Chapter 9

Summer came, and the two found themselves back at Malfoy Manor by the pool. Mrs. Malfoy had noticed a difference in their relationship the moment they got off the train. She smiled, happy to see her son happy for once. Glad that he was a more compassionate man than his father was.

5th year at school came and went with a bang. Starting out, the Ministry decided that they would try to take over the school by placing a new teacher. The first day, she found out about Draco and Michelle's sleeping arrangement and forbade it. Making them sleep in the dorm with the other students, she soon found herself with a fireball blowing through her window and screaming coming from the Slytherin house. She found Snape and asked him what was going on. He told her exactly as he had told her before. Michelle could not sleep alone in the dorm. The other students were in danger. They entered and found the entire common room ablaze and Draco trying to put it out to get up the stairs to Michelle. Umbridge, begrudgingly allowed them back into their suite to sleep. She didn't like it, but there were no further fireballs so she said it was for the best. Everyone hated her and called her the pink frog. Almost everyone served detention during the year. The Weasley twins decided it would be best to leave, right in the middle of OWLS. Draco just had to shake his head at them, silently cheering them on.

Towards the end of the year, Harry and Hermione managed to get Umbridge kidnapped by the centaurs in the forest, and things started looking up from there. Harry encountered Voldemort at the Ministry of Magic and lived to tell the tale again. Michelle and Draco worried for Harry, but couldn't be anything but happy for long.

Summer came and they were back at the manor. Draco left Michelle by the pool for a few minutes and went to find his parents. "Mum, dad." He said quietly, when he found them in the library. "I need to talk to you about something. I want to marry Michelle. I love her and can't see my life without her. We would wait until we were out of school, of course, but I wanted your blessing, before I ask her." He blurted out. His parents looked at him, a slow smile spread across his mother's face. His father scowled, but nodded once, indicating that he consented.

Going back out to the pool, he returned to his seat beside Michelle and smiled to himself, planning how to propose to her.

With the return of school for 6th year, came talk of war with Voldemort. Draco was scared for his family, knowing how close his father was to Voldemort the first time around. He feared that his father would get sucked in again, and bring the whole family with him. He didn't want Michelle near Voldemort. He knew that much, he wanted to protect her at all costs. Before he knew it, though, Voldemort had him under the Imperious Curse forcing him to kill Dumbledore. Thankfully, Professor Snape came to the rescue and killed Dumbledore in his place. Draco ran back to his suite with Michelle, holding her and crying. Not know what to do, he decided to leave school with her and run away somewhere. Maybe to America where she was from. The days passed and he realized that he waited too late to run. He had to face this and help Harry finish this war.

Summer was not a happy time at Malfoy Manor. His parents argued all the time, Michelle stayed closed up in the room most of the day to avoid them. School term brought with it more tension than ever. Dumbledore was dead, Snape was horrible as headmaster and Harry was missing. Draco began to wonder if he hadn't run away, he wouldn't have blamed him at all.

One night, Draco dropped down on his knee in front of Michelle. Taking her hand, he pulled a ring out of his pocket. "Michelle Cooper, will you do me the amazing honor of being my wife?" he asked her.

Michelle, stunned, threw her arms around his neck and said, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I love you, Draco." Then she kissed him.

A few nights after Christmas break, Draco and Michelle were sitting in their suite contemplating what was coming. They looked at each other and moved towards each other. Draco pulled her into a deep lingering kiss. Picking her up, he carried her to the bed and gently lay her down. Breaking away from the kiss, he looked deep in to her eyes, silently asking if this was what she wanted. She nodded slightly and smiled, "Yes, Draco, I'm ready for this." She said softly. Draco made love to her, knowing that this may be the only chance they got to be together so intimately.

Light shown in through the window, not sunlight, as the sun hadn't shown in several months, just daylight. Michelle rolled over and seeing Draco, smiled, remembering his sweet lovemaking of the night before. Draco opened his eyes and seeing her smiling, leaned forward to kiss her. "Morning beautiful." He said. They laid there together, memories of the night before washing over them. After hours, Michelle needed the loo, so she decided to take a shower while there. Draco said he would wait for her outside the door. While waiting, he heard rumblings that Harry had returned to the school to fight Voldemort. Hoping that they were right, he rushed Michelle out of the room after her shower. Before long, they found out that the rumors were true. Harry Potter had returned, and he was looking for something. They were all called into the Great Hall and forced to stand while Professor Snape inspected their ranks, looking for Harry.

Harry stepped out and confronted Snape. McGonagall jumped between them and chased Snape away. Most everyone cheered as she told Harry that she would do whatever he needed her to do. He told her he needed some time. She and the other professors and adults from the Order of the Phoenix who had arrived to help fight, began to place protective spells around the school. Draco frantically searched his mind for a place to hide Michelle during the war.