A/N: Hi, guys! First off, I want to say, thanks so much for all the support I have gotten! You guys rock! Someone asked if I would continue during school, and I want to say yes right now. I think I'll probably post every week, on the weekends, most likely. I want to take this story very far, so I hope I can continue during the school year. Someone asked for me to spice it up, so this is a spicier chapter, and I hope I did a good job on that angle. This is one of my longer chapters, so yeah, enjoy that. I do not need stitches, thank goodness, and I'll be back from vacation soon, so I'll probably have more time to write. R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't know why I put disclaimers anymore.

Hermione was out of the hospital wing the next day. Ron, Ginny and Harry attacked her in a huge amount of questions and hugs. She was fine, and just needed to rest her leg every so often. She would limp around on it, finding it difficult to bend her knee drastically, or straighten it completely. Draco would help her around, even though she insisted she was perfectly capable of walking around herself. Hermione's knee still hurt some of the time, and it was hard to do certain things, like walking up and down the stairs too much, because it was still so swollen.

Lessons were getting harder and harder as N.E.W.T.s drew nearer. Snape assigned an essay practically every night, and McGonagall was pickier than usual about homework. It was all very stressful for Hermione, who was still studying the art of becoming an Animagus, even though she and Draco had decided to do preparation after they were married.

The wedding was inching closer and closer, and soon, the bruise on Hermione's head was no longer visible, nor was the large cut on her leg, to her relief. The wedding was now just ten days away.

Hermione and Draco were studying Charms together at the double desk in their bedroom, when a shrill cry came from the common room, yelling, "Draco!"

They both looked up at each other, recognizing the voice. Draco stiffly got up and made his way down the stairs.

"Mother!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"It's ten days to my little boy's wedding!" she said cheerfully, embracing her son in a hug. "I'm here to plan!"

"We're done planning, pretty much." Draco mumbled.

"Oh, silly, I need to look over the plans to make sure they're right. It's easy to get a Malfoy wedding wrong, with all those nilly-willy traditions." Narcissa smiled.

"Mother, it's really no worry. Hermione and I aren't having a Malfoy wedding." Draco explained.

"But you told me you were!" she wailed.

"No, that I did not." Draco sighed.

"Well, I at least need to look over the outline, the plan." Narcissa said calmly.

"Mother, really, it's okay." Draco said, trying to block the open door to his room.

She ignored him and shoved him lightly, so he was out of the way. She marched up the stairs. Hermione spun around and saw Narcissa Malfoy standing in her doorway, an annoyed Draco behind her.

"Hermione!" Narcissa called happily, walking over to hug Hermione.

Hermione was a bit surprised. "Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione said mock-cheerfully, shooting daggers at Draco over his mother's shoulder.

"Dear, please call me Narcissa. And, I don't believe we've properly met." Narcissa said, smiling warmly.

"No, I don't think we have." Hermione replied.

"But I am simply here to see how you're doing on the planning. Need to make sure it's perfect!" Narcissa said.

"Oh, mother, I'm sure it is." Draco said, nodding his head.

"Yes, yes, we've worked very hard to make sure that it is. Don't you trust our judgement, Narcissa?" Hermione asked sweetly.

"Well, of course, Hermione, but one can never be too careful when it comes to their only child's wedding." Narcissa smiled cheekily and Hermione made a small grimace at her persistence.

Narcissa swept past Hermione and to the desk, where she eyed the work. She seemed quite alarmed at a few things.

"Draco, there's hardly any people! And the wedding is to be outside? It's February, darling! Oh, I see, a warming charm, but still. And roses? You know I love those, thank you, dear! Potter and Weasley to be escorts?" she shrieked.

"They're my best friends." Hermione said coldly.

"Oh, yes, I see." Narcissa sighed. "Well, it's barely up to standards, but if you're happy..."

"We are." Draco said confidently, wrapping his arm around Hermione's waist.

"Wait, now, Draco, you didn't tell me you'd gotten cozy with Hermione." Narcissa said slyly.

"It's not a big deal, we are getting married after all." Draco said cooly. "Now, mother, if you will-"

"Draco, dear, it is a big deal. You've fallen in love." Mrs. Malfoy cooed, squeezing Draco's cheeks.

"You could say that." Draco said, eyeing Hermione, who was grinning.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Narcissa squealed, hugging the both of them.

"Mother, please, we're really quite busy, with the wedding and all, right now, so if you could..." Draco trailed off.

