A/N: Thank you for all the kind words in your reviews! :) You, my dear readers, are the best!

I know I promised to stay on schedule, but I did not want to leave this on a cliffy, so you're getting like…three chapter's worth in one go. :) For what it's worth, I'm sorry for my tardiness.

Also, here's something I've never done before: a Draco POV. I hope you like it.

Call it a Slytherin's undying pessimism, but Draco could not get rid of that gut-wrenching sense of dread ever since he got out of bed this morning.

Theo's plan went too well. McGonagall agreed too quickly. Hermione was too relaxed. Add all of that on top of yesterday's revelations and you get a calm before the storm that was making him go mad. Was he playing into someone's hands right now, or against it? Could he protect everyone, or would he fail, like with everything else before?

"You look way too gloomy for a fun little adventure," Hermione said, giving his hand a squeeze. "It makes me wonder if I really want to follow you through this weather."

As to emphasise her words, lighting struck a nearby tree with a thundering crack, and he could feel the sparks in the air. He smirked at the girl out of habit, but slowed his steps and expanded the conjured umbrella above them, so none of her unruly locks escaped into the heavy rain.

"I never said it would be fun," he answered while readjusting the heating charm as well. They weren't far now, but he couldn't risk her getting a cold.

She scoffed. "I swear you are the only person I know who would even entertain the idea of a dreary adventure."

"What can I say, I am unparalleled."

She rolled her eyes and tried to let go of his hand, but he didn't let her.

"If you want to keep dragging me along, at least tell me where we're going."

She was way too adorable when she pouted like that. Even so, her eyes were sharp, like she knew how every single syllable played with his head. What did Theo say? Sorely in love?

Draco felt like that didn't even begin to cover it.

She was the first one to stand up to him - the bully - and not only that; she won against him. First in school, then in the war, and now she was dancing on his heart with dagger heeled stilettos and a smile.

So he smiled too, and let suave Draco take the lead.

"I'm taking you on a date."

Hermione didn't even notice the disturbance in magic ahead of them since her thoughts were busy screaming at her about being on a date every two seconds. She was not at all prepared for that. She wasn't even sure she brushed her teeth in the morning.

And now he's telling her they're on a date? How? Is this what happens when you get a boyfriend? Ambush dates?

Oh, sweet Circe.

Draco suddenly stopped them and cast a strange spell aimed at nothing but the air. Said nothing rippled and twisted, revealing a plain wooden door, looking both entirely ordinary and extremely out of place.

Hermione's jaw slackened. This… she read about these doors, hidden all around Hogwarts, but never expected to see one for herself. They used to belong to the founders, and according to one book she read, they used it for any dangerous experiments. Some other sources speculated that these simply offered a much-needed refuge from the trials of a teacher's life. Considering that it was so dangerously close to the Forbidden Forest that she couldn't even see the castle, it was a fairly nice place for either.

The only question remained: how did Draco get a hold of this place? Was it some sort of old Slytherin secret? Maybe passed down from Salazar himself?

She glanced at the blond, his mouth still twisted in that little smile, giving away nothing. Without a word, he pulled on the door, holding it open for her.

"After you."

She was bouncing around the room with fervour like she was possessed by a seven-year-old kid on a sugar high. There were books everywhere! Just the scent of old paper that permeated the room was enough for her to forget all about breakfast and dates and revenge.

"Welcome to Rowena's study," Draco said after letting her discover the hidden room that lay beyond the door. "I had the foresight to arrange for some food and drinks to enjoy while you explore."

Hermione didn't even glance at him.

Is that a book on Thaumaturgy? And this one is about dragon taming! And this is about magical cooking! How could that differ from normal cooking? Oh, a colouring book! She jumped from bookshelf to bookshelf, quickly cataloguing the immense collection.

That was, until a pair of hands grabbed her by the waist, halting her movement.

"Resisto libri," he murmured into her ear and Hermione felt like someone threw a bucket of ice water on her.

"What… what happened?" she asked, looking around and seeing - really seeing - the place for the first time.

The walls were covered by towering bookshelves so full they barely let the bronze eagle painted behind them peak through. The feeling of the place reminded her of a charmed tent, probably the same magic was used for both. The books were arranged by the same logic they were in Hogwarts, but instead of the more academic selection she was used to, these ranged from common household spells to some of the most coveted pieces on deeply analytical and hypothetical works.

Draco stepped back, letting go of her. She turned to give him a quizzical look.

He glanced away. "I may have failed to tell you that these books are cursed to push would-be thieves into a reading frenzy that they cannot escape until someone either stops them from reading, or they collapse from exhaustion. To be fair, I did not think you would trigger the curse. It's only supposed to stop people from removing books from this space."

