This story would not exist if not for JK Rowling. Thank you, JKR.

New Story: Chapter Four

"A sequel, Malfoy. The story isn't over."

They were breakfasting in the sunshine on a vista overlooking the magnificent Malfoy Manor Gardens. Birds chattered to each other from nearby trees, and Granger noticed a butterfly hovering over the lavish flower garden. It was a lovely morning. Granger sipped her coffee and gave her plate to Nippy, thanking her for the delicious breakfast. She had hoped she might catch a glimpse of the Malfoy peacocks, but so far none had made an appearance.

"What's more to say? It's a great ending." Malfoy was surprised, as usual. He decided he might as well get used to that feeling since he wanted to spend forever with this witch.

"No, Malfoy, don't you see? Their problems are just beginning."

"What problems? They have each other, and they're happy."

"Yes, but where do they live? What kind of life will they lead? Will they get married?"

"Of course, they will."

"Muggles often live together without getting married."

"We aren't Muggles, though, are we?"

"Malfoy! Are we talking about my book?"

"Right. Carry on." He held out his hand to pull her from the breakfast table to the lounge chairs that faced the gardens below.

There were so many things to decide. Malfoy insisted that the couple marry and live at the Manor. Children might follow and they should be brought up in the ancestral home. Granger argued that her character would want to establish a career before starting a family and might also have an issue with living at the Manor. Would she even be received in Pureblood society? Would their potential children be accepted? What would his parents think? Malfoy let her know in no uncertain terms that if she or any future children wished to be received in Pureblood society, they would need to be married. Otherwise, she could expect a shunning. Granger didn't see the logic in that. Wouldn't the main character be shunned anyway for being a Mudblood? And he hadn't answered her earlier question: What would his parents think?

"So now we are back to talking about ourselves instead of the book?" he asked curiously.

"No, let's keep it to the book, please. It's easier for me to think objectively."

Malfoy raised his brow and thought carefully before answering her question. "Well, the father is out of the picture. He doesn't count since he's in Azkaban."

"And the mother?"

"The mother thinks this particular Muggleborn witch can do no wrong since she testified at her son's trial on his behalf. Plus, she adores your books."

"Malfoy! We're talking the parents in the story." But she was beginning to smile.

"It really doesn't matter, does it? If you want conflict, then by all means, have the parents oppose the relationship so there are more barriers to overcome. What truly matters is how serious your main characters are about each other. Are they just trying the relationship out to see what happens, or is it the real thing that lasts forever?"

Granger turned and gazed into his eyes. She was wearing an adorable wide brimmed hat that she had transfigured from a napkin. "It's the real thing. And I hope it lasts forever."

He smiled back at her. "If we know that, then why wait to get married? We should start forever now."

"We? Now?" she squeaked.

"Let's get married, Granger." And Malfoy smoothly moved from his lounge chair to kneel before hers. He placed her coffee cup on the table and reached out for her hands, "Will you, Hermione Granger, marry me, Draco Malfoy? Soon? I would be very happy if you would."

His gaze was intense, but also wary because he still didn't really know if she liked him or his family enough to want to marry him. He was ready to have his proposal flung in his face. Instead, Granger flung herself into his arms. And she began to cry.

"I thought... I thought..." she blubbered, "that I had fallen in love with ... my imaginary Regulus Black ... but it was you ... all along. And then you were so angry... you hated the story... I can't believe ...you love me anyway."

"Course I do, Granger. You are the most beautiful, brilliant, and talented witch I've ever known...not to mention, I like you."

Granger laughed through her tears. "You like me?"

"So, is that a yes?" He held his breath.

"Yes, it's a yes, Malfoy!... I love you, Draco Malfoy! ...And my parents love you. Although, they might be surprised that we are talking about marriage already... I'm rather surprised myself," she sniffed doubtfully. "Do you like me enough to marry me, Malfoy?"

"I do. I love you. And I want to marry you. To live a lifetime with you." He removed her hat so he could hold her closely. He breathed into her hair. He lightly stroked her back and tugged on her curls. "My feelings have changed toward the Regulus Black story, you know," he admitted. "It's excellent writing. You're a masterful story teller. With a few alterations, I might feel better about you publishing it."

"Really?" she pulled away to look at him with shining eyes. "What alterations?"

"Well, for one, he should get the girl," Malfoy teased. She scooted away and made room for him in the lounge chair beside her.

"There is no girl in that story, Malfoy. And he dies in the end."

"I know, but he deserves some happiness first."

"That's all the more tragic," Granger breathed. "I don't know if I could do that to him."

"You could give him a happy ending like you did for Lupin and Tonks."

She gasped. "How did you know my mysteries were based on Professor Lupin and Tonks?"

"Granger. Anyone can see through the name change. I told you that."

"Then Malfoy, everyone will know that it's you in the story about Mary the Muggleborn witch. You'd hate that!"

"And everyone will know that Mary is you. Especially, after I marry you. Wait, did you give her bushy hair?"

Granger ignored that comment. "And you are okay with everyone knowing it's you in my book?" she persisted.

"Every word about me is true. Part of my penance is proving to others that I've changed since Hogwarts."

"You have changed, Malfoy. I like you now. Although I hate to admit, you were a very good-looking prat."

Malfoy smiled somewhat smugly. He leaned forward to kiss her and murmured, "I know."

Not really wanting to encourage his outrageous behavior, she changed the subject. "Malfoy, should Mary's wedding be a Pureblood wedding or a Muggle wedding?"

