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I am baaaaaack! Did anyone miss me? I hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint.

"Are you sure you want to go into work?" Draco asked her again the next morning. She was fearless.

"Yes, I am sure," She said before she drank her coffee, "And if it is too much, I will go home," She promised,

He nodded again, and was silent as he ran his thumb over the edge of his mug, "My mother came over yesterday—she wants to see you,"

"That's a good thing, right?" Hermione asked,

He let out a breath, "I have no idea—she loved your painting though, which is why she even asked. My mother's appreciation for artwork is legendary. She donates pieces all the time to notable witch and wizard art galleries, and she purchases them too. So when she saw your work she—

"Wanted to see them," Hermione finished, biting her lip,

"I told her that you view them as extremely personal, but I told her I would ask,"

"I don't even let you see some of my paintings,"

"I know," He told her softly, "And you don't have to show her ones you aren't comfortable with, you don't have to show her anything at all,"

"Do you want me to?" She asked,

He was quiet for a moment, "I want you to get along with my mother, yes. But not to the detriment of yourself. And I want you to do what you are comfortable doing,"

"What did you tell her about us?"

"That I love you and that we were in this for the long haul,"

"What did she say?"

Draco chuckled as he leaned forward in his chair, "She thought you were pregnant,"

Hermione laughed, "You should have told her I was, just to see what she was going to say,"

"I thought about it—oh, that reminds me—At Teddy's birthday, he asked me why I always wear long sleeves," Her face fell a bit, and so he held up his pointer finger, "Wait, it's funny," He assured her, "I told him it was because I made bad choices and now have to wear long sleeves. He asked me if Grandma puts him in time out for being bad, if he is going to have to wear long sleeves all the time,"

Hermione laughed, "What did you say?"

"I told him yes,"

Hermione laughed again, "I can't wait for Andy to deal with that,"

"My mother said she ran into Andromeda," Draco snorted, "She has not run into Andy for fifteen years, and runs into her now that she has seen me. That woman is amazing. Then my mother said that Andy was a great Slytherin until she married Ted, but she doesn't see how Andy is a great Slytherin now,"

Hermione looked at him softly, "I wish I could tell you that some day she will, or that someday she will see you for the great man you are now. I really hope that Hogwarts will break some of its old prejudices—Slytherin house took in a muggle born last year,"

"He will have an up hill battle all seven years," Draco said with a frown,

Hermione nodded, "He will, but things are changing. Social movements like this start off slow, and it is James, who will be able to be raised in a world where he couldn't think them possible, that will be able to implement change and keep it strong. We can set the roots, but we have to be willing to give it time to grow. I hope that your parents will change their mind eventually, but they were raised on narrow mindedness. I'm not saying it is an excuse, but it does make how they think understandable. I hope that by them loving you, they will know me and maybe those prejudices will change,"

He nodded and she grabbed his hand, "I'm going to go to work,"

"Please, owl me if you need anything," Draco insisted, and she nodded. She leaned over and kissed him, lingering too long. When she pulled back he smiled brightly at her.

"I can't believe you have a house," Draco said, standing in the front yard of Potter's house with a beer in his hand.

"I can't believe I have one either. I still feel like I am playing house,"

"Playing house?" Draco asked him,

"Um—muggle's play it, usually you pretend you own a home and make dinner and such,"

"That's odd," Draco said, and Harry chuckled,

"I suppose," He replied. The house had two stories and bright brick. The green shutters and door made the house look strong. There were big bushes out front, and a massive porch in the back.

"It's a nice house, Potter,"

"Thanks—Ginny keeps changing the paint colors nearly every day. I will walk into a room and its some shade of blue, and then I'll come back in and it's orange. It's maddening, but she says I got to build the house so she wants to decorate. It's fine by me because I don't understand it—though she says I don't care,"

"Trouble in paradise?" Draco asked, his tone teasing,

Potter shrugged, "I think she just wants to contribute, and I buying a house is a stress on a couple. That's what Mr. Weasley said anyway,"

The wind was a bit chilly, fall was settling in, but it was still warm enough to be comfortable outside, but he needed a jacket.

