The Professor

Chapter 10: Granger-Malfoy-Weasley

As part of his parole, Draco must return to Hogwarts to fill the now, cursed Potions Professor position. Returning to the place where he lost his parents and his entire life isn't easy especially when his old Gryffindor classmates are teaching there.

It took several months, but it was discovered that Auror Bartley had in fact poisoned Ron Weasley to death. His ex-wife had come forward after his death and gave a detailed account to the Wizengamot about the frightening variety of poisons he made for Death Eaters during the war. Bartley had been an integral part of Voldemort taking over the Ministry as he was charged with poisoning any muggle or muggleborn sympathizers. The Wizengamot charged him with a total of forty-three murders posthumously.

While Bartley only wanted money from Draco, it was his connection to Hermione that had him fake a violation to Draco's parole. After much research and an embarrassing in-depth analysis of the evening's events, Hermione and Harry hypothesized that when Draco bit her lip Bartley used it as the basis for an assault charge.

The Auror that was under polyjuice? Well, Bartley had invented a Five-Timed Polyjuice effect. He gave an individual Polyjuice and than in the fifty-ninth minute, he fed them another Polyjuice potion with a different hair core. He repeated the process three more times until the wearer would be unrecognizable when the potion did wear off.

Lee Jordan was completely baffled when he woke up in a cell in the Ministry. The last memory he had was leaving Fred's funeral and being introduced to an Auror. Bartley had been imperioing Jordan for years so that he could control Azkaban. After searching his Gringotts and flat, they found he made more money during his time as unofficial Warden of Azkaban then the Ministry had in their coffers.

That and he had apparently stolen a lot of money from the Black and Malfoy families. Draco was still surprised that he had to team up with Harry, of all people, to get their valuables back. It was a good experience though, as the two became friends during their search for the belongings of their dead parents and godfathers. Harry and Draco were now able to sit over a pint, both content with the closure they were able to find together.

After his brave save of little Emma, Neville insisted that a statue be erected of Nero in the bold colors of Gryffindor. Neville was persistent on the coloring as he was quite sure that any dog that was brave enough to take on a seasoned Auror was clearly a Gryffindor. Someone should have told that to the gigantic mutt because Nero, hated the thing and was constantly peeing on it.

Draco closed his eyes as he paced. It had been a long year and a half. There were ups and downs. The Wizarding world was not ready for the Hermione Granger, war heroine and all around good girl to be dating Draco Malfoy.

It didn't matter though because they were in love and Hermione's adopted family accepted him. Two days after the attack on Emma, Draco received a knitted atrocity at breakfast in the Great Hall. Hermione, Neville, Alicia, and Minerva all stared at the thing like it was the bloody elder wand.

He was about to give it to Nero as a chew toy when Hermione burst into tears and threw herself onto his lap blubbering about family and how very happy she was. Students catcalled and whistled. Lovely.

"I still don't get it. Why am I keeping this atrocious grey thing?"

"It's a symbol, Draco," Minerva announced.

Draco rolled his eyes. "A symbol of what?"

Alicia Spinnet set down her goblet of pumpkin juice. "Acceptance. Mrs. Weasley only makes Weasley sweaters for her family."

Draco looked at the lumpy grey thing with interest. Didn't Potter have several of these? He knew because it was the only clothes he owned while they were at Hogwarts that was his actual size. Everything else looked like it was previously owned by a heavy set cross-dressing elephant.

"So, the Weasleys…"

Hermione nodded through her tears. Draco smiled. He had a family.

"Draco?" Hermione called out. Quickly rubbing his sweaty palms together, he pulled out a small box that was given to him by Emma a year and a half ago.

"Hermione?"

"Why are all the lights out?"

"Can you come here?" Draco heard her stumble as she walked into their bedroom. Shite. Emma was supposed to pick up her Quidditch set before going to Neville's for the night.

Hermione walked into the room her eyes wide and her mouth open. Around them were hundreds of floating candles and thousands of tiny rose petals. "Draco, what's going on?"

"I asked the house elves to take a break from the room today."

"You did this yourself?"

"Yes. I wanted it to be perfect." Hermione's eyes brightened with understanding and her hands flew to cover her mouth. "See, Ron gave Emma a box when she was three. He told her it was her job to find someone worthy of the love of his life."

Draco smiled up at the love of his life from the floor, where he was down on one knee. "Emma, gave this to me that night but I told her to take it back. I asked her to give it to me when she sees us together and happy with her eyes and not the sight."

Hermione's tears were rolling down her cheeks. It reminded him of when she found out he was sleeping on the floor every night. She joined him and helped him until he was able to sleep in a bed, but only with her. When she went away overnight, he returned to his rug or Emma snuggled with him in her bed.

"Hermione Jean Granger?" Hermione whimpered through her fingers. "Would you do me the greatest honor in all of wizard and muggle kind and marry me?"

Hermione nodded and Draco stood up and kissed her thoroughly whilst sliding his mother's wedding ring onto her slender fingers.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for everyone that commented, liked, and followed! I really appreciate you guys! I posted a new story called, 'Madeline' this morning. It's a Dramione that takes place while they're at school. There are also flashbacks to the Marauder's era, that I am currently writing! It's going to be a pretty long story and I am very happy to share it!

-Special shout out to, skyeryder01 who commented on every chapter in this story and made my day every day this last two weeks.

XOXO CHEFKE