A/N: Okay, so here are some notes for the people who didn't read 'Summer of the Dragon'. Everyone else, please carry on :-)
Several of my OC's are reintroduced in this chapter. The main ones are Sophie and Phillip, newlyweds who fell in love while working with Draco and Hermione the previous summer. They got married near the end of the story. Now they are working on reestablishing a company they formerly worked at (that went bankrupt after the owner died and his racist son took over) and now own called Thinx. It specializes in utilizing Muggle technology in the wizarding world and Draco has been working there since September/Octoberish. They hired him, knowing it would be a good way to revamp the Malfoy name, which has drastically deteriorated.
The other OC is Caroline. She is their friend and coworker and hasn't really been developed yet so she might as well be new.
Another important detail is that Lucius went a bit insane after Dementors used him to feed off of for years and a house-elf dressed like one convinced him to try and kill Hermione, since the elf wanted both of them gone for the greater good of the family. He got his sanity back but Hermione and Draco aren't exactly over it.
Also, Daphne Greengrass and Gregory Goyle are married, but it was arranged by their fathers so they're not happy.
That is all for now.
Draco Malfoy stared mindlessly out of the window in his office, completely blind to the streets of Diagon Alley beyond it. He was having a hard time focusing today. Not just because it was Sunday and he was at work. Again. But because today was a very special day and he couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen in just a few short hours.
"Zinking about your 'ot date tonight again, are you?" Draco looked up to see Sophie Prior, formerly Labelle, sitting in the chair opposite his desk and smirking at him. He hadn't even noticed her come in.
Draco smirked back. "How'd you guess?"
"Oh no reason. You've just 'ad zis goofy, love struck look on your face all day. Phillipe says you are slacking."
"Have not!" snapped Phillip Prior, her large, rock-like husband, marching into the room. "You're the one who said he was completely unfocused in our strategy meeting earlier."
"But I said eet wiz a smile on my face. See?" she said pointing at the way she could not stop beaming. "'Appy!"
Phillip chuckled. "You're lucky you're adorable, because you're a horrible boss."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Anyways, Draco, Phillipe wanted me to come een 'ere and tell you to start concentrating. We 'ave all of our pitch meetings wiz ze investors just after ze 'olidays and zis ees no time to be losing focus, even for a day. A very special day …"
"Sophie!"
"Well, I am sorry! I cannot 'elp eet eef I am a 'opeless romantic!"
"You know, we really don't need to go through this entire process. I have already told you I am more than willing to give you the money to -"
"No!" the newlyweds shouted in unison.
Draco laughed. "All right. I get it. You want to do it the 'proper' way."
"It's not just that, Draco," said Phillip. "This is a company that specializes in helping Muggle-borns stay connected to the outside world -"
"You don't say," he smirked.
Phillip ignored him. "We're still working on revitalizing the Thinx name after Zandicus nearly destroyed it. We just don't think that accepting money, which essentially belongs to your father, would be good for its image."
Draco nodded solemnly. "I get that too."
While it still stung a little, Draco understood where Phillip and Sophie were coming from. His father had made quite a mess of things last summer when he went insane and tried to kill the most famous Muggle-born witch in the wizarding world, Hermione Granger. Granted, he had recovered his mind since then - mostly - but the damage was still done. All of the work Draco had done to repair the Malfoy name since the war now meant nothing and he had to start from the bottom once again.
Hence his accepting the position at Thinx, a company he never would have imagined himself working at in a million years. Not just because it aided Muggle-borns, a minor detail he had more or less grown to accept, but because Phillip and Sophie were the owners of the company and, therefore, his bosses.
Just a few short months ago they had been colleagues working for Mr. Ollivander, but now he had to answer to them. While Sophie wasn't so bad, since she spent a good chunk of her day in his office chatting about nothing work related, Phillip took everything very seriously. This was more his company than hers - since he had been extremely close with the former owner, the late Zanzar Thinx - and he was determined to bring it back to its former glory.
