Yes before you ask. Another mistake will soon be made. Ginny isn't supposed to meet Blaise's mother as Narcissa is supposed to stand in. Tough luck, I wanted it to be separate. And don't worry. The two Slytherin's will meet the Weasley family later! This chapter was hard to write...didn't really know how the meeting should go! And also, I think I made Narcissa a little bit OOC...but you lot don't care that much do you??

I'm updating now because my school is closed today due to SNOW!!! We never get snow where I live!! I live in a valley, in Devon, by the sea! It's amazing!! Guess what I called my snowman? Begins with S haha...i'm on a snow high (y) Hands up if you live in England and therefore are most likely to see snow outside your window!!

Thanks to: CFCRockAngel, tfobmv18, evergreeneyes, kama674, crazey logic 13, okami no kidzukare, obsessivepottercullendisorder, Imperial Sun, Ayriannah, Sarahcaleb01, harrypotterlover123, Amazed By. cyn23, LorriRocks07, x8jessica8x, reina13, VoiletDhaliwal, That Ella Loves, sweet-tang-honney, cmssportzgrl, Storylover456, NiraliSkye, firstEveningStar and sexxydemon. LOVE YOU ALL!!

Chapter 18: The 'Talk'

Hermione took a deep breath as she followed Draco inside. Blaise steered Ginny the opposite way, so she was alone with Draco.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Don't worry," Draco replied calmly, "you'll be fine."

They went up the stairs and Draco opened the door. There she was, standing on the other side. Hermione had met her before, at Malfoy Mansion, but she looked like a completely different woman now.

"Hello, mother," Draco smiled, embracing the tall woman standing before them.

"My dear Draco. How I've missed you. The house is too big for one person," Narcissa smiled in return.

Hermione stood awkwardly, not knowing how to introduce herself. Hi, I'm the Muggle-born who your sister tortured last year? She knew that wouldn't go down well.

"Hello Hermione, I've heard all about you. Draco sends me regular owls. I'm so pleased we can finaly meet each other in more agreeable circumstances," Narcissa said kindly, opening her arms and embracing the uncomfortable witch.

"I hope Draco has been telling you nice things about me, Mrs Malfoy," laughed Hermione once they sat down. A waiter took their orders and came back with two butterbeers and a gillywater.

"Please don't say anything embarrassing, mother. You might scare her away," Draco said.

"I'll try my hardest not to darling," she replied pleasantly. Draco cursed under his breath.

Narcissa was nothing like Hermione expected. She seemed to truly care for her son, and Draco looked up to his mother. At times, she noticed, Narcissa was slightly cold, but this was their first meeting, Hermione hoped that in time, their relationship could be more than didn't see her mother and father as much as she would have liked to; they were still in Australia because even though Hermione had returned their memories, they felt an attachment to their little house by the ocean. Hermione had only seen them twice since she gave them back their memories. She missed them, but life goes on, and Hermione wanted Narcissa to be like a third mother (if you counted Mrs Weasley).

"So, Draco tells me you'd like your wedding to be in the evening, at sunset."

Hermione nearly choked on her butterbeer, typical for Narcissa to ask her a question when she was taking a sip of her drink. Draco hastily slapped her on the back as Narcissa looked on, smiling coldly.

"Excuse me," Hermione apologised. "And yes, I think it would look so romantic if we got married when the sun was setting. If we had it outside the guests could look at the sunset and the stars whilst waiting for the ceremony to start. I just think it sets everything off nicely."

"Well, that sounds fine. Where were you thinking of having the wedding? I think it would be best to have it at the Manor, the lawns are marvellous and then everyone can spend the night on the guest floor. The house is too big, so I like to use every opportunity to make it full of people."

Hermione smiled and took another sip of her drink.

An hour passed before Narcissa decided it was time to leave. She told Hermione to be ready and waiting outside Hogwarts next Saturday, so they could travel to Diagon Alley for dresses- both engagement and wedding. Apparently October was never too early to shop for a wedding dress which was due for February. Narcissa hugged the couple goodbye and swept out of the room. Once she had left, Hermione visibly relaxed.

"Merlin," she said.

"It wasn't that bad, I imagined much worse," Draco pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead.

"At least we can go back to our dormitory and I don't have to worry about seeing her for a week, although I wish we could have done it today," Hermione said, her voice slightly muffled as she was up against his chest.

