I Work For You Chapter 20, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 20 of I Work for You:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding Harry Potter.

Summary: Draco hires Hermione to be his 'wife' so his boss will approve of their deal. Only, Draco didn't expect to fall in love with Hermione. DM/HG. This fanfiction is based on the movie Borrowed Hearts.

Recap of Chapter 19:

"Hermione, I don't know how I could have been your enemy all those years at Hogwarts. I hope you forgive me when I say sorry that I made you, and your two best friends' lives miserable. I know that I was a jerk, and I hope one day you'll let me make it up to you. But, I don't want you to go away and live your life by yourself. Please make me the happiest man on Earth and accept my proposal. Will you marry me?" he asked, looking up into Hermione's shocked cinnamon brown eyes.

"I … Draco, I don't know what to say!" she said.

"You could say yes," said Draco, his face showing fear that he would be rejected by the woman he loved.

"I have always disliked you in Hogwarts because you were so arrogant and you strutted around acting as if you owned the school. Then, after all these years, I met you and I agreed to be your 'wife' so you could be Minister. I know that you have changed, no doubt in my mind you haven't, but…"

Chapter 20 of I Work for You:

Draco's once hopeful expression drooped and his eyes lost the twinkle. His crooked smile disappeared from his face and the look upon his face made Hermione's heart break.

"Can you just give me a few days to think it through?" she asked.

"I really need some time to think out what has happened these last couple of weeks."

Draco nodded his head slowly. "Okay, sure, but tell me soon. I'll be sitting in the Malfoy Manor … waiting for your answer. And I want you to know Hermione, I love you…"

Hermione tried to keep the tears in her eyes, but it wasn't any use. One forlorn tear ran down her cheek. Draco frowned, "Don't cry Hermione! I hate it when you do…"

He used his thumb to wipe off the tear, but Hermione pushed his hand away. Instead, she tiptoed and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Give me a few days…" and with that, she walked back into the Manor.

"Seriously?" shrieked the voice of Ginny Weasley, one of Hermione's best friends, at the Three Broomsticks.

"Shh! Ginny, quiet down!" shushed Hermione, taking a sip of her butterbeer, and looking around the room casually to make sure nobody heard.

"Oh 'Mione! Nobody's going to hear. I can't believe you told him you'll think about it!" muttered Ginny.

"If I were you, I'd have accepted right away!" she huffed.

"But what about your poor husband?" teased Hermione.

Ginny blinked and she suddenly remembered her husband. "Oh, of course you know what I mean Hermione! I love Harry more than anybody in the world!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I came to you this morning for help on what to do! Not to hear you lecturing me about what I didn't do!"

"Oh, but Hermione! How can you resist Draco? I mean … he's so hot!" she said, mainly to herself.

"Ginny! You're twenty-one years old. You should know better!" scolded Hermione lightly.

Ginny smacked Hermione lightly across the table and she sighed, "Well, he sounds terribly romantic to me. I think that you should accept his proposal and marry him!"

"You make it sound so easy. I mean, I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with him. How do I know if my love for his is the same as your unrequited love for Harry?"

"Let's see, the man saved you three to four times … he said he loved you … he takes you to terribly romantic dates … how can you not know?" wailed Ginny.

"I guess I'm being a bit paranoid. But hey, this is my future we're discussing!"

"I say go for it. What do you have to lose?"

"Ginny, you sound as if I'm asking him out to a date…"

"Uh, yeah … sorry. If you don't accept his proposal, I'll help you find another guy. I'll always be here for you, 'Mione!"

"But I think you should accept."

"Think?" questioned Hermione.

"I mean, I know you should accept his proposal," said Ginny, beaming.

"What?" thundered an angry roar from another one of Hermione's best friend.

"Ron!" Hermione said, reaching up and pulling him down besides her.

"I came all the way to Romania to ask you for help, not to yell at me!" she wailed.

"Oh, sorry 'Mione. By the way, what do you think of this restaurant?" he asked, gesturing to the Chinese restaurant they were in.

"I think it's fine. But what do you think I should do about Draco?"

"Do you want me to be honest?" asked Ron.

Hermione nodded, "Of course. I trust you."

"I think you should dump the guy and date somebody else."

"What?" Hermione asked.

Ron's face turned red and the tips of his ears did too, just like the time when he got a Howler from his mum in the second year of Hogwarts.

