That evening they agreed to take the week to think things over; to be sure they really wanted to embark on this journey together. Draco explained he would need time to introduce the subject to Scorpius, who was annoyingly perceptive for a three-year-old. Hermione agreed that the new terms were something she would need to think over as well.
They agreed to meet the following Sunday to negotiate and Draco offered to have one of his family lawyers present in case they decided to go through with things. Hermione asked that they meet on Sunday without the lawyer and if they agreed on a new contract, then they could bring a lawyer in for the official signing of the contract. Draco had agreed before escorting her to the front door, struggling to keep a smile off his face.
Hermione awkwardly said goodbye and with a slight blush, kissed his cheek before practically running out the door and down the pathway to the front gates to apparate away. Draco was too stunned to really register that she had left until Brix came into the foyer and shooed him away.
Hermione spent the next morning pacing her living room, wondering if her sudden bout of spontaneity was more than her boss and friends had expected. She was just mentally debating whether this was crazier than the time she went back in time with Harry and saved Sirius Black on the back of a hippogriff when Ginny floo'd into the room.
"Hermione, are you coming to the Burrow?" The redhead asked, turning to look at the brunette witch, "Are you alright?"
Hermione came to a sudden stop and stared at Ginny like a deer caught in the headlights. "I propositioned Draco Malfoy today," she blurted.
Ginny blinked once, twice, three times before snorting, "In what way?"
Hermione bit her lower lip, "In the 'I would very much like to have your babies' kind of way…"
Ginny tried very hard not to laugh, "Hermione, you've been half in love with him for years, I'm surprised he didn't know."
Hermione gasped, "I have not!"
Ginny shrugs, "You spent all of your sixth and eighth years staring at him. I just assumed you had a thing for him. Most everyone did. Even me and Harry."
Hermione gaped at her, eyes resembling Professor Trelawney with her coke bottle glasses, "I - erm - I don't have a response to that."
Ginny smiled at her and pulled her to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace, "Mione, what's wrong, really?"
Hermione sighs, "He didn't reject me."
Ginny looks unsurprised, "And?"
"And he wants to think it over before introducing the idea to his son. Gin, I wrote up an entire contract to ask him to help me have a child, without the sex part, and he said he wouldn't have a child in some muggle test tube and that any children he has will be created the old fashioned way. He said there's a Malfoy family spell that keeps him from being able to have children outside of wedlock, so that if I want to have children with him specifically, it would have to be a real relationship; more than a relationship, Gin. A marriage! He wants to meet on Sunday to negotiate the contract and we're supposed to be taking this week to decide if we really want to do this." Hermione gets everything out in one breath.
Ginny takes a few moments to respond, clearly not expecting any of this. "That is the oddest way I've ever heard of a relationship coming about…but, do you want this?"
Hermione looks at Ginny and sighs, "I think I do. But what if he decides he doesn't?"
Ginny smiles, "I don't think that will happen. But for now, you need to go get dressed and come to the Burrow."
Hermione reluctantly nods, "Just don't tell anyone about this."
Ginny nods and waves her away so Hermione goes to change out of her pajamas and into a pair of jeans and a blush pink peplum tank top. She quickly fashioned her hair into two bubble braid pigtails, grabbed her wand, and slipped it into a pocket before putting on sandals and returning to the living room. Ginny smiled at her and tossed some floo powder into the fireplace before they both stepped in and Ginny called out for the Burrow.
The Burrow was as busy as always, all the Weasley children gathered (along with attached spouses and children in attendance) for the monthly family get-together. Hermione felt honored that they invited her to join every month. After the war, when she returned from Australia unable to return her parents' memories, they had all been there for her, comforting and supportive - family. Molly and Arthur had insisted she stay with them during the summer before she and Ginny returned to Hogwarts for their last year, which she was grateful for as she hadn't wanted to return to her parents' home in London. The girls had been slightly disappointed that Ron and Harry hadn't returned to Hogwarts with them but they were happy that the boys had accepted positions in the Auror department to keep them busy. Hermione and Ron had had a long discussion about their relationship and both had agreed that they were better as friends, and wanted to remain that way.
Hermione was quickly greeted and passed around for hugs by Bill and Fleur, followed by Percy and Audrey, Charlie, who remained the only single Weasley, and finally George and Angelina. After she said her hellos to the older couples, she made her way into the kitchen where Parvati and Ginny were shoo'ing all the children out towards the garden to play while Molly prepared lunch. Noting that Harry and Ron were also outside with the kids in the garden, she smiled and hugged Parvati before hugging Molly as well.