"Well you need to have special permission to leave school on an outing, and mother wants you for a whole day. Trust me, you'll need a whole day to shop with my mother. I refuse to shop with her now, everything has to be perfect and perfection takes forever. Today wouldn't have been enough time for her to get you two dresses with shoes and accessories."

"Can we go back now? I'm itching to get out of this dress and into my pyjamas before dinner."

"As long as I get to be with you, I'm game for anything," Draco grinned.

"Aww, you can be such a sweetheart when you want to be," Hermione teased.

The carriage was waiting outside for them. Blaise and Ginny were already there. Ginny had red eyes and she looked upset, highly unusual since Ginny barely let anything get to her.

"Merlin! What happened, Ginny?!" Hermione asked as she and Draco sat down. The carriage started to drive back to Hogwarts.

"She- she made a rude remark about me being a W-Weasley and I threw her drink over h-her," Ginny replied, sniffing. Blaise held her tightly, stroking her hair in a comforting way. Beneath the soothing exterior, Hermione could tell he was really really really really really mad....(Sorry...)

"You threw a drink over your soon to be mother in law?!" Draco questioned, astounded.

"She was rude to me! You weren't there!" Ginny cried, defensively.

"But, you just don't do things like that Ginny! You've given her another reason to dislike you!" Hermione said, logically.

"I don't care. No-one says things like that about my family and get's away with it. I don't care if she is going to be my mother in law. She clearly doesn't want to be part of my family, and Blaise never liked her anyway did you?" She turned to Blaise.

"If she can't be respectful to my soul mate then I don't want her to be part of my family. You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends and lovers. Ginny will be my family and hopefully the Weasley's will treat me better than my mother treated Ginny." Blaise declared before kissing Ginny sweetly on the lips.

"Gross," muttered Draco under his breath. Hermione slapped him.

"Will you stop slapping me woman! Why do you have to be so violent?!" Draco whined, rubbing his arm.

"Stop giving me reasons to slap you then!" Hermione retorted.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. Hermione couldn't wait to have a little nap before dinnertime. She hadn't slept well last night, even though she should have considering it was her first night as a truly engaged witch. She leant on Draco's shoulder and closed her eyes for a few minutes. The next thing she knew she was laying on her bed.

"Wha-"

"Shh," Draco said soothingly, "you fell asleep on the couch. I carried you up here. I hope you don't mind, but I changed you into your pyjamas."

"You- you took my clothes off?!"

"Not all of them," protested Draco, "I didn't want the first time to be when you were unconscious thank you very much."

"Good. I...umm... wouldn't be comfortable if you had seen me. I'm not ready for that yet..." Hermione admitted, whilst cursing her reddening face. She loved Draco, and she loved being with him. But the next step...right now it was just too big for her.

Draco smiled weakly, attempting to hide what he was truly feeling. He loved Hermione with all his heart and he couldn't wait until they could be together as one. He was just a guy with hormones like any other guy.

"When do you think...you will be ready?" Draco asked slowly.

Hermione blinked. "Merlin, you want to talk about it now?!"

"I feel that now would be a good time yes. We're both thinking about it. What with what just happened and our knowledge of Blaise and Ginny."

Hermione sat down and pulled the duvet round her. She was feeling slightly embarrassed at that moment in time. Was she actually ready to even discuss the dirty deed with Draco Malfoy, who last year was her enemy?

"OK...you can go first then," Hermione said, stalling for time.

"Right," Draco moved so he was sitting in front of her. "Two things I need to mention. One: I love you. You know that, I know that, I think the entire school knows that. Two: I'm a guy. Therefore I have thought of us...together...like that. But I don't want to do anything until you're ready. I can wait. As long as you don't run off with another guy, I'll wait forever if I have to." Even though I won't be happy about it...

Hermione nodded slowly, that seemed fair. He was being a gentleman.

Draco looked at her expectantly. "This is where you say what you're feeling..."

"Oh. OK...umm well pretty much the same as you...I love you, but I don't feel I'm ready for us to try that yet. I'd like to wait, but not too long. Maybe in a few months I'll feel differently. I'm happiest when I'm with you and it's great when we're alone so I definitely wouldn't run off with someone else. I'd like it to be with you," she confessed, stuttering slightly. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. She had just admitted to Draco Malfoy that she wanted to do the dirty with him. If someone had told her last year that she'd be having this conversation with Draco, she would have scoffed and said, "As if."

