Our Night - 1/2

Relationships: Draco/Hermione, Harry/Ginny

Description: (8th year at Hogwarts) Hermione and Draco have been dating in secret for quite awhile now. McGonagall wanted to give the upper years something special after all, they did just endure a war. When the young couple hears about a second Yule Ball coming up, they decide that it's time to let Hogwarts know about their romance.

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Hermione Granger was studying in the Hogwarts library one peaceful Saturday afternoon when she was interrupted by a blond haired boy. This, however, didn't annoy her quiet as much considering she's grown to fancy this boy.

He wouldn't be considered her boyfriend otherwise.

"Draco, what are you doing? Someone might see us!" She lightly reprimanded in a whispered.

You heard that right, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are boyfriend and girlfriend. Although no one else knows about this, they've slowly been building a relationship for a few months and they're now dating.

"What? I'm just checking on my lovely girlfriend, what's wrong with that?" Draco responded feigning hurt.

"You know what I mean you git!" Hermione said with a smile forming against her will. "What is it?" She asked.

"Wanting to sit next to you isn't reason enough?" He jested and she rolled her eyes. "Alright, it's about the Yule Ball," he started.

"Draco, we've talked about this," Hermione said with a heavy heart.

"No no I know we have but hear me out," he proposed.

"Fine, I'll hear you out tonight," she told him and he sighed.

As often as they can, the young couple will go to the Room of Requirement so they can talk and be themselves without being in the public eye. It's where they don't have no worry about others overhearing them and telling everyone. Not that they'd mind too much about that, it was just the danger part.

Draco knew his parents wouldn't take the news well that he's dating a muggleborn, let alone 1/3 of he Golden Trio. He was afraid they'd try something to hurt him, and more importantly her. But he believes he's found a solution to all of this and he planned on telling Hermione tonight.

"Alright, tonight then," he said with a smile only she was allowed to see before standing up and leaving the library.

**Later That Same Evening**

Draco was walking to the room Hermione and him have been meeting at since it all began. The Room of Requirement. He was a little nervous about what she would think about his plan and hoped she couldn't find a flaw in it. She wasn't the brightest witch of their age for nothing after all.

Before he knew it he was in front of the room that held so many memories. He began fiddling with the object in his pocket as he paced in front of the painting. He thought of the same cozy room that resembled a common room with aspects of both Slytherin and Gryffindor's.

As the door opened he heard footsteps coming and, luckily before he could react, Hermione's form came into view. He smiled and waited for her to go into the room first before following inside and closing it.

As soon as the door closed behind him, he was blinded by a mess of brown hair. Knowing Hermione was hugging him, he hugged her back tightly.

"I've missed you," Draco told her burying his face in the hair he's grown to love.

"And I've missed you too, Ferret," Hermione teased and she could practically feel him rolling his eyes.

"I'll have you know that was a very unpleasant experience," he said shivering at the memory as they broke their hug.

"Oh yes I know, you've told me many times," she reminded him as she moved to one of the couches in the room.

After their first meeting, they've both modified the room in a way that would suit them both. The walls were a darker grey and the furniture was a bright purple, Draco and Hermione's favorite colors. There was only one comfy leather couch, as they've gotten closer they decided to get ride of the other one, and a reclinable chair.

There was a warm fireplace by the seating area and a small table in between the couch and chair. There was a bathroom and cupboards that would restock with whatever food or drinks they wished. They even had a bedroom with two separate beds incase they stayed out too late and needed someplace to sleep.

"Now, I think it's time you tell me about your little scheme," Hermione said plopping down on the couch.

"Right," Draco remembered sitting next to her before taking out the ring he's been fiddling with from his pocket.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the ring, her mind going where most women's do and she hoped she was wrong. Not that she wouldn't want to marry Draco one day but Hermione believed they were too young right now.

"Let me stop your train of thought right there, Hermione," Draco said with a smile. "If I know you, and I'd like to think I do, you're making all sorts of conclusions and possible case scenarios. Yes, this is originally an engagement ring but I'm not proposing, not for awhile at least," he told her easing her worry.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and he smirked.

