Chapter 3: Let the games begin

"You're kidding right?"

"Ah, no."

"Wow, 'Mione. That's great," Ginny said with a grin.

"I thought that you were going to be angry?"

"Not angry, just very surprised by you interesting choice for a husband. Though it is kid of exciting, you have taken the Slytherin Sex God off the market. The only question I have for you is why didn't you tell me."

"I guess I wanted it to be a surprise," Hermione said looking somewhat ashamed.

"Okay," Ginny said softly, not sure how take Hermione's answer. "Though, I can't wait to see Pansy's face when she finds out."

Hermione nodded agreeing, "That is going to be priceless." She thought for a moment, "Though, I know that Ron is not going to take it well."

"Well, Ron is a big boy, he can handle it."

"Sometimes I wonder."

Ginny pondered for a moment, "Now that I think about it so do I."

This caused them both to collapse into a fit of laughter.

" 'Mione, you know that you are going to have to give me all the details."

"All the details?" she said somewhat horrified.

"All."

"Oh boy."

"Now, what are you two up to?" a deeper voice said behind Hermione.

She looked to see Draco and for once she was glad to see him. "Nothing," she said mischievously.

He raised an eyebrow, "You are a terrible liar."

"I am not."

Draco sighed slightly and shook his head then looked towards Ginny. "Hello, Weaselette."

"Malfoy," she responded with no emotion.

Giving her a curt nod he turned back to Hermione, "Dumbledore wants to see us."

"Alright," she turned towards Ginny. "I'll see you later Gin."

They started to walk away when Draco put his arm around her waist startling her slightly, but she managed to not show it.

Once they reached the other end of the Great Hall her whispered to her, "What did you tell her."

"You idiot, I didn't tell her anything," she whispered back. "She saw the ring, so I told her that we got married but I did not tell her why. Though we are going to have to come up with something believable or else their really going to know that this all a charade." She paused for a moment and looked up at him, "So, how are your friends taking it or haven't you told them yet."

"Well, Blaise seems to believe our little charade. As for the rest of them I'll just wait until later."

"Out of curiosity did Dumbledore really want to see us?"

"No," he answered with a smirk. "I just wanted to keep people wondering."

Hermione looked back to see the students head towards their respective tables. "I think we should head to our seats."

She and Draco parted ways and she took a seat next to Ginny, who playfully elbowed her causing her to blush. Everyone started to quiet down when they saw Dumbledore stand to make an announcement.

"Welcome back to yet another year at Hogwarts. Now let us all welcome our first years."

The doors opened and in came Professor McGonagall followed by two rows of young children who seemed nervous and fascinated at the same time.

Hermione looked across the room at Draco who gave her a slight smirk.

"Ah, Hermione?"

"Yeah," she said looking over at Harry.

"You're staring at Malfoy."

"No, I'm not."

"Alright, whatever you say."

Hermione just rolled her eyes and turned her attention towards the front of the room where the sorting ceremony was taking place. Soon the ceremony was over and all the new first years were being welcomed to their new houses.

Dumbledore quickly quieted the room to make a few more announcements. "Now that we are all settled, I believe that it is time to introduce the Head Boy and Girl. If I could please have them come up here so I can introduce them properly."

After hearing this Hermione and Draco got up from their seats and walked to the front of the hall.

"May I present your Head Boy Mr. Draco Malfoy and your Head Girl Mrs. Hermione Malfoy, formerly Miss Hermione Granger."

A gasp spread through the room followed by a few cheers. Hermione didn't dare to look at the Gryffindor table not wanting to see the looks on her friends faces. Instead she looked toward the Slytherin table and found Pansy Parkinson looking as though she was about to die. She found herself chuckling at Pansy's distress. Turning back to Draco she saw a smirk cross his face.

Somewhere in the hall someone yelled, "Kiss her Malfoy!" Then many others began to join in. Draco looked slightly panicked and looked at Hermione who was blushing furiously.

Draco quickly composed himself, I should have known that this would happen. He turned to Hermione and raised his eyebrow which caused her to give him a questioning look.

Let's get this over with, they both thought.

He put his hands on each side of her face and leaned down to bring his lips down on hers. Immediately cheers and whistles could be heard throughout the hall, though it only masked the cries of outrage slightly. Pulling away Draco gave her a quick wink before they turned back to face everyone. Hermione was surpised by the enthusiastic reaction from most of the students and then there were the horrified faces of the ones who only wished that they could be in her shoes at that moment. Being married to the ferret seemed to have a slight upside, though she stuck with him forever.

What a wonderful thought being married to the prat until "death do us part", she thought sarcastically.

They had agreed the previous day that after they were introduced they would go back to their own tables for the feast. So after the excitement had died down a bit they walked back to their tables. Hermione returned to her seat to be greeted by Ginny who was all smiles and an utterly speechless Harry and Ron. She looked at Neville who was sitting next to Ron and he appeared to be on the verge of fainting.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Hermione sighed, "Draco and I decided that we would not tell anyone and that we would let Dumbledore announce it."

Ron's jaw dropped, "So, you're calling him Draco now?" She could easily tell that he was trying to control his anger, but it was not working too well.

"Yes, Ron. Since if you think about I can't really call him Malfoy anymore, can I?"

"About that why did you marry him?" Harry asked gritting his teeth.

I was really hoping that no one would ask.

Hermione sighed, "If you really must know. We got married because we love each other."

Both and Harry and Ron's jaws dropped while Ginny just sat there and grinned.

"We have been secretly seeing each other for the past year, and we thought that it would best for us if got married." She said hoping to God that they believed it.

Ginny gave her a hug, and the boys just sat there stunned.

"Well Gin, I'm glad that you are happy for me."

"Of course, now remember that you have to give me everything," she said mischievously.

Ron and Harry looked at each other looking as though they were about to be sick.

"Not now, Gin." Looking at her best friends, "I don't want to corrupt their young ears," she looked back at Ginny who was giggling.

"Now my dear, what are we talking about?"

Hermione turned surprised to see her husband standing behind her. "Nothing, sweetheart. Why are you over here Draco? I thought you were going to be sitting with your friends today," she replied almost too sweetly.

"I thought I would come and sit with my lovely wife and deal with my friends later," he grinned at her.

"How sweet of you, here have a seat." Hermione slid over so that Draco could sit next to her.

"Why do you have to sit here ferret?"

Draco took a seat and looked Ron, who was giving him a death glare. "Well Weasel, I want to sit by my wife."

"Go away, Malfoy."

"How about no, Potter."

Hermione looked from Draco to Ron to Harry and rolled her eyes. "Now you three, don't even start."

"Okay, 'Mione," Ron said rolling his eyes and turning back to his food.

Kissing her on the temple Draco whispered in her ear, "Alright, dear."

They spent the rest of the feast in silence enjoying the food. Then Dumbledore stood to bid them goodnight. "Now everyone, have a good night sleep and let this be another wonderful year at Hogwarts. Goodnight everyone."

"Goodnight Professor," the students replied as they stood to leave the hall. The crowd of students egerly headed to their dormatories. Prefects lead the first years to the dorms, each looking as though they were somewhat lost but absolutely fascinated.

"Well Ginny, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight you two," the redhead said with a wink.

Hermione playfully slapped her friend on the arm, "Ginny, you're terrible."

Ginny started to laugh as she started to leave the hall, "'Night, 'Mione."

Draco came up behind Hermione and placed his hands on his waist and whispered, "Let's hurry back so we can throw away this charade for awhile and we can go back to hating each other."

"Good idea," she whispered back.