Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Forgiven	By : Tassanaburrfoot Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 18105 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned Harry Potter or the books or contents. This work is purely for my own pleasure, no profit to be made.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Hermione had awoken surprisingly refreshed. Warm arms were wrapped around her and a warm blanket over her gave her a feeling of security that she had not known since before the war. The soft thumping of a heart acted as a sort of consistent beat that kept her calm and relaxed. She knew she needed to get up and start her day, but she really did not want to. She blinked her eyes opened and glanced down to see the strong arms that kept her safe. A smile played on her lips when her waking mind produced Draco.
Now that she was awake, she could feel his slumbering breath in her hair. Had they slept like this the entire night? Glancing up, she gazed into his pale face. He looked so peaceful and young. She reached up and touched his smooth cheek, causing him to sniff. His forehead creased as he frowned and opened his eyes. He blinked several times himself before he smiled. "Good morning," he whispered.
She stared at him curiously. "You have blue flecks in your eyes. Did you know?" she commented.
He raised an eyebrow. "I don't really make it a habit to look at the colour of my own eyes, love," he said.
As they both sat up and stretched, she could have sworn she heard a loud popping noise coming from him and she looked at him. "What was that?" she asked.
He groaned. "My back," he explained as he stood to stretch even more. "Perhaps next time we have a sleep over we could sleep somewhere a bit more comfortable?" he suggested. "Not that I mind the impromptu rest on the couch, but…"
She found she could not disagree as she stood herself and stretched some more. Her knees creaked and she worked the kinks out of her arms. "Perhaps I could set up a cot?" she offered earning a glare from him. She laughed, "I'm only joking, though I will admit I really don't want to share a bed until we are married."
Inwardly, he wanted to strangle her. He understood her desire to remain pure, but at the moment, he hated it. He pulled her into a hug. "I know, love," he replied. He glanced at the hall where he knew the toilet lay. Kissing her forehead, he pulled away.
Watching him head for the loo, Hermione turned to the kitchen. Breakfast sounded real nice at the moment and so she set about fixing some. As she began cooking the eggs, she heard him call from down the hall.
"Hey, Hermione! Do you have a spare toothbrush?"
She smiled to herself. "In the drawer next to the sink," she responded. "Breakfast should be ready soon."
She could hear the water running in the bathroom as she placed a few sliced of bread into the toaster. The lights flickered, but she did not pay them any mind. They often did that when she had too many things going on at once. Magic and technology always seemed to counteract with one another.
Draco entered the kitchen and Hermione smiled. "How do you like your eggs?" she asked him.
The Pureblood shrugged as he sat at the counter. It was a quaint little kitchen with white appliances and peach coloured marble countertops. The walls were pale blue and had small flowers and butterflies painted in stasis all over. The refrigerator was split in two and Draco watched as the Muggle born opened one side and pulled out a jug of apple juice.
"Would you like some?" she asked as she reached into one of the pine cabinets and grabbed a clear glass.
"Sure," he said. "Do you need any help with anything?"
She looked at him in surprise and smiled. "Do you know how to cook?"
He shrugged. "Can't be much different from brewing a potion, right?" At her horrified look, he chuckled. "No, I was only going to suggest calling upon Maisey."
"Oh. No thank you," she replied as she turned back to the eggs. She added some pepper and some salt before flipping them over. She opened another cabinet and took out two white plates. One by one, she placed the eggs carefully on the plates just in time for the toast to pop up from the toaster.
Draco jumped at the sound as his hand reached instinctively for his wand. "Bloody hell!" he said under his breath as she gave a small giggle. "What was that?"
She shrugged. "Just the toaster," she said simply as she shut off the stove and picked up the plates. She set one plate in front of him and another at an empty spot across from him. She returned to the kitchen to get the toast and put a couple slices in front of him. "Do you need anything? Butter? I have some strawberry jam?"
He warily eyed at the toast. "No," he said, shaking his head. She nodded and went to sit down as he added, "Though a fork would be lovely."
"Sweet Merlin!" she gasped as she got back up to retrieve utensils for them. When she had stood, he did as well. He waited patiently for her to return to her seat before sitting back down himself. Once they were both situated and she started eating, he picked up his fork and cut into the eggs.
