The last chapter of one of my funniest stories to write. I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did. Once more, I want to thank my Magzillasaurus, my Maggie, for her amazing beta-job!

Chapter Twenty-Four

The biggest flower bouquet she ever saw was the first thing her eyes noticed when they arrived at his penthouse. Red roses, asters, red tulips and jasmines in a bed of green.

"Draco!"

"Jasmine stands for unconditional and eternal love, the tulip tells you about undying, passionate, perfect love. The asters are the talisman of love, and signify trust."

"The red roses symbolise true love. Draco, I'm sure I've got the message."

"I didn't expect otherwise." He smiled when she sniffed the roses, "I cooked for us…"

"Is it still warm?"

"I only need to finish it up..." Draco went ahead, reheating the meatballs in the tomato sauce he prepared last night, while in the other pan salted water boiled like crazy. He measured the spaghetti, "I asked Molly for a little help, but I made it all by myself."

"You asked Molly for the recipe?"

"Well, the most reliable source isn't available, I'm afraid." Soon the room smelled of the Italian seasoning he used, "I asked her also for a better way to time the cooking than your Potter's chicken thing."

"That's the muggle way…" She giggled, recalling the startled jump in the air, "Why?"

"I like cooking, I've learned. I also wanted to surprise you with your favourite dinner, I know you prefer a well-meant gesture over a bombastic present."

"Well-reasoned of you, Draco. Make, however, no mistakes. I can also enjoy jewellery, only not the type-"

"Which sparkles from afar, you prefer the delicate pieces. I'll indulge you with such, love. No worries. Plus, I'm planning on helping you increase your collection of underwear and matching garments. I'm such a fan of your secret pleasure..." Carefully he used an oven mitt to drain the pasta, splitting the portion onto two plates and adding a generous scoop of sauce. As a finishing touch, a few leaves of basil at the top.

He set the plates as a fully-learned waiter on the table, pushing her chair invitingly, "M'lady?"

"Well, thank you." She kissed him for a fleeting moment while sitting down. The slice she cut from the juicy meatball was followed into her mouth with hawkeyes. Someone was anxious to know if it tasted as hoped, going by how he held his cutlery.

Hermione munched with closed eyes. It could not hold a candle to her mothers, could they ever? Though, she had tasted much worse, "They are divine, Draco. You may cook this more often for me…"

He puffed up like a peacock, the smile rising under her appraisal. The joy was filling him so much that his first cut in the meatball splashed a dollop of tomato sauce on his white shirt. Draco looked down and back up to her, flushing red before breaking into laughter.

"I guess you've just become a Weasley, honeybun," why waste an excellent opportunity to rub it in?

A Scourgify didn't do the job, neither did the heavier Tergeo, "It will be an extra job for Tibby, he'll adore it." He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it mindlessly away.

"How can I enjoy my meal if I'm looking at that?"

"Does it affect you?"

"Of course, it's… it's… ahum… unsanitary." She blurted out the first word that came to mind, despite the fact that it didn't translate her feelings at all.

"Unsanitary?"

"Well...yeah. The naked torso… your chest hair…" Under his scrutinising look, her face reddened, and she coughed. The hunger evaded her and was replaced by something else. Especially when he laid back and rubbed his chest unabashedly.

Draco dipped his finger in the red goody, "Oops now, what did I do?" A trace of red circled his nipple, "Isn't this so gross?" Two fingers repeated the action, the trail now painting the tuft of blond hair at the centre of his chest. "So filthy, yuck."

Hermione ducked under the table to reappear on his side, between the spread knees, "It requires cleaning for sure." Draco pushed back the chair to give her more room, alas the plate was out of reach for more rubbing. She rose to her knees, hands strategically at his thighs, close to the crotch, yet not fully touching.

"Lemme wipe it clean for you." The tongue darted out, licking the tasty liquid. "Hmm… the Italian seasoning is perfectly in balance, I guess you must have tasted quite a lot to perfect the flavours." Her flat tongue moved on to the hairy patch, "Delicious."

Reaching behind her back, Hermione dipped a few fingers in and spread the sauce over his belly, stopping right above the waistband of his trunks. "Oh dear, look at the mess I made. What should I do?"

His abs flexed at the quickening pace of his breath, "What do you suggest?" He watched her from underneath his eyelashes.

"Scourgify will not help. I know another method, a muggle one…"

"I'm open to testing your less known way…" He had to clear his throat to make his words audible.

"It includes leaving a wet trail," putting the words into actions, her mouth followed the creases of his muscled stomach, "Maybe it also requires some more drastic measures, like a bite," she nipped, "A dip in the pit, hmm… the oregano is so in balance…"

"I think you missed a spot."

"You'll have to help me, Draco. I don't see it…"

His hands flew to the button, unhooking it from its confinement followed by the zipper. Her own fingers came to help, shoving the trousers down his hips - he rose the hips to that purpose - repeating the movements for the underwear.

"I'll have to inspect it up-close." Proudly at full mast, his erection begged for attention and was gratified by a flat tongue-swipe. A swirl around the engorged head followed; the member jerking in response along with a hiss that rose over her head.

Hermione knew what she was doing to the man, taking every inch into her mouth painfully slowly, not for once withdrawing her eyes from his face. He exhaled loudly through the parted lips, thunderbolts going straight to his spine. Once more going down to return up again, twice, a third time, until he couldn't hold on.

Grabbing her by the armpits he set her on the table, shoving the plates away. Her short skirt was raised to her waist, the knickers snapped, and a needy cock drove home all the way up to the hilt.

