Written for Transfiguration Assignment 6 at Hogwarts. Also, written for the September event. Prompt used is: (object) Apple.

Words: 699

Vanishing Apples and Getting Married

I smirked as I looked up from underneath my lashes as Draco picked up the apple from the fruit bowl, like every morning. I flicked my wand lazily and as soon as he brought it to his mouth, it vanished. He shook himself awake then thinking he had been so groggy that he had picked at the air thinking it was an apple.

Again, he went to pick up an apple. I kept myself busy reading the newspaper. A flick of my wand from behind the paper, and the apple became a pear. He looked at his hand aghast. I wanted to burst out laughing, wondering at the sort of thoughts going through his mind.

"Hermione, dear," he started, as came towards me holding out his hands. I hastily slid my wand up my sleeve. "Can you pinch me?"

I did, hard.

"Ouch! Not that hard!"

I looked at the red skin on the inside of his arm.

He went back to the table and I, to my paper. I told myself, this is the last time.

Sliding my wand out of my sleeve, I again waited for him to pick up the apple.

Just as he brought the apple to his mouth, and bit into it, he cried out.

"What the hell! Where are my fruits?" He glared at me from across as if it was my fault, which it was.

"It's inside the kitchen, dear. Don't you remember? Yesterday only, we kept it inside. These are the wax ones that Ginny gifted us." I said as I got up.

I went inside and brought him one of his favorite fruits, a green apple. Going towards the couch and picking up the paper I was reading previously, he busied himself. And then, I deliberately got up and went to the table, picking up a banana. Sitting across him, I started peeling it off.

"Hermione," he uttered, as he looked up.

"Hmm."

"I don't actually remember keeping those fruits inside."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Do have anything to do with my apple vanishing, becoming a pear and the made up gift by Ginny?"

"Of course not, dear," I smiled innocently.

"Uh-oh, yes. Your eyes are shining in that way of yours when you are plotting. What are you up to now? I swear if Potter and Weasley have corrupted you against what I thought to be your better sense, they'll face the end of my wand."

"Sweetheart, I totally forgot to tell you we've got mail." I threw the envelope towards him. He caught it before it hit him on the face.

"Don't change the topic, Hermione." But he did start opening the mail. "Why are you giving me this? It's addressed to you."

"Just look at it, Draco," I sighed. Men.

Instead of waiting for him to read through the long letter, I jumped up excitedly, not able to wait any longer.

"You are looking at the youngest Transfiguration Master, till date! My research got approved by the committee and it's going to be there in the next issue of the international journal, Transfiguration Monthly!" I bounded over to him, hugging him.

"Well I hope I am not the subject of your future transfigurations," he joked dryly.

"Draco!" I hit his arm!

"Congratulations!" He smiled truly, then. All these years had been worth it, I felt.

I would be forever grateful to him for how he took care of me, these last 3 and half years, reminding me to eat and sleep, taking care of the meals and all the household chores, just so I could fulfill my dream.

Just then, I blurted out, "Let's marry!"

He looked shocked, replying, "And here I was, thinking I had to propose in a romantic way, that you girls like so much."

"Draco, I'm serious. Let's get married. In about 6 months or so."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said in my no-nonsense voice which Ron and Harry have heard many times before.

We would be alright. This was the time to get married. Everything was going well and I felt happy and free in what felt like forever.

So how was it? I went from just humor to romance. It went out of my control. The characters took over. Review! Let me know what you think!

UPDATE: I got 18/20 for this story.