a/n: thanks to everyone who reviewed. Cremedelacreme I really like your name and the HSC are the huge exams that you finish high school with in Australia. Thanks to evillizzy89, XxGinny-HarryxX, FallenPrincessAngel, Claidishoru, blonde-brain, Krizue, Anna-BelleMalfoyx3, darkenedangel, dray-marie, nolocemenu, Reeoki, crazygirl29, lil-Rabi, Malfodax, spotzplaya88, galleena, ladeportista, Krizue, LadyJaye, iluv2dance, Skizzerhandy, eriksmyhoney, FeLiCiTyRoxX, cremedelacreme and BitterSweetBloodBaby for all reviewing (I thought I should say thankyou because I haven't really yet). Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: JK owns Harry & co. and I own the plot (Yay!)
CHAPTER 6
"Hey Hermione, this is going to sound really corny, but what do you want to be when you're grown up?"
"A healer I think. I know its going to be hard but it's what I want to do."
Hermione and Draco had been lying in bed, still wrapped around each other, talking for hours. Each one felt that they couldn't know enough about the other and even though in the backs of their minds they knew it was because of the potion, they were happy to be together until they didn't like each other any more.
"What about you?"
"Me? Definitely an auror I think. It's a little weird I know, son of a notorious death eater becoming an auror. It's probably even weirder that everyone expected me to become a death eater and I'm hopefully going to help catch the ones who are still out there."
"You'll be good at that, with your background in being evil you'll know how dark wizards think," Hermione laughed.
"Hey!" Draco poked her in the stomach and Hermione laughed harder at the tickling sensation. Draco rolled her over so that once again he was on top of her and began tickling her in earnest. Hermione did the one thing she could do, trapped underneath Draco and pulled him down into a kiss. The tickling stopped and Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and pulled her closer too him. Then breaking off the kiss he asked "Hermione, who did you sleep with before me?"
"Jealous are you?" Hermione joked.
"NO! I mean no of course not. I was just curious."
"Victor."
"Krum!"
"How many other Victors do you know?"
"I thought you guys just went to the ball in fourth year together. There were all those rumours and crap about that love triangle between you and Harry and him but I thought it was just bullshit."
"Well the love triangle part was. There has definitely never been anything between Harry and me. I shudder at the thought, it would be like kissing my brother. But Victor and I were going out until Christmas last year. Well when I say going out I mean we wrote letters during school and I stayed with him for a while each holiday."
"So right now I am being compared to Victor Krum? Oh god."
"You're cute when you're insecure. Hello I am being compared to Pansy Parkinson. That's a little intimidating even if it is wince Pansy."
"Well I wouldn't worry about that if I were you, trust me on this."
"I don't really want to know the details thanks. And on the subject of details, you're not to talk about this with Blaise or Crabbe or Goyle or anyone got that?"
"Fine, but you can't tell Potter or Weasley."
"Don't worry. Again it would be like having sex talk with your father, not even brother, this time."
They continued to talk until 4:00 in the morning when they agreed it was probably best if they went to sleep. Hermione climbed out of the bed, looking for some pyjamas to wear.
"Hey Hermione, what are you doing? I've seen you naked before."
"Yeah, but now you like me. In the morning the potion will have worn off and I don't need your normal self looking at me and judging. Even though right now I can't imagine you doing that, my common sense rules out and I know that the real Draco Malfoy is going to wake up next to me in the morning."
"Hermione, the potion didn't change who I am. It just meant that we liked each other. This is still the 'real' Draco Malfoy. And I promise you, I'm going to find you hot in the morning, with or without the potion."
Nevertheless, Hermione slipped on some underwear and a pyjama top before climbing back into bed. Her mind was buzzing with activity. Holy shit he's right. This is still him. He is actually nice one you talk to him without insults flying every which way and once you actually get to know him. Maybe it's just the potion thinking. I'll think again in the morning. She pulled the blankets over her and smiled in comfort as Draco wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.
"I know that you'll hate me in the morning again, but it's nice to be able to hold you and not be worried that I'm about to be slapped." Hermione laughed sleepily in response and snuggled her back into his chest.
"Good night Draco, this was fun."
4:00am, September 4th Malfoy Manor.