Hermione's first thought was: Now this is how you make a good jinx. The books stayed protected and the only harm done would probably be a headache from all that reading. She could respect spellwork like this.

Her second thought was how she'd been wrong about the Slytherin connection since this place practically screamed Ravenclaw.

And her third thought was: Bullshit. She didn't want to steal anything! Okay, maybe take some for a while to read them in her own bed, all snuggled up in that ugly but surprisingly comfy green blanket, but that was not stealing! It was borrowing at worse. And it's not like anyone's currently using these books. They are just going to waste here!

"Hmm, Hermione Nott, a hoarder. Colour me surprised," Draco said, ending her internal rant.

"It's not like that! I-" her words died before being uttered. It was improbable that Rowena's spell would misjudge her intentions. To refute it now would only dig a deeper hole for her to later crawl out of.

Still, she didn't want Draco to think of her like a common thief.

The blond cocked his head to the side, letting his locks nearly cover his mischievous eyes twinkling under a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't want to steal them," she said finally.

"I know. After all, why steal something you already own?" He gestured at the shelves. "These books are only the duplicates that were left after my father's raid of the place."

Of course, Lucius would do that. He probably made that counterspell himself. Not that Hermione could blame him. Not this time.

"I can read all of these?" Oh, she had to start today. Scratch that, she had to start years ago!

"Yes, you can, little miss hoarder." Draco teased. "Now come on, the food is getting cold."

He gestured towards a small space that may have manifested itself straight out of her dreams. Between two bookshelves reaching up to the ceiling, a sofa and two armchairs were circled around a coffee table packed entirely full of various sweets, lending the air a nearly sickly sweet aroma of sugar and spices. The nook was lit by a single magical light, floating carelessly above them, while occasionally changing its colour. It was the type of place to lose yourself in for days on end. And, of course, a perfect setting for a surprise date. Hermione's nervousness was slowly transforming into contentment.

Draco took the lead in settling into the couch, then patting the space beside him to show Hermione where to sit. For a fleeting moment, she considered sitting in a chair just to spite him, but the thought went away as quickly as it bubbled up. She wasn't dealing with the pretentious git Draco Malfoy anymore, she reminded herself. He was her boyfriend.

She had to repeat that sentence multiple times since she woke up, just to remind herself. Or maybe she couldn't believe it yet? That was a possibility, too.

"I see my efforts left you completely speechless. Swooning, even." He said as he picked up a cupcake with a dollop of strawberry frosting from the table and offered it to her enticingly, and with an overly smug expression, reminding her that even if he had changed, the old Draco was definitely still in there somewhere.

"Oh, no. Not at all. I'm just silently preparing a lecture about the importance of a balanced breakfast. You obviously have a lot to learn," she rebutted, snatched the offered sweet and sat next to him. "This single cupcake has enough sugar in it to make every dentist in Britain cry out in indignation."

Draco furrowed his brows.

"If you wish, I can call Nuit and tell her that these dishes are unsatisfactory. Although, I have to warn you it might make her cry."

Nuit? Oh, yes, she was that elf that brought tea for them. Was she one of the Malfoy house-elves? Why would she be tending to Draco instead of Lucius and Narcissa? Hogwarts had plenty of elves already, doing everyone's dirty work. He needn't involve another one just to slightly please her. They could've stayed in one of the empty classrooms the Professors used to serve breakfast, now that they had to dismiss the first class because of the owls - Hermione was really looking forward to this lesson of Arithmancy, too - but for some reason, McGonagall was more than eager to send them away. Something was not right. This whole setup reeked of a Slytherin's conniving.

"You made the elves prepare these for us?" she asked and saw him backpedal in his thoughts. He clearly remembered her S.P.E.W. days.

"No…" He started, slowly, like he was testing the waters. "They were practically begging me for a chance to please you after yesterday's debacle."

"Debacle? What do you mean?"

He grinned, and she knew she lost this round. "Didn't you hear my father purring over the sweets? I swear the face he made when I told him about Charlotte made my damn year," he chuckled. "But it also left the elves both shocked and furious, since their cooking had lost its effect on him a long time ago. So now they are trying to prove to you that they can cook better than some Muggle girl - their words, not mine," he explained, quickly adding the last part seeing Hermione's darkening expression.

When she agreed to bring the cakes with them, she completely forgot about the Malfoy elves! To be fair, she did not expect to stay for dinner, but she had read multiple times how proud they are about their work. They probably saw this as her distrust in their skills. Oh, dear Merlin. She will have to find a way to make it up to them.

"You must've been really tired to miss that." Draco leaned closer, taking the cupcake from her hand, and putting it back down.

