A/N: The only note for non-SOTD readers is that Draco and Goyle had a falling out after Hogwarts since he felt Draco had gone soft, but they're more or less better now.

Enjoy!

The next morning Draco woke up a little surprised to find that he was in bed alone. He could hear Hermione talking to someone in the other room while the smell of bacon lingered in the air.

Draco got up to investigate, but before he had a chance to leave the bedroom his and Hermione's new Eagle Owl started screeching from its cage. They had purchased it together several weeks earlier but hadn't really gotten around to using it yet. Hermione had named it Polly as a sort of tribute to Sophie, who was obsessed with eating the sap of Purple Polly Flowers.

Draco went over to the cage and let the owl out. It began flying in circles over the bed until he opened the window so it could go outside. Once it was gone he was finally able to proceed to the front of their flat.

Hermione was currently fiddling around in the kitchen while talking animatedly on his cell phone. "Yes, I'm extremely excited … Yes, we would love to come to dinner tonight to celebrate …" She laughed. "Mom! Make sure you keep Dad in line … Oh, his parents? I don't think they'll be able to make it tonight … Yeah, probably not next week either … Umm, let me ask him and get back to you …"

Draco cleared his throat. Hermione looked up from what she was doing and smiled when she saw him.

"Sorry guys, but my fiancé's finally awake, so I have to go … Yes, yes, we'll come by tonight … Thanks! I love you both too … All right, bye!" Hermione hung up the phone and left the bacon and pancakes to flip themselves while she leapt into Draco's arms. "Good morning, future husband. Did you sleep well?" she asked, while giving him a million tiny kisses on his lips.

Draco chuckled before grabbing her head and pulling her in for one large one. "Surprisingly yes, considering we only got to bed a few hours ago."

The phone started ringing again and Hermione left Draco to go and see who it was. She laughed when she looked at the name of the incoming caller. "It's Sophie again. Should we put her out of her misery and answer?"

"Let her sweat a little bit longer. She's going to see me in an hour, anyway," said Draco, walking over and taking the phone out of her hands. "So we're having dinner with your parents tonight?"

"Yes, I hope you don't mind," said Hermione, returning to her cooking. "By the way, have I told you how much I love that thing?" She motioned her head towards the cell phone. "Have Sophie and Phillip explained to you how they got this technology to work in wizarding regions yet?"

"Some very complicated and expensive process that helps them tap into the Muggle saddelines."

"Satellites, Draco."

"Yeah, that's what I said."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"As I was saying, it is all very complicated and expensive to make happen, especially since they want to do it in bulk. Right now Seth is the only one of us who can do it. Hence the need for investors."

Hermione looked back at him and frowned. "I really wish they'd let you help out with that. Maybe then you wouldn't be working so late all the time."

"Phil and Sophie have made it very clear they don't want any money that is associated with my father," Draco said, hugging her from behind and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Speaking of your father, are you going to tell him and your mother about this?" she asked, fidgeting with the large ring on her finger before using her wand to flip a pancake.

"Of course I am," he said.

Polly swooped into the room and stole one of the finished pancakes off of a plate.

"Ah, right on cue. I'll send an owl right now." Draco went over to the desk in the living room and pulled out a piece of parchment, ink, and a quill.

He was just about to start writing when Hermione said, "Draco, wait." She was now standing behind him and put her hand on his to stop him. "Do you really want your parents to find out about this through a letter? Don't you think we should tell them in person?"

"No," he said, moving her hand out of the way. "You told your parents through a phone, which might as well be the Muggle equivalent of an owl."

"But that was different. My parents are happy about this. While yours … well, we both know they're not exactly fond of me."

"My father doesn't hate you."

Hermione smirked. "'Doesn't hate' is far from liking, and even farther from accepting. He told you he'd support you if you chose to be with me, but he didn't say if that extended to marriage."

"I'm pretty sure he assumed."

"Please, just do this for me, Draco. I haven't asked for much when it comes to them, but I think this is really important. Whether you like it or not the two of them are going to be part of our lives. We might as well start it out properly."

Draco sighed. "Fine. For you," he said. Hermione smiled widely before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. "I'll write them now and ask them to dinner on Saturday. Will that suffice?"

"Yes, that will be perfect," Hermione said before returning to the kitchen.

Draco scribbled a quick note and attached it to Polly's leg. By the time he sent her out the window Hermione had their breakfast waiting on the table. He gladly went over and joined his beautiful fiancée for their first meal with their new titles.

