Previously: She pulled out her galleons card, but Draco had beat her to it she tossed him a tiny glare as he paid. Once they were out of the posh store, Draco promising to keep in touch with Myra, they headed back to Draco's place. Once they arrived she elbowed him in his ribs with a small scowl, "I can pay for myself, thank you." Draco grunted stepping away from the brunette. "You seem to have forgotten Granger, a few thousand dollars won't even put a dent in my bank account." Hermione's eyes widened, 'A few thousand?! How much did all this stuff cost anyway!?" Hermione sighed, Draco shrugged "Use your imagination." He said cheekily, "I'm off to pack.

Chapter 6

After being draped over Draco's couch watching him with tireless amusement struggle with the concept of only bringing one suitcase, Hermione left. "Where are you off
to Granger?" came Draco's voice. He was standing over 5 suitcases all varying shades of green. She snorted, "Excuse me father since when is it any of your concern?"
she drawled much like he. She shrugged on her jacket grabbing the many bags with a small blush; she couldn't believe Draco had brought her all of this... "Now now
Granger there is no need to be formal, Daddy is fine." he said with a cheeky wink making her scoff. "Why can't we just Port key there again?"

"For the last time Malfoy, I'm the only witch in my family, suddenly showing up in Alaska ahead of time is odd actually it's beyond odd its insane!" she sighed. "I'll be at your house at 5:30am, we can apparate to the Airport if you'd like." she said a bit mockingly. Draco looked at her a bit bewildered "Bloody hell! 5:00 am?!" Hermione stamped out a giggle. "Yes Malfoy, 5:30 am. Our flight is an early one."

"In that case be sure to get your beauty rest Granger, you need it." he jabbed albeit playfully. "Oh is that right Malfoy? You're the one who is about to be surrounded and interrogated by a few dozen Muggles for the next week or so." He paled.

{Time Skip}

Hermione entered her apartment, with a soft sigh. She placed her bags down and took off her jacket and not even moments later her apartment was filled with the sound of apparition. Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna all entered ambushing Hermione immediately, well Harry and Neville stood off at a distance with bemused expressions while Hermione was tackled onto the couch. "Draco Malfoy!?" Ginny asked with wide eyes and a grin, she clapped her hands "Messing around with bad boys now are you Mione?" Ginny said playfully laughing as she did so. "Finally, now you have someone to walk you down the aisle at my wedding." Neville choked on his own saliva, "Malfoy is going to-?" Neville's eyes were wide and Harry clapped him on the back. "He's going to-?" Neville spluttered.

"There, there." Harry said, surprisingly taking this better than all of them. "You guys are getting married when? Oh we can have a joint wedding, that'd be so much fun-" Luna started, airily cocking her head to the side; Hermione gathered her senses and took a deep breath. "Whoa, Luna that's so sweet but that's okay..." Hermione started albeit shakily. The three females huddled together occasionally erupting into giggles.

"Oh, is he good in bed?" Harry heard Ginny asked in a half whisper causing the two men to laugh and Hermione to squeak and blush scarlet. "Ginerva!" she scolded half heartedly, Ginny allowed the use of her horrid name just this once. "I'll take that as a yes." Luna added in with a light smile. "Were leaving for Alaska tonight," she started and gestured to all the bags. "We went shopping and the bastard brought me all of this." She mumbled out a bit absent mindlessly, Ginny squealed as she read the name label "He took you to Nixon and Co? What was he like?" she whispered conspiratorially, eyes wide. Hermione frowned, "Nixon?" Hermione echoed her eyes ghosting over the label. "Nixon is her husband, the designer of it all is a Woman name Myra" Hermione Started, Nixon was the name brand? that was cute. From what she saw Nixon was just.. well a husband, she assumed Myra got all the credit for her work. Hermione wondered why it was arranged like that... "Nixon is a tall redhead, pale skin,ruggedly handsome. He's married to Myra, a short petite black woman with short edgy cut hair and a spunky personality. She's hilarious and a bit scary." She added with a small smile.

