Disclaimer: I own nothing. JKR owns all. Honestly!!
Big thanks to Lain, my beta, for her advice which I have taken! It gives this chapter a much better plot! Thanks Lain :-).
Chapter Fifteen: The Morning After.
Hermione blinked, and opened her eyes fully. She was met with the sight of Draco's neck. She was curled up into his chest, and had been sleeping very comfortably in the crook of his neck. Grinning to herself, she snuggled even closer, alerting the light sleeper that was Draco.
"Morning" he said huskily, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Hermione grinned at him. "Morning!" she replied cheerily. Placing a feather light kiss on his lips she stood up, pulling an extra sheet with her, which she wrapped round her body.
From the bed, Draco watched her, his eyes filled with lust. He loved the way the sheet enveloped her body, displaying her delicious curves. He smiled to himself. If things worked out the way he wanted them to, he would be waking up to this sight everyday. Hermione's beautiful face turned to look at him, and she smiled at the sight of him sprawled out on the bed, his carved, toned chest glowing almost ethereally with the strong sunlight wafting into the room. "I love you" she whispered to him, before disappearing into the bathroom clutching her clothes. Draco just laid there his chest rising and falling comfortably, suddenly overwhelmed. She loved him…. Hermione Granger loved him, Draco Malfoy.
Draco, deciding that he didn't want to just lie there all morning; pulled himself out of Hermione's bed. Stark naked, he began looking for his discarded clothes. They were everywhere. He found his jeans near the door, his shirt under the bed, his underwear on the windowsill and his jacket on top of Hermione's armoire. He chuckled to himself as he grabbed his wand and transfigured his recently found clothes into a simple black robe and cloak, with intricate silver clasps. As he was dressing the bathroom door opened, to reveal Hermione, clad in a simple dark navy skirt suit. She smirked. "What a sight!" she said gesturing at Draco, who was stood in front of her, wearing nothing but his boxers. He smirked back. "I quite agree" he told her cockily. She laughed at him, and exited the room.
A few seconds later, Hermione entered Libby's room, smiling at the sight of her daughter curled up in a cocoon of blankets. She felt Libby's forehead. It was cold. Hermione reached for Libby's hand, and sighed with relief to feel its warmth. Shaking Libby softly, so as to rouse her, Hermione pushed back her daughter's blonde hair.
"Mum?" asked Libby softly. "Yes love?" Hermione asked. "I don't feel so good…" Libby said, whilst sneezing. "What's wrong?" asked Hermione. "I'm all cold" answered Libby in a sniffling voice. "Okay baby" said Hermione, laying Libby back down on her bed. "Mummy will be right back" she reassured as she left the room.
True to her word, Hermione entered Libby's room again about four minutes later, clutching a large vial of red potion. Perching herself down on Libby's bed, she ordered Libby to open her mouth, which she did with little protest. Hermione tipped half of the vial into Libby's mouth, watching as the Pepper-Up Potion took effect. As steam began to furiously pour out of Libby's ears, Hermione made a mental note to thank Madame Pomfrey for supplying her with enough medical potions to cater for the whole of the British Army. Satisfied her daughter would be well again in a few minutes; she left her position on Libby's bed, and removed her wand from her pocket. Flicking it at Libby, and muttering an incantation she smiled when she saw Libby was dressed in her neat school uniform. Leaving Libby to recuperate from the copious amounts of steam leaving her ears Hermione entered the bathroom, and then went through to Leo's room.
She laughed out loud when she spotted her son. His rear end was sticking out through the blankets, and his head was just visible. His hair was sticking up in all directions and he was snoring none too quietly. When Hermione's melodious laugh echoed round the square room, her son jumped up like he had just been electrocuted and fell out of bed, landing on his bum, and tangled within his Thunderbirds blanket. He looked wildly around, his aqua blue eyes glaring at his mum when he eventually spotted her.
"Mum!" he scolded. "It's not funny!" he told her, trying to untangle his legs from the blanket. Hermione tried to restrain herself from laughing, but it was simply too hard. Breaking out in giggles, she walked over to Leo, helping him get free from the blanket. When he was freed, he plonked himself down his bed, and glared darkly at his mum, muttering under his breath.
