Adaptation Abounds

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to JKR. I make no money from this.

A/N: Many thanks go to my awesome beta, Southern_Witch_69.

This is my response to LOTM's YLC challenge. For rules see the end of chapter one.

Chapter Fourteen

Adaptation Abounds

It took a moment for the shock to wear off, but once it did, Draco remembered his manners. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, welcome to my...our...home." Though he was nervous, he hid it well.

Arthur snorted. "We should have been invited into your home before this marriage occurred, Mr. Malfoy."

"Please, call me Draco, sir." After clearing his throat, he continued, "I apologize for marrying your daughter in secret, but I won't apologize for marrying her. I love her."

Ron jumped up. "Love her? LOVE her? How do you expect my family to believe that you honestly love her when all during school you..."

"Ron! Stop that!" Ginny exclaimed. "Is it so hard to believe that someone could actually love me? Besides, Draco was your enemy, not mine."

Turning towards his sister, Ron softened a bit. "No, Ginny, it's not hard to believe that someone could love you. You're an exceptional girl..."

"Woman."

Sighing, Ron conceded, "Woman. But if you think you will live 'happily ever after' with a bloody Malfoy, then you are sadly mistaken. A Malfoy, Ginny."

"If I may speak?" Narcissa rose from her seat to stand beside her son and his wife. "At the risk of continuously repeating myself, might I point out that these two are already married? This is not a meeting to berate our newlyweds; we are here to discuss the party."

"Party?" Ginny looked at her mother, horrified. "What party? We don't really want a party, Mum."

"Oh, I see. So, the two of you would deprive us of witnessing your nuptials and having a wedding party for family and close friends? My only daughter, whom I have dreamed about seeing on her wedding day since the day she was born?"

Ginny and Draco both winced at that statement. Molly Weasley really knew how to lay on the guilt when she wanted to.

"Way to lay on the guilt, Mum!" Bill praised as if reading his sister's thoughts. Then, turning to the couple, he said, "It's true, you two. You should at least let them throw you a party."

Exhaling deeply, Draco caved. "All right. If throwing us a party will get everyone off of our backs and accepting this marriage, then by all means..."

"Glad to hear that, Draco." Turning to Narcissa, Molly said, "I think next week would be perfect. The gardens you have here are so beautiful, and with next week being the full moon and all, couples can walk through them for a moonlight stroll."

"Oh, yes, that would be so romantic!" Samantha said. Turning to her husband, she told him, "Ron, I don't believe we have ever had a moonlight stroll in a beautiful garden."

Nobody in the room noticed that Narcissa had gone deathly pale except Draco and Ginny. Her daughter-in-law quickly came to her rescue. "Oh, no, we couldn't possibly have the party next week! It's too soon. Perhaps the week after."

"What are you on about, Ginny? You know very well I can put a party together in that amount of time...less if I had to." Molly folded her arms across her chest, insulted.

"Of course you could, Molly," Narcissa calmly stated. "I'm afraid that it's me that couldn't possibly be ready in only a week's time."

Slightly mollified, Molly merely nodded. "Okay, fine. Two weeks then." Turning to her daughter, she snapped, "I will expect you and your mother-in-law to set up a time to meet with me. I'll need to know what foods you want prepared..."

"Whatever for? My caterer will handle all that nonsense," Narcissa said with a wave or her hand. "My florist will handle the flowers and so on. All we need to take care of is the guest lists and our attire."

Becoming angry all over again and feeling helpless and left out, Molly said through clenched teeth, "Well, if there is nothing for us to do except make a few Floo calls, then why in the world can't we have the party next week?"

Fred and George, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the entire scene piped up after seeing their sister's distress. "Well, next week's practice will be exceptionally hard," Fred started.

"Too right," George continued. "We are playing Bulgaria after all."

Ron snorted. Turning to his brother-in-law, he said, "Practice all you want, you won't beat that team. Viktor Krum is the Seeker, you know."

Raising an eyebrow, Draco challenged, "Would you like to bet on that, Weasley?"

"Boys!" Authur said threateningly. "This is hardly the time or place for that."

"If it's my party, then why can't I decide when we have it?" Ginny wanted to know.

"Fine," her mother snapped. "Why don't you just let me know when it is, and I will just show up. Would that suit?"

"Mum," Charlie soothed. "It's only a party. Does it really matter when we have it?"

"Don't try to placate me, Charlie Weasley! I have had no say at all...none...over any decision my only daughter has made in this travesty of a marriage! Did she talk to me about Draco? No. Did she share her hopes, her dreams about the man she loved? No. Did I have even one inkling that she was even considering marriage? None! I feel right deprived, I do."

