CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE NEXT MORNING

'Hmmm,' said Ron, shifting a little but he stopped himself when he felt someone snuggling closer to him and he couldn't help but smile.

It was just a stolen moment but it happened. And it was the loveliest night that he'd ever had since she went away. Hermione and him, together. It was as if nothing happened. They were once again sharing their love for each other. It was perfect!

Bloody perfect.

He began to stroke her back and it felt soft.

Too soft, as a matter of fact, and then it hit him. He immediately opened his eyes, looking terrible.

'Bloody hell,' he said, sitting up, sighing and rolling his eyes. He ran his hands through his hair wrathfully and then stared at the long pillow. 'She bloody left again.'

He let go of the pillow and then immediately stood up, walking towards the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, tossed on his clothes and then walked away, determined to get something… or rather someone. *******

'Grandpa! Grandma!' yelled Louis from the swimming pool. 'Watch me swim!'

'Very good!' said Arthur and Molly, clapping their hands and looking very amazed as their grandson began flipping his feet while being held by Charlie.

'Lucky you, Arthur,' said Lucius, looking sideways at Draco. 'You already have Louis, Lynden, Cheska, Jackie and there is more to go.'

Arthur smiled. 'I know,' he said. 'Aren't they lovely?'

'I wonder when I'll be having my own,' he continued.

Everybody chuckled while Draco, who used to blush and look at his parents in horror every time this topic arises, remained preoccupied with his scrambled eggs, not minding his father's statement.

Lucius crossed his arm over his chest stubbornly. 'I just don't understand why my Draco won't get married yet,' he said glumly.

All the other people looked at each other and then snickered.

'Oh,' sighed Draco, leaning on his chair and looking up. 'Here we go again---'

'I want to see little Malfoys running around and calling me "Grandfather" before I die---' he said dreamily. 'Don't you like that, boy? Doesn't it sound great? Grandfather Lucius and---'

'Father,' sighed Draco, before looking at Harry and shaking his head in disbelief. 'I'm only nineteen---'

'I want to have grandchildren soon, while I'm still healthy and strong. While I can still run around and play with them!'

'Father---' he said, 'I want to be a lawyer first.'

'But you have no problem,' spat Lucius, 'I can support you. You have nothing to worry about at all. You'll get everything! You do not need to---'

'Don't worry father,' he drawled. 'I'll throw a ball tomorrow and invite all the eligible ladies in---'

'What about Blaise?' asked Lucius. 'A Zabini and a Malfoy would be a perfect match!'

Blaise spat the orange juice out of her mouth and then looked at them as if they were insane while Draco laughed as if there is no tomorrow.

'I'll make you a deal, boy,' said Lucius, his eyes twinkling. 'How about you get married first and then be a lawyer? What do you say?'

Draco rolled his eyes and then just stared at his father, hopelessly.

'No offense,' said Blaise, 'Draco and I are friends. We are a good team together because we are friends. Anything more than that would---'

'Make you lose a son,' continued Draco.

'One of us would bloody file for a divorce after 2 hours of saying I do---'

'Knowing you, Malfoy,' said Harry, grinning. 'I don't think that you'd let either of you file for a divorce without having the marriage consummated---'

'OK, fine,' said Draco, 'maybe after one night, that's if we don't kill each other first, though.'

Draco and Blaise looked at each other and then nodded.

'Besides,' said Draco teasingly, 'Blaise is seeing someone.'

Blaise playfully slapped his back and then grinned. 'Yes as a matter of fact, I am currently seeing someone.'

'Really,' said Fleur nosily and teasingly, 'who iz ze lucky man?'

'Longbottom,' replied Draco. 'I have always wondered why she always gets upset with me every time I play jokes on him but never gets upset when I do it to other people.'

'You were really mean, Draco,' she snapped, blushing and flipping her long chestnut hair.

'No way,' said Harry, not believing his ears. 'The most beautiful girl of the Slytherin house is going out with Neville?'

