XIII. Earning Her Love

"Come on," Draco urged a few days later. "We have to go."

"Where?" she demanded.

"It's a surprise," he said…again. Hermione didn't want to go with him for some reason. "I know you'll like it," he tried to coax her into leaving the Manor.

But Hermione hadn't left the grounds, aside from Caleb's birth, in almost four months. She couldn't imagine why he suddenly wanted her to leave her home. "Fine," she consented. "Just let me get the kids."

"No need. Jaz has her first lesson with the tutor and Chrissy had Caleb."

Seeing the look of distrust on Hermione's face he added. "It's only for a few hours. Now let's go!"

He got Hermione into the car and then drove out of the Manor's gates. He refused to tell Hermione their destination and even put a blinding spell on her, as they grew nearer. When she felt the engine die she asked for their location again. Draco ignored her while he opened her door, led her along a sidewalk, up a few stairs, and into a building.

He took the spell off and Hermione instantly recognized her old home—before she was married.

"What is this?" she asked in a whisper. Suddenly, she saw people filtering into the entranceway. Recognizing them all, Hermione gave a slight cry.

Her parents, Harry, Ron, Ginny, all the Weasleys in fact, and so many of her friends that she had no idea how he had gotten a hold of all of them. Instead of greeting her parents, whom as Muggles she hadn't seen since she was married, she turned, to everyone's surprise, to Draco and kissed him soundly.

"Thank you," she cried with her lips still to his. Then she ran out to her friends and family and cried as she was finally reunited with them all.

Draco stayed with Hermione as she spent time with her friends for over four hours before he told her that they should be heading back. She nodded and then met him at the door. To everyone's surprise he announced that they were all allowed to visit Hermione at the Manor.

When they were in the car Hermione kissed him again.

"Thank you so much, Draco," she said. "It meant so much to me."

He shrugged. "I love you," was all the reason he had.

Hermione smiled. "I love you, too," she whispered, finally able to believe that she was safe with him.

A/N: Amber here... for once... and I don't have much to say. Only two chapters left after this, and then Ron Dies Alone Again (we are already planning a third and fourth in the series) and then Ditch. We're trying to wrap up some other stories but these characters take on a life of their own, dragging the plot with it, so we can't just tie up loose ends. There are constantly more of them! Alas, enjoy.

Chocolate Lemons to all,

ShiverBoo