Breakfast was a quiet affair. At first Draco would not touch his toast, but after seeing that nothing untoward happened to Hermione upon eating her slices, he decided it wouldn't hurt. After breakfast he helped her clean up and went to wait in the sitting room while she showered and dressed. He would have showered as well, but he did not have any clean clothes with him and she had looked horrified at his suggestion of just staying naked for the day.
He escorted her to work and gave her a kiss goodbye for now, promising to return for lunch.
(II)(II)
It was a good thing Draco had left her alone with a promise to return for lunch, Hermione thought as she stepped into the dark building alone. If he knew what she was doing, he would probably be angry and yell at her. Though once he found out…
This is something I have to do, she had convinced herself as she stared up at the prison guard and followed him into the meeting room. He had given her the same instructions as before and she waited.
Sitting in a chair at the table, she unfurled the roll of parchment and went through the list of questions she wanted to ask one more time. The sound of the door opening caught her attention and she glanced up, watching as they brought Lucius inside and placed him in the chair across from her.
"Those won't be necessary," she said, looking pointedly at the chains on his wrists.
Seamus stared at her. "Hermione," he practically begged, "you can't…"
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, Auror Finnigan," she hissed, glaring at the young man. "Now, take them off and stop arguing with me about it."
With an annoyed sigh, he unlocked the wrist shackles. "If you need anything, Hermione, feel free to shout. I'll be right outside the door."
She gave the Irish man a smile and nodded. "Thank you, Seamus," she said pleasantly. "I'll let you know."
He glared at the aristocrat in the chair. "I'll be back in one hour. Play. Nice."
The older wizard said nothing as he watched the Auror turn and leave. The door shut with a resonating thud that echoed through the room. Hermione could feel her heartbeat quicken as she looked at the man. They had allowed him a shower, but no time to properly dry himself. It was a pity, really, as his hair now hung in dull, wet clumps that almost reminded her of dread locks. "I really need to talk to the head of this facility about letting the inmates take proper care of themselves," she huffed as she rolled her eyes and glanced back at the parchment.
"Why are you here, Miss Granger?" he asked, staring at her with cruel, stone eyes.
She considered him for a moment before saying, "I am not 'Miss Granger' any longer. I'm family now. As I've told you before, I am working on your case to get you out of this hell hole."
His eyes narrowed at her statement and he glanced at her left hand. Seeing the ring, he looked back up into her eyes and his own darkened considerably. "This never would have happened had I been out," he told her.
"Yes, it would have," she argued. "I won't bother going into the details, but suffice it to say that Draco and I love one another and we have for a long time. It was only a matter of time before we would decide to put aside our differences and become something more. Now. Your case," she paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Mother told me that Voldemort had freed you from prison towards the end of Draco's sixth year. She said you had had little choice. Is that correct?"
She had never referred to Narcissa as "Mother" before and, in fact, inwardly cringed at the title. She knew Narcissa would have preferred to be present the moment Hermione started using the endearment in reference to her. Not only that, but the term made the Muggle born's heart ache for her own mother.
The effect, however, was priceless. Lucius's eyebrows flew up to his hairline and his pupils dilated. He did not speak right away, just stared at her in disbelief. Oh how Hermione wished she was a Legilimens! She knew he must be thinking all sorts of nasty things about her. She kept her own expression cool, however, as she waited for his reply.
"The Dark Lord never freed me," he growled, glaring at her.
She stared at him in disbelief and looked back at her parchment. "But Mother said…"
"Cut the 'Mother' bullshit, Miss Granger," he snarled. "I know damn well what my wife told you. He took me from Azkaban, yes, but I was never 'free'."
She blinked for a moment then nodded and glanced at the vending machine. "Are you thirty or hungry, Mr. Malfoy? I have some loose change, I can get…"
"No," he answered abruptly.
She sighed and turned her attention back to the parchment. "Very well," she said, writing his answer about his release on the sheet. Once she was finished, she looked back up at him. "What was life like when you returned to the Manor?"
