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“Inter-House Unity!” Headmistress McGonagall announced from her perch at the podium of the Great Hall, “This year will set the tone for future years at Hogwarts. We need to set an example by letting go of past prejudices.”
Hermione Granger could feel the palpable discontent ripple across the Great Hall at those words, her classmates grumbling about Death Eaters at Hogwarts and condemning the entire Slytherin House for its association with the vanquished Tom Riddle.
McGonagall’s voice rose over the din, “The first years will be entering in a moment, and I expect you all to behave. If we are to move forward, then you must ensure that they are not taught the same prejudiced and close-minded ideas that, I'm sorry to say, ruled relationships between the student body in the past. There will be zero tolerance of the old behavior.” She glared at each table, daring them to contradict her. No one did.
Beside her, Ron leaned over to hiss at Harry and Hermione, “What? Does she think one speech will fix the fact that the snakes are evil?”
“Ronald!” Hermione chastised, but Harry cut her off.
“I don’t care, Ron. I'm so tired. Can't we just move on, enjoy the first year in school when no one is trying to kill me, and just be kids?” Harry said, running both hands in his hair in exasperation.
The large doors opened and wide-eyed first years entered the hall in awe of the imposing Gothic structure and enchanted ceiling. Hermione thought back to the first time she entered this room and the incredible feeling of being on the start of a wonderful new adventure. She promised herself at that moment that she would make sure the younger students could enjoy Hogwarts fully and without fear.
Following the sorting ceremony during which McGonagall glared at every student who tried to disparage those sorted into Slytherin, the headmistress returned to her podium for a final announcement.
“And in honor of Inter-House Unity,” which was evidently the theme of the year considering how many times she had said those words since they had sat down for the feast, “I would like to introduce your new Head Boy and Head Girl, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. They will be working with prefects from all houses to ensure we all stay the course.” With a wave of her hand, the tables filled with food and the feast officially began.
Hermione ignored Ron’s outraged whispers and let herself look to the end of the Slytherin table where she knew he was seated. She had been trying so hard not to glance that way for the past hour, but couldn't resist now. He looked at her at the same time and winked so quickly she wasn't sure if she had imagined it. Insufferable prat, she thought to herself, but couldn't suppress the grin that came to her lips in response.
“Are you smiling at him?” Ronald demanded.
“Stop it, Ronald.”
“But he's a death eater!”
“Who was acquitted of all charges against him! Harry and I even spoke for him,” she retorted, hoping this would be the end of it. It was going to be a long year if she had to stand between her best friend and all of Slytherin house.
On her other side, Harry had dropped his head on his arms and was chuckling quietly, his shoulders shaking.
“Harry!”
He peeked up at her and smiled widely, “You're screwed, Hermione.”
“Hush!” she whispered so Ron wouldn't hear them, “He’ll hear you!”
Harry just continued on like she hadn't said anything.
“What’s going on with you, mate?” Ron asked Harry, who only shook his head.
“Just leave him. He's gone mad,” Hermione Waved dismissively at Harry. “But, seriously, Ron, you’re gonna have to get over this. You'll be miserable if you focus on Malfoy and the Slytherins. Harry's right. We should be enjoying our last year as students and our first chance to actually be kids!”
Ron groaned, “Fine. I'll try. Are you happy now?”
Hermione straightened in her sit and wiggled her shoulders happily, “Yes I am. Thank you, Ron.”
“Granger,” a familiar voice drawled.
“Malfoy,” she said in her best attempt at an aristocratic drawl.
“Granger-Malfoy,” he smirked at her.
“What are you on about, Malfoy?” Ron sneered. Hermione rolled her eyes at the fact that Ron lasted all of two minutes before he was back to insulting Draco.
“She corrected me, so I listened.”
“What?!” Ron was truly confused now, but Draco had moved on.
“We should discuss our plans for the year at the dorm tonight,” he said to her before turning to leave.
“Houses have separate head dorms, Malfoy. Hermione's going to be living in the Gryffindor heads’ dormitories.”
“Then how fortunate for me that I will be living there too, Weasley. I'll see you later, Granger-Malfoy. Bit of a mouthful, isn't it? Are you sure you want me to call you that?”
“Oh god, Malfoy, stop!” Hermione cried, panic tinged her voice.
Harry wasn't even trying to be quiet anymore and was full-on cackling. Draco seemed to take pity on her.
“I'm only joking. I'll see you later, unless you want to walk with me to Gryffindor Tower? I might get lost, dungeon-dweller that I am.”
“You’ll manage,” she dismissed him before turning to smack Harry on the shoulder.
“I think,” Ginny said from her seat a few feet down the table from their little group, “that Malfoy was flirting with you?”
“Yeah, as if he would lower himself to flirt with Hermione,” Ron scoffed, but at Hermione’s indignant gasp, quickly amended, “I only mean that he would think he was lowering himself. I know you're too good for him.”
“I'm going to bed,” Hermione said, standing up and putting an end to that conversation. “We're all going to have a fun year,” she insisted, “I'll make sure of it.”
“Well, I guess she really does have her priorities in order now,” she heard Ron say behind her.
She didn't hear anymore after that as she turned the corner toward the staircase that would bring her to her dormitory.
