A/N: Second half! Yay!

Okay, non-SOTD readers:

I got nothin' :-)

And onward …

After all of the excitement died down, everyone got up from their tables and stood off to the side while the staff used their wands to clear the area and create a ballroom.

Once everything was out of the way, several witches and wizards came up to congratulate Hermione on her new job. Draco stayed with her for a few minutes, but when the crowd around her only seemed to be growing he excused himself to the bar.

After he got his drink he heard his name being called and saw his mother beckoning him over. He didn't look as he turned to go in the opposite direction and ran right into someone.

"Sorry," he said, making sure to steady his hand so he didn't spill all over them, which was something he realized he never would have done before he and Hermione started dating. Draco was surprised to see Headmistress McGonagall turn around. Her eyes went wide when she saw him. "Evening, Professor. I had no idea you would be here."

"Yes, well, as the Headmistress I am invited every year." Hagrid came up behind her, his eyes also going wide as he looked at Draco.

"Evening, Hagrid," he said. "Have you two gone over to congratulate the woman of the hour yet?"

"No, not yet," said McGonagall, her eyes darting all around the room. "The crowd around her is still a tad thick."

"I doubt Hagrid will have any problem pushing to the front of the line," he laughed. No one joined in. He cleared his throat. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, fine!" she said a little too quickly. "Have you seen Potter anywhere?"

"Mrs. Potter dragged him onto the dance floor a few moments ago. Are you sure you're all right?"

"Just fine, Mr. Malfoy!" snapped McGonagall, looking even more flustered as she locked eyes with him. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me." She grabbed Hagrid and the two of them headed off somewhere.

Draco stared after them curiously. He had just turned back to find Hermione when someone new stepped into his path. "Well, well. If it isn't the future Mr. Hermione Granger."

Draco sneered. "What do you want, Parkinson?"

"That was quite a list of accomplishments your future wife had. How many did she complete since she's been with you?"

"Just the one with the giants," he said honestly. "Can I help you with something?"

Pansy scowled at him. She did not like being treated so coldly by him. Unfortunately for her, that was how Draco treated everyone he felt didn't matter.

"Blaise and I have a bet, you see," she explained as Blaise came up beside her. "He thinks the only reason you're engaged to a Mudblood is because she currently holds a lot of influence in the wizarding world and you're still trying to improve the Malfoy name -"

"Don't think that just because you're a girl I won't hex you for using that word on my -"

"While I think it's because you secretly have a crush on Harry Potter and have been searching for a way to get close to him for years."

"Sod off." Draco tried to turn away from them, but Blaise grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Even after falling so far, you still think you're better than us, don't you?"

Draco didn't have to say anything. They already knew his answer.

"I'd be careful if I were you. You've pissed a lot of people off and they 'will not cease'."

"What the hell are you babbling abou -?"

"Is everything all right, darling?" Hermione suddenly came up behind him and slipped her hand in his. She placed the other one on his shoulder along with her chin, and made sure Pansy got a nice long gander at the ring on her finger. This made the Slytherin girl cringe and Hermione could not help but take great joy in that.

"Just fine, darling," he responded, making Pansy cringe all the more. "Parkinson and Zabini here were just asking me to congratulate you on your new job."

"Somehow I doubt that," she smiled. Pansy still had her eye on the ring. "Oh, did you want to see it, Parkinson?" she said, throwing her hand in the other witch's face. "I know it's a little big, but Draco says only the best for the future Mrs. Malfoy. It certainly has a nice ring to it. Hermione Malfoy." She practically sang the name. Pansy and Blaise both looked like they wanted to vomit. "Do you think maybe I should hyphenate? The feminist in me says yes but I get the feeling my fiancé would not approve." She winked at him.

"You're damn right I wouldn't," he said very seriously.

"So much for feminism." Hermione leaned in and kissed him.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm going to be sick," said Pansy, holding her stomach and running off dramatically.

"Did you knock up Parkinson, Zabini?" asked Draco, cocking an eyebrow.

