Epilogue. For those of you craving something with lemon, I hope this additional chapter satisfies that for you! It's not all lemony, though, so don't let that put you off if it's not your thing. But if you're under 18, peace out!

April : Nine Months Later

"Wait. You're not serious," Pansy said as she took a healthy bite of the lemon meringue pie Hermione had brought over. "It's been - "

"Nine months," Hermione said with a huff. She grabbed Pansy's fork and took a bite of her pie, even after saying she wasn't going to have any.

"And you all still haven't - " she waved her hand vaguely in the air before grabbing her fork back.

"We've done other things," Hermione said defensively, her cheeks heating. "We've just never...you know."

"Shagged," Pansy deadpanned.

"Well, yes." Hermione sighed. "I think it's just been built up too much, you know? When we started, things were so hectic with all that rubbish with Ron, and - "

"I heard he's doing well," Pansy cut in, finishing off the pie and sitting back with a satisfied smile. "Harry said he's out of rehab and seems to be on the straight and narrow."

"That's great," Hermione said with a tight smile. Nine months and she'd yet to speak to him since that day in the airport, and she didn't plan on changing that anytime soon, though she did truly hope he was getting better. "But, back to what I was saying. I think when Draco and I decided to take it slow, it sort of stunted us."

"Does he not excite you anymore?" Pansy asked with a smirk and that elusive look of hers, which Hermione had finally figured out meant that the Slytherin girl had her own agenda.

"Of course he does. That's kind of the problem." Hermione huffed. "When we're together, I just want him, you know? When he kisses me, and touches me, or even just looks at me, it's like - "

"Like you're flying," Pansy said, a soft smile on her face for just a moment. It was replaced quickly with a smirk and a shrug. "I know the feeling."

"Exactly. But every time we get close, he slows us down. And it's not that I'm not, you know, satisfied with what we do, it's just - " she sighed and dropped her head onto the counter. "I'm just tired of waiting."

"Did you know, traditionally, purebloods don't have sex at all before they're married," Pansy said as she stood to get a glass of water from the tap. "And while I know, yes, Draco has had sex before, and he knows that you have, my guess is that he hasn't tried to go that far with you yet, because he doesn't see you as some girl he wants to shag - "

"Thanks a lot," Hermione said, lifting her head, an irate look on her face.

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Instead, he sees you as a woman he wants to spend his life with. Which means that he's trying to do things the proper, pureblooded way. Waiting and courting and all that rubbish."

Hermione's face heated. "You didn't wait. Does that mean you don't want to spend your life with Harry?" she asked, trying to take the focus off of her for just a moment.

Pansy laughed. "I'm not like most purebloods, Herms."

"I really hate that nickname, you know," she said, folding her arms.

"Which is why I use it." Pansy smiled and hugged Hermione tight. "He loves you. Like, really loves you. If this is bothering you, talk about it with him."

"I will. But not tonight," she said. "He's been planning a date for us - the nine month anniversary of our return to England and subsequently the official beginning of our relationship - for weeks. Why the nine month mark is important, I'm not sure, but he's so excited. I refuse to ruin that with talk of this." She smiled. "Has he always been such a softy when it comes to such sentimental things?"

Pansy shrugged. "When we were kids, he used to get irate when I would try to change up games we'd been playing since we were in nappies. But when we dated, he didn't really act sentimental about anything. Then again, we dated because our parents wanted us to marry, and it was the fastest way to get them off our backs." She rolled her eyes. "It was amazing how easy it was to fool them by holding hands at Hogwarts and making googly eyes at one another over holidays."

"It's still weird to think of you two together," Hermione said with a grimace.

"Remember what you and Harry were like in fourth year? How you felt about him?" Pansy asked, one eyebrow quirked.

Hermione nodded, eyes squinted.

