When The Darkness Fades Chapter 26
A/N: Ahhhh finally a bloody proposal! How'd you all like the last chapter? I thought it was rather creative. *pats self on back* Now it's just the time leading up until the wedding and then we'll probably move on to part 2 of the series. Book Two will be called Ashes To Dust and it's going to be Book Two in the From Darkness To Light Trilogy. So keep a lookout for it. I think we'll go up till about 35 or so chapters in this Book One before I start on Book 2. Book 2 will be about their married life and the challenges they face together. Love you all-MoonlitShadow
By the time Hermione finally got back to her very own bedroom, she was exhausted yet giddy and excited thinking about her future with her three new fiancées.
They had celebrated well into the late hours of the night out in the back gardens with lots of champagne and cards that their friends and families had written to congratulate them.
But when it grew late and they all were yawning together, Draco decided to lead them all back to their separate wings of the house and head to bed for the night.
Blaise and Theo were almost dragging behind her and Draco as they walked down the long path back to the house.
Hermione had shed her shoes somewhere in the yard hours ago and her hair had fallen out of its elegant style and now rested low on her back.
Draco had taken to running his fingers through it and caressing her lower back while they celebrated all evening.
She was thoroughly enjoying her boy's company and was excited to see what the next day would hold for all of them.
It wasn't going to be too long before the wedding arrived and they would finally be married together forever.
Hermione shuffled her way into her bathroom and went about stripping herself out of her beautiful engagement dress and taking a hot shower to rid herself of all the sweat and grime she had acquired while messing around with the boys in the gardens that evening.
Slipping on a comfortable cotton nightgown, she made her way over to her bed where she proceeded to attempt to fall asleep after everything that had happened that day.
But it was tougher than the young witch imagined it would be.
Hermione was used to calming her mind from racing thoughts thanks to her part that she played during the war but this was very different.
This was all good thoughts and happy hopes and dreams for the future that circled around in her brain.
The night's events played over and over in her mind and she found that after about half an hour of tossing and turning amongst her fluffy pillows and silky sheets that she wasn't going to be going to bed anytime soon.
Carefully sliding out of bed, she made her way over to her bedroom door where her long bathroom robe hung and she slipped it around her slim form before venturing out into the darkened halls of the manor.
She swore that as she stepped out into the hallway leading towards the landing of the stairs that joined her wing and the boys wing together, she could hear someone snoring awfully loud making her quietly giggle to herself.
She must've thoroughly tired out her boys for them to be snoring like that. She thought to herself as she made her way down the stairs and stood at the bottom of them trying to decide where to go. Knowing that the manor was dead quiet at this hour of night she decided to walk through the halls until she found herself in the room that she wanted to be in.
So she walked a bit and found herself ending up in the kitchen where she was surprised to see that the lights were all on and shirtless Draco clad in nothing but a pair of fitted boxer briefs and a kitchen apron was pulling a hot pan of goodies from the oven.
"Draco Malfoy! What on earth are you doing?"
She asked loud enough for him to hear her.
Draco became startled for a moment and almost dropped the baking tray crashing to the ground but managed to right himself just in the nick of time.
He looked over at her with an incredulous expression and gestured to the tray of red velvet macaroons that were hot and steaming from the oven.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm bloody baking. What are you doing up anyways? I thought we all tired you out enough that you'd sleep till noon."
He chuckled as he placed the tray down onto the top of the stove and turned off the oven before turning around to meet her curious gaze.
"You're baking at 1:30 in the morning?"
Hermione asked with an uncertain tone making Draco chuckle even more.
He swaggered his way around the kitchen island still dressed in his boxers, apron and oven mitts and took her into his arms before placing a loving kiss on her exhausted lips.
She relished the feeling of being in his arms and found herself jump a bit when an unfamiliar flow of magic gushed up her body and towards her center.
Draco seemed to feel it too and smiled happily against her lips.
Pulling back ever so slightly, he playfully cupped her face in his oven mitted hands and nuzzled her nose as he whispered to her softly.
"It's just the family magic, love. Don't worry. It won't hurt you. It's just getting settled inside your magical core to get ready for being bonded to us."
