Chapter Eight:
(A/N. Sorry about the delay. I've been trying to find my muse. She was playing Hide and Seek with me. I promise to pump out as many chapters as possible over Thanksgiving and Christmas. K? Enjoy this one.)
The door slammed shut after Draco as he walked away from the door at the front of the Hogwarts train where he had managed to buy enough chocolate to last him for a long time. Or at least until they reached London. After the graduation there had been a brief luncheon where the parents had sobbed and hugged their children. Draco hadn't gone. He'd gone flying one last time. He'd sat up in the sky on his expensive broom and thought about the past few years. When he'd come down, Hermione had been waiting for him. He slid back the door to his compartment and spotted his fiancée staring out the window at the trees that flashed by. In her small hands she clutched a official looking letter.
"What's that?" Draco asked. She looked up and smiled at him but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"A letter from the Ministry of Magic," she said and he tensed wondering why they would be writing to her.
"What about?" he demanded and she stood up and came over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"They're offering me a job," she said and he relaxed a fraction then glanced at her sharply.
"Are you going to take it?"
"I don't know, Draco. They say they can fit me in anywhere I want. That I could even become a Minister of Magic someday," she sighed and he felt his heart soften. He stroked her hair lovingly.
"You know I could take care of us, right? My father left me quite a legacy," he chuckled. Hermione nodded and stood up on tip-toes to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"I know. But I want a job of my own…Does that make sense?" she asked and he nodded, giving her a small smile and pulling her back to the seat.
"Whatever you want, 'Mione. I was wondering…" A sharp knock on the door interrupted him. The young couple turned to see Harry standing there a large grin on his youthful face.
"Hello, Harry," Hermione smiled. Draco glared at the brunet but there was no hate in the look.
"Potter. What do you want?" he snapped. Harry ignored the other boy and sat down across from them.
"I just got a letter from the Dark Force Defence League. They want me to be an Auror!" Harry grinned, "And Dumbledore just gave me a key to an apartment Sirius bought for me in London. I'm finally going to be rid of the Dursleys. Dumbledore wants to ward the house first but…'Mione! Isn't this wonderful?" The boy bushed. Hermione separated from her fiancée and hugged him.
"It is, Harry. You'll have to invite us for the housewarming party. Maybe I can help with the wards."
"Blimey! That would be bloody great. Dumbledore suggested that. He said that if you could make a ring to save someone from the Avada…Oh…sorry." Harry said staring at Draco who had blanched at the mention of the night when he had almost died and had lost his father in the process. The platinum blond cleared his throat.
"No, Potter. You're right. If it weren't for Hermione I'd be quite dead and my father would still be here," he said and turned away. Harry glanced at Hermione worriedly.
"I didn't mean to bring up painful memories…"
"Of course you didn't, Harry," Draco heard Hermione murmur. He whirled around angrily.
"They aren't painful, Potter. Lucius got what he sodding deserved!" Draco cried then he looked down at the ground and continued quietly, "I just need…time…" Harry walked over to his former nemesis and clasped his shoulder.
"I know, mate," Harry nodded, "I should go find Ron and tell him about my new job before someone else does and he goes off his trolley." As soon as Harry had left, Hermione clutched the blond to her and he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I love you, 'Mione."
"I love you too, Draco."
After a while, Draco pulled away and smiled down at the beautiful brunette. "I have a surprise for you."
"What is it?" she grinned her beautiful face lighting up. Draco brushed a stray hair back form her face.
"It's not ready yet. I'll tell you when it is."
"Draco! That's not fair!" she cried and he laughed, kissing her quickly.
He smiled, "Patience is a virtue…" Hermione quickly cut him off.
"I don't have." He laughed and kissed her again hugging her to him as tightly as he could.
"Too bad, my dear, because I'm not budging." The sound of the door sliding back caught their attention as a pretty redhead bounced in.
"Hello, lovebirds! If you're going to change out of those clothes I'd recommend you bloody got on with it," Ginny grinned.
"Tsk, tsk, Weasley. You should watch your language."
"Oh sod off," then she stopped, "Well? Out with you, Malfoy. Just because you're engaged does not mean you can watch Hermione get changed." Draco laughed and kissed Hermione grabbing his muggle clothes from the seat. On his way out he reached over and fussed the redhead's fiery curls earning him a glare. He glanced back just in time to see her face soften.
"He's changed so much, hasn't he?" Draco smirked and kept walking. He wasn't so sure of that. Maybe there was still a little of the old Draco in him still.