Chapter 18

A/N: Urgh, don't you hate it when you have the next chapter in your head, but you just don't want to take the time to write it out? That's how I feel right now, but since I love you guys, I'll type it up for you.

debarie: Draco does know Dark Arts, but not all of it. I totally didn't even think of it like that, so I guess it's just the way the plot flows.

I COULD USE SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE MY FIC MORE 'BRITISH'. I FEEL LIKE IT IS TOO AMERICAN. JUST EMAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME OUT. THANKS!

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"Well Mr. Malfoy. I would like you to wait outside while I have a little chat with your fiancée. Then you can ask me what you came here for." Dumbledore spoke pleasantly, but his eyes were no longer sparkling and twinkling; now they were only a cold stony blue.

Draco shot Hermione a warning glance, then swept out of the Headmaster's office like a great black bat. Hermione remained, standing by the door where she was; Dumbledore didn't offer her a seat, or a lemon drop.

"Miss Granger, after breakfast this morning, my Teachers' Conference was flooded with an onslaught of students; complaining about you. Now, do you know why that was?" Hermione shook her head, and wore a convincing expression of innocence. "Apparently, you turned Miss Bones into a puddle of ink, and snapped Mr. Creevy's leg." She looked confused, but still said nothing. "Are you sure you know nothing? Well, it's no matter. If these charges are proven true, not only will I be forced to expel my star student, you will more than likely be sent to Azkaban. Are you sure you still have nothing to say in your defense, Hermione?"

"You can't prove anything, Headmaster. With all due respect, all you have are the words of students that are extremely unhappy with my recent association with a certain Slytherin. Sir, people are still prejudiced against inter-house relationships, no matter how much you promote them." She shrugged. Inside she was smiling. She had not used a wand, so there was no spell they could tie to her.

"Miss Granger, do you truly expect me to discount two-hundred corresponding accounts from students saying you cast those spells?"

"In any case Headmaster, to expel a student, in accordance with Educational Code 4, paragraph 12, sub-paragraph 3, an administrator must witness the actual offense. The word of the entire universe wouldn't be enough without the testimony of a teacher or a staff-member. Or you get me to confess without any influences. But that will not happen in your lifetime."

"Blast. Well, I must admit, I have underestimated you, which I should know better than to do. You must be the only student in Hogwarts who knows the Educational Code. I was hoping you would confess; it has worked consistently in the past." He looked disappointed for a moment, then regained his composure. "In any case, I can still assign you detention, revoke your rights to visit Hogsmeade, and inform your parents of your actions. You will serve detention every weeknight for a month from six to ten with Mr. Filch, starting tomorrow night."

"I understand, sir."

"Yes. Well, Ms. Granger, we knew this day would eventual come," he said with resignation.

"Yes sir."

"Well, could you please retrieve Mr. Malfoy from the waiting room?"

Hermione walked slowly to the door, and opened it to see Draco's ear. He was startled and stumbled back, clearing his throat. He looked at the ceiling and began whistling 'Yankee Doodle', all the while trying to look innocent. "The Headmaster will see you now, Draco." She rolled her eyes at him.

When Draco entered the office, Professor Dumbledore offered him a seat and a cockroach cluster. Draco declined the sweets with careful grace. He wasn't much for eating insects covered with ground up cocoa beans.

"You wished to speak with me, Master Malfoy?"

"Yes sir. I was wondering if Miss Granger and myself could have a room to share when we get married?"

Hermione's mouth dropped open, while the corner of the Headmaster's mouth twitched. "Do you plan on marrying with still attending school?" He asked innocently.

"We're not sure when we want to get married. But I just wanted to know if it was even a possibility."

"I don't see it being a problem. We'll see what happens when the time comes. But if I hear of anymore incidences, Ms. Granger, then it will not be happening. Do I make myself explicitly clear?"

The couple nodded, and they were dismissed by the Headmaster. When they spoke again, they had arrived back in the Great Hall for lunch.

"So what did the old bat want?"

"He tried to get me to fess up about what happened to Creevy and Bones. But I'm no fool. I know what I need to know to keep myself out of Azkaban." Hermione grinned weakly, then headed over to the Gryffindor table. She stood behind the bench she wished to sit on, and immediately everyone on itcleared off and found another place to dine so Hermione could sit.

She helped herself to some roasted-chicken-and-asparagus salad and a croissant. As she reached for a goblet of ice water, she heard the bench squeak as two people sat down, one on each side of her. She looked up and saw Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Power-hungry fools, she thought.

And they proved it the moment they opened their mouths. Lavender spoke first.

"Is there anything I can get you, Hermione? You look tired; bags under your eyes, you know. A little bit of sleep could clear them up in a jiffy. But anything you need? Coffee, tea, brandy, Firewhiskey?"

Hermione raised a single eyebrow at her. But an idea struck her. Why not recruit some followers while she was still at Hogwarts? They would of course absorb the Death Eaters into their own ranks, but there were very few left.

"Yes. Lavender, do you have a piece of parchment and a quill I could use?"

They were on the table before she even finished her sentence. She scratched out a hasty note:

Draco-

How does getting a few recruits for the cause sound to you? You know, the suckers who are attracted to power like a shark to blood? Speaking of the cause though, we need to get Fudge out of the way, along with his government. It's just so corrupted… But Dumbledore has to go too. He will be one of the firsts, to set an example.

--H

She rolled it up before the girls had a chance to read it, and levitated it across the Great Hall to her fiancée. He looked startled, but opened it. Hermione watched his expression closely as he read. It became more and more enamored with her plan. He looked at her and flashed a thumbs up sign. She smiled and returned to her dinner.

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Parvati asked timidly.

"I suppose."

"How is he, you know-"

"-In bed." Lavender finished.

Hermione grinned. "Come on girls. Let's go outside and talk about this in a more personal place." She linked her arms through theirs, and led them away, out towards the Lake.

Draco smirked, and returned to his pasta.

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I know it's short, but it's a transitional chapter and it has to happen if you want any more…