A/N: The HP universe is property of J.K. Rowling and her designees

Sorry for the wait, my lovely readers! Thank you so much for the reviews; they keep me going.

As always, I must thank, from the bottom of my heart, my beta reader, shealone who makes my story so very much better.

Ch. 12

Wednesday Late Evening

Hermione's Room

"I'd rather you not go this weekend."

Hermione, sitting at her desk, looked up from her revising at the sound of Draco's voice. He walked the rest of the way into her room and sat on the bed and she turned around in her chair to face him. "Why not?" she asked. "We need to know if the wards will let me in."

"If there are Death Eaters there, you might get hurt, Hermione. They would love to get their hands on you, the brains of the Golden Trio." She could be so damn frustrating! Draco couldn't believe that Hermione was willing to just blithely wander into danger.

"There will be an entire squad Aurors, Draco. And I can take care of myself." Did he really think she was some helpless ninny? Hermione sounded as irritated as Draco felt.

"Is there any way I can talk you out of going?"

Hermione shook her head regretfully. "No, I don't think there is."

A knock sounded at her door and Hermione went to answer it. Harry and Ron walked through the portal. Hermione's brows drew together as she watched their progress into the room. "I'm very happy to see you both, but why are you here on a Wednesday night?"

Harry went for the blunt approach. "We heard about the mission to Malfoy Manor, and we came to talk you out of going."

"I can take care of myself! And I don't appreciate the three of you ganging up on me! Harry - who was with you every second of your quest to defeat Voldemort? Do you honestly think I won't survive Malfoy Manor? Just because I don't want to get married there or live there, doesn't mean I need to be protected from it." Her disgust for their tactics was palatable.

"Yes, Granger, we know. But you don't have to go waltzing into danger, either." Draco could not let this stand. "I don't want you to go," he said, though his tone sounded more like a demand than a statement.

"Godric, Draco, do you think I'm a child? I won't do anything stupid."

Both Harry and Ron recognized that tone of voice. "'Mione, do you —" Ron began.

"Ron, no!" she snapped at him, cutting off his words. "I need to go."

Harry had heard enough. He knew when Hermione was going to refuse to budge, so he went with his plan B. "Dobby! I need you!" Harry called. With a pop, the house-elf appeared. "Dobby, could you go to Malfoy Manor and see if anyone is there? Talk to the house-elves there? We need to know."

"Master Harry wants Dobby to go to Malfoy Manor." He pulled at his ears, a sure sign of distress, and looked sideways at Draco. "Dobby does not like Malfoy Manor, but Dobby will go."

Hermione tried to stop him. "No, wait! Dobby you don't have to go."

"But Master Harry needs me to go. I will go."

Harry stopped Dobby. "Dobby, you don't have to go. It is only if you are willing."

"Dobby will be back." With a crack, the strange little creature disappeared. The four of them looked at one another.

"Damn you, Harry! He could get hurt."

"Yes, I know that, Hermione, but I also know you. There is no way you would agree to stay here, even though that house is the site of your nightmares. Would you let me waltz into the places that give me nightmares to this day?" Harry said, getting angry. "No. You fucking wouldn't if there was any way around it, especially if there was a good chance there would be danger. So, accept some fucking help. We love you, and we will be damned if we let you —" He stopped, clearly frustrated, and looked at Ron for help. "Talk to her, please."

"Hermione —" Ron did not get a chance to finish his thought because Dobby re-appeared with the distinctive crack.

"Dobby talked to Mipsy. Mipsy says that no one has been home, only the house-elves."

"No one has been there, Dobby?" Harry asked, just to be sure.

"Mipsy says no one has been there."

"Thank you, Dobby."

"It is Dobby's pleasure to help Master Harry." With another crack, Dobby disappeared.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief. Mipsy knew every inch of the Manor and if Death Eaters had been there she would know. "I still don't want you to go, Hermione. We can test the wards at another house. We don't have to test them at the Manor." He didn't want to say it in front of Potter and Weasley, but he wanted to protect her from all hurts, not just physical ones. She would never understand, but he'd risk Dobby over her life any day of the week.

Hermione grew more and more frustrated. "Godric, Draco. There aren't any Death Eaters there! I will be fine."

"We're just going to go. Malfoy, Hermione, take care." Harry said and started moving towards the door.

