Chapter 11

A/n: Thanks to all my lovely reviewers! You people are saints!

On with the show!

(Revised on March 3, 2006.)

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Hermione and Draco looked up, blushing. A pair of old, blue eyes twinkled down at them.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to interrupt you. But I was informed that my two best students are up at one o'clock in the morning brewing potions."

"Oh," Hermione said, straightening her shirt. "It was just the Arcana potion sir. You see, I just wanted to double check that we weren't being led on by somebody." Suddenly aware that she was still sitting on Draco's lap, she got up and went to their worktable.

Dumbledore examined the potion, and nodded. "I am impressed. You two are quite adept at potion making. In fact, fifty points to each your houses. I'm surprised you even knew of this to begin with."

"We did a lot of research sir," said Draco, standing up.

"Well, I think it's time for me to go back to bed. I am an old, old man, you know. Tomorrow morning, let me know how it turns out."

"Yes sir."

"Good night then." He turned on the high heel of his buckled boots, and left, his eyes twinkling madly.

Hermione plopped down on the sofa and stared into the flames. "Now that was embarrassing."

"Yeah. Just a little." Draco replied, stirring the potion. "How about a game of wizard's chess?"

"I'm terrible at it. How about we devise a plan to get back at Harry and Ron?"

"Hermione! I'm shocked!" He 'clutched his pearls', as the expression goes.

"Why?"

"You are just acting so... so... out of character."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... You threatened to Crucio your two best mates. Then you want to get revenge on them. I mean... come on! That doesn't sound like Hermione Granger, Gryffindor-goodie-two-shoes!"

She said quietly, "So is that what you think of me? A goodie-two-shoes?"

Draco replied, shifting uncomfortably, "Well, I used to."

"Good. So you know that I'm not, that I've probably had more detentions than you."

"Um yeah. I knew that."

"Whatever."

She fumed to herself. Damn mood swings! If only women did not have to PMS. Too bad there was not a charm or a spell for it or something along those lines.

"Hermione, let's go fly."

"No bloody way! I hate brooms!"

He reached under the sofa, and pulled out a Firebolt. Opening the window and beckoning to Hermione, he straddled the slim stick. She hesitantly came to him, and stood about a foot away, not going any closer.

"Come on."

"No."

"Please?"

"No!"

"Come on, 'Mione." He gazed at her with puppy eyes. No female could resist them, and he knew it.

"Alright! Fine!" She walked to the broom, proving him right, and then asked, "How do I sit?"

"As close behind me as you can."

She sat with her thighs touching Malfoy's tight arse, and wrapped her arms around him. Shutting her eyes tight, she nodded for him to go.

He kicked off the ground and out the open window. Soaring into the night, over the forbidden forest.

"Open your eyes, 'Mione."

She did so reluctantly. Looking out over Draco's strong shoulders, she saw the full moon, grey and majestic, in front of them. It hung high in the sky, and was looking down at the world in peace. Old Man Stauf needed to check his moon charts more often. He was a week off.

"Wow," she murmured into her companion's back.

Draco grinned to himself. He was glad she liked it. Now for a surprise.

"Hold on, gorgeous. Here we go."

He dipped down, and Hermione squeezed his waist tight and clamped her eyes shut, with her stomach up in her throat. Then Draco leveled out, and again, told her to open her eyes.

They were skimming the lake this time, and Hermione looked down at the water and saw their reflection. Dipping her fingers into the cool liquid, she distorted the image.

Together they flew around the grounds, and saw things they never new existed. For instance, did you know there is a hidden faery grove in the thickest part of the Forbidden Forest?

Hermione sighed contentedly as they circled the grounds, and then said, "We should probably get back to the Castle. Our potion is waiting; we don't want to bugger it up."

"Yes. You're right," and he turned the broom and flew back into the Room of Requirement.

Checking the timer, they saw they were just in time. It buzzed right when Draco put the broomstick underneath the couch. Taking the knife, they slit their fingers and dropped in five drops each.

The potion fizzled and released an odor that smelled like wet stone and freshly turned earth, and nothing else happened. It remained the exact color that it was before.

"So it looks to me like we're together forever then." Draco said, pointing out the painfully obvious. "Next weekend we're going to tell our parents, alright?"

She just stared at the cauldron. Having the whole thing confirmed made the ordeal much graver.

Draco led his companion over to the couch and got her a goblet of Pumpkin Juice. She was obviously in shock, so he force-fed her some of the drink.

She blinked, shook her head as though to clear it, and was much better.

"So, Hermione, are we going to get married? I mean, if we're going to take over the world, I would definitely want a son who would inherit it." He grinned at himself.

"Draco; do you really want to get married? I mean, you are giving up your life for some damn prophecy! Yeah, I know you're magically bound to me and all that bullshit, but at least you think you've got the freedom to fool around."

"Well… I mean," He cleared his throat, "I suppose it wouldn't be that bad being married to you… I mean, you're actually a pretty neat person once you get past the Gryffindor part." He smirked.

"So, you're serious? You really want to marry me?"

Draco took her hands in his own and said, "Hermione Jane Granger, I am asking you to marry me."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Awww… how twee!