Hermione woke early the next morning despite having gone to bed so late – she'd always been an early riser, and so her eyes opened out of habit. At first, she wondered why she was so stiff, why she seemed to be on a couch instead of sprawled out in her own bed, but then her memories of the previous night returned in full force, and she had to suppress a squeal. Draco had asked her to come back to Star Cottage after the church service, and he'd proposed! They were getting married! Hermione had been completely surprised – she hadn't been expecting it at all – but she couldn't say she wasn't happy. In fact, she was beyond excited, and she couldn't wait to share the good news with her family and friends.

Hermione then realized that she'd yet to have a good look at the ring, and she lifted her left hand from the couch and held it up. The ring was far more modest than anything she might've expected from one bearing the Malfoy name, but Hermione actually preferred it that way – she'd never liked ostentatious jewelry. The band was white gold, and the central stone was a sapphire, with three small diamonds set in triangles on either side. Seven stones – the most magical number. The gems sparkled in the early morning light as Hermione twisted her hand this way and that.

"Do you like it?" Hermione smiled at the question and the sleepy voice asking it.

"I absolutely love it," she replied, moving her hand yet again. "It's beautiful." Draco shifted closer so he could wrap his arm around her waist and took her hand in his, his thumb gently grazing the ring.

"I'm glad," he said. Hermione felt him smile into her neck before he moved even closer to rest his chin on her shoulder.

"I thought perhaps you mightn't care for anything in the Malfoy vault," he explained. "I suspect a fair few of those are cursed anyway, but even if they aren't, they were designed for society brides – and you, my dear, are far above such a petty title."

"You do know that sapphire is my birthstone?" Hermione asked with another smile. She felt Draco nod.

"Of course – you think I didn't do my research, Granger? I'm disappointed. And it just so happens that, in addition to coming in several very pleasing colors, sapphires happen to hold up well in long-term settings like this."

"It's perfect," Hermione agreed. She rolled to her back and gently tugged Draco forward into a kiss, which he quickly deepened. The atmosphere went from relaxed to heated in seconds, and soon they were snogging enthusiastically, Draco's hands running up and down Hermione's sides while hers twisted in his hair. It was just like Hermione's birthday…except this time, there was nothing in their way of continuing.

"I love you, Hermione," Draco breathed between kisses. One hand stopped at her waist and began toying with the hem of her shirt, sending shivers up her spine as his fingertips brushed bare skin. Hermione herself abandoned Draco's hair – with a bit of difficulty, she'd admit; she loved how soft and silky his hair was – in favor of his shirt buttons, and she had nearly half of them undone when a voice broke through the haze.

"Happy Christmas, Master Draco!"

Hermione squeaked and brought her hands to her own clothes, making sure Draco hadn't revealed too much of her, while Draco hastily redid his buttons. They quickly sat up to see Posey positively beaming at them, two brightly wrapped gifts in her hands and a festive pajama-like garment adorning her small frame. Thankfully, the little elf seemed oblivious to what she'd almost witnessed, but Hermione was mortified. How could they have forgotten about Posey?

"Happy Christmas, Posey." Hermione cursed Draco's ability to appear so unruffled – she was sure her own face was bright red. Seeing the look on her face, Draco chuckled and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, knowing he was teasing her, but as Posey hadn't said anything, perhaps she was off the hook.

"And a happy Christmas to you too, Miss Hermione!" Posey continued cheerfully. "Posey is not knowing that Miss Hermione is spending Christmas morning here, but Posey is happy she is." She paused and looked at Draco. "Is Master Draco giving Miss Hermione her present?" Draco smiled.

"I did, Posey – and she said yes." Posey's eyes widened, and she squealed and clapped her hands.

"That is being wonderful news!" she said, jumping up and down a little in excitement. "Posey is being so happy for you!" Her large eyes drifted to Hermione's hand, and Hermione obliged, extending her arm to show Posey the ring.

"It is being even prettier on you, Miss Hermione," Posey stated. Hermione looked up at Draco.

"Posey would've had my head if I'd picked a less-than-satisfactory ring for you," he said with a shrug. "She was the first one to see it when I brought it home from the jeweler's."

"Oh?" Hermione tilted her head in curiosity. "Who else has seen it, then?"

"No one, actually," Draco told her. "Potter and your parents know about the proposal, but they haven't seen the ring." Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes.