"Open your mouth Leo" Hermione asked. Leo immediately suspicious, asked "What for?" whilst still glaring at him mum, mildly hurt at her reaction to his fall. "Medicine!" Hermione told him promptly. He groaned. "Libby has a cold, so you have to have some pepper-up potion to stop you getting it too" she explained. Leo looked horrified. "That's the potion that makes steam come from your ears isn't it?" he asked. Hermione smirked and nodded her head. "Noooooo!!"" spluttered Leo, ever the drama queen. Before he could react, Hermione had poured the potion into his mouth. As his face become the colour of a tomato and steam flew furiously from his ears, he glared even more darkly at his grinning mother. Hermione then flicked her wand at him, to dress him in his uniform. "Brush your teeth" Hermione instructed as she left the room.
The twins were eating breakfast on the couch in the living room, sat in front of the TV watching a re-run of the 'Shoebox Zoo'. They loved this particular programme shown on CBBC, for its hilarious view of magic. They found it completely absurd, so therefore entertaining, that someone had to free a shoebox of magical animals and find a book to come into their powers. The twins were munching away on bowls of chocolate Weeto's, Leo's bowl noticeably emptier than Libby's. Hermione was sat at the table, just visible from the couch, marking some workbooks, before her lessons started. A plate of untouched toast lay before her. Draco had yet to appear. Hermione suspected that he was upstairs beautifying himself.
Draco however was not upstairs, stood in front of a mirror displaying his extreme vainness. He was however in the bathroom, a transfigured toothbrush partially in his mouth. He was thinking, whilst he cleaned his teeth. He wanted to show Hermione how committed he was, somehow. He needed her to know he was serious about this. He rinsed out the toothbrush, then his mouth and splashed his face with a shock of cold water. Grabbing the nearest towel he patted his face dry and turned the cold water tap off. He then left the room and entered Hermione's room. Grabbing his watch off the bedside table he stopped suddenly.
Before him stood a photo of Ginny and Harry. On their wedding day. Behind them stood the rest of the Weasley family, some old school friends, and Hermione. Hermione was clad in a dark golden dress, and she looked absolutely stunning. A man stood next to her, his arm draped causally around her honey coloured shoulder. Draco's eyes narrowed as he watched the man lean over and kiss Hermione's cheek lovingly. He glared as Hermione giggled and blushed a rosy hue, and then caressed the man's jaw. The man looked oddly familiar.
'Where have I seen him before?' Draco thought. He stared hard at the photo, his children waving up at him from the front of the frame. Not a second later, he knew who this man was. Robert Reid, Head of History at Wands Way. Draco placed the photo back, deciding he needed to have a little chat with this guy. The photo had however given him an idea. A brilliant idea, in his excellent opinion.
Draco strode down the stairs, and then sat down next to the twins; their discarded bowls were sat on the coffee table stainless steel spoon sticking out at precarious angles. They were glued to the television. Draco had never understood the muggles obsession with the talking black box. In his opinion reading a book was much more entertaining. Leo looked at him suddenly, as if he only just saw him.
"What you doing here Dad?" he asked. Libby looked at him too, her head cocked to one side in question. "Umm" Draco started, unsure of how to answer. Hermione answered for him though.
"He came over this morning kids. He's coming to school with us today" Hermione explained, winking discreetly at Draco. "Cool" muttered a now unconcerned Leo. Libby still looked at Draco in question, but became disinterested after a few seconds. She turned her attention back to the CBBC. 'They sure don't have long attention spans' thought Draco to himself.
Draco then stood up and joined Hermione. Swiping a piece of toast from the previously untouched plate, he leaned over and whispered "What are you doing?" even though it was completely obvious what she was doing. "Marking" she told him. "Right" he said placing a kiss on her earlobe. She blushed lightly and Draco smirked and left her alone joining the twins again, who had lost interest in the TV, preferring to chase each other round the large room. Leo was currently chasing after a hysterically shrieking Libby. It was amazing, Draco thought, how much energy children had, even at 8 o'clock in the morning. He himself was so tired he didn't think he had the energy to go to work. But then again he was otherwise engaged last night. He smirked cheekily, as the twins ran around him in circles.
Draco sat himself down on the leather couch and stared at the TV. He wasn't actually watching the TV, but thinking of his earlier idea. He would have to consult his mother on this. She was going to be insufferable about it.
A cry pierced through the air. Draco stood up quick as a flash, and looked around. The inevitable had happened. One of the twins had fallen in their chase. Draco shook his head and rushed over to Leo, who was sat on the floor, his left leg curled into his chest. "He fell over that!" piped Libby pointing at a pillow that had been discarded on the floor. "He fell on his knee" continued Libby, obviously not wanting to be blamed for her brother's fall. Hermione appeared next to Draco. "Baby, are you okay?" she asked Leo, pulling him into her lap and rolling up his left trouser leg to inspect his leg and knee. The skin was tinted a reddish colour, but otherwise nothing there. She kissed the crown of his head and wrapped her arms around him, curling him close.
