The Marriage Decree

Chapter 23: You can always divorce me!

Hermione locks the door both the muggle way and the wizarding way before perching on the side of the bath, head in her hands. Why did she do that? She knows why. Draco was being so honest with her and she'd let her emotions get the better of her. She was surprised enough when she'd thrown herself at him for a hug but then she had to go and kiss him.

Suddenly there's a short rap at the door. "Hermione, we both know I can easily unlock this door if you don't let me in." He repeats her words from last night, making her laugh.

"I'd like to see you try." She chuckles.

She hears him tap the door handle with his wand then try to turn the handle but of course, it didn't open.

"I'm impressed!" He mentions surprised.

"Thanks." She replies. "It's my own charm." She adds. "We couldn't have just anyone getting into our hiding places when we were on the run last year." She explains. "I'm sorry, Draco." She tells through the door.

"For what?" He asks, making her huff a laugh.

"For kissing you. I don't know why I did it." She lies. "I know we've only just become friends and we would probably have to kiss in the future but I don't think either of us thought it would happen so soon." She stands up, starting to pace the bathroom. "I mean we've only been married a week." She tries to explain.

She hears Draco laugh on the other side of the door.

"What are you laughing at?" She stops in front of the door, leaning against it.

"We've only been married a week." He repeats. "Most married couples have their first kiss long before they even get engaged."

Hermione laughs as well. "We're not exactly like most married couples." She mentions.

"To be honest, I don't actually know many married couples who did kiss before their marriage. My parents didn't, neither do most pureblood couples." He says.

"Harry and Ginny did, obviously." She points out.

"Blaise and Luna as well." He adds.

"Blaise and Luna?" She asks slightly shocked.

"Yeah, they went on a few dates before Christmas. Blaise came back with pink lipstick smudges all over his face and looking very giddy." Draco explains.

She knew that they'd gone on a few dates but she hadn't known that they'd kissed.

"I'm assuming by their reaction to being paired together that Thomas and Finnegan had also kissed before their marriage?" Draco asks.

She hears him shuffling around on the other side of the door and then the sound of his body scraping against the wall as he slid to the floor. Hermione follows suit, sitting cross-legged on the bathroom floor, leaning against the wall.

"I'd assume as much too but I was just as surprised as everyone else was when they got paired. I don't think anyone knew about their relationship." She tells him.

"I'm more surprised they kept it a secret for so long. There are very few secrets that stay a secret within the walls of Hogwarts. Especially with all the paintings and ghost walking around the castle." He points out.

"I'm more surprised that Harry, Ron and Neville didn't notice something. I remember finding them almost lying on top of each other, asleep on the couches in our common room early one morning but I just assumed they'd drifted off and fallen onto each other during the night. We don't even know how long they've been together. It might have been years or just a few months." She comments.

"I would guess a year or so from the way Thomas ran down that aisle and the way Finnegan hugged him." He sighs.

Hermione's not sure what that sigh means since she can't see his face, but it sounds almost like jealousy. Not that he would ever admit it.