Thank you so much for everyone who posted a review and for everyone following! It means so much! :)
A big shout out to friendship, and redemption. :)
Please read and review. I absolutely love reading reviews because it helps to motivate my writing while other reviews help me to become better writer.
Enjoy Chapter Twenty-One!
Let me know your thoughts so far! Trust me, it helps loads! :) Stay safe beautiful people!
HAPPY READING! :)
Draco sat anxiously in his office, watching the time tick away.
Minutes turned into hours and finally it was six pm.
Pushing back his chair, he bid Doris a good evening and left.
The loud thud cut through the silence. Blaise looked up to see his best friend walk towards him and take the seat in front.
Draco leaned back into the padded chair with a smile plastered on his face
Blaise narrowed his eyes, studying Draco, "Are you back with Granger?" he asked, laughing.
"I am," Draco replied confidently, laughing along with his best friend.
Blaise shook his head, "Took you long enough, you stupid prat."
With a serious face, Draco leaned forward, "I want to thank you, for being a fucking good friend."
"I think a celebration is in order Drake," Blaise smiled, a twinkle in his eye.
Draco laughed again, "Definitely, Theo?"
"Let's message him on the way," Blaise said, reaching for his coat.
"Where do you fancy Drake?" Blaise asked curiously.
"You know, let's check out Hogshead," Draco replied indefinitely. He felt like taking a trip down memory lane.
Blaise sighed and agreed wholeheartedly, "Good one mate."
The apparated outside the rundown bar in Hogsmeade. The place had been their spot for years. It brought back fond memories.
"Bitches," Theos dulcet tones greeted them. Blaise and Draco turned to face the lanky Slytherin.
Theo stood in front of the bar and gazed lovingly at the Boar, "I have missed you, Clarence." Blaise and Draco exchanged looks.
"I know, I'm going to fucking regret this, but who the fuck is Clarence?" Draco asked grudgingly. Theo pointed at the Sign, the Boar.
"The Boar is Clarence," Theo explained excitedly. Blaise smacked him over the head, "You're fucking mental." The trio laughed as they entered the bar.
They were overcome with the nostalgia of their days at Hogwarts. Nothing had changed, the bar was the exact fucking same. It felt glorious!
The barman came out to greet them, "My my how you buggers have grown, I still haven't got a group to match you Slytherins," Theo put his arm around the barman, "Good to see you too Aberforth."
"How have you been?" Draco asked, "My goat died," Aberforth told them miserably. The men exchanged looks and offered their condolences, they knew the goats meant a great deal to Aberforth.
The slid into a dusty booth, "It's good to see you boys, the first round is on me," Aberforth informed him cheerfully.
"Join us mate," Blaise asked Aberfoth when he brought over their drinks.
The old man slid into the booth next to Theo and they spoke of the mischief they had gotten to while at Hogwarts and new developments.
"Granger?" He asked Draco in shock, "You and the Gryffindor Princess? Merlin's beard, I was not expecting that" Aberforth laughed loudly and wiped butterbeer off his beard.
Theo cracked jokes that had the three men laughing for the rest of the night.
Draco was grateful that despite every fuck up he had to endure; his friends remained close. He looked over at Theo and Blaise fondly while taking a swig from his drink.
They had always been around, no matter what the problem.
The three friends stumbled out the bar in high spirits and apparated to Draco's apartment, where they fell into an alcohol-induced sleep wherever they dropped.
And that is how Hermione found them the following morning.
Theo spread-eagled on the floor, Blaise on the armchair and Draco on the couch. Taking out her phone, Hermione quickly took a picture.
They looked a right sight, she laughed to herself while making coffee and breakfast for the three men who would be up soon, sporting headaches and hunger.
over the next few days, Hermione realized that she had not packed at all. She plopped down on the couch with her head in her hands, "Shit, there's so much more to pack."
Draco brushed her hair and made a few calls.
Within the next hour, the apartment filled with her friends.
They helped Hermione pack the remaining of her clothes and belongings. Four wizards and three witches could make all the difference.
In next to no time, she was fully packed and ready to leave.
"Why do you have so much useless shit, Granger?" Theo complained, after sealing another box shut.
Afterwards, they ordered takeout food and hung out in Hermione's apartment.
Hermione watched her friends from her small kitchen.
Luna sitting on Theo's lap sharing a bag of cheese puffs, Ginny cuddled up to Harry talking to Blaise about Quidditch equipment.
She felt strong arms go around her, "Are you ok?" Draco asked concerned.
"I'm going to miss everyone so much," She confided with a sniffle.
Kissing her forehead and hugging her closely, he said, "You'll be back soon babe."
Hermione hugged Draco tightly. Yes, she would be back soon.
Hermione is about to leave
"I'll see you in a couple of days ok?" Draco told Hermione for the tenth time.
They were all standing around the Portkey.
Ginny hugged Hermione as both women softly sobbed, "I'm going to miss you so much," Hermione hugged her back tightly, "The minute I'm back, we have to start planning the wedding Gin."
Harry hugged her next, "Be careful and be safe, we will visit as often as possible."