"Imagine dating him." At the disgusted look on Hermione's face, Pansy laughed. "We kissed a few times, just to see if we could possibly make things work that way if we had to, but there was never anything behind it. And when he saw you at the Yule Ball, well, I knew he and I would never be anything more than friends. Not that I was disappointed." She shrugged.

"He said you were quite upset that night." Hermione smirked.

"Of course I was!" Pansy chuckled. "My date, my future-betrothed, was ogling some other witch in front of all of our pureblood, aristocratic, dumbass friends."

"I love you, Pans," Hermione said, hugging the taller, thinner girl. "Sorry I stole your beau. Now, you have to help me get ready for this date. Draco's so excited, and I want to look my best, and you know I'm rubbish at that."

"You really are," Pansy said with a grin. "Come on, let's go shopping."

After three hours of shopping, dressing, and some makeup and hair, Hermione stared into the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. She would never be a great beauty like Pansy, but tonight she looked nice. Lovely, even. When Harry had stopped by to pick Pansy up, even he had stopped and taken an appreciative look - earning an elbow in the ribs from Pansy.

Pansy talked her into buying a knee-length dress with capped sleeves that cinched at her ribs and flowed out over her hips gently. What sold her on it was the color - periwinkle blue, just like her Yule dress had been. Draco had said that was when he first noticed her. If he could be sentimental, so could she. She wore her hair down in loose curls, mostly so he'd play with it as he was apt to do. Her makeup was light, and she wore strappy gold sandals that were comfortable, but pretty.

When he knocked on her apartment door at half-past seven, her stomach did a little flip. She checked her reflection once more, satisfied he would approve that she was dressed for a special occasion.

She opened the door and his broad smile fell as he took in her appearance, immediately replaced with a look that could more accurately be described as awe. When she saw his Muggle suit - charcoal grey, tailored to fit his slim build, with a lovely, midnight blue tie - she knew she'd dressed appropriately. She'd tried to talk Pansy into more casual, summer dresses, and was glad the Slytherin girl hadn't let her.

"You look - " he stepped up to her and kissed her softly, and she was glad she'd decided against lipstick. "You look perfect."

She smiled up at him and absently straightened his tie. "So do you," she said, and he kissed her again. "So, where are we going?"

"I have a few things planned for us. It's a big night," he said with a wink.

"Nine months is a pretty big deal," she said, closing the door to her flat behind her with a smile, missing his the smirk he tried to hide.

"Let's not waste another moment, then." He took her hand and with a twist, they apparated.

They started with dinner at an Italian restaurant that only just opened. Hermione had wanted to try it, because they boasted only a paid staff - even the house elves earned a fair wage. The food was delicious, and Draco had her laughing and smiling for the entirety of the meal, earning more than a few disgruntled looks from other patrons. Not that he seemed to notice. He held her hand and kissed her cheek and whispered things in her ear that made her blush furiously, and when they left, more than a few people watched them leave with a mixture of jealousy and appreciation.

After dinner, Draco took her to Fortescue's. They were regulars at this point, and he walked straight to the counter and ordered, "a happy Hermione and a happy Draco, please." Florean just smiled and made their cups, adding whipped cream and sprinkles to both. They spent their time there, sharing bites of their individual flavors, reminiscing about the past nine months.

After they'd returned home from the beach, McGonnagal contacted Hermione and asked if members of WICS would be willing to come speak at Hogwarts about overcoming house division and bonding. All ten of their beach group agreed and all wore their old house colors. The students had all gasped and giggled at the various inter-house couples holding hands before they each got up to speak. What shocked the students even more was how the famous Harry Potter stood, glued to his Slytherin girlfriend's side, and how the infamous Draco Malfoy tenderly watched the most famous Muggleborn in the world as she spoke about overcoming obstacles and giving everyone a second chance.

After the speech, and the welcome feast - which all the graduated students enjoyed immensely - McGonnagal had given them rooms to stay in for the night. She had shaken each of their hands, pausing over both Harry's and Hermione's with whispered words of congratulations to each of them. As the others went to their rooms, Hermione and Draco had snuck off to the Black Lake, stripped down to their underwear, and gone for a nighttime swim.

