A/N: Slight Dumbledore bashing in later chapters

Disclaimer: I do not own this franchise or any rights associated with it.

Chapter 5

The portrait behind her slammed, almost drowning out the horrified cries of outrage that accompanied Draco's confession…almost.

"YOU'RE MARRYING MALFOY?!"

"YOU'RE MARRYING THE SLIMY GIT?!"

She cringed, her panicked eyes once again meeting Draco's across the room. She knew without turning to look at them, who they were. Her friends - one of which was her best friend - were standing behind her. They were standing behind her and had heard some of the exact information that she had just told Draco she was not ready to divulge to them yet. Fuck.

Harry, who occasionally could be the voice of reason, spoke first.

"Hermione what's going on? We came to check on you to see how your detention with Snape went. The portrait let us in when we told her that we were your best friends and just wanted to make sure that you were alright. What's this Malfoy's saying about you being his wife?!"

She looked towards her betrothed for guidance but found his expression vacant of any sympathy towards her. "You can tell them, or I will.", was his only reply to the pleading in her molten chocolate coloured eyes. It was an exact copy of his utterance at breakfast.

She did not appreciate being threatened now any more than she had that morning. She may have been; and would continue to be for the rest of eternity, soulbound to him. But that did not mean that he wasn't still an evil little ferret sometimes. A ferret that she would willingly smash against the stone walls of the castle if she was given the opportunity. She loved him, the gods knew she loved him; but sometimes he could be a right fucking bastard. None of this would ever have happened if not for his threat at breakfast. She would not have been distracted all day, would not have nearly blown up the potions class, definitely would not have been given a detention, and would not now be standing in the middle of the Head Dorm's living room struggling to find a way to explain everything to Harry and Ron. She had no choice but to tell them now.

"First of all; Harry, it's Professor Snape. Secondly, I think you both should sit down…please?"

Glancing at Ron; whose face was gradually turning puce from lack of oxygen, she quickly added

"Please just sit, I promise I'll explain everything".

Well…at least everything she was capable of saying with Ron in the room. There were some pieces of information that were not hers to share, and others that she herself did not want Ronald knowing. She would have to wait until he predictively left during the tantrum he would no doubt throw in a few minutes; before she would be able to tell Harry the additional details that she was about to purposefully leave out. They sat, all the while dubiously watching Draco's movements. She directed her harshest glare towards them as she took a seat across from their chairs.

"Leave him out of this. He's done nothing wrong"

They waited while she gathered her thoughts into order; although far from patiently. She took a deep breathe to calm her fraying nerves before beginning.

"Let me start off by saying that I was not born Hermione Jean Granger, muggleborn daughter to two dentist parents. I was born to an ancient Pureblood family that named me Hermione Ariana. As an only child to a family of wealth, I was brought up with everything I could ever want. I was spoilt, but at the same time, was taught the value of money. I knew that money could disappear in an instance. That one could lose it all without warning. I had a happy childhood, with more love than a child could ever wish for. I knew that not everyone was as happy as me. Everything had changed at the end of the first war; and while the Dark Lord was gone, the world around us was still not safe. It never has been…

My parents decided before my birth that for my own safety - least I be targeted - I would attend Hogwarts as Hermione Granger. I would be an average muggleborn from a medium-class home, and therefore not a person of interest. An ancient archaic spell later, and the Hogwarts registry had been changed, no one none the wiser. It was, and still is, for my protection.

Draco and I were introduced while we were still children. Our parents agreed upon a magical betrothal, as is usually expected within old Pureblood families. We grew to deeply love one another. It wasn't difficult with the presence of the soul bond that was formed during the initial stages of the betrothal. We can never be parted from each other nor stray from our commitment to one another. Our souls are bound for the rest of eternity, even through to the afterlife. We love each other. And once we've graduated, we will officially be husband and wife. I know that this is a lot to take in. For my sake, if you have ever been my friends, try to accept this…", she trailed off, her gaze pleading them to understand.

Not to her surprise, it was Ron that erupted.

"What the hell is this Hermione? Some kind of sick joke? You can't be a Pureblood, it's not possible. You're lying, there's no way. We've even met your parents. And betrothed to the ferret, in love. You must have gone bonkers. Harry...Harry! We need to get Madame Promfrey, they have to have cursed her or something. Harry are you listening? We need to go!"

Harry stared intently at her, his head tilted slightly to the right,

"You look happy. And not an "I'm faking this love story to appease you" or "I'm cursed kind of happy", but actual happy. I can't begrudge you the chance to be happy with someone you love so intensely, no matter how much I might want to."

Ron gurgled in the background as he choked on his own spit

"What the fuck Harry! Have you gone bonkers too? I'm getting Madame Promfrey. You're going to pay for this ferret. I don't know what you've done to them but you and your Deatheater family are going to pay."

All three of them watched silently as Ron stormed out of the room, the portrait slamming closed behind him as he took off in a sprint down the corridor.

Harry looked back at her as soon as the portrait stopped quivering from the impact.

"I think we all saw that happening, no matter how we found out. This is Ron we're talking about", he chuckled softly.

"There's something I didn't tell you Harry…", Hermione said softly as she gazed into the bright green orbs that were his eyes.