Chapter Twenty Seven:

"Sir, I'm a bit nervous about being here today, still not real sure what I'm going to say. So, bear with me please if I take up too much of your time. See, in this box is a ring for your oldest. She's my everything and all that I know is. It would be such a relief if I knew that we were on the same side, cause very soon I'm hoping that I." Marry your daughter by Train

oOo

One month later:

"Just a minute!" Anne Granger yelled as she walked towards the door. She straightened her dress before opening it, "Draco?"

Draco cleared his throat and smiled nervously, "Mrs. Granger, I hope I didn't come at an inconvenient time?"

Anne smiled and gestured for the young man to come in, "Not at all, come on in. Richard and I just came back from the office, so you're right on time," she replied as she closed the door behind them. "And you should really start calling me, Anne. Mrs. Granger sounds so formal and kind of reminds me of my in-law," she added the last bit with a shudder.

He chuckled as he took his seat on the couch, "If you insist, thank you."

"Honey, Draco is here! Come on down," Anne hollered. She then turned to look at their guest; her eyes narrowing a bit, "You look a lot paler, dear, do you want something to drink?"

"Err - water would be nice, thank you," he replied politely.

"I'll get us some drinks then," Anne said with a small smile. "Richard would be down in a minute and I'll be back in jiffy, make yourself comfortable."

He waited until Anne was out of sight before he let out the breath that he seemed to be holding, "Luci, I hope you're right with this," he thought.

"Draco?"

He immediately shot up from his seat and turned towards the voice, "Good afternoon, Sir."

Richard chuckled and motioned for him to take a seat; "This is a pleasant surprise, is Hermione with you?"

He sat back down and folded his sweaty hands on top of his lap, "Actually, Sir, Hermione is not with me," he replied. He then levelled his gaze with the older man, "I came here alone today to talk to you and Mrs. Granger."

Richard quirked an inquisitive brow, "I think I already have an idea what this is about, but let's wait for the Missus, she loves these sort of things," he said with smirk.

He felt some tension leave his body, making him relax a little bit.

Anne appeared as if on cue and placed the tray filled with refreshments on the table. She took her place next her husband, "So, Draco, are you finally asking for our daughter's hand?"

oOo

"I don't know where that prick went," Hermione huffed. "I already tried calling his phone multiple times but he's not picking up."

"Didn't he tell you that he had to meet some suppliers today?" Ginny said calmly.

"He did, but it's already noon."

Ginny shook her head and continued frosting her carrot cupcakes; "Did you try the Manor?"

She slumped back on her chair, "No."

"Why didn't you?"

"That's what mobile phones are for," she replied petulantly, "And I just don't want to."

"Then stop whining like a brat," The red head chastised. "I'm sure he's just working."

She huffed for what felt like the nth time and snatched one of the newly frosted cake, "I'll try," she said before taking a huge bite.

Ginny watched her best friend with fascination as she managed to stuff half of the cake inside her mouth, "Good?" she chuckled.

"Best cook ever!"

"I know!" Ginny quipped.

She playfully rolled her eyes at Ginny and made a grab for her tea, "Where is Harry by the way?"

"At work."

"Isn't it Saturday?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "You know how the Ministry works, slave drivers I say."

"Let's agree to disagree on that, shall we?" She replied with a cringe.

Ginny laughed.

oOo

"Are you sure about this? I mean, don't get me wrong, dear, I have nothing against it – in fact, I'm actually thrilled about it," Anne said. "But marriage is a lifetime commitment and you have just gotten back together, are you sure you're not rushing things?"

Draco thought about the same question a couple of times, but as each day passes, he knew that he was in it for the right reasons. He cleared his throat and looked at his future mother-in-law straight in the eyes, "I haven't been this sure of anything in my entire life, Anne, ever. I love your daughter more than my life and have been loving her almost half of it. I know that it may look like I'm rushing things, but I'm really not," he paused to clear the lump in his throat. "I knew the moment that she let me back in her life that I wouldn't leave her side ever again." He turned his eyes to Richard, "Hermione is my everything and I promise you now that I would spend all of my days making her happy."

Anne cleared her throat, her eyes a tad bit misty, "Richard?"

"I'm only going to ask you this one last time, young man, before I give you our answer."

He nodded.

Richard looked at him squarely in the eyes, "Marriage doesn't always mean happy times; you would fight and have tough times but your vows still hold its weight. You can't walk away even if it's the easiest thing to do. So, having said that, are you 100% sure that you are ready for that kind of commitment?"

He didn't miss a beat, "I am, Sir, I'm ready for it."

Richard studied his face for a full minute before turning his gaze towards his wife.

