A/N I told you it would go on forever. Ciao! Review!

As the train screeched to a halt, I looked out the window and saw-

'Bill! Fleur! What're you doing here?' Ron waved out the window at his brother and sister-in-law, and I saw how big Fleur looked. We had gotten the news of her pregnancy in early May, just after Harry finished Voldemort off, and it had helped to ease the pain of Ginny's passing. A new beginning, really.

'We're shopping for cribs,' Bill called out over the noise. 'What do you think we're doing here, Ron? We've come to bring you back to mum and dad's.'

'We'll be off in a minute,' I called out from behind Ron. 'C'mon, let's get off so we don't have to yell to be heard.'

When I reached up to grab my bag (I never bother with the full trunk for two weeks… plus, I found this really handy spell that packs everything really small so it fits into a small suitcase, and… oh, right. You probably want to get back to the story.…), Draco had already grabbed it, and was waiting pointedly for me to exit ahead of him. 'Ladies first,' he said, smirking.

'Well, what are you waiting for, Malfoy?' Ron asked sarcastically, lugging his trunk by his side.

Harry shot Ron a look, but Draco just looked at him as if he were a mildly irritating fly he wanted desperately to swat (but knew he would be rebuked if he actually did). 'Ladies first, Weasley,' he said. 'Hermione,' he added with a sigh, inclining his head to me.

As I passed him, I mouthed, 'Thank you.'

He smiled in response, and followed me out of the compartment, with Ron and Harry taking up the rear.

''ermione!' Fleur cried, wrapping her arms around me. ''ow are you?'

'I'm great, Fleur. And how're you? And the baby?' I asked her, making sure I didn't squeeze her too hard. (Okay, so, she's not so trite when you get to know her.)

'We are very good. The Healers say she'll be a beautiful baby.'

'She?'

'We are 'aving a little girl!'

'Congratulations!'

'Merci,' she laughed, patting her bulging belly. 'But enough about us. Ronald, 'arry, Draco, it is good to see you, too!'

Ron and Harry both gave Fleur tight hugs, but Draco (being the international he is) held her hand in his, and kissed her on both cheeks. 'Pleasure to see you again, Fleur. You look marvellous.' He then reached out and shook Bill's hand saying, 'You must be excited.'

'Excited, nervous.Whatever way you slice it it's pretty bloody brilliant,' Bill replied, smiling. 'Good to see you again, Draco. You're treating our Hermione well?'

'Of course,' Draco replied with an easy smile.

'Good to hear, because mum's been having kittens about the whole thing.' He moved in and murmured, 'Especially since you share a dorm at Hogwarts.'

I flushed scarlet, and moved to follow Fleur and the others to the Disapparation point.

'Ah.'

'Yeah,' Bill continued, following us. 'Just don't be too obvious is my suggestion. Try to keep it toned down.'

'What would make you think that would even be an issue?' Draco asked, keeping pace.

'Well, for one, even I've heard about you and your Casanova ways, and I've been in Egypt for a few years,' he laughed. Glancing up at me he continued, 'Two, I've never seen Hermione turn so red.'

I glanced back and saw that Draco was grinning up at me, so I fell behind and into step with the two of them. 'It's warm in the train station, Bill,' I told him conversationally.

'Of course it is,' he replied, smirking. 'Just… make sure you never leave your bedrooms without an alibi for every single second of the day.'

'And you would know this how?' I asked, cocking my eyebrow sceptically.

'Fleur lived with us before we got married, remember?' he shrugged, smiling up at his bride. 'Mum was impossible. I swear she borrowed a pair of Fred and George's Extendable Ears just to make sure we weren't doing anything after hours. And in the mornings, I was always positive that she could tell if we had even kissed goodnight.'

Draco paled, and looked down at me from the corner of his eye.

I laughed, and said, 'But, she couldn't tell nights afterwards... right?'