"Shush baby" consoled Hermione, "its ok. Mummy's here" she whispered, smoothing his hair in an effort to stop the flow of tears. A few seconds later Leo pulled away, hiding his eyes from his father. Embarrassed for crying Leo walked away from everyone. He was stopped by Draco, pulling his son into a hug. Leo didn't react to the first proper hug from his father at first, but then slowly came around, and placed his head in the crook of his dad's neck, curling his fingers around the material of Draco's black robe.
"I love you Leo, always" whispered Draco into Leo's ear. Leo shivered and nuzzled closer to his dad enjoying the bonding moment immensely. "Don't' be afraid to cry Leo. Especially in front of me…" Draco continued to his son. "Okay… Dad" answered Leo, in a soft voice. Draco squeezed Leo for a second then released him. His son smiled brightly at him. Draco turned to see Hermione wiping her eyes with her index finger. Draco grinned at her and looked at Libby. She looked dejected. And upset. Draco frowned and swept over to her, pulling her into a hug and lifting her up onto his hip. "And I love my only, beautiful daughter too!" he announced to his giggling daughter. He grinned at her and placed her back on her feet.
The next night, Draco was sat with his mother at Malfoy Manor. Narcissa sat in front of him, next to a roaring fire. "So are you sure?" Narcissa inquired after Draco had explained to her his idea. "Yes mum…" Draco replied determined, and confident. Narcissa smiled at him indulgently. "My best wishes" Narcissa expressed. Draco smiled at her, the fire illuminating his face most handsomely.
So, mother and son sat together, expressing thoughts, ideas and feelings on Draco's suggested proposition. Narcissa was mainly worried on her part. Draco truly did seem to care deeply for Hermione. The affection he expressed, troubled her. Draco had never been affectionate. Never, even as a child. But perhaps love could do that to you. She only hoped he wasn't hurt, physically or emotionally. Narcissa and Draco sat there together, mother and son, bonding over a cup of tea. It was one of those rare moments that Lucius had never allowed. It was a simple night that Narcissa would forever remember.
Back at the Granger household, Hermione was on the phone talking to her mother, Anne Granger. "Dear, your father and I were wondering if you and the twins would accompany us on our skiing trip to Zurich? You know we love seeing all of you and recently we've all been busy…. Your father and I miss you all darling. Please consider coming?" begged her mother down the end of the phone. Hermione looked heavenward. Another holiday with her parents. Her mother always tried to set her up with someone completely unsuitable. Leo and Libby however, loved going on holiday with their nanny and grampy.
"Mum, I think there's a teacher's conference I need to attend over Easter…" Hermione told her mom, feeling guilty. "But maybe you could take the twins?" she asked. "Oh" her mother sounded awfully disappointed. "Perhaps I could join you for the first week, and leave the second week?" Hermione countered, trying to ebb away some of the guilt eating away at her. She wasn't exactly lying, there was a conference she wanted to attend for arithmancy teachers, but it was only a few hours long. Her mother sounded delighted. "Wonderful darling!" exclaimed Anne Granger. "I'll get your father to book the extra tickets right away! Give the twins a hug from me, and darling, Thank You" said her mother as she hung up. Hermione placed the phone back in its holder, and looked at the twins, who were sat in front of her in their pyjama's playing connect four.
"Leo, Libby, I have some good news" Hermione told them. "Mmm" muttered Libby. "Were all going on holiday with nanny and grampy!" she told them, trying to sound excited. Leo jumped up, knocking down the connect four stand. "Yey!!" he cried in jubilation. "Where are we going too?" asked an interested Libby from the floor. "Switzerland. Were all going skiing" Hermione told them, watching as their faces lit up in identical expressions of excitement. "I love skiing!!" announced Libby, jumping up and doing a weird dance of happiness with Leo.
Hermione groaned audibly. She hated skiing. She was not very good at it. Her parents always invited them to go bloody skiing! Never to their yearly trips to France, or Venice, but always to blinking Switzerland, Aspen or the Alps! Hermione buried her face in a throw cushion as her flesh and blood stood before grinning from ear to ear in excitement for the forthcoming skiing trip. It was ok for them, Hermione thought. They were like pro-skiers. The only way Hermione could slide down a mountain was not on a pair of skis, but on her arse.
