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*HM pov*

The next couple of days flew by. Before I knew it, it was time for Sunday dinner at the Weasley's.

"Come on Draco, please go with me! I just know they'll have birthday presents , and you know how I hate that," I was practically begging him with puppy dog eyes, as he watched a qudditich game on t.v. We had set the tv up in the 'common room' after we got home with Doug on Thursday. He's been watching wizard channels ever since.

"I ended up in Saint Mungo's, last time I went!" He complained as he scratched behind Doug's ear. Doug is such a good little puppy, and he really likes Draco.

"I know, and I haven't asked you to go since. I don't go every week. That's a big deal Draco," I said as I walked towards him, and picked Doug up.

"I will not go back to Weasel's house," he said stubbornly.

"Fine," I said quietly, went over to the table, picked up Doug's leash, and walked out the door. Oh the nerve of him. How can he say no and not even feel bad?!

I decided to walk for a while, so Doug could go potty. Then I'd apparate us there. I don't want him to have an accident at The Burrow, when he's meeting everyone for the first time. Plus I was a little early to go directly there.

After he went to the bathroom, I picked him up and apparated us outside The Burrow. I let him down and we walked up to the back door. I let us in. There was some food cooking itself on the stove, but there was no one was in there. Yum, it smells good. I thought as I continued on into the family room to see where everyone was.

"SURPRISE!" Everybody yelled.

I jumped back in surprise, and Doug started barking. I looked around, Harry, Ginny, James Ron, Lavender, George, Alicia, Luna and Rolf Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and Draco?! Oh no he didn't!

"Well thanks everyone," I said with an embarrassed smile.

"I think she thought, she got out of celebrating her birthday this year," Ginny said with a smile, and came forward. Holding young James.

"I was only hoping," I said with a smile.

"You know better than to think the Weasleys would pass up a party," joked George.

"Oh George," Mrs. Wealsey said with a look, "we just wanted to make sure you had a celebration dear. Everyone needs a party."

I mumbled something about not needing one, and Ron came forward, and gave me a hug, "See I told you all she wouldn't go for this. how about we just give her the present so we can eat!"

"Oh yes! Get the present," Mrs. Weasley said excitedly.

"Mine first," yelled George as he made his present magically appear, and pushed towards me. I was not surprised to find a couple WWW products that I could actually use. Some of the beauty products I've bought before, some candy, and a Pyme Puff.

"I didn't know Malfoy got you a puppy, or I wouldn't have gotten you a puff," George said with a sad smile.

I smiled, and looked to Doug over on Draco's lap in the corner, "Thank you George, and Alicia. I still love it!"

Next Mrs. Weasley brought me a wrapped item, that I can only assume is a book. I smiled as she took a picture for the scrap book, and then began to open it.

I was correct. It was, in fact, a book. I began to read the title, when Mrs. Wealsey hurried off to get the cake ready.

Harry came up and sat by me, "Mrs. Weasley found that, but her and Mr. Weasley couldn't afford it, so Ginny and I went in with them. I think you'll find it interesting. I especially wanted you to uncover your past, like I figured mine out."

"Thanks Harry," I said with a smile, and then looked at the old book. 'Montressor' was the biggest word on the front, so one could only imagine what was inside.

I loved my gift, and I was sure I would enjoy reading it. I couldn't help, but think about the irony of the situation as Mrs. Weasley brought out the cake. My friends, that I have considered my family for years, decided to be safe and get me a book for my birthday. my fiancé, who was my enemy until recently had bought me the present I had always secretly wanted since childhood.

Life's funny like that I guess. Things never happen the way you imagine. You think the world is ending, but something better might just be getting started. Who would have thought that Umbridge, or whoever paired myself with Draco was actually doing something good?

I smiled yet again at the camera, blew out the candles on the cake, and knew a new part of my life was beginning.

…

"UUHHH" I groaned as I kicked off my sheets yet again. It was four o'clock in the morning, and it seemed like I was waking up every couple hours with a change in temperature. Freezing, or burning up. My body couldn't make up it's mind!

I sat up, but had to lay back down due to the spinning of the room. 'Hmphf, how am I supposed to get to the bathroom?!' I thought as my stomach started to churn.

I could always tell, right before I was going to get sick. This was one of those times. What do I do? "DRACO," I said as loudly as I could, but came out more like a croak.

Within the minute Draco came running in my room in just his boxers, "Whatta matter?" He asked a bit sleepily.

"I need something to throw up in," I said a bit embarrassed.

