**Authors Note!
Thank you guys so much for you interest in this story, your support means the world to me. Any reviews are welcome! This is the last chapter I currently have completed, but I'm starting on chapter 6 this evening. I hope to have it uploaded by Tuesday or Wednesday this week at the latest. **
5
A week later Hermione and Draco returned from their trip to Greece. The couple had spent the entire week in museum's, soaking up the ancient history. Greece had a very active and rather large wizarding community. Hermione of course had spent a great deal of time in book store's and had returned home with suitcases full of ancient Greece wizarding spells, stories and theories. Hermione had apologized again and again but each time Draco hushed her "Shh Hermione. This is why I choose to bring you here, I knew you would appreciate it. I love it here as well." He said as he pulled out his black wizarding charge card and bought her another suitcase she could fill up with new books they had bought that day. The two had gotten even closer on their honeymoon, spending hours and hours talking and researching. Talking about their hopes, dreams and their respective jobs; any problems that they were encountering.
Upon returning they apparated directly to their new home: Malfoy Manor. While they had been gone, movers had packed up Hermione's old flat and moved her belongings into the manor and returned her keys to the landlord. Narcissa and Lucius had moved out while the two of them were out on their honeymoon. Upon their return Hermione and Draco set about producing and setting up brand new wards and protections around the property. At first Hermione had protested when Draco mentioned they needed to do it. "Hermione, think. We both have dangerous jobs, and right now you are being stalked and harassed by your ex-boyfriend. We need these wards." She had sighed, but eventually given in. Hermione had to agree their jobs were dangerous and with Ron still giving her problems, they needed to be protected. Every few hours Draco would disappear into the basement, but stubbornly refused to tell her what was going on. Once the wards were finished, they decided to only give themselves, Narcissa and Lucius permission to enter the property. The wards and protections had taken the whole first day they were back to get set up and put in place. Once that was done, Hermione and Draco set about putting away her belongings and doing some slight redecorating to the manor. When redecorating their master bedroom, Hermione had discovered another present from Narcissa; a full new wardrobe.
"Hermione,
Please accept this gift as the new Lady Malfoy. This wardrobe has everything from casual clothes to dress robes and dresses for the various functions you and Draco will need to attend as the new Lord and Lady Malfoy. If you have any questions, please owl me. Lets have tea soon!
All my love,
Narcissa"
Hermione had smiled as she read the note and wandered through her new walk in closet. Such beautiful clothes, and many of them were suited to her work as a potion's mistress. Narcissa was truly so thoughtful, and since her own mother didn't even know who she was, it was amazing to have Draco's mother in her life. After finishing transfiguring the furniture in the master bedroom, Draco stuck his head in the door "All finished?" Hermione nodded "Yes, its exactly as we discussed. And I've found a present from your mother, a brand new wardrobe with outfits suited to the new Lady Malfoy." Draco nodded "Yes that reminds me, this Friday evening we have a charity ball to attend at the ministry. Our family is a large contributor to the squib foundation, we will be expected to be there." "Of course, I will look through my closet and see if I can find a dress suitable for the function." Draco crossed the room and kissed his wife's cheek "Are you done in here? There's something in the basement I want to show you." Knitting her eyebrows in confusion but nodding, Hermione followed Draco through the manor "What could you possibly have to show me in the basement?" she muttered to herself as they descended the stairs. Once they got downstairs and Draco lit the lights, Hermione gasped in shock. She was looking at a fully functional and fully stocked potions lab; complete with book cases filled with her potion books, cabinets filled with ingredients and several cauldron's happily bubbling away. "I know you love to brew, even on your days off. I've been working non stop for the past two days to get this set up for you." Hermione launched herself at Draco and the two of them stumbled to the floor in a bone breaking hug "Stop explaining yourself. I love it!" She said as she kissed her husband soundly on the lips. For a moment the two of them were lost in a passionate embrace, but they came to their senses "Sorry I shouldn't have done that." Hermione said as she got up off the ground and stood up brushing herself off. Draco stood as well and brushed himself off as well "Hermione don't be sorry. I rather enjoy kissing you. And we are married now, its ok for us to kiss each other. In fact it's expected of us." Hermione blushed "I know you are right, it's just a weird feeling being married. But I am getting used to that. So far I enjoy being married to you." "I enjoy being married to you as well." The two of them spent the rest of the evening just being near each other, cuddled up on the sofa in the library reading together. It was the perfect way to spend the rest of the day before their vacations ended.
