Hermione Granger woke up on the 15th of December with a feeling that something just right had occurred.
She could not place what exactly, but the day just felt right.
And no, she didn't believe it was some sixth sense, or premonition, or something god awful like 'The Sight'. She assumed it was just positivity in the system. A natural, normal feeling. An intuition of some sort.
She tried to get up from her bed, but an aching pain radiated throughout her body, causing her to let out a groan and flop back on the bed.
"Shh, it's alright. You're fine, just try not to get up."
Hermione heard and saw Harry beside her, a frown on his face. "Harry? What happened? Where am I?"
"You're in the Hospital Wing Hermione. There was an accident, I'm so sorry-"
Harry continued speaking, but Hermione stopped paying attention. She remembered the talk she had with Death, how she had actually died. She remembered confronting Harry and Draco in the bathroom and being struck by a spell. Draco…
She grasped onto Harry's hand, stopping him mid-rant. "What date is it?"
Harry fumbled for a moment. "It's Sunday morning."
"Not the day, the date!" Hermione urged.
"It's the fifteenth of December. You were unconscious for three days."
"Where's Draco? Why isn't he here?" She looked around urgently, praying to whoever was above that Draco was fine and alive.
But her hope was quashed when she saw Harry's face morph into one of sadness and guilt. "Hermione, I am so sorry, I didn't know-"
"Of course, you'd awaken the one time I leave you alone with Scarface."
Hermione let out a gasp of relief and turned her head towards the entrance. There, she saw Draco Malfoy leaning against one of the beds in the room. She tried getting up but Draco quickly rushed towards her, pushing her back down. "Don't even think about it. You have yet to heal properly."
"I'm so sorry Hermione," Harry spoke up once again and she saw Draco scowl in his direction.
"Yes Potter, you're sorry. Improve your vocabulary." Hermione shot Draco a frown, who then heaved a sigh. "Harry," He started, turning around to face him, "Why don't you make yourself useful and go inform the authorities of Granger's awakening?"
Harry nodded and rushed away from them, once again shooting her an apologetic glance.
"You didn't need to be so rude to him." Hermione rasped out, only then realizing how dry her throat was.
Draco whirled around, giving her a sharp glare. "You do not get to say another word to me." He poured out a glass of water for her, holding her head up as she drank. "He almost killed you with a spell he had no idea about."
Draco slammed the glass on the side table. "And you. What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Hermione scoffed. "Is that the way you thank someone for saving your life?"
Draco let out a frustrated sound before he moved toward her, kissing her fiercely. Hermione tried to reciprocate as much as possible, but their positioning made it difficult. Draco pulled back and grabbed her face with his hands. "You do not save me, Hermione. Never do that again."
"I will always save you." She whispered, tears falling from both their eyes.
He shook his head, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "What must've I done to earn your love?" He whispered in awe.
"Ahem." A male voice came from behind them, Draco moved away from her. She saw both Madame Pomphrey and Professor Snape standing there.
"If you would allow it, we'd like to check up on Miss Granger," Snape stated monotonously.
Draco nodded, his face bright red. "Of course sir, ma'am. I'll just sit here." He took a seat on the stool beside her bed, observing silently as the two adults made their way to Hermione.
"Well, it seems you are healing nicely, however, your body is still not suitable for any strenuous activities." Madame Pomphrey informed her as she finished checking her.
"And there isn't any residual dark magic in your body to hinder your healing process." Professor Snape remarked, standing near Draco.
Hermione tried smiling at them. "How long until I can leave?"
Draco scoffed and Madame Pomphrey gave her a horrified look. "Leave? No child, at best, you'll have to stay here for a week."
"A week?!" Hermione's eyes bulged out in surprise. "I can't miss a whole week of classes!"
"Granger, we have Christmas Holidays starting next week. I'll get you your notes and assignments, don't worry." Draco reassured her.
"And what about returning home? Am I allowed to at least go back home for the holidays?" She asked snarkily.
Madame Pomphrey frowned at her. "Well, if you have someone who can administer the potions to you and take care of you, then, of course, you can."
Hermione shook her head. "I am not telling my parents about this, they wouldn't let me come back."
"I'll go with her," Draco spoke up, causing all heads to turn toward him.
Madame Pomphrey clapped her hands together. "Oh, wonderful Mr. Malfoy. I'll get you a list of her potions." With that, she left.