"I thought you wanted my opinion," he said.

"Okay, go on…" Hermione sighed, picking up her tea and waiting for Ron to answer.

"Well, Malfoy has been your enemy since … forever … and I think that you should stay true to that and not marry him. How do you know that he's changed? For the better?" Ron asked.

"Your sister certainly thinks differently."

"Huh? What did Ginny say this time?" he asked wearily.

"She told me to … and this is exactly what she said 'go for it' and that I should accept Draco's proposal," said Hermione, smiling to herself.

"Why that little sister of mine…" he murmured to himself.

"Look Hermione. This is your life and I cannot tell you what you can or cannot do. It's your own future and I don't know what your feelings are deep down inside you. I don't want you to marry Malfoy, but if you feel that he's perfect for you and the both of you are compatible together, then … marry him. I'll be behind you no matter what…"

Hermione jumped up and enveloped Ron in a big hug. "Thanks Ron. I love you!"

"Um, Mione, you might want to stop hugging me…" he whispered, needing to breath.

"Wow! So I guess your time has finally come. I knew that a guy would love you for who you are!" said Harry Potter, Hermione's final best friend.

Hermione smiled, "But I don't know what to do…"

Harry readjusted his glasses and rubbed his head bewilderedly.

"Me either … I just couldn't turn down your free offer of food. Especially Italian food!" he said, reaching over and grabbing some bread.

"But I think that if you treated Ron to food, he'd have been on your side. He'd be so busy eating that he wouldn't hear you!" chuckled Harry.

"You know I asked your wife what I should do also…"

"You asked Ginny?" Harry said, looking surprised.

"Yeah, she said that I should accept it. And she also said that if she were me, she'd have accepted Draco's proposal right away."

"What?" asked Harry, sputtering.

"Well, she also told me that she loves you more than anybody else in the world," grinned Hermione, seeing Harry's shoulders sag in relief.

"How do you feel about Draco?" asked Hermione.

"I guess I … really like him. Every time he steps into the room my heart beats fast. And I smile everytime I see him. He saved my life so many times and … I can't forget that he has an awesome body!" Hermione smiled, seeing Harry gag.

"But I don't know if it's love…"

"Hermione, I think you already know," said Harry gently.

"I'll be behind you one hundred percent. If you marry Draco, I demand an invitation to the wedding. But if you turn him down, I'll be there for you as well. Just listen to your heart…" Harry wisely said.

As Hermione walked home to the Malfoy Manor (needing time to sort things out) she reflected on what each one of her friends said.

Ginny wanted her to accept Draco's marriage offer. Ron didn't, and Harry didn't really care, but the thing all three of them agreed on was that they'll always look after Hermione.

Hermione kicked at a rock that was lying on the sidewalk. She looked up and tightened her coat around herself protectively. "What should I do?" she asked herself, over and over again.

She walked by a couple sitting on a park bench, who were kissing tenderly. She subtly stared at them and smiled, watching them break from their kiss and join their foreheads together, whispering emotionally to each other.

Right away, she knew what she had to do. She walked behind a big building and quickly apparated home.

"Draco?" Hermione called out, walking into the house and tossing the keys onto the drawer next to the door.

"Draco? Are you here?" she asked.

A head poked out from the library and said, "Hello Ms. Granger. I assume you're here to tell Draco your decision about whether or not to marry him?"

Hermione turned and saw the Minister standing in front of her.

"Oh! Minister, how are you?" she asked.

"I'm fine. And you? Nervous about your decision?"

"How did you know about that?" Hermione asked, frowning.

Fudge's eyes twinkled and he said, "Oh, I hear a lot around here. Of course, if the staff members of the house weren't gossiping, I don't think I would have known."

Hermione's eyes grew wide, "Are we the talk of the house now?" she asked.

"You and Mr. Malfoy were always the talk of the house."

"Yes, Draco!" she exclaimed, suddenly remembering why she had come home. "Do you know where Draco is right now?"

Fudge smiled gently, "Why, he's outside sitting in the rocking swing on the hill that's overlooking the gardens."

Hermione nodded, "Uh, okay. Thank you. I'll talk to you later, Minister!" she said, walking towards the doors that would lead her to Draco.

"Good luck Ms. Granger. I'm sure that whatever decision you make is the right one!" he called.

