A/N: Thanks for the review you guys. I'm so glad enjoyed, Hermione's annivesary gift. Read on!

Chap. 10: In the wee small hours of the morning

Chap. 10 summary: Draco recieves his anniversary gift. While Hermione spends time trying to do the invitations with her mother, grandmere and the wicked witch of Malfoy Manor...Narcissa Malfoy.

"Here it is…" Hermione whispered to Draco.

Draco couldn't hold his excitement. "I can't believe you're got this."

Hermione's smiled widen. "Well….look!" Draco looked at the piece of parchment in his hand. Ticketstothe final quidditch game; England vs. Russia.

"Do you like?" Draco couldn't even comprehend. This was the gift he wanted.

"Yes! Of course; what made you think I would hate this gift. It's the best! It's the gift I've wanted. I mean, I've only been talking about this for months. How did you get it?"

Hermione smiled mysteriously. "That's for me to know, Draco Malfoy. And for you to never find out." She then got out of bed and went downstairs. Draco, was still on the bed.

I can't believe she got me the tickets!

But how did she manage to them? These tickets are rare and very expensive. The other voice in his head said.

I don't care! She got me the tickets!

"Draco? Are you coming downstairs for breakfast?" Hermione called up.

"Yes, I am!"

A couple of weeks later, Hermione visited Ginny. It was the first time they seen each other since Christmas Eve. Both of them were busy and finially made time to see each other.

"So, tell me how was your Christmas?" Ginny asked as she sat down with a tray of ice tea. Ginny's hair was up in a pony tail and her eyes had bags under them. She was still a good looking woman though; Hermione observed this. If I was caught with bags under my eyes I would look like a raccoon. Hermione took the glass from the tray and drank some of her ice tea.

"Hermione?"

"Oh yes. Um…can you repeat the question?" Ginny smiled.

"So, I was saying, how was your Christmas?" Hermione rolled her eyes at the memory.

"It was a disaster. I mean, first, remember karaoke night?" Ginny nodded, and Hermione continued her version ofthe night. "Well, Draco's mum, got drunk out of her mind. Then she attempted to 'Advera Kadevra' my family with abra kadevbra. THEN the next day, Draco gets completely jealous over Jack; and we have his vampire uncle come over. Oh, and this is the beginning. We watch a movie, 'Edward-"

"Was that the film we watched that one time?" Ginny asked.

"Yes. Well, we watch that and Draco then goes on a rant about how Kim is apparently evil because she left Edward. Later on, he dropped a bowl of eggnog on his mother's head." Ginny laughed hard, almost spitting out her ice tea.

"It's not funny, Ginny. You should have been there. She was drenched in the stuff. And it's been a couple of weeks. We still haven't heard from her."

"What do you really expect, Hermione? It has always been obvious that Draco's mum has always been against the marriage; I would have thought she was up to something if she approved of the marriage." Hermione sat back in the chair, clutching her glass.

"It's just, when I was a little girl, I always pictured that my wedding would be this grand thing and that me and my husband would love each other. And that our families would just come together as one."

Ginny patted her on the shoulder. "Well….so you ended up engaged to your once enemy, you're a witch, and your future mother-in-law hates you and your family….take it from the guy that brought you two together : 'The course of true love never did run smoothly.'"

"Well, so true love never really ran smoothly, but it certainly wasn't this hard." Hermione sat back in her chair.

"Yeah, well it could be worst." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"How?"

"You could have Blaise's mother for a mother-in-law." Hermione let out a shallow laugh.

"I wish." Ginny's eyes darkened.

"No….seriously you don't. She's on her 7th, 8th, 9th husband….I have no clue. All I know is that I don't want that my woman around my children." Hermione turned to Ginny.

"Oh yeah! I didn't ask. How was your Christmas?" Ginny exhaled deeply.

"It was terrible, Hermione!" Ginny's eyes widen. "Blaise's mother, is a bitch on wheels. It's bad enough, when she speaks only Italian and very little English, and then it's worst, when she's throwing dirty looks at my family. Blaise doesn't even help…the prat decided to speak to her in Italian and not translate anything to us. So, we don't know how she feels, but with she's acting, I think she's against the wedding. She wanted Blaise to, naturally, end up with a 'nice, Italian girl.' I mean, honestly, who does the woman think she is? Better then me? I think I shall curse her. But who knows? Knowing those purebloods, she'll probably use dark magic against me-" Ginny's face became screwed up with anger.