"That store is so hard to get into and expensive! You have to make an appointment and everything!" Ginny said with a sigh as she grabbed the bags and began going through them with Luna. Ginny opened the smallest bag and peered inside. She gave a small gasp and shut the bag immediately before erupting into a fit of laughter. "I wonder what it could be?" Luna said airily as if she already knew what it was. Hermione however was moments away from a seizure. Ginny pulled out a pair of Lacy black underwear and held them daintily in her hand. "Well, I suppose these are necessary..."

ThePretendersThePretenders

After a few hours, Hermione's friends went home, hugging and kissing her goodbye and wishing her good luck with the family. Once Hermione's head hit the pillow she was down and out for the count, a bit exhausted honestly. However when she awoke a few hours later it wasn't under the most pleasant circumstances.

"Granger," a voice whispered.

"Granger, wake up." Hermione groaned and rolled over covering her eyes with the back of her arm. She opened her eyes slowly with a small frown, "Malfoy?" She moaned, "How in the hell did you get in here?" once she opened her eyes completely she realized that Malfoy was grinning. "I have my secrets. I couldn't sleep with the thought of hell week with a bunch of sniveling muggles running through my head." he said as he laid down next to her. "That and I couldn't pick a suit case." He added as he rolled over and laid on his side to talk to her. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his shirt leaving him bare-chested, and she took the moment to admire his muscled body.. "Malfoy? What are you doing?" she hissed as she began to sat up, she sniffed, "Wait... No-" she sniffed again, the smell of Whiskey filling her nose. "Malfoy are you drunk?" She asked bemusedly the covers falling to her waist. "I have too much class to be drunk, I prefer the term inebriated." he said matter of factually, "Now shh, lay down and go to sleep." he mumbled pulling her down. Hermione took hold of his hand and turned it over to look at the dark mark on his wrist. It looked like a normal muggle tattoo now considering, Voldemort was dead all the magic in it was gone. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" she asked quietly still examining the tattoo. "4:30AM" He replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She sighed not bothering to reply. "Why do you still have the mark?" she asked softly not allowing her fingers to touch the dark mark. It disgusted her to a certain extent, she had laid down at some point and they were face to face inches apart. Draco seemed to sober up a bit, "It reminds me of my past, and the monster I could have become. It reminds me that I will have to spend the rest of my life trying to right the wrongs I made." He whispered his voice tight and sad, It made Hermione's heart tighten. "I should have never joined the dark lord -hiccup- but it was just me trying to gain my father's attention once again. Hoping that if I did this, I wouldn't be alone anymore." He whispered. Her eyes didn't leave the mark but they drifted down to the angry red scars on his pale wrist. She gasped and thumbed them, he paid her no mind.

"Malfoy, you may not Know this but you're not alone anymore." she whispered back "You have me, and while I'm around you'll never be alone again." Hermione looked up into his dark steel gray eyes and the pain she saw in them made her heart weep and the tears covered her soul. She hugged him instantly burrowing her face in his chest, "Never again." Draco hesitantly hugged her back his chin resting atop her head. "I'm Gonna -Hiccup- Hold you too that Granger." Came his mumbled reply.

At that moment Hermione's cell phone rang, the new one of course considering she had trashed the other. The pillow Draco's head was resting on had begun ringing startling the man. Hermione laughed, "Calm down Malfoy, it's just my cell." Draco pulled the device out from underneath the pillow, Hermione had stashed it there at some point, and read the caller ID. "Natasha Miles?" Hermione's eyes widened a gasp escaping her lips. "It's my cousin, t-t-the one I told you about." she stuttered her cheeks tinting red, the contrast starker because the only illumination came from the pale moonlight. She tried to snatch the phone away but Draco dodge it, "Perfect." He grinned as he answered the phone. " Mrs. Malfoy's Phone." He said in a drawling voice Hermione fighting for her cellphone.