"How is Mione doing? I haven't seen her since St. Mungos," Harry asked. It had been about two weeks since that incident. The trial was supposed to be that Thursday, but because of the recent press, it had been pushed back another month. Hermione had been devastated, but mostly livid. He was glad he was not the judge.

Hermione and Draco had attended Mary's funeral together. She had most of her family there, the wizarding family was very kind and they all loved Hermione. Draco was glad he could be there for Hermione, though he had not known Mary well.

"She is doing well, she thinks someone is following her, so I had John put a few guys on her," Draco said,

"I saw that, I wasn't sure if that was you being over protective or if she asked for it,"

"She didn't ask for it, but I told her that they needed work that was a bit more menial anyway after the Vince raid, so she accepted. Of course once I phrased it like something she was doing for someone else, she was much more willing to comply. Don't tell her I said that,"

Harry chuckled, "She won't hear it from me, I do the same thing,"

"Then she is getting lunch with my mother tomorrow, which should be a joy. I am arriving an hour after my mother just to make sure nothing happens and that she has an escape route,"

"Hermione arrived a bit before you did—when are you two going to move in together?" Ginny walked the front door and waved.

"Come in soon you two!" She called before closing the door again. She gave a look to Harry that Draco didn't understand, but he was sure Potter did.

"I don't think we are. Well, at least not for now. We both come from more traditional families, and Hermione read somewhere that relationships have better statistics of lasting and getting along if you wait to move in until after marriage," He shrugged, "I don't know if its true, but I think we both like having our own space now. And we both like our apartments,"

"Ginny wants me to ask when you are buying a ring. I told her I would ask, so I kind of did. But I can say we got interrupted,"

Draco blew out a breath, "She doesn't hold back, does she?"

"No," Harry said with a smile, "It's why I married her,"

"I don't know, I keep thinking that it should be soon—when did you buy a ring for Ginny?"

"Mrs. Weasley had a family ring, it's a reason why she wanted a girl so badly to pass it down to, so I just asked her family,"

"Should I ask hers?"

"They may have an equivalent, I would ask,"

"Well, maybe I will see them,"

"That's a good first step," Harry said, and Draco let out a breath. Harry laughed and clasped his shoulder before walking inside.

Inside was bedlam there were so many people. All the Weasleys were there, Andy, Ted and Teddy, Luna and Neville came to support them. Neville worked at Hogwarts, and Luna ran the Quibbler. It was a bloody weird magazine, but he would try to act supportive.

"Draco, you should see our sales in Hogsmeade, we are rich," George told him, "Well, richer than we were,"

"They are going to ban some of your items," Neville told him

"Even better, banned things are much more fun to purchase—and ways to get around them,"

Neville shook his head, "Draco—how are you?"

"Well, thank you,"

"Draco? Can you help me?" Ginny asked, and he turned to help her move trays of food from one table to another, "Are you going to ask?"

"Why are you and Harry on this now?"

"I don't know, maybe because I'm pregnant and need something to look forward to,"

"And your baby isn't enough?"

"Come on, Draco, make a pregnant lady happy,"

"Who is saying we are getting engaged,"

"No one, Draco. I just was making sure Harry asked you,"

"Alright, Gin. If I propose, you will be the first to know," He promised, kissing her head.

"I can live with that," She said with a smile.

He went outside to find Granger. She was laughing with George, Angelina and Mr. Weasley. He walked up and kissed her head.

"Did Harry and Ginny ask you about when you are proposing?" Hermione asked, no one was paying attention to them.

"Yes," He answered honestly,

"They asked me too, I just wanted to be sure you were ambushed as well," She said and he laughed.

Draco landed on the ground, laughing next to Ron. They had won the Quidditch match. He had beaten Potter. Granted, it was probably due to the fact that Luna was playing Keeper and had let half of the shots in, but he caught the Snitch.

Teddy had watched the entire thing excitedly.

"You were brilliant," Draco said, clasping Ron's shoulder.

"I can't believe you caught the Snitch," Ron said, and Harry landed next to him.

"I can't believe you didn't run into the pole on that one save, I thought you were going to nail it,"

"I am glad you won," Hermione said as he walked up the back porch steps, Draco kissed her.

"It was bound to happen eventually," Harry said,

"Don't be a sore loser, Potter," Draco said, as he sat down on some of the patio furniture. It smelt like it was brand new. Ginny walked out and sat down next to Harry.