His eyes narrowed again as he moved his hands to rest upon the table. "You left your wand with the Aurors because they do not trust me anywhere near one. Imagine being in your own home in possession of your wand, but not having the freedom to use it. Then, imagine a tyrant ordering you to hand over your wand to him so he could use it only to have it destroyed. I spent months in this God-forsaken place with nothing but the clothes they saw fit to allow me to wear. When I returned home, I learned my son was forced to don the Dark Mark and my entire family was under house arrest. I had no wand to protect them, and even if I had, there would have been little I could do."
Hermione remembered when she had accidentally destroyed Harry's wand. It had been a horrifying experience. She could barely imagine what Lucius had gone through in the same situation. Curiosity caused her to ask, "Why did you become a Death Eater? You had to have known what it would be like."
"I didn't 'have' to know anything," he snapped. "Did you know what it would be like being Potter's friend? Nearly losing your life… Your family?" She gasped and he smirked. "Yes, did you know when you became Potter's friend that you would eventually have to Oblivate your own Muggle parents?"
Her eyes widened. "How did you…"
He pointed to the parchment. "We are allowed mail, Miss Granger," he drawled. "Narcissa had written me, telling me how devastated she had been to learn what you had had to do to your own parents. Haven't had much luck reversing the spell, have you? That's why you're working my case, isn't it? Smart girl like you. I have no doubt you had read about the reversal at the library in Hogwarts and knew you would need a Dark wizard to reverse it."
She shook her head in denial. "The Hogwarts library didn't have that book. Yours did. I had even tried looking in Flourish and Blotts, but found nothing…" she faltered and glanced at her parchment. She hardened her eyes and looked back up at him. "We're not here to talk about my family or myself."
"Aren't we?" he asked. "Didn't you tell me moments before that we're family now? You're so ready to call my wife your mother while your own mother awaits in… Australia for a cure to her Oblivion." He quirked a brow and Hermione could see where Draco learned his mannerisms. "You want me out. Why? What do you gain from having me released?"
"Do you not want to be out?" she returned.
He smirked and leaned back in his chair. "I do and you know the reason for my desire. I've yet to learn yours," he said. "Let me ask you this, Miss Granger. Do you plan on actually marrying my son?"
"What? Yes, of course I do," she answered. "Why would you ask that?"
He tilted his head. "You'll be marrying the youngest Malfoy, the only heir from a long line of Purebloods," he told her and she could tell he was watching her closely. "A family that, up until this point, has been notorious for working against Muggles and bringing Muggle borns into the Wizarding world."
"Yes, and it seems your son doesn't share your views," she said coolly. "Pity that."
He shrugged. "There is one thing, of many, that you should learn about our family if you wish to be part of it, Miss Granger. We are adaptable," he told her. He studied the fingers of his left hand, checking the nails. As he began picking at the dirt underneath, he continued, "My father had always been a prominent wizard. Prefect and Head Boy at Hogwarts, like Draco and myself. I remember returning home one day, shortly after my own graduation, and meeting a man with whom my father had been good friends. This man dubbed himself 'Voldemort', though I knew that couldn't have been his true name. Later I had asked my father of it, and he simply said the man had fashioned himself a new name because he was changed. Nevertheless, this man stayed with us for a week and I became more acquainted with him.
"It won't take much for you to imagine, I'm sure, Miss Granger. Being Slytherin, he spoke of his ambition to return the Wizarding world to what it had once been. He even wanted to extend it to eradicate Muggles and their kind completely," he explained. "For a young man, his words appealed to me. Like my father, I felt this was the way to go. A few months after, I had become reacquainted with Narcissa Black and we soon married. "
Fascinated with his tale, she was quiet as he spoke. She made notes, as well. "So what happened?" she asked.
"I believe I could use a drink, Miss Granger," he said, licking his lips.
Snapping out of her trance, Hermione reached to her waist and untied the little pouch there. "I'm sorry!" she said, jumping up and going to the vending machine. "I completely forgot," she continued as she bought a bottle of pumpkin juice for him. She bought another for herself and brought both drinks to the table. "I do hope this is acceptable, Mr. Malfoy."
He picked up the juice, glancing at it, rolling the bottle in his hand. Opening it, he took a sip and looked back at it again. "It's doable," he said slowly. Taking another sip of the drink. He looked at her intently. "You called my wife 'Mother', most likely because of my son and your apparent closeness to my wife. Will I not be bestowed the same courtesy given that I am Draco's father and Narcissa's husband?"