Hermione slowly walked towards the hill. She still remembered that it was here where she fell down and Draco had saved her.

"Boy, was I clumsy!" she said to herself.

She smiled as she saw the familiar platinum blond head of Draco. He was sitting in the rocking swim and his eyes were closed. His chest gently rose and fell down.

Hermione crept up behind him and covered his closed eyes with her hands.

"Guess who?" she whispered into his ear.

"Hermione?" he breathed, "What are you doing here?"

Hermione removed her hands from Draco's eyes and feigned a wounded look.

"You don't want me to be here?" she asked, "Okay, I'll just leave…" she trailed off.

"No!" Draco exclaimed, jumping up from the chair and reaching over to pull Hermione down.

He sat next to her and asked hesitantly, "So … uh, did you make your decision?"

Hermione looked into his silver gray eyes that were filled with emotion. She could see the nervousness, anxiousness, excitement, and disappointment in his eyes.

"Yeah, I made my decision," replied Hermione, not looking at Draco, but instead focusing her eyes on the gardens.

She folded her arms across her chest.

Draco mistook that for her annoyance, so he remained quiet.

"Well, aren't you going to ask me what my decision is?" she asked, getting a bit annoyed.

Draco frowned and he muttered, "I already know what it is."

Hermione let out a short breath, "Oh really? What is it then?"

Draco stood up and he let out an angry sigh.

"You're going to say no. I knew it … but can't you forget the past Hermione? I know that I was an insensitive jerk who only cared whether or not one was a Pureblood or not, but I have changed! I'm not the same person I was before! I don't know why you can't-"

Draco's lecture was interrupted with Hermione's lips. She kissed him and said, "I already have."

"You mean…?" he asked, his expression looking hopeful.

"Yes, Draco. I will marry you. I will become your wife. I don't care about all that other stuff. I love you and that's all that matters."

And with that, Draco's arms enveloped her and he crushed her into a fierce hug. Hermione smiled and looked up for another one of Draco's kisses.

"I love you too, 'Mione," Draco said.

"Argh, can't you stop calling me that?" she said, rolling her eyes.

Draco ignored the question and said, "So, when do we send out the invitations?"

"True love … isn't it great?" sighed Fudge to somebody standing besides him.

They were inside of Draco's house, standing next to the window and looking at Hermione and Draco.

"Yes … What I'd do for another chance at it," replied Albus Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Why, don't you have Minerva?" asked Fudge.

"Of course! The professor and I are happily married. If only we started to date sooner…" he said, staring wistfully off into space.

Fudge smiled as he shook his head, "By the way, this was a great plan," he said to Dumbledore.

"What? Giving up your job to let Mr. Malfoy take it?" answered Dumbledore.

"No, I'm going to miss being the Minister, but … I get to relax after I retire. I was saying, it was a good plan to create the storm when Hermione was coming home from work."

"Well, I knew right away that they would be a perfect couple. They were just too blind to see it," said Dumbledore.

"Ah, look at them now…"

"Harry? Ron? Ginny?" asked Hermione, as she flooed into Harry's house.

Ron was staying for a couple of days to visit his sister and his brother-in-law.

"'Mione!" they cried.

Hermione hugged each one of them.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Did you accept?" asked Ginny.

"Did you say no?" asked Ron.

"Are you okay?" asked Harry.

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but all of a sudden, there came the pitter-patter of feet against the floor.

"Aunt 'Mione!" cried Lily and James Jr., Harry and Ginny's children.

Hermione smiled and she hugged them both. She still couldn't believe her eyes when she saw that Lily had Ginny's fiery red hair, but had Harry's emerald eyes. James took after Harry, having brown hair and emerald green eyes. But both children had freckles. Though they were twins, they didn't look alike!

"How are you both?" she asked them, bending down so that she was their height.

"How are yoo? Mummy kept shayin' yeshterday that yoo were going to get married and have lots of babies!" cried Lily.

Hermione blushed and she gave a questioning look at Ginny, "Lots of babies huh?" she asked.

James nodded, "Yeah, but then Uncle Ron shaid that … uh, he shaid 'cut the crwap out of it Ginny. 'Mione will not mwarry him' and daddy twold Uncle Ron to shuddup," said James, beaming that he got the phrase from Ron right.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, I'm going to be marrying Draco."

"What?" gasped Ron.