Hands made short work of her shirt, the brassiere removed as quickly and his mouth latched on feasting hungrily, the hips pumping incessantly. Female fingers raked through the blond tresses, pulling. Slender legs hooked behind his back to meet him in his thrusts. Grunts mingled with moans. Names whispered. Promises of ultimate pleasure. Confessions of love.

Leading to that one moment, the explosion. The fireworks behind the eyelids. The temporary blackout of senses due to overload. Caresses followed, foreheads met, breaths blended, smiles appeared. While the heartbeats sought a way to calm down. To beat as one, as long as they were intimately connected.

"Will you become my wife?"

"I want you to be my husband."

"Tomorrow?"

"Your mother will have our skin if we elope."

"It should have been yesterday already." Bellies shook of laughter. "Will you stay tonight?"

"Am I getting the promised back rub?"

"You get to choose the side of the bed."

"Even better."

-oOo-

It was almost midnight when the cold spaghetti with meatballs got reheated and eaten in bed, a kitchen towel protecting the bedsheets.

After the hunger stilled, she curled around him. Sighing deeply of contentment. Hermione was home.

-oOo-

"The wedding of the century" was for the following weeks the front page of every published piece of press, newspapers and magazines alike. When word came out about the Wizarding world's most famous pair and how Narcissa moved heaven and earth to make the event epic on such short notice - Draco gave her two weeks, but clipped her wings severely by including a limit of invitees; peace was wishful thinking.

Not that Hermione and Draco's wedding was the first of a series to follow. It was in fact, the third.

Ginny and Harry organised a celebration of a kind, barbecue magically handled, dance and loads of muggle traditions mixed with the ribbon and other traditional ceremonies.

It was followed by a smaller gathering between Hannah's and Neville's family and their closest friends. Though the gang ensured it wasn't so small nor easily overlooked. A wedding needed some fun and joy, didn't it?

The boys had organised a very special bachelor's party for Neville, while the girls enjoyed an extended wellness weekend, one not only for the bride to be but for all the brides and the newly-wedded wife. It might have included a naughty act, as a goodbye performance before they swore fealty to their husbands.

But as Ginny worded, "We're still allowed to look, right girls?"

"Look yes, touch no."

"Speak for yourself, Hermione. If my hand accidentally lands on a certain part, it wasn't my intention, get it?" Pansy voiced Ginny's opinion. There's a saying about leopard and spots...

Pansy's wedding was another beast. When her parents learned about the identity of the groom, a small war bubbled to life. Pansy put her foot down and gave her folks an ultimatum. Accept Ron as her husband, or she would never set foot inside her birth home. Especially when Molly made a statement about treating her no different than she treated Ginny. George made sure she was teased just the same way, also. Soon the ginger-haired wizard became her second favourite Weasley after the groom.

At the moment, it was Molly who was dealing with a spoiled Mrs. Parkinson, who wanted pompous versus the low-key approach that even Pansy preferred. At this rate, they were planning to elope just to avoid Pansy's mother's nagging.

For Ron, it was all fine with him. A snog session and he was a marshmallow in her hands, happy as he was that her cookies were improving in taste. If the baking was getting better, he had big hopes for the rest of her cooking abilities too… he would take the omelettes and the potato-peeling as his duty with pleasure.

Blaise was getting married to Daphne in his Italian estate a month later, it had taken quite some convincing to get the Greengrass's approval for the location. Astoria complained about the venue of her own celebration, on the grounds of her ancestral house. It wasn't romantic enough, she said, much to Daphne's pleasure.

Luna and Theo were going full Pagan for their own wedding. Bohemian style was the dress code - Draco mumbled about that detail, but Hermione told him he should feel happy that Theo diverted a naked celebration completely, Luna's first choice.

The groom was smitten with his bride, but showing his naked arse to an army of friends was just one step too far. Luna conceded when he promised to rejoice in their first night under the moonlight - out of sight, for all intents and purposes.

-oOo-

The gazebo on the grounds of the Manor was tastefully decorated with all the types of white flowers that symbolise love. Violins played softly in the background. The small group of people - to Narcissa's standards sixty people was a small gathering, indeed - waited patiently for the bride to make her appearance.

In the meantime, they enjoyed seeing the groom fidget impatiently at the altar. Kingsley stood proudly behind him, urging him to calm down.

"What if she rethinks?"

"She won't, Draco. Calm your nerves. Do you want me to ask for a draught of peace?"

"I don't need potions. But what if she decides to blow it off?"

"Where's your Slytherin side, my boy?"

"It's turned off."

A collective gasp drew the attention of both men, "See I was right, Draco?"

The answer went lost in the wind.

All that mattered was the beautiful woman, coming down the aisle at the arm of father Weasley, who confessed earlier that he felt as if he was giving away his second daughter. He might have patted Draco on the back a little too fatherly also, issuing the usual warning he gave Harry a week or so before. Treat her right or deal with his wrath, and Molly's!

Her toothy smile had the same effect as the suggested potion. In a heartbeat, he lost all his fears and accepted her hand after the obligatory handshake. In her eyes lay the knowledge that she knew exactly what had been twisting his knickers in a knot. In her smile the promise. She would never walk away unless he gave her the reason to.

Her blind date brought them together. He made her stay. A future lay ahead, full of options and possibilities. For them to face it together.

Hermione Malfoy did have a ring to it.

One he loved to hear.

The end.

I hope to see you all again, on another story of mine.