Chapter 7
"Good Morning." Draco whispered lightly as Hermione's eyes opened.
"Hey" she whispered softly.
"How do you feel?" Draco asked concern about her health.
"Sore, tired, But it's nothing unmanageable. I'm hungry." Hermione said as she got up and went to the bathroom.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Draco asked his new wife as he followed he into the huge bathroom to wash his face.
"French toast." Hermione said as she disappeared into the room with the toilet shutting the door.
"French toast." Draco murmured to himself as she washed his face and then walked to the kitchen to make Hermione some French toast. Hermione walked into the kitchen a few minutes later surprised to see Draco leaning over a pan watching something cook.
"What are you cooking?" Hermione asked as she sat down on a stool at a high counter watching Draco.
"You said you wanted French toast, I'm making you French toast." He said as he flipped the bread over.
"I didn't think you'd actually make me French toast though."
"I'd do anything for you." He said as he laid a plate of perfectly done French toast in front of his wife.
"This is delicious." Hermione said after she took the first bite. "Where'd you learn to cook?"
"Malfoy's are full of surprises." Draco said with a smirk.
"When do we have to go back to school?" Hermione asked looking at her wedding ring.
"Mother would like us home tonight to pack. We have to return to school tomorrow. Dumbledore wants us back a day early because we left a day early."
"Crazy old man. What are we going to do when there is no one there? Why would we return to school before new years?"
"Dumbledore is bring everyone back the 30th because he thinks there is going to be a new years ball."
"Why don't I know any of this?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, he told me when mother came and got me."
"Let's go to the beach for a couple of hours. Then we came go back to Zabini Villa."
"Ok." Hermione said as her face lit up. After the newlyweds spent a few hours at the beach they cleaned up, packed and floo-ed back to the Zabini Villa in Italy. They were surprised when only Mrs. Malfoy greeted them.
"Hermione, Draco Professor Dumbledore has requested that you two go to the school immediately."
"Really? He needs us there now before we can even talk to anyone else."
"Yes, Blaise will bring both your trunks when he does back with the rest of the students." As Mrs. Malfoy said this both Hermione and Draco went back to the fireplace and yelled "Dumbledore's Office."
"I've been expecting you two for a while." Professor Dumbledore said from behind his desk. "I would first like to say congratulations on the wedding." He said as he looked at Hermione's ring. "And secondly over the holiday break it seems that we have lost some of our staff."
"Lost, like they died?" Hermione asked in shock.
"What happened sir?" Draco asked curiously.
"There we attacks in France. Professor Lupin was out there during a full moon and no one has seen or heard from him since. I feel that the student body will not handle the sudden departure of our dear professor easily so I want you and Hermione to take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes until the time comes where I can find a suitable replacement for him."
"What about our other studies?" Hermione asked worried that she would fall behind.
"All the other professors agree that you two are some of the most advance students ever to come through Hogwarts, so they are willing to let you do free study and give you a small test every Sunday on one chapter. I expect you both to help each other and keep your grades up. Professpr Lupin had his plans written out until the end of the year. I do think that if you follow those as guide lines, and combine it with information you learned fighting in the war then the students should be very well prepared incase anything happened to them. I expect nothing less then your best."
"Yes Sir:" they both replied in unison surprised at the amount of work that got put on them.
"You may head back to your dormitory and read over Professor Lupin's plans. I took the liberty of putting them on a table in your common area." Professor Dumbledore said as he watched the teens walk away.
"I really hope Lupins ok." Hermione whispered as her and Draco walked back to their common room.
"I'm sure it's just a werewolf thing." Draco said, "Hogwarts feels very empty without everyone in it."
"Yes, I suppose it does, but I wonder what everyone is going to say when they see this massive diamond on my finger."
"Thank god it's your finger not mine."
"Wow, my husband is really there for me." Hermione said sarcastically.
"I don't think you'll mind to much how all the girls ohhh and aww about your ring, Hermione Zabini hooked the infamous Draco Malfoy."
"Infamous huh?" Hermione said as she climbed into the head room, "Someone has a big head."
"yet you still married me." Draco said as he sat on the couch.
"Only because I was forced to." Hermione said as she sat on his lap, "But then again I will be the famous girl who 'hooked' Draco Malfoy." Hermione said as she got up and walked to her bed room. "I would hate for my husband to sleep on the couch." Hermione said to make sure Draco followed her up the stairs.
The next morning both Hermione and Draco were woken up by sun rays streaming through the golden curtains.
"Ready to head Hogsmeade?"
"No, my hairs not even dry yet!" Hermione said as she rushed around in her room.
"Come here." Draco asked, as he whispered a charm for Hermione's hair, making it silky smooth.
"Thanks, but I still don't want to go! The only person that knows we are married is my brother. I mean I can't take this ring off and hid our marriage."
"You've tried?"
"Yes. I just don't know if I am ready for all the attention that is going to come with this."
"Mia, it will be ok. You have me forever. We really need to go now, Dumbledore will not be happy if we lose the students."
"When did you become responsible?"
"I had to make Head Boy some how." Draco said as he lightly kissed Hermione. "Let's go." He said as he took her hand and lead her to Hogsmeade. After they finished the short walk to the village Draco dropped her hand, kissed her cheek and asked her "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I bet Pansy attacks me when she sees it."
