A/N: Thank you all who review. I know some people have a problem with the edited sex scenes. According to the rating guide, detailed descriptions of physical interaction of a sexual or violent nature is considered Fiction MA (mature adult). The story is rated M: it can have suggestive themes (which I have done). Please quit commenting about the edited sex scenes, and if you don't believe me, check the rating guide for yourself.
Chapter 4: The Weekend Before Classes
Hermione woke the next morning and smiled at the man in her bed. She was glad they resolved things and they would now be able to truly look to the future. Hermione sighed as she got out of bed and relieved herself in their bathroom. When she returned, Draco had woken up and was looking out the window. "Good Morning, darling." Draco said. Hermione smiled slightly as she returned the sentiment.
"I think we need to talk to McGonagall today." Hermione said, as she got dressed. Draco nodded absent-mindedly causing Hermione to worry a bit. "Draco, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about saying goodbye to the school. It's been our home for the last seven years and now, we're going to leave it early. We still have to break the news to our friends." Draco said.
"I know. I know they'll respect our decision even if they don't understand it." Hermione said. Her stomach growled right then causing her to laugh. "I guess I'm actually hungry today. Maybe I'll be able to keep the food down." She said. Draco smiled and they walked out. They were surprised to see all their friends, plus Lavender sitting in the common room. Draco exchanged a look with Blaise and Blaise shooed Lavender out of the room. "We've made our decision. We probably should have told you last night, but we didn't get around to it." She said.
"We've decided that we're going to take our tests. We want to ask her if I can take my test right before Hermione's due date, but if she says no, then we're going to go ahead and take it." Draco said.
"We aren't really sure we want our newborn baby in the school. There are too many underage wizards here and she could get hurt. We want to spend time with you guys, but we think that it's probably best if we do leave." Hermione said.
"We kind of expected that answer. We knew you'd do what was best for your baby and not what everyone wanted you to do. When are you going to tell McGonagall?" Harry said.
"After breakfast. We want to get it over with." Hermione said, not feeling hungry anymore. She squeezed Draco's hand and he led her down the hall and to the Great Hall. The group sat down and piled their plates high. Hermione placed a very modest amount on her plate and began to nibble on a piece of dry toast.
"So, Blaise, how are things with Lavender?" Draco asked his friend. He had been so wrapped up in his own problems that he hadn't focused on Blaise's for a while.
Blaise groaned, "She is absolutely horrible! All she cares about is how she looks. She'll make a good wife after we leave school and she can have her own room, but she makes me miserable while I have to live with her." Hermione smiled at him sympathetically.
"I'm sorry you have to go through this, Blaise." Hermione said. Right then, Lavender walked up and glared at the group.
"I hate you, Blaise Zabini!" She said. "You got me pregnant!" She said. Blaise's eyes widened as she walked away.
"Blaise, I thought you said you weren't sleeping with her." Draco said.
"I haven't been. I mean, we did once because of the law, but I used a condom and a contraceptive charm. We didn't want there to even be a risk of pregnancy. That baby isn't mine. It can't be." Blaise said. "I'm not surprised that she has been cheating on me, though." Right then, Kreacher popped into the room.
"Master Harry, I am sorry it took so long, but the Ministry didn't want to give me any of it. I managed to get it." Kreacher said.
"Thank you, Kreacher. You did really well. You will be rewarded for this when I can. Is there anything you want?"
"Kreacher would like a new blanket. Kreacher gets cold at night."
"I'll get right on that. I'll get it to you as soon as I can." Harry said. He passed the paper over to Hermione. "Can you make sense of this?" He asked. Hermione nodded and took the paper. She read it as fast as she could.
"Okay, the law says we have to marry who they say within 3 months of them informing us who our spouse will be. We have to consummate the marriage in that time limit too. We have to have a child within two years of our wedding date. I don't mean conceive. We have to actually have a child born. If we fail to comply, they will force us to. Blaise, if you can prove your spouse has been cheating, you could get the marriage annulled and be paired again. Since Lavender's pregnant, we can do a paternal charm and prove the baby isn't yours." Hermione said. Blaise's eyes lit up. He got up and ran to talk to Professor McGonagall. Hermione frowned as she continued to read the law.
