Please review!

Chapter 14: Sleep

Hermione stood in the doorway, listening as Narcissa made her proposal. Kingsley was silent for a long time after she finished. He pressed his hands down on the table, weighing her words. Then, he slowly nodded. He held out a hand to the witch. She shook. Kingsley drew out parchment and a quill and they began to haggle terms. Hermione glanced in the living room. Draco was waking up. Maybe she could gently explain what was happening before he really woke up. How bad was this going to be?

The man sat up, bringing a hand to his head. Hermione walked towards him. Draco looked over his shoulder at her, immediately tensed and stood unsteadily. "Who drugged me? Why? How long have I been out?"

So much for easing him into this. Draco woke as if he'd already had several cups of coffee. Hermione caught him as he nearly fell over the low coffee table. "Slow down-"

"Mother? Narcissa!" Draco's voice was sharp. He pushed her away, every line in his face tense as he stumbled into the doorway. Hermione kept a hand on his arm to steady him. "What's going on?" Draco saw Kingsley. The Minister was silently writing up a document with the terms he and Narcissa discussed. He had been warned that they may meet some resistance. Draco went pale at the sight. He shook his head, staring at his mother now. "No."

Narcissa stood slowly, holding a hand up to her son. "Darling-"

"Don't you darling me," Draco growled darkly, grasping the doorway painfully with a white knuckled hand, "You can't be serious. Why? Why would you do this?"

Hermione needed him to calm down. She could see Draco about to lose his temper. This time, she put a hand to the back of his neck and focused on their bond. She forcefully summoned a calm to surround him. She wasn't sure how she did it. Draco let go of the doorway, turning to her quickly, knocking her hand away. He narrowed his eyes, hissing at her. "Stop it. Don't tap into that without asking."

"You made it without asking." Hermione hissed just as softly, so only he could hear. "Deal with it!"

Draco sighed wearily, pressing two fingers to the bridge of his nose as he turned back to the kitchen. "…can I have a few minutes with my mother, alone?" He opened his eyes, meeting Kingsley's gaze. "Please?" The Weasley's left the kitchen. Kingsley followed them to the living room. Narcissa mouthed something to Hermione. Stay. So, Hermione didn't move. Draco glared at her. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway. He rolled his eyes as he moved to sit where the Minister had been, lifting the parchment to read.

Draco slowly dropped the paper when he finished, folding his hands in front of his face and pressing his lips against them. "So… we finally get out of that hell hole, together… and it doesn't matter? We're still going to be ripped apart?"

Narcissa was silent. She didn't move. Draco closed his eyes, shaking his head, at a loss. His voice was soft. "What am I supposed to do, losing you both at the same time?"

"Your father would have been sentenced to death, Draco. This is the only way to save him." Narcissa reached her hand across the table to him.

"And how am I supposed to take care of you, if you become the Ministry's eyes?" Draco spat back angrily, reaching his hands to hers. They grasped firmly. "Mother… this could cause permanent damage, you could get lost in any of those deep sleeps! What do I do if that happens?"

"Find me in a Dream, and force me back." Narcissa said gently. "Draco… this is the only way I can keep both of you. Don't ask me to let go of Lucius…" she tightened her hand on his. "I'm not ready for that."

Draco fell silent, he held out his other hand to his mother. She took it gently. He squeezed gently. "Will I be able to find you, in Dreams, while you're stuck in there?"

Narcissa smiled, an affectionate, motherly smile. "Child, you found me when you barely existed. I have no doubt you'll find me as often as you need."

Draco withdrew his hands from hers, folding his arms in front of him and resting his head down on the table. Narcissa stood quickly, walking sound the table to meet him, running a hand up and down his back. He shook his head no. "I can't…" Draco's voice was barely audible. "I'm so damn tired, Mother. I can't process this."

"You need sleep," Narcissa replied gently. "Come, Draco. Get up."

When Draco sat up, Hermione saw the strain in his face more clearly than she ever had. He closed his eyes, turning to embrace Narcissa tightly, his head resting against her shoulder. Even his posture looked exhausted. Narcissa closed her eyes and held him tightly. She said nothing, merely stroked his hair and kissed the side of his head before he sat up. Before standing, Narcissa raised her hand to ask Hermione to come closer. She walked over.

Draco looked up at Hermione as she approached. He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. "Thanks for the calming push." he stood, lacing hands with hers. Their rings pressed against each other. That was still a strange sensation. "...I might've lost it without that."

