Thank you thank you! I love all your reviews. I'm so touched by some of the things you all have said. You are happily rewarded with this new chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own sh*+.
It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and Hermione was trying on her fifth outfit. She finally settled on a red sweater that hugged her body, some jeans, and some red ballet flats. She was so nervous to see how her parents would react to Draco.
Just as she was thinking about him, Draco appeared at the end of the street with a pop. He walked steadily towards his destination, sporting a black suit and red tie. He wanted to look good while he met her parents. He was carrying a bottle, 2 bouquets of flowers, and Hermione's present under his arms. He didn't bring the second part of her present, that was for another time. He arrived in front of her door at last. With the intake of a deep breath, he knocked firmly on the door. He heard some footsteps and talking, then the door opened. When Mrs. Granger opened the door, Draco could see where Hermione had gotten her looks.
"Oh! You must be Draco, come in dear."
"Thank you Mrs. Granger." Draco grinned as he walked inside.
"Oh please, call me Jean." She smiled and introduced her husband, "This is my husband, and Hermione's father, Mark."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." He shook each of their hands politely. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought you these." Draco handed her a lovely bouquet, an arrangement of snowdrops and irises. "I also took the liberty of bringing you some excellent wine from my family's cellar."
"These are lovely Draco, thank you very much." Jean's smile reached her eyes and they sparkled, just like her daughters, Draco noted. "This wine will go well with the turkey, thank you. I'll go collect Hermione then for you shall I?"
"Yes, please." Draco nodded and Mrs. Granger headed up the stairs.
Hermione was finishing putting on some red earrings when she heard a knock at her bedroom door.
"Come in," she said, knowing it was her mother. Mrs. Granger walked in and placed her hands on her daughters shoulders.
"Your boyfriend is here dear. Are you ready to come down?"
"Yes, let's go." Hermione felt as if her stomach were in her throat. She walked out of her room and down the stairs. Draco was holding something behind his back. Damn, he looked amazing.
"Hello Draco," she smiled.
"Hello Hermione, I brought something for you." He pulled her flowers from behind his back, they were the deepest red roses she had ever seen. Out of the corner of her eye Draco saw her parents leave the pair to themselves. Draco handed her the flowers.
"Thank you so much." She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. He responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and the present lightly imprinted on her back. She looked up at him and stood on her tip-toes to give him a kiss.
"No, thank you for having me."
"Oh!" She moved to the sitting room table and grabbed an envelope. "Here are the tickets for your parents. I got them something else too." Draco looked at her quizzically.
"You bought MY parents something? After everything?"
"Yeah, why not?" She acted as if it was an everyday occurrence, to forgive people. She grabbed her hand bag and pulled out some opera glasses for his mother, and a more masculine set for his father. "Here you go. I think those will help them enjoy the opera, since they can't use magic."
"I'm sure they'll love these. Thank you." Draco then remembered his interactions with his parents over the last couple of days. "Hermione, two things... I sincerely apologize for the things that occurred with my Aunt in the Manor." He saw her visibly shiver. "It brings me great shame to know what happened to you in my home."
"Draco, it's alright. There was nothing you could do. Harry and Ron weren't able to do anything about it either."
"Still, I'm sorry." He looked at her with sincerity. "One more thing, my mother wanted to know if you'd like to come over for tea on the 27th at 4 o'clock. Before you answer, she has completely re-done the manor. She hated those memories as much as anyone else possibly could. She really wants you to come." Draco watched her expressions change form fear, to doubt, thinking it over, then smiling nervously.
"But what if she doesn't like me?" Draco laughed out loud, after all that had happened, Hermione wanted Narcissa to approve of the girl Draco was dating. He kissed her forehead.
"Hermione, she loves you already." 'And she's not the only one.' She smiled at his reply. "I think your parents must be waiting for us, it's awful quiet. Let's go eat." He took her hand, urging her to lead him to the dining room.
After a lovely dinner of Turkey, redcurrant jelly, roast potatoes, and other vegetables, they enjoyed a Christmas pudding. They popped Christmas crackers and were all sporting silly novelties. Draco was wearing a paper crown, Hermione wore eyebrow and mustache glasses, Mrs. Granger got a pair of tweezers, and Mr. Granger got a shoehorn.
"This is wonderful, best muggle Christmas I've ever had!" Draco teased.
"Draco, this is the ONLY muggle Christmas you've ever had," Hermione chuckled.
They moved into the sitting room, sang carols, played games. When Mrs. Granger suggested something.
"Hermione, would you come to the kitchen with me and help with the dishes?"
"Erm, sure mum." Hermione looked at her mother questioningly, but got up and followed her anyway. As soon as the women were out of earshot, Mr. Granger started talking to Draco.
"How serious are you two?"
"I beg your pardon sir?" Draco had been caught off guard.
"Are you exclusively seeing one another? Do I have to worry about becoming a Grandfather?"
"Well, yes. No, not the Grandfather bit, at least not for some time." For a man who was unable to use a wand, Mr. Granger mildly terrified Draco. "Yes, your daughter and I are exclusive. Sir, I would never want to put Hermione in an awkward erm... pregnancy situation. I have good intentions."
"And what are your intentions boy?" Mark asked thoughtfully.
"Well, if things keep going well sir, I'd like to marry her." He said it softly to make sure Hermione didn't hear him. He couldn't scare her off at his boldness.
"Hmm. And what will you do? Will you be able to support her?"
"Yes. Although I come from a wealthy family, I have a desire to work as well. I wouldn't need to, but I enjoy putting in a hard days' work." Mr. Granger and Draco were silent for several minutes.
"So help me Draco, if you ever hurt her, I will hunt you down and gut you like a fish."
"Yes sir. I wouldn't dream of it." He had meaning to his words, Mark could see that.
"Well then, welcome to the family." Draco smiled at the older man as he was patted on the back. "I'm going to go spend time with my wife after I put some brandy and mince pie out for Father Christmas. I'll send Hermione back to you."
"Thank you sir." Draco shook his hand. A few minutes later Hermione walked in carrying something at least two-thirds her height.
"Hi," she said.
"Hey," Draco smiled. "What have you got there?"
"Your present of course darling." She sat next to him on the sofa.
"Oh good, I've been dying to give you yours."
"Oh no, you first Malfoy!" Draco feigned sadness as she teased him.
"Fine." Hermioned handed him the parcel, he took it in his hands and very gently shook it, just in the event that it was breakable. He peeled away the wrappings, opened an oddly shaped box, and looked in at the contents. Wow. She bought him a guitar! It had leaf inlays on the fret board, and the finish was a shiny emerald colour.
"'Mione, this is... thank you." His eyes smiled, looking between her and the guitar. He kissed her firmly on her lips. "Thank you, love."
"I'm glad you like it!"
"I love it! I'll play it for you all the time." He reached to his side, handing her a heavy, rectangular object. "This, is for you." She tore open the wrap and discarded it at her side. When she saw what it was, she almost cried with joy.
"How did you get this?" She asked him with watery eyes.
"It's been in our library, as long as I could remember. Open it, it's a signed first edition." Hermione opened the cover of an original copy of Hogwarts a History very carefully, as if she was worried she'd break it. She loved him. Hermione Granger, had melted at such a gesture, and had fallen in love with the young man who was once her enemy.
"Thank you." She whispered reverently.
What do you guys think? Hell, I want a Christmas like that. My husband has a hard time understanding mushiness. Lol.
With the blessing of your reviews, I will write more. Send me good writing juju so that my mind won't go blank! (Juju is like positive energy, luck, etc.)
Love and Kisses,
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