Courting Miss Granger-Chapter 25-Day One
By Marmalade Fever
"Ron's going to have a cow," Harry said, rubbing his head.
"Yeah, probably," Hermione agreed, shrugging.
"And how's your father going to take this?" Harry asked, looking up at Draco.
"Uncharacteristically well, actually..." Draco said, frowning.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, looking at her husband in confusion.
"Well," Draco started, hoisting himself onto the kitchen counter, "he flooed this morning at about three. At first it was exactly the reaction that I had figured I would get, but then..."
"Then what?" Harry asked, tilting his head.
"Well, he actually started to sound... hurt. It was like he was upset that I didn't trust him enough to realize that he wasn't going to overreact and hex Hermione to kingdom come."
"That is odd..." Hermione said, frowning as well.
"And I asked him if he was going to take away my inheritance, and he said no! He actually said to feel free to take you back to my house, instead of staying here."
"Do you think you can trust him?" Harry asked.
"I'm afraid of what he'll do if I don't! He's a dangerous wizard, but with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named out of the picture..." Draco shrugged. He really didn't know. "My father has never acted this way in my lifetime. He..." Draco lowered his voice, "he actually admitted that he loves me." He shifted uncomfortably under Potter's gaze.
"Coffee's ready," Hermione said, setting the pot on the table and getting out mugs. "And I'd like to remind the two of you that I have work today."
"You're going to work the day after you got married?" Harry asked, smirking.
"Hey, I'll take time off for a honeymoon after the big wedding!" Hermione said, defiantly.
"Big wedding?" Harry suddenly looked relieved. "Thank goodness for that! No one would ever forgive you if you didn't."
"By the way, Potter, I don't suppose you'd know any good best men?" Draco asked, slowly. He still didn't like the guy, but it wasn't like he had anyone better in mind.
"I never thought you'd ask!" Harry said, with a look that made Draco want to strangle him a bit.
"Ron too?" Hermione asked, turning pleading eyes to Draco.
"Weasel, too."
Hermione smiled widely and gave Draco a hug. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Potter bristle over at the sight. He almost hated closing his eyes to kiss her, not wanting to miss the obviously disgruntled look on his ex-nemesis' face. But he did close his eyes and savored the happy feeling guaranteed until death do they part. "I love you," Hermione whispered.
"I love you more." Draco was lost in the sea of chocolate brown called Hermione's eyes. He wanted to swim and do laps in them. He shifted a stray curl off of her face with his thumb.
"Ahem!" Harry coughed. "I think I'll be going now."
"Bye," Hermione said absent-mindedly. She was busy staring into Draco's eyes. "Eyes like the sea after a storm." Yes, that was exactly what they were. She had taken for granted that they were gray, but now she noted a bit of green and blue around the iris. She sighed happily, barely listening as Harry let himself out. How could she have ever missed the dark black eyelashes that curtained these eyes? Absolutely heavenly...
"Did you want some breakfast before work?" Draco asked, forcing himself to remember that they had things to attend to. He whipped out his wand and performed a few simple spells, and in seconds there was bacon and eggs sizzling away on the stovetop. They ate heartily for a while, holding hands underneath the table. Hermione sighed, pushed back her plate, and looked at her watch. "Can I see you at lunchtime?" Draco asked.
"That'd be nice," Hermione said, smiling.
"And before you go, I need to ask you, do you want to move into my house?" Draco asked.
"Our house," Hermione correctly, lightly. "And yes, I'd love to."
"When?"
"Whenever you like. I need to set up a few things, first. You know, talk to my landlord, etc... but you can go ahead and start moving things over there."
"I'll tell you what. If you can take time to make those arrangements before you leave for work, I promise we'll be moved in by the time you get off tonight!"
"I feel so much more married now..." Hermione commented.
"Well, my dear," Draco said, picking up her hand and kissing it, "there's a reason for that."
"And what would that be?"
"Because you are!" He smirked and drew her closer and gave her one last kiss before she set to work talking to the landlord.
"He'll be over here at 8:30," Hermione informed Draco, as she hung up the phone. She hesitated. "You will be able to handle it?"
"Of course, darling, I'm not a complete moron when it comes to muggles."
"Alright, well, I'm going now."