"I didn't know the two of you were together!" Hermione beamed at him.

Blaise glowered at her and said, "I'd watch your back if I were you," before turning away from them and heading in the same direction as Pansy.

As soon as he was gone, Hermione asked, "So what did they really want?"

"Oh, who knows," answered Draco. "There was something about a bet and me being in love with Potter. Just muddled nonsense they created to get under my skin."

Hermione looked at him and raised her eyebrows curiously. "You in love with Harry?" He nodded. "So that's why you're marrying me then? A clever ruse to get to him."

"That was my intention, yes."

Hermione laughed. "Well, at least I'm the one reaping the benefits," she said before pulling him towards the dance floor. "Come on, Casanova. Show me your moves."

"In public?"

Hermione rolled her eyes before taking the drink he still held and putting it on a tray that was currently floating by. She dragged him onto the floor and, as soon as they were there, he scooped her into his arms and started twirling her around.

Hermione loved dancing with Draco. He was, by far, the best dancer out there and she was proud to call him hers. Of course, it might be nice if he wasn't so damn cocky about it, but she knew what she was getting when she chose to be with him.

After a few songs, Kingsley came up and asked if he could cut in. While Draco had no interest in sharing Hermione, he couldn't exactly say no to the Minister of Magic. He politely passed on her hand and walked off the floor.

Draco got another drink and leaned against a wall by himself for a while. At first he kept his eyes on Hermione, who looked beautiful as she fluttered across the floor with a lively smile on her face.

As much as he loved her, he could only watch her for so long before he got bored. He began moving his eyes all across the room, looking for anything of interest. Astoria and Weasley seemed to be fighting in a corner. That kept his attention for a total of two seconds.

Phillip and Sophie were currently chatting animatedly with a circle of important looking wizards and witches. Also boring.

He spotted his father laughing and drinking with his old friends while his mother was nowhere in sight. He found her a minute later on the dance floor with Mr. Crabbe. Draco grimaced. Why that man wasn't in Azkaban was beyond him.

After taking a moment to laugh at the way Luna's date lingered behind her uncomfortably while she obliviously chatted with Longbottom and his girlfriend, Draco noticed something very peculiar. McGonagall and Hagrid had found Potter, and they were looking very serious as they leaned in and whispered something to him. He looked all around nervously before motioning for them to follow him out of the room.

While Draco normally wouldn't care what Potter did, he found his earlier encounter with his former professors too odd not to follow. He looked and made sure Hermione was still occupied with Kingsley before chugging the last of his drink and following them.

Potter led them out of the main hall, which was actually just the reception area cleverly disguised, and into an abandoned corridor.

"Okay, now tell me exactly what she said," he demanded.

Draco ducked into the shadows and leaned in, listening closely as McGonagall began reciting a cryptic poem.

"The Dark Lord is vanquished, the world is at peace, but his followers still remain, and they will not cease … Two opposite hearts join together as one, to create a new power surmountable by none … This power must remain firm within their grasp, in any other hands our future becomes our past … Love may be strong, but hold on tight, a new war will begin, and everyone must fight … Loyalties will be tested, and families torn apart, but the future is now, and it's all about to start …"

When she was finished Potter just stood there with a dumbfounded look. "That could really be about anyone," he said unconvincingly.

McGonagall looked crossly at him through her squared spectacles. "I think the timing says otherwise, Mr. Potter."

"But opposite hearts could mean anything. Why does it have to be about a pureblood and a Muggle-born?"

"Harry, yeh need ter take this seriously," said Hagrid. "Right at the beginnin' it mentions You-Know-Who. What else could opposite hearts mean?"

"But Hermione and Malfoy?" Draco's ears perked up. "Aren't wars bored of dealing with the same people all of the time?"

"Well, I suppose it might not be them if …" McGonagall trailed off.

"If what?" asked Potter.

McGonagall and Hagrid exchanged a look. "In your honest opinion, Mr. Potter, do you think this marriage is legit?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Harry, there is no doubt in our minds tha' Hermione's in love, but what abou' Malfoy?"