"I didn't mean to offend you," said Phillip, casting his eyes guiltily to the floor.
"I'm not offended, Pip," said Draco, purposely using the nickname he knew Phillip hated. "My father's a bloody git. I'm the first to admit it."
"'Ave you talked to 'im or your mother recently?" asked Sophie, moving to his side of the desk and putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Draco shook his head. "Not since last month."
"Are you going to owl zem … after tonight?"
"Only if the night goes well." He winked.
Sophie smiled. "Eet weell."
"I hope so …" said Draco, staring back out the window wistfully …
"Draco! Focus!"
"Sorry!" he said, snapping back to reality.
"All I need is for you to finish that report on the Muggle emailing system before the end of the day. If you finish early you are free to go and get ready for your 'hot date'."
"Yay!" Sophie clapped happily before leaping into her husband's strong arms.
Phillip took this opportunity to pull her towards the door. As soon as he got her out he shouted back at Draco, "And don't worry! It is going to go great!"
"GOOD LUCK!" Sophie called while Phillip slammed the door.
Well, if nothing else, at least Phillip's speech was motivational. With the possibility of leaving early now in the air, he quickly went to work on the report he meant to start two hours ago. He had been playing around with Muggle email for a few weeks now and had gotten pretty good at it. While he had to admit it was very handy, and quite a bit quicker than sending an owl, he still refused to believe it was better. Nothing would ever beat receiving a handwritten letter by owl. Especially when signed with those signature xoxo's he'd grown to love.
Draco finally finished his report about a half hour early and rushed to bring it to Phillip. His coworker, Caroline, was already standing in the hallway just outside of his office. She smiled when she saw him run out. "Sophie sent me to check on you. All finished?"
"Yes," he said in a rushed voice.
"I'll take that then," she said, holding out her hand. "You have a 'hot date' you need to get to."
Draco chuckled and handed it to her. "Thanks Caroline. Tell Sophie and Phillip I'll owl them after."
"TEXT ME!" he heard Sophie shout from her office down the hall. "Eet ees so much faster!"
"The speed is not what's important, Soph!" Phillip called from his office just across from hers. "He needs to improve at it!"
"Yeah yeah yeah! TEXT EES FASTER!"
Draco and Caroline exchanged an amused look before heading in opposite directions. Draco went back into his office to collect his things. He was just about to disapparate out of there when a knock came at his window. A large, white owl was fluttering outside of it. He groaned, knowing exactly whose owl this was and what it meant.
Against his better judgment, he opened the window and let the owl in, quickly reading the small note attached to its leg. It was just as he suspected.
After practically pushing the owl back out of the window and slamming it shut, Draco put on his cloak and headed out of his office and down the stairs for the closest fireplace. He now had a new destination which required a different form of transportation.
On his way down the stairs, Draco passed a witch who worked on the second floor, but always made a point to come to the Thinx floor to use the washroom. She smiled brightly as he passed. Even though he was very much off the market, Draco still had a reputation that loose witches tried to persuade him to uphold. No one had succeeded yet. For the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy was completely faithful. Something that surprised even him. And, what more, he was happy being that way.
Draco did not even attempt to smile back at the witch. He never did. He honestly couldn't wait until all of their meetings with the investors were over and done with so the Thinx Corporation could finally move to a bigger building. Preferably one where they wouldn't have to share space with inadequate businesses, like whichever one this witch worked for. She had told him once while trying to engage him in conversation, but he wasn't listening. All he knew was that if her work was anything of importance he would have picked up on it.
Finally making it to the fireplace on the first floor of the building, Draco threw in his Floo powder and entered the green flames. "Greengrass Estate," he said before zooming through the fireplace, coming back out in a fancy foyer decorated with emerald green and silver accents. He headed through the door directly in front of him.
