Disclaimer: Not my characters. This is the final chapter.
Draco insisted that Hermione go to the market and buy herself a new dress for their dinner at home. He said he didn't need her breathing down his neck as he attempted to cook. Still melancholy at the thought of him spending the day magicless, she agreed, kissing his cheek as she left.
She wandered around the markets until she found a dress—a little summer dress in a similar blue to the dress she'd worn on New Year, except this one wasn't quite so revealing. It was dotted with tiny white flowers and she thought Draco would like it.
She made it home just in time for dinner. She pushed the door open and slipped up the stairs to change. A bit of lip gloss and a headband to hold back her curls had her feeling lovely enough to hide her melancholy through dinner.
From the kitchen, she smelled something delicious. She walked in, barefoot, and was greeted with a broad grin and deep kiss.
"Have a seat, Ms. Granger," he said, motioning to their small kitchen table. He pulled out her chair and she sat. Draco filled up her wine glass with blackberry wine, her favorite, then sat beside her. The plates were ready and waiting—baked chicken and wild rice with a side of fresh vegetables.
She took a bite and moaned, letting her eyes fall closed.
"I have more talents than just what I can do in the bedroom," he said, and she laughed.
"It's delicious, Draco," she said, smiling. "Thank you."
"You deserve a man who can cook for you," he said, his smile falling slightly. He cleared his throat and took a large sip of his own wine. "Granger," he started, his voice strangely stiff, "do you remember the night all this started?"
"What a silly question," she said, sipping her own wine and relishing in its tartness. "You rescued me from making a fool of myself in front of Ron and his girlfriend." She smiled. "I'm just fortunate you were there and had the wherewithal to swoop in and save me."
At this, Draco visibly swallowed. "Did I ever tell you why I was at that pub that night?"
"No," she said, taking another bite of the delicious food.
"I was there for you," he said, his words rushed, his eyes large. "I knew you'd be there, and I went in the hopes that I could talk to you." He cleared his throat.
"What?" she asked, an incredulous smile on her face. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm dead serious," he said, leaning forward. "I didn't notice you that night because of your dress—though it was certainly eye-catching," he wiggled his eyebrows at her playfully. "You could have shown up wearing a garbage sack and I would have sought you out."
A blush crept onto her cheeks and she reached over and took his hand.
"I know you were there for someone else," he said, clearing his throat again as he swiped his fingers over her knuckles. "But I just want to say how happy I am that you left with me. How happy I am that you are with me."
"Oh, Draco," she said, standing and walking to him. She sat across his lap, scrumptious food forgotten, and held his cheeks. "I know I was hesitant at first." She traced his cheekbones with the tips of her index fingers. "But I think, if I'm being honest now, I was just afraid. The way you made me feel from that first night—I was afraid if I let myself need that, I would be disappointed." Her hands slipped down to rest on his shoulders. "But I'm so happy with you." She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "So happy."
"I'm glad to hear that," he said, clearing his throat again in an uncharacteristic show of nervousness. "Because, you see, I made this meal for a reason. I needed to ask you something, but before I did, I need to know, for certain, that you were happy with me." His hands found her waist. "You are happy with me, aren't you?" His voice was so vulnerable her heart broke a little.
"Deliriously happy," she said. "I feel guilty every day for keeping you from magic, but you make me so happy that I selfishly want to keep you here forever."
At this, he relaxed. He reached into his jeans pocket with one hand and kissed her, making her eyes close.
"I'm happy to hear that," he said as he pulled back. She opened her eyes and gasped. In his hand, he held a ring—a simple gold band with a sparkling pale blue stone set into the band. "Since our first night together, the night that was supposed to be a one time thing, I've known that I wanted to be with you." The hand that held the ring trembled. "Never in my life did I think I'd be able to give something as vital to me as magic for another person, but then you came along. Living here with you has made me realize that I don't need magic, but I do need you." He kissed her again, quickly. "So, Granger, that leads me to the question I wanted to ask you. If you'll have me, if you aren't tired of me, I was wondering if you'd be my wife?"
"You want to marry me?" she asked, tears welling in her eyes. "Being with me means no magic, ever. And you want to marry me?" she whispered.
"More than anything," he said, and Hermione's tears increased.
"Yes," she said, then smiled so broadly it hurt. "Yes!" she repeated, taking his face in her hands. He laughed and kissed her, then slipped the ring onto her finger.
"There's always magic on the summer solstice," he whispered into her ear as she laughed and let him kiss her again and again.
Because she leached magic from those around her, they decided to keep the wedding small. Hermione invited her parents, along with Harry and Ginny, and at Draco's insistence invited Ron. Draco had invited his mother and a few old friends from school—Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott. Both ex-Slytherins were quiet and brooding, but Hermione thought they had kind eyes.
