Author's note

You must have thought I had abandoned this! Sorry new job got in the way of writing. Hope to update regularly again now- please review as always.

Chapter 17-Certain Practical difficulties.

Draco awoke the next morning grateful to find his witch still in his arms, grateful that they had this small window of peace and that they had slept in a soft bed in a pretty room. He was equally grateful that her first time had not been some rushed affair, pushed up against some wall- at least he knew, come what may, they would have this one sweet memory to fall back on.

In the days that followed they fell into a simple routine, there was a tacit agreement that Hermione was not ready to return to the Order but with Draco's help she was making rapid progress. They had found a loveseat in the grounds of his aunt's house and they resumed their meeting in the garden at dusk. In the shade of an old apple tree they dared to contemplate a future. Perhaps it was foolhardy to make plans during a war but they both understood there was little point fighting if you could see no future.

Draco had not mentioned marriage to her again, she didn't seem to mind, maybe she thought he had decided to follow the muggle tradition after all. In truth he had not mentioned it because he was uncertain how it could be achieved. Draco didn't wish to appear insincere- he had meant what he had said and he was determined to go through with it, to protect Hermione as best he could. In the end he turned to his aunt for guidance.

"Aunt Andromeda," he began one morning as they left the breakfast table, "there is a family matter I would like your advice about."

"Yes?" his aunt replied.

"Could we speak in private?" Draco enquired, although there was no one about Draco did not wish to risk being over heard.

"Of course," his aunt conceded showing him into her private sitting room. Once inside with the door closed and the room silenced Andromeda waited for him to begin.

Draco took a deep breath and got straight to the point;

"I have asked Hermione to marry me," he announced. His aunt's only response was a knowing smile so he continued. "I wish to ensure that she is afforded all the protection usual for a Malfoy bride." At this his aunt raised her eyebrows, "there are of course certain practical difficulties."

"Draco," his aunt cautioned, "whilst I admire your wish to protect Hermione as much as I admire your choice of wife, you can't be seriously thinking what I think you are."

"That depends…" he began

"Don't play games with me young man," his aunt told him in a no nonsense tone, "you want to use the blood magic of the Malfoy family to protect your bride, but as you put it there are 'certain practical difficulties', somewhat of an understatement don't you think, Draco! Even assuming your father will allow the match your marriage must be performed on Malfoy land inside Malfoy wards to invoke that protection- and the last time I heard your home is currently paying host to a homicidal manic who has your fiancée very near the top of his list of undesirables."

Oh course I'm aware of that, I'm not an idiot, he snapped before taking a calming breath, "I'm sorry aunt," he apologised, "Hermione is very important to me."

"I know," Andromeda said placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "but currently the risks appear to be outweigh the benefits," She counselled.

"But does it have to be the Manor? Does the ceremony have to be there or can it be some other Malfoy land?" he questioned.

"Good question, Draco," Andromeda responded, "to be honest I don't know I suspect that the magic would be strongest at your families primary residence but perhaps not…" she paused to think, "Perhaps it is strongest where the family members are but that would still leave the problem of your father."

"If I ignore my father's wishes, or simply don't tell him, will the magic still work?"

"I don't know," Andromeda confessed, "but he will know if you touch the family wards. I'm sorry to ask this Draco but can you be sure your father's loyalty to you is greater than it is to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

A flicker of uncertainty passed across Draco's face, he didn't need to answer Andromeda knew what he suspected.

"I thought not," his aunt confirmed, "I fear you may need to wait-we will protect each other as best we can for now. Concealment is our best defence-in the mean time I will see what your mother might be able to do to help."

Weeks passed and there was still no word from Narcissa. Hermione showed signs of slow recovery as she and Draco lived an idyllic life cloistered from the war and the dangers it meant to their relationship but there peaceful idyll was shattered one Sunday afternoon.

Draco and Hermione sat together on settle, Hermione nestled between Draco's thighs her head resting on his shoulder her right cheek pressed against his jaw as she read to him,

'The Lord Faramir was walking alone in the garden of the House of Healing, and the sun warmed him…'

Hermione read from the muggle classic that had kept Draco enthralled for days when they sensed that Andromeda had walked tentatively into the room. Andromeda had been at pains to give the young couple their privacy her intrusion told them instinctively something was wrong.

"Draco," his aunt began sombrely, "I'm so sorry it's Severus…"

Draco heard little of what his aunt had to say as Hermione asked her what had happened but dimly, on some subconscious level, he registered that his Godfather, one of the few people he knew genuinely cared for him, was dead. Severus Snape had played the role of double agent to perfection for years he had sabotaged Voldemort where ever possible, kept Draco and even Potter and the rest of the golden trio safe where ever he could. In the end it seemed it was his loyalty to Draco that had been his undoing. Frustrated by Snape's inability to locate Draco the Dark Lord had lashed out, his Godfather had died ignominiously savaged by the snake Nagini.