my little brother's birthday party," Charlie said, reaching for Justin's hand. "Come on, let's dance."

Hermione watched in amusement as her brother in law pulled the former Hufflepuff out onto the dance floor and into his arms for a slow dance. Justin blushed as Charlie whispered something in his ear and Hermione felt a surge of triumph. She'd known they'd be perfect for each other when she set them up about 18 months ago and they were still so in love. It was beautiful to watch.

"They are an adorable couple," someone commented behind Hermione.

"Not nearly as adorable as you and Harry," Hermione countered. Draco stepped up beside her and grinned.

"True. But you have to give them credit for trying," he replied.

"Fifteen minutes until Harr.......Hey, what the hell does Snape think he's doing?" Draco snapped sounding outraged.

Hermione's eyes followed his gaze to where Snape had just entered with his date - Eve Williams.

"That slut! She wasn't invited, was she?" Draco asked.

"No. She must be his date," Hermione replied, her eyes narrowing. This could ruin what was going to be the perfect party.

Draco started to walk towards the unlikely couple but Hermione pulled him back. "No! Draco, let me handle this. Fred, George, keep him away from Snape and Eve for me, okay?"

"Sure thing, Mione," they replied, each grabbing one of Draco's arms. "So is it quiet here at Hogwart's now that we've graduated?"

"No. There are two boys in Gryffindor who are determined to live up to your reputation," Draco replied automatically, his eyes on Hermione as she confronted Snape. Eve glanced smugly over at Draco and her smile widened as she saw how badly her presence here had affected him. Draco knew in that moment that she was just using Snape to get to Harry.

Fred and George had continued the conversation, "Really? We'll have to give them some pointers, won't we George?"

"First thing tomorrow morning, I say,"

"We'll be able to teach those young whippersnappers a thing or two!"

"Maybe we should see if Dumbledore wants to start a new subject here at Hogwarts. We could call it Mischief and Mayhem, or Total Chaos."

"Excellent idea, Fred."

"Let go of me," Draco hissed as he wrenched his arms from their grip. He stalked towards Hermione, Snape and Eve but was accosted on the way by Charlie and Justin.

"Whoa, Draco. Slow down. Hermione has the situation under control. Let her deal with it," Charlie said firmly.

"You know about all this too? Who else knows?" Draco asked.

"Just our family," Charlie said soothingly. "Calm down. Harry is not going to want to see you like this when he comes back with Ron."

At the mention of his beloved husband, Draco crumpled. He fell into a nearby seat and buried his face in his hands. Charlie and Justin exchanged a look and sat down next to him.

"I really need to learn how to deal with this better," Draco said laughing bitterly. "I mean, Harry gets hit on all the time. It comes with the territory, being the Boy Who Lived. He tries to keep it from me but I always find out somehow."

"He's just trying to protect you," Justin said softly. He was still a little unsure of how to act around Draco. They'd barely known each other at Hogwarts and even then Justin had only known Draco by reputation.

"I know that," Draco snapped. "But that doesn't make it any easier. What if he decides that he'd rather be with-"

"He's been with you for seven years and you've been married for five of those years, I really don't think that he's going to suddenly decide that he wants to be with someone else. He adores you," Charlie said firmly.

"What on earth happened to make you so insecure?" Fred asked, as he joined the group.

"It's only Eve. I don't care about the others who hit on him. Harry admitted to me ages ago that she is his favourite student. She reminds him of his mother. I can't compete with that," Draco said miserably.

"You don't have to compete with that," Harry said incredulously. "And even if you did have to compete with her, you would win hands down every single time."

Draco glanced up in shock. Harry wasn't supposed to be here yet but Draco was incredibly grateful that he was. Draco shot up out of the chair and wrapped his arms around Harry, clinging to him tightly.

Harry held him just as tightly and smiled at Fred. Fred returned the smile and a thumbs up. The twins had seen how upset Draco was by Eve and knew that only Harry could make him feel better so George had gone to relieve Harry of his Ron-sitting duties and sent Harry into the hall to talk some sense into his husband.

Harry pulled back slightly and framed Draco's face with his hands, his thumbs caressing Draco's cheeks.

"You know I love you more than life itself," Harry reminded him gently as Draco smiled sheepishly. "I would never ever leave you, my dragon. Without you, my life is not worth living."

"I'm sorry sweetie. I love you too, so much that sometimes it makes me a little crazy," Draco admitted before he kissed Harry thoroughly.

From the other side of the room, dancing with Snape, Eve glared at Harry and Draco. Her plan to seduce Harry this evening clearly was not going to work. It was time for Plan B.