He explained as Hermione's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Oh, you're talking about the sacred 28's ancient family magic that flows from all three of you to me through the ring so we can bond for eternity?"
She asked as he nodded excitedly.
"Oh yes, little witch. Now you're truly going to be ours forever."
Hermione reached up on her tip toes and kissed him again and then once more before they both burst out laughing quietly.
She eyed the red velvet macaroon shells that sat on the stove top before regarding him with a coy look of her own.
"Would you fancy some help filling those shells with the proper cream cheese icing?"
Draco chuckled and nodded before slipping out of her arms and making his way over to the refrigerator where he pulled out an already made bowl of cream cheese icing.
"Always so resourceful aren't you Mr. Malfoy?"
She teased as she settled into one of the bar stools at the island while Draco fetched them both a pastry bag.
"But of course, Mrs. Malfoy. The more resourceful the better I always say."
He teased back playing along with her merry mood.
As soon as he took his seat, they began icing the lot of macaroon shells in a comfortable silence.
As they worked, Hermione caught Draco sending her little looks making her wonder what he was thinking.
As the clock struck 2:00 a.m. she decided that now was better than ever to ask.
"Draco, what is it? You keep looking at me like you want to say something. Is everything alright?"
She asked as she licked a bit of icing off the tip of her finger.
Draco looked up at her words clearly a bit startled and he paused for a moment before placing his pastry bag to the side and picking up one of the macaroons in front of him and examining it.
"Do you have any worries or fears about the future and our marriage, Hermione?"
He asked catching her offguard.
Hermione paused as well but continued to fill her macaroons as she pondered his question.
Finally, she looked up and nodded a bit reluctantly but with a reassuring smile.
"Well of course I do. It isn't every day that three rather famous wizards and a witch that's a war hero get married in an odd arrangement to save the bloodlines of the wizarding world."
Hermione chuckled as Draco eyed her carefully.
Placing the lone macaroon that he was holding back onto the tray, he nodded with an unreadable expression.
"Do you have any fears or concerns about all of this?"
She asked hesitantly, wondering what his answer would be. He was silent for a few seconds before he nodded and looked anywhere but her eyes.
"I'm worried about us returning to school in the fall for our eighth and final year at Hogwarts and how we'll all be married to you and you'll be in a completely different house from us. I'm worried how the other students will react to our marriage and how they'll treat you because of our rather famous past together."
He practically whispered making Hermione's heart clench hard in her chest.
So her wizard was worried for her safety while they were at school and how the others would react to their marriage.
She wasn't quite sure how to respond to that.
She knew that if it were Harry or Ron telling her this, she'd probably balk at them and tell them that she could definitely take care of herself.
But Draco's words concerned her and she wondered if he knew something about their return to school that she didn't.
Placing her pastry bag to the side, she looked him square in the eyes making him look at her in concern.
"Have you heard anything about it not being safe for us to return to school because of our marriage?"
She asked bluntly making Draco's eyes widen for a moment before he shook his head firmly and gave her a look.
"No of course not. If I had I would've told you. You know that Hermione. I just am wondering how the rest of the school is going to react is all. I haven't heard anything about any dangers concerning any of us. It should be an easy year for us as far as we're concerned."
He said with a small smile.
Hermione nodded, satisfied with his answer and smiled happily before picking up a macaroon and popping it into her mouth.
Draco watched as she chewed it and then swallowed before meeting his eyes again.
"You definitely are quite the pastry chef, Mr. Malfoy. I do look forward to you making many more treats such as these for as long as we're married."
She said with a hint of playfulness in her tone.
Draco chuckled and shook his head before pulling his bar stool right in front of her and leaning in to capture her lips with his own.
Hermione moaned lightly into his mouth as his tongue ran along her bottom lip, licking up any of the remaining crumbs from her late night treat.
Hermione smiled and giggled at his antics before pulling away and resting her head against his own with a tired smile.
"I do believe I'm going to enjoy being married to you, Draco Malfoy. I can't think of any other wizards besides you, Blaise and Theo that I would rather marry."
She said gently as Draco smiled fondly at her.
"Funny thing since a couple of weeks ago you couldn't stand us."
Hermione fake pouted at him and then leaned in for another kiss as they continued to enjoy each other's company until the sun peaked over the horizon.