XXX

In an attempt to irk Sophie even more than she already was, Draco decided to take Hermione to work and be a few minutes late to his own job. While Hermione did not approve of him being late she was happy to have the company, even though she just apparated to the Ministry.

The two of them did side-by-side apparition while kissing, as they often did. They both loved that feeling of being squished together by forces stronger than nature.

Draco and Hermione walked hand-in-hand until they were just outside of the entrance. Wizards and witches all around were watching them, as they often did. No one quite knew what to make of the former Death Eater and the famous Muggle-born witch as a couple. It definitely took some getting used to, even for them.

Before Draco left, Hermione threw her arms around his neck and gave him an enthusiastic kiss goodbye. When it ended she hugged him close and whispered into his ear, "I wish we could have stayed home today and celebrated some more."

Draco laughed. "Me too, love, but Phil would not hesitate to use a Killing Curse on me."

The cell phone in Draco's pocket started buzzing. They both looked at each other and laughed. "I actually think Sophie is your bigger threat right now."

That was no joke. Draco gave her one last kiss before letting her go and turning to leave, accidentally running right into Ron Weasley.

"Sorry," Ron said before noticing who he had hit. When he did his face dropped. "Oh, it's you."

Harry came up behind him. They both looked over at Hermione who was fidgeting with the ring on her finger. She momentarily thought about hiding her hand, but quickly decided against it. Draco would never let her hear the end of it if she did.

Ron noticed the ring first. "Said yes right away, did you?"

Draco scowled at him. "How dare you -"

"Draco, it's fine," said Hermione, holding out her hand to stop him from lunging forward. "Yes, Ron, I said yes right away."

Ron's ears turned a bright crimson. Just a little over six months ago he had asked Hermione the same question as Draco, only she had told him she had to think about it and then asked if they could take a break. Needless to say, their break became permanent, and while Ron claimed he was fine with it, it was hard for him not to feel some resentment over her choosing someone he'd always hated over him.

"Congratulations, Hermione," said Harry, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder to keep him steady and calm.

Ron's flush died down and he successfully looked her in the eyes and said, "Yeah, congratulations."

He headed inside, but Harry waited for Hermione to give Draco one last kiss goodbye before walking in with her. At least his congratulations sounded somewhat sincere.

Draco stared after her until her bushy head was out of view. His phone started buzzing in his pocket again. He laughed. With no further reason to prolong Sophie's torture, Draco disapparated from the Ministry and reappeared in his own office. She was sitting on his desk and waiting for him with flames in her eyes, her normally pretty face distorted into a hideous grimace.

"Draco Malfoy, you better 'ave a good excuse for not getting back to me last night! And zis morning!"

"SOPHIE! He was busy getting engaged!" Phillip shouted from down the hall before walking into the office. "How many times do I have to tell you to leave Draco alone?" He looked at Draco, whose straight face was not giving away any hints. "You are engaged, right, mate?"

Draco said nothing. He walked over to his desk, pulled out some of his work from one of the drawers and took a seat. "I'd rather not talk about it," he finally said.

Sophie gasped, already tearing up as she threw both hands over her O-shaped mouth. "Draco, no … 'Ermione would never … please, tell me she did not say … I weell owl 'er right now and set 'er straight!"

"Please, don't, Sophie. It's none of your concern."

"Wait … Are you serious?" asked Phillip. "She really said no?"

Draco kept his silence, but it was becoming harder and harder to hold back his smile.

"Oh, please! He's fucking with you!" Caroline apparated into the room. "Tell them you're fucking with them, Draco. We all know she said yes. That girl is too in love to have even considered the alternative."

Sophie and Phillip looked hopefully at Draco. He glanced over at Caroline and cracked a smile while shaking his head. Other than Hermione, she was the only one who ever saw through his bullshit. He wasn't sure if he liked that or hated that about her. Finally, he looked back at his friends and said, "Of course she said yes. Did you really have any doubts?"

Sophie let out a loud squeal and began jumping up and down. Phillip smiled and rolled his eyes. "Bloody bastard," he said.

"Seth, it's a go!" shouted Caroline.

Almost instantaneously, the fifth and final Thinx employee, Seth, apparated into the room with a bottle of champagne. He popped it open while Caroline transfigured whatever random objects she could find on Draco's desk into glasses.

