Draco Malfoy finds a bride in Hermione Granger. By Rita Skeeter
The marriage law seems to be bringing even the most unlikely of couple together. Yesterday, I witnessed as a young Draco Malfoy, escorted his soon to be bride, Hermione Granger into the Department of Ministry to make their relationship official.
I stopped the couple, who very obviously in love and asked them to comment of their marriage considering both of them decided to live as muggles once the law was introduced. They did not answer my questions, but I have my suspicions that Ms. Granger – Malfoy is expecting her first child.
I have no doubt that this law is going to bring good things, after all, it was no secret that young Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger did not get on while at school.
I do believe, however, that Draco Malfoy was the most popular choice for the young witch considering her past and obvious taste for wizards with good names and fortunes. Ms. Granger has been spotted romantically with Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Viktor Krum over the years, Draco Malfoy was no surprise to me.
I want to be the first to publicly congratulate the couple and hope all is well with the Elder Malfoy as I'm sure this relationship, while not a shock to me, will be a great shock for Lucius Malfoy.
"Rubbish, all rubbish." Ron hissed in anger as he tossed the paper to Harry.
Harry did a quick overview and sat the paper down.
"Ron, don't get excited. You and I both know that she would never shack up with Malfoy… She went to live as muggle to avoid marriage."
"I know that, Harry, but you know as well as I do that something had to spark this article. I just wonder what Rita witnessed in reality to make her write and print such a thing."
Harry took a large swig of his juice and shook his head.
"I was probably nothing. Rita wrote the article about Hermione and me because she witnessed a friendly hug from a worried friend. She wrote all that stuff about Hermione and Krum because she knew it would bring in the buyers… I wouldn't worry to much about it."
Ron nodded. He still thought something had to be up but saying Hermione was now a Malfoy… well that was just dirty slander of his friends good name.
"I'm going to send Rita a howler, that'll teach her." Ron stated
"You do that, Ron, and she will follow you around to find anything she can to put you in the paper."
He knew Harry was right and stabbed his eggs with his fork, he'd get to the bottom of this.
Ooooooooooooo
"Are you ready to go?" Draco called from the foyer of the manor.
"Yes, but I think I'm a bit lost… Where the hell am I?"
Draco snickered, leave it up to the smartest witch of their time to get lost.
"What do you see around you?" He called back.
He was met with silence for a moment before she answered back.
"I'm looking at a picture of a woman wearing a red tacky dress and she looks to be constipated. I also see a picture of you when you were little… at least I think its you."
Draco knew exactly where she was. His Aunt Agnes always looked like she needed a serious prune injection.
"Walk towards the end of the hall and take the stairs down. Once you can go no further, take a left and go through the double doors."
He was once again met with silence except for the sound of her voice telling one of the painting that she would rip it out of it frame if he said that again. No doubt she had just passed is Great Grandfathers painting, who had most likely called her some kind of horrid name.
She finally pushed through the double doors and was met with a smirking, amused Draco.
"I'll hex that painting if he calls me a mudblood whore again."
Draco nodded, "Actually, I will be moving some of the more offensive paintings to a spare room so they don't bother you while we are married."
"I'd appreciate that." She stated with a nod, "Now, did you owl Dumbledore and tell him we were coming?"
"I did, and he is expecting us in ten minutes."
"Well, lets be off then."
Oooooooooooooo
"Ahh, Hello, Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Gran – Malfoy." Dumbledore greeted with a large smile, "I was most interested in the owl you sent and also with the letter from Professor Snape."
"Hello, Sir." Hermione greeted back with a smile as she took her seat in front of the old wizard.
Draco shook the man hand and sat down next to Hermione.
"Forgive me, but I must admit I was a bit surprised by the two of you… I never would have expected this."
Draco smirked, "It's only temporary, sir, like I explained in the letter."
Dumbledore just nodded silently, he would let them believe whatever they wanted to believe.
"I understand completely, Mr. Malfoy." Albus answered as he slid a small piece of paper across the desk to Draco.
"This is the passwords to get into Professor Snapes quarters. You have full permission to access his rooms."
"Thank you, sir." Hermione replied with a smile as she started to stand.
"Mrs. Malfoy, please sit down for a moment… I have something I wish to discuss with the two of you."
Hermione looked at the man with question in her eyes but sat back down none the less.
"I would like to invite you and Mr. Malfoy to stay here while you work on your… project."
Hermione shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry sir, but our marriage would cause nothing but distraction… not to mention we need access to information that isn't found at Hogwarts and the ability to floo to where ever we need to go."
Dumbledore sat quietly for a moment before flicking his wand and covering the painting in his office with a black cloth that both made it impossible to see what was going on in the office or hear.
"I have a solution that I think would work out nicely." The old man stated with a smile, "You see, I understand what you are doing and why. I know I told you there was nothing I could do… and I still can't get you out of marriage, but now that you are in fact married, I believe I can help you with this little expedition."
Draco went to shake his head and remind the man that they would need things that just couldn't get from Hogwarts, but he was stopped with Dumbledore raised his hand.
"Allow me to finish."
Draco nodded and sat back.
"Now, it just so happens that I have a room in the castle available that would provide both privacy and a floo that can be used without my knowledge."
Hermione couldn't help but smirk at Draco's expression. She had forgotten that he didn't know the Dumbledore that she did and the Dumbledore she knew should have been a Slytherin.
"What I don't know wont hurt me, am I correct?"
"I know where you are going with this, but where is this room or should I be afraid to ask?" Hermione questioned.
Dumbledore gave her an innocent smile, "I believe that since you are married that couples should be allowed to room together and it just so happens that while I am without a Potions Professor, I have a room available that would suit your needs."
He moved in closer
"I trust you get the idea, I just need you to make sure you arrive at your classes or inform me if you will be missing a class or two. I also expect that you both realize if caught, I had no idea what you were doing or in certain circumstances, you were doing a personal errand that I could not get away to do."
Draco was confused. Was the old coot actually encouraging them to break rules? Sneak out of the school when needed? And above all, offering to help destroy a law?
"I'm confused." He openly admitted, "Is this some kind of a trap?"
Hermione laughed and cast an extra silencing spell around the room.
"Draco, I can assure you that this is no trap." She looked to Dumbledore to ask permission to tell him a bit of the things they had been involved in and when he nodded his permission, she continued.
"Do you remember Buckbeak? Sirius Black?" She asked
"That Bloody chicken that almost took my arm off?"
"Don't be so dramatic." She said with a raised eyebrow, "Anyway, Harry, Ron and I saved him along with Sirius Black in third year thanks to out beloved headmasters advice."
"I still don't know what you are talking about." Dumbledore said with a grin that told Draco he knew exactly what she was referring to.
"In any case, he helps when needed." She finished.
Draco just looked at the two and shook his head, Did wonders never cease?
"That still doesn't keep the attention off of us." Draco remembered out loud
"I'm afraid it is already being bounced around the school." Dumbledore stated as he slid the morning paper across the desk.
Both teens read the paper and groaned, "She doesn't forget anything, does she?" Hermione whined.
"Aparently not. So, will you accept my help? Will you stay here and finish your schooling while trying to fix this law?"
Hermione and Draco both looked at each other, they needed to make a decision.