"You talked to Harry and my parents?" she said quietly.

"Of course I did, Granger," Draco replied, his voice just as low. "Potter might not be my best mate, and your dad still scares the hell out of me sometimes…but they're your family." A few of the tears slipped down Hermione's cheeks as she threw herself forward and hugged him. He'd talked to Harry and her parents…not only was the gesture unexpected (regarding Harry, anyway – talking to your intended's parents was rather traditional, she supposed), but it was also very sweet.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You have no idea how much that means to me." Draco smiled softly.

"They all said similar things – that you'd appreciate it," he said. "Now, I may have told Potter, but I swore him to secrecy, and I'm sure he's about to burst from having to keep something like this from his wife for so long. What do you say we have Christmas breakfast so you can go show off your new ring?" Hermione laughed. Draco had been right to tell Harry to keep it a secret – Ginny would've been so excited, she would've spilled the beans right away, and Hermione would've known about the proposal before it even happened.

"Breakfast sounds wonderful," she agreed.

It was quite a while later before either of them were ready to leave Star Cottage. First, once they'd finished their breakfasts, Draco had scooped Hermione up into his arms and carted her off to his bedroom to finish what they'd started that morning. Then, they'd both needed showers – which, inevitably, had escalated into something more than just washing up.

"We're newly engaged – there's a lot to celebrate," Draco said with a perfectly straight face. Hermione rolled her eyes but accepted another kiss nonetheless. She was almost euphorically happy, after all.

Eventually, Draco and Hermione were both showered, dressed, and ready to face the day. As was the case with most of their holidays, it promised to be a busy one. They'd been invited to Harry and Ginny's for lunch, and then they would go their separate ways that evening for Christmas dinner, Hermione to the Burrow while Draco went to the Puceys'. Hermione wasn't upset about their differing agendas – it wouldn't be fair of her to drag Draco to the Burrow on Christmas of all days, not when almost all of the Weasleys would be there. Draco had interacted with a few of them since the war – he'd even developed an almost friendly relationship with Ginny, through her friendship with Hermione – but subjecting him to the whole family at once, without any warning, would make for an overwhelming and possibly awkward experience. Besides, Draco more than deserved the time with his own friends, especially since they were as much his family as the Weasleys were to Hermione.

"Ready to go?" Draco asked as he wrapped a scarf around his neck. Although they were Apparating to their various destinations, it still wasn't acceptable – or possible, in the case of their friends – to Apparate directly into someone's home, so the winter gear was necessary.

"I am," Hermione said. She paused and looked intently at her fiancé.

"Something wrong, Granger?"

"You won't be able to call me that anymore once we're married," Hermione reminded him with a laugh. Draco snorted.

"You'll always be Granger to me, love," he said. "Besides, you're the type of girl to seriously consider keeping her own name, so you might stay 'Granger' anyway."

"You'd be ok with that?" Hermione asked, cocking her head to one side.

"It's your name, Hermione – as long as you're my wife, I don't care. But I suspect you had something else you wanted to say?"

Hermione was speechless for a moment. She'd thought Draco would be one to insist that she change her name, to show that she was his – but then again, he'd proven time and time again over the past few years that he was full of surprises, hadn't he? She then remembered what she'd meant to say in the first place.

"I just wanted to let you know that you were wrong," she said after a moment. Draco raised his eyebrows.

"About what?" Hermione tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

"When you proposed, you said you didn't think you'd given me anything worth what I'd given you," she said. "But you're wrong. After all, who was the one who believed in my idea enough to try it out for himself? You were willing to take a huge risk, to step into a world completely unknown to you, all for the sake of an idea – and I firmly believe that I wouldn't have been able to get the class approved as quickly as I did without your testimony. I might've designed the lessons, but you were the one who tested them. You gave me your trust, you gave me your time, you gave me your ear when I needed someone who understood the war like I do…and you gave me your heart. So don't you dare say you haven't given me anything worth what I've given you." Resolve flashed through Hermione's brown eyes as she finished her little speech, and Draco couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

"I suppose you're right," he said, taking her hands and pulling her close. "After all, they don't call you the 'Brightest Witch of the Age' for nothing, do they?" His face turned serious as he added, "I still don't know what I did to deserve you, Granger, nor will I ever stop kicking myself for even thinking you to be beneath me – you're so far above me, there's no competition."