'I always thought that you and Blaise were, you know, an item,' said Hermione, giggling.

'Oh not us,' said Draco, 'we tried though. Because as what you have heard, a Malfoy and a Zabini is a good match, but there's just no sparks at all.' He looked at his parents. 'Nothing. Trust me. We tried. Nothing.'

'No offense, Mr. Malfoy,' said Blaise, 'but I am not Draco's type and he isn't mine as well. He is not into demanding, tough and self-sufficient ladies, like me. He likes "needy" girls. It makes him feel good, you know, confident---'

'Hey,' said Draco, 'you are making me sound as if I am a chauvinistic prat!'

'Aren't you?'

'No I am not,' he replied coolly.

'Blaise, we men just want to be our ladies' night in shining armor,' said Harry and Draco nodded.

She rolled her eyes. 'That's the whole point! You want your girls to give way to you or give up everything for you!'

'What?' said Harry, looking appalled. 'I did not say that!'

'All right,' said Lucius uneasily, 'Blaise is now out of the question---'

'Father, you'll have your precious grandchildren,' sighed Draco, 'when the right time comes.'

'And when is the right time?' he asked.

'When—when—when I found someone like my mother,' he said, before looking at Narcissa. 'Someone as nice, beautiful, smart and patient as her. I am after all a Malfoy and your son, and we only go with the best. You can't really blame me for being choosy.' He thought that flattery would make his father stop.

'Oh, Draco,' gasped his mother. 'You sweet little thing---'

'Who knows,' interrupted Blaise, 'maybe she could even end up with Cherise.'

Draco rolled his eyes and then looked at Blaise who was giggling. 'Don't you dare tease the poor girl to me, once she gets here, Zabini. Your sister get easily embarrassed.'

'Poor girl? She's one year younger than you and you act as if she is a two year old in nappies.' She looked at him intently. 'Besides, you haven't seen her in a long time, Malfoy. She's changed a lot. She's not a little girl anymore. She's 18!'

'Cherise?' asked Ginny.

'Cherise is my younger sister who goes to Beauxbatons. My mother graduated in that school so her and my father made a bargain that one of us go to Hogwarts and the other one goes to Beauxbatons,' she said.

'Oh,' said everybody.

'Besides, my sister is the exact girl that you are looking for. She is just like your mother. She is very proper, dependent, dainty, feminine, and a blonde. You'll be his perfect knight in shining armor,' she whispered which made Draco roll his eyes and then said, 'Can you blame her for fancying the great Draco Malfoy? I can't blame Ginny for fancying Harry---'

'Hey,' said Ginny, blushing.

'Can you blame the girl for having taste?' she finally concluded.

'Don't bloody tease her, OK?' said Draco, hiding his flattery.

'O---' said Blaise, 'Cherise! Nice to see you, baby sister!'

'Hello,' said a very beautiful and petite girl to everybody.

'Hello, Cherise,' said Narcissa sweetly. 'My dear, you were fifteen when I last saw you. How old are you now?'

'Eighteen, maam,' she replied. 'Hello Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley.' She looked at Draco and then shyly said, 'Hello Draco.'

Draco, whose eyes were fixed on a childhood friend, grinned. She was fifteen when he last saw her. She stood around five foot three now. Her hair was longer also, but still the same shiny light blonde wavy hair. He could see the resemblance between the two sisters, but she didn't look like a snob. She looked very fragile, delicate, shy and gentle… but he loved it. Blaise was right. She, who was in a white stretch short-sleeved blouse, light green shorts and white sneakers, has indeed grown… into a very attractive young woman.

'My dear Cherise,' said Lucius excitedly, offering her a chair beside Draco. 'Please sit here. Lovely girl, isn't she Narcissa?'

'Hello, Cherise,' he said, giving her his mega watt grin which caused her to blush. Yes! She still fancies me! 'How are you?'

'I'm fine thank you,' she replied, sitting down. He looked at Lucius. 'Thank you sir.'