"I was, yes. I still am. There are just so many questions in my head and not nearly enough answers for them. It's like I'm stuck in the desert, but still drowning."

She felt tired. Not physically, more like mentally. The growing pile of questions, the uncertainties were driving her mad. She wanted answers, solutions, or at least a damn plan. But she had nothing.

Draco pulled her closer, and she didn't object. She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent. With one hand, he took hers and caressed those familiar circles into it while his other sneaked behind the sofa and played with her curls. The light now darkened, like it felt their intentions, and helped them relax quietly for a bit. Hermione close her eyes and let her breaths sync with his deep and calm ones.

Draco was the one to break the silence. "I will happily answer as many as I can. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Why-"

"Because," he interrupted her. "Today is about relaxation, and letting go of all these pesky little problems."

That was easy for him to say. He wasn't the one surviving on three hours of sleep a night just so he could learn a bit more about a completely unknown culture-

She quickly stopped that line of thought, deeply embarrassed. Draco was also doing just that, except he did not even have books, or any sort of information or help, thanks to that vile harlot! He did not deserve her morning grumpiness.

"I wouldn't call them that," she answered halfheartedly.

"I know. That's why I'm doing it. Believe me, a year from now, you won't even remember solving these. You're wicked smart, and Theo and I have your back," he smiled at her, and she could feel the grumps melt away. "Now tell me, strawberry napoleons, or chocolate pavlova?"

"Draco, I need answers, not desserts," she said, but the words sounded unconvincing, even to her. The rumbling of her stomach didn't help her case, either.

Draco obviously picked up on all of that, offering her a napoleon.

"And I think you need both."

She let him feed her the napoleons first before venturing into the pralines. She was still pouting, mind you, but at least she relaxed a bit as he kept massaging the back of her neck.

"Do you have anything else planned for today? Or is it just desserts and loafing about?" She asked between two bites.

"Is this the cue for me to pull out some elaborate plan for the day? Because if so, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. Dates and plans rarely go well for me." Considering he's only ever dated Pansy, and his plan let Death Eaters into a school, that was an understatement.

"I thought you enjoyed it?"

She licked a bit of whipped cream off her lip, innocently, like she was completely unaware of how it utterly sabotaged his train of thought. Enjoyed? What? He probably enjoyed every damn moment since they got together, be it their snarky debates or relaxing on couches.

He had to actually use his occlumency just to gather himself enough to answer. He played back their words in his head like some sort of lunatic. Plans, disappointment, more plans, dates… oh, no.

"I didn't mean your plans. Those were delightful, if a bit complicated," he answered, hoping it was not too late.

Their first 'date' was so typical of her, and yet also unexpected. She had a booklet and notes and a coloured timetable that rivalled a Ravenclaw's study schedule, and strangely, it warmed his heart. If the Weasel is anything to go by, that was likely her first proper date. Yet, instead of just dallying at Puddifoot's, or some Muggle equivalent, she made it all about teaching him. Because she knew how precious every moment is to him, with the midterm exams looming just around the ugly, grey and rainy corner of December.

She had given up an experience just to help him. Without rewards or threats. That was definitely a first for him. Maybe the founders were right, and there were some people who could revel in self-sacrifice.

He will have to make sure she doesn't overdo it.

"It was the most efficient we could be," she said, pulling away for a moment, but he caught her and gave her a reassuring smile. Or at least, he hoped. Merlin knows he's not very accustomed to smiling. Smirking, yes, that basically ran in the family. But smiling? That was for kids and Hufflepuffs and love-struck losers…

Well, bugger.

Now, where did he lose suave Draco? Was the tosser stuck outside in the pouring rain, flirting with some oddly shaped tree he mistook for a nymph? Because he needed him, now.

"Yes, and that was the correct plan for that day," he conceded. "Today, however, I plan to cuddle my girlfriend in the most inefficient way possible." How can you cuddle inefficiently? What was he even saying?

Hermione giggled, and the sound helped soothe his nerves. She took his unoccupied hand and interlocked their fingers. She held him tight as she looked down at this connection for some moments in complete silence, and that obtrusive panic of his reared its ugly head once more. The bastard.

"Isn't this strange to you?" she asked tentatively.

"Oh, yes, holding hands. Only the most depraved people would do such a thing," he tried to joke but felt her emotions shift.

"You dork, that's not what I meant. Isn't this too… fast for you?"

At this moment, Draco would've given all of his inheritance to someone who could tell him what the 'this' she referred to was. Their relationship? His advances? The date?

"Is it for you?" He asked just to get some more time as he tried to mitigate the damage by scooting a bit farther from her and stopping his ministrations on her neck. That should be enough, right?

"I'm not talking about the cuddling." She rolled her eyes and looked at him expectantly. When he didn't answer, she shook her head, and finally put him out of his misery by plainly telling him. "We're halfway engaged."

