Chapter 20

Potter had stuck him with all of the paperwork he was certain, but it was fine because once the Carrow's were caught Hermione could go back to work without fear. She was ready to chew her leg off from boredom being trapped in the house. While he had enjoyed having her all to himself, he wanted to just start living their lives together. As such, Draco was happy when Hermione was finally able to return to work last week. She had returned to her own flat and Draco hadn't argued though he wanted nothing more than to keep her forever. A few hours later though she showed up via Floo to his London flat and without permission or ceremony moved herself in. Draco after a moment of stunned silence had readily helped her unpack moving his own things to make room for hers. She had told him she had made it all of an hour alone at home and it felt off. Like the irritating rock in her shoe had been removed but she missed it so there was nothing for it but to put it back and just keep it in there forever. Draco had punished her of course for calling him an irritating rock. She was all too willing and eager to accept her punishment though so he would have to get more creative in the future, which pleased him just fine.

They had been co-habituating for two weeks now and Draco was finally putting the final touches on the case and would likely be able to call it closed by Friday. Which was fortuitous because Pansy and Blaise had planned a bash to celebrate the happy couple. Draco for once wasn't dreading this event, honestly he was looking forward to it.

Their friends still had very little idea about the ordeal Hermione had gone through and she wanted it that way. She wanted to process and deal with those feelings in peace with her Mind Healer and be able to tell her friends in her own time when she was ready.

Friday evening arrived finally, and Draco was dragged from his flat at five o'clock because Pansy arrived to pamper and dress Hermione, much to Hermione's dismay. Pansy was a highly successful businesswoman now with her own clothing boutique and she was insistent on making sure Hermione looked fantastic.

"Pansy, I am not sure why you are being so insistent on this, we are just getting together with the usual group, right? It's not like I need to look extra special to get drunk off whatever mystery cocktail Blaise creates, do I?" Hermione whined and Draco laughed. Had she learned nothing over the years of being Pansy's friend. The women only doubled down when provoked. Draco protested leaving, claiming he wanted to see who would win this fight but was cut short by Longbottom.

"What Malfoy, you eager to listen to two woman who you've shagged compare notes?" Longbottom said with a wry smile.

Draco had grown used to the man over the years since he had been with Pansy, but never had he heard him make such a comment, about his own wife no less.

"Pansy had always described you as somewhat disappointing, so I hope for Hermione's sake you have learned a few things since school," he continued his smile growing.

"I was bloody sixteen and was living with a homicidal maniac of course I was distracted," Draco fumed, Longbottom just laughed.

"Come on mate let Pansy do her thing, and for the record she never talked about your performance I just wanted to see what kind of rise I could get out of the ferret for old times' sake," Longbottom continued laughing as he stepped into the Floo. Draco followed him reluctantly, but knew he had things to get done before he saw Hermione again.

Hermione was dragged down the hallway by Pansy who was levitating a small trunk behind her. Once in the large dressing room off the master suite Pansy enlarged the truck to its normal size. It was a blood wardrobe not a trunk Hermione realized belatedly. Pansy opened it to reveal several dresses, a full-length mirror, and a full assortment of hair instruments and makeup.

"Pansy this is too much, why are you doing this just for a get together," Hermione protested.

"Hermione, I don't know what happened over the last several months, but I know it was terrible and I know you were missing. I was horrified that I didn't realize one of my first female friends was gone. I want to make you look beautiful to celebrate you and Draco finally realizing that you two are in love with each other because you deserve it. We all saw it months and months ago before you two entirely stopped talking. We had all planned an intervention in fact but then we heard the news from Ginny that some thing had happened but she didn't really have details. Then you were with him locked in his house because whatever was going on wasn't over. I finally heard from Narcissa you were safe, and you and Draco were together. So since then, I have been planning this little ambush because I missed you and I want to pamper you. You were kind to me all those years ago and let me share my story with you in my own time. I don't need to know what happened to you ever if that is what you want. Just know I am here if you ever want to talk," Pansy said with a smile before hugging her.

Pansy was rarely a hugger, so Hermione understood the depth of her friends concern and the truth in her desire to be there for her as she held her in an embrace for long minutes.

"Alright woman I consent, do your worst," Hermione mutter, knowing better than to make a big deal out of Pansy's emotional display.