Draco stood up and Sophie jumped into his arms. "Tell me everything! Where deed you do eet? How deed you do eet? What deed you say? What deed she say? Oh my Merlin, where weell we begin?"

"Let the man breathe, Soph," said Phillip, putting a glass of champagne in her hands. "He hasn't even been engaged for twelve hours yet."

"You do not know zat! Draco, what time deed you propose?"

"Is that really important?" asked Draco, taking his own glass of champagne from Caroline. Sophie kept staring at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes. "It was just after ten." According to his newly working pocket watch he had opened just moments before.

"Why so late?"

"Uh … we were celebrating our anniversary. What do you think?"

"Oh." Sophie raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"A toast!" said Phillip, holding up his glass. Everyone else followed suit. "To Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. The most incompatible, argumentative couple I have ever met. Yet, somehow, it works."

"'Ere, 'ere!"

Draco chuckled. "Lovely speech," he said before clanking everyone's glasses and taking a sip of his champagne.

"You 'ave to let us take you and 'Ermione out for drinks tonight to celebrate! Please, please say we can?"

"We're supposed to have dinner with her parents tonight."

"After?" Sophie asked with wide, hope-filled eyes.

"I suppose that would be all right."

"You should probably ask her, Soph. We all know men lose their rights to decide anything once they make the big commitment."

"You deed not."

Draco, Phillip, Caroline and Seth all exchanged knowing looks and chuckled.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I weell go owl ze boss of zis coupledom right away!" She quickly disapparated from the room.

There was a loud knock on Draco's window. He looked outside and saw Polly hovering about. She had a large letter in her mouth sealed with the Malfoy family crest. He groaned before letting her in. The owl dropped the letter on his desk.

"Mail this early in the morning?" asked Phillip.

Draco nodded. "If nothing else, at least the Malfoy's are efficient." He tore open the seal and was immediately met with his mother's perfect penmanship.

"Bad news?" asked Caroline, noticing how his face dropped with every word he read.

Draco nodded again. "Horrible. Hermione and I are having dinner with my parents on Saturday." And here he was thinking they would say no. He should have known better. Draco gulped. There was no way this could end well.

XXX

After dinner with her parents, Draco and Hermione went to the Leaky Cauldron, where their friends had clearly started celebrating without them.

Sophie squealed with excitement when she saw them. She ran up to Hermione and threw herself at her with such force the two of them nearly toppled over. Luckily, Draco had his arm around Hermione's waist and was able to steady them before they had a chance to fall.

"Let me see! Let me see!" Sophie demanded, grabbing Hermione's hand and gawking at the large ring.

"Sophie, you helped me pick it!" Draco rolled his eyes.

"So? Eet always looks different on."

They all went over to the table where Phillip had already ordered a bottle of champagne. Seth and Caroline were both there too and, shortly after Draco and Hermione sat down, Harry and Ginny arrived. Neither was particularly happy about the engagement, but they tried to support Hermione as best they could.

"Evening Potter. Potterette," said Draco, giving each of them a curt nod. "No Weasel tonight?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you think?"

Draco shrugged. "I owled Astoria and she said she was going to try and get him here. Thought she might have succeeded considering he's whipped and all."

"He is not whipped!" Ginny shouted.

She looked to Harry for reassurance but he was pretending to be interested in the glass of champagne Sophie had handed to him. Of course, he knew it was true. Ginny just refused to believe it because she hated the thought of her brother ending up with a Slytherin. When they had met she'd been supportive enough, thinking it was just going to be a quick fling for him to get over Hermione, but it was now almost three months later and the two of them showed absolutely no signs that a break up was in their future.

Deciding to drop the subject, Ginny took a seat and quickly guzzled a glass of champagne. After she slammed it down on the table she looked at Hermione very seriously and said, "Are you absolutely positive you don't want to be my sister-in-law?"

Draco let out a loud, "Ha!" but Hermione was horrified.

"Ginny, yes! I am one-hundred and fifty percent positive I do not want to marry Ron!"

"Besides, I don't think he'd have her at this point," Draco joked.

Hermione looked at him coldly. She was not amused. He immediately shut his mouth with a sip of champagne.

"All right, then. I just needed to hear you say it once. I won't ask again." Ginny paused and let out a loud sigh. "Sorry, Hermione. I really am," she gulped, "happy for you."

"Thank you, Ginny. That means a lot."