"What's wrong, Hermione?"
"'If an accusation of cheating proves false, the accuser will be placed in Azkaban for a length of time no more than one year and no less than one month, up to the discretion of the Ministry.' That isn't fair."
"Staying with the cheater should be punishment enough." Ron said. "Ow!" He said rubbing his head where Pansy smacked him. Harry and Draco laughed while Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes.
"Pompfrey is going to do the Paternal Charm on Lavender right after breakfast. I can't wait to prove I'm not the father. Maybe next time I'll get someone who actually has some sense." Blaise said.
"Blaise, if Lavender isn't cheating, you could go to Azkaban."
"What are you talking about?" Blaise looked to Hermione.
"You ran off before I could finish reading the clause. If you accuse her and you're wrong, you'll go to Azkaban for at least a month, but you could go for a year." Hermione said.
"Are you absolutely sure the baby isn't yours?" Draco asked.
"Yes. We slept together once because of the law. I used a condom and we used a contraceptive charm. We haven't done anything since. We've been married as long as you have, Draco. I saw her doing pregnancy detection spells a week after we did our thing. They were negative every time. Pregnancy detection spells are 100% accurate and can tell from the moment of conception. That baby can't be mine. It's just not possible." Blaise said. Draco sat back and sighed with relief. "I truly have no idea who the father is." Blaise said.
Draco wanted to go with Blaise after breakfast, but Hermione stopped him. She said that it wasn't his business and Blaise would tell them later. So he sighed and went on a walk with Pansy while Hermione spent the morning with Ron and Harry.
"'Mione, if you leave school early, how in the world will we ever pass?" Ron asked. Hermione smiled.
"You passed that assessment test without my help didn't you? You can do the rest too. Plus, if McGonagall agrees to let us take the test right before the baby's born, then, we'll be here until March. The baby is due in April. That will leave you with three months on your own. I have faith that you can do it."
"So, Hermione, have you decided to do after school?" Harry asked.
"I'm thinking about going into the ministry. I'm not sure if I want to do that yet, but I have time to decide. I may focus on being a mother for a while first."
"I'm going to be an auror and Ginny has been talking to the Holyhead Harpies. They're supposed to come watch her play a bit this year and if they find her good, they might recruit her. She's excited." Harry said. He sounded excited for her. "I thought about going into quidditch, but I don't think I'd want to play it professionally."
"I'm going to help George out in his shop. I wouldn't have even bothered with finishing school, but George said he only wanted Hogwarts graduates to work for him. He's struggling. He's going to teach me how to run things and then he's going to take a break. I don't know how long he'll be gone, but I know it can't be long because he loves that shop." Ron said. Hermione frowned. She didn't know George was going to leave the shop for a while. She decided to keep her thoughts to herself, however, because the boys didn't know she ever had a relationship with George. "Harry, Hermione, can I ask you guys something?" Ron asked, nervous. They both nodded and waited to hear what their friend was going to say. "How can you tell if you're in love?" Harry and Hermione exchanged shocked looks before answering his question.
"It's hard to explain, mate," Harry started.
"Do you think about her all the time?"
"Yes."
"Is the first thing on your mind in the morning and the last thing on your mind at night?"
"Yes."
"Does her wellbeing concern you?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her bewildered. "Are you overly concerned that she's healthy and happy?"
"Yes. I spend a lot of time wondering if she's really happy with me."
"Would you be willing to let her go if she wanted to leave, no matter how much it hurt you to see her go?"
"Yes, I would."
"Mate, I think you're in love." Harry said, with a slight smile on his face. Ron's ears were red as he looked past Harry. Draco, Pansy, and Blaise were walking towards them. Hermione focused on Ron's face. He looked at Pansy as if she was the only thing that mattered in the world. He looked as if she was his most prized possession and he couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her. Hermione exchanged a look with Harry and smiled as Draco kissed her on the cheek.
"What's up with Ron?" Draco whispered.
"I'll tell you later." Hermione whispered back. "So, Blaise, what's the verdict?"
