When the Stars Fall

FOURTEEN: Riddikulus Hexes

Hermione groaned and stretched as her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she noticed was a pair of blue eyes gazing down at her. She smiled and then lifted her hand to stroke Draco's face. She'd gotten used to waking up with him looking down at her. He must have had trouble sleeping. Obviously his troubles with sleep were beginning to rub off on her. She recalled her dream, and decided not to tell him, or anyone for that matter; after all, she'd made a promise, even if it was just in a dream.

"You look so beautiful when you sleep," Draco whispered as he ran his fingertips down her forehead, she closed her eyes as his fingers continued their descent across her eyelids, down her nose and cheeks, over her lips, down her chin, and finally paused at the hollow of her throat and then asked, "So, what did you dream about?"

She sighed to give herself time to think and then answered truthfully, describing the dream she'd had before entering the solarium where she'd talked to Narcissa.

"The upcoming ceremony. I'm rather nervous. I mean Snape is going to be performing it! I dreamed the day was perfect. I was wearing that lavender gown. Harry walked me up the aisle and presented me to you. Snape performed the ceremony, almost as though he was happy about our joining, and then there was a dance afterward. It was during the dance that things changed. A stranger in a dark cloak cut in and swept me across the dance floor and away from you. He felt cold to me. He managed to get me out of the doors and into the garden. I grew nervous, and then he pulled back his hood. It was Lucius. The doors had closed behind us, and he laughed. I woke up after that."

Draco's eyes darkened. "He won't ever harm you. I swear to it. No one will ever hurt you as long as I live and breathe."

"I know, and you will never fall to the darkness as long as I live and breathe," Hermione said, a determined edge in her voice and then she continued in a lighter tone, "We'd better get cleaned up and dressed for breakfast and class."

"You're too bloody practical for your own good," he growled crankily in response and winked at her.

He got his robes out of his trunk and then went to the bathroom. She heard the sound of water running and knew he was in the shower. She gathered her own robes out of her trunk and went into the bathroom. She joined him in the shower and after a bit of playing around and shampooing they were clean, using hair-drying charms, dressed, and brushing their teeth.

Once they were sufficiently finished with daily ritual they gathered their schoolbags, walked out of their room, and headed downstairs to the Gryffindor common room. The room, which had previously been abuzz with hearty conversation and activity, suddenly grew silent as all eyes locked on the newest Gryffindor and his bride.

Hermione looked around at the room and shook her head. "Why are you all acting as though you've never seen us before? Honestly, you would think someone had died. Go on with your gossip, tell your stories, but get our story straight. He was my choice."

With that Draco put his arm around her and then swept her up into a tight embrace and caught her lips in a ferocious kiss, in front of everyone Gryffindor in the common room. As Hermione gave into the kiss the crowded room, and the world, faded around them, until they were the only people who existed at that moment. They parted slowly and when Hermione got her bearings she realized that most of the Gryffindors were gawking at her while Ron and Harry just stared at her in shock. Suddenly Ron turned around and stormed off. Hermione felt a lump in her throat and then looked at Draco with a stern expression. He simply smirked at her and kept his arm around her shoulder as they headed toward the hole that led out of Gryffindor Tower. Hermione went through first and then Draco followed.

Soon they found themselves in Great Hall, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Gryffindors so that breakfast would commence. The other houses, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw were already seated, and all eyes seemed to be locked on the couple sitting at the Gryffindor table. Within a few moments the rest of the Gryffindors entered Great Hall and took their seats. Harry and Ron sat across from Hermione and Draco. Ginny sat down next to her brother, and Neville, swallowing thickly, took the seat next to Draco.

"That was some show you put on," Ginny hissed at Draco and Hermione.

Draco snorted and then looked up with a smirk. "We all have our parts to play. It's funny how the stage fell away when we kissed. Wouldn't you agree, Janie?"

"Her name is Ginny," Ron snapped.

Hermione sighed. "He was talking to me, Ron."

Harry and Ron looked at her in confusion and spoke in unison. "What?!"

"You must be kidding me," Draco said with a laugh, "You've known her for six years and never knew her full name?"

Hermione cleared her throat and sighed. "He heard my mother scolding me over the summer and now he won't let me live it down. She used my full name, Hermione Jane Granger. She hasn't gotten used to the Malfoy part yet. When Draco heard that he started calling me Janie, as a sort of pet name. I never thought he would say that in front of anyone else though."

