Cedric Diggory whistled as he took the trash out. He was finally about to leave the shop. Ever since they had opened, they had customers lining up outside the door. It was nice to be successful but he was exhausted! He would get off work and fall asleep as soon as he got home. The only plus side was that Tonks was just as exhausted from Auror training. They had been so excited to finally get a flat together. "We won't have to worry about our parents walking in on us!" Tonks had said but they barely kissed each other before falling asleep. He opened the dumpster and threw the bag in. He froze when he heard it hit something or should he say, someone. He slowly turned around and found Mrs. Tonks glaring at him.
"Merlin, Diggory! You almost killed me with that thing. What do you have in there, bricks?" She barked out and he jumped.
"Sorry, Mrs. Tonks! I didn't know you were there." Cedric was starting to believe he was growing on her. This was the first time this week she had tried to come after him and it was already Tuesday! He couldn't wait to tell Tonks! Maybe they could even invite her parents over for dinner. The first and only time they had, Mrs. Tonks had set their curtains on fire. She had said she was trying to aim at Cedric's arm but had missed. He liked to think on purpose.
"Can I help you with anything?" He asked politely.
"I was just the chauffeur." She gave a sniff before scrambling out of the dumpster, her robes covered in failed potions. They technically weren't supposed to throw them away but how else were they supposed to dispose of them? As long as Professor Snape didn't find out, they would be alright. His former potions Professor would make them scrub cauldrons until their fingers were all pruny.
"Er okay. It was nice seeing you." She stomped away and he heard a crack as she apparated back to Hogwarts. He gave himself a pat on the back. She hadn't even thrown a hex over her shoulder before she left. Progress! He had a pep in his step as he flipped the sign to close before locking the door. As he turned around he found Draco casually leaning against the wall with the rest of the HFC behind him. He gave a very manly scream before clutching his chest.
"What are you guys doing here?" He wheezed out and Draco gave him a look that questioned his intelligence.
"I'm having a bachelor party, of course."
~~~~~~
Lucius grinned at his son as he pulled cookies out of the oven. The House Elves were kind enough to let him use the kitchen whenever he felt like baking.
"Does Professor Lucius need any help? Poppy would be happy to help!" A squeaking voice asked and he patted her shoulder.
"Thank you for offering, Poppy but I'm fine." She blushed before bustling away, her large ears flapping behind her.
"Poppy likes you, Daddy." Harry whispered and Lucius sighed. He was cursed. He had always been adorned by the masses. How could anyone resist his flowing locks and beautiful hands? Thank Merlin, Cissy kept them at bay. She really was his defender, his knight in shining armor.
"I will have to let her down gently. Curse my beauty!" He shook his fist above his head and Harry giggled.
"You'll have to be careful, my sweet son. You too carry the same heavy burden." Harry flicked his hair over his shoulder before responding.
"If anyone tries to get too friendly, I threaten to feed them to Chad." Harry's Dementor friend hissed from the corner as the House Elves tried to wash its cloak. Chad had refused to take it off. Lucius wasn't even sure he could take it off. He had never seen a naked Dementor before. The House Elves were just grabbing parts of it and scrubbing furiously while Chad grumbled.
"That's good, love. If you have any issues, please tell Daddy. I will take them to the Malfoy Dungeons." He didn't want to scare his precious son but the Dungeons were fully operational for a reason. Any true enemy of House Malfoy ended up there.
"Okay, daddy! Are the cupcakes almost done?" He quickly took them out before they could burn.
"Are you sure you don't want to do something else for your bachelor party, Harry?" He asked for the fourth time. He didn't think spending the day baking with him and his pet Dementor would be that much fun.
"No, daddy! The twins bullied Draco into an actual party but I like spending time with you." Lucius felt his lower lip start to tremble before he wrapped his arms around him.
"My darling boy, don't even change." He wailed as Chad used the distraction to float up to the ceiling, out of the Elves' reach.
~~~~~~
Hermione pinched her nose as they waited for Tonks to come rescue them from the holding cell they had been escorted into. Cedric was sniffling in the corner as he whispered to anyone who would listen "Tonks is going to be so mad! I told them not to." In his defense, he had told them not to but the boys had something to prove apparently as they tried to break into Gringotts. Thankfully the goblins had found their attempt amusing instead of intimidating. It probably had helped that Draco was wearing a sash that said "Soon to be Mrs!" with a plastic tiara. They hadn't even made it to the pubs yet! Everyone was sober and they already got arrested. She glared at everyone before flexing her fingers. This better not end up on her permanent record. Hogwarts refused to hire criminals and she was taking over Madam Pince's spot, no matter what.
