CHAPTER XLIII
- The Black Lake, Hogwarts -
Draco led a blind folded Hermione gently and slowly down the forest path, from Hogwarts castle. A teary eyed, Headmistress McGonagall behind them.
"Draco do I really have to be blindfolded?" Hermione whined.
Chuckling in her ear, he answered, "Yes. Don't worry though, we're almost there."
"Almost where?" She grumbled impatiently.
He led her off the path towards the lake and matted trees where they had their first real moment together back in sixth year. When Hermione had found out the horrifying truth – that he had joined the Death Eater ranks. Whilst he treasured all his moments with Hermione, he guarded this one ferociously. Despite knowing everything, and despite everything he had done, she had come back. She offered him friendship and ultimately saved him from himself.
He slid the blindfold of her eyes, and let the silk fall to the ground. Hermione blinked in her surrounds, a gasp of surprise when her mind and eyes finally took in the scene around her. She was standing at the shores of the Blake Lake, the worn old forest in front of her that Draco had tried to hide behind what seemed eons ago. Tears leaked out of Hermione's eyes as she took in the beauty that Draco had transformed the area in. Woven into the thick trunks and leaves were a range of irises – her favorite type of flower – off all different colors and patterns. Hanging in the air, small white candles hovered illuminating the dark night air around them.
Tears streamed down her eyes she watched Draco drop down on one knee. He cupped his hands around hers gently.
"Hermione I have had feelings for you since you punched me in third year. This small little muggle girl constantly caused me so much grief. She was supposed to be beneath me and yet time and time again she bested me. And then I saw her again at the Yule Ball on the hands of another man and I've never been more annoyed than in that moment to know that had I not been such prick for the last four years that could have been me. I wanted to change but no matter where I turned there was only darkness. And then seven years ago, you gave me the greatest gift anyone could give me."
Draco couldn't help it as his voiced trembled, his own eyes crying now.
"You looked past the man I had been and saw the person I wanted to be. You gave me chance and you saved me from a lifetime of misery. You gave me peace, understanding, love and friendship. I will never be able to repay you for that gift, but I would like to spend the rest of my life showing you how much it means to me. How much you mean to me. I know I was stupid and we waited more than we should have, and have gone through more pain than necessary to find one another but we have finally. Hermione will you at last do me the honor, of being my partner, my lover, my best friend, the mother of Pyxis and the mother of our future children. Will you marry me?"
Hermione stared at Draco, her face drenched in tears. She knew she needed to say something, but she was so emotional she couldn't get the words out. When she did her words came out croaky.
"You have saved me time and time again. You crept your way into my life. I don't know when but somewhere along the line you became so important that I didn't want to live without you. When Ronald proposed to me I panicked. I said yes because I freaked out and I had to say something. But with you, I know in my heart the answer as soon as you asked. Whilst it doesn't adequately answer what you ask of me, yes, yes I will marry you. I will love you. I will grow old with you. I will be Pyxis' mother–"
Draco lunged at Hermione before she could say anything more, wrapping her in a bear hug as he swung her around.
"You had me scared there for a minute love."
"I wasn't going to say no. As always you amaze and render speechless."
She lifted her head up and kissed him passionately before pulling away slightly, their lips still touching.
"Is anyone expecting us back?"
"No and we have this whole area to ourselves. Why?"
"Because I love you Draco Malfoy." Whispering in his ear she continued, "I want you and I need you now."
Smirking at her he pushed her against the trunk of the tree, careful to choose one without any sharp edges, before proceeding to show her just how much he loved her.
Author's Note:
I originally was going to keep going with this chapter, but decided to end it here, as I wanted it to be more a "sweet" "cute" moment rather than a lovemaking scene. Hopefully that decision paid off.
