Loose Ends
The happy couple emerged from Hermione's house a few days later, not quite shagged out, but knowing that they needed to tie up a few loose ends before settling down.
Their first stop was the Ministry of Magic.
They Apparated to the guest's entrance. Draco started walking forward, holding his hand out for Hermione's and meeting air. He looked back at her. She was still standing where they had appeared, fear, resentment, and attachment all apparent in her shining brown eyes. Draco walked over to her. The shine he saw turned out to be unshed tears.
She cut him off before he could speak. "Draco, I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head in embarrassment. "I'm being silly, I'm…"
He shook his head and shushed her. "Hermione, I understand. Here," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm with you."
She smiled at him gratefully and together, they walked into the booth and arrived in the Atrium.
They quickly explained their reason for being at the Ministry and were almost immediately sent up to see Scrimgeour. A few hours later, they emerged, quite content with their new Second Class Order of Merlin's, but quite tired of talking. The Minister had insisted on hearing their entire story, asking for some bits to be repeated five or six times. The tale was more emotionally draining than either had anticipated. So instead of doing the other things they had planned for the day, Draco decided that it would be best if they just went home. Needless to say, Hermione put up no resistance.
XOX
The next day, Draco and Hermione had planned to tell their friends, mainly, the Weasley family, about their upcoming wedding. Draco was less than enthusiastic about the meeting, suggesting that he could stay home while Hermione took care of it.
But Hermione was not to hear of it. "Please, Draco. They need to know. The Weasleys are a second family to me. I can't not tell them that I'm getting married. And it would mean a lot to me if you were there with me. I'm sure it'd mean a lot to them as well."
Draco grimaced. "If by 'it'd mean a lot to them' you mean 'they'd get to murder you themselves', I'd say you're correct." Hermione gave him a look which Draco met pointedly. Hermione knew he dreaded having to face the Weasley family. In fact, the only thing that could be worse was facing his father with the news. But thank Merlin he would not have to do that. He told Hermione this and earned another annoyed look.
"Draco, for me? Please?" she begged.
He was still leaning towards no. But her eyes were shining too brightly and her lips pouting a bit too far. He couldn't resist. "Fine!" he said exasperatedly. "But I get to have my way with you later!" he said gruffly, bringing her close. Hermione's giggle was cut off abruptly as they embraced with mounting fervor.
Hermione, exerting a surprising amount of self-control, pulled away and winked at him saucily. "What ever you want," she said huskily.
The promise of a good time later soothed Draco's nerves enough to Apparate to The Burrow, where Hermione received a warm welcome.
Draco was nearly hexed on sight.
But once Hermione explained the situation, to her and Draco's obvious surprise, the family took it quite well. Ron, who happened to be home at the time, tried to curse Draco but missed and ended up blowing a softball-sized hole in the wall.
"Just give him a few weeks to calm down, dear," said Mrs. Weasley to a visibly shaken Hermione. "It's just a shame you have to leave so soon!"
Hermione thought of Draco was waiting outside. "I wish I could stay, Mrs. Weasley, but we have a lot to take care of before…" Hermione grinned guiltily and Mrs. Weasley smiled and drew her into a hug. She said her final goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.
She walked out of The Burrow to a cross Draco. "I could have told you that wasn't going to go well," he said once Hermione had calmed down.
"Oh shut up," she said, playfully hitting Draco on the arm. "That went better than we both thought it would and you know it."
After they Apparated back, Draco gave a grin to rival the Cheshire Cat and took Hermione in his arms, tickling her. She laughed as they both fell to the floor. Their good humor increased tenfold as his tickling turned to something more interesting.
They could not make it to the bedroom fast enough, where Hermione fulfilled her promise several times over.
XOX
The wedding was held in May at a small chapel. Draco had no relatives that he would admit to, so it was the Weasley family, the remainder of the Order, and a few of Hermione's relatives. Hermione and Draco steadily exchanged their vows, rings, and kiss, to the delight of everyone in the audience, even Ron, once he had enough Firewhiskey. They honeymooned in Paris, thoroughly enjoying their stay.
XOX
Three years passed.
Soon after the honeymoon, Draco moved into Hermione's home. They resumed business as usual with a few minor changes. Hermione had now been promoted to head of the research department and it was flourishing like never before. Draco was now a Ministry-recognized spy, but still took side jobs from his old clients. His reluctance to retire from his old job at first made Hermione sick with worry, but she knew Draco would have it no other way.
One morning, Draco and Hermione were having breakfast. A barn owl swooped through the open kitchen window, clutching the Daily Prophet in its talons. As usual, Hermione stood to retrieve the paper and dropped a knut into it's pouch. It took off in a flurry of feathers.
"Hermione, could you pass me the sports section?" Draco asked without looking up from his toast.
"Draco," she said, gripping the back of the chair.
He looked up from his toast, no doubt wondering where the sports section was. "What is it?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment, trying to think of the best way to tell him. Coming up with nothing, she decided to go with the straightforward approach.
"I guess there's no other way to tell you than to just say it, so here it goes." She hesitated before: "Draco, I'm pregnant."
She said it very matter-of-factly, her voice never wavering. Draco did not take it with such grace. He looked utterly confused for a moment, as if somehow wondering how she could be pregnant. As what she said sunk in, he widely smiled, jumped up, and walked over to her. Without faltering, Draco took her into his arms. She cuddled up into his chest, hearing him whisper with disbelief, "I'm going to be a dad."
She pulled away from him and gave him a kiss, which he returned with enthusiasm.
"Draco?" she murmured against his lips.
"Yes dear?"
"I love you."
He smiled softly and kissed her once more. Hermione knew concretely she would never want to forget again, and, if Draco had anything to do with it, she never would.
The End