"Don't worry, Herm! If they try to hold us responsible for those idiots, we'll say they kidnapped us." Ginny said cheerfully from beside her.
"I will say they held us at wandpoint. I'm sure I can get Mr. Clawfang to collaborate on our story." Fleur murmured and Hermione let her shoulders relax. Perhaps she was overthinking it.
They could hear Tonks before they could see her. She was thundering down the hallway before she stopped in front of their cell.
"What exactly possessed you IDIOTS to try and break into Gringotts?" She shouted and Cedric quickly got up before wrapping his hands around the bars.
"I told them not to, Tonks!" He begged and she rolled her eyes.
"Ceddy babe, you tried to turn yourself in when you accidentally forgot to pay for your candy bar last week. I know this wasn't your idea." She patted his cheek and he deflated in relief.
"I'm sorry, Cousin Tonks. I thought I would be able to impress Harry if I could break into Gringotts." Draco said guilty and she gave both the twins looks. They all knew it wasn't only his fault.
"Sorry, Tonks. We encouraged his behavior." They said together and she nodded her head in approval.
"Well you won't be getting fined but you'll have to stay here for a couple hours. It's a shame too." She sighed, her eyes twinkling before she continued. "We're throwing Harry a surprise party in Hufflepuff. Alcohol will be involved." Draco threw himself against the bars.
"You have to let me out! Drunk Harry will be so cute." He cried out and she shrugged.
"You shouldn't have broken the law, cousin. Bye!' She walked away, ignoring Draco trying to bribe his way out.
"I'm hungry." Ron groaned and they all turned to find Neville chewing on a chocolate bar.
"Oi! You better share, Longbottom!"
~~~~~~
Draco waited impatiently for the Auror to open their cell. His darling was waiting for him! He had to go now.
"Tonks wasn't too happy about this." The Auror said and Cedric rolled his eyes.
"Piss off, Johnson. We all know you're just jealous Tonks is training with Moody." Johnson sputtered before finally getting the correct key. Draco happily shoved him out of the way and started sprinting down the hall. As he turned the corner, he felt a hand grab the back of his shirt causing him to closeline himself.
"Malfoy! No running." Alastor Moody gave him a suspicious look as his minions caught up with him.
"What are you doing sneaking around the ministry?" He spat out and Draco sighed. He knew the ragged Auror hated his Father for not getting sent to Azkaban. Apparently he took it personally that Lucius Malfoy had "evaded justice".
"We were just causing a little trouble, Moody. Nothing too terrible. Draco is getting married soon so we wanted to celebrate." Fred interrupted him.
"I see." His magical eye was whirling around in his socket as it looked all of them over.
"I really do need to get going. What if Harry gets sick? Who is going to hold his hair back?" He fretted and Moody let him go.
"Well get going then!" Draco was gone in a flash as he slid into the nearest floor.
"Severus Snape's office." He shouted and was dumped out onto the ground.
"My band is touring so I guess you can be one of my groupies." Sirius was saying and Draco covered his eyes as he stood up.
"I don't care what you're doing, I just need to make it to the door." He could hear a thump as someone fell off the desk and gagged. He had eaten at that desk!
"Draco, what are yo-" His Uncle was saying before he cut him off.
"No time!" He yelled before finding the door knob. He ran down the corridor before skidding to a stop in front of the Hufflepuff entrance. He could already hear music playing and crawled inside. Harry was dancing on one of the tables as the Hufflepuffs cheered.
"Draco! You made it." Harry shouted, his eyes glowing with magic. He threw himself off of the table and Draco lunged forward to catch him before he hit the ground.
"My love, be careful!" Harry just laughed and kissed his nose.
"I know you'll always be there to catch me!" He had a goofy grin on his face before he pulled him to the makeshift dance floor. They danced the night away as the rest of the HFC eventually joined them. Neville ended up daring Ron to shave off one of his eyebrows as Fleur laughed wildly. Hermione and the twins disappeared two hours in to "help her study". Draco wasn't going to touch that with a ten foot pole. Harry sagged against him before he threw him over his shoulder and waved goodbye to their Housemates.
"Hey, Draco?" Harry murmured from beside him, his hair fanned around his face.
"Yes, Harry?" He propped his head up and gave him a lazy grin.
"I love you." Draco couldn't help his smile.
"I love you too, my heart." Harry yawned before he collapsed, his snores echoing around the room.