She nearly choked on her own pumpkin juice and stared at him incredulously. "You want me to call you 'Father'?!" she managed to spit out once she was able to regain her voice.
He did not laugh, but there was a flash of merriment in his eyes at her displeasure. "Perhaps not," he admitted. "The word sounds… distasteful when you use it in reference to me."
She nodded. While Hermione was certain that she should feel insulted, she decided to let the matter drop. "So, what happened?" she repeated her earlier question. "After you and Narcissa married?"
He took another sip of his drink and placed it on the table. "Father had never joined the Dark Lord's ranks, mostly because he didn't see the profit. As I said before, Malfoys are adaptable, but only when we can use it to benefit us. There was no… what's the Muggle phrase? Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? At least, not where the Dark Lord was concerned. Father never saw it, but I did. Being young and naïve, all I could think about was my wife and unborn child, and how the world would be with the Muggles put in their place."
"Narcissa was pregnant with Draco at the time?"
He shook his head. "She was pregnant, sure, but not with Draco. That didn't happen until later," he told her. "However, she was pregnant at the time and I wanted the best for my child and future children if we were to be blessed. The Dark Lord promised this and much more, if only I take up the Mark and follow him. So after asking everything I could, I agreed and became one of the first out of many. Just like you, I was ignorant to all the things I would have to do."
She nodded. "Hindsight is 50/50," she commented as she glanced down at her parchment. "It says here that you may know something of the other Death Eaters, being that you were in Voldemort's inner circle."
He gave a small smile. "I may," he said, picking up his drink and taking another sip. "The Minister visited me recently and offered me a deal, Miss Granger." He glanced at the bottle. "If I were to give names and possible locations, I could be free of this place much sooner."
"But there's no guarantee as to when," she pointed out.
He tipped the bottle towards her. "Thus the reason I haven't said anything yet," he told her. "My advice, Miss Granger, is this: if you wish to marry my son, then do so by the end of this month. When I get out, if he's not married, I will do everything in my power to prevent the two of you from ever getting married."
She frowned. "Why? You know he loves me. "
"I know he is infatuated with you, Miss Granger," he corrected. "And he's feeling a measure of foolishness and possibly even bravery with me locked away. There isn't a doubt in my mind that he is going through a phase of rebellion right now."
"Is that what you think this is?" she hissed, holding her chest in offense.
He shrugged. "I know that is what it is. You forget, Miss Granger, he is my son," he told her. Tilting his head, he waved a hand idly as he added, "Sure, you're young and beautiful. There is no doubt of your intelligence or what you could contribute to the family as far as genes are concerned. You may be Muggle born, but correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Granger, your family is quite possibly as old as my own. Weren't your ancestors knights? Very much steeped in Celtic traditions, too."
She looked at him in surprise and he smiled. Leaning forward, he said quietly, "You are not the only one who does their homework, my dear." He sat up and rested his back against the chair. "The moment my son spoke of you, how many years has it been now? Eight? I have begun learning all I could of you. I even spoke with your father, though he didn't know who I was. I wanted to know everything I could about this girl my son fancied, though he pretended as if he didn't. Young boys being what they are, you know. But I had seen the spark in his eyes when he complained about you and I knew you were going to be trouble. I did what I could to dissuade him as any proud Pureblood father would, but I knew it wouldn't last, especially if you managed to survive the war. The moment I was locked up for this second time, I knew there was no turning back. "
"But you were surprised to see me," she said, her eyes widening. She pointed an accusing finger at him. "You said…"
"Put that finger down, Miss Granger!" Lucius reprimanded, scowling at her. "I won't have my son's future wife act like a harlot. Yes, I was surprised to see him actually buck up the courage, but I'm not stupid. He had been pining over you for years before. I had just hoped that I would have gotten through to him by now. No matter." He waved the notion off. "What's done is done. I've no doubt he's already been trying to convince you to marry him soon. I am merely giving you a time limit. Once Shacklebolt and I finish our negotiations, I'll be home and your chances of joining our family will be naught."
"So I'm wasting my time," she said with a huff as she threw her quill down. "You don't really need me."
