Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. JK Rowling does. I'm just borrowing her characters for my own twisted use.
A/N: The upcoming chapters may be shorter, but I hope to update more often. We will be getting to more engagements and weddings. So we will have to see from there. Thank you all for you wonderful reviews. And for those of you who have stuck with me on this from the beginning or when you found it, THANKS, and HUGS!
Now, ON WITH THE STORY! Happy Reading.
Chapter 17:
Engagements and Girl Talk
Well its the day before classes are to resume, and quite a few students had gotten formally engaged, and a small few had actually gotten married. Those were Pavarti and Nott, Padma and Neville, and Crabbe and Eloise.
Ron and Harry both had went like they'd decided and picked out rings for Pansy and Luna. Ginny went with them to make sure they didn't screw it up.
Ron had borrowed money from his brothers so he could get Pansy a ring he could be proud of. It was a karat sized diamond laid in a platinum setting. When he presented it to her, she was ecstatic.
*****
Flashback:
Pansy had just arrived at the Burrow, Ron had owled her and asked her to come quickly. There was something he desperately needed to discuss with her. She had a feeling she knew what it was. And hoped the handsome red-head hadn't botched it. She was certainly smitten with him, but even she could admit that sometimes he was dense to others feelings.
She walked in the back door to find Molly engaging herself in what looked to be a muggle card game. What on earth is she doing, Pansy thought to herself.
"Oh, Pansy dear. How are you?" Molly rose from her seat at the table to come envelope Pansy in a hug. Pansy was still trying to get used to this. She herself wasn't used to all the touchy feely that Mrs. Weasley so blatently spread.
"I'm doing well thank you. Ron owled me. Said it was urgent?" Pansy said in question, hoping Molly would give something away. But anyone who knows Mrs. Weasley will know, she doesn't give secrets away.
"Well yes dear, he's in the living room with the others. Just go in straight away. I'll be there in a moment." Was all Molly said.
Silently wondering what it could be and the fact that it would be okay for him mum to be there, made Pansy all the more curious.
Upon walking into the living room, Pansy took in that just about every Weasley was there, as well as Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood. She took in those seated about the room, and something glittering on Luna Lovegood's hand caught her eye. It wasn't a large set of gems, but Pansy couldn't help but notice. They sparkled like the sun. It was a blue diamond, about 1/2 karat, set in gold.
Ron had risen from his seat, and was approaching her. He wrapped her in a large hug, and then gave her a kiss, nothing over the top, more of just a 'hello'.
"Hi, Pans. Um, would you mind sitting in the seat I just got up from, I'll be right back." As she was taking her seat, Ron was running up the stairs. In just a few moments, he was back.
While he was racing around the house, Molly had entered carrying the camara she had gotten from Arthur for Christmas.
Ron approached Pansy, then got to one knee before her. Pansy just smiled sweetly at him. She'd been waiting for this.
He held out a small box, and lifted the lid. As he was doing so, he spoke, reading off a piece of parchment. "Pansy, I know that we've had our differences in the past. But I would like to think we are doing well do get past them. You are a good match for me. The ministry obviously knew what they were doing, so would you do me the honor of adhering to the law, and becoming my wife, and mother of our children?"
Pansy smiled brightly, looking from the ring Ron had chosen to his face and then she lept into Ron's arms. "Yes." Just one single yes. Everyone in the room cheered, as Molly snapped several pictures.
End Flashback
*****
A few others had gotten formally engaged. Ginny had oohed and ahhed over the ring that Draco had gotten Hermione, when the girl had shown it to her upon her return. But she did so with half a heart. Things between her and Blaise weren't going so well. He was withdrawn and she wasn't sure if it had something to do with her, or if it was something else. She just couldn't seem to get him to fully open up to her.
They were in Hermione's room when Ginny asked seriously. "Hermione, do you thing you could maybe talk to Draco for me, and find out what's going on with Blaise. There for a while we were doing really well. Or so I thought. And now he's back to being withdrawn." She said with a frown. "I know you don't want to get in the middle, but I don't know what to do."