Parvati and Ron had become friends soon after the war when Lavender Brown had passed away from her injuries. They had spent days in Lavender's hospital room together and gotten to know each other. They had been hit the hardest by her passing (other than the Brown family) and had leaned on one another for comfort. Ron had matured a remarkable amount after the war. He and Parvati had started dating two years after the final battle. Another two years later, they decided to marry and start a family, and he left the Auror Department to join George at the joke shop to ensure he would always be there for his family. They welcomed Lavender Weasley into the world just two days after Ginny and Harry welcomed James. Hermione was godmother to both babies and the cousins celebrated their birthdays together every Halloween. Hermione was glad that Harry had something to celebrate on the date nowadays.
Molly handed her a glass of lemonade and shooed her and the other girls outside to watch the children. The older couples had already filtered out to the garden as well. Molly had pre-set all the tables so they were pushed together in the garden and enchanted with charms to keep bugs and other creatures out of the vicinity. Hermione laughed as she watched Harry and Ron showing the kids how to catch the garden gnomes and throw them out into the field as far from Molly's vegetable garden as possible. The children seemed to be more interested in throwing them at Harry and Ron than anything else.
The rest of the day was spent playing with the children and eating Molly's delicious Sunday roast, and laughing at the pranks George had taught the children to play on Percy and Ron. Hermione was feeling far more relaxed as she watched the Weasley adults attempting to teach the Weasley children how to play quidditch in the orchard as the afternoon turned into evening. Molly and Arthur were in the house, and Hermione could hear the light notes of music coming from the gramophone Molly kept in the living room of the Burrow. She had a sneaking suspicion that if she returned to the house, she would find Molly and Arthur swaying to the music together, as in love with each other as they had always been. Hermione smiled as she sipped on a glass of white wine.
"Aunt Mione, can I sit with you?" a timid voice asked from her left.
She smiled, looking over at the child, "Of course, Alby."
He gave her a small grin and she set her wine down on the table beside her, before gathering him up in her arms and settling him on her lap.
"Why aren't you playing with the others?" She asked him softly.
The six-year-old sighed, "I'm not really interested in quidditch."
She smiles, "Well, neither am I. I prefer watching the others."
He nods in agreement before settling his head back against her shoulder, "I love you, Aunt Mione."
She smiles softly and kisses his hair, "I love you too, Alby."
He goes quiet and she leans back in her chair, holding him gently. He soon falls asleep as she rubs small circles across his back, she hoped one day she had a child as sweet as him.
That night she returned home and went to bed, and wasn't surprised to find her dreams consumed by blonde-haired children and a very intense pair of blue eyes.
The week passed slowly, and she briefly considered owling Draco to ask if they could move their meeting up, but she relaxed and decided Sunday was the best option for them both. She needed time to let her mind calm down. Every night her dreams were occupied with her and Draco entangled between silky sheets. Those were the dreams that caused her to wake up covered in sweat with her body begging for release. The other nights, her dreams were less risque, cute scenes of domestication. She was rapidly becoming very interested in the idea of a relationship with Draco Malfoy.
The next Sunday arrived both too quickly and not quickly enough. Hermione was wracked with nerves, excited and praying her Gryffindor nerve would hold. They had agreed to meet for dinner and she woke up early to prepare mentally, only to spend the entire day pouring over every item of clothing she owned, trying to decide on something suitable for dinner with her former-bully-turned-possible-future-spouse-and-father-of-her-children. She was a nervous wreck when she floo-called Ginny and begged her to come over. Ginny was in Hermione's living room in a matter of minutes and found her usually so-in-control best friend almost in tears.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked gently.
"I can't decide what to wear! What if I pick the wrong thing and he's completely uninterested and turned off?! What if I pick something that's far too inappropriate? I don't know what to do! Maybe I should just cancel?" Hermione was starting to pace again.
Ginny sighed and grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and almost shook her, "Take a deep breath. You have two hours until you have to be there, right? Go run a bath and I will look through all your stuff and find something suitable for you to wear, okay?"
Hermione sniffled and nodded reluctantly.
"And put a small amount of calming draught and lavender oil in your bath." Ginny grins.
Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded before going off to the bathroom. Ginny didn't move until she heard the bath running, then she made her way to Hermione's room. She came to a halt when she saw the large piles of clothing covering most of the floor and bed. She huffed out a breath and waved her wand, causing all the clothes to find their way back to their spots in the wardrobe or dresser. After a few minutes, the clothes were all back in place and Ginny moved toward the more organized space to look through Hermione's clothes.
An hour later, Hermione emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel, looking much calmer than before. Ginny smiled and helped her dry and style her hair in soft beachy waves before leaving the room so she could dress in the outfit Ginny had chosen for her. Once she was dressed, Hermione stared at herself in the mirror; Ginny had chosen to put her in a lovely emerald green silk tank top and a nice pair of tapered black trousers, with a bow at the waist, which she tucked the front of her top into. She decided to pair the outfit with a pair of black Louboutin silk tie heels that she had splurged on while shopping in France. She smiled at herself and added a gold chain necklace and matching earrings. She walked out into the living room to show Ginny.