"Oh Fukkit". Lucius Malfoy had just discovered the drawbacks to nightly throwing your glass at the wall. Namely, there had to come a time when you ran out of glasses. Looks like I'll be drinking from the bottle tonight, I definitely need a long drink. Preferably a few litres worth. That night Lucius had put all his time and energy into a very complex spell. Spying on someone through magic normally wouldn't be that difficult, however he had to get through all Dumbledore's enchantments that were on the apartment. Earlier that day, once he had sobered up from the previous night's drinking, he had a stroke of brilliance. Maybe Draco was just helping the mudblood by marrying her, then there would be no problem in killing her if they weren't really in love. All Lucius had to do was find out if they were or were not in love and then he could figure out some form of a plan. He used his study fire and copious amounts of floo powder combined with an extremely old piece of dark magic to be able to look into the apartment for a full 60 seconds. And what exactly did he see? His son and that evil whore-bitch rolling around on a bed. She was practically naked and was beginning to unbutton Draco's pants. They were both smiling a nauseating amount and there could be no doubt of what they were about to do. And the worst part was, he was stuck there watching for a whole minute. Walking in on your parents is nowhere near as traumatic as seeing your child about to have sex. Thankfully the connection ended just as the mudblood was reaching for his boxers, or a lot more than a few litres of vodka would be needed to get that mental picture out of his mind. And the worst part of the whole fiasco is not only did I see Draco and that little whore getting along quite possibly in love, but Dumbledore will know someone tapped his protective spells. The whole thing was definitely not worth it. And I still have no idea where in that godforsaken castle their little apartment is. It is definitely time for the liquor.
8:15 am. September 4th. Hogwarts.
Thank God it's before 8:30, I did NOT need Hermione waking up and getting mad at me again. She still likes me for another fifteen minutes. Which also means I have fifteen minutes to basically hold her and just be with her until we hate each other again! Draco had been awake for approximately one minute when Hermione blearily opened her eyes and smiled at the face staring down at her.
"Hi, I still like you," were her first words.
"I know. I still like you too. It's only 8:15."
"Well then, despite me common sense telling me otherwise, I can think of an enjoyable way of spending the next fifteen minutes." She reached up and pulled Draco into a kiss. He responded by returning the kiss and putting his hands on the back of her head, holding her firmly in place. She moaned into his mouth and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, sucking on her's at the same time. He kissed his way downto her neck, where he stopped and laughed at the hickey that was still on her neck from the night before.
"What is it Draco?"
"Nothing, you'll see when you go and do your hair in the mirror."
Hermione looked at Draco suspiciously, and then out of the blue realised that she didn't quite like him as much as she had a second ago. Draco's face changed as he looked down at Hermione from a look of admiration to one of bewilderment and then finally embarrassment.
"Looks like its over huh?"
"Yeah." Hermione climbed out of the bed thankful that she had put on some clothes and realised that at some point, Draco too had donned his boxer shorts.
God this is uncomfortable. I think I am going to have a shower. Hermione picked up her uniform and said
"I'm going to shower, OK? I'll try not to take too long."
"No problem."
Yawning, Hermione walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Holy Crap that had better not be what I think it is!
"DRACO!"
"You called?" He popped his head around the door into the bathroom.
"I have a hickey on my neck! People will see it and think things!"
"Honey, they are already 'thinking things'. We did turn up at school married you know and that does give everyone certain expectations. I have already been asked like four times if I married you because you were good in bed."
"What! What did you say?"
"That I loved you of course. This won't work unless EVERYONE thinks we are in love."
"Ok Good. Thanks. Showering now, so goodbye." Draco smirked and pulled the bathroom door closed. Hermione stripped off her pyjama top and underwear and jumped into the shower, lathering up her hair with almond flavoured shampoo. Once she was out of the shower, she dried her hair and put it into a messy bun with two flicks of her wand. As soon as she was dressed, she left the bathroom and called to Draco,
"You can shower now, I'm done."
"Ok cool, you'd better have left me some dry towels."
"I believe there is one or two left." Hermione sat on the couch and picked up her book, but she wasn't taking anything in. The potion had definitely worn off. But there was definitely something more there then there had been before last night. Maybe it's got something to do with the talking all night but I think I have a crush on Draco Malfoy. Oh God you'd better help me out of this one.
Holy Shit I think I have a crush on Hermione Granger. It's a little weird don't you think that I've just developed a crush on my wife. Oh God this can only make things more complicated. Draco jumped out of the shower and reached for the only dry towel, a fluffy pink one with a crochet trim. Man I even look sexy in this extremely unflattering feminine towel. Ok focus on the Granger issue. Probably has something to do with the fact that we talked all night. This cannot be happening. It is one thing to end up married to Hermione Granger, but it is totally a different issue if I actually like her.
After dressing he joined Hermione in the living room, where they both smiled nervously at the other before saying at the same time,
"Want to go down to breakfast?" They laughed (nervously) and both headed towards the portrait hole. Just before Draco pushed the painting open, Hermione reached for his hand and linked her fingers with his. He looked a little surprised but smiled all the same.
Well well, maybe I'm not the only one with a crush here. Draco grinned inwardly at the thought and grasped Hermione's hand tightly. They walked in silence to the great hall, where Draco walked Hermione to the Gryffindor table and kissed her cheek before smiling and heading over to the Slytherin table.
