She woke up pressed into his side with her hair splashed across his pillow. He was still asleep, a small scowl on his face. He had his arm curled protectively around her waist. It was unclear who moved for the other first in the middle of the night.

She stretches out and feels him feebly attempt to pull her back into his grasp, now stirring himself. "Goodmorning," she murmurs as he sits up.

"Goodmorning," he returns lazily running his hand through his hair. "You should wear my clothes more often."

She looks down to remember that she is wearing his button down. It was more of a dress on her small frame. "I really should go get the things from my flat... tie up my loose ends and all that." She wasn't sure she wanted to go back there just yet. How could the place she was tortured already feel more homely than her flat with Ron?

"Do you want me to try and transfigure you something to wear then?" She nodded and he lazily adjusted the large shirt into a flowy sun dress. "Will that do? I can always just pop in to Diagon Alley and get you something to wear."

"No. No this is fine. What time is it?"

He told her it was around 4 PM, their lie in earlier ended up in them sleeping a lot later than either had planned.

He left her to hurriedly get dressed and led her to the floo. She called out the name of the flat's lobby and led him up to her flat with Ron.

She let the two of them in and Draco went to lean upon a wall while she walked around, wondering what to take.

" 'Mione? Is that you?" Ron's voice sounded from the bedroom.

"Yes," she called back and Ron came out half dressed.

"Why is Malfoy in our home?" Ron spit once he came into his view.

Draco chose to let Hermione answer and she nervously answered, "Well...Draco is my husband."

Satisfied, Draco decides to play nicely, and walks up to join them. "Weasley," he drawls offering his hand.

Ron stared blankly at the pair. "You're telling me rather than let me petition for you, you married this git? He's a Death Eater! You're warming a Death Eater's bed Hermione! You told me you wanted to wait until we got married, and instead you've gone and spread your legs for him! Why am I not surprised?" Ron continues to harass her. And Hermione shrunk back with every insult.

"I...I'm...It was just..." she stammered feeling on the verge of a panick attack as Ron continued to scream at her.

"No. That is enough. You will not intimidate my wife Weasel." Draco pulled his shaking woman into his side. "She didn't want to go to prison. You can't blame her for following the rules!" He mumbled a few soft words of comfort in her ear about how he would get them out of there.

"I'll be back for the things she wants. In the meantime, you should be ashamed. I hope you aren't treating your own wife as poorly!" As the ginger's face begins to flush red, Draco apparates them back to the Manor.

Hermione was shaking in his arms like a leaf.

Why would he say those things to her? She was just doing what was required of her! And Draco was actually trying very hard to be pleasant to her.

Draco...

"I'm sorry, I never meant to cause a fight, I just didn't like him speaking that way too you. Please stop crying."

She heard his hushed voice and looked at him and laughed. "I guess I'm not making a very good impression crying all the time."

He didn't respond for a moment, but then he pulled her into a hug. "You're just dealing with things the best you can. Now, why don't we set out a lunch spread in the gardens and you can tell me all about this job you love too much to let go."

He led them into his mother's gardens to where she had kept tea, and kisses the back of her hand before pulling a chair out for her.

Winston appears with two glasses and pours them some water, promising to return with their lunch soon.

Before he could open his mouth to tease her, Hermione launched into her explanation. "I just can't sit at home all day. I'm hoping to go into the Ministry, but I felt like they didn't value my NEWT scores, just my popularity. And I hate this law because I feel like I have to beg you to let me work and that's not a partnership at all!"

"Have I given you any indication that I would not honor your wishes? Given every opportunity so far have I not shown you I respect your decisions?"

He watched her struggle for a response so he continued. "Hermione, you are my wife. To honor and protect you means something to me. I watched my father go from worshipping my mother, to forcing her to kneel to some monster. Marriage means something to me."

She took his hand across the table. "I like being able to provide for myself. I understand as the head of the house you would like to provide for me. I would just like you to consider letting me work until we start a family."

"Of course love. Tell me more about this job. What do you do on a day to day?"

Winston served a potato soup with a tray of bread, and Draco served her a generous portion while she told him stories of her days helping children find the books they need and reading to the smaller ones.