Everything went by in a flash for me. All I wanted was to leave this place and have her in my arms again. To hold her body close, knowing she is breathing in my arms. That she's alive and happy in my embrace.

Snape hexed Harry Potter outside, right before the burning hut of Hagrid. They Apparate to Malfoy Manor.

I quickly make my way into the living room, the others following me closely. The scene was calm yet frightening.

Lord Voldemort, just sitting on one of our chairs by the blazing fire. On a couch next to that chair sit both my parents with wands of Death Eaters on them, preventing them from leaving.

In a chair next to their couch sit Hermione. She has even more wands on her, knowing they should watch out for the Golden Girl.

Voldemort looks up when we enter.

"Ahh, Draco. I suppose it is done?" "Ye-yes, my Lord, it's done. Professor Dumbledore is dead," I stutter, looking at Hermione in fright of what she would think.

A lonely tear escapes her eye, disappointment clear in her eyes as she looks at me.

"Then you can have a little talk with your family and girlfriend now. Enjoy yourself, you've done great work Draco," Voldemort replies, standing up. He is leaving the room until I hold him back.

"My Lord, may I ask something," I quickly ask.

He turns around, stares in my eyes and nods.

"Have.. have you hurt them," I stutter, afraid of his answer.

"No, I didn't, but your lovely Mudblood doesn't seem alright, probably that pregnancy of hers, won't it?"

With a smirk on his face, he and the other Death Eaters leave the four of us alone. I run over to Hermione and hug her tight. She cries in my shoulder, softly hitting me with her fists.

"You.. you've killed.. killed Dumbledore," she whispers, her tears pouring as she doesn't have to hold the facade on anymore.

"Shh Hermione, shhh, everything is going to be alright. They didn't hurt you, did they?" "No, I just felt nauseous but that was because of the child," she replies. I caress her cheek with my long, pale digits and kiss her tears away.

"I haven't killed Dumbledore love, Snape did it."

"Re.. really? Aren't you.. lying to me," she asks hopefully.

"I will never lie to you, my love." I hold with one hand both her hands on her lap and with the other I touch her slightly swollen belly. She was two and a half months, approximately.

My mother and father look at us without saying anything.

"Is she really worth it Draco? They could have killed her if they wanted to," Lucius asks calmly. I knew he liked Hermione as my girlfriend, but that he was afraid what our relationship would bring.

"She is totally worth it. I love her father and I hope she still loves me and what I gave inside of her," I say, with the last part looking at Hermione and her belly in hope.

"I love you Draco, and my little Malfoy," she whispers, stroking my hand. I grab her hand and hug her. "I bring you back to the Weasleys and Potter."

"Draco.. I can't leave you no-" "You are safer with them than here. The Dark Lord is staying here and you can't say that is safe for you or our child."

"But I want to help you.. stay with you now you have it so difficult. Please Draco," Hermione begs me. She clings herself on the collar of my suit and I hold her wrists, trying to get her off me.

"No Hermione. I don't want you to be in constant danger. You stay with the Weasleys, end of discussion." "Please Draco.. just one night then. Then I will go with you, I promise," Hermione nearly begs me, and I can't deny it hit me, hard. Her eyes filled with tears, shining in the little light of the living room. I nod.

Hermione goes over to the couch and kisses my mother and father goodnight. I grab her by her waist, walking with her up the stairs to my bedroom. We changed into nightclothing(she borrowed a white T-shirt, white socks and some black boxers of me) and step into the bed.

She lays her head on my bare chest and looks up into my eyes. "I know.. that you want to protect me. But.. who will protect you?"

"Hermione don-" "I don't want my child to get born in this world without his or her father Draco!" "Shh, I promise you I will stay alive." "Swear it.." "I swear it Hermione. Do you want proof?" Hermione nods.

I sigh and shove her softly off my body. I can see her confusion when I step out of the bed and walk over to my closet.

"Draco.. what are yo-" "Just wait a little Hermione," I reply on her lingering question and I open the closet. Under my 5th black suit on the right I had hidden something.

It was a black box, stolen from the room with all the Malfoy family heirlooms. I walk over to the bed again and lean with my back to the headend. Hermione crawls up a bit and focuses her eyes on the box.

I open the box and show her a silver ring with an emerald inside of it. "Draco, what is the meaning of this," Hermione asks, obviously confused.

I don't say anything and grab the ring out of the box and with my free hand I grab hers.

"When this war is over... will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" "Wha.. yes, YES, of course I will marry you, love," Hermione replies with a grin and she throws her arms around my neck. While we kiss I push the ring on her finger.

The emerald glows up when I leave the ring around her finger.

"Why did it do that," Hermione asks, again confused. It is strange to see the Brightest Witch of Her Age so confused, but also funny.

"It means it works. This is a Malfoy Heirloom: every male heir gives it to their bride. In the period of being engaged the bride can see the emotions of her future husband by the colour of the stone. Emerald means happy, blue means sad, grey means bored, black means dead, red means anger, youcan continue that way for a while."

"Do you have a list for me," Hermione asks with a grin.