Chapter 53

So now everyone knew. The whole of the school seemed to know within minutes. At least the next day. Did people stay awake at night and gossip? Although he had to admit, this would be a juicy one. The former enemies of the school, and broader, getting it on, and then Weasleby punching his lights out—just about. There was drama on a level his father would cringe at. Perhaps a good thing they weren't on speaking terms. Probably more justification for Lucius cutting him out of the will.

In all honesty, he wasn't sure how he felt about that yet, being poor. There was also something in him that wanted to prove that his superiority was inherent, and not simply driven from wealth. There was also nervousness there. He'd deny it if anyone asked, but he worried that he wouldn't be able to handle not having everything he wanted when he wanted it.

Saying that, there wasn't anything material he wanted. It was more 'if' he wanted it. But the price his parents asked was too high, and he wasn't prepared to pay it.

People were eyeing him with guarded curiosity, and he wondered what went on in their heads. Was he less of a monster now that he was fucking Granger? Probably, in their eyes. It didn't surprise him how superficial people were. People saw what they wanted to see.

The Great Hall was noisy with students waiting for breakfast. Granger had chosen to skip breakfast, although he was fairly certain she was uneasy about the news of their relationship being out. Maybe nervous about being accosted by everyone at once wanting to know what had happened, how, when, where. Perhaps that cringeworthy woman from the Daily Prophet was skulking around somewhere.

She'd struggle to get any future interviews from either Hermione or him, after the misrepresentations she'd made of both of them. Although Hermione's misrepresentations still made him chuckle, but in light of those misrepresentations, the woman was likely going to cast more aspersions toward Hermione regarding her ambition, aligning herself with a Malfoy. Tsk, tsk. Hermione's ambition might even overshadow him being a proven Death Eater. What was mayhem and murder compared to gold-digging ambition? Except there was no gold in this case.

Draco took his usual seat at the end of the Ravenclaw table, where he got left alone and the more brave Slytherins wouldn't gang up and accuse him of having cheek taking a seat at the Slytherin table. All safe knowing he wasn't in a position to respond. Just once he wanted to scare them, but it would get him kicked out faster than he could finish his next forkful. Hermione would be upset.

The Ravenclaws left him alone. It was neutral territory for some reason.

A perfumed current of air passed and someone sat down opposite him. Pansy. He knew before he looked up. "What do you want?"

"That is quite some bruise on your face. Little birdies are talking all over the castle," he said airly. Why was she here? Were they friends whenever she wanted something? It was the only reason she was here right now. "Is it true, then?" she said with a look of distaste.

"Since when do I owe you insight into my business?"

"Can't be true. Certainly doesn't have that pregnant look about her," she said tartly. "Or else… the family jewels just refuse to sparkle."

"You're not pregnant."

"I wouldn't let Justin touch me with a ten-foot pole. That's never going to happen. And I would have thought you'd feel the same. Unless you're lying about everything." Was there delight in her voice? Maybe hope? After treating him the way she had, that sounded outrageous. More likely, she just wanted to be proven right. "Obviously, you can tell me. I've always kept your secrets." That had been true at one time, maybe it still was true on some level. "What's your game?"

"Hermione is not pregnant because she's smarter than you."

The disapproval was clear by the tightness around her mouth. "My, my, you defend her now. That's quite a change in tune from you. Your parents will be thrilled, of course."

"They know. They aren't. But it's not their choice."

"I'm sure they'll find some way of making you see the light."

"They have tried."

Pansy was silent for a moment. "So it is going to be wedded bliss for you when you leave here?"

"Something like that." If he had any concerns about going to live in a shoebox in London, he wasn't about to share them with Pansy. There had been a time when he'd confided in her, but that time had passed. Too much had happened, and he couldn't fully trust Pansy to not use his secrets if it served her. Their friendship was in the past.

"You'll come to your senses eventually. What are you going to do, have dinner parties with Potter and his friends?"

