A/N: Hello again! Sorry about the long break, but I was really really busy because of school! IT ENDS SO LATE!

Again my apologies, but I'm here again. So, please review!

The Rise of The Dead

Chapter 20

Soon, Severus had Hermione seated on the floor. ("Sorry about the lack of furniture; I had used up all my money to furnish Frau's room," Severus had explained.)

Hermione observed the oh-too-modest house with a mug of chocolate in her hand. It was warm and Hermione reveled as it touched her tongue and singed it lightly. "Thank you, Severus. It's rather thoughtful of you to get the chocolate. It's all warm and fuzzy compared to the iciness outside." Hermione voiced.

Severus chuckled. Hermione waited for a reply, but none came. When he realized Hermione was waiting for a reply, Severus quickly said, "Sorry about that. I don't really chat much. When Draco and I chat, it's usually he who is leading the conversation. You could me ask me questions though-perhaps about Draco. I'm sure you have lots of questions about him."

Hermione thought for awhile before asking him the first question that came to her. It was the one that had been in the subconscious realms of her mind all this while. "Why did Draco become a death eater?"

Severus looked a bit surprised. It was clear he had not been expecting this question. "Draco has never told you the reason he hates Mugwood, has he?"

Hermione was about to nod her head when she remembered that what Draco had given her had been excuses rather than reasons. "No-not really." She answered, not really seeing the connection.

Severus looked intently at Hermione before speaking. "Well, you see-erm-Draco is-erm an illegitimate child." Hermione gasped.

"Lucious and Narcissa are married, aren't they?"

"Of course! Of course! However, when Lucious became a death eater, he-erm- neglected his quite a bit. She led of course, a luxurious life, but it wasn't all that she wanted. While she was wallowing in self-pity, Mugwood entered the picture. He was rather interested in Narcissa- her looks, beauty. He threw her covet glances and Slytherin chivalries. In the state of mind she was in, Narcissa made a hasty decision and entered an affair with him."

"So Draco-Mugwood is Draco's dad?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Yes-pretty much yes." It was Draco, and Hermione immediately opened her mouth to apologize, but Draco cut in, "It doesn't matter, Hermione. I wanted Severus to tell you. That is one of the reasons I brought you along."

Draco stumbled over and dropped himself rather haphazardly to the ground between Severus and Draco. "Is that why you hate him?" Hermione asked timidly.

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "Not really." He looked at Severus significantly and comprehending, Severus continued as Draco rested his head on his shoulder.

"It wasn't really the illegitimate part. It's just that many problems arose from it. Lucious grudgingly accepted Narcissa after she left Mugwood, but he refused to accept Draco. It was all act when they went out to act as father and child, but Lucious just took out his frustration on Draco at home." Severus explained. "Is anything the matter, Draco? Are you feeling alright?" Severus inquired of Draco.

Draco shook his head. "Not really. Just the usual headache and you know that I've never really liked talking about Mugwood."

Severus nodded. "Hermione, could you get me the clear liquid there. It's on the top shelf."

Hermione walked over to get it and recognized it as a dreamless sleep potion. She brought it over to Severus who gave it to Draco. Draco drank it with the ease that practice gives and settled himself on Severus's lap before dozing off. Severus checked to see if Draco was fast asleep before continuing. "Where was I?" he asked.

Hermione strained her memory before answering, "Something about Lucious taking out his frustration on Draco."

"Ahhhh…yes. I don't think I need to go into much detail-I'm sure you get it."

"He beats Draco."

"More like attacks, but nevermind."

Hermione laughed, but it was hollow and empty. Severus continued, however, "As godfather, I took him in during the holidays, but I couldn't have him stay at Hogwarts as I did at times. Spending most of his time with me, naturally, he wanted to be a death eater."

"Did you initiate it?" Hermione asked sharply.

"Certainly not!" Severus exclaimed. "It was, probably my influence, but I never initiated such a thing. On the contrary, I was pretty much against the idea of him becoming a death eater. I remember reminding him over and over again that if he failed, he would be killed. However, Draco was adamant and I could not anything about it.

I don't know how I let this happen. I don't know what I missed. I never mentioned about my life as a death eater to him. I had forbade him from death eater meetings. If he had not been made a death eater, none of this would have happened. Draco would not have been made a death eater, he would not be bearing that cursed mark and he would not be handicapped like this."

"Don't lament, Severus. Mugwood's dirty blood does run in my veins after all. It's only natural that I'm a bit like him." Severus and Hermione looked down at Draco who was wide awake now.

"It's about time we get going, Hermione. What do you say?" Draco asked, checking his watch.

"Yeah, it's midnight already!" Hermione responded, getting to her feet.

"It's about time you realized that. Off you go!" Severus said, helping Draco up.

MWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMWMW

Hermione and Draco walked, side by side in deep silence. Although the time spent at Severus's had seemed like a short time, it had, in fact been a long time and night had already fallen all around them. The air was cool as it bristled past leaves. Melancholy was strictly observed throughout the forest, save the crickets chirruping and the soft rustle of the couple's feet swimming through the foamy snow.

