A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the late update. I've been busy lately... school's coming up soon- you know, shopping for stupid little school supplies and clothes (the only good part), and end-of-the-summer hang out with friends are just being cramped in the schedule...during my last few days of life. You know.. yeah...yeah..

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Chapter 30: Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy

"Because I..." she breathed, "Because I love you..."

Draco froze. Has he... just heard... her say... those three... strong words? Has he, Draco Malfoy, heard Hermione Granger... tell him those three strong words?

He didn't speak for a while, nor did he let go of her. It wasn't that he hated the fact that Hermione had just expressed her true feelings to him... but... he just didn't know what to say. It was all happening so quickly...

What was he to do?

He tried to keep calm. Hermione rested her head on his chest... was she expecting an answer back?

She totally took his breath away. Speechless. Astounded. Voiceless...

Nobody has ever... told him that. Nobody but his mother...

So was this the feeling of love? Was this it?

....Was this love?

--

After a few minutes of no talking, Draco looked at Hermione's eyes... "Y-y-you? M-me?"

Hermione could see his eyes were unsure. She didn't care... she didn't care, but at least she let it all out. It was better than holding it all in... wasn't it?

For a few seconds, Hermione thought this was a bad timing... but was it?

Draco wasn't moving. He was stunned. Blown away. Flabbergasted...

"Draco?" Hermione pulled off and looked at his extra pale face. Before she could say another word-

"Hermione I..." he stared at her, "I... love you too..."

--

Draco and Hermione would never forget that night. That night meant everything to Hermione and most of all, Draco. They didn't treat each other any different, of course. Draco got used to it... he loved the feeling. He loved being with her... He loved her. Love....he loved the way it sounded when she'd repeat it and kiss him good night. When she'd owl him to reply his message... one small parchment written with three strong, yet simple words: I love you.

Of course, none could tell what their future held... none could tell what would happen. But it didn't matter... Draco was going to make this relationship work... she's all he's got...he wasn't going to let go now..

But in order to make something good happen... there's always something hard that you have to face.

--

Draco met Hermione's parents that day, and it went quite well... not something he had in mind but at least it went well.

They spent the day introducing Draco to a Muggle sport called "Golf". He didn't know if Mr. and Mrs. Granger knew that he was one of those wizards from school, who didn't know anything about Muggle things.

Draco had no idea what to do with a stick and a small ball they called a "golf ball". Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Draco's attempt on using the golfclub as a broom and the golfball as a snitch. He complained just as the golf ball landed on the ground, wingless.

"Why isn't it flying?" Draco hissed at Hermione, as her parents left to set up a picnic.

"It's because it's not suppose to!" Hermione laughed, "Draco, there's a difference between magic things and Muggle things."

Draco just gave Hermione a strange look and looked at the golfclubs, clueless.

--

"I-I ...don't think it would be a good idea..." Hermione said nervously.

"We can try. C'mon, Hermione..." Draco urged.

Two days had passed after the meeting with Hermione's parents. Now it was time for Hermione to face his...

Draco had told his mother about a girl he's in love with, and she was ever so proud. It was a little hard to tell Lucius, but he agreed to have a dinner with his son and his girlfriend. Hermione had dressed properly for this small occasion, but she was very nervous. She's only met Lucius Malfoy a few times but with pure disgust.

She didn't know how she would face Lucius Malfoy now...Hermione didn't see the point of meeting this man...

What would he say if they found out it was the Hermione? And not Pansy? Or any other Slytherin girl? Of course, Draco didn't tell Lucius or his mother that he loved Hermione, the "Muggle". He told them he had fallen in love with "A wonderful girl". He wanted it to be a surprise... but it was stupid to Hermione.

Hermione's stomach was aching, but she didn't feel hungry. Draco looked at her and somehow read her mind-

"Don't worry so much, I'm here." He put his arms around her and walked towards the Malfoy Manor's doorstep.

Draco rang the doorbell and a lady had answered. Draco stared at the lady. He was shocked... stood there, surprised.

"M-mother?" he said, giving Narcissa Malfoy a big hug. Hermione looked down at her shoes...

"Draco, darling!" Narcissa gave her son a kiss on the forehead, "How are you, dear?" then she caught Hermione, standing shy at the doorstep, "And who's this fine young lady?" she gave a small gasp, as she lifted Hermione's chin up, "Oh Draco, is this her? She's beautiful!" Narcissa gave Hermione a warm smile (which surprised her, a lot). Hermione flushed and smiled back.

--

Lucius Malfoy had already been sitting on the very end of the long dining table. Narcissa took the opposite side, as Draco led Hermione to her chair, which was next to his, somewhere in the middle of the table.

It was a few seconds before anyone spoke.

"So what is the name of this young lady you bring us?" Lucius drawled, looking at the rest of them with boring eyes.

"Thank you for making it, dear." Narcissa told Hermione. Then she turned to Draco, "Are you treating her any well, Draco darling?"

Draco flushed but smiled at Hermione then nodded, "Yes mother..."

Hermione looked down at her plate.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't get your name-?" Narcissa asked Hermione gently. Hermione swore she heard Lucius brawl in disgust.

"H-hermione..." Hermione said quietly. "Hermione Granger..."

There was silence in the table...

Lucius Malfoy's utensils fell on his plate causing a loud clang. Narcissa grew pale and Draco just raised a brow.

Nobody spoke. Draco looked furious. How could they treat her like this? How could they act like this in front of her? How could they act like this, in front of Draco himself? How could he have not expected this? It was humiliating...

Draco opened his mouth to speak but Lucius cut in.