"Oh, stop," Hermione said breathlessly. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

"And there you go again," Draco replied softly. "You're an extraordinary woman, Hermione Granger." He kissed her swiftly, and then without another word, he pulled her into his arms and turned on the spot.

"Honestly, Draco, give a girl some warning before you just Apparate like that!" Hermione scolded once they'd popped into existence once more. Draco just laughed, and Hermione sighed – she knew he found her indignant expressions more cute than anything else, and as she wasn't truly angry, it wasn't worth saying anything further.

The Apparition point was hidden, leaving no risk of any of the Muggles who lived at Grimmauld Place seeing them, but Hermione still checked the square just in case before she stepped forward to knock on number twelve's door. They only had to wait a moment before the door opened, revealing bright green eyes and perpetually messy black hair.

"Hermione! Happy Christmas!" Hermione beamed as her best friend opened the door fully and stepped forward onto the stoop to engulf her in a hug. It wasn't even necessarily the holiday greeting that had made her smile, but the sight of Harry so happy. It had been such a rare treat during their childhoods that every instance now was special, no matter how insignificant.

"Happy Christmas, Harry!" she said.

"Draco," Harry said then, reaching behind Hermione to shake the blond's hand. "Happy holidays."

"To you as well," Draco replied. The two men certainly weren't best mates – and probably never would be, given their lengthy history – but they had little problems spending friendly afternoons in one another's company now, something that had only strengthened since Draco and Hermione had started dating. The first few encounters had been a bit awkward, but it had gotten much better over time, and Hermione was optimistic that their relationship would continue to improve.

"Well, are you going to invite them in, Harry Potter, or are you just going to stand there out in the cold all afternoon?" a familiar voice asked. They all turned to see Ginny staring amusedly at them from the front entryway, and Harry blushed and chuckled sheepishly as he led the way indoors.

"Lunch should be ready soon enough, and there's biscuits and cocoa in the sitting room in the meantime," Ginny said as she hugged Hermione. "Happy Christmas to both of you." The quartet entered said room, Ginny in the lead, and settled down on the sofas to help themselves to the treats. They spent a few minutes engaged in small talk about the holiday, and Harry was just describing the Quidditch toy set he'd bought for Teddy, which the little boy would receive later that day, when Ginny suddenly shrieked.

"Hermione Jean Granger!" Harry and Hermione hastened to steady the mugs they'd nearly upended at Ginny's shout, and Draco raised his eyebrows in question at the redhead, one hand still hovering over the cookie plate.

"Gin?" Hermione asked slowly.

"Is that what I think it is?" Ginny demanded. She reached forward and grabbed Hermione's left hand, the ring sparkling for all to see.

"It depends what you think it is," Hermione said with a coy smile. Ginny squealed again, and Hermione had to bite her lip to keep from joining in.

"You're getting married! Merlin, this is so exciting! Why didn't you say anything when you got here?" Ginny paused to catch her breath. "Tell me everything."

"Is your wife always this energetic, Potter?" Draco asked as Ginny carried on. Harry laughed.

"D'you really have to ask that question, mate? You remember her from school, after all." He did have a point, Draco mused – Ginny had always been full of life, whether lighting up the Quidditch pitch with her athleticism, or the halls of Hogwarts with both her exceptional magical abilities and her stalwart leadership. Her fiery spirit hadn't dampened with age, nor had her enthusiasm.

"I wasn't trying to keep it a secret!" Hermione insisted with a laugh. "I was going to tell you as soon as Harry finished telling me about Teddy's gift!"

"Uh huh," Ginny teased. "Sure you were." She examined the ring again, approval dancing in her eyes, and added, "So how did he do it? Where? When? I want details!"

"Last night, after the church service, at Star Cottage," Hermione replied, a soft smile on her face as she relived the memory. "It was very simple, and very sweet."

"Granger, what have I told you about me and that word?" Draco groaned. Hermione giggled and took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers.

"I don't care what you say," she said as she brought their joined hands up to kiss his fingers. "Your proposal was very sweet."

"You don't seem surprised," Ginny said suddenly, rounding on Harry. Harry went red, and Ginny's eyes narrowed.

"You already knew, didn't you?" she asked. "You already knew that Draco was planning to propose! How is that fair?"

