Hermione's POV
I waited and watched as he sat down in front of me and even then we both stayed silent. I was afraid slightly at his reaction to the books but he had yet to say anything as he gazed between them and me. Biting my lip I decided to make the first step.
"We can't keep doing what we're doing." I said quietly and he nodded relieved. At what I wasn't sure but I pushed that thought away.
"I um… there's no way out of this. They covered every loop hole… well bar one." I said frowning and he looked at me interestedly.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Death." I said as lightly as I could and he nodded.
"I think we can rule that one out, don't you?" I nodded and he relax a little more.
"We have to face the facts… we're together for three years at the very least. We have to come to some arrangement." He spoke quietly and I nodded.
"What do you suggest?" I asked and he looked at me carefully before speaking.
"Friendship. Three years is a long time and even if nothing else ever comes from this arrangement the least we can do is be friends." I paused still processing his comment on something else coming of this. Was Ginny right then? Did he actually like me? I wondered but I nodded to his suggestion pushing the other aside for the moment.
"I agree." I said softly.
"I'm not saying it's going to be easy but we can at least try…. right?" He asked and again I nodded.
"Good, that's something I guess."
"While we're talking I think we talk about the next part of their news." I said quietly and he looked interested.
"Did you find something?" He asked but I shook my head.
"No anything past the marriage law is sealed. I have a feeling though… don't you?" I asked uneasily and he sighed nodding.
"Yes. It makes the need for us to make this work a high priority if that's the case." He said softly.
"So you think so too then?" I asked shakily and he nodded.
"It fits. Three years is a long time and why would they want us to marry for three years if there wasn't any other reason. It has to be children." He mumbled so that no one else around us could hear.
"It wouldn't be for a while though right? I mean surely they would give us time to adjust and come to terms with this before they rush us into… producing." I stammered and he smiled at me amused.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Nothing, though I think the words you were looking for were sex and conceiving." He said smiling.
"Well… yes they work to I guess." I said flushing at having this conversation with him.
"So are the rumors true then?" He asked lightly with a hint of a smile on his face.
'What rumors?" I asked.
"That you in fact as innocent as you come across." He said simply but there was no taunting behind it just curiosity. I flushed even redder and I looked away.
"Why would you ask me that?" I stammered as I looked anywhere but him.
"Well since you are technically my wife… and if the previous scenario should happen don't you think I need to know?" He asked.
"Well… I… damn it. Yes alright fine, I'm still a virgin. Now can we get off this topic, please?" I asked embarrassed and he nodded dropping the subject.
"So what now?" I asked sighing in relief as we got back on track.
"What's your favourite colour?" He asked out of the blue and it caught me off guard for a moment before I could answer him.
"Purple. Yours?" I asked feeling out of place by the questions.
"Blue."
"Not green then?" I asked surprised and he shook his head amused.
"Is your favourite colour red after spending years looking at it?" He asked and I smiled and shook my head.
"No. Any pets?" I asked and he nodded.
"An owl, Minx. I know you have a cat."
"Had… he passed just before the war." I said sadly.
"Oh I'm sorry."
"No its okay he was old." I said smiling slightly.
"Do you want another pet?" he asked suddenly and I was taken by surprise by the question.
"Um… well I don't know, I haven't really thought about it." I said honestly.
"We can get another cat if you wish."
"We?" I asked confused and he nodded.
"You are a Malfoy… you have access to my vault and all the money within it."
"I couldn't do that Draco, you've already given me the ring." I said but he silenced me.
"It's automatically done. It's old magic."
"Oh…" I said uncomfortably.
"So do you?" He asked and I thought about it. I had been lonely since Crookshanks had passed.
"I wouldn't mind… can I think about it?" I asked and he nodded.
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"So favourite subject?" He asked with a small smile and I took the chance to change the subject.
"Ruines, you?"
"Actually I'm rather fond of muggle studies." He confessed.
