23. That Was Very Malfoy of You

Hermione hadn't slept in days. Weeks. Months. She wasn't quite sure. Everything seemed to blur together. She looked over at Draco sleeping soundly next to her, so peacefully and deep. She sighed and dug her head deeper into her pillow. Stupid jerk, getting a good nights sleep and her not getting a wink. She threw her elbow into his side.

"Mmm."

She smirked to herself. She was bound and determined to wake him up and make him miserable just like her. She was thinking all of that as she jabbed another elbow into his arms. Then, her sanity quickly came back to her and she shut her eyes tightly, pretending to be asleep as an illusion to the now awake Draco. How selfish could she be? Making her partner equally as despondent. She laid there with her eyes shut for what seemed like hours.

"Mione."

She still kept them shut.

"I know you're awake. I have the pending bruises on my ribs to prove it."

She didn't know why she didn't just open up her eyes and admit that she had woke him up… but then she would have to talk to him and share her feelings. She didn't want that. She didn't want at all. Mostly, she had to admit, because then she would have to tell him that she was scared and that would make her vulnerable. She hated being vulnerable in front of Draco. It's just that the thought of bringing anything up from what had happened in the Godforsaken fucking pit she was thrown in with the younger and more perverted version of Voldemort (why he was referred to as Tom was still a mystery to her) just made her feel sick to her stomach. It's not as if he got his way with her, but he almost did. The almost terrified the shit out of her. Nearly literally.

"Fine, you wanna wake me up in the middle of the night, no, three o clock in the morning and then not just admit to me that you are awake and just lay there with your eyes shut, very tight, might I add so it looks very unconvincing? Go ahead…"

Her eyes snapped open. "One, I think my fake sleeping is very convincing seeing as I denied you for a little rump in the sheets the last three nights by faking that I was asleep. Two, I didn't wake you up…"

"…Oh really?" he interjected.

"Really. I have… uhm… muscular tourettes?"

"Okay, now that's bullshit and you know it. I think this mini tiff has reached comical heights," Draco stated as Hermione shot him a seething glare. "Well, it has almost reached comical heights."

"Draco, I just… I wanted you to be awake. I didn't want to be the only conscience person in this house at night. It leaves me alone with my thoughts and then I freak out and that's why I…" she trailed.

"…Suddenly came down with muscular tourettes?" Draco smiled sweetly and brushed a strand of hair from her face as she nodded. "Have you thought about taking a sleeping draught?"

Hermione shrugged. "Thought about it, but I am sort of worried about what I may dream? If that makes sense. It's just that I can sort of control my thoughts more than a dream."

"I understand." He kissed her forehead. "I'm awake as long as you are then."

"Really?" She looked at his utterly serious face and fell more in love with him. "You're seriously going to stay awake with me?"

"Sure am."

She smiled and snuggled up to him. "I love you, Draco Malfoy."

"Ditto, Hermione Granger." He hugged her close. "You wanna talk about it?"

"Hm?" She looked up at him.

"Do you wanna talk…"

"No. Nope. Uh-uh. I would rather talk about doilies or potpourri."

He laughed. "Ok, potpourri it is."

"I wasn't serious about that subject I was just merely making a point that I wanted to not talk about serious subject matter."

"No, no, no. I'm super curious. Tell me more about potpourri."

She giggled and nestled her head into the crook of his arm and eventually… they both fell asleep… into a deep, peaceful and dreamless sleep.

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"Daddy?"

Draco looked up from his plate at the restaurant down the road from their apartment. "Yes maam?"

"I don't like cheese." Adrianna had a disgusted look on her face.

Draco looked down at her grilled cheese to find that the normal cheddar was replaced with white, crumbly feta. Even he wanted to gag. "Oi, mate," he called out to their waiter.

"Yes sir," he replied as he whisked over to them attentively. "What can I help you with?"

Draco handed him the plate. "This is not a grilled cheese. Not for a child. This is disgusting."

He looked down at the plate and grimaced then back at Draco. "I am so sorry sir. The new kitchen help doesn't read labels apparently. I will get that fixed immediately." He took the plate and hurried off.

Hermione set her fork down and stared at him expectantly. "Well that was very…"

"What?" Draco asked incredulously.

