Masked

Epilogue

With joined hands they looked into each others eyes and said "I do." Everyone In the audience smiled as the words "you may now kiss the bride" sounded through the tent. With a big grin Harry cupped Ginny's face and kissed her. The crowd clapped from their seats. Hermione smiled when she felt an arm drape over her shoulders. Leaning back, she rested against Draco's chest. This made him smile as he traced patterns on her soft skin.

It had been 3 years since the battle of Hogwarts and in that time Hogwarts had been rebuilt to its former glory and opened for an 8th year. All of Hermione's friends had returned including Draco and herself. Her thoughts were broken when she felt a pair of soft lips kiss her temple. Draco. Looking up at him, he was still breathtakingly gorgeous and his grey eyes shined like silver.

The ceremony ended and the guests made their way to the party tent for the reception. Soon harry and Ginny were dancing away on the dance floor, while Draco and Hermione were talking at a table. Draco fed her another piece of cake. "Do you have to work tomorrow?" She asked between forkfuls. With a shake of his head and bite of cake Draco said "I took the week off."

After the war and the death of his father, Draco decided he wanted to help people so he studied and became a healer at St. Mungos. He was now the top healer. Hermione on the other hand was working for the ministry of magic. She smiled and watched Draco stand and hold out his hand to her. With a smile, she takes it and soon Draco is whisking her around the dance floor. Merlin he can dance.

The party went on for hours. Everyone laughing and dancing. It was so astonishing how Draco had gone from most hated enemy to being allowed to dance with Ginny in a matter of 3 years. Tonight there was no talk of the past or the war. Tonight all of them are together to celebrate a declaration of love. All was well.

A pair of strong arms were around her small body. "Hello Draco." Hermione smiled leaning back into her boyfriend. "Come outside. And bring your wand love." Obeying she found all of her friends were outside with their wands and she knew what was taking place. Ron, Luna, Neville, lavender, harry, Ginny, George, Draco and Hermione all raised their wands.

"Expecto Patronum," all voices mixed together and soon a silvery light grew from each wand. Ron's dog, Harry's stag, Luna's rabbit, Neville's frog, lavenders swan,Ginny's horse, Georges fox, and Hermione's otter filed the sky. Joining the group was a silver wolf. They all looked over to see Draco, the boy who could never conjure a patronus, was the creator of the wolf. Smiling Hermione wrapped an arm around him as the animals danced through the sky.

"Get these shoes off me" Hermione whined as stood at the door of the apartment flat as shared with Draco. With a chuckle the man in the very handsome suit takes off her shoes and gets out his keys. It was dark once they got inside and Hermione pulled her hand from Draco's to find the light switch. Hermione could hear Draco whisper the words of a spell and lights illuminated the room. Her jaw dropped.

The flat was covered in rose petals and candles. It looked absolutely beautiful. Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling. With wide eyes she looked over at Draco who was standing in the center of the room. He held his hand out to her. Slowly making her way over to him she takes it. His smile was dazzling as he looked down at her. With in a second he was on one knee holding her hand.

"In all my life I never would have expected I would have found someone who makes me as happy as you do. I was drowning in darkness and I didn't think I would get out, but then you came. You gave me light. You showed me people are worth second chances. You showed me there is good inside of me. You showed me love. You never once gave up on me." He kissed her fingers. "I love you with all my heart and I always will. Would you, Hermione Jean Granger, make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" He opened a small black box and beautiful diamond ring was nestled in the velvet, gleaming up at her.

Hermione's chocolate brown eyes were wide. For a moment she was actually speechless. This beautiful man was on his knee in front of her asking for her hand. The rose petals, the lights, and Draco was like out of a dream. His silver eyes were gazing up at her with pure love. A tear of joy slipped down her cheek as she nodded. "Yes! Of course I'll marry you Draco." A grin plastered on his face as he slipped the ring on her finger. Standing up, he wrapped his arms around her, spinning her.

Once she was set down his lips crashes onto hers in a loving kiss. Her hand tangled in his hair as she returned the kiss with no hesitation. She felt him picking her up and carrying her to their bedroom. Hermione felt the softness of her bed surround her as Draco laid her down. He broke the kiss to look down at his now fiancée. Hermione hair was sprawled over the pillows of the bed and her small body was beneath his.

Draco's smooth fingers stroked her cheek. "You are so beautiful my love. I'm so glad you're mine." Before his lips claimed hers in another kiss Hermione whispered. "Always."