"Hey guys, how are you?"
"Obviously not as good as you, you're smiling so much you look like you've got a coat hanger in your mouth."
"I'm just excited about Defence Against Dark Arts later on. The teacher hasn't arrived until today so no one knows who it is yet."
"Oh yeah I forgot. By the way, your hair isn't quite hiding that enormous hickey on your neck." Harry smirked as Hermione blushed and tried to cover it up.
"Revenge for yesterday. Mmmm sweet." Hermione just glared at Harry laughing and Ron looked as though he was about to be sick.
"Hermione, I would really rather that I knew absolutely NOTHING about your sex life." Hermione blushed and glared at Harry again.
"So wonder who the new professor is going to be?"
"Nice changing the subject Hermione, but yeah I do. We've got Defence with the Slytherin's this year, that should be interesting."
"That's odd, normally they like to keep the DADA classes smaller."
"Well a whole bunch of people had to drop last year because they didn't get their OWL, god Umbridge was awful, and then a whole lot more dropped because they were scared of Professor Hicks. I think they were worried about what could top the vampire we had last year."
"That's easy, Snape."
The three laughed as Draco came up and tapped Hermione on her shoulder.
"Ready to go and get your books?"
"Sure, we'll see you guys in DADA."
Hermione got up and they both walked out of the Great Hall together.
Just do it. Just pick your arm up and put it around her. You're allowed anyway, you are her husband. It's not that difficult, you do it every other morning, just grab her waist. Draco lifted his arm to wrap it around Hermione, when she tripped and fell onto the ground. Draco looked concerned as he picked her up off the floor and asked,
"Are you OK, what happened?"
"I just rolled my ankle. It happens all the time. It'll just hurt for a few more minutes and then the pain'll go away."
"You sure? Here let me help you." Draco wound his arm around her waist and got Hermione to lean on him. She winced as she put her foot down on the ground waited for a few seconds before saying,
"It's fine I can walk." She began to hobble forward, Draco still carrying a majority of her weight. They got to their room slowly and then Draco made Hermione sit on the couch while he gathered up her book bag and school stuff.
"Wait a second I'll just get mine from the study and I'll be ready to go."
"I could have got that myself you know."
"Sure you could have. Stay sitting though." Hermione rolled her eyes as his disbelief, but nevertheless stayed sitting on the couch. Draco came back out and handed Hermione her book bag.
"I would carry it, but then I couldn't have you leaning on me."
"I don't need to lean on anyone I can walk fine. I told you, this has happened before."
"Ok, well you can lean on me just to make me feel better."
"Whatever." But she couldn't help smiling to herself.
About halfway to DADA, Hermione turned to Draco and asked,
"Why are you being so nice?"
"I don't know. Would you rather I was mean?"
"Obviously not. I was just curious."
"Yeah, well if you figure it out, let me know." They continued down the halls, Hermione still limping, until they reached DADA. The opened the door and Hermione let out a shriek of delight.
"Tonks!"
"Who the hell is Tonks!" Draco whispered in her ear.
"Our teacher obviously," Hermione whispered back.
The classroom was empty except for the three of them.
"We're a little early, sorry."
"That's ok. What happened to you?"
"Oh nothing, I'm actually fine but Draco here insisted on helping me. I could have walked by myself."
"Sure you could have."
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Tonks, sorry Professor Tonks, this is Draco Malfoy, my husband." Wow that does get a little easier to say after a while.
"Your what? Hermione you're married?"
"Yeah. We got married over the summer." Hermione smiled inwardly at Tonks' face and elbowed Draco as he began to laugh. This was definitely the most humorous reaction their marriage had gotten. Her nose had begun to rapidly change shape, one minute a pig snout, the next it was small and pointy, then a huge hook nose like Snape's.
"In case you hadn't guessed, Tonks is a metamorphmagus. We'll sit down shall we professor?" Hermione pulled Draco to the back of the room as Tonks got her nose under control and the rest of the class began to pour in. Harry and Ron took the bench to one side of Hermione and Draco, and Blaise and Theodore sat on the other.
"Hey Tonks!" Harry and Ron both called.
"How do you all know this Tonks person?" Draco asked.
"Um just from, you know, well last summer, from around."
"Hermione that made no sense whatsoever."
"I know. Shhh don't tell anyone that I've lost the ability to form coherent sentences."
"Hmmm perfect opportunity for blackmail!"
"Ha ha." They both started laughing for real and laughed even harder as people turned to stare at them, both laughing at apparently nothing.
This is weird. We are getting along so well. Draco is actually being nice and this time I know it's not the potion talking.(thinking).