Hermione laughed as her cheeks heated with the memory. His lips trailing down her throat as his smooth, wet skin pressed against hers, he way he'd held her in the water, her legs around his waist, all was burned into her memory. It was the first time she'd thought he would take things farther, and he'd slowed them back down, leaving her wanting.

They talked about the first time he brought her flowers on a whim - daisies - and how she'd nearly cried, because never once had anyone gotten her flowers just because. They talked about their first real fight, which had been quite a doozy.

About a month after they started dating, Draco's ex-girlfriend, Astoria, had shown up at his flat. Hermione had been in the other room, and when she rounded the corner to see who was at the door, Astoria had thrown herself at Draco, kissing him deeply, hands digging into his hair. Startled, Draco had caught her and in his shocked state had taken half a moment too long to push her away. Hermione had panicked and apparated away immediately.

"I'm sorry I was so stubborn that night," Hermione said, her ice cream gone, as she played with his fingers across the table. He'd come to her apartment straight away and banged on the door, begging for her to listen to him. She'd ignored him for nearly and hour, but he hadn't given up until she let him in. He'd explained everything, and had even gone so far as to share the memory with her, so she would see what happened before she walked in and after she left.

"If I'd been in your shoes, I would have done the same thing," he reassured her as he took the last bite of his strawberry ice cream.

"It was just - " she sighed, the memory of Astoria pressed against him was still burned in her brain, even though she knew it had been nothing. "Seeing her kissing you brought up all these insecurities, from Ron, that I didn't know I had."

"I know," he said, flipping their hands so he was gripping her fingers. "But now you know that there's no witch, no person on the planet, that could take me away from you. Right?"

"I do know that," she said, a smirk on her lips. Not only had he shown her that for nearly every day for nine months, but because Draco had discovered that his father had paid Astoria, from his cell in Azkaban, to go and split up Draco and his Muggleborn girlfriend. The day after that discovery, Draco visited his father in Azkaban and had a long, in depth talk about what was acceptable, seeing as Draco was now in control of the Manor and all its assets. He hadn't bothered them since.

"Come on," Draco said, taking her hand and standing. "Enough of that sort of talk. We need to be happy and finish our date."

Hermione smiled and let him lead her from the ice cream parlor. "We've had dinner and ice cream and I've laughed so much I think my ribs may be sore tomorrow," Hermione said with a laugh as she tucked herself against his side. "What else could you possibly have planned?"

"Nine months in, and you still underestimate me, Granger." He shook his head in false disappointment.

She poked his side with the tip of her finger. "It keeps life interesting," she said with a shrug, and he laughed, big and loud. It was one of her favorite things about him - a sound he reserved only for those he trusted and loved.

They were walking down Diagon Alley, hand in hand, when Draco stopped. There was a fountain in the middle of town - erected after the war - that sprayed water straight into the air and was lit from below, causing every droplet to sparkle.

"Take a picture with me?" he asked. She smiled and nodded. Since the beach, they'd taken many photos together - alone, and with friends - with the mutual understanding that they wanted to remember everything.

Hermione pulled her phone from her pocket and handed it to him, as he had longer arms. Opening her camera, he pulled her to him and laid his head on her shoulder, smiling. He snapped a few, and then handed her phone back. Without missing a beat, she texted them to him. The stars beside his name had been replaced with waves and sun - a representation of the days during which they'd found one another - and he'd been bumped to number one on his FAVORITES list, much to Harry's chagrin.

The photo was one of their best so far - the fountain, spraying illuminated water behind them and the looks of pure, unadulterated joy on both of their faces - and Hermione made a mental note to have this one printed.

"We have another stop," Draco said. "I just wanted to get a photo here, on home soil, before we left."