Narcissa took both their hands in hers. "By the magic of the blood of our ancestors that dwells within these veins, I give you my blessing on this Union."

Hermione felt another shift in their bond. She didn't understand. Draco quickly let go of her hand. "Mother!"

"It's done, Draco." Narcissa stood, pushing in her chair.

Words didn't come at first. He tried to speak but nothing came out. Draco cleared his throat and looked almost fearful as he glanced at Hermione. "...what if-"

"It's done," she folded her hands in front of her body, steadily holding his gaze. Narcissa gave a graceful shrug. "You will figure it out, together."

"What just happened?" Hermione asked quietly. Why did Draco look so afraid? He opened his mouth, but then his eyes seemed to unfocus. He stumbled backwards into the wall behind him and pinched the bridge of his nose again, shaking his head. When he tried to stand correctly, he swayed slightly on the spot. Both Narcissa and Hermione caught an arm to balance him.

"Later," Narcissa insisted. "Come on Draco, let's get you to sleep."

The three managed to make their way up the staircase to Percy's old room. When Draco saw how the room was set up, he stiffened, then he bowed his head, clenching his fists. "You're… you're really going…" he turned to look at Narcissa, an expression of grief on his face. "There's no way to stop you?"

She shook her head no, kissing his cheek softly. Draco returned the affectionate gesture. "Lay down, Draco. You'll feel better about all this after you get some rest."

"You won't be here when I wake again, will you?" He asked quietly, meeting his mother's eyes.

"No." Narcissa smoothed his hair. There was that half strained smile again on both faces.

The two embraced again for a long time. Hermione felt a terrible reminiscence of saying goodbye to her own parents. She had to look away. The sight renewed her own grief.

"Hermione," Narcissa said gently as she released her son. "He will need a little help from you when he sleeps here. You'll have to light the incense and candles in a specific order. Draco, go lay down."

For a long moment, Hermione wasn't sure if he was going to listen. He took Narcissa in his arms one more time before obeying. After, he refused to make eye contact with either of them. Narcissa taught Hermione the sequence. She memorized it, lit everything, and Draco slept within seconds. Two tears slid down his face as his eyes closed. Narcissa stepped into the room, wiping them away, kissing his forehead gently. She stood in the doorway for a long moment before slowly closing the door.

Narcissa turned around slowly, pressing her back to the door. Hermione moved to embrace her, but Narcissa raised a hand, shaking her head no. Tears slid silently down her cheeks. Narcissa closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths. She pulled a handkerchief from the sleeve of her robe and dabbed the tears away.

"It is good… to know he can finally sleep peacefully." Narcissa gave the door one last heartbreaking glance before descending the staircase.

Hermione followed, lingering for a moment to stare at the door where Draco slept. How long had it been since he'd really slept? How long had he been making do with insomnia, or wildly inadequate sleep? How had he managed to stay in the dorms at Hogwarts? Questions began to rise but there was no time to ask Narcissa. Kinglsey was waiting for her.

Arthur gave Narcissa's wand to the Minister. The document was finished and signed. Then, a duplicate was made so Draco would know all the terms. Within the hour, she was gone.

Hermione noticed Ron and Harry had only returned back inside the house once the entire time. They had gotten up to speed on what was going on, and left without a word. She went looking for them. They had set up a chess board outside on the picnic table, but the game barely looked touched. Ron saw her and instantly moved a piece. Harry's pawn took it.

Well that answered that. Ron was avoiding her. He would never make such a stupid move in chess. Ginny was right. Maybe she should have talked to him a while ago. She was glad Harry was there, too. Hermione sat down next to Harry, crossing her arms in the picnic table.

"Can we talk?" She asked quietly, tightening her hands around her body. What if they were going to block her out again like they did at school? What if by gaining Draco, she'd really lost her best friends?

"Absolutely," Harry flicked his wand at the board and it packed itself.

Ron looked uncomfortable but he mimicked her posture. He only did that when he was actually trying to have a conversation and listen. That was a good sign. He spoke before she could get anything out. "Was it really that bad for his family?"

Hermione nodded and quietly explained Narcissa being required to entertain guests for Voldemort, Lucius disappearing for near suicide missions to go after deserters, the guarded visitation system for his parents, how they couldn't talk, the secret notes they left him, how Draco burned them, and the touch language Narcissa and Draco had developed. Ron exhaled forcefully, pressing his face in both hands and shaking his head no. "That's awful. I can't imagine if my family… my Mum… I don't like feeling bad for that jerk."