"Can I see?" Ginny asked, cocking her head to the side to try and catch a glimpse of the ring her friend had hidden under her crossed arms. Hermione held her hand out and Ginny oohed and awed just like she was supposed to. "Why am I not surprised that it has green," she said.

Hermione laughed. "I wasn't either. But I like how it looks. The emeralds just seem to add a little something to it. And don't think for one second that I was blind to the gold band," she said, nudging Draco. "Just another splendid example of Gryfferin."

Draco cringed. "If you call it that again, I will not hesitate to take it back and get a silver one."

Hermione smiled while nuzzling into him. "No you won't. All slither, no bite."

"Don't test me."

Just then the door to the Leaky Cauldron opened and Astoria walked in … alone. She looked around until she spotted them and waved brightly. She looked behind her and started searching for something. After a few seconds she opened the door again and pulled someone in. Of course, no one was surprised to see it was Ron. She practically dragged him to their table.

"Sorry we're late," she said, linking her arm with his so he couldn't try and escape. "We were, uhh … I mean, I was, uhh … really slow at getting ready?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Sure, Stori. That was very convincing."

"So, congratulations!" Astoria said, ignoring Draco and hugging Hermione. "Oh, look! The ring has emeralds! How very Slytherin of you, Draco." She winked.

"To be fair, it is her favorite color."

"Draco, I am positive I told you my favorite color is red. Not that I don't love the green!" Hermione added quickly.

Draco looked at Ron and the two shared a knowing look. Last summer, in a pathetic attempt to prove he knew Hermione better than her ex, Draco had agreed to a very intense drinking game. He lost miserably. The very first question was what Hermione's favorite color was. Draco had guessed red, since that was what she had told him, but Ron quickly corrected him and said her real favorite color was green, since it dominated her belongings. Now that Draco lived with her he knew Ron had been right. She owned a remarkable amount of green.

"I totally knew this is what you were going to do when you told me you couldn't be my pretend boyfriend anymore," Astoria said, pushing Ron into a chair and taking a seat on his lap. He really had no interest in being here, but she was determined. She had once told Draco that the reason she wanted Hermione and Ron to be friends again was because once they were that would officially mean he was over her. Believe it or not, Astoria was very insecure, especially since she had already been dumped once for Hermione Granger.

Ginny kept darting her eyes back and forth between Astoria on Ron's lap and Draco with his arm around Hermione's shoulders. She knew she wasn't the only one who thought this was all wrong, but no one was willing to voice it.

"Oh no." Astoria had her eyes fixed on something by the door. She stood up and stormed towards it. Everyone turned their heads and followed her with their eyes. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing here?" she shouted at a pretty blonde witch and the bulky wizard she was holding hands with.

"You invited Daphne and Goyle?" Hermione asked, clenching her hand on Draco's knee.

Draco shook his head. "Definitely not."

While he and Goyle had become friendly again over the past several months, after years of not speaking to each other after the war, he knew where to draw the line. As soon as Hermione asked if she could invite Ginny and Harry, he knew Daphne and Goyle were out. Unfortunately, that was how it had to be. For now, anyway.

Draco rose from his chair and said, "Don't worry, Mione. I'll go take care of this and - Oomph!"

Hermione yanked him back down before rising herself. "No. Let me. You just stay in your seat and keep drinking."

Draco smiled. "I love it when you tell me what to do. Is there a certain way you would like me to drink this champagne, darling?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Switch to firewhiskey. We all know you want to."

"You get me."

Waving her hand at him nonchalantly, Hermione turned and walked over to where Astoria was still arguing with her sister and brother-in-law. When she approached, Astoria turned white.

"Hermione, I swear I didn't tell them you guys were here. Daphne snooped through my room and read the owl Draco sent -"

"It's fine, Astoria. It's not your fault a married witch and her husband are still living with her parents. Leaves little room for privacy."

Daphne's cheeks flushed. "We're in the process of finding a house. It's only temporary."

"It was only temporary three months ago. Now you're approaching -"

"Pathetic," finished Astoria.

Hermione smiled. "Actually, I was going to say permanent, but I suppose that works too." Looking back at Daphne, she added, "Not to be rude, but why are you here? I can't imagine the two of you actually want to crash a party celebrating Draco's and my engagement."

"We don't -"

"Then why? What other reason could there possibly be for your being here if you don't want to join? We've already heard the worst of the mocking of our relationship and obviously we're over it."

