"So what are you going to do now?"

Draco sighs and looks at the fireplace.

"I don't know, mother."

Draco had left work that week in a slump. Even after Hermione came back from lunch with Victor, handing him his favorite sandwich from the cafe near the Ministry, Draco couldn't even muster up a true smile. Saturday found him seated on his mother's divan, pouting in a spectacular fashion.

"Oh, my Dragonling," Narcissa laughs softly at the scowl that replaced the pout when she called him that. She hadn't called him that since he was little and he remembers the time when she had stopped when he was nine and desperately trying to act like a miniature Lucius.

"Just like that, you are giving up?"

Draco shifts and looks at her, he shrugs his shoulders slightly and shakes his head.

"I just don't know what to do now, mother. All other attempts were failures. I sent her flowers and she was allergic to the pest product they used on their plants in the green house. I went and got her favorite type of cake but someone beat me too it," Draco crosses his arms and slumps in his seat.

"The only thing that went well was the kitten."

"Kitten?"

Draco smiles softly, "In school she had this beast of a cat, a Half-Kneazle, that disappeared during the war. He was very special to her and she hadn't gotten another familiar after. So I gave her one, anonymously of course, and you should have seen the look on her face."

Draco remembers the shaky smile of happiness Hermione bestowed when she informed him that she has received a new familiar the next Monday at work. She had decided to name the kitten Persephone and Draco joked about her apparent need to name everything after Greek mythology, pointing out her owl's name is Artemis. She bumped his shoulder at his teasing and Draco hid his smile behind his reports.

Narcissa sips her tea and thinks for a moment. Placing it down she moves to take a seat next to Draco. Taking his hand she rubs gently on his palm with her thumb.

"I remember when your father first started to court me."

Draco looks at their joined hands, listening intently.

"It was a disaster," Narcissa laughs at the memory.

"What happened?"

"Your father had the bright idea to make some grand statement for the first three gifts of our courtship. The first gift was a garden filled with various types of Mimosa flowers. I was highly allergic to them," Narcissa smiles at the memory. "The next week he came back with music and he sang."

"Father sang?" Draco asked incredulous.

"Yes, he did and he was terrible, much better at the piano. Then he came back the next week with birds of all creatures."

"Birds?" Draco asks in confusion.

"Yes, birds. Peacocks to be precise."

Draco gaped, "You mean father was responsible for those vicious overgrown pigeons that chased after me as a child?"

Narcissa shakes her head and taps his chin, "They only chased you because you antagonized them. But to answer your question, yes he was the one responsible for all those birds. Of course, your grandmother was delighted as she had been pestering your grandfather for peacocks of her own. It was safe to say that your grandfather was not happy but before he turned him away I requested that I be able to speak with him."

"What happened?" Draco asks as Narcissa reaches for her tea cup and takes a sip.

"Well, I said to him that while his gifts were beautiful and flattering I did not require such grand declarations. Your father of course thought that I was rejecting his suit, that I was rejecting him, the silly man."

"Was that the case?"

Narcissa shakes her head, "No, I told him that if he was serious, as his gifts had implied, that all I needed was for him to tell me how he feels and I am yours. I didn't need the extravagant gifts or grand gestures, I just wanted his hand in mine."

Tell me you love me and I am yours forever

Narcissa smiled at her son as he pondered her words. Squeezing his hand to gain his attention, he looked up.

"Do you know what you have to do now?"

"Yes," Draco whispered, determination reflected in his eyes.


Draco takes a deep breath and knocks on Hermione's door. The sounds of her footsteps floating through the door as he waited.

"Draco," Hermione exclaimed breathlessly, smoothing her hair down that had escaped her bun as she smiled at him. Draco's heart beat began to beat double time and this time he didn't fight it. Reaching out his hand he softly touched a curl that had came loose and pulled it gently. Trailing his hand away from her hair he touched her cheek. Hermione leaned into his touch and he never felt so light.

"I have a confession to make," Draco began, "and I want to get this all out now before you say anything, please."

Hermione nods, holding his hand in place with hers. Draco brings his other hand up and pulls her close slowly.

"For the longest time I was blind to what was in front of me. You were everything and I was a little shit."

Hermione giggles and he smirks at her, continuing.

"It took a war to show me that I was wrong and you for some reason had chosen to forgive me of all people."

Hermione opens her mouth to protest and Draco silences her with a kiss on her forehead. Smoothing her cheeks with his thumbs, he lightly admonished her.

"Not done yet, witch. I know why you forgave me and why you chose to become my friend after so many years of antagonizing each other. Somewhere along the way, I fell for you, it crept up on me," Draco stared into her brown eyes and if it was at all possible fell deeper. Hermione returned his stare, her expression open and emotions swirled in her eyes.

Draco leans closer to her and whispers, "If you'll have me, I am yours forever."

Hermione closes her eyes and closes the distance between them. Draco's mind grinds to a stop and all he can think is finally. Every nerve in his body comes alive and the only sensation he ever wants- no, needs - is Hermione's lips on his and his hands running through her hair. They are breathless when they part, both hearts beating wildly in their chests. Draco calculates Arithmancy in his head as he rests his forehead on hers.

"I take that as a yes?"

Hermione laughs and kisses him again softly before nodding, "I was wondering when you would tell me. Though I did enjoy the gifts you sent."

Draco gapes at her for a moment before grinning wickedly at her, "Swot."

Hermione laughs, her eyes bright and smile wide and Draco wraps his arm around her waist and his other hand slips into her hair. He leans in, his whispered breath ghosting against her lips, sending thrills down Hermione's spine.

"Oh, yes the brightest."


Oh wow, that's it folks. Thank you again for reading my stories. It warms my heart that you folks enjoy them.

I have more stories planned but for now they are on a back burner as I am planning on signing up for Camp NaNoWriMo in April.

Thanks again!