Hermione stared at her home. That it was the ancestral home of the Malfoy family, that she was now a Malfoy, didn't matter. It was her home.
The dragons that adorned every doorway, window, and beam were actually quite lovely. It was a shame the family had abandoned the dragon theme for their current variety of snakes. It would merit some research in the future.
The wards faded from visibility as they set. Hermione took a deep breath. She could sense the wards as a deep hum in her body.
"I didn't realize." Draco startled her by taking her free hand. "I know better than to believe the rumors. I should have asked. I should have at least considered it."
Hermione felt her cheeks flame with embarrassment. She'd been around the magical community long enough to understand how odd she must seem. Most pure blood witches went through first rites rituals during their Hogwarts years. Her desire to fulfill her parents expectations had baffled Ron. Draco probably thought there was something wrong with her.
"There's nothing wrong with me." Hermione glanced up at Draco through her eyelashes. "My parents were devout. We went to church every week. I was raised to believe my virginity was a gift for my husband."
Draco's cheeks flushed, and he pulled her in to his body. She felt his magic wrap around her. The warmth of it was inviting. She sent the box back toward the house with a simple spell and turned into him.
"It's not something a wizard expects." Draco mumbled. "But I want to do this right. Our bonding is strong. We have honored my culture. I think we should honor the culture of your parents."
Hermione felt the nervous knot in her stomach begin to ease. He wasn't making fun of her or whining about her odd devotion to her muggle beliefs. Her husband, her Draco, was accepting her.
"I know that muggles marry in churches. I toured some with my mother when we visited France." Draco cupped her chin and raised her head until their gazes locked. "Would you like to have a ceremony like that? In a church?"
"We're already married." Hermione blushed again. "With the knot work tattoos to prove it."
"Yes, we are married." Draco nodded his head slightly. "But a small ceremony in a church would honor your parents' memory. It seems to be the right thing."
"I don't want to be greedy." Hermione sighed. "I've spent years trying to fit into this world. I don't need to force you out of it."
"You're not forcing me." Draco cupped her cheek. "We trusted our magic. That isn't a normal courtship in either world. Given our histories, I think we should take some time and do things the right way. It's not greedy to hold on to your heritage. I'm a prat about a good many things, but I think I can overcome it for this."
"For what exactly?" Hermione studied his face.
"I've done most things wrong in my life. My blind adherence to my father's insanity destroyed my youth, landed me in Azkaban, and left a myriad of mental scars that I'm sure we will explore in the future." Draco looked at their home and the warm glow of the windows reflected in his eyes. "You were the one that argued to gain my release from Azkaban. I know I was only one of many, but it was your innate goodness that led you. It was something your parents taught you, a kindness my parents would have seen as a weakness."
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself." Hermione stroked her fingers through the pale silk of his hair. "We were children. We were trapped between two of the most powerful and manipulative wizards to ever exist. The pawns are sacrificed. That's just the way it is. Riddle and Dumbledore never saw us as people. Neither of them imagined the world they would leave behind."
"I'm not arguing with you." Draco chuckled and pressed his lips against her temple briefly. "I think we should do this the right way. I want to court you."
"I'm already your wife." Hermione tilted her head.
"I want to put together a proper church wedding." Draco smiled. "I'm not sure what that entails, but we will figure it out. I want to marry you in a way your parents would have been comfortable with. Then, we will unwrap this gift of yours together."
"My parents are gone." Hermione dabbed at the moisture brimming in her eyes. "You don't have to do this."
"I want to do this one thing right. Your muggle family isn't all gone, is it?" Draco pulled her in tighter, and she reveled in the sense of security she felt as his strong arms gathered her in.
"It is. Dolohov managed to get every muggle in my family tree." Hermione sighed. No good would come from letting herself cry. Some things had to be accepted despite the pain. "We can have Neville walk me down the aisle. He's my brother now. I should drag him to church at least once in his life."
"Augusta can wear a hat without a vulture perched on it for the occasion." Draco smirked. "We could sell pictures of it if we ever need for galleons."
"She'd have our guts for garters." Hermione grinned up at him.
The sudden popping sounds had them both grabbing their wands. She took a deep breath and found her center. Her body automatically moved into a defensive stance.
"We is sorry." A small elf raised her long fingered hand. "We is not meaning to disturb the Lord and the Lady."
The group of five house elves stood together. They spoke rapidly back and forth in a language Hermione couldn't comprehend. Each one was adorned in a bright outfit with a silver dragon embroidered on it.
"I thought you said you didn't use any of your family's elves?" Hermione glared at Draco.
"We is not Malfoy elves. The Dragon Lord and his lady belongs to us. You be our family." The female elf shook her head. "The last lord sends us under the hill to protect us. We was there for many seasons, but blood of his blood and magic of his magic has returned."
"So, you are free?" Hermione looked at each elf in turn as they nodded.
"This land, this house, this family is ours. We chooses." A slightly taller elf nodded as he spoke. "The last lord saved us."
"Circe, the last man to live here abandoned the place when Arthur was assembling the round table." Draco blinked slowly.
"We makes this place livable. The Lord is wise. He makes good choices. The Lady is good." The female elf grabbed Hermione's jumper and rubbed the bumpy wool between her fingers. "I will make her proper clotheses."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that you had deceived me." Hermione snagged his hand and squeezed it.
"All the more reason for me to court you." Draco pulled her close again. "You've no reason to trust me, and with the betrayal you've been handed I doubt you trust yourself."
"There's the magic though." Hermione rose up on her toes and kissed him. His lips were warm and welcoming.