"A mudblood!?" he spat, "A mudblood, Draco? A digrace to us purebloods! How dare-"

"Don't call her that!" Draco said angrilly. An evil grin appeared on Lucius' face.

"Do you...love this...this...her, Draco?" Narcissa asked. Lucius just shot her an appalled look.

Draco looked at her mom in disbelief, then at Hermione, who was still looking down at her plate, "With all my heart." He put his arm around her back, making his parents almost gasp.

Lucius didn't speak for a few seconds, obviously trying to keep calm. "Draco Malfoy, you are to forget about this girl and I forbid you to be together!" he yelled. Before Lucius could leave the table, Draco stood up.

"No!" he bellowed, "I love her –" he looked at his own father, then back at his mother, "I love her mum.."

Hermione gulped. She thought this was such a bad time... she was being argued over and she was doing nothing but sitting there... She didn't know what to do...

Narcissa looked hesitant. "You don't have to do this, son." Lucius spat.

"I can make my own choices!"

Lucius had stood up on his hair as well and yelled back at his only son, "You are still my son, and you are to follow my orders!"

"I'M NOT A LITTLE BOY ANYMORE! I'M NOT YOUR LITTLE BOY ANYMORE!" Draco raged. Narcissa almost burst out in tears- "I don't need your bloody orders!"

Lucius just stood there, with the darkest look on his eyes. Disbelieving... he wasn't convinced. "You are not to see this filthy mudblood..." Lucius said frankly, "... ever again." He glared at Hermione. She looked up in time to see his wicked stare. She looked back down at her plate, shaking inside...

Draco was breathing heavily. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. They don't have the right...

They don't...

He was ready to swing a fist at anyone now. He wanted to break something... he had to make his parents understand. This wasn't fair...

"Excuse me." Hermione said before anyone could speak. She stood up and ran out the door.

Draco was furious.

"Look what you've done!" Draco yelled, "You're the disgrace! Why do we always have to keep up with our stupid image! So what if we're purebloods? That doesn't stop me from loving! Muggle or not! You don't know what it's like, father. You have no idea! You know why? Since when have you actually loved? You and you're lot-"

"Don't talk to your father that way, Draco!" Narcissa said sternly. "You're father loves you! And so do I."

Draco looked at his own mother with disbelief. Why was she changing sides now?

"Keep away from this, Narcissa!" Lucius spat at his wife.

"He's my son too, Lucius." Mrs. Malfoy looked at his husband, who just looked back with pure disgust.

Mr. Malfoy turned his glare to Draco, "You're making a mistake, Draco. Think about it. Which would you rather choose, the betrayal and humliation to your family, or that filthy-"

"No." Draco said clearly.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. I love you, and I love mum. I understand you both wanted me to grow up just the way you planned. I understand you both want what's best for me. But just because you're both my parents, none of you have the right to stop me from being with who I want to be!"

Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy looked insulted. "You don't love her, boy!"

Draco looked at his own father, displeasured. "Watch me."

Narcissa finally sighed and looked at her son with sorrowful eyes. She hesitated, then sighed again, "Lucius, he is right. He has the right to love whom he wants-"

At that comment, Draco calmed down- relieved. His parents wanted to raise him perfectly, go as planned... marry somebody pureblood and rich. But Draco didn't want to take that path... he wanted something simple, and something he would be comfortable with. Wealth and Blood doesn't include in the qualities of Love. He wanted only one thing- Hermione.

Without her, he wouldn't have felt this. He wouldn't know the meaning of love. Or is it Love?

Without her, he wouldn't have changed. His cold heart would never melt and he would've never learnt how to smile with a reason.

Without her... he wouldn't have had a heart.

Without her... it was too painfull to think about.

Suddenly, Draco's anger piled up again. Lucius pulled out his wand and muttered a spell. Narcissa gasped as she held her cheek. As she removed her hand away, there was a large red mark on her face. He ran to help Narcissa... Hoping Hermione would come back...

"No he doesn't, Narcissa!" Angered and face paled, he scowled at his wife.

Draco couldn't take it anymore...

"No! I'm sick- I'm sick of all this!" he turned to Narcissa, "You leaving us...you leaving me. Not only was it hard to get over, but it left that big mark in my heart, unrecovering. I'm sick of my life being so controlled! I'm sick of my future being planned! I don't want all this!" he pointed at the big empty space, "I'm sick of being always told what to be, or what not to be! Especially from my own father." He turned to Lucius, "...who's way too busy to learn how to love his own family. Or to even love me. Do you realise it wasn't working? I've gone my own path and I refuse to look back! I'm sick of this mansion!-"

"Enough!" Lucius roared. But Draco ignored it... he was so angry now...

"And I... and I've realised I've been so wrong in the past. Because you know why? A certain somebody taught me how to care... how to appreciate... how to love. She taught me... how I.. how I can be whoever I want to be. Life... isn't written on a book. I want my life to be full of surprises.... and no matter how much you don't agree, I think she's right."

Nobody spoke.

"She may be a Muggle but she's defenitely not a Mudblood," Draco paused, "She's Hermione Gran-"

"And all those years I thought I raised you right."

Draco stared. Lucius was one selfish unkind man... Draco didn't blame his mother as much he did before. No he understood why she wanted to leave...

"No. I guess you haven't." Draco said quietly, "We're bound to be together, and I believe in destiny. Nothing you or anyone can say, will stop us from being together." He paused for a moment, "Even if it's to be out of the family tree..."

Horror struck Draco. He couldn't believe what he said... why had he said that?

Silence....

Tears in her eyes, Narcissa hugged him, "Oh my baby..."

"Then," Lucius said, wearing a dark expression, "...so be it."