"Left?" she asked, slipping her phone into her small purse. "Where are we going?"

Draco smiled and took a deep breath. "Do you trust me, Granger?" he asked, stepping into her space. She had to look up to see his eyes, and the look she saw there would always set the butterflies in her stomach off.

"You know I do," she said, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Let's go then." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to hers before lifting her off her feet. She felt the familiar sensation of being twisted and pinched, but Draco's lips on hers and his hands around her helped her notice it less, even though this particular apparition was much longer than previous.

When they landed, Hermione kept her eyes closed, too wrapped up in his kiss to stop just yet. It wasn't until she heard the sound of ocean waves that she pulled away, eyes wide.

Her eyes met his, and she saw something there she hadn't expected - nervousness. With a deep breath, he pulled away from her and took her hand. They were on the beach, and the sun was only setting. They'd left England.

"Are we - " her heart thudded.

"I've been taking international apparition classes for a few months. It's a lot harder than you'd think to get licensed," he said with a smirk. "Come on, let's walk."

"Is this the same beach?" she asked, knowing already that it was.

"It is," he said, taking her hand. "Now, come on."

She followed him as tears brimmed her eyes. "International apparition licenses take a lot of time to prepare for and be approved for," she said, looking up at him as they walked.

He shrugged. "Not that long."

"It's a six month process, Draco," she breathed, a smile on her face.

"I like to plan ahead." He cleared his throat. "Ah, here we are."

Hermione turned and followed his gaze. Her hand flew to her mouth and her breath caught. They were back on the part of the beach where, nine months (and a few days) ago, Draco had sat her down on a piece of driftwood and they'd had their first kiss. Only, it looked a bit different than that first time.

The driftwood was still there, but now it was surrounded by daisies, laying across the sand and strung over the pieces of wood like garland. And all around, fireflies blinked as the sun sank beneath the waves. They weren't real fireflies, Hermione knew, as they weren't in season and these seemed stationed in one spot, but they were beautiful nonetheless.

"What is all this?" she breathed through her smile.

"Come sit with me," he said, taking her hand and walking her to the same piece of large driftwood they'd sat on all those months ago. Together, they sat, knees pointed toward one another. "Do you remember what I asked you when we were here the first time?"

"You asked me what I thought about you," she said, remembering it well. "And I said that you were kind, funny, and smart. And, of course, handsome. I was sure I was going to explode from embarrassment when I admitted that bit."

He laughed and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

"Then," she continued, biting her lip, "you told me that you saw me as selfless, and brilliant, and I believe the other word you used was terrifying," she said, quirking her eyebrow.

"And beautiful," he reminded her, making her blush again. She'd never get used to him saying things like that.

"Yes, yes. That too," she deflected, ducking her head.

"I meant all the things I said." He kissed her knuckles. "I still mean them. But what I didn't say, what I couldn't say yet, was that already, I loved you."

Hermione bit her lip harder. "You kissed me, too," she said, and he smiled softly. "Though, I'm struggling to remember what it was like." She smiled coyly.

Draco scooted closer and slipped his hand into her hair before brushing his lips against hers. He'd intended to kiss her softly, like their first kiss, but her sigh against his lips made him stay there a few more moments, his lips on hers moving in a sensual in a way that had her heart racing.

He pulled back and leaned his forehead on hers. "That one was a bit better than the first, I think."

She smiled and leaned away to see his face. "I don't know," she said, "that first one may always be my favorite."

Draco looked at her for a long moment and took a deep breath. "In the last nine months, has what you thought of me changed at all?" His hand had fallen from her hair and he'd recaptured her hand in his.

Hermione laughed and cocked her head to the side. "Of course it has."

"Tell me how," he said with a small smirk.

"Well, you're still all things I said before - kind, funny, smart - "

"And handsome," he reminded her, and her smirk turned into a full out grin.