"We're not here to mock -"

"I understand you and Draco are becoming friends again," Hermione said, turning her eyes to Goyle. "And for that reason, and that reason only, I am going to invite you two to stay. It is not my business who he decides to be friends with, and if he sees you as an asset then who am I to judge? But, if you say one rude thing to my friends, I promise you that this opportunity will never present itself again. Understood?"

Goyle and Daphne both gaped at Hermione before looking at each other and nodding. They weren't expecting this. And, what more, they weren't sure if they wanted it either.

"Hermione, are you sure about this?" Astoria asked, keeping her eyes on her sister's puzzled face.

"No," she said. "But Draco was fine with my friends coming, so I think his side should be represented as well."

"But I'm on his side. I promise I can represent it just fine on my own."

Hermione looked at her and frowned. "Actually, I see you as being somewhere in the middle."

Astoria's face lit up. "Really?"

Hermione smirked. "Yes, Astoria. We've spent enough time together over the last few months that I think it's all right if we call each other friend."

Astoria reached out and grabbed Hermione in a tight hug. Daphne grimaced at the way her sister held onto the Muggle-born.

When the hug ended, Hermione turned back to Daphne and Goyle and said, "Follow me," before guiding them over to the table. "Everyone, Mr. and Mrs. Goyle are going to be joining us," she announced.

"Why?" Sophie asked after a long and awkward pause.

"Uh, well … why not?" Hermione said, before retaking her seat next to Draco. "The more the merrier."

Ron eyed her curiously. "Has a screw gone loose in your head or something?"

Astoria smacked his arm before sitting back on his lap. Daphne and Goyle looked disgusted. Before they could express their disdain verbally Hermione used her wand to bring over some empty chairs and ran them into the backs of their knees so they were forced to sit down.

Everyone was silent for a long while. Sophie began darting her eyes around the table before eventually saying, "I feel like I am sitting een a poster for diversity right now. We 'ave four Slytherins, four Gryffindors, two 'Ufflepuffs and a Ravenclaw."

"Don't forget about the beauty from Beauxbatons," Phillip added while dotingly rubbing her shoulder. She smiled at him.

"Who are the Hufflepuffs?" Daphne asked while scrunching her nose.

Phillip and Caroline raised their hands.

Seth frowned. "Am I really the only Ravenclaw? We need better representation."

"Luna's a Ravenclaw," Ginny announced. "But she couldn't make it tonight. Something about a Snorkack sighting in the Congo."

"I thought the Crumple-Horned Snorkack lived in Sweden?" Ron inquired.

"They do," said a soft voice. "I thought maybe they had voyaged south for the winter, but it was a false lead."

They all turned to see Luna Lovegood looking as dreamy and dazed as ever in a chair beside Daphne. No one had even seen her approach.

"I hurried back the moment I realized. I didn't want to miss a party with friends! And a few Slytherins. This is certainly an interesting mix." She twisted her neck to look at Daphne. "Oh, hello. Aren't you friends with that awful girl with the squished face?"

Firewhiskey shot painfully out of Draco's nose as he burst out laughing. Luna was the only one of Hermione's friends whose company he never minded, since she was always unintentionally hilarious. He found her directness refreshing, but he understood how others might misconstrue this as rudeness. He knew she didn't mean to be rude. It wasn't her fault she was socially awkward. Well, not entirely her fault.

Daphne tried to be offended, but this was hard since it was so obvious who Luna was talking about. "Pansy and I were friends, yes, but I haven't seen her much since I got married. She's been all pissy ever since 'Draco and Astoria' started dating," she said with air quotes.

Draco and Astoria smiled at each other and bumped fists. They loved anything that had to do with pissing Pansy off.

"Draco and Astoria are dating? But, Hermione, isn't this an engagement party for you and Draco?"

Everyone laughed. Except Luna. She was completely serious.

"Draco and Astoria are only fake dating, Luna," Hermione said once her laughter became stable. "Well … they were, anyway."

"Why? Is it a game?"

"Something like that." Hermione smiled sideways at Draco.

"It's complicated," he added, grabbing Hermione's hand and holding it on his lap. "Speaking of which, did you talk to your dad last night like I said?" he asked, looking at Astoria.

She avoided his eyes. "Not exactly."

Daphne snorted. "More like not at all. She made a point to be out of the house before he even woke up this morning."

"I did not! I just had a lot to do today. That's all." Ron clenched beneath her. She tightened her grip on his shoulder. "Enough about me, already. We're here to celebrate Draco and Hermione. Shouldn't someone say a toast?"

