CHAPTER 06
The smell of coffee drifted into her room, waking her up from her slumber. Slowly she turned to look at her alarm clock; 8AM.
"Shit."
Almost falling out of bed she hurried to the closet, pulling out a pair of shorts and t-shirt before running to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later she walked down into the kitchen of her new home, to find her husband already gone.
Sighing she took a seat at the empty kitchen. It was not her fault she had been up the whole night; she thought. She was not a late riser she had gotten up at 6AM every morning to cook breakfast since she was twelve.
Maybe I should stop staying up so late. But I only wait for him to come back home.
How can he come home at one in the morning and then get up at seven in the morning to go to work again? Slowly she got up and walked over to the refrigerator door, and just as she was about to open it she spotted a note had had left behind.
Tinkerbelle,
Breakfast is in the microwave.
I'll be home late today, so don't wait up.
D.
Another day by herself, she thought as she put the note in her pocket. Was this what married women did all day? Just sit and do nothing? Not that she had done anything with her time as a single woman either. I really have to find a job.
After a small breakfast she went out to the backyard and found a gardening shed. Prying the door open she found all the tools needed to start a garden, and with nothing more to do than just sit around she began to make herself a garden in a little back corner of the house.
"Malfoy?"
He looked up from reading the paper.
"I'm getting a job."
He stared at her, considering her words for a second and then shrugged, "If you wanted to find something to do—"
"I have found something to do, but it's not enough. I went into town today and found a little bookstore that the owner was selling off and bought it with my savings."
He frowned at her.
"I love books, you know that, and I finally found a job that I can enjoy."
"Do you know the first think about managing a place by yourself?"
"Some. I did a minor in Business, so I don't think it'll be too hard, and anyway we all start somewhere right? The store is in a very neat neighborhood and it's really amazing once you step inside."
"Alright Tinkerbelle."
"Thank you, Malfoy." And before she knew what she was doing she was up and out of her seat hugging him, surprising them both.
Pulling back Hermione blushed, "Sorry, I got over excited."
Malfoy shrugged as she sat deeper into his chair; both feeling awkward. When the phone rang Hermione jumped, startled, and then rushed to answer it.
"Hello?" She turned back to look at Malfoy, who raised an eyebrow up in question.
"Yes. Tonight? I'll have to ask Draco, he might have another meeting later on today. Okay. Bye. Love you too." Hanging up the phone she walked back to the table.
"Your mum?"
"Yeah."
"What did she ask?"
"If we could join my parents for dinner tonight."
"When?"
"Seven."
He looked at his watch.
"I'll pick you up at half past six."
"Are you sure?"
"I missed the first dinner. I won't miss this one."
"Thanks."
"Hey, we're in this together, remember?"
She managed to give him a smile. "I should tell you that my Dad will ask you a lot of questions. You being my first—" she stopped herself.
"Hmm?"
"Dad will just ask a lot of questions. He didn't get to ask you anything the last time we were there, but I'm one hundred percent positive that he's going to corner you in a room and—"
"Tinkerbelle, you're getting to anxious." He said giving her a pat on the head, "well, I'll see you later."
"Okay. Bye." She watched as he hurried out of the house and sighed.
"Here."
"What is it?"
Malfoy handed her a small velvet box. Opening it Hermione gasped and closed it with a snap.
"I can't!"
"We're married. We're expected to wear wedding bands."
"But they're so—beautiful."
"So then, put it on."
Slowly Hermione opened the small box and took out the bigger of the two platinum wedding bands. The ring was made of tapered baguettes separated by marquise shaped diamonds set in a prong setting.
"Here, let me." Malfoy took the ring out of her fingers, taking her left hand into his.
"Wait! I'll put it on myself—that way—"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You think it's too intimate if I put the ring on your finger?"
She nodded. But he ignored her and slipped the platinum wedding band onto her fourth finger; if fit snuggly, as if it were made just for her. She stared at her hand, looking at it as if it were part of her body that she had now just discovered.
Malfoy took the small box from her and took the other ring, slipping it onto his finger himself. "There. Now we're married." He said smiling at her.
She gave him a hesitant smile and stared down at the ring on her finger, feeling at a loss for words to explain the emotions riding through her.
