Thanks to everyone for the encouraging comments. Shall we continue?
Disclaimer ~ I do not own any of these characters, just the plot.
Draco’s Gift
There had been little talking on the way home. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Hermione still couldn’t get over Draco’s admission of love.
They had walked quite a ways when Draco heard one of the twins sigh, “Ah, the Burrow. There’s no place like home.”
Draco looked up finally realizing they had reached their destination. The infamous Weasley Burrow. He had mad fun of this place for years and now it seemed it was to become his sanctuary. It seemed life was just a little ironic. As they came on up the lane Draco got a real look at the Burrow. It was a tall run down structure with light pouring from out of every window.
Ron opened the door and as each entered Draco could hear the people greeting them.
“What is this place?” Draco whispered under his breath.
Hermione had stepped out the door and called to him to come on in before supper got cold. He loved the sound of that. As he walked into the Burrow he could see a half dozen or more people gathered around the table eating or drinking coffee. All eyes turned to him and the room fell silent. It was the oddest feeling he had ever felt.
“Come on dear,” Mrs. Weasley cooed. “Let’s get you something to eat. All of you look famished, poor dears.”
She sat Draco down beside Hermione and gave him a large slice of homemade bread and a bowl of beef stew. It smelled and tasted like heaven. He had never had anything so delicious. He watched as Mrs. Weasley braided Ginny’s hair by the fireplace and giggling over something unheard and listened to them all talk and joke amongst themselves about how Ron had been frightened over a spider that had fell on his shoulder and that he would not move until Luna had removed it .Mr. Weasley had ruffled Ron’s hair and laughed. It was then that he realized that this was what he had missed out on, love and a real, caring family. He had always made fun of the Weasley family but at this moment he envied them. Weasley had what he had always wanted; A family that cared.
“Alright children, It looks like you could use a bath and some sleep. On second thought, maybe not in that order. Draco, Ron will get you settled.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.” Draco nodded.
“Come on Malfoy, you’ll be in with me and Harry.” Ron said as he began to lead the way up the stairs.
“That’s Fred and George’s room.” He said pointing to the right. “On the left here is Ginny’s and Hermione’s.” He took a few more steps more and he turned. “This is ours, but I warn you .You start to snore we will put you in the attic with the noisy ghoul.”
Draco started to smile and agreed. As they entered, he saw Harry sitting on Ron’s bed looking through a book about broomstick care.
“Weasley, where is the toiletries?” Draco said looking about to bust.
“Down the hall next to Ginny’s room. Don’t get lost!” Ron called as Draco ran out as fast as he could.
As he reached the door to enter the restroom, Hermione opened it from within, dressed in a bathrobe with her hair all wet.
“Oh!” she caught herself before she had run into him. “Do you need in here?”
“Ah… yeah, but I can come back later.” he stammered.
“Go ahead. I’m finished.”
“Thanks,” he said as she entered the restroom and closed the door behind him.
She was exquisite and she didn’t even realize it. That was what he found so intoxicating about her. She was also strong and stood up for herself. If she would only have him. He hadn’t been the greatest person to her in the last six years. Oh, Hermione, my heart.
She couldn’t believe he had seen her like that, with her bathrobe and wet hair. Uh-h-h. Why should she really care?
‘Because you love him.’ Her heart whispered. Every fiber of her being knew it was true. She had wanted to deny it to herself last year when she noticed he looked at her a little differently. She just thought as always that he was up to something. Tomorrow after breakfast they would need to talk. If only he would have me.
Hermione woke up to Ginny and Luna jumping on the bed and singing:
“Hermione and Draco
Sitting in a tree
K-i-s-s-i-n-g—”
“Bugger off you guys, before someone hears you,” she shushed them as she threw a pillow, nearly hitting Ron as he had opened the door.
“Bloody hell, Hermione. You nearly put my eye out!”
“Sorry Ron,” the girls began to giggle.
“Besides,” he said “Mum wants us down for breakfast. I need to go get Malfoy.”
“Let Hermione do it. That way we can eat while it’s still hot,” Ginny said as she shot Luna and Hermione a mischievous grin.
“Okay by me,” Ron said over his shoulder as went out the door and down the stairs.
Hermione gave the two of them as if they were mad. What were they up to?
“Better get up, Mrs. Malfoy,” they giggled. They left the room humming ‘Hermione and Draco, sitting in a tree…’ she wanted to kill them.
Draco had been awake for a while looking up at the ceiling and thinking about Hermione, when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up to see Hermione standing there in the door with a blush on her cheeks. It was then he realized he was not properly dressed.
“Sorry. I’ll turn around while you get dressed. Umm…” she tried to remember what she came to say. “Mrs. Weasley wants us down for breakfast,” she said hurriedly.
“You can turn around now,” he said.
“We have a few hours free time before we go on patrols again, if there is anything that you want to do,” she hinted.
“As a matter of fact,” he took a moment to slow his heart down, “Can we go for a walk some where away from everyone? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Sure. See you down stairs,” as she went down the stairs she tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Finally things were going to be sorted out.