A/N: This is a story told in 3 parts. Only my second HP fic. No beta either. Honestly, I'm horrible. Lol. I have a few more ideas to get out of my head but this one was like WRITE ME. I'm also trying to work on a second part of "No promises" if you haven't read it, pretty please do!

Part I:

It was a Sunday, a day that Hermione normally spends to herself, a day she catches up on some reading or does a bit of light shopping. This particular Sunday though, she was being dragged out to a dinner with one of her best friends.

Ron Weasley could not believe his luck. Hermione had actually accepted when he asked her to a special Valentine's dinner. He knew that Sunday night would change his life forever

Hermione didn't plan for much when she went out. She figured it was just another dinner with her friend So she was dressed casually, jeans and a jumper, her hair wild and natural. Ron on the other hand, was dressed to the nines. He checked his pockets three times before leaving his flat.

When the knock to her door came, she called for Ron to come in. She was finishing feeding her new kneazle his dinner.

"Oh, you're not ready?" Ron frowned at her as he came into the kitchen.

"What do you mean? I've been ready for twenty minutes." Hermione's nose scrunched up as she spoke.

Ron grabbed the back of his neck and rubbed back and forth, perplexed with Hermione's behavior.

"Well um, you look great," he tried to get out.

"Then let's go! I'm starving." Hermione linked her arm with her friends and smiled up at his tall frame.

Ron debated on his original plan, foreseeing Hermione being embarrassed, but he'd had this reservation for months and he doubted he could get another reservation within the year, war hero or not.

In the end he decided to keep the reservation and apparated Hermione and himself and then they walked into the restaurant.

They were seated quickly, the hostess looking wide-eyed at Hermione's attire. She left the menus and while Ron was looking over his, Hermione looked around the restaurant.

"Why's everyone so dressed up today?" Hermione hmm'd and took over looking at the menu.

Ron didn't answer. His hands became clammy, sweaty and started shaking. He reached in his pocket to play with the box that was there.

The two of them ordered some appetizers and then their meals. They kept their conversation light but the mood was tense around them.

Both Ron and Hermione were used to people staring at them when they were out in public. They had essentially saved the wizarding world along with their friend Harry Potter. Ron relished in the public eye, where Harry and Hermione tried to hide away from it all. Ron had spent the last three years after the end of the war traveling, telling stories, soaking up all the attention. He'd been home for three months and was going to be helping George at the joke shop.

"I feel like I'm not included in a joke," Hermione grumbled against her wine glass.

"Look, Mione, I just," Ron was nervous again and he stood up from the table. Hermione moved to join him, "No, you stay there and I just," his face was turning as red as his hair, "Hermione, i"ve known since I was eleven that you would be the one I spent my entire life with. We could have a little house near Mum and Dad, have a few kids," Hermione at this point choked on her wine and looked up at Ron's lanky frame before he knelt before her, "So what I'm asking is if you, Hermione Granger, would do me the honor of being my wife?"

Then he dropped the ring box he had been holding, the ring itself rolled up a table two tables over. Hermione's face was red with embarrassment and all the eyes in the restaurant were on the two of them.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed at him, "What do you think you are doing!?"

"You didn't answer my question," Ron had scrambled to get the ring and presented it to Hermione, "I've done the whole sow my wild oats, done some traveling and now I'm ready to settle down with you."

"Settle!?" Hermione nearly screamed, "You want to settle with me."

"I planned this whole romantic thing 'Mione, even on Valentine's Day." Ron tried to put the ring on her finger and she yanked her hand away.

"I'm seeing someone," Hermione blurted out completely embarrassed that she was in jeans and a jumper, Ron had given her the worst proposal known to man and it was Valentine's Day.

Ron's face contorted in confusion, "If you're seeing someone, how come you were just home alone," he stood from the floor.

"He's um, out of the country. That's it. He's away on business," Hermione thought that was vague enough for Ron.

"Well then, who is it?" Ron sat back at the table, completely ashamed.

"Uh, well, you see," Hermione spoke but took a swig of her wine to think of a way out of this lie.

"You don't have to lie to me 'Mione," Ron looked down at the table, barely mumbling out his words.

Hermione saw a random flash of blonde hair walk passed the window to the restaurant and nearly yelled, "I'm seeing Malfoy. Draco that is. Not lushious, I mean Lucius, cause you know, he's married."

"What?" Ron's red face was turning purple and Hermione tried to make her exit.

"I'm sorry, I have to go," She ran from the restaurant leaving Ron to deal with the check and the botched proposal.

