A/N- My goal is to upload two chapters every Tuesday or Wednesday.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN- Rumors
That week the only words on anyone's lips were the engagement of Draco and Hermione. Unused to the attention, Hermione became even more reclusive and drawn to her studies.
No one would ever think that they were to be married because neither had spoken a word to each other since Draco proposed. Rumors began to circulate that Malfoy must have lost some unimaginable bet or that he and Hermione had been secretly been hooking up for years.
More than a handful of girls were insanely jealous that Hermione Granger of all people was the one to bag Draco Malfoy. A group of fourth year girls were in disbelieve that she was able to snag him, as Hermione overheard in the Slytherin Common Room.
"He is much too handsome for her," one of the girls said. "Not to mention impossibly rich… and tall," said the other. Hermione had her face hidden in a book as she continued to listen to the girls' conversation.
"I never got a chance with him, it's not fair," pouted the first girl. A third girl sadly said, "He only dates fifth years and up. If only we were born a year sooner."
That was about as much as Hermione could take and she stormed off to her bedroom, trying to pry her engagement ring off as she walked. The damn thing was much too small and heavy when she wrote.
Before she could get to her dormitory her intended cut her off. "Snape wants to see us," he said not making eye contact. "Well I don't want to see him!" Hermione snapped. Quietly Draco grabbed her upper arm and quickly led her away from the crowd.
"Don't you touch me!" Hermione started as she tried to get out of his grip. "Don't cause a scene and I will unhand you!" Malfoy snapped back. When he let her go they both sulked to see Snape. Hermione had her hand on the wand in her pocket the entire time.
"Intrude," they heard Snape say when they knocked on his door. "You two, sit down," he instructed them. The pair seated themselves and Malfoy folded his arms like a child.
"You both will be going to Malfoy Manor tomorrow to begin wedding preparations. Make a thing of it; tell everyone how excited you are to be going away for the weekend. Understood?" Severus asked the two.
"I want to see my parents," Hermione said sternly. "They are safe, Ms. Granger and you will see them as soon as you become Mrs. Malfoy," Snape replied. When Hermione tried to protest, Snape cut her off.
"If you do not start acting like a happy couple and obeying orders all of us will suffer. Do I make myself clear? Eat together, sit next to each other in class, put some effort into this!" Professor Snape yelled at them.
"Can we go now?" Malfoy asked. "Get out. Start packing and make sure everyone knows why! Draco, escort your fiancée back to your dormitories like a gentleman," he said dismissing them.
Malfoy jerked Hermione's hand and held it firmly. "Don't-" complained Hermione but she was cut off. "You need to open your eyes, Granger. If we don't do this something much worse than me clutching your hand will happen. Get it?" Malfoy said.
Knowing that he was right killed Hermione and her pride. Draco's grip slackened a bit once they both knew it was for the best. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked once they got back to the dungeon. "Off to wash my hand. Bring something suitable to wear," he told her.
Before Hermione could insult him right back he disappeared into the boy's dormitories. She was alone packing a bag of basics when the three fourth year girls poked their head into her room.
"Can I help you?" She questioned them. These girls had never spoken to her before. "Is it true? Are you going to Malfoy's house?" The boldest of the girls asked. "How could you possibly know that already?" Hermione asked putting more books into her bag.
"Malfoy told Blaise Zabini, who told Pansy Parkinson, who won't shut up now," a girl replied. Snape's words repeated in Hermione's ear and she decided to obey. The more she obeyed now, the easier it would be to get her parents back and make them all sorry they were ever taken.
"Yes. It is true," she said as sweetly as she could. "We need to start planning the wedding," Hermione finished adding one more book for good measure. The girls started to ask a million questions at once.
For the first time since Hermione began Hogwarts, someone was actually interested in what she had to say. "You should have a Christmas wedding!" One girl said. "Oh, how romantic!" another replied.
"Christmas is barely a month off, I don't think that would be enough time…" Hermione tried to explain over all the girls' commotion. It never hit Hermione that she could be married so soon. Her heart started to race and her palms grew sweaty.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to gather my things," Hermione said dismissing the gaggle of fourth years. As the trio ran off she was sure they would do everything in their power to brag to everyone how they talked to Draco's fiancée.
After she packing Hermione crawled into her bed for a restless night's sleep. Tomorrow evening she would be meeting her future in-laws all while having to pretend that she would not make each and every one of them pay for what they had done