Author's note: Okay, i was all tight as before, but a good friend of mine just started reading and i'm all excited. so this chapter is for Princess Sapphire! she knows who she is.

Chapter 17 – Wedding Gifts

Upon their entrance, Professor Mc Gonagall turned to Hermione and smiled.

"We leave you here." she said.

Hermione managed to at least listen, even though her mind was submerged in her own thoughts.

"What?"

The Gryffindor head of house nodded. She handed Hermione a large golden key on a large key ring with an elaborate tassel at the end of it. Dumbledore looked on, infinitely amused.

"Here." the professor said. "From all of us."

Hermione accepted the key with out thinking.

"The password, Madame Malfoy," Dumbledore spoke up. "Is Amore faccadinae"

She suddenly felt the world shift around her, an invisible hook from somewhere behind her navel was dragging her someplace. She realized belatedly that the golden key was more than it seemed. It was a password activated port key.

When the world stopped spinning she found herself in a large common room, at least she thought it was a common room, the lighting was rather dim. Without thinking, Hermione pointed her want into the empty fireplace and mutter the spell to ignite a merry blaze. The room was suddenly drenched in crackling light.

"It's about time you made it here, love."

Hermione jumped back in surprise and fell into a plush over stuffed couch.

Draco smirked at her. He had been hiding in the shadows before.

She snapped.

"Must you DO that?" she demanded.

He nodded.

"It was completely worth it to see the look on your face." he replied causally. "Besides we have already covered this, I am a Slytherin and therefore I lurk."

She narrowed her eyes.

"What is this place?" she demanded.

Draco waved his hand around it.

"This is the Malfoy Common." he said.

Hermione surveyed her surroundings. It looked like a regular Hogwarts room, stone walls and floor although, and most of it was covered but plush shaggy carpets. Two of the four walls were covered with shelves that were filled with countless books. Hermione knew that these could not all be her books so she vaguely wondered how they came to be there.

The furnishing was exquisite as well; there were several navy blue couches and chairs, two large mahogany desks pushed up against the wall, obviously for their studying needs. On the remaining two walls, were two large doors. Curious, Hermione opened each one, starting with the on across from where she appeared.

"Our bed room." Draco said. It was obvious that he had been here for a while.

There was a large four poster bed, the sheets were dark green and gold, the bed frame was a dark walnut, more Persian carpeting graced the floor. There was even a small sitting space with a pair of burgundy couches and easy chairs as well as a walnut coffee table. There was a door on the other side of the room that Hermione could only presume to be the bathroom.

It was obvious that the professors had made an effort to keep the colouring of the rooms equal. For every Slytherin touch she saw, there was a Gryffindor accent to counter it.

She opened the next room it was obviously a nursery, there was a magnificent cradle up against the wall along with an assortment of building blocks and a rocking unicorn. But what was really remarkable was the change of colour. All the wood was suddenly light, almost white, there was a shag carpet on the floor but other than that, the sheets the chairs everything was pure white.

"We're supposed to colour it." Hermione realized. "When the baby comes." she turned suddenly and narrowly missed thwacking Draco. "I can't believe they would do this. It-its-"

She seemed at a loss for words. She walked out of the nursery, intended for their unborn child, and back into the common. She noted that there was no door. The means of entrance and exit must be in the keys. She supposed Malfoy had the same one.

She walked back into the master bed room, Draco followed her. He waited for her to realize something that seemed garishly obvious to him.

She walked over to the bed and instinctively sat on the right side. He mirrored her actions sitting on the left.

And that's when it struck her.

"Oh God, there is only one bed."

Draco smirked.

"Good one, Granger." he said. "Want a treat?"

The glare she shot him could melt a glacier. It didn't seem to have any effect on Draco. He just continued smirking at her smugly. She finally scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"well-" she said. "That means they're practically encouraging us to-oh! Oh god!"

Draco shook his head.

"Yes, love, usually newly weds tend to enjoy each other's company." he said. "But just because its here doesn't mean we have to use it."

Hermione frowned.

"But they went through so much trouble." she said. "its seems a shame that we shouldn't stay here."

Draco arched an eyebrow.

"Oh Merlin, how typically Gryffindor." he said. "I'm sure you'd feel terrible as if their feelings would be hurt if you didn't use the place. Sacrificing your feeling in the off chance that they may be able to find out that you don't want what they gave."

The Gryffindor prefect scowled at him.

"Listen Malfoy, what if the house-elves who clean this place up report to Dumbledore that we didn't use it?" she asked crossing her arms in front of her chest and raising her eyebrows.

Draco considered this and then finally nodded.

"Very well." he said. "This one night. Tomorrow we needn't use the place."

Hermione nodded.

"Now, who gets the bed?"