Now, Hermione just needed a minute. She had just turned down a proposal from one third of the Golden Trio in front of an entire restaurant and had announced rather loudly that she was seeing the younger Malfoy and went on to specify that she was not seeing a married man.

Hermione and Malfoy got on pretty well these days. He'd gone on to be an Auror, working hand in hand with Harry. Malfoy wasn't as terrible when there wasn't a war going on. He was changed from his school days, more mature, just more everything, including good looking. He had lunch with Hermione and Harry at least once a week.

She found an empty ally and banged her head lightly into the bricks of the wall, "Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered to herself.

She popped back home effortlessly. Once home she slipped off her shoes and ran to her parchment, writing out a quick note:

Malfoy,

I can explain. I'm so sorry.

-H

The note was sent off with her owl. The Prophet was going to have a field day with this but it would be even worse if they found out she lied. She was Hermione Granger, Hermione Granger did not lie.

She was restless the rest of the night. How could Ron think a proposal was something she was interested in. And on Valentine's Day. And he had let her wear the least fancy thing possible on this horrible idea of a date.

Hermione was surprised she didn't have any owls from Harry or Ginny or even worse, Mrs. Weasley. She cringed thinking of the older woman.

Monday meant work. Work was good. She worked with the Aurors now, having been working for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures but found herself to be more useful researching for the Aurors.

Bugger

Work also meant seeing Malfoy and needing to explain herself.

She wore her robes and left her hair wild and curly having no patience to try and tame it. Hermione entered her office and was relieved that neither Harry or Malfoy had come in yet. She could get some actual work done and then blame said work for why she couldn't talk when they no doubt interrogated her. It also gave her time to go over the Prophet.

The headline said it all and she cursed every reporter and person in that restaurant and really wanted to curse Ron for all this absurdity.

Hero Hermione Rejects Romantic Ron, Leaves Weasley Weeping

This reporter can let the readers know Ron Weasley planned an amazing, romantic, perfect evening for himself and longtime love Hermione Granger. Granger, seen below, only wore unflattering muggle jeans and a jumper and didn't even bother to fix her hair.

To make things worse, Weasley proposed to the Muggleborn and she REJECTED him. She loudly admitted to seeing Draco Malfoy but there was also mention of his father, said some of the bystanders.

Is hero Granger looking to tear apart a decades long marriage between Lucius and Narcissa?

This reporter isn't sure but WILL get to the bottom of this.

Hermione stopped reading and just banged her head into her desk over and over again. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

"You know the first sign of insanity is talking to yourself," Malfoys posh voice said.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione cringed.

"S'no big deal." He offered her a coffee he'd brought in for her, "It can't be that bad."

"You obviously haven't seen The Prophet," she took the coffee and threw the paper at Malfoy, "Didn't you get my note?"

"I did but I didn't know what it was about," he took the paper and nearly spit out his coffee, "Merlin Granger, you don't do things halfway."

"I said I was sorry," Hermione grumbled into the coffee cup.

"So wait, Weasley proposed, on Valentines and you told him you were seeing me?" Draco kept reading, "What's this bit about my father?"

"I might have said something like 'I'm seeing someone. Malfoy, the son, not the father.' and I have absolutely no idea why." With that Harry had arrived and gave her and Malfoy an odd look.

"Morning, Harry," they both offered.

"We're going to have a chat at lunch, okay?" Harry pointed fingers at the two of them, "Til then, it's back to work."

If only someone had waited for lunch for this whole bit to blow up. Harry had told Ron he would talk to Malfoy and Hermione and get to the bottom of Hermione's rejection. Ron, having little patience, entered the Ministry and took the lift to the floor with the aurors.

There he verbally began attacking Malfoy while Hermione hid at her desk.

Ron yelled some, Draco spoke softly where she couldn't hear, Harry tried to keep Ron away. It was a mess.

Some Gryffindor she was, hiding like a coward.

More time passed and then the yelling stopped.

Draco found Hermione hidden under her desk, hands clapped against her ears with her eyes shut. It was a sight that could break your heart.

He tapped her knee, pulled up to her chest, and kept his voice low, "Granger," he shook her leg, "Granger come on, it's over."

She slowly took her hands down but didn't move from her spot under the desk. He offered her a hand and she slowly stood up.

When did Draco Malfoy get so tall she thought and then shook her head.

"Well, that went well," Draco chuckled.

"What did he say?" She cringed.

"First, he asked if it was true," Draco rolled his eyes, "Then the usual, she's a muggleborn, you're a death eater, blah blah blah."

