Chapter 43 people... I think... and I make it up to you... my dear fans with a really really really long chapter... love you all... me
Hermione looked down to the parchment in her hand and then back up to the address on the gate infront of the large mansion as thunder sounded behind her. She could feel her breath get short as she glanced back up to the darkened windows of the mansion, this was it.
After spending a full week just being a muggle Hermione quickly searched the classifieds of The Daily Prophet for a job. After searching for 3 days she managed to land a spot at Flourish and Blots as a book keeper. And at the beginning of the new school year she would be attending Nuada's University. It was a very high classed school and she had gotten in under a full witchesship for 4 years. She was going to major in Transfiguration while minoring in potions and arthrithmancy.
She ran her hands quickly and looked at herself in the rear-view mirror of her car. She looked nice and presentable, now if she could only get rid of the kangaroo's jumping around in her stomach.
She shut off her car and got out. That was the first step. She walked to the gate and wondered how she could get it. A wizard stepped from the gate guards office off to the side and went to stand in front of her. "May I help you?"
She swallowed. "Um... yes, I was wondering if I could just kip up a bit and see Mr. Malfoy."
"Name?" he asked.
"What... Oh Hermione Granger."
He took down her name and told her to wait a moment. He walked back into the office and came out again about a minute later. " The Master will see you now." He said unlocking the gate and allowing her to cross it. "Just go straight up the driveway and knock on the front door. Someone will let you in."
"Um... ok... thank you." she said.
He nodded to her and locked the gate again.
Halfway up the driveway it began to rain again. She sighed and quickly ran the rest of the way up the driveway, her feet slipping on the gravel. She tried to pull the collar of her jacket over her head to keep her hair from messing up but it was pointless. By the time she was knocking on the front door she was soaked to the bone. She was looking down at her feet by the time the door opened, trying to keep the water off her face. She looked up and there he stood.
"Hermione," Draco said nearly stepping out, then it seemed he remembered that it was pouring rain. "Come on, get in." he said sweeping her in. He shut the door behind him and locked it again. He turned to look at her, but she wasn't looking at him, but the house behind him.
She had her arms crossed over her chest and she was visibly shivering but she didn't seem to notice. He slowly walked up behind her and followed her head as she looked around, for the first time, the Malfoy Manor. The entrance hall was now brightly lit but beyond it was dark. Off to her left side was the parlor with a roaring fire in the grate and in front of her was a marble stair case that narrowed as it got higher.
He touched her shoulder. "Lets get you into some dry clothes." she looked at him, really for the first time since she arrived and nodded. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Come on." he said softly and led the way up the stairs.
---
Draco was setting Hermione's wet clothes over a rack infront of his bedroom fire while she got changed behind a curtain in the corner. He glanced over his shoulder when he heard her curse. "You alright?" he asked laying her undergarments across the rack and walking towards the curtain.
"Fine," she said with a sigh. He could see her outline struggling with her sleeve. " It's just I can't get the sleeve to roll up." she walked out from behind the curtain and showed him.
He gently took her hand and rolled it up for her. It was one of his silk green Pajama tops with matching bottoms. Those she had rolled up perfectly. Secretly he couldn't have been more nervous in his life. The thing he quiet possibly loved the most in the whole world just walked back into his life and she was standing here in his pajama's while he rolled the sleeve up.
When he was done he held her hand for a moment, " Want some tea?" he asked.
She looked up into his eyes and in the moment she instantly forgave him everything. She felt everything she'd ever felt with him come rushing back. " Yes, but in a minute, I want to talk to you for a bit."
He backed off a step. " So talk."
She got nervous. Why did he have to act so calm and cool? " Well... Draco... You see that..." she sighed, none of this was going the way she planned. " Well, I had this whole speech planned out and what it all boils down to is that..." she gulped, he was staring at her, " Is that Draco, I love you and i'm so sorry."
He stood there for a moment... then a minute. Hermione was starting to wonder if she made a mistake coming here and telling him that. She hung her head and marveled at her own stupidity. " I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come, I'm so stupid. So if you'll excuse me. " She said quickly gathering her clothes up and walking towards the door. She was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Hermione," he began "What do you want me to say?" His face was just inches from hers.
She stared at him, her eyes as big as those of a deer in headlights... cool gray headlights. "Anything."
He stared at her a moment, still holding onto her arm. He smiled slightly, little did she know, it was the first smile he broke out into since they broke up. " How 'bout, I love you too."
