They want me to court you

by tmax011

If Hermione courts Draco she will fall under the Malfoy protection. He helps find the horcruxes.

They want me to court you.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

'Hey, can I sit here?' Draco asked.

'Um, … all of these tables and you want to sit with me?' Hermione looked surprised at his request.

'Yea, I need to talk to you, but first.' As he slid an envelope over to her. She took it with trepidation and opened it.

'I'm Sorry' written across the front of the card. 'A muggle card?' she asked as he nodded.

'It wasn't easy to get that you know.' As she opened it.

'Hermione, I'm sorry for all of the things I have done to you for the last six years. It was out of misguided ignorance and jealousy. Please forgive me. Sincerely yours, Draco. Hermione had to read it twice. She looked up in surprise.

'Thank you, if you truly mean it?'

'Yes, I do. I have realized we both bleed red blood.'

'Ok, well what do you need?' Hermione asked as she placed the card in her book.

'Um, the dark Lord has something up his sleeve. I heard him say something about you… not sure what yet but you are on his mind.'

'Oh, what should I do?' Hermione whispered.

'Well, mother thinks I should marry you and put you under Malfoy protection. He can't touch you then.' Draco said to the wall behind her shoulder.

'She what?' Hermione stuttered.

'She too realizes there is no differences in our blood. And she thinks we would make beautiful smart babies.' Draco grinned.

'Already marring us off and children? But I need to help Harry defeat him. I can't do that from the manor.' Hermione said looking at her book.

'Well, you're not saying no to marriage?' Draco exclaimed.

'Well, you can hold a decent discussion, not bad looking and as long as every other word is quidditch I could see us getting along, once we get to know each other better. But I can't believe you would even ask me to marry me… the mudblood.' Hermione sputtered.

'Well, I agree we can talk about almost anything, ever since the yule ball I think every bloke in the school has had wet dreams about you.' Draco grinned. 'I can…no, I want to help. I want to survive this you know?'

'But Dumbledore gave us a task. The three of us.' Hermione looked pained at the thought of the journey in front of them.

'I have heard rumors, of horcruxes? And if I'm right they will be hard to find but I have a few ideas.' Draco whispered. 'And if I go with you, I can start courting you. Ron might hate you but, do you really think he is your one true love? Does he ever shut up about quidditch? Or can he even do his own homework?' Draco grinned as he looked over to Hermione's paper. As she pulled them away, giggling.

'How do you know about horcruxes?' Hermione whispered as she looked around.

'Severus might have let it slip one night. And them being things of importance to him.' As he cast the Muffliato charm.

'Like?' Hermione questioned.

'Well Severus said something about a diary and then a ring that belonged to his mother. So maybe something of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin's.'

'Like what?' Hermione asked. 'And where can we find them?'

'Well, I have ideas but I'm not going to say any more until I know I'm going with you. Do you realize that most of the people who might hold these things are people on the dark side?' Draco grinned.

'Are you sure you want to change sides?' She chided.

'Yes, I can help, I can play both sides just like Severus.' Draco said with a grin.

'Well, we need to talk to Dumbledore first.'

'Fine, so will you let me court you?' Draco said hopefully.

~o~

'I can't believe Dumbledore agreed to this.' Ron sputtered.

'The Malfoy's have seen the errors of their way. They want this all over with just like us.' Hermione pleaded with him.

'Yea just to save their hides and their "manor"' he snarled.

'Hey if he can help get this done quicker, I'm all for it.' Harry quipped.

'Fine, he better not get us killed.' Ron growled.

'Ron, we have come close all by ourselves without Draco's help.' Harry grinned.

'Why is he being all… touchy with Hermione?' Ron snarled at Draco this time.

'Well, Draco has asked to court me.'

'He what?' Ron bellowed. 'But you're my girlfriend.'

'Ron for one how can I be your girlfriend if Lavender is in your bed?' Hermione's eyebrow shot up.

'What does he have that I don't?' he snarled.

'Well, not Lavender in my bed. I can hold a conversation that does not include a quidditch term every other word. And I can protect her way better than you can.' Draco drawled.