He lowered his hands slowly, his eyes falling to the ring on her hand. Hermione could see the hurt, the disappointment in his eyes. Ron wrapped his arms around his elbows again, looking away. "...are you gonna divorce him?"

She'd decided that. The moment Narcissa had drawn the bonding of their magical cores. That was something she couldn't destroy, not now that she'd seen it. "...no."

"Why not?" Ron growled. The first sign of his temper.

"It's complicated, Ronald," Hermione said quietly. "I'm not ready to be married to him, but that's the only thing that saved me. Our magical cores bound before that on their own, without any ceremony. There's a lot I don't understand right now. Narcissa gave us her blessing before-"

"She did not!" Ron slammed both hands down on the picnic table, eyes whipping back to hers, looking stunned. Okay, marriage in the wizarding world was something Hermione needed to read up on. How did Ron understand everything going on when she didn't?

"Cool it Ron, Muggles give their blessings all the time," Harry interjected. "It's a formality, that's all."

"Not for wizards." Ron growled, running a hand through his hair. "Hermione… your last name isn't Granger anymore."

"What are you talking about?" She and Harry both laughed. "Yes it is. Hermine Jean Mal-" Harry stopped laughing. Hermione put both hands over her lips before she could finish. Her eyes shot wide open. She felt stunned. She tried again, speaking faster, more forcefully. "Hermione Jean Malfoy. Malfoy. Damn it. Malfoy! No! It's Granger!" She looked at Ron, feeling more than a little frightened at this magic. "Ron, what's happened? Why can't I say my name?"

"You are," Ron said quietly. "I told you. Lucius married you. Narcissa gave her blessing. That means they welcomed you. Old families always pass down their names, it's not possible to tap into the family magic without it."

Hermione stared at him. "Family magic?"

Ron sighed softly. "There's a ton of books in the house about marriage and stuff, 'Mione. Mum made us all listen to her read them when we were kids. That'll be better than my botched up version. I can't remember everything."

For a while, they say there in silence. Hermione understood the fearful look on Draco's face now. She hadn't asked for any of this. Everything with him and his family had been forced on her. He was afraid she was going to ask him for a divorce when they fought. Changing her name without consent was just as bad as marrying her without asking. They should divorce. It was logical. He thought she would want that when they finally fought this out.

"Does this mean we have to get along with him?" Ron grumbled, leaning his elbows on the table and looking at Harry.

"Think so," Harry replied quietly.

Ron looked back to Hermione, gaze flickering to her ring again. "...Harry, can you give us a minute, mate?"

Hermione felt alarmed at the request. Harry stood and he walked away. She heard the door of the Burrow open and close. For several long minutes, they sat there in an uncomfortable silence. Ron crossed his arms over his chest, he didn't look at her as her spoke. "...this really sucks, Hermione."

She didn't say anything. Just listened.

"I wanted… when all this was over…" he pulled the deluminator from his pocket and set it on the table. "...it found you, Hermione." Ron smiled sadly at it. "But… it never found you again." His eyes met hers. "...I think you loved me, then." His hands reached for the magical object and he spin it between his fingers, breaking eye contact.

He looked hurt. A little lost. Hermione spoke honestly. "I did, Ronald. I really did. And I thought… I thought we would…" she couldn't say it. Fall in love? Be together? Get married? Have a bunch of kids? It all felt so far away now. She didn't want that from him anymore.

"I know..." Ron didn't make her say it. They fell silent again. He pocketed the deluminator. Eventually, his eyes on her ring, he sighed, rubbing his hand on the back of his head. "Look… I don't get it, any of it, but if you're really gonna stay with him, I'll try 'Mione." He looked up at the window of Percy's bedroom. "It's gonna be fucking hard to get along with him."

She smiled softly at that. Trying was more than she could ask. "Thank you, Ron…"

"Don't thank me yet, I can't promise you I'm not gonna try to break his face if he gets on my nerves." Ron grumbled. He turned to look back at her. "Just… you're still one of my best friends, Hermione. Don't disappear again, okay?"

She nodded. They stood together and walked back inside. Molly was making dinner. It smelled delicious. Ginny gave them a sideways glance as they walked back inside. Hermione and Ron both walked over to Harry, and the three of them started working together to help get things prepared for dinner. Ginny smiled gently and turned away from them.