'That's good to know,' he replied, looking at his father, nodding and smirking. 'So---'

'Hello,' interrupted Ron and sitting beside Hermione.

Hermione's eyes began to widen. She swallowed hard and then drank a whole glass of juice in one gulp. Everybody looked at each other.

'Hello, Hermione,' he said while taking a muffin.

'Hello,' she said, 'Excuse me.' She stood up, went to the pool, and then began chatting with Fred and Angelina. All everybody could do was look from Ron and then to Hermione.

Ron leaned on his chair and then ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

'Are you all right, Ron?' asked Draco.

'I'm not sure at the moment,' he replied honestly. 'Excuse me.' He stood up and then followed Hermione. 'Hello,' he said once again, joining the group chat of Hermione.

'Excuse me,' said Hermione again which caused Fred and Angelina to look at each other. She stood up and then went to Ginny.

'Uhh,' groaned Ron, glaring at Hermione. 'Hermione?!'

But she just made her way inside the house uneasily while murmuring words to herself, performing a spell.

Harry walked towards her, while Ron ran towards her. To their surprise, though, after being two meters away from Hermione, Ron began to bump into an invisible shield, which caused him to fall to the grass… but Harry didn't. He got through. Ginny tried as well and she got through. Ron stood up, frowning before making his way again. Again, he bumped into this invisible shield.

'Zis iz too exziting,' hissed Fleur to Angelina.

'I wonder what happened---' said Angelina.

Ron kept on pushing and pushing and pushing, but nothing happened. 'Hermione?!' he yelled furiously while pushing against the invisible shield. 'Counter curse, now! Anybody? Help me, please?'

'I'll do ze counter curze!' said Fleur excitedly and she did, which caused Ron to fall onto the ground once again. 'Oops! Zori my baby brozer-in-law!'

Ron didn't waste anytime. He began to run after Hermione, who was running as well. But with his long legs, he did catch her arm in no time. Hermione began to struggle. 'Stop,' he hissed. 'You will talk to me now, Hermione, whether you like it or not. We will have this conversation!'

'No, no,' said Hermione, 'don't look at me---' She began to tilt and shake her head, avoiding his eyes, desperately.

Ron just glared at her and then murmured some words, tracing a box around them. A few seconds later, he let go of Hermione. She began to walk away but there was suddenly an invisible shield around them. Harry tried to get in but he wasn't able too. She began banging the invisible wall.

'It's no use,' he said, 'it's sound proof and exclusive to us.'

Hermione felt defeated. She leaned on the wall and then slowly slid down. 'Ron, what do you want?' she asked desperately. 'Don't bother me anymore. You don't have to explain or---I know it's a mistake---'

'No, no,' he said softly. 'Don't you ever say that…' He looked at her but she turned away again musc to his dismay.

'What are they saying?' said Angelina nosily. Ron is currently speaking and they have no idea on what he is saying.

'Oh my gosh,' said Ginny, upon seeing Hermione very upset, 'What did he say?'

'She's bloody upset,' said Draco, wincing.

'And about to murder him,' concluded Harry.

'I know what to do,' said Fleur and then she began murmuring words while pointing her wand at Ron and Hermione. A few seconds later, speech balloons began appearing.

'Brilliant,' said Angelina as she began reading from one balloon to another.

'What?!' said Hermione, looking awfully furious. 'You must be really insane, you---you--- chauvinistic prat!'

'What the hell did he say?' said Ginny desperately.

That wasn't the reaction that Ron was expecting. 'Great Merlin, Hermione! You are driving me insane!'

'I couldn't care less,' she snapped, looking aggravated.

'What the---' said Harry, while his eyes moved from one speech balloon to another. 'You see? You see what I have to keep up with?'

'You are so bloody confusing! You can't just leave me like that after what happened last night!'

'Last night?' said Draco questioningly.

'Last night…' said Harry, hiding his smile.