"Well, your name isn't as bad as mine," Draco muttered.

"What? How bad could your name possibly be?" Hermione asked him.

"It certainly couldn't be worse than Ronald Alphonsus Weasley, luckily Mum never put that in a howler she's sent me..." Ron said with a shudder.

"I can't complain about my name. I got mine from my dad," Harry said and then asked, "Well, Malfoy, you planning on keeping us in suspense?"

Draco looked at Hermione and then shot Ron and Harry a look. "Potter, Weasley, you can never use this against me..."

He motioned for them to lean in closer and then hissed, "My full name is Draco Severus Marvolo Malfoy."

Harry looked at him quizzically and then realization dawned on his face. "Severus, like Snape, and Marvolo, that was Voldemort's middle name when he went to school."

Draco nodded. "Yes, my mother named me Draco Severus, my father insisted on Marvolo as a gesture of adoration to the dark lord. So what is worse than that?"

"Bloody hell! Your mum named you for Snape! What's the story behind that? We know they went to school together. I would regard that with some suspicion," Ron said.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Really, Ron, you shouldn't speculate. Just leave off. I'm sure she had her reason for giving Draco that name. I'm also certain that all will present itself in good time."

Draco looked at her, his brow furrowed in thought and his face twisted into a curious expression. "You said, 'All will present itself in good time.' That's strange, my mother said that to me in my dreams."

"It's just a silly expression," Hermione said.

"Funny, I get the gist of it, but it's not usually phrased like that," Ron piped up and that was followed by a series of "ouches" and curses as Hermione brought her foot down hard on Ron's foot.

"Crikey! What was that for?"

"Thought I saw a bug," Hermione answered with gritted teeth.

The rest of the day seemed to pass by quickly enough, until Double Potions. Hermione and Draco sat together at a table near Snape's desk. All of the Slytherins glared at them. Not to mention Snape seemed crankier than usual. He gave Neville detention for an explosion that emitted from his caldron and took ten points from Gryffindor. Draco couldn't help laughing at Neville, as Neville made a spectacle of himself. Draco's laughter resulted in a flare of temper from Hermione, who kicked Draco under the table. This in turn caused a rather bitter argument, that brought up a great deal of issues that most of the students and Snape didn't care to know about.

The argument finally ended when Pansy Parkinson snickered and said rather loudly, "So, guess this means the honeymoon is over?"

Draco had to grab Hermione to restrain her as she fought to get to pug faced Pansy Parkinson. Everyone stared at Hermione in amazement. They had only seen one outburst from her and that was when she'd slapped Snape, and a few of them could recall the time she slapped Draco a few years before, but she was within good reason. Snape had obviously had enough of the entire ordeal and snapped, "Miss Parkinson, detention, we'll discuss the terms later. I'll send you a summons after dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, my office now, and Mrs. Malfoy, I highly suggest that you learn to properly restrain yourself!"

"That daft cow started it and I intend to finish it!" Hermione snapped, then grabbed her wand, pointed it at Pansy Parkinson and said, "Furnunculo!"

Within a few moments Pansy Parkinson began to really look like a pug. Soon the Slytherin girl's face was wrinkled and covered in white fur. Her snout was covered with brown fur and her ears grew longer, flopped forward, and grew brown fur. She opened her mouth to scream, but all that came out were yelps and high-pitched howling.

"Granger, my office now!" Snape roared and then spoke in a deadly calm voice, "And will someone escort Parkinson to the hospital wing now! Quickly before she attracts a flea circus!"

Draco practically dragged Hermione to Snape's office. Snape followed them, and as he stood in the doorway he told the class to continue working on their potions, then he slammed the door and looked at Hermione in shock, as though seeing her for the first time. She had never acted so rash before.

"Would someone care to explain what just happened?" Snape asked.

"Pansy Parkinson's face received a proper improvement!" Hermione snapped.

Draco looked at Hermione, wondering what was wrong with her and then said, "Well, she went round the bend when I laughed at Longbottom, sir. Next thing I know she kicked me, so we began to argue. Obviously, Parkinson's intrusion on our disagreement was not wise on her part, and Hermione acted on that. I'm sure Madame Pomfrey can fix...uh restore Pansy's original appearance."

"Considering the circumstances I will not give you another detention Hermione, however, twenty points will be taken from Gryffindor. Now, about your joining ceremony..."

