A/N: Hi! I am thrilled by all the awesome reviews I received in response to my last two chapters! Thanks so much! I have a few things to clear up: 1) Draco and Hermione are NOT married, they are just engaged. 2) Do not worry about Mookie, he's coming back. I didn't forget him. 3) No, my story is not done (obviously now that I updated) and I do not think the story will be done for awhile…
Oh, and many reviewers informed me that once again I had them APPARATE to Hogwarts and according to J.K. Rowling that is not allowed. I know that, I've read the books and seen the movies. I apologize because I always forget that! I get so wrapped up into writing my plot, I forget rules that form boundaries for my fiction. SORRY! I will try and remember from now on not to have them apparate to or from Hogwarts!
Anywho…Random News: Eminem (a.k.a. my lover) premiered his new video for his genius and beautiful song, Mockingbird. He introduced it on MTV's TRL Awards. The video was wonderful, breath-taking. It featured many family home videos, and showed how tender and loving he acts with his daughter, Hailie and niece, Alaina (Lainey). I recommend it to you all. Eminem also received the TRL Life Time Achievement Award, for which he rightly deserved. Feel free to review and tell me your thoughts on the video, or Eminem in general. I love reading reviews from fellow Em fans.
More Random News: I watched The Notebook this past weekend and I recommend that movie, too. It's got a good plot and some nice steamy scenes between the two beautiful actors. It's a tearjerker though! Especially check out the steamy alternate scenes!
…Okay enough chitchat, on with the next installment!
Chap. 52 Quick Trip Back Home
Hermione sat in awe and unquenchable happiness. Draco had left the room for a bit, Dumbledore asked to speak to him about the Praesul Charm.
Hermione stared at the extravagant engagement ring.
I am getting married…to Draco Malfoy! She thought.
She smiled to herself. She never felt happier. She then felt a presence in the doorway. Draco stood there, his arms crossed, his face formed into a wild smirk.
'A galleon for your thoughts?' He asked.
Hermione grinned at him and then stood up and moved to him.
'Thoughts…thoughts consisting of mainly you and how happy you make me.'
'I'm glad I can do that for you.' He said, leaning down to place an innocent kiss on her lips.
'I would love to spend some more quality time with you, but I have to go pick up my things from home.'
'And tell Potter and mini-Weasley I presume?' Draco asked, eyebrows raised.
'Yes…' She grinned, he knew her all too well, 'and that.'
'How are you going to get your things from home?' Hermione asked him, sorrow replacing the happiness in her eyes.
'I don't need anything. I'll go shop in Hogsmeade if I do.' He said, 'What do you need from your home?'
'My books, robes, and Mookie, to name a few.'
'Ohh. I forgot about that damn gnome.'
'Hey, Mookie is very helpful.'
'We haven't even asked for real advice yet, how can you say that?' Draco asked.
'You asked him if you should go home, so Bradin and I could become close again, and we did. It didn't turn out so bad.'
'Other than the fact that you kissed someone else.' Draco said with a slight pang of jealousy.
'I'm sorry.' Hermione said wrapping her arms around him, 'Please, let's not talk about that.'
Draco kissed the top of her head.
'It's forgotten.' He replied, 'But I do want to come with you to your parents house to grab your things. For safety's sake.'
'No you don't have to.'
'Dumbledore made this room for both of us to be safe and protected that means you too. And if you're going to be leaving this room or Hogwarts, I will be accompanying you. I just got engaged for the first time, I don't want my fiancée do run off and get herself injured or worse.'
'Fine, come with.' She said, pretending to be annoyed with him, however internally she was grateful that he was so cautious with her.
The two then told Dumbledore that they had to run to Hermione's house. Dumbledore approved and told them to be careful. Draco and Hermione used floo powder to get to Hermione's house. (A/N: they can use floo powder travel at Hogwarts, right?)
Draco and Hermione appeared in her family room, dirty from the soot of their fireplace.