'Protection?' Ron asked.

'Yes Ron, Mrs. Malfoy suggested that if I was a member of the family. I fall under the Malfoy family blood protection.' Hermione told them of the plans.

'So, what I'm out on my ear and Draco is in your bed now?' Ron growled.

'You were never in my bed and what Draco, and I do is none of your business.' Hermione's snarl could make Severus quiver.

'Yea, weasel what we do between the sheets none of your concern.' Draco put his hand on Hermione's back. Ron lunged at him.

'Draco don't egg him on. Ron, you have no right to be jealous when you have Lavender waiting back in the common room. But Draco has some ideas for what and where we might be able to find some of the horcruxes, so, shut it.' Hermione growled.

'SO, what do you think?' Harry started trying to get the meeting started.

'Well, Snake face trusts Bella so something might be in her vault?' Draco said.

'Great so how do we get in there? Just walk up and say I want in?' Ron snarled.

'Um, yea, I can get in. I'm a Black.' Draco smirked at Ron.

'Nice that will make that easier.' Harry smiled. 'We know there is a necklace. Mundungus said Umbitch has it.' Harry frowned.

'Um, she comes over to the manor sometimes to give reports, we could stupefy her and swap it out?' Draco looked hopeful at the idea.

'Would your mother help with that?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, one she hates Umbridge almost as much as snake face.' Draco smiled that they had figured out where two horcruxes were. So far.

'So, what would the Ravenclaw thing be?' Ron finally joined the conversation.

'Wait a minute didn't Tom visit the school trying to get a job? Do you think he would have hidden it here in the school?' Hermione asked.

'Good possibility.' Harry said. "Maybe concentrate on this one first? Do you think Luna would know anything?'

'Loony? You real want to trust her?' Ron sputtered.

'Ron, have you noticed she is right on most of her ideas.' Hermione grinned.

'Ok so how do we get in the vault?' Hermione asked the room.

'Well, Bella is out of the country right now. Maybe I go and say we need something out of her vault.' Draco stated.

'I think you will need a better reason. "I need something" is not a good enough reason.' Ron snarked.

'Wait, will you mother help us?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, we talked and she would love to. She thinks she has seen a large locket on Umbridge and thinks a sleeping potion in her tea would give her enough time to swap out the lockets.' Draco smiled.

'That's great.' Harry slapped Draco on the back. 'One figured out just two more to go.'

'I got it, the vault has heirlooms, right?' Hermione sputtered, as Draco nodded. 'Would your mom be up to redecorating the manor?' Draco cocked his head. 'The two of you take a box of china vases in to swap for gold nick-nacks. Bring back a box of gold stuff and hopefully you grab the cup we need. Then after a few weeks decide she prefers the china and gets her vases back.' Hermione started to dance in place at the plan.

'Do we have a picture of the cup? Might make the search easier.' Draco asked.

'Yea, here.' As Harry opened a book to show Rowena Ravenclaw holding up a gold cup in a toast. 'It has jewels and badger carved in the sides.'

'Yes, this will make it easier to find. This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, meet up after?' Draco looked hopeful.

'We could meet up at the Three Broom Sticks and get the cup.' Ron said as he smiled.

'Um, do you really think my mother would be see in there?' Draco crinkled his face. 'Madam Puddyfoot would be more her style.'

'Eww, I'm not going in there.' Ron sputtered.

'But wouldn't that give you brownie points with Lavender?' Harry asked as he grinned.

'What are brownies?' Ron sputtered.

'Well, the true definition is to brown nose.' Hermione started, getting a frown from Ron.

'Sucking up, Ron.' Draco exclaimed. 'Nose so far up one's arse.' Draco's eyebrows shot up.

'Oh.' He cringed.' So, Percy and the minster?'

'Yes. but brownies the food, Ooey gooey chocolate goodness.' Harry smiled at the memories of a warm brownie. 'You would love them.'

'Fine as long as I get a brownie.' Ron grumbled.