"Oh, how about we go around the table and each of us says something nice about them," suggested Luna, looking positively delighted. "I hear that is what people do at these sorts of gatherings."

Hermione and Draco looked at each other. They knew this was a horrible idea, but before they could object Sophie chuckled and said, "I weell go first." She cleared her throat and smiled at the couple. "I 'ave 'ad ze privilege of meeting 'Ermione and Draco at ze very beginning of zeir love story and, while I was 'esitant at first, I quickly realized zat ze two of zem were made for each other. I knew zey were een love long before zey deed, and I am so 'appy you finally feegured eet out. You're welcome," she said, giving them a wink.

Phillip was next. "While the two of you have been known to clash from time to time," everyone laughed, "I have always secretly believed that you enjoyed arguing with each other. Both of you have a certain wit that no one else at this table could ever match. While your beliefs may be different, you each have certain personality traits that make you very much alike."

"Let's play a game and name those traits!" Caroline shouted.

Phillip laughed and shook his head. "I think we should save that game for another night. But I'll give one. Stubborn."

Both Draco and Hermione scowled at him. "I am not!" they both said, not even trying to defend the other.

Smiling, Phillip said, "I didn't mean it as an insult. Quite the contrary, actually. Just remember that once you're married someone's going to have to give. Draco, it will most likely be you, just so you know. You have been warned."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Phil."

Next up was Caroline. She straightened herself in her chair and beamed over at the couple. "Well, I haven't known you guys for very long, but I like to think we've gotten pretty close over the past few months, especially you, Draco, since we're forced to see each other an infinite number of hours five to seven days a week," she said, eyeing Phillip as she did so. "I admit, I wasn't sure about the two of you the first time we met, but the way both of your faces light up at the mere mention of the other's name … well, that's how I knew that one day we would be here. This is a forever kind of love. Don't mess it up by working too hard, Draco." She glanced sideways at Phillip again, who hummed softly while taking a sip of his champagne. Sophie giggled beside him.

Seth rolled his eyes at Caroline before looking at Hermione and Draco. "I was hesitant about you two at first, too, but I can pinpoint the exact moment I changed my mind. Everyone at Thinx was working late -"

"Surprise, surprise."

"Caroline!" Sophie snapped. The other witch immediately sucked in her lips and shut her mouth.

"As I was saying," Seth continued, "we were all working late and Hermione showed up with dinner for everyone. While the rest of us were grateful you were ecstatic. You thought you were just about the luckiest bloke on earth to have such a thoughtful girlfriend."

"Aww, that was a sweet moment," cooed Caroline. "I like your story better. Mind if I put my name on it?"

"Yes." Seth dmirked. "Anyways, you got all lovey dovey after that and I just sorta knew. You sometimes have this tendency to be a bit cold, but not when she's around. I'll say good luck but I don't really think you need it."

Hermione squeezed Draco's hand with hers and gave him a kiss on the cheek. That was it for the speeches given by the people who saw their love positively. They might as well enjoy the moment.

Draco was next to Seth and Hermione was next to him, so the succeeding speech giver was Ginny. She looked at Harry hesitantly for a moment before looking at Hermione and saying, "I've known you for a long time and, as much as I hate to admit it, this is the happiest I've ever seen you. While I don't think I will ever understand what happened between the two of you to make you feel this way, there really isn't a reason why I shouldn't support it. I really am happy for you, Hermione. And you, Draco. So … good luck. No matter what happens just know that I will always be on your side."

Hermione started to tear up. She reached over and put her free hand in Ginny's. This was the closest she had felt to her in months, and it meant a lot to know she really did have her support.

Ginny smiled weakly at her before turning to Harry. He straightened his glasses and cleared his throat before looking over his wife's head at the odd couple. "I'm not going to lie. When I first found out the two of you were seeing each other I was as livid as Ron was. Maybe even more so."

Ron chuckled. Harry looked over at him and the two smiled knowingly at each other. It was clear that a few foul words had been said. Luckily, no one was repeating them.

"But I know now that you're all right, Malfoy -"

Hermione cleared her throat.

"Uhh … Draco," he corrected, cringing as he did so. "And while you're still not my favorite person, I can see you really love Hermione, and that's all that matters to me. I don't know if it means anything to you, but you have my blessing."

Hermione smiled and said, "That's very nice of you, Harry." She was pinching Draco's leg hard to keep him from saying something sarcastic.