"Travesty? You think my marriage is a travesty? I can't believe you just said that! How dare you? You come into this home, berate us, offend his mother by putting down the name Malfoy, and now insult us personally about our choice? Now, I understand you are upset about not seeing the actual wedding, but I will not have you...or anyone for that matter...belittle what is between Draco and I. We love each other; can't you people see that?" Ginny threw up her hands in exasperation.

"You think I am merely upset? Ginny, love, I am devastated! This is one of the most important things in your life, and you have excluded those who love you."

With tears running down her cheeks, Ginny went to her mother and wrapped her arms around her. Molly didn't return the embrace. "I'm so sorry, Mum! I didn't mean to hurt you or anyone in our family. We didn't know ourselves we were actually going to get married until we got the YLC results back. When we met at the YLC office..."

"Hold on right there," Molly said as she help up a hand. "You mean to tell me this marriage was even more spur of the moment than we originally thought? Are you pregnant, Ginny?"

"No! I am not pregnant! I love Draco!"

"Molly, I think we should all just calm down," Narcissa started. "This is getting us nowhere. This should be a happy time for our children, but instead, it's becoming a living hell."

"Well, we agree there," Molly said. "I wish I would have never agreed to ambush the kids here to begin with. I should have talked to my daughter alone, like I had first planned to do. I have been hurt by all of this, and arguing about it is getting us nowhere. Ginny, I will talk to you later when we have all calmed down some." Turning to her husband, she asked, "Arthur, are you ready? Boys? Let's go." Molly felt she had to leave before she broke down.

Giving Ginny reassuring pats and hugs, her brothers left by Floo to head to the Burrow. The last thing Molly and Authur heard as they departed was Ginny quietly sobbing. After they left, Draco turned to his mother with a hard expression on his face.

"Well, whose brilliant idea was this?"

"You will watch your tone, young man. I am still your mother." Turning to the newest Mrs. Malfoy, Narcissa told her, "I would like to thank you for insisting we not have the party next week. I assume Draco has told you of my... affliction?" At Ginny's nod, she continued, "Good. That would have been hard to hide with you living here. I would also like to apologize for today. I thought it would be easier for all concerned if we could get the first meeting out of the way. I had no idea your mother was still that upset. She seemed fine last time we spoke and agreed to coming here."

"It's okay. I never thought she would react so harshly. I mean, I knew she would be upset, but I had no idea she would be so hurt. It kills me that I've caused her this pain."

"I'm sorry, love. If we'd only known, we could have been better prepared." Draco once again shot his mother a hard stare.

Sighing with defeat, Narcissa said, "I am going to retire to my room. Draco, I have had your rooms prepared for you and your wife. Goodnight."

As Narcissa walked out, Ginny looked up into her new husband's eyes. "Take me to bed, Draco. I need at least some good memories of my first night in my new home."

Smirking, Draco told his wife, "Gladly." Then he quickly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Smacking her playfully on her bum, he said, "Let's go make some memories, wife!"

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Hermione was adding the finishing touches to her makeup, getting ready to go to Hogwarts to see Severus. She thought Sunday would never come! Severus had been extremely busy most of the week, and she had hardly been able to see him. She sighed with happiness. Things were slowly but surely falling into place for her and Severus.

She hadn't nagged, whinged, begged, cried or pleaded. She had demanded nothing of Severus and had gone along with each of his suggested meeting times...most of the time. When he'd left her flat or she had left his rooms after love making, she didn't try to make him feel guilty for not staying with her the whole night. She could tell sometimes by the way his arms tightened around her that he wanted her to stay, and if the bugger would just give in and ask her to, she would be more than happy to oblige him, but he never said a word. She simply didn't want to offer incase he denied her. She supposed it boiled down to a battle with pride.

Not that she was a doormat by any means. If she had something to say, she said it. If she had somewhere to be, she went, even if it caused Severus to have to wait on her or not see her at all for a time. If she didn't agree with something her lover said, she told him. Hermione just didn't fall into that clingy, I want to be with you all the time, don't leave me category, even though she wanted to spend the night in his arms and be with him more often.

Hermione wanted Severus to feel secure in this relationship and not pressured. He was already starting to complain of the lack of time he got to spend with her this past week, so she knew that he wanted more. It wouldn't be long until he thought of marriage...she was sure of it...especially when they started doing things with Greg, Luna, Ginny, and Draco.

She thought back to her conversation with Ginny earlier. Her best friend was so distraught at the thoughts of hurting her mother, but Hermione wondered how Ginny could not have known how this elopement would affect Molly. Ginny was her only girl out of seven children. It was almost a given that Molly had planned for Ginny's wedding day ever since she was a small girl.