~o~

'We need to go.' Hermione told the group, feeling the heat from the coin in her pocket.

'Good I hate this place.' Ron grumbled. 'If you planned to use the coin to tell us they were on their way. Why in merlin's baggie pants did we have to come here? We could have just met out front of Three Broom Sticks.'

'Remember brownie points? You need to do something nice for Lavender once in a while.' Hermione snarled at him.

Hermione, Harry and Ron with their girlfriend stepped out of the small café. Harry and Ron saying goodbye to Ginny and Lavender with the promise of meeting up later. As Draco and his mother walked up.

'How did it go?' Hermione asked as she gave Draco a hug and kissed his cheek.

'Perfect.' Narcissa smiled. As Draco held the box out for Harry's inspection. Harry's hand flinched over a gold cup.

'Is it here?' Narcissa asked even tho she already knew the answer. Harry nodded as he grabbed the cup, giving a quick glance as he put it in his pocket.

'Thank you so much Ms. Malfoy, I know what this could cost you.' Harry spoke with forgiveness.

'You're welcome, I want this egomaniac gone as well.' Narcissa said. 'Oh I forgot.' As she pulled a small box from her pocket and handed it to Hermione. She opened it to find a locket with a large S carved in the front. Hermione slammed the lid shut. She could feel the evil radiating from it. Hermione spun to hug Narcissa. To receive a gasp of surprise.

'I'm so sorry, I'm just so happy to have this.' Hermione grinned as she went to stepped back.

'You are fine, it felt nice to feel appreciated.' She whispered the last and stepped back.

'Well, I think we need to go have a small meeting in the room of requirement.' Harry said to the group.

'Hey what about my brownie?' Ron whined.

'Didn't you have already have one?' Draco snarled. 'Don't you think these are little more important than your belly?'

'Oh, yea I guess.' Ron grumbled. 'She only had biscuits.' Ron grumbled again.

'Ron, I will get you a whole plateful later.' Hermione grumbled before she turned to face Narcissa. 'Thank you so much for everything you have done to help us.' Narcissa placed her hands on Hermione and Harry's shoulder.

'My life is nothing with him in my house. So, if this helps to destroy him then I will do whatever it takes.' Dropped her hand from Harry's shoulder and placing it on Hermione's. 'And I need to thank you Hermione for accepting Draco. I think you will be a great asset to our family, beautifully smart babies.' Narcissa grinned at the thought of grandchildren running the hall of Malfoy manor. 'Well, I need to get home,' as she stepped back. 'I will return these next week. You were right the china does looks better.' Narcissa grinned. Thank you and goodbyes were given and taken as they separated.

'Well let's go take care of these.' Harry said as they turned and headed back to the castle.

~o~

Like the tiara, the cup and necklace gave up a fight to destroy. The room rumbled and filled with smoke as they were destroyed.

'Wow, I think we should have done one at a time.' Ron sputtered as he wiped the soot from his face.

'Well, I don't think the last one will be all that easy to get to.' Draco said with a grim look on his face. 'I think the snake, Nagini is a horcrux. He never lets it leave his side. And you're not going to like this but.' Draco paused. 'But you can talk to snakes?' Harry nodded. 'He can too. You can feel his emotions?' getting another nod. 'You were in the room when he killed your mother?'

'Oh, shite.' Hermione sputtered before Harry could respond. She put the pieces together. 'Do you think so?' as she looked between the two. Draco just nodded.

'What?' Ron growled. 'You think there is another blood one we have to find?'

'We found it.' Draco snarled.

'Me?' Harry sputtered.

'Yea, it all fits. But how do we kill it and not you?' Hermione gulped air starting to cry.

'Well, that is the million galleon question.' Draco quipped.

'Maybe our final battle he kills the horcrux in me and I will be able to get up and finally kill him for once and for all.' Harry stood tall realizing the truth. 'Let's make sure we all carry basilisk fangs and maybe even let the DA know we will need to kill the snake if we want to kill him.'

'We might want to do that sooner than later.' Draco said as he hung his head. 'I need to tell you something, and you will not like it.' He told his story.