"I'll protect you." Draco said lovingly.
"I can protect myself. I am number one in the class." Hermione said gaining her courage back while she looked at Draco wondering how she was married at such a young age.
"Here comes the train." Draco said bringing Hermione out of her trance.
"Great."Hermione said as she prepared to hide from her peers "All Students Over Here." Hermione yelled as her and Draco started down the path to school.
"Prefects, I need to to lead, we'll bring up the rear." Draco told all of them.
"Come on." Draco said as he grabbed Hermione's hand and started walking through herd of students that were headed back to Hogwarts.
"Where is Blaise at?" Draco asked Hermione.
"I don't know." Hermione said as she skillfully avoided Harry and Ron who were watching every move Hermione made. "They're watching me."
"Who?" Draco asked distracted.
"Harry and Ron. I see Blaise, with Pansy and Goyle."
"Great." Draco said as he pulled Hermione's hand up over some first years heads.
"Ron! Did you just see Hermione's hand?" Harry asked.
"Harry mate, why would I watch her hands. It's much easier to watch her head."
"No, did you see the ring she has on it."
"Ring?" Ron asked as he stopped walking.
"Like a wedding ring." Harry said.
"Why would she have a wedding ring on?"
"I really hope Hermione didn't marry ferret."
"Maybe we can find her in the library alone sometime this week and confront her."
"Maybe." Harry said as Ginny tugged on his hand.
"Harry, you can't stop walking in the middle of a crowd. Let's go."
"Oh god, I think they saw it." Hermione said as her and Draco reached Blaise.
"Hey, Mia I've been wondering where my little sister is." Blaise said as he hugged Hermione.
"Zabini!"
"What?" Hermione and Blaise asked at the same time.
"What is on your hand?" Pansy asked in a sneer.
"A ring." Hermione said.
"Who would marry you mudblood?"
"I would." Draco said staring Pansy down. "Don't even start your fit throwing Parkinson. It is a real pureblood unbreakable marriage."
"But Drakey!"
"Parkinson, I would appreciate if you wouldn't talk to my husband like that. I would hate if anything would happen to you." Hermione said in sickly sweet voice.
"Let's go." Blaise said "We are going to be the very last ones to arrive.
"The point of bring up the rear." Hermione said.
"Oh shut up."
Finally after a long walk all the students arrived back at the castle and began to chow down on the feast.
"I would like to speak to the Head of Houses and Head Boy and Girl." Dumbledore announced.
"Yes Professor?" Hermione asked curiously.
" In the absence of Professor Lupins, the Head students will take his place teaching from his lesson plans. I need you all to meet with you're students and explain to them that it is a project I have asked the Head students to do, and that there should be no questioning these students authority."
"What about the N.E.W.T.S. and O.W.L.S ?"
" Lupin has prepared lesson plans up to them." Dumbledore said in a tone of authority. "Let's go and enjoy the feast now."
"Come sit with Blaise and I." Draco whispered into Hermione's ear.
"Ok."
"Mia! I am glad you and the head boy finally come and visit me."
"Oh shut up Blaise." Hermione said as she sat in between Blaise and Draco, meanwhile the Gryffindors watched their golden girl carefully.
"Looks like Granger has a new trio to be apart of." Seamus said to Harry.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked with his mouth stuffed.
"Ron, just turn around and look." Ginny said sick of her brother being stupid.
"Why isn't she sitting here? I mean she has been mad at us before but sitting at that table is like a slap in the bloody face." Harry asked Ron and Ginny.
"Well it might have to be the fact that you two are bloody idiots. You just blew off Hermione when she tried to tell you. Harry you're the one who usually keeps Ron in check. Yes, I wasn't Happy when Hermione started hanging out with the pureblood clan, but look at her you two she looks happy. All we did was jump to conclusions. Hermione deserves better then that." Ginny said getting up. "I'm going back to the common rooms."
"Hey, I'm going to go up to our rooms and look over Lupins stuff." Hermione said getting up from her table. "See you later." She told Blaise and Draco, right as Hermione got to the entrance of the Great Hall she saw Ginny standing right outside the doors.
"Hermione!" Ginny whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
"What? Want to pick at my blood line some more? Insult my parents money?"
"Wow Hermione, I guessed being married to ferret really has changed you." Ginny said walking to catch up with Hermione.
"What are you talking about?"
"The ring on your finger silly. I may have over reacted at first, but I don't think Ron or Harry really gave me the true story Mione. I haven't any good girl time without you. I'm sorry!" Ginny said as Hermione kept walking.
"Come with me." Hermione said in a business tone.
"Ok." Ginny said thankful for the chance to talk with her friend, when they got to the entrance of the head rooms Hermione whispered the password and pulled Ginny in the common room.
"Ginny Weasley, I will not tolerate you being my friend only when it is easy." Hermione began off in a loud voice. "You should have waited to hear the story from ME. Not only did you act like a brat, you acted like a complete bitch. You're petty and have anger issues, you expect me to let you back in my life so easy. Well no, it hurt when you acted like such a bitch, I will not set myself back in the position again. I will only give you one more chance. ONE. If you want my trust back you're going to have to earn it. Get to you own classes." Hermione said in a fury.
"Thanks Mione! I only need a chance. You're my best friend." Ginny said as she hugged Hermione and hurried away.
