'My mother wants to meet you.' Draco said over breakfast one morning.

'Oh.' Hermione said around a mouth full of cereal.

'I've spoke to her about you a lot. I've told her how I feel about you.' He shrugged. 'She wants to meet you.'

'Will you be there?' she asked nervously.

'Of course.' He smiled. 'Listen Hermione she's not the person you think she is.'

'Just like you weren't?' She smiled.

'Just like me.'

'Ok then. When?' She asked.

'Today, lunchtime at The Manor.' He said drinking his coffee.

'I can't go to The Manor Draco. Please don't make me.' She pleaded.

'Ok don't worry I'll tell her were going out.' He said leaning over and taking her hand. 'We don't have to go there.'

Hermione let out the breath she was holding. The one place she couldn't go was The Manor. She'd come far after the war but the memories from there were some of the worst. 'Thankyou.'

'It's fine. I love you.' He said coming to her side of the table and kissing her.

'I love you too'

Hermione and Draco arrived at the restaurant before his mother did. Hermione was nervous, she'd never met a boyfriends parents before. Of course there was Ron and the Weasley's but she knew them before they got together.

'When will I get to meet your parents?' He asked. 'You never talk about them.'

'I don't know where they are.' She said. 'Just before we went in search of the horcruxes, I obliviated my parents. Made them believe they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins and that their dream was to go and live in Australia. When the war ended I went to find them but couldn't. I go there a couple of times a year for a holiday in a different place each time trying to find them.' She wiped away a tear from her face.

'Oh Hermione.' She said taking her into his arms. 'I'm so sorry. I had no idea.'

He stroked her hair while she calmed down and then took her face in his hands and kissed her.

'Sorry to interrupt.' Narcissa Malfoy said joining them.

Hermione practically jumped from her seat. 'Mrs. Malfoy it's nice to meet you.' She held out her hand.

'Miss. Granger please call me Narcissa. My son has told me a lot about you.' She shook Hermione's hand and sat down.

'Hermione.' She said sitting down too.

'Hello mother.' Draco said smiling. Taking Hermione's hand in his under the table and giving it a squeeze.

'Draco.' She smiled back.

'That is a beautiful necklace Hermione.' Narcissa said.

'Thankyou. Draco gave it to me for my birthday.' She said looking at him.

'My son has great taste.' She smiled.

Lunch was going great, Hermione was getting more comfortable with Narcissa, it was just like Draco said she wasn't like she thought she'd be. Hermione excused herself to go to the bathroom.

'So?' Draco asked his mother.

'She's lovely.' She said taking a sip of her drink. 'Not what I was expecting.'

'What were you expecting?' He asked curious.

'From what you said at school I was expecting an insufferable know it all.' She laughed. 'But from what you've told me about her recently she's more than I expected.'

'I hope that's a good thing.' He said.

'Yes very.' She smiled at him. 'She seems good for you.'

'She's made me into a man I'm proud to be.' He smiled. 'I love her. I hope things last.'

'Well if things do, your Grandmother left a ring for you for the right girl.' She looked at his shocked face. 'I have no problem with you giving it to Hermione.'

Draco didn't know what to say. Luckily he didn't have to because that's when Hermione arrived back. They'd only been seeing each other a couple of months and while things had moved fast between them, they hadn't spoken about a future. Maybe it was about time they did.

'This is where I take my leave.' Narcissa said standing up. 'I hope we can do this again Hermione. Maybe just us girls.'

'I'd like that.' Hermione said.

After Narcissa left Draco turned to Hermione. 'She likes you.'

'Really?' Hermione asked skeptically.

'Yes. She even said she'd approve if we decided to move our relationship forward.' He told her hoping she'd know what he was talking about.

'Really?' She said. 'We haven't been seeing each other that long. Is it something you've thought about?'

'Not until she brought it up to be honest.' He smiled at her. 'But I have to say I like the idea.'

'Me too.' She smiled back. 'But I couldn't get married without knowing what happened to my parents.'

'Well it is a bit early for us to be talking about it anyway.' He smiled. 'Even if I do love you.'

'Good point.' She kissed him. 'I love you too.'

The next day Draco went to visit his mother. He had a favour to ask her.

'Hello Mother.' He said walking into the library.

'Twice in two days I am the lucky women.' She smiled. 'What can I do for you Draco?'

'I came to ask if I can borrow a house elf.' He said.

'And may I ask why?' She said.

'It's something for Hermione.' He said. 'It might take them a while though.'

'I see. Does she know?'

'No and I don't want her to until I know it's worked.' He said.

'Ok. You can use Rosie. You know she loves you the most she'll try hardest.'

'Thankyou mother.' He said.

'While you're here.' She said opening a drawer in her desk. 'You can take this.' She handed him a small green velvet box.

'Is this what I think it is?' He opened the box and inside lay a beautiful ornate white gold antique ring with a diamond in the middle and smaller ones surrounding it. He could see Hermione's face as he held it and knew she'd love it, but he had something else to do first.

'Do you think she'll like it?' She asked.

'I think she'll love it mother but she won't be wearing it yet. It's still too soon.'

'I understand.' She smiled. 'Now go find Rosie and give her your job.'

He left the library and went to find Rosie. He found her in the dining room.

'Hello Rosie.' He said.

'Oh Hello master Draco.' She said.

'I have a job for you.' He said.

'Rosie is honored Master Draco.' She bowed.

'Now listen to me Rosie.' He said kneeling so he could look her in the face. 'I don't want you to do this job if you don't want to. It may take you away from home for some time.'

'Rosie will do anything Master Draco asks.' He said. 'Rosie is happy Master Draco would think of her.'

'Now when you go on this job I don't want you to compromise your health or wellbeing in any way. I want you to come home if you ever want to. Do you understand?'

'Rosie understands.' She squeaked.

'I want you to go to Australia to find Hermione's parents.' He said.