"Excuse me? I think I may Have the wrong number..."

''Are you looking For Hermione?" he asked fighting Hermione off with one arm, he held the cell in place with his shoulder and ear and grabbed both of Hermione's arms and rolled atop of her, pinning her down with a breathy laugh and a pointed look. "Now Now dear lets not arouse suspicion." he whispered away from the cell.

"Malfoy!" She hissed squirming beneath him. "Hmph, get off me!" she whisper shouted a smile playing at her lips. "Oh, yes I am. Excuse me but did you say Mrs. Malfoy?" The snottish voice on the other end that belonged to Natasha Miles was bewildered. "She's engaged, to me, if you must know." he replied, Hermione elbowed him in the ribs causing him to groan, "Hermione..." He warned playfully holding up a finger as if he was scolding a child. "We're a bit busy can I take a message?" he asked trying not to get clawed. "Oh I was just making sure she was up, I'm Natasha, her cousin, I wouldn't want her to miss her flight." Hermione gave up with a sigh and a small growl.

"I'm Draco Malfoy" he replied in a fake polite tone, "Well See you soon Draco." Natasha's voice was sickly sweet and he could easily hear the ill intent behind it. "See you." and with that he hung up.

"You make me sick Malfoy." Hermione grumbled half heartedly making Draco snort, while still straddling her.

Hermione's alarm clock went off, 5:00am On the dot. Hermione huffed, "Well it's time to get up Malfoy-" Draco frowned a bit, "Draco." Now it was her turn to frown "Excuse me?" Draco looked down at her something odd stirring in his chest, something he hadn't felt before. ''My name is Draco, I mean Damn were in bed together and we can't even move onto a first name basis?" he said cheekily and instead of getting flustered Hermione took a moment to laugh, her cheeks coloring healthily. "You have a point, Draco." she drawled his name for emphasis.

But in that rare friendly moment that will be the catalyst for more to come there was a knock on the bedroom door, making Draco whip out his wand about at the same speed as Hermione. "Mione? It's us, wake up! we've come to say goodbye!, again" she laughed softly to herself "It's just Harry, are you scared Little Dragon?" Draco smirked at the nickname, "Never" he whispered in reply. Hermione wore a big t-shirt and Draco realised no pants underneath, his smirk deepened as he stood, her hair was mussed as has his from their wrestling and her face was still a bit red. He stood, still wearing the gray Armani dress pants from earlier, but they hung low on his hips, sinfully so and his shirt was strew across the floor somewhere. Hermione got out the bed and tsked as she saw her hair, and tried fixing it, Draco opened the door unabashed.

It was tense, and a bit awkward. Hermione squeaked as she realized her state of dress not that anyone cared, once you go through several near death experiences with someone all under the age of 20 you grow close. She just pulled on some shorts and let it be it, she had to disrupt the awkwardness. "Hey Guys!" She said clearing her throat, "Hi there Draco,"Luna was always the first to talk to him and it made him smirk bemusedly, "Hi There Luna" he replied in the same manner. He walked away and snatched up his shirt temporarily putting it back on. Ginny Shared a look with Hermione when his back was turned and Hermione didn't acknowledge it. Ginny smacked Harry's arm just enough to get his attention. "Play Nice" he hissed.

"We came to say goodbye, and be sure to look out for Nargles Hermione." Luna said her gray eyes filled with curiosity and wonder but something else lurked underneath, like she knew something you didn't. "Draco bring me back a polar bear would you? Polar bears are so cute and fluffy-" she started happily "Luna, Polar bears are deadly, they can take off my head without even trying." Draco said with a small tilt of his head. "I'd have to agree with Draco on this one." Harry started, trying Draco's name out on his tongue. "Polar Bears eat meat Luna. Lots of it. Were little meat sacs on legs." Harry finished with a small laugh.