'I dunno,' he replied. 'It always feels like I've got a huge poster tacked to my forehead, even now that we're married. I slept with Fleur last week... It's like she can detect it. It's kind of scary... but I'm sure that once our little girl is out into the world of boys I'll be the exact same with her. Not that she'll be dating until she's at least twenty three.'

That made us all laugh as we reached the Dispparation point.

Before we Disapparated, though, Draco pulled me behind a column and planted his lips firmly on mine. 'I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands off you until we're back at school, Hermione… we'll just have to put an impenetrable charm on the door… and some silencing charms, as well, with all the noise you make –'

'Hey, hey, hey, it's not all me. And how are you supposed to get past anyone in the hall to my room, anyway?'

'I'll think of something.' He grinned mischievously, and pulled me in for another kiss.

We were, of course, interrupted, when Bill called out, 'She'll be able to smell Hermione's perfume on you when she hugs you, Draco, let's go.'

'Mum, we're back!' Bill called when we arrived in the grand foyer of the Weasley's new house. 'I've got the kids with me!'

'Kids?' Ron asked sceptically, slapping Bill's shoulder.

'Yeah, kids, and you'll stay a kid until you're my age. Which'll never happen.' Bill replied, pulling Ron into a headlock.

'Brothers,' I sighed.

'Come on, come on, let's get you all into the dining room and get you fed, you must be famished from that train ride – it's almost supper time. We finally have enough room for an indoor table, come now everyone, let's go, let's go.' Molly seemed to be quite flustered. She was wearing a lovely cream set of robes covered by an apron, and was waving around a large wooden spoon with a creamy sauce threatening to drip off it.

'Hi, Molly,' Harry said, smiling, and embracing the older woman.

'Hello, Harry dear,' she replied, returning the hug. 'Now, into the dining room with you, come on. Let's go.' She turned on her heal and left us in the foyer, our bags still cluttered around us. 'No, wait,' she started, spinning around to face us again. 'Go to your rooms and change –something nice and festive, but not too festive. Harry, dear, that green set of robes brings out your eyes so nicely. Come now, chopchop. Oh-' she stopped, and said, 'I'm sorry, all, come here, come here.' She pulled each of us into a tight hug, and then snapped, 'Now, upstairs. Go!'

'Your mother seems terribly flustered,' Draco commented, following Bill up the stairs to our rooms. 'Baby woes?'

'Oh, no. The press is here this Christmas, what with this being dad's first year as Minister. You of all people should realize that we're being hunted by paparazzi,' Bill replied.

'Cameras were never a big event, though. Just a part of life. But, I suppose, she isn't used to the attention.'

'Not at all,' he agreed. 'Here's your room,' he continued, motioning to his left. 'And Hermione, you're across the hall. Ron can give you a proper tour later, but for now, that's all you need. Ensuite bathrooms in both, so we won't expect to see you out in the hallways after hours.' He turned to go to his room, but threw over his shoulder, 'You better hurry, or mum'll come after you with a spatula.'

Draco gave me a preposterous look, and sighed, 'Well, off you go then. Go make yourself look fabulous for the cameras.'

'It won't just be for the cameras,' I told him, grinning. 'And you go make yourself presentable.'

'Well, then, I'm already done, aren't I?' he told me. 'So maybe I should just help you?' he moved forward and pressed me against the door to my room.

'Very funny, Draco.'

'Who's laughing?' he murmured, his face mere centimetres from mine.

'I am. Now go change. The faster you get ready, the longer you can help me,' I told him, grinning. 'And if you just happen to walk in whilst I'm showering, who am I to kick you out?' I added quietly, opening the door behind me and sliding in. When I shut the door, I left him on the other side.

'Granger!' he called, knocking on the door.

'Draco, go change, or Molly'll have your head.'

'No – I mean, I have your clothing.'

I smiled to myself, and pretended I didn't hear him. After all, I would have to open the door in a towel to get it from him, wouldn't I?

After I was done my shower, I switched off the faucet, wrapped a chartreuse towel tightly around by body, and padded out into my spacious guestroom: of course, Draco was waiting for me, sprawled out on my bed, dressed to impress in beautiful emerald green and silver cashmere robes. His hair was slicked back, but still looked baby fine. And his eyes were dancing as he watched me saunter over to him.

