A/N: So because I made you guys wait so long for a follow-up, I have another chapter for you guys! Enjoy! And please review, I could use some motivation these days as I am having a huge fight with my family about my future.
Chapter 16
Hermione felt the sunlight warm her face but she dreaded opening her eyes. She turned over and felt someone wrap his arm around her waist before she was pulled into another body. It took her a minute to remember the events from the night before. When it all came crashing back, she couldn't help but smile. She opened her eyes and looked at the sleeping face of Draco Malfoy.
"Good morning" she whispered. He slowly opened his eyes.
"Hush now Granger, just a little while longer" he moaned.
"Well, I give you a couple more seconds before my ladies come bursting in to dress me" she laughed. He growled some more. Hermione crawled from under his arm and wrapped herself in a black dressing gown with gold embellishments. Malfoy covered his head with the pillow. Hermione smiled and shook her head. A couple of seconds later, there was a knock on the door.
"Your grace, we're here to dress you" the ladies spoke from the other side of the door.
"You can come in." she said deviously. Suddenly, Draco sat up in the bed.
"I'll kill you for that Granger" he hissed before quickly dressing himself. Hermione's ladies entered the room just as Draco had managed to put on his pants. The girls started blushing and quickly turned away from him.
"We're sorry, your liege, we didn't know you were still in here." Draco muttered something before pulling on his shirt and pressing a kiss to Hermione's lips.
"See you later" he yelled before running off.
"Girls, you can turn around now" she smiled at her ladies.
"We're so sorry" they started.
"Hey, really, there is nothing you should apologize for!" she answered.
Draco dressed himself before going to the throneroom and visiting his father.
"Ah, if it isn't my favourite son." The king announced when Draco walked in.
"I'm your only son, but I'll take it" he hissed.
"I take it your wedding night went perfectly? I sure hope you got the girl pregnant already" he started. Draco rolled his eyes.
"It's important you have an heir to ensure your reign, Draco" his father commented on Draco's eyeroll.
"We've got plenty of time for that." Draco started to walk away but his father stopped him. He dismissed everyone else from the throneroom.
"No,you don't. There is something I should tell you." The king sounded worried and it caught Draco's attention.
"Time is something we don't have to spare. I am sick" Draco's eyes grew big.
"What?" he asked.
"I know this is a shock, I look perfectly healthy, I know. But I am sick. The healers say I've got no more than a month or two, maybe even less." He explained.
"I've been taking milk of the poppy to keep me going ,but it won't sustain me for long and I need you to be ready to take over the kingdom." Draco's heart started racing.
"I'm not ready to be a king" he whispered.
"You have no choice, soon, you and Hermione will reign together and you'll unite both countries under our name." Draco's head was spinning and he wanted to get out of there. It was stressful enough living in an era you know nothing about, but being king? That was something entirely different. He turned and ran away. As fast as his feet could carry him. He ended up in the gardens and sank down against a tree. King. He was going to be a king. Not just the Slytherin prince, but a king. Actual royalty, with real responsibilities. He tries to catch his breath, but it was racing, like his future was. Plunging ahead. He barely noticed Hermione was running towards him. Her dress in her hands. It was pastel pink and made her look more innocent than she was. She walked over to him and crouched next to him.
"What is going on? Are you okay?" she asked, grabbing his hand. He shook his head.
"Calm down, just tell me what's wrong" she continued.
"The king is dying." He told her. Hermione's eyes grew big.
"What? He looks fine, how can he be dying?" she asked. He looked at her.
"He's been drinking milk of the poppy to dull the pain. But he's dying, hasn't got long either" he continued.
"What? Seriously? Wow, now it all makes sense." She sighed.
"How so?" he looked at her questioningly.
"Well, I get why he wanted our marriage so badly now, seeing as how you'll be king soon and you'll need an alliance." He listened to the words coming out of her mouth and realized she was right.
"I can't do this Granger" he shook his head. "I can't be king. I don't know anything about this country or my soon to be people." Hermione shook her head.
"I didn't either, Malfoy, but I became queen none the less. And besides, I'd think you'd have more experience than I did, being the Malfoy heir and all." She smiled at him and nudged him in the ribs.
"It's not the same" he answered, refusing to laugh.
"You'll be a fine king, and besides, I'll be there every step of the way." He placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her softly.
"With you by my side, I can do anything" he whispered.
"Yeah you can" she smiled. She pulled him into her arms and he wrapped his around her. He decided not to tell her about the talk about heirs. For all they knew, she could be pregnant already. Would that be a blessing or a disaster? The entire situation was weird. The Slytherin prince and the Gryffindor princess reigning a kingdom together, and eventually raising an heir. Who'd've thought.
Hermione convinced Draco to spend the rest of the day with the king's advisors, training to become king. The current king had reveled in the idea and had immediately stole Draco away from her. That left Hermione to her own devices so she decided to spend some time with her horse. Rogue was slightly restless today, refusing to stand still and hitting his hooves on the ground.
"What is up with you today?" she asked the horse as she tried to braid its tail without getting kicked. Rogue kicked his hind legs in protest and Hermione threw her hands in the air.
"Well then, fine, no braids for you today." She hissed at the horse, which snorted in response. Hermione walked out of the stable and threw the brush in the bucket.
"Having a bad day?" she turned around to find James in the stables as well, holding the reigns to his horse.
"I'm having a fine day, Rogue however, is throwing a little tantrum" she spat.
"Seawind had been acting a little off, too" he commented before walking his horse to its stable. He came out carrying the bridle and saddle a couple minutes later.
"Maybe there is a storm coming" he commented.
"Yeah, maybe" Hermione wasn't eager to talk to the guy she kissed in this exact same spot a little while ago.
"I was going to go riding, but since my horse is acting like a little brat, I think I will reconsider" she finally said to break the awkward silence.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want to be caught in a storm, anyways" he continued.
"Alright, well, see you around" she commented before stalking off.
"Hermione! Wait!" he yelled after her and ran towards her.
"What?" she asked, rolling her eyes.
"I wanted to apologize" he started.
"I'm sorry for acting like a jealous boyfriend and I'm sorry for fighting with our prince" he continued.
"Yeah well, while you're at it, you might also want to apologize for almost kissing me in the woods" she spat.
"I won't apologize for being attracted to you. You didn't mind me kissing you in the stables. So why would I apologize for the forest?" he frowned.
"I have Draco, I don't want you" she hissed.
"Well, I'm not giving up that easily" he took a step closer to her.
"I'm married" she whispered.
"Marriage is nothing but a contract" he whispered, leaning into her. Hermione leaned back, fully ready to find the stable door of Rogue's stable behind her back, but boy, was she wrong. She shrieked when she fell backwards, right into the hay of Rogue's stable. As she lay on her back, Rogue gently nibbling on her hair, James started laughing.
"How very queenlike of you" he laughed.
"ha-ha, very funny. Help me up" she reached her hand towards him and he pulled her up. Resulting in her body being thrown against his.
"I'm not the bad guy in this story, Hermione. Draco is, you'll experience that for yourself soon enough" he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek before walking off.