She smiled weakly, and tears formed in her eyes. " That'll do." A moment later she found herself in his arms and her clothes dropped at their feet. For the first time in weeks, she felt his warm lips press against hers. It felt so wonderful. His arms were around her waist and at the base of her neck while hers were in his hair.
He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to his bed and laid her down softly. He kissed her gently as he slowly undid the buttons of the shirt... He only got two buttons undone before his fireplace called to him. It was the gate keeper. "Master Malfoy..." he slowly came revolving into the room.
Hermione quickly buttoned her shirt up as Draco rolled his eyes, evidently pissed off about being interupted. " What!"
The guard didn't notice Hermione right away, and when he did he blushed brightly. " Um sir, the roads are flooded, it seems unlikely that...Miss...urm... Granger will be able to leave tonight."
Draco smiled. "Fine with me" Hermione hit him lightly.
The guard now visibly uncomfortable, now fully understanding what he just broke up loosened his collar, as though it wa choking him. " also, Miss Granger's car is still outside on the street, would you like me to bring it into the gates, just inside so the magic doesn't make it stall?"
"Sure," said Draco getting up, grabbing her pants and throwing him the keys. " Just leave the keys in the guard office, she'll get them when she leaves."
"Right Master, " He stood in silence a moment. Draco looked at him and gave him a glare that said all to well ' Get lost or you'll be looking for a job come morning!' " Well, Goodnight."
"Night." Draco said forcefully starting to walk towards him causing him to walk backwards and into the flames.
Hermione said softly, "Goodnight" to him as she watched him spin away in the fireplace.
Draco turned back to her, whipped out his wand and with it lowered the level of the candles and completely wiped the torches out. There she was, the silk glowing in the shimmering light, crouched in his bed, just waiting for him to come back to her. He set his wand on the dresser and walked towards her. " Now where were we?" he said hopping back on the bed
---
The light was just starting to filter into the room when Draco awoke. As he opened his eyes, it took him a moment to remember why he felt so wonderful and content, also he wondered why he was laying sideway on his bed. He lifted his head and he immediatly remembered everything that happened the previous night. Laying right by his side was Hermione.
At the moment she had her back to him and had the covers up to her chin and was sleeping contently with her head on one of her arms.
As quietly as he could he slipped out of bed, covered her backside up and walked to his closet where he quickly got changed into a white button up shirt and a pair of tan slacks. He pulled on some shoes and watched her sleep for a couple of moments before he climbed back into the bed behind her, proped his head up on one of his arms and stroked her arm. He laid there for a few moments. He bent his head slightly and whispered in her ear while gently shaking her on her side. "Hermione."
"mmm." she said without opening her eyes.
"I've got to run out for a little."he said as she rolled over onto her back and opened her eyes slowly.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly, her voice, as it hadn't been used for several hours was a little hoarse.
"I've just got to run a few errands. I'll be back in less then an hour." He said.
"Promise?" she asked smiling at him.
"I promise," with that he bent down and kissed her softly. "go back to sleep, sleep long enough and maybe i'll bring you breakfast in bed."
She smiled, " I'll hold you to that."
Draco chuckled. "Alright, see you soon." he kissed her again and let her roll back over onto her side and curl up. He brought over a pillow and slipped it under her head and stayed in bed just long enough to watch her fall asleep again.
Now he was off to Diagon Alley.
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When he apperated back home he did it in the hallway, as to not disturb Hermione, but when he walked into the bedroom, he discovered he didn't need to bother. She wasn't in the bed. He looked around and saw her clothes were still infront of the fire place, though now it was stone cold. He was on the virge of calling out her name when he heard his shower running and a sweet humming song breaking out from it. He set down his purchase and walked towards the door that seperated his room from his bathroom and poked his head into the door. Hermione was standing in the massive shower, one that could hold at least 5 people with the curtain pulled around, singing as she lathered herself up. " So I'll hope for tonight like I would if you were mine/ to hold/ forever more/And I'll savor his touch that I wanted so much/To be here before, to feel before/ how beautiful it is just to be like this/ I wanna be with you."
He listened to her before he got a great idea. He stripped and slowly snuck around to the back of the shower and slipped silently into it. He crept up behind her, she was rinsing shampoo from her hair. " I didn't know you felt like that." he said.
She jumped and turned around. " Oh my god, Draco, I thought we got over this 'hey lets sneak up on Hermione' deal."
"Not going to happen." he said and kissed her.