"I don't understand."

Draco rolled his eyes. Oh Potter. So naïve … so humble … so moronic. Even he understood what they were saying, and he didn't like it in the least.

McGonagall sighed, obviously hating to have to spell this out. "Do you believe Mr. Malfoy is actually in love with Ms. Granger, or do you think it's all a publicity stunt?"

"Oh," said Harry, finally catching on. "I …I think it's real." He gulped.

"Thank you for the confidence, Potter," said Draco, emerging from the shadows. "It's nice to know not everyone is blinded by the influence of the media." He glanced coldly at his former professors, who both cast their shameful eyes to the floor.

"Malfoy, how long have you been there?" asked Harry.

"Long enough to know you all think Hermione and I are the subjects of some prophecy. But what I don't understand is how you think a marriage will create a new power?"

"The meaning will show itself in due time," said McGonagall.

"Maybe so, but why us? We're not the first Slytherin pureblood and Gryffindor Muggle-born to get married, you know. I can name at least one other pairing that fits that bill right now."

"Mr. Weasley and Ms. Greengrass hardly have the same influence as you and Ms. Granger have."

"But it could be them?"

"I … Yes, I suppose it could." McGonagall pursed her lips.

Draco smiled satisfactorily. "So who all witnessed this prophecy?"

"Just some o' the professors and Aberforth," answered Hagrid. "A few others too but none seemed ter care much."

"But none of the Dark Lord's 'followers'?" he asked. They shook their heads. "Then you're fine. Just forget about what you heard and it will all go away."

"What does that mean?" asked Harry.

"Think about it, Potter. If 'You-Know-Who' had never heard about that first prophecy then he never would have tried to kill you, ultimately giving you the power to defeat him and bringing the prophecy into coercion. If it had just been disregarded from the beginning nothing would have ever happened. Why should this one be any different?"

"I don't think it works like that, Malfoy. Prophecies have a way of playing themselves out, whether anyone knows about them or not."

"You're just looking for an excuse for me not to marry Hermione."

"Am not!" snapped Harry. "I have no problem with the two of you getting married." Draco raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, okay, I'm not exactly thrilled about it but I would never try to stop it."

"Well, it's not about us, so there's no need to go mentioning it to her."

"But it is about you."

"Prove it."

"I will then!" said Harry, turning around and walking towards the lift. "Come with me."

Malfoy followed. "Where are you taking him?" McGonagall called after them.

"To the Hall of Prophecy," answered Harry over his shoulder. "If he picks it up and is inflicted with madness then we'll know it's not about him, won't we?"

McGonagall's shook her head in disapproval. "Hagrid, you go back inside and make sure no one notices we're gone. I'm going to go with them and supervise this very bad idea."

McGonagall followed them into the lift and Harry pressed the number nine. They were silent all the way down. When the grilles opened they all headed down the corridor towards a plain black door. It swung open and the three of them entered a large, circular room with nearly a dozen doors. Only seconds after they entered a loud, rumbling began and the circular wall around them began to rotate.

Draco watched it move with his mouth agape. When the wall was still again, he asked, "What now, Potter?"

Harry looked curiously at the doors for a moment before McGonagall huffed and waved her wand. One of the doors immediately began to glow. She led them through it, and they entered a room with thousands of ticking clocks of all shapes and sizes. Draco instinctually silenced them. It had become a habit lately. Harry nodded at him approvingly.

They continued past a large crystal bell jar emitting a diamond-bright light to a door just behind it. They entered a room both tall and wide with dark aisle upon dark aisle separated by two rows of shelves. McGonagall led them through, clearly knowing exactly where she was going.

"So about this madness … it's reversible, right?" asked Draco, perhaps a little later than he should have.

"I'll take care of it, Mr. Malfoy," said McGonagall.

"I'm a little surprised you're supporting this very obvious rule breaking, Professor."

McGonagall glanced back at him and gave him a half-smile. "While I do not condone this sort of activity, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to know if the prophecy is about you or not."

