A/N: My lovelies, you rock!Thirsty for more, then? Well, here ya go.
FYI: I originally planned 25 chapters. We're going over that. These characters have a mind of their own, I swear! Updates on the status of chapter 23 will be posted to my profile.
As always, love and cookies to those who review. I swear, I have the best readers and reviewers on the site, and reading each of your little notes really helps me through these crummy difficult circumstances I've run into lately. Feel free to follow or favorite the story so you can get an email when I update, too. My updates are sporadic due to work and rl annoyances like lack of wifi while I travel (which I do constantly), but I'm keeping at it and we're gonna finish this with a bang, right my lovelies? (btw- who wound up with Draco in the character toss from last chapter? I was stuck behind Hagrid and couldn't see a thing!)
-Elvee
Snatch
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them."
-Sydney Smith
Hermione woke wrapped in Draco's arms wearing an oversized t-shirt she couldn't remember putting on. Sunlight and birdsong was pouring in the window. A strong scent of lavender perfumed the warm breeze. Draco shifted beside her and tightened his grip around her waist. He snored softly.
Experimentally, she stretched. She was still sore, but it was much better thanks to Draco's healing yesterday. She smiled and blushed remembering the look in his eyes as he kissed each bruise 'better' with his healing spell. She shifted in the bed and smoothed his hair away from his face.
One of his eyes opened lazily, "Where do you think you're going?" He murmured sleepily.
"I was going to go down to breakfast. I owe Harry and Ron an apology."
He rolled onto his side and propped his head up on his elbow, to look at her better. "Mother invited us for breakfast. She wants to meet you."
Her eyes widened involuntarily, then she bit her lip. "I don't know if that's a good idea. Your parents hate Mudbloods."
"You saved her life, Granger." When she still didn't look convinced, he huffed, "My mother is nothing like my father. I thought you knew that." She knew she was wavering and apparently it was all over her face, as Draco continued, "It's just breakfast."
She rolled her eyes at his obvious jibe to her courage. "Fine."
He beamed. "Need some help in the shower?"
She chuckled and slid out of bed. "No."
"Company, then?" He smirked.
"You're impossible!" She had no idea where Dobby had come up with the dress she'd worn yesterday, but she suddenly realized she didn't have a thing to wear. She dug through his wardrobe and plucked out a light blue shirt. She transfigured it into a simple shift. She really hated relying on Dobby so much, he was entitled to time off, after all. Unfortunately, there was nothing for it. She summoned him and asked for a cardigan and shoes before heading off to the shower.
Within the hour they were both showered, dressed and stepping out of the house into the back garden. As she'd hoped, the view was spectacular. Rolling hills filled with the first summer barley glowed brilliant green in the morning light. In the distance, tiny vineyard rows could be seen, with specks of workers slowly making their way along the vines. The gardens to the house were filled to overflowing with muggle herbs and hundreds of flowers. Lavender, old cabbage roses, bunches of irises and late, proud narcissum overflowed their beds with exuberance. The fragrance was heavenly.
At a table set for three in the early morning sun sat Narcissa Malfoy, a tailored jacket over her shoulders and a light blanket draped across her knees. A bright posy of colorful cottage flowers decorated the linen draped table. In comparison, Mrs. Malfoy looked drawn and tired, but lit up at the sight of her son. "Draco! Good morning."
Draco laced his fingers into hers as they crossed over the warm slate patio and didn't let go when he bent to greet his mother affectionately with a kiss on the cheek. "Mother, may I present my girlfriend, Hermione Granger."
His girlfriend? She thought that show was for Harry and Ron. Unless what she'd felt last night was real. That changed everything. Hermione suppressed the urge to gulp, instead politely accepting Narcissa Malfoy's elegant outstretched hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Please," Narcissa smiled, gesturing for them to take a seat. "Call me Narcissa." It wasn't difficult to see the beauty she'd been before being mistreated. Her neck was long and elegant, her hair pulled back into a flawless flaxen chignon. Her hands were long, delicate things, almost too fragile to support the over large diamond on the third finger of her marriage hand. Her skin glowed from within like an alabaster lamp.
Draco pulled out her chair and she sank into it as gracefully as a gobsmacked person could. As least she didn't flop. "My friends call me Hermione," she said with a tentative smile, tucking her napkin across her lap.
Draco's mother was seated between them at the small round table, and in a surprise gesture, she grasped Hermione's left hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze, "Hermione, then." She blinked at the genuine smile Narcissa gave her, then dropped all pretense of caution and smiled back. The older woman gestured to the covered platters, "I hope you're hungry. I'm afraid Dobby has outdone himself." At least ten dishes sat on the table between them.
For the better part of the next hour they ate a pleasant breakfast, talking of little things. Several times she'd caught Draco smiling across the table at her. Each time she'd fight the urge to blush and smile back. Narcissa Malfoy surprised her by being delightful company, talking and laughing with ease. It was no wonder Draco loved her so. By the end of the meal, she found herself glad she'd been able to rescue her from that horrid house, not because it was the right thing to do, but because a woman like this didn't deserve a bad life.