Part II

Granger was breaking his heart. He'd been half in love with her for nearly the last year but to see her hiding from the giant ginger idiot was killing him.

Since the war had ended he'd tried to do everything in his power to make up for the atrocities his family had forced upon the wizarding world.

At first it was just cleaning up Diagon Alley, or physically helping with the clean up at Hogwarts, he did it. He wanted to be one of the good ones. He wanted the name Malfoy to mean something. So he joined the Aurors. At first he was denied but after a conversation with the Chosen One the tune of the ministry changed.

When he first worked with Granger, he still only saw the little know it all swot. Now, he couldn't imagine how this job would work if she wasn't here.

He'd gotten her note late into the night and was shocked to say the least. Maybe it wasn't meant for him? But it had his name on it.

The Weasel had entered the Auror Level and created more chaos than a Fiendfyre spell. Draco thought he may hit him in a muggle way but he just screamed so the whole level heard the entire sordid affair.

"Oi, Malfoy! Is it true? You're seeing 'Mione?" He had yelled from the lifts.

"So what if I am?" He'd thrown back icily.

"Couldn't even take her out for Valentine's Day, too ashamed of your mudblood girlfriend?" Ron sneered in his direction, coming face to face with his enemy.

"I'd like someone to note he said the word, not me," Draco waved his hand and gave a smirk to the observers. "Potter says we were to discuss all this at lunch, now you're broadcasting your business all over our place of work."

"You can't honestly be dating her, you're a Death Eater!" Ron's tantrum just seemed to get louder.

"Ron, that's enough," The savior of the wizarding world stepped in. "What 'Mione does in her own time is up to her, Ron."

"She can't be with him," the ginger yelled even louder, "I won't allow it."

"Good thing it isn't up to you, then." Malfoy turned and made his way to Granger's desk.

And that's how he found her cowering under her desk. She's a Gryffindor, the Gryffindor Princess and she was hiding from a lanky weasel who upset her.

The rest of the day went on with little drama. There was a whisper here, some pointing there. Granger didn't move from her desk or talk to anyone else and even worked through lunch.

At dinner with his mother and father that evening, he animatedly retold the story. His parents, having seen the article in the Daily Prophet, found the whole thing to be absurd but not in the way Draco anticipated.

"Good to know I'm still fit," Lucius puffed out his check like a peacock.

Narcissa swatted at said chest and turned to her son, "You are going to admit you like Miss Granger, aren't you?"

Draco nearly choked on his dinner, "She was so quiet today, defeated and I hated to see her sad."

"Then what are you doing here? Go see her!" His mother insisted.

He didn't last a minute before he was out of his seat and stepping through the floo. He couldn't floo directly to her so there were some extra pops of apparition and then he was standing in front of her door.

He knocked before his brain could process what was happening. She opened the door just barely to peek at who was outside the door.

"Malfoy!" Her eyes lit up and that was how he liked to see her.

"Hi, I, well, my mother," he ran his hand up and down his neck, suddenly nervous.

"Oh no! Is she mad? I didn't mean to say your dad was," she started flailing her arms, opening the door allowing him to step into the flat.

It was supremely "Granger" because there were stacks of books everywhere, quills and parchment, chaotic organized, exactly like her desk at work.

"I'm not here to talk about my father, but it's good to know you won't hate how I look when I'm his age," it just came out and both of them were blushing.

"Then why are you here, Draco?" He liked how his name sounded on her lips.

"Food?" he shook his head to clear it, "I wondered if I could take you out to dinner."

"You don't owe me anything, plus this whole thing Ron has me skeptical about stepping out anywhere in Diagon," She was wringing her hands in front of herself.

"We can go somewhere muggle, just let me take you out, anything you want" Draco gave her a slight pout and she was done for.

And that was the night Hermione and Draco started dating. It was slow at first, but they were both deep in their feelings. They arrived to work together, they left together. They spent evenings in her flat or his, playing muggle board games (She was teaching him and he was a little cheater), drinking wine and just learning more and more about each other.

Simply put, they were falling in love and having an amazing time doing so. Time went by, they mostly went out together in Muggle London but every now and again they'd hold hands walking down Diagon Alley. Draco took her out, anywhere she wanted to go.

One weekend Draco even whisked a frustrated Granger (because she didn't like surprises) to Paris for a night of Prophet speculated about their relationship constantly. They always went back to the Valentines disaster.

The Valentine's disaster was something that people talked about constantly. They said Hermione cheated on Ron, they said he was just using her to get back at his parents, or possibly as a joke or a dare.

