You Raise Me Up

Yay! A chapter. And it took a while to get it just right, but here it is.

Thank you all for the reviews, and I hope this chappie is to your satisfaction!
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When all of the guests had arrived, music was added to the equation. Severus and Bellatrix did the first dance, a beautiful slow-dance, while the others watched respectfully. To have both once been feared and murderous criminals, they both moved with a strange, yet elegant grace. They were like smoke, Bellatrix’s flowing black dress and Severus’ black robes melting together as they moved.

Lucius rolled his eyes slightly when Narcissa burst into tears. She wrapped her arms around Andromeda, who was also looking strangely shiny-eyed.

Once the first dance was over, the other couples took the floor. Hermione actually burst out laughing when she saw Fred and George dancing together. But she stilled her laughter when she saw Molly glaring at Charlie and Dragomir, who were also dancing together. She couldn’t help but notice that Lucius was staring at them rather coldly, albeit he was trying to be covert about it.

“Draco…” she whispered, and her husband leaned down to hear what she was saying over the music. “What does your father think of homosexuals?” she asked, her gaze on Charlie. Draco turned his head slightly, and allowed his gaze to follow Hermione’s. He pulled a face.

“Ugh.” He said softly. Hermione looked up at him, clearly surprised. “What?” he asked, catching her look.

“Are you disgusted by that? I think it’s romantic…” she said softly. She felt a shudder pass through Draco.

“It’s unnatural. A relationship is a sacred thing between a man and a woman. I do believe the Muggles say: It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve…” he said. Hermione pulled away from him, and looked at him with disbelief. She had never known he was averse to homosexual relationships. From all the speculation in Gryffindor, his best friend Blaise Zabini was gay. “And from the looks of it, his mother agrees with me.” He said, nodding head towards the couple. Hermione turned her head in time to see Molly walk stiffly up to the two men, and begin exchanging words. Loudly.

“This is insane, Charlie. We raised you better than…than…this!” she said, and pointed at Dragomir angrily. Both Charlie and Dragomir looked slightly hurt.

“Charlie…do you vant me to go? I do not vant to cause trouble…” Hermione read the words from Dragomir’s lips.

“Mother…this has nothing to do with my raising. I love him-”

“Preposterous! This whole thing is ridiculous. You wouldn’t even have had these obscene notions if you’d stayed home and had a respectable job! But no…you had to run off and play with dragons, didn’t you?! And now you’re a flaming queer!” she hissed. By this time the entire ballroom had gone quiet. Charlie tensed. But Arthur intervened before Charlie could retort.

“Both of you! Stop it! This is neither the time nor the place to discuss this! Charlie…you should have had more respect than to bring your…friend…here today. You know that this is a very touchy subject. Molly…we can discuss this later. Quietly, and in our own home. Now…there is supposed to be a celebration…” he said softly. But Molly wasn’t….mollified.

“Arthur…I will not stand back and allow one of my sons to become such an abomination! He could have been great! He could have been-”

“What, mother?! Could have been what?! Could have run a joke shop?” he asked, and then pointed to the twins. “Could have been a famous curse-breaker?” his finger pointed to Bill. “Minister of Magic?” To Percy. “A Quidditch Player?” his finger rested on Ron. “Could have started up a relationship with an international celebrity?” he said, and finished with Ginny. “You did make a very nice choice, by the way.” He said, his voice gentle as he looked at Ginny. He gave a covert wink at Harry, who blushed a Weasley-worthy shade of red.

“All of those things and more, Charlie. All of those things and more…” she said, her voice softening with sorrow.

“Mum…” Charlie started. Molly held up a hand to stop him.

“No…no. You and your…boyfriend-” she spat acidly. “-Can stay here. I refuse to be in the same room.” She added. She turned to Severus and Bellatrix. “I’m so very sorry. I congratulate you on this most wonderful occasion, and I wish I could have departed on better terms. Good luck.” She said, and stalked out of the ballroom. Arthur watched his wife leave the room. He turned to Severus and Bellatrix as well.

“I’m sorry.” He said, and went after his wife in a flurry of his worn robes.

Dragomir looked extremely uncomfortable as everyone’s gaze shifted to him and Charlie. “Look…perhaps ve should go…” he murmured. Charlie nodded.

“Come on then…mum will be wanting to disown me, I suppose…” he said, not sounding the least bit regretful. The two wizards started to leave, but Percy stepped forward and took Charlie’s arm. Charlie looked at his brother, rather surprised.

“Whatever she says, Charlie…I’ve always looked up to you. I always thought it took balls to work with dragons…” he said. Charlie grinned.

“Thanks, Perce. And I always knew your innate ability to make things better with your stuffiness and extremely boring personality would pay off someday.” He said, and clapped his brother on the shoulder. Percy’s glasses were knocked slightly askew by the force of the blow, and he cleared his throat as he straightened them.

“Thanks….I’m sure there was a compliment in there….somewhere…” he said softly. Charlie and Dragomir left together, leaving the rest of the guests in shocked silence. Bellatrix finally broke the silence.

“Well…my mother used to say that it wasn’t a party until somebody got disowned!” she said. “Or raging drunk…I can’t remember which…” she said, appearing to go into great thought.

The silent reverie was broken as a house-elf appeared with a screeching infant. Something was upsetting Orion, and it was something that the nanny-elf couldn’t fix.

