"So...George and Luna..." Draco mused casually, gazing down at Hermione's head resting on his chest, a warm fire burning beside them as they snuggled on the red leather couch in the replica common room.
"George and who now?" Fred's portrait took the bait all too easily.
"George and Luna." Hermione repeated.
Fred slowly began to nod his head, a thatta-boy look spreading across his face. "Good for George. I was worried he might never find a way to be happy again."
"Oh, he's more than happy," Hermione chirped, barely able to contain her next piece of information. "They're engaged!"
"Engaged?!" Fred gasped. "That's... I mean that's great...but isn't it a bit soon? They can't have even been dating for more than a few months."
"Its been since school started. Just a couple weeks longer than Draco and I." Hermione instantly regretted adding the part about her own relationship, unsure of how Draco would take it. She hadn't meant to imply that they could be engaged in just a few weeks time, although she would enthusiastically say yes, if he did ask.
Draco sensed her discomfort and as he always did, said the exact thing to put her back at ease, "I think when you know, you just know. What's the point in simply dating when you've found the one?"
"Well, as long as he's happy, I'm happy." Fred declared. "I just wish there was some way to send him my congratulations."
"I think that can be arranged." Ginny's voice rang from the doorway. She was flanked by Harry on her right and George and Luna on her left. The living twin, smiling bravely at his brother's portrait while tears welled in his eyes.
Draco and Hermione exited the common room along with Harry and Ginny. "So talking McGonagall into letting George in here is what took you so long." Hermione exclaimed.
"Yep." Ginny stated. "At first she was her normal, no-nonsense self, not willing to budge an inch. I'd nearly given up when Luna showed up out of nowhere, George in tow. She smiled her innocent smile and simply asked if she and her fiancee could please join us for an evening in the cottage. Would you believe McGonagall didn't even bat an eye, and just agreed right then and there?"
"Did you tell Luna you were planning to get McGonagall's permission to invite George in?" Draco asked.
"Now that you mention it, no, I didn't." Ginny answered, curiously.
"Sounds like, Luna, though," Harry interjected. "She has a way of just knowing things."
*****
The couple emerged from the study nearly an hour later, Luna's arms wrapped tightly around George's waist. Both of their eyes still noticeably shiny. George greeted the four waiting friends, "That's a real treasure you've got, that common room."
"Indeed, it is." Harry answered wistfully, knowing just how it felt to spend time with loved ones lost.
"I'd like to say you're welcome back anytime, but that permission must obviously come from Headmistress McGonagall." Hermione added.
George smiled, grateful for her offer, but quickly refuted, "Just as is the case with the Mirror of Erised, I think a short time of utilization is for the best. I would hate to dwell on what's lost rather than what's to come." He nuzzled his face into Luna's hair. "Especially when what's to come is so great." The blonde beamed up at him.
"I think that is a wise approach." Draco nodded to George.
"Speaking of what's to come," Ginny interjected, "What are everyone's plans for the holidays? I mean, I assume you," she indicated George and Luna, "will be coming home at some point, but what about you two?" Her attention turned toward Hermione and Draco.
Hermione glanced expectantly at Draco, then back to Ginny, "I..." she began before correcting herself, "We haven't even talked about it. My parents will want me to visit, of course, but it just wouldn't be Christmas without a stop at the Burrow too."
Hermione again looked to Draco, trying to read his mind, but it was Luna who spoke. "We would love to have you all," She addressed everyone, but locked eyes purposefully with Draco on the word: all, "Join us as we make our official engagement announcement on Christmas Day."
"Us too!" Ginny chimed. "Its going to be a double announcement, and you have to be there!"
"I wouldn't miss it." Hermione stated. "But..." Her voice trailed off as she once again looked to the man beside her, knowing full well how bringing him into the Weasley home might be received.
"Its going to be our party, and both of you are invited." George declared with authority, leaving no doubts in anyone's mind that he would be the first in line to defend Draco's presence to anyone looking for trouble. "Right, Sis?"
"Absolutely!" Ginny nodded, setting her jaw.
Hermione wanted to ask if anyone knew whether Ron would be back or not, and her mouth was about to open, but Draco sensed her question and instinctively pulled her closer, letting her know whether the youngest male Weasley was there or not, it would be okay. "Then, of course, I will be there."
