Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter world. That honor belongs to JKR

His Most Hoped for Gift

Draco Malfoy was nervous. Almost all of his true friends like Theo, Blaise, a couple of students in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, had noticed it. But he had reason to be nervous. He and Hermione Granger had finally buried the hatchet on the train to school for their eighth and final year at Hogwarts, and much to the surprise of some of the students, and disgust of others, had been dating steadily since the first week of school. Now it was close to Christmas, and he was nervous.

"You're going to wear a hole in the carpeting pacing like that, mate," Theo remarked.

"I just don't want anything to go wrong. It took me hours to convince Mother to let me take these from my Black inheritance in the vault. Anything could happen with this, you know that, Theo."

"True, it could. But if your mother didn't at least partially approve, you would never have gotten near the chest in that vault. So what's the plan, mate?"

"The first two pieces I'll give her to accent her gown for the Yule Ball. I'm saving the final piece for the last dance."

"That could work, but you need to remember Hermione hates to be put on the spot for things. Remember her reactions for every exam we've taken?"

Draco did remember that about Hermione. He just hoped his gifts to her would somehow lead to his getting the gift he most wanted.

As he turned her in a waltz, Draco reflected on how lovely she looked. Hermione had chosen to wear a sapphire blue gown for the Yule Ball this year, and the color made her skin glow.

"Draco, what's wrong? You've been quiet all evening," Hermione said, concerned.

"Nothing's wrong, sweetheart. I just have one more thing to give you, if you want me to, for Yule."

The waltz came to an end, and Draco held on to Hermione's hand, preventing her from going to their table. When she turned to look at him questioningly, he dropped to one knee, and pulled a small box from his dress robes pocket.

"Hermione Jean Granger, if you will take it, I give you my heart to cherish for the rest of our lives. Will you do me the supreme honor of becoming my wife?"

Silence descended on the Great Hall as everyone waited for Hermione's answer. With tears in her eyes, she took Draco's hand and smiled one of the brightest smiles he'd ever seen on her face.

"YES!"

Laughing in joy, he placed the ring on her finger and spun her around. She was the gift he wanted the most, and now she was finally his.