"Lavender doesn't know who the father is. It definitely isn't me. She was questioned by the Minister with Veritaserum and she couldn't tell me. The Minister annulled my marriage and I should be receiving a letter tomorrow with my new wife's name on it." Blaise said. Harry and Ron smacked Blaise on the back and Hermione smiled.
"I asked McGonagall if we could speak to her soon. She should be waiting in her office for us." Draco said. Hermione nodded her head and stood up. They bade their friends goodbye and walked back into the castle and up to the Headmistress's office.
"What is it that you wanted to speak to me about?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"We were wondering if we could stay in school until nearer the time of Hermione's due date. We then want to take our N.E.W.T.s and leave the castle right before the baby's born. We don't want our baby around underage wizards now that we have a choice."
"That is a great idea. We will set a date for your tests in March. When you two pass with flying colors, you will pack your belongings and leave. I expect you to come and show me your beautiful baby when he's born." Professor McGonagall said. Hermione was so relieved that she began crying. Draco smiled and rubbed her back.
"Thank you so much, Professor. You have no idea how much this means to us." He said. He helped Hermione up an gently led her away.
Hermione and Draco were a bit excited. They had the first meeting with the Prefects and they were completely prepared. Hermione was nothing but a bundle of nerves and couldn't help being concerned that she wouldn't be good at it.
"What if they laugh at me?" Hermione asked.
"They're fools, then. Besides, Draco, Pansy, and I will be right there with you. Nobody will dare to laugh at you. You are going to be great. You love academic things and you seem to believe that rules are important and should only be broken when it's necessary. Remember first year?" Ron asked. "Remember when Draco challenged Harry to a duel and you and Neville got stuck coming with us?"
"You actually showed up?" Draco asked incredulously.
"Yes and we narrowly missed Filch, but we managed." Harry said.
"That's when we met Fluffy." Hermione said, with a shudder. None of them liked the three headed dog that Hagrid christened 'Fluffy'.
"Who's Fluffy?" Pansy asked.
"Hagrid's three headed dog that he lent to Dumbledore our first year to guard the entrance to the maze of tests that guarded the Philosopher's Stone. We past them all, but wouldn't have gotten past the first one if it wasn't for Hermione." Harry said.
"Yeah, but Ron got us past the chess set. If it were left up to me, we would have failed miserably." Hermione said. "And in second year, it was you and Ron who figured out where the Chamber of Secret's was."
"We couldn't have done that without you either. You figured that one out. We just braved that bloody forest." Ron said. Hermione smiled. "It was you and Harry who saved Sirius and Buckbeak."
"Are you two quite done?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron looked around to see everyone staring at them with bemused looks on their faces.
"The point is, Hermione is a stickler for the rules, unless it's really important that the rules are broken." Ron said.
"And, Draco, you almost got Ron, Hermione, Neville, and I killed…" Harry and Ron finished together. "…or worse expelled." They started laughing. Hermione's cheeks went pink as the boys laughed at her expense. Draco smiled. His wife was beautiful when she was embarrassed. He couldn't help but feel that way.
"Alright, we'd better be going. It wouldn't due for the Head Girl and Head Boy to be late to the meeting they set up, would it?" Pansy said. With that, the four bade the others goodbye before heading out of their common room and toward the Prefects' Meeting.
The Head Boy and Head Girl stood in front of that year's prefects. "Okay, first we'd like to congratulate you on receiving the honor of being a prefect. Second, Draco and I will not be finishing the school year with the rest of you. Considering that we are having a baby, we have been granted special permission to take our N.E.W.T.s early; therefore we will be leaving the school before the year ends. Because we will not be able to finish the year, Draco and I have decided to step down. We feel that whoever finishes the year with you, should begin the year with you as well. So we would like to introduce you to your new Head Boy and Head Girl." Hermione said.
"Ronald and Pansy Weasley, would you please join us up here. We wanted it to be a surprise, so we asked McGonagall if we could tell you ourselves. You two were the second pick. As Hermione and I are stepping down, the job is yours, if you want it." Draco said. Pansy stared at them with her mouth hanging open and Ron's ears went red.
"Are you serious?" He asked. Hermione and Draco nodded their heads as Pansy and Ron exchanged a look.