They ended up in row ninety-eight, just one over from where Harry had found his prophecy almost six years earlier. He took a moment to look at the blank space that still held his name on it. It was funny to think how much things had changed since then. For one, he was down here willingly with Draco Malfoy, whose father had attacked him in this very same room the last time he was here.

McGonagall pointed out the orb in question to them and stood back. Draco stared at it curiously for a moment, reading and re-reading the label just beneath it. The date on it was the very day he had proposed to Hermione and below that it said:

S.P.T. to P.A.T.H.H.

(?) Hermione Granger

and (?) Draco Malfoy

"Who is P.A.T.H.H.?" he asked.

"Patrons at the Hog's Head," answered McGonagall.

"This prophecy is almost two months old. Why are you only telling Potter about it now?"

McGonagall blushed. "We didn't … want to worry anyone until we were sure."

"Sure of what?"

"That this was going to stick, Mr. Malfoy," she said candidly.

Draco frowned. Even without explaining what 'this' was he knew she was talking about the engagement. "Save the dates went out last week. I'm assuming you got yours?"

"I did," she said, her gaze unwavering. "I apologize for my rude -"

"It's fine," he interrupted, looking back at the prophecy.

Draco gulped and reached his hand out, letting it hover just over the glass orb that glowed with an inner, blue light. After a deep breath he snatched it quickly.

"AHH!" he screamed, falling to his knees and cradling his head. "The voices! There are so many voices! They won't stop! They won't until I - I -!"

Draco stood up and pointed his wand at Harry's heart. McGonagall shrieked as she readied herself to cast a spell. But before she could Draco smirked at Harry and jabbed him once before lowering his wand.

"Not funny, Malfoy!"

"It was kind of funny," Draco said, tossing the orb and catching it several times before taking a good, long look at it. None of them said anything as he returned it to the shelf and headed back the way they came.

When they reentered the room with the clocks Draco stopped and glanced around at them. He sighed and turned to Harry. "Don't tell Hermione," he said, barely able to look the other wizard in the eye. "She's been through enough this year."

Harry nodded. "For now. But only until after the wedding. Then you will have no choice but to tell her."

"I will," said Draco, already dreading that day. How was he supposed to tell the woman he loved that by marrying him she just might start a war?

XXX

Hermione stood on the edge of the dance floor, scanning the room for Draco. She'd lost sight of him a while ago and was starting to get worried. Ginny seemed to be having the same problem with Harry on the other side of the room, but Hagrid had found her and was keeping her busy. Hermione had no such luxury.

From where she currently stood she could hear the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy talking with his tightknit group of purebloods. They didn't know she was there since a statue stood between them, but they should have known better than to speak so freely in public.

"So tell us about this future daughter-in-law of yours, Lucius. You must be very proud of her many accomplishments," said a voice she was pretty sure belonged to Theodore Nott's father. The whole lot of them should have been in Azkaban. She understood how the Malfoy's had gotten off, but why the rest of them were walking free was beyond her.

"Yes, she has been known to make an impression," was all Lucius said.

"I can't believe you're letting someone like her muddy up the Malfoy bloodline. What would your father say?" That was either Mr. Goyle or Mr. Crabbe. She wasn't sure which.

"Let's just be happy he's not around to see this. He would, undoubtedly, make my son's and his wife's lives miserable."

"So you're really not going to try to put a stop to this?" That was definitely Mr. Greengrass. Hermione knew his voice anywhere.

"Draco is stubborn. When he makes up his mind about something there is no persuading him otherwise."

"My son wouldn't dare treat me with such disrespect." Hermione was certain this was Mr. Goyle, since Mr. Crabbe sadly no longer had a son. A horrible circumstance that still haunted Draco in his dreams. "You let him go soft after the war. Someone needs to give that boy of yours a good beating."

"I'll be happy to do it," said Mr. Greengrass. Hermione could almost hear the smile in his voice. If he did she'd be happy to beat him right back.

"There will be no beating of my son."