'Wow, mum and dad really need to clean out this out.' Hermione said as they stepped out.
'Hermione! Where have you been?' Anne cried. She then noticed Draco. 'Oh, hello, dear, didn't notice you! Good to see you again.'
'You too Mrs. Granger.'
'Anne, dear.' She said quickly.
'Anne.' Draco said correcting himself.
'Mum, I missed you.' Hermione said lying through her teeth.
'Oh, only if that were the real reason you were back.' Anne said jokingly. Then she noticed the soot on her floor. 'Oh! Stop right there you two! Hermione you are tracking soot all over! I'll be right back with a towel!'
'No need mum.' Hermione said.
Hermione pulled out her wand and cleaned up the carpet and her and Draco.
'Oh, yes. Magic. Works for everything.' Bradin said, walking into the room. 'Nice seeing you sis.' He then turned to Draco. 'Draco.'
'Bradin.'
Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Well, Draco and I are here to grab my things for school.' Hermione told them.
Then Krista bounded into the room.
'I thought I heard—' She began, then paused. She saw Draco standing there. She smiled. 'I heard right. Nice to see you, Draco.'
'You too Krista.' Draco said forcefully.
Krista turned to Hermione and smiled quickly, but then here eyes opened wide.
'Oh my god!' Krista exclaimed.
'What!' They all cried back.
Krista ran over to Hermione and lifted her hand. The proportionate engagement ring glittered brightly in the light.
Everyone gasped and looked at Draco.
'Did you ask my daughter to marry you?' Anne asked staring at him.
Bradin lifted an eyebrow.
'This should be a nice family meeting…' He said softly.
'I did.' Draco said bravely.
'Mum, I was going to tell you and dad. I was just going to wait until things blow over, I'm sorry I -' Hermione said, stuttering nervously. Her stomach was going crazy.
Anne embraced her daughter.
'I can't believe it!' She cried.
Anne then released her daughter and turned to Draco.
'You thought about this young man? Do you know what you are getting into? Do you realize how young you are?' Anne asked.
'Maybe we should all sit down and discuss this.' Richard said stepping in the room. He looked very apprehensive.
Draco and Hermione immediately sat down.
'It's huge!' Krista exclaimed. 'You're such a bitch! I hate you!' She said half-jokingly.
'Krista! Stop taking up Bradin's bad habit of swearing!' Anne scolded.
'But look at it, mum!'
'I know, it's a gorgeous ring.' Anne said. 'Draco obviously is well to-do.'
'He's a Malfoy. He's got an inheritance.' Bradin said sharply.
Draco looked offended by his statement.
'Actually,' Draco began, 'I have my own money saved up from past celebrations and I bought both rings on my own.'
Bradin frowned for a second, then smirked again.
'Well, you have rich family members to give you lots of money for your birthday and Christmas then.' Bradin snapped back.
'It's still my money which I saved up.' Draco said.
'Bradin, stop harassing Draco. The money he used to buy the very expensive looking ring doesn't matter right now. He proposed to your seventeen-year-old sister.' Anne said to him.
'When did this joyous occasion happen?' Richard asked, without enthusiasm, as he and his wife sat down across from Hermione and Draco.
'Earlier this afternoon.' Hermione said, 'Please don't ruin this day for me. I have never been happier. I love Draco so much and…I have a fiancé. It's all very exciting.'
'We are not trying to ruin your day.' Richard explained, 'We just want to make sure you both know what you're getting into...both of you.'
'So, a few days after you guys get back together he proposes?' Bradin asked maliciously.
'Back together?' Anne asked, 'What do you mean?'
'Oh, Hermione must have forgotten to tell you. Her and Draco broke up the day after he left to go back to the Manor.'
'Bradin.' Hermione said angrily through her teeth.
Anne, Richard, and Krista all looked at Hermione curiously, needing answers.
'Why? What happened? You two were so happy, it seemed, while he was here.' Anne commented.
