"On behalf of my kingdom, I'd like to welcome you to Eursika. I know our time is measured, but I do hope this will be the beginning of many more visits." Came the strong deep voice from the throne.
Hermione sunk into a deep curtsey like she saw the other women and saw Draco incline his head respectfully out of the corner of her eye. She rose slowly and saw the kind smile from the woman sitting next to the Tsar. Her age was almost impossible to determine. She saw signs of age around her mouth and eyes, but the body and face belonged to someone young.
"The court bids you welcome but now shall retire. We all understand how little time we have." At that announcement, the crowd slowly began to leave, every person bowing low once more before leaving through one of the four pairs of doors around the room.
It took several minutes for the room to clear out. When they were alone, the old tsar stood and walked slowly to them. "Let me take a better look at this grandson that I keep on hearing so much about." He said, his voice not unlike Dumbledore in tone. He smiled up at Draco as he framed his face with his weathered hands for a few seconds.
"And this lovely young lady must be your mate." He said, turning towards Hermione.
"Hermione Granger. Pleased to meet you." Hermione replied.
"Granger?" He asked, raising an eyebrow towards Draco.
"Yes. Hermione didn't grow up with much knowledge of our world. We are taking our time to formally wed."
"Interesting." Was all he said. "Oh, I almost forgot, this is my woman, the Tsarina Elizveta." He said, casually gesturing towards the other woman.
"Welcome." She said kindly.
Hermione returned her smile, feeling some kind of connection this woman. She felt Draco place an arm around her waist, drawing her closer to his side as the older man stared at her for a few seconds. "Well, how about we go out into the conference room and discuss the reason you're really here for and let the ladies do whatever they usually do to spend time."Hermione tensed, remembering that it was Draco himself that didn't want her to be far from him.
"Forgive me, but I'd rather keep her with me, if you don't mind."
"My son, the palace security is above all others. Besides, this war business is no place for a woman. Let the ladies get to know each other and we'll talk business."
Draco was nowhere near comfortable, but the war looming too close for their to be any more delays. He turned and walked a few feet away with Hermione, pulling her as close to him as he could. "Are you alright with this?" He asked quietly next to her ear.
"Doesn't he know that I'm here for the same reason you are? I'm not here to make small talk with a woman that I've never met before."
"I know that love, but things aren't done like that here. The important thing is to get there agreement to join our war. After that, I'll make sure they know that you are to be with me in all things."
Hermione stiffened but nodded. She knew that were here for a very limited amount of time, for things to be done, so acting like a child would not help move things along. "I'll be fine. Just remember the time, ok?"
"Ok. Just make sure your wand is at the ready for anything. Any men that come next to you that make you feel strange, do not hesitate to come to me or hex them." He said, with one last gentle kiss. They both walked over to the older couple again, taking sides.
Hermione gave a tiny nervous wave and left with the older woman. Draco just stared at the retreating figure of his mate, fighting the urge run after her.
"You know, I've always said that you can learn almost all you need to know about a man from how he treats his mate." The older man said quietly, grasping Draco's shoulder for a brief moment. "Come, the women will just walk around the garden and talk about whatever women talk about and we must get to business."
They walked over to great oak door behind a tapestry walked in. the room was definitely masculine, all dark greens and oak. Somber paintings lined the walls and bookcases were full of ancient looking parchment scrolls behind protective glass panels.
"Come, sit and we'll talk." Albus Dumbledore was quite clear that the teens shouldn't be gone from the protection of their safe house for an extended period of time and he had no desire to upset such a powerful man.
"Now, I have been following closely your war with this dark lord since the first rising all those years ago. I have to say that I'm worried over his influence on the vampires. Your ministry just loves to group us all together, but if they think about the bloodshed that those animals have caused over the centuries, they wouldn't compare to our noble race. And that is where you come in, Draco."
"I have spent my entire reign, over a century making alliances and deals with your wizarding government. I have given up the expansion of our lands and wars in favor of ensuring the peace that has never before been had. My people have prospered, have been wealthy and happy, but we're still compared to those dark things."
Draco nodded, remembering the history lessons that Katharina had been given him. The current Tsar had come to the throne almost two hundred years ago, amidst a great civil war with the final break with the night vampires.
"And that is where you come in. A Daywalker raised purely in the wizarding world, knowing your inheritance but remaining there anyway. My offer is the entire army in exchange for an agreement."
"What agreement?" Draco asked.
Thaddeus Black gave a sly smile and turned towards the portraits on the wall, a far off look crossing his face for a few seconds. "I've had four sons, and eight daughters. My daughters all married their mates and have been quite happy. My sons were proud soldiers, they fought and died bravely. My only regret is that I was not able to be on the battle fields with them. My entire life I have wanted to have a formal alliance with the Ministry of Magic. To somehow unite the two communities and ensure this peace that I've worked so hard for."
"And how would I be of any help." Draco asked, already having a slight feeling of dread.
"I will give you the full support of the kingdom in exchange for you to become my heir. I want you to become the Tsar after I chose to leave the throne."
Draco was almost expecting it, from the lessons that Katharina had been giving him, and the royal blood flowing through his veins thanks to his mother.
"I know this might be a shock, but that is the price of my support. People are already talking about you being a high ranking ministry official as soon as your schooling ends and with such influence in the business world. You would be the only candidate that I would feel comfortable leaving my realm to."
The tsarina walked slowly and Hermione was trying to not appear bored. He mind drifted to Draco and she found herself exasperated to think that important decisions were being made and she wasn't apart of them.
"Would you like to walk the gardens or take some tea?"
"The gardens would be fine, thanks."
Natalia smiled at the girl. Nerves were radiating off her like mad but she kept her face controlled. She remembered when she first came to court, so it was completely understandable.