A large smile blossomed on Anne's lips, her head bobbing in approval.

"Welcome to the family, son," Richard said with a soft smile.

Relief flooded his chest, "You don't know how much this means to me, thank you," he said with all the sincerity he could muster.

"Don't hurt my daughter and make her happy."

"I'll do my utter best, she's my life."

"I'm so happy for you both!" Anne exclaimed with a sniff. She stood up from her perch and opened her arms, "Come here and give me a hug."

He obliged. He stood up and scooped the petite woman in a bear hug, "Thank you, Anne. I love Hermione so much and I promise to take good care of her," he whispered.

Anne patted his back, "I know and I can't be happier."

Richard cleared his throat loudly, "Enough with this emotional stuff, let's celebrate!"

Anne disentangled herself from Draco and wiped her eyes, "We should," she concurred.

"One down, three to go," he thought.

oOo

"How did it go?"

"It went perfectly, thank you, Luc!" Draco said with a large smile.

Luci squealed in delight, "Where are you off to now?"

Draco checked his watch, "The Burrow."

"Good luck! Call me again as soon as you're done!"

"Will do, talk to you later."

oOo

"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Ron asked in surprise.

Draco let out a sheepish smile, "Can I come in?"

Ron opened the door and pointed towards the couch, "Mione, is not here though."

"I know," he replied.

"Err – then why are you here?"

"I'm actually here to talk to you, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, err – are they here?"

Ron's brow furrowed, "Did something happen? Is Hermione okay?"

He shifted in his seat, his nerves getting the best of him. "I – err – I need to ask you guys something - and Hermione is perfectly fine, she's with your sister, I think."

"Oh okay," Ron replied. "Let me just get Mum and Dad."

"Thank you."

"Draco Malfoy is sitting in the lounge room without Hermione, are my eyes deceiving me?" Lavender said, her eyes pinned on Draco's direction.

"You're not seeing things, it's the ferret," Ron replied.

Lavender turned towards her husband, "Why?"

"No idea, love," Ron shrugged. "He said he wants to talk to Mum and Dad and me, I'm not sure what that means."

"Get Mum and Dad, I'll make some tea," Lavender said.

"Okay."

"So, how can we be of help?" Arthur Weasley asked.

Draco studied the four people looking at him closely and gulped, "I came here - I came here to make amends, Sir."

Ron choked on his tea.

Lavender almost spilled hers on her lap.

Arthur threw the blonde man a curious look, "For what exactly?" he tested.

He levelled his gaze with Arthur, "For everything," he paused to swallow the snitch-sized lump in his throat. "I cannot change the past nor will I justify my actions," he moved his eyes towards Ron, "I've wronged you on so many occasions; threw words that I cannot take back, but only regret." He then turned his gaze to Molly, "I'm hoping that it's not too late to try and make everything right. I'm sorry, I truly am," he said with full sincerity.

"Why the sudden change of heart, Mr. Malfoy?" Molly asked.

"Because I've realized the wrongness in my ways and I want to become a better person for the woman I love," he replied truthfully. "I'm hoping this could be the start."

Ron cleared his throat, "That was a lot to take in," he said. He then leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees, "But for Mione's sake, yeah, this can be a start."

"But that's not the only reason why you came here, Mr. Malfoy, am I right?" Arthur asked.

"Draco – please, call me, Draco," he insisted politely. "You are right, that's not the only reason," he admitted.

Molly smiled, "I think I have an idea."

"Oh Merlin!" Lavender squealed.

"What's happening?" Ron asked his wife.

He took that as an opening and stated his intentions, "I also came here today to ask for your blessing, I would like to formally ask for Hermione's hand in marriage."

"You are aware that you should be asking her parents, right?" Ron asked.

"I already did, but I also know you all mean the world to her, so…"

"Did you ask Mione?" Lavender asked.

"Err – not yet, but I'll ask her soon," he replied.

"Do you promise to take care of her and never leave her?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, Sir," he answered.

Molly seem to study him for a second before turning towards her husband, "Well, I guess there's nothing left to do but to give you our blessing, Draco."

The heavy feeling that he carried in his chest for years lessened upon hearing the Weasley's approval, "Thank you so much, I can't – just thank you," he muttered.

"Hermione is like a sister to me, Malfoy, I love her like I love Ginny. If I ever find that you hurt her in any way, you will answer to me, do you understand?" Ron said.

"You have my word, I will never hurt her."

Ron nodded as he extended his hand, "Welcome to the family then."

"Thank you," he replied as he shook the red head's hand.

Lavender clapped her hand in excitement, "You and Hermione will make cute babies, I can already see them!"

