Dramione- Back at Hogwarts (Hermione's 7th Year)

Chapter 67- The Proposal

Draco could not sleep that night, his talk with his aunt made him realize that he is still officially a coward- a Malfoy trait he couldn't get rid off. The thought of Hermione's rejection terrifies him, but disobeying the pureblood tradition also worries him- how could he live without his inheritance?

Hermione could feel Draco's restlessness during dinner but chose to wait for him to open up. They were both already lying down on their bed, with Draco's arm encircling her waist. She can feel his uneven breathing behind her, a sign that he is still awake like her.

"Draco, is there something bothering you?" She asked him, deciding to break the silence in the room. She moved so that she was now facing him, and stared at his beautiful grey eyes.

He sighed in response, closing his eyes and touching his forehead to hers. "I'm not sure, love," he replied honestly. He can't lie to her even if he wanted to.

"What is it? You can tell me everything," Hermione told him, cupping his face with her hand.

He opened his eyes to look straight at her. "Promise me that you won't leave me, Hermione," he requested.

"Of course I won't, why will I?" She asked concernedly.

He took a calming breath before proceeding. "Have you noticed that purebloods tend to wed early? Some  immediately after Hogwarts?" He asked cautiously.

Hermione's eyes widened at his words. She remembered Narcissa's words earlier. "Well, I know Harry's parents did marry some years after graduating, and Molly and Arthur did too. But I really haven't wondered about that," she answered honestly.

"Actually, it's tradition. Usually purebloods are betrothed in arrange marriages, just like my parents were," he informed her, still cautiously.

"I might have read that somewhere, some are even betrothed to their relatives, right?" She inquired.

"Yes, to keep the family's blood pure and the wealth intact," Draco agreed. He was glad that Hermione was not panicking yet and they are having a somewhat casual conversation.

Hermione's brows suddenly narrowed. "Don't tell me you have already been betrothed?" She asked sternly. She suddenly felt worried, what if he is?

"No, no, I haven't been," he started, seeing the fierceness emerge in her eyes. "Mother made sure that Father would not do anything of that sort until I turn twenty through a binding contract. But if I still haven't found someone to wed at my twentieth birthday, then Father would have the right to choose a bride for me," Draco explained.

"Is that contract still binding after your father's death?" She asked, her heart already hammering inside her chest. Draco will be turning nineteen in a few months, that only leaves him less than two years to become engaged to someone, preferably her of course.

"Sadly, yes. I have been notified by Father's lawyer after his death that the contract is still binding and should be carried out since it had been sealed with enchantments," Draco further explained. Talking about his problem with her seems going well enough, he just hopes she'll understand his situation.

"But he won't be able to choose someone now since he already died," she reasoned out. Of course, knowing the deceased Malfoy, he would choose a pureblood for his only heir, she thought.

"Well, he has already written down some names on the contract. If someone on the list was already engaged or married at the time I was supposed to be betrothed, then of course she won't be considered anymore," Draco told her. Little by little, he was divulging everything to her. He doesn't want to shock her nor scare her off.

"Oh," was all she replied to him.

"Of course I would not want my marriage to be arranged by a dead man, so," he faltered at his words. He should probably offer his proposal now without any audience, so as to not suffer embarrassment if she says no to him.

He gently sat them both up, then he stood up only to bend down in one knee afterwards. He took a small box out of his pants pocket, opened it up to show it to the very confused and shocked Hermione Granger.

"Hermione, I know that this is too soon, but it just feels so right to me. I really love you, more than I even love myself- and that's saying something," he paused, looking straight at her beautiful chocolatey eyes. "Will you please marry me? I promise to always care for you and give you everything I can," he finished. He knows it's not the best proposal in the world to someone he loves so much, but his mind cannot think of other words at the moment.

She was at a loss for words. She definitely love him too, but as he said, it was too soon. They haven't even been in a relationship for half a year, and here he was now, asking her to marry him. She just wanted him to be with her, and enjoy what they have for now. She has so many plans she needs to achieve first- find her parents, graduate from Hogwarts, find a job, and just enjoy her young life. What could she say to him then?