"Draco," Hermione spoke up softly. "You don't have to stay with me throughout the break. I can manage. And shouldn't you stay with your mother?"
"Yes Mr Malfoy, I believe you should listen to Ms. Granger," Snape warned.
Draco glared back at him. "No, I don't think so. It's much better than staying here worrying if she's fine or not."
"Fine." Snape let out. "I'll let you discuss this amongst yourselves." He started walking away before he turned towards Hermione. "And by the way, you are welcome, Miss Granger." Snape declared before leaving the two of them alone.
She glanced towards Draco in question. "What did Professor Snape mean?"
Draco gave her a soft smile. "He's the one that saved you. Apparently, the spell Potter used was created by him."
Hermione's eyes widened and she tried to sit up, only to be held back by Draco. "He's the Half-Blood prince?" Then she rolled her eyes. "Of course, he's the bloody Half-Blood Prince. A genius in potions, who had issues with book information."
Hermione then frowned at Draco. "He knows about us?" Draco nodded, still not letting go of her hand. "You're not scared he'll tell Voldemort." Draco exhaled sharply at the name but shook his head.
"Are you going to answer verbally or shall I just settle for a lifetime of head movements?" She questioned with an arched brow.
He let out a chuckle and touched his forehead with hers. "I'm just thinking about penguins."
"Penguins?"
He leaned closer, their lips almost touching, each exhale of his hitting her face. "I understand and appreciate them more now." Then, with a smile, he finally connected their lips, first softly, then slowly his tongue traced the shape of her lips forcing her to open her mouth. She let out a small gasp when his tongue entered her mouth, and in her haste to move closer, she forgot about her injuries, letting out a small cry of pain.
Draco instantly moved away from her and winced at her. "I'm so sorry, you should be resting. I shouldn't be bothering you."
Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand. "No, stay, please. Just don't make me want to kiss you."
Draco raised a brow at her. "Well, that's impossible Hermione, have you seen how irresistible I am?"
She hit him hard and he laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Merlin, you're so violent."
"You didn't tell me why Snape won't tell."
Draco gave her a look. "You know his allegiance is towards Dumbledore. He won't let Dumbledore die."
"But that doesn't explain why he would help us."
He sighed and leaned on her bed. "Promise you won't tell anyone, okay? But apparently, when Snape was our age, he was in love with a muggle-born girl. They were really good friends until he made the mistake of calling her the m-word." Hermione snorted at his description but schooled her expression when Draco glared at her. "Anyway, the girl wouldn't talk to him after that. Soon she married and had a kid while Snape became a Death Eater. Her son ended up becoming Voldemort's target and Snape begged to not harm her. But Voldemort did kill her. That's when he went to Dumbledore."
Hermione held her hand to her mouth in surprise. "Snape was in love with Harry's mother?"
Draco smiled sadly. "Yes, and he couldn't save her. He said he didn't want me to go through the same feeling."
"What about your mother, won't she be in danger if you complete your task?"
"Snape has that handled too. I don't know how he plans to do it, but he has promised me that he would keep my mother safe." Draco held onto her hand as if it were a lifeline. "I do not want to even think of going through something Snape had to face. The three days you remained unconscious were enough to kill me."
"Were you serious when you said you would join me for the holidays?" She questioned.
Draco gave her a bright smile. "I would love to. Unless your parents don't let you." He frowned. "Would they say no?"
Hermione gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm pretty sure that they would be thrilled if I brought home a boy, especially someone who's not Harry or Ron."
Draco winced. "I can't bear to think of either of the two at the moment. Do you know, Weasely forgave me?"
Hermione frowned. "You told them?"
He nodded. "Them and Dumbledore and that Order of yours. And Weasely forgave me. How could he just forgive me like that?"
"Because you looked like someone killed your pet owl the entire time!" Ron's voice came over from the curtains.
Draco groaned. "I had forgotten he was here." He got up and removed the curtain covering them. She saw Ron smiling at her.
"Hey, Mione! Glad you got up today, it's my last day in the Wing. Almost thought I would've missed you." He waved at her from his bed.
Hermione waved back at him. "Hello, Ronald. Were you eavesdropping?"
Ron smirked. "Not the whole thing. I just woke up when you were talking about your parents. Say, is the Ferret really going to your parent's house with you?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Yes, Weasel. I am really going to her house for the holidays."
"Do you think it would be possible for Harry and me to witness the whole thing?" He asked and Draco shut the curtain windows, placing a muffliato around them.
