Chapter 40- Letters, Dragons, and Roses
Draco was monotonously, irritatingly impatient on the day Hermione returned. To keep himself busy, he reread the instructions for the potion about a thousand times…but even that could not completely distract him.
*I hope she'll agree. I don't want to have gone to all that effort for nothing.*
"Of course she'll agree," he told himself. "She loves you, right? She'll probably be jealous she didn't think of it first."
Contenting himself with this thought, he settled down onto the couch. A moment later, he sprang up again, pacing restlessly back and forth in front of the fire. He checked the time- again. It was twelve thirteen. "Damn. This is going to take forever."
He went back into his bedroom, retrieving his broom. Flying *might* take his mind of Hermione. It would be a number of hours before she arrived, and he could not stand to sit and do nothing.
As soon as he felt the cold breeze brushing his face, some of his anticipation was relieved. He took the air in with a few deep breaths, calming his on-edge nerves. Circling the pitch, he watched the ground, unbroken by any wandering student.
After a time, he became aware of the numbness in every exposed part of his body. Despite the clarity of the day, it was late December. It was always cold outside at this time. Regretfully, Draco alighted on the ground. He shouldered the broom and returned to the common room, where he warmed himself in front of the most inviting fire.
For an hour, he managed to distract his focus with food. Eclairs, cupcakes, pie, roasted chicken, fish fillets, steak, meatballs, pasta, stir-fry- even hamburgers. He tried some of everything. It was about five thirty when he had finished.
He groaned, putting a lethargic hand to his stomach. "I think I ate to much," he sighed, and lay back on the couch. "I guess a little nap won't hurt. Sleep off the food…" His head hit the cushion, and he was out like a light.
He was awakened by the restriction of breath. Not only was something lying on top of his lungs, but something else was wrapped tightly around his neck. Smiling broadly, Draco wrapped his arms around the something. "Hermione!" It came out strangled, and Hermione let go at the sound.
"Sorry," she smiled, "I just missed you so much, I had to choke you."
"I'll bet."
"Well, excuse me, you can't even stay awake to wait for me."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"I don't know. It's nine thirty."
"Nine thirty! You were supposed to be here at seven!"
"I know, I'm sorry. The train was delayed. I hope you weren't too bored, honey-bubble," she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes.
He rolled his eyes, pushing her off his lap. "Hey!" She took one of the cushions from the couch and threw it at him. He ducked it, then straightened, sticking his tongue out at her. She proceeded to throw the rest of them, which progressed into a one-sided pillow fight. Hermione threw pillows at him, and he continued to duck them.
When she went to put them all back, she stopped, staring at the couch. "Did you know this was a pullout couch, Draco?"
He raised one eyebrow. "A what couch?"
"Pullout. Look." She took a handle and pulled, and the inside of the couch came out.
"What's the point of that? We could just enlarge it magically."
"Well, I suppose you're right. Still, I wonder…"
"Ahem. Are you ready, Hermione?"
"Ready for what?"
"For your Christmas present."
"Oh, please, not until tomorrow. I would feel silly anyway, I didn't have a chance to get you anything."
He pulled out the parchment, disregarding her protests, and handed it to her. Reluctantly, she scanned it. She gasped with surprised pleasure. "Promise rings? Really?"
Breaking into a grin, Draco nodded. "I have all the ingredients already- all except your hair. We'll do it tomorrow."
"Oh, Draco!" Hermione exclaimed. There were tears in her eyes. She flung her arms around his neck. "This is amazing! Thank you!"
"What did you expect? Nothing could better tell you how much I love you."
************************************************************************
Hermione looked over the instructions again. "We really put everything in whole?" she asked skeptically. Draco came from behind her, bearing the dragon's blood.
"That's what this is for, darling," he said, pouring it in.
She smiled at him. "I suppose it has symbolism. Everything whole. Anyway, I rather prefer it this way. I could never have cut up the heart of a lion."
They followed the directions to the letter, placing the heart into the cauldron last. They sat to watch as the potion brewed to a nondescript reddish-gray. Neither of them spoke. They held each other's hands tightly, nervous and excited, as they kept their eyes on the cauldron, stirring occasionally.
"It's time now," Draco said when it was. "We have to add the hairs."
Hermione winced slightly when he yanked a few hairs from his head, dropping them into the potion. Hermione severed a couple of strands with her wand, and put them in as well.