The next morning Draco and Hermione woke at the same time and began getting ready. They already moved in sync with each other, their morning routines working in harmony; as if they had been living together for their entire lives. Draco dressed in a black casual suit with his hair smoothed back. Hermione choose plain black jeans and a ¾ length sleeve midnight blue shirt, with a lite day cloak in case it turned chilly in her lab. Meeting Draco at the door to the manor he smiled "You look beautiful, are you ready to get back to work?" Hermione nodded "Yes I am" Turning on the spot they reappeared at the ministry, Hermione kissed her husband on the cheek "I'll see you tonight."
The first week back progressed with relative smoothness. Most people who had not been invited to the wedding stopped by her lab to wish her well. She had lunch with Daphne and Pansy a few times, the three girls were getting along rather well. Ron was quiet, but Hermione often felt like she was being watched. But when she looked up no one was there, it was a rather eerie feeling. There was another double homicide, Two more muggle borns were murdered. The same poison was found in the victims blood, but unfortunately they were still no closer to finding out which rogue death eaters were doing this. But on Wednesday the couple had their first fight. Hermione stomped through the manor; wand in one hand and mail in the other hand. Bursting into Draco's study she creamed "DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY!" Draco jumped at the unexpected visit of his wife, but was rather unnerved at how angry she looked. "Why are you howling like a banshee?" Hermione stalked to the front of his desk and slammed the paper mail down on his desk. "I just received this in the mail. What gives you the right to pay off all of my student loan debt, $50,000 muggle money, without consulting me first?" Draco raised his eyebrows "Well I thought I was doing something you would enjoy, it is only money after all. We will have made it back by the end of the week with our business dealings." Hermione lifted her wand and pointed it squarely at her husband "And here the old arrogant Draco Malfoy returns. You can not throw money at all of our problems and solve them! I wanted to pay those off myself, with my own money from MY job!" She all but screamed. Draco's eyes narrowed at his words "Do NOT accuse me of being arrogant. I did this for you. I assumed you would be happy with me." He said as he pulled his own wand out. Hermione waved her wand screaming "Confringo", Draco in turn shouted "Protego", causing her blasting curse to rebound away from him and strike one of the bookcases on the wall. "What the hell is your problem, Granger? I told you I wanted to pay for your education!" Hermione yelled "Melofors!" Draco's head was instantly incased in a pumpkin, while it would've been a funny sight any other day Hermione was to pissed to be humored. Draco waved his wand around his head and the pumpkin exploded, and his face held nothing but fury. "So the Gryffindor golden girl wants to fight? Let's fight bookwarm! Sternius!" Instantly Hermione began sneezing without any control. Using a nonverbal version of Finite Incantenum, the sneezing stopped instantly. Hermione narrowed her eyes before shooting another spell directly at her husband. Blasting spells and burning spells were thrown by the two until every piece of furniture was destroyed. Books were ripped apart and pages were left fluttering down from the bookshelves, panes of glass were broken from the big window facing the garden. Finally both Hermione and Draco yelled "Expelliarmus" Two bolts of red light burst from each of their wands meeting squarely in the meeting of the couple. The force of the spell meeting blasted Draco and Hermione off their feet, throwing them at opposite walls of the room. Laying the floor, both of them took a moment to catch their breath. Hermione looked up a few minutes later to see Draco holding out his hand to help her stand. Once on her feet again she put her wound back in her pocket "I'm sorry Draco. I shouldn't have lost my cool like that." Draco hugged her tightly "It's ok. But why were you so angry that I paid off your student loans?" Hermione sighed "It's not that I'm angry. It's just I'm not used to having anyone take care of me. I've never been struggling for money, but I never had an excess of money. I wanted to pay off my loans with my own money, just to prove I could." She hung her head in shame "It's nothing to be ashamed about, it is my honor to pay for your education. My money is your money. But I see now I should've consulted you first. After all, you are my wife now." Hermione looked up and kissed her husband "That's all I ask, I just want to be involved in our decision making." Draco leaned down to kiss his wife and soon the two were locked in a passionate embrace. When they separated for a moment to catch some air Hermione said "I should really clean up the mess I made…" Draco kissed her again "Leave it." With that he picked her up bridal style and carried her to their master bedroom before slamming the door shut.
