The next day word had gotten out that Draco and Hermione were getting cosy in an empty classroom. Of course the first person to confront Hermione was none other than Harry and Ron who were waiting outside her dorm room for her to come out. She stepped a foot out the door before they dragged her out of the Gryffindor tower and into a separate corridor where they could talk.
"Hermione, we care about you, but hooking up with Malfoy? How could you?" Ron looked genuinely disappointed, which surprised Hermione considering he never seemed to show emotion.
"In case neither of you cared to notice I am MARRYING Draco. Hooking up with him would be acceptable, not that we did hook up."
"Then what were you doing together in an empty classroom?" Harry asked.
"We were talking about the wedding and I got upset and he comforted me. All he did was hug me and we talked. No hooking up," mimicking Ron.
"Hermione, it's just we're worried about you, you're marrying Malfoy after all. I would have thought you would do everything possible to avoid him even when you are married," Harry said in an attempt to dilute the tension.
"Harry, I am marrying Draco and usually I would stay away from him. There is no way I can get out of this marriage, there is magic making so if we do not treat each other as if we were married the ministry will know and we will go to Azkaban. So we figured we should at least try to be friends. I thought you guys would understand that," Hermione was almost on the brink of tears. "Can you guys just leave, I don't feel like talking to you right now."
"Okay Hermione we'll see you later," Harry replied as he walked down the corridor.
"Hermione, I'm really sorry," was all Ron said before he turned a corner leaving Hermione to cry on her own.
Most of her classes that day were semi-normal. People gave her looks but never said anything. Potions class was her last period of the day and was with none other than Slytherin to be specific her fiance. The teachers had decided it best to seat the two together where possible as if to force the relationship to occur. It was in this class that someone put there foot out from under their desk to trip her over, put eye of newt in her mandrake draught causing it to explode when the mandrake was added and finally someone spilt a pot of ink all over her notes. Draco could do nothing to stop the seemingly accidental misfortunes from occurring. The wedding was in five more days and his mother was rushing to organise everything from the cake to his tuxedo. It was at the end of potions that Professor McGonagall came to sought Hermione out.
"Ms Granger, I do believe you have not yet purchased a wedding gown. Would I be correct?" One eyebrow raised and a smirk creeping across her lips.
"As a matter of fact Professor I don't. I completely forgot to get one and with the wedding in five days, what am I going to do?"
"Ms Granger if you'll follow me I have something I would like to show you."
Hermione followed Professor McGonagall through the bending and winding corridors until she arrived at a door she had not previously come across in all her years studying at the school. She thought she had seen every part of the school mostly the library of course but none the less she was stunned she had never come across this door. She heard the Professor murmur something that sounded like dysphemism. The door swung open to lead to a small living quarters. When you first entered there was a fireplace some lounges and a coffee table along with a small kitchenette in one corner. There were two doors which Hermione assumed led to the Professor's bedroom and bathroom.
"Ms Granger take a seat I have something I wish to show you." Professor McGonagall went behind one of the doors only to come out a moment later with a large black box.
"I bought this many many years ago when I was just older than you. Unfortunately I myself never got to wear it as my fiance was killed in a cauldron explosion." She opened the box to reveal a beautiful off white gown made of spiders silk. The Professor gave the box to Hermione, "Go into my bedroom and try it on. We need to get it fitted, that's if you want to wear it."
Hermione was still shocked by the generosity of the Professor. She picked up the box and carried it into the room. She took of her school uniform to put on the gown. She looked at herself in the mirror and was shocked, it fit her perfectly and accentuated her gorgeous figure. She walked out to show the Professor who stood there gob smacked for a few moments.
"Hermione Granger you look beautiful a little bit of fixing up and this will be the perfect dress."
"Thank you so much Professor, it's beautiful better than anything I could have imagined." At this point Hermione was almost on the verge of tears. She sat down on the lounge and put her hands to her face. She couldn't take this anymore, she was marrying Malfoy and not only that her parents would not be there to see her get married.
"Hermione, what's the matter dear?" Professor McGonagall asked hesitantly.
"I miss them."
"You miss who dear?"
"My parents," by now Hermione was sobbing whilst attempting to get words to come from her mouth.
"Where are they?"
"They're dead and it's all my fault."
"My dear it is not your fault your parent's died. You of all people should know that death is no one's fault."
"But Professor it is my fault, I'm the reason they killed them, I'm the reason they came after my parent's all because I have dirty blood."
"Oh my dear, I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. I will walk down the aisle alone and marry a man I did not choose. My life will go on and I won't stop for anything."
"That's the Hermione Granger I know," the Professor stated with a wink.
My longest chapter yet. I hope you enjoy it. I'm sorry if my dates are out of wack I am pretty useless at remembering stuff like that but still. Reviews would be much appreciated and thank you to everyone following this story. I hope to update it within the next two or three days depending on my study load. :)