The Marriage Decree

Chapter 15: The Malfoy Hunting Game

Derek finally shows up ten minutes late, looking quite dishevelled.

"Hi, Derek." She greets him with a smile, giving him a quick hug. "Are you okay?" She asks.

"Yeah, I lost my house key so had to wait for Mum to get home from work at eight. I've literally run here. Sorry I'm late." He apologises.

"It's fine. You're not as late as Verity." Hermione chuckles.

"Ah, yes. I asked if she wanted to come but her boyfriend's back from university this week so she wants to spend as much time as she can with him." He explains.

"Oh, right. Did she not go to university?" She asks as Derek orders himself a beer.

"Nah, it's not really her thing. She's doing a beauty course at college." He answers her as she pays. "What about you? I'm surprised you didn't go to Uni." He chuckles.

"I'm going this September. Something came up during my seventh year so I had to drop out. I went back last September to complete my last year." She vaguely explains.

"Oh really. What happened" He asks leading her over to an empty, sticky table.

"There was... an incident... in Scotland." She starts trying to think of something believable. "A few students didn't like me because I got in on a scholarship and wasn't rich like the rest of them. One of the Governors started threatening all the scholarship students so we all dropped out along with a few of our friends as a protest. Anyway, he got fired and prosecuted along with some of the parent who follow him." She rambles on hoping it sounded believable.

"Oh my God." He stares at her wide eyes. "And you went back?" He asks.

"Well, yeah. I needed to finish my education and all my friends were there." She tells him.

"And Drake." He asks.

Hermione rolls her eyes. "He's called Draco, and yes. He was still at the school."

"He didn't drop out with you." He asks, trying to look nonchalant.

"No, his father was one of the parents who followed the Governor. If he had dropped out, his father would have found out about us and would have disowned him." She makes something up.

"So Draco cares more about what his father thinks then you?" He asks sympathetically.

"No, I wouldn't let him drop out." She tries to defend her fake past with Draco.

"Why would you do that?" Derek frowns.

"Well, firstly, I'm scared of his Father and secondly, Draco's not exactly the kindest person in the world. He's made a few enemies at school. If he'd been disowned, I'm not entirely sure where he'd have gone. He hasn't got any other family." She explains as she finishes her drink.

"Why are you with him if you're scared of his father?" He asks, sounding dejected.

"Draco isn't his father and I love him." Her throat feels tightens as she lies and wonders whether she'll ever truly love him and if he'll ever love her. "Anyway, we've only been talking about me. What about you, do you have a girlfriend?" She asks trying to turn the topic of conversation away from her.

"There was this one girl who I liked but she moved away." He shrugs taking a swig from his glass.

"Oh, did she go off to university?" She asks.

"Yeah, and she met a guy there so there's no chance for me." He grumble looking glumly into his glass.

"Why didn't you go to university?" She asks.