"Okay, we accept." Ron said. Pansy nodded her head.
"Now, we are going to turn the meeting over to your new Head Girl and Head Boy. We hope you all have a wonderful year." Hermione said, as she and Draco left the meeting.
Ten minutes later, Hermione and Draco re-entered their common room. "What are you two doing back?" Harry asked.
"Hermione and I stepped down as Head Boy and Head Girl. Ron and Pansy are in charge now." Draco said.
"Why did you do that, mate?" A very drunk Blaise asked.
"Because we're leaving school early. Where'd you get the firewhiskey?" Draco asked, dissaprovingly.
"I snuck it in. Its my last night as a free man, so I'm getting drunk." Blaise said simply.
"I think you mean you got drunk." Harry said. Ginny smacked Harry lightly before leaving to go see Luna.
"Oh, by the way, Theo cheated on Luna, so you just may end up with her. I wouldn't be surprised." Ginny said as she walked out. Blaise paled.
"I never thought of that. I don't want to end up with Loony Lovegood." Blaise slurred.
"She's not loony. She has some odd ideals and she believes creatures exist that don't, but she's not loony. She's very intelligent. She just looks at the world a bit differently." Hermione said. "I think you and Luna would make a good match. I think she'd be good for you and you'd be good for her; something to think about."
"Luna is true to herself. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks about her, only what she thinks about herself." Harry added as his stomach growled. He looked at his watch to see that it was dinner time. "Man, we're usually early to dinner, but we're going to be a bit late tonight. I guess we rely on Ron way too much to tell when dinner is usually." The group left their common room and quickly descended down to the Great Hall.
They saw Ron and Pansy already sitting at their table waiting on the rest of them. They were talking quietly and holding hands. Harry had the sneaking suspicion that nobody else mattered to the couple at that moment. Harry exchanged a grin with Hermione as they sat down at their table. "Where's Blaise?" Asked Pansy.
"Blaise decided to celebrate both his renewed bachelorhood and his pending marriage at the same time." Draco said.
"So, he's passed out drunk." Pansy concluded. "Can't say I blame him. There's always a risk of ending up with another Lavender." She shuddered. "You two could have warned us what you were going to do. We were quite unprepared to take over the meeting."
"How did it go?" Hermione asked as she took a bite of dinner.
"It was okay. We stumbled around for a minute than dismissed them. We told them when we were actually prepared to hold a meeting we would schedule another one. After all, you two had time this summer to prepare for the year, and we only found out tonight." Ron said with a full mouth. Hermione stared at Ron in disgust. Pansy smiled slightly at Ron's voracious appetite.
"I have sat with you for the past seven years and watched you eat. Every year I hope you will mature enough to learn that nobody likes it when someone talks with his or her mouth full of food. Every year you do mature, but you still talk with your mouth full. I beg you, Ron, please try to get better about that." Hermione said. Ron took another bite and slowly chewed his food.
Right before he swallowed his food, he said slowly and deliberately, "I'll get right on that, Hermione." Draco and Harry laughed as Hermione held her disgusted look.
"Who do you think Blaise will get this time?" Pansy asked.
"Ginny thinks he'll get Luna. She said Theo cheated on Luna and turned himself in so he could get a new wife. Apparently Luna isn't his ideal wife." Harry said. Hermione could certainly understand that. It took a special kind of person to be able to deal with Luna. Hermione herself barely understood her. She liked the girl well enough, but liking her wasn't enough. "Luna's a fine girl, but I doubt she'd make it in High Society."
"Hermione and I will help her." Pansy said. "We won't let her fail as a high society wife." Hermione nodded her agreement.
The next morning Blaise woke up with a screaming headache. It took him a few moments to remember why he exhausted his supply of firewhiskey in one night. When he remembered, he groaned. He wasn't sure he wanted another wife. After ridding himself of the pest that is Lavender the day before, he was afraid he'd be paired with someone like her again. He dressed slowly and sat down on his bed. He contemplated never leaving his room. If he didn't get his letter, he couldn't get married again. Blaise groaned again. He needed to ask Draco for a vial of Hangover Cure.
