AN: as i said before i'm on holiday but i haven't forgotten this fiction and i'm still writing it, anyway here is another chapter i hope you enjoy it and have a happy easter.
9.
The days passed quickly and finally Hermione's birthday came along. She was so nervous and scared that she was pacing the common room debating whether to miss breakfast when her very good looking boyfriend got out of his room.
He smiled at her "Hermione happy birthday." And after kissing her tenderly asked "Are you ok? You look very nervous." She eyed him for a while "Draco today I'm going to receive your petition and after that my best friends will know that we will get married. I'm a wreck. I couldn't sleep at all. What if they decide to hurt you?"
Draco was very touched by her concern "Hermione I believe that they at least will try to hex me but that is expected. And I want to apologise in advance for any bad comment I will make about you. Believe me when I say that I'm just pretending."
Hermione sighed "That's just perfect. My friends will burn me at the stake and you will insult me. Can my day get any worse?" he took her in his arms "Hermione, everything will be fine I promise you. And to make you feeling better I want to tell you that I've got a surprise for you tonight. When you finish your lesson please come back here and change your clothes. After that come in the common room. Ok?" she nodded "I suppose you won't tell me anything else about tonight" he smirked "No it's a surprise" she smiled and after getting another kiss she left for the Great Hall.
On her arrival she went to sit between Ron and Harry who have been waving at her since she entered the hall "Hermione happy birthday! We are the first, aren't we?" she smiled at them and she knew she couldn't say that her boyfriend was the first "Of course you are. It's a tradition for you to be the first annoying git to remind me that I'm a year older."
Her two friends were grinning "Come on Hermione, you know that you love us" she gave them a quick kiss on their cheeks and nodded. "Yes I love you so much guys" she was starting to be emotional so she cleared her throat and she started eating.
And then the owls started to fly in the Hall. Three letters were dropped on Hermione's lap. The golden trio eyed them nervously. She took the first, she opened and after scanning quickly the content she laughed "Guys I received a petition from Fudge's son. If the father is something to judge on I'm scared to think about the son."
Harry said "You aren't going to accept him. Are you?" she smiled "No, I rather marry Snape" the other two shuddered at the thought. She carefully opened the second letter "This is an offer from Marcus Flint" Harry and Ron's expressions darkened "That bloody git. He is a full fledged Death Eater, you aren't going to marry him either." She sighed "No, I'm not even slightly thinking about it." and then after a deep breath she opened the other one knowing full well which name she would find written.
Dear Miss Granger,
Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy has petitioned you on behalf of her son Mr. Draco Fabius Malfoy.
Regards,
The Ministry of MagicP.S.: we would like to remind you that you have two weeks to accept a proposal. If you will not accept any petitions you will be oblivated and you will be taken back to the muggle world.
She felt butterflies in her stomach, she was really going to marry Draco Malfoy. She still hadn't sorted out her feelings for him. All the days since their first, well technically second kiss, they had stayed up late at night and tried to know each other a bit more but she still had so many things to ask and to forgive and forget.
Her best friends then asked "So who is the third one?" she was very nervous "It's Draco Malfoy" the two wizards shouted "What?" she tried to calm them "Guys please don't make a scene here. Everyone is looking at us." Harry was the first to talk "You obviously aren't going to accept him either"
Hermione fidgeted with the letter "I don't know Harry. Maybe I should. I mean I could get information about the Dark Side. Beside we all know that he wouldn't dare to hurt me. They need the good publicity and they cannot afford a scandal."
Harry's voice was very cold "You aren't going to marry Malfoy. I would rather kill him than seeing him touching you." Ron agreed "Yeah it would be as bad as if Ginny would be dating someone like Zambini"
Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and paled. Then Ginny replied "Why? What's so bad about Zambini? Do you know him personally Ron?" the red head wizard looked angry "Come on Ginny. He is a Slytherin. Nothing good can come out of that lot." She looked at him coldly "It's like saying that the Weasleys aren't good wizards because they are poor. Aren't you aware that you are being prejudiced?"
Ron then shouted "Ginny Weasley don't you dare say such stupid things. He is bad and the discussion is over" by now the Great Hall was watching the drama unfolding at the Gryffindor table. "I believe that's not over Ron. You can't insult my boyfriend and pretend that everything is fine."
