Chapter 26

"Every man wishes to be wise, they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning." –Samuel Jackson

"Draco, you did it!" Hermione threw her arms around her husband as soon as they were securely in their rooms. Draco smiled at her enthusiasm and twirled her around in his arms. She leaned back and firmly kissed his lips, "I love you."

"I love you, too, but I'll never forgive you for making me spend more time with Potter." He smirked as she rolled her eyes.

"You like him and you know it." She poked his chest at each word.

"I might," He replied evasively, "but I'll never admit it."

"Er!" She threw her arms up in the air and turned away from him. "I'm going to study, you should do the same."

"I don't need to study, it all comes to me naturally."

"Arrogant prat."

Draco smiled as Hermione sat at her study desk and pulled out her books. He went into their bedroom and changed into a simple pair of muggle pants. There was a knock at the door and he answered it.

Harry looked Draco up and down then smiled widely at him.

"Potter, are you a ponce or am I just that attractive?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I had interrupted something important."

"Considering we just got back from seeing Severus…" Draco trailed off hoping Harry would understand all the implications of the sentence.

"Right, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Can I come in?" After they were comfortably seated Harry spoke again. "I hear we're going to be spending some quality time together."

"You heard correctly."

"Good. The training is difficult and Snape will never go easy on you but I'm guessing you already knew that." Harry smiled roguishly.

"I do have potions with the man." Draco rolled his eyes.

"So," Harry leaned closer to Draco and whispered, "did Hermione tell you about me and Ginny?"

"The sex thing? I'm sure she mentioned it." He grinned.

"Well, I don't want to."

Draco's eyes went wide and his mouth nearly dropped open. "Are you sane? Your girlfriend is contemplating having sex with you and you're going to deny her. Tell me I've misunderstood something."

"No, you've got everything right. I just don't want to have her mother on my back or her six older brothers thank you very much."

Draco scrunched up his face, "I've never been so glad that Hermione is an only child."

"Yes, well, that doesn't help me. I don't want to sleep with her but if she decides she wants to sleep with me I'll not have much of a choice. She's the most stubborn woman I've ever met apart from Hermione."

Draco thought for a moment before grinning. "Propose."

"What?" Harry hissed his eyes snapping wide.

"Propose. We both know you're going to marry her eventually. Propose now and it'll keep her off sex for a while." Draco shrugged examining his nails and wrinkling his nose at the dirt beneath them.

"I can't do that for the hell of it even if it would get her off my back."

"You're such a Gryffindor. It's a bit annoying actually."

"Draco," Hermione said from the desk after hearing Harry raise his voice, "are you being nice?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course not, I'm a Slytherin. We're never nice, we're polite."

"Fine, are you being polite, then?"

"Yes, Harry just doesn't agree with everything I say and seems to be developing a twitch in his left eye. I'm not sure that's supposed to happen."

Harry stood up and ground his teeth, "I'll talk to you later."

Draco actually seemed surprised when the door slammed hard enough to rattle the entire residence.

&&&

Harry entered the Gryffindor common room and froze when he heard Ginny's voice call him from the chair near the fireplace. He smiled and sat across from her tenser than he should have been.

"Harry," She began, "I've been thinking about-"

"Ginny, I think we should get engaged." Harry nearly yelled effectively cutting off whatever she had been about to say. Ginny sat still contemplating a moment before leaping into his lap.

"Harry, that's wonderful. I was just going to say that I wanted to wait until we were married. It's good to know that you agree with me. Oh, I can't wait to tell Mum and everyone else. We have to tell Hermione and Draco!"

She was out the door before he could blink but he was running behind her as soon as he had gathered his wits about him.

"Ginny, do we have to tell Draco?"

&&

"Headmaster, I would like to go spend the upcoming weekend in Hogsmeade if you will allow me." Severus carefully said and winced at the large grin on Albus' face.

"Of course, Severus. I wouldn't dream of keeping you from something you wished to do. Are you sure you wouldn't like a cup of tea?"

"No, I really do have tests to grade and a detention to see to." He replied standing and bowing slightly. The Headmaster stopped him as he was about the leave the office.

"Give Elizabeth my best when you see her, would you."

"How? No, wait, I don't want to know." He shut the office door behind him and disappeared.

"You really should be nicer to him, Albus." Minerva said walking up to her husband.

"Listening at the door, Dear? I thought you were above spying."

"There's a difference between accidentally hearing two people conversing and interrogating every possible person to discover all aspects of people's lives." She smiled sitting down and conjuring a cup of tea for herself.

"I'd say we both tread that line. You're not as innocent as you like to believe." He looked up to see her lips thinning into a line of annoyance.

"That may be but what gives you the right to poke fun of Severus like that?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I just think we should plan for a summer wedding." He sipped his tea and gave her a moment to digest his words.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't."

Minerva leaned back heavily in her chair, "I think I need something stronger than tea."

He nodded then stopped her just before she summoned a bottle of firewhiskey, "I never did say who we should plan a wedding for."

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long. I really have no excuse other than some tings have been going on in my personal life.

The next chapter: untitled as of yet. It'll be mainly Severus on his "date" and Ginny and Harry sharing their news.

Reviews: Thanks for the support through the long updates.

angelatheart01: Of course I'm finishing the story, I hate leaving anything unfinished except cleaning the house. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you have any ideas about what I could do, please help because I'm encountering major writer's block when it comes to this story.

xoKaSsIeox: Thank you.

pinkstar146: I love your review; it has proper grammar. Wow, I sound like a dork.

Candy: I'm weird, too, don't worry.

jesska-14: I'm probably not going to kill Draco…

dmhg: Yeah, my grades weren't as good as I hoped for.

Anarane Anwamane: Thanks for sticking with it. Any suggestions?

Bookworm1214: Thank you. Love the name.

Lady of the Realm: Thank you so much for that! I cracked up then fell out of my chair. Your advice helped so much. Any ideas for the story?

Angel5blue5: I'm glad you think it's getting better. I want to edit the first story and beginning chapters again.

Alenor: I don't celebrate Easter but thanks for the thought. Loved the review.

Sunflower18: I hope the length this time was to your liking.