Draco grabbed her hand and moved it higher up his leg. Then he smiled and said, "Yes, very nice." She pinched him even harder. He brought his drink to his lips so no one could see him cry.

Ron and Astoria were sitting next to Harry. She looked at his freckly face and waited for him to go first. When he didn't say anything she sighed and said, "Okay, I'll go. Hermione, the only reason I made a play for Draco after your breakup was because of how he was with you after his father attacked you. I could see that he had changed and if he had been the same playboy he was in school I wouldn't have wasted my time. The problem was he had only changed for you. You're the only girl capable of taming the dragon and, for that, I salute you. Well done."

"Tamed?" Draco repeated with disdain. "Who said I was tamed?"

Every witch at the table exchanged looks and laughed.

"Eet ees so cute 'ow naïve you are," Sophie said.

When the laughter died everyone's eyes turned to Ron, who was next to speak. He sat there blankly for a moment, his eyes only focusing to look up at Astoria, who was silently encouraging him to go on.

He had just opened his mouth to speak when a firm, drawling voice beat him to it. "What the hell is this?"

Astoria's eyes went wide as she jumped off of Ron's lap and spun around. "Dad! W-what are you doing here?"

Within a flash, Daphne and Goyle were also on their feet. Astoria glared accusingly at her sister before looking back at her dad, who had his eyes fixed on Draco.

"You can imagine my surprise when I went down to the Ministry today to have lunch with a colleague of mine, and the whole place was abuzz with the news that Harry Potter's Mudbloo -" he cleared his throat, "- Muggle-born friend had just become engaged to none other than Draco Malfoy. Which I found odd, considering he has been dating my daughter for the past three months."

"Dad, I can explain -"

"So this is who you've been gallivanting around with?" he asked, looking at Ron, who had swiveled around in his chair. His ears turned bright red. "Don't tell me some blood traitor is worth lying to your family about? Well, not all your family." He looked sternly at Daphne and Goyle, who stared shamefully to the floor.

"How dare you speak so derisively towards Ron! You don't even know him!"

"And I never will. We are leaving." He grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the door, but Astoria pulled back.

"No! I'm not going anywhere with you! Not until you apologize for being so rude and disrespectful to my boyfriend!"

"I will do no such thing!"

"Then I am staying put," she said while crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Astoria Serenity Greengrass, you will do as I say or in the name of Salazar Slytherin I will -"

"You'll what? Burn me off the family tree? Fine! Go ahead! See if I care!"

"I am not bluffing, Astoria. If you do not leave with me right this moment -"

"I said go already!"

Ron stumbled uncomfortably out of his chair, put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Uh, Astoria, maybe you should take a moment to calm down and talk with your -"

"This doesn't concern you, blood traitor!"

"Sorry." Ron held his hands up in defense. "And here I was thinking this argument was about me. My mistake."

"Sarcasm does not bode well with me, boy."

"Then you really should be happy your daughter isn't dating Draco anymore because he is the king of sarcasm," Caroline said, trying to lighten the mood. Only Sophie chuckled.

"He is of no use to our family, Astoria."

"He is of use to me," she said, grabbing Ron's hand.

Mr. Greengrass's nostrils flared. "Fine. Have it your way. Daphne, Gregory, we are leaving. And don't think you have escaped my wrath. We will discuss this more at home." He spun on his foot and marched out the door.

Daphne moved after him right away, but she had to go back to pull Goyle, who was staring openmouthed at his sister-in-law, who he had always been very fond of.

Before they could leave, Astoria stared her sister square in the eye and said with disdain, "I can't believe you told him we were here."

"I didn't, Stori. I swear. I don't know how he found out."

Tears started to trickle down Astoria's cheeks. "Just go."

Daphne gave her sister one last sorry look before heading for the door with Goyle in tow.

As soon as they were gone, Astoria collapsed into an empty chair and cried into her hands. Ron sat down next to her and started rubbing her back while everyone else looked around uncomfortably.

"Eet ees a shame zey 'ad to go," Sophie said suddenly. "I was curious to know what zey were going to say about Draco and 'Ermione."

"I was a bit curious myself," Hermione said honestly.

Luna reached over and patted Astoria's shoulder. "There, there. At least you will be burned off the family tree with dignity. Your dad seems a bit unkind, doesn't he?"