Ron hastily pulled his hand away, "Argh, don't give me the visuals!"

He laughed – HARD.

oOo

"Ginny, are you expecting a visitor?" Harry asked.

"No, why?" Ginny replied as she dried her hands.

Harry stood from the couch and walked towards the door, "Because someone is knocking."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Open the door to see who it is then."

Harry waved his wand and pulled the door open, "Malfoy?"

"Evening, Potter, can I come in?" Draco asked awkwardly.

"Ginny! Malfoy is here," Harry called out. He pointed towards the living room, "Have a seat."

"Be there in a bit!"

"Do you want something to drink?"

He sat down, "No, I'm good – thank you."

"Did you already call Mimi? She's been looking for you all day," Ginny said as she rounded the coffee table.

"Not yet, but I will after," he replied.

"Err – well, I'll take my leave now," Harry said.

"Actually, I came here to talk to you two," he said.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

Ginny threw him an inquisitive look before pulling her husband to sit beside her.

Harry studied him for a minute before speaking, "I'm listening."

"What is this about, Dray?" Ginny added.

"Damn! I never thought talking to Potter is much harder than talking to Weasley," He thought. "I – err –I…"

"Spit it out, Malfoy."

Ginny nudged her husband's arm, "Be nice!" she scolded. She then turned towards Draco and smiled encouragingly, "Go on," she coaxed.

He swallowed his nerves and decided to go for it, "I came here because I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me and I wanted to ask for your blessing."

Ginny squealed in delight, "Finally!"

"That's it?" Harry asked.

"Yes – err, yeah."

Harry leaned back on the couch, his eyes never leaving the blonde man sitting right in front of him. "Did you ask Mione's parents? You should ask them first, you know."

"I already did, they're the first one I've asked," he replied.

"First one?" Ginny asked.

He nodded, "I went to them first and then went to the Burrow after."

"You went to the Burrow?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I did, I made amends and asked them for her hand and they gave their blessing," he explained. "Even Ron, after he's done with the threats."

Ginny's eyes began to tear up as she stared at her best friend. She jumped up from her seat and made a bee line towards Draco, "I'm so happy for you and Mimi!" she exclaimed before engulfing him into a tight hug.

"I'm happy for us too, Gin, so happy," he replied.

"We're family now! I can't believe it!" Ginny gushed as she made her way back to her husband.

His eyes zeroed on to his once arch-nemesis, "Like what I've told Ron, I cannot change past nor take back the words I've already said – I can only regret them. I truly am sorry for the things I've done, Potter, I hope you can forgive me."

"You hurt a single hair on my sister's head and you die, am I clear?"

"I'll Avada myself," he replied.

"Then there's no need to bring up the past anymore, clean slate," Harry said. He then stretched his arms up and let out a loud yawn, "My role here is done, I'll go up," he said as he stood up.

"Thank you, Po – Harry."

Harry cringed, "Still not used to that," he admitted.

Ginny burst out laughing.

oOo

"Darling, you've been standing there for quite some time now, is there something you need?" Narcissa asked as she close the book she's reading.

Draco smiled sheepishly as he entered the lounge room, "Good evening, Mum," he said.

Narcissa tapped the empty space on her left, "Sit," she ordered. She put the book on the side table and focused on her attention on her son, "What is it, love?"

"There's something I want to tell you."

"I've already deduced that," Narcissa replied with a chuckle. "Go on, now,"

"Imgoingtoaskhermionetomarryme."

Narcissa's brows furrowed in confusion, "That sounded a bit Mermish, can you repeat that?"

He took a deep calming breath and sat straighter, "I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me," he repeated.

"Getting married."

A tug of apprehension pulled on his guts, making him shift nervously on his seat. He reached for his Mother's hand and squeezed it, "Mum?"

"Getting married," Narcissa repeated, as if tasting the words in her mouth. After a few seconds, the corners of her mouth started twitching, "Oh my Merlin! My son is getting married!" she breathed out.

He felt the earlier tension leave his body, "Yes, Mum, I'm getting married," he confirmed.

Narcissa threw her arms around him, "I'm so happy, love! Congratulations!"

"I'm happy too, Mum, really happy," he replied. He then pulled away but kept hold of his Mum's hand, "So, do you accept my choice? I'm marrying a Muggleborn witch?" he asked.

"Does she make you happy?"

"Yes."

"Do you love her?"

"With all of my heart."

Narcissa leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his forehead, "Then that's all that matters to me," she said.

He smiled, "Thank you, Mum, you have no idea how much this means to me."

"So, do I have to wait till your wedding day to meet my future daughter-in-law or do you have any plans of bringing her here?"

"You'll meet her soon, Mum, really soon."