Disclaimers: I do not now, nor have I ever owned the Harry Potter series or its characters. This story is strictly a work of fan fiction devoted to this wonderful world of Harry Potter. Any similarities between real people, places, and things are purely coincidental.

Warning!!!: This story is a Draco/Hermione fanfiction. If you do not like this couple, I suggest hitting the back button now. This story also contains scenes of an explicit nature. If you are under the age of 18, or if such scenes offend you, I suggest hitting the back button. I am not responsible for controlling what children read. That responsibility rests within the confines of proper parenting.

Key Note: If you have not read my story Heart and Soul, I suggest you do so before reading this story, since this is a sequel to that one. You will not understand some of the things in this story if you do not read Heart and Soul.

In-Laws

By: Tassana Burrfoot

Prologue

Draco pulled her close again and kissed her. It felt so wonderful to feel her in his arms again after so long. He never wanted to let her go.

She threw her head back and laughed. She reveled in the sweet kisses he set to her chin and her neck.

"Get a room," said a voice causing the couple to break their kiss.

Draco sneered at the offender, but Hermione just laughed. She laid her head against his chest and smiled at Padma. Padma returned the smile, and then added, "Of course, I don't blame you."

Hermione took a moment to take note of their surroundings. Most of the people in the Great Hall had returned to their rejoicing, some mourning. She found her friends sitting at Gryffindor table. While Harry and Ginny were engrossed in conversation, Ron stared at Hermione. Well, at first that's what Hermione thought. She suddenly realized that the scathing stare he had wasn't for her, but for Draco.

Hermione knew Ron was angry. To him, she had betrayed him. It was her fault. She had led him on, making him believe something would happen between them. She had kissed him. And now, she was in the arms of his enemy set for marriage. Of course, she was already married to Draco, but Ron didn't know that.

"Darling? Perhaps we aught to sit?" Draco suggested quietly in her ear.

Taking his hand into hers, she began the short hike towards her friends. She was stopped short when he did not follow. She threw him a curious glance and questioned, "I thought you wanted to sit?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I all ready have seats for us. I'm sure my mother wouldn't mind making room for you."

Her brows knitted together. "I thought we'd sit with Harry and..."

He stopped her with a shake of his head. "I have no desire to sit by Potter or the Weasleys. Especially given the circumstances."

She admitted he had a point, though she was saddened that she wouldn't sit with her friends. Then again, given the look Ron had plastered on his face, perhaps sitting away from them was a good idea.

She allowed Draco to lead her away and towards the Slytherin table where his parents, Luna, Seamus, Blaise, and Padma sat. Draco was grateful that she did not protest his choice. Ronald Weasley wasn't the only reason Draco did not wish to sit by Hermione's friends. He wasn't sure what sort of reception he would receive from Potter or the young Weaslette. Not to mention the fact they were sitting at the Gryffindor table. Old prejudices die hard.

When they approached the table, Narcissa moved closer to her husband to allow Draco and his new bride a place to sit. A pair of tight-lipped smiles greeted Hermione as she took a seat next to Seamus. She knew she had a long way to go with the two older Malfoys. Thanks to Draco, they hadn't said anything horrible to her yet.

"So, Granger, I guess..." Blaise started, and then hesitated. He pierced his lips in thought before asking, "Actually, would it be too bold if I called you Hermione?"

Hermione looked up at the dark boy in amusement. "Not as long as I can call you Blaise," she answered, offering him a warm, pleasant smile.

He seemed happy with the idea as Padma touched his arm. Before anyone could say anything else, Luna piped up, "So, Hermione, what are you, Harry, and Ron planning on doing now?"

The Gryffindor shrugged. "I'm not sure. With Voldemort gone," she glanced at Draco curiously when she felt him shudder. Shaking her head, she continued, "the only thing I can think of now is rounding up what's left of the Death Eaters. I don't suppose we'll have a problem getting certification. With McGonagall's help, I'm going to try to take my N.E.W.T.s so I may become an Auror."

"You most certainly will not!" Draco interrupted, his steel eyes glaring at his new wife for her audacity. "I don't mind you taking your N.E.W.T.s; in fact, I encourage you to do so. But, you will not become an Auror."

Hermione bristled. No one told her what she could or could not do. Especially after everything she had been through. "Draco, if you think for one moment..."

"Out of curiousity, Miss Granger," Lucius interrupted, his voice as smooth and silky as a snake, "has it escaped your notice that I am one of those Death Eaters left to be 'rounded up?'"

Hermione felt herself deflate as though she were a balloon. Then, she found her voice again and charged, "You may be right, Mr. Malfoy, but that doesn't mean you'll be arrested. You've done nothing wrong since you've left prison. Of course, you've really done nothing 'right' either. You remained neutral throughout the rest of the war, so..."

"Neutral or not," Seamus stopped her, "Shacklebolt is coming this way."

Hermione glanced in the direction Seamus was looking to see the tall, black man being followed by two other Aurors. She could feel Draco squirm with nervousness, though she didn't quite understand why. She stole a quick glance at the others and saw that they, too, were nervous. Especially the Malfoys. But, she was firm in her belief that there was nothing to fear.

