Chapter 10

"Well, we made the front page again," Draco announced as he slipped back into bed beside Hermione. "I blame you for this."

She took the paper from his hands. "I didn't hear you complaining at the time," she pointed out, frowning when she saw the picture.

"Who complains about a beautiful woman snogging him?" he wondered. Hermione grinned and continued to read the paper. "So, listen, my parents want to have dinner tonight."

She nodded and turned the page. "Good for them," she replied. "It's important to eat dinner every night."

Draco rolled his eyes. "With us," he added.

The paper lowered so only her eyes were revealed. "Excuse me?" she asked, eyebrows raising.

Climbing off the bed, he entered the bathroom. "You heard me," he called back to her as he started the shower. "I also told them that we would."

He heard the pages of the newspaper rustle as they were tossed aside, followed by the blankets. Soon, Hermione was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, and a dangerous look in her eyes. "Why would you tell them that?" she inquired.

Draco shrugged. "Because they're my parents, and your in-laws now," he replied as he tested the water temperature. "Besides, they like you. You'll be fine. Now, lose the shirt and get in here with me."

"You're a pig," she said, turning away from the bathroom. "And I'm making breakfast and not sharing with you."

He chuckled as he stepped under the spray. "Vindictive little thing," he muttered. "The woman I love is a vindictive little thing."

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Later that evening, they stepped out of the fireplace into Draco's room. "I hate you, you know," she told him as she dusted herself off.

Draco grinned. "Yeah, I know," he replied, pulling her into his arms. "I also know you don't mean it. You're just nervous about seeing them, but you don't have to be. They like you more than they like me."

"Because that's so difficult to achieve," she muttered with a smirk.

Rolling his eyes, he kissed her forehead and took her hand. "Come, we mustn't keep the parents waiting," he said. Groaning, she allowed him to lead her downstairs, and he soon pulled her into the sitting room. "Drinks?" he asked.

Narcissa frowned, but Lucius rose to pour a tumbler of firewhiskey for his son. "Miss Granger, or should I say, Mrs. Malfoy, what do you prefer?" he asked.

"I prefer Granger," she replied.

Chuckling, Lucius shook his head. "I meant to drink," he clarified.

"Oh," she said softly, an embarrassed blush blooming on her cheeks. "White wine, if you have it."

Nodding, he poured her drink as well and handed the glasses to the couple. Draco led her to the sofa and sat down. Hermione had just taken a sip when Lucius spoke. "So, it seems to me that Draco no longer lives here. Have you noticed that too, Narcissa?"

She choked on her wine, cheeks heating and reddening as she coughed. "Father," Draco chastised as he patted her back.

"No, no. It's fine," Hermione said when the coughing subsided.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Well, judging from Miss Granger's reaction, it would appear I've hit a sensitive nerve," he commented.

Draco shrugged. "What's it matter?" he wondered. "We're married. Married couples tend to live together. Besides, I don't spend every night away from home."

Narcissa slapped her husband's thigh. "Stop being a tease," she told him. "Tell them why we asked them to dinner."

Nodding, Lucius smiled. "Well, your mother and I have been wracking our brains, trying to decide what to give you as a wedding present," he said. "That is, we're assuming the two of you plan to stay married."

"Yes, we decided that we don't want to look for a loophole," Hermione confirmed.

"Good, good," he murmured. Picking up a small box from the table beside him, Lucius rose and handed it to his son.

Brows furrowed, Draco removed the ribbon that held the box closed and opened the lid to reveal a set of keys. "Are these house keys?" he asked.

Narcissa nodded excitedly. "A little beachside cottage with room for a family, should the two of you decide to start one," she said. "Besides, it might be nice to have a little more space. Draco mentioned you live in a very small flat, Miss Granger."

"It's fine," Draco interjected. "There's plenty of room for the two of us there. We haven't even started discussing children. We've only been married for a month, for Merlin's sake. On top of that, we don't really live together now."

Hermione frowned. "Do you not want to?" she wondered.

Draco turned to her and smiled. "I do," he replied. "I just thought it was something we should discuss privately. Alone. Without my parents as an audience."

"Does that mean you won't be accepting the house?" Lucius inquired.

"Well, it might be nice to see it before committing," Draco commented.

His father smirked. "And here I thought you just jumped into commitment without giving it a second thought," he remarked.

With a shake of his head, Draco got to his feet. "If you plan to ridicule the choices we've made, then we'll be going," he stated, shooting a pointed look at his father.

"No," Narcissa stated. "What your father said was out of line, but that doesn't give you the right to storm out like a petulant child. You were invited to dinner, you accepted the invitation, and you will stay."

Chastised, he sat back down and sulked. "Oh stop," Hermione murmured before returning her attention to Narcissa. "So, would we be able to see the house sometime? You know, before we move."

"It doesn't bother you that my parents bought us a house?" Draco asked incredulously.

Hermione shook her head. "It's a nice gesture," she replied. "At the very least, we could look at it. Does it bother you?"

Sighing, he shook his head. "Let's just talk about it later," he said.

Clearing her throat, Narcissa gestured toward another package on the table beside her husband. "There's something else," she told them. "I thought you might like it hang it up in the house, that is if you accept it. I'm sure it would look just as lovely in Miss Granger's flat."

This time, Hermione reached for the present. She carefully peeled back the edges of the silver wrapping paper to reveal a framed document. Draco peered down and frowned. "Our marriage license?" he asked. "Rifling through my things now?"

"I thought it might be nice to have something to commemorate the occasion since there are no pictures," Narcissa excused.

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, Hermione handed the gift to Draco and excused herself. "Is everything alright?" Lucius asked.

Draco shook his head and got to his feet to follow her. He found her in the kitchen, seated at the island. Silently, he approached and sat down next to her. "So," he said cautiously.

"Do you know what my middle name is?" she wondered, staring straight ahead at the stove.

He swallowed past a thick lump in his throat. "Jean," he answered.

Hermione nodded. "Do you know what it says on our license?" she inquired.

"Jane."

"How long have you known?" she asked.

Sighing, he replied, "I found out a few days after we married. The counselor told me your name was wrong."

Hermione sniffled and finally turned to look at him. "You know what that means then."

Draco nodded. "We might not really be married."

Dismounting her stool, she walked past him. "Do me a favor and don't come over tonight."