Malfoy hesitated. He didn't want to push for a Pureblood wedding ceremony and have Granger think that he despised Muggle weddings when he'd never even been to one. But then, Granger had most likely never been to a Pureblood wedding either. She might hate it.

Granger stared, figuring out what he was thinking. She was silent too.

Malfoy held out his hand. "I'll have to show you what a Pureblood wedding is like, and you'll have to show me a Muggle wedding."

"Deal." She took his hand in hers.

"We won't decide until we see the alternatives."

"There's variety in Muggle weddings. No two are alike."

"Really? Pureblood weddings are exactly the same. You see one; you've seen them all."

Granger smiled faintly. She let her eyes drift unseeingly over the lawns and gardens below their vista. The lovely pale blue of the morning sky went unnoticed by the two.

"I think..." an idea trickled through her mind and teased her, "I think the wedding...maybe even the entire book...will be a comedy."

Malfoy frowned. "I don't want people laughing at our marriage, Granger."

"Oh, ours can be quite somber, Malfoy. But it might be fun to have everything go wrong in the story." Her lips began to quirk and her eyes danced.

Malfoy kissed her again. He couldn't quite picture the comedy, but he could trust her to get it right. He gave her some time to let her ideas flutter and settle. When he felt sufficiently warmed by the sun, he picked up her hand and broached a topic that definitely made him nervous.

"What will Potter and Weasley think?"

Granger's grin became positively wicked. "I see some potential conflict in store for our Muggleborn witch. At least three more chapters of fun. Yes, this book will definitely be a comedy."

"As long as I'm still alive to marry you," for which comment then earned Malfoy another kiss. "We should let the book announce our engagement. Saves talking to Potter and Weasley."

"That won't work, Malfoy. They don't read my books."

Malfoy was surprised. Shocked, no less. "You're kidding."

"That's why I love you, Malfoy. Because you like me enough to read my books." Granger gave him a long look and a slow smile. He had to try again to kiss the glow on her face.

Granger pulled away to ask: "Bigger question, Malfoy: Mary's children (the ones she will have down the road) will be half-bloods. Will that be a problem for the children? Will they be raised like Purebloods? Will they be raised to know the Muggle world?"

"Granger, stop. That's got to be Book Three. Are you planning to write a trilogy?"

"No, this time I'm asking for us, Malfoy, I need to see the end result before I commit to the beginning."

"It's too late; you've already said yes." Malfoy smirked. Granger swatted him.

"No, this is important. If we have a family, how will we raise the children?"

"When we start a family, you will decide how the children will be raised."

"That's not fair; we should decide together," she frowned.

"It's one of the reasons why I fell in love with you," Malfoy admitted. Granger looked confused, so he elaborated, "I like how you write about family and I want that for my children."

Her breath caught as she pondered the amazing man before her. He wanted things for his non-existent children? He apparently had thought more about the future than she. Their future.

"Well, I promise you will have a say, Malfoy. I'd better not be raising children by myself."

Malfoy laughed. Granger studied the sunlight glinting in his hair and the happiness in his face. Today his eyes were a pale grey and his lips curved into a rather sweet smile. She liked the look.

"Let's shelve the future for the time being. Back to the book: if I write a proposal into the story, what kind of ring will he give her?"

Malfoy's face blanched. "Ring! I didn't give you a ring!"

"Don't be silly, Malfoy, I don't care about that. I'm marrying you for your library, not your ring. But ... will you go ring shopping for Mary with me?"

Malfoy stared at her blankly. "You shop for fictitious people?"

"I do. For clothes, of course. And accessories. I even went house hunting once to find the perfect home for my main characters. But I don't actually buy anything. Shop keepers can't stand me. So as thanks, I try to write their shop into the story."

Malfoy bit back a grin. "I could show you the Malfoy rings," he suggested. "Do you think Mary might like an heirloom engagement ring? Goblin crafted?"

"Ohhhhh. Maybe she would. I think she would be very drawn to the history of an antique magical ring. Unless of course, a Pureblood ring might harm a Muggleborn witch?"

"I don't know, actually," he admitted. "Shall we go inside the Manor to see if any bite? And if you don't care for any of them, then we can design our own. We can combine the old with the new."

"We're both."

"And our children will be both."

"But no children for a few years yet," Granger insisted. "We're too young, Malfoy."

"So until the children come, it won't matter where we live. We could travel. For your writing."

"I have a mystery in mind for Professor Lupin and Tonks to solve in Fiji. It would be smart to visit."

"Greece and China have rare magical creatures you might like to study."

"Bulgaria."

Malfoy stiffened. "Why Bulgaria?"

"Isn't that where Hagrid's relatives live? I know it's somewhere in the Ural Mountains, but could be more on the Russian side. I'm very interested in tribal communities, especially those of giants."

Malfoy relaxed. "France and Italy."

"What's in France and Italy?"

"Our honeymoon."

Granger threw her arms around Malfoy and kissed him. "I think I'm beginning to like this new story."

"And the happy ending, of course."

"Yes," she smiled, but couldn't say any more because she was smothered by Malfoy's kisses. Kisses in the warm summer sun.

The End.

This short fic is a nod to Miss Buncle's Book by DE Stevenson that is thankfully back in print. Miss Buncle writes books to earn a little extra money and since she has no imagination, she writes about her neighbors-changing their names, of course. It's a hilarious read, a bit of an inspiration for New Story.