When they pulled up to her parents house Hermione stared in disbelief.
"Oh no."
"What?"
She sank deeper into her seat. "I'm going to kill my Mum." She groaned.
Malfoy lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing more. When they got out of the car Hermione grabbed Malfoy by the arms and looked up at him, almost desperately.
"My Mum invited most of the family over," she whispered urgently up at him.
"And?"
"And? I can't face all of them yet! And they're going to overwhelm me with the questions and—and—I don't think I can do it."
He lifted his eyebrow again and then leaned down so that he could whisper into her ear. "I'm here too, remember? You'll be fine."
"We're newly-weds. We're supposed to be 'in love' with each other I—"
His lips descended upon hers, touching lightly once and then twice, making her world whirl with color.
"The love birds are here!" Someone shouted from the house, breaking through to her conscience and making him lift his lips from hers.
Hermione blinked up at her husband, her fingers coming up to lightly touch her mouth as if she did not know she had lips. Malfoy's eyes twinkled with mischief as he stared down at her.
"Hermione!"
She had no time to react, in the next few seconds she was hugged and kissed and passed around like a new born baby. When she was finally on her own two feet again the questions began.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Well, you sure did get a nice one, didn't you?"
"Where did you say you met him again?"
"Wow! Look at that right! How much did it cost?"
She started to panic and then steady hands came to rest on her shoulders, supporting her. She almost sagged to her knees in relief.
"Everyone, this is my husband, Draco." She was surprised her voice didn't crack. "Draco, this is—everyone."
There was another burst of welcomes, everyone wanting to get a good look at her husband.
"Jean."
The crowd of cousins and well wishers slowly departed, making their ways back into the house, with quiet looks.
"Bradley?"
Hermione took a step forward; Malfoy's hands on her shoulders slowly letting her go towards the man who had spoken. She took another step, as if not believing, and ran forward then threw herself into his awaiting arms.
"When did you get back?" She asked, laughing and crying at the same time, inspecting him from head to toe.
"This morning."
"How long are you going to stay?"
"A few days."
Malfoy watched as Hermione laughed, her fear gone, he wondered who the man was that he had made Hermione forget her anxiousness. Watching the other man closely he noted the tailored suit and familiar features of the face.
Turing back to face Malfoy, Hermione smiled over at him, one hand lightly resting on the elbow of the other man. "This is Bradley," She said.
Bradley held out his hand, Malfoy took it. "I'm her older brother."
Malfoy smiled, something inside him sighing in relief at the knowledge. "I'm Draco Star-Malfoy."
"From Star Inc. Yeah, I've heard of you and your family."
"And you're Bradley Granger, the world famous architect."
Bradley grinned, "so you've heard of me too then."
Malfoy shrugged, "Tinkerbelle hasn't had time to talk much about her family, but I know some facts about her from our school days."
"Tinkerbelle?"
Bradley looked from Malfoy to Hermione with a light of amusement in his eyes.
"Ah.. we better get inside. I'm sure Mum and Dad are waiting with everyone else." Hermione turned and headed up the lawn, leaving the two behind in a hurry.
"So Jean didn't tell you about the other half of the Granger family."
"She didn't mention it."
"Leave it to Jean to leave out the unimportant thing in life."
Malfoy watched as Bradley headed across the green lawn and into the house.
AN: Hope you enjoyed it.
So there are have been a few questions about Hermione's magic if she was going to get it back and why Hermione and Draco got married.
Well Hermione lost her magic after the war due to serious trauma. When I began writing this story I imagined them living as Muggles. So this story is not going to be about Hermione finding her magic again and Draco helping her get it. It will just be a story about the two of them falling in love. Because of that Harry and Ron and the rest of the gang with not be there.
Why they got married? Well everyone around Hermione was getting married and Draco's parents were pressuring him to get married so they did for a year and a day. No strings attached.
Here's some background information about Hermione's family: She has a mum and dad and an older brother. Also she has an adopted brother that doesn't live in London but he'll appear later on. She has many cousins and is very close to them. I know in the books she didn't have any siblings but I felt like giving her one.
Well that's it for now.. next time i'll tell you a little more about Draco.
Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask!