The Marriage Decree

Chapter 68: Everything in the Pursuit of Knowledge

Hermione's had a few strange dreams in her time but dreaming a giant Winnie the Pooh crept into her bed to spoon her and kiss the back of her head whilst singing nursery rhymes in his honey voice is one of the top five. She wakes up suddenly, in a cold sweat, after listening to the fictional bear sing hush little baby whilst caressing her cheek. However, in her attempt to escape the bear's grasp, she ends up elbowing Draco in the face, waking him up.

"What? What?" Draco sits up glancing around their bedroom. "What?" He turns to face her, his hair stuck up all over

"I had a very weird dream that was a little nightmarish. Sorry for elbowing you in the face." She explains.

Draco's hand goes up to his left eye. "I think it's going to bruise." He mutters as he climbs out of bed, heading over to the dressing table for a look in the mirror. "Do you have any bruise removal paste?" He asks hopefully, looking at her in the mirror.

"No, sorry again." She apologises, climbing out of bed to inspect his red eye.

"It's fine." He turns his face away.

"Let me see." She takes hold of his cheek to turn his face back towards her. "Oh, we could ask George if he has any lying around at home." She suggests.

"No, it's fine," He smiles, removing her hand from his face. "Barely even hurts." He adds, opening the wardrobe and pulling out a pair of jeans and shirt.

"I know you're lying." She tells him as she picks a dress out to wear.

"Fine, it hurts but I've had worse." He assures her.

"I'm sure you have." She sighs. "I'm getting changed." She tells him so he doesn't look over to her side of their bedroom.

"One of which was by you so don't worry, this won't be the worst bruise you've given me." He jokes, making her smile.

"You deserved that one." She reminds him, pulling on her dress.

"I suppose I did." He chuckles. "Are you dressed?" He asks.

"Yeah," She says, sitting down on the bed to fasten her sandals. "Do you want breakfast before we leave for David's?" She asks, heading downstairs.

"We should. I don't want to impose on him too much." Draco admits.

"I'm sure he doesn't mind," Hermione assures him. "But I'll make us some scrambled eggs." She tells him.

Draco picks up all the files they had left out the night before when they'd gone to bed. It takes him a while to reorganise them but when he's done, breakfast is ready.

"Do you mind if I leave you and David to write the names on the wall? I don't think you'll need me, you know, too many cooks." She asks.

Draco glances up from his scrambled eggs on toast with a frown. "Why, where are you going?"

"It's been a while since I've visited my parents and grandparent. I thought I'd take Sophie with me to get her out of the way. You two can get on with the wall." Hermione tells him.

"Oh, that'll be fine." He nods, going back to his breakfast.

They arrive at David's house just after ten o'clock to find them playing badminton in their garden.

"Hermione, can you play with me?" Sophie asks as soon as they step outside to join them.

"I would but I'm wearing a dress. Although, I'm sure Draco would love to play." She flashes him a smile.

"Oh, I've never played," Draco mentions, trying to back out.

"We're not playing properly. We're just rallying." Sophie explains, passing him the racket. "Just hit the shuttlecock back to me." She says as she serves.