the key to happiness - dramione

(22)

Hermione Granger, age 24, the Minister of Magic. Pregnant. Engaged to Draco Malfoy and lives in Malfoy Manor with him.

Draco Malfoy, age 24, working at the ministry. Engaged to Hermione Granger and lives in Malfoy Manor with her.

- - - - -
"Weasley." he says. "He can't quit, he's the only one who... I mean I can't.... I need Weasley. I need him for the project we're working with."
"Can't you just ask someone else, anyone else but him...?"
"Well... no. Or yeah, but... yes, I suppose I'd have to start over but I mean I could."

Draco drinks a small sip of his water.
"Anyway, I came here to see if you were ready to go home."
"Yeah, just a minute." Hermione smiles and walks over to her desk.

She picks up a pile of paper and two books to put them into her bag. She places the rest of the stuff on her desk where it's supposed to be in the office. They go out of the room and lock the door behind them. But the day after when Hermione Granger areives to her office it's not locked anymore.

Worried she opens the door to find Ronald Weasley
"Sorry." he quickly apologies.
"Ehm... please wait outside... next time..."
"Absolutely, I just came to tell you that I think I'd like to stay. At least for now, so I'm not signing the papers yet."

"Perfect." Hermione smiles and sits down in the chair y her desk.
"Although I'd like a raise."
"Okay, I can fix that."
"Thank you so much Herm... ehm.. Ms Granger."
"No problem."

Then Ron says goodbye and leaves the office. And then if feels like Hermione breaths for the first time in forever. It's like she's been holding her breath but now finally she can let go and be free. Because Hermione Jean Granger and Ronald Bilius Weasley are friends now again.

Hermione starts working and at lunchtime Draco comes around.
"Draco, I only have a short break today and a meeting in 15 minutes."
"Oh I know, so I brought the lunch here." he smiles and places a basket on Hermione's desk.

They sit down and starts eating together.
"Perhaps we should set a date for the wedding." Hermione suggests after a moment of silence.

"Yeah, we should definitely do that. I suggest we do it before your birthday?"
"Sure, maybe at the end of august then?"
"Okay, yeah."
"Oh god, that's in two months. That's really really soon Draco!"

"I mean, we can start planning this weekend. And if we at some point feel like it's way too soon we can change our minds."
"Yeah that's... great." Hermione says and finishes her plate of food. "My meeting starts in like two minutes."

"Oh, okay." Draco starts taking away the dishes.
"I love you Draco. So much." Hermione smiles when he walks towards the door.
"I love you too Granger." he says back and smiles at her before leaving the room. Draco walks to the elevators to go down to his own office.

The elevator stops on a floor before where he is going and Daphne goes in, looking extremely stressed and worried.
"Are you alright?" Draco asks. She quickly shakes her head.
"Actually I need to talk to you Draco."

"Okay."
"Let's go to your office first."
"Okay, yeah absolutely." The elevator stops and they both start walking to Draco's office. Daphne shuts the door behind them.
"It's about Astoria."

"Haven't I told you that I literally don't care at all? I'm not taking her back, I'm with Granger! We are engaged and I-... What is it that Astoria doesn't get...."
"Draco! Shut up!" He goes silent. Daphne starts talking again.

"We didn't know how much time she had left, if it were gonna be two days or a few years."
"She's dead?!" he interrupts.
"No, no. But she's in the hospital and they don't... they don't think she's gonna live for another week." Draco sits down in a chair.

"Yes Draco. Astoria is going to die, I'm losing my sister. So now use your dumb fucking brain Draco Lucius Malfoy, and apologise." Daphne shouts upset. Tears has started running down both her cheeks and she kicks the chair he is sitting on, but nothing happens.

Draco just sits and can't find any words to say.
"Speak! Say something!" she forces.
"I hadn't expected... ehm... Well... I'm so sorry Daphne. Sorry. I really am sorry.... And so... But, well... No. I'm so sorry." He stands up again and walks up to her.

"Daphne. Please forgive me, okay?" Draco begs and she nods, still crying. Draco wraps her up in a warm hug.
"Hermione is lucky to have you."
"I was... I was close to leaving her, when I first heard that Astoria was sick."

"Oh god Draco."
"But I love Granger, Daphne. So we'll... I couldn't and that's why I didn't..."
"That was a good choice. A smart choice."
"You really think that?"
"I still think she's lucky to have you, even if you can be pretty dumb, clearly."

"Daphne..."
"Well it's true and besides she has also made you a better person. A better human being. You've become nicer and you care more for others."
"Maybe you're right. You're right. I never would've cared about Weasley otherwise."
"What!? Weasley!?"