Ron lead the way. "Right, see you on Saturday, Malfoy. Good to see you, Hermione."

An explosion was imminent, and neither young Auror wanted to be anywhere near when it happened. Once out the door, Ron whispered, "Do you think he knows to get out now?"

"No, and I'm going to let him learn that on his own." Harry laughed as they headed for McGonagall's office and the Floo connection home. "Five galleons says she'll be there on Saturday."

Ron shook his head. "That's a sucker bet. I'm not taking it."

Fortunately for them, Hermione did not hear their exchange outside her door; she was too distracted by Draco. "That's not the only reason I don't want you to go, Hermione!" he said angrily.

"You are being ridiculous. There's no danger there!"

"You said yourself that you don't want to go to the Manor! Why are you insisting?" Draco stepped closer to Hermione as he shouted. He was horrified to hear his own voice getting louder, but he was helpless to stop it.

Hermione, never one to hide her emotions, grew louder as well. "I didn't want to get married there! Or live there! I'm okay to go there. Do you think I'm weak? That I can't han —"

"That's not the point! If you don't have to go, why should you?" Draco towered over her.

Hermione tried to take a step back but found she had no place to go; her desk was right behind her. She put her hands on Draco's chest to push him off, but he was immovable. "I need to go."

"No, you don't." Draco's voice lowered into a normal range, but he was finished arguing. Placing his hands on either side of her on the desk, he leaned over and kissed her.

She broke away from him. "You can't distract me from this. Now move!" She shoved him, and he stepped aside, but she knew he did so because he wanted to, not because she made him. "Draco, what's wrong with you?"

"Dammit, you still don't get it, Hermione. You are mine. You're mine to protect." Hermione had never seen this demanding and possessive side of Draco. "I'm not going to let something to happen to you, just to check some fucking wards on a house that we aren't even going to live in!" He grabbed her arms and pushed her back against the wall beside her desk. His mouth descended on hers, brooking no resistance; he could not hear for the blood pounding in his head as his tongue swept between her lips. He cupped his hand behind her neck to hold her in place and Hermione's arms came up and clasped around him. His tongue fought with hers for dominance, and she whimpered at the feelings he evoked in her.

At the low sound, Draco started to regain his sanity. Shite. He hadn't meant to do this right now. After he regretfully broke the kiss, he rested his forehead on hers, eyes closed and breathing heavily. "Hermione, please. Don't go."

The plea in his voice penetrated the haze in her mind. She nodded. "All right."

"Really?" The relief in his voice was apparent.

"Really. I just think I could be of some assistance."

"I know, Hermione, but —" He stopped. "I don't want you to be hurt anymore, and even if there is no physical danger, I want to protect you from emotional hurt too. Professor Weasley is going to want to inspect the drawing room. And I just . . . if you don't have to be there, then why go?"

"I do need to know if the wards will let me in, Draco. It would probably be best to have that information sooner rather than later."

"We have a castle here in Scotland, not far from here. I will take you there on Sunday. We can test those wards; if you can get in the castle, you can get in the Manor. You can decide if you want to live there after we leave school."

"You have a castle, Malfoy, a castle? As a second or is it third home?" Hermione could not resist teasing him, just a little bit.

"I'm a Malfoy. Of course I have a castle. And it's a fourth home, actually, here on the British Isles. We have a flat in Paris and a villa in Italy. It's not far from Blaise's home." Draco assumed an air of false nonchalance, just to encourage her teasing.

Stifling a laugh, Hermione assumed a lofty tone. "Of course. Six homes. Why not? And what are they all called?"

"Well, our primary residence is Malfoy Manor, as you know. Then there is Malfoy Hall, Malfoy Place, the Rectory, and the Castle. Would it make you feel better if I told you it was a small castle, as far as castles go?"

Hermione gave a short laugh and shook her head. "Good Godric, they actually have names. Draco, you are incorrigible." She sat down on her bed. "I could use Saturday to make wedding plans, I suppose. Daphne is pestering me for flower choices and there's the first fitting for my dresses. It just feels so frivolous when there is something serious happening."

Draco started to sit down beside her, and she held up her hand to stop him. "No. I have to revise. I haven't been doing enough school work recently."

He took her hand and put it to her side on the bed. "Hermione, you don't need to revise. We are in the same classes, remember? You're ahead of the rest of us. We could do something more fun instead." He leaned over and kissed her neck.

