Draco stared at the beaded bag that hung next to the fireplace. He knew what it was. The whole damn wizard if world knew what it was. He ran his hand through his hair and looked away from it.

"What's wrong?" Hermione's voice broke into the room and startled him.

"It's nothing." Draco waves his hand at her, motioning for her to join him.

"And I'm Rowena Ravenclaw." Hermione crosses her arms over her chest. "Talk to me. I hate it when you go get all sad and secretive."

"I am neither sad nor secretive, witch." He frowned at her as she giggled and settled next to him on the couch.

"You are." She leaned into him and sprawled across his chest, leaving him with a face full of curls. He pressed his nose into the wild nimbus and breathed in her unique scent. Vanilla, books, and a hint of lilac. He loved the way she smelled. He took another deep breath and caught a hint of something exotic as he dragged air into his lungs.

"New perfume?" He pulled her closer.

"No. Quit changing the topic." She planted her hands on his chest and pushed up to lock eyes with him. "What's bothering you?"

"When we moved into this place, you seemed happy. It took me a bit to get used to living in a muggle flat, but I'm happy here, too." Draco stared up into her eyes and saw the fire banked deep in them. Her magic was always there in her gaze ready to blaze at a moment's notice. "Two days ago, you went and got special permission from the Minister of Magic himself to get our floo on the network. You didn't even talk to me about it. Now, that bag is right there, waiting. Is something wrong? Is there a threat I don't know about? Are you unhappy with me?"

Hermione blinked before she collapsed against his chest and hugged him tight. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She wasn't calling him an idiot. She wasn't reaffirming her love for him as she did every other time he'd let doubts run away with him. He tightened his embrace.

"I'm yours, Hermione." He whispered against her temple. "Please don't leave me. I'm lost without you."

"I am not leaving you. You are not a monster. You have not done anything wrong." Her list of assurances went on and on. He didn't even hear the words anymore, just the comfort of her beloved voice and the warmth of her embrace.

"I love you, witch." Draco pressed his lips against her forehead and reveled in the warmth of her skin.

"I love you, too." Hermione pushed against his chest and waited until he let her go. "I was so caught up in my own head I forgot how things might look to you."

"Look to me?" He took another deep breath and caught that elusive scent clearly. His witch smelled like the air before a storm.

"My bag and the floo connection." She looked up at him and chewed on her lip for a moment. "I've liked living like muggles with you. I really have, but it isn't the responsible thing to do now. We need to be able to get to Saint Mungo's when the time comes."

"The time comes..." Draco stared into her eyes in shock. "You're pregnant?"

Hermione nodded and smiled at him. He blinked as the knowledge settled into his brain. He was going to be a father.

"But we aren't married." Draco pulled her closer. "My mother will kill us."

He felt Hermione stiffen in his arms and realized his blunder. He smelled the gathering ozone as her power danced around her. He fumbled at his pocket and yanked out the small box.

"I've been carrying this around for weeks trying to find the right time. I took it to Bill Weasley and had him make sure it was clean of all curses and dark magic." Draco flipped open the lid on the box revealing the large ruby held by two entwined golden dragons. "It's the only ruby in the family collection, but if you don't like it we can find something else. I asked Potter for permission to marry you. He consented and dragged me to Longbottom so I could ask him, too. I had to work in their green houses for hours before he agreed and dragged me to Luna Lovegood..."

Her finger pressed against his lips.

"They made you ask everyone." Hermione grinned. "That's why they've all been acting oddly. They knew."

"Please, marry me." Draco licked his lips and traced his fingertips along her cheekbones.

"Of course." Hermione hopped out of his lap and held her hand out for him to slide the ring on her finger. "Let's go."

Draco gaped at her as the ruby caught the light streaming in through the window and cast reflections around the room.

"Where are we going?" He scrambled to his feet and grabbed her hand.

"Gretna Green. Wizards can still marry over the anvil there." Hermione accioed their coats. "I'm not going to wait six months for your mother to plan some suitably extravagant wedding and March me down the aisle dressed as a beach ball."

"She's going to hex us dead." Draco slid his overcoat on. "Seriously."

"Not until her grandchild is born." Hermione giggled as she looped her arm through his. "So, we have time to appease her."

"That'll protect you, but she no longer needs me to have a grandchild." Draco grabbed the floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace. "Gretna Green."

They stepped into the flames and he couldn't fight back the smile. Even the impending storm of maternal curses couldn't wipe away his joy. The love of his life loved him enough to marry him, and they were going to have a baby. He stepped out of the flames and smiled at his bride as she reached into her bag and pulled out a matched set of wedding rings.