"Dear, I won't be leaving. I have permission from Dumbledore to stay here up until the wedding." Narcissa said happily.

"Well, you should be getting to your room to get some rest, shouldn't you?" Draco persisted.

"If you insist." Narcissa sighed. "I am a bit tired."

"Bye." Draco said.
"Goodbye, you two. See you both at dinner." Narcissa said, leaving the room.

Draco shut the door behind her. Hermione took in a sharp breath. Draco groaned and sat down at the chair at the desk, gripping his head.

"What are we going to do about her?" Hermione asked, sitting down next to him.

"I don't know." he mumbled.

"I mean, she may be a little, well, concerned, about our wedding, but she's not mean or anything. She obviously loves you very much."

"Too much." he murmured. "And it's very sudden. She used to care, yeah, but ever since the war ended and my dad died, she's been overprotective and too caring."

"It's because she doesn't want to lose you, too." Hermione said. "And she wants to prove she's a good mother, which she thinks she failed to do before."

"But she didn't." Draco said. "I preferred her to my father, she was nice to me, not in front of the Dark Lord, of course, or my father, for that matter, but she was nice enough."

"Tell her that."

"I will. Later."

"Later?"

"I'm busy right now." Draco said, getting up. "I need to go work on something."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Something." he said mysteriously, grabbing his bag and leaving. "Bye, love!"

"Bye." Hermione said, still curious.

Draco headed out of the room and to the library, where he could count on privacy. The truth was, he was planning something special for Valentine's Day. He was sure Hermione had forgotten about it, because of the wedding, so he would surprise her with something special. He just didn't know what. He worked for a while, then returned to Hermione. They finished studying at the desk.

Then, they headed down to dinner. Narcissa, who arrived shortly after them, sat down with Draco at the Slytherin table, and from the looks of it from the Gryffindor table, she was completely embarrassing him. Harry and Ron snickered at the sight of it.

The next day, with nine days left, Hermione realized she had forgotten something very important about her wedding. Who would walk her down the aisle? Her parents were out of the question. She instantly thought of Narcissa, but she barely knew her. Maybe Mr. and/or Mrs. Weasley? Hermione thought about it, and decided it would be right for Mrs. Weasley to give her away, because Mrs. Weasley had cared for her the most when she was not with her parents. Always hosting her for summers and holidays, Hermione decided she must. She sent an owl explaining right away, and immediately got one back.

Hermione,

Of course I will walk you down the aisle. You're like my second daughter. I'm very sorry about your parents but I'm sure they would be very proud of you.

Love,

Molly

Hermione smiled at the sweet letter, and sighed of relief. Her wedding was now totally ready. Nothing would get in her way of a perfect wedding. Or so she thought.

Three days later, Hermione woke up feeling girly and giggly, maybe because it was Valentine's Day. She wondered if Draco remembered. Maybe he did. Maybe he was just romantic like that. Or maybe, he had forgotten, because of the wedding. She supposed she would understand if he had, but really hoped he hadn't.

She was disappointed when he treated her like normal. He was usually somewhat lovey-dovey, but he made no sign that he knew it was Valentine's Day.

Lessons went by as usual. Hermione was frustrated at everyone's lack of attention for a day devoted to love. Ginny, of course, knew, and shared Hermione's annoyance. Harry wasn't being romantic, either.

Draco, of course, was in full awareness of the holiday. He had grand plans, grand plans. He just couldn't tell Hermione that. He was tempted to, many times throughout the day when she looked like she could kill him because he didn't do something romantic, but ignoring Valentine's Day was the start of his plan.

After lessons, Hermione and Draco returned to their room to study. They were soon interrupted by a knocking on the door.

Hermione rushed to go get it. She flung open the door to find herself face-to-face with Viktor Krum. Her jaw dropped. Viktor had changed a bit over the years. His hair was different, and it seemed darker, plus, he was much taller.

"Hermy-own-ninny!" Viktor exclaimed, taking the hand of a still-shocked Hermione.

"Viktor, why did you arrive so soon?" she hissed.

"I vad to vee my Hermy-own-ninny!" he said, kissing her hand.

She snatched her hand back. "Viktor! What was that for?"

"Am I not to show avvection for the girl I vove on Vaventine's Day?"

Hermione giggled. What? She hadn't received any special attention all day. "Viktor, that's very sweet and all, but I'm getting married, remember? That's why you're here."

"I know, Hermy-own-ninny, but I vas vondering if your viance vould trade partners with me, so we vould be together."