Hermione checked her watch; "Look at the time…I promised Jack I would go shopping with him….I have an idea! Why don't you come shopping with us? You clearly need to get out and get your mind off things." Ginny's face lit up and she stopped her complaining.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! Come on, it'll be fun. We'd go out to lunch, do some girl talk, and let me tell you Jack has excellent taste in clothing." Hermione bragged.

"Wait a minute…where are you two going?" Ginny asked, grabbing her purse from the closet.

"We're going to some muggle stores….so are you going?"

"Yeah." Ginny then walked out of the room and yelled back. "I have to get something….be only a minute!"

Hermione sat down humming. So, she wasn't on good terms with Narcissa, Draco hated her best friend, and she hadn't a clue on what to do with the wedding. Well it could be worst. She thought to herself, and she was more right then she had known.

"I can't believe you chose that!" Ginny excitedly took out the yellow tank top of the bag. "It's so tight and vulgar." Hermione said while looking in the mirror.

"No, it isn't Hermione. I think it's beautiful as you are, Gin. Plus it would look good if you had your hair up in a ponytail." Jack went up to her, and put her hair up. "You see?"

Ginny smiled. "I'm gonna try this on." Ginny left to her bedroom.

Jack then went through his bag and took out some shirts, which examined and made sure nothing was wrong with them. "So have you talked to Narcissa?"

Hermione's head jerked up. "Uh-no…we haven't heard from her."

"Yeah…I felt so bad for her. Quiet embarrassing to have eggnog spilled all over you, wouldn't you agree? I would hate for something like that to happen to me. I think I would die of embarrassment." He chuckled to himself; while Hermione gave a half smile.

Little does he know; it was actually meant for him.

"Did you say something?" Jack turned to her with a concerned look on his face.

"No." Hermione shook her head. Did I say that out loud?

"Ta-da!" Ginny came back, the yellow tank top on with dark blue jeans. "So do Ilook like a muggle?" Ginny stood in the mirror, admiring her reflection.

Hermione looked at Ginny with envy. She was breathtaking. Her breast weren't to big; she had more of a butt then she did. And it seemed she had no hips, which Hermione always envied and wanted. Unlike Ginny, Hermione's hips were huge, which meant she had to work more at her figure then say Ginny. Plus it did help, she took quidditch; quidditch wasn't a sport that would tone you up as oppose to football, but it was still more active then Hermione ever was or ever close to being.

"It does look good. I bet when Blaise sees you he's gonna eat you right up!" Ginny blushed at Jack's comment. Jack and Ginny continued to compare clothes, while Hermione looked at her.

"So, mother. Will you talk to Hermione? It wasn't her fault; and….I am sorry for spilling the bowl of eggnog on you. I-just wasn't thinking. You could understand, can't you?"

Narcissa, took a sip of her cup of tea. She hadn't warmed up to the idea of Draco marrying this mudblood. What had I done to deserve this? Was it something she did? Did she raise him wrong? Did she spoil him too much? Did she not spoil him enough? Was she not harsh enough when it came to muggles? She flipped her blonde hair behind her and held her head high.

"Well….I guess I could." I can not believe I am agreeing to this. "But...I will not have any more incidences. That is all for now." Draco sighed.

"Thank you mother, you surely won't regret this." Draco got up from his chair, and kissed his mother's cheek.

"I hope I don't." She whispered more to herself.

"What was that?"

"I said, I can't wait." She said, covering her face with a smile.

"So, I got my mother to agree, and tomorrow she is coming over to help with the invitations." Hermione rolled her eyes. Oh goodie, a day with my loving future mother-in-law. This should be SOOO interesting.

"I can't wait."

Draco climbed into bed, and straddled Hermione. "Aren't you happy? I talked to my mother, and she's overjoyed with everything. What more do you want?" Draco asked between giving kisses on her throat.

"Draco-not tonight." Hermione then pushed Draco off her, causing him to fall off the bed.

"Oh-I'm so sorry, Draco." Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Draco then got up from the floor, rubbing his head; with a scowl on his face.

"Bloody hell, woman." Draco climbed back on the bed, but on his side.

"Oh…poor baby." Hermione said in a child like voice. She kissed his forehead; rubbing his head.

"Yes, well you could have told me no, instead of knocking me off the bed." He then laid on his side. He felt her arms wrap around him.

"I'm sorry." He then heard a snort of laughter.

"It wasn't funny, Hermione!"

"Of course, it wasn't Draco." Hermione stilled giggled, despite herself.

"My mother is coming tomorrow, to help with the invitations." Hermione didn't answer or say anything.

"Hermione?"

"Oh..yes; I forgot. I'm having my mum and grandmere come over."

