Chapter 16

For two days, Hermione walked around with a makeshift, aluminium foil engagement ring. The newly engaged couple had arrived at the Burrow for lunch, and she was quickly pulled away by Ginny. "Before we discuss the wedding, what is that on your hand?" she asked, leading Hermione to her second floor bedroom. "Does Malfoy not care if you walk around with the trash on your hands?"

"You didn't hear this from me because we wanted to wait to announce this, but Draco proposed," Hermione shared, grinning from ear to ear. Ginny stared disbelievingly. "I said yes. We haven't set a date or anything. Harry has the ring, so we're not saying anything until Draco gives it to me. I need you to swear you won't say anything."

Without a word, Ginny agreed with a nod of her head. Then, she stood and left the room, forgetting all about the conversation she had planned to have with her maid of honor. She passed Draco in the kitchen and walked outside where her fiance waited.

Curious, Draco made his way to Ginny's room to find Hermione still there. "What did you do to her?" he wondered. "Confundus Charm?"

"I told her about the engagement," she replied guiltily. "If we learned anything though it's how to stun her into silence."

Draco chuckled as he pulled a small black box from his pocket. "Should I give this to you now so she doesn't have to bite her tongue?" he asked, opening it to real a simple, princess cut diamond set in platinum. "Or should we torture her a little?"

Holding out her left hand, she silently answered his question. Draco removed the temporary ring from her finger and switched it out with the engagement ring. "For posterity," he told her as he placed it in the box. The ring slid easily into place, and they admired its position. "I love you."

"I love you too," she murmured against his lips. "Let's go home and show each other how much we love one another."

Laughing, he pulled her to her feet and reminded her that it had been weeks since they had attended lunch with the family. "What do you want to do about this?" he asked, holding up her hand. "Do we tell them?"

Taking off the ring, she moved it to the other hand and turned the diamond upside down. "Let's wait," she decided. "Harry and Ginny know. That's enough for now."

"Embarrassed of me?" he joked.

"Completely."

They returned to the yard to find the family gathered to eat. Draco held her right hand to conceal the ring she now wore. Harry grinned conspiratorially at the pair, but was sworn to secrecy. It was enough to raise suspicion though, and George asked what they were hiding.

"Nothing," Draco said nonchalantly, spooning potatoes onto his plate.

"Sure," George replied, not believing him. "Why's Hermione hiding her hand?"

After removing the ring and placing it in her jacket pocket, Hermione held up both hands. "Honestly, there's nothing going on," she said.

"They're engaged," Ginny announced, finally finding her voice. Then a look of horror passed over her face. "I'm so sorry."

Hermione only laughed as she returned her engagement ring to its proper place. "Well, cat's out of the bag," she mumbled. "Yes, Draco proposed, and I said yes. That's as far as we've gotten, so that's all we can tell you right now." She eyed Molly as she finished, knowing the Weasley matriarch would launch into wedding planning the first chance she got.

Molly turned her attention to Ron, concerned that he might be upset by the news. He smiled, stood, rounded the table, and hugged Hermione. "Congratulations," he whispered in her ear. Next, he turned to Draco and extended his hand. "Treat her better than I did."

Grateful, Draco shook his hand and thanked him. "I promise I will," he vowed.

Nodding, Ron returned to his seat, and raised his glass. "To Hermione and Draco," he toasted.

When lunch was finished and the Quidditch game began, the couple retreated to the privacy of the front lawn. "That went well," Hermione remarked.

Draco scoffed. "George and Bill threatened to dismember me if I hurt you," he said. "Why can't I marry someone hated? Do something to make them mad. Find a ginger cat and kick it."

With a laugh, she said she wouldn't do that. "Besides, they won't hurt you because they fear me," she replied. As they sat down, he wrapped his arms around her as she leaned against his chest. "Besides, you know I'd protect you. I love you too much to let anything bad happen to you."

"Back at you," he murmured, kissing her temple.

From the air George and Ginny could see the couple below. "What's the deal there?" he asked his sister, deciding she knew more than she let on.

The youngest Weasley shook her head. "No idea," she replied. "They've been pretty secretive about their relationship. I feel like I have to waterboard her to get any details. I don't know what that means, but I've heard her say it. It must be something bad."

"That article in the paper last week, think this has anything to do with that?" George wondered.

Ginny shrugged. "You think he doesn't mind not having kids?" she asked. "I wonder what that does to his family line. Ends it, I guess. Unless they adopt. Merlin, what if that's why they're getting married? I mean, what if that's the only reason they're getting married."

Scowling, George let her know he disagreed. "Hermione's pragmatic, but she wouldn't bind herself to someone for life unless she loved him," he argued. "And I do think she loves him. It's not our place to convince her otherwise just because you want to see her back together with Ron."

With a huff, Ginny agreed with her brother. It wasn't that she wanted Hermione and Ron to rekindle their relationship, and she had grown more accepting of Draco over the years. She merely worried that her friend was rushing into a life changing event without giving it proper thought. "Do you really think they love each other?" she asked. "I mean, it wasn't that long ago that she was threatening to hex him on the very lawn they're sitting on now."

George chuckled as he looked down at the peaceful couple. "I think that's how she shows her love," he replied. He had meant it as a joke, but there was a bit of truth to it. Hermione had never been one to pay attention to romantic interests, and cared little when they were directed at her. Befriending Harry and Ron had taught her to toughen her skin around men, and it seemed to carry over into romantic endeavours. "Although, perhaps it was warranted in Malfoy's case. He was always a git to her."

"I just hope she's doing the right thing."