It was a few hours later that Draco woke from his spontaneous magic induced nap, and looked around groggily. His face flushed slightly, as he realized that his arms were snaked around Granger's waist, and she was slumped across his chest, her hair splayed over his shoulder, some impish tendrils tickling his nose.

His breathing quickened, as his current predicament started to really sink in. Draco Malfoy was sprawled over Hermione Granger's couch, with an absolutely relaxed Gryffindor Princess breathing evenly on top of him, and he was enjoying it.

He was absolutely flabbergasted, and completely hazy on how and why this situation came to be.

His heart skipped a beat, as Hermione slightly moved around, and burrowed her face into the junction of his neck and shoulder, her lips brushing against his collarbone, softly mumbling something incomprehensible in her sleep.

Draco closed his eyes, a lazy smile sneakily curling its way to his lips. He may not have been aware of the details, but he could not say that he was disappointed. He felt more content with a slumbering Hermione in his arms, than he ever did with Astoria, even when they were openly affectionate with each other.

Granger gave him a sense of comfort, that he did not even know he wanted, until he had a taste of it. He tightened his hold around the witch, and sighed contently. His questions could wait for later, when his feisty little lioness was awake. He smirked inwardly, knowing that she would most likely work herself up into a right frenzy, and her wild hair would crackle with its innate magic quality that he adored.

He simply couldn't wait.

But for the moment, he enjoyed the peace and quiet, before the inevitable storm hit him like a bludger. He moved his head slowly, and rested his chin atop her lush curls, his nostrils flaring at the faint scent of mango, wildflowers and coconut. She reminded him of a sunlit tropical paradise, and that prompted him to think about her clad in nothing, but a skimpy bikini, her soft skin soaking up the sun...

He groaned at the visual. He must not fantasize about such things, especially when the witch was conveniently in reach to turn those fantasies into reality. As much as he thought that would be ridiculously fun to do, he did not want to muck anything up. He genuinely coveted her friendship, and he was sincere in his notion to date her.

The blond wizard's eyes widened slightly, as he suddenly remembered what happened a while back, his face darkening with a hint of vermilion. He just crushed his lips against hers without the slightest sliver of shame, and she responded. Merlin's braided beard, what a glorious kiss it was!

He grinned inwardly at the memory of Granger floundering around like a fish out of water, talking a mile a minute, her face deliciously painted in various rosy hues, as she was grasping at straws, and making excuses for his supposedly ludicrous suggestion. He had to admit to himself that it was a fairly entertaining sight, and it was a strangely satisfying concept that he was able to kiss her into speechlessness.

When he sensed that Granger was about to wake up, the wizard asserted his trusty Slytherin slyness, and feigned to be asleep.

Hermione's eyelashes fluttered lightly, as she felt sunlight warming her skin, and she slowly came to her senses, and opened her eyes. She froze, as she felt a pair of arms securely wrapped around her, and her heart started beating so fast, she could have sworn it transfigured itself into a snitch, desperate to evade the miscreants chasing it.

She took a controlled breath, carefully turning around, only to freeze in motion again, as she stared at Draco Malfoy, Ferret Extraordinare. She was so unbelievably stunned and startled, that she tore herself out of his grasp, and scampered backwards, inelegantly dwindling on the floor, arse first. She managed to bump the back of her head on the sharp end of her coffee table, eliciting a rather loud hiss, and a string of curse words in quirky fashion.

"Merlin's raggedy kneecaps-" She groaned painfully, as her left fingertips carefully hovered over the bruised spot half an inch above the upper part of her neck. "Salazar's slithering snake-pit-" She grumbled, as she scrambled to sit up, only to slip right back from dizziness. "Rowena's receding radishes-" She grunted in pain.

Malfoy listened to her unique version of expletives, and even though he found them silently hilarious, his other half was warring with the amused part of himself, whether or not to lend the miserable witch a helping hand.

"You know-" Hermione gritted between her teeth, as the pulsating pain made her see stars. "It's not polite to pretend to be sleeping, while you are having an inward laugh at my expense, oh mighty Ferret Prince." She scowled.

Draco choked, and let his amusement bubble forth, barking a sharp laugh. "You caught me." He snickered and sat up, kneeling in front of her, and brushing her hair to the side, to assess her injury. "Ferret Prince? Is that an upgrade from the lowly peasant ferret I used to be before, oh Princesse de Bibliothèque?" He curled his lips upwards in a teasing manner.

