A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, wish I did, but I was still quite young when Ms. Rowling started the series. Making an afghan for the wheeler club's annual auction. My MIL just bought so much yarn at a yard sale that it came in a huge Rubbermaid tote on wheels. She kept the tote. The skeins fill a 33 gallon trash bag to the top. All for $10. Yeah me!

Chapter Twenty-five:

Hermione wipes her eyes and sighs sadly, scooting around the booth. She stands and reaches into her purse. "I've been meaning to return this to you, since Ragnok sent it over." Hermione sets the vault key on the table. "When we are married, then I will think about using it, but until then, I'll use my own, thank you. None of the money or heirlooms are mine. I don't and never did care about your money, home or anything. It wasn't and still isn't my business.

What I deem my business is our relationship. All I've ever wanted is your love, devotion and faithfulness. That's it. I will talk to you tomorrow, Marcus. I love you." She kisses his cheek and walks out of the shop before popping home to cry over his callous words.

Marcus is left sitting there, dumbfounded, looking at the vault key that he had Ragnok give her. He leaves the ice cream on the table and walks to the bank.

Walking up to the nearest teller, Marcus asks to see a statement of his accounts. There is a notification of Hermione being added but no transactions from her key. He thanks the goblin and pops to the park that's near her apartment.

Walking has always helped him think, but this time the only thing he can come up with is he insulted her, though about what, he doesn't know.

Marcus decides the ones to talk to are her friends. He lucks out when he stops by the Malfoy Manor to ask Draco about finding Harry. Potter, Lovegood and Bones were over with Longbottom and his new girlfriend.

"Marc, you look dreadful, what's wrong?" Auntie Cissa asks as she opens the door. Since his mother's death, Narcissa had been the maternal influence in his life, as Blaise and Adrian's mothers were not motherly. She hugs him as she has always done and leads him to the others. The Manor is even more confusing since she scrapped the whole thing and redid it.

"I think I have insulted my princess, Auntie and I don't even know how. Not five minutes before, she agreed to be my wife, but I said something that made her turn away from me and leave, crying." The others come in, because Draco and Harry had heard Marcus' gruff but upset voice.

"Recount the whole thing, Marc." Draco asks him. Marcus goes over the whole night, leaving out their tryst. When he is done, Harry, Susan, Luna and Neville are nodding.

"First off man, congratulations Marc." Harry starts, sitting down to face him. "Second, I can spot the problem right away. What you said about the manor is what set her off. Hermione has trouble entering even mine or Neville's because of her experience here. No matter what your views are or those of your father, there are still those in the portraits that would give her grief for her bloodline.

She is the most generous and caring soul out there, not to mention she views money as something that you earn to get the things you want or need. Her parents taught her that she had to work for the things that are important to her. You put effort in to a relationship, your position, family.

You made her dream of marrying you sound like she only wanted to for what it would gain her. That's why she is upset. She dreamt of being with you, having your kids, growing old with you. Not your position, money or home. She would be happy living in an actual flat with you than gilded, sitting in that manor.

Did she ask you to show her around? No, that's because she was trying to be polite to you and your father, while inside, she was trying to tamp down her need to leave." Harry shrugs sympathetically to him and shakes his hand.

Draco pats Marcus' back. "Did Adrian tell you about what his mother did to Hermione?" Marcus turns to the blonde man.

"The first time, she put an anti-muggle born ward around the Pucey manor. Hermione couldn't even climb the front steps. She came out and insulted Hermione to her face. Hermione gracefully told Ade that she would see him at work, took her leave of his parents and walked away.

Adrian begged her for another chance after he told his parents to either be cordial or he was leaving the family. Lord Pucey knows that he doesn't have it in him to sire another heir. He bowed to Adrian's demand, forcing Chantel to do the same, though unwillingly.

Out of spite, Chantel tracked down the furnishings from "The Parlor" and re-created the whole room at the Pucey manor. On top of that, she invited the Rosier and Dolaholv heiresses to join them. Hermione handled it like a champ.

She pointed out where things happened and offered to sign a few things to add to value upon resale. When she was done, she left with Adrian following her out, apologizing the whole way. She left for home. That was the last straw.

You won, because she felt safe, loved and more like herself with you. She was able to relax and enjoy the time with you. You need to fight your way back in. Make her realize that you don't think of her like all the money grubbing whores out there vying for the money, manor, title package."

Marc nods, thanks them and leaves for Hermione's. Luckily, she gave him a key. He opens the door and finds her crying on the couch, looking at her mail. She had received the tickets to his home games.

He clears his throat. "I purchased them so I could at least see you in the stands, cheering for me, even if I couldn't hold you." She looks up at him, with tears streaming down. He thinks she has never looked more beautiful. "Hermione, I didn't mean the comment as it must have sounded. Truly, I thought you'd take it as a joke and give me more shit."

He sits on the couch and pulls her into his chest. "Princess, I am sorry that you thought I would think that of you. I have never seen you as an estate bunny. You work hard and have paid the price for everything you have.

I promised myself that if I would ever get the chance to have you as mine, I would not be a block head to you. You are far too precious to me. I love you, Hermione and I always will. You are always safe with me." He kisses her head and hugs her tighter.

"Please don't end the best thing that has ever happened to me, please!" He begs to his woman to not kick him to the curb.

Hermione's muffled, sad voice comes from his chest. "I'm sorry too, Marc. I should have been thinking in context and not gone off the handle like that." Seeing his confusion, she explains. "It means that I should not have gotten so mad before you explained. I am not going to end anything." She tells him and snuggles deeper into his arms. Tears leak out of his eyes at the motion. "I love you too, Marcus."

He can't take it anymore. Marcus noses her until she raises her head. He kisses her gently, showing her just how much he loves her. He stands and carries her to bed, stripping her clothes off and then his. He lays her down and thrusts into her. Instead of continuing to ravish her, he stretches over her and holds her. "I just want to be as close to the woman I love as I can." He murmurs to her.

He pulls her leg over his hip and moves them to their sides, wrapping her in his arms. "Now, I can sleep. Before that though Princess, does my manor unnerve you? We don't have to live there if it will make you uncomfortable. I will live where you want. Please, think about where you want to be? We just need a large enough place for our babies." He whispers and rubs his hand over her belly, where his shaft is buried right now. Hermione looks up at him with love filled eyes. "Goodnight, Princess." He kisses her and shuts off the light over his head.