—-
Draco was already in the common room when she entered, and she plopped herself down on the cushion next to him. His hand instantly went around her shoulders, and he pulled her in closer.
“You're a prat, do you know that?”
“That's why you love me.” She could hear the smirk in his voice.
“I love you in spite of it,” she murmured, “I sent notes to all the prefects to meet us here after classes conclude tomorrow afternoon. We need to set patrol schedules, reiterate the need to prevent bias in our treatment of students, establish tutoring schedules and figure out how we can get older students to participate,… and I want to establish activities to establish inter-house unity–”
Draco groaned beside her, “Merlin, Hermione, you're starting to sound like McGonagall.”
“It's important, Draco! You should care more, since it's your house that needs the most help integrating with the rest of the houses. Think of the poor little first-year Slytherins.”
He rolled his eyes so far his whole head rolled with them, “Alright, I'll help, but I won't lift a finger until we get some sleep. I'm so tired. I told you we should have just apparated here. We didn't need to sit in the train for hours. You wouldn't even let me sit with you!”
“I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise,” she leaned up and put both hands on his cheeks. She dropped a kiss on his nose before moving to stand up. He grabbed her hips and pulled her back down to straddle his thighs.
“No, stay,” he whined against her hair, “We can work on some inter-house unity right here. Call it practice.”
She barked out a startled laugh, “I can't believe you just said that!”
“I did, and I stand by it.” His gripped tightened and he nudged past her hair to place his lips gently on the juncture where her neck met her shoulder.
Her resulting moan was interrupted by a knock on the outer portrait.
“Do you wanna bet that that’s a Gryffindor? Only you lot would be obnoxious enough to come here on the first night.”
She ignored him (choosing to not lecture him on how very anti-unity that statement was) and got up to open the portrait door.
“Harry! What are you doing here?”
“Making my life hell,” Draco called out from within the common room.
Harry scratched his head, uncomfortable at what he had clearly interrupted, “Can I come in? Just for a few minutes.”
“Of course, I'm glad you're here,” she led him into the common room. “What's up?”
Harry eyed Draco before taking the chaise across from them. “I’m going to stay out of this after tonight– unless you need me to step in, that is. You're going to have to tell Ron soon, you know,” he said slowly, “He'll be raving, but it'll be worse if you wait or if he finds out some other way.” his eyes flicked to Draco again.
“He won't hear it from me, Potter. I've been given explicit instructions not to antagonize him, and that information would definitely antagonize him.”
“Nevertheless, you know you have to tell him. I don't want drama all year, so it's better to get it over with, then he'll get over it, then we can all move on.”
Hermione couldn't help smiling at Harry's display of selfishness, something he never indulged in before the war. He was always self-sacrificing and thinking about everyone else. She loved that he was telling her what he needed now.
“Alright, Harry. And I promise that you won't be in the middle of this. You can even pretend not to have known, so he can't turn it on you and say you hid it from him. Maybe he'll follow your lead and just accept it.”
He smiled gratefully, “Thanks. You're the best, Hermione. I'll leave you to whatever you were doing.” He bent down and gave her a quick hug. “Good night, Hermione. Malfoy.”
“Potter.”
“Good night, Harry,” Hermione said, and they were alone again.
“Do you know how you're going to break the news to Weasley?”
She shook her head, “I'm going to take him to Hogsmead, soften him up with butterbeer, and rip off the band-aid.”
Draco had learned weeks ago not to ask about every muggle phrase she used. Otherwise, she'd give him an entire lecture on the phrase’s meaning and origins.
“It’ll be fine. He's hotheaded, but it doesn't last long. I’ll just need to help him think things through logically.”
He scoffed in response, “Weasley and logic don’t really go together.”
“Of course they do! Ronald is an excellent chess player. He is perfectly capable of thinking things through once he's calmed down. You’ll see.”
“I’ll trust you to know him better than I do, then. Can we talk about something else now?” He pulled her back against his side and gave her a small kiss on her head.
“Hermione Granger-Malfoy,” she said quietly. It sounded strange to her.
“I don't mind it. ‘Hermione Malfoy’ sounds good too.”
“Hmm,” she intoned noncommittally.
“Granger?”
She didn't respond.
“Hermione?”
She smiled against his shoulder. “That sounds the best coming from your lips.”
“Don't distract me, witch.”
“Draco…”
“You're going to have to decide soon. I can't take the suspense any longer. You know my preference, but I’m fine with whatever you choose.”
She pressed a soft kiss on his lips with a secret smile. She knew what her Hogwarts papers said now. It was why she had to tell McGonagall about their current circumstance, which unexpectedly led to them being allowed to live together this year. The fact that they were Head Boy and Girl made it all the more easier.
She reached down to her bag on the floor and pulled out an official parchment. He looked over it, and she could see the moment he saw it.
“Hermione Malfoy,” he said with reverence, “Why didn't you keep your name?”
“It felt right to do it this way. I wanted to claim you and to let everyone know that you were mine.”
“I am yours, Granger. And you're mine,” he whispered against her lips.
“Yes.”
He took her hand and brought it up between them. He waved a hand over it and removed the glamour she had cast earlier in the day, revealing the large ruby ring on her finger.
He dropped a kiss on the knuckle above the ring.
“My wife.”