With that, they begun to settle in a comfortable setting. Talking about aimless things whether it be Polar Bears or Quidditch, Hermione was happy everyone was getting along. She realized she hadn't seen Ronald in a while. "Guys I have to get dressed," Hermione shooed her friends out of the bedroom shutting the door behind her. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, she turned to Draco and he had peeled off his shirt once more his Armani pants gone. Hermione squeaked and snatched up her clothing and headed to the bathroom.

Hermione Got dressed she pulled on a pair of white tight fitting jeans, black socks, premium winter timberland boots, and a gray cashmere v neck sweater. She brushed her teeth and washed her face and then took the time to put on gold-plated mini cone hoop earrings. All courtesy of Draco, she laughed quietly to herself. She looked pretty good as far as she was concerned. She combed her hair to the side and put it in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, her waves tumbling over her shoulder. She pulled on her gray slouchy knitted beanie and pulled out her ears.

With that she exited the bathroom. Draco was dressed and waiting, her wore the a typical Timberland boots black jeans and a dark red AMI sweater. He had their coats in his arms as well as their gloves, "See, Myra never fails." he said with a small smile he entered the bathroom and washed his face, brushing his teeth and combing his hair back. Hermione exited the bedroom, her friends were sitting on the couch chatting happily and she jumped on Ginny making the red-head squeal. "You fatty!" They laughed and smiled, Draco got their suitcases and shrunk them down placing them in his pocket. He tossed Hermione her coat and gloves and her shrugged his on. "We have to go," Hermione said albeit sadly. Her friends hugged her and promised to look after her apartment. "I already told your boss you won't be coming in." Harry said as he hugged her, Hermione sighed in relief. "Thanks Harry! Goodness." She breathed the last part with relief, Luna hugged Draco, startling him a bit. "Bye Draco, be good. Stay on the look out for Nargles!" she whispered.

With that they disapparated, Draco smiling to himself a bit.

{Time Skip}

Airplanes.

First Class.

Draco wasn't sure if he liked them or not, aside from all the muggles it wasn't that bad honestly. His mind was still a bit cloudy with Gin so he just laid back in his seat with his eyes closed and decided to recall the events of the earlier days. Specifically interactions that had taken place between his parents and he about Hermione. They read the paper, they weren't dolts for Merlin's sake...

~ Days earlier ~

Draco entered his apartment, hours after proposing to Hermione. He was still annoyed, was he really that horrible? Draco walked over to the bathroom mirror, it was lavish and had all stainless steel appliances. He looked in the mirror at his pale face before splashing water into his eyes and running wet fingers through his hair. He had tried, he had changed. He tried to do the right thing, to be decent to people, to undo all the propaganda that his parents had filled his skull with and so far so good. But he was never enough was he? He clenched his jaw, his eyes stung and his throat felt tight. He tried. He tried so hard.

He balled his hands into fists trying to swallow the scream in his throat, his pale angular facing turning red as he held his breath. He finally gave in to the rage and screamed, a dark hoarse sound. Tears streamed down his face, and they burned as they fell. He grabbed fistfuls of his blond hair and tugged and pulled sobbing as he did so. He sat down on the edge of the bath tub, sobbing violently desperately trying to hold himself together. He was falling apart and no one would help him. He was so alone... He just wanted to be accepted and forgiven and he tried. Oh how he tries. Yet he is NEVER good enough. He screamed again in anger, his magic lashing out cracking the mirror. His sobs quieted and he sunk down leaning against the bathtub his hid tilted back exposing his neck. He shut his eyes and dreamt of paradise, just like he did when he was a child and desperately trying to escape the monster that was his father. He didn't know what specifically his paradise was, but is wasn't this, that was for sure.

He heard a knock on his front door and sighed. "Go Away Hermione!" He shouted trying to calm down, sucking in shaky breaths. Two more sharp knocks and he stood with a snarl on his face, he looked in the mirror his face red and his eyes blood-shot. He splashed himself once more with cold water, reducing the redness, he smoothed his hair back half heartedly and took a deep breath. He walked over to the door with his face all but blank, a sneer itching upon his lips.

