Chapter 12 An Unusual Proposal
The months ticked by slowly and things that I had taken for granted this time last year were no longer applicable in my new life. Draco had all but moved into my flat months ago and even though he still technically owned his own place in central London, he spent more time in mine and I think he even had more of his things here. He primarily used his flat now to entertain and throw business parties. It seemed as if his influence rivaled that of even his father, but unlike Lucius, whose charisma was based on intimidation, Draco's was made up of the respect of his colleagues. He had a knack for solving problems in a way that was palatable for all parties involved, and that got him very far.
My favorite times became the lazy weekends we spent having tea on the terrace or sitting in the overstuffed love seat, each reading a book and curling our legs together on the shared ottoman. We would often have passionate debates about Ministry politics or romantic picnics in the park where we had our first real date.
We were the new power couple according to all the tabloids. It got a little taxing, but it was nice being in the spotlight for something that wasn't a wild rumor or accusation. Rita Skeeter couldn't even drum up a story about Harry and I since I hadn't even seen him since Ginny's trial. I decided to let things go so far as that situation went. It hurt that he no longer deemed me a friend, but what could I do about it? If he was going to hold a grudge for this long than maybe it was good that our relationship was over. Now I just have to work on squashing that part of me that doesn't agree with that sentiment. On the plus side, it's growing smaller every day that he ignores me.
It was almost time for my annual trip to visit the parents and I was considering asking Draco if he wanted to come along. It was a big step and I was still on the fence about the idea, but I would have to decide quickly if I was going to give him and my parents both enough time to prepare. I had a lunch date with Ron to try and get some outside perspective. It was times like these that I was extra happy I didn't lose both of my best friends in the Ginny fiasco.
--
I arrived at the café a few minutes late because my assistant cornered me with a request from the Minister right before I left. I skimmed through it and threw it in my inbox. It appeared to be a meeting in New York City that he wanted me to attend and I could go over the details later.
Ron already had us a booth in our usual corner and had ordered me a glass of water. I think dating Luna had an excellent impact in his manners. We exchanged pleasantries and he filled me in on the wedding details. Luna hadn't accepted his first proposal, but he tried again a month ago and she eagerly agreed. They were all set to be married that December and Ron couldn't be happier. Who would have thought Ron would get married before me?
After ordering half the menu he turned his attention to my dilemma. "I don't see what the big deal is. If you want him to go, just ask him."
"What if he thinks it's too big a step?" I asked, completely flustered.
He rolled his eyes at me. "You're making it too complicated, Mione. If he thinks it's too big a step, which I doubt, then he'll tell you so. What's the worst that could happen? It's not something he'll sack you over."
I sighed and nodded. Ron was right; I was over analyzing things as usual. This would be the first guy I brought home to meet my parents, and I was worried it was rushing things. Apparently I was being silly. Go figure.
--
The request from the Minister detailed a conference that the American Division for Magical Equality would be holding in New York. It would be my first trip to the US and as head of the comparable department here, it would be necessary for me to attend. I was looking forward to it, except it would fall the week before I was usually scheduled back from my trip to Australia, so I would have to cut my visit short in order to prepare for the conference. Maybe that was for the best though, because a two-week visit might make for a better introduction trip then a month.
I sent a reply to the Minister of my acceptance and gave Hilda the details to make my travel arrangements, then I was off for the evening. I met Draco at the flat and he had picked up take out from our favorite Chinese restaurant. I started to feel increasingly ill as I thought of his reaction to my question, and my resolve was beginning to wan. Finally I just blurted it out so that I wouldn't lose my nerve outright and just not ask. "Would you consider coming to Australia with me this summer?"
His eyes blinked quickly as if he were trying to process the question. "When and how long?" he asked. Both reasonable questions.
"Next month for two-weeks. We would leave on the eighth and I would have to be back on the twenty-second to prepare for a conference in New York the following week," I replied.
A slow mischievous grim alighted his face suddenly. "You want me to meet your parents." It wasn't a question, he knew my intentions from the moment I asked him, and now he was going to toy with me. Great.
"Yes," I answered simply, "So, do you want to?"
He tilted his head back and forth like a cat does when you speak to it, you could swear it understood you, but it never really responds. After several dramatic moments he answered. "I would love to. Since it's only two weeks I shouldn't have issue taking off from work."
I let out a breath I hadn't even known I was holding and he laughed. "You couldn't really think I would say no?"