Hermione was reminded greatly of Professor Winkly when it began to turn colors. Around Draco's pale hair the potion turned a fiery blue. Her own hair turned it bright orange. The colors spread, meeting in the middle of the cauldron. Where they bled into each other, they became one color- but it seemed more than one at once. It was a dark shade of purplish-blue that seemed to lean toward green somehow. Hermione had never seen a color so uniquely beautiful.
In an instant the potion had vanished, and Hermione knew that their rings lay expectantly in the bottom of the cauldron. She felt her own grip tighten, and Draco squeezed in response. "This is it."
She looked deeply into his gray eyes. They pierced into her soul. She knew there was no need to say "I love you". Their feelings could not be expressed in words. As one, they stepped forward, and she reached down to scoop up the rings.
They were identical, but one was larger and obviously meant for a man's finger. The bands were formed from the wings of a dragon folding over each other. Its tail curled across its back, shifting to a rose, which the dragon held in its mouth. Its eyes were minute rubies, and inside of the bands a strange inscription read, "L-N-E-P-M-O-S-I".
"What is the rose for?" Draco wondered.
"Rose is my middle name," Hermione said quietly. "But these letters…wait, letters! I get it." They both laughed. The promise rings were displaying a sense of humor.
Hermione handed the smaller one to Draco. He slid it onto the ring finger of her right hand, and she did the same with his. They shared a long, searching kiss, infused with passionate love, and stayed locked in an embrace for hours before either of them was willing to move.
"I love you," Draco said finally. "You can be sure you will have this ring forever."
"As will you," Hermione whispered back. For how could she ever stop loving Draco? She could not fathom that situation to any extent. "My heart is yours, for all time. Come what may," she smiled.
Draco's hand slid down to hers, while the other retrieved his wand from a pocket. With a flourish, a melodic waltz sounded through the dormitory, and Draco led her in a meaningful dance.
"I never knew you were such a good dancer," she laughed at the end. They were exhilaratingly breathless.
"I did know you would be, though. Even when you walk, your steps are more graceful than an angel's flight. Your spirit gives you levity to fly through life without ever leaving the ground. The rest of the world can only watch and wish they could do so much."
"You will always fly beside me," she said, her hands on the back of his neck pulling his head close to hers. "You are the only person I know who has been able to lift yourself above life itself."
"Only by benefit of your love," he replied sincerely. "Before us, I had only ludicrous hope that you would somehow come to see me, and accept me. Now I have only the hope that we will always be together, live side by side, and I will always have you to rely on, and to rely on me." Laughing almost inaudibly, he said, "Imagine my surprise when that ludicrous hope came true. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever deserve you. I still don't."
"I will spend all of my life convincing you that you *do* deserve me. Draco, I cannot think of a better person, a better man than you. Just the fact that you saw past my hair, bookishness, and that I was never the prettiest girl in school, amazes me. I would never have expected it of you before I really knew you. Last year I realized- you are the kind of man who would look past the outward appearance."
"You were always pretty," Draco told her. She blushed, looking down, but she let him tip her face up to look at his. His eyes shone with affection. "But now, you are nothing less than the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Draco…stop. I don't need you to exaggerate to make me feel better."
"I'm not exaggerating. I have never seen your equal in beauty. Not all the veela in the magical world could measure up to you." He kissed her gently. "But I love you for a different reason. Two, actually. Your mind and your heart."
She hugged him tightly. She had never dared to dream that anyone would love her this much. A feeling of such elation filled her, she was surprised that she did not float off the floor.
For the longest time, neither of them said or did anything. They didn't even clean up the ingredients for their potion. They only stood in each other's arms, eventually moving to the couch to sit- still in each other's arms.
It must have been hours that they remained that way. Hermione knew only Draco. He was all she ever wanted to know. *If I just stayed here forever, I could be happy. Who needs school, grades, N.E.W.T.s…something must be wrong with me, if I'm thinking that. No, that's not it. Something is right. That's it, yes. Everything is right.*
End Chapter 40
Aww! That was a squeaky "aww" but I can't write in squeaks. Anyway, I love this chapter! It's just so…so…so…mushy!! It's fluff, wonderful fluff!!!!
In case anyone was wondering, there is a reason why D and H have not seen each other naked yet. I mean, this is Hermione we're talking about. Think about it.
Promise Rings are courtesy of The White Lily, who is an excellent writer and left her fic open for people to write a fic about it. https://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=891650
So review for fluffy confetti, to go with the chapter.