"Obviously," she shoved his shoulder gently. "But I've learned that you're also sentimental - case and point - " she gestured to the beach around them and the daisies. "You remember things, little things, that mean a lot to me." She held his hand tightly. "You get way too excited about Quidditch, and are far too serious about the daily crossword, and are just an all around passionate man." She bit her lip. "And you go out of your way for your friends, but you don't like it when people know you've done something for them, so you try to hide it. But I always know."

He blushed and ducked his head.

"You're considerate of others, especially me, always trying to figure out what I need before I even realize I need it. You're genuine and true, and the person I love more than anything." By the end, her voice was barely a whisper, but he heard her.

For a long moment after she was done, he just stared at her, then he leaned in and kissed her again, sighing against her lips. "You always know how to steal the show, don't you?" he asked, and she laughed.

"Brightest Witch of Our Age, remember? Now, if we're playing the question game again, I do believe it's your turn."

He smiled and took a deep, steadying breath. "Last time we were here, I told you you were selfless. I told you you were brilliant, funny, and beautiful. And all of those things are still true, without a doubt, but over the last nine months, I've learned so much more about you." He squeezed her fingers, his thumb sweeping over her knuckles rapidly. "I've learned that you categorize your ice cream flavors by more than just happy and sad - and let me just tell you, ice cream specifically for when you're feeling giggly is just the silliest thing I've ever heard of!"

She laughed and ducked her head, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. "When else would a person eat cookie dough in their ice cream?" she asked, and he just smiled.

"I've learned that you forgive people quickly, even when it's hard for you, and that in your amazing selflessness, you actively seek out people who need help, not just letting them come to you. You're patient, so bloody patient that you'll wait for months for your boyfriend to move things forward in your relationship without complaining once."

She blushed a brilliant shade of red and he let go of her hand to hold her cheek.

"You blush at the drop of a hat, too, and it's the loveliest thing." He smiled. "You are the kindest person I know, and also one of the most fierce. You're brave and vulnerable at the same time, and it's - no, you - are perfect. I love you more than I ever dreamed I'd love anyone."

Tears pooled in Hermione's eyes. "I believe it's safe to say, you've effectively stolen the show back," she choked out with a smile.

Draco grinned and looked over her shoulder with a big nod. Hermione followed his gaze and nearly fell off the driftwood as her friends appeared out of thin air, having been disillusioned before. She laughed with tears in her eyes as Pansy waggled her fingers in a wave from where she stood, clinging to Harry's arm.

When Hermione turned back to Draco, he was still holding her hand, but he was in front of her now, kneeling in the sand, getting his gorgeous suit pants filthy. Her heart rate sped up and her hands started to shake.

Draco cleared his throat as he looked up at her, waves crashing behind him, his eyes wide and clear.

"I'm sorry I've made us wait," he said before wetting his lips. "But I've known, since that night here on the beach, that I wanted you to be mine. Forever. And to do that, I needed to do things properly." He cleared his throat and adjusted his hold on her hand. "I wanted to court you. To woo you. To let you know that my intentions were pure and unchallenged." He cleared his throat again. "You're my best friend, Granger. The person I want to tell everything. And while nine months isn't really enough time for a proper courtship, I don't think I can wait any longer to know if - "

"Yes," she said, heart racing.

He laughed and smiled up at her. "I haven't even asked a question yet," he said with a smirk.

She laughed lightly and her fingers went to her mouth. "Of course, my mistake."

"As I was saying," he said tightening his grip on her hand. "Hermione Granger, my terrifying, fierce, brilliant, beautiful witch, will you be my wife and allow me to be your husband?"

Tears sprang to her eyes as he said the words. Nine months. She'd been with Ron four years, and hadn't been ready, yet nine months with Draco was more than enough to know exactly what she wanted.

"Yes," she breathed, slipping from the driftwood to sit on her knees in the sand in front of him. "Of course I will."

He grinned and pulled her close, burying his face in her neck as he hugged her.

