I've been working on so many book with "2014" in the title, that I'm now starting to think that it's actually 2014. One day I'm going to comprehend time!

Chapter 21

Pansy wore a bright, beaming smile when Hermione returned home later that evening. "And where have you been?" she inquired.

Hermione yawned as she hung up her sweater. "With Draco," she replied. "Lilah's been sick. We spent the morning at the hospital. She's better now though. Why do you have your gloating face on?"

"It's not gloating face," Pansy replied with a roll of her eyes. Crossing the room, hands behind her back, she continued to grin. "There's something I need to tell you. It's the kind of news that's big and life changing, but I want you to know that I've really thought about it, and I know that this is what I want."

"What is it?" Hermione asked warily.

Pansy removed her left hand from behind her back, and Hermione received the first glimpse of the diamond ring now situated there. "Adrian proposed last night," she said. "Can you believe it? It was just so out of the blue, but there was no way I would say no. I love him, Hermione. I love him so much, and he's always been so good to me. Well, say something."

Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself to smile. "If this is what you really want, you've got my support," she replied.

The smile faded. "That's it?" she asked. "I thought you'd be happy for me."

"No, I am," she said, taking Pansy's hands in her own. "I'm so happy for you and Adrian. I just...I worry that you're moving too quickly."

"We're not," Pansy replied with tears in her eyes. "We've known each other our entire lives. Adrian took care of me when I had no one else."

Hermione squeezed her hands. "I know, and I'm grateful to him for doing that," she agreed. "And since he's come back into your life, you've been the happiest I've ever seen you. But you've been together for a month. Why do you need to do this now?"

She pulled her hands away and crossed her arms over her chest. "It's not like the ceremony is tomorrow," Pansy argued. "We'll take our time planning it. Isn't there something romantic though about knowing so soon that you've found the person you want to be with for the rest of your life?"

Sighing, Hermione couldn't help but nod. It was also a scary thought. Instead of dwelling on her own relationship, she decided to be supportive of her friend. "I really am happy for you," she said, her smile now seeming more genuine.

"Happy enough that you'll be my maid of honor and help me with the planning?" Pansy asked. "Because, honestly, I don't trust Adrian to help. His idea of a reception would be a bottle of firewhiskey and whatever's on the radio. Although, I do like the idea of it being small and simple. I have no family, and he's an only child. So far my guest list is you and Draco and Marcus, if he can make it."

"I think that sounds perfect," Hermione agreed. "And you know I'll do whatever I can to help you."

000000000

Draco was rummaging through the safe in his office when Adrian stepped out of the floo. "So, that's where you really keep your millions," he commented. "A wall safe. Please tell me Lilah's birthday is the combination."

Unable to find what he had been searching for, Draco closed the safe. "Because you need more money," he commented sarcastically.

Shrugging, Adrian smiled and poured himself a drink. "I might," he replied. "My fiancee has some expensive taste."

"Fiancee?" Draco asked as his brows knitted together. "Are you and Pansy engaged?"

Adrian nodded. "I asked last night," he said. "Honestly, I wasn't sure she would say yes. I assumed living with Granger all these years would make her just as logical, but she said yes."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, trying to control his sudden temper.

"Just that Hermione's the type to think everything out, make a pro/con list, give you 27 reasons why you shouldn't do something," Adrian explained. "I'm sure it's what she's doing to Pansy at this very moment. Hermione let's her brain do all the thinking, not her heart. Pansy's the opposite."

Draco frowned. "I can't tell if you're insulting or complimenting your future wife," he commented. "And I'd appreciate it if you left my girlfriend out of this."

"What's got your wand in a knot?" Adrian asked, refilling his glass.

Sighing, he shook his head. "After what happened last night, I realized that I want to marry Hermione," he confessed. "And it freaked her out. I didn't even ask her to marry me, but the idea of it made her panic."

"Do you really want to be married again though?" Adrian wondered. "I mean, look how things turned out with Astoria. You spent all of your time away from home and in bed with someone else."

Shaking his head, Draco replied, "It's different with Hermione. I'm happy with her. What happened with Astoria will never happen with her."

Adrian shrugged. "Maybe you need to tell her that then," he suggested. "She knows your history, and even though she says she's okay with it, maybe a part of her isn't."

He considered this for a moment, and wondered if Adrian was right. Hermione had a tendency to hide the truth from her loved ones for fear that she might lose them. It made him nervous to think that she really was upset by his past behavior, and that it might be the reason she didn't want to marry him.

"Or maybe she just thinks it's too soon," Adrian interjected, interrupting his friend's thoughts. "I'm sure it's the exact same thing she's telling Pans right now. I won't be surprised if she uses that brain of hers to talk Pansy out of marrying me before the night is through."

"Well, she would be doing her a favor," Draco stated with a smirk. "Listen, um, there's something I need to do tonight. Lilah's already asleep, so you don't have to do much. Just keep an eye on her?"

Adrian nodded, and though he asked what it was he needed to do, Draco gave no details. He entered his bedroom and removed a small box from his nightstand drawer before Apparating to Diagon Alley. Entering Gringotts, the wizarding bank, he approached the first available teller. "Vault 932 please," he said, handing over his key. The goblin led him down to the vaults, stopping in front of Vault 932. They climbed out of the cart, and the goblin opened the door. Inside, were various pieces of artwork and jewelry, mementos of Lilah's first year of life, and the family heirlooms Narcissa had given him before the schism. Sighing, he pulled the small black box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a diamond ring. "Maybe someday," he said to himself as he placed it on a shelf.