Nightmares from Another

Hermione was over the moon as she and Draco walked back from their picnic. All she could think about was her date and everything that had happened. She kissed Draco Malfoy, and she had liked it. She had been devastated at first, so shocked when they called his name. She soon figured out the reasons for being together, and now she even thought that they could make one happy family out of everything. She was so happy she didn't notice she was practically skipping in the halls.

"Hermione," Draco said, smiling down at her. He knew she didn't like it when people stared, but she brought it on herself this time, "You're causing people to stare." 

"Oh." She said immediately, trying to fall into his rhythm of walking. It was hard for her to do, though, because he was so much taller and his legs much longer; she now looked even more ridiculous because she looked as she was chasseing down the hall. 

They walked right to their apartment, and Hermione found a movie for them both to watch. Draco had gotten very good at popping the popcorn perfectly, so he was now in charge of that. Once it was done, he sat down, and she cuddles into his chest. How was this the image they were producing? It seemed so foreign, but they were both glowing, and it suited them. After they had been through, they both deserved some happiness. 

"What did you pick?" 

"It is a great movie. It is called Beauty and the Beast." Hermione smiled at the screen that was changing colors in from of her. Draco smirked as the tale unfolded, and he thought about how similar the story was to their own. He wondered if that is why Hermione liked it so much and why she had picked it.

"So I used to be a monster, huh?"

"Well. That isn't why I chose it, actually. I really like the book the movie is based on." 

"Well, I like it all the same." Draco kissed the top of her head and then went to get ready for his night on the couch. 

Hermione kissed him once more before she went into their bedroom, and he silently wished that he could hold her all night. He just wanted to wake up next to her, but he knew she wasn't ready. They had already pushed so much so fast he didn't want to be the one to freak her out with how fast this was going. 

About around 1 in the morning, Hermione started noticing strange noises from the other room, and she carefully found her wand and opened the door slightly. She was back in hiding mode. War mode. She knew she could handle herself, but she just saw Draco shaking on the couch when she lit her wand. 

She quickly turned the lights on and walked to his side. He had told her how he had woken her up, but she had never practiced that kind of magic. She knew it was far too advanced to get it right on the first try, and she didn't want to make things worse. She just started to tear up. She had never witnessed one of Draco's nightmares, and she started to wonder if he got them often. 

"Draco, baby, wake up, please. It isn't real. I'm here."

"Get off of her!" Was all he let out, and her body when ridged. She couldn't move. It was as if he was talking to her, as she had been at the beginning of the year. 

"Draco, she's gone. I'm here. It's Hermione. I'm here. Draco, wake up." She started begging him, shaking him. She just wanted to know he was alright. She wanted to tell him he would be okay. 

Suddenly Draco sat straight up and looked at Hermione, and he started breathing normally, and she let out a breath.

"I am sorry. I forgot the spell. I didn't mean to wake you."

She ignored the mention of a spell and engulfed him into a hug. After kissing her neck and reassuring her that he was fine, she finally let go. 

"Now, why have you been casting spells?" She looked at him hard. She wanted to face things together, even if they were hard and uncomfortable. 

"I make it so you cannot hear me. I want you to be able to sleep." 

"What about you? Don't you deserve to sleep?" She started to tear up. 

"Sometimes, I think I deserve to be haunted." He didn't want to lie to her.

"Well, too bad, cause you do. You're coming to bed with me." Hermione stood up and took his hand, lifting him off the couch. He was going to protest, but her look shot that down before it even came off of his tongue. 

She crawled into bed and then started patting the bedding when he didn't follow suit. 

"Are you sure 'Mione? I mean." He didn't want her to regret this in the morning. 

"In. Now." She undid the blankets, and he slid into the bed next to her. The sheets smelled like her, and he started to relax. She immediately moved toward him and put her head on his chest. 

He thought that she had fallen asleep quite quickly once she had made herself comfortable, and so he closed his eyes as well. 

When Hermione woke up, there were two big strong arms wrapped around her, and she smiled to herself. She hadn't slept that well since before the war, and she cursed herself mentally for not thinking of doing this sooner. She rolled over and looked at her fiancé's face. It looked so peaceful. Completely different than how it had looked last night. 

She smiled gratefully. 

"Good morning, beautiful." Hermione's eyes widened when she heard Draco's voice. How could he tell she was staring at him.

She was staring at him; his entire body looked amazing. His abs were toned, and his arms were not too big. Hermione liked it a lot. 

"How did you know I was looking at you?"

"I just did. Liking what you see?"

"Don't blow it, Malfoy." She teased. He pulled her closer and planted a kiss right on her lips. 

Hermione didn't even mind when the kissing started to go further, and soon enough, she was completely naked. She didn't care. She loved what was happening, and she let it happen. Everything. And soon enough, they were both lying in their bed breathless. 

Draco had never experienced anything like that with any other girl, and Hermione had never experienced anything before but reckoned that was amazing. Draco leaned over once more and smiled, and then kissed his beautiful bride to be. 

Hermione was speechless, and then both just kept glancing at one another as they got ready for the morning.

Once they were in the Great Hall, he kissed her head and headed over to the Slytherin table. They had started eating breakfast with their housemates, and it really was nice to have time with your own friends. 

"What happened?" Ginny was whispering in Hermione's ear immediately. 

"What?" Hermione couldn't stop smiling the entire time, but she had no idea what Ginny was talking about.

"I mean with your date, and how come you are so happy?" Ginny eyed her best friend up and down, and then her eyes became wide. "You two did it!" She whisper screamed at Hermione. 

Hermione blushed immediately and shushed Ginny. 

"You did, didn't you? Was it amazing? I want to know everything." 

"Ginny, you can't tell anyone." Was Hermione's way of saying yes.

"Tell me something!" Ginny was getting impatient. 

"I mean. I'm not sure, Ginny."

"What do you mean you are not sure?" 

"I mean," Hermione was quiet and then breathed in and out, sighing wonderful thoughts filling her head, "it was perfect, Ginny. Everything I hoped it would be someday." 

Ginny squealed so loud that half of the hall was looking at the two of them. Hermione's face went red, and then she glared at her best friend. Ginny just laughed. No one knew what it was about. She was so happy that after all the worrying Hermione had done about the law and who her partner, that she was happy. Truly happy. 

Draco looked up when Ginny had squealed, and he smirked, knowing what it was about. That confirmed to Blaise what he was dying to ask his best mate.

"So finally did it, huh?"

Draco glared at his best friend. That was his wife he was talking about. Well, technically, they weren't married yet, but she was going to be his wife. 

"We didn't do it, mate; we are together. It is completely different." Draco didn't know why he thought he needed to explain himself, and Blaise put his arms up in defense. 

"So?" Blaise looked at Draco. He seemed happier than other times, and normally he would have spilled every detail to Blaise, but he wasn't forthcoming. 

"So she's perfect, and I don't deserve her." Was all Draco said? Blaise frowned. Not this again.

"Mate, I am sure she doesn't think that if you two are now taking that step."

"You think."

"Mate, I know," Blaise said, standing, seeing as his girlfriend was getting up as well. They were going to study potions together before class. Blaise knew she was going to need all the help she could get. She was perfectly brilliant in all her classes; she like experimenting when it came to potions. It made him nervous, honestly, after hearing about what had happened to her mother. "Do stop pouting. It doesn't suit you." He said before leaving Draco to curse at himself. 

Then he caught her looking at him, and all he could do was smile. She really was perfect—the end of all his nightmares.