Blaise walked out and knocked on Draco and Hermione's door. Draco opened and quietly stepped out. "Hermione's still asleep. She was up half the night throwing up so I'm going to let her sleep. I assume you need some Hangover Cure?" Blaise only nodded. "Hang on a sec." Blaise walked to the couch and sat down. He figured Draco would get dressed and probably write Hermione a note before re-emerging from the room.
Sure enough when Draco stepped out again he was dressed to his usual standards. He handed Blaise a vial, which he downed in one gulp—shuddering as he did, and the two headed down the stairs. "I'm almost surprised you aren't sitting with Hermione." Blaise said casually.
"Drop the act, I know you too well to fall for this 'I don't care about anything' attitude. Hermione's a big girl. She can take care of herself. I left her a note. Besides, I think you need me more right now than she does." Draco said.
"Truth be told, I'm terrified. I don't want to end up with someone like Lavender again. I want to be with someone that I could fall in love with eventually." Blaise said, as they entered the Great Hall. The two just sat down when the mail arrived. Blaise watched as owl after owl flew in dropped letters and packages and flew away again. One owl dropped a letter in front of him. Blaise opened it and let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He silently slid the letter over to Draco to allow him to read it before piling his plate high. Draco didn't say a word. He wasn't sure what to say. He knew Blaise wasn't thrilled with his partner, but he also knew that their friends would be. Hermione even said they'd make a good match. Blaise put the letter in his pocket right as everyone except Hermione joined them at their table. Blaise looked over to see Luna staring at him. He knew that she didn't know what to make of their pending union any more than he did, but that offered little comfort. Especially since he now had the task of telling who his bride is and hearing Ginny's 'I told you so' he was sure was going to come.
"I see the mail came." Harry said, as if commenting about the weather. Everyone quietly watched Blaise as he took a bite and slowly chewed and swallowed before clearing his throat.
"Yeah, and I received an important letter." Blaise said. Ron rolled his eyes causing Pansy to smile. "I do believe that at least one of you already guessed who my second wife will be." Blaise said. Ginny looked up and smiled.
"I told you it'd be Luna. I'm glad. She deserves a good man who will treat her right. I don't wish Theo on anybody, not even Lavender." Ginny said.
"I know, but I have a feeling that that's who she'll be paired up with." Hermione said with a sigh as she sat down at the table.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked with concern. Hermione gave him a tired smile and wrinkled up her nose.
"I'm okay. I'm just tired. I think I'm going to go to the Library. The smell of food is turning my stomach, and I'd rather not get sick again. Blaise," Hermione waited until he looked at her. "Luna is a really special girl. I don't mean she's stupid or anything like that. She's different. Once you really get to know her, you'll find her friendship is invaluable. I had to learn that the hard way." Blaise nodded as Hermione stood and left the Hall.
"Well, I guess I need to go talk to my fiancé." Blaise said as he stood. They wished him well as he walked away.
"Draco, you want play some quidditch?" Harry asked. "We can get some other people together and have a game."
"Sure. I think Hermione is going to spend all day in the library." Draco said. Harry and Ron exchanged a knowing look.
"Of course she is. She hasn't done that much lately and she can't help but spend all her time in the Library." Ron said. "I'll play."
Blaise smiled at Luna. "Do you want to get married right away or do you want to wait?" He asked, unsure if he was ready to make this decision all over again so soon.
"I want to get it over with. We have to do it eventually, so I don't understand why we should wait. Do you think McGonagall will give us permission to leave today?"
"Well, it's Sunday, so we don't have any classes today. It's something we have to do within 3 months and we'll still be in school in that time. I don't see why not if we ask her."
"Do you think she'd let us go see my father? I need to tell him what's going on and I really don't want to do that through a letter." Luna said. Blaise motioned for her to wait a moment for him to go talk to Professor McGonagall.
Blaise walked up to the Head Table quite aware that everyone was watching him. "Yes, Mr. Zabini?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"As I am sure you know, Luna and I are paired to be married. We were wondering if it would be possible for us to get permission to go to the Ministry today and 'seal the deal', as it were."
"Of course it's okay. I believe it's best to get it over with, personally. You may leave school grounds for the day. Where all do you plan on going today?"