"Wait!" he said, pulling back and digging in his coat pocket. "I forgot," he groaned. From his pocket he pulled a small burgundy box. He opened the lid and Hermione laughed as he pulled out a ring - a thin, silver band that swirled to form an infinity symbol, with a deep blue sapphire in one loop and a brilliant ruby in the other - and slipped it on her finger. It magically shrunk to fit.

"I'm yours," he said, pulling her close again.

"I love you," she said, pressing her lips to his, her friends forgotten until they were suddenly all around them, pulling them up, hugging them both.

"You knew about this?" Hermione asked as Pansy hugged her tight.

Pansy smirked and squeezed her neck. "Of course I knew. Who do you think took the classes with him and side-along apparated everyone here before you all got here?"

"I'm so glad you're my friend," Hermione said as she hugged her ever tighter.

"Let's take a group picture!" Harry said, smiling with his arm around Draco's shoulders. "Like last time."

"Sap," Pansy said with a grin as they all moved away from the driftwood to sit near the sparse tree line. The sat in the same order as their first group photo. Draco had snagged a daisy and tucked it behind her ear before he pulled Hermione close, and she blushed as she leaned into his shoulder. With a flick of her wand, Pansy's phone floated out in front of them. As the shutter clicked, the group smiled, lit by the light of the full moon and fireflies.

"One of just the two of you," Harry said, standing and grabbing the phone and taking one of just the newly engaged pair, both of them smiling like fools.

"I'll get everyone home," Pansy said as they all hugged goodbye. "You have one last stop on your date, I think."

Hermione looked at Draco, who was blushing scarlet. Her heart jumped into her throat as she turned to him. His arms wrapped around her. "Ready?" he asked, his voice breaking. She nodded, and with a twist and some compression, they were gone.

They popped back into existence in the flower garden where she'd found him after he'd run from her at the airport. She took a deep, sweet breath - the flowers were starting to bloom - and smiled.

"I have one more surprise," he said, slightly breathless.

"We're engaged," she said, biting her lip, and he grinned. "What else could you possibly have to surprise me with?"

"Come on," he said, slipping his fingers through hers, feeling the ring he'd agonized over on her finger and smiling broadly. "I bought this land right after the war, then built that little cabin you found me in."

"Pansy told me," she said as they walked through the moonlight plants.

He nodded. "I always wanted to build something real, a home, but the thought of living here alone was too depressing." He sighed. "But now - " He stopped and nodded ahead and Hermione's breath caught.

Where the small, one-room cabin had been now stood a house. It wasn't an extravagant house, more like a large cottage. It already had vining plants climbing it and looked like it could be straight out of a fairy tale.

"I had this built after our first fight - after Astoria showed up trying to ruin everything - and I realized just how much I needed you." He stepped in front of her. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Granger. I want to laugh, and argue, and have bushy haired, bossy children with you."

Hermione smiled and stepped closer, her heart thundering. "Before we get married, and have children," she said, biting her lip, "we should practice making them. So we're sure not to mess up."

He smiled a lopsided smile and took a shaky breath as he leaned down to kiss her. The press of his lips against hers was soft at first, but quickly became heated - the result of months of pent up emotion and desire.

With his wand, he opened the cottage's door and the low light of candles sprang to life throughout the house. Draco deepened the kiss, then leaned down and lifted her, her legs going around his waist as her periwinkle skirt bunched around her hips. She squeezed him with her thighs and he groaned as he carried her into the home they were going to share.

"The house is beautiful," she gasped as his lips and tongue attacked her neck. He was whisking her through the rooms as he made a beeline for what she knew would be the bedroom.

"You can see it later," he growled against her neck and she groaned and held onto him tighter, feeling him pressed hard against her middle.

"I'm sorry," he said as he nipped at her pulse point, "that I've made us wait so long. I just," he moved to the other side of her neck and began kissing there, "wanted it to be perfect." He bit lightly. "To be right."

