Chapter 1 – Aboard A Fairytale
"I Love You Draco" Hermione whispered into his ear as they finally decided to get up and roll out of bed.
Draco went over to his bed stand to get his shirt which was carelessly flung on top of the hot light bulb. "Hermione, you better get up. It's getting late and we already missed breakfast."
"Fine" Hermione got out of bed after she saw Draco was about to leave. "Don't you have detention tonight Draco?" She commented suddenly remembering.
He opened the door when he was Hermione had finished changing. "Yes I do unfortunately …" He paused for a moment. "With Filch"
Hermione looked up in surprise. "I though it was with Professor Hastings because you were creating havoc in the DADA rooms"
Draco placed one hand over his heart in mock disappointment. "How could you even think that, Hermione? I'm a perfect student!"
She rolled her eyes. "Having near prefect grades does not mean you are a prefect student Draco" He gave a grin and slung one arm over Hermione's shoulder as they walked down to the great hall. "I know, I know, that's why you are here, to make up the last percent."
Hermione slapped his hand that was on her shoulder. "So that's all I am to you Draco Xavier Malfoy a percentage"
Draco didn't move his arm. "That's why you like me so much" He said burying his face into her neck. Hermione tried pushing him away. "Draco, this is a public area,"
He frowned as he moved away a bit. "So what did McGonagall want talk to you about yesterday?" Hermione pondered for moment then suddenly jumped up. "Yes, that is what I was going to tell you. McGonagall said because my grades have been consistently good so far she has decided to let me take my N.E.W.T.S earlier."
Draco made a sad face. Hermione laughed. "Oh c'mon you'll only have to survive one month of school by yourself before I can see you again."
Draco looked confused. "But Hermione, there is only one month of school left."
"Well yes," Hermione took a deep breath. "Well, you see... I'm going to be taking the N.E.W.T.S tomorrow"
"So you'll be gone by Tuesday!" Draco cried out of shock. Hermione quickly covered his mouth and smiled at the people who were starting to stare. She pulled him into a corner. "Yes, Draco, I'll be gone by Tuesday."
"But, then what if something happens to you this month when I'm not around you!" He exclaimed.
"I'll be fine" Hermione rolled her eyes as she cast a straightening spell on Draco's dress robes as he stuffed them underneath all his books yesterday. Giving one last glance Hermione looked at his shirt… apparently he did not know how to button up a shirt with the correct holes either.
"No I refuse to have you running around without any security." Draco crossed his arms over his chest as if to say 'you're not going anywhere'. Hermione slapped the hand that was obstructing the button she was doing up.
"Honestly Draco, if something happens I can call either Harry, Ron or you" Hermione finished the last button and turned the other way to started walking towards their main destination.
"Those two idiots… they only know how to say 'bloody brilliant'" Draco commented as he ran after her. "How will they protect you?"
"If you must know, Harry and Ron have been training under Dumbledore for the past two years. They have gotten pretty good." Hermione frowned as she spoke to Draco. "Besides, you should not insult them. They're my best friends"
"I think I'd feel better if you could stay be somewhere where I can keep an eye on you all the time" Draco paused in his tracks. "I know! How about you stay in the Malfoy Mansion. You can stay in my wing. It's fully furnished, private, so no one can bother you and it'll be like we are together even though we're not"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know Draco… its not really proper... I'll think about it."
Groaning from frustration Draco heaved a sigh "Fine then be that way." he said as he took out two boxes from his robe pocket. "Hermione, give me your hand." He demanded opening one box. In it lay a ring carved out of unbreakable Diamond inside the ring there were swirls of melted Sapphire, Emerald and Topaz.
"Draco," Hermione pause as he carefully placed it on her finger. "I don't think I can accept such an expensive gift.
"Who's says you are going to accept it. But you are, going to wear it at ALL times" Draco gave a playful smirk. "This ring I had specially made a crafted for you 5 months ago. The swirls of color are melted gemstones and inside the swirls are the properties of every shield spell known to wizards. This ring can protect you from anything Hermione, even the killing curse." Hermione touched the ring and felt it was ice cold. "The ring is also designed to turn people who touch you without your consent into pure hard ice." Draco placed the first box back into his pocket and then opened the second box. And inside it lay a somewhat thick platinum band with a huge pink diamond in the middle. He leaned over to her and took a large breath. "This ring however is not to protect you. Rather, it is to ensure you life long happiness as Mrs. Draco Malfoy" he said. Hermione gasped as she reached for the ring which was still sitting in its case.
Hermione froze as a wave of emotions overcame her "But Draco, Won't your parents mind. I am after all a muggle-born". Draco raised one eyebrow. "My parents are lunatics. My mother already knows about this and is delighted, as for my father… well lets just say I don't think he cares anymore after I refused the dark mark last summer"
Hermione gasped. "That's why you came to my house with all those bruises the month before school started!". Draco gave a small nod. "I didn't want to tell you then because I didn't want to worry you" He paused. "Back to the ring though. Now that my parents are out of the way…"
Looking at Draco she gave a smile and nodded. He slipped it onto her finger and she wrapped him in a tight hug "I can't tell you how happy I am right now" she whispered into his ear.
Draco took out his wand and cast an invisibility spell on the two rings. Hermione looked at him apprehensive.