"You need new friends Granger."
Hermione laughed, still dazed by the sudden turn of events.
Finally, she was released from the Hospital Wing the day they were all going home for Christmas Holidays. Draco had spent every possible minute he could beside Hermione ensuring that she was alright.
And Hermione had to admit, it felt nice to have a break for a moment. She knew the moment they all came back in the New Year, everything would pile up again.
Harry's task to get Slughorn's memory, Draco trying to evade his own task, and all the studying she had been unable to do. Hermione dreaded that the most. She couldn't even imagine how far behind she must've been in her studies.
"Are you still obsessing over your homework?" A snarky voice asked from beside her.
She turned around and glared at Ron. "Shut up Ronald. Help me out of the common room."
"And why isn't your reformed boyfriend helping you?" He questioned, helping her with her stuff as they walked through the entrance.
As they got out, they saw Draco standing there. He smiled brightly as soon as he saw them, or rather, as soon as he saw Hermione.
"Merlin, does he need to smile like that? I liked it better when all he did was sneer." Ron muttered under his breath and Hermione elbowed him.
"Be nice. We'll see you at New Year's?" Draco came towards her, instantly grabbing her stuff from Ron and wrapping his free arm around her.
"Hello, sweetheart." Draco placed a kiss on her lips.
"Ugh, can you not do that in front of me?" Ron groaned.
Draco flashed a smirk at him. "You cannot say a word after the entire sixth year has seen you making out with Brown."
Ron rolled his eyes as Hermione pulled the two of them away, moving towards the great hall.
"Good morning." He smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"
Hermione smiled back at him. "I feel great! So many potions and no pain."
Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you high?"
Hermione scoffed. "No. Unfortunately, the wizarding world does not have those kinds of potions. What about you? Ready to meet my parents? In the muggle world?"
Draco gasped. "Oh really? Are we going to the muggle world? To meet your muggle parents? Why didn't you tell me before?"
She smacked him on the arm and he let out an exaggerated 'ow'.
He grasped her shoulders and turned her towards him. "Hermione Granger, just in case this went over your head the last hundred times I've told you this, I love you. And there is nothing that I wouldn't do for you."
She pulled her closer to him, crushing her lips to his. Draco pulled back and placed his forehead on hers. "I hope you know now that you will be staying with me. Tonight, tomorrow, the next month, our whole lives no matter how long."
[1 Year & 5 Months After]
It was finally over.
Seven years all leading to this one moment.
Harry had finally defeated Voldemort.
It hadn't been an easy victory. Ever since Dumbledore had been killed by Snape last year, the whole Wizarding World had turned on its axis.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had gone into hiding, hunting for the Horcruxes. With the addition of Draco Malfoy.
By the end of summer that year, the Order had gotten used to Draco's presence along with his mother, who had been placed in a safe house by Snape himself, before he had supposedly betrayed them.
The entire Summer Draco was terrified that Snape might reveal their location, causing harm to them.
The year they spent camping was emotionally and physically tasking.
Old wounds were brought up, Ron getting splinched, them getting a Horcrux, Ron leaving, and Draco going into a spiral of self-loathing after Hermione was tortured in his own home.
It was not easy. But it was all worth it.
Voldemort was finally dead and the Battle of Hogwarts had finally come to an end.
Both Draco and Hermione glanced at each other, realizing that this was now a new start for them. She saw Harry and Ron running towards them and she instantly hugged Harry before hitting him on the harm.
"Ouch, what the hell Hermione!" He rubbed his arm. "I just came back from the dead. Be nice to me."
Draco laughed. "You really are the Boy-who-won't-fucking-die."
"What exactly happened Harry?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged, a boyish grin on his face. "I met Dumbledore. He said I could choose to go back if I wished."
Draco scoffed at him but Hermione smiled secretively. "Mate, that is so absurd. Why would you meet Dumbledore in your afterlife?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because he was someone very important in my life whom I looked up to?" Harry reiterated irritatedly.
"Great person really, raising you like a pig to slaughter," Draco mumbled and Hermione came in between the two boys.
"Okay, we don't need another round of this." Ron muttered a 'Thank Merlin' under his breath which they ignored. "Harry, we're just glad you're alive. You terrified us all. Now, if you'll excuse us, Draco and I would love to go have some 'We survived the war' sex and I'm sure you have things to do too."
Draco grinned while the other two groaned loudly. Hermione grabbed onto Draco's arm and was about to pull him away when Harry called out to her.
