Voldemort was in his study the day before Christmas Eve when a knock disturbed him. Knowing Beth and Hermione were out, so they hadn't let someone in, he deduced that the caller was someone with access to the house. Which basically meant it was his son, grandson or one of the Malfoys.
"Come in," Voldemort called, pushing aside the papers he'd been reading that Bernard Nott had sent over from the Ministry.
When the door opened, Draco appeared in his office. Normally Draco oozed confidence, but Voldemort could see that the blond boy was nervous about something. Voldemort just hoped recent events hadn't ruined the close relationship his family had with Draco. He'd always viewed Draco as part of the family and he hoped what had happened with the biting incident hadn't changed things for the young Slytherin.
"Draco," Voldemort greeted with a warm smile. "What can I do for you? Hermione isn't here I'm afraid, she's doing some last minute shopping with her mother."
"It's you I've come to see," Draco replied, his voice quieter than normal.
"Sit down," Voldemort offered, watching as Draco slid into one of the seats opposite his desk. "Is everything okay, Draco? You don't seem quite yourself."
"I'm fine, just a bit nervous," Draco admitted with a small smile.
"There's no need to be nervous," Voldemort reassured him. "I want you to know that nothing's changed, Draco. You're still part of this family and Beth and I couldn't think of a better wizard for our daughter than you."
"I'm pleased you think that, because it's Hermione I want to talk to you about," Draco said. "I love your daughter more than anything, and even though part of me thinks she can do better now I'm a werewolf, I don't want to lose her. Without her, I'd be lost and I really don't know what I would do if I lost her."
"I don't think you need to worry on that score, Draco," Voldemort interrupted with an affectionate chuckle. "Hermione thinks the world of you, and loves you regardless of your wolf nature. Not that being a werewolf is something to be ashamed of, especially since it's a result of protecting my daughter."
"Even so, I know it's not ideal," Draco admitted.
"Life isn't always ideal, Draco," Voldemort said. "We have to take the rough with the smooth. Just look at everything I've been through. I came so close to losing everything that mattered to me. But I picked myself up, struggled on for years, and now everything is working out just perfectly. I'm sure the same will happen for you and Hermione."
"I hope so," Draco said as he took a deep breath. "Hermione means the world to me, and I would like to ask your permission to propose to her."
Voldemort hadn't been expecting Draco's revelation, and he sat back in his chair, totally stunned. To be honest he'd always pictured that one day Draco would approach him about asking Hermione to marry him, but he'd never thought it would happen so soon.
"You don't have to say yes, I know having a werewolf as a son-in-law isn't most people's first choice," Draco said softly as he began to rise from his seat.
"Sit down, Draco," Voldemort ordered quietly. "I haven't said no, and if I did, it would have nothing to do with you being a werewolf. I've spoken to Greyback on numerous occasions and he's confident that if you carry on embracing your wolf side you'll have complete control in a matter of months. I've also spoken to Severus and he tells me that Narcissa had found a series of potions that can help ensure that Hermione never has to worry about also turning into a wolf. Unless of course you bite her in your wolf form, as you know, nothing can stop the transformation happening then."
"I would never bite Hermione as a wolf," Draco replied forcefully. "I would rather die than do anything to hurt her."
"I've never doubted it," Voldemort said, smiling at the blond wizard's devotion to his daughter. "I was just pointing out that you being a werewolf has nothing to do with the decision."
"But you're still going to say no," Draco stated.
"I never said that either," Voldemort said with a shake of his head. "Although, I would like to know one thing. Is she pregnant? Is that why you're asking me when you're still not finished school?"
"No, she's not pregnant," Draco replied, looking totally shocked at the very idea. "The truth is, Hermione proposed to me a few weeks ago. I told her that I wanted to do it properly, and that meant asking for your permission."
"Hermione proposed?" Voldemort questioned with an amused smirk. "Isn't that just typical of my daughter? She never has been one for traditions."
"She does like to do things her own way," Draco agreed. "But that's what makes her so amazing. I love that she knows her own mind and doesn't allow anyone to dictate to her."
"You're right there, and I think at the end of the day, if Hermione wants to marry you then there's nothing I can do to stop it," Voldemort said. "Fortunately, I don't want to stop it. As I said earlier, Beth and I couldn't hope for a better match for Hermione than you. So yes Draco, I give you my permission to propose to her."
"Thank you so much," Draco said, his face breaking out into a relieved smile. "I promise I will do everything I can to make her happy."
"I know you will," Voldemort said with a slight nod of his head. "I also know you'll look out for her. I know she's headstrong and independent, but I hope I can rely on you to protect her when she needs it."
"I'll protect her with my life," Draco vowed. He'd already proven he would put himself in harm's way for her, and he had no qualms about sacrificing himself in order to protect the witch he loved.
"That's all I can ask," Voldemort said, bestowing Draco with a small smile. "And since I've got you here, can I ask you about her plan for revenge on the Weasley girl. I know she plans on using you in your wolf form, but I want to know if her plan is safe."
"It is as long as I've got full control when I'm a wolf," Draco replied. "But don't worry, if I don't think I can do what she wants and still keep her safe, it won't be happening."
Voldemort nodded his approval, pleased that Draco would do his best to keep Hermione from getting in over her head. "Just make sure her plan is also free from repercussions. I don't want Hermione in trouble over whatever she's going to do."
"Don't worry, if she sticks to the plan she told me about, no-one will know either of us were involved," Draco promised. "Hermione's thought of every angle, and unless something goes drastically wrong, Hermione will get her revenge and we'll both be free of suspicion."