The next day Harry and Hermione were locked in her lab, looking over still uncaptured death eaters, trying to narrow down their choices. "There's no way to make a decision, there are to many death eaters still on the run. And no finger prints or blood left over from the murders at the crime scene." Hermione sighed as she gathered up her files "I know Harry, we will keep working on it though. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go home and get ready. Me and Draco are expected at a benefit in a few hours." Harry smiled and nodded, waved goodbye as Hermione used her office fire place to floo home "Malfoy Manor" she clearly said as the green flames engulfed her. A mere moment later she was standing in the fire place at the manor. Giving their house elves her lab work and notes, Hermione hurried upstairs to start and get ready.
A few hours later, Hermione stood in front of her full length mirror finishing putting in her diamond stud earrings. For the evening affair Hermione had decided to wear a full length green evening gown, with sequins embedded throughout the dress. The dress had long sleeves, so a cooling charm was embued into the fabric to make sure she didn't over heat. Nude heels on her feet, Hermione's hair had been curled loosely and swept to one side of her shoulder and pinned into place. A knock at the door caught her attention "Hermione are you ready? We have to be going." "Yes Draco I'm coming." Gathering her small clutch she moved to the door and opened it. Her husband took in her appearance "You look lovely, I am very lucky." He said as he kissed her softly on the cheek. "Thank you, you look quite nice yourself. I see now why they called you the Slytherin God." Draco laughed "Please never call me that again, Pansy started that when she wanted to date me. For some reason she thought it would help." Draco and Hermione shared a laugh as the flooed to the ministry. Once there Draco took Hermione's arm and the pair strolled through the atrium greeting and speaking to the other supporters of the squib charity. "Draco, I should've mentioned this to you before we came. But would it be possible for us to make another donation tonight?" "Of course Hermione! You don't have to ask how to spend the family fortune, you are family now. Spend it however you want." The pair walked over to the donation table and Hermione sat down to write out a check "Is 1,000 galleons to much?" she asked looking up at her husband. He leaned down and kissed her forehead "No, it is fine. And if its possible, I care for you even more now." Hermione blushed under his praise and finished out writing the check, finally signing Lady Hermione Malfoy. Handing the check to the foundation supervisors, Hermione and Draco both picked up a glass of champagne and went back to mingling. Shortly after they found themselves in a conversation with the Minister of Magic and Draco's parents. "Draco, Hermione! Thank you so much for coming, and for your large donation." Draco shook the ministers hand and nodded to his parents "It is our pleasure, the Malfoys will always support this worthy charity." The couples spent several minutes talking, not knowing they were being watched from the shadows. Deeply involved in their conversation they didn't notice a red head approaching them and raising his wand, pointing it squarely at Hermione and shouting "Incarcerous, Stupefy!" Instantly Hermione was bound and fell to the floor rather forcefully and was knocked unconscious. Ron swirled his wand and a large gash appeared in Hermione's shoulder, causing it to bleed freely. Instantly there were four wands pointed at Ron. But he picked Hermione up and held his wand to her throat "If anyone makes a move, she's dead." Ron threatened. "Weasley I suggest you release my daughter in law before I kill you." Lucius Malfoy drawled. Ron smirked "Before you could get one spell off at me, Hermione would be dead. She's leaving with me whether you like it or not." Narcissa stepped forward, her wand trained on Ron Weasley as well "I don't think so. You know you will never get out of this place." "What makes you so sure? All I have to do is get to the fire place and Floo away." "We can easily track wherever you go Weasley. You should know that, it's part of our Auror training. But that's right, you waltzed into this job without having to do any real work." Ron levelled his wand at Draco "Maybe I'll kill you first Malfoy. But instead I think I will remove your engagement ring from Hermione's finger and put mine on her. Then she would be free of you." Ron started trying to pry the ring off Hermione's finger but it wouldn't budge, but a horrible pain seared through Draco's body "Stop It Weasley! You are hurting her and me!" "I don't give a rat's ass Malfoy, you stole my girl, and now I'm taking her back." Ron started to back up but stopped when he felt a wand poke into the back of his next "Let her go Ron." "Harry, Mate, you have to help me save Hermione. She doesn't need to be around the Malfoy's." "No Ron. I'm saving her from you. As of this moment you are under arrest and have lost your position in the Auror department. Release Hermione." Ron turned a violent shade of red "Never!" he said as he turned his back to the Malfoy's and pointed his wand at Harry. Draco went first "Expelliarmus". Ron's wand flew out his hand. Lucius was next "Bombarda", Ron flew backwards and landed roughly on the wall next to the fountain. Narcissa was next and finished him off "Petrificus Totalus". Ron had been yelling before the full body bind curse had been placed on him, but he was frozen and his face was filled with rage. Harry went to Ron and unfroze him, but before he could run he magically bound his former friend. "Ron you're under arrest. You will be moved to Azkaban to await your trial." Draco and Narcissa ran to Hermione's side "We need a medi witch now!" Draco yelled as they tried to revive her "Ennervate", Hermione's eyes fluttered open and instantly was in searing pain. "Oh god Draco, it hurts! My shoulder hurts, make it stop!" Draco held her hand as the medi witch got there and started to transport to hospital "We are trying honey, hold on. Please. Can someone please stop the bleeding?" As soon as they were at the hospital, nurses and Doctors surrounded them; including Astoria Greengrass. "Hermione? What's wrong?" Draco looked at his friend with tears in his eyes "She was cursed by Ron Weasley, He tried to take our wedding rings off. The pain was unimaginable. Please help her." Astoria instantly went to work trying to ease her pain, Draco staying beside his wife, every second of the process.
