I Choose You

Ch 5 : My Dearest

Hermione leaned back against her husband, smiling as he pulled her hair over one shoulder, exposing her neck to his mouth. Her eyes closed as his open-mouthed kisses moved lower, until he reached the edge of her shirt, one of his, the only thing she was wearing save for a pair of green lace knickers. They were one of a few hundred he had purchased for her over the past seven months, although half of them were ripped at this point.

"Mmm, you promised me dinner. We can't keep skipping meals just because you're insatiable," she murmured, gasping as his hand wrapped around her stomach and dipped down to the edge of his shirt, trying to tug it up to expose her belly to him.

"Says the witch that completely disrupted breakfast in bed because she was craving a different kind of meat," he muttered into her skin, but he released her all the same, pressing one last kiss to her cheek before he turned away from her to find some pants.

It was her one requirement on this honeymoon - if he insisted on allowing house elves to clean and cook for them, then she insisted that they at least have some sort of clothing on, just in case any popped in on them.

Of course, the house elves seemed more than aware of the fact that they were having sex on every open surface, given enough time, and had yet to interrupt them. Still, she liked the way his arse looks in black trousers, and afterwards, they could enjoy undressing each other over dessert.

"I can't help it if I enjoy my husband," she said with a smirk, looking over her shoulder to see him digging in a dresser to find a clean pair. "We're only here for a few more days. Let me enjoy you as much as I can."

He laughed as he stepped into the pants, looking back at his witch as he straightened up, now wearing at least something on his previously nude body.

"Yes, well, it's not my fault the entire government falls apart without a Malfoy in charge. As soon as the trials begin, it's going to be impossible for me to see you..."

Her eyes rolled as she walked over to him, reaching out to grab his hand and lead him down towards the dining room. "No matter how long the trials take, do not rush them just because you miss me. Every Death Eater must receive a fair trial. No chances of them claiming prejudice or bias. Besides, I'll be far too busy with my own research."

She sensed the pout on his lips, and as Hermione reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned to look at him, chin raised. She knew that he was aware that their work was important, but it was rather vexing that they could not enjoy their marriage before their work began.

"I know you refuse to sit at home like every other Lady Malfoy, but must it really be the Department of Mysteries? You can do your research at home, in nothing but my clothes, and get the same results."

She playfully slapped his shoulder at that, not willing to hear anything more. They had had this disagreement a few times, but she had earned her place as an Unspeakable under a false name and entirely on her own. She would not give that up for anything.

"We can talk about it once I've finished my research. You cannot just overturn Marriage Laws meant to tie Muggleborns to Wizarding Families without actually providing the Adoption Charms that they've been promised."

He let out an annoyed huff, and she knew that it was because of the demands of the people, not because of the fact that she was right. Why it was so important that those without Wizarding ancestry to be tied to the great families, they had no idea, but it was a requirement - those that were brought into the Wizarding World at 11 had to be magically adopted, and it had to pass the Blood Tests.

It was also the primary reason why Hermione had applied for the Department of Mysteries. After all, she found that if she wanted something done right, it was best she do it herself.

Draco led her into the dining room, and gracefully bowed low before her as he pulled out her chair. She rolled her eyes and took her seat, delicately lifting her napkin and placing it across her lap, as she was taught. She tried to ignore the way that her husband was already eyeing her like he thoroughly planned on eating his dinner off of her body - they had to make it to at least dessert. Her lower half needed a small break before they went at it again.

The food magically appeared at their setting, and they began to eat.

"Oh, I received an owl from Pansy while you were-"

"I thought we agreed, no owls!" Draco complained, dropping his silverware onto his plate.

"No, I said no owls regarding work. This was all pleasure. It was a wedding invitation."

That perked Draco right up, a grin spreading over his lips. "So, he finally did it? Neville collected the ring from his vault before we even left London back around Christmas."

Hermione gasped at that, and then burst into laughter. "I can't believe you knew and didn't tell me! Well, she's absolutely delighted, and says we simply must attend. They're planning it for after the new year, so that we're out of session. I think her sister will be taking up the Parkinson Seat after she graduates next July."

Draco gave a nod, lifting his wine glass and taking a sip, humming at the taste. "Remind me to send them a case of wine in celebration."

They ate in silence, until dessert was set before them, and the wicked look in his eye quickly drew Hermione to sit in his lap, straddling the chair as she slowly fed him berries. His white dress shirt was soon forgotten on the floor beside the table, and her breasts were covered in juices from the berries, but she couldn't find a care in the world, loving the way he touched and kissed her.

She loved this, loved them, loved the way they took on the world, loved the fact that he acted for her, that he made a change, changed the world for the better, all for love of her.

There was no gift she could give him to ever thank him for choosing her, for risking everything, but there was something that she has been dying to say for some time. He had not mentioned it ever since he first said it, but she knew that now... now was the time.

He lifted her up to the edge of the table, his mouth going lower, and she paused him with a single touch under his chin, lifting his gaze up to her. Taking in a deep breath, she smiled as he stood, likely thinking that perhaps she did not want his mouth but instead, something else.

Shaking her head, she simply wrapped her legs around his waist, keeping him from removing either of their undergarments, and pulled him close so she could kiss him.

It was soft, the way her lips touched his, and when they pulled away, their foreheads pressed together, breathing in one another. She looked towards their hands, fingers interlocked beside them, as though in a dance, and she smiled at the magic glowing around them, something special from their bond that only they could see.

"I love you," she said, and she looked up at him again. "I love you, Draco Malfoy, my husband, my dearest."

He grinned back down at her, the smile on his lips perfect as he took her in, a few nods coming from him before he suddenly laughed.

"Yeah?" he asked, and she couldn't help but to giggle.

"Yeah."

He laughed again and picked her up from the table, wrapping her legs tighter around his waist as he turned them in a spin. She laughed with him, holding on tight until he stopped moving, but he instead walked to press them against a wall.

He kissed her hard, and she relished in it, letting him take control, her fingers finding their way back into his hair. She loved him, loved this, loved that no matter what, they were in this together.

Loved that he chose her, and that no matter what came their way...

She would always choose him.