Hermione's POV
Draco and I walked in stunned silence as we left the great hall and walked back to our rooms. We'd all been excused from the rest of our classes for the day after our ceremony's had taken place.
The weight of the white gold band was foreign on my finger making my hand feel too heavy to lift. Draco and I had yet to speak to one another besides our vows.
Shit… I was married. I was someone's wife. I was barely eighteen how was this going to work?
"Reality." I spoke shakily and the unicorn whined before bowing as the portrait swung open. Draco waved his hand allowing me to step through first. The common room was warm and I noted the fire was burning. The silence was suffocating as I sat down on one of the lounges curling up into myself as I stared at the fire.
"I didn't get a chance to give this to you before." Draco said quietly as he placed a small box on my lap before moving to sit on the other end of the lounge.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"Open it." Taking a deep breath I flicked open the case and gasped stunned at the ring that was staring back at me.
"Draco…" I said whipping my head to the side to look at him.
"My mother sent it to me during potions this morning. Our parents… well at least magical families knew about the law. She sent it for you. It was my grandmothers and has been passed down to the first born male of every generation."
"I can't accept this." I whispered as I stared at the ring. It was beautiful. A white gold band with large clustered diamond in the middle and three smaller diamonds each side of large one set in the band.
"You don't a choice. I was going to ask for it to be sent but she beat me to it. I want you to wear it, please?" He added softly and I looked from him to the ring and nodded once.
"Okay." I said giving in.
"Thank you. Here let me." He said quietly reaching for the box. I let it go and watched as he pulled the ring out taking my left hand in his as he slipped the ring on. We both stared at the set of rings that sat on my ring finger. The weight had suddenly doubled and we dropped our hands at the same time. I pulled my hand free of his and gave him a small smile.
"It's been a long day, I think I'm going to head to bed." I said standing and he nodded returning my tentative smile.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight…. Thank you. For the ring." I added and he nodded before I left fleeing up to my room for the night hoping to wake up in the morning and all this would just be a nightmare.
Draco's POV
The rest of the week flew by like a blur. Hermione and I had barely spoken, both of us finding the situation too awkward. Blaise and Ginny after the initial shock had cleared had been able to work their way through it and were able to form an actual relationship. Though technically married, the two had agreed to push all that aside and just concentrate on having a normal boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. It was working well for them. Hermione and I just couldn't get past the shock of it all though. Blaise had suggested we try the same but just as friends but we could barely be in the same room with one another because of the silence that fell over us.
"You gotta try. You can't go three years without talking." Blaise said to me again at breakfast. School was done for the week and it was late Saturday morning. Looking over at the Gryffindor table I couldn't spot Hermione anywhere but two other people caught my eye instead. I groaned in annoyance.
"What?" Blaise asked halfway through a mouthful of eggs. I looked at him with disgust and he quickly swallowed and apologised.
"Sorry."
"Look who's back." I pointed out and his eyes scanned the Gryffindor table stopping on two certain males who were in deep discussions with Ginny.
"Oh great, just what I need. Weasel to go nuclear on us." He muttered as he watched Ginny.
"Your brother-in-law." I pointed out smirking and he hit me hard.
"What? It's the truth."
"I don't need it pointed out." He ground out and I shrugged.
"I'm dreading meeting the rest of the family."
"Well I'm just glad both Hermione and I are only children. I don't have to deal with any of that."
"You guys aren't even talking yet. The way you guys are going you'll never meet the others family." I sent him a glare but I knew he was right. We'd have to work things out soon
"Oh great." Blaise snapped pushing his plate away and I looked up just in time to see an angry Weasel storming over with Ginny in tow looking murderously at her older brother.
"Zabini you put your hands anywhere near my sister and I'll make sure you regret it. I don't care whether you fought for the light in the end you are still a slimy bastard and I don't trust you."
"Ronald he's my boy-…husband. None of us like Lavender but you don't see us threatening her do you? Now leave Blaise alone." She shouted pushing her brother back as I sat there smirking at Weasely's reddening face.
"What are you smirking at Malfoy? I heard about you and Hermione. You're a dead man." He threatened before he stormed off out of the great hall Harry hot on his heels.
"Sorry. I tried to stop him." Ginny apologised.
"It's okay love." Blaise soothed as she calmed down.
"Where's Hermione?" I asked quietly.
"Oh um…. She's in the library." She said guiltily.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"No it's just… she's trying to find a way out of the law." I felt a rush of sadness by the news but I just nodded and went back to picking at y breakfast.
"No I'm sorry it's just you know what she's like. She's so eager to learn and well…"
"It's okay Ginny you don't need to explain. I understand." I said standing up giving both Blaise and Ginny a small smile before I left the Great Hall.
I found myself wondering up to the library wondering what I was going to say to her. What could I say?
I found myself in the library before I knew it as I wondered the aisles trying to find her. I paused as I saw her sitting up the back out of the way of everyone. Taking a deep breath I walked over to her and she lifted her head to see who was approaching. Her eyes showed surprise as I stood in front of her.
"Draco…"
"Hi. Ginny told me you were here." I said looking down at the text books she had spread open in front of her. Sure enough they were legal books and books on laws made by the Ministry. I turned my eyes back to hers as she watched me. I could see the slight look of fear in her eyes and I frowned. Why was she scared?
"I think we should talk." I said and her stance fell as she leant back fully in her chair.
"Yeah I think we should."