So many people wanted a second chapter, so here you go. I hope you like it!
Three years had passed since the night Ron had proposed to Hermione. Hermione and Draco's relationship was much the same as then. The brunette had resigned herself to life of clandestine love. Always remaining someone's secret and never being able to show off the love she felt so deeply for Draco Malfoy.
However, unbeknownst to anyone, including Hermione and Theo, the day had finally arrived that Draco and Astoria could get divorced. The Malfoy couple had worked hard and for a terribly long time to get to this day. They had signed more documents and had to more meetings with their solicitors than either of them cared to admit.
After signing the final documents and performing the official charm, the solicitors left. Astoria had a moment of unexpected sadness wash over her. Not that she regretted their decision because she truly loved Theo, but rather that Draco Malfoy had always been such a truly good and caring husband.
Draco smiled at her and pulled her close, "I love you, Astoria, and I always will, but neither of us are in love with each other. Go get Theo."
She smiled, "I know. I love you too, Draco. Are you doing it tomorrow?"
He nodded, "I am."
"Have you already put everything in place?"
He nodded, "Yes. It was quite a feat." He smirked.
She laughed, "Well, I'll see you and you betrothed soon."
He shook his head, "Don't jinx it."
The next evening, when Hermione arrived at the Malfoy house, she went straight to Draco's side of the mansion. She made her way to his bedroom and found him waiting for her.
Draco smiled at her and said, "Hello, Granger. You ought to get ready, we're going on a date."
She sighed, setting her briefcase down on the floor. "Draco, I'm not sure I have the time. There is an ungodly amount of work I need to catch up on. Dennis Creevey won't keep up with his cases which leaves me to cover for his arse."
Draco tilted his head and walked over to her, "Love, It's just for tonight." He said, seeing the stress in her face.
She exhaled and looked at him before nodding, "Okay, but I'll have to work my own arse off all weekend."
He nodded, "I'll even be your assistant." He replied with a small smirk.
She smirked and rolled her eyes, "Let me change. What should I wear?"
"Something casual and comfortable." He replied.
She looked over his own outfit of black jean trousers with a plain black tee and a brown leather jacket.
He smiled, seeing her change into a pair of grey jean trousers and a navy-blue jumper. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and checked her makeup before adjusting it a bit with her wand.
She examined herself in the mirror and shrugged before turning to the blonde wizard, "Is this alright?" She asked.
He nodded, smiling at her affectionately, "You look lovely."
"Thank you." She smiled before reaching out for his hand, "Let's go."
"Not quite yet, Granger." He smirked, pulling a small piece of parchment from his chest pocket. "This is for you." He said, handing it over.
She frowned and looked at the parchment.
Written in Draco's scrawl was a quote. She recognized the quote immediately. It was from one of her favorite fictional book series. Underneath the quote were coordinates to an unknown location.
"Gentle he would be, denied he would not."
50.0866° N, 14.4160° E
"What is this?" she asked, looking up at him.
He grinned, "I've put together a bit of a scavenger hunt. These coordinates will take us to a library. At that library, you will find the book that this quote is from. Any questions?"
"Yes. Why are you doing this?" She asked, with a confused expression.
"Granger, just have a bit of fun, okay?" He said, "I thought this would be right up your alley."
She nodded, "Okay. So, I'll apparate us?" She asked.
He nodded, "It's a safe spot. No one will see us."
She nodded and reached her hand out for him to take.
"Oh, and one more thing." He said.
"Merlin, Draco, what is it?" she huffed.
He pulled her close and kissed her deeply on the lips. She smiled into the kiss before reciprocating in kind.
He pulled back and nodded, "I've missed you, love."
She exhaled and smiled at his actions, "Me too." She said, kissing him again before pulling back.
She apparated them to the location of the coordinates.
They appeared inside a small cupboard next to some chairs and a broom.
Hermione furrowed her brow and was about to step out of the cupboard when Draco stopped her.
"Here, take this." He said quietly, handing her a clip-on badge. "To the muggles it will appear like a VIP pass. Okay, now we can go."
She nodded and they stepped out. The breath in her lungs was immediately lost as they stepped into the main room of the Klementinum National Library in Prague.
"Draco…" She breathed, looking around at the gorgeously painted and elegantly designed library.
He smiled, and nodded, "I know."
She cleared her throat and looked at the piece of parchment before nodding, "This way, I believe." She said making his smile widen.
On the shelf, looking rather out of place to Hermione, was a copy of 'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon.
"I'm surprised they let that stay up there, seeing as it doesn't match the style of the library." She remarked.
"To them, it appears normal." He replied quietly as she pulled it off the shelf.