And there was it, the end of his happiness. The dread bubbling up from his guts was immediate, and it nearly escaped in a swiftly constructed lie. 'No, we aren't. I misspoke. Calm down.'

The last part he said to himself.

He could not afford to lose her. He just managed to gather the tattered ends of his sanity. He had to think of something. Fast. Damn him for not coming up with something before this point. And it wasn't because of his lack of trying. He was thinking about this since he woke up, but none of his lies seemed good enough. Or convincing enough. Or whatever you want to call it.

It was like being sixteen again, standing in front of the Dark Lord and not being able to utter a single word. Except this felt different, where before he was afraid for his life, now he was afraid of loss… desolation.

For some unexplained reason, his brain pulled up the memory of this morning. The Weasel was waiting for him outside the Slytherin common room. As soon as he saw the redhead, he knew he came here to deliver some half-assed attempt at a death threat for so rudely claiming the witch he could not keep.

Weasel looked like a wreck, with the red print of a well-aimed slap on his left cheek helping to balance his complexion.

"I don't know how this happened," he started. Of course, he didn't. When was the last time he knew anything? "But 'Mi likes you. A lot apparently. And I just want to say, don't fuck it up. For her sake. Like bloody talk to her. She knows a lot and thinks a lot, and if you don't tell her what the problem is, she will spin out of control."

That did sound like her. Overthinking. Over-analyzing. He couldn't even imagine how crammed her mind must be with all of these thoughts.

"Your point, Weasel?" He was already late for the party, so hopefully, Minerva kept her end of the bargain and stopped Hermione from going into the hall. They wanted distraction, not the untimely revelation of her bloodline.

"Talk. To. Her."

He turned around, leaving past Draco to his thoughts while muttering about some 'persuasive damn git'.

His advice didn't leave current Draco, though. The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop himself, and with each syllable, his heart sank deeper and deeper.

"The ritual mother did binds us to be halfway married. She didn't know it would do that for you. It's only binding for purebloods, and she doesn't know about you and Theo. She was just jesting with an old tradition."

He added the bit about Narcissa to hopefully leave her out of the mess. Hermione needed some good allies, and even if she were to-

"Yes, I assumed as such," she answered simply, interrupting his internal monologue.

What?

"If… mother finishes the ritual, we'll be married," he tried again. Maybe she misunderstood the first time?

"Yes," she nodded, picking up a praline and dropping it into her mouth.

"And that means we cannot get divorced," he added as a last resort.

"Isn't that how all magical marriages work? And why would I want to start by divorcing you?" She asked, looking at him like he was the strange one here. He had played out this conversation so many times in his head he lost count, yet this simple answer never came up.

She still sat relatively close to him, calm and composed, like they were discussing the weather, and it made no sense.

"Doesn't this make you angry?"

"Angry? Why? Would that help?" She asked him with a funny look. "Hmm, can this magic feel our intentions and act accordingly, or is it a one and done type?" she pondered out loud. "Does it offer refunds?"

She… was joking? Why would she joke about this? What was even happening? Was he dreaming?

He felt her squeeze their intertwined hands. She moved in closer - much closer than she was before. He could see the emotions shift behind her gentle, brown eyes as they stared at each other in silence.

This time, she spoke first.

"Draco, we were dealt these cards, and we have to work with them," she said, then sighed. "We both know that getting into this situation was as much of my fault as it was yours. So instead of trying to either change the past or the far future, we should only cross the bridge that is closest to us. We gain nothing if we're worrying about the what-ifs. Merlin knows, we both have enough on our plates already."

Draco was both shocked and appalled. The bloody lion's method worked like a charm.

"I haven't even had the chance to ask you…" Draco took no responsibility for whatever was coming out of his mouth, as his mind was still playing catch-up. Thankfully, Hermione dismissed it with a smile.

"Honestly, it would've been very soon to ask. But when we both get there, I'm sure it will be a beautiful and romantic moment."

"I think you just jinxed us."

"Don't say that. Just tell me what to do to avoid any surprise marriages."

With this simple sentence, she made him feel a hundred stones lighter. She was right, as usual.

Merlin bless this brilliant witch!

"I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Until then I think I still have some cuddling left to do. You know, the closest bridge and all…" Finally, suave Draco made his timely return.

"You're incorrigible," she said with a smirk she could've stolen from his face.

"Yet you still like me."

And now he - truly - believed this.

A/N: Remember, good communication is extremely important!

Next up: Ginny joins the teaching with some new ideas and the wizards learn about muggles' fascination of elves. References to swords, bows, axes and rings.

Stay awesome!

Love,

LydieBerry