Since Draco had absurdly proposed to Hermione and had never been on one date, he figured that it was time to ask her on one. It seemed absurd doing all of this backward, but at least they were getting along. Some days were better than others, and today was a good day.
"Hello, Draco." Hermione came into their apartment with a grin on her face. She had been owling his mother almost daily trying to get the plans altogether, and just as she had stated, they were getting mail by the pound from people who wanted to do something for the wedding.
"Hello, Hermione." He smiled at her—something he had been doing more and more of since they had been paired. Not as much smirking, but he was silently alright with that.
"This weekend, your mother wanted to know if we could all get together and hash out some more plans. She even said she would bring a few people for us to meet. She recommends them; I am not really sure. Shall I tell her to expect us?"
"At the Manor? Are we even allowed to go anywhere besides Hogsmeade?"
"I've already spoken to McGonagall; she says as long as we are back by curfew."
"Well, then I suppose we will be there. I was thinking though; tomorrow I would like to take you on a proper date if you would allow me the pleasure."
Hermione stared at him for a second and then smiled. She liked the idea.
"I would like that."
"It will be our first real date," Draco concluded, clapping his hands and putting them behind his back. He rocked slightly back and forth, and Hermione laughed.
"No, it is not Draco. What about when we went to Hogsmeade together. And our muggle weekend. I think all of those count as dates."
"Well, I respectfully asked you on this one, and if it were up to mother, we would have a chauffeur."
"Don't be ridiculous. We live together." Hermione laughed, finding the whole thing ridiculous. They were adults, and they both knew how to act like one.
"Well, she is still getting her way since I sleep on the couch."
"I suppose your right, but that is my wish as well." Hermione smiled and then turned around, "You know, we could take turns on the couch."
"Nonsense. I have faced the wrath of my mother enough times in my life. I can do without another."
"Would she even find out?"
"Somehow, she would. And that would not be to her liking. She keeps telling me she raised a gentleman after all."
"Draco, what was your childhood like? Before everything went crazy." Hermione sat down on the couch next to him, and he closed the gap.
"I am sure entirely different from yours. I had tutors from every subject you could imagine. I had to take etiquette classes and learn to dance. Play the piano with mother, and even learn about the business from father. We ate dinner in silence most of the time, and the only fun I ever had was with the other pureblood families' children. We were allowed to play together and only with one another." Draco looked at Hermione, who had sad eyes. She couldn't dream of raising her children like that. She had such a wonderful childhood. Even if all the other children called her names and didn't play with her, her parents were wonderful people, and she was so grateful for that.
"Different was a very good word." She smiled and leaned into him some.
"Want to tell me about it?"
"Well, none of the other children really ever wanted to play with me. They called me names a lot of the time, but it never really bothered me. I am sure you are not surprised to hear that I loved books before I came to Hogwarts. I spent most of the time with my parents or with my nose in a book. We loved family dinners, and I have some of my happiest memories there."
"Sounds perfect."
"Really?" Hermione and Draco had never talked about the children portion of the law; they were beginning with the marriage part. She had always assumed that Draco had wanted his children to be raised similarly.
"It might surprise you, but I don't particularly want my children to be spoiled brats and gits to other children like I was. I want them to have a childhood."
"That is good to hear, Draco."
"Though I really do think they should have some lessons. No reason to eat like a pig." Draco added with a head scratch.
Hermione laughed and nodded. Their worlds were so different, and coming together to make one family was going to be difficult.
The next day after classes, Hermione went back to her dorm and started getting ready for her date. Draco hadn't told her anything except that she needed to dress for the weather because they would be outside.
"Hermione. What did you need me for?" Ginny asked as Hermione let her in.
"Draco and I are going on a date, and he said to dress for the weather, but I don't want to look like a potato sack."
Ginny smiled and nodded, "You called over the right person." Ginny searched through her clothes until she found something she liked. Hermione had really improved her wardrobe since the war, and it was all thanks to Ginny. She wouldn't let Hermione buy anything she liked, but she had learned to love everything that Ginny had picked out.
It was a cute black bralette and a big tan sweater with Hermione's favorite pair of jeans.
"Let me know how it goes." Ginny smiled when Hermione came out of her bedroom.
"I will, Gin, thanks. I really need to learn how to dress myself." Hermione giggled and made her way to the front doors. She was almost positive she was going to be late, but she kept her pace. Maybe she didn't have to be punctual all of the time.
"There you are." Draco pulled her into a hug and then took her hand.
They walked for a while before either of them said anything.
"Where are we going?" Curiosity finally got the better of Hermione.
"I thought it would be nice to have a picnic. We are almost there." Draco smiled, and soon enough, they stumbled upon a blanket and picnic basket. Hermione smiled at the wonderful food that Draco had brought with him. There seemed to be never-ending selections coming out of the basket.
"This is a lot of food." Hermione finally said when Draco sat back.
"I wasn't sure what to bring, so the elves told me to pack it all." He smiled at her, and she started eating some soup that was still the perfect temperature. She loved soup on cool fall days. And today was one of those days. Even though she had worn a sweater, she was getting chilly in the wind, and soon enough, she was shivering.
"Would you like my jacket?" Draco had started taking it off already. He figured she would say no, but he wasn't going to take that for an answer.
"Won't you be cold then?"
"Maybe, but you will be warm." He smiled and helped her into it. The size swallowed her, and he laughed slightly. She looked tiny in his clothes, but you would never be able to tell any other time. Her personality lit up the room and demanded people's attention.
After eating, they lay down next to one another and watched as the sun started to set over the hills in the distance. She inched closer to him, and he hugged too tight into his chest. Things were changing so quickly, and Hermione was happy that they had found peace with one other.
"Draco, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Everything you did on your arm, were you trying just to get it off, or did you just want to be gone altogether?"
Draco closed his eyes. It wasn't a question he was expecting, but he figured it would have come eventually.
"Initially, I just wanted to escape from it all and thought that it would make it easier if I just wasn't here anymore. I saw how broken mother was, though, and I couldn't put her through that. Afterward, I just wanted it to go away. I didn't want to see it every time I undressed or took a shower. I just wanted to feel clean again."
She sat up and flipped over onto her stomach. They were so close to one another, and she couldn't recall a time they had been closer. She wanted so much to take his worries and hurt away like she had done in the past with the boys. She just wanted to make sure everyone was alright. She knew this was different, though. This would be with them forever, and she was okay with that. She knew that it would help them grow and mold them into better people.
She allowed a single tear to form in her eye, but it never dropped. He smiled at her and stroked her cheek. She felt butterflies when he touched her, and she couldn't believe it, but soon enough, they were kissing.
Draco felt the fire in his blood the moment that his lips touched with hers. He had never felt that with anyone before. He rolled over onto her, and kept they kept kissing. Hermione felt like it had been going on for ages, but when they stopped to catch their breath, she noticed the sky was the same color, and barely any time had passed at all.