"Darling, you're early!" A surprised looking, dark-haired witch leapt off of the sofa she had been sitting on and ran into his arms. Draco gave her a kiss on the cheek, eyeing the older wizard she very closely resembled, who was smiling at them from his armchair.
"Sorry, darling. They let me off of work early so I thought we could get a head start on our evening."
"Absolutely! Just give me five minutes, will you?"
"Just hurry up," said Draco, under his breath.
The witch leaned in and pretended to give him a kiss, secretly whispering, "Sorry," before leaving the room.
A blonde witch, similar in appearance, entered as soon as the other witch left. "Oh, Draco," she said, noticing him standing there. "Here to take Astoria out on another 'hot date' are you?" She smirked at him.
Draco smirked back. "You know I am. And where is Gregory this fine evening?"
"He's still at work," she said, walking over to the sofa and slumping down on it.
"Please sit properly, Daphne. No daughter of mine should ever slouch, especially in front of company," scolded Mr. Greengrass.
"Sorry, Father," said Daphne, straightening up in her seat. "I'm sure Draco is greatly offended by my manner of sitting."
"Terribly," winked Draco.
"You shouldn't be too informal with Mr. Malfoy, dear. While he comes by often enough he is not part of our family … yet." Mr. Greengrass looked at Draco and smiled.
A chill ran down Draco's spine. He tried to smile back but it came out a bit awkward. Daphne noticed this and chuckled behind her hand. She was one of the only members of this household to know the truth about their precious Astoria and her relationship with the infamous Draco Malfoy.
"Ready!" shouted Astoria, running into the room and over to Draco. She was now wearing a deep-green cloak, which she seemed to be using to hide a very small, gray dress. Draco caught a glimpse of it and knew that someone was going to be very happy tonight. Astoria grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the foyer. "Goodnight Daphne! Goodnight Father! I won't be home too late!"
"Night Stori! Have fun with Draco tonight! No one else! Just you and Draco!"
Astoria shot her sister a sharp look. Daphne grinned widely at her, no joy in her face diminishing until long after Astoria and Draco were gone.
The two of them used the Floo network to get to Diagon Alley. Astoria went through first. When Draco landed on the other side she proceeded to throw apology after apology at him. "Draco, I'm so sorry! You probably have plans and I'm ruining them, but when I got that owl asking me to come out tonight I couldn't say no. I'm so sorry! Thank you for coming so quickly. Do you hate me?"
"A little," he said honestly.
"Oh." Astoria's face dropped. "I'm so sorry!"
The truth was, he and Astoria had dated briefly back in September, but it had ended before it ever really began. Shortly after that she had started dating someone new, someone she was positive her father would not approve of, so she had decided to just never mention that she and Draco had broken up. Only her sister, Daphne, and her brother-in-law, Gregory Goyle, knew the truth. And so, Draco was constantly forced into picking Astoria up on dates, only to escort her to someone else. Normally he would never do it but his real girlfriend insisted. She was still trying very hard to get back in the good graces of Astoria's real boyfriend.
Draco and Astoria walked in silence through the streets of Diagon Alley. They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron where Astoria immediately went over and sat down at an empty table. Draco thought about leaving, but when he noticed the way the men in this place were eyeing her as she took off her cloak, revealing the dress underneath - which was even smaller than he had thought previously - he knew he had to stay. Groaning, Draco took a seat in the chair beside her.
"So what do you have planned for the night?" Astoria asked, trying to make idle conversation.
"It's our anniversary," said Draco, eyeing the clock. "She's making dinner at our flat." Which he was now going to be late for.
"Oh, how lovely!" Astoria said, beaming at him. "Is she a good cook?"
Draco shrugged. "Dunno. Her mother's been teaching her for the last few months. She hasn't actually let me try anything yet, other than breakfast." Astoria tried to say something else, but Draco held up a hand to silence her. He then looked at her very seriously and told her, "I need you to know, Astoria, that this is the last time I'm doing this for you. After tonight I will no longer be able to pretend to be your boyfriend so, I suggest, when you get home tonight you tell your father the truth."