"Good, so basically we feel the same way about each other and it's just a matter of time of feeling comfortable with each other. And I have a good way of accomplishing just that."

Draco pounced on top of her, and Hermione squealed. They didn't leave their room until dinnertime.

The three couples made their way down to the Great Hall for dinner. Ginny and Blaise, and Hermione and Draco looked slightly flustered as they walked down. Harry and Pansy were holding hands in an attempt to bond as friends. It had made them slightly more comfortable around each other, and finally they were calling each other by their given names, without any added insults. Hermione knew, slowly but surely, they would become happier. Eventually.

They sat down at their table and tucked into the marvellous feast. Hermione was hungry after her eventful day and an hour later she sat on her chair, full to bursting. She was about to leave with Draco when Dumbledore stood up.

"Could all the sixth and seventh year couples please stay behind for an announcement."

The six of them glanced at one another.

"Uh oh, what did we do now?" Draco mumbled.

"Or what will we have to do, more like," Harry groaned. Pansy poked him. "Don't be so negative," she teased.

The lower years left and soon it was just the selected few. Dumbledore stood up and beamed at them all.

"I know you're all wondering why you're here. I'll make this quick so you can return to your dormitories. As you are all well aware, some couples are bonding better than others. We want, we need, every single couple to be happy with their partner and able to trust them. This is why we have put together a special assignment for these troubled couples."

Pansy closed her eyes while Harry groaned. They knew they would be one of those troubled couples.

"We have devised a list of these couples so when I read your names out, you will have to go to the PRC meeting tomorrow. If I do not call your names out, you have a free period to do as you wish," he smiled kindly.

"What shall we do in that free period then, Hermione," Draco whispered, touching her leg. Hermione jumped and shooed his hand away.

"Not now, Draco. I want to listen!"

Draco shrugged and put his arm round Hermione instead.

"Everyone ready? Here we go....Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson...." The two of them groaned in unison, "...Dean Thomas and Padma Patil...Violet Melrose and Vincent Crabbe....Linda Bedford and Peter Wolfsan," The list continued for another minute until the last couple was called out. "...and finally Daphne Greengrass and Owen Chalmers. I want all of you to attend PRC tomorrow for your special assignment. Good night, sleep well."

Everyone got up and went to their respective dormitories.

"I knew it would be us," Harry muttered.

"I was surprised to hear so many names though! I would have thought some of them would be happy. Dean and Padma are both really nice; I wonder why they haven't bonded properly yet..." Hermione commented, thoughtfully.

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow," Pansy replied.

"When you get back, you'll have to tell us what will make you bond," Draco winked, "at least it's not some kind of deadline or anything. Not that I'm complaining, I just don't want to have to hurry things. Some things take time, don't they Hermione?"

Hermione tried very hard not to blush, as her mind immediately went over the previous afternoon with Draco.

"Aww, ickle Hermione is blushing," laughed Blaise.

"You're one to talk Zabini, or do you want me to go over in detail what I saw this morning?" Draco said.

Blaise immediately stopped laughing, which made everyone else laugh instead.

The six of them got to their living space. It wasn't late but the days events had obviously tired the three couples out. They bid goodnight to each other and went into their rooms.

Hermione fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Draco frowned but contented himself to bask in her warmth. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. Draco closed his eyes and was dead to the world in minutes.

Ooo what did Hermione and Draco do?! Me and Natalie were debating how much detail to put in, but then we were like it's a T rating, let's play it safe and if the readers want to, they can use their own imagination.

Two things I'd like you to comment on in your review.

The first is, I'm wondering what the gender ratio is with the readers of this story. I'm thinking it's mostly girls so if you feel comfortable sharing that, please mention if you're a guy or gal in your review!

Second thing is: what do you think the assignment will be? I have a rough idea but if any of your suggestions are better, please don't hate me if I steal it! *cackles evily* I've written as much as I can for the next chapter, but I don't really like my idea, so please please please give me your suggestion in a review or PM!! PLEEEEEEEEASE!

The next chapter should be up late next week. I have a MAJORLY HUGE AS LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM next Wednesday, which I'm supposed to be revising for *smiles weakly and looks at huge folder of psychology notes* Wish me luck!! I will definitely need it : (

Sorry for the long Authors Note...I tend to write too much...HOPE YOU LIKED IT! NOW REVIEW *winks*