A/N: So this is an extra long chapter because I love you :)


Chapter 12 – The Party

Hermione tumbled through the marble fireplace at the Parkinson Manor house and steadied herself on the nearest chair.

Draco casually strolled through the flames and then came over to Hermione, grabbing her elbow in an effort to help steady her. "Woah there Granger, had a bit more than you can handle?"

She turned and looked at him in the eyes which were twinkling with humour. She couldn't be angry at him for his comment so instead she shoved him in the chest slightly to get him to release his grip. He threw his arms up in surrender showing he had no intention of keeping the hold. She stood up straight and steadied herself, travelling by floo had not helped her balance in the slightest. Nevertheless she made her way to the door. Before turning the handle she looked back to Draco; "How do I look?" she asked genuinely as she smoothed down her hair.

"Beautiful." He replied before realising he'd said it. Then he watched as she walked out of the doors into the main ball room. He couldn't keep his eyes off her, nor could anyone else for that matter. He'd never experienced the things he was feeling at this moment before. He had fancied Hermione back at school but it was more the fact that she was the girl he would never and could never get. How was it that now she was in his grasp, he wanted her even more?


"Hermione! I was beginning to wonder if you would make it tonight!" Seamus said when he realised she was now here. "Have a drink." He passed her a glass of butterbeer. "Been told you're a bit of a light weight; best avoid the firewhiskey if I was you."

Bit late for that, she thought to herself, "Thank you Seamus, I must say I was quite surprised to hear of your engagement."

"Yes I think most people were," he pulled Pansy next to him, his arm around her waist. "I think even we were, but we work. I don't know or understand how but we do."

Hermione had never been one for romance and cringed at his words but thought them sweet all the same. "When's the wedding?"

"Soon! Hopefully. We haven't set a date yet but not to worry, your invitation will be first in the post." Pansy said, obviously trying to befriend Hermione after their not so pleasant years at school. "Have you any engagement plans? If you don't choose soon you may be stuck in a bit of an awkward situation."

"Yes. There's been a couple of options but I still need time to think." She suddenly felt very hot; the room, the alcohol and the thought of possibly saying yes to Ron tonight was making her feel very funny. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to step outside for some air."

"Of course, we'll catch up later." Seamus beamed then turned to his future wife as they basked in the popularity of their event.

Hermione turned and went to one of the many French doors that were placed in between ornate mirrors around the room. She wrenched open a door and stepped outside into the cool air. The wind brushed her face and cooled her down. She closed her eyes for a moment just enjoying the breeze and quiet.

"Hermione?" a male voice sounded. For goodness sake, could she not have a moment to herself? She opened her eyes and focused on the tall figure of Blaise Zabini. "Did you get my letter?"

"Yes I did, I'm sorry I never replied." She was a bit lost as to what to say to him. They'd know each other for years but hadn't talked much; they had an unspoken agreement to not really acknowledge each others existence.

"That's alright, I'm glad you're here." He walked over to her and grabber her hand. She looked down at their hands in confusion before looking back up at him. He pulled her away from the house, walked her to a tree near the end of the plot and hid them behind it. He moved her so her back was against the tree and he was in front with an arm resting just past her head; trapping her. "You look beautiful tonight Hermione." He breathed. The volumes of alcohol must have caused her to be ok with this situation for usually this was one she would not be happy in. "I've always watched you at work you know?"

"Really?" she said slightly uneasy. The cold air was helping her to sober up.

"I really like you Hermione, you're beautiful, you're clever, you're tall and you're funny." He'd positioned his head so that his lips were brushing against the crook of her neck. "You often don't find such a wonderful combination in any one woman."

"Don't you?" she moved her face as far away from his as possible. Better he have range of her neck than her lips. Unfortunately he saw this as an acceptance and went in to kiss the soft skin. "There's nothing really that special about me." She said honestly.

"It's sweet that you don't see it." Moving his head closer and kissing her jaw. "I think I could love you Hermione. I mean really love you." He grabbed her head and moved it so that they were staring into each other's eyes. Her eyes widened in shock and fear.

Suddenly without warning there was a loud bang and Blaise was thrown across the garden, landing in the bottom of the bordering hedge. Hermione was so relieved that he wasn't in front of her anymore that she crumpled to the ground. The firewhiskey also probably had something to do with it. "Are you alright?" a male figure placed an arm around her shoulders; she was comforted by the embrace and looked into the steel grey eyes that were full of concern.


"Has Hermione arrived yet?" Ron asked Seamus quietly.

"Yes she got here about half an hour ago with Malfoy." He answered.

"Malfoy! Malfoy?" Ron stuttered.

"Yeah, well they both left the entrance room together so it could have just been a coincidence but they looked as though they'd been talking so I just put two and two together." Seamus shrugged his shoulders.

"Where is she now?" he looked around the room seeing if he could see her or Malfoy anywhere.

"Last time I saw her she went out for some fresh air." Seamus gestured to the door that he'd seen Hermione leave from.

Ron nodded then went to the door. He first peered out to see if she was on the veranda but he couldn't see her at all. All of a sudden, he saw a flash of light at the end of the acre and a body go flying into the hedges. He pulled open the door and raced to the tree, staying in the shadows of the night so as not to alert anyone to his presence. As he got closer he could hear Hermione talking. He saw a male figure embrace her and he focused his ears to work out who it was.

"Hermione if you marry me, I will always protect you." He said. Damn it, it was Draco Malfoy.

"I know you would Draco, you've changed." She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. "But is it a good idea?"

"It's the best idea anyone has ever had." He replied, reaching out to hold her hand. "I will look after you, emotionally and financially." He paused. "and physically." He winked to which she laughed.

