Hermione woke lazily and sleepily. She rolled over and smiled at a sleeping
Draco, he looked so peaceful, she had never seen Draco with his silvery blonde hair
tousled and the dark circles of sleep under his eyes. Last night Draco's silver
gray eyes had burned into Hermione's, she had never been looked at like that before.
Draco had never been loved and had never been given a chance to love someone.
Last night Hermione had let herself be loved by her husband, she let her troubles,
doubts and thoughts slip away. Draco loved Hermione with such intensity that it
frightened her. Hermione heard, beyond the closed drapes of the bed, the scurrying
of the house elves cleaning up the discarded clothing on the bedroom floor from
the night before. Draco woke as the house elves left the room and he pulled
Hermione to him "Good morning". Hermione smiled, but her smile faded. "Hermione,
there should be no regrets or doubts about last night. We are husband and wife
and Potter is dead. You cannot do this to yourself; promise me that you won't
dwell on him. Out of sight out of mind, ok?" Hermione nodded and Draco kissed her.
Draco threw back the drapes and put on a robe. Hermione pulled the sheet over her
chest and sat up. "What do you have planned for today?" Draco asked her "Well, I
have quite a few letters to write announcing my marriage and stuff." Draco nodded
"I have a couple days off from work but I bet I already have a pile of work
amounting at the office so I'll have them send it to me at home." "Where do you
work Draco?" he laughed, "I forget how little we know about each others life
other than at Hogwarts and at the orphanage. I work at the Ministry, Department of
Wizard and Witch health and magical remedies. I left right after graduation
unlike the other 7th years who stayed for a month after." Hermione nodded.
Draco headed for the 2nd floor study and Hermione took a shower. When she came
out there was some breakfast on the dresser. After dressing and drying her hair
magically, she grabbed a piece of toast and went to see what Draco was up to. She
found him in the study with a stack of papers next to him and he was quite absorbed
in them. "Draco?" Hermione asked "Hmmm?" Draco replied not looking up. "I need some
parchment to write some letters." "Top drawer." Draco replied. She walked to behind
the desk and took some parchment, ink and a quill. Draco smiled at her when she
left and Hermione returned the smile. Hermione went back to their room and went
to lie out on the balcony. She pulled out the parchment and began writing,
Dear Prongs
I don't know why I'm sending this, you're probably dead,
but I'll send it on the off chance that you'll be receiving this.
I am married. There is nothing to be done about it, but I thought
that you should know. Can't say his name unless this is intercepted,
lets leave it at, I married Ferret Boy. Before you have a heart
attack, he isn't that bad. He became an orphan shortly after you
left and we spent our summers together where we got to know one
another. He loves me Prongs, and I will learn to love him, but
a piece of my heart will always belong to you.
Love from Me
Hermione then wrote Ginny and Lavender about her marriage and then went to
the owlrey and sent them off. Hermione then went to the library and began to pull
out books at random. One book growled at her when she put her hand close to it.
Another wouldn't open until Hermione said how lovely the cover color was. The last
book Hermione picked wouldn't show the writing until she told it a joke. Hermione
noticed that Emmie, was hiding behind a chair, and Hermione beckoned her to come
out and she did. "What were you doing behind there?" "Just watching," Emmie said
nervously "You won't tell will you?" "Oh no" laughed Hermione "Do you know how to
play wizard chess?" Emmie shook her head no, and for the few hours Hermione taught
Emmie how to play. Soon the other house elves came to watch and at 7:00 Draco
appeared in the library. Hermione smiled at him, "He lives" she said matter-of-factly.
"Sorry, work took a lot more effort than I planned on," he leaned close to Hermione
and his lips brushed her ear as he whispered, "but I'll make up to you later."
Hermione blushed furiously and the house elves left the room and brought Dinner
into the dining room. They both ate little, but drank a lot of wine. When the
house elves cleaned off the table, Draco was whispering nothings to Hermione who
in turn giggled at him. Draco led Hermione to their room, and Draco caught her up
in a kiss. Draco was an aggressive kisser and he left Hermione breathless and
dizzy. His kisses were almost as intoxicating as the wine they had both drank.
Hermione pulled Draco to her and they fell on the bed.
*******