"Why are you doing this, Draco? Oh . . . Godric . . . right there. Wait, I really need to revise. NEWTs are —"

"Shh, Granger, you think too much. Let's just do something a little fun instead. Ten minutes. Just give me ten minutes." He continued with his seemingly random pattern of kisses on her neck.

"Mmm. But . . . oh, sweet Merlin . . . mmm . . . I really need to read."

Draco took advantage of her distraction to slide his hand up her thigh. "No, you don't." He stood up and gently pushed her down on her back causing her shirt to slightly ride up, revealing her belly. His eyes darkened to charcoal as he leaned over and pulled the fabric up to expose her entire stomach and he placed series of kisses from her belly button to her breastbone.

Hermione was melting inside; every kiss sent tingles through her body. "What are you doing to me, Draco?"

Rather than answering verbally, Draco came down onto her. She could feel every inch of him against the front of her body. He held himself steady on his elbows beside her head and captured her lips with his while rotating his hips against hers. Hermione lost all track of time as she and Draco lost themselves in kissing one another. It could have been ten minutes or an hour. Hermione did not care.

Draco felt himself reaching his breaking point. "Hermione, I'm going to go to my room."

"Wha . . .?"

"I'm going to my room."

"Why? Don't you want to stay?" Hermione hated the vulnerability that she heard in her voice.

"Love, there is nothing I want more than to stay, but I want to wait to marry you before we finish this. And if I stay, we are going to finish this . . . tonight."

"But . . ."

He kissed her one last time and stood up to go his room. Fuck. When had he become such a freaking sap? Waiting until their wedding night? Because of some heretofore unacknowledged sense of honor? What the hell was he thinking?

Thursday Morning

Breakfast

The Great Hall

The nondescript barn owl swooped down to deliver a message to Draco. He recognised the type; it looked like an owl from Azkaban. Hopefully, his mother was finally getting back to him.

Dearest Draco,

I was shocked to hear of your upcoming marriage and, while I won't deny that I had always envisioned your wedding to Astoria, I must confess that your Miss Granger impressed me from the start despite some of her regrettable characteristics. But your children will be my grandchildren and I will not have them deprived of the advantages of being a Malfoy. It is most unfortunate that your father is still mired in his antiquated ways and nothing here, unfortunately, will bring him to his senses. He cannot even see past his prejudices to see the obvious advantages of your match to a War Heroine. I am so glad to be leaving in just a few weeks; you always were a clever one. I shall endeavor to bring your father around but, in the meantime, I do understand your reluctance to live in the Manor. Might I suggest the Rectory as a suitable home? Of course, they are all open to you but the Rectory is a lovely little house with a beautiful view of the ocean, and not far from our Wiltshire home.

I love you, my son, and I will always be on your side.

Mother

PS: Do remember that we have access to all Malfoy vaults, and your vault is yours, as mine is mine.

Draco looked up at Hermione, who was intently watching from across the table. He angled his head towards the doors, indicating that they should head back to their first class.

"Was that from your mother? What did it say?"

"She just told me that she is on my side, that she accepts our marriage, and that no Malfoy grandchild would ever be denied the advantages of being a Malfoy. I'll let you read it tonight if you want."

"Nothing about Lucius?"

"She's going to try to help over the next couple of weeks but she doesn't sound hopeful about Lucius. And she understands why we aren't going to live at the Manor. And we have enough money so that you still won't have to work."

Hermione shot him an arch glance. "I'm going to work."

"We can circle back around to it." Draco wondered how long she was going to let him rib her about that. Of course, he wouldn't mind if she worked, but they were going to have to have at least two house-elves. He thought that might be something they had to circle back around to as well.

Saturday Morning

Hogsmeade

Bill and Draco met Harry, Ron, and two other Aurors for the visit to Malfoy Manor.

"Oi! Where's Hermione?" Ron looked around Malfoy for her after greeting Bill.

"She's not coming. Meeting with Daphne about wedding plans. Flowers, food, and entertainment shite."

"How?" Harry asked incredulously. He and Ron had never been able to talk her out of doing something which she wanted to do.

Draco smirked at the pair. "I asked her nicely."

Ron couldn't even process that answer. "No."

"That's impressive." Harry sounded impressed. He looked at Ron. "You should taken the bet."