Molly refused to let her wake Draco. She insisted that he'd wake when he was good and ready, and for the first time ever, Molly said sleep was more important than food in this case. Her children's jaws dropped at that statement. Several with food in their mouths. Even her husband seemed caught off guard. She chidded at them to eat properly before sitting down next to Arthur.

When she and Ginny were finally in their small bedroom, Ginny sat on Hermione's bed and Hermione told her how things had gone with Ron. Her friend nodded and said that she'd be going through his journal later to make sure he was okay. Hermione felt another twinge of pity for Ron. He really needed to hide that journal somewhere else.

Ginny paused as she started to move back to her bed, lifting the paper Narcissa had drawn. "Hermione, what's this?"

"Narcissa drew it for me. It's our magical cores."

Ginny's eyes widened and she whipped her head back to it. "No way! But it's already got colors? And flowers?! And everything's already weaving together? This is crazy!" Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "Hermione it's not supposed to be like that so fast. This is even more complicated than Mum and Dad's!"

Hermione went on to explain how Narcissa had given her their blessing. Ginny didn't look surprised. She waved the drawing in the air before placing it back down. "You'd have to be crazy to try to mess with something this rare. Doesn't surprise me she did it. Especially if she's gonna be gone for so long. You wouldn't be able to fully divorce without her blessing, Hermione. The magic was incomplete. Now it's done, and you can. She basically told you you're welcome to stay, or to go. That blessing gave you the power to do whatever you want."

Narcissa must have known that. She'd asked Hermione to stay, but given her the way out. Draco's frightened look was making more and more sense. He really must think she'd ask to leave him.

Draco still wasn't awake by morning. Hermione spent the day at Hogwarts with many others, working to restore the damage to the school. There were many hard days of work ahead of them, for certain. By the time they got home that evening she was ready for dinner and bed, but the tiredness fled when she saw Draco awake, sitting at the kitchen table with Molly and a cup of tea. He looked up quickly at her entrance. A flicker of that fear caught his eye before he looked away, putting down the tea to hold a folder tightly in his hands.

Draco stood, ignoring everyone else as he approached her. He spoke quietly once he was in front of her. "Can we talk? Alone?"

They walked up to Ginny and Hermione's room. The rest of the house was quickly filling with noise and activity. Just to be safe, Hermione locked the door and set up a silencing charm. She loved Ginny dearly, but she did not trust her not to eavesdrop.

Draco sat in the chair at the writing desk. She sat on the edge of her bed. For a while, a strained silence hovered between them. He stared at the floor for a long moment before raising his eyes to meet hers and handing the folder to her. She took it, flipping it open. Divorce papers.

Her breath caught. She looked back at him sharply. "Draco?"

"I had them drawn up as soon as I woke." He said quietly, eyes falling down to the floor. "...I know you never wanted any of this, Granger…" a tense smile flitted across his face and was gone. "...I know, that's not your last name anymore. Can't break that habit." He cleared his throat. "This all has to be witnessed when it's being signed. We'll have to go to the Ministry. I'll head back to the Manor, or wherever the Ministry tells me to go, and you won't be stuck with all this once the year ends."

This wasn't a fight. He was letting her go. There was no anger or guilt to make her stay. Hermione put the folder aside. "We're not signing that." She slid down the bed, patting it for him to come sit next to her.

Draco stared at her. "...Hermione-"

She gave him a flare and his mouth shut. "Shut up. Move, now." He slowly obeyed while she reached over to the nightstand and pulled the letters and the art in her lap. Her fingers brushed his as she pushed the drawing into his hand. Draco looked down, his expression confused. He shook the paper, resting it on his thigh. "What am I looking at right now?"

"Narcissa drew it for me." Hermione smoothed the paper. "This is the way our magical cores looked when she and Molly revealed it."

Draco's eyes widened. He looked back at the drawing quickly, shocked. His fingertips began gently tracing the image. Draco shook his head no. His voice was a stunned whisper. "Seriously? This?!"

Hermione took his ringed hand in hers and pressed her fingers against his. "I… I don't want to break this, Draco." Her heart pounded a little too hard. She felt somewhat breathless. "Can't we figure out something else?"

