Draco and Hermione slowly walked down the moving stair cases. There were people around. People that saw them, together. People that were pointing. People they heard whisper as they walked past them.

Draco looked at the girl by his side. She looked a bit unsure, but her step never faltered. They passed Professor McGonagall, who smiled at them before hurrying on.

At the top of the last set of stairs Hermione stopped and turned toward him. Her eyes finding his.

"Draco..."

He cupped her face gently with his left hand, holding onto hers with his right hand.

"I love you."

She could see his love for her shining in his eyes. He kissed her forehead and then gently nudge her towards the steps.

"You have faced my aunt and the Dark Lord himself, there is nothing in that Hall, that you would need to fear."

She nodded.

They hadn't quite reached the oak doors leading into the Great Hall, when they heard raised voices.

"What do you mean, Ginny? What has happened to Hermione?"

"Nothing has happened to her, mum!"

"So what is this big surprise then you keep talking about? Where has she been for the past two days?"

"Mum! She will explain everything. I just wanted to warn you, that there will be something different about her."

"Merlin's Beard! Has that foul werewolf got she after all?"

"Dad! Don't be ridiculous! It has to do with a guy."

There was a pause.

"She has found somebody, she likes?"

"They have been together since fifth year, mum."

"Why didn't Ron..."

Draco step to the Weasleys, which were standing just inside the Great Hall. Hermione was slightly hidden behind him.

"Because she is not with Ron, but with me."

Everybody close enough to have heard him turned like on cue. Dozens of eyes were looking at him in surprise. Mouths gaping.

He moved and revealed Hermione beside himself, while gently wrapping his arms around her.

"Hermione and I have been together since fifth year and we are now married for nearly a year."

Utter silence engulfed everything. Shocked faces, surprised faces, puzzled faces were looking at the couple at the heart of this stunning revelation.

"You are married?"

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked. Her gaze wandered between the girl she had known all these years and the young man holding her.

Ginny grinned at her friend. Her face seemed to say, that this was one of the every rare occasions, where her mother was lost for words.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. Draco and I got married not long before the end of sixth year."

"But he is a Death Eater!"

Mr. Weasley's voice sounded strangled.

"He was forced into it, Mr. Weasley. His father had been put into Azkaban, Voldemort took him as a replacement for his father. Just imagine Ron being forced into something like that at just 16.

Draco was threatened with death, if he didn't do Voldemorts bidding. What was he suppose to do? Let himself be killed for something he doesn't believe in?"

The Weasley parents looked at the young couple. Hermione was right. What could have a lad of 16 done against Voldemort on his own? Knowing his parents would be left to rot in Azkaban or killed outright.

"So, you have been together all this time? Why has nobody...?"

"Nobody known about it? It would have been far too dangerous for either of us. Ginny knew, though."

They turned towards her daughter, who glared defiantly at them.

"You knew?"

"She is my best friend, mum."

There was a sudden commotion as people seemed to wake up from the shock seeing Hermione and Draco as a couple.

They found themselves surrounded by students, aurors, parents and teachers. There were congratulations voiced, concerns and a thousand questions all at once. It took several minutes and Professor McGonagall using the "Sonorus" charm to restore some kind of order.

She asked Draco and Hermione to come up the teacher's table, so that everybody could hear them.

They went up a bit reluctantly. Draco smiled encouraging at his wife. When they were standing next to their teacher, it was Draco that spoke.

"I am Draco Malfoy. Most students in seventh year and the Slytherins will know me. I am the son of a Death Eater, that will hopefully rot in Azkaban. I was branded myself a Death Eater, as my father failed to do fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes.
I have been lucky to win Hermione Granger, a fellow seventh year student here at Hogwarts, member of Griffindor House and friend of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley as my girlfriend during fifth year. We got married at the end of sixth year."

There were a lot of "Oh!" and "Ah!" around the Hall.

"Hermione is my wife and I am her husband. Nothing will ever be able to change that! She is the love of my life!"

He embraced her, smirked and then, before she could react, was kissing her passionately in front of everybody.

Silence echoed around the stone walls. Then suddenly loud cheers broke out.

When he finally let go of her, they saw a crowded Hall full of cheering, waving and clapping people.

"I love you." She whispered against his cheek.

E P I L O G

"How long until the house is going to be finished?"

"It should be ready the day after tomorrow."

Draco and Hermione were sitting in the Three Broomsticks and enjoyed a late lunch.

"How did you manage to get a plot here in Hogsmead? I would have thought, that it would be quite difficult, if not impossible."

He smirked at her.

"I wanted to get you something special for our first anniversary."

She looked at him. Was he serious? She tried to remember their perfect evening, when he had asked her to be his wife. She blushed. He was right. It had been during the night from yesterday to today, that she had become his.

"I didn't get you..."

"I got you, Precious. That is more than enough."

He gently took her hands in his and sought her eyes. Her gaze was warm and welcoming.

"What are thinking?"

She smiled at him.

"I was just thinking of us now being legally married. I would have never thought, that I would get married this young..."

"You think, we should have waited to make it legal?"

She could hear the dread all to clearly in his words. There were still times, when he was somewhat weary about them being together and everybody knowing about it.

"No, Draco! If had wanted to wait, I would have told you so. I didn't want to wait. It is the way it was meant to be, the way we were meant to be. It just feels a bit strange not being called Granger any longer."

He grinned.

"Well, now you are a Malfoy. My Mrs. Malfoy."

She laughed. Then she slowly bent over the table towards him. He followed suit. Their faces were mere inches apart, when she sighed and whispered.

"And you are my fierce, loyal, protective and lovable dragon."

"Your dragon?"

"Hmhm."

"I like that!"

He smiled and kissed her.

A/N So that is the end of this story. I hope you enjoyed it as much reading as I enjoyed writing it. It was supposed to be just a one-shot, but somehow it sorta snowballed into something different.

Thanks to all who reviewed so far. Which doesn't mean I don't appreciate any more reviews. I DO!

I am working on a new story called Bound to be free and there is already half an idea niggling me for another one after that.