"Erm…Gin?" Hermione said. "I love you, I really do, but do you really think you would've been able to keep something like this a secret?" Ginny stared at her for a moment before she slumped back into the couch, defeated.

"You're right," she admitted. "I would've blurted it out first thing I'd seen you." She perked up quickly and said, "But that's neither here nor there. What's important is that you two are getting married! Ooooh, can I help you plan it? Pleeeease?"

"Would I expect anything less from my Matron of Honor?" Hermione replied with a small smile. Ginny's jaw dropped and she remained speechless for a long moment.

"Matron of Honor?" she finally asked, her voice quiet. Hermione nodded.

"Of course, Gin. You're one of my best friends, practically my sister. There's no one I'd rather have stand with me."

"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny jumped off the couch and hugged her friend tightly. "I'd be honored, thank you so much!"

"Sorry, Potter, but I don't think you'll make the cut for my best man," Draco joked. Harry laughed loudly.

"I wasn't expecting to," he replied. "There are others much more qualified for that job. As long as I'm invited, I'm happy." He turned serious then and added, "It's funny how just a few short years ago, I would've thought Hermione had gone mental if she'd said you two were engaged, but now…now, it feels right, you know? It's not something I ever could've guessed, but I've seen it with my own two eyes – you two are good for each other."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said. She reached over to squeeze Harry's hand, tears in her eyes. "I love you so much."

"Love you too," Harry said fondly. "You're the one person who's always been there for me, 'Mione, no matter what – you deserve this happiness more than anyone."

"I hate to kill the mood, but there is far too much sappy Gryffindor-ness going on here," Draco interrupted. The other three burst into laughter.

"Best be careful there, Draco," Ginny said through her giggles. "You're marrying a Gryffindor, and she belongs to a very large adoptive family of Gryffindors – like it or not, you're going to have lions in your life for a long time!"

"How will I stand it?" Draco mock-groaned, causing Harry and Hermione to erupt in a fresh wave of laughs.

"Do you two have a date in mind?" Harry asked once they'd all calmed down.

"We hadn't really discussed it yet, no," Hermione replied. "After all, we only just got engaged last night."

"We had slightly more important things to do this morning than discuss dates," Draco added, waggling his eyebrows mischievously. Harry groaned.

"Ugh!" he said. "I did not need to think about my sister that way!"

"You're welcome," Draco said with a grin. He only just managed to duck out of the way of the throw pillow Harry tossed at him.

"There's a reason you weren't a Chaser, love," Ginny deadpanned. Her wand vibrated on the coffee table, and she added, "That'll be the food – I'll just be a mo."

Ginny hadn't been gone more than a minute or two when the doorbell rang.

"I didn't know you'd invited anyone else," Hermione commented. Harry frowned.

"I didn't," he said. "Lunch was just supposed to be the four of us." The two Gryffindors immediately drew their wands and hurried on silent feet to the front door. Draco followed close behind, his own wand in hand – he might not be a rash lion, but he was Harry's guest and Hermione's fiancé. If something was wrong, he was going to help. Behind him, he heard Ginny come up the stairs from the kitchen, the redhead obviously having heard the doorbell as well.

"Sound spell?" Harry whispered to Hermione. Hermione nodded and murmured the incantation, which would allow them to speak clearly with whoever was on the other side of the door without actually opening it. As very few people were even supposed to know the location of Harry's house, the spell had been an extremely useful find.

"Who's there?" Harry demanded once the spell was up. They heard the shuffling of feet, followed by a response:

"Er…gee, I guess it's a bit hard for a bloke to plan a surprise these days, innit?"

Harry and Hermione stared at one another, shocked into silence. They knew that voice – knew it very well, in fact…

"How do we know you are who you say you are?" Hermione asked. Merlin, if it was really who they thought…

"Erm...during first year, the chess game, Harry was a bishop, Hermione was a rook, and I was a knight."

It was a very specific answer, and a seemingly insignificant detail. The odds of anyone else knowing were very slim indeed. Harry wrenched open the door, his heart pounding.

"Ron?"

A/N: And the Golden Trio is back! I hope this chapter brought some lighthearted fun to your day.

Thank you all for the lovely reviews, as well as your faves/follows/etc. It does make me happy to know that people are reading & liking my stuff.

JKR owns all things Potter, I just play. Please leave me your thoughts, & enjoy! :)