"That should be interesting." Draco mentioned.

Hermione grabbed her wand, and shut the lights off.

"Let's hope that tomorrow doesn't come too soon."

But tomorrow did come to soon, the next thing Hermione knew, she was being shaked.

"What? Huh?" Hermione's eyes widen to see Narcissa, Grandmere and her mum in the room. She automatically pulled the covers up to her chain.

"What are you doing here? Where's Draco? What time is it?" Hermione asked, while Narcissa rolled her eyes.

"I'm here to help with the invitations. Draco had a meeting to go and said he won't be back till late. And it's 10:00 am. I was told to be here at 9:30 am. I would appreciate it, if you would be dressed and ready when meeting with me. It would be the proper thing to do." Grandmere came to Hermione's defense.

"Don't get all worked up on Hermione. It'z not her fault, she'z been strezzed lately." Natalie chipped in.

"Yes, and I would appreciate it; if you talk to my daughter like an adult and not a child."

"Well, I would treat her like one, if she started acting like one!" Narcissa retorted to the two other women.

"Ne parlez pas to Hermione au sujet d'être un adulte! Hermione non jamais obtenu ivre sur l'étape!" Grandmere said to Narcissa.

"Mum! Grandmere! Narcissa!" Hermione called out. They all turned to her. "Why don't go downstairs and have some tea. I'll be out in 20 minutes."

All three women left the room quietly and shut the door. But once the door shut she heard the arguing begin again.

Hermione soon found herself coming downstairs. She heard all three women talking, but they all soon became quiet as Hermione came into the Kitchen.

"Hi." Hermione simply stated.

"Good morning." Natalie said and went to go get more tea.

"So waz the zhower good?"

"Ah, and it only took you 15 minutes." Narcissa checked her watch.

Hermione clapped her hands together. "Well, shall we get started?"

2 hours later…..

"So, we have 20 of our family members, 5 of my friends, 7 of grandmere's friends, 10 family friends, and….." Hermione looked at the piece of paper. "2 of Draco's family members. That evens itself out."

"What do you expect? Our whole family to come? If you haven't realized, our family are purebloods, I'd doubt they keen on the idea of one of their own marrying a mud-muggleborn." Natalie had a confused look on her face.

"What is a 'muggleborn' and what are 'purebloods'? Does that mean you're not human? Are you a creature?" Natalie asked, as she moved further away from Narcissa.

These muggles are so naïve. "No, I'm not a creature. I'm human…obviously. But unlike you and your kind, all my family members have been involved with magic, unlike just your daughter."

Natalie still had a confused look on her face.

"Nevermind, mum." Hermione waved it off.

"How 're we going to get my friendz from Paris?"

"This is gonna cost a lot of money." Hermione mentioned as she looked through the names. "And Narcissa…can you please at least try to get some of Draco's family members." Narcissa snorted as this would never happen. Ever.

"Hermione you left someone off the list….how about Liza?" Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed.

"No mum, she isn't coming."

"Of course she is! She's your father's neice, and she's nice, kind…"

"And a bitch….for lack of a better word." Hermione added. Natalie gasped at the vulgar language her daughter used.

"She's still your cousin, and she's coming! That's the end of it. Just because your getting married, doesn't mean you could swear to me, young lady. I am your mother, and I know I taught you better."

"I'm sorry, mum. But still, I don't want her to come." Natalie got frustrated.

"We'll talk about this later." Meanwhile Grandmere and Narcissa were having a nice chat.

"So, your husband iz inamagicalprizonfor trying to kill thiz 15 year old kid? Talk about interezting in-lawz."

"Did I hear you correctly?" Natalie asked her interest suddenly in the conversation Grandmere and Narcissa were having.

Narcissa answered with a smirk, which was similar to Draco's.

Hermione started to explain. "It's not as bad, as it sounds mum."

"Hermione can I talk to you in the living room, please?" Hermione stood up and started to go. Knowing full well what she was about to hear.

"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS THIS ABOUT? OUR FUTURE-IN-LAWS ARE MURDERERS?" Natalie shrieked at Hermione.

"You see, Mum. Narcissa is really over exaggerating the whole thing. I mean, he was…..not a good person naturally. But that doesn't mean his wife isn't one, or his family. Please mum. I'm telling you, I would never put my family in danger. Please, believe me." Hermione begged, looking into her mother's eyes.

Natalie sighed. "Fine; I trust you Hermione to make the right decision. But you could have made a better choice..." Natalie sat down on one of the chairs.