'We were, we are.' Hermione said, 'I made a mistake of letting Jess show his affection for me.'
'Jesse?' Richard asked. 'Since when did he change his feelings for you?'
'Not sure.' Hermione sighed, 'but it's fine now. Draco and I are back together and Jess and I are just friends.'
'How did he propose!' Krista asked excitedly.
Hermione grinned as she looked over at him.
'He just asked me.' Hermione said smiling.
'You're seventeen.' Richard said. Then he turned to Draco, 'And you're eighteen. You aren't even through with school!'
'We aren't getting married right away, sir.' Draco said. 'I am sorry for not asking permission to ask for your daughter's hand, but I knew it was the right moment to ask her when we were together this afternoon. I couldn't let the moment go, if I did I knew I would chicken out later on.'
Krista giggled. Everyone looked at her.
'I'm sorry,' She said quickly, 'He's just really cute.'
Hermione narrowed her eyes, Draco smirked.
'Thanks.' He said laughing a bit at her.
'I don't know what to say or to think.' Richard sighed leaning back on his chair.
'I do.' Bradin said speaking up, 'I want to know when you plan on getting married. I thought that your family was against my sister and your relationship. How the fuck—'
'Bradin!'
'—Sorry, mom. I mean how in the world are you going to get married with Lucius Malfoy and god knows who after you?' Bradin asked, arms crossed.
Hermione looked questionably at Draco. She wasn't sure of the answer.
'There's another thing about that.' Hermione sighed. 'Draco saved Harry and Ginny earlier this morning.'
'Hermione,' Draco sighed, 'don't bring this up.'
'You saved them?' Anne asked. 'Like their lives?'
'Yes, mum. He did. He risked his own, to save them. Voldemort had Ginny to lure Harry in and Draco went against his father and Voldemort to save them. Now they are after him and he's standing strong to resist them.'
Hermione then reached for Draco's hand. It was clammy. He was obviously nervous about this little interrogation.
'Oh! Draco, how brave!' Krista cried.
'Yes, that is very noble of you.' Richard said.
'Does no one see the problem with that?' Bradin asked.
They all looked at him in wonder.
'If Draco here saved his so-called "enemies" then his dad and Volde-whatever is going to know something is up. And if he got in trouble before for being with Hermione, they are going to know he's back with Hermione. She's the only reason he saved them. Hermione would kill Draco if he had something to do with hurting Harry or Ginny. Now, Lucius and Volde-something are going to be after Hermione, too. Draco saved Harry and Ginny, by endangering his life, and now Hermione's.' Bradin said angrily. 'Way to go.'
Hermione's face reddened in anger.
'How dare you!' She cried at Bradin as she stood up. 'Draco was very brave! He knew Voldemort would be after him and this causes a lot of physical pain on Draco when Voldemort is angry. Harry and Ginny would be dead now if it weren't for him! He went against everything that he was raised to believe was the right thing. Draco abandoned his father and future to do this! I have never been more proud of him and I sure in bloody hell won't sit here and listen to you accuse him of trying to put my life in danger! I have seen the things Draco has been through and the things he's had to endure because he doesn't want to live the same life his father did. If you only knew how much he's been through, you would all be congratulating us. You would be ecstatic that someone like Draco loves me and wants to marry me! I came here to grab some things for school, not to inform you about my engagement. I am sorry I was going to hide it from you, but because Lucius and Voldemort are looking for him I didn't want many to know. However, when I did think it was time to tell you I would have told you with a smile, believing you would be happy for us! I will not sit here any longer if you continue to harass Draco, and look down upon me.'
Everyone was silent. You could almost see steam coming from Hermione's ears.
'Hermione, if you told us what has happened in the past with you and Draco, maybe we would understand everything. But you haven't.' Anne said calmly. 'We are just trying to make sure you are both responsible enough.'