They hadn't wanted to wait long, and a month after he proposed, their wedding day was upon them.
Narcissa had offered them the flower garden at Malfoy Manor, and Hermione had agreed, knowing that Draco giving up his magic had been a blow to her pride. All parties present knew they would lose their magic but would regain it after the newlywed couple left.
"I'm so sorry," Hermione said as Ginny braided her curls off her face. "Is it uncomfortable? Draco won't talk about it."
"Not at all," Ginny said with a smile as she looked at her handy work in the mirror. "It's refreshing, actually." She winked at Hermione.
"Refreshing," Hermione said, unconvinced. "Right."
She turned to face her friend, who she hadn't seen in person in months. "Do you think he'll one day regret this? Being with me and losing his magic?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "We've known Malfoy a long time, and never, in all those years, have I ever seen him like this."
"Like what?" Hermione asked, stomach roiling with nerves.
"Happy," Ginny said simply, grinning. "Do you think his mother would let him marry you—a magic-leaching muggleborn who has to live in a muggle neighborhood—if she didn't see how stupidly happy he was?"
At this, Hermione relaxed. "He is happy, isn't he?" she said, a soft smile playing at her lips.
"And so are you," Ginny said with a smirk. "Even my brother thinks so, and you know how hard it's been for him to be civil to Malfoy."
"That's true," Hermione said, relaxing further.
Before they could talk more, the door opened and Narcissa peeked in, her stern features softening when she saw Hermione. When Draco had told his mother about their engagement, Narcissa had mailed them—in the muggle post—a dozen dresses. Hermione had gratefully chosen a flowy satin one that made her feel classy without feeling overdone.
"It's time, darling," Narcissa said, a soft smile on her lips.
Hermione nodded and stood, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles from her dress.
"We'll see you out there," Ginny said, giving her shoulder a squeeze and leaving Hermione alone.
Pixies in her stomach, Hermione waited for the strings to start. She picked up her lilies—flowers Draco had grown after some tutelage from their neighbor, Herb—and left the small storage-shed-turned-bridal-suite to follow the trail of flower petals to her groom.
Their small assembly was standing, watching, but all Hermione could see was Draco, standing alone at the end of the trail, surrounded by flowers all around. She'd been hesitant to marry here, but now was overly grateful for Narcissa's offer and insistence.
She made it to the end of the aisle and the strings stopped. They'd brought a speaker and music, like muggles, and Hermione thought that accommodation for them, as magic wouldn't work, might mean more to her than anything.
"Hey there, Granger," Draco said when she reached him, and any remaining nerves she had fled. "Not having second thoughts, are you?" He took her hands, and she laughed.
"Not on your life," she said, and he smiled.
In an effort to keep things simple, the couple had decided to share vows they'd written themselves.
"Well then, by all means, after you," he said and waggled his eyebrows. In the small crowd, Ron groaned, then grunted as Ginny elbows him sharply in the ribs.
"Never in my life," Hermione started as she adjusted her grip on his hands, "did I imagine we'd wind up here." She bit her lip. "I don't think there could be two more different people in all the world. And yet, when I think of my life, I cannot imagine you not being in it." Tears welled in her eyes and she willed them to stay at bay. "Over the last seven months, you've shown me your love in more ways than I can count. You've comforted me, made me laugh, sacrificed for me. You've saved me over and over again—from embarrassment and from sadness." She smiled and took a shaky breath. "I am so grateful that you are mine and I am yours and I am stupidly happy with the knowledge that I get to spend the rest of my life, hand in hand with you." She took another breath and retrieved the simple golden band from the small table beside them. "With this ring, I give you my heart," she said, reciting a few traditional vows to make the marriage magically binding. Even though their magic was gone, it was important to her for them to have a magical wedding. "I tie my soul to yours, joyfully," she said, sobbing through a smile, "forever." The ring slipped onto his finger.
If they'd had magic, it would have glowed here, and Hermione felt a moment of disappointment when it didn't, but she quickly pushed that aside and focused on the here and now.
"Granger," he said, tears welling in his eyes as well. "Hermione," he amended with a smirk. "You're a hard woman to pin down, did you know?" he asked, making Hermione laugh and wipe a stray tear from her cheek. "For a while, I honestly thought you were going to make me chase you forever."
Hermione ducked her head and he lifted her chin with a single finger beneath it.
"I know that you were scared to be in this with me," he said, voice soft. "And I will forever be grateful that you decided to give it a chance. Give me a chance." He smiled. "If it weren't for me," he said, "you'd still have your magic."