Hermione cried when those articles came out. She and Ron weren't anything official, ever. She could handle the tales of her harlot behavior but not when they cut her down, saying she was beneath Draco. It reminded him of that day he found her under her desk hiding from the Ginger Idiot. Draco's father threatened to buy out the Prophet or sue them, whichever the pair wanted to choose. Hermione wasn't sure if he was joking or not, her bet was on, not.

The first time he stayed the night, Hermione was nervous but it was purely an accident. They'd fallen asleep on the couch watching the telly. She was tucked into his side, nuzzling into his chest. Words didn't have to be spoken and then after that they just happened. His flat, her flat, it didn't matter as long as they were together.

Draco loved Hermione and he was pretty sure she felt the same way. They danced around it. Saying things like 'I really love when you take me to the bookstore'

Or "I love when you cook us dinner."

Then there was "I love how much you love your parents."

And this one, "I love how you feel in my arms."

They complemented each other with their love too. "I love the way that shirt looks."

Or "I love that color on you."

To Harry and the rest of their friends, it was comical. Each side had warmed up to each other, except for Ron. He believed the Prophet's articles and kept claiming this was all a joke. That was the night Draco punched Ron in the face and admitted he loved her.

"You won't talk to the girl I love that way," Draco moved to punch him again, "She saved your ass more times than I can count. You better apologize."

"Draco, come on," Hermione pulled on his arm, slightly stunned by his admission. "Let it go. He doesn't matter."

They went back to his flat that night and she paced back and forth while he sat on the couch, frozen peas sitting on his bruised knuckles.

"Did you mean it?" she finally asked.

"You're damn right I meant it," Draco said, "He needs to respect you, even if he doesn't respect our relationship, he should respect your friendship with him."

"That's not what I meant," Hermioned crouched between his knees, checking his knuckles. "I can fix this if you want me to?"

"Nah," Draco murmured, "What did you mean?"

"Well, you told Ron I was the girl you loved," She replaced the peas and he hissed in obvious pain.

He blinked down at her. Had he said it? He knew he meant it but would it freak her out to know it? Draco swallowed nervously and pulled Hermione up and into his lap. He kissed up the column of her neck, along her jaw and traced his fingers across her plump lips.

"I love you, Hermione," Draco whispered his lips a breath away from touching hers.

"I love you too, Draco," She crossed the space between them and wrapped her arms around his neck.

They kissed, they touched, they loved each other into the wee hours of the morning.

The morning the light woke them both, months after their first date, coming through the windows of the flat. A quick glance at the clock on the end table, showed how behind schedule they were.

"Morning, love," Draco moved to tilt her head up for a kiss and she scrambled away and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"I wanna brush my teeth," She fled from the bedroom and Draco found it to be endearing used to this behavior.

"I'm going to let Mother know we might be late to brunch," He called to her, moving to the fireplace to floo call his mother.

She reemerged from the bathroom, wearing just one of his t-shirts. He usually dressed so prestinely, a collared shirt, dress slacks, but every now and again he wore muggle jeans and t-shirts. Hermione was known to steal those shirts though.

"I can't believe we overslept, I've never been late in my entire life," Hermione stretched with a yawn, the shirt riding up her thighs.

"We're not going to be late," Draco moved to kiss Hermione's forehead, then her nose and finally landed on her lips. "Unless you don't have anything on under this shirt.

He moved to grab the bottom hem of the shirt and she took a step back beginning to retreat.

"Draco Malfoy!" she squealed and he picked her up, making their way back to the bedroom

"Oh yeah, we're definitely going to be late." Their laughs flowed throughout the flat and he showed her over and over just how much he loved her.

Part III

It took a long time but Hermione was finally comfortable being in Malfoy Manor. She knew they'd redone nearly the entirety of the place but it still brought on nightmares and flashbacks. When Draco had asked offhandedly, she agreed before she could register the words from her mouth. After the first visit, they made it a ritual.

"It's rude to stare, you know," Came the posh voice of one Narcissa Malfoy, both of their gazes on the Malfoy son and father. "I heard you like to call my husband 'Lushious"

Hermione spat her mimosa she had been drinking and then looked at Mrs. Malfoy wide eyed. "I didn't mean to."

"Oh dear, I must thank you," She winked at the younger girl. "But on a serious note, you're staring awful hard at my son,"

"I love him," Hermione whispered like it was a secret.

"Oh, trust me, I know," The older woman placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "You look at him like he hung the moon."

"Sometimes it feels like he hung the whole galaxy," Hermione breathed and lifted her hand in a wave in Draco's direction. He waved back with a wide smile and turned back to his father.