"It's for your protection. The Slytherins, although still loyal to my decisions and position, can be easily swayed. I do not want to cause extra harm to you" Hermione nodded in understanding and they walked into the great hall together.
Ginny who was sitting at the Gryffindor table saw Hermione with Draco walking in and waved her over. Hermione waved back. "I'll see you after detention Draco. I'm going to Ginny's dorm for a girl talk after lunch." Draco gave her a light peck on the cheek before heading off to the Slytherin table himself.
"Hey, Ginny, Harry, Ron" Hermione smiled as she took a plate and piled all sorts of food onto it.
"So we still on for after lunch?" Ginny asked between mouthfuls of pumpkin cheesecake.
Hermione grinned excitedly as she stabbed a piece of lettuce. "Can't wait to hear about you-know-who" She said with a wink.
Ron looked up from his 5th plate. "Who?"
Hermione just shrugged. "Oh just someone" She replied with a giggle.
"Hermione, do I have to come over?" Ron threatened. Hermione reached over to pick up a piece of pie "Alright, Alright, Ginny has been having some problems with this ravenclaw boy. And he just so happens to be my potions partner" Hermione said giving in.
Ginny gave Hermione a quick sharp kick. "Hermione! You weren't supposed to tell!" Hermione leaned in. "Its alright, not like he'll remember anyways. His head is only focused on Dania Montez."
"Who?" Ginny said in confusion. "You know, the new girl in Gryffindor this year. She's a year younger that us… actually she's in your year. Are you sure you don't know her?" Hermione said smirking at the lovesick look on Ron's face before bursting into giggles.
Harry shook his head before biting into his treacle tart. "Honestly Mione, I think you have spending too much time with Malfoy. It's obviously not good for you. You have already gotten his smirk."
Hermione leaned over to hug Harry. "If I was turning into Draco, I wouldn't be doing this Potter." She smiled as she let go of him. Harry was raising his eyebrows. He exchanged a look with Ron and they both returned to their food.
Hermione and Ginny smiled before, turning back to their plates.
"Honestly I don't think its Malfoy who is corrupting our Mione, its Ginny" Ron muttered under his breath as Harry nodded in agreement. "I heard that Ronald Weasley!" Ginny said without looking up.
" ! Do you see your reflection in the cups?"
"Well, Sir, I do believe I can" Draco said peering at the thousands of goblets he had polished that night without magic, his sparkling reflection peering back at him.
Filched picked one up with his greasy hands. "Well I don't believe I can see mine." He snarled looking at his reflecting at the now greasy goblets.
"But, Sir" Draco protested, pointing at the grease that had been transferred from Filch's finger to the now dirty goblets.
"NO BUTS! GET BACK TO WORK! If Umbridge were still around I'd have you hanging from chains for a WEEK!" Filch yelled as he stalked off to find another misfortunate victim.
Draco sighed as he rewiped another goblet.
BANG!
Draco groaned as he turned around. "Mr. Filch I am already.."
"Professor Dumbledore!" He said quickly jumping up from the floor when he saw who was behind me.
"Do I instill that much fear inside of you?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Draco shook his head.
"I hear you were the unfortunate detentionee so, I decided to come and see how I could help. I must say though. The goblets have never shone like that before in the history of Hogwarts." Dumbledore picked one up and checked his teeth on one of his thousand reflections. "Well except for that one." He commented pointing to the one that Filch held in his hands.
Dumbledore put the goblet down "That should be a sufficient punishment. You may return to your dorms for the evening. Goodnight!" Dumbledore then headed towards an old painting and disappeared
Draco shook his head, finished polishing the goblet Filch had recently tarnished, flexed his muscles and then headed off to Ginny's dorm to find Hermione.
Hermione was sitting on the couch. "I can't believe you actually like him Ginny. "
"I know, I know, but his smile is totally irresistible." Ginny stared dreamily into space.
Draco reached the common room and peeked through the crack in the door to see two girls conversing
"Honestly, he is an arrogant Jerk. I can't believe I have to spend so much time with that blonde haired freak. It's driving me nuts." Hermione muttered loudly.
Draco's eyes widened thinking they were talking about him but in truth, they were talking about Hermione's Potions partner and Ginny's Crush.
"But you wanted to be with him remember?" Ginny said rolling her eyes. "You picked him!"
"Yeah well that only because he got good grades... I mean I can have some random guy ruining my reputation"
"Yeah... well maybe he's not so great afterall… I mean Harry and Ron I think, both hate him" Ginny cast another fire charm at the fireplace as the last one was starting to fade.
Hermione smirked "Well you can't blame them honestly I think everyone hates him"
"Oh well, only one more day and at least Snape will be happy" Ginny sighed.
'Snape?' Draco thought. "Who is this person Hermione's talking about… There's only two people Snape likes in this whole school and that is me and Blaise who has black hair." His eyes suddenly flashed in recognition as he identified himself as the main topic of conversation between the two girls"
"I know and then I can be rid of him forever," Hermione smiled at the prospect of finally getting rid of Liam Arkin her project partner… "Spending any more time with him would be self-suicide"
Outside Draco was fuming. He was hurt, disappointed and angry… He vowed to get revenge on Hermione for playing him… As he stalked off to find Brittany Carlson… The thing was… this was all an misunderstanding…