"You know, I remember the first time I came here. My sister was the Tsars' mate. Imagine, two squibs girls, knowing nothing of significance in the world coming to the opulence of this court. When my sister died, I replaced her in his life and here I am, the Tsar has been a good man to me."
"Wait, I thought vampires died without their mates."
"No, you can choose death, but life can go on under special circumstance. If the daywalker is powerful, has a will to live, then a type of life is had. The relationship between myself and his Majesty is not a great love story or romantic at all. Its more of a constant companionship and deep friendship that has developed over all these years."
"And you're happy with this life?"Hermione asked incredulously.
"Yes. I'm the highest lady of the land. I want for nothing and have the friendship of a great man. We have tender feelings for each other and I've been lucky."
"Forgive me, but a life without love is not really a life."
"You've had a life before your mate found you."
"Well, that's different." Hermione said, becoming guarded.
"Come lets sit and get to know each other." She said with a smile. They both sat down on the stone bench, Hermione immediately copying on how she spread the gown out around her.
"I know this country may seem backwards to you, but there must always be a down side to a coin. Look at the land: no poverty, minimal death, all citizens' content with their lives. Being surrounded by beauty and wonders every day."
"So the price is that the women are kept as second class citizens? Don't they really count?"
"Of course they do. A vampire would do anything for his mate, you should know that by now. The only thing is that they recognize a more dominant role in public. You can have whatever balance you want in your relationship with Draco, but eventually it will become second nature to you to give up a bit of control to him, at least in public."
"I don't think so. Draco knows me well and he knows that I won't be second in anything. We are both on the same step in this relationship."
"Well, if you decide to have a future in court, perhaps you can change how things are. I see great things for you, my dear. The future is looking grand for you. With such a mate as Draco, with your beauty, youth and wisdom the world is yours for the taking."
"I cannot give you an answer, yet. I would need to discuss this with Hermione and the others." Draco said, standing up and leaning on the table.
"Of course. Take the time you need, but remember, the faster we get an answer, the faster the army can assemble and help train your wizards and witches." The older man said, walking over to the window. "I must congratulate you on your mate." He said softly as he saw his wife sitting with the younger woman from his vantage point. "She is wonderful. A rare find to have such a woman with a character like that. I felt her strength as soon as she walked into the room. I hope you are blessed with happy years and many children."
"Thank you, sir."
"I only wonder why she is still intact. You've been co-habitating since the beginning of the summer and she still has not been claimed. Most unusual."
"That I'm afraid is a personal matter. Hermione and I have an understanding between us. I'm sorry, but may we be excused? I need time to consider your proposition fully and talk it over with Hermione."
"Of course my dear boy. Just please respond quickly as to our little matter. The detail we can work out when I have your decision."
With that, both men walked out the room. Draco followed, feeling in his pocket the small jewelry box that held the engagement ring. We had wanted to end this meeting as soon as
possible, hoping that they would be done with enough time to stop by the manor before curfew.
The little house was finally done today and everything was in place for a proposal. He knew that she loved him. The time that they had spent together over the summer had only helped blossom what they had begun before school holidays, before he received his gifts. To have her say yes in front of the house of her dreams, were they would live together and raise their children.
He smiled to himself as he thought of the nights they had spent tighter talking about their future, arguing everything from parenting methods to baby names. They agreed on almost everything, but still picked to argue for the intellectual aspect of their relationship.
His smile grew as she walked in with the tsarina. He walked over to her and after a formal leave taking, they walked out with a guard to the room where they first came from. "Do you mind if we make a quick stop at the manor? I have a surprise for you."
With a smile and a kiss, Draco received a nod and led both of them to the fireplace. He gave the direction to be dropped off at the front gate, and when they landed, he called a house elf for a carriage.
"Now, it's a surprise, so I'm going to want to blindfold you, just until we get there." Draco said, pulling out a black cloth from his pocket.
"You had this planned all along?" She asked with a smile.
"Only since this morning. I was waiting for some things to be done." He replied. He tied the blindfold gently but securely and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
They arrived at the site a few minutes later and Draco found himself very pleased. The house had to have rooms added to it to make room for the nurseries that they would need and a few extras, but the architects and builders had been faithful to Hermione's original drawings.
The gardens were lighted with lanterns and fireflies, creating the perfect ethereal setting that he had been hoping for. He turned and helped Hermione down from the carriage, leading her down the path of lilies and tulips to be near the front doors.
He took one last look around and knelt down on one knee, just like the muggle custom called for. With a slight wave of his hand the blindfold came off.
Hermione blinked a few times to get used to the light but a gasp escaped when she saw the house in front of her. She thought that it wasn't possible, it must have been some type of dream or hallucination and not possibly real.
A small chuckle caught her attention towards the ground and she felt a wave of dizziness overcome her as she saw Draco on his knees for the first time in her life.
"I love you, Hermione. There are not enough words in the universe to explain how much I love you, but I promise that I will make sure you know how I feel about you each and every day for the rest of our lives. I don't deserve you, but I'll make you happy. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Draco said, his voice quivering slightly.
Hermione felt as if all the air had been pulled out. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his waist, vigorously nodding her head.
Draco pulled back, wanting to make sure what she was saying. "What was that love?"
"Yes! Yes, a million times yes!" She shouted, going back and burying her face into his chest again.
AN: I'm so sorry for the delay. And about the story coming off the site, my bad. I took the words from Draco's proposal from my husband, so thanks to him for that. I have a rough outline for the story and am trying to get back on track with faster and more regular updates. I'll repost this chapter as soon as I get it beta'd. the next chapter will be up VERY soon. Like before Thursday (cross fingers). Anyways, comments, questions, reviews? THANKS!