Harry and Ron each took an Auror via Side-Along, and Draco took Bill. They Apparated outside the Manor wards and once they'd arrived, everyone was all business.

The only living creatures in the Manor were the house-elves who Draco charged with getting the place ready for his mother's arrival in a few weeks. She would spend the remaining time before the wedding recovering and getting ready for the event on Halloween.

Draco went to the library and pulled several volumes that he thought would be of interest to Hermione. Harry and Ron were noticeably uncomfortable, but otherwise, the visit was unremarkable, and Bill was able to help Draco adjust the wards to prevent potential incursions by Death Eaters.

As Bill had suspected, the blood stain on the drawing room floor had not faded. He knelt beside it and inspected the surrounding area. Draco, Ron, and Harry all winced at the size of the stain.

"Godric, this is awful-looking. No wonder she was so weak when she arrived at my house." Bill looked to Draco. "How long did this take?"

"I don't know. It felt like an eternity. And no one attempted to clean the floors that night." Draco turned inward. "But Voldemort spilled plenty of blood in here when he arrived. He was furious."

"Is this the only one that stained?"

Draco looked around, shuddering as he remembered. "Yes. Voldemort only used the Cruciatus on my family and me. But he got creative with some of the others. You know, I don't like it here; I don't think I want to live here anymore."

"I think you need to go to the 'Honeymoon Suite', Draco. See if you see any evidence that any sort of blood ritual has taken place there."

The reluctant look on Draco's face told just what he thought of that suggestion. "I'll be back."

"Draco, do you want me to go with you?" Bill asked. "I might be able to recognise some subtler signs if necessary."

Draco let out a relieved breath. "That would be good. Maybe you can help me figure this out."

When they arrived at the door that had been closed off to him until now, Draco gathered his courage, turned the knob, and walked in. At first glance, the room was opulent but otherwise unremarkable. But on closer inspection, he could see old magic; blood magic spells carved into the bedposts and on the wood trim of the walls. While Ancient Runes wasn't his best subject, he recognised the rune for "blood", the one for "marriage", and the one for "magic". He peered closely at the floor, and then he realised that the predominantly white and brown marbling pattern was actually not a stone pattern at all. Salazar's rod, every generation of Malfoy spouses spilled their blood in this room!

Bill stood and turned in a slow circle. "Just as I thought. While you and Hermione were not officially together when Bellatrix carved into her, the house recognized her as your . . . ah, mate, for lack of a better term. The Manor held onto her blood as it is holding onto the blood of your ancestors." He walked over to look more closely at the bed and its carvings.

"I don't believe in soulmates and neither does Hermione. I don't see how that is true."

"Really? You never thought about Hermione as a girlfriend before the ceremony?" Bill asked, clearly disbelieving. Draco's expression flattened in response. "As a potential wife? Because I was at the Marriage Sorting Ceremony. It didn't take long for the Sorting Hat to match you two."

"How could my house know?"

Bill looked up with his Weasley grin from where he was inspecting the carved runes. "Pure fucking magic, Malfoy, pure fucking magic."

Saturday

Lunch

Three Broomsticks, Hogsmeade

Draco, Bill, and Harry were back in Hogsmeade in time to meet Hermione, Fleur, and Daphne for lunch.

"'ow waz zee Manor?" Fleur looked at Bill, then Draco and Harry after they settled into their seats.

"It's fascinating. It's not as enchanted as Hogwarts, of course, but it is still a magical building. The Malfoy builders literally put wards into the very walls of the house." Bill looked like he wanted to continue, but stopped; Malfoy probably wouldn't want his home's security discussed in public. "But I don't think you meant that, and I know Mr. Malfoy would just as soon I not had a technical discussion of his family enchantments in public." He sent Draco an apologetic glance.

Hermione could not resist pointing out the obvious. "So, I would have been safe to go."

Draco's right eyebrow raised. "I'm sorry, did you actually want to inspect the house where you tortured and maimed? Because, as your future husband, I wanted to spare you that if at all possible." A not-so-small part of Draco reveled in the feeling of calling himself her husband in front of Potter and Weasley.

Hermione re-thought her previous position on Slytherin House classes for sardonic and sarcastic facial expressions. That could not be taught. Slytherins were likely born that way.

"Fine. When will we be testing the wards, then?" Hermione decided that with her fiancé, like in Quidditch, the best defence was a good offence.

"We can go to the Castle tomorrow if you'd like."