"No longer able?" she repeated. Draco nodded. "What does that mean?"
Before he had a chance to answer, the back entrance to the Leaky Cauldron opened and a familiar red-headed wizard walked in. His blue eyes scanned the room until they landed on Draco, always looking visibly disappointed even though he was more than aware he would be there.
"Your boyfriend's here," said Draco, nodding towards him.
Astoria turned around and smiled. The red-headed wizard smiled back.
"Why you're willingly dating Weasley I will never understand."
"Oh, don't be like that, Draco," she said, turning back and sticking her tongue out at him. "He's actually very sweet. And if it weren't for you we probably never would have met, so you can thank yourself for that."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I take no such credit." He stood up, knowing very well that Ron was not going to come over until he was gone.
"So, about this not being able thing you were talking about. Does that mean you're …?"
Draco grinned. "I guess you'll just have to find out tomorrow."
That was as good as a yes to Astoria. She beamed at him. "Oh, this is so exciting! Do you mind if I prepare him a bit?" she asked, motioning back at Ron.
"Do whatever you feel is necessary," he said, straightening himself up for departure. "See you around, Astoria." He winked and quickly disapparated out of there, reappearing in his own living room.
"Well, it's about bloody time," he heard someone mock in their best Draco voice.
He turned around, his face smothered by a heap of bushy hair as that same someone leapt into his arms. Before his eyes even had a chance to focus she cupped his face in her soft hands and kissed him. He kissed back with great vigor, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her feet off the ground.
When he put her down he pulled back and looked adoringly into the amber eyes of Hermione Granger. "Happy anniversary, love," he said, kissing her again.
It was on this day exactly six months ago that the two of them left for their summer job collecting supplies for Ollivanders wands. While they had not become romantically entangled right away, they both agreed that the start of their summer should be the day they forever celebrated. Hermione didn't know this yet, but Draco also had every intention of celebrating their first 'shagiversary' in a few weeks' time. Of course, that would be a different sort of night. One where dinner would be completely unnecessary.
When their kiss ended Hermione stayed in Draco's arms, but still gave him a playful smack on his chest. "Why are you late? I owled Sophie to see if that tyrant husband of hers was keeping you after again, but she said you'd actually left early. You better have been getting me a present or something. Of course, if you actually did wait until the last minute I just might have to kill you."
Draco laughed, squeezing her tighter. "No killing necessary. Your present was purchased and well hidden weeks ago."
"So why are you late then?"
"Astoria owled me right as I was leaving. Another secret rendezvous with Weasel," he sneered. "And since I was early picking her up I, of course, did the gentlemanly thing and waited for him to arrive."
"Did he actually come up while you were there this time, or did he wait in the corner for you to leave again?"
"What do you think?"
Hermione frowned. "Well, I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before he warms up to you. After all, if you hadn't broke it off with me, dated her, and then brought her to Harry's wedding to win me back - weird play, by the way - the two of them never would have met."
Draco still took no responsibility for this match made in Muggle Hell.
"Harry thinks Ron's going to marry her someday but, the Weasley's … well, they're all still in serious denial about him dating a Slytherin."
"Still think you'll come running back, do they?" he joked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure they know by now that I'm not. And, what more, I don't think they want me in their family any more than they want Astoria. Possibly even less."
Draco knew this was true. He and Hermione had made their first appearance as a couple towards the end of Potter's and Weaselette's wedding. While it didn't go terribly, it didn't exactly go well either. Ron took the highroad - well, for him, anyway - and ignored them, eventually disappearing into the shadows with Astoria. But the other Weasley's were far less forgiving.
Charlie was the only one who did absolutely nothing. He had encountered Draco and Hermione numerous times over the summer and knew their feelings were legit, plus he noticed that Ron was more or less over it.