"Let's hope everything goes to plan then," Voldemort said. "And speaking of plans, do you have any idea how you're going to propose to Hermione?"
"Not really," Draco confessed. "All I know is that I want to do it over the holidays. I want us to start the New Year engaged."
Voldemort smiled at Draco as the young wizard thanked him again and got up to leave. He might not have expected Draco to ask his permission to marry Hermione, but he decided it was good news. It was yet another reason for the family to celebrate the upcoming year. His son was preparing to become a father again, his daughter was getting married and he and Beth were also getting ready for the patter of tiny feet. It was certainly going to be an exciting year ahead for Voldemort and his family.
C.O.T.D.
After speaking to Voldemort, Draco had confided in his father that he was planning to propose and Lucius found him an old Malfoy ring that would be perfect for Hermione. With the ring in his possession, Draco just had to find the right moment to propose, but that was proving harder to do than he thought. On Christmas Eve, Beth held a party, but with so many people around, Draco never had the chance to propose. He did think about doing it on Christmas Day, but again the timing didn't seem right. However, on Boxing Day, he and Hermione had snuck off for a walk in the snowy grounds of the manor, and Draco thought it might be the perfect time for an official proposal.
Just as Draco and Hermione reached the pond, which was frozen over, and Draco was contemplating the best way to propose, Harry suddenly turned up. Normally Draco would have been pleased to see his best friend, but in this case his timing sucked and all Draco could do was glare at his best friend as he joined them on their walk.
"I thought you were with Daphne," Draco remarked, unable to hide the annoyance in his tone of voice.
"She's not feeling too well," Harry replied, seemingly oblivious to Draco's annoyance.
"I hope it's nothing serious," Hermione said.
"No, just a cold," Harry answered. "Although I can see why she's got a cold in this weather, it's freezing."
"It is quite chilly," Hermione said, shivering slightly.
"Why didn't you say you were cold?" Draco tutted, removing his scarf and wrapping it around his girlfriend's neck. "Do you want my jacket as well?"
"I'm okay," Hermione replied, wrapping Draco's scarf closer around her and inhaling his familiar scent.
"I'm cold, I'll have your jacket," Harry said, grinning at his best friend.
"I'm not giving you my jacket," Draco snorted.
"But I'm cold," Harry pouted.
"Tough, I don't control the weather," Draco shot back. "Besides, if you're cold, you should go inside."
Harry opened his mouth to continue the bickering when he spotted the look Draco was giving him. Suddenly understanding dawned on him and he felt like an idiot for intruding on his best friend and his aunt.
"You know what, I think I will go inside," Harry said. "I'll get one of the elves to make me some hot chocolate."
"Mmm, hot chocolate sounds nice, maybe we should all go inside," Hermione suggested.
"No," Harry and Draco yelled at the same time.
"What is going on?" Hermione asked, looking between her boyfriend and her nephew.
"Nothing," Harry answered quickly.
"Draco." Hermione turned to her boyfriend, knowing he found it harder to lie to her.
"Sod it, you were here the first time Harry, so you might as well be here again," Draco said with a roll of his eyes. Pulling a ring box out of his pocket, he dropped to one knee in the snow and looking up at Hermione he flipped open the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring. "Hermione, will you marry me?"
"That's it?" Harry spluttered. "Where's the big romantic speech about how you can't live without her and she's the love of your life."
"I'll save the dramatics for you to use when you're proposing to Daphne," Draco said, glaring at his best friend. "Hermione knows I love her, she doesn't need to hear some gushing speech."
"I don't know, a romantic speech sounds good to me," Hermione said with a mischievous smirk.
"You don't need a romantic speech, do you?" Draco moaned. "I'm freezing down here. Besides, you asked me first, so I'm kind of assuming you're going to say yes."
"What if I've changed my mind?" Hermione teased.
"Have you?" Draco asked.
"Of course not," Hermione laughed. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Harry grinned as Hermione launched herself at Draco and the pair went tumbling to the ground, seemingly oblivious to the cold snow they'd landed in. When the pair began to kiss and hands began to wander, Harry cleared his throat to stop things before it got too far.
"Perhaps outside in the snow isn't the best place to be getting frisky," He advised. "You might get frostbite in naughty places."
"We can't have that," Hermione said with a smirk as she and Draco got to their feet. "I have plans for Draco's naughty places."
"Don't need to know," Harry called, gagging as the pair shared a wicked smirk. "I'll just go back into the manor and prepare everyone for an announcement."
"Don't," Hermione warned. "We want to surprise everyone."
"Do you honestly think people don't know?" Harry laughed. "Grandpa told Dad and Beth when Draco asked for permission to ask you to marry him, and Draco got the ring off Lucius."
"How do you know that?" Draco asked.
"I heard your father telling Narcissa about the engagement," Harry answered with a shrug.
"So everyone knows?" Hermione questioned.
"Yep, I think so," Harry replied. "So you're not going to get the big surprise you wanted. Everyone's just waiting for you to make the announcement."
"If they're waiting we don't want to disappoint," Draco said, lacing his fingers with Hermione's. "Let's go and announce the good news."
Hand in hand, Draco and Hermione headed back to the manor with Harry. Of course, Harry was right and everyone was expecting the announcement, but it didn't mean that people weren't thrilled by the news. Everyone congratulated the couple, and Beth, Narcissa and Rosmerta instantly began making plans to turn the New Year's Eve party into an engagement party for the couple.