"Really?" I asked shocked and he nodded embarrassed.
Draco's POV
The weekend was over too quickly. Hermione and I had progressed and knew a fair bit about each other now which made it easier. We had a lot in common so we were able to just speak freely and not think so much about the awkwardness.
It was Monday morning and Blaise and I sat discussing quidditch try outs. I was captain yet again so I had to make a booking of the field and hold tryouts for people that wanted to join.
"Hey we have that class again this morning." Blaise said suddenly and I remained silent thinking of what Hermione and I had been discussing. We agreed not to tell anyone our thoughts just in case, we didn't want to cause a panic if it wasn't true but somewhere deep inside I knew. I just hoped it would be later rather than sooner.
"Yeah." I trailed off meeting Hermione's gaze as she sat between Ginny and Potter. She seemed to be on the same wave length and we looked away before any one asked questions.
"Come on we better head up." I said seeing Hermione and Ginny stand. Potter, Weasel and Brown behind them and I sighed while Blaise groaned.
"Is it wrong to hate your brother in law?" He asked me quietly and I shrugged.
"It's Weasel." I answered and he made a Blaise of agreement.
"Fair point." He muttered as we joined up with Ginny and Hermione. Weasel glared at us both and tried to keep the girls moving but they refused to budge.
"Malfoy, Zabini." Potter greeted civilly and we nodded back. We weren't friends but we tolerated each other, his friend no so much though.
"Hello Harry." We turned as we heard a quiet voice and I was surprised to see Astoria but then I remembered she was a Potter now.
"Morning Astoria." He replied quietly and I watched interestedly as the Weasel glared at her as well.
'Must be just a Slytherin thing.' I noted as both he and Brown walked off.
"Ron's just annoyed because he got paired with Lavender." Ginny said quietly.
"Gin." Harry said glancing at me before turning away and I frowned wondering what that was all about.
"What? It's not like it's a big secret. Ron's had the hots for Hermione for years, it just never worked and he hasn't been able to let it go so he got back with Lavender. Now he's stuck with her." She laughed unaware that none of us had said anything.
"Gin it wasn't common knowledge to anyone other than the Gryffindor's and Luna." Hermione said quietly sparing me a glance as I frowned.
'Now the weasel was after my wife? I don't think so.' I thought unhappily.
"Oh." She trailed off awkwardly as everyone shifted looking between the two of us.
"Come on we're going to be late for class." I said quietly and everyone took the chance to escape the awkwardness.
"So is what she said true?' I asked Hermione quietly on the way to class. Everyone else were in their own conversations so we weren't being over heard.
"Um yeah… during the war he and I had a brief thing but it just didn't work. I didn't really like that way… well I mean I did just not for a long time." She explained and I nodded.
"Well just as long as he keeps his hands to himself we'll be fine." I said and she sent me a small smile.
"I wonder what will be discussed today." Blaise said and Hermione and I sent each other a glance.
"Hopefully no more surprises." I said lightly as we arrived at the classroom.
"Welcome students. Come and in and take a seat next to your spouses." I noted that many of the students cringed at the word but sat down next to their partner none the less.
"So I bet your all wondering what will be revealed today?" The head Mistress said casting a pointed look in mine and Hermione's direction and we smiled.
"You're moving."
"Moving professor?" Astoria asked confused.
McGonagall's POV
"Yes we have a tower that was built when we rebuilt the castle that will be home to you all for the rest of the year. Each couple will have their own small… apartment I guess you could call it. Heads your rooms will not change apart from one exception, you'll now be sharing a room. That goes for all of you. Now that you're married you have to live as married couples would." I finished leaving only silence in my wake. I frowned watching as a couple of students callasped to the floor off their chairs.
"Oh dear." Madam Pomfrey said flustered as a few more people fainted, Longbottom being one of them.
"Well that could of gone better." Snape muttered in the corner making me throw him dirty look.