"Quite the contrary, my child," he said, letting the last word out through clenched teeth. "You intend to be part of this family and I do believe you could contribute much to this family."
"Then why protest it! Your son loves me. I love him. Your wife has no problem with it. In fact, I daresay she loves me as well," she fussed.
Lucius scoffed. "She doesn't love you, my dear," he snarled and he sniffed. "You're a smart girl. Brightest witch of your age or some tripe. Think on it for a moment. Brightest witch, female member of the Golden Trio, she who hunted down and destroyed Voldemort and all his Death Eaters. Hermione Granger is married to Draco Malfoy. What a headline that would be for the Daily Prophet! Golden Girl of the Trio married to vicious former Death Eater son of a renowned Death Eater. If that doesn't ruin your reputation, then it will certainly gain our family name higher prestige."
"All because your Pureblood son married a Mudblood," she snarked. She did not like the nasty tone in which he had spouted out those words, but she did enjoy the sour look on his face. "And Narcissa does love me." She stood and began rolling up the parchment, tucking the quill behind her ear. "I think we are done for the day, Mr. Malfoy."
"So soon?" he asked, watching her pack up.
"We still have fifteen minutes," she confessed, "but I promised Draco I'd meet up with him for lunch." She gave him a strained smile. "Wouldn't want to be late. Surely you understand, Father." She had spat the last word out with disgust. They both stopped and stared at one another for a moment.
Lucius was the first to break, a slow smirk pulling up his cheeks as he gave a sardonic chuckle. "Indeed. I'll be seeing you soon, my dear," he told her. "Do be sure to marry my son before I'm out. You don't have to worry about sending me an invitation."
(III)(III)
"Hello, love," Draco greeted as he kissed Hermione lightly on the lips.
She returned his kiss and broke away, giving him a dazzling smile. "So, I've good news," she said, her eyes catching the light in the office and twinkling.
Her smile was contagious and he could not help but return it as he slipped an arm around her waist and led her out of her office. "Do tell," he replied as they walked towards the lifts.
"Well, I have several pieces of good news," she corrected herself. "I don't have to work on your father's case anymore because he and Shacklebolt are working out a deal. Something about your father giving the Minister information about other Death Eaters. Also, I think you're right about your father not giving us any problems getting married, so long as it's done before he gets out. I do think your father can convince the Minister to release him sooner rather than later, so he won't have to spend twenty years locked up."
She had said all of this so fast and enthusiastically, that Draco barely caught all of her words. He laughed at her energy, but once he caught up with her, he stopped, pausing in the middle of the hall. She faltered and looked at him. "Hang on," he said.
She tilted her head. "What is it?"
"How do you know whether my father will or will not be giving us problems with getting married?" he asked, suspiciously.
She shrugged. "Isn't that what you told me?"
"Yes, but…"
"I'm simply agreeing with you, that's all," she replied as they exited off the lift.
Draco frowned slightly. "The Leaky Cauldron?" he suggested.
Her smile brightened. "Yes, please. I heard Hannah Abbott is working there now. It'd be so nice to see her again."
"Who is that?" he asked, genuinely curious.
She giggled. "I keep forgetting how little you paid attention to the other people in Hogwarts, especially if they weren't in Slytherin. Hannah Abbott was a Hufflepuff in school. She was part of Dumbledore's Army. Last I heard, she was dating Neville, though that could be just rumour. Either way, it'll be nice to see her again. She was a sweet girl."
"War changes people," Draco warned. "Remember that, love. You and I are proof. She may not be as good-natured as you remember."
She shrugged. "We've all changed, but Hannah and I were friends. Besides, if she's dating Neville, she can't be that bad."
He rolled his eyes as they exited the Ministry and started down the road to the Leaky Cauldron. "Gryffindors. You all think that just because Gryffindor backs something then it must be fine. Look, Longbottom might just be dating her because he thinks he can fix her problems or she's pretty or any other number of reasons."
"Is that why you're dating me?" she asked glancing up at him.
He frowned and looked at her. "You always do that. Every time I make a comment about someone dating someone else, you ask if that's the reason I'm dating you," he said irritably. "No, Hermione. I'm not interested in trying to fix you. I think you're beautiful, smart, funny, and despite everything that's happened, you're still sane. You love reading and learning. Also, I can actually have an intelligent conversation with you."