"Do you think Professor McGonagall will mind?"

"Hermione, if you ask, McGonagall will give you the sun, moon, and stars. No, she's not going to mind if we go and test the wards around a possible home for us, especially since it's only about thirty kilometers away." Surprising everyone at the table, Draco turned to Bill. "Professor, would your schedule allow you to accompany us?"

"I had planned to spend tomorrow with my lovely bride," Bill said and squeezed his wife's hand, "but perhaps she could come along? I think she might enjoy visiting a Highland castle." He looked to Fleur for confirmation. She smiled and nodded.

"Of course, Professor, you are both welcome."

"Excellent. Can we leave in the morning at around half nine? I'll arrange for a Portkey. Malfoy, I'll need some specifics on location." Bill took charge of planning the excursion.

Once the wards-checking, house-hunting trip was planned, predictably, talk turned to weddings.

"It really is fortunate that you didn't go with the boys, Hermione. We were able to get so much done today." Daphne said and then turned to Draco. "Flowers and food are planned. We just need to see about entertainment. Oh, and we had a first gown fitting. With a bit of luck, we will get everything prepared in time. Draco, we would like your input on the entertainment. I think the Weird Sisters would be perfect if we can get them."

"Daphne, I don't care about entertainment. Just tell me I will be married at the end of the night. Who is the Officiant, by the way?"

"Kingsley has agreed to marry us all," Hermione answered for Daphne. "He thought it would add a certain level of gravitas if the Minister for Magic was the Officiant."

The smirk on his face was classic Malfoy. "I think we have plenty of gravitas all on our own, Granger, but having the Minister for Magic marry us is a nice touch." He turned the topic on a Knut. "What do you think about having the Weird Sisters as entertainment, Hermione?"

"They are my favourite Wizarding band, but —"

"Daphne, book them." Draco said immediately and the witch nodded.

"What about your wedding, Daphne? 'arry? 'ave you started on your preparationz?" Fleur asked as she looked to the other pair.

"Of course. My dress is almost complete; the flowers have been chosen; Harry and I both decided to have a string quartet at the wedding and reception. We are going to have a smaller reception because we have the Yule Ball the next day. Oh, that reminds me, Ron's tie and vest need to be silver, Harry, you need white. Draco, Blaise's should be navy blue and yours slightly off-white. Hermione, don't forget to talk to Draco about what we were talking about earlier."

Draco's Room

Saturday Afternoon

Hermione stepped through the connecting door into Draco's room and spotted him at his desk, revising. At least, it looked like he was revising. Hermione didn't recall a time when she had seen him study. "I'd be happy to help with that, Draco."

He looked up from his parchment. "You're offering to help me study?" At her nod he smiled. "I do believe that is a sign of affection, Miss Granger. You've never offered to help me revise before."

Hermione wandered over to his bookshelf and perused the titles. "Well, I'd hate for any wizard of mine to be falling behind in his classes."

"So I'm a wizard of yours, now?" He tossed his quill down on his parchment, stood, and moved towards her. Looping his arms loosely around her waist, he drew her attention from the bookshelf.

She spun around to face him, looped her arms around his neck and smirked so well that she almost looked Slytherin. "Well, yes, you are. And I can't let you embarrass me."

"I shall endeavor to refrain from embarrassing you, beautiful. Now, why are you invading my room this afternoon?" He leaned over and kissed her softly.

She dropped her arms and sighed. He let her go and watched her walk to his desk chair and sit down. "You know my parents won't be at the wedding." He nodded and moved to sit on his bed. "Well, normally, my father would give me away but that's not going to happen. So, I wanted to ask Harry to walk me down the aisle. I could go alone but I don't want to."

Draco considered his options. He really did not want Scarhead in his wedding. It was bad enough that Potter was Hermione's best friend, but he was at least preferable to the Weasel. And he really could not expect Hermione to walk by herself, now could he? There really was no option, was there? But maybe he could get something else for this.

"All riiiight," he said, dragging the word out.

"I hear a 'but', Draco."

"I get to pick the honeymoon. I get to plan the whole thing. No input from you."

"But, when are we even going to have a honeymoon?"

"Next summer, Hermione. And I'm going to plan the whole thing. You want Potter in the wedding? I get to plan the entire honeymoon. That's the deal."

"Are you going to tell me where we are going?" Draco shook his head. "How will I know what to pack?"

