Chapter Fourteen:

(A/N: I'm sorry I haven't been updating as much as I promised. I guess I was spoiled before and I'd like more reviews. HINT HINT! Haha. This is just another sweet chapter. Don't worry the angst and pain are coming soon. For those of you who were missing it. Also, try and ignore my spelling/grammar mistakes. I know they're there and I'm sorry about them. But even if you point them out I'm probably not gonna go back and change them. If you MUST point them out, email me. Also anyone wishing to join a mailing list about updates email me asking about that. OK thanks! Enjoy! AND REVIEW!)

Draco hide in the library, afraid of the chaos outside. Ever since his mother had bought the new house she had made it her mission to make the Malfoy Manor liveable for "somebody who actually has a conscience" as she had put it. She had hired more interior decorators than Draco could possibly imagine required to decorate a manor and had been moving furniture in and out. Her determined voice could be heard echoing through the corridors ordering things moved. The only place that had been undisturbed so far was the library, for which Draco was thankful. Ducking his head down back into the book he was reading he groaned as the doors swung open admitting his mother followed by her team of decorators and movers.

"Draco, out. We're fixing up this room as well. Look at this mess! It hasn't been cleaned in years!"

Sighing, Draco folded his book and stood up. "You know, libraries are commonly dusty." His mother scowled at him as she shooed him out of the library.

"Not the Malfoy Library. We'll set it right. Especially considering that Hermione of yours loves reading so much." A floppy grin appeared on Draco's face at the mention of his Hermione. Rolling her eyes his mother gave him a smile.

"Why don't you go visit her? Maybe even talk to her parents about something…"

"Mother!" Draco cried, aghast that she had learned his plan. She chuckled and he blushed.

"I make it my job to know everything. Now go on. Apparate away. When you come back maybe I'll have finished with this mess." Draco grumbled to himself as he walked out of the library and through the corridors bustling with people. He really should have visited Hermione before but he dreaded asking her parents for her hand. What if they still saw him as Hermione's enemy? What if they said no? Stopping by his room to snatch up his cloak he walked out of the manor as quickly as he could. The cool breeze hit his face and he welcomed the feeling. Breathing in the air he sighed in contentment and his heart beat a little faster as he realized he'd be seeing his love again. Closing his eyes he thought of Hermione's house and steeled himself for the gut-wrenching sensation of apparating, something he'd never grow used to. A second later he opened his eyes and found himself in Hermione's garden. Walking around the house to the front he reached out a hand and tapped on the door.

"Coming!" a hassled voice said from inside. The door opened to Hermione looking rather frazzled. Upon recognizing him she gave a small squeal and leapt into his arms showering his face with kisses. Pushing her away he smiled and kissed her forehead lightly.

"Oh 'Mione, I missed you," he whispered into her ear and she sighed against him, snuggling into his open arms.

"And I you. I'm so glad you came," she mumbled into his shirt. Suddenly she jerked away, her eyes wide.

"Thefoodisgoingtoburn!" she said and rushed inside. Draco followed more slowly wondering what was going on. He followed Hermione's disconcerted noises into the kitchen where she was leaning over the over blowing at some black and charred object in a tray.

"What is that?" he demanded and she glanced over at him. All around the kitchen were similar objects, charred and ruined, lying on trays.

"My mother has been trying to teach me to cook. Without magic," Hermione explained slumping into the nearest chair with a defeated sigh. "I did so well in Potions, I don't understand why I can't get it." Her frustrated pout was too much for Draco who scooped her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. A sharp clearing of a throat pulled them apart and Draco glanced to the doorway where Hermione's mother stood, a hand on her hip.

"Hello Mrs. Granger," he called out his voice cracking ever the slightest bit. She nodded back to him before moving into the kitchen.

"I guess the cooking isn't going so well? What a mess," she sighed. Draco stepped away from Hermione and drew his wand.

"Here, let me help," he said and murmured a spell and flicked his wand. The charred remains disappeared and the trays flew to the sink where they began to be washed by an invisible hand. Hermione's mother paled and made a motion to the door behind her.

"I…uh…I'll be out…I'll be over there," she said and backed out the door. Hermione giggled behind him and he turned to her.

"They're still uncomfortable with the magic. Especially now that I can use it all the time. I used to just use my special permission to practice. But now," she shrugged. "It's so much easier with magic." He nodded and she kissed him. "Come on, tell me everything you've been up to since I last saw you," she urged as she sat him at the table. So he did. He told her about Snape and he told her about the new house and he told her about the remodelling. He didn't tell her that the remodelling was all for her so she could live in his home without fearing it. He didn't tell her his mother was moving out because she wanted Hermione to move in. That he kept to himself. A while later her mother reappeared and when a glance to the sink told her the magic had stopped she came to sit with them.

"Will you be staying the night?" she asked politely and Draco thought about the chaos back home.

"If that would be alright, I'd be most grateful," he replied. She nodded and patted his hand.

"Of course, Draco. Now both of you out of the kitchen so I can prepare something nice without all that bippity-boppity-boo stuff." For the second time in that day, Draco was delicately shoved out of a room.

"Bippity-boppity-boo?" he repeated with a look at Hermione. Her laughter was infectious.

"It's from a children's movie. Have you ever heard of Cinderella?" she asked as she took his hand to lead him outside.

"Oh yes, that witch that married some prince?" he asked. She glanced back at him with a frown.

"What?"

"Yeah, she had some problems realizing she was a witch. Had some nasty muggle sisters. Then she fell in love with some prince. Used some magic she found in a book to make herself look pretty then she used a love potion on him," he replied. Her dumbstruck look was priceless as he began to laugh. "I'm just pulling your strings, Hermione, I've read the muggle story by the Sadd brothers or whatever." He stalked past her into the garden. For a second she stood shocked and then she chased after him.

"Grimm! Grimm brothers!" she cried. His laughter resonated through the gardens where it was slowly met with hers. Inside the kitchen, Hermione's mother paused by the window as the laughter drifted in and she smiled. A smile that was at once happy and sad. A smile that said 'my little girl is all grown up, I'm so proud' yet also said 'she will leave soon'.