"Draco, people will definitely talk. We hated each other in school! What would they think to us unexpectedly getting married?"

"Well firstly they would understand because of this law, secondly they would applaud us for the example we set and thirdly, who said I hated you in school?" he listed off quite simply.

"What do you mean?" she was confused at his third reason.

"Hermione it's no secret that I fancied you at school." He said.

"No you didn't! We fought like cats and dogs!" she cried, almost enraged by the thought that he'd liked her and she hadn't even known. She'd gone years hating him because he hated her.

"There's a fine line between love and hate, Granger." He stood up and held out his hand, offering to help her up. She accepted his help and soon they were standing face to face. "Please accept my proposal Hermione."

"Let me think about it. At least give me until tomorrow at the earliest." She pleaded.

"As you wish." He moved her hand to the bend of his elbow and escorted her back to the house and away from Blaise.

Ron had watched the entire exchange and was worried. Draco was smooth; he usually got what he wanted. He would win Hermione over by suggesting the marriage would be a business arrangement and like with all arranged marriages, the love would come later. Hermione was level headed but this would mean she would see the sense behind his words. She would agree if it meant that she was setting a good example and that it would help the country. Also, as much as he hated to admit it, Draco was cool. He was smooth and sophisticated, he was relatively handsome (well he didn't have ginger hair and freckles that consumed his face) and from what Ron knew, most girls had a hard time saying no to him. However, Ron had a plan.


The rest of the night was a blur for Hermione. She'd drunk more drinks, danced with Malfoy, danced with Harry and she might have even danced with Ron. She remembered Draco constantly asking for her to marry him. She remembers Blaise being sent out the party for smashing a mirror when he saw her dancing with Draco. She remembers speaking to Ron alone? She had a terrible feeling she had said yes to someone and by the end of the night Draco offered to take her home.

They left the party in the small hours of the morning and when they reached the edge of the grounds, Draco looked at her then apparated the pair of them away. Why they didn't floo was beyond Hermione because when they arrived at their destination she felt incredibly ill. He guided her towards the house and then walked her to the bedroom. It wasn't until she was sitting on the bed that she realised she wasn't at her house.

"Where are we?" She looked around the room at the emerald quilt and bed drapes, the snake encrusted chest of drawers and cupboard and the pictures of empty frames that had gold names encrusted on the bottom.

"My house." He stated. "I couldn't remember where you lived." He fell onto the bed beside her, obviously not sober.

"Are we going to sleep in the same room?" she questioned moving away from him slightly.

"I don't see why not." He smirked and grabbed her hand to look at her delicate fingers. "We're engaged after all." He held up her ring finger which held the beautiful Slytherin ring on it.

"Draco! When did I say yes?" she was shocked but didn't attempt to take the ring off.

"You always knew you would say yes" he kissed the ring then followed up her arm with a trail of kisses till he reached her neck.

"I suppose maybe I did." She looked down at him. He was now laying beside her, slightly further down the bed and she peered into his beautiful eyes. She could always call the engagement off in the morning, she thought, what did it matter?

He smiled at her then pulled himself up until he was above her, arms either side of her head, her legs between his. "You'll enjoy being Mrs Malfoy." He lowered his head to shorten the distance between their lips.

"How can you be so sure?" she teased, raising her chin up slightly to decrease the distance even more.

"I can show you better than I can tell you." He breathed against her lips and then suddenly, his lips were on top of hers. She instantly responded and their lips moved fervently against each others. He slipped his hands underneath her waist to pull their bodies closer together. It was like a slice of heaven for both of them. She was warm and sweet, timid in her actions but passionate in her response. He was expert and dominant, moving her without her noticing and allowing her to feel comfortable in his arms.


A/N: I'm not very good at writing kissing or love scenes, I find it too awkward. Maybe I'm too english for my own good? I dunno. But i figured that Hermione would barely remember it so it didn't matter if I didn't write it. Sorry if you really enjoy reading those scenes, I will try harder next time :)

I mention that Hermione is tall in this chapter because I always hate when stories depict her as a really short petite girl who needs protecting. I'm really tall (5ft10) so i like to imagine Hermione would be me and so therefore my height! I think most authors of Dramione's imagine themselves to be her. So she's tall.

Sorry if i offended any gingers in this chapter, I love gingers so no offence intended. If you're still angry, I was bald till I was 3 and I'm taller than most guys...you can laugh :) are we even? :D

Also thank you THANK YOU for your reviews! You are amazing! the response I got was incredible! So here I shall reply to all of the ones left from when I posted the last chapter till now :D

Shaymars- I hope so too! :D Your comment made me happy thank you. AND they do fit! i wish I was Hermione and have someone like Draco proposing to me!
jmbarrientos - im so glad you love the story! I cant believe that people would enjoy something that ive written so much :) AND hahah i know, cliffhangers keep the readers interest...and mine as well tbf :D I live in the heart of the english countryside hence the time difference! :)
expect0p4tronum- haha so will I! you'll have to hold my handbag and earrings.
Mila Pink- I agree and thank you so so much for reading and reviewing and im glad youre enjoying it!
Booknerdxx - Thank you! Thank you! and Thank you! It a releif to hear that people think my writing skills are good! and thank you for saying that i get chapters up quickly cause i do try my best :)
crazychick-1027 - thank you! glad youre enjoying it.
bubbleshannahs - if you've posted a story i would love to read it! thank you for your review! i always love to hear actual opinions like that where you mention parts ive written cause it makes it feel more real and I know people are paying attention :)
ilikescreamobutimnotemo- did you read my other story? if not youre a bloody psychic cause that may or may not happen in it :)

Please please please continue to review and all the other jazz! I might start dedicating chapters to loyal readers :D just for yolos and what not.

love Han xxxxxxxxxxx