Suddenly his face became a bit more awake. he called for Ginger. She brought a bucket of sorts. By the time I was through, Draco was asleep sitting up, holding the bucket for me. I smiled at his state of dress. Someone had been working out since qudditich at Hogwarts

"Draco, I'm sorry I woke you, but you can go back to bed now," I said as I put the bucket on the floor and went towards the bathroom to brush my teeth. I felt immensely better, and couldn't wait to get back to sleep.

I walked back to my bed, but stopped short. Draco had moved from the end of my bed, to the pillows. Doug who had been sleeping on his little bed in the corner of my room until now, was now sleeping on his chest curled up in a little ball.

I sighed, and crawled into bed. It was his own fault if he got sick.

..

"Mione," Draco said as he gently shook me awake.

I opened my eyes. Why was he dressed for work, before I left? He was never ready before me! I sat up quickly, but then had to lay back down. jeez not again.

"I want you to get right back to sleep. I wanted to wake you up , and tell you I owled you in sick for work today," He began.

"Why'd you do that? I'm fine!" I protested.

"That's as far from the truth as it could be," he said with a smirk. "You have a fever, I checked, so no work for you today."

I crossed my arms, and pouted.

"Look on the bright side. Yesterday after the party you were worried about Doug spending his first day alone, while we were both at work. Now he doesn't have to," Draco reasoned.

"I guess you're right," I said with a small smile as he lifted Doug up onto my bed. He came over and curled up on my lap happily.

"That little prat decided I'm more comfortable than his bed. He slept on me all night," he paused as I laughed, "Anyways, I need to get going. Stay hydrated, and call Ginger if you need anything at all. No matter how small it is. I'll give her time and a half today."

"Yes, sir," I said with a yawn as he hurried from the room.

I looked down at Doug, "I guess it's just you and me."

He looked at me. Then rested his head on my hand, so I'd pet him. Everyone had thought he was so cute yesterday. Even Mr. Weasley, who isn't a fan of dogs. James had especially liked Doug, and he was surprisingly very well behaved around the baby.

Yesterday had been a lot of fun, and Draco had really made a point to get along with everyone. Sure, for most of the time he was sitting in the corner with Doug, but he wasn't arrogant at all. Shocking, I know.

For the next couple hours I slipped in and out of consciousness. I knew that Ginger was checking on me frequently and taking Doug outside. I could also tell my fever wasn't going down.

Around lunch Ginger came in, and forced me to eat. It didn't stay down long. Afterwards I wasn't tired, so I decided to look through my book.

It seemed to be the story of all my ancestors. I read a couple, and they were pretty interesting. Apparently the Montresor, and Luchesi family feud goes way back. As I continued to read on, it seemed to be written in the third person. I had also noticed there was no author. does the book write itself?

I continued to the end of the book, and found my Grandfather's, and dad's story! I found them really interesting, but it seemed that it wasn't written until after the person died, and there was only a mention of me in my father's story. Just as I was finishing Ginger came in again with food.

"Mistress told Ginngy, that Mistress has not eaten again! Gingy is very worried about Mistress," she squeaked as she came towards the bed with a huge array of breakfast food.

She set the tray on the bed, and looked at me expectantly. I really wasn't hungry, "Thanks Ginger, I'll eat it in a little bit."

"Gingy will be back to check on Mistress," she said with suspicion, and disappeared with a CRACK.

what am I going to do with all of this food? it's not like I can eat it with my stomach feeling like this. I looked around for an answer, and noticed the letter I had written Viktor last week was still on my dresser. I really need to mail that. Maybe I just needed some fresh air to feel better. I decided I would walk to the Owlery outside.

I stood up slowly, but still felt a little dizzy. I put on my robe, "Come on Doug," I said, and made my way to the little house that the owls were kept in. Doug barked at the owls with glee. I eventually picked one of the many owls, and sent it off with the letter to Viktor.

I began the long journey back to my room, and felt tired. After what seemed like hours I made it back up to my room with Doug right behind me. It was amazing how a usually easy walk could become a hardship. 'What did I have?' I thought as I opened the door.

I stopped just inside the door in surprise, but Doug continued to the bed. Draco was sitting on my bed eating pretty much all of the food on the tray in a rapid rate.

"I had heard you were to stay in bed all day. Imagine my surprise to not find you in your room, when I came home from work," Draco said with a raised eyebrow.

"I just went for a walk," I said sheepishly as I sat down on the bed.

"Sure you did. So what did you do on your day off," he asked.

"I, don't, really remember. I slept and read a little, but other than that. oh yeah Ginger came in a lot too," I said feeling a little confused.

He looked a little concerned, "I see Ginger brought you a feast," he joked as he continued to eat.

"Yup, and my shadow looks like a house elf now too," I said as I laid back on my pillow.

"My mum always does that when people are sick. It will help you get better faster. You can make it through," he assured me

"Yeah, yeah whatever you say," I said tiredly.