"Draco wouldn't trade." Hermione said. "We're in love with each other."

"Why you no in vove with me?" Viktor asked.

"Viktor, you were my first boyfriend, of sorts, but that was awhile ago. We've both changed and moved on, haven't we? I love Draco now, and I've invited you to be a guest at the wedding. As my friend."

"Ve is meant to be, though, us. Meant to be."

"Listen, Viktor. This law has been hard on all of us, in some way. That's the truth. I didn't like Draco at first. Maybe you don't like who you're paired with, either. But there's nothing we can do about it. I'm not going to trade Draco, and it's not because I dislike you, it's just because I'm not in love with you."

"Hermione?" Draco called from their room. "Who is it?" Hermione heard footsteps coming down the spiral staircase, and before she could hide Viktor, Draco was behind her. "Who's this?" he asked.

"I is Viktor Krum, of Bulgaria." Viktor said. "And vou must be the veason Hermy-own-ninny and I is not being married."

"Excuse me?" Draco asked, looking down at Hermione. "Who is this bloke?"

"Uh, Draco, this is Viktor, and I invited him to our wedding."

"You mean Viktor Krum?" Draco asked angrily. "The one who took you to the Yule Ball in fourth year?"

"The very one." Hermione said quietly.

"Why is he coming to our wedding?"

"Because," Hermione explained. "Viktor and I are friends, and nothing else." she said, giving a stern look to both men. "Friends invite each other to each other's weddings."

"Why didn't you tell me he was coming?"

"Vardon, but Hermy-own-ninny did not know I is voming so soon." Viktor interrupted.

"See?" Hermione smirked, facing Draco.

"Hermione, I think we need to talk." Draco said, closing the door on Viktor and dragging her up the stairs.

"Why did you invite him to, may I remind you, OUR wedding?!" Draco asked.

"Because he's my friend!"

"Oh, yeah." Draco snorted. "Some friend. He shows up here way before the wedding, practically proposing."

"I didn't know he still felt this way." Hermione explained. "I thought we had both established that we had broken up and decided to remain friends."

"Well, you were incorrect. He obviously cares for you, which I won't take. Especially on Valentine's Day."

"Don't you talk to me about Valentine's Day! You're the one who's been ignoring it all day!"

"And you don't know why, so don't bother interfering! I had a romantic evening planned for you, until this Bulgarian bastard showed up!"

"You did?" Hermione asked shyly.

"I did, but since you seem so interested in Krum..."

"I am not interested! Listen here, Draco. Sure, I liked Krum three years ago, but that was three years ago. You have to understand that I like you, not him!"

"Then, why is he here?"

"He's my friend!"

"Well, I won't tolerate his presence at my wedding."

"OUR wedding!"

"Our wedding, which is exactly why you should've told me he was coming."

"I'm sorry about that." Hermione apologized. "I just knew you would react like this."

"Like what?" he asked sarcastically.

"But anyway, I've explained to Viktor we're only friends, and he should listen."

"Go tell it to him again, then send him away."

"What?"

"Go tell him he has to find a room somewhere, go on."

"Fine."

Hermione marched down the stairs, and announced, "Viktor, we are friends, nothing more. Understand?"

"Yes, Hermy-own-ninny." he replied sadly.

"Do you have a room?"

"Yes, Hermy-own-ninny."

"Can you go there now?"

"Yes, Hermy-own-ninny."

Viktor walked off, and Hermione entered the room again.

"Now what about that romantic evening?" Hermione asked, sitting next to Draco at the desk.

"I don't know if you deserve it, honestly."

"Why ever not?" she asked mock-offended.

"First, you invite Krum to be a guest at our wedding. Then, you doubt my romantics. That's just crossing the line."

"I'm very sorry."

"Good."

"Good?"

"You should feel sorry!"

"Excuse me! Is that how Malfoy men are supposed to treat their soon-to-be wives?"

"No." he sighed. "Darm my Malfoyness." he smirked. "But we can't go now. It's planned for later."

"It's already pretty late. We should be heading to dinner soon."

"You're right. Let's get to dinner." Draco said, taking her arm.

She laughed, but they went to dinner. Dinner was normal, Hermione supposed. Ginny was now scolding Harry for forgetting Valentine's Day, and Ron was conjuring a rose for Lavender. Hermione could see Draco looked annoyed at his mother, who was on his right, and Viktor Krum, who was on his left. Hermione tried to cover her giggles.

