It wasn't until the day after next before Draco received a response from his parents in regards to the letter he'd sent them. His Mother had been the one to write on behalf of his father and herself, and as he'd expected...they were thrilled with the news.

Then Lady Prewett's owl had arrived the following morning and had unceremoniously dumped her reply right in front of him, hooted angrily and flew away.

Draco swallowed as he reached for the missive, his eyes glancing up briefly to see Hermione's face pale slightly as he tried his very best to remain calm—giving her a wink which had her rolling her eyes at him.

He could feel the stares coming from pretty much everyone in the Great Hall. Apparently Pansy and her mouth, had decided to shout her displeasure to anyone who'd pay her a lick of attention over the last two days, and Draco was at the breaking point.

He really wanted to hex her.

It was only his Pureblood upbringing that was causing him from refraining doing so.

Hermione had done her level best to ignore Pansy—as well as Therese Rowle, Olivia Shardlow and Millicent Bulstrode. All four witches seemed to be in cahoots with each other and Draco had to wonder what in Salazar's name he'd ever seen in either Pansy or Therese. Both witches were vindictive vipers on a good day.

Grabbing the letter, Draco placed it into his book bag, finished his breakfast and headed off to class. As much as he was curious about Lady Prewett's response, he wasn't stupid enough to read it in front of a bunch of gawpers who didn't have anything better to do than meddle in his affairs.

He eventually found himself in Charms, sitting next to Theo and Blaise who were both giving him the stink eye.

"Aren't you going to read the letter?" Theo whispered, once Flitwick had finally finished lecturing and left them to work on their assignment.

"Yes, eventually."

"Aren't you curious?" Blaise murmured after a few moments of silence, causing Draco to quell his mate's stupidity with a caustic glare.

More silence hovered over their group until Flitwick excused them, and when Draco walked out of the classroom, he immediately noticed Hermione standing at the end of the corridor waiting for him.

As he sauntered towards her, he couldn't help but admire the way in which her hair was pulled back...showing off her long slender neck and the cute diamond stud earrings she had taken to wearing after Christmas hols. Her long, perfectly shaped legs were covered with tights, and her fitted flared skirt was sitting just above her knee while her Gryffindor jumper and tie completed her ensemble. She always looked beautiful, but Draco had noticed that her school robes this year had fit her far better than in previous years.

Hermione had always had the propensity to buy her robes a bit too large, but then she wore those Muggle trousers that hugged her arse like...

Shaking his head away of those unhelpful thoughts, Draco moved next to his witch and smirked.

"Hey love, what are you doing here?"

She shrugged and bit her lip as her eyes focused on his book bag and Draco sighed.

"I haven't opened it yet."

"Oh!" She whispered, surprised as her blue eyes traced his with a hint of worry. "Okay."

Sighing, Draco grabbed her hand and walked down the corridor looking around—trying his best to ignore the interested stares coming from those in the hallway. He did eventually find an empty classroom, and led Hermione inside before he locked and warded the room against nosy intruders.

Then he saw his witch wave her hand and felt her magic as she placed a few more wards of her own.

He just chuckled and shook his head as he set his book bag down on the closest desk and pulled the letter from its hiding place, fiddling with it for a moment as his eyes locked once again with the worried stare of his little vixen.

"Do you want to do the honors?" He quipped, but Hermione just shook her head.

"No, you can do it but we don't have much time before next class starts."

"Fine..fine..." he mumbled as he used his wand to check for curses, hexes and other nefarious spells.

He heard Hermione giggling and he blushed slightly at her amused grin.

"You really think my Grandmother would..."

"Yes." He blurted out and winced apologetically as Hermione's eyes widened comically—so he rushed to clarify. "Muriel Prewett has been known to be rather unforgiving and vindictive when properly motivated."

Hermione sat down and noticeably gulped. "Really?" Her voice was pitched slightly higher, and Draco nodded.

"Yes."

"Oh..."

"Yes, oh..."

"So the letter?"

"Is clean."

"Well that's good, right?"

Draco didn't reply, as he didn't want to give any false sense of security at this exact moment.

Taking a fortifying breath, he opened the flap of parchment and started to read...

Dear Scion Malfoy,

I have received your declaration of intent in regards to my Great-Granddaughter. Whilst I wasn't surprised by the missive, the tone and tenor was rather unexpected, although not unwelcome.

I have spent the past several years hearing of your more notable exploits from my family; my Great-Niece in particular. Reports of your propensity for unkindness, especially towards those you viewed as coming from inferior birth; I found especially troubling. Not because I don't agree to an extent that Muggles can pose a risk to our society, but it was the way in which you felt the need to assert your status amongst your peers that I found severely lacking.

In tone and in subtlety.

Especially for one of your noble birthright.

Now you wish to court my Granddaughter. A witch whom, if I'm not mistaken...you've been rather brutish to on more than one occasion.

I feel as if I'd be remiss in my duty as her Grandmother not to bring this to your attention.