The sight that greeted him was less than unexpected.

"Well, is that anyway to great your parents?" the cool slick voice of Lucius Malfoy sliced through the air. Draco sucked in a sharp breath when he noticed the rolled up newspaper in his father's hands, on the cover was he and Hermione kissing. If he didn't know any better he'd say they looked in love. The Headline was 'Rivals for her Heart?' The other images showed Hermione running after him, one hand reached out to grab him the other holding the towel in place. The door was open, the bitter face of Ronald Weasley in view. You couldn't see his face but his one hand was out behind him waiting to hold Hermione back. He was just teasing her, honestly they were playing. The tabloids made it look like he was protecting her from Ron as she tried to pull him away.

"Mother, Father." he greeted coolly swallowing softly, one eyebrow arched. '

"Expecting someone else?" his father sneered, entering un invited his mother following, still looking as beautiful as ever. "Your mudblood whore perhaps?" His mother's lips tightened noticeably, Draco sneered. "Fiance, and call her that again and I'll-" Draco threatened his steel eyes dark in color and still bloodshot, his magic was ready to a fight and his fist was clenched.

"That's enough." His mother snapped her voice settling over them both like ice. "I Came here to congratulate you Draco." She took a stray strand of hair that was hanging in Draco's face and tucked it behind his ear absent mindedly while Lucius simmered in the background.

"Is she pregnant?" Narcissa questioned while still messing with her son's hair. He pulled away his eyebrows furrowing in shock a bit. "No. I'm marrying her because I-" Lucius took that moment to interject, "Because what? Because you love her?"

"Yes. Yes I do." He ground out, steel eyes aflame.

Narcissa scrutinized Draco's face for a moment, only like a mother could before softening her expression a bit. "How sweet." She hummed glancing around Draco's apartment, over the years his mother became more accepting to those who weren't pure-blooded, she now only gave respect to those who earned it. So whether Hermione would be accepted by his mother would be based on how Hermione reacted and behaved under the intense pressure of The Malfoys.

Oh boy.

"When Do we get to meet her?" Narcissa asked with an icy smile, her eyes warmer than anything else. She appeared to be genuinely excited putting Draco's mind at rest.

For now.

"We are leaving for Alaska in a day or two and she's working, she's an Unspeakable." Draco said with a wave of his hand. "And I'm working, so we really won't have the time." His mother appeared to put if that was possible. "What a Shame, no worries we'll contact you when you get back, you both can come over for dinner." Narcissa smiled with a tilt of her head. "Have a nice evening son," She kissed him on the cheek and left.

Lucis opened his mouth to say only Merlin Knows what and Draco just slammed the door.

{The Present}

Draco opened his eyes at the sound of muffled voices, "We'll be landing in 20 minutes" a southern voice said over the intercom. Draco sighed and remembered where he was. He licked his dry lips and yawned quietly, he then realized Hermione was asleep using his arm as a pillow, when he tried to move away she just tightened her grip and held on. He looked up at the ceiling with a bemused smile on his lips, he glanced back down at her. His thumb stroking her cheek as he did so, "Wake Up Granger." He whispered into her ear, his voice low and rumbling with sleep. Hermione frowned and stirred.

"We'll be landing in minutes Granger." He said again, this time waking her. She rubbed at her eyes with a small yawn, realizing her position she sat up with a small blush. "We're here?" she asked and Draco looked out the window, "Yeah in a few minutes we will be."

They were silent for a moment, "Are you ready for this Draco?" Hermione asked her eyes glued to the seat in front of her, her body tense and voice strained. "As I'll ever be." Hermione breathed a shaky breath, "Oh Merlin, what if they don't believe us? What if Natasha finds out? What if-" Draco cut off her ramblings. "Don't worry Hermione, I'll always be there to catch you." He held out his hand.

"Always Draco?"

"Always."

She slipped her hand into his.