"How do I look?" Hermione asked, biting her bottom lip.
"I knew this would be a good look for you. You look fantastic." Ginny smiled brightly.
"Thanks for helping me, Gin. I'm just nervous. I haven't dated since Hogwarts and I don't know what I'm supposed to do or not do." Hermione laughed slightly embarrassed.
"It's no problem, Mi. I'm always here for you when you need me. You look beautiful and I'm sure tonight will go well." Ginny hugged her tightly before letting go and saying, "Now, put on some lip gloss and go, or you'll be late."
Hermione quickly put on some clear gloss, grabbed her black blazer, just in case the weather got a bit cooler later in the evening, and chose a black clutch purse that she slipped her wand into before saying goodbye to Ginny and apparating out of her living room.
She appeared right outside the front gates of the Malfoy school and steeled herself for what might be one of the most important days of her life. The gates allowed her entrance and she slowly made her way to the front doors. She took a deep breath and knocked on the front door. Brix opened the door and ushered her in.
"Master is expecting you. Follow me, Miss." Brix says with a small bow before leading her towards a small dining room. Draco is sitting at the head of the table when Brix leads her into the room and stands when she enters the room.
"Granger, welcome. Thank you for joining me this evening." He speaks formally.
She smiles gently, "Thank you for having me."
He pulls the chair to his left out for her and she takes a seat. He seats himself again and grins slightly, "I apologize if this is awkward. I know we are here to negotiate a new contract, a marriage contract no less, but I have not dated since Astoria passed, so I am a bit out of practice."
She gives him a moment to collect his thoughts before she nods, "If it makes you feel better, I haven't dated since Hogwarts, so I have even less practice than you."
He seems to be a bit stunned at the revelation but grins nonetheless, "I find it hard to believe that you haven't dated since school, but it does make me feel a bit better. Thank you."
She nods and watches as Brix returns with a few dishes floating behind her, "Tonight's menu consists of French onion soup to start, a light burrata gnocchi for the main, with French bread, and for dessert creme brulee." She slowly lets the dishes settle on the table in front of them.
"Thank you, Brix. Have a good evening." Draco smiles at the elf, who bows and quickly leaves the room.
"Wow, this all looks fantastic." Hermione smiles looking at the food.
Draco grins with a nod, "Brix loves to cook. She's always coming up with new recipes to test on me. I'm sure she's glad to have you test her cooking out as well."
Hermione smiles and begins her meal. Dinner goes by slowly as they eat the delicious food in fairly comfortable silence.
"I have a question… how come I never see other elves when I'm here? I've only ever seen Brix around whenever I pick up the kids or when I'm appraising the school." Hermione asks, breaking the silence as they begin to eat dessert.
Draco nods, with a small shrug, "Brix is the only elf here." He clears his throat before continuing, "When I took on the title of Lord Malfoy from my father before our eighth year, I told all the elves that if they wanted to work for me, they needed to accept a minimum of two galleons a week and evenings after dinner off. I also insisted that they let me buy them new uniforms of their choosing. They all refused, so I told them that if they did not want to accept, they could find new positions with my parents, or I could find them new families to serve. Most went to my parents, but a few did ask to be rehomed. Brix was the only one that wanted to stay. She was my nanny elf as a child, and refused to leave me."
"She must love you a great deal," Hermione commented.
When he looked up from the table, he found her smiling at him, and he shrugged, "I love her too. She's family."
Hermione nods and they turn back to their desserts.
"Now, I suppose we should start discussing this marriage contract," Hermione says lightly once they've both finished eating.
Draco nods and stands, moving to pull her chair out for her and helping her to stand. He offers her his arm which she takes before leading them to his office. He offers her a seat in front of the fireplace instead of at his desk. In his opinion (and hers), the less formal location sets a nice precedent for the negotiations they are undertaking.
He offers her a glass of wine as he pours himself two fingers of firewhiskey. She accepts and he hands it to her a few moments later. Soon they're both seated and Draco pulls out the contract Hermione had presented to him the week prior.
"I've made a copy of the contract you made and added my suggestions to it for you to look over. I know you weren't exactly expecting marriage and I know it's a lot to agree to, considering you would be gaining a stepson as well as a husband, but I do think we could make it work. I would like to bring your attention to the first paragraph I added, on the second page. It basically just says that we agree to a trial period where we will date for three months, before deciding if marriage is the way we would like to go or if we think dissolving our relationship is a better option. In which case, there will be no hard feelings between us and we can move on as friends. What do you think?" Draco says calmly.
Hermione reads over the paragraph he's referencing and nods, "I think that's a good idea. Three months is a bit shorter than a normal courtship period but given the inclusion of your son, it would be best to have a shorter amount of time in case things don't work out."
