Hermione Gaunt [DraMione] {Wattys 2017}

11: The Golden Boy

~ Hermione Granger / Briella Gaunt ~

A month and a half after Draco and I started 'dating', I'm sitting in my Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom. It's the class right before Lunch so most kids are a little restless and just want to eat already.

This is one of the two classes that us Slytherin's have with the Gryffindor's. My normal seat is next to Draco's. But today we're working with assigned partners. Luckily I was paired with Harry instead of Ron.

Ron and I haven't talked since what happened nearly two months ago. I did vow that Draco and I would hex him to oblivion if he were to ever talk to me again. I assume that he told Harry and Ginny what happened after that encounter in the hallway.

It wouldn't be suprising if most of Gryffindor's 'Eighth Years' knew about Draco and I's engagement at this point. News travels fast around Hogwarts, especially around a House.

"So...Brie, how have you been doing?" Harry asks.

Harry and I don't get to talk anymore because we're not in the same house anymore. We also only have two classes together, because of our different houses. And because whenever I want to talk to him he's always with Ron.

"I've been doing pretty well. How about you Harry?" I ask with a small smile.

Harry smiles back at me before slightly fixing his round glasses. For a slight second he looked like the eleven year old boy that I had met all those years ago. But only for a slight second before he returned to looking like the eighteen year old boy that he is today.

"I've also been pretty good. So is it true?" Harry asks, lowering his voice when he asks the question.

"Is what true?" I ask, cocking my head to the side slightly.

"That you and Malfoy are engaged" Harry says quietly.

I sigh and Harry looks at me with a confused look. I don't see why every conversation I have with someone this topic has to come up. Even when I'm talking to Pansy and Daphne they somehow bring it up. At least when I talk to Blaise and Brendan they don't try to bring it up unless it's relevant to the conversation.

"Yes, it's true Harry" I reply.

"R-really? I thought that Ron was lying because I never thought that you would marry Malfoy" Harry rambles, sounding suprised.

"Originally it wasn't my choice and would've never been a decision that I would've made. It's an arranged marriage. But now I've come to terms with it and we actually get along great" I say.

"It's an arranged marriage? Isn't that a little...medieval?" Harry asks with a small chuckle.

"I suppose but that's how most Pureblood marriages work. We've been engaged since we were four years old" I reply.

"F-four years old?" He asks with wide eyes.

"Yeah, I was sent to live with the Grangers on my fifth birthday" I reply.

Had I really not told Harry when I was sent to live with the Grangers? Dang, we really need to catch up over a butterbeer or fire whiskey sometime.

"Ooh, okay. So you're going to be the next Mrs. Malfoy. That sounds weird to say" Harry says, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I suppose I will be" I reply.

"So if you're in an arranged marriage then wouldn't Brendan be as well?" Harry asks.

"He isn't, actually. He likes someone though. I don't think Scarlett is engaged either" I say.

Why am I the only one in an engaged marriage out of the three of us. Shouldn't Brendan be the one in an arranged marriage because he has to forward the family name? I'll have to ask him or Margarey about it when I get a chance.

"That's weird" Harry mumbles.

"I suppose it is" I reply.

"Ginny and I are worried about you, y'know" Harry says a few minutes later.

"Why?" I ask, arching a brow at him.

"Because we never see you anymore and this is the first conversation the two of us have had basically all term" Harry says, yawning at the end of his sentence.

After the war, he's been plagued by nightmares that prevent him from getting a goodnight's sleep. I would've thought that they would've gone away once we returned to Hogwarts but maybe being in the same place as the final battle as made them worse. He also has visible dark bags under his eyes.

"Harry, you have nothing to be worried about. I'm fine and I will continue to be fine. And if I'm not fine I will reach out and tell you both. I promise" I said.

"Telling the truth?" He asks.

"One hundred percent"