A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back…again! OMG 1 have 415 review meaning I got like 30 review for the last chapter I love you all so much. So anyways, here's the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Chapter 21: Draco's Surprise

Hermione blinked a couple of times to see that they had landed in a small circular room. She looked around confused when Draco motioned for her to follow him out of a door at the opposite end of the room. They stepped outside into a large hall that was empty except for a few house elves running around doing a last minute check up to see that everything was all right. One of the house elves spotted Draco and came scurrying over to them. Hermione was amused to see that he was wearing a tiny little tailcoat with black pants. The house elf bowed down low before saying in a high-pitched voice:

'Master Malfoy, we is just making sure that everything is ok for when the guests arrive'

'Very good Acer' replied Draco

Acer then scurried off to do his job.

'Malfoy-'

'You have to call me Draco because I'm going to be telling everyone that we're engaged and it'll be a little awkward of you refer to me as Malfoy' said Draco cutting her off.

'Um okay Draco, I just wanted to ask you why the house elves are wearing clothes, doesn't that signify the fact that they are free'

'It does, but you see I'd rather not have my guests see those things walking around in…well waling around in what ever they wear they would think that it is too unhygienic.'

'Oh, I see. But anyways you said that you were going to tell people we are engaged, it's going to be a little unbelievable because I don't have a ring and-'

'Don't you think I thought of that Granger?'

'What do you mean?'

Draco suddenly blushed, shocking the living day lights out of Hermione. 'Come with me Granger' he said walking towards a large glass door. Hermione followed him curiously. They stepped out into a beautiful garden. Draco kept on walking until they came to a small pond. Hermione looked around, there were bushed full of big red roses everywhere. Draco took a seat on a small bench under a large tree. He motioned for Hermione to sit next to him. She did so; curious as to what he would do next. 'Granger you asked me whether we could have a big wedding'

'Yeah so, didn't your mother say we have to?'

'Well yes, but I had made up my mind long before that'

'I see'

'So because you want to have a proper wedding, I'm guessing you want a proper proposal'

'What are you talking about Malfoy?'

What Draco did shocked Hermione beyond belief. She didn't even have time to process how it happened. One second Draco was sitting on the bench next to her and the next he was down on one knee, holding out a small red box that contained the most beautiful ring that Hermione had ever laid eyes on. It was made of white gold, and embedded in the middle was a large tycoon cut diamond with two smaller ones on either side of it. Then there were smaller diamonds that made their way all around the rest of the ring.

Draco looked at her before saying 'Granger I know that we have never really been the best of friends, God damn it, what am I talking about, we haven't ever been civil to each other for more than five minutes (Hermione laughed at this) but I believe that we share something so precious that nothing in the whole world could ever match up to it and that is of course Nick. He creates a bond between us that can never be broken and I want to strengthen that bond by asking you: will you marry me?'

Hermione didn't answer. She just sat there looking at Draco, tears welling up into her eyes, tears of happiness. Draco looked at her expectantly. After she was able to control the wave of emotion building up inside of her she said 'Yes of course Draco.' Draco smiled and took the ring out of the case and reached for Hermione's left hand. He slipped the ring onto her ring finger and stood up, pulling her up with him. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, though it was only a few seconds before Draco brought his head down so it was only centimetres from Hermione's. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something but before she had the chance to do so, Draco closed the gap in between them. He cupped her face with one hand and put the other one around her waist. Hermione, who was again shocked by his actions, slowly brought her arms up around his neck. The kiss lasted for a long time. It was slow and romantic. Both Hermione and Draco really enjoyed it. Finally Draco pulled back, a slight blush emblazing his cheeks. Hermione looked up a smile slowly creeping up on her face.

'Hermione I think we should go inside, the guests will be arriving soon' said Draco, breathing deeply and with that he slipped his hand into her and they walked back towards the building, not saying a word. When they arrived there they found that Draco was indeed right and that the guests had started arriving. Actually the hall was now packed with wizards and witches. When they stepped into the large room people turned to look at them. Draco cleared his throat before saying 'ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 150th birthday celebration of Malfoy Inc. It is an honour to see that so many of you have put in the effort to come here, I really appreciate it and I hope that it is worthwhile.' Everyone applauded when Draco stopped talking and went back chatting to his or her colleagues.

'So what now?' asked Hermione looking around.

'I dunno' said Draco grabbing a glass of champagne from a house elf that had just offered him some 'do you want some?' he asked looking at Hermione.