Hermione smiled. She was proud of Lucius for standing up for Draco and setting his friends straigh -

"If it wasn't for Draco's impulses we might still be lepers in the wizarding community."

Her face immediately dropped.

"Because of this marriage us Malfoys will be high in society again while you all continue to fight charges that might send you to Azkaban. Draco should be rewarded for his actions, not beaten."

"So you're saying this marriage is all a sham then?" asked Mr. Greengrass.

Hermione's palms began to sweat as she waited for Lucius's answer. Her throat became dry and she gulped to relieve it.

"Of course it is. A Malfoy would never willingly marry a Mudblood. You all should know better than that."

Hermione's heart became heavy as she did her best to fight of the sudden urge to burst into tears. She'd heard enough.

Forgetting all about Lucius and his pathetic lackeys, Hermione headed over to the bar and, for the first time in her life, ordered a firewhiskey neat. She chugged her drink down quickly before ordering another. Once she had her new drink she found the closest chair and stumbled into it.

She felt like such a fool. After all of this time she had truly believed that Lucius had started to change. At least Narcissa was open and honest about her feelings, while Lucius was secretive and manipulative. How long would it be before he started feeding ideas into Draco's head to turn him against her? Maybe he was doing that already. Or maybe she was being paranoid. It was hard to think straight with that incessant pounding in her head.

"Hermione."

She looked up to see the wizard in question standing above her. She started to narrow her eyes at him, but quickly pulled her face into a bright smile. If he could be fake then so could she. "Yes, Lucius?" she asked in the sweetest voice she could muster.

"Would you care to dance?"

He held out his hand. Hermione looked at it skeptically before glancing sideways at where his 'friends' were still standing. They were all watching him and laughing.

"All right," said Hermione, taking his hand, determined to be the bigger person.

She finished the last of her drink and handed it off to someone who may or may not have been a waiter. Lucius led her onto the dance floor and started twirling her around in similar style as Draco. Two branches from the same tree, but Draco was definitely higher.

"So where has my son disappeared to?" he asked in an attempt to make conversation.

Hermione shrugged. She really hoped he'd show up soon and save her from this humiliating experience.

"Is something the matter?"

"No," she said quickly.

"Has Draco done something to upset you?"

Hermione turned away so he couldn't see her roll her eyes.

"Hermione, if he's done something to offend you I should know so that I can-"

"So you can what? Beat him for it?" she spat.

Lucius turned white.

Hermione smiled maliciously. "Or maybe you could have Mr. Greengrass do that for you instead. I hear he would just love the opportunity."

"Hermione … I -"

"Please, just save it. I don't appreciate being made a fool of, Lucius."

"That wasn't my intention."

"Practically every day I am approached with rumors that Draco is just using me to reestablish the Malfoy name, but I never for one second thought I'd have to hear it coming from the mouths of someone we trusted, pureblood or not."

"It was wrong, I admit -"

"Draco loves me," she said as her eyes began to mist. "Despite what you and your wife choose to believe."

"I know he does."

"Then why would you taint what we have with lies?"

"That wasn't my intention," he repeated.

Hermione chuckled humorlessly and shook her head. "And to think I was really starting to believe you had changed. Draco always tells me you never will, but I fought for you."

"I have … I mean, I'm trying …"

"Wow," she smirked. "Lucius Malfoy at a loss for words. This has to be a first."

Hermione looked into the cold eyes of the man who so closely resembled the one she loved, only to notice the true differences between them. Draco no longer resembled Lucius in her eyes. He was the real man, the better man.

She sighed while keeping his gaze. "You had no intention of ever meeting my parents before the wedding, did you?"

Lucius cast his eyes disgracefully to their swaying feet.

"That's what I thought." Hermione looked over just as Draco reentered the room with Harry and McGonagall. She didn't even question his odd choice of companions; she was just relieved to see him. "It looks like your son has returned. If you don't mind, I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll just go grab him and we'll head out." She stopped their dancing and held her hand out to him. "Thank you for the dance, Lucius."