Draco finished dinner before Hermione did, and boy was he glad to be out of there! He quickly went to the bedroom, got his supplies, shrunk them and put them in his pocket. Hermione arrived in the room just as he finished.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready as ever." she smiled.

"I'm going to need to blindfold you."

"What?"

"You can't see where we're going!"

"Well, why don't you just- ugh, fine."

He happily blindfolded her, then took her hand. They walked all the way to the Room of Requirement. Draco pictured what he wanted, and a door appeared. He took Hermione in and smirked. It was perfect.

The walls were painted a deep red. There was a small table with a white tablecloth, and the table was set, with a candle in the middle. The lights were dimmed.

"Draco, can I take off the blindfold now?" Hermione asked.

Draco quickly undid the tie at the back of the blindfold, and it fell, so Hermione could see. She gasped.

"Draco," she whispered.

"Go on, take a seat." he said, pulling out her chair. She sat down in it, and he pushed her in, then he sat across from her.

"What'll we be eating tonight?" Hermione asked giddily, looking at the fancy decorations.

"I, Draco Malfoy, have prepared a wonderful dessert for you."

"You made it? Physically, no magic, no house elves?"

"Well, I did persuade the house elves to let me in the kitchen, but besides that, no help."

"What is it?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Brownies, a la mode."

"You're kidding."

"I'm not." he grinned, taking the shrinked platter out of his pocket, and enlarging it. He placed it on the table.

"How did you know it was my favorite?"

"Research." he answered simply.

She raised her eyebrows, but he ignored her and cut her a slice of the warm brownies. She thanked him, then, took a bite.

"Draco, this is amazing!" she exclaimed after she had swallowed. "How did you make this?"

"Secret recipe." Draco shrugged. Her mother's secret recipe.

"Not my mum's recipe, then?" Hermione eyed him suspiciously.

"Okay, okay, you caught me, it's your mum's recipe."

"How'd you get it?"

"Asked McGonagall to set up another portkey to your house. She did, I went, looked around in your kitchen for ages, found a good muggle recipe, and took off. I made it this morning."

"You did all that for me?"

"Who else would I do it for?"

She laughed. "Thanks, Draco." She took another bite. "You should really try this, you know."

"No, I don't eat muggle desserts."

"C'mon, just try it. For me?"

"Fine." he said. "But only because you want me to."

He took a small slice from the pan, and plopped it on his plate. With his fork, he picked up a very small bite and slid it in his mouth.

"How is it?"

"This stuff is brilliant! Why don't we have this in the wizarding world?"

Hermione shrugged, smiling.

They talked for a little bit, while they finished their brownies. Draco had loads more than he had originally planned, but he was fine with it.

"Now, are you ready for an extraordinary gift?" Draco asked, removing a small box with holes in the top from his pocket.

"Yes." she sighed happily.

He enlarged the box, and handed it to Hermione. She curiously opened it then shrieked louder than Draco had ever heard anyone shriek. And he couldn't help it, he burst into laughter.

"Draco!" she yelled. "That was not funny!" she said, eyeing the box.

"Don't worry, Hermione, he's been charmed to stay that age for as long as they usually live, and charmed to be a herbivore."

"I can't believe you got me a baby lion for Valentine's Day!"

"Hey, it makes sense. A lion for my Gryffindor."

"He is kind of cute..."

"Not cuter than me, of course." Draco scoffed.

"Much cuter than you." Hermione cooed, picking up the delicate lion from the box. "What's his name?"

"That's for you to decide."

"How about Griffin?"

"Typical Gryffindor."

"It makes sense."

"Fine, Griffin it is. Think of him as a cat. Have you ever had a cat?"

"Yes."

"Crookshanks, wasn't it? Nasty little bugger according to Harry."

"Did you talk to Harry about Griffin?"

"A bit." Draco shrugged. "As I said, research."

"Well, thank you very much for Griffin. I absolutely adore him!"

"Ugh, I'm starting to regret getting you that lion. It's stealing my spotlight."

"You could use with a bit of that." Hermione replied, cradling Griffin in her arms. "You said that Griffin would stay a baby forever, right?"

"Well, he'll stay a baby all his life, if that's what you're implying. He only eats vegetables."

"Those are easy to conjure." Hermione noted. She suddenly noticed something on Griffin's neck. "What's this?"

Draco tried to hide a smile as Hermione took a closer look.