Hermione's stomach bottomed out and she started to pull away, but he'd anticipated that and held her hand firmly.
"You would," he said with a smile. "And honestly, I thought it would be harder than it was to adjust to life without it. But with you," he smiled as a tear dripped down his cheek, "with you, there's magic in everything. Watching you cry over silly telly programs is magical." He stroked the back of her hand. "Walking through your childhood neighborhood and seeing your face light up with memories is magical. Being with you, every second of every day, there's magic in all of it. And so, I'm so grateful that, for the rest of my life, I get to experience that magic with you. Because when we do this, joining together, it's going to be a one time thing." He winked at her and she laughed.
Hermione's tears were uncontrolled now as Draco reached for the second ring. He placed it at the tip of her finger, ready to rest beside her engagement band. "With this ring I give you my whole heart," he said, slipping it halfway down her finger. "I tie my soul to yours, now and forever." He slipped the ring until it settled against the other. "Forever, Granger," he repeated and then his lips found hers.
She closed her eyes and let the tears fall down her face as her hands wound around his neck. He pressed into her and for a moment she forgot their guests and the world around them. She was so caught up in the kiss she almost felt like she was flying.
Then she heard the gasps. She heard Narcissa weeping. She slowly came back to herself and realized that she'd felt like she was flying because her feet, and Draco's, were hovering above the earth.
Hermione gasped and looked at him. His skin glowed softly and she realized, belatedly, that hers did too. Slowly, from where the rings rested on their fingers, she felt warmth spread. The rings glowed, brightly, and that warmth turned into a pleasant burn.
Together, they gasped, as the sensation raced through their bodies.
And then it was over. Their feet touched down and the light faded.
"What was that?" Hermione asked, face wet with tears.
"I think—" Draco said, wetting his lips. "I think it was magic."
Hermione stepped back, keeping one hand firmly in his, and looked at their guests. Her parents sat with their hands over their mouths, but Narcissa was on her feet, wand extended, offering Hermione the hilt of her wand—an ultimate sign of trust.
With hands that shook, she took the wand in her hand.
"Go on, then," Draco said, his own voice trembling.
Hermione nodded and pointed the wand at a flower arrangement nearby. "Wingardium leviosa," she said, voice trembling, and then the flowers began to float.
"She let the flowers settle and handed the wand back to Narcissa who had tears streaming down her face.
"It's back," she said, turning to her husband, feeling the magic swirling inside her along with his, as they were now tied.
"It's back," he said, smiling broadly enough to rival hers.
The rest of the night was a blur of dancing, laughing, crying, and eating. When it was all over, Hermione knew she would never be this happy again and vowed to hang onto these memories, and this feeling forever.
Draco and Hermione arrived back at their house and sadness washed over her. Their magic was back, which was wonderful, but she would miss their simple muggle life.
"Do you think it would be OK if I told Herb?" Draco interrupted her internal thoughts to say as he undid his tie in the mirror. Hermione froze.
"What?" she asked, confused. "But, we'll be moving, and—"
"Moving?" Draco asked, one eyebrow raised in confusion. "Why ever would we move?"
"This is a muggle neighborhood, Draco," she said, and he laughed.
Draco laughed and bit his lip as if he were amused. "Astute observation, Granger."
"Are you saying you want to stay here?" she asked, unwilling to be too hopeful.
"Of course I do," he said with a smile. "This is our home." He dropped his tie on the floor beside the green paint stains they'd never cleaned up. "This house is where I realized how much I loved you, and where I realized that you loved me, too. I wouldn't leave here for all the galleons in Gringotts."
Hermione, overcome with joy, nodded. "In that case," she said, not fighting the broad smile on her face, "I think we could get away with telling Herb."
"Good," Draco said as he slipped his shirt off, "because I think a little magic would really help his begonias."
That night, as they came together for the first time as husband and wife, Hermione thought back to their first time—frenzied and passionate in her flat. As he kissed her skin and whispered his love for her into the space between their kisses, she thought back to all the times in between, how that passion had remained and had been enhanced with new emotions each and every time.
After, as he held her and stroked her tangled curls, Hermione thought back to what she'd told him on New Year's Eve. This is a one-time thing, right? And his response had been so clear. If that's what you want.
"Thank you," she whispered against his chest.
"For what?" he asked as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead and then wrap her more securely in his arms.
"For not listening to me that first time. On New Year's." She kissed his chest where her lips rested, relishing in the beating of his heart beneath her ips. "I'm so incredibly glad that it wasn't just once."
"Anytime, Granger," he said, smiling as she swatted his chest. They fell asleep shortly after that,ready to wake up the next day, and every day after, together.