Chapter Nine

Hermione felt faint. She glanced at Harry who was grinning like an idiot.

Inside of her she was grinning like an idiot but that wasn't something she was going to readily admit.

"Draco?" said Hermione. "Are you sure of what you said?"

"Oh yes," said Malfoy, smiling as if he was remembering a childhood memory.

Hermione felt a bit nervous.

"Perhaps its best for you to get back up to the castle again..." she started.

"No!" he said, panicked. "No because Hermione might be there! She might think that I like her or something. SHe might think I drank because of her!"

"Did you?" said Hermione bossily.

"What's wrong with a whiskey or two. If she was having fun with Weasly..." said Draco with contempt.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Finally they were at the castle doors, coming face to face with Ginny.

Ginny's eye's widened when she saw Harry.

Hermione was a little surprised that Ginny didn't seem to care AT ALL if her fiancee was drunk.

Ginny's eyes were getting watery.

"Harry, I," started Ginny, but Harry shook his head and signaled who was next to him.

Ginny nodded and beckoned them in.

The Next Morning

Hermione woke up a little earlier than usual the next morning. Something was bothering her. She was having anxiety about something and she couldn't very well sleep.

Ginny or Harry wasn't at the breakfast table when she got there.

Hermione couldn't resist a chuckle.

But Draco was there again, looking at the Daily Prophet intently as usual.

He obviously forgot about the whole incident.

But that didn't mean that she did.

Hermione shivered when she saw him. He looked so calm, so peaceful, undisturbed in the morning. His stormy gray eyes were moving back and forth slowly across the page.

Hermione cleared her throat.

"Good morning," she said stiffly.

Draco gave a start when he noticed her there. "Oh, hey there," he drawled. "I have such a terrible headache," he added.

He unconsciously touched his forehead.

"Yeah, somebody had too much firewhiskey..." Hermione smirked.

"No?" said Draco, actually shocked. "I did?"

"Yeah. SOME secrets were revealed," she said mysteriously.

Malfoy paled.

"What?" he said blankly. "What about?"

"You and Pansy's intimate moments," she said promptly. Draco choked on his coffee.

"What?" he sputtered.

Hermione laughed.

"Just kidding, no need to get a nervous break down. We all know you have a guilty conscience," said Hermione as a joke, but staring intently at him as if to dare him to deny it.

"That's gross, Granger. That's not even a possibility," he said, sounding grossed out.

"Haha," said Hermione evilly.

Hermione was still thinking about what he said yesterday.

How could he say that he loves me? Maybe it was because he was drunk.

Yeah, right. Did you see the significant looks that he gave you just right now?

What significant looks?

Over his breakfast cereal dear.

Hermione glanced at Draco.

He's not even doing anything so why is this dratted inner voice telling me there is?

Because he is, you just choose to ignore it.

Hermione let out a frustrated sigh.

Draco frowned. "Something on your mind?"

Hermione looked up into his stormy grey eyes. Ugh she couldn't concentrate on anything he says when she looks at him!

"No, nothing," said Hermione dismissively.

"You are lying," he said simply.

But Draco had a suspicion. He knew he should have never let himself get drunk.

That Afternoon

Hermione ran up to her room. Ginny wasn't anywhere the whole day.

Hermione started to grow worried.

Hermione ran up to Draco's room and saw him write a letter. Draco quickly hid the letter when Hermione came in and glared at her.

"What do you want, Granger?" he said nastily.

"Nothing! Prince Draco, your wife is missing!" said Hermione, panicked. She had a feeling she knew where she was.

"What do you mean?" said Prince Draco, bored.

Hermione stared at him.

"She hasn't shown up all morning and afternoon! Surely you care?" said Hermione, scandalized.

"Sure, I care. But you know how she is, she probably went shopping," he shrugged and stared out of the window.

"Shopping!" said Hermione hysterically. "She would have asked me to come with her!"

"What do you propose happened?" said Draco calmly, folding his hands into his lap. He reminded her a lot of Professor Dumbledore when he did that. But there was a huge difference. Draco was just carefree, and Dumbledore was calm.

"I don't know!" said Hermione untruthfully.

"Ok. Then there is nothing else we could do. We just sit and wait."

"Ok," said Hermione, grabbing her coat and meeting back to Draco. "I'm going to find the King and the Queen."

"Ok," said Draco, as she left Hermione caught a glimpse of him turning back to the letter.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Probably a love letter to Parkinson.

Hermione ran up the corridors. She had to find the Queen. Much to her luck, she found the Queen sitting down with a letter and tears streaming down her eyes.

Hermione sighed. What was up with the secret letters?

The Queen smiled when she saw her.

"I have a letter for you," she said sadly.

Hermione panicked knowing it was bad news.

"What is it?" said Hermione.

"Read it," said Molly.

Hermione took the parchment from her hands.

Dear my best friend Hermione,

I can't take this anymore. There is no way I will marry Draco Malfoy. Yesterday night while you and Draco went to bed, me and Harry escaped. We are going into a home that we purchased and we will live there for a year until we get married. I hope you understand. I trust my mother will let you stay into the house forever, because we are accustomed to you. You are like my twin sister and you will always be.

Hermione tried to hold back tears but she couldn't.

We will communicate by letters, of course. And Harry told me what Draco said. I truly hope things work out between you.

Hermione shook her head and sighed.

Much love from Ginny.

(Haha shocker is it? The story doesn't end here! )