Bill tried to kick them out - well, just Draco, but Hermione said if he left then she did too - but his wife, Fleur, pulled him back and calmed him. She had also seen the two of them together at Sophie's and Phillip's wedding and knew that they were, in fact, in love.
George tried to jinx him, of course, but Phillip - who was playing bodyguard - took his wand before he could.
Then there was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who said nothing but still shook their heads in blatant disapproval. This is what hurt Hermione the most. Draco still remembered the way she squeezed his hand even tighter to keep herself from crying.
Ginny - who was also very aware of their love, even though she did not understand it - actually scolded her parents for being so critical and went and gave Hermione a hug. She knew her friend had been miserable without Draco. Harry even took it a step further and shook Draco's hand, but his face was a little hard as he did it. Neither wizard particularly enjoyed this but they both knew it was necessary.
"Come on," said Hermione, pulling him towards their small dining area. "I want you to see."
Draco smiled as she used her wand to turn down the lights and set flame to the two enchanted candles floating above the table. She had decorated it with a green, silk tablecloth, lacy napkins, and golden plates, goblets, and utensils.
Hermione liked to combine green and gold all throughout their flat, seeing it as her own way of unifying their houses, a style she termed 'Gryfferin'. Every time she said that word it made Draco cringe.
Dinner was already set out. It was some sort of slightly burnt red meat, steamed vegetables that looked a little raw, and something he could only assume - and hoped - was mashed potatoes.
"Looks perfect, Mione," he said, hugging her waist from behind and planting a kiss on her neck.
She turned her head and met his lips with hers. Draco began to run his hands all along the tight, black dress she was wearing. Eventually one hand made its way down to her thigh, where it began to slowly creep up the inside of the garment while the other ravaged at her breasts.
Hermione tried to pull away but he kept a firm hold on her. "Draco … no … the food will get cold …"
"We can heat it up," he said, unzipping the back of her dress and letting it fall to the floor, revealing a sexy, lacy, green bra and panties. He smiled. "Oh, love. For me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes before using her wand to strip him of his clothes and pushing him to the floor. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down with him, rolling the two of them so that he was on top. She giggled as he tickled her inner thigh before carefully removing her panties.
"I love you, Hermione," he said, like he always did before they started anything.
Hermione smiled. "I love you too," she said, while looking into his warm gray eyes.
Always happy to hear those words, Draco leaned in and kissed her, biting her bottom lip as he began to move his hips with hers.
Hermione moaned happily into his mouth. It was nice to know that after all of these months the two of them had not lost even the slightest bit of passion. Every time was just as exhilarating as the first, if not more so.
Draco and Hermione were completely engulfed in each other for a good portion of the evening, both of them completely forgetting about the dinner waiting for them just a few feet away.
XXX
Several hours later Draco sat in a chair at the table wearing nothing but his boxers while Hermione sat on his lap, still naked underneath the blanket she had wrapped around her. She was feeding him bites of the dinner she had made while he held onto her and pretended to enjoy it.
It wasn't that Hermione was a bad cook. She was just new at it. After she and Ron had broken up she moved back in with her parents, and her mom was finally able to teach her all of the things moms normally taught their daughters in their youth, like cooking.
She had moved in with Draco just over a month ago, but still spent many evenings at home with her parents. Draco had gone a couple of times, mainly to learn about Muggles and their customs for his job. At least, that's what Hermione convinced him he was doing, anyway. Really she just wanted him to meet her parents, who were surprisingly fond of him. The feeling wasn't exactly mutual, but it was a start.
"Would it be all right if I gave you your present now?" Hermione asked while putting down the fork.
Draco kissed her on the cheek. "Of course. And then I'll give you yours." His heart started racing as he thought about what her reaction would be to his present. He hoped she didn't notice.
If she did she didn't say anything. Hermione used her wand to move a nicely wrapped box out from underneath the sofa and levitated it over to them. She handed it to him and smiled.
Draco kept his arms around her waist while carefully unwrapping his present. He hated to destroy the beautiful work her perfectionism had created. Hermione tried to wait patiently but eventually gave up on that and started tearing it open for him.