Draco was monotonously, irritatingly impatient on the day Hermione returned. To keep himself busy, he reread the instructions for the potion about a thousand times…but even that could not completely distract him.
*I hope she'll agree. I don't want to have gone to all that effort for nothing.*
"Of course she'll agree," he told himself. "She loves you, right? She'll probably be jealous she didn't think of it first."
Contenting himself with this thought, he settled down onto the couch. A moment later, he sprang up again, pacing restlessly back and forth in front of the fire. He checked the time- again. It was twelve thirteen. "Damn. This is going to take forever."
He went back into his bedroom, retrieving his broom. Flying *might* take his mind of Hermione. It would be a number of hours before she arrived, and he could not stand to sit and do nothing.
As soon as he felt the cold breeze brushing his face, some of his anticipation was relieved. He took the air in with a few deep breaths, calming his on-edge nerves. Circling the pitch, he watched the ground, unbroken by any wandering student.
After a time, he became aware of the numbness in every exposed part of his body. Despite the clarity of the day, it was late December. It was always cold outside at this time. Regretfully, Draco alighted on the ground. He shouldered the broom and returned to the common room, where he warmed himself in front of the most inviting fire.
For an hour, he managed to distract his focus with food. Eclairs, cupcakes, pie, roasted chicken, fish fillets, steak, meatballs, pasta, stir-fry- even hamburgers. He tried some of everything. It was about five thirty when he had finished.
He groaned, putting a lethargic hand to his stomach. "I think I ate to much," he sighed, and lay back on the couch. "I guess a little nap won't hurt. Sleep off the food…" His head hit the cushion, and he was out like a light.
He was awakened by the restriction of breath. Not only was something lying on top of his lungs, but something else was wrapped tightly around his neck. Smiling broadly, Draco wrapped his arms around the something. "Hermione!" It came out strangled, and Hermione let go at the sound.
"Sorry," she smiled, "I just missed you so much, I had to choke you."
"I'll bet."
"Well, excuse me, you can't even stay awake to wait for me."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"I don't know. It's nine thirty."
"Nine thirty! You were supposed to be here at seven!"
"I know, I'm sorry. The train was delayed. I hope you weren't too bored, honey-bubble," she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes.
He rolled his eyes, pushing her off his lap. "Hey!" She took one of the cushions from the couch and threw it at him. He ducked it, then straightened, sticking his tongue out at her. She proceeded to throw the rest of them, which progressed into a one-sided pillow fight. Hermione threw pillows at him, and he continued to duck them.
When she went to put them all back, she stopped, staring at the couch. "Did you know this was a pullout couch, Draco?"
He raised one eyebrow. "A what couch?"
"Pullout. Look." She took a handle and pulled, and the inside of the couch came out.
"What's the point of that? We could just enlarge it magically."
"Well, I suppose you're right. Still, I wonder…"
"Ahem. Are you ready, Hermione?"
"Ready for what?"
"For your Christmas present."
"Oh, please, not until tomorrow. I would feel silly anyway, I didn't have a chance to get you anything."
He pulled out the parchment, disregarding her protests, and handed it to her. Reluctantly, she scanned it. She gasped with surprised pleasure. "Promise rings? Really?"
Breaking into a grin, Draco nodded. "I have all the ingredients already- all except your hair. We'll do it tomorrow."
"Oh, Draco!" Hermione exclaimed. There were tears in her eyes. She flung her arms around his neck. "This is amazing! Thank you!"
"What did you expect? Nothing could better tell you how much I love you."
************************************************************************
Hermione looked over the instructions again. "We really put everything in whole?" she asked skeptically. Draco came from behind her, bearing the dragon's blood.
"That's what this is for, darling," he said, pouring it in.
She smiled at him. "I suppose it has symbolism. Everything whole. Anyway, I rather prefer it this way. I could never have cut up the heart of a lion."
They followed the directions to the letter, placing the heart into the cauldron last. They sat to watch as the potion brewed to a nondescript reddish-gray. Neither of them spoke. They held each other's hands tightly, nervous and excited, as they kept their eyes on the cauldron, stirring occasionally.
"It's time now," Draco said when it was. "We have to add the hairs."
Hermione winced slightly when he yanked a few hairs from his head, dropping them into the potion. Hermione severed a couple of strands with her wand, and put them in as well.
