DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter except for Devin and other OC's

Chapter 7

Frustrations

Normal POV

"Lavender, ooh have you heard that the Prince of Wiltshire is to be wed?" came Parvati's voice as the two were currently inside the girls lavatory. The two were in the midst of retouching their make-ups and gossiping about secrets.

"Oh my Merlin! How did you find out?" asked an over excited Lavender to her best friend.

"My brother works for the Royal Family, he said that the Royal Engagement will take place in a fortnight. I can't wait to find out who she is, lucky girl. Draco is really a good catch and I will do everything to be in that girl's shoes." Parvati said. The two giggled uncontrollably and exited the lavatory still talking about it. Little did they know, someone has eavesdropped in their conversation.

She walked out from the cubicle and stared at herself in the mirror. She checked her appearance and flipped her silky brown hair and smirked. She didn't even accepted Draco's proposal but its like a forest fire how the rumor spread that Draco was going to get married. She had to find him or Granger to stop her from spreading the false information.

"Draco, I have been searching for you." she said as she entered the Slytherin common room and found Draco sitting on one of the couches and reading some documents. He looked up at her direction and gave her a small smile. He patted the empty space on his right and she sat next to him. "I've heard the rumors that you are getting married and I haven't accepted your proposal yet. I think we should clarify it to Granger and stop her from spreading the rumor." Daphne said looking at her boyfriend while he was busy scanning the paper he was currently fixed at. Malfoy dropped the files on the coffee table, sighed and looked at Daphne in the eyes.

"I am getting married, you know that and it's not you." at this, Daphne let out a loud gasp. She was thankful at that moment that she was sitting or she would have fallen on the floor.

"Wh-what?" she asked. Her mouth had gone dry at what she heard him say and she was trying her hardest not to let her tear ducts release the tears. Malfoy smiled sadly at the girl that she love.

"I am getting married." he said carefully. "To Granger." he continued. Daphne didn't hold back now and let the dam in her eyes to open and release all her tears.

"Why her?" she had to ask.

"Its what my grandfather wants. He wanted Granger and I to be wed as his thanks to Granger's grandfather. I'm sorry Daphne but if you just accepted my proposal this would not have happened." he told her carefully. She couldn't speak. It was as if a block of ice fell on her chest and pins piercing her heart. It was not fair. It was she who was to marry him and not Granger. Was it wrong for her to wait for the right moment. She was a rising model even though she was still in school and she can't commit with big decisions that will interfere with her career.

Draco stood up and kissed Daphne's head for the last time and left her alone. He went outside the castle and sat under one of the trees and ponder his current situation. He looked at the sky and thought what could have happened if his cousin was the one to marry and to take succession of the crown and not him.

"Drake?" he snapped out from his trance when a familiar voice called his attention, not to mention that there was only one person in the world who would ever call him that name. He turned his attention and for the first time saw Devin wearing his Gryffindor uniform. Speak of the devil.

"Dev? What are you doing here?" he asked confused as to why he was inside Hogwarts and wearing the standard uniform, -except that he neglected his robes and loosened his red and gold tie, when he should be in Greece with his mother.

"I'm studying here." he explained as if it was the most obvious thing and he sat next to his cousin. Draco glared at his audacity which Devin laughed at.

Draco noticed the drastic change that Devin has undergone, no longer was his hair blond –which was a standard for a Malfoy, but now are in different shades of brown, he has piercings on his ear and eyebrow that Draco silently envied. It was not fair, since Devin is not next in line for the throne, he can do whatever he bloody wants and as for Draco, he needs to continue being a good example for Wiltshire's subjects. For Merlin sake, Devin is still a prince, he needs to suffer what he is suffering and that includes getting married at an early age. Draco blinked after getting out from his train of thoughts and looked away.

"I thought you were having the time of your life, why so sudden?" he inquired. Devin smirked and rested his back on the tree while twirling his wand between his fingers.

"I'm feeling a bit of homesick in Greece plus I miss our grandmother." he replied. Draco nodded his head accepting his answer and stared at the lake watching the Giant Squid's tentacles as it surface in the water and sink back. "I heard you're getting married. Tough luck, I'm so lucky that I'm not the crowned Prince anymore." he said and chuckled after stating it. The blond let out a loud sigh.

"I don't like it. At first I thought that I can marry when I'm ready and I can choose who to marry but none of the two were carried out." Draco said. Devin looked questioningly at his cousin.

"I thought you can choose, that was the law unless you are a the crowned Princess, which you are obviously not." Devin stated clearly confused at what the blond has said.