"Leave packing to me. Now, do we have a deal?" Draco asked.

Hermione really, really hated to give up control of a trip like that. But it wasn't that big of a deal. "Fine."

Sunday Morning

Hogwarts

Bill went over last minute details with the group. "Are we all ready? The Portkey will activate in two minutes. After we are done, we will apparate where we need to go." He held up a walking stick. "Alright, everyone touching? It should activate in three, two, one."

Hermione felt the strange pulling at her navel which indicated Portkey travel and they abruptly stopped just moments later in front of a pair of wooden gates supported by obviously native stone columns. She looked at Draco for confirmation that they were in the right spot.

He nodded and swept his hand forward. "Let's do it." He walked forward without pause through the gates, turned and stopped. "Hermione?"

She shrugged and walked toward him. She felt a slight shift in the air as she broke the plane at the front of the gate, but nothing stopped her progress and she waited beside Draco for Bill and Fleur. When they attempted to step through the gates they were stopped cold. Draco reached his hand out for Fleur and she came through. Hermione decided to see if she could do the same with Bill and was met with the same results.

Hermione looked at Fleur, Bill, and Draco. "I can't believe that worked. I really can't believe that worked."

Draco shrugged. "Looks like we were meant to be, beautiful."

They all turned and began the trek to the castle at the end of the drive.

"Bill, I really don't understand. I'm Muggle-born. How can the Malfoy estates accept me so easily?"

"Hermione, I explained this already. There is no difference in blood. When you bled all over the drawing room floor," Bill, Draco, and Hermione all winced in memory of the stain and the event, "the house recognized you as a worthy addition to the Malfoy family, likely as Draco's mate. When we went to the Honeymoon Suite, there was evidence of blood rituals all over the room. The Manor literally holds onto the blood, maybe as a kind of marker of sort."

Hermione stopped. "Using DNA as a key?" She kept up with Muggle science and this notion did make sense to her.

Bill shrugged. "If you mean the blood acts as a key for the houses and Malfoy magic, then yes. But I don't know what DNA is."

"What about the stories of the house, um, disposing of unworthy spouses?" Draco had been trying to figure that one out.

"How often did that happen, Draco?" Bill asked.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. At least once in the 1800's. My great-great-great-grand aunt's husband did not survive the wedding night. Or, at least, that is the story."

"Was he a pureblood?"

"I don't think so."

"So, did they perform the unitatas sponsus or another wedding rite?"

"I think the story says they were married by a Muggle and she tried to bring him home to prove he was worthy. So, no."

"In other words, to the best of your knowledge, they never mingled their blood as they would in the unitatas sponsus." Bill was obviously trying to make a point.

The party drew to a standstill in front of the doors to the castle. "To the best of my knowledge, no."

"So, no Malfoy blood was present."

"Probably not."

"Then your however many great aunt probably wasn't meant to be with him, because if she had been meant to be with him, then the Manor would have accepted him even in the absence of the mingling of blood in the unitatas sponsus."

"Hold on just a tick. Are you saying that Draco and I are, somehow, destined for each other?" Hermione had been following the discussion closely. She had dismissed Bill's comments from earlier in the week as hyperbole. Maybe she had been too hasty.

"You are the brightest witch of your age, Hermione. What do you think I'm saying?" Bill turned the question back to her. His usual Weasley humor was nowhere in evidence.

"But, I don't believe in soulmates and . . . and destiny and such." Hermione stammered.

"Really, you don't? Huh. Ask Harry about destiny, Hermione. But, Hermione, you need to accept something. It's magic; you're not going to understand it all. Now, Mr. Malfoy, how about you lead the way?"

Draco opened the door and Hermione gasped. He was right, it was small, as far as castles went but it was still a fecking castle! The historic exterior did not properly reflect the luxury contained within. Each room seemed more opulent than the last. Hermione could appreciate the beauty, but in the end, she would not feel comfortable living there. Hermione stood in the middle of the small library and turned slowly.

"What do you think? Of the house, I mean?" Draco's voice interrupted her reverie.

"This place. It's amazing. And feels like Buckingham Palace."

"So this isn't where you want to live?" Draco didn't seem surprised.

"No, honestly. I'd be too scared I would break something. In every room." Hermione looked regretfully around the room. "Although, I would love to have a library."

"I'll keep that in mind."