Veela Love

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Astronomy Tower

            Draco laid on his back at the top of the astronomy tower next to Hermione, under an enchanted blanket.

"Do you know what my favorite constellation is? Always has been?" Hermione asked.

"What?" Draco asked, his eyes half-closed. He felt Hermione's contentment, and a small smile graced his lips. "Leo?"

"No. Draco."

Draco's eyes flew open, and he rolled over to look at her blushing cheeks. "Truly?"

She bit her lip and nodded. "It's always been my favorite. I love where it's located in the night sky – I can always find it. And it's a dragon – how interesting is that?"

Draco leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Just admit you've always had a thing for me, darling."

"Did not," Hermione giggled, casting him a sidelong glance. "I will admit I might have admired your physique once or twice, though."

It was Draco's turn to blush. He cleared his throat. "Wanna know a secret?"

"Of course!"

"There's only ever been one thing I've seen in divination in the crystal ball."

"Oh?"

Draco nodded, gazing up at the stars twinkling above them. "Bloody dreadful class, divination. A load of crap. At the time, I thought what I saw was a joke that Blaise had someone managed to pull off."

"What did you see? What year?"

"Fourth year. I saw... well, don't laugh at me. I saw me proposing to you."

Hermione was silent for one heartbeat before whispering, "I don't think that's funny at all. I think it's rather lovely."

Draco didn't realize he'd been so tense until her words unwound him. He didn't want her to laugh at him.

"Why did you think it was a joke?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Because I was Draco Malfoy, and you were Hermione Granger. Because you were a muggle-born, and I was a pureblood. Because there's nothing good enough in me to be found by the likes of you."

Hermione was silent for several minutes. "Then, if you've already deemed it impossible, why are you telling me?"

Screwing up his courage, Draco sat up and reached into his pocket. Hermione hopped up, her eyes wide. "What-"

"Hermione Jean Granger, let me talk, please."

Her eyes widened, but she clasped a hand across her mouth.

"I'm telling you right now so that you know even back then, my heart wanted you. God knows I don't deserve you. You are simply too good for me in every sense of the word. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my mate would also be the great love of my life, yet here we are. I know we're too young for this, but I can't help myself. I need to have you in every way possible." He opened the ring box to show a marque-style cut diamond of perfect clarity. It was the least ostentatious piece in the Malfoy collection. "Marry me, even if it's not this year. Just marry me, Hermione. Let me be your husband someday."

Hermione stared at him for one, two, three heartbeats before she screamed, burst into tears and jumped into his arms. "Yes! Yes, a million times yes! Oh, Draco!" She pulled him to his feet and pulled his head down to her. Draco had to pull back after a minute.

"I'm so glad you said yes, darling, Here let me put the ring on."

"It's beautiful," Hermione whispered. "You know we can't get married after graduation, right?"

"Yes," he chuckled. "We have exams."

"Can we come out now?" Ginny asked from behind them. Draco nodded, and Hermione gasped as Blaise and Ginny removed their disillusionment charm. Harry took off the invisibility cloak holding a camera.

"Congrats 'Mione!" all three of them yelled as they piled onto her, each hugging whatever they could get a piece of.

Draco took the forgotten camera up off the cloak and clicked a picture.

"Let's do pictures!" Ginny squealed.

"I want one over by the edge with Draco!" Hermione said, walking over to the railing.

"Be careful!" Draco called his heart in his throat. The edge still bothered him from when Dumbledore had tumbled over.

Hermione tossed her curls over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. She leaned up against the railing. "Really, Draco, it's fine. See?"

Even with his superhuman speed, Draco wasn't quick enough to catch Hermione as the railing gave way, tipping her over the edge. Draco was at the side of the tower before anyone else had blinked; he watched the love of his life hit the ground twelve stories below.