Shacklebolt looked stern when he approached the small group, though Hermione could almost catch a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. He nodded in greeting to the young Gryffindor.

The black man then turned to Lucius and said in clear, crisp tones, "Mr. Lucius Malfoy, you are under arrest..."

"Under what charges?!" Hermione demanded, standing up and thrusting her fists into her hips. She stood between Shacklebolt and Lucius and glared at the black man.

Those around them grew quiet until slowly, everyone turned to look at the scene. Not one of the Malfoys said anything. Course, Hermione wasn't sure if it was because they were interested or shocked by her display. She didn't care either way. She was not going to let them take Lucius without good reason.

Shacklebolt sighed and placed a weary hand on Hermione's shoulder. He gently moved her away and gazed down at the eldest Malfoy. He continued as though he hadn't heard Hermione at all, "Mr. Lucius Malfoy, you are hereby under arrest for the abduction of Miss Luna Lovegood and Mr. Ollivander. You are also being charged with boarding two known fugitives, one Bellatrix Black Lestrange and Tom Marvolo Riddle. You are being charged with conspiracy against the Ministry of Magic and accessory to murder on several accounts. And last, you are charged with being a member of the notorious gang known as the Death Eaters."

Shocked, Hermione slowly melted back into her seat as Shacklebolt read Lucius his rights. When asked for his wand, Lucius raised his hands. "I have no wand," he confessed. "It was taken from me and destroyed."

The tall black man nodded. "You understand, Mr. Malfoy, we will have to check to ensure you are not lying."

"He's not," Harry called out, approaching the scene with Ginny and Ron flanking him. "I was there the night his wand was destroyed. Actually, I was the one who destroyed it."

Lucius said nothing as he stood up from the bench. He sneered haughtily at Harry and did not protest as he was magically handcuffed. He glanced down at his wife and son and gave them a sad, but proud nod of his head. Narcissa fought to hide her tears.

But, Shacklebolt wasn't finished. "Mr. Draco Malfoy, you, too, are under arrest," he told the youngest Malfoy.

Draco paled as he squeezed his wife's hand. He was being arrested? A fear which he hadn't known before began to creep inside him. Hermione moved to protest again, but Draco stopped her with a quick glance. He had no desire to go to prison, but he also didn't want to see her get locked up as well. He feared she would, too, if she were to continue.

"You are charged with attempted murder and accessory to the murder of Albus Dumbledore. You are charged with performing the Imperius Curse on Madame Rosemerta. You are charged with breaking into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and allowing Death Eaters onto the premises, thereby risking the lives of innocent women and children," Shacklebolt listed.

"Oi! Kingsley! Add the attempted murder of Ronald Weasley to that list," Ron said suddenly, malice etched onto his face.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted in surprise.

"No, Hermione," he growled. "The prat deserves what he gets. I almost died because of him."

Draco rolled his eyes. "If its money you want, Weasel..."

"I don't give a damn about your money, Malfoy," Ron snapped. "I want to see you rot in prison. You're nothing but scum."

Shacklebolt added the attempted murder of Ron Weasley to the list. Hermione could feel the tears fall freely from her eyes as Shacklebolt read Draco his rights. She glanced at her terrified husband, but was powerless to do anything.

"I must ask for your wand, Mr. Malfoy," Shacklebolt said as he held out his hand. "Furthermore, you are henceforth expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft..."

"No, he is not!" McGonagall shouted from across the room. She pushed through the people to get to the scene.

It was only then that Hermione had noticed that everyone had been watching the events unfold. Some people had smug faces, as though they were glad to finally see the Malfoys put to shame. Others looked shocked that this was happening at this moment. More were confused as though they hadn't even known the Malfoys were there.

"Until further notice, I am the headmistress of Hogwarts," McGonagall commanded, approaching Shacklebolt. "I shall decide who is expelled and who is not. From my understanding, Mr. Malfoy was a victim of circumstance and was threatened into submission, therefore cannot be held accountable for his actions. He will continue his enrollment at this school and, when he does get out of Azkaban, he will complete his N.E., if he chooses."

Shacklebolt raised an eyebrow. "You intend to prove his innocence?" he asked, though, secretly, he already knew the answer.

McGonagall shook her head. "I do not," she informed him, causing a gasp to echo throughout the room. "I won't have to. Honestly, Minister, do you really believe the young Mrs. Malfoy here will allow her husband and his father to be thrown in prison for crimes they were forced to commit? These are absurd accusations and I assure you, I have taught Mrs. Malfoy for the past six years. She will stand up for her family."

Shocked, Ron glanced back and forth between Hermione and McGonagall. The young Mrs. Malfoy?! What the bloody hell did that mean?

Realizing what McGonagall was saying, Hermione found her Gryffindor courage and stood up next to her teacher. "Exactly," she said, sending a scathing glare to Ron. "I plan to fight this thing tooth and nail. And, I promise, Mr. Shacklebolt, I will win."