This is just something that needs to happen to get from point A to B, and we all know Hermione says things she doesn't mean when she's majorly angry.

"Want to go to the Leaky Cauldron?" Fred blurted out of nowhere.

"Sure." It's a bit late for lunch, but it hardly matters to Hermione. He's trying.

As it turns out, leaving was the worst idea. Ever.

"Mudblood!" Came the voice of Pansy Parkinson. "Are you enjoying being someone else's property? That big old war and you're still beneath of us purebloods."

"Shove it, Parkinson." Fred growled, "Come on, Hermione." She grabbed his hand, staying his movement.

"What," she said venomously, "are you talking about?"

Pansy laughed with glee, clapping her hands like a child. "Didn't he tell you?"

"Tell me what? Fred?"

"He's a pureblood, Granger, and you're a mudblood. That means…"

Draco interrupted. "Put your words away, Pansy. Blood supremacy's not even a thing anymore."

Hermione was momentarily confused at his kindness and, to return the gesture gave him a warm smile and said, "thank you for the intervention…Draco." She turned back, narrowing her eyes. "But I want to know what Pansy's talking about."

"You're his now."

"Yes, and he's mine."

"Actually, Granger, er, Hermione. Marriage laws are old. Archaic," Malfoy explained, "by marrying a pureblood…I'm sorry, Hermione" he continued grimly, "but basically, think of it as being a muggle woman in the 1800s. Pansy's not being figurative or romantic. Technically, by law, you are his. "

"You didn't tell me," she accused Fred. "Why?"

"That's not how I want this to be." He answered. "You're not my property so would good would it be to explain that legally…that the old ways say differently?"

"I'm your wife, Fred. The good it is would be that you're being completely open with me. That's something I need to know."

"I didn't think it would be an issue, and I am so sorry that I didn't tell you."

But Hermione was already spitting mad. "You. Lied. Did you think it would be handy? That you could just pull that card whenever you were mad? Does rule of thumb exist, too, and you were planning to use that, and then laugh if I reported it, because you're allowed to by law? This way, what, my body belongs to you and since you own me you don't have to explain that. "

"Please, I just didn't think-"

"That much is obvious," she snapped. "I'm going to stay somewhere else for a while." She apparated away and though both Fred and Malfoy tried to grab her, they weren't quick enough.

"Sorry, mate." Malfoy said to Fred.

Pansy laughed and laughed.