"They have given me the chance but the girl I asked didn't want too. I conceded with what grandfather wanted after she turned down my proposal." Draco relayed with a sigh of defeat. "And now she expects that I will wait for her, it's not how it works in the monarchy." he continued. Devin stared at his cousin befuddled as to why he was saying this to him. Draco on the other hand was staring blankly ahead while unconsciously twirling his wand between his long fingers.

"So who is the unfortunate one?" asked Devin.

"You don't know her." He replied still looking distant.

"Try me. I have been here long enough to know some of the students." The new Gryffindor challenged. Draco sighed before running his fingers through his hair and facing his cousin with a resigned look.

"Her name is Hermione Granger, a seventh year from Gryffindor." Devin was shocked after finding out who his cousin was going to marry. The sweet girl with a fiery spirit that she met at the train station was destined for his cousin. "Heard of her?" asked Draco after seeing Devin's stunned look. "I wouldn't be surprised if you know her. She's the Head Girl and our batch's valedictorian, not that I'm praising her." At this, Devin forced a laugh and softly slapped Draco in the back.

"Good luck on your marriage, mate." Devin managed to say before leaving his cousin muttering about bookworms and teachers pet.

Devin took out his wallet from his robes and opened it to look at a picture of him and girl with brown bushy hair when they were four playing inside the palace garden. He smiled sadly before hiding his wallet and proceeded to enter the castle to study for his make-up classes.

"Eeek!" Hermione cried while inside the Head students office. She just finished reading a letter from the Royal family telling her about the details of her and Draco's engagement ceremony that was happening in a fortnight. It was too fast for her liking, she haven't even notified her parents about the reckless proposal that happened between her and Malfoy and now the Malfoy's has already planned the ceremony? How was she going to explain this to her friends? They wouldn't forgive her when they find out about it.

Hermione made a decision to tell them. First with Harry.

"Harry, may I talk with you for a second?" asked Hermione after finding the boy-who-lived sitting in the common room and was playing with his snitch.

"Sure." He said as he adjusted in his seat to give Hermione some space to occupy. The Head Girl shook her head declining his offer.

"I want to talk to you privately." She said after she glanced at their surrounding where some Gryffindors were lounging and studying in the common room. Comprehension dawned on Harry and he stood up to follow Hermione outside.

They walked until they got on one of the unused hallways of the castle and stayed silent for a minute and Hermione couldn't stop fidgeting.

"What wrong Hermione?" asked Harry with a hint of concern after studying Hermione's gestures. She jumped after being asked by Harry and tried to get her composure by fake coughing.

"Promise me you'll not get angry or curse me or abandon me after I say this." Hermione pleaded seriously. Harry scratched his head and smiled goofily.

"Geez, this is serious. Okay, I promise."

Hermione took a huge breath before opening her mouth and started her story with the ending.

"I'm getting married to Malfoy." Hermione dropped while looking at the ground.

"…"

"Harry?" Hermione looked up after hearing no response from Harry to see his face devoid from any color. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?" asked the female Gryffindor as she tried to shake Harry's stiff body. "Please Harry, don't be like this. I don't want to marry him but I don't have a choice." Explained Hermione frantically while trying to wake Harry from his momentary trance. Harry suddenly jolted from his reverie and looked at Hermione straight in the eyes.

"What do you mean you don't have a choice? Hermione, he's evil. He's Malfoy, you can't marry that ferret!"

"But I really don't have a say in this Harry. Remember when my parents and his mother came to visit?" Harry nodded. "It was because of this bloody engagement that happened before I was born." Continued Hermione, she told him all of the details that she recalled happening inside the conference room and her visit to Wiltshire which explained her absence.

Harry was at loss of words after finding out the information that Hermione has shared with him.

"Harry, I know this is too much but I need your help. I don't know how to tell this to Ginny and Ron. Especially Ron." Hermione begged with tears dreading to fall from her eyes. She was getting afraid of Harry's irresponsiveness to her. "Please, you're the first person that I told of this because I know you'd understand me."

After some minute of hesitancy, Harry sighed and nodded.

"Fine. I just hope you know what you're getting into." Harry said while hugging Hermione sideways. "And I can't believe that Malfoy is a prince and you are going to be a princess!"Harry exclaimed while they walk back to the Gryffindor tower. Hermione stopped on her track after hearing Harry's word as she realized what it means.

"Merlin! I'm going to be a princess!"

-End of Chapter 7-

AN: Hi! I'm back. Sorry for the long hiatus and the short chapter. Tell me if you like it.