Chapter 9

A/N: I am so sorry everyone, this chapter has taken so long to write, because I have been dealing with some personal situations, and have been unable to focus wholly on it. I promise to try to keep up with the story more, and not leave you hanging for so long next time.

****

They had gotten through roughly half of the journals by the time Christmas had rolled around and were frankly no closer to finding the antidote. They had found not even a hint about either Diffius Amatoris, or the antidote.

Harry, Ginny, and Draco were frankly at their wits end by the daunting task still facing them. The only one of the foursome that was not totally frustrated was Hermione. She was completely in her element. She was going through two times the journals of everyone except Narcissa, who had taken to challenging Hermione to "contests" to see which of them could get through more of the thick tomes each day.

The previous day Narcissa had gotten through three of the journals to Hermione's two. Draco had been joking that she was slipping to try to relieve some of the tension that they had been living through day and night since Hermione and Ginny had ingested the potion.

It was as Hermione was sticking her tongue out at Draco in a childish gesture that Professor McGonagall finally showed up with their reinforcements. Molly and Arthur Weasley came through the floo with her, followed by Bill and Fleur, Charlie, George, and…Ron. When he came thorough Draco immediately sprang up and pointed his wand at him.

"Why is he here? There is no way that I will allow that filthy excuse for a human being in my home. After what he has done to us, how could you bring him here Professor? And Mum, how could you allow him to come!"

Narcissa fixed an imposing glare on her son before calmly replying, "Draco, dear, Mr. Weasley asked Professor McGonagall if he could come and help. After discussing it at some length together with Molly's input, we decided that it would be best for him to help."

"But we do not want his help Mum, he is the reason that we are all going through this. I would have thought that you would have thought of that at least. Look at what him being here is doing to Hermione and Ginny." He gestured to the two witches sitting side by side with shocked looks on their faces.

"Isn't it enough that he did this, now we have to have him in the same room to constantly remind us of why we all hate him."

"Draco, I understand why you don't want him here. But he is another set of eyes to help look for the antidote. I am by no means condoning what my son has done to all of you, but your Mother, Professor McGonagall, and I all discussed it, and we do fell that it is best if he help look too."

"I don't hate him."

All eyes turned to the witch who had uttered these words. They were all in shock that she would say that she did not hate him. Ron was openly goggling at her in shock that she didn't hate him.

Hermione met the wide eyes of her boyfriend, and got up from the couch that she was sitting on to come over to where he had finally stopped during his rant. She closed her hand around his wrist and waited until he closed his mouth before she explained.

"I don't hate him Draco, I have tried to hate him. Indeed every day since we found out what he did, I have told myself that I should hate him. But I just. …Can't. He was my best friend for 8 years, as much as I would like to, I can't erase those years, or what he meant to me through them."

"Hermione, how can you say that, he caused this, and even before that, he cheated on you with Lavender Brown. How can you not hate him."?

"I don't know how or why, but I just don't. I am not saying that we will ever get back the friendship that we once had, because we won't, but no matter what he will always be a part of my life."

She put her hands on either side of his face and kept speaking, only gently this time. "No matter what Draco, he will be in my life because of the bond I have with his family. His parents are like my parents; they have been there for me through everything. They were there for me when I found out that Death Eaters found and killed my parents during the war. The Weasley's are my family now, so no matter what he will be in my life, whether I like it or not."

Draco closed his eyes in defeat after being reminded of the death of Hermione's parents last year. He knew then that he would have to give in to her words. He could not be the cause of any more pain for her.

"Fine he can stay, but I will not be in the same room as him. I will let him help only for you Hermione. But no one had better expect me to like it. Now if you will all excuse me, I am going to take some of these to my father's study, and look through them there." He politely nodded to the rest of the Weasley family, thanked them for coming to help, and left the room.

Ron looked around at the people who were all staring at him, and said "Well, that went about as well as I expected. Although I admit I didn't expect you to stick up for me Hermione."

"I did not do it for you Ron. I did it because although I will never fully forgive you for this, the more people we have looking the quicker we can find it. Don't think for one minute that you will be able to turn me, or anyone for that matter against Draco. He is a better man than you, and I will not let you antagonize him."

Hermione went and hugged the rest of the Weasley family giving Ron a nasty look as she passed by him, and explained that she was going to go and search with Draco. She gathered a collection of the books, and followed him.

"Well, that went much better than expected. If you would all care to follow me, I will show you to your rooms. I hope that you will be comfortable here, while we are searching for these answers." Narcissa gestured towards the doorway indicating that they should head out to the foyer.

"Thank you again, Narcissa, Arthur and I appreciate you allowing us room in your home during the holidays. I also wanted to thank you for all you are doing to help our children find a solution to this problem." Molly walked over and pulled her into a crushing hug.

She returned the hug awkwardly, not entirely sure that all from the past was truly forgiven. She then stepped away and said something that even with Ginny and Harry's letters about the situation at the manor, no one was expecting. "I believe that I might be helping my son just as much as Ginny, Harry, and Hermione. Hermione and Draco have gotten quite serious about each other. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she becomes a member of my family."

She led the way up the stairs and showed everyone to their rooms. Arthur and Molly were astounded at the wealth displayed before them at every turn.