The second ritual the couple attempted was a weekly dinner at The Burrow. Hermione had taken her parents memories during the war and it was impossible to get them back. The Weasleys were her family now.

The Weasley family was large on it's own but, add in their spouses, and kids and Hermione and even some other stragglers usually made their way to dinner. Luckily, this was one time Ron would not be attending since he was traveling once again. The table was always full of food and there was never a lax in conversation. Something was always going on at the Burrow.

Malfoy made it through dinner and only looked a little green in the face. As an only child herself, Hermione understood being overwhelmed by Weasleys.

Hermione was always the first to help clean up essentially leaving Draco to the wolves.

"Come on, mate," Harry pulled a nervous looking Draco away while the table was cleared.

"Oh 'Mione, he's a good one," Mrs. Weasley fretted, "He looks a bit peaky, you need to bring him back more often, we'll fatten him up."

Hermione laughed and then Ginny stuck her head in the kitchen, "We might like Malfoy more than you 'Mione he likes to play quidditch."

And just like that Draco was part of the large Weasley family. He spoke to Mr. Weasley about his muggle objects, he was very interested in George's shop and how well it did. Ginny was probably the easiest to get along with because of their shared quidditch interest. He just fit.

Sometimes the couple only made it to one of their rituals for the weekend. Sometimes they didn't make it to either and just went out themselves.

The couple eventually had to deal with Ron one weekend at the Burrow. Things between the war heroines were tense since their last meeting, the night the couple admitted they loved each other. Ron's face had turned near purple and if he glared at Draco any harder, smoke would have been coming out of his ears.

"Ron, please, you have to understand," Hermione had begged.

"I think you owe me the truth 'Mione," Ron argued back.

"Look, Weasley," Draco tried to interrupt.

"No, I want to hear it from her." His glare shifted between the two.

"I lied," Hermione admitted. "I panicked and it was the first thing to come to my mind."

"So this is all a game to get back at me?" Ron looked sad.

"No! I love him, it just kinda happened," Hermione pulled on his shirt sleeve, her eyes wide, trying to make her friend understand.

"Honestly mate, I should thank you," Draco got out before a suckerpunch landed on his jaw.

Things weren't great but they could have dinner together once a week without any bloodshed.

More months went by and their work together never faltered. They worked even better together than they did apart. They were just so good together. They didn't argue, which surprised them both.

Time passed and they celebrated Christmas with both the Malfoys and the Weasleys. Then it came time for Valentines.

Draco wondered if he should plan a date, he wasn't even sure if she wanted to go out. Maybe they could order take out, have a picnic in the living room. They could feed each other chocolate covered strawberries. That seemed like a good idea. Until he talked to Potter.

"Mione thinks you're planning something," The Chosen One told him one day while they were working.

"Well I kinda am, just not sure what," Draco admitted.

"After Ron last year," they both cringed. "I think you're good for her, she seems more 'Mione, you know?"

"She's Granger" Draco shrugged his shoulders, "How anyone can dislike her is beyond me."

Harry laughed and told Malfoy to get back to work.

Draco thought about it and decided to go with the picnic idea, but still wanted them to dress up a bit. With Ginny's help he found the perfect dress. It was modest but sexy at the same time. It had a deep v neck and sparkled, everywhere.

He'd gotten his best dress robes laundered and then asked Mrs. Weasley for some help making the actual food. His mother helped pick a present for Hermione. He had thought about an engagement ring but would never ask her on Valentines like someone else. Then he asked his father to help him pick a good (enough for Hermione) champagne.

The scene was set for their perfect night, there were candles lit everywhere, a blanket on the floor of his flat, roses, the whole experience was so romantic.

She knocked on the flat door, something she never did, but he rushed to the door to answer her.

"I was going to come get you," Draco pouted just a bit.

"I missed you and I'm nervous," Hermione admitted.

"Come in, I have a surprise for you." Draco led her inside, but covered her eyes to keep the surprise.

"We're not going out?" Hermione let a breath out she had been holding.

"Come on, love, I think you'll like this," He uncovered her eyes and heard her gasp and turned to find her hands covering her mouth.

"You did all this for me?" Tear showed in her eyes

"I'd do anything for you, Granger, you must know that by now." There was a smirk and an internal punch in the air in triumph.

"You're so good, to me, all the time," Hermione nearly cried.

And for this couple, all was well.

A/N: I don't know if I hate this or if I love it. Reviews may lead to sneak peeks of some other things I'm writing. I REALLY want to write a Dolohov/Hermione something but it seems to be getting away from me. I have 2 things started and hate them both.