'I don't want to talk about it,' said Hermione, covering her ears. It was too embarrassing for her. 'No! No! No! STOP!'

'We will talk about what happened last night,' said Ron, taking her hands off her ears. 'You can't just runaway and leave me all the time!'

Hermione finally looked at him, desperately keeping herself from crying. 'Just because I slept with you, doesn't mean that I want to marry you!'

'We-we-wait,' said Harry, 'let me read that again---'

'He asked her to marry him?' said Draco, fighting a mad desire to laugh.

That shut Ron up. 'What?' he said. 'Do you want me to court you again? Just tell me what you want me to do---'

'Why are you doing this to me,' said Hermione apprehensively while pacing back and forth,  'you are insane! You must be really mad! Why would you want to marry me? I—I—I am an easy girl---'

'You are not easy---'

'I am! I slept with you, just like that!'

'Well, if you insist to be one,' he said, 'I love easy girls, then.'

Hermione looked at him and then continued on pacing back and forth again. 'I am a control freak!  I am---'

'Well, I love control freaks,' he said while watching her walk back and forth.

'I am from---from a family who hates sugar! You love sugar! And you hate my hair!'

'Then I'll just have to control my sugar urges. And correction please, I do not hate your hair. I love it---'

'We fight a lot!'

'Well, I love having fights with you---'

'What---'

'You want to know what else?' interrupted Ron. 'I love the way you behave as if you know everything. I love the way you tell me what to do--- Er, what else? I love the way you tell me to do my homework. I love the way you tell me to lessen my sugar in take because it's not good for my teeth---'

All Hermione could do was look at his thoughtful face, dumbfounded.

'I---I love the way you tell me to brush my hair. I love your opinionated nature. I love your---your SPEW badges,' he said.

Hermione smiled a little.

'When you tell me to read "Hogwarts: A History", I love that too---I love the fact that you'd rather read the new edition of that book than spend time with me---'

'That's not true,' she said softly.

'I love it when you choose the foods that I eat. I love it when you make me eat vegetable, even though you know very well that I hate them---I love the way you freak out when you get one wrong from your test. I love the fact that you want everything to be perfect,' he continued.

Tears came down Hermione's cheeks.

'I love the way you nag at me and correct me. It is irritating… but I love it. I love the way you make me cling to every word that you say. I love the way you move. I love it when you say that I'm the most good looking and best boyfriend in the world. I love everything that you do.'

Hermione was crying now.

He walked towards her and then placed a hand on each of her shoulders. 'I love the way you bring out the best in me and the way you turn my life around. Most of all, I love the way your smile brightens up my day,' he said, wiping the tears off her face. 'So please stop crying---'

Hermione was really crying now. 'I'll try---'

'Please marry me, Hermione,' he said, 'I need you. I'm shit without you---'

Before he knew it, Hermione was already kissing him. He slowly closed his eyes and then savoured the moment, pulling her even closer to him.

'Yes,' she whispered against his lips. 'Yes, I'll marry you, Ron. There's nothing that I'd rather do.'

'My Own,' whispered against her lips. 'You are right.'

Hermione began to slightly pull away from him. 'Right about what?' she asked, wiping her tears.

'I am insane and mad,' he said, smiling down to her. 'I am insanely and madly in love with you.' *******

A/N: Thanks for reading it! For all of you who reviewed, Thank you!

EVIL1: Thanks! ANN: Thanks! LINDS: LOL! EVILMICELLA: They will in the next chappie…  REDD BUTTERFLY: Thanks! CHAREINAMI-CHAN: Awww. You are the sweetest Rai! You know what's going to happen… SILVER DRAGON PRINCESS: Thanks Ana! EVIL1: Same person, right? QUISTISTREPE1412: They will… CUTHIEN GREENLEAF: Thanks! DEMETRE: Hehe!

ONCE AGAIN, THANKS FOR READING IT AND A MILLION THANKS TO THOSE WHO REVEIWED! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!