I shrugged. "I didn't really know. It seemed like a big step, and I didn't know if you would be ready for it."
He laughed again, coming over to me and running his fingers through my hair. "I'll take any and every step for you, Hermione Granger."
I smiled at that and let him see it fill up my face. Draco made me happy, and sometimes that was all I ever needed to know.
--
Draco packed way too much for our trip, so I went through his bags and had him remove the entire mess of wizard garb. "My parents are muggles. You won't need to wear robes around them; in fact they might look at you strangely if you did."
"Right. Sorry, I wasn't thinking I guess," he responded distractedly. "Do you think they'll like me?"
It was my turn to play coy. "Are you worried about it?"
He nodded while repacking his largest bag.
It wasn't fun since he wasn't participating. "I don't think you'll have anything to worry over. You're likable enough."
He looked up at that and scowled. I just shot my tongue out at him and his scowl changed to a smirk immediately. He leapt over and drug and me down to the bed with him, tickling every exposed inch of my body until I shrieked for him to stop. I loved these little playful bursts he would get. They were few and far between though, not much broke through his careful calm.
--
The plane ride was humorous. I thought I was a terrible flyer, but Draco, for all the comfort he had on a broom, couldn't abide the giant muggle metal contraption. I lost count how many times he asked if I was certain it was safe. I'm sure the flight attendant remembered exactly how many times he asked her; before she loaded him up with so many cocktails he slept the rest of the way.
It was a chore getting him from the plane to the taxi. He was still very groggy and disoriented when we arrived and it took me a little more than an hour to gather him and our things and make it outside. I'm glad he slept through most of the taxi ride; because it turns out he had never been in a muggle car either. He had a miniature fit that I made him ride in another dangerous contraption without his consent.
We pulled into my parent's quiet suburb about an hour and a half later and Draco was thankfully making sense again. He helped me unload the luggage and my mother was rushing out to meet us, pulling me into a tight hug and making me drop half my bags. She hesitated when she saw Draco and gave me a look, which I knew to mean, "We have to talk." She nodded a slightly curt greeting and ushered us inside.
My father gave me a similar greeting, though he was much friendlier with Draco then mum had been. They showed us our rooms, insisting that unmarried couples did not sleep in the same room. I didn't protest but I did have to hold back a laugh at Draco's reaction. Apparently my description of "conservative" when it came to my mum didn't quite cover it.
First chance she got she pulled me aside into the kitchen where she could grill me. "Isn't that the boy who we saw in the little wizard village we got your school supplies every year?"
I thought about it and nodded, realization struck me and I knew instantly that this visit would be more difficult than anticipated.
"And wasn't he the boy who taunted you at school all the time, calling you that foul name… what was it?"
"Mudblood," I muttered.
"Yes, that was it," she replied heatedly. "I remember your letters after that and how inferior you felt to the other students because of it. So why in the world are you dating him now?"
I couldn't keep the heat from my face. I had told my mother all about Draco, but while his name never rung a bell apparently his face did. It was a rather unmistakable face. "I know what you're thinking, but I swear he's different now. We've been dating for a while, and he's always the gentleman. I promise you'll like him, just please give him a chance."
She just huffed and nodded. I could tell she was still going to be a difficult sell. Hopefully she wouldn't get to my dad before he formed decision. Once his mind was made up on something, it was almost impossible to change it. It's probably where I get it.
I raced up to the guest room where Draco was unpacking and gave him the heads up. "Mum remembers you from Diagon Alley second year."
"And?" he asked, obviously perplexed.
"And, back then you were a slimy little git." I huffed.
"Oh, right." He collapsed on the bed looking dejected. "So they already hate me?"
"No, but it may mean that you'll have to kick up the sweetness factor, but not too much, because dad can spot a phony from a mile away."
"Great," he sighed. "No pressure."
I shot him an apologetic grin and went to unpack my own things and then we made our way downstairs to mingle. The conversation was light, but mum kept asking him pointed questions, making him squirm. Dad thankfully hadn't caught on, and seemed at ease with him. He was making jokes and comparing Quidditch to muggle sports, but Draco didn't know a lot about muggle sports. Dad always enjoyed those conversations with Harry, and seemed to be trying to pick up where they had left off. It felt eerie, but I was just happy that someone was trying to get along with him.
"What was it Harry used to say he did? He was the team's sneaker?" dad asked.
"Seeker, dad. Draco was also the seeker for his team in school," I replied.