Draco nods and continues to look over the contract in his hand, "I would also like to mention the third paragraph on page three, you state that you will be seeing muggle fertility doctors to help with becoming pregnant. I would like to be present for any appointments you have with fertility specialists if this relationship does work out, but I do not want you to go through the muggle invitro process. I would like for us to at least try having a child the natural way before we resort to more clinical approaches."
Hermione blushes and nods, "O-of course. I originally thought you wouldn't want to be involved, which is why I proposed invitro in the first place, but if we do make this work and we reach the point of trying to have a child, I would like to do things the old fashioned way."
He smirks at her and nods, "Good. We can strike that entire section then, and add a note that if the natural way does not work, we will seek out professional assistance."
He takes a quill out and strikes out the paragraph before jotting down a few sentences in that regard. Hermione reads it as it appears on her copy of the contract as well and grins.
They continue working through the contract, discussing all matters matrimonial and maternal this way as they flip through the five-page contract until they come to the end of the document.
"I will send this off to my lawyer in the morning and have him make an official marriage contract for us to sign by next week," Draco says.
Hermione nods, leaning back in her seat and crossing her legs, Draco drinks the rest of his firewhiskey before pouring himself another.
"Is Scorpius enjoying France?" Hermione asks, glancing over at him as she sips from her glass of wine.
Draco cocks a brow at her, "He is…How did you know he was in France?"
"Narcissa mentioned it to me the other day at tea," Hermione says with a shrug.
Draco splutters, "Narcissa? My mother, Narcissa?"
Hermione nods, "Of course, I don't know any other Narcissa's."
Draco looks at her like she's grown another head, "Since when do you and my mother have tea together?"
"Since your trial." Hermione shrugs.
"Since my trial? You and my mother have been having tea for twelve bloody years?" He seems completely thrown.
"I thought you knew, Draco. I apologize. Astoria even attended a few times." Hermione says, a little nervous now.
He blanches at that and leans back, "I never knew. I mean, I knew Astoria went to tea with mother a few times. But I didn't know about you attending."
He seems to be mulling this over in his mind, so Hermione waits for him to speak again.
"I apologize for my reaction. I was unaware that you and my mother were on friendly terms. I should have known… you did save her life, and get her sentenced to house arrest and time spent in the muggle world instead of Azkaban." He says after ten minutes of silence.
"Time spent in the muggle world with a muggleborn teacher." Hermione corrects him with a grin, "Once I graduated and her house arrest was lifted, she was required to spend a minimum of three hours a week in the muggle world with a muggleborn teacher to show her around and teach her all about how non-magical people live. I volunteered. We've been friendly ever since. Your father joins us sometimes when his schedule allows him to take a day off. I've taken them all over the muggle world. Your mother particularly likes muggle shopping. Your father enjoyed going to the muggle distilleries. I think he even bought one in America a few years ago."
Draco looks astonished at this, "My father? And my mother? And you volunteered to spend time with them?"
Hermione nods slowly.
"Why? After everything my family did to you, why would you willingly do this?" Draco looks lost and her heart aches for him.
"Because people deserve a second chance." She says softly. His eyes seem to pool with tears and she moves to sit on the coffee table in front of him.
He gasps in a breath and leans forward, his hands holding his face as he seems overcome. Struggling to find the right words to express his reaction to her overwhelming levels of forgiveness, his next words are spoken with the most un-Slytherin amount of honesty. He needs to hear it though, needs to hear her forgiveness before they can move forward.
"Hermione," he sniffs, lowering his hands and closing his eyes for a moment before opening them and looking directly into hers before continuing, "I have done a lot of foolish, awful, mean things, that I really didn't mean when we were younger. I am so sorry. For everything. I need to know if you can forgive me before we start this relationship. Please forgive me."
Hermione's heart pounds in her chest and her breath catches in her throat as he looks her in the eyes, his tear-stained cheeks flushed. She nods, "Of course, I forgive you. We were children, at war. We did what we had to do to survive."
His face crumbles at the sheer amount of relief that lifts from his shoulders at her statement and he scoops her up in a hug that warms her from head to toe, no idea what he did to ever deserve such a good and generous soul. He continuously whispers, "Thank you," into her hair and she moves her hand to stroke his hair gently.
"Let's send the contract to the lawyer tonight," she whispers.
He pulls back from her and looks her in the eye, seemingly searching for something before he nods. He writes a quick note to his lawyer and has her sign it next to his own signature; the note simply stating that they are aware of everything in the contract and that they have agreed to it and that they would like the lawyer to make a legally binding one for them to sign to make things official.
After Draco has sent the note and the contract off with his owl, Machiavelli, she smiles and murmurs, "Signed, sealed, delivered."
His gaze flickers over her face slowly, as he remembers her exchange with James Potter, before he replies, "I'm yours."