This made Astoria weep even louder. "But he was always kind to me!" Her head suddenly shot up from the table. She looked at Hermione and Draco and said, "Sorry I'm being such a downer. I should probably leave." Astoria stood up and took one step before her feet froze. She started darting her eyes to every corner of the room.

"Stori, what's wrong?" Ron asked, reaching for her hand.

"I … I have nowhere to go," she said, weeping louder than ever.

Ron's eyes went wide as he remained completely still. He obviously knew what that meant, but made no attempt to say anything.

Hermione rolled her eyes before standing up and putting her arm around Astoria's shoulders. "Come on now, sit back down," she said, guiding her back into her chair. "We'll figure this out. Let's think everyone. Where could Astoria stay in this time of need?" Everyone looked at Ron but Astoria, who kept her gaze focused on a spot on the table. She was afraid to look him in the eye and see what everyone else was seeing.

Hermione looked at him sternly over Astoria's head, but he just started looking at the same spot as Astoria.

Several awkward and excruciating minutes past and still he said nothing. Finally, Hermione sighed and said, "I suppose you could stay with us until -"

"Really?" Astoria asked, looking up hopefully.

Hermione looked over at a horrorstruck Draco and gulped. "Uhuh. For a little while, anyway."

Astoria squealed and hugged her. "Thank you so much, Hermione. You don't know what a relief this is. I thought I was going to be homeless." She began to wipe underneath her eyes. "I must be a mess. I'll be right back. I'm just going to go freshen up a bit."

As soon as she was gone, Draco glared lividly at his future wife. "What the bloody hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking someone needed to speak up!" she said, narrowing her eyes at Ron. "We couldn't leave her with nowhere to go. We're kind of her only friends, Draco."

"That's because she ditched her friends to spend all her time with a guy who won't even ask her to bloody stay over after her father kicks her out! Because of him!"

Ron's eyes did not move from that same spot they were focused on.

"I don't know why you're so upset," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "She's hardly the first person to sleep on our couch."

"But we just got engaged yesterday."

"So?"

"So I was hoping we could spend some time basking in the afterglow."

"What does that mean?"

Draco glanced over at Ron, who was turning red in the face. In what was perhaps his first attempt ever to be nice to the Weasel, he tried to silently hint to Hermione what he was talking about with his eyes, but she wasn't getting it.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake - It means he wants to shag, Hermione," Caroline said, stating the obvious. "You know, celebrate while the engagement is still fresh."

"Is that a thing?" she asked.

"It's a thing," Draco answered. "It's a thing, right?" He looked at Sophie and Phillip for support.

The both grinned widely and nodded. "Oh yeah. It's a thing," said Phillip.

Hermione looked at Harry and Ginny, the only other married couple at the table and waited for an answer. Harry blushed, but Ginny slightly shrugged her shoulders and admitted, "Yes. It is sort of a thing. Those first few days after are kind of incredible. Second only to the wedding night." She looked at Harry and winked. He blushed brighter, but smiled as he did so.

Ron suddenly stood up from his seat and said, "I need some fresh air," before darting towards the door.

Ginny nudged Harry. "Follow him, will you? I have a bad feeling he's going to try and bolt."

Harry stood up and headed after him, just missing crossing paths with Astoria coming back from the washroom. When she got back to the group she looked around the table. "Where's Ron?" she asked.

"He just stepped outside for some air," Hermione answered, hoping this was really the case.

"Oh. Well, I think I'm going to head out. It's kind of been a rough night and I still have work in the morning. You guys don't mind if I go ahead of you, do you?" she asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Not at all. I doubt we'll be much later." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a key that she handed to Astoria.

"Thanks again for doing this," Astoria said, taking the key. "Congratulations again. I really am happy for you two." She smiled and waved at everyone before heading out the door.

Hermione moved back to her seat beside Draco and chugged down a glass of champagne.

"Should I give my speech now?" Luna asked, unfazed by the nights events. Hermione and Draco motioned for her to continue. Luna smiled and straightened herself up in her seat. She had just cleared her throat to start when Harry came bursting back through the door.

"Uh, Ginny, I'm afraid you were right."

"About what?" she inquired, turning ghostly white.

"I was just getting Ron to talk about what happened in here when Astoria came out. He took one look at her and disapparated. She just left in tears."

"He actually bolted?!" Hermione asked lividly.

"I'm afraid so," said Harry.

Draco groaned miserably. "We're definitely not shagging tonight, are we?" Hermione didn't even have to answer. He already knew he was right.