"Did James go down easily?"

Ginny nodded, "He was tired from all the excitement,"

"I'm going to leave, it was nice seeing all of you," Luna said airily,

"Of course, good luck on your nargle piece," Ron said stiffly,

"Thanks Ronald," She said with a smile,

"I'm headed out too," Neville said, he wasn't a bad Quidditch player either. He must have been able to pull together some level of coordination after he graduated, but he was a fair Beater.

Neville headed out, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the rest of the Weasleys left as well, George and Angelina went home, and so did the Tonks. So it just left Harry, Ginny, Draco, Hermione and Ron out on the back porch.

"It's a beautiful house, Harry," Hermione complemented, her legs up on one of the furniture pieces as she leaned into Draco's shoulder.

"It is," Ginny agreed, taking Harry's hand,

"You are making it a great home," He complemented,

"Merlin, Potter. How long have you waited to give that line?" Draco teased,

"I'm quick on my feet," Harry replied, and Draco laughed.

"Ron, what are you doing now that you are staying here?" Draco asked

"I just got an apartment near Diagon Alley so I don't have to apparate everywhere. I think George is going to let me take the Hogsmeade branch,"

"Congratulations," Draco said, and Ron had a smile on his face,

"I'm happy—working there will be fun—seeing Hogwarts kids running around,"

"It won't be too long before Teddy and Victoire go there," Harry said,

"When that happens, James will be Teddy's age—isn't that weird," Ron said,

"That is strange," Ginny said, "And this one will only be a year behind. It was nice to have an older brother a year above me,"

"I think that is the nicest thing you have ever said about me," Ron joked, and Hermione was smiling.

"Mione, can we go shopping for dresses—for the Malfoy Ball,"

"Sure, when do you want to go?"

"Ron, are you going?" Harry asked,

"I wasn't invited,"

Draco snorted, "I wish I wasn't invited,"

"You are glad," Hermione told him, "If your parents were having a come back ball and not inviting you, it would be weird,"

It was nice to have an evening where he could be somewhat normal. He could not think about other problems, but worry about what parities he was being invited to. He liked having friends to discus things with, and friends being there. He gripped Hermione tightly.

Draco stood on the door, and let go of a breath. He knocked, step one done.

"Draco, what can I do for you?" Jean Granger asked as she opened the door, "Hermione isn't with you?"

"Um—no, I just—is Dr. Granger here as well?"

"Yes, should I get him?"

"Yes," Draco said much more strongly than what he felt.

"Are you proposing to Hermione?" Jean asked,

"How—how did you know?"

"A man only shows up by himself, in a nervous fit for a few reasons," She said, her smile kind.

When he had both parents sitting down, he asked them if he could marry their daughter. He was surprised that Jean didn't hesitate with her answer.

"I don't know if I am going to do it now—or two months from now, but I wanted your permission. And to ask if you have a ring that you would want to pass down. I know not everyone has one—but I just figured I would ask,"

"We don't," Jean said, smiling, "But it was kind of you to think of it. Surely your family has family heirlooms,"

"I would be more worried that it was cursed not to have a muggle born touch it," He joked,

"Well, sometimes new traditions are the best," Dr. Granger said,

"I believe it will be," Draco said, then stood up, "Well, I better get going, she is with my mother now,"

"She told us that she was thinking of showing your mom some of her artwork,"

"Yeah, I am hoping it is going well. I will know if I come back and something has exploded," He joked,

"Thank you for coming by," Jean said,

"We love seeing you, and we will make sure Hermione doesn't hear you were here,"

"Thank you, you two have a great evening,"

"You too," They both called, and he stepped onto the front stoop and apparated to Granger's apartment.

"Hello?" He called, stepping into the apartment as he pulled off his work jacket. He braced himself to hear crashing, but it was quiet.

"Draco, so nice of you to drop by," His mother was sitting at the table with a cup of tea, Granger was across from her.

"Yes, I figured I'd pop in and make sure the apartment wasn't burning down," He said, taking a seat next to Hermione.

"Well, I will head out. Ms. Granger, it was a pleasure. And you will be sure to owl me your decision?"