She felt a growing surge of affection for this delicate woman. It made neutralizing Lucius Malfoy an even higher priority. She'd have to get to him before someone else killed him. After all, due to her marriage vows, if he died, Narcissa would follow soon after and dammit, she just didn't deserve that.
When Dobby had cleared the table and freshened the tea an odd look came across Narcissa's face. Hermione darted a look at Draco, but his attention was on his mother as well. She turned back to Narcissa as the older woman began to speak slowly and carefully. "Hermione, I wanted to thank you. There are no words to express my gratitude for saving my son." The older blonde woman blinked rapidly as her eyes shone with unshed tears. "For saving us both. I am obviously no longer in the same position as I once was to repay your kindness." Hermione tried to interrupt, but Narcissa held up her hand and continued, "Up until yesterday I was quite unsure what to do. But after this morning, seeing the two of you together, everything became quite clear."
Hermione could do nothing but watch Narcissa speak in slow motion, her stomach sinking into her shoes.
Narcissa beamed at her, "I can only offer you the best thing in my life and hope that he will make you as happy and proud as he's made me." Hermione swiveled her wide eyes across the table to Draco, who was smiling broadly at her. She dragged her gaze back to Narcissa, who was still speaking, "I would like to offer you a marriage contract to for the hand of my son."
Hermione blinked and closed her mouth with a superhuman effort. "I... I'm very flattered. I..." Narcissa's smile fell and she shot Draco a worried glance, non-verbally asking if she'd done the right thing.
Draco smiled gently at his mother, saying, "Give her a moment, Mother. No one renders her speechless for long."
Hermione chuckled nervously. Marriage? She and Malfoy? Well, sure she was of age, but she'd never even thought about it with anyone, let alone with Malfoy. They'd been together, what? A week? A few days? She cleared her throat and said in a high pitched voice, "How very kind of you Narcissa, but I'm sure you must not be aware that I'm a muggle born."
Narcissa patted her hand gently, "Oh, posh! Of course I knew. It doesn't matter in the least. What matters is that I know you'll take good care of him. He'll be happy with you, Hermione." Draco's mother now gave that same numb hand a firm squeeze and smiled sadly, "I may be away from the Manor, but I think we both know that I'm not long for this world. My husband's actions in the war have ensured he won't live beyond this conflict. I need to know that Draco will be cared for by someone who values him for him, not for the comfort his money and position could offer. Who could value him more than the young woman who saved his life?"
"But... your pure bloodline..." She was grasping at straws, trying to buy time and she knew it.
"Irrelevant, Granger. She just said so. Quit stalling."Draco said sharply.
"Draco! Manners!" Narcissa admonished, shocked at her son's behavior.
Hermione finally got a grip on herself, and deftly began skirting the subject by saying, "Narcissa, I'm not going to let your husband's faults shorten your life. I plan on handling that as soon as I'm well enough to travel."
Narcissa's raised an elegantly groomed brow, when no further discussion of her offer was made. She waited.
Hermione twisted her napkin in her lap, then continued, reverting to formality to cover her nervousness. "Please excuse me if I'm rather taken aback by your offer. I'm afraid I don't have any experience in these matters."
She felt Narcissa pat her hand again, "I apologize for putting you on the spot, Hermione. Normally these things are handled by your parents, of course. I was so sorry when Draco told me of your loss."
"Thank you," Hermione said quietly, her moist eyes glued to her lap. "But it isn't just that. I come from the Muggle world and we do things a bit differently."
As Narcissa continued to gently squeeze her right hand, someone took her left. She looked down her arm to find Draco on one knee at her feet. She gaped at him.
"What? I took Muggle Studies," he said, indignantly. "Granger..." He glanced over her left shoulder at what could only be Narcissa silently reminding him of his manners and started again. This time, he pulled out a large diamond ring. "Hermione, I know I drive you to distraction. I know you make me crazy sometimes and I'm not sure if what we have is love or not. But I do know I care about you, very much. I know you're brilliant and beautiful, strong and powerful. And even though you kidnapped me, you're still everything I know I want in a wife. Especially the tying me down to the bed naked part." Draco smirked, behind her his mother gasped. For her part, Hermione blushed furiously.
"I can hear that little voice nattering away inside your brain, the one that says we don't even know if we love each other yet. And it's right. So how about a long engagement? Give whatever this is a chance to grow. Give me a chance to prove I'll take care of you, because I will. Give us a chance, just a chance, to see. So how about it, Granger? I'll even be civil to Potter and Weasley."
She refused to meet his eyes. It took her a second to gather her courage and ask, "What... what if it doesn't work out? We hated each other for so long, Malfoy. What if we go back to that? What if you call me a mudblood again?" She trailed off, her voice nothing but a whisper at the last.
"Draco! You didn't!" Narcissa nearly shrieked.