Granger stared at the blond Slytherin, and despite her disgruntled discomfort, she actually giggled. "This isn't some sort of "my kingdom for a smile, a kiss, and your love" sort of exchange, is it?" She asked playfully, and hissed as he pressed down on her aching spot. "Careful, you-, you Crumpled Horned Snorkack!" She spat out, and winced at the Luna-esque insult, if one could even classify it as such.

Draco Malfoy blinked at her, pulled his hand back, and proceeded to lose his marbles all over Hermione Granger's floor. He rolled around her carpet, howling like a lunatic werewolf on a full moon, banging his chest with a fist, while tears of extreme merriment gathered in the corner of his eyes.

The brunette witch stared at him incredulously, her lips twitching slightly, but she was not quite sure if she was more irritated, or amused. She sighed, and left the deranged Slytherin to cackle himself into oblivion, and supported herself into her bathroom.

She paused a couple of times, as she felt quite lightheaded, but eventually made her way towards the cabinet where she kept her first aid kit. She casually waved her fingers, and charmed her hair into a loose bun atop her head, positioning herself in a way that she could see her bruise from the mirror.

The skin above her neck, and under her hair was already a striking purple and yellowish colour, and it was very sensitive to the touch. She applied a light layer of Dittany, and sighed at the instant relief it brought her.

Hermione had put the jar back to its designated spot, and washed her face, taking several deep breaths to get a sense of herself. She had a feeling that the day was far from over just yet, even though it only just began. She lightly dabbed a fluffy towel over her face, and walked back to her living-room, where Malfoy was still exploding all over himself in peals of laughter.

She paused next to him, and raised a delicate brow. "Have you completely lost it?" She asked in a soft voice, shaking her head.

"You, you, you-" Draco roared with glee, rudely waving his index finger at her. "Your-," He gulped down some air, and exhaled in an effort to calm himself. "Your insults are priceless. I-, I am a S-snorkack?" He guffawed. "Not to mention your cursing. Rowena's receding radishes? Did you have afternoon tea with Luna Lovegood?" He chortled.

Hermione groaned. "Are you still drunk for some reason?"

He glanced at her with mischievous silver eyes that danced with mirth. "Absolutely-" He deadpanned. "I am drunk on your insanity." He quipped, and got lost in another episode of sniggering.

The exasperated witch pinched the bridge of her nose. "Have you nicked a Laughing Potion from my potion stores and quaffed it?" She muttered under her breath with a 'Dear Merlin, why me?' expression on her face.

Malfoy ignored her, and continued to shriek like a banshee. She was getting seriously concerned about his mental health, when she heard a tapping sound coming from the window. She walked over, and let the small eagle owl in, carefully untying the scrolls fastened to his talons, and offering an owl nut from the near-by bowl that contained an assortment of treats.

The feathered miscreant nipped at her fingertips playfully, and flew out. Hermione dropped her gaze on the scrolls, and blinked at the Ministry seal. Why would they send her anything on a Saturday morning? And why in Merlin's good name would they send something addressed to Draco Malfoy to her apartment? She was not his keeper.

She sat down on her much adored worn-down arm-chair, and broke the wax seal on the scroll addressed to her, and gently unrolled it. Her expression was rather comical, as her eyes glided over the words written in elegant purple ink.

Dear Miss Granger,

It's my great pleasure to inform you of realizing your Soulmate connection with one Lord Draco Lucius Malfoy, Saturday morning at 2. am, at Finch Cottage, Norwhich, England, 4th March, 2004.

I shall list the notable dates of your relationship to peruse at your leisure:

First meeting: 2nd September, 1991

First skin to skin contact: 12th May, 1993

First kiss: 4th March, 2004

First embrace: 4th March, 2004

First slumber in each other's arms: 4th March, 2004

First date: Not yet realized.

First time: Not yet realized.

First kiss as Lord Husband and Lady Wife: Not yet realized.

First time conceiving an Heir: Not yet realized.

Let me be the first to congratulate you on finding your Soulmate. May you find eternal happiness together!

Best regards,

Lucretia Loveberry

Department of Mysteries

Soulmate Registry

Draco looked up when there was an audible thud, his eyes widening when he noticed that Hermione had fainted.

A/N: Well, that happened. Also, pardon my French, I don't speak it at all, so used google translate, it might be faulty, but... -Shifty eyes- Also can we say that Hermione cannot curse to save her life?

Sorry for taking so long to update, but hopefully the chapter was worth the wait.

Thank you for your patience and interest! I appreciate it.