Thanks for all the reviews.

I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters; J.K Rowling does! The storyline, however, is mine.

This is dedicated to: CrazyReader2002. Thank you, you officially made my week and gave me the motivation to publish this chapter this early.

Ch.36

The following morning Hermione awoke with a blissful feeling coursing through her veins. "I love him," she thought, a smile creeping on her face. Waking up she cast a spell to open the curtains, expecting it to be sunny as the previous day had been, only to find storm clouds and rain pelting down on the gardens. Sighing in disappointment she turned away from the window and walked towards the bathroom. She picked her favourite scented oils and poured them into the bath tub before opening the taps and filling up the tub. She settled into the water and closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of the water. She quickly lost track of time as she let sleep take her.

Draco woke up and planned his day. He was still savouring the words Hermione had told him. "I love her," he thought to himself as he walked to his curtains. Upon seeing the weather he sat down on a chair besides the fire, "well that puts a damper on things," he thought. He began to re-plan the activities for the day as he walked towards his bathroom, he grinned when he thought of a way to spend his time with Hermione. Opening the shower taps, he rolled his shoulders back, enjoying the feeling of the hot water pelting his back.

When he was done, he hastily dressed and briskly walked towards Hermione's room. Knocking on the door loudly, he hoped to hear Hermione invite him in, but to his disappointment he heard nothing. He swiftly opened the door and stuck his head in. He expected to find her sound asleep in bed but when he noticed that she was not in the bed nor in the surrounding area, he entered the room fully, his eyes scanned the room once again for her. "Hermione?" he called, his voice tinged with worry as he opened the closet and a quick glance confirmed her absence. When he received no reply, he went towards the bathroom, the only place he hadn't looked for her. Opening the door he looked inside, a gasp escaping his mouth at the sight.

Hermione had been having a rather pleasant dream when a shocked gasp awoke her. Opening her eyes, she saw Draco who stood by the door with a look of pure shock on his face. Quickly she submerged her body more thoroughly under the thick coat of scented bubbles before shrieking, "Draco! What on earth are you doing here? Stop gawking at me and turn around!"

She waited for him to turn around before she woke up from the tub and quickly grabbed a towel. She ran around Draco while silently praying that, in her haste, she would not fall and add more awkwardness to the situation. She slammed the door and then hastily wiped her body before quickly pulling on her underwear and a green shirt with a pair of sweatpants. After drying her hair, she ran back to the bathroom door and opened it to find Draco still standing there with his face a mask of shock and his back to the bathtub. She waved her hand in front of his face, trying to snap him out of his stupor, but to no avail. Finally she decided the easiest way was to kiss him, she set her lips to his, slowly nudging his lips with her tongue. As soon as her tongue met his, Draco regained consciousness, and he immediately began kissing her back. After a few minutes of kissing, Draco pulled away looking sheepish.

"Sorry," he said, staring at the floor.

In a stern voice, Hermione said, " next time knock before you enter, Malfoy."

Draco looked indignantly at her, "I did knock Granger, you just didn't hear me, I looked everywhere for you, it was rather hard work," he said, his mouth forming a pout.

Hermione laughed, "Oh you poor baby, now why were you looking for me?"

Draco looked at her for a few minutes before saying, " since the weather is dreadful today I was going to suggest we visit the library."

At his words Hermione rushed forward and hugged him, smiling as she looked up at his face, "good, let's go."

Draco laughed and pulled her, leading her out of her room and past his mother's sitting room, towards the library.

"Draco, after you take Hermione to the library, please come back here, there is an urgent matter I must discuss with you," his mother said, her voice traveling through the study door.

" Okay mother," Draco said, before tugging Hermione in front of a pair of giant mahogany doors. Pushing them open, he ushered her in.

" I have to go but I'll be right back," he said as he placed a swift kiss on Hermione's lips. He chuckled as he watched her run towards the shelves filled with books, squealing in delight at the tomes.

Draco walked back to the sitting room and stood outside, he raised his hand to knock on the door when he heard his mother's voice, "Draco just come in," she said in an impatient tone.

Entering, he saw his mother sitting in her favorite chair by the fire, sipping a cup of tea. Walking towards her he said, " what's the matter mother? Is there something wrong?"

Narcissa turned towards her son, " Draco you only have a few months left, you know that you have to complete the ritual soon or both of you will suffer immensely."

Draco simply nodded his head, waiting for his mother to speak.

Sighing Narcissa continued, " Hermione brings life that is much needed here. She bring out a side of you that I've seldom seen. She makes you happy."

Draco took a deep breath, " I love her mother, and it's not because of the Veela bond, I think I loved her from the first time I met her, I was just too scared to admit it. But now I can and I want to marry her and have her forever. I can't imagine my life without her."

Narcissa smiled at the conviction in her son's voice, " I'm happy for you son, you've finally found someone who will love you as equally as you love them. Now if you are going to propose I suggest you take this, " she said, handing Draco a small velvet box.

He opened the box gently, his eyes widening as he saw the ring within it. It had an emerald in the shape of a rose and small diamonds circling it. "Mother I cannot accept this, father gave this to you," he said.

Narcissa shook her head, " no son, your father gave this to me to give to you when you were ready. This ring has belonged to you and now it will belong to your beloved."

Draco looked at her in surprise before walking towards her and hugging her, "thank you mother, "he whispered.

Narcissa patted his head before saying, " go to her, son, ask her."

Draco nodded his head before standing up and leaving.

Narcissa smiled as she watched him leave, his face set determinedly and his shoulders squared. "Good luck my dragon," she thought after him.

Hermione grinned as she ran her fingers over the spines of tomes in the nearest shelf. She had thought that the glass domed room housed all the books of Malfoy Manor, oh how wrong she was. As she took in the endless shelves of books in front of her, she was glad about being wrong for the first time in her life, laughing she added, make that the second time. Her fingers stopped skipping the spines of the books as she found a leather bound journal about the history of the time turner. Settling down in a chair, she curled up as she read the book. She was so immersed in the book that she barely noticed that Draco had entered. She nearly jumped up when he cleared his throat, clutching her heart she said, "Merlin, you scared me."

Draco shot her a piercing look, that made her heart clench, before saying, " I love you Hermione."

Slightly taken aback Hermione said, " as I love you."

Review and enjoy!

Ps: sorry for any grammatical or spelling errors.

Ciao!