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That night at dinner, Hermione didn't show up. Draco sat with Ron and Harry, and received venomous looks from the Slytherin table and Ron's younger sister. Draco kept looking at the entrance to Great Hall, wondering what might have been keeping her, but after asking Harry and Ron where she might be, he thought better of going to look for her.

"Oy, looking for 'Mione? She's probably in the library. That's where she goes when she's not at meals. I don't know what she gets from flipping open a ton of books. Reading. She's always at it," Ron said.

Harry looked up at that. "But look at how often her book knowledge has helped us. Really, Ron, maybe if we cracked open a few books we wouldn't end up in as much trouble as we do."

"Where's the fun in books? Give us a good bit of danger or Quidditch any day, I say!" Ron replied.

Harry shook his head and then looked at Draco. "Say, Malfoy, you know what's gotten into Hermione lately? I mean, she married you, slapped Snape, hexed Ron in your defense, and hexed Pansy Parkinson. I've never known her to be so rash. And you're different too. I mean look at us, talking as though we're old friends, or civilly at least. It's..."

"Weird is what it is! It's like him and 'Mione have kind of switched personalities. Mind, she's not as nasty as he was, but she's not herself either," Ron finished.

"Do either of you even know her? She doesn't have to be rational and thoughtful all the time! She has conviction, and passion, and so much that is hidden behind that brilliant head of hers. Potter, Weasley, did you ever take the time to notice her?" Draco snapped.

This sent Ron over the bend. Ron reached over the table, grabbed Malfoy by the collar, pulled him across the table, and growled, "Listen you bloody ferret, I cared for her longer than you. What, you think one night over the summer can change anything about how I feel. I knew I wasn't enough to have her, but she wasn't supposed to end up with you! I expected she fancied Harry, and all this time she liked you, and every time you insulted her I saw the pain on her face. I thought it was because you called her nasty things like mudblood, but she was hurt because she liked you! You're right, I didn't know her feelings that well, but caring for her for a few months doesn't make you a bloody authority either!"

"Mr. Weasley, that is quite enough. I would like to see you, Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Potter in my office after dinner," Snape said from behind Ron, and all three looked up at him.

"Shouldn't Professor McGonagall summon us, since she is our head of house?" Harry asked, and then continued, "And why am I being summoned?"

"As ever suspicious, Potter. She told me to come over here and deal with this disturbance, and you seemed to have witnessed this entire episode, and I expect that you may have held a hand in it," Snape answered with a sneer and then looked around the Gryffindor table, "And where might the blushing bride be?"

"The library, we expect," Ron muttered as he released Draco.

Dinner ended shortly afterward and this found Harry, Ron, and Draco in Snape's office, awaiting the arrival of the Potions Master. Harry and Ron had been quite surprised that Snape's office had been left unlocked for them; Draco simply shrugged. After a few minutes the Potions Master swept into the room, his robes billowing out behind him.

Before anyone could ask what was going on Snape said, "Now, as for the reason you are here. For the past few years I have noticed a certain animosity you three share. It is understandable given your differences in background and previous difference in housing arrangements. It has come to my attention that Lucius Malfoy intends to visit Hogwarts soon. I must request that you keep up your animosity for the sake of fooling Lucius; still keeping the secret of Mr. Malfoy having switched houses will not be a possibility. I am more than certain that Lucius will be requesting an explanation from me as well as some of the students in the Slytherin house. Obviously keeping the marriage a secret will be impossible as well. So any ideas about possible explanations?"

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Hermione had been in her rooms ever since her last class of the day, Arithmancy, had ended. She hadn't felt like going to dinner and facing the questioning looks and the glares from Ginny Weasley and the Slytherins. She'd paced the room, wearing down the red carpet, until the urge to take a bath suddenly overtook her. She got some fresh clothes, opting for jeans and a sweater, from her trunk. She went into the bathroom, and ran her bath. She first turned the water nozzles and then the nozzle of a faucet that made the water turn a faint pink and filled the room with the scent of roses. Hermione disrobed and immersed herself in the warm rose scented water.

She sighed and leaned back in the tub. The tub was not nearly as large as the pool sized tub in the prefects' bathroom, but the tub was large enough from more than one person to occupy it in comfort. She felt all of the stress drain from her as she slipped her head beneath the surface of the pinkish water. She was feeling much better when she got out of the bath and used a drying charm. She got dressed and then pulled her hair back into a loose and bushy ponytail.