Hermione looked at the younger girl. She did look pretty stressed. Poor thing. "I will talk to him, and see if maybe he can find out what's going on. I'm sure he won't mind doing me a favor." Hermione replied.
"Oh, thanks! I'm just so confused. One minute we seem fine, and then the next he's avoiding me again. And I swear I haven't threatened to hex him, not once." Ginny exclaimed.
Hermione had to laugh at that. And before long Ginny was laughing with her. Hermione was glad she could lift Ginny's spirits enough to get her laughing.
"I promise, I will speak to Draco about this soon. And get back to you when he gets back to me about it." Ginny hugged Hermione. The lept of the girl's bed.
"You don't know how much this means to me Hermione. By the way, speaking of meaning something, you and Draco have been spending quite a bit of time together in his room, or so I've heard. What would you two be doing?" Ginny asked.
Hermione blushed a deep crimson. "Nothing. Just working on 'Heads' duties, and such."
"And your a big fat liar, Hermione Granger!" Ginny said quite threatening. "I know something more than studying and heads duties are keeping you guys in there. Just about everyone who stayed here or came back before today said you guys keep yourselves locked in there most of the day."
"Well, we just wanted a bit of privacy for our studies, and such." Hermione was trying to lie and doing a horrible job.
"Like I said, BIG FAT LIAR!." Ginny was giggling now. She knew being threatening wasn't the way to get Hermione to spill. "Spill it, girly. I want to know."
Hermione just blushed. "There's nothing to spill."
"Liar! And you do a ghastly job at it. Want to try the truth now?" Ginny asked teasingly. "Or should I go get some of Slughorn's Veritiserum."
"Ok, I was going to talk to you about this anyway, and since your pulling my arm, I have a few questions." Hermione replied.
Ginny sat back down on the bed facing Hermione. "Ask away."
"Well its - well um. You see- we've, I mean Draco and I- well." Hermione was stammering all over herself.
Ginny looked at her confused and then it was like a light switch flipped. "Have you and Draco been shagging?"
Hermione blushed so hard her ears, neck and face was as red as Ginny's hair, and she just nodded.
Ginny screeched a high pitched squeal. "Oh my gods. I knew it! I just knew it!"
When Hermione didn't continue, Ginny said, "So you said you had questions. You know I'm not going to be judgemental. Hell it's been bloody awful being matched to someone who is so hot and cold. Tell me, is he as good as his past conquests deem him?"
Hermione blushed again, "Well actually, he's wonderful. We have only done it a few times. Most of the time we ar together is spent talking. You know getting to really know each other. But its so sweet and endearing. Strange huh?"
Ginny looked at the older girl with envy. "That's wonderful Hermione. You deserve someone who treats you well."
"Oh, don't get me wrong we still argue. A lot! But making up sure is fun." Hermione said with a laugh. Ginny joined in as well.
Looking at the clock beside her bed, Hermione jumped up. "Ginny, we've got to hurry. We are extremely late for supper."
The girls had made their way to the Great Hall, and Hermione was quite surprised to see Pansy sitting between Ron and Neville proudly showing off her ring, and telling anyone who would listen about her plans for the wedding. Ron just sat beside her nodding and chewing, as he shoveled mouthful after mouthful of food into his mouth.
The only other time I've seen Ron shove food into his mouth that fast was in fourth year when he was avoiding speaking to Harry. Hermione thought to herself.
Harry was seated across from Ron, Luna next to him. He looked as though he was trying his hardest not to explode into fits of laughter. Hermione gave Ginny a questioning look, and the girls responce was, "I explain it all later."
Hermione just nodded and seated herself next to Harry. "Hello everyone. Have a good Holiday?"
Before anyone else could respond to Hermione's question, Pansy exploded with 'look at my ring' and 'isn't my Ronnie just the best' and after a while all Hermione heard was 'blah, blah, blah'. After all she wouldn't give anyone a chance to speak a congratulations. She gave Ron a sympathetic smile, "Congratulations, Ron."He just nodded in responce. Hermione gave him a worried look before turning to Harry when Pansy saw she looked disinterested in what she was saying, and turned to someone else she thought might listen.