"Oh," mum interrupted, "how is dear Harry? He was such a sweet boy."
Oh, no. Here it goes. "I actually wouldn't know, mum. He and I don't really talk anymore."
She clucked her tongue at me and shook her head. "That's too bad dear. He really was such a sweet boy. I don't know why you two didn't work out."
"We never dated, mother. We were only friends," I replied through gritted teeth. I looked at her firmly and tried to relate the fact that I thought she was being rude, but she just ploughed ahead. I could feel Draco growing more uncomfortable beside me.
"I remember how you used to talk about him constantly. What happened? Does he not approve of your new relationship?" she asked as she looked pointedly at Draco.
"Actually, no. He didn't approve," Draco spoke up this time, "but, Mione made clear her feelings for him and he rejected her, they started to grow apart after that. His loss, my gain."
Okay, I could have done without so much shared information, but it seemed to shut my mother up. She just patted my hand. "I'm sorry dear. I didn't know." I shrugged and made sure to steer the conversation away from those subjects for the rest of the evening. My parents both seemed to warm up to him a little more after his little outburst, so I could forgive the over-share.
--
The rest of the trip went surprisingly well. My mother eventually came around to him and my dad kept up his jolly attitude. On our last day however, he seemed even jollier than usual. Draco had arranged for us to leave via floo instead of flying. I was relieved. Not only did I not have to fly, but I wouldn't have to deal with him on the flight either.
We were able to stay a couple hours longer since we would have such a quick trip back, so we took my parents out to lunch. My father gave a touching toast sighting Draco to be like the son he never had, which was creepy. My dad didn't usually get so sentimental over things. I looked to Draco and he was wearing a nervous grin, but before I could say anything he got down on his knee in front of me. I gasped. Okay, I didn't just gasp, I started hyperventilating.
Draco looked up at me with his stormy gray eyes and held up a small silver box. With a creak it opened to reveal a beautiful ring; a large brilliant cut emerald with paving down both sides. "It was my mother's," he said softly, "and now I want it to be yours." He took a deep breath and held the box out to me. "Hermione Granger, would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
The restaurant was at a standstill, with all the other patrons watching us. I looked at him and his eyes sparkled and I looked over at my mother, who looked like she would cry. My father beamed at me, and I said yes. I don't even remember the word leaving my mouth, but I must have said it, because the next moment the ring was on my finger and he was kissing me, and the sound of my parent's applause was lost in the crowds.
I was getting married. To Draco Malfoy. This is so not how I expected my life to end up.
--
That night I curled around Draco in bed, tipping my hand back and forth watching the light bounce and twinkle. It made Draco chuckle, but then he grew suddenly quiet. "What's wrong?"
"I love you, Mione," he whispered.
I turned to look into his face. "What's wrong?" I asked again.
"I have a confession, but I want you to know that I love you, and I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me," he sighed, and looked terrified.
I felt terrified. What could he have to say that would make him so worried? "Draco, you can tell me anything."
He cleared his throat. "When we met at the Ministry event, I wasn't being entirely honest with you about why I was there."
He was silent for a few moments so I prompted him to continue. "Elaborate, please."
"The truth of the matter is Ginny bribed me to be your date. Actually blackmailed would be a better term."
I moved away from him, pulling the covers with me. Call me crazy, but I had trouble being arguing in the nude. "Please tell me you're kidding."
"I wish I were. I really was interested in seeing you, and I probably would have agreed if she just asked, but the truth of it is, she told me she would reveal me as the person behind all of my anonymous charity work in her next article if I didn't go."
I couldn't breathe. "What exactly were you supposed to do?"
"I was supposed to keep you away from Potter," he sighed. "Though I'm sure you could have guessed that already."
I felt myself nodding, but I couldn't look at him. "And the date in the park?" I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer.
He sighed and his silence spoke volumes.
"How long before you were actually dating me for me, and not because of Ginny's orders?"
"I knew I liked you almost instantly, Mione," he said in a pleading voice.
I laughed, and it was an unpleasant sound even to me. "Please don't call me that." I saw him nod reluctantly in my peripheral. "I need to be alone."
I felt the bed shift but I didn't look up. I didn't want to see the look in his eyes as he walked from the room. A few minutes later I heard the door click shut and I knew it was safe. I started to cry, and I couldn't seem to stop. How had my life gone from happily ever after to torn up into millions of pieces in the course of five hours?
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