*****
"What a day!" Hermione thought, sitting on her bed to remove her shoes. Harry and Ginny had retreated to Harry's room shortly after George and Luna departed. Ginny did her best to convince them that she just wanted to discuss the day's events with Harry, but Hermione and Draco knew that she would be staying the night, and that it wasn't because she wanted to talk. Hermione remembered what it felt like to sleep in Draco's bed, the smell of him surrounding her, the warmth of his skin keeping her warm. Suddenly, she had an idea... She crossed the distance to her door in no time at all, determined to follow through even though it made her insides squirm. She swung the door open and gasped in fright, before chuckling, "You must have had the same idea I did..."
Draco stood there, pajamas in hand and a warm smile. "After last night, I can't even imagine sleeping without you next to me." Her insides melted, but the feeling was short lived, as he added with a smirk. "Plus, there's no telling how long those two will be using the bathroom."
"I didn't need to know that." She shook her head, turning away from him back into her room. He followed, shutting the door quietly behind him. His heart full, at the level of comfortability they had achieved with each other.
"Oh, come on," He teased, tossing his pajamas onto her bed "Its not like you didn't already know what they were doing."
She turned to face him, trying her hardest to maintain a no nonsense posture. "That doesn't mean I want to hear about it!"
He lowered his head and gave her a you-can-stop-the-tough-guy-act look, but conceded anyway, "Fair enough...I won't mention it again."
"Good." She crossed her arms in one last show of annoyance.
He began toward her and she steeled her eyes onto his. By the time he had reached her, every cell in her body was calling out for her to leap into his arms, but she remained planted, waiting for him...waiting for his arms to engulf her...for his lips to claim hers.
He ran a finger along her still crossed arms. She shivered at his touch. He leaned down and breathed into her ear, "Are you really going to make me work this hard?" Her arms flinched but did not drop. He snickered at her persistence and tauntingly continued, "Good...because I like a challenge." He brushed the hair from the crook of her neck and replaced it with his lips. She jerked in concentration. His tongue darted quickly against her skin. She could no longer control herself... Her arms clutched at him while her head rolled back, begging him for more. He gladly obliged, placing warm, wet kisses around the base of her neck. She moaned seductively, making him harden. This was the point he'd usually pull away, but as he tried, she pressed herself into him, claiming his lips with her own, unwilling to let him go.
He responded by lifting her into his arms, her legs naturally wrapped around his waist. Their hearts beat as one. He carried her to the bed, and lay gently a top her. She pulled at his shirt, trying to free it from his trousers. He separated slightly. "Hermione," he panted.
Her eyes questioned him.
"I never... This isn't how... I'm sorry... " His voice trailed off as he pulled away, turning from her to sit on the edge of the bed.
She knelt behind him, her chin resting on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"Sorry for what?" She asked.
"I can't do this...like this." His voice shook.
She turned his face toward hers. "Can't do what?...Make love to me?" There was an unavoidable note of hurt in her voice.
Tears swam in his eyes. "Believe me, there is nothing I want more than to make love to you. I love you! I want you! But...I've never..."
"Never what?" Hermione coaxed.
"I've never been with anyone." Draco admitted.
Hermione smiled. "Well, neither have I," She placed a hand on his cheek, and turned his face toward hers. "But that doesn't mean I'm not ready now."
He kissed her softly before pleading, "Please don't interpret this as me not being ready to make love to you, because, believe me, I am, but not like this. Not here...at school. Not with Harry and Ginny next door. Our first time deserves to be special...memorable..."
Hermione kissed him with such force, the two of them nearly tumbled off the bed. "I love you, so much!" She declared.
"And I, you." Draco responded, placing his forehead against hers.
"You'll stay with me, though, won't you?" She questioned, snuggling against his chest.
"Of course." He assured her. "I meant what I said about being unable to imagine sleeping without you next to me, ever again."
"Then I guess that just leaves us with one problem then." Hermione teased.
"Oh yeah," Draco mused. "And what might that be?"
"Who gets to use the bathroom first." He had anticipated her response, and thus held her tighter at the exact moment she tried to push away and make a run for the bathroom.
He released her slowly, shaking his head at her attempt to 'beat him to it.' "I'll have you know, my lady, that I am a gentleman, and therefore, was planning to let you go first. However, your tricky little move has made me reconsider. I may need to be persuaded..." He brushed a finger against his smirking lips.
"You're incorrigible." She laughed, paying the implied fee with a kiss.
"Just be warned," He called to her through the shut door. "When you return, I'll be in my pajamas. You know...shirtless. I just hope you'll be able to keep your hands off me."
The door creaked open slightly. Her head peered through the crack, a sultry grin across her face. "Likewise." She responded, dropping all of her clothing outside the door.