'I brought you your bag,' he drawled, patting the satchel sitting in front of him. I bent over to pick it up, but he pulled me down by the scruff of my towel and planted a kiss on my lips. 'I think, because I brought it, that I should be allowed to help you dress.'

I sighed, and told him, 'Alright, but no funny business. Remember what Bill said about Molly. And she's already stressed about the press.'

He simply smirked up at me, and then rolled gracefully off the bed and stood next to me. He opened my case, and said, 'Turn around.'

'…why?' I asked warily, eyeing him suspiciously.

'Please?' he asked, smiling mischievously. I rolled my eyes at him and turned, still holding my towel tightly around me. 'Relax,' he said, and I heard him mutter a spell to enlarge one of the sets of robes I had packed. 'Towel has to come off, Granger, if this is going to work,' he said softly, running his finger along my back. I sighed again, and let it drop so I was standing stark naked in front of him. I could feel his eyes appraising me. 'Hmmm…'

He ran his fingers over the contours of my hips, and started kissing my shoulders. 'Draco…'

'Shh…' he chided, and he kneeled. 'Step in.' He had placed a pair of lacy black boy short panties in front of me. I sighed, and did as I was told. I must say, the way he ran his hands up my legs as he slid them up was so sensual, I closed my eyes and let the feeling overwhelm me for a moment. I barely noticed he had stopped until he cleared his throat and chuckled into my ear, 'Arms.' In front of me he held a lacy black corset.

'What is this?' I asked, turning to look at him.

He tilted my head back, though, and said, 'Early Christmas present. Now, arms…' I did, and he clipped it up slowly, taking time with each button to press his lips onto the skin above. When he had done up the last button, he said, 'Now, close your eyes.' I did. I heard him shake out a thick fabric, and he told me to lift up my arms. When they were up, he slid the robe over my head and rolled it down. It felt like silk caressing my body, and it fit me perfectly. I knew it wasn't anything I owned.

'Draco, what did you do?'

Again, all he offered was, 'Shh… you'll spoil the surprise. Don't open your eyes.' He ran his hands along the tight-then-loose sleeves, down my torso, and onto my hips, straightening the fabric. I felt him move away for a moment, and then kneel down in front of me. 'Right foot… and the left…' He slipped a pair of strappy high heels onto my feet, and steadied me when I tottered a little. 'Careful. Don't go falling for me just yet.'

I snorted, and told him, 'I think that ship has sailed. Can I open my eyes yet?'

'No.' I heard him mutter another spell, and I felt my hair dry. Another, and it was pulled up into what felt like a knot at the base of my neck. 'Just one more thing…' he told me, and I heard him pull something out of his pocket, a box click open, and felt him walk around to my back. Next thing I felt was cool metal against the skin between my collarbones.

'Draco, what is that?'

'On the first day of Christmas, your true love gave to you…' he mumbled, and walked around to stand in front of me. 'There. You look beautiful. Now you can open your eyes.'

I did, and looked around to face the mirror. My breath caught in my throat. I was in a velvet set of ebony black robes with silver trim, and at my throat was a delicately twisting platinum rose.

I lifted my hand to touch it. It looked so real. As if he had had a perfect minuature rose dipped in silver and set on a chain for me. 'Draco… it's… thank you… it's beautiful…'

He took my raised hand and put it to his lips. 'Not as beautiful as you.'

Cue the awe track. Really. I smiled and kissed him. 'Nor you.'

We stood, inches apart, and we were about to devour each other when –

'WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT PLEASE?'' drifted up the stairs.

A/N Again. I loved this chapter. I mean, really. Really really. Not to be pompous or arrogant. But I loved this chapter.

So, uhm, here's a math question for you: how is it that 30 alerts + 12 favs equals 19 reviews? I don't know either. guilt trip... REVIEW! Loveya. JacintaM. 3