She rolled her eyes. "That was very Malfoy of you."

He started laughing. "I assume you meant that as an insult?"

Hermione shrugged. "Just watch your manners, Draco. You are a role model to a very young and very beautiful girl."

Adrianna smiled and pointed to her chest. "Yup! That's me daddy!"

He smiled and nodded and then his face fell. Hermione looked in the direction that he was looking and gasped, trying to cover her face. "What in the world are they doing here?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

Draco shook his head. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Oh Merlin! They are coming over here!"

"Hermione… Draco… Adrianna… nice to see you all." Ron walked up to them, a very pregnant Penelope skulking behind him.

"Weasley… Penelope." Draco acknowledged them all.

"What brings you here Ron?" Hermione asked, almost curtly.

Penelope snapped, "We're eating, Hermione. Thought that was obvious."

Draco could have sworn he saw Hermione clench her fist and flinch towards her wand. "Well, of course, Penelope. My apologies…?"

"Whatever."

"Daddy?" Adrianna tugged on his sleeve.

"Yes baby?"

"Why is she so fat?" Adrianna pointed at Penelope.

Hermione let out a burst of laughter, shaking violently from holding in a small part of her laughter. A very small part. "Care to answer that question, Penelope?"

Ron was frantically trying to find words to speak, but everyone could tell that he was trying not to laugh too… and Penelope was on the verge of tears naturally. "We have to go. Hermione, it's a pleasure as always," he said, trying to sound sarcastic but Hermione knew him better than that. He was amused. Hermione one, Penelope zero. Yes, this encounter just made her day.

They left and Draco gave her a look. "What?" Hermione asked innocently.

"That was very…"

"What?"

"That was very Malfoy of you."

She smiled and shrugged. "Well, what can I say? You're rubbing off on me."

Draco liked the way that sounded. Oh yes, he liked that very much… He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a very small box that he had been holding for a couple weeks. He wanted to be with her forever, there was no doubt. With all the craziness that had been going on, he just felt like he shouldn't ask her and take advantage of her emotions… but when she was bantering back and forth with Penelope, he was something in her eyes… Hermione Granger was back and he knew now was the best time to do it. Hermione didn't like flashy things and he figured that proposing in a quaint restaurant with Adrianna there as well would make for a very Hermione approved proposal.

"Hermione, there's something that I've wanted to ask you."

She looked at him quizzically. "What is it?"

"You are my life. I love you so much and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you… and I just cant stand the thought of being with anyone but you…"

She laughed. "That isn't a question, Draco."

He gave her a look. "Let me finish, woman… I just. Oh fuck you ruined it, 'Mione. Well, what the fuck. Will you bloody marry me?" He took out the ring and slid it across the table.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Draco, don't joke like this. It isn't funny."

He got up off his chair and kneeled down in front of her, taking the ring and placing it on her finger. "I am so not joking, Hermione. I love you so much. Will you?"

Her eye welled up with tears as she started shaking her head rather violently. "Yes! Of course I will! Fucking Merlin! Yes!" She leapt down and hugged him, tackling him to the floor and laying kisses on him. And then she quickly remembered that she was in a public place and scrambled back to her seat, as did Draco.

"I love you, 'Mione."

"Oh, I love you so much more," she cooed softly back at him, staring at the perfect ring.

Adrianna looked from both Draco to Hermione… she may be super young, but she could tell today was a good day and she just started clapping. It seemed like the right thing to do to a three, almost four year old. Soon the whole restaurant was clapping, applauding their engagement. Hermione felt embarrassed for making such a scene, but that's how the Malfoys do it. And that is the way she liked it.

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Astoria had never been a sensible woman. Never once had she set aside her own thoughts and feelings and just looked at the logic of everything. She was selfish and she knew it. It was a plain fact. So the fact that she had let Draco and Hermione go without any personal benefit to her… well, that didn't happen. She had a benefit in the matter. She had a huge benefit. That of which Narcissa would love and surely be very grateful for… not to mention the fact that it would restore the lives of the fallen Death Eaters and soon Mudbloods and Muggles would find their place in the world. Dead and rotting.

A/N: Sorry soooo long. I just didn't know where I wanted to go with this. Still not 100%. But here you go! READ AND REVIEW!