Shaking her head, Hermione felt bad about not being able to have the party some night this week. Even though there was no getting around that, it seemed that either Narcissa or Ginny thwarted every other suggestion or plan that Molly made. Really, what would it have hurt to let her cook a few things? She'd bet anything that Molly Weasley could do just as well as any caterer. And why not let her Transfigure a few decorations or use some of her flowers?

Glancing at her clock, Hermione hurriedly grabbed the package on her dresser and went outside to Apparate to Hogwarts and her love...although he had no idea that he was her love, just yet.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Severus sat in front of his fireplace, watching the fire and brooding...although, if anyone had accused him of brooding, they would've gotten hexed. He was thinking about Hermione Granger.

He had never been in a serious relationship with a woman before and found he didn't care for the way it made him feel. He hardly ever went an hour without thinking of her. Whenever he had an idea or theory, he wanted to share it with her, and if he received any kind of news...good or bad...she was the first person he wanted to tell.

It was disconcerting to realize that he actually wanted her to stay the night in his bed and to hold her during the night. Why didn't the stubborn woman ever ask to? He had given her hints that he didn't want her to go, but she never seemed to say anything! He wasn't about to ask only to hear some flimsy excuse. He hadn't actually spent the entire night with her since that first weekend that they were together in her flat because of conflicting schedules and the fact that she never asked.

Thinking that it would be nice to read the Daily Prophet over breakfast and discuss the contents with her troubled him. But the final blow came when he realized that he would rather be with her on his days off this week than see to Mr. Fisher. Of course, he would never skive off his duties that way, but the mere fact that he wanted to troubled him. He had finally come to the realization that he had actual, deep-rooted feelings for Hermione.

At the same time, he had to wonder what she felt for him. He knew she wanted an exclusive relationship, but that hardly meant she had the same deep-rooted feelings he did. It was obvious that she cared for him. She showed him this in many little ways, but how much?

There was many times this past week that he wanted her just to Floo to him, though he never asked her to. Why did she never just stop by? A few of the other women he'd dated would have done just that. He never thought of the fact that Hermione knew how important this breakthrough was to him and was trying to be supportive and give him the time and space she'd thought he'd needed.

His scowl became deeper as he thought of her other reactions to him. She never tried to cling to him, which he was actually glad of, he was a man who needed space, but he wondered still why she didn't.

But this past week, he thought she had shown a bit too much nonchalance about their relationship, and that bothered him most of all...that she could show disinterest, while he wanted to cling, beg, and whinge about the lack of time they spent together. True, he had warned her that he would be busy, and she had done nothing really but give him the space he had claimed he'd wanted, but did she have to be so understanding about it? "Well, it stops now!" he grumbled aloud. If she could show indifference, then by God so could he! His mood became even darker.

The first thing Hermione noticed when she walked into his room was that Severus was in a very bad mood. Oh, no! I hope nothing is wrong with the cure!

Walking over to him and placing a kiss on his cheek, she said, "Hello, Severus, all right?"

"Yes, I am fine. Why wouldn't I be?" he snapped.

Taken aback at his brisk reply, she told him, "No reason, you just seem upset." Wanting to change the subject and perhaps put him in a better mood, she continued, "I have a surprise for you." She then pointed to the package she had sat on the table as she walked over to him.

"What is it?" he asked moodily.

"It some of that gurdyroot you have been trying to get but can't seem to find anywhere! I had a client fill out a form to grow it some time back since it's so hard to find, and when he was approved, I asked if he could spare some." Hermione was beaming with pride.

"Thank you," was his only reply.

Confused by his behavior, Hermione moved to stand directly in front of her pouting lover. "Tell me what's wrong, baby. I want to help." He scowled at her for calling him 'baby,' but remained silent and choleric, crossing his arms over his chest and starring into the fire.

Toeing off her shoes, Hermione straddled him and put her arms around his neck. When he slightly stiffened, she started to get worried. What on earth is the matter with him? What could I have done to cause this reaction?

She started rubbing his neck while lightly kissing his jaw and said softly, "My, you are very tense. Come and lie on the bed, and let me give you a massage before dinner. You have yet to experience the magic of my fingers!"

"Is that right? Magic fingers, eh? Well, tell me, baby, how many men have experienced them?" Severus knew that was uncalled for, but at the moment, he didn't care.

Abruptly, Hermione stood. "Okay, that came out of nowhere. I don't know what has put you in this mood, but I do know I don't want to be the recipient of your hurtful remarks."

"Going then, are you? Indeed, it seems to not bother you at all that we have hardly seen each other this past week or that we won't see much of each other this coming week. It's almost as if you don't care whether you see me or not."