"...there's no way backwards from this, without a divorce," Draco said softly, turning his hand so their palms pressed to each other. "I know you never wanted me, Granger... This all happened because you were forced into it. Most of it was my fault. Even this shows it." He lifted the drawing.

"These vines are protective-" Hermione argued.

"Yes, but they're also possessive." Draco cautioned, placing the paper down between them. He pulled his hand away. "I'm the one that wanted to keep you, witch. This just proves that I was right."

They fell silent for a long time. Hermione took the drawing and put it back on the nightstand. She slid her foot next to his and pressed them together. Hermione felt very exposed with her next sentence. "...what if I want to keep you now?"

"Fuck." Draco closed his eyes, leaning forward to press his face into his hands. "Don't say that."

"Come on, Draco," Hermione squeezed his arm. "Can't we talk about this, take it slow?"

"How do we go slow? We're already married." Draco turned to look at her through his fingers. "Just sign the papers, Hermione, and you're free. Why are you-"

Hermione took his face in her hands and kissed him softly. He kissed her back. She pulled away slowly. "I don't want to be married, you're right, but that's done." She pressed her forehead against his gently. "...I don't want to stop kissing you... I don't want to spend a year apart. Stop focusing on that and help me think. Is there any other option? Can we date while we're married? Can we-"

Draco put his thumb on her lips, his face finally relaxing with a teasing look as he drew back to see her face. "Did you just ask me out, Granger?"

She blushed. Yes, she had. And she hadn't even stopped to think about it. "Maybe," she replied, pushing his hand away. "What would you say if I did?"

"...I'd tell you that I'd like that." Draco's eyes had relaxed. Less guarded. Calmer. "...but it isn't going to be that easy. We can't just ignore the fact we're connected like this." The tension began to frown across his features again. "That's not possible. Besides, what do I call you? Wife? Partner?"

"Just keep calling me Granger, and we'll figure it out." Hermione swallowed hard. "Unless… you want me to sign those divorce papers…"

Draco immediately took her face in his hand and kissed her. He pressed his forehead against hers, shaking his head no. "I just… I'm tired of forcing things on you. I didn't even consider letting you go until my mother gave us her blessing. I didn't even think about a divorce until then." He ran his hand into her hair. "That would be the smart thing to do. This is a really bad idea."

"Then that's your limit for today," Hermione said softly, smiling as she felt him chuckle. His mouth met hers gently, and they were back in the Great Hall, the kiss making her chest feel warm and full.

"If you're serious about this, Granger…" Draco spoke, sitting away to reach for the folder. "Burn it."

Hermione set the folder on fire, sweeping the ashes away with her wand. Draco sighed in relief at the sight of the flames. He squeezed her hand gently. Then, he noticed the letters in her lap. "Why's that got my name on it?"

"Narcissa left it for you." Hermione handed him the letter. Draco stared at it for a moment before slowly taking it in hand.

"No offense," Draco said softly, "...but I'd really like to read this alone."

Hermione nodded. He'd have to wait, though. "She said not to let you burn it." Hermione said with a smile. "So I made it immune to fire. But you should eat dinner first. Molly won't have you skipping meals if you're awake. Not unless you want her breathing down your neck."

Draco turned his gaze to her and smirked. An arrogant, sexy, slightly irritated smirk. She wanted to kiss that face. "Yes, dear," Draco mumbled, rolling his eyes.

Nope. She had to kiss that face. Hermione found herself suddenly straddling half his lap, pressing her lips and tongue against his, tapping into their bond by accident to tell him how incredibly grateful she felt that they weren't signing those papers.

Draco took her by both arms and pulled her away forcefully, setting her back down on the bed and taking a calming breath before speaking. "Hermione, we're alone in a bedroom, with a silencing charm and the door is locked…" his hands slid slowly down her arms, she felt him tap into their bond. The desire that washed over her made her breath catch. "Don't do that to me unless you want me to take it somewhere."

As they made their way downstairs, sitting at the dinner table, Molly gave her a silent raised eyebrow. Hermione shrugged lightly, moving to sit between Ginny and Draco. Her eyes glanced at Draco's calm expression, the rings still on their hands. She gave Hermione a motherly smile, then an approving nod before the witch turned back to the stove, flicking her wand at things to start serving dinner.

Hermione silently placed her hand on Draco's knee under the table. His hand fell to hers and his thumb brushed gently against the ring on her finger. No, this wasn't going to be easy… but she knew in her gut, this bad idea was good.

Please review!