Married by Law

Chapter Nine: Surprises, Surprises

"Ginny? Hermione? Are you ready? Hurry now!" shouted Mrs. Weasley. Ginny and Hermione descended the stairs, trunks floating before them.

"Sorry Molly, bit of a late start." laughed Hermione. In the past two weeks of their holiday she had spent about half of them with Draco. They were trying to make it less awkward, even though the most awkward part was possibly over. Now it was time to return to school as Mrs. Draco Malfoy. Ginny was officially Mrs. Harry Potter.

"Hurry! Hurry! It's 10:50!" screeched Molly, once the apprated to the station. The four shoved through the crowds, lugging trunks with them. Suddenly someone appeared next to Hermione.

"Here, let me help." said Draco, hefting her trunk up. She smiled broadly at him.

"Hello students. Welcome back to our next semester at Hogwarts." greeted McGonagall, just as they desert was cleared away. She babbled on, Hermione zoning out slightly. Something caught her attention though.

"Will Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, Potter, Zabini, Charles, and Goyle stay for a minute please? Thank you, you are dismissed." Hermione, Ginny, and Harry sat at the Gryffindor table. Draco stood up and made his way over to his 'wife'.

"Hello." greeted Draco cordially. Harry said Hello and Ron nodded. Ginny, being Ginny, dove into a conversation about Quidditch.

"I can assume you are all wondering why you are here. You ten are the students who were married over the break. Since you are married, you are obligated to move out of your house. It is in the handbook, therefore we have created a residency for you while you attend our school. It is really just a small apartment for each of you. It will have a small kitchenette, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. I'll show you to it know, and leave you to bring your things. Follow me." The group uncertainly follwed McGonagall out of the castle, and down towards the Quidditch pitch. Beside it was a large building. The walked in side of it, revealing a row of doors. On it were numbers.

"Alright, before I let you in I want you to know you can change the colors and décor of your home. Simply use you wand and 'write' the color on the item. Now, onto who's is who. Charles is number one, Goyle, number two, Zabini you are three, Malfoy four, and Potter five. Any questions? No. Alright. Good night."

Draco and Hermione cast each other glances before heading over to apartment five, across from Blaise and Daphne. They pushed open the white door with a big, black number four on it. Once it opened, it revealed a spacious living room. The color palate was a mixture of blues and grays, which both of then liked. They followed through the living room, noticing a muggle television, and into the small kitchenette. It was useable though, which pleased Hermione greatly. She loved to cook. Finally they found their bedroom. It was a very large, with a king sized bed in the center. The room featured an on suite, walk in closet, another T.V., a dresser, and a large bay window.

"This is amazing." whispered Hermione. She stretched and popped her muscles.

"Gosh, I'm so tired." yawned Hermione, falling onto the bed. It was like a cloud of heaven! Draco smiled at her.

"Go to sleep."

"B-But it's ooooonly eight." yawned Hermione, even though she pulled back the covers. She tapped her head with her wand and was changed into flannel pajamas. "Night night."

Draco smiled at her as she snuggled up beside the pillow. He clicked off the light and tip-toed out of the room.

Hermione woke up to a particularly bright beam of sunlight. She blinked several times, in attempts to dislodge their grogginess. Once they focused she yelped. They had focused in on a blonde head, the one of Draco Malfoy! When had they fallen asleep? More importantly, where had they fallen asleep?

Suddenly vague memories swam into her mind. Getting a new, on campus apartment. Hermione remembered feeling incredibly tired, so she simply fell asleep. Now it was morning. Draco was snoring beside her. It appeared as though he had brought her stuff over for her! She softly hopped out of the bed. Casting the muting charm, she ripped open on the her boxes. Luckily, it was her clothes. She yanked out her uniform and crept into the bathroom.

Once she was showered and groomed, Draco was awake. He smiled at her shyly and she returned it.

"Thanks for getting my stuff." said Hermione, as she pulled on stocking. Draco shrugged.

"It was Ginny, I just brought it here." said Draco offhandedly.

"Either way, thanks. Shower's all yours by the way." Hermione checked her watch, groaning since it was only 7:00. Draco nodded and stood up. Hermione walked out of the bedroom and into their kitchen. She pulled out ingredients for omelets from their fully stocked fridge. She began to cook, enjoying the sizzling. It reminded her of home.

Speaking off, Hermione really needed to talk to her parents. After all, they hadn't the slightest of clues that their nineteen year old daughter was now married and supposed to have a baby within a year. That was a big bite to swallow, for anyone. She hadn't seen her parents at all over the holiday, they had gone to Paris for an anniversary. Draco hadn't told his parents either. Well, actually, there was only Narcissa to tell. Lucius was serving a life sentence in Azkaban for crimes to numerous to list.

"Hermione? Did the prophet come yet?" inquired Draco, walking in. His blonde hair was damp and spiky and he wore a loose uniform.

"Nope." replied Hermione, stirring her tea and taking a bite of omelet. Draco pulled out a seat and helped himself. After the first bite his expression changed entirely.

"Oh my god Hermione, this is absolutely delicious!" exclaimed Draco. Hermione blushed and glanced down at her eggs. The silence was filled with a rapping on the window. Draco got up and opened it, allowing the owl in. The tawny dropped the paper and Draco paid it. He untied the string.

"You've got to be kidding me." hissed Draco, his eyes turning furious. Hermione's fork stopped midway to her mouth as she cautiously stared at him.

"What?" gauged Hermione.

"I can't believe it. That cow." scowled Draco. He threw the paper down, disgust evident on his face. Hermione lifted the paper up, her eyes immediately reading the headline: Malfoy Heir and Muggleborn Princess: Secret romance, possible pregnancy. By Rita Skeeter

Hermione's mouth dropped as she moved on to the article.

It was just two weeks ago the arch enemies were married. "It was a small, quiet ceremony." said an anonymous source. Apparently, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger (Now Mrs. Malfoy) have been engaged in a secret love affair for years. The same anonymous source revealed to us that the affair was pre-war! Now it seems that Mrs. Malfoy is expecting a child, which would explain why they had an abrupt wedding. Is the baby Draco Malfoy's? Is their marriage going to last? Are the Slytherin Prince and Gryffindor Princess really in love?

Rita Skeeter is going to find out.

"Oh my fucking god." cursed Hermione, after she was finished reading the beginning of the article.

"What lies did that cow spew?" snarled Draco. Hermione sighed.

"That we've been having a secret love affair for years, since before the war. Oh and that I'm pregnant but it might not be yours. Nothing at all about the marriage law, you know the reason we're in this position!" huffed Hermione. She shoveled a forkload of eggs into her mouth to distract her. Draco sighed, leaning his head on his hand.

"My mother is going to see this." whispered Draco.

"My parents too!" realized Hermione. Draco quirked an eyebrow.

"They made me get them a subscription ever since the war. They want to know what's going on."

"But, they don't know me." pointed out Draco. Hermione shook her head.

"Oh yes they do. They know Malfoy as the boy who tormented me for years. The boy who I wished nothing more than ill upon." sniffed Hermione. She stood up and washed their now empty plates. Draco sighed.

"Best let it out in the open."

"Humph, probably not best." disagreed Hermione.