Disclaimer - The characters are owned by JK Rowling.

Chapter Twelve - The Weasley's Reaction

It had been over a month since Hermione had told Harry about her relationship with Draco. Harry had gotten over his initial shock, and even had dinner with them at Hermione's. It was that night that Harry realised how well the pair worked together, and how they complimented each other. They seemed to just fit, and if he was honest he could see Hermione was happy, and that was what was important to him. He also had to admit that Draco had changed and was not the boy they knew at Hogwarts.

As was inevitable news of the broken engagement between Draco and Astoria and the Daily Prophet ran story after story including an interview with Pansy Parkinson who claimed to have the inside story on the split. Needless to say the article was full of lies and had infuriated Draco. It was this article which had seen Camille Greengrass and Narcissa Malfoy release a statement through the Malfoy family lawyer Mr Smart, stating that both families supported their children in their decision to end their engagement and would continue to support them in all future decisions.

The Weasley family dinner the Sunday after the article and statement was hard for Hermione. Ron was making comments about Draco and how arrogant and awful he must be if even a pureblood didn't want to marry him. Percy, now a member of the family again, had even started a debate about whether this was just a strategic move by the Malfoy's to show they were trying to move away from the old pureblood traditions and propaganda. The whole conversation around dinner was related to the Malfoy's. Hermione had stayed quiet and Harry noticed the pain in her eyes. When Ginny asked her is she had heard anything at work or if she knew any gossip Hermione shook her head and said she's there was nothing that she was aware of. Inside she knew she needed to tell them, but she also knew that today was not the time.

As she was leaving Harry pulled her aside and said "you've got to tell them sometime and sooner would be better, but I understand why not today". Hermione hugged him and whispered "I know".

It was the following Sunday and Hermione had given the weekly Weasley dinner a miss. She knew she needed to tell them and that it would be hard, she just wasn't ready yet.

Draco and Hermione had enjoyed brunch with Narcissa in Covent Garden and after a walk they had gone back to Hermione's cottage, where they were currently curled up on her sofa reading, and enjoying the peace and quiet. Even Crookshanks was curled up in an armchair. It was the perfect Sunday evening, until the loud pop of apparation signaled the arrival of another person.

"Hermione" Harry called from the kitchen where he'd apparated.

"Living Room" Hermione replied, not moving away from Draco as he'd expected her too. Harry entered the room and sat in the only empty chair, surprisingly not flinching at the way Draco and Hermione were curled up together.

"Molly is planning on being here when you come home from work tomorrow" he said "if fact she would've been here right now if I hadn't persuaded her that tomorrow would be better".

Hermione was sitting up now, no longer curled into Draco's side, but still close to him. "Why?" she asked.

"She thought you may have been upset last week during certain discussions over dinner" Harry replied.

"You mean me and my broken engagement" Draco said.

"Yeah" Harry answered, "but she wasn't sure and she didn't want to say anything and you left before she had a chance to speak to you."

Hermione sighed, and dropped her head onto Draco's shoulder and he instinctively put his arm around her, hugging her close.

Harry continued, "when she got your owl saying that you weren't coming today her suspicions increased, and then um, well she told me she saw Narcissa in Diagon Alley, and well, apparently Narcissa smiled at her".

Draco smirked and Hermione sighed again, asking "so what does she think is going on?"

"Well obviously she knows that you have been doing your training together and that you've become friends, and she knows you always want to see the best in people and help them, so she said she wouldn't be surprised if you had become good friends, although I don't think this is what she's expecting" Harry said signaling to them curled up together on the couch.

Harry left not long later and Draco knew he had to follow. They both had work in the morning, but he didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and he wasn't convinced it would be positive so he wanted to put it off as long as possible.

Hermione had made it through the day and she knew she needed to go home, but she also knew that meant facing Molly Weasley. Draco was waiting for Hermione at the end of their shift.

"Do you want me to come?" he asked.

Hermione smiled at him but shook her head, "no this is something I have to do myself".

Draco gave her a hug, and kissed the top of her head, before he floo'd to the Manor using the staff floo. Hermione took a deep breath and then floo'd home.

Molly was sitting at the kitchen table with a pot of tea when Hermione arrived. "I'm guessing Harry told you I'd be here" she smiled as she stood to greet Hermione.

"Yes, and you were right I was upset that day" Hermione answered as she poured herself a cup of tea and sat down knowing that it would be easier to just get it out rather than delay the inevitable.

"Draco and I did become friends, we studied together and the war effected everyone involved, and I guess we just understood bits of how each other was feeling. We became closer and after he broke his engagement to Astoria we realised how close we were".

Molly was looking at Hermione and there was a slight look of shock on her face. "Are you involved with Draco Malfoy?" Molly asked.

Hermione nodded, "yes Molly, he's my boyfriend and I know I should have told you and I hope you understand its just I was scared about how everyone might react, especially Ron".

Tears were flowing down Hermione's face now, and Molly was out of her seat and giving Hermione a hug in seconds. "I don't want to loose the only family I have" Hermione sobbed.

"Oh Hermione" Molly soothed, "you won't loose us, I'm not going to say it will be easy and that everyone will be accepting, but you and Harry will always be part of our family, no matter what".

Hermione hugged Molly and let her tears flow. Once Hermione had calmed down her and Molly shared a new pot of tea with Hermione filling Molly in on her relationship with Draco and Narcissa. By the end of the evening Hermione had agreed to come to dinner on Sunday and tell the family, with Molly promising to support her all the way.