A silvery something flashed past the door, Tonks jumped up and hurried out of the classroom. Ron, Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances. They knew that the order communicated with patronuses, but the order bad been disbanded since they had defeated Voldemort. Tonks came back into the classroom and said,
"Hermione, and Mr er Malfoy, you need to see the headmaster at once". Now it was Draco and Hermione's turn to exchange nervous glances. I couldn't be head business or Dumbledore would have waited until lunch. They left their books and stood up. Hermione hobbled down the aisle until Draco came and supported her.
"We are going to Madame Pomfrey after this and no arguments," he whispered in her ear.
"Fine." They left the classroom as Hermione glanced over her shoulder and tried to placate Harry and Ron's worried looking faces by mouthing 'I'm fine' at them. They reached the gargoyle outside Dumbledore's office and said in unison 'Natural Confectionery Jungle Jollies' and waited as the Gargoyle came to life and moved aside to admit a pathway to the stairs. Once they reached the door, they knocked and were admitted immediately.
"Good morning you two. I trust you are well. This morning while I was performing my daily check of the protective enchantments surrounding your apartment I discovered that someone, and I think it is safe to assume that it was your father Draco, got past my enchantments for one minute using a form of surveillance spell. The amount of energy and magic which would have gone into getting past me spell would have been immense. I can personally assure you that you apartment's whereabouts is still a secret and under no circumstances will Lucius be able to use any form of magic to gain access to your quarters or even to find out where they are. My main concern is that perhaps last night he saw something that would give him reason to suspect that you are not in fact in love."
Although both alarmed by the knowledge that Lucius had tried to attack, it was not entirely a surprise. It was after all the reason that they had gotten married.
"Do you know what time he saw into our apartment? Also would he have seen us, what if he had connected with a different room to where we were?"
"No this spell tracks the people you want to spy on and gives you a birds eye view. From what my detection spells tell me, it was from 8:58-8:59 last night. So basically nine o'clock. Do you remember what you were talking about? Would it be anything that Lucius shouldn't have heard?"
"No sir," Draco answered, as Hermione was too embarrassed to speak, "Hermione and I have been getting on very well and last night at nine we were both just reading together on the couch."
"Excellent. Then I have no need to worry that he overheard anything?"
"No Sir. If you don't mind, we need to go to the Hospital Wing. Hermione fell and hurt her ankle."
"By all means. Thank you for coming to see me." Draco smiled and helped the still silent Hermione out of her chair and down the stairs. As soon as the Gargoyle was closed behind them, Draco burst out laughing, so much that he actually fell on the floor. Seeing as he was pretty much holding the shell shocked Hermione up, she also fell on top of him. While Draco was rolling around with tears of laughed in his eyes, Hermione was sitting in a ball whispering "Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod" over and over to herself.
"Oh God Draco your father could have seen us having sex. Oh god what if he saw me naked?"
"Hermione this is HILARIOUS. My father saw us about to have sex. Can you image how he would be feeling right now? Actually if I know my father, I'd say hung-over. But this is one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. My father is disgusted and he saw us when we were practically in love, not that he could tell the difference between real love and ersatz. Anyway, off the floor with you, and off to the Hospital Wing with us." Hermione's face was still bright red when they reached the Hospital Wing, a good 10 minute walk, with Hermione's limp taken into account.
"Hi Madame Pomfrey. Hermione rolled her ankle and she says it happens all the time but she is still limping."
"I can still talk you know."
"Yes yes Ms. Granger, please sit here and put your foot up on this stool." Hermione quickly unlaced her shoe and put her foot up.
"Mmm minor bruising, just a light sprain I should think. That's easily fixed. Deminlio." The purple shadow on her foot disappeared and the dull ache faded.
"Thanks Madame Pomfrey. I'll just put my shoe on and we'll go back to class."
"Ok dear, I'll be in my office if you need me." Hermione quickly laced up her shoe, before looking over at Draco and saying,
"Thanks. For helping me I mean."
"Don't mention it. It wasn't exactly difficult. I'd say the hardest part was getting you to come here."
"Well I thought I'd just rolled my ankle. Do you know how stupid I'd look coming in here with a rolled ankle."
"The great Hermione Granger look stupid? Heaven forbid."
"Stop teasing me, we have to get back to class." Draco stood up and reached out a hand for Hermione. She smiled and pulled herself up, and suddenly she was face to face with Draco, about 2cm between them.
"Sorry," she said, but neither moved away. Instead Draco leant forward and brushed her lips with a kiss.
"That's ok. Lets go. Tonk will be waiting."
"Tonks."
"Whatever." Draco smirked and wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders as they walked back to class.
a/n: ok I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am keep writing this instead of studying for English extension. In case anyone is wondering, the password Pirum is latin for pear. It doesn't really mean anything, I just like pears and couldn't think of anything. Please read and review and I will love you. (just thought I'd try a little rhyme out!)