"Ha!" said Ginny, "I knew it! Oh Hermione! Can I help you plan the wedding? I mean, I know that your mum would want to help, but can I also?" she begged, acting as if she were her daughter's age.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Hermione?" Harry asked, "Marriage is a big commitment. Are you willing to go for it?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, I love Draco. And yes, Ginny … of course you can plan it! And would you like to be the maid of honor?" asked Hermione.

"AHHHH!" Ginny shrieked.

"Mummy's going cwazy!" said Lily to James. James nodded wisely.

"Daddy! We're going to go pway," said James and they left the room.

"Of course I would! Oh, I'm so glad you're having this wedding!" squealed Ginny, with stars in her eyes.

"Uh, Potter? Weasley?" asked Draco, as he flooed into Harry's house a day after Hermione.

Harry walked in and stopped, "Woah! Draco Malfoy in my house? What an honor!" he said, sarcastically.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Yeah, well this is only a once in a lifetime thing."

Harry laughed, "Then you obviously do not know Hermione well."

"What are you talking about?" asked Draco defensively.

"Hermione will visit almost 3 times a week and we're going to be inviting you over to dinner and both of you will have to baby-sit for my kids…"

"Have to?" scoffed Draco.

Harry groaned, "What do you want Malfoy?"

Draco winced, "Uh, is Weasley here?"

Ron walked into the room whistling and tossing a can of juice from his left hand to his right hand and he did a double take as he saw Draco.

"What are you doing in Harry's living room?" asked Ron.

Draco frowned, "Look, I only came here to ask if you and Potter will be the best man for my wedding."

"You want us to be your best man? Isn't it … wow, can you believe it Harry?"

Harry walked over to Draco, "Why?" he asked simply.

"I know that we haven't been the best of friends and all, but I want to make up for all those years. And besides, Hermione will be so happy to see both her best friends in the wedding and I want her to be happy."

Harry nodded and Ron shrugged, "But this is just for Hermione," Ron said.

Draco nodded. "Uh, well … bye…"

Draco was just about to leave when Lily came into the room dragging her blankie on the floor and sucking on her thumb. She looked like she had been asleep and her red hair was rumpled.

"Daddy … I'm bwored," she said.

Her eyes fell onto Draco, "Who are yoo?" she asked curiously, taking her thumb out of her mouth.

Ron and Harry fell silent, wondering what in the world Lily would say.

"I'm Draco … uh, I'm going to get married to Hermione."

"You're mwarrying Aunt 'Mione?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.

Draco nodded.

"I think yoo are wery handswome," she said, giggling to herself.

Draco chuckled and he squatted down, so he was looking Lily in the eye, "And I think you're very pretty."

Lily smiled, "Yoo bwetter be werry nice to Aunt 'Mione or she'll twell me and I will twell Uncle Ron!"

Draco stared at the surprised faces of Harry and Ron. "Oh, don't worry, I'll treat Hermione wonderfully."

"I wike you! Aunt 'Mione is lucky to mwarry yoo. When I gwrow up, I want to mwarry somebody jus wike you!" she declared.

Draco laughed, "Thank you … what's your name?"

"My name's Lily Potter. My bwother is sweeping."

"Sweeping?" asked Draco.

"Swleep-er-ing," Lily said.

Draco nodded, "I guess I'll have to come back here and visit him again. Hey! How would you like to be the flower girl at our wedding?"

Lily frowned, "Fwower girl?"

"You get to wear a pretty dress and throw flower petals onto the floor."

"Okay, but James has to be there and so does Derek."

"Derek?"

"Derek's my son; he's in Romania right now with Lavender," said Ron, speaking up.

"Uh, okay, I'll work that out. Thanks for everything Potter … you too Weasley. I'll see you later," said Draco, kissing Lily on the forehead, and apparating away.

"What just happened?" asked Ron.

"Did Draco … never mind."

Lily smiled, "I like Dwaco!"

"You like Lily too?" asked Hermione.

Draco nodded, "She's very cute. Anyway, what did your parents say?"

"Well, they said that it's about time I got married and that they were happy for me. Are you inviting your parents?"

Draco shook his head, "No, I don't know where they are."

Hermione nodded, "Okay, let's get busy preparing for the wedding."

Draco kissed her, "I feel so lucky to be marrying you," he said.

Hermione laughed, "You should!"

Author's Note: Read and review! Almost finished with this fanfiction.