"So Harry, how was your holiday?"
"Great thanks. I have formally asked Luna to marry me. She accepted." Harry said smiling like the cat who got the cream.
"That's great Harry! Congratulations!"Giving him a big sisterly hug. Then she sat back on the bench and tugged Luna's sleeve. "Luna, congratulations. May I please see the ring?"
She showed it to Hermione quite happily. It was simple and elegant, gold band with a single solitary blue diamond. The blue matched Luna's eyes. "Oh, its beautiful."
"Thank you, Hermione." Luna said wistfully, then turned back to her pudding.
"So, Hermione, anything interesting happen during your holiday?" This from Ron, who'd managed to stop shoveling food into his mouth, and swallow.
"Well, actually yes. Draco and I became formally engaged." It seemed like the entire Great Hall had gotten quiet at the same moment Hermione began to speak. And stayed quiet.
Hermione turned to see everyone had their eyes on either her or Draco. She blushed and then looked to her betrothed. He winked at her, and went back to his conversation with Blaise, as if no one was staring. She took her cue from him and did the same.
Harry was first to congratulate her. Then several others followed. Quietly next to her Harry whispered. "Are you ok with that? I mean really ok?"
She smiled her brightest smile at the boy who'd become like her brother, nodded and said, "Yes Harry, I'm very ok with it."
He nodded and smiled to her. Silently speaking a vow, if Malfoy hurt her, he'd kill him. He still didn't trust him, but what could anyone really do about it. A law was a law.
Everyone seemed to settle down, and went back to the conversations, or dinner they had started prior to Hermione's announcement.
Later that evening after Ginny had given Hermione every detail as to what happened over the Holiday at the Burrow, Hermione was in the library getting a bit of light reading done. And that is where Draco found her. Hidden away in her favorite spot, at the back of the library by the restricted section. Draco had come to find this was his favorite spot as well. It was very hidden.
"Hey Hermione." He said approaching her. She jumped a little at the sound of his voice. Not because she was scared but he had startled her. No one else occupied the Library at this time. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"Hi, and you didn't scare me, I was just surprised. How'd you sneak up on me without my hearing?" She asked, smiling at him.
"Well, you were so into your book, that you just didn't hear me. I most certainly was not sneaking." He said with a mock hurt, which he didn't pull off, it just came out sounding pure Draco.
She laughed at him, said nothing, shaking her head. When he didn't say what he'd come for, she went back to her book.
"Since we go back to classes tomorrow, I was wondering, is there any chance I might get some alone time with my fiance' before then?" Draco said. Sounding slightly like a pouting child.
Hermione smiled inwardly at the thought of Draco pouting. "Yes, just let me finish this chapter."
So Draco sat back to wait, getting bored after just a few moments, he began to playfully pick at her. First he started with nudging her shoe with his under the table. When that just caused he to shift away, he decided to try something else.
He moved his chair closer to his. Seeing that she seem to notice, he placed his hand on her thigh and started massaging in circles. She sighed, it was a content sound.
When he started moving upward with his hand. She sat up straighter, shoved his hand away. When he scoffed in protest, she spoke, "Honestly, Draco. I have one paragraph left. Can't you wait?"
"Well, actually, NO! I can't." Draco said, and then he pounced.
Kissing her hard and passionately on the mouth. His hands were groping and massaging. Hermione didn't have the strength to fight him after a few moments of that wonderful mouth working it magic on her. She was lost, and her favorite spot in the Library would never be the same.
Thankfully, no one interrupted them, or they'd have gotten quite a shock.
And Hermione, in all their passion, forgot to ask about Blaise for Ginny.
I have no excuses for how long this took. Just a sorry it took 2 weeks to post. Please review. Hope to update sooner this time. Working on next chapter already. Happy Reading. ;)