"Then what is it for?" She asked with her curiosity peaked.

"Well the only reason we haven't come out as a couple yet is because of your safety-" he started to explain.

"Our safety," Hermione corrected him with a pointed look.

"Yes our safety, well this ring has been in my family for generations and it has many protection spells places on it," Draco said.

"But..?" Hermione inquired.

"But it is an engagement ring and it won't allow me to give it to just anyone, so I'm going to use this as an opportunity to give you a promise ring," he explained hoping she wouldn't shoot his idea down.

"What kind of promise?" She asked.

"A promise that I'll always love you and a reminder that even if things don't work out between us, you'll always have a place in my heart," he answers sheepishly.

"Oh Draco," Hermione said feeling her heart swell before hugging him tightly. "That's so sweet but.." she trailed off.

"But?" He said a bit worried as he pulled back enough to look her in the eyes.

"What about you? I know their your family but what about other Death Eaters, they certainly wouldn't stand to have the "great Malfoy name" to be dirtied by a mudblood," she expressed her worries.

"Don't call yourself that," Draco said firmly, he always tenses when he hears that name.

"It's true though, that's how they see me and essentially that's what I am," Hermione pointed out as she pulled out of the hug.

"Still I don't want to hear you say it," he said seriously.

"Ok," she said softly. "Now back to my question, what about you?" She said getting back on topic.

"I.." He said taking necklace off that he was wearing under his shirt to show a ring with a big emerald on a chain, "..have this."

"Does it have the same protection spells?" She asked curiously.

"Yes it does," he answered. "So..does this mean you accept yours?" Draco asked hopefully.

"Of course I do!" She exclaimed and gladly took the ring when he handed it to her.

Hermione took that time to properly inspect the ring he had given her. It too had a emerald in the center but it was smaller and had diamonds surrounding it. She conjured a chain similar to Draco's and put her ring on it to wear.

She looked up to find him smiling lovingly at her, she then took his necklace and at his surprised expression she explained. "And this, is my promise to you. I will always love you and even if we get separated, you will always have a place in my heart," then she handed the ring back to him.

"Well in that case, I accept," he said before putting it back on.

He then leaned over and they sealed their promises with a before When Draco and Hermione pulled back from their kiss, they both were grinning like fools. But if you asked them, they'd just say they were fools in love.

"So does this mean we can tell everyone now," Hermione said excitedly. It's been killing her to lie to her friends and keep such a big secret from them.

"Yes but not quiet yet, I was thinking maybe at the Yule Ball?" he suggested.

"Why Malfoy, are you asking me to go to the Yule Ball with you?" Hermione teased.

"It looks like it, Granger," he teased back.

"Well actually I'm already going with someone," she told him and then started laughing after seeing the panicked look on Draco's face. "I'm only joking! Of course I'll go with you," Hermione exclaimed and he visibly relaxed.

"Thank goodness, I was afraid it was going to be McLaggen or worse ," Draco said with a disgusted look.

"Well I think Ron has tried to ask me a few times but didn't get the words out," she mused and then laughed again as she saw his scrunched up face.

"Oh no, that might actually be worse then both of them," He said.

"Oh come on, they're not that bad, Draco. Don't tell me your jealous," she said teasing. When he didn't reply to that she looked over at him to find his face expressionless, she hated it when he did that.

"You are jealous of them, aren't you?" she realized and he looked down sighing.

"Of course I'm jealous of them. They have everything, sure I have my share of riches and fame but that's not what I mean. They have people who love and respect them. They have people they can trust, other than you of course," he said added the last part.

"They were leading the right side of the war when I couldn't even be on it. Worst of all they have you. They got to make sure you were safe during the war, they were with you through it. They get to be around you in public all the time without people even blinking an eye," he said speaking about emotions that he never has before.

"Well guess what, we'll be able to go anywhere we want together after Yule," Hermione reminded him with a soft smile and he returned it.

"The perfect Christmas present," Draco commented.