She was rolling her hips against him as he nudged the bedroom door open. She took in the room - high ceilings, walls the color of soft sunshine, a large, four poster bed with a soft, white duvet. He kissed her again before putting her feet on the floor.

"Is this OK?" he asked as his hands trailed down her body, and she laughed breathlessly.

Feeling confident, Hermione stepped forward and pressed her body against his. She stood up on her tiptoes and let her nose brush his cheek as her lips moved toward his ear. "It's more than OK," she said, her voice husky with need, and he shivered.

"You really are going to be the death of me," he growled before he crashed his lips against hers.

With warm hands, they undressed each other. It wasn't the first time they'd peeled layers of clothing from one another, but it was the first time they both knew where things were headed for certain.

As Draco kissed her collarbone, unhooking her bra, her hands trailed to his waist to slip his boxer briefs down his slender hips. His hands followed, slipping off her panties, and there they were, finally, bare before one another.

Draco's hands ghosted over her hips and up, over her chest to her face. She stepped into him, feeling his hard length against her hip, her fingers trailing patterns along his shoulders.

His kissed her, his head dipping down to meet hers, before he lifted her and lay her back on the bed. She looked up at him, panting, as he kissed down her jaw, her shoulder, her breasts, her stomach, pausing at her hip where his hands pressed her down toward the bed.

He kissed her away the ache between her thighs with gentle lips - something he'd done before - but this time it held the promise of more and she bucked up toward him with pent up need. When he didn't intensify his ministrations, she gently gripped his hair and pulled him up to her, his lips trailing kisses back up her body as he followed her lead.

"I can't wait for you another second," she breathed, holding his face in her hands. She bit her lip as he nodded. She ran her hands back into his hair as he held himself above her with one arm, and the other reached down to guide his length toward her.

As he slowly pressed into her, she stared directly into his eyes. When her own eyes popped wide and threatened to roll back in her head at the feel of him stretching her, she fought to hold his gaze.

"Draco," she breathed, her fingers tightening in his hair. "I love you." She gasped as he entered her fully and she felt him shake against her as his head fell to her shoulders once he was fully inside.

"I wanted this to be - "

"It's perfect," Hermione said, reeling from the feeling of fullness and contentment and connection. She wanted him to move, ached for him to.

"I love you, so much," he said, pressing open mouthed kisses to her shoulder.

"Then show me," she breathed. He growled low in his throat. He leaned back to capture her lips as he started to move against her, the two of them finding a rhythm slow and powerful like ocean waves.

In the afterglow of their first, earth-shattering time together, Hermione snuggled into Draco's side, boneless and happy. She smiled against his shoulder as his hands lazily dragged up and down her sides.

"That - " she said, kissing his shoulder and sliding up a bit so that they were nose to nose, "was perfect."

Draco hummed in agreement as he leaned over to kiss her lips. "Want to see the house now?" he asked and she grinned devilishly.

"I think it might be better to see it in the daylight," she said as she slowly pulled her body on top of his. She kissed his cheek and down his chin toward his neck.

His hands on her sides became less gentle as she stoked a new fire between them.

"I think we might need to practice some more," Hermione said as she kissed his shoulder, biting lightly. "Just in case."

He laughed darkly and she shivered. With a look she'd never seen on his face before - but one she hoped to see many more times in the future - he gripped her sides and held her steady. Her eyes went wide as he easily began to slip into her again, her body enjoyably sore, her nerve endings overly sensitive as she squirmed.

"I didn't think you'd be ready again so soon," she gasped as he slowly pressed into her.

He smiled up at her and with a single thrust, entered her fully. "You constantly underestimate me, Granger," he said with a smirk as she gasped.

"Maybe I just enjoy you proving me wrong," she breathed as she began to move, his grip on her hips tightening, her head falling back as his eyes fluttered closed.