Once Molly had left, Hermione sent Draco a quick owl to say that she was ok and would fill him in tomorrow.

Draco was pacing. He had been for hours. First in his room at The Manon and presently in Hermione's living room. Crookshanks sat on the sofa watching him moving backwards and forwards in front of the fire place. He reached the window and stamped his foot before letting out a loud frustrated groan.

Was it a good sign that she wasn't back yet or was it a bad sign?

Would she want him hear when she got back?

Was she going to be hurt?

All of these questions were rolling around in his head, and in his heart he knew the answer to the last one, he just hoped he was wrong.

He didn't want her hurt because of him, not anymore. He'd hurt her enough on his own in the past. No one needed to hurt her now, not because of him, but there was this sinking feeling in his heart that that's exactly what would happen.

Draco sank into the nearest chair and put his head in his hands, he was still causing her pain and this time that hurt him too.

The minute Draco stopped pacing, Crookshanks jumped off the sofa and started walking back and forward across the room just as Draco had done. He also had a bad feeling about this evening.

Meanwhile Hermione was sitting around the enlarged dinner table at the Weasley's with the whole family, including Percy's girlfriend Audrey and Angelina Johnson next to George, who were just finishing another Molly Weasley feast. She knew that she had to say something soon, and caught Molly's eye, who gave her a slight nod indicating that it was probably time.

Ginny saw the look between her mother and Hermione, and she turned to Hermione and asked "what's going on?"

"Um well there's something I need to tell you, well the family really" Hermione replied, which got Ron's attention from across the table.

"Tell us what?" Ron asked with a mouthful of apple pie, earning a "Ronald Weasley" from his mother, which got the attention of the whole table.

"Sorry mum" he replied, before turning to Hermione and saying "what do you need to tell us?"

The whole table was looking at Hermione and she suddenly became more nervous, which she didn't think was possible.

"Well um, I guess I just wanted to tell everyone that I um, have a boyfriend" she said, which lead to a sudden increase in volume as everyone started shouting out questions and wanting answers.

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand, knowing that it was about to get worse, before letting out a loud whistle, which shut the entire table up.

"Its someone from work" Hermione started, "we um, we became friends during our training and I guess it grew from there".

"Well at least we know its not Malfoy" said Ron with a snigger.

Hermione's face whitened and Harry gripped her hand. Ginny saw the response from her seat beside Hermione, and said "oh my God it is".

Everyone looked at Hermione and could see from the look on her face that it was true. Ron's reaction was the loudest of all, "what" he screeched as he stood.

"Ronald Billius Weasley sit down" Mrs Weasley yelled, while moving round the table so she was standing behind Hermione.

Ron sat down and everyone turned to look at Mrs Weasley, knowing she was about to talk and knowing interruption was not an option.

"Hermione is a member of this family, and we all know how important family is. We all love her and we trust her, and that includes trusting her judgement on who she lets into her life, no matter what we think."

Hermione was silently crying at Molly's words, knowing that she was truly supportive. Before anyone could say anything Harry spoke, "I trust Hermione and having seen her and Draco together I can honestly say he's changed and she is happy, happier than I've seen her in a long time".

"You knew" Ginny said

"Um yeah for a week or so" Harry said bashfully.

"And you're happy" she asked Hermione

"Yes" she replied quietly "really happy".

"Then thats good enough for me" said Ginny, leaning in to give Hermione a hug.

Draco and Crookshanks had fallen asleep together on the sofa by the time Hermione got back home. She smiled as she stepped out of the floo and saw the sight in front of her. She knew he was waiting, even though she told him not to, and had been trying to leave for over an hour but each of the Weasley's had wanted to talk to her.

Angelina and George were supportive, George promising to find some good products to test and Angelina wanting to know if Draco was still as sexy as she remembered from school.

Audrey didn't really express an opinion, but Percy did tell her to be careful and cautious but also said that if the family could forgive him, then she really had nothing to worry about.

Bill and Fleur were glad she was focusing on the future not the past, and Mr Weasley gave her a big hug telling her that he loved her and to remind Draco not to hurt his little girl or he'd be in trouble.

Ron was the only one that didn't want to speak about it. He promised he wouldn't hate her, but he admitted that he needed time before he could talk about it. Hermione agreed to give him some time, knowing that her friend was the one who would take it the hardest.

Still smiling Hermione gently stroked Draco's face to try and wake him. Gradually he stirred and said, "you're home".

"Yes" she said, "and I see you replaced me" she giggled, signaling to her cat curled up on his chest.

Draco smiled, "what can I say, we were worried".

Hermione tickled Crookshanks behind the ears, causing him to purr and then get up and curl up on the other chair.

Draco sat up and Hermione sat down next to him. "They took it better than I thought" she told him "although Molly didn't really give them much choice".

"I'm glad" Draco said kissing her head.

Hermione had snuggled into Draco and then yawned. "I think someone's ready for bed" he smiled, "come on, we have a long shift tomorrow" he said pulling her up.

Hermione stood, and still holding his hands said quietly "stay".

Draco smiled, kissed her head again and nodded, letting Hermione lead him into her room.


AN: So this chapter has taken FOREVER and I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure where to go with it and so I chose to just ignore it, which was probably a bit frustrating for you.

I hope this chapter is worth the wait, and I'm not going to make any further promises about the next chapter as I'm not sure where to go with the story as this doesn't feel like a natural end, but I don't really have any idea where to take it, other than an epilogue, but I don't really have any idea's for that either...