"Maybe Neville's dating Hannah for those same reasons?" she suggested as he opened the door for her.
Draco sighed as they looked about the tavern for a place to sit. Hermione waved happily at someone and Draco followed her line of sight. A rather pretty blonde walked over to the couple and hugged the Muggle born. Draco looked at the girl curiously.
Pulling away from the girl, Hermione beamed. "Draco, I would like you to meet Hannah Abbott. Hannah, this is…"
"I know who he is," the girl said looking at Draco with wide eyes. "So the rumours are true, Hermione? You're actually dating Draco Malfoy?" The Slytherin wondered briefly if there was something wrong with the girl's eyes the way they kept moving from him to the Muggle born.
To Draco's surprise, Hermione showed the girl her left hand. "Not just dating," the bushy haired witch corrected. "We're engaged!"
Hannah gasped as she took Hermione's hand to look at the ring more closely. "Oh, my God, Hermione!" she squealed. Clutching her chest she pulled Hermione close to hiss in her ear, "You do know he's a Death Eater, right?"
Hermione rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the girl. By the look of Draco's sour expression, the brunette knew he had heard the question. "Former Death Eater," she amended. "He and his family defected, remember?"
"And now he's marrying a Muggle born," the blonde girl breathed, looking at Draco in sheer curiosity.
"I'm standing right here," he growled. Suddenly the idea of eating at the Leaky Cauldron did not sound as appealing to him.
The girls giggled. Finally, Hermione sighed and leaned up against the Slytherin. "Speaking of dating, is it true you're dating Neville?" she asked the Hufflepuff.
The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Though it's still relatively new. We've been on a total of three dates so far," she explained. "I really do like him, you know. I've liked him since we were in school, before the war."
Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione elbowed him in the ribs before he had the chance. "Merlin, Hermione!" he snarled as he rubbed his ribs.
The Muggle born gave him the prettiest of innocent smiles and turned her attention back to Hannah. "He has come into his own, hasn't he?" she stated more than asked. "He used to be absolutely adorable with his chubby cheeks."
Hannah giggled. "Oh, yes, he was! But he grew out of all that baby fat and really turned into a hunk of burning love."
Both girls giggled and Draco thought he was going to be sick. "Maybe I should find us a table, love," he suggested to Hermione, but Hannah waved him off.
"Nonsense! I have a special V.I.P. section for war heroes and their company. You can sit there," the Hufflepuff explained. "I'll have Tom get the two of you some menus and we can chat while you decide."
"Oh, good," the Slytherin said through gritted teeth as he gave the girl a fake smile.
The girls paid him no mind however as Hannah led them through the bar to the V.I.P. section. Draco really felt he was going to be sick as he saw a large portrait of Harry Potter overlooking the section as it sat above the fireplace. There were other portraits around the section of various Order members, including some of the fallen.
"Andromeda was kind enough to give me a picture of Remus and Tonks together," Hannah stated as she led them to a table.
Draco pulled out a chair for Hermione and the two girls sat. He blinked a moment, secretly wondering when the couple had invited the Hufflepuff to sit with them, before pulling out his own chair and sitting down as well.
"That was real nice of her," Hermione said as she picked up her menu. "I saw a picture of the Weasley twins too."
"Oh, yes," Hannah gushed. "One of the last pictures Molly was able to take of them. It's just a copy, of course, but it's still lovely. Such a loss, eh?"
Hermione nodded, suddenly sad, as she glanced at Draco. "She had a crush on Fred," she told him.
He did not respond as he glanced about the small section. He saw the picture of the Golden Trio and his eyes narrowed at the way Weasley's arm was around Hermione. Leaning back in his chair, Draco draped his own arm over the back of Hermione's chair and picked up the menu with his other hand. At Hannah's gasp, he looked at the blonde witch.
One hand was placed delicately over her lips as Hannah stared in horror at Draco's arm. Suddenly self-conscious, Draco dropped his menu and hid his arm under the table. Hermione glanced between the two and sighed. Reaching under the table with her own hand, Hermione grabbed the wizard's hand and pulled it back above the table. He looked down at their clasped hands.