"Oh, Hermione? Dumbledore also said that a mutual friend was extremely proud of you. He said you would understand." Harry scratched the back of his head in confusion.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione answered, a bright smile on her face.
"Will you tell me what that was?" Draco questioned as they walked away.
Hermione hummed. "Only if you tell me what you've been carrying around since we left Gringotts."
Draco stopped, causing Hermione to glance back at him in question. "You are a damn infuriating woman, do you know that?"
"What do you mean-" Draco cut her off by kissing her. Hermione stood on her toes, grabbing his hair when he pushed her away from him. "What-"
All breath left her as Draco knelt in front of her, a ring in his hand.
"Hermione Granger-"
"Yes!" She exclaimed, causing Draco to give her an exasperated look.
"Let me speak love. I assure you I have a great speech prepared." Hermione nodded, forcing herself to maintain normalcy.
He cleared his throat. "Hermione Granger, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. Ever since you punched me in third year, I knew there was something special about you."
"Masochist," She whispered, eyes filled with tears and Draco laughed.
"My feelings only solidified as the years passed by. And then, when I was at my worst, you dropped into my life, forcing me to spend a whole week with you for patrol. That was when I knew I loved you. You are so beautiful, inside and outside and you always try to see the best in me. You took a chance with me, even though I don't know why. I love the way you get so engrossed in a book that the whole world blurs around you. I love how considerate you are of everyone around you. I love how you don't take any shite from anyone and know how to put people in their place. I also really really love your arse."
Hermione let out a laugh, tears falling down her face. "I like yours too."
"Disgusting." Draco shook his head at her, a tear falling from his eye as well. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you do me the absolute honor of being the luckiest man in this universe and marry me?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, yes! A hundred times yes!"
Draco quickly placed the ring on her finger, standing up and wiping his eyes. There were applauses coming from all around them as Draco swooped down and kissed Hermione.
"You risked your life to get this ring for me?" She asked when they were in Draco's old dorm. They had all decided to spend the night at the castle, each taking a room for themself. She glanced down at the ring with a large sapphire in the middle, encircled with diamonds. "And how did you know about the Sapphire?"
"Mother had informed me there was a ring like this in the Black Vault. I just took advantage of the opportunity." Draco smiled. "As for the Sapphire, your father told me. When we were with them in the summer, I asked him for your hand. And he told me you loved Sapphires."
Hermione felt sadness engulf her. "You asked my parents?"
Draco wrapped his arms around her waist. "Of course I did. And I will also be carrying you across the threshold and all the other traditions you want to follow." He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "We'll find them Hermione. I promise we will."
Hermione nodded quietly before she glanced up at him. She sat up on the bed so that she could clearly see Draco. "I need to tell you something." He nodded. "But you have to promise me that you won't get mad."
Draco sat up as well. "You're scaring me, Hermione, is everything alright? Do you not want to marry me?"
"No!" At his horrified look, she amended. "No, I do want to marry you. But I'm afraid we might have a short engagement."
He frowned at her. "Why would I be mad? I thought I made it clear that I want you to be my wife as soon as possible."
She fidgeted with her ring. "You see, the thing is, I am pregnant."
Draco glanced at her and let out a laugh. "That was a nice joke, Granger, now tell me the truth."
She shook her head. "That is the truth."
Draco's expression grew serious as he glanced at her and then at her stomach. "What? When?"
Hermione threw up her hands in exasperation. "Well, I don't know when, but after the manor, when we were in Shell Cottage, Fleur checked while she was treating me. And well, the result came back positive."
He quickly placed a hand on her stomach as if trying to check it himself. "After the manor? Is the baby okay? Is it hurt? Have I already failed as a father?"
Hermione quickly placed her hands on his. "It's fine. Everything is fine. The baby is safe. It's strong and healthy and you haven't failed at anything."
Draco let out a relieved sigh and then his expression grew furious. "You knew you were pregnant and you still fought?"
She placed her hands on her hips. "See, this is why I didn't tell you before, I knew you would react like this. I am perfectly capable of keeping myself safe. And I wasn't going to let you and Harry and Ron out there alone."
Draco shook his head, leaning closer to Hermione. "You are going to be the death of me."
Hermione let out a small, knowing smile. "I won't ever let you die."
AN:
It's finally over! My first Dramione chapter fic!
A massive thank you to everyone who read my story. Thank you for all your love and support!