A/N: Hey darlings!
I want to thank my reviewer Sabi4ever for the shot out to Back at Hogwarts in her profile. I am glad you like the story!
Now, let's get on with the story.
Chapter 22: Boys Will be Boys
Hermione stood in place staring at Draco. No sound was coming out. She was just standing, staring, and her mouth half open.
Draco waved a hand in front of her, "Herm, hello? You there?"
She shook her head slowly and blinked. She brought her eyes back up to Draco's, "Yeah, um, so..." she shifted from foot to foot, still standing in one spot, "this may sound incredibly selfish, but, who did you hook up with, you know, when you were over there?"
Draco watched Hermione struggle with these words. She didn't really want to know, but, curiosity was getting the best of her. He took her hands into hers, "Hermione, does it really matter? I am here now, I am here with you. Does it matter who I was with over there?"
He smiled sweetly at her, but soon saw it didn't matter. Her eyebrows fell into a defined arch, "I think I am going to sleep at home tonight," she turned and entered the bathroom door slamming it shut behind her.
Draco's shoulders fell. First this was about Harry's extra-curricular activities in America, now he was on trial? He should have seen it coming, "Herm," he moved to the bathroom door and spoke to her through the thick oak, "Listen, what I did over there, does it really matter? I mean, how was I supposed to know that I would come back here and...and fall in love with you. It was the last thing I expected, and I am sure you didn't..." he stopped as the bathroom door opened. Hermione emerged slowly, and Draco's eyes widened. Hermione was standing in front of him, barely dressed in a short nightie.
A small smile formed on Hermione's face, "Do you like it?"
Draco's mouth went dry. He opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a small, and quick squeak. To replace the words, he nodded his head slowly. She laughed and took his face into his hands, "What happened with you and another woman, or women, doesn't matter. I promise. You are with me now, not them. You came back for me, you didn't give up on me."
Draco's eyes dropped, "Hermione..."
"Shh..." she put a finger up to his lips, "Just be quiet for a second. Draco, I love you. I will let Harry and Ginny deal with the Cho situation on their own. It's really, as much as I don't want to say it, none of my business. Now..." Hermione stepped back, "What were you saying about my sleepwear?"
Draco grinned. In the back of his mind, he remembered about his mother. About how she ended her life, partly so he would return to what ever it was that he left behind in England. Hermione would soon know about the tragic event. Would she be mad he didn't tell her? He couldn't take the chance. He couldn't risk losing her, not again.
He stopped her as she was kissing at his ear lobes, "There is something you need to know Hermione."
She looked up at him between kisses, "Can't it wait?"
"I'm afraid not."
Hermione stepped back, "Don't tell me you slept with Cho too, cause that just seems..."
Draco laughed and Hermione joined in, hers a bit more nervous, "No, I didn't, it's got nothing to do with that. It's about my mother."
She raised a curious eyebrow, "Why did you leave Austria, Draco?"
Draco told Hermione of the conversation he had with his mother the night she killed herself. He told her how, somehow, his mother saw him hurting. How she felt he had lost something back home that was breaking him apart inside.
"Draco, your mother, committed suicide? I can't believe it," Hermione moved from Draco's arms and sat slowly on the bed, "She seemed to, what's the word, dignified for that."
"Well, it was really the only way she could be back with my father. I mean, she never sinned. You know, when you commit suicide, they say you go straight to Hell. And well, we all know my father isn't singing with the angels."
Hermione hung her head down, "Do you think they are together, you know, in Hell?"
Draco rubbed Hermione's back, "It's funny, but I think so. Something inside me says they are."
She looked up at him, "So you came back, expecting me to be with Ron. Thinking you had lost me?"
Draco took her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head, "If you hadn't been here when I returned, I think I may have given a good fight."
She turned her head and kissed his lips, "I love you."
"As do I, love," Draco leaned Hermione back onto the bed. The nightie Draco had been speechless over was soon thrown to the floor.
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"Ginny, can we talk," Harry walked over to Ginny who was scanning through the latest Witch Weekly and sat next to her,
She looked up at him and smiled, "Of course, but first, I have to tell you, I saw Cho Chang in Diagon Alley today."
"I know you did," said Harry.
"You do, how?" asked Ginny
"Draco, Ron and I were having lunch in The Leaky Cauldron and she came in," he answered.
Ginny smiled, "Small world, huh?"
"Yeah, Ginny look..."
"I invited her to the wedding. Harry, I am sorry, I am not sure what I was thinking. Is that okay, I mean..."
Harry hushed her with a swift movement to her lips. They kissed for awhile before he backed off, "Let me say something," he smiled.
She blushed a bit at her blabbering, "Sorry..."
Harry took her hand into his, "Ginny, I love you, you know that. That is why you have the right to know this. We were in America for three years. We were in a war for two of those years. The Aurors, all we really had was each other, you know what I mean?" Ginny nodded, "See what I am getting at, is well... We didn't know when were coming home, no one did. You were constantly on my mind, you should know that by now, and well, things happened..." Harry stopped at Ginny's hand on his.
"So, what you are trying to tell me, Harry, is that you and Cho slept together while you were in The States? Is that it?" she said with a sweet, soft smile.
Harry looked at her, stunned, "Ginny? How? What?"
"Woman's instinct Harry. We are just that good," she said with a mischievous smile.
"So, are you mad? I mean, I didn't really mean anything to me. It was, you now. Guys really only think with one thing a lot of the time."
Ginny laughed, "Harry, I don't care. Now, if you wouldn't have told me or denied it, that is another story, but you told me. Besides, who are you marrying in two weeks? Me not her," she laughed, "I win."
Harry wrapped his arms around her shoulders "You are too cute, you know that?" he kissed he lightly on the temple, "Now, my love, care to accompany your fiancée to bed?"
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A/N: Alright, that was a straight up fluff chapter. I guess I am just missing my man too much while he is in Jersey.
So, those of you who have read Back at Hogwarts may catch something in this chappie. A little ode to my first fic. Let me know if you spotted it.
Now don't fret my dears, this is not the end. Afterall, we still need to find a lady for Ron.
We can't just leave him all lonely.
Hope you enjoyed this one. Once, again, if it's too short, sorry. You should be used to it by now. Please R&R!