"Now, that's just ridiculous! First of all, I didn't say I was leaving, I said I didn't care to be the recipient of your hurtful remarks...and I don't! Second, of course I care! I miss you terribly when I don't get to see you." Seeing his disbelieving look, she said, "I am going to hate this coming week, but I do understand how important this breakthrough is for you. I want to support you in everyway that I can. It seems as if you are deliberately trying to pick a fight with me."

Starting to feel like a rotter, he said, "You do support me, Hermione." Sighing, he said, "I must admit that I am quite nervous about this upcoming week." He didn't feel like fighting with her anymore.

Softening a little at his admission, though realizing there was more to his bad mood than that, she said, "Come, lie down, Severus. Let me work out these kinks for you." Perhaps if I loosen him up a bit, he'll tell me what's wrong.

He stood wordlessly and followed her to his bedchambers. When he started to lie down, she stopped him. "Strip down to your boxers."

Raising an eyebrow, he started the task of unbuttoning his robes. When he was in only his boxers, he lay face down on the bed. When she started to straddle his back, he told her, "Your turn. Strip down... as much as you wish."

Chuckling, she decided to play along. She knew it would be more comfortable in only her bra and knickers in any case. After she'd undressed, she straddled him on his lower back and began to rub and knead his back and shoulders, pleased with his groans of appreciativeness. Sliding further down, she began to caress his legs and feet. When she finished, she told him to turn over.

Once he'd turned, she started with his feet and slowly moved up to his thighs. From the tent in his boxers, he was enjoying his massage immensely. To his disappointment, Hermione bypassed his erection...the thing he wanted massaged the most at the moment...and went for his chest and arms.

When she had moved up his body enough that he could do so, Severus grabbed her hips, molding his erection to her body. "I think you skipped a place, baby."

Hermione looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He is never going to let me live that down. "Oh, do you have a place that needs more attention? Someplace that... hurts... a little more than the others?"

Thrusting a bit, he said, "Oh, yeah, I have a place that hurts very badly, but you need to remove your knickers to ease this ache."

"Is that so? Well, my sole intention of bringing you in here was to... How did you put it? Oh, yes... ease your aches, so, by all means, lets get these knickers off." Raising off him and standing by the bed, she slowly eased her knickers down. "Would you like me to remove your boxers? As you like to say, tit for tat."

"I would, yes. I want to get a thorough massage." After she had removed his boxers, she straddled him once again, this time directly on his groin. Rocking just a bit, she bent down to gently kiss him, forgetting all about dinner. "I have really missed this, Severus."

"Indeed. I have as well." Tightening his hold on her, he pulled her down more firmly and deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to invade her mouth. Lifting his hands from her waist, he found her bra-clad breasts, discovering that the bra made her even sexier. He raised his head and wrapped his lips around her nipple, enjoying the sensation of the lace on his tongue. She moaned when he tested her readiness with his finger.

Deciding that he couldn't wait any longer and would rather save the foreplay for later, he positioned her over him and thrust home. Home. Being inside Hermione felt like coming home.

Looking into his eyes, Hermione locked her hands with his and started to move slowly. Sensing that something in the dynamics had changed for the better, she wanted this moment to last. "Severus," she whispered, and he expertly flipped her to her back without missing a stroke.

Becoming still, he leaned down and kissed her once again, enjoying the feeling of being inside her and feeling her tremble beneath him. When he started moving again, she moaned in pleasure.

All too soon, he started to feel the familiar tightening, so he lowered his finger to her small bundle of nerves and deftly rubbed the way he knew she loved. After he felt her stiffen and sigh, he let himself go, murmuring her name.

Slipping out of her, he pulled her close. "I have some time before I need to be at St. Mungo's. Stay here with me awhile. We can eat before I go."

"Nothing would please me more," she agreed. "I really wish I could spend the night in your arms more," she told him, kissing his nose, "and making love again in the morning light." She was immediately horrified she'd let that slip. So much for not making him feel guilty.

Pleased with that admission, he said, "I find myself wishing that as well."

Smiling up into his eyes with relief, she teased, "Well, we will just have to see what we can do about that then, won't we?"

"Indeed."

As Hermione drifted off, Severus pulled her closer. He made a decision at that moment. After the busy next week was over, he was going to talk to his lover about making a more permanent commitment, and then he would know where she stood.

Christy's Notes: Well! Ginny and Draco faced the wrath of their families and survived, although I think Ginny sees now how (and why) she hurt her mother. Severus seems to know what he wants, but can't figure out what Hermione wants. This fic has almost come to an end... Some of Greg and Luna in the next chapter!

Southern's Notes: I was wondering what happened to the Goyles and thought maybe they'd been abducted by fanfic aliens. Hopefully things will be resolved soon!

Hey guys! Southern_Witch_69 and I have started a new story, Coerced Salvation, and it's right here at ThePetulantPoetess!