'It can't hurt' replied Hermione taking a glass and sipping it. Her and Draco stood there in awkward silence, just sipping their drinks when:

'What are you doing here you filthy little Mudblood?' a voice said making both Hermione and Draco look to see a tall man standing above them.

'Zabini' said Draco through gritted teeth 'watch what you're saying if you know what's good for you'

'Malfoy how can you be standing next to this…this…thing' said Blaise Zabini

'I said watch it Zabini' said Draco again in the same tone

Hermione stood there looking at the two men. Why was Malfoy acting like this, she thought to her self, wasn't it usually him that went around making fun of her blood? She didn't hear what Blaise said next but it must have been something terrible because next second Draco had dropped his champagne glass where it shattered on the floor and jumped onto Blaise Zabini knocking him to the ground. He punched his face again and again. Then Blaise threw Draco of him and in turn began demolishing his face. Hermione stood there watching, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. There was a crowd gathering around the two men as they rolled about on the floor, trying to cause as much damage to each other as possible. When Hermione finally came to her senses she pulled out her wand from a hidden pocket in her dress and forced the two men apart. They both went flying to different side of the hall. Draco landed a few feet away from Hermione. She ran over to him and said:

'Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing? You just made a fool out of yourself in front of your whole company' she whispered furiously

'I don't really care' said Draco. There was blood pouring out of his nose and he had cuts and bruises all over his face.

'What the hell did he say that made to retaliate so badly' she asked helping him to his feet.

'I am never going to repeat it and you aren't going to make me'

'Whatever'

The party ended soon after that. Most of the people went home scared about what would happen next. Hermione and Draco apparated back into the Malfoy Manor. They made their way up the stairs, Hermione yelling at Draco about how immature he was. A very curious looking Narcissa Malfoy came out of Nick's bedroom.

'Back already?' she asked, rasing her eyebrows. But when she looked at Draco's face her eyes widened in surprise. 'What on earth have you done to your face Draco' she asked shrilly

'It's nothing Mother' mumbled Draco in reply

'Yes it is SOMETHING Draco' said Hermione 'Narcissa, Draco just had a fight with this man named Blaise Zabini in front of his whole company'

'WHAT?' cried Narcissa

'Gr-Hermione you should be thankful, I was sticking up for you'

'I did not ask you to' said Hermione huffing

'What did Blaise say Draco?' asked Narcissa

'He called Hermione a Mudblood' said Draco, Narcissa glanced at Hermione, 'now Mother I couldn't just stand there and not do anything could I?'

'I see your point Draco but you should not have started a fight with that man, it will be quite insulting to the Malfoy name'

Draco groaned and looked at Hermione murderously. He was so not in the mood for one of his mother's "respect the Malfoy name" lectures. But thankfully she didn't say anything about it. Instead she bade them goodnight and apparated out of the Manor. Nick was already a sleep so Hermione and Draco went into their bedroom. Hermione walked into the bathroom to change into her pyjamas and Draco simply striped down to his boxers and got into bed. When Hermione came back out of the bathroom she made her way over to the bed and sat down.

'Draco I want to thank you for sticking up' she said snuggling into the sheets.

'Anytime Granger' said Draco smiling. He looked down at her to see her staring at him. She blushed slightly at being caught and looked away fiddling with her brand new ring instead.

'When did you get this?' she asked out of the blue

'When I asked you the first time to get married'

'Oh! But then why didn't you give it to me then?'

'I didn't think that it was the right moment'

'Really?'

'Yeah'

At this Hermione smiled at him. Draco looked at her taking in the smell of her sweet perfume. Slowly their faces inched together and next thing they knew they were kissing once again. But this kiss was different to the one in the garden. A lot more passion was involved. It was almost as if they were trying to prove themselves to each other. Draco flipped Hermione onto her back and began fiddling with the top button of her pyjama top. Hermione suddenly pulled away.

'What's wrong Granger?' asked Draco

'I can't do this' she replied and crawled out from underneath him and moved to her side of the bed. Draco sighed cursing himself for making such a sudden move. Both young individuals fell asleep dreaming of each other.

A/N: There we go people? Is it good enough? REVIEW! It's what everyone has been pestering me about (jokes) that they should fall in love, they will eventually actually it might be pretty soon. LMAO! The ring that I described is the ring that Tom Felton gave me when he proposed to me; you know what I'm talking about! HAHA I wish! I'll update soon I promise!