"Yes, I will owl you,"

"Thank you, you two have a nice evening," His mother promptly got up and left.

When he heard the crack of her disapperating, he turned to Hermione.

"How did it go?" He asked,

"She wants to put my paintings in an art gallery. She says it is a small one, in downtown London. I'm worried her version of small and mine are different. She—she loved my paintings. And things went really, really well," She said, nodding her head and staring at her cup.

"But," Draco said, he could tell she was struggling,

"I don't know why I feel this way," She said with a sigh, "I am glad it went well, I really am. But it feels weird, because she spent so long hating me,"

"Did you feel this way after I talked to you the first time?" Draco asked, she looked at him with a smile and slight laugh,

"No, you I was much worse. I yelled at Harry for like an hour for not telling me you were so different,"

"What did he say?"

"That it came on so gradually, he hardly realized it," She laughed, and shook her head, "I just, I don't know what to think of her,"

"Well, you don't have to decide now. You just spent more time with her than I have in four years,"

"That's—sad," She frowned,

"My mother isn't allowed to see me, she is allowed to see you," Draco said,

"Well, we should have more convenient meetings then," Hermione suggested, but Draco shook her head.

"If she wants to see me, she will see me. I don't want her getting into trouble with my father,"

"Fair enough," She replied,

"Which paintings did you show her?" He asked, and she smiled,

"I knew you were going to ask, come on," She encouraged, "I showed her some of the ones around the kitchen, but this series is one she loved the most," She pointed out four canvases.

The first one, individually, looked plain and dark. There was nothing fantastic about it and it looked like it was unsure. It was maroon, simple and basic. The, next one got increasingly better. There were bursts of light and twists of white in as well. The next one added more colors. But the final painting of the four was beautiful. It looked like Phoenix wings at its prime. It had golds and yellows, reds and brilliant streaks of white. It had dark spots as well, but it only made the bright colors look that much more brilliant.

"I painted the first one right after the Battle of Hogwarts. My therapist asked me to paint how I felt about myself, and this is what I painted. I hated it, I didn't like anything about it and I knew it was a horrible painting. It's one of the first ones I ever did. He told me that was the point, that I was suffering and needed to grow. When a year later I painted that painting," She pointed at the second one, "He told me it was time to let go of my old fears, and set on new paths and start breaking from my comfort zone and taking risks. I broke up with Ronald and passed my exam and became a lawyer. This one,"

She pointed at the next one, "I painted last year. I was so proud of myself, I felt like I was finally me—or who I was supposed to be. It gave me such pride to see myself come so far in so short amount of time, and strive forward.

"This last one—I painted it last week," She smiled at him, "I know—I know that I tell you that I love you probably too often, but I just—I see this painting and—I see myself so much better now that I love you. And I didn't have anybody who gave me that before. I just wanted you to know—I am a better person when I am with you, and you help me see that," She wiped tears from her eyes, "Of course, your mother bawled when I told her that, I had never seen her more emotional,"

"Granger?" He said softly, taking his eyes off the painting and toward her,

"Yeah," She said, he didn't say anything as he pulled her close and kissed her.

He wanted her to stare at her painting as he made love to her. He wanted everything to be slow, sensual and purposeful. He wished he could be as articulate with his emotions as she could be, but his actions would have to settle for now.

He pulled her onto his chest, heaving after their go. She was laying down on top of him, swirling patterns on his chest as he swirled patterns on her back.

"Granger?"

"Hm,"

"I thought I wasn't ready to marry you, but I am. I know its kind of an awkward subject to talk about, because I am not asking now—I just want to ask when you are comfortable,"

She nodded, and looked up at him. He put his arm under his head to look down at her, "I want to marry you," She replied honestly, and blushed, "I know I put my foot down on moving in together, and I know you wanted that, but it is because I don't want that interim step. I am ready to be married, which is definitely not something I could have said three months ago. It just feels comfortable, it feels right, and it feels like I don't want anything else,"

"When we get married, do you want to move to an apartment, or strait to a home? I don't want to have kids right away,"

"Ginny and Harry waited to move to a home—and they waited to have kids, that feels weird to say kids even if she is only seven weeks pregnant—but I want a home. That way we would have a place to decorate together. Not that we wouldn't in an apartment, I just feel like a home is different," And she smiled wide and looked at him funny,

"What?"

