Hermione and Draco decided to retire to their dorm to wait out the time until lunch. Hermione didn't want to risk running into Ron until she absolutely had to talk to him. When they arrived at their dorm, they didn't expect the change in the room.

The common room looked almost the same, except for the fact that instead of there being two staircases, there was just one: a spiral staircase in the center of the room. Excited, they ran up the stairs to see the new bedroom.

It was very spacious. There was almost no color in the room; everything was white except for the fireplace, which glowed pink. Their beds were combined into one large king bed. Their chests sat side-by-side behind the couch.

Hermione went to the bed, running her hands over the textured white comforter. She sat on the edge and admired the room as Draco walked to the single bathroom on the right side of the room. Looking at one of the nightstands, she saw a letter.

Dear Mr. Malfoy and the future Mrs. Malfoy,

The Ministry of Magic would like to congratulate you on your upcoming marriage. We would like to remind you that your nuptials must take place no later than 30 June 1999. Furthermore, your first child must be born on or before your second wedding anniversary.

Thank you and Best Wishes,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic

"Best wishes, my ass." Hermione said sarcastically.

"What was that?" Draco asked, peeking his head out from the bathroom.

"Here." Hermione held the letter out for him. He strode over swiftly and read the letter.

"Well, then." He said, then continued, "When do you think we should get married? Do you have a preference at all?"

"Uh, no, not really. I mean, we should probably wait as long as possible to delay the inevitability of children" She said.

"So end of June?" He asked.

"We'll see what others are doing. I don't want to conflict with anyone, but the end of June sounds good to me."

He took a seat on the bed next to her. "Hermione, I was wondering if I might ask you something?" She nodded for him to continue. "Are you… going to tell your parents about our marriage?"

Hermione shook her head fervently. "No, I won't. They hate me already, and telling them that I was put into an arranged marriage by the Ministry of Magic won't exactly help my cause."

"But we're happy about it; this isn't a bad thing for us. You don't think they would want to see their only daughter get married?"

"I think they would, just not to a wizard." Hermione said quietly. Draco took her in his arms and held her. She listened to his heart beating steadily. Then, she asked him, "Are you going to tell your parents?"

"I suppose I will have to. After all, they know I'm getting married because of this law."

"Don't you want to tell them?" Hermione asked with a touch of hurt in her voice.

"I'm a bit worried to tell them, honestly." He said, running a hand through her hair. "I'm afraid they might not take well to you."

"Oh." Was all she could say.

"Especially because of what happened there during… well, you know." He added.

Hermione thought back to the day in Malfoy Manor, when she endured the cruciatus curse numerous times with Draco standing silently in the corner. She remembered looking at him, and he stared back at her with stone cold eyes. She felt herself start to tear up, looking at the 'mudblood' scar on her arm. "Yeah." She said, again speechless.

He rocked her back and forth, burying his head in her hair while she cried. "I'm so, so sorry, Hermione. If I could take that day back…if I could endure that pain for you…" He consoled her.

"I just don't understand sometimes," She sobbed, "how someone could do that. I'll carry this scar for the rest of my life. I don't believe what it says, but, but, it's there forever. It will mark me of what I am, and of what I once was called."

Draco breathed in the scent of her hair. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. Lovingly and gently, he traced a finger over her scar. "I do understand how you feel, Hermione." She looked up at him in a sort of question. He pulled his arm from under her and pulled up his sleeve. There, on his forearm, was the Dark Mark, still black as ever.

She realized that she had not seen the mark in months. All school year he had worn long sleeves, even in warmer weathers. She copied his actions of tracing over the mark. "I hate it." He said. "I do not believe in this anymore, and I hate that for the rest of my life, I will be judged and despised for having this mark on my arm." He choked in sadness. "I wasn't even of age when I got this. I was the youngest wizard ever to get Marked, and for what? There was no purpose. And I can't remove it. I'm stuck with it for eternity."

She hugged him around his neck and held him while he was upset. He didn't cry, but he stared at his Dark Mark while taking labored breaths. Kissing his forehead, she cradled back into his lap.

"I'm sorry, Draco," She said quietly, "that you and I will have these marks. But in a way, our scars can make us stronger." He nodded in silent agreement. They sat peacefully for a few minutes, Draco rocking Hermione back and forth.

"What should we do about telling people, then?" Hermione asked.

"I think we should do what Professor McGonagall suggested. Since Ginny already knows, we'll go and tell Harry, and then, we'll tell Ron at lunch." He answered.

"Let's go talk to Harry and Ginny now." Hermione said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Ron should be at the pre-game practice now. Ginny and Harry will be in the Gryffindor common room." Though Ron had re-joined the Quidditch team, Harry had decided to refrain from participating in Quidditch after returning to school.

Draco helped Hermione stand up, then took her hand and apparated them to Gryffindor tower.