Hermione nodded and looked around at her friends and kissed her boyfriend, "I love you Draco," he kissed her back passionately, "Always."
Ron had said his goodbye earlier at the apartment, he did not think it was prudent to be at her farewell party at the Ministry.
They were working on their friendship, grudgingly Draco had agreed to be understanding.
Fuck that! If Weasel shit stepped a toe out of line, he would hex him into a pile of dog shit.
Cormac was standing beside her, looking uncomfortable at the departing audience. Draco glared at him, with contempt and warning.
"SEE YOU SOON!" Hermione cried. Cormac and she touched the Portkey and they disappeared.
Ginny reached over and squeezed Draco's hand, looking at him sympathetically.
"Why don't you come over for dinner Malfoy?" Harry asked it was a heartfelt invitation.
Draco smiled warmly. "Ya I'd like that Potter," he replied, slightly taken back by Potters invite.
7 months down the line – At the Grangers residence
Draco sat with a steaming mug of tea in the Grangers kitchen, listening intently to Hermione's parents.
"If you love my daughter and treat her right, we have no objections! Hermione is a very smart girl and we trust her choices," Hermione's father told Draco with a smile.
"When you came over last, we could see how much you cared about each other. When you came for Christmas during school holidays, we always knew there was a special bond between you two, even though Hermione refused to talk about it," Hermione's mother weighed in happily.
Her father got up, "If you want our blessings Draco, then you most certainly have it. She's my only child and I'm fiercely protective of her but I can see in your eyes that you will protect Hermione just the same," He told Draco with finality and give him a quick hug.
Mrs. Granger gave Draco a warm hug and smiled at him lovingly. They watched with arms around each other as Draco got ready to leave.
Draco smiled with renewed purpose at the two older Grangers and stepped outside into the snow. He quickly apparated to Harry's house.
Harry jumped at the noise and opened the door. Draco walked in dusting the snow out of his black jacket and sat down in a green armchair.
"How'd it go?" Harry asked, handing Draco a butterbeer.
Draco had a bright smile plastered to his face, "It went really well, they like me," he said, confidently.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Still the egotistical prat," Draco smirked and showed Harry the finger.
The two men laughed, and Ginny came running down the stairs, "Did they give you their blessings?"
Draco shrugged his shoulder, "Was there any doubt?'' Ginny smacked him over the head and settled down on Harrys lap.
The year passed by considerable faster than Draco and Hermione expected.
It helped a great deal that he was in New York with her for the most part and Harry and Ginny visited often.
Hermione wasn't thrilled about leaving New York; she had made some good friends and it had been a completely unreal experience working with the Americans and their Legislations.
They had offered her the job, which she had politely declined; Her life wasn't in New York, it was back in London.
Cormac had found love with a feisty raven-haired beauty, who spoke with a thick southern accent and he was smitten.
It was a huge relief to Hermione as he kept himself well and truly away from her.
Hermione had suggested they offer the job to him and he had accepted wholeheartedly.
Once Draco visited, Hermione had taken a week off and they had gone on a road trip.
They visited the States that were closest and spent most of their time exploring museums.
The best part of the trip turned out to be the few days spent in Las Vegas, getting incredibly drunk, dabbling in a bit of blackjack and slot machines, and making love morning and night.
They had passed a cheap-looking chapel and Draco had hurriedly dragged Hermione away from it before they gave into temptation.
Hermione felt great to be back home, she took a deep breath and the crispness filled her nostrils, while the chilly air felt marvellous against her skin.
Caught up in her thoughts, she didn't realize Draco had wrapped his arms around her in the middle of her parent's house. Everyone had gathered for Sunday brunch as a welcome back party.
"I've missed you," Draco whispered in her ear and Hermione laughed, "You saw me two days ago," he smirked, and gave her a quick kiss.
He led her to the backyard, where her mother religiously grew roses and orchids, it was Hermione's favourite part of the house because it always smelt heavenly.
Draco took her hands in his nervously, "I love you, and I'm rubbish at this sort of thing." He cupped her face with slightly trembling hands, and she leaned into his palm, loving the feel of his cool skin against her cheek.
He gazed into her eyes, the fiery orbs he loved so much stared back at him adoringly, the corners of her mouth curved upward in a smile.
Taking a deep breath, Draco asked, "Will you marry me? I'm fucking miserable without you by my side twenty-four-seven."
Hermione laughed softly and pressed her lips to his, "It's about bloody time you asked." Draco laughed softly and the most beautiful ring appeared out of thin air and landed on her finger. "It's a Malfoy family heirloom, my mother insisted I give it to you."
Hermione was visibly shocked, "She knows? And this is beautiful."
"Of course, she knows Granger, she's my mother. Plus, it will appear on that sodding tapestry with all the family members and then she will have my head for not telling her," he kissed her softly, "Besides, I wanted to do things right."
Hermione laughed again and hugged him, "Never pegged you for a traditional romantic."
Draco took her hand, "Let's go tell everyone the good news then, shall we?" Hermione smiled as she followed him into the house.
They were finally together and the future looked bright.