'You blood two faced arse.' Ron roared.

'Wait, let him speak.' Hermione yelled at Ron.

'Dumbledore already knew of the plan before I crossed over. But we, Dumbledore, Snape and I talked. He had already had a plan in place. And we will see it thru. Dumbledore does not want my soul damaged by taking a life, that is already on its way out.'

'So, if it is a planned death, Snape remains a spy for us and raising his status with him?' Draco nodded. 'But that will only put you in greater danger?' Hermione whined.

'AW the poor baby is at risk of death.' Ron snarled.

'No, I think he already knew I would not be able to …' Draco dropped his head. 'But if all of this takes longer than necessary Snape can become headmaster and keep an eye out for the students.'

'Protect the student why?' Harry asked.

'He plans to bring the Carrows in to run the school. And they are sadistic bastards. No one will be safe with them running the school.' Draco grimaced at the thought. Just as a Patronus entered the room.

'Draco,' his mother's voice was heard. 'They say it's time.' as the peahen faded.

'Shite, go get the rest of the DA and tell them to hide and stay safe. The ones you trust the most tell them they need to kill the snake if possible. Then it will be down to the two of you to finish it.' Draco nodded to Harry. 'Now you need to get out of here, Dumbledore is about to start his evening walk.' They all scattered to do what was needed. The end was near. To their surprise Voldemort came to see the headmaster lying in a heap at his feet.

'I wanted to see the second-best dead, for all to see. So, Severus was it as satisfying as I had hoped?' He grinned at the accomplishment of his greatest follower.

'Yes sir.' Snape tried his best to gloat. He was hating the feeling of killing one of his best friends.

'To all of the school, there is a new regime. I will kill Harry Potter. We will exterminate all mudbloods. Get back to our roots, Purebloods.' He laughed. Just as Harry came out from behind a tree.

'No, you will be the one to die.' At the same time Hermione, Ron and Neville walked out into the open.

'Silly children, you think you can kill me? The greatest wizard of all time?' Voldemort screeched.

'No, it will be me who kills you.' Harry snarled at him. As he easily deflected a curse from his sister wand. 'Have you not figured out that wand will never hurt its sister.' He saw the realization cross Voldemort's eyes.

'Never mind I have this.' As he held out the elder wand, he had taken from Dumbledores' dead body. 'The most powerful wand in history.' As Harry deflected another curse with ease.

'Yes, but you also failed to read the legend of the wand it must be won. You did not win the wands allegiance, Dumbledore died by choice.' Seeing Voldemort hesitate once again. 'He planned his death, it's now just a stick.' Harry chuckled. Seeing Voldemorts's eyes grow redder by the second. Neither noticing Neville creeping up behind them.

'DO IT HARRY.' Neville Scream as he lopped the head off of the great snake.

'Avada kedavra and Expelliarmus.' Was all that could be heard. Both fell to the ground. Hermione ran to Harry's side.

'Come on Harry, he killed the horcrux. You need to get up and kill him we are almost there.' Hermione cried.

'Yea mate get up.' Ron growled. 'Don't let him get away with this.'

'Get up you lazy arse, You can nap later.' Draco growled.

'Lazy? He just hit me with the Avada. I'm hurting.' Harry whimpered.

'Oh, rub some dirt on it and get up. You were hurt worse in your second year, you big baby.' Draco grinned.

'Oi that's my best mate.' Ron gruffed.

'Yea, that is lying on his back taking a nap, when he needs to finish this.' Draco grabbed at Harry helping him to his feet. 'You got this.' Both stumbled to their feet, the man and boy yelled for the second time.

'Avada kedavra and Expelliarmus.' Was heard by all but this time the power behind Harry's wand reached his target first. The elder wand flew to Harry's hand, the body of Voldemort disintegrated to dust before their eyes.

Everybody cheered. The aurors surrounded the Death Eaters that had been present and carted them off to Azkaban.

'At least Dumbledores' death was not in vain.' Professor McGonagall stated behind them.