"We plan on going to the ministry, obviously, and Luna would like to go see her father and explain in person what's been going on. Depending on how late it is after we do that, and on what she wants, we might stop for something to eat and maybe a bit of shopping before we come back, if that's okay with you."
"That sounds like a fine plan. Make sure you're back here in time for dinner, though." She said, as way of dismissal. Blaise nodded his head before he headed back to Luna.
"She approved us to leave. We just have to be back before dinner, but other than that, the day is ours. We can go whenever you're ready to go."
"Let's go now. I'm ready to get this over with. I mean no offense." Luna said. At that moment, Blaise understood. She expected him to treat her just as Theo treated her. She still expected to get hit, and to her, they were all the same.
"Wait a moment, Luna. I am not offended, but I do believe you're laboring under the delusion that I am just like Theodore Nott. I pride myself on being nothing like him. He gives Slytherins a bad name. If you doubt my character, go ask Harry and Ginny Potter, Hermione Malfoy, or Ron Weasley. If you are really afraid, please go talk to them. I'm going to wait outside by the doors. Come find me when you're really ready to go." Blaise said. He walked out of the Great Hall without a second glance. Luna walked over to Ginny and sat next to her.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, completely confused as to why Luna didn't leave with Blaise.
"He wants me to ask you what kind of person he really is. I am only to ask the Gryffindors. You Slytherins will be prejudiced because he's your friend.
"He's our friend too, Luna." Harry said. "Before this stupid marriage law, I wouldn't have had anything to do with him, but now, I've gotten to know him. We can't judge a person based on what house they're in."
"We also can't judge a person based on another person from that house." Ron added quietly.
"Luna, if you just give him a chance—a real chance—you'll see what we're talking about." Ginny said. Luna sighed and stood up.
"You're right. I know you're right. I've got to go. My fiancé is waiting on me." Luna walked out as quickly as she could and to her waiting groom.
"Are you satisfied?" Blaise asked, a bit too coolly.
"Yes. I am sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that because Theo treated me that way that you would too. I know you're not friends with him. I also know that you're friends with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. They wouldn't be friends with someone unless that person was a good person. I am sorry I doubted you." Luna said with her eyes downcast. Blaise gently raised her chin up until she met his eyes.
"I don't blame you. I know how Theo is with women." He said before he kissed her. He surprised even himself with this action, but it felt like the right thing to do. He broke off the kiss and took her hand, leading her toward the castle gates where they could then apparate to the Ministry.
Once at the Ministry, Blaise led Luna to the Minister's office. "Minister Shacklebolt, We're here to be married, we want to do it immediately." Blaise said.
"Good, come with me and we'll take care of that right away."
Once done at the ministry, Blaise looked at his new wife. She was tiny—not only in stature but also in personality. She didn't draw unnecessary attraction to herself on purpose. Blaise took her hand and asked her to apparate them to her father's house. Blaise looked up at the odd shaped house as Luna walked up to the door. "Before we go in, I'd like to ask a favor of you. Please stay out here while I explain what happened. Then I will introduce you to my father." Blaise nodded and sat down on the steps while Luna opened the door and closed it softly behind her. Blaise heard a soft "Luna, what are you doing home?" before the silence of the day engulfed him.
Inside the house, Luna smiled at her father. "Professor McGonagall let me come. You see, Theo cheated on me, than turned himself in because he didn't want to be married to me. I got paired up with someone else. We made it official today and I wanted to come see you and explain in person rather than through a letter. I also wanted to give you a chance to meet my new husband, if you want." Mr. Lovegood nodded his head while his daughter walked out and motioned to someone outside. "Blaise this is my father, Xenophilius Lovegood. Dad, this is my husband, Blaise Zabini." Luna said, nervously.
"Well met, Blaise. Are you planning on taking my Luna on a honeymoon?" Mr. Lovegood said.
"Yes. After the school year ends and we have left Hogwarts, I plan on taking Luna on a trip wherever she desires to go."
"Wherever?" Blaise nodded, "Theo said he was going to take her hunting for Crumpled Horn Snorkacks, is that what you're going to do?"