Hermione was reminded greatly of Professor Winkly when it began to turn colors. Around Draco's pale hair the potion turned a fiery blue. Her own hair turned it bright orange. The colors spread, meeting in the middle of the cauldron. Where they bled into each other, they became one color- but it seemed more than one at once. It was a dark shade of purplish-blue that seemed to lean toward green somehow. Hermione had never seen a color so uniquely beautiful.
In an instant the potion had vanished, and Hermione knew that their rings lay expectantly in the bottom of the cauldron. She felt her own grip tighten, and Draco squeezed in response. "This is it."
She looked deeply into his gray eyes. They pierced into her soul. She knew there was no need to say "I love you". Their feelings could not be expressed in words. As one, they stepped forward, and she reached down to scoop up the rings.
They were identical, but one was larger and obviously meant for a man's finger. The bands were formed from the wings of a dragon folding over each other. Its tail curled across its back, shifting to a rose, which the dragon held in its mouth. Its eyes were minute rubies, and inside of the bands a strange inscription read, "L-N-E-P-M-O-S-I".
"What is the rose for?" Draco wondered.
"Rose is my middle name," Hermione said quietly. "But these letters…wait, letters! I get it." They both laughed. The promise rings were displaying a sense of humor.
Hermione handed the smaller one to Draco. He slid it onto the ring finger of her right hand, and she did the same with his. They shared a long, searching kiss, infused with passionate love, and stayed locked in an embrace for hours before either of them was willing to move.
"I love you," Draco said finally. "You can be sure you will have this ring forever."
"As will you," Hermione whispered back. For how could she ever stop loving Draco? She could not fathom that situation to any extent. "My heart is yours, for all time. Come what may," she smiled.
Draco's hand slid down to hers, while the other retrieved his wand from a pocket. With a flourish, a melodic waltz sounded through the dormitory, and Draco led her in a meaningful dance.
"I never knew you were such a good dancer," she laughed at the end. They were exhilaratingly breathless.
"I did know you would be, though. Even when you walk, your steps are more graceful than an angel's flight. Your spirit gives you levity to fly through life without ever leaving the ground. The rest of the world can only watch and wish they could do so much."
"You will always fly beside me," she said, her hands on the back of his neck pulling his head close to hers. "You are the only person I know who has been able to lift yourself above life itself."
"Only by benefit of your love," he replied sincerely. "Before us, I had only ludicrous hope that you would somehow come to see me, and accept me. Now I have only the hope that we will always be together, live side by side, and I will always have you to rely on, and to rely on me." Laughing almost inaudibly, he said, "Imagine my surprise when that ludicrous hope came true. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever deserve you. I still don't."
"I will spend all of my life convincing you that you *do* deserve me. Draco, I cannot think of a better person, a better man than you. Just the fact that you saw past my hair, bookishness, and that I was never the prettiest girl in school, amazes me. I would never have expected it of you before I really knew you. Last year I realized- you are the kind of man who would look past the outward appearance."
"You were always pretty," Draco told her. She blushed, looking down, but she let him tip her face up to look at his. His eyes shone with affection. "But now, you are nothing less than the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Draco…stop. I don't need you to exaggerate to make me feel better."
"I'm not exaggerating. I have never seen your equal in beauty. Not all the veela in the magical world could measure up to you." He kissed her gently. "But I love you for a different reason. Two, actually. Your mind and your heart."
She hugged him tightly. She had never dared to dream that anyone would love her this much. A feeling of such elation filled her, she was surprised that she did not float off the floor.
For the longest time, neither of them said or did anything. They didn't even clean up the ingredients for their potion. They only stood in each other's arms, eventually moving to the couch to sit- still in each other's arms.
It must have been hours that they remained that way. Hermione knew only Draco. He was all she ever wanted to know. *If I just stayed here forever, I could be happy. Who needs school, grades, N.E.W.T.s…something must be wrong with me, if I'm thinking that. No, that's not it. Something is right. That's it, yes. Everything is right.*
End Chapter 40
Aww! That was a squeaky "aww" but I can't write in squeaks. Anyway, I love this chapter! It's just so…so…so…mushy!! It's fluff, wonderful fluff!!!!
In case anyone was wondering, there is a reason why D and H have not seen each other naked yet. I mean, this is Hermione we're talking about. Think about it.
Promise Rings are courtesy of The White Lily, who is an excellent writer and left her fic open for people to write a fic about it. https://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=891650
So review for fluffy confetti, to go with the chapter.