Lucius took her hand and shook it firmly. Before letting her go, he pulled her in and said, "I truly am sorry that I upset you."

"That's the problem. You're sorry that you upset me, but you're not sorry about why you upset me. Have a good evening, Lucius." She let go of his hand and quickly made her way over to Draco, who greeted her with a kiss.

"What were you dancing with my father for?"

"He asked," was all she said. "All of this excitement has exhausted me. Would you mind terribly if we headed home early?"

Draco looked at his father, who had found his mother and was currently eyeing them over her head. "Did he say something to you?"

"No, of course not," she lied. To play it off a little better, she began running her hands seductively along his chest while smiling mischievously. "Actually, I was hoping we would get the chance to celebrate my promotion properly. You know," she leaned in closely and, in a deep, drawling voice, whispered, "just the two of us."

Draco's head turned and Hermione caught him in a fervent kiss that probably wasn't appropriate for the public eye. Draco knew she was trying to distract him from something with sex but since he was trying to distract her as well he'd be a fool to bring attention to it.

When they finally separated both were panting heavily. Draco brought his hand up and stroked her cheek. "Go and say your goodbyes while I grab our cloaks. I'll meet you outside in ten minutes."

Hermione nodded and walked off to find her friends. Before Draco headed to the cloak check he located his father, who was still standing to the side of the dance floor with his arm around his mother. Draco let out a deep, frustrated breath before marching up to him.

Narcissa was surprised to see her son come up to her and her husband looking so vexed, but Lucius seemed to expect it. In an attempt not to make a scene, Draco grabbed his father's arm and pulled him close. "What the hell did you say to her?" he whispered through clenched teeth.

"I don't know -"

"Spare me your lies. She was perfectly happy and then, after one dance with you, she suddenly wants to leave?"

"Maybe it has something to do with all of those firewhiskey's she was drinking," said Narcissa, stepping between her husband and her son. "A tiny girl like that should know better than to -"

"This was her night and, just like that, you ruined it for her." Draco's face turned a bright red while he clenched his fist tightly around his father's arm. If they weren't in public he would gladly give him the thrashing he deserved. "While she might see a purpose in constantly defending you, I don't. I know you see her as your quick ticket back into high society, but I won't let you use her like that. I'm done. With both of you."

Narcissa's mouth fell open. "Draco, you don't mean -"

"I do actually. Hermione is my life now, and if you don't accept her then you don't accept me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and meet my fiancée."

Draco turned away from his parents and didn't look back, but he could still feel their hard eyes boring into him. After grabbing their cloaks he headed outside without looking at anyone. Hermione was already waiting for him by the fountain, completely distracted by the clear and beautiful night, a rare find in London in February. She already looked a bit chilled so he sneaked up behind her and placed her cloak over her shoulders. She jumped slightly before looking back at him and smiling.

Draco took her into his arms and held her tight. "I love you," he said, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair. "No matter what. You know that right?"

"Of course I do," she said, putting her arms around his waist and squeezing him against her. "And I love you no matter what."

"Good," he said before kissing her forehead. "Are you sure you want to leave already? After Kingsley's announcement you're kind of the guest of honor."

Hermione nodded into his chest. "Right now all I want is to be at home alone with you."

"S'all right with me," he said. "As long as we can be naked."

Hermione chuckled. "Isn't that why you asked me to move in with you in the first place? So we could be naked constantly?"

"Partially," he said honestly. "But I also wanted you there because I love waking up with you in my arms."

Even without looking he knew Hermione was blushing. "That's very sweet."

"I'm a sweet guy." Draco pulled back and lifted her chin with his hand so she was forced to look him in the eye. He clonked their foreheads together, his lips lingering just above hers. "Shall we apparate home? For old time's sake?"

Hermione nodded while keeping her eyes fixed on his. Draco filled the small gap left between them and kissed her, cupping her face between his hands as he disapparated them out of there and to their flat, where he planned to make her remember that not all purebloods were cruel, and some, particularly him, only had her best interests in mind.