"We really do appreciate all of this Narcissa. If you would allow it, I would be pleased to cook dinner for everyone for the holiday."

"I think that would be delightful and everyone would enjoy that. Perhaps you would consent to teach me how it is done."

Meanwhile, Hermione was walking into the study. "Draco, I'm so sorry about that, I had no idea that Ron was going to come. You have to know mfphhh…."

Draco had backed her into the door suddenly and crushed his mouth to hers in a bruising kiss. Hermione threw her arms up around his shoulders dropping the journals she had been carrying unceremoniously onto the floor. She kissed him back enthusiastically, running her fingers through his silvery locks as she deepened the kiss.

He suddenly tore his mouth from hers, and demanded, "Tell me that you love me." Then he pressed his mouth back to hers gently this time. Nipping lightly at her lips, and running his tongue lightly around them before dipping in and sensually swirling it around her mouth before pulling back and framing her face with his large hands.

"Mmmmm, I love you, mmmm, I love you so much Draco," she murmured pressing light kisses to his lips in between declarations.

They broke apart after several more long kisses, and proceeded with the matter at hand each going through their chosen books for several hours. It wasn't until Harry and Ginny came in that they finally took a break. Ginny walked over to Draco and asked his forgiveness.

"Draco, I didn't know that Ron was coming. Had I known, I would have asked my Mum to leave him at home. I hope you know that."

He kept his gaze steady on her, and spoke clearly. "You couldn't have known Ginny, you have no reason to apologize."

"We were sent to call you two to dinner," Harry said the smile on his face letting Draco know that he appreciated his comments to Ginny.

"We'll come, but Ron had better be seated as far from me as possible. I don't want any problems."

"I really don't think that will be a problem," Ginny said trying to keep the laughter out of her voice.

Hermione looked at her quizzically, "What's going on?"

"Oh you will see, it was all George's idea," the laughter finally bubbled out of Harry.

When they reached the large dining room, they did indeed see what had made Harry and Ginny laugh so hard.

Everyone was gathered around the massive table that had been in the Malfoy family for centuries. Everyone, that is, except Ron, who was sitting at a small table facing the wall with all the family elves. They could see by the color of the tips of his ears that he was less than pleased with the arrangement, since elves did not eat food that was particularly tasty.

Suppressing his laughter was almost too much for Draco, who excused himself to "go wash up". But everyone heard his laughter explode when he got beyond the room.

George looked over at his mother, and said "See Mum, and you doubted that it would work."

"You know that I can hear you over here, George, don't you?"

"Well yeah, but you see little brother dear, I don't care. You deserve everything you get for what you did. You're lucky Mum didn't lock you up in the attic with the ghoul."

Later that night after everyone had gone to bed Hermione slipped into Draco's room and flicked her wand at the door to lock it. She walked over to his bed to see him lying there so peacefully. Without a word, she dropped her robe to the floor, placed her wand on the nightstand, and slid under the sheets next to him. She snuggled up next to him, and began pressing light kisses to his lips.

Draco slowly came awake and stared into her beautiful eyes in shock.

"What are you doing here? Not that I am complaining or anything, but I am just wondering."

"I love you Draco Malfoy, and I want to be with you tonight." He pulled her close and nuzzled her neck.

"I'm not a saint Mione, I can't just sleep with you and not have you."

"I didn't come her to sleep, I came to give myself to you. I love you Draco, and I want you to take me tonight."

He pulled her closer still and wrapped her up tightly in his arms burying his face in her hair. "I love you too Hermione, I have never loved another as I love you."

He could feel her trembling in his arms. She pressed her lips his, and thrust her tongue inside, before she began unbuttoning his nightshirt. Draco ran his hands from her hips up to her shoulders bringing her nightgown with them. He pulled it off over her head, and shrugged out of his unbuttoned shirt.

He continued his assault on her body. Running his hands up to cup the mounds of her breasts, and kissing his way down to her neck. She was becoming undone by his ministrations. She dragged her nails down his back feeling the tight muscles respond to her touch. He licked and kissed his way over to her breasts. Hermione arched her back allowing him better access.

Draco stared down at the witch writhing under him in wordless wonder. "You are so beautiful," he said on a breathless moan. He continued to make love to her with his mouth and his words, slipping his fingers into her panties, and finding her center with unerring accuracy. She squirmed out of her panties, and he brought her to orgasm first with his fingers, sliding in and out, and rolling the bundle of nerves that was her undoing.

While she was a quivering mass of incoherent words and moans, he removed his sleep pants and boxers, and thrust into her. He began a rhythm thrusting in and out in sync with his tongue in her mouth. He filled his hand with her breasts, rolling the peaks delicately. She was digging her nails into the strong muscles of his back at the height of his onslaught. When he felt the muscles clenching around him it was more than he could take, and he emptied himself into her. With a hoarse cry of "I love you!" at the same moment that she found her competition and cried out the same words to him, adding "only you Draco, only you."

As they lay their panting in each other's arms, the sweat cooling on their bodies, Draco added silently in his head "I love only you too, and I intend to marry you."

He pulled the blankets up from where they had pooled at the foot of the bed to cover their cooling bodies, and wrapped Hermione securely in his arms. The lovers fell asleep still holding each other tight.