'We are. We have both been through many things to test our responsibility. You know all the things I've gone through being Harry's friend. Voldemort has been after Harry since he was born and none of you cared that I was his friend. Voldemort has known I've been Harry's friend and being Draco's fiancée isn't going to be anymore difficult. Voldemort will be after me either way. And Draco would NEVER purposely put my life in harm's way.' She said sharply.
'When would you two plan on getting married?' Richard asked.
'After graduation some time.' Hermione spoke.
'Sometimes couples are engaged for a year or more before actually marrying.' Draco said nervously.
'Hermione, the Malfoys are a very powerful family, the men at least. Women have been known to submit to any Malfoy and stop their lives for them. Are you willing do to that?' Bradin asked.
'First of all, where did you hear that?' Hermione asked.
'As soon as I found out your boyfriend was a Malfoy I did some research, back to the question.'
'I have something to say about that statement.' Draco spoke loudly, rising from the couch. 'I pretty much think my father has done nothing right in his life. That includes that way he treats my mother. I would never treat Hermione in any way that would be considered demeaning. Hermione will not have to "submit" to my "law" or anything like that. She can work, have friends, go out, what ever she may like. I am not going to hold her to the common Malfoy standards. Even being in a relationship with her now has gone against, pretty much, every Malfoy tradition.'
Hermione smirked at Bradin.
'Are you in this relationship with my sister to defy your father?' Bradin asked quickly, 'Because you really like to emphasize how this "is going against your dad" and what-not.'
'Bradin you are such a prick.' Hermione snapped, 'You'll try anything to make Draco look bad.'
'I am just trying to figure this guy out.' Bradin replied. 'Answer the question, Draco.'
'No I am not in this relationship to defy my father. I could be doing many things instead to defy him. Why stay with Hermione this long, going through the things I have to go through, just to be a snotty little brat to him? That would be pointless and immature. I am in this relationship because your sister has made me realize what love is. I've never felt this close to anyone in my whole life. I am going to admit that I have been with many women, as crude as that sounds, it's true. I regret every one of them. I have never felt true love, nor given it until this past year. I have told your sister things that I would never tell anyone else. She's my best friend, and I was stupid for treating her so horribly in the past. I want to try to make it up to her, and I'll try and make it up every day for the rest of our lives.'
Krista squeaked. Her eyes were glossy.
'I have to go…clean.' She quickly said as she stood and ran out of the room.
'Draco, that was lovely.' Anne said softly.
Richard stood up and walked up to Draco.
'You have my permission.' He said, extending his hand. Draco looked up at him and nodded firmly.
'Thank you for understanding, sir.' He said shaking his hand.
Hermione smiled and threw her arms around her father.
'Thank you, daddy.' She then kissed his cheek. 'Mum?'
Anne smiled.
'Of course I give my blessing.' She told her daughter.
Hermione hugged her mother.
'Thank you.'
Anne looked at Richard.
'Come on dear, let's go inform our family that our daughter is engaged.'
'Mum, no one who knows I am a witch. And don't day Draco is a Malfoy. Make up a name if you can.' Hermione said nervously. 'Is that okay, Draco?'
'Yeah, I am sure as long as they only tell muggles that we'll be okay.' He shrugged, 'I am not going to deny your family from knowing.'
Her parents then left the room leaving Hermione, Draco and Bradin.
'Look, I know Hermione is your little sister and you care for her very much. I'm sure that is why you are being so fucking cautious about me. I promise, man to man, that I love her and I only have her best interests in mind.' Draco told Bradin. 'I don't want this engagement to ruin a sister/brother relationship. I eventually want to be accepted by you. And if you can't accept me, I guess that's how it's going to be. But, you aren't going to scare me out of love for Hermione.'
'I know.' Bradin said, 'But I can try.'
Hermione frowned at her brother's joke.
'Bradin stop being an ass. You should be happy I'm not marrying some skinny, weak guy who wouldn't be able to protect me from anything.'
'A skinny, weak guy wouldn't be able to beat you or rape you at least.'