Know this Draco, if my Fabian were alive today? He would not have given his blessing.

At least not before maiming you good and proper.

Then obliviating you afterwards.

And Marlene? I will only say that her propensity for vindictiveness when wronged was only second to your Dear Departed Aunt.

I'm sure you know the one I mean.

Now that I've said my peace, I also know that you have made efforts to undo your past misdeeds and have asked for—if not absolution...a level of forgiveness from my Hermione. She has given this to you, because that is the kind of person she is.

Loving and forgiving.

I don't think I need to remind you what will happen if you cross her, yes?

Her Father and Mother purposefully, wanted Hermione's magic to choose her best match and for this reason alone I am giving my blessing. Not because I feel you deserve her.

You don't.

But because for some reason only the fates understand; you and she are meant to join our families together.

I would expect you to honor the words, sentiment and intent behind your letter. As a Malfoy, I would hope you are fully cognizant of what that means.

Please advise your Father that I will expect to hear from him soon in this regard.

Regards,

Lady Muriel Prewett

Draco's hands were shaking as he sat down heavily on the nearest chair, almost missing it entirely and had to catch himself suddenly, as the dread in his stomach sat there like a stone—after he'd finished the letter.

He didn't even notice Hermione approaching him until she took it from his trembling fingers and he glanced up as he noticed her blue eyes read through the words, her brow furrowing heavily as she continued to bite her lip in consternation.

When she was done, she sighed in resignation and then proceeded to plop herself down on his lap and wrap her arms around his neck...the letter now dangling behind his head in her left hand.

Draco could barely make eye contact with her—the shame in his gut was a living, breathing presence.

"I feel as if I should apologize." Hermione whispered and Draco shook his head as he readjusted her a bit more firmly on his lap.

"No, I don't think that's the proper response at all, love."

There was another moment of uncomfortable silence until Draco cleared his throat.

And when he spoke—his words were heavy with regret.

"I've often wondered how in Salazar's name I ever got so lucky to be your chosen mate. Sometimes, I sit in my bed at night and replay snippets of our past on an endless loop."

"And?" She asked after Draco paused, seemingly having a difficult time getting his thoughts into words.

"And..." he gazed up and quirked his lips down, "I don't know if I can expect forgiveness when I can't really forgive myself."

"You know I've forgiven you, Draco."

He nodded stiffly. "So you've said, and I suppose only time will continue to show you I'm a changed wizard."

"You haven't changed a lot about yourself, and I know some of your prejudices are still there inside you. It's hard to rethink things you've been taught as truth your whole life."

He hummed in agreement. "True, but you can change how you act upon those feelings. Prejudice is inherent in all of us. The way Slytherins are viewed here at school is a testament to that."

Hermione bristled as she glared down at him, but he just held her gaze with his own.

"I'm not justifying how many of my classmates, including myself have behaved over the years...but you have to admit that the prejudice runs both ways. Merlin Hermione, your friend Weasley told Potter on the train first year before he'd even met a Slytherin—that we were all inherently evil. If that's not prejudice, than I'm unsure what is. Potter refused to shake my hand because he'd believed Weasley's words."

"And you didn't help it by insulting Ron either, Draco."

Another belabored sigh. "Fine, that's fair I suppose—but can you at least admit I have a valid point?"

Hermione gazed into Draco's stormy grey eyes and saw the truth of his words reflected back at her. She wasn't ignorant. The prejudice here at Hogwarts wasn't completely one-sided.

"Yes, I will admit it."

"Maturity is a hard life lesson love, especially when you realize what a little shite you were."

Hermione giggled. "You definitely were that."

Draco lifted his hand behind him and retook the letter from Hermione's grip and grimaced as he lifted his witch off his lap and placed the letter back into the envelope. He was about to put it back into his bag, when he felt it fly out of his hand and watched in shock as it hovered between them in the empty classroom.

Before he could ask what she was doing, the letter burst into flames.

He watched in horror as the ashes fell like black snowflakes onto the ground and then with a wave of her hand, they were gone.

"What?!"

Hermione moved back into his embrace and smirked, as she lifted herself up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips—which he deepened instantly.

They remained like that for a few moments, before she pulled away with a soft smile.

"No more dredging up our past Draco. If we are going to have a future together, we have to put the past where it belongs. We can remember it, learn from it even. But I can't see the wisdom of beating ourselves blue with it. We can't change it, right?"

He just nodded dumbly, wondering how in the fuck he'd ever done anything in his life to deserve such selfless consideration from anyone.

Let alone Hermione.

She was far, far too good for him.

He allowed her to take his hand as she silently unwarded the room with a casual wave of her wrist and as they moved out into the corridor together, they both chuckled as they realized they were both late for their next period.

Thankfully they had it together.

"Do you think Severus will give us detention?"

Draco grinned. "I think it's a fairly safe assumption."

And sure enough Draco was right.