"Bye-bye, little wife!" Draco said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Bye-bye, dear husband. I bid you adieu!" and she disappeared with a crack. Draco looked forlornly at the spot she had been standing in a moment before. He hoped that what he said was true, and that he wouldn't be a complete moron with the muggle landlord. When the man came, he was not just a little surprised to hear that Draco was actually his nice, young tenant's husband. They did manage to work things out and sign all of the necessary paperwork.
"When will you be moving?" the man asked as he was getting ready to leave.
"I was thinking today," Draco said, shrugging.
"Well, I hope you've got some friends to help you, 'cause the movers don't take kindly to last minute jobs like this."
"Oh, I'll figure something out," Draco replied, smiling inwardly. He happened to know quite a few good spells that would do wonders. For instance, he could perform a simple shrinking spell, use some floo powder, and simply tuck all of Hermione's possessions through her fire place in a box. He could be done in two hours, tops! (He hadn't been second in his class for nothing.)
"Well, good luck then, and congratulations on your marriage," the man said, he and left. By the time Draco's lunch date rolled around, he had already moved and retransfigured all of Hermione's possessions.
...
Hermione's work day ended at five o'clock, and she realized quite suddenly that it was Monday. She had kept up her tradition of Girls' Nights on Mondays with Ginny for several years running now, and her poor friend didn't even know that she was married! ...Or did she? This possibility was quickly shattered as both Ginny and Draco arrived to pick Hermione up at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, looking curiously at Draco.
"Um..." he replied. "Picking up Hermione?"
"I heard you skipped out of your wedding, yesterday," Ginny said, casually.
"Ginny!" Hermione said nervously but cheerfully none-the-less.
"Hey, Herms..." Ginny replied, looking a little hurt that she hadn't been informed of the situation yet.
"What are... you doing here?" Draco asked, feeling uncomfortable.
"Hermione and I were going to go to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor," she replied indignantly.
"Maybe Draco could tag along?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"I'll pay," Draco added.
"Can you afford to?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Oddly enough..." He didn't finish his sentence. Ginny, obviously, wasn't quite so quick to forgive him as Hermione had been.
"Well, don't just stand there lollygagging, come on!" She led them out the door with a bit of a huff and down the street a few shops. Draco and Hermione had to hustle to keep up. "One scoop chocolate cherry cordial," she said, ordering just as the other two had managed to get through the door.
Draco and Hermione had to stop and pant. "A scoop of lime sorbet," Hermione said, catching her breath.
"Butter brickle," Draco said, with a nod. Mr. Fortescue handed them their cones and they sat.
"Well, I'll say one thing about the two of you, you both have very boring tastes in ice cream!" Ginny said, not raising her eyes from her cone.
"Ginny," Hermione said gently, "I'm sorry I forgot about our plans..."
"You aren't the one I'm mad at!" Ginny said, too sharply. No one said anything. Under the table, Draco squeezed Hermione's hand. "I saw that!" Ginny said, still not looking up.
"Gin, we've got to tell you something," Hermione tried again. After Ginny still didn't answer, she pressed on. "Draco and I... are married."
Instantly, Ginny's head popped up. "You're WHAT?"
"We... eloped," Draco said, averting his gaze from the legendary temper of the Weasley girl.
"But don't get us wrong! We're going to have a ceremony!" Hermione said, in a rush.
"Good to hear you finally did something right!" Ginny said, lowering her ice cream cone and glaring a bit.
"Hermione's moving into my... I mean, our house," Draco said. "You can come with us to see it, if you want..."
"Alright..." Ginny said, slowly. They finished their ice creams and arrived, moments later, in front of the younger of the Malfoys' house. Ginny looked impressed as they went inside and toured the house. Hermione was paying close attention as well. This was her home now, and it wouldn't do to get lost, or fall down a trick stair.
"And that's about it," Draco said, summing up. He and Hermione were holding hands and Ginny gave them a sort of nod of acceptance.
"I'll be going now, then," she said. She walked up to Hermione and hugged her, whispering something in her ear that made her go pink. "Good-bye, Draco," Ginny said, holding out her hand to shake his. He willingly accepted and Ginny left.
End Notes:
Okay, I had to cringe when I reread about Draco wanting to swim laps in Hermione's eyes. That's a bit, um, too fluffy for me these days.