Draco frowned and his eyes showed anger.
'I can take you putting my family down, or being cautious about Hermione's freedom, but don't you dare accuse me of wanting to beat or rape Hermione. I would never lay a fucking finger on her, unless she let me. Hermione is the most sincere person I have ever known, and I would never do anything like that to lose her love or trust. I will always treat her with the most genuine respect and care. I'd kill myself before purposefully causing her pain.' Draco said resolutely. 'So, never criminate me of anything like that again.'
Bradin thought for a bit.
'That was a good response.' Bradin said. He then left the room.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, Draco sighed heavily, as if he has been holding his breath throughout the entire family interrogation. Hermione quickly threw her arms around him and placed loving kisses all over his face. He slowly raised his arms around her petite body.
'I love you so much. I can barely comprehend all the beautiful things you've said about me this past hour.' She said in-between kisses. 'I never knew you had such wonderful words to say about me. And you said them to my whole family. It all meant so much to me…'
Draco smiled as she kissed his face and neck, pretty much wherever she could reach. He moved his hands to hold her face gently. He leaned down and kissed her softly, parting her lips just enough to dip his tongue in to caress hers.
'This was scary.' He said after releasing the kiss.
'It was aggravating.' She corrected.
'Yes, a bit.' He said smirking. 'I thought I was going to be kicked out of the house.'
'I wouldn't allow them too.'
'Bradin and your father together could grab me and throw me out into the road.'
'Then I'd run out and lay beside you.' She replied.
Then she went on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
'And then I'd make love to you right there just to spite them…'
His eyes widened.
'Maybe they should have thrown me out…' He smirked devilishly.
'I wouldn't worry too much, Draco. You've made me very happy today, and I am very proud of you right now. I think I'd be willing to be nice to you later on…'
'You're proud of me?'
'Yes, very much so.'
'I like hearing that. I usually do not have people who say they're proud of me.'
'Well I am very proud. I am sorry more people haven't said so, they should, you deserve it.'
'Thank you, baby.' He said kissing her forehead.
They looked at each other for a bit in silence. Draco had a moment to think to himself.
This is the woman I am going to marry. He watched Hermione walk away from him and rearrange the furniture to their original places before her family gathered the chairs around her and Draco. He smiled as he watched her. She caught him staring and she blushed and smiled humbly. Look at her…she doesn't even realize how beautiful she is. I don't even think she realizes how much she turns me on. She makes me proud to be a guy. He chuckled to himself quietly. Hermione then bent down to grab a chair cushion. Draco got a clear view down her blouse. He immediately felt his pants tighten.
'Hermione?'
'Yes?' She asked, standing back erect.
He stared at her.
'We've got to go.' He said, inconspicuously moving his hands down to cover his crotch.
'Anything wrong?' She asked, thrown off by his impatience.
'Umm…no. I just think we should get back to Hogwarts before Dumbledore thinks something happened.'
'Oh, good thinking, Draco. I'll go grab my things, and Mookie, and then we'll go.'
Hermione ran upstairs, and came back down with the green little gnome following her.
After a quick, somewhat awkward good-bye to her family, Hermione and Draco used the floo-network to get back to their "secret" room.
As soon as they stepped inside, Draco looked around quickly. Dumbledore was not inside, and ironically the door was already shut.
'Thank god.' Draco sighed.
'Wha—'
Before Hermione could even finish her sentence, Draco grabbed her bags from her hands and tossed them behind him. He then moved toward her lustfully, and pushed her body up against the wall, his body pressed dangerously close to hers….
A/N: Cliffhanger, yes I know, but WASN'T IT A NICE LONG CHAPTER! I hope you all like! BTW, going back to my first author note, I recommend Mockingbird by Eminem to you all, ironically it is on the radio this very second. So if you live in Minnesota turn it to KDWB quick! Eminem is playing! Lol! Well, REVIEW! THANKS!