Draco had returned to the Manor for a suit to wear that evening before meeting Longbottom, Blaise, and Theo at Longbottom Manor. The little Longbottom was with the Potters for the afternoon before the whole brood would be shipped off to the Weasleys for a slumber party. He walked into the salon and was handed a crystal glass by Blaise.

"I hear Longbottom riled you up this evening; you turned a nice shade of red and looked about half a moment from telling your father about it," Blaise chortled.

"Sod off you prick," Draco said with an unamused eye roll.

"In seriousness though mate are you ready? You are sure this is the right time?" Blaise asked, "I mean all of us have been rooting for this for months but you two just seemed to have realized there was indeed a plot afoot."

Draco just nods in response and that is enough for Blaise. Draco had always appreciated the simplicity with him, Theo required long drawn-out conversations and hand holding. Blaise just accepted your answer, seeming to understand the subtext without explanation.

Draco wanted to down his drink in a single go, but he didn't want to be pissed before Hermione showed up. He went to a guest room to change. After several unsuccessful attempts due to shaking hands, he summoned Tuppy to help him with his tie because he was in fact terrified he was going to look like a fool tonight.

"Master Draco hasn't needed Tuppy's help with a tie in many years what has Master so nervous?" Tuppy askes quietly.

"Hermione and I are making this whole relationship public tonight with all our friends, it has just been us until now and I don't know how this is going to change our world," Draco said in a version of the truth.

"The unknown can be frightening, but Tuppy has seen you take on a much more harrowing future and succeed," Tuppy said as she cupped Draco's face in her tiny hands.

Draco fought the urge to Occlude through the spear of emotion, staying present in the moment. A tear slipped down his cheek with the memories of all this tiny elf had been through with him.

"Tuppy, thank you," Draco said with a rasp.

"Tuppy is always here for Master Draco," Tuppy said before popping away leaving Draco to gather himself.

Just then the door creaks open and Blaise is silently handing him a fresh glass.

"You aren't Occluding," Blaise said simply, "welcome back to the land of the living mate. I've missed you."

Fuck all was every sodding being on the planet intent on making him regret this promise.

"Fuck off yea, I am trying to pull myself together before she gets her and your sappy thoughts are not helping," Draco says in a strangled sort of voice that is mortifying.

"Right well she will likely be here any minute the Potters just arrived as well as Weasel and his irritating wife. So, get your ass out of this room and come save me from talking to her," Blaise said with grin.

Draco took a deep breath and buttoned his suit jacket. When he looked up again, he was composed, still brittle but he would manage. No sooner had he stepped out and begun a conversation with the Potters and Luna than her voiced floated from the Floo parlor.

She entered the room in a deep emerald dress, Pansy, and her irony, but it was stunning on her regardless. Her freckles stood out more and her eyes sparkled brighter. She was always stunning, but this dress took his breath away. Everyone had been instructed to dress for the evening but this dress with its modest neckline, off the shoulder design, lace sleeves, and body-hugging silhouette with a slit in the leg that came to mid-thigh was the creme de la crème. She blushed at his brazen assessment then twirled and his stomach dropped because the back was a deep cut V with only a sheer material covered in tiny diamonds to hold it together.

A whistle sounded from the other side of the room and Draco didn't have to look to know it was Blaise.

"Zabini, I hope you have your affairs in order, Draco doesn't share well," Hermione retorted before he could say a word and he his lips turned up in a smile at her easy rebuff.

He crossed the room to her side and pulled her in for a kiss then. When he pulled away, she was smiling up at him and he was weightless. The fear disappeared in her presence. He knew he was making the right choice.

Dinner was had and dancing commenced after. After a rather spirited song in which Draco half dragged Hermione around the floor, she was truly not a good dancer, they ended in the middle of the floor. She was laughing and breathless glancing around the room because it had gone quiet. She looked back at Draco. He sunk to one knee and pulled a small box from his pocket.

"Please don't shriek and run this time," he whispered, "this is what it looks like."

She just stood frozen hands over her mouth a tear running down her cheek.

In a shaky voice she said, "you did say you would make much more of a fussy for the real thing."

Draco laughed at that before he turned more serious.

"Will you marry me," Draco said as he opened the box to reveal a thin band with small diamonds inset because he knew she would never want a flashy thing.

"Yes," she said extending her left hand.

He placed the ring on her finger and rose to kiss her. Their friends were cheering. Then the most absurd thought passed through Draco's mind. He got the girl against all odds; this was a horrendous romance novel and he had never been more pleased compare his life to such a sordid affair.