"One doesn't hear that often, especially from you. sure you don't want any food?" He asked after a while.

"I'm positive," I said quietly.

"More for me," he said quietly.

…

I turned back over onto my side and pulled my blankets up to my shoulder. 'It's freezing'. Next to me was warm, so I moved closer. Wait a second, it just moved?

I sat up and opened my eyes. 'Whoops, that was Draco' I thought as I felt my cheeks warm.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to wake up," he said with a smirk.

I tried to back up and realized Doug was curled up right beside me. I turned to pick him up and move him. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Draco put something on my bed side table.

"What's that?" I asked as I turned around.

"I don't know," he said looking guilty for a second and then masking his emotions. He only masks his emotions when he has something to hide.

I looked over and recognized the old book. I smirked at him.

"I just decided to stay in here, since you're sick. it was the only thing around to read," he said with indifference.

"I never thought I'd see the day that Draco Malfoy would reread Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice," I joked as I reached across him and got the book.

"I figured it couldn't be a hideous book, since you read it practically every week," he said back.

"It's a classic and my favorite, so be quite. You're just embarrassed I caught you reading it," I said with a smug smile.

"I was just thinking it's stupid to read something over and over. I don't understand why someone would read a book multiple times, so I read it to see why thinking I missed something the first time," he smirked back.

"If you have a problem, you could leave you know," I said as I laid back down. How can I still be tired if I've been sleeping all day?

He stretched out on the bed too, "I don't have a problem. just wondered why it caught your attention so."

"You want the reasons?" I asked, and looked up at him.

"I would love to hear them," he said sarcastically.

"Well if you didn't want to then" I said with a glare, turned around and buried my face into the pillow.

"Wait, I really do want to hear it," he said in an apologetic tone.

"Well for starters, Jane Austen is a great writer. I love the plot, and characters. You're a bit like Mr. Darcy, you know," I said with a smile as u turned back towards him.

"Besides being insanely rich, and handsome, I see no other similarities. I don't cheat people out of money," he said in outrage.

I smiled, "You obviously haven't read the entire book. If you finish it you'll see. you did forget one obvious similarity."

"No, tell me how we're alike!" he said defiantly.

"Well for one thing you're both arrogant," I started.

"What's wrong with a little confidence? You're saying it like it's a bad thing," he said with a handsome smirk.

I ignored his comment and continued, "You assumed when I found out it was you I had to marry, that I'd be beyond happy and accept. Plus you're both misunderstood when people first meet you."

"I am a very complex person, but Elizabeth Bennet does fall in love him? What a stud!" He joked.

"Yes, but she also completely hated him for three fourths of the book," I tried to reason.

"But it's what she thinks in the end that counts," he said more to himself then me, as he looked at the window in surprise.

Wow, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship is a lot like mine and Draco's. but I don't LOVE him, right?

"Here Hermione," Draco said with a look of curiosity at the letter he was handing me. What the- I hadn't even noticed him get up

I looked down at the letter, and defiantly recognized the handwriting. 'Viktor wrote back!' I thought as I opened the letter hurriedly.

Dear Hermione,

I was a bit worried, when I had not heard from you in so long. Then I received news through a friend of the marriage law. I figured you would write when you had time, and today I received your letter before practice. I find it very surprising, and am happy, that you are getting along well with your assigned partner. I never would have thought you would be paired with the Malfoy boy. You seem so very different. I will send two tickets for you and Malfoy for my next month's game if you can make it. It will be nice to see each other again. Also I'm very sorry to hear you have not been feeling well. I hope you feel better soon.

Viktor

"Whose it from?" Draco asked as I finished reading the letter.

"Viktor," I said vaguely, and put the letter in my drawer of letters.

"Krum?" Draco asked loudly.

"Yes, you know, the Viktor who competed in The Triwizard Tournament."

"I know who it is!" Draco said a bit impatiently, "Why is he writing to you?"

I looked at him in surprise, and had to try really hard not to smile. There was no denying it. Draco was jealous. The professional qudditich player was writing to me. I guess what was sort of impressive. "Viktor and I have kept in touch since fourth year, and I go to his qudditich games once a year," I explained again.

"Sounds like fun," I heard him say a bit like a pouting child, and heard him mumble something about 'first name basis with Krum.'

"You'll go with me this year, right?" I asked sweetly, trying to make him feel better. It was cute seeing him jealous, but who knew what Draco would do?

"When is it?" He asked.

"The day after Lena's wedding," I said with a smile.

"Does this mean I have to go to the muggle hotel?" He asked in fake disappointment.

"Yes Draco, that's exactly what it means," I said with a smug smile.

Well? review!

-Grace