Ch. 17

After a few more days Hermione had received one more letter that was similar to the last two and Draco had received another one as well. His mother and father weren't pleased at not receiving a reply and wrote to insist he answer their questions.

He sat in bed with Hermione, thinking of what to write to them. "If I tell them I'm in love with her and dating her, they will never understand. But if I don't tell them then am I treating Hermione like I'm ashamed of her?" He wanted to ask her but didn't know how.

"Hermione," he reached his hand up to rub her arm, "are you going to tell your parents about us?" he asked.

His question came out of nowhere, so she wasn't expecting it. "I will, eventually."

"What are your reasons for waiting?" he was curious.

"I guess…we know how things work between us when we're working, but what about when we leave? I'm waiting to see…if you're serious…about me." She had a bashful look on her face, admitting the truth.

"Serious? How could you doubt that?" If he hadn't been serious he wouldn't be laying next to her.

"It's not exactly doubt, but do you really see yourself eating dinner with me and my family, muggle family night?" She gave him a sad sort of look.

"Why not? I admit it will be different for me, something to get used to, but I'll try." He added.

"What if you test it out and it isn't for you? What if you think that I'm not for you?" Hermione's eyes began to get slightly teary.

"What if it makes me love you even more and you want to dump me?" he joked, he didn't want her to cry.

She smiled and then gave him a serious look. "I'm not sure if I could do dinner with your family Draco. Will that make you resent me?"

He didn't expect her to want to have dinner with his family, and it was hard for him because he did want to be able to introduce the woman he loved to his family, but they made that difficult. "Not resent you, no. You have good reason. I'd like to eventually be able to do something normal like that with my family, but I do know what I'd be asking of you and of them. I don't think it's fair to ask you to do that." He looked into her eyes as he answered.

She was sad that he couldn't have everything he wanted, it wasn't fair that he was caught in the middle. "Draco," she said softly. "I'll try, I'll really try if that would make you happy."

He hadn't taken his eyes off her, her actions showed him just how much she cared. "I'm not sure if I want that just yet." He decided to be honest with her. "I'm writing them now and thinking about telling them about us…"

Hermione sat up straight in bed "You're what?!"

"Whoa, what's wrong with that? They'll probably need a decent head start before they see us again." He shrugged.

"Do you want to get a howler at breakfast and let the whole school know?" She was shocked.

"You don't know my parent's style, they would never send a howler. They care too much about their image. There are no two people that this secret would be safer with. They care too much about their blood status to let it leak." He smiled confidently.

"I don't know," she hesitated. Maybe it was too soon to tell them.

"Are you worried your feelings for me will change," he tried to guilt her, but he didn't really believe what he was saying.

She heard the mocking in his voice and knew he wasn't serious.

"If you want to, go ahead and tell them then."

He turned back to his letter and began to answer.

Mother and father,

I see that you're upset with my lack of reply but it was because I knew you wouldn't like my response.

After the war my feelings towards Hermione Granger had changed and after the break I began a relationship with her. You don't have to like my decision but I do ask that you respect it. I'm happy.

-Draco

He read the letter to Hermione.

"You sound so stiff when you write or talk to your parents," she commented.

"They raised me to carry myself with pride," he came off a little haughty as he said it.

"And so did mine, but I don't talk that way," she remarked.

"And you know mine are pure blood fanatics who probably thought their child would be a credit to their race, they have a different ideology," He sounded a little defensive.

She knew what he meant, he wasn't raised to be an equal to anyone, even from the first time she met him he was filled with arrogance and conceit. Her parents raised her with an ideology of equality. Although she could see how his parent's view became a downfall in his life, she realized what a luxury her parents had given her with theirs.

"I don't want to be around when you get the reply," she said as she smiled at him.

"Don't worry, they won't write me for weeks." He looked over at her and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Why don't you come home with me for Easter?" She didn't know what made her say it, it just popped out of her mouth.

"What, to your house, with your parents?" He was stunned.

"Are you afraid your feelings for me are going to change?" She tried the same line he had used on her but batted her eyelashes as she said it.

"What if they don't like me, or what if they don't want me to stay over with you?" There was a lot to think about.

She hesitated before answering, she didn't want him to get a big head. "They already like you, and I'm pretty sure my dad already thought we were dating by the way I was talking about you…" she felt a little embarrassed and her cheeks were reddening.