"You said when we get married,"

"I mean when," He told her, and she sighed, contently, with a grin on her lips and settled back on his chest.

"Who do you want to cook food?" She asked.

"We always had house elves to cook at home, but I don't really enjoy that. And I don't think Mr. Weasley ever helps Mrs. Weasley cook, which I think is weird. I like cooking, but I don't want to do all of it,"

"We can share the task," Hermione said,

"Would you want to keep working when we have kids?"

"I think so," She said, "Would you?"

"Yeah, my mom stayed at home most days, but her 'staying at home' might as well have been working because I never saw her. My father was never home. I want to be home for my kids, but I don't think I want to stay at home,"

"My parents both worked when I was growing up, they both are dentists, so they worked together. Their practice is just down the street from my house, so if I really needed them they were never far,"

"I still don't understand dentists," He told her, and Hermione giggled,

"Maybe one day I will show you their office, and you can get your teeth cleaned,"

"But my teeth are perfect, that's why I buy the Whirly's Whitest Toothpaste," It was wizarding toothpaste that corrected your teeth and whitened them at the same time.

"You should have seen how angry they got when I came home after my second year with smaller front teeth—they were furious,"

"How did that happen?" He asked,

"Well, when we were trying to figure out who was opening the Chamber of Secrets, we thought you might know who it was,"

"Everyone thought I knew," He said rolling his eyes,

"We made polyjuice potion—

"No, way" He exclaimed, "Breaking school rules, Granger," He winked at her and she giggled.

"I know, I suggested it to," She said with a smile, "We grabbed Crabbe and Goyal's hair, and I thought I grabbed Millicent Bulstrode's hair but I grabbed her cat's"

"Oh no,"

She was nodding her head, "I know, I turned into a cat and staid in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom until Harry and Ron came back. Mrytle was kind in trying to comfort me, though she made fun of me more than she comforted me. But I had huge canines, ears, and a tail. It was awful. I had to get over my embarrassment to even go to the Hospital Wing," She put her head down on his chest, "Even remembering the embarrassment makes me embarrassed. But Madam Pumfrey fixed me up right, and when she did my teeth I just told her to keep going and she fixed them.

"My parents were beyond furious. Teeth are their thing, and they don't like me using magic to do anything that can't be done 'normally'. But I have made a few adjustments to their rules, and now that I live on my own I use magic all the time," She smiled, "When I first got this apartment, I made myself I nice meal all to myself because I was a big girl living on my own. I had a few courses made up, and I was moving them all individually over to the table. I was about halfway through moving things to the table when I realized I could just use magic," She smiled brighter, "So I got to break my parents rules, be a big girl, and have a wonderful dinner,"

"When I moved out on my own, my parents had always made me be fully dressed before I came down into the kitchen. My hair had to be slicked back, and my clothes on. I had a great night sleep, and when I woke up—I just went to my kitchen," Draco told her, he was sure he had a goofy grin on too, "I made myself a huge breakfast in my pajamas. It was awesome. Even cooked a few times naked, just to prove a point,"

Hermione laughed, "What did you cook naked?"

"I did home made pizza," He said, "I didn't want anything to splatter on me,"

"Let's do that one night,"

"Make pizza?"

"Yeah, have a naked pizza night,"

"That would be a good date on Friday," He told her,

"That would be—and let's do it here,"

"Why here?" He asked,

"We already had sex on your table, I kind of want to have sex in my kitchen too,"

He laughed, "I can accept those conditions,"

Well, here is yet another installment. I like this chapter. It's a little fluffy. Okay, it's a lot fluffy. But I like fleshing out their relationship. As a quickly approaching University graduate, I have many friends who are having the same discussion of Hermione and Draco, asking themselves when they should get married. I like making these two characters talk about things that most seriously dating couples their age talk about, it is fun for me!

And this was a few chapters ago, but I have had so many reviews complementing me on my description of love by Mr. Weasley, and I really wanted to thank all of you for your complements. Truly, it means so much to me. That even just a few people enjoy my story is really all I can ask for.

The next chapter will be up tomorrow, and I am excited for you guys to read that one too!

Please review, I love hearing from everyone.

Until then...