"If that's what she wants. Honestly I'm not sure I believe they exist, but maybe we can find proof and you'll make me a believer."
"Do you work?"
"Yes. I run the family company."
"At your age?"
"I don't have a father, so when I was twelve, the trustees of the company began to train me in the art of running a business. I had homework for them throughout the year, on top of my school work. I've never had much time for socializing. Two years ago, they decided that I've learned enough, so I took over at 15. I've had a stack of paperwork 5 days a week that I've had to get done, on top of my school work. I don't do any work on Saturday or Sunday. I'm afraid I won't have much time throughout the week to spend with Luna, but I will spend my weekends with her, if that's what she wants."
"And if it isn't? What if she doesn't want to see you? What if she doesn't even want to share a bed with you?"
"My previous wife, Lavender, and I didn't share a bed. In fact, the bed in my room is still divided, so it's not a problem. As far as if she doesn't want to see me that will work for a while. We're going to have to have a kid within 2 years if we're to comply with the law, but I'll give her as much space as she needs."
"Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure my Luna is taken care of and relatively happy?"
"Yes. I can't promise she'll be completely happy with me, but I'll make her as happy as I possibly can." Blaise said. Finally Xenophilius Lovegood seemed satisified with the answers that Blaise gave.
"One more thing, if I ever find out you have intentionally hurt my little girl, I will personally make your life hell. I won't kill you. No, that would be too generous for you. I'll make you suffer." He said. Blaise got the distinct impression that Lovegood had no idea how Theo treated Luna and she wanted to keep it that way. She didn't like him, but she didn't want to subject him to her father, and Blaise was quite sure that Lovegood was crazy enough to do exactly what he said he would. Blaise nodded and looked at Luna; she was obviously ready to go, but he didn't want to separate her from her father before she was ready to be if she wasn't ready and he was reading her wrong.
"I'll just wait outside, shall I?" Blaise said. Without another word or a glance back he was outside waiting on Luna to be ready to go. He didn't have to wait long. "Are you ready to go?" He asked as he took her hand.
"Yes."
"Where do you want to go? We need to go to Gringotts so I can take Lavender off my account and add you to it. Would you like to get some lunch and maybe do some shopping?" Blaise asked.
Luna had a confused look on her face. "I thought we had to go back after this."
"Professor McGonagall said we could be out until dinner, but they must see that we're back by then, so we have a little time." Blaise responded. Luna smiled slightly and nodded her head. Blaise took her hand and apparated her to Gringotts in Diagon Alley.
The couple walked quickly up to a goblin and when asked what they needed, Blaise replied, "I need to make some changes to my account. About 2 months ago I added a Lavender Brown
Zabini to my account, and now she needs to be removed and Luna Lovegood Zabini needs to be added in her place." Blaise said. The goblin nodded and motioned for the duo to follow him.
"I see here what you mentioned. What is the reason behind removing Mrs. Brown-Zabini and adding Mrs. Lovegood-Zabini?" The goblin asked.
"Lavender was caught cheating on me and under the new law that means divorce. I have been paired with Luna here in her place. We made it official today. I'd like to get this taken care of as soon as possible." Blaise explained. The goblin nodded again and brought up the nessessary paperwork. Mrs. Lovegood-Zabini is to have the same allowance, yes?" The goblin asked. Blaise was about to say yes, but he hesitated. He knew that Luna wasn't like Lavender. He also knew that Luna would want to know that he trusts her, so he decided to answer differently instead.
"Actually, I'd like to give Luna full access to my accounts. I trust her and she needs to know that." Blaise said. Luna looked at him in mild surprise. "I thought this would be the best way." Blaise said as he shrugged his shoulders. The goblin muttered something about rebellious youths getting married before doing as he was instructed. Blaise looked bored while Luna was looking all over the place. Once they were done, Blaise took Luna to lunch then back to the castle. She decided that she wanted to settle in her new room instead of going shopping.
The rest of the weekend passed without incident, much to Hermione's delight. She and Draco spent quiet time in their room when Draco wasn't playing a mock quidditch match with Harry and a few others. Before they were ready, the school year began.
A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who are reading this and reviewing. Constructive criticism is welcomed and desired.