---
Hermione brushed her hair out and pulled it up into a ponytail and away from her face then dressed in the jeans and cami she wore yesterday though she put the gree silk shirt on over it, buttoned up three buttons, and tied the loose part back with a rubber band. Draco had donned his clothes on again and they were now downstairs in the kitchen enjoying a simple breakfast of toast and orange juice.
"I think my parents might be starting to worry." she said after a few minutes, sitting on a stool at the counter.
"Really now?"
She glanced outside to the storm, she was obviously not going anywhere in her car. "I haven't called to them to tell them i'm safe and out of the storm. They'll be having kittens over me soon."
"Want to go visit them?"
"Do you want to meet them?" she asked back.
He stood up and took her by the hand and walked to the middle of the room. "Yeah, why not?" He said pulling her close into him and concentrating on the street he knew Hermione lived on.
It wasn't raining here, but bright and sunny. She looked around and saw her mom sitting outside their modest house trimming the rose bushs. She smiled at Draco who grinned and walked behind as Hermione ran to say hello. " Mum!" She said.
Mrs. Granger turned around at the sound of her daughters voice and stood up. "Hermione! Your father and I were so worried!" she said as she hugged her.
Hermione stepped back. " I know, i'm sorry, I should have called home last night to let you know I was ok. I stayed at Draco's last night."
"Draco, dear?" she questioned.
Hermione turned and walked a few steps and grabbed Draco's hand. "Mum, this is Draco Malfoy. Draco meet my mum."
He extended his hand and shook the one offered by Mrs. Granger. "Nice to meet you." he heard himself saying.
They spent the next several hours, until dark, talking, and eating, before Draco asked Hermione's parents if she could come back to his house, and her parents agreed. He followed her up to her room, feeling odd in a muggle house. What were those things in the wall that little faces on them? (Outlets) He went into her room and winced when she just reached over to the side of her wall and flipped a switch and in the corner a lantern lamp lit up. While she packed her bag full of some needed clothes and assesories. The walls were dark purple in color and had blue and gold stars around the edges. The double sized bed was made out of dark pine and was covered in a light purple bedspread and had lots of white fluffy pillows on it. It was unmade and ruffled. On the walls were some pictures of her and her family and on the matching night stand was a moving picture of Her, Ron and Harry, and one of Her and Ginny. He walked to her dresser and looked on top of that and on that there was a moving picture of them. He was only smiling a little but Hermione had a grand smile on her face. They were dressed in winter gear and their faces were flushed. He smiled and took it down. " I remember when you took this."
Hermione looked up from folding a skirt and smiled. " You didn't want me to take it, but you gave in, in the end." she said.
"I can't deny you anything, my dear." he said as he sat down on her bed.
She smiled at him and finished her packing. They went back downstairs and said good-bye to her parents. They accompanied them to the door of the backyard and watched in amazement as the two walked a few feet away, wrap their arms around eachother and disapear with a small pop leaving nothing behind. They would never get used to this.
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Hermione shook her head as they arrived back at Malfoy Manor, as she looked around she felt a little chilled, it was dark here and a little creepy. Draco, sensing her apprehension, pulled out his wand and waved it across the room, causing the chamber to light up. Hermione could now see everything in the room and no longer felt afraid. She moved forward and put her suitcase down by the end of the bed.
Soon he was showing her around the manor, exploring the places she hadn't seen the night before. She noticed that Draco hadn't moved into the Master bedroom, which wasn't much bigger then his own, nor taken down any pictures or rearranged at all. As he went to make tea, she stared at a moving painting of the Malfoys, Lucius, Draco and Narcissa. They looked so regle but who would have thought all of them, even Draco for a short time, were death eaters.
At the thought of death eaters, Hermione had a sudden flash back to the night that she was kidnapped. She closed her eyes tight and grimiced.
Draco, who was coming back out with two cups of tea, took one look at her and worried. "Hermione?" he asked, setting the cups down on the table and taking her in his arms.
She hugged him tightly and fought off the images that came to mind. This was where she was supposed to be.
A/N: ATTNETION! THIS IS NOT THE END! and I lied, there is going to be one more chapter and then I think i'm going to write a second story called Against All Odds, based off this one... sooo lemme know your opinions.
Exelon: I'm sorry you had to wait so long, I really am, hope this chapter makes up for it!
NitenGale: Of course not... I would never end that there... hehe, and what made it worst was DRACO did it... gah... grr... (is PO'ed) My poor draco... anyway ttyl, hope you like this chapter!
