A/N: Tell me I'm wonderful, tell me I'm amazing, tell me I'm seriously bored so I keep writing chapters and then posting them hours after one another. haha :D

I only got one more review in the short time between the last chapter and this one :(

Chapter 11 – Things to Think About

The roar of the fire signalled the arrival of a guest. Draco couldn't be here already could he? She crept down the stairs and peaked round the corner to see that, yes Draco was here but he looked as if he'd been there a while. Had he even left? The fire had indicated the Potters' arrival. She stayed where she was to allow this meeting that she didn't particularly want a part of.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked, "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"

"No need to swear, Potter." He remained seated, leaning back on the chair with his arms draped over the back. "It's just me."

"Yes and what are you doing at Hermione's?" Harry asked again, feeling impatient already.

"That's between myself and Hermione." He turned his face to Ginny and winked. The inclination had not been lost on either of them and they exchanged a look of confusion and concern. Hermione felt now was as good a time as any to intervene.

"Harry! Ginny!" she said ignoring the fact that Draco was sitting on her settee. "I thought we were meeting at the event?"

"Can I have a word with you in the kitchen Hermione?" Ginny asked, already pulling her along leaving the two men alone in the sitting room.

"Is that a good idea?" Hermione asked gesturing her head to the boys.

"Probably not, but having Draco Malfoy sitting in your sitting room that Harry and Ron have access to is also not a good idea." She reasoned.

"Yeah, I didn't realise he was still here." She scratched her head and looked at the floor.

"Still here? How long has he been here?" Ginny looked outraged at the thought.

"Well I'm not sure, I thought he'd gone home when I went to go get ready so he either came back and I didn't hear him or he's been here all this time."

"Is something going on?" Ginny's eyes widened brightly.

"No!" Hermione quickly shot back. "Of course not!"

"This is perfect Hermione! You have to play him!"

"Play him? Ginny what are you talking about?"

"Get him to fall in love with you or something! Then he'll propose and you can reject him! Or you could say yes and be a Malfoy heiress with more money and comfort that you can ever imagine." Ginny smiled.

"You have problems. Seriously? You think I can play Malfoy? You think I even want to play Malfoy?"

"Why not? It could push Ron off your scent." Ginny reasoned.

"True." Hermione shrugged her shoulders.

"So you'll do it?"

"Maybe" Hermione smiled then turned and left the kitchen.

"What were you too nattering about for so long?" Harry asked looking disgruntled that he had been left in Malfoy's presence for so long.

"Oh the usual, dear." Ginny reached Harry and gave him a peck on the cheek. "We're meeting Hermione at the party, ok?"

"Ummm. Are you su-"

"We'll see you there. Bye!" Ginny had pushed Harry into the fireplace before he could argue any further then quickly followed him, leaving Hermione and Draco alone. She could do this, she thought, and if it didn't work there's no harm in trying.

"Draco." She smiled at him.

He finally stood up, "You look amazing Hermione." His flattery could almost be confused with genuine emotion.

"Shall we have another firewhiskey to toast to tonight's event?" She said picking up the bottle and pouring it into the glasses left out from earlier. He raised an eyebrow at her wondering how she had managed to change so much since Hogwarts. She brought the glasses over to him and passed one of them into his hand. Raising her glass, she tapped his; "Cheers." She said, peering at him through her lashes.

"Cheers." He replied. They sat down on opposite ends of the same settee and began to talk. They spoke of what they had done since school; relationships, jobs, family and life in general. The more Hermione spoke the more Draco wanted to know. He knew that she's managed to find her parent's in Australia and restore their memories; whilst they had been upset with her, they respected her choice and thanked her for her bravery by giving her this house. Her and Ron had been together since the end of the Battle of Hogwarts and only recently broke up after a nasty and bitter relationship. He found out that Hermione had trained to be a healer but her calling was with the ministry, where she worked alongside Blaise. Her training in the medical world had helped saved Ginny's life, although she did not elaborate on why Ginny's life had needed saving.

Draco spoke very little about himself, it wasn't in his nature and Hermione's stories where so much more exciting than his. He spoke of how his father had died not long after the Battle, the stress had driven him to a place of no return and when a hit with a stroke he was unable to recover. His mother made an effort to restore their family name and had completely redecorated the Manor in her spare time. Draco had been working in the family business; continuing connections, severing some and also creating new ones. By the time both had finished their tales, they hadn't realised how late it had gotten or how close they were to each other. Draco could see each individual freckle on her face; he suddenly longed to touch them. He wanted to reach out a stroke her cheeks, he didn't know why.

"We're late!" Hermione jumped up from her seat, releasing the hold that Draco had over her. "Almost an hour late! Oh no! What will people think?"

Draco suddenly remembered his mission, "Let them think," he closed the gap between them that she had created. He brushed his hand against hers and watched as her cheeks flushed pink. She stared into his eyes, enthralled by their beauty and his ability to hold her without actually physically holding her.

"We really should be going." She breathed without breaking eye contact.

"I suppose we should." He closed the gap even smaller and their chests were practically touching. "Or...?" or what Draco? He thought to himself, Or we can start snogging? Why did he want this so much? Perhaps it was the bottle of firewhiskey that they had managed to polish off, perhaps it was the fact that he knew he had to get her and she was looking particularly stunning tonight. Stunning? He'd never used that word for a girl before. It must be the firewhiskey.

"Or?" she questioned, responding to his closeness by moving her hips slightly towards him.

"Or you can marry me."

"Marry you?" she snapped out of the trance instantly. "Marry you!?"

"Yes. Hermione Granger," he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring, "Will you, do me the greatest honour, of becoming my wife?"

Well that was a shock. A definitely more acceptable proposal than Ron's, Draco had always been more confident with women. Still, she had to think. Draco was currently kneeling on the floor in front of her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. There was currently another pretty ring in the side table next to her and judging by the letters she'd been receiving a few more rings yet to come. Her mind was all foggy and the room wasn't staying still. She couldn't think straight. Why had she drunk so much whiskey? She had been trying to keep up with Draco but she wasn't used to the stuff like he was. She was tipsy after the first glass, drunk by the third, what she was now is beyond anything she'd ever experienced.

"Draco." She collected her thoughts. "Let's go to the party. I need to think about this, please give me time."

A/N: ok omg! Draco you romantic you! whats he doing?! they havent fallen in love yet! why is he proposing?! crazy boy!

I'm halfway through writing my next chapter but because its almost midnight I probably wont have that up till tomorrow evening as I'm going out to lunch tomorrow.

Please please please please review! If youre an author you'll know how much a simply review can mean and if youre not, please be very nice and i'll mention you in the authors notes of the next chapter :)

Love Han xxxxxxxxxxxxx