Hermione saw that Griffin was wearing a necklace. It was a delicate gold chain with a gold heart-shaped locket on it. Hermione curiously opened the locket. On one side, it said: Perfect is not when compatible persons are together, it's when you're both opposite but in a way that you complete each other. On the other side, there was a picture of the two of them flying broomsticks and laughing.

Hermione had tears in her eyes. "Draco, that's so sweet."

"Well, go on, take the necklace off that beast, it's meant for you, not him." Draco said, getting up and standing behind her.

Hermione took the necklace off Griffin, handed it to Draco and lifted her hair out of his way while he put the necklace on her.

"Thanks." she smiled. "This has been the best Valentine's Day ever!" she announced happily.

"You're very welcome."

"How did you get the picture of us flying, though?"

"I had Harry spy on us one time." Draco shrugged.

"Wow, you must really love me if you talked to Harry to make me this happy."

"Well, a proper gentlemen is willing to look past it to please his lady."

"Interesting." Hermione laughed.

"Looks like the beast has fallen asleep." He was right. Little Griffin was snuggled in Hermione's arms, taking deep breaths. "I have a bed for him, back in the room."

"Okay." Hermione said. "Thank you so much for tonight. It was amazing."

"Only the best." Draco said, helping Hermione out of her chair.

They walked to the room, and there, Draco had already set up a Griffin-sized bed, where Hermione put him. She bid Draco goodnight and fell asleep happily.

In the middle of the night, Hermione heard a knock on the door. She was a light sleeper, and it was easy to hear noises at night, such as Draco and Griffin's snores. She put on a bathrobe and answered the door.

"Viktor!" she hissed.

He was standing there in daytime clothes, acting like it was normal to go to one's door in the middle of the night.

"Hermy-own-ninny."

"Viktor, what are you doing here?" she asked, glancing back at Draco. Good thing he was a heavy sleeper.

"Hermy-own-ninny, I vannot stop thinking about vou."

"Viktor, no-"

"My partner, Angelica, is villing to trade so she may have vour partner, and I may have vou."

"Viktor, flattering as this is, I am in love with Draco, and he is in love with me. I am very sorry you did not get matched with a girl you like, but that's not my fault. Draco and I are happy and that is the end of it."

"Hermy-own-ninny," Viktor said, removing a small box from his pocket. "Please marry me." he said, opening the box to reveal a very large diamond.

That's when Draco woke. He sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, then his jaw dropped. "Hermione, how could you?"

Hermione rushed to his side. "Draco, it isn't what it looks like. Viktor came here to propose and-"

"He came to propose?!"

"Yes, and-"

"Hermione, he wouldn't propose if you weren't having an affair with him!"

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked. "He's the one who came here in the middle of the night, he's the one who proposed-"

"You were going to say yes!"

"Are you mad? I love YOU!"

"Sure." Draco scoffed.

"I vam sorry for the trouble." Viktor said quietly.

"Look, at least he can be a gentleman!" Hermione yelled.

"Are you saying he's better?" Draco asked.

"No, just that he has the decency to apologize for something he has done wrong!" Hermione retorted.

"I haven't done anything wrong! If you were to wake up in the middle of the night, and I had my hands all over some foreign girl, how would you have reacted?!"

"I didn't have my hands all over him! HE proposed, and I was going to decline!"

"Keep telling yourself that!"

"Are you TRYING to push me away?" Hermione asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"No, but you're mine, not his!"

"I'm not a property!"

"Women, property, same thing!"

"How dare you!"

During their quarrel, Viktor silently bowed out, leaving the room pretty sad, with a ring box in his pocket.

"You know what your problem is? You never listen to anyone else! You just assume what you want to assume, and do what you want to do!" Hermione screamed.

"You know, your problem is that you always think you're right! Just because you're "The Brightest Witch Of Your Age" and all that crap doesn't mean that you don't make mistakes! You're not perfect!" Draco shouted.

"Oh, and I suppose you are?" Hermione asked, tears fully flowing down her cheeks now.

"More than you!"

Hermione was in full on sobs now. A look of guilt flashed across Draco's face, and he ran to comfort her, but she shoved him away.

"Go away!" she wailed, jumping onto her bed and crawling under the covers.

Draco was hurt. He rarely cried, he was too manly for it, but as he fell back asleep, a single tear ran down his cheek.

A/N: It made me so sad to write some of that. I hope you enjoyed the Valentine's Day scene, it was fun to write. Tell me what you think by reviewing! They always help me write faster!