“Fritter is sorry, Mistress! Master Orion is not stopping crying! He clean, and not hungry!” the elf squeaked, clearly distressed. Bellatrix leaned down, and gently plucked her son from the elf’s arms. The ear-splitting wails stopped almost instantly, and Bellatrix laughed.

“So that’s the way of it, eh? You just wanted to come to the party!” she teased. A small laugh spread through the crowd, everyone still slightly on edge over what had just transpired. “It’s all right, Fritter. Leave Orion with me. Go take a break.” She said. The elf nodded, and disappeared with a soft pop.

The women seemed to congregate around the Dark witch immediately, the coos and gurgles of the infant like a flame for a moth.

The men were left to themselves, and slowly gathered into a group to talk. Or rather…stand silently in a group and watch their women babble over the squirming babe.

“It’s a mite ridiculous how women melt over babies…” Ron said softly. There were a few nods and grunts in the affirmative.

“So, Ronald…who was the pretty blonde you escorted?” Remus asked gently. Ron smirked.

“That’s Maude Fornier. She went to Bauxbatons.” Ron said, nodding appreciatively at his petit blonde friend.

“Of the Parisian Forniers?” Lucius asked, taking a sip of his punch. Ron nodded. “Respectable. I do believe the Forniers are distantly related to the Zabinis.” He added.

“Looking forward to being a grandfather, Mr. Malfoy?” Bill asked suddenly. Lucius glanced over at the long-haired man.

“Indeed. It has been far too long since this Manor has been filled with the laughter of children. I do hope that I’m graced with more than one. Care to oblige, Draco?” Lucius asked. All eyes were on Draco, who flushed slightly.

“You’ll have to ask Mione. I’m pretty sure she has a say in it as well.” He murmured, and threw his punch back like a shot. “This punch is lacking something…” he said.

“We know!” Said Fred and George simultaneously. They reached into their pockets, and each pulled out a bottle of Ogden’s Best Firewhiskey. Even Lucius snorted softly at the antics of the twins. And they all discreetly added some of the fiery liquid to their cups, making the party a little more bearable for the men. Except Percy. He tried to decline respectfully, speaking of a meeting he needed to attend afterwards. Fred and George stood on either side of their stuffy brother

“Come on, Percy.” Fred nudged gently.

“You need to learn how to relax…you might be Minister…but you’re still young, mate. Lighten up…” George added. Percy frowned sharply.

“I think not. Someone has to be the voice of reason amongst you hooligans…” he said. Severus chuckled darkly.

“Come now…where has that Gryffindor bravery gone?” he teased. Percy’s frown turned into a scowl. “A few drinks to loosen you up…we promise we won’t tempt you to do anything embarrassing…” he drawled. Percy finally sighed. Fred grinned, and topped off Percy’s punch with alcohol.

“Throw it back like a man!” Bill urged. Percy took a deep breath, and threw back the punch in one go. Once he had swallowed, he sputtered and coughed slightly.

It only took a few drinks until the group found out what kind of drunk Percy was. Because apparently, the Minister of Magic did not hold his alcohol well. Percy was a happy drunk. Everything was funny to him, and he laughed. A lot. Bill was in charge of watching him so he didn’t cause a raucous with the women, but, as all good lookouts do at some point, he turned away for a moment, and Percy approached the women, a glass of firewhiskey firmly in his hand. Bill turned back too late to catch him, and slapped Fred’s arm when he saw where he was headed. Fred turned, and had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing as he approached Bellatrix.

“You’re pretty…” he slurred. Bellatrix blinked, and looked up from Orion.

“Are…are you drunk?” she asked. Percy scoffed loudly, and threw back what was in his glass.

“Are you drunk?” he asked, and vanished the small punch cup. Hermione frowned.

“There wasn’t any alcohol in….FRED AND GEORGE!!” she snapped, and stalked over to the men, looking quite intimidating. Fred and George burst into laughter. Bill and Ron followed suit, and even Lucius and Draco snorted softly. Severus only smirked lightly.

Percy turned his attention to Nymphadora, who was sporting hair a lovely shade of fuchsia.

“Your hair…isss ssoo….bright.” he said. Dora smiled softly. Well…at least he wasn’t a violent drunk.

“So is yours.” She said. Percy swayed slightly on his feet, and Dora stepped forward and gently began to lead Percy to a seat. “Maybe you should sit down, Minister.” She urged. He turned suddenly, and grabbed her hand in his.

“Dance with me, pretty lady!” he said, and proceeded to try and dance with Dora. By this time everyone was in some form of laughter at Percy’s antics. He leaned in close, suddenly looking very serious. “You smell like flowers…” he slurred. She tried valiantly to fight back a laugh, and smiled at him.

“You reek of firewhiskey…” she said softly.

“Kiss me…” he urged.

“No. You’re drunk. Sober up and ask me again, and we’ll see…” she said. He leaned in, trying to kiss her, and she gently put her fingers to his lip, stilling him.

“I like you. I always have…you’re so pretty, and ch-charis-charis….you’re charming. Do me the honor of being my girlfriend?” he asked, and pulled back, bringing her hand to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. There was a cheer from his brothers. Even Harry added to the sound, knowing how shy Percy could be when it came to women. Dora giggled.

“If you can remember this when you’re sober, then I’ll be your girlfriend.” She said softly.

Bellatrix, who had been listening to the exchange, laughed brightly. “Well! It only took half a bottle of firewhiskey to get the Minister a girlfriend! Someone should have got him drunk sooner!”
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Aww...Percy is a happy drunk...

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