Hermione paled even more and Ginny was shocked about her admission "What did you say?" shouted Ron "Did you just say that Zambini is your boyfriend?" At that moment the dark haired Slytherin wizard approached the table with Malfoy. He put a hand on Ginny's shoulder and said "I believe you heard her correctly Weasley. I'm her boyfriend and we love each other. I wish we could have told you in a different moment. I hope that you will give me a chance to prove you that I really care about your sister and that I would never think of hurting her"
Ron was too angry to listen "No Weasley will consort with Slytherins. Ginny you break this bloody relationship right now or I won't consider you my sister anymore." These words chilled everyone to the bones because he seemed very convinced.
Ginny was crying softly "I'm sorry Ron but I believe you are wrong. I won't break up with Blaise but I hope that you will reconsider" Ron looked at her very coldly and stood up from the table "You made your choice and I made mine" and with that last sentence he left.
At that moment the attention shifted to Draco. Harry was angry "Malfoy what are you doing here? Supporting your sidekick? Or are you here to taunt Hermione?" Draco looked at him very coldly "I'm here to see my future wife and I believe that this is none of your business."
Harry shoot out from his chair and faced Draco "I would suggest you to leave while you still can. Hermione won't be your wife and if you dare touching her I will challenge you to a duel." Draco stared at him coldly "Potter I would be more than happier to have a duel with you but why don't we ask Granger." all the eyes turned their attention to Hermione.
At the Professors' table Minerva made a move to go and disperse the people but she was stopped by a very grave looking Headmaster "Minerva, I believe that they need to sort this thing out between them. If we stop them now they will take the matter somewhere else and we may not be able to intervene in that case" Severus was smirking "I bet 2 galleons on Malfoy" Minerva looked at him shocked "Severus. How could you joke like this? These children have feelings!"
Severus sneered at her "Minerva I'm not in the mood for your sermons, now that I'm a teacher I'm happy to tell you to shut up" Albus tried to calm them "Silence, both of you. I can't hear what they are saying" and the professors turned their attention back to the Gryffindor table.
Hermione had to answer Draco's question but what could she say? She sighed "Harry please calm down. There isn't going to be a duel. And regarding your question Malfoy I will consider your proposal along with the others."
The two wizards still weren't moving, Hermione managed to get between them and after a quick look at Draco, she took Harry's arm "Harry it's time to go to our lesson. See you later Malfoy."
Draco stood rooted there watching his woman leaving with Potter and when they arrived at the exit, Potter turned to look at him with a smug expression. Draco was enraged, Potter may have won this battle but he would win the war.
Draco heard Ginny crying softly and he looked at her "Ginny can me and Blaise escort you to your next lesson?" she raised her soft brown eyes and tried unsuccessfully to smile but she managed to nod. He smiled at her "Please call me Draco. After all, you are dating one of my closest friends"
The Hall was so shocked to see a Malfoy being friendly with a Weasley. Ginny took the hand that Draco was offering her and she exited the Hall between the two Slytherins. When they were out of hear shot, Draco spoke to Ginny softly "Don't worry Ginny. Your brother is very instinctive and he doesn't think before talking. But he will come around. I'm sure he loves you. In the meantime if you need anything you can count on Hermione and me."
She was surprised by Malfoy's charm "Thank you Draco. I don't know if Ron will forgive me but I believe today I acquired a new friend" He nodded and after smiling at Blaise he left for his lesson.
Blaise hugged Ginny tightly "Ginny I love you and I can assure that you will never regret your decision." She smiled weakly at him "I love you too and as long as we are together I will be strong."
Albus stopped Severus before he was getting to his class "Severus, can I ask you some information about Mr Zambini?" Severus nodded "Is he on the Dark Side? Or can we count him as one of our own?"
Severus replied "I believe that young Zambini is not a dark wizard, he wants to be an Auror. But I thought that we would need more spies in the Death Eater organisation. So I thought that maybe I could convince him to take the Dark Mark and spy" Albus sighed "He won't accept and now that his relationship with Miss Weasley is out in the open …"
Severus thought it for a bit and then he said "I think that we could turn that to our advantage. Miss Weasley after all has a strong connection with the Dark Lord. And in some occasion Voldemort has talked almost fondly of her. Beside she is a pureblood it would be easy to make everyone believe that she has switched sides. A rift in the family has already started."
Albus sighed again "But can we ask these sacrifices from them?" Severus replied frostily "In love and war everything is consented. Now if you would excuse me I have class. Think it over Albus and let me know."
AN: thanks for reading.