Snow Storm - D.M , H.G

30. Pureblood expectations

Returning to London in order to ride the Hogwarts Express with the other students, Draco couldn't help the pride radiating from him. The ring on her skinny finger was huge and very noticeable. He didn't care if the whole world saw it. Hell, he hoped they would. He stood with her near the front of the train, greeting students as they boarded. He could see that some of the parents were looking at them, talking about them, and for the first time ever he relished in the scandal. Let them talk and gawk and speculate. Hermione was as good as his, and nothing was going to come between them, not if he had any say in the matter.

Draco insisted to Hermione that she stay put on the train and let her friends come to her. He took over patrolling up and down the train. When he ran into Ginny, he let her know where she could find Hermione. He was sure the two females would have a lot to talk about, both pregnant, both engaged, both with a lot of planning to do.

Once they made it to Hogsmeade, Draco escorted Hermione to the Three Broomsticks and they flooed back to the dorm they called home, for now. It felt good to be back.

Hermione could feel the eyes on her as everyone was boarding the train, and while she was, by no means, flaunting the ring, it was very noticeable. She rarely wore jewelry, and the thing was very large and eye catching. No one really said anything until she was actually aboard the train, where Draco had told her to stay put and rest, while he patrolled.

She let him, and merely patrolled from her compartment to the loo every now and then, every time she was making her way she was stopped by several students, who asked about the ring. Ginny, along with a few other friends also stopped in to inquire about it, and got more details about the actual proposal, and they all gushed over it. Ginny made sure to tell everyone who would listen that she had been the one to spot the ring, of course.

Finally they made it to Hogsmeade, and from there they took the floo to their dorm. Australia had been nice, but she was happy to be back. She sat heavily on the couch, and was immediately greeted by Crookshanks, who jumped up into her lap, clearly missing affection. He settled down in her lap, and she pet him thoroughly in all of his favorite places.

"Somebody missed you," Draco commented, joining Hermione on the couch. He reached over and scratched the flat-faced feline behind the ears. "I wonder if this guy has any idea how much things are about to change." Soon enough there'd be a smelly sticky baby pulling at his tail and limbs and ears.

Hermione smiled, "He's pretty smart, I'll bet he figures it out, if he hasn't already." She did wonder how Crookshanks would feel having to share his attention with a new baby, but that was something she wouldn't know until she actually had the baby. "So, my ring got a lot of attention on the train," she told Draco with a smile. "I'll bet everyone in school knows by now."

Draco smirked over at her. "Oh without a doubt," he agreed. "You..." he leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Are going to be a Malfoy. Good or bad, that's going to come with attention." He stood up from the couch and stretched. Maybe it'd be an opportunity, a chance to change the meaning of the name.

Hermione kissed him back, and laughed. "Yes, that's one thing I've always lacked, attention," she joked. She got plenty of attention for being friends with Harry, and her part in the war, so it was something she was already used to, at least

Draco laughed with her. "So you should be used to it by now," he pointed out with a smirk. "Do you want to go downstairs to eat, or stay here?" There was a feast tonight, but as it wasn't the start of the year, the end of the year, or a holiday, it wasn't one he felt they were obligated to attend.

Hermione thought about his question, "Well, we could just stay in, couldn't we," she mused. There was really no reason to walk all that way. They had just spent a seven hour train ride with everyone, there had been plenty of time for socializing on said train ride.