Chapter 18

Severus kissed the palm of her hand and nudged her to wake her up and she just wouldn't. He just couldn't believe how wonderful it was to have her in his bed- right where she belonged. If she said yes tonight- he knew that she would never have to leave his room again. Of course she didn't know about the arrangements that were made for her that's why it was very important that he left as soon as possible to owl Ginny.

He left a note with Hermione on the bed fairly certain that she would wake up soon after he left. He decided to write her a note to explain why he was absent.

"Hermione, my love-

I'm sorry that I had to leave- McGonagall called an emergency meeting of the professors. I will be back in a few hours. I am expecting a guest around 5:30- I would like you to answer the door for me.

I love you,

Severus"

With that, he left.

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"Ginny- what's wrong?" Draco asked.

"There are two things that I need to share with you." Ginny had a tear in her eye.

"What is it? What does this have to do with?"

"It's about us, I just saw Poppy and she said it is because we have been having sex too much." Ginny sighed.

"Oh Merlin. Please do NOT tell me we are having a baby! I just cannot handle this right now, I was thinking we could have a lovely large family in a few years... I am just not ready for this, but you have to pay to play that's what my father always said. Thank Merlin he is behind bars, he can't kill me from there. Oh gods what are we going to do? I love you but I am not ready for this- I can't believe this- how odd- but that doesn't mean I'm not excited, it just means that I am shocked." Draco had to stop because at that point he was totally out of breath.

"DRACO MALFOY!" She screamed.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure I will love the baby." He replied.

"There is NO baby!" she laughed.

"Thank MERLIN." He said as he started kissing her hand repeatedly.

Ginny looked at him and couldn't stop laughing at him and how freaked out he was over what he thought was a baby.

"I just have an infection, that's all. We have been having too much sex Poppy says- we need to wait three days while I heal for a while." Ginny continued. "Are you ok with this?"

"Yes. I'm so ok with this that it isn't even funny. For a moment I thought you were going to tell me you were pregnant. PHEW!"

Ginny punched him hard in his stomach. He pulled her closer and as she tipped her head up towards his, he kissed her.

"Was there something else that you wanted to frighten me about today Ms. Weasley?" Malfoy smirked.

"No, but I need to tell you something- we have somewhere to go tonight."

"Where are we going to?"

"I just received an owl with instructions for us. Here is what I need you to do tonight."

Draco read the parchment with his eyes wide.

"And just WHY are we doing this again?" he asked.

"WE are doing this because HE is going to ask her to marry him."

"Wait wait wait, Professor Snape is going to ask Hermione Granger aka smart arse of Potions to marry him?"Draco started laughing. "Do you know how funny this is Ginny?"

"I don't think it is funny Draco, I think it is romantic." She smiled.

"You would, Ginny!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she asked as she allowed her fingers to caress his chest.

"It means you are such a romantic witch. You love romance. Well I'll tell you one thing- he better not try to outdo me on this proposal thing- or else I'll never please you when I try it on my own."

"Oh Draco, that was so romantic. Do you really think that you'll want to marry me someday?"

"Yes, yes I do."

"Then I do too." She smiled and kissed him in a deeper kiss.

"Oh you naughty little vixen I could just." And then he remembered and looked frustrated. "Oh this is going to be a long three days."

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"Harry do you want to come with me? I can't stand looking at this ring anymore. It is just making me feel terrible every time I look at it." Ron shared.

Harry looked around the room and whispered, "Ron- this is something that you really need to do yourself. I am very busy with homework right now. I just don't have enough hours in the day to study. Can't you just go take it back yourself?"

"I will, I just feel like I'm giving up on Hermione and I when I take this back. Will you be back here when I get back? I might need someone to talk to."

"Ron, you gave up on Hermione and you when you had that fling with Pansy. This shouldn't be any different." Harry explained.

"Well, it just is."

"Why? Why is it different now Ron?"

"Because, because she loves someone else. I didn't actually love Pansy- she was just a good fuck. With Hermione, she's actually in love."

"Well, that was your choice Ron. I have a lot of work to do today- please go take it back and I promise I will be back here when you get back. Now go on and have fun. Maybe while you're out you will find a new witch." Harry smiled at him.

"Thanks Harry- I hope I will be able to move on soon."

"Good Ron. Talk to you later."

And with that, Ron was headed back to return his ring.

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"Severus?" Hermione woke up from her nap and began to read the letter. An emergency staff meeting? Wow- it must be serious for him to leave her. After she had just begged not to be separated from him. And who was this guest at 5:30?

She yawned and stretched her arms up into the air. Then she lay back down against his pillow to smell his scent. He smelled so good that as she lay hugging the pillow she began to imagine the rest of their lives together.

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Ron was embarrased as he walked towards Dervish and Banges, to return the ring? He had hoped that she would accept the ring- that she would marry him. He thought that certainly if someone were to write his life story that Hermione would be his at the end and not in the arms of another wizard.

It was driving him absolutely crazy that he still did not know who this wizard was. Shouldn't it be obvious by now who Hermione was with? Well it was obvious to everyone else aparently because even Harry had figured it out. He hoped that whoever this wizard was that he was up for a fight because whenever Ron thought about Hermione in another man's arms he wanted to kill him.

Who in the bloody hell cares what Ginny said about him not being successful against this wizard. He knew he had all the angst he needed to overpower any one of them, he just needed to know who it was. Was it Terry Boot? He would take him out with one hand tied behind his back, was it Harry Potter himself? No, he wouldn't betray his friend like that. Just who in the world is it?

Ron entered the shop trying to think up another reason why he had to return the ring- he didn't even care if he received money back or not. It was meant for her but she refused.

'Blimey, Hermione- I love you' he thought.

He entered the store and saw that the only other customer besides himself was none other than Professor Snape.