She noticed another piece of parchment sticking out of the book and furrowed her brow.
"You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how."
48.2063° N, 16.3669° E
She smiled, reading it, and turned to the blonde wizard, "So am I to take us to this location next and look for this book?" she asked.
He nodded, "Precisely." He replied with a grin.
She laughed quietly and nodded, "Okay. Let's get a move on, Malfoy."
Draco tucked the book under his arm before they went back to the cupboard and they apparated to the next location. Once again, they appeared in a small cupboard, this time an empty one.
He leaned in and kissed her with fervor. Hermione hummed in approval and kissed him back. He cupped her jaw and slowly pulled back.
As they separated, he grinned and said, "I'll make sure to kiss you often." He said, referring to the quote.
She beamed and nodded, "Good."
"The badges will appear accurate to the muggles at this library." He said, miniaturizing the first book and slipping it into his pocket before they stepped out of cupboard.
They walked down a hallway before entering the Hall of the Austrian National Library in Vienna, Austria.
Hermione's breath was once again stolen from her chest as she looked around the Hall with a statue of Emperor Charles VI in the middle of the room.
Draco smiled, keeping his hand on her lower back as they walked through the building.
She spotted the book in which the quote belonged.
"Gone with the Wind." She said, pulling it from the shelf, "It's a classic."
He nodded, "It is." He replied.
She noticed another piece of parchment and smiled, "You've been busy, love."
He nodded, "I have, but it was worth it."
She smiled at him as she pulled out the note and read the quote and coordinates scrawled on it.
"For there is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be of one mind in a house."
47.4232° N, 9.3767° E
She had to think for a moment before a spark ignited and she nodded, "I've got it. Let's go."
He grinned at her eagerness and followed her down the corridor, holding the book in his hand. Once they were back in the cupboard, she apparated them to the next coordinates.
Draco once again, reduced the size of the book before slipping it into his pocket.
They stepped out of the cupboard and went down a hallway to a room that Hermione had wanted to be in for years. The Abbey Library of Saint Gall in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Draco watched her face closely, wanting to remember every detail of her expression.
She had the innocent look of a child that was in awe of something they had never even imagined to be real.
Draco smiled to himself, loving that she was clearly overcome with wonderment at the beauty before them.
Hermione blinked and shook herself out of her daydream before clearing her throat and saying "Odyssey. This way."
She spotted the book quickly and pulled it from the shelf, before reading the note she found in it.
"I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever."
54°51′33.2″N 3°51′15″W
Hermione smiled and looked at Draco, "Pride and Prejudice."
It was one of her very favorite books, though she didn't tell many people that.
He chuckled and nodded, "I think we have somewhere to be."
She smiled and they went back to the cupboard and apparated to the next location.
To Hermione's utter surprise, it wasn't a cupboard at all but rather another beautiful library. It was a bit smaller than the others and had more of a homey feel to it. She looked for the book and spotted it. Pulling it from the shelf, she took the note from the book and read the quote.
This time, there were no coordinates. Just a quote from 'Jane Eyre' that made her heart stop and her breath catch. She blinked repeatedly to make sure she was seeing it correctly.
"I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self, and best earthly companion."
She swallowed and turned around to see Draco on one knee, smiling up at her.
"Granger." He said in a soft voice.
She couldn't breathe. It was all she had ever wanted.
Was it really happening?
"You are the love of my life." He continued. "You hold my soul in your hands, and I never want it back. I'd never ask you to be mine, but will you let me be yours?" He asked, opening the small black velvet ring box that held the most beautiful Garland Sapphire and Diamond Engagement ring.
She swallowed and inhaled slowly before asking, "What? What about…"
He tilted his head with a small smile, "She and I were officially divorced yesterday as of 1:27 in the afternoon. I find myself rather wifeless and I know I could never ask for a better partner than you."
Hermione suddenly couldn't contain the tears that streamed down her face. They didn't have to hide anymore. She could be his fiancé, and everyone could know.
She smiled down at him and replied. "Only if I can be yours too."
He grinned wider than he had in his entire life as he stood up and kissed her.
As they separated, he took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger.
They kissed once more before Hermione looked around and asked, "Where are we?"
"Our new home." He replied, "I bought and restored it. It's a castle in Auchencairn, Scotland. You can name it whatever you'd like."
Her hand shook, still in shock from the reality of something coming true she had only ever dreamed of. She looked up at him and smiled, feeling a bit more at ease when she looked into his calming grey eyes.
"How about Malfoy Castle?" she suggested in a loving tone.
He nodded, "Sounds perfect."
"I love you, Draco."
He grinned, "I love you too…future Malfoy." He said before kissing her again and again.