Draco looked distracted as he fingered the velvet box in his coat pocket. Hermione smiled at Draco, her thoughts only of him and blushed furiously as Draco caught her staring and smiled back.

This continued on for ten whole minutes before Draco broke the silence. He held her hand lightly and spoke softly. "And what is it that my love is thinking of." He let go of her hands and held her face in his hands, his forefinger and thumb caressing gentle lines on her chin. "Am I blessed to be enlightened or cursed to wither within the doubt itself." Draco bent to kiss the tip of her nose lightly, his lips smiling and his eyes twinkling.

Hermione leant into his warm hands, luxuriating in his love. "Actually, Draco you are blessed." Draco breathed softly, seemingly interested in her chocolate eyes. Hermione took this as signal to progress. "I don't know if I really meant it, but I now I know for sure. I love you whole-heartedly."

Draco grinned. "In that case, I think now would be a perfect time for me to ask you something."

Hermione's heart leapt slightly for she knew what was coming, but she wanted to hear him say it-just to be sure. Draco stood, nervously fingering the velvet box as if hoping it would somehow give him the fortitude. Taking a deep breath, Draco pulled Hermione flush against him. He watched as she blushed, a soft red creeping smoothly up her fair cheeks. He smiled smugly, regaining his composure. Drawing out the velvet box deftly, he flicked it open with casual movements of his fingers and held it in his proffered palm.

Hermione looked at the pretty little thing shinning brightly up at her, reflecting the very few rays of light on her flawless skin. It was a dazzling diamond ring with a bigger rose flanked by two smaller ones. The ring had a glittery band weaving across its breadth. The pureness of it all was a stark contrast to the soft rich crimson beds. Hermione could feel her mouth going slack as she drank in the beauty of it all.

Draco waited for her digest it all before he spoke with words burning with fierce passion and eyes shining with love. "Hermione, I love you and I swear if you accept my hand in marriage, that you would never regret it. I will take it upon myself to go unto death to be sure that we never part, that I would be the one who catches you every tear and causes you every smile! With that said, will you marry me?" Draco waited for a reply, momentarily stunned by his eloquence. He had not prepared, practiced or memorized those lines, but they had just come out of his lips because of his love.

Tears slowly welled in Hermione's eyes. Thrusting her arms around his neck, she buried her head into his neck and cried, "Of course Draco! I love you and would feel nothing short of hallowed were I to be your wife!" Hermione pressed forceful kisses to his face; such was her happiness. Draco returned them gratefully on her cheeks.

He plucked the ring out and held it in his hands. "Hermione?" he trailed, seeking permission to slip the ring into her fingers.

"And it's Mrs. Malfoy to you, young man!" Hermione giggled, pushing her fingers through the ring that was to bond them for a lifetime, through thick and thin.

Draco bent down swiftly, capturing a blissfully surprised Hermione in the sweetest of kisses. "I love you, Hermione," he murmured against her delicious lips. He knew Hermione enjoyed hearing those words as much as he enjoyed telling them to her.

A small rustle among the leaves broke the pair apart. Their eyes skimmed the bushes, searching for any sign of human interference. "Who's there?' Hermione called out. More rustling.

Draco edged towards the direction the noise was coming from. His hands gripped his wand. Looking back at Hermione once, he stepped through the bushes.

"Potter?" There was surprise peppered with suspicion in his voice.

"Harry?" Hermione breathed a sigh of relief although still confused and walked over to where she knew Draco to be.

She stepped cautiously over the bushes and made her way towards Draco. Draco had Harry at the mercy of his wand. Harry looked cool and composed despite Draco having cornered him and it made Hermione nervous. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed?" she asked.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?" what are you doing with Draco here?" Harry asked mildly.

Hermione flushed pink, but Draco spoke up. "And since when have we come within friendships of first names?"

"Ahhh…I thought now would be a good time to start the practice. Wouldn't you agree?" Harry said, wiping his spectacles on his cloak.

Draco stared at Harry for a full moment. "You have gone absolutely nuts, Potter!"

The rustling of the bushes yet again announced the arrival of yet another. Hermione whipped her wand out to face a completely nonplussed Severus. "You could lower the wand, Hermione." he said, smiling. His eyes fleeted from Harry to Draco to Hermione and he smiled wryly. "So that's where the noise was coming from. I thought someone had been attacked and came to check if the two of you were in danger."

"No, we aren't, but I can't say that Potter here does not give me the creeps." Draco declared. He told Severus all that had happened.

Severus frowned. He regarded Harry silently. Severus's face turned from inscrutable to confused to suspicious. He pointed a gnarled finger at Harry. "Yo-you are not Potter. You ca-can't be. But you-who are you?"

Harry's lip crinkled into a smile. "Even you can't recognize me, Severus?"

Draco and Hermione watched the exchange in complete confusion.

"Bu-but you died…I killed you…" Severus stammered.

Draco raised his eyebrows as Harry took off his spectacles. "Are you sure, Severus? Look closely into my eyes."

Severus obeyed and no sooner had he done so, he flung himself at Harry's feet.

"Albus!" he cried.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that! Please review!!