"What are you doing, love?" he whispered.
"Getting over all this prejudice," she growled. "You're not a Death Eater anymore. As bad as it was, you can't keep hiding it. It was a time of your life and we're over it now."
"Not everyone feels the same way," he told her, pulling his hand out of hers so he could pick the menu up again.
"I'm so sorry," Hannah said then. "It just surprised me. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that you two are dating."
"Engaged," he nearly growled, looking at the Hufflepuff. "And we'll be married soon."
"Draco, be nice," the Muggle born admonished.
He actually looked affronted at his fiancée. "I am being nice!" he defended.
The Gryffindor looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Where is Maisey?" she asked.
"Maisey is here," the little house elf squeaked as she appeared behind Draco's chair.
It was the first time since Draco left the Manor that morning that he noticed the elf. He was suddenly thankful he had ordered her to follow him wherever he went. He gave the elf a slight nod and she stepped more fully out from behind him. The girls spent the next few minutes gushing over how "cute" Maisey was.
Draco silently wondered if he projectile vomited towards Hannah if it would actually reach her, but then dismissed the thought. He was Slytherin and Pureblood. He also came from a very high class family and he could imagine the reprimand he would receive from his mother if he acted thusly.
"So, when's the wedding?" Hannah suddenly asked, throwing Draco back into the conversation.
He looked at his fiancée curiously, wondering what she was going to say. She shrugged. "I'll have to confer with Narcissa, of course, but I was thinking some time at the end of this month? Maybe beginning next?" she glanced at Draco for confirmation.
He was surprised by her statement, but he didn't show it. He didn't want the Hufflepuff thinking he was clueless, after all. "I don't see why she would disagree with that," he told her. He leaned towards the Muggle born and kissed her temple. "Anything you want, love, I'm sure she'll agree."
Hannah frowned. "Speaking of Narcissa. She's okay with this?" she asked, waving a hand at the two.
Draco smirked. "Of course she is," he told the girl.
"And your father? I'm sure he's just tickled at the idea of his son marrying a Muggle born," Hannah stated, glancing at Hermione.
It was Hermione who piped in. Smiling brightly, she admitted, "Oh, he wasn't at first, but he has sense had a change of opinion. If Draco and I marry while he's still in prison, he won't have any problems with it. In fact, I do believe he'll even give us his blessing."
Draco frowned, suddenly suspicious again, he stared at the bushy haired witch. "There isn't much he'd be able to do once we're married," he added carefully. He turned his attention to the Hufflepuff. "I'm sure you're aware of how old Pureblood families work. Once Hermione and I are married he'll be stuck. He'll either have to accept her or toss us both out. Being that I'm the only heir…"
The Hufflepuff's eyes widened as she slowly shook her head. "You're playing with fire," the girl said fearfully. She looked at Hermione. "Aren't you scared?"
Hermione shrugged. "Once you've faced Voldemort and an entire legion of Death Eaters, there really isn't much to be afraid of, is there?"
"Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater," Hannah pointed out.
The Gryffindor just smiled. "Like Draco, he defected," she said. "I'm not scared of him."
The Hufflepuff nodded slowly. "You're a much braver witch than I, Hermione," she said in awe.
"Which is why she was in Gryffindor and you in Hufflepuff," Draco practically spat. "If you don't mind, Abbott, I would like to actually spend some time alone with my future wife."
As if realizing where they were, Hannah shot up. "Oh, of course! I am so sorry. I just haven't seen Hermione in so long. She rarely visits the Leaky Cauldron anymore and I haven't seen her since I took over the family business."
Hermione shot a glare at Draco before turning her attention back to the other witch. "We will have to catch up more. I don't know if I had sent Neville my address, but I'll send it to you. I know I'm in desperate need of a girls' day out."
"Yes, same here," the Hufflepuff agreed.
"Can we get two Butterbeers with some fish and chips?" Draco asked the blonde witch.
Hannah nodded. "Sure. I'll bring that out to you shortly."
With that she walked away and Hermione glared at the Slytherin. "You didn't have to be rude," she told him.
"Who's being rude?" he bit back. He waved an arm in the direction the witch had just left. "I'm not the one barging in on a couple's alone time talking about random things and berating the bloke's father."