"Thank you. Um, did you tell my friends and some of our family about me being a witch?" Natalie's head snapped up to look at her daughter. She didn't want to tell her the bad news; so she decided to go with the good news first.

"Well, the good news is that….your unlces and aunts on my side of the family accept you, and so do many of your friends. Also some of your father's family did."

Hermione couldn't help but smiling. But her smile faded as she heard her mother continue. "Your aunt, the religious one, on your father's side of the family, decided not to come. She said you were the "Devil's daughter" and she disowned you. Your friend, Louisa, said she didn't want to attend for personal reasons. And Lena, your other friend, didn't say anything to me. She um, hung up." Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "Oh honey." Natalie went to her daughter's side.

"Forget about them. If they don't realize how much of a great person you are, then they don't deserve to know you. Or be apart of your life. They should be able to accrpt you for who you are." Natalie then wiped away the tears in Hermione's eyes, and kissed her forehead.

"Your right, I'll just oblivate them, and pretend you never told them." Natalie chuckled, and held her daughter tighter.

"Natalie? Hermione?" Grandmere called out. She then went into the living room. "There'z you 're! Hermione, I havez a letter for you. It'z from Draco." Grandmere then took the piece of parchment from her pocket and took out her reading glasses.

"It zays, he can't….make it home tonight. He has a late meeting. Love, Draco."

"Great. I have to be alone tonight." Hermione then stood up and grabbed the letter from Grandmere.

"Why don't I ztay with you?" Grandmere suggested.

"No, you really don't have to-"

"She should. Don't you have clothes here for her to wear? Or should I bring them?"

Narcissa then came strolling in, with her purse intact. "I have to go. I just got an owl." Hermione highly doubted this. "I'll talk to Draco about the invites. Goodbye, and Mrs. DuMaurier, Au revior."

"Au revior!" Grandmere called out.

Natalie looked at the time. "I have to go. Your father is taking me out to dinner." Natalie smiled. "I have to go pick something out."

"I'm sure you do." Grandmere mentioned with disgust.

"Of course, ma mere." Grandmere then went back to the kitchen, shaking her head.

"Thanks Hermione. I really needed this. Grandmere has been a handful lately. Also, word to the wise: Grandmere sneaks out."

"I heard that!" Both Natalie and Hermione turned around to see Grandmere with her hands on her hips.

"Don't say I warned you. Au revior!" Natalie grabbed her jacket and left.

"So what should we do?" Hermione asked.

Hermione tossed and turned all night. Nothing seemed to be right. She had been either too hot or too cold or she kept hearing banging sounds downstairs. Now I know what my mum means by Grandmere being a handful.

Hermione then turned to her clock. It read 2:54 am.

In the wee small hours of the morning

While the whole world is fast asleep

You lie awake and think about the boy

And never ever think of counting sheep

Hermione then stared at the ceiling; she felt herself start to drift, when all of a sudden she heard a crash downstairs.

"Argh!" Hermione then threw the covers off of her and grabbed her robes.

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson

You'd be his if only he'd call

In the wee small hours of the morning

That's the time you miss him most of all

Hermione headed downstairs with her blue, cloud cover pajamas. She then walked into the kitchen. She then whispered the spell and the lights came on. Hermione looked around and saw no one.

"I guess it's only me and my cookies." She said as she went to the cabinet and grabbed some cookies and milk.

"I wonder what Draco's doing? Staying at the meeting this late; this usually isn't like him." She thought out loud.

When your lonely heart learned its lesson

You'd be his if only he'd call

In the wee small hours of the morning

That's the time you miss him…most of all.

All of a sudden she heard people talking. It was muffled, but she could still make out the words.

"Do you think they suspect anything?"

"No, of course not."

"Why do we have to keep this a secret? I love you."

"No you don't.Stop being naïve."

Hermione then moved closer to where the sound was coming, trying to get more out of it.

"Ha….careful with the neck!"

"Haha, sorry…you know how I get."

"I know."

All of a sudden, Hermione moved to forward, and tripped on her purse.

"OUCH!" Hermione grabbed her foot in agony.

"I heard something. Go!" Hermione stood up and tried to hear the voices again, but there was nothing.

All of a sudden she felt a hand on her shoulder. "AHHHHHHHH!"

A/N 2: Cliffy, haha. The song, or lyrics I used were from, Carly Simon's "Wee small hours of the morning" Also the phrase,"The course of true love never did run smoothly" was in the Shakespeare play, "A mid-summer's night dream" said by Lysander (Great play, recommend it!) Read and review, enjoy! Au revior!