Love and War

Chapter eighteen

Disclaimer: all characters are from the Harry Potter Universe and belong to JK Rowling.

Draco's view 

So far, the Christmas holiday has gone smoothly, Blaise and Theo came over Christmas Day, which was fun but not as fun as today is now that Hermione is coming to stay with me. I wake up jumping out of bed, and make sure everything is ready for Hermione's arrival. I try to find Hermione's favourite shirt that she likes me to wear. However, it is nowhere to be found which means Hermione has either got it or I left it at school, but I am 100 percent sure it is not at school and Hermione has got it. I find another shirt and put some dress pants on before heading downstairs to have breakfast, before Hermione arrives. I eat as quick as I can before heading to the front room as Hermione said she would floo over instead of apparating. 

I look out of the window before hearing a pop from the fireplace. I turn around to see Hermione standing in front of me in my favourite shirt, exactly where I knew it would be. I run up to her picking her up and spinning her around in my arms. She squeals and tells me to put her down. "Draco, carefully, " she laughs at me. I place her back down and turn around to find my mother standing in the doorway. "Hermione, how lovely to finally meet you properly,' my mother says walking up to us opening her arms to embrace Hermione into a hug. She shyly smiles and hugs her back. "Thank you, for allowing me to stay in your home till we head back to school, Mrs Malfoy," she says smiling at her. "Darling, please don't call me that it makes me feel so old, call me Narcissa," my mother says to Hermione. "Draco, why don't you take Hermione on a tour of the Manor and around the gardens I work so proudly on," she says before moving out of the room. 

I take Hermione's hand in mine, and we start walking around the Manor, showing her all of the rooms. Her eyes go wide when we get to the Ball room which will hold the New Year's Eve Ball, but they get even wider when we arrive at the library. She lets go of my hand and moves around the room looking at all of the books. A big smile arrives on her face as she moves around the room. "Well, if I ever lose you whilst you're staying here then I will come straight here," Draco smirks at me. He then grabs my hand pulling me into the garden behind the Manor. As we walk further away from the Manor, we arrive at my mother prize and possession, her flower garden which has a beautiful gazebo in the middle. We move up to the gazebo and look out into the garden. 

Hermione's view 

We arrive at the garden Draco's mother has spent so much time on creating, it is so beautiful. I then begin thinking about the news that I have to tell Draco and now is a better time than ever. I grab Draco's hands and move to the centre of the gazebo. "Draco, there is something that I should tell you," I say nervously looking down. "Hermione, whatever it is everything will be okay," Draco reassures me. "Well, I have news that I don't know how you are going to react to," I say still looking down pausing for a moment before looking up at Draco. "I'm pregnant," I blurt out. Draco stands there for a second trying to take in the information I have just said to him, he then smiles at me picking me up again and twirling me around. "This is amazing news; I can't wait for the baby to arrive. How far are you along?" Draco asks me. "I'm not sure, but I have booked an appointment at St Mungo's for next week, just after the Ball," I say. "Well, I am going with you. Would it be okay if we told everyone about the news on New Year's Eve?" Draco asks me nervously. I think about it for a moment before nodding. "We should tell your mother tonight if you like," I say. 

We continue walking around the garden before heading inside for dinner. We walk into the dining room, taking our seats. "Mother we have some news for you, Hermione is pregnant with my baby," Draco blurts out before I even sit down. She stands moving over to me hugging me with so much joy. "This is such exciting news; however I had wished you would be engaged or married first before starting for children," Narcissa says hugging me. She then moves over to hug Draco before sitting back down so we can start dinner. After dinner I head to bed as I am extremely tired. Draco says he has to help his mother with something before he will join me in bed. I head to bed in one of Draco's shirts, drifting off to sleep in the softest bed I have ever laid in. 

Draco's view 

I tell Hermione to head to bed as she looks as though she is going to pass out, and I tell her I am going to help my mother with something which is not a lie. I watch as Hermione walks down the hall towards my bedroom, before turning to find my mother. I walk into the sitting room to find my mother sitting in her favourite chair reading, waiting for me to arrive. "Draco, is there something you need?" my mother asks me. "Yes, I would like to ask for your ring. I wish to ask Hermione to marry me on New Year's Eve at the Ball, before we inform people about the news," I say proudly. "I have wanted to ask her for a while now, and I was going to do it even before she told me the news today about the baby. If you will give me your blessing, and maybe your ring?" I ask. My mother finally looks up at me from the book she is reading, "I give you, my blessing. Yes, you can have my ring, however I believe the ring that would look best on Hermione would be your great grandmothers ring." "Thank you, I am wishing to propose in your garden before the party begins so we can show off the ring during the party, and then announce the news of about the pregnancy when you have finished your speech just before midnight," I say filled with joy. 

My mother stands and leaves the room, before getting to the door to make sure I am following her. I move over to her and walk with her to her room, past her bed and into her wardrobe where her jewellery is kept. She opens the top draw of her jewellery box to take out a small black box, before opening it to show me a silver ring, encrusted with three emerald jewels. One large emerald with two smaller ones either side of the large one. On the inside of the ring is engraved Love Conquers All. I take the ring and place it back in the box, before hugging my mother, "Thank you", before heading to my room. 

Once at my room I find Hermione asleep in my bed wearing one of my shirts. I move over to my dresser finding the hidden compartment at the back of the top draw, placing the ring box into it, and closing it so that Hermione does not find it before I propose. I then take my clothing off staying in my boxers before sliding into bed next to Hermione, wrapping her in my arms, falling asleep to the sound of her breathing.