OOOOO

"You're engaged?" Harry nearly shouted in astonishment.

"Shh!" Hermione shushed him, even though there were only a few other Gryffindors in the common room. "Yes, we are, and we need your help." Hermione and Draco (who looked slightly uncomfortable in the scarlet and gold room) sat on a loveseat while Harry and Ginny sat across from them in armchairs.

"With what?" Harry asked, eyeing Draco as he took Hermione's hand.

"I'm worried about what Ron will say… or do. I don't want him to hurt himself or someone else." Hermione said.

"Especially given the past few weeks." Ginny emphasized.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, guess you're right. When are you going to tell him?"

"Today at lunch." Draco answered.

"Do you think you should tell him in the Great Hall?" Ginny asked. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "I mean, what if he erupts and starts doing… well, whatever he might do?"

"Since we're Head Boy and Girl, McGonagall wants us to be at lunch, especially because we skipped breakfast. But eventually other people will have to find out, too, and I doubt anyone will take it well. Maybe this will be the best way." Hermione said.

"I think you're right." Harry said. He looked at the clock on the wall. "It's almost time for lunch, anyway." They all stood to leave. As they exited the portrait, Harry touched Hermione's arm and pulled her back. He said seriously, "Can I ask you something, Hermione?"

"Yeah?" She responded, surprised.

"Are you happy? Being with him, I mean?"

"I really am, Harry. In reality, we're perfect for each other. I'm excited to be able to get to know him even better."

"You're okay with his past, though?" Harry asked, more hesitantly.

"I am. We were talking this morning about our experiences, and it really opened my eyes to how he has changed since the end of the war."

"Well, I'm glad to hear you're happy, Hermione." Harry said, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you, Harry."

OOOOO

The four entered the Great Hall. Ron was not there yet. Draco considered sitting at the Slytherin table, but decided to sit with Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindors. While waiting for Ron, they could hear whispers around the room.

Why is Draco Malfoy sitting at the Gryffindor Table?

Could he be matched with Hermione?

Poor girl, I hope he doesn't hurt her.

Luckily, they didn't have to wait very long for Ron to show up. He walked in with Clair on his arm. Clair was visiting this weekend so that she could see the school, watch the Quidditch game, and spend time with Ron. Upon seeing Draco sitting next to Hermione, Ron scowled and quickened his pace toward his friends.

"Hi Ron!" Ginny said artificially sweetly.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron demanded.

"Actually, Ron, there's something I have to tell you." Hermione said, standing and shuffling her feet. Draco stood up next to her. "Well, we…" She said.

"No, not you… the two of you… you're not?" He stuttered. Clair put her hand on his shoulder.

Hermione nodded. "We're matched together." She said as Draco took her hand.

"You foul bastard!" Ron whispered harshly at Draco. "What, did you charm the journals together? There's no way she would even consider marrying the likes of you!"

Draco didn't react to Ron's words. Instead, he calmly responded, "Actually, Hermione and I were matched by the journals with no interference. And we are quite happy being engaged."

Ron gaped at the pair. "Hermione, it's not true, is it?" Ron pleaded. "I'll help you. We can go to McGonagall, or the Ministry. Don't you remember what he's done at all of us?"

"Of course I remember, Ron. And I don't care. We've all done some horrible things. And I'm very glad to be marrying Draco." Hermione said.

Ron looked at the floor and rubbed his hand on the back of his head. Letting out a sharp breath of air, he said, "Well, if you're as happy as you say you are, then I guess I should be happy for you."

Hermione smiled at him, "Oh, Ron, thank you!" She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck in a huge hug.

After his initial shock, he hugged her back. He whispered so that only she could hear, "I'm so sorry for how I've treated you, Hermione." She nodded into his neck and let go.

"Let's go get you ready for that Quidditch game, eh?" Harry said, clapping his mate on the back.

Since lunch was still going on, Hermione and Draco stayed behind while Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Clair walked out.

"That went astonishingly well!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco wound his arms around Hermione's waist.

"Draco," She whispered, "People are watching!"

"Let them watch." He said as he pressed his lips to hers. She put her hands on his chest for a moment, kissing back, but soon pushed him away gently.

"We're Head Boy and Girl. We shouldn't do this here." She said. He relaxed his grip on her.

"Sorry." He said, though slightly insincere. "I'm going to go back to see what chaos is inevitably occurring at the Slytherin table."

"Ok, meet you after lunch." She said, poking the tip of his nose affectionately. He smiled at her and left.

OOOOO

A/N: I know it's been a while since my last update. Hope I didn't upset you too much! But Happy New Year everyone! I remember feeling like 2013 was such a surreal occurrence, and now it's already 2014! Well, I hope to be better at updating this year. This is actually the fourth year I've been on Fanfiction. Thanks for reading!