"She wasn't berating your father," Hermione argued.
Draco sneered, "Think what you want, but I saw the look she kept giving me the entire time she was here. You don't think I notice that shite? And what's all this you were saying about my father? How do you know what he thinks about us getting married?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "Well…" Hannah chose that moment to bring them their drinks before leaving again. Hermione took a sip of her drink and stared at the table. "You know I've been working on his case," she explained, "and I have a lot of the basics, but I needed to interview him personally and work out what we were planning to bring to the Wizengamot. So, I set up an appointment with him and visited him today."
"You did what?!" he hissed. "Are you mad? Why didn't you tell me?"
She grimaced at his tone, though he didn't yell at her. Eyes hardened, she scowled at him. "I will eventually have to face him anyway, Draco. We'll be family soon and he's not going to be in Azkaban forever. I need to be able to handle him on my own. So, I did. I didn't know Shacklebolt was also talking to Lucius or that they were working on a deal. So, I went to the prison and met with your father, one on one," she explained, huffing. "If you and I get married before he gets out, he told me that there wouldn't be any problems."
"Is that what he said?" the Slytherin growled.
Their plates were brought to them and she sighed. "He just told me to make sure we were married before he gets out," she said. "He'll do anything to stop us once he is out. He thinks you're going through a rebellion phase."
He snorted. "Of course he does," he said as he stabbed a few chips with his fork. Putting them in his mouth, he chewed for a moment as he thought. Swallowing, he continued, "I've no doubt he believes we'll marry and then I'll realize my 'mistake' and want out. Either that or he doesn't think I'll actually marry you." He glanced at Hermione and put his fork down. "Let's do it."
She froze and stared at him. "What?"
"Now. Let's do it," he told her. "Let's go to the Ministry and just get married. Mother will forgive us and we can always have a celebration after."
"Draco…"
"Think on it, love. Father will be getting out of Azkaban, quite possibly sooner rather than later. You know he'll do everything in his power to prevent a wedding once he's out. We can always have a huge celebration after. Everyone will be dressed in their finest and the best meals will be prepared. I could even get a D.J. to play some tunes for us," he explained.
Hermione blinked several times. "You want us to get married now?" she asked carefully.
"Sure, why not?" he replied, standing up and pulling her to stand with him. "You yourself said you didn't want a big wedding. Besides, it's never about the actual wedding anyway. That part can get rather boring pretty fast. It's all about the reception, the after party, and of course the consummation later that night." He touched her cheek. "We can honeymoon in France. We have a house there near the beach that would be perfect."
He was speaking so quickly and that Butterbeer had been so warm. Married now? "But we've only just gotten engaged," she pointed out.
He smiled and kissed her lips. "I know, love," he told her. "However, you said that he wants us married before he gets out. This can be our time. You and me, love. And it's not near your birthday, or mine. A summer wedding, what more could we want?"
Her mind was in a whirlwind as she thought over his words. How long had they been engaged? When did they start dating? It couldn't be more than a few weeks at best. It seemed just yesterday that Draco had turned twenty and now he was talking about getting married today? As she looked up at him, she could see the love in his eyes. She could also see how much he wanted this, wanted her. She knew he had changed, too, and for the better.
"Okay," she finally said after what seemed like ages. "Let's do it."
His smile widened and he hugged her. Picking her up, he twirled her around. Putting her down, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a small sack of Galleons, which he threw on the table. He kissed the Muggle born deeply, not caring who witnessed. Breaking the kiss, he took her by the hand and led her out of the Leaky Cauldron as Hannah picked up the sack of gold and glanced at the mostly untouched food.
Looking back at the door, the Hufflepuff felt the blood drain from her face. She had a bad feeling about all of this.

Author's Note: What are you doing, Hermione?! I know, I know, I'm writing them, but honestly, I'm just the writer. They're doing all the action. *Giggles* Oh, discord, what did you think? I'm actually working on what you're speaking of right now. I think you'll like what I've done. Pickles, Narcissa isn't going to keep things from her husband, as you can see. At least, not where it concerns the family. Besides, what can he do behind bars? Aside from torment the sweet and innocent Muggle born?
- 14
- 15
- 16
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Forgiven