Finally hours later the pain had been eased and Hermione's cries had stopped. Her beautiful evening gown was covered in her blood and tear streaks etched on her face. Astoria wiped the sweat from her forehead "That should stop the pain, we are going to go ahead and release you to go home. But if the pain or bleeding starts up again, I want you to come here immediately. Here is a pain relief potion, take it before you go bed tonight. I'll get you a wheelchair." Draco shook his head as he picked his wife up, bridal style again. Hermione instantly settled into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder. "No need, I can carry her. Thank you Astoria." Astoria opened the door so they could leave and walked them to the floo fire place "Anytime Draco. Owl me and tell me how she is doing in the morning." Draco nodded before stepping into the enchanted green fire "Of course, Malfoy Manor!" He shouted as the green flames engulfed him and Hermione. A moment later they reappeared at home. Draco took her to their master bedroom instantly and laid her in bed "Thank you for taking such good care of me Draco." He kissed her forehead "It's what I want to do. I am sorry I couldn't fulfill my promise to you, I told you Weasley would never harm you again and I failed at that." Hermione grabbed his hand and held it tightly "You didn't fail, you retaliated for what he did to me. He will go to trial, he can never hurt me again. You are my hero. I love you Draco Malfoy." His breath hitched as he looked down at his wife, with tears in his eyes "Say it again." He demanded. Hermione smiled weakly, but kept a firm grip on his hand "I love you, Draco Malfoy." Tears freely flowed down his cheeks as he kneeled beside their bed, keeping their hands clasped together "I love you too. I think I've loved you for a while now, since our Honeymoon. But I was to afraid to tell you." Hermione smiled as she started to cry now "Well now we both know. Will you hold me as I sleep?" Draco nodded and removed his shoes and outer robes, before crawling into bed and cradling Hermione. "I will spend my life holding you and watching over you." Hermione carefully snuggled closer to her husband and fell asleep feeling his warmth and security.
The next morning Hermione woke up and was disappointed to see that Draco was no longer laying next to her. But when she looked around their room she saw nothing but yellow and white roses; roses everywhere. Their beautiful fragrance filled the air, relaxing Hermione. Standing out of bed she noticed Draco had changed her into her favorite green silk night gown, so she pulled on the matching robe and went in search of her husband. But before she could even leave their room he reappeared in the doorway with a tray of breakfast. "Oh I wanted to be back before you woke up. I made pancakes!" He said with that wonderful smile of his that finally reached his eyes. Hermione's stomach growled and she realized how hungry she was. "Sounds delicious. Please eat with me." The couple ate on their balcony, just enjoying each other's company. Hermione stood but Draco stopped her from going back inside "Where do you think you are going?" She smiled at him "To lay out my clothes for work tomorrow." He shook his head and gently pulled her down into his lap "Absolutely not. Doctors orders, one week off work. I've already sent an owl to your supervisor, Master Robins, to inform him you wouldn't be in." Hermione bit her lip "But Draco, I can't take a week off, my research." He reached up and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear "You can do your research here. You have a fully stocked lab here. Please take some time off, let your body heal. Work from home. For me?" Hermione smiled at her husband and was again touched at how caring he was "For you, I will take some time off. But only if you promise to come to Ron's trial with me, whenever they set the date." His hold on his wife tightened "If you think I'm letting you in the same room as that maniac without me there, you've gone mad woman." Hermione laughed at that, but stopped and just stared at the man she was married too "I really do love you. I meant what I said last night." Draco held her tightly "I meant it too, I love you as well."