Draco whistled nervously while he fingered the box in his pocket. It was more than it seemed, it really was. Some may say that proposing marriage to someone is the hardest thing you'll ever do. But this was far harder. He looked up at the cloudy February sky and sighed. Today was their six month anniversary.
Six months may not seem like that long, but Draco didn't have much time. It was now or never. He knew she was getting suspicious. He hadn't turned himself in. This was his only option. Hermione glided over to him, all smiles. Draco grinned nervously. She was so damned beautiful.
"Hey baby," he managed to say. "You look beautiful." She did. Wearing Ravenclaw-blue dress robes and the silver necklace he had given her for her seventeenth birthday last month, she really was a beauty.
"Not to shabby yourself," she said with a grin, indicating his fine, black robes. They walked to the Room of Requirements, where Draco created a romantic atmosphere with floating candles, a table set for two, and even a cool little waiter guy.
They talked throughout dinner, Draco giving quick, nervous answers, Hermione grinning at his obvious discomfort. During dessert, Hermione started laughing.
"What?" asked Draco.
Hermione controlled herself with obvious effort. "Do you want to get it over with, or shall I do it for you?"
Draco's jaw practically touched the carpet. "Wha- Bu- Ho-" he stuttered.
"Well?"
Draco snapped out of it. He stood, and took Hermione's slender hands in his own large ones, pulling her to her feet. She was grinning like the Cheshire cat. Still holding her hands, Draco went down on one knee.
"Hermione, I know we haven't been seeing each other for very long, but I've loved you much longer. Every second I'm with you makes me want to spend every last second of my life in your presence. You're my world, my everything. We're young, Hermione, very young. But I need you to answer one question for me."
"Yes?" asked Hermione, her eyes shining with love.
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box. He opened it to reveal (Hermione gasped) a four carat diamond set in gold. The diamond, Hermione could tell, was of the best quality, without even the slightest yellow tint.
"Will you, Hermione Granger, do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Hermione licked her suddenly dry lips. "Yes. I love you Draco." He slipped the ring on her left ring finger.
"I love you too, Hermione."
Hermione woke up the next morning. Okay, now THAT was the best dream ever. Imagine, me being engaged to Draco. Her left hand felt abnormally heavy. She looked at it, and realized that there was a four carat diamond on her finger. OH MY GOD IT WASN'T A DREAM!
Shaking, Hermione owled her parents with the news, then took a shower, trying to calm herself. I mean, it wasn't every day she got engaged to the love of her life! Showered and dressed, Hermione headed down to the Common Room. She found a note from Draco, saying his mansion had been broken into the night before, and he had been called home during the middle of the night. Hermione frowned, hoping he wasn't avoiding her.
In the GREAT Hall, she said good morning to her friends, and began buttering a bagel. Blaise was sitting at the Gryffindor table because, well, because she felt like it, I guess. All of a sudden, Ron froze.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT?" Harry, Ginny, and the other Gryffies (and Blaise!) froze as they saw what Ron was talking about.
"What?" asked Hermione, confused. Blaise grinned and pointed to her own finger. Hermione went red. "Oh, that." She said, winking at Blaise and Harry. "That would be an engagement ring, m'dear."
"WELL WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS IT DOING ON YOUR FINGER!" bellowed Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron was always so irrational. She had NO idea how Luna survived.
"Well, it was placed there by the man who asked me to marry him." Ron's eyes bugged out of his head in surprise.
"Who?" asked Ginny.
"Draco Malfoy." Silverware fell to the floor, and several students began choking on their breakfast. Someone fainted. Okay, a few someones fainted. Hermione smirked.
"THE Draco Malfoy?" asked Seamus. "Your sworn enemy, Draco Malfoy?"
"I'm pretty sure, yeah," said Hermione.
Blaise chuckled. "That's my girl."
A student rushed into the GREAT Hall, clutching that day's Daily Prophet, sobbing. Someone asked her what was the matter. She handed the paper to the boy, who was a seventh year Ravenclaw. His face turned very grave. He walked over to Hermione and wordlessly set the paper down in front of her. Confused Hermione read the headline. The diamond ring slipped off of her finger, and the Ravenclaw caught Hermione as she slumped backwards in a dead faint.
Frowning, Blaise read the headline, and started sobbing. "Malfoy Mansion Pillaged, Draco Malfoy Murdered!"