10.
While they were walking to the lesson, Harry asked "Hermione are you really considering Malfoy?" she smiled weakly "I don't know. I'll go and talk to the Headmaster later and see what he thinks" Harry nodded "I believe he will find a suitable candidate for you. He must find it."
Hermione was upset, things weren't going in the right direction "Harry I want you to promise that if I have to marry Malfoy you won't do anything foolish" he looked at her surprised "Why shouldn't I challenge him? Hermione you know what I feel for you. Do you really think that I would let you in his hands?" she sighed "Harry, he has changed a bit. In the last year and a half he never bothered us."
Harry was getting angry again "If I didn't know better I would think that you fancy the ferret" she shook her head vehemently "No Harry I couldn't really like him. Come on, he has been the bane of our existences since we started Hogwarts" Harry relaxed and smiling added "So tonight we wait for you in the Gryffindor common room at around nine."
Hermione stopped abruptly "Why?" Harry looked at her strangely "Hermione today is your birthday we will have a party" she turned her head toward the window and without looking at him said "Harry tomorrow we have school why don't we postpone to this Saturday? I wouldn't like to loose precious hours for my studies and my sleep."
Harry was surprised and observed her carefully but she wasn't meeting his eyes "Are you sure about it Hermione?" she then looked at him and smiling sadly said "I'm not in the mood for a party after receiving these proposals. I'm sorry Harry and beside after what's happened between Ginny and Ron I think we should try to sort out that first." He nodded "I don't really know what to think about it"
"I agree with Ginny. Ron can't really boss her around. She is grown up enough to make her own choice. And Blaise seems a good guy" Harry glanced at her "You knew it" she nodded "And I promised her that I will stand by her. She has the right to choose her man."
Harry nodded "I believe it too but still … a Slytherin. I thought that after the accident of the diary she has stopped putting herself in this kind of danger."
It was now Hermione turn to get angry "Harry, are you comparing Blaise with Voldemort? I can't believe you." the discussion was cut short by their arrival at the classroom. But Hermione didn't speak to Harry for the entire lesson and she was worried that Ron hadn't shown up.
It was almost time to meet Draco back at their common room and Hermione was rushing in order to avoid anyone stopping her and wishing her happy birthday. She had enough of telling them why the party was postponed. It was a blatant lie but the thing she wanted most was to spend that night with Draco. She sighed, just his name caused her stomach to be filled with butterflies.
She was walking pass a window when a flash of red got her attention. She stopped and watching outside she saw Ron sitting near the lake. She checked her watch and she knew that she was going to be a bit late but she had to see if Ron was fine. He was like a brother to her so even though she may have Draco angry with her, she had to go and see Ron.
When she got near him she spoke "Hey, I've been worried about you all day. Where have you been?" he didn't turn to watch her "I stayed here. I was thinking" she sat near him "About Ginny?" he nodded "Yeah about my little sister and about you."
She was surprised "About me?" he still didn't look at her "Do you think I didn't notice the way you look at him when you think nobody is watching you?" Hermione knew perfectly well whom he was talking about "Who?" he snorted "The one and only Draco Malfoy. I have been observing you and you have this glow when he is around. Don't worry, dear Harry, hasn't got a clue. Just tell me something Hermione, why?"
Hermione thought about it a bit "He acts differently when we are alone. Somehow Malfoy and me connected, in a strange way. We are enemies but at the same time I guess we became aware of each other knowledge and worth. I kind of find him attractive as well" and blushing she fell silent.
Ron still wasn't looking at her and then he said "Hermione, many times we want to see in other people things that are not there. Malfoy hates us, he feels that blood is more important than personality. When I look at you I see a beautiful witch, smart and funny, loyal and kind. I don't think he sees these things in you. He wants to make us miserable and he knows that you are the easy target. He knows how much Harry and me love you and that hurting you is going to hurt us all. Hermione, I'm saying this because I care."
She sighed "Ron I know that you and Harry care but please have faith in me. I will be fine with him. And please don't tell Harry yet. He will need time to understand. Ron are you mad at me?" he finally looked at her, his blue eyes were sad "A bit. I feel betrayed by you and by my sister. She chose him over me. And you are in love with one of my worst enemies. How should I feel?" he stood up and angrily walked away.
After few moments she looked at the time and started to run to get to her quarters. She arrived in her common room breathless and there was no sign of Draco. She was sad and angry with her best friends but she didn't have time to sulk over it. Draco was preparing something special for her and she made her way to her room.