But Draco ignored her, instead inching closer to Hermione. "That won't happen. You know it won't. I'll do my best to make you happy and if I don't, just say the word, and I'll go." He waited for her to look at him then smirked suddenly, "Don't expect me to go quietly, Granger, because I won't. I think you might be the only witch for me, and I'm not willing to give up my shot at happiness without a fight. But I'll go, if it's really what you want, and you can walk away."
Hermione bit her lip, hard. Why was it so easy for him to read everything that was going through her mind? When no answer was forthcoming from her, Draco added in his usual cocky drawl, "Marry me, Granger. You know you want to."
She thought of his face hovering over hers as they shared magic in the hotel bed. She thought of the kisses they'd shared as the little old Muggle woman smiled wistfully at them. She thought of his mouth opening and closing as he fed her soup. She thought of the look in his eyes as he healed her bruises the night before. If she didn't love him, she was damn close. To her astonishment, Hermione found herself nodding, slowly at first, then more vigorously.
"So that's a yes, then?" Draco drawled.
"Yes," she breathed and suddenly she had her arms full of a kissing Draco.
"Wonderful!" Narcissa cried, clapping her hands. The sound made them pull apart, blushing. "Well, Draco, what are you waiting for?" When she got nothing but a blank stare in exchange, she nudged, "The ring?"
"Oh! Right." And with that, Draco Malfoy slid the engagement ring home on her third finger. It was far too extravagant for her taste, but as it sized itself to her finger, she could feel the magic held in the stone.
"That ring belonged to my mother, and her mother before that," said Narcissa, wistful. "It has been cherished by our family for three generations. Now you will be cherished by me, my son and your children, just like the ring." When Hermione looked up, she found Draco's mother extending her arms to embrace her and Hermione hugged her. "Welcome to the family, my dear."
A few minutes later found them all seated back around the table, although this time Draco sat next to her. Hermione was explaining about the arrangements she'd made for them. "I know the house is small compared to what you're used to, but I had to borrow the money from Draco to buy it and I wasn't sure how long it would take me to pay it back after the war..."
Narcissa's smooth brow furrowed, "What do you mean, 'pay it back'? You're engaged now, and even if you weren't, you used that money for me. Pay it back," she scoffed. "Draco, I won't hear of it!"
For his part, Draco blinked, then squeezed her hand, "Merlin, Granger, I didn't know you were doing all this with the money I lent you! I wouldn't have made you sign a promissory note. Why didn't you tell me?"
She gave Narcissa an uncomfortable look before answering, "To be honest, I was going to try to save your mother, but I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. I didn't want to get your hopes up, but on the off chance I did, she had to have somewhere safe to go. And I did use about four hundred galleons for myself. We needed a way across Europe while Dobby was looking after your mother."
Narcissa rolled her eyes, "Four hundred galleons! Piffle! Draco, you will tear up that promissory note this instant!"
Draco sighed and turned to her. "Merlin, Hermione, all you had to do was tell me. Hand it over and we'll settle this right now."
She gave a rueful smile, "I wish I could. It was in my beaded bag."
Draco swore softly, "Was everything you own in that blasted bag?"
"Where did you want me to put it, Malfoy? In my knickers?" She snapped.
Narcissa cleared her throat sharply. "Enough of this. It doesn't matter. Thanks to Hermione, we still have untraceable access to our assets through our numbered muggle bank accounts." She pressed Hermione's arm conspiratorially, "That was a stroke of brilliance, my dear. I have more than enough in my personal accounts. We will simply have to go shopping," she said, beaming, as if shopping solved all the problems in the world. Like missing forged passports and driver's licenses.
"We'll need to start looking into wedding robes right away," Narcissa bubbled on. "I know a little shop in Aix en Provence – quite off the beaten path, I assure you- that does the most marvelous bead work..."
Hermione shot Draco a look of disbelief, and on her cue he interrupted his mother, "Mother, we agreed on a long engagement."
Narcissa blinked, and looked at her son like he was simple, "Of course you did, darling, and a good thing, too. Weddings are a nightmare to plan! But if you want the best, we really must start right away..." Suddenly the blood drained from Draco's face. "What is it, dear?"
"Mother, is that tapestry of the family tree still hanging in father's study?" He asked numbly.
"Well, of course, Draco. Why would..." Narcissa trailed off, frowning. "Oh yes. Oh dear."
Hermione looked between them rapidly. "What? What is it?"
"He knows, Granger."
"Who knows? About what? What are you talking about?" Something significant had just happened and she knew she missed it.
"The Malfoy family tapestry is magical. It automatically updates itself as people are born, die, get married or engaged. My father knows we're intended, Granger."
"And?" She chuckled.
"And? He'll kill you for sullying the family blood!"
"It's not like I wasn't a prime target to begin with, Draco." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"You don't understand. He's going to hunt you down, Hermione. He's not going to stop until he finds you and kills you in the worst possible way."
She shrugged. "At least I won't have to waste time looking for him."
Narcissa Malfoy raised a groomed golden brow. Draco gave a exasperated shake of his head and growled, "Griffindors."