They fell asleep a long time later, wrapped together in blankets just before dawn, and didn't wake until almost noon. When Hermione opened her eyes, Draco was lying there, staring at her with the biggest, goofiest grin on his face.

"You drooled on the pillow," he said, and she laughed and wiped the corner of her mouth.

"Come on," she said, sitting up and letting the blankets fall away. "Come show me our home, future husband of mine."

He grinned and hopped up as well. Hermione picked up his button down from the night before and slipped it over her shoulders. He slid his trousers on and kissed her neck, humming in approval of her wardrobe choice.

"Let's start with the library," he said against her neck, and she shrieked so loudly, all he could do was laugh and let her drag him from the room.

Hermione and Draco moved into the cottage that day. Once they were settled, Harry and Pansy came over for dinner, and with nervous jitters, Pansy gave them a scrap book she'd made for them as a housewarming gift. Photos from the beach, from their time together over the last nine months, and from their engagement graced its pages, along with little hand-written anecdotes in the margins. The photos were from her phone, Harry's, and Draco's.

"You scrap book?" Hermione asked, quirking one eyebrow.

Harry laughed and pulled Pansy into his lap. "She loves to craft," he said, and she scowled. "A regular little DIY fanatic, this one."

"Shut it, Potter," Pansy said, crossing her arms as he laughed and hugged her tighter.

"So, you could help plan our wedding?" Hermione asked brightly, and Pansy perked up. Pansy, the sarcastic, sassy, Slytherin girl was excited to plan a wedding. The world had officially been turned on it's head. Twice.

"Have you set a date?" she asked, sitting up straight, getting right to business.

Hermione smirked. "We were thinking May 10th."

"Of next year?" Pansy asked, nodding as the wheels in her head turned. "May weddings are lovely."

"Of this year," Draco said with his signature smirk from where he leaned on the counter.

Pansy's jaw dropped. "That's in 20 days."

"Yes, we are both quite capable of doing basic math," Hermione said as she poured fresh coffee for each of them. "Up to the challenge?"

Pansy smiled devilishly. "You know I am."

They held their wedding in the flower garden that surrounded their home and invited only close friends and family. Of course, this was the wedding between Hermione Granger, war heroine, and Draco Malfoy, reformed Death Eater, so they agreed to let the Prophet cover it to satiate the masses and to avoid anyone trying to crash it for photos.

While Ron was not invited, the rest of the Weasleys were, and Hermione was glad to see that all of them came. Absently, she hoped that one day she'd be able to be Ron's friend again, as she'd always imagined him here in some capacity, but she didn't think it would be possible for a very long time.

As the actual reception began, Hermione felt butterflies dancing in her stomach. Draco was at the end of the aisle already, she knew, along with Pansy, who was her maid of honor, and Theo, Draco's best man. Hermione twisted her hands, spinning her beautiful sapphire and ruby ring round and round her finger, and took a calming breath.

"You ready?" Harry asked, offering his hand, ready to walk his friend down the aisle.

Hermione smiled, the butterflies in her gut doing somersaults. "I am."

Together, they walked around the flower wall that separated them from the guests and Hermione caught sight of all the photos Pansy had posted around the garden - pictures of them laughing, smiling, looking at one another shyly, kissing. All memories that lead to where they stood now. Hermione looked at her feet, took a deep breath, and then looked to the front where she felt his eyes on her.

At the end of the aisle, flanked by their friends, stood Draco, looking more handsome than she'd ever imagined. He wore a black suit, and in his lapel he wore a single daisy.

As she walked toward him, he smiled and she felt her own face mirror it, the butterfly nerves vanishing in the face of the warmth that seemed to fill her up. Time seemed to slow down as their eyes locked.

Ten months ago, her life had fallen apart when Ron cheated on her, and Draco had been there to pick up the pieces. And now she was stepping into a new life, one full of love and trust, and she couldn't help but think, as she met Draco at the front of the aisle and slipped her hand into his, that in this moment, she had everything she could ever want.