She had a worthy point, but then the war, and times after, had showed him was his friendships had been worth. In ways, he wondered if he'd confused friendship for alliances. When times had been tough, it had not suited the Slytherins to be linked with him. They may get over that in time, but he wasn't sure he was willing or able to forget. The thick and thin loyalty of the Gryffindors was often mocked, but when times were lean, it meant a great deal.

They were still annoying beyond reason.

"So, you and Justin are going your separate ways?"

"Bye, bye, Justin. Best of luck for the future," Pansy said in a singing voice. "I'll be starting a petition with the Ministry to get a divorce. It's been a year. We are never going to reconsider. Rather, I am not going to reconsider. He would count himself lucky."

If that was entirely true, Draco didn't know. Maybe it was. Pansy would be a downright bitch to him, but he might not mind. Who knew. Some guys were into that. Draco had given up questioning who should be with whom. All he knew that he was where he wanted to be. "Good luck."

"I can't believe you folded," she said rising of out her seat. "Thought you were stronger than that, but you are a man, and inherently weak. Bye, Draco." She walked off without a response. Yep, Pansy was a bitch, but she always had been. But she only had power if you let her digs get to you. And he didn't care enough to get bothered.

Finishing his breakfast, he got up and walked out, aware of the solemn glares from the Gryffindor table. They were really for Hermione to deal with. He'd had to deal with Pansy, so that was on par, wasn't it?

Their apartment was silent when he returned, finding Hermione on the sofa, reading. She looked up and smiled. "How was it?"

"Pansy questioned the quality of my manhood."

A frown drew her eyebrows together. "Pardon?"

"She's alluding that we are lying because you're not pregnant. Therefore, this must be some kind of manoeuvre."

"I'm not having a baby because your friends doubt us. We're too young to have a baby."

Draco wasn't entirely sure he agreed. It hadn't gone unnoticed how excited some people were. There had been a baby in the vision he'd seen, and he hadn't minded. Something about the whole thing was really exciting.

Hermione placed her book down. "Can you imagine taking a screaming infant on holiday with you? We could barely travel."

That was a point. They could travel all over the world, just the two of them. It would require some money. How the fuck was he going to earn money?

Hermione returned to her book and Draco shifted between her legs until his head rested on her belly. What could he do? It wouldn't be impossible to get someone to employ him. Shacklebolt would give him a job if he asked. He was a reasonable man. Not a bad minister with the exception of this stupid marriage law. Then again, the marriage law had gotten him her, and disowned.

But he wanted to do more interesting things than sit in some boring Ministry office, filing paperwork. There was Gringotts. Money was more interesting than Ministry business. Law, but that would take intense study. Obviously if he was going to do it, he was going to be good at it. Perhaps not a bad option longer term. He could be a barrister that terrified his opponents. He was a Death Eater after all. He was the cautionary tale, the one people warned their children about. "I'm going to write my memoir."

"You're only nineteen."

"I'll write about my time as a Death Eater. About everything leading up to it. People will buy that book in droves. I mean, they bought that idiot Lockheart's books by the thousands. They'll buy mine out of morbid curiosity. Then we can go anywhere we want." Shifting up along her, he kissed her. "I think they'd even be curious to know what it was like growing up in Malfoy Manor."

"Your parents would despise you."

"What's one more grievance? I'll even tell them how you punched me in third year. Out of nowhere, you just punched me."

"Liar."

He leaned closer to her ear. "Maybe I should tell them that I touched myself afterwards."

"You know, I am not beyond punching you now."

"We'll be star-crossed lovers."

"Let's not get carried away."

"Everyone loves a happy ending, because," he said, nicely nestled between her thighs, "I have you just where I want you." The kiss stole her objection, distracted her. The story really would have everything, and once out there, everyone would understand the unlikely marriage between the Gryffindor princess and the Death Eater. Kissing her was too distracting to think about it further, but the idea was there and it was alive. Right now, there was more pressing things to focus on.

A/N I know I'm overdue posting this, but I have been traveling, and writing just doesn't work for me when I travel. One chapter to go on this story. It has been a constant companion for quite a while, and it's going to end next week.