Authors Note: Hello again! Sorry about the terribly long wait for an update. I profusely and humbly beg for your apology. I could say I was extremely busy (which I was), but I suspect that neither of you care very much about that lol. Anyways, as I earlier promised this story will be completed by 19th December, most certainly. The reason it must be completed by Christmas, is that simply, I am going to be in hospital over that jolly period :-( . I am due to have an operation on my right knee to straighten the bone, with metal plates etc. My right knee has always been slightly off centre, ever since I was born and they unfortunately had to wait till I had stopped growing to correct it. But anyways least it will be over and done with anyway! :-).
A HUGE thank you to all that reviewed. You guys rock my world! I love each and every one of you!!!!!
Madnutterfan: I'm apologetically confused. I did not understand your review… Umm, the part with "What do you mean there were never any in the first place. I'm am utterly shocked, and disgusted", that was a tad confusing lol. Care to elaborate?And, the punctuation was dodgy, coz, I'm British as are you, but my beta is American, and I forget to change my spell-check back into UK English… and I just posted the chapter as soon as I got it… Sorry. Anyhow, thanks for your review :-). (I'm so shocked that you consider this to be one of your favourite fanfics!! Thank you!!!!!)
Caboodle: I love getting your reviews!! They make me laugh so much ). Loved the bit; "Well finally Hermione and Draco hook up (in every sense of the word!), that made me laugh lol. I hate uncomfortable silences, they just so… awkward! I agree that must have been uncomfortable. Heehee. And, thanks for the compliment!
Paprika90: That is so true lol. The simplest things catch your attention when you try and study. Simply infuriating. One of my friends came up with this astounding conclusion: "You only get distracted because you don't want to study, coz it's boring!", I can feel my IQ level falling already lol. Thanks loads for your review!!
NeoAddctee: Lol, it's nice to know you're insane. And, in a smiley mood! I'm always in a smiley mood, look: ! Heehee lol, we should form our own help group for people who are addicted to smileys!! It could the SOA! Smiley's Obsessed Anonymous. And obviously, only obsessed and insane people could join!!! Lmao!! I just noticed, I also use way too many exclamation marks…. Oh, I'm going off on a tangent, sorry!! Thanks for your review!
Finally-Defeated: Thanks for the recommendations! I'm actually listening to one of their songs now: "Oh Ellin" lol. My mum's name is Ellen, same pronunciation. Lol. Good band. And yup, I love SE! It's wonderful! I especially enjoyed the last chapter, and can't wait to see what's going to happen with Hadrian!! Whoa, the anticipation is too much lol.
Being in love, and falling in love, is indeed very different. In my opinion anyway. Although I think I may have completely rushed this story way too much. I mean, you just don't fall in love with your previously loathed enemy in five days! Well, perhaps it could happen… Lol… That's one of the reason's l love your story so much!! You take your time, and you haven't rushed headfirst into Hermione and Draco's love. It's so very plausible, believable and wonderful! :-). Thanks for your review!!
Ayomde: Thanks!! Lol, I wish it would happen in the real Harry Potter books too… A little romance, action and anger all infused together would be good. Thanks again!!
Pitch Black Dawn: You go gurl!! And if it means anything, I'm proud of you too!! You read my entire story!! :-). Thanks for your review!
Juls130: Wow! I'm blushing! Thanks your review gave me a real confidence boost and made me get off my butt and write this chappie! Thanks loads :-D. I have you haven gone insane in the long wait for an update!! : p
Sw33tdohtee: More specific!! Lol, I'd have to higher the rating then! And Libby's ok, a slight cold. Thank god for Pepper-Up-Potion, huh? Lol. I wanna read your story like this! E-mail me when you post it ok! Lol, my email is , and I'm all excited now!! :D. What's your pen name? I wanna check out your current fic, if it's ok…
Alenor: No problem, hope you did well on your exams! And have no fear Libby's Ok! My catering exam went smoothly! :-). One of the teacher's stole most of my chicken dish though lol. Thanks for your review!
Marmalade Fever: I love your name!! So funny! Thanks for adding me on your favourites, and for your advice and review :-)!
Erin Kite: Here's the next instalment. I also like Draco in a positive light lol. I like to brainwash myself into believing that he isn't evil, simply misunderstood. If only though. He's a real evil ferret in the real books, -sighs-. Lol, it's not over yet my dear lol. I still have other things to inflict upon you all!! :-).
TomIsMyMan: Heylo!! I laughed my socks off at the McDonalds comment! Good simile! Thanks for making me laugh!! :-).
And again a huge, enormous thanks to absolutely everyone who reviewed!!