He laughed before pulling it away from her. "This is my present, Mione, and I will open it as leisurely as I please."
Hermione rolled her eyes before moving her hand onto his leg, stroking the bare skin just below the end of his boxers. "I'd hurry it up if I were you," she said, winking suggestively.
Draco tossed the wrapping paper aside and tore open the box, revealing a familiar, gold pocket watch. He looked at it curiously.
"Keep opening," she said.
Draco lifted the watch out of the box and flipped it open. On one side there was now a photo of him and Hermione kissing at Sophie and Phillip's wedding. He had always loved that photo. And, on the other side, he noticed that the clocks hands were moving for the first time in months, but there was no ticking.
"It took some time but I finally got a silencing charm to stick," she said, playing with the chain that was dangling over his leg. "I made it sound like crickets until I got it right."
Draco smiled. Even though it was once his father's, he had always loved that pocket watch. He had only ever stopped using it because the ticking sound haunted Hermione. She had once explained to him that when his father first shot a killing curse at her, the room they were in was completely silent except for the sound of a ticking clock. Ever since then Draco made sure no clocks were ever around her. He was just lucky those Muggle cell phones came with 'electronic' alarm clocks, or else they would never get to work on time.
"Thanks, Mione. I love it," he said, kissing her chastely.
Hermione smiled. "Now, where's mine?" she asked.
Draco laughed before scooping her up, blanket and all, and carrying her over to the sofa. He put her down on it and said, "Close your eyes."
Hermione did as she was told. He left the room and she tried to peek back at what he was doing, but he yelled at her to keep her eyes closed. He knew her too well.
She heard him come back into the room and crouch down in front of her but still kept her eyes clenched shut, even though she was dying to know what he was doing.
"Okay, you can open them."
Hermione did. She gasped. Draco was now down on one knee in front of her, holding up a small box with a large, diamond and emerald ring inside of it. She then looked past the ring to the wizard behind it. He was looking back at her nervously.
"Hermione Granger, ever since you came back into my life I have been unable to think of anyone else. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be and I'd be an idiot if I ever gave you a chance to slip away from me."
Hermione's eyes began to mist as he continued the speech he had so carefully prepared.
"So, that being said, Hermione, my Mione, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
"Yes!" Hermione screamed without hesitation. She was full out sobbing now, her hands shaking while Draco took the ring out of the box and put it on her left ring finger.
As soon as it was in place Hermione leapt off of the couch and into his arms, kissing him passionately while both crying and laughing into his mouth.
"Who taught you how Muggles propose?" she asked between bated breaths.
"Sophie and Phillip," answered Draco. "Did I do the whole one knee thing right? I accidentally got on both at first."
"Yes, everything was perfect!" she said, pulling him into a tight hug. "Except …"
"Except what?" he asked worriedly.
Hermione smirked. "Well, I can't exactly tell our children one day that Daddy proposed to Mommy while she was naked."
Draco pulled back from her and laughed at the way Hermione was making sure to keep herself completely covered in her blanket. He removed part of it from her shoulder and began tenderly kissing the newly revealed skin. "Well, if you hadn't seduced me the moment I got here I could have done this before the first round of shagging."
"Me seduce you? Hardly! " she scoffed. "I could have been wearing a potato sack and you'd still be ready to go at it."
"You're right," he said, slipping the blanket off of the other shoulder. "I'm easy. I admit it."
He traced his lips up her shoulder and to her neck, sucking on her sweet and supple skin more aggressively. Hermione's hands fell loose as she began to moan and Draco took this opportunity to seize her blanket and toss it to the floor.
"Shall we celebrate then?" he said, already positioning her on the sofa while she grabbed his neck and pulled him down with her.
And celebrate they did. The two of them kept at it well into the night, both of them ignoring the continually ringing cell phone lost somewhere in the heap of clothes on the floor.