"You were talking about me?" he smiled at her.

She dodged his question and laid down on the bed playfully looking up at him.

He laid down next to her and his fingers found her hand and he held it. He leaned in and kissed her.

"So?" he pressed.

She let out a big sigh "Yes, I was talking about you. I told them about how things are going at school and you came up in conversation a few times."

"Hmm," he began, "I think you have a crush on me Hermione Granger…" Draco said as he began kissing her again.

The next day Draco had gone to the owlery to send the letter off to his parents. He had to make it back to Hermione before breakfast so they could arrive at the staff table together.

He rounded the corner into the owlery and nearly bumped into a student on his way in. "Hey!" he yelled to stop the student. It was Marie Chadwick, first year Slytherin. "Oh, hi Ms. Chadwick."

"Sorry professor," she said "I don't want to miss breakfast," she was short of breath.

"It's okay, just slow down next time," he added as she moved past him and out of sight. He went in and found an owl and sent his letter off.

He met Hermione at the portrait hole and they walked together to the great hall. When they got there breakfast had already started and post had already come and gone for the morning. At least if anything, Hermione wasn't able to receive one of her fan letters today.

They finished eating and went their separate ways to start their lessons. When Hermione got to class she began to prepare her lesson for the day and took objects out of a cupboard for each student.

To her surprise, professor McGonigal walked in.

"Headmistress," she said, "Good morning."

"Good morning Professor Granger," she began. "I was hoping we could talk about the arrangement we made at the beginning of term, before the students arrive."

"Certainly," she transfigured seats out of two of the objects that she had taken out of her cupboard.

The headmistress took a seat and Hermione followed.

"I've been thinking that perhaps I was too harsh on you and Professor Malfoy. After seeing you both take my instructions seriously as you have done, you are no longer required to follow our agreement. You will however continue to have patrol duty together." She saw that Hermione hadn't been expecting this. "Surely you both are getting along now?"

"Yes, very well professor," Hermione replied. She almost wanted to thank the headmistress for bringing them together, but wasn't ready to break the news to her. After all, their relationship was still new.

"Hmmm, yes, I've noticed that too…" she said and then added, "How are you settling in Professor?"

"I enjoy being back very much and the staff is so welcoming. I never dreamed of being a head of house but things seem to be going well with my students too."

"I remember when I was head of Gryffindor house and usually had three out of their bed at any one time wandering the castle. The enchantments that Professor Malfoy has made are helpful, are they not."

"Yes, he's very talented," she added, her face reddening as she said it.

The headmistress rose and Hermione did as well.

"If you ever need anything Ms. Granger, please don't hesitate to ask me," She turned again on her way out, "if you would be so kind as to pass my message along to Professor Malfoy?"

"Yes I will. Thank you for the visit headmistress." Hermione changed the chairs back into objects and waited for her students to come in. If McGonigal had changed her mind just a few weeks sooner, she and Draco might not have admitted their feelings for one another.

Later on, after lessons, Hermione went to the dungeon to get Draco so they could head off to dinner. He was cleaning out cauldrons and hadn't noticed that she came in. She waited in the doorway and just watched him as he worked, he had a peaceful look on his face and seemed right at home. In that moment she was thinking about what their future together might look like.

Draco caught her eye and she walked into the room.

"You don't have to just stand in the doorway Hermione," He said as he smiled at her.

She wanted to kiss him so badly but they had talked about not showing any affection other than where they had complete privacy. He could see she was lost in thought and came over to her.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

"Nothing, are you almost ready?" she asked.

He reached his hands out and placed them around her waist. "Hermione, you can tell me," he asked again.

"I'm just enjoying watching you, thinking about what the future holds," she wasn't sure if he thought about their future so she didn't want to bring it up.

He removed his hands from her waist and put one hand in hers and with the other he lightly brushed her jaw bone. He began to lean in to kiss her.

"Not here," she whispered as he stopped moving forward and dropped both of his hands. He had gotten carried away. He wouldn't have known even at the start of term that he would feel this strongly for anyone, let alone Hermione. Now, he was so in love with her that he forgot where he was. He took a step back and collected himself.

"Let me grab my wand," he had left it on the table when Hermione had come in.

They both headed out and as they did Hermione told him about her visit with the headmistress.