When she opened the door she wasn't expecting what she saw. A beautiful silver dress was sprawled on her bed. Matching silver shoes where there too. The dress was full length with a v-neck but it wasn't too much revealing. She touched it and it was pure silk, she mused, Draco had very good taste.
After a very quick shower and a spell to fix her hairs, she put on the beautiful dress and the shoes and entered again the common room. Draco was there, wearing a black suit and a grey silky shirt. He smiled at her "You look stunning in this dress, Hermione" she blushed "but I think that something is missing" she was surprised when he put in her hand a box. "Happy birthday"
She opened the gift with shaky hands, inside there was a necklace, earrings and a bracelet all made of diamonds. "Draco I can't accept them, it's too much" he smiled at her "Nothing is too much for my girlfriend" he took the necklace out of the box and he clapped it around her neck. She then put on the bracelet and the earrings.
Draco took their two coats, he helped Hermione to wear hers and then put on his. She was very curious "Draco where are we going?" he grinned at her "Take my hand and you will know it" she took his hand and she watched him touching a little snitch. She felt a little pang and when she opened her eyes again she found herself in front of a muggle theatre.
Hermione turned to watch Draco "Are we going to see a ballet?" he smiled at her "No, tonight they are showing Madame Butterfly. And after it, I've got a reservation for a nice meal for two in an Italian restaurant." She felt so happy "How did you do it?" he smirked "Albus and Ginny helped out quite a lot" she was moved by his effort.
"Thank you Draco" said a very emotional Hermione "This is one of the most beautiful birthday I have ever had" he took her hand in his and they entered the theatre.
The opera was amazing and the couple enjoyed it greatly, they were still talking about it during the dinner "It's very sad that he lied to her." Hermione said "She really believed him when he told her that he loved her." Draco replied "He was very charming and she was very young. There wasn't any reason for her not to believe him" she sighed "I know, this is the second time that I watch it and I still hope that at the end he would be back for her."
Draco said "I never thought that you were a romantic Hermione" she smirked at him "I'm not very much a romantic but I still like happy endings." It was approaching the end of the meal and the time to go back to Hogwarts when Hermione noticed that Draco was getting nervous. "Draco is anything wrong?"
He looked at her and after clearing his voice he kneeled in front of her. Luckily they were in a secluded part of the restaurant so few people could see the scene unfolding.
He took her hand in his and after clearing his voice again said "Hermione Granger, I think you are a very beautiful and intelligent witch. I know that you don't have a choice but I'm here now kneeling in front of you because I believe that you still deserve a proposal. I want to make you happy and I promise to protect you till death do as a part. Will you marry me?"
Hermione was shocked, this handsome wizard was there in front of her asking her to marrying him even though he didn't have to, because she would have to sign that petition anyway. He had created this fantastic evening in order to propose to her and now she didn't know what to say. He didn't speak about love. Well love wasn't an issue now, was it? She was surprised that she felt a pang of disappointment that he didn't say anything of that sort.
She smiled at him between tears "Yes, I will marry you Draco Malfoy" he then took out of his pocket another little box. He opened and he took out a beautiful engagement ring simple but classy. He put it on her finger and then went back to sit at his place.
"Draco I have to thank you for everything. You have been really good to me and I must admit that I wasn't expecting it. I want to tell you that I'm sorry for having been narrow-minded and for not having given you a chance before. I want you to know that all you did tonight was wonderful and I will remember it forever."
He smiled at her "I'm happy you liked it, it took me ages to organise it and then considering my ignorance on muggle things I had to ask help even from Snape. And believe me it wasn't funny how the old bat was smirking at me when I asked him to get me two tickets for the theatre."
She giggled "I would have liked to be there to witness it" he chuckled as well "It's better you didn't see me getting so embarrassed." She smiled at him "Perhaps, I'm just happy to know that now our Professor will tease you at any opportunity." He glared at her "Are you sure that you and Snape are not related? Both of you can be very nasty." She giggled again.
When they came back to their common room both students were in a fantastic mood. They spent half an hour snogging on their couch and they reluctantly left after glancing at the clock which was pointing to 'Time to Sleep'.
Hermione was surprised that she didn't think once about Harry and Ron. It had been a dream night. Draco had been a very charming man tonight but she couldn't quite suppress the thought that was nagging at her. He didn't speak about love, he said that he liked her but she thought that for a marriage to work there should be more than liking.
Draco in the other room fell asleep thinking about a beautiful witch in a silver dress that had charmed her way in his heart. He didn't think he loved her but he definitely liked her a lot. He was starting to accept his fate. She was going to be his wife so he had to try to make the best of it.
AN: Thanks for reading.