She gave herself a once over in the mirror, let the water out of the bath, brushed her teeth, and walked into the bedroom. Having already finished with her homework hours ago, she had little to keep herself occupied. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to the elaborate wardrobe against the wall. It was such a beautiful piece of furniture, and hers and Draco's clothes couldn't have been benefiting from remaining in their trunks. She began to pull hers and Draco's robes, shirts, and blouses (in her case) from their trunks, laid them out on the bed, and hoping their were hangers in the wardrobe, approached the massive piece of furniture. She pulled open the doors of wardrobe, and leapt back with a scream as something fell out of it. She looked down at the body that was now on the floor. The hair was platinum blond, and as she rolled the body over fear raced up her spine. Draco's wide lifeless eyes stared up at her, his face twisted in pain and surprise.

For once all of her knowledge escaped her, Hermione Granger Malfoy, had no idea what to do. Her knees gave out, she ended up curling into a tight ball beside the body, making strange whimpering noises and begging to wake up from the nightmare. As much as she'd despised him those five years, she'd still given herself to him, found that she loved him, and enjoyed his company. She just didn't think she had the strength to live without the bastard, Draco Malfoy, she'd grown to love with all of her soul.

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One moment Draco was listening to Snape talking about his formal wedding, and the next his fingers were digging into the leather armrests of one of the chairs in Snape's office. He closed his eyes, his breathing growing shallow, as he heard a strange whimpering sound in his head. Finally he could take it no more. He stood up looking around as though he were in a daze for a moment and then he took off from Snape's office and ran straight for Gryffindor Tower, with Snape, Potter, and Weasley tailing him.

He gave the fat lady in the pink dress the password, ran through the common room, and up the stairs. If the Gryffindors in the common room thought that was strange, they were thoroughly shocked to see Professor Snape followed by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley hurrying into the Gryffindor Common Room and then up the stairs after Malfoy.

Draco snatched the door open and his jaw dropped at the scene before him. He saw his lifeless body sprawled on the floor and what really scared him was the sight of Hermione curled up by the body whimpering. He went straight to Hermione and gathered her in his arms. She fought him for a moment and then finally recognizing him, flung her arms around him and cried. Snape looked from the Draco holding Hermione, to the deceased one on the floor, then to the opened wardrobe, and knew what had happened. A boggart had been in the wardrobe.

Snape stepped into the room, cleared his throat, pointed his wand at the dead Draco boggart on the floor and said, "Riddikulus!"

Within a moment there stood a werewolf dressed in a blue bonnet and a rather large nappy. Harry and Ron stood in the doorway laughing at the werewolf until finally the creature disappeared.

"I always said Remus was a bit immature at times. That only proved my point, now, Potter, Weasley, clear out, go to your common room or dormitory. Off before I deduct points and give detentions!" Snape snapped.

Clearly the joking moment was over as Harry and Ron noticed a nearly hysterical Hermione in Draco's arms. Harry clamped a firm hand on Ron's shoulder and dragged him away toward their dormitory. Snape shut the door and then turned to the young couple. Hermione clung to Draco as though her life depended upon him, and he was trying his best to calm her.

Snape having little experience with such a show of emotion, again, cleared his throat, and then spoke, "Really, Miss Granger, I would have thought you would know how to handle a boggart. They aren't so complicated to get rid of. I though you learned all about dark creatures your third year."

Draco looked up at Snape, his anger evident upon his face. "Some sensitivity on your part would be appreciated. She's absolutely terrified, and all you can do is chastise her? What is wrong with you? She thought she lost..."

"You, apparently, Mr. Malfoy. It would appear as though you have a rather devoted wife if her greatest fear is your demise," Snape's voice was it's usual monotone.

Hermione suddenly looked up with a hiccup and her eyes widened at the fact that Professor Snape was in the room she shared with Draco. Her hands quickly went to her face as she wiped at her eyes and cheeks. She looked over at him, embarrassed at how foolish she'd been, and aware that Snape had seen her at her most vulnerable.

"I don't know what to say. I should have expected it to be a boggart, but it happened so fast. The body was on the floor, and when I... Well, it doesn't matter does it? Go ahead, Professor, you would appreciate a moment like this. Your least favorite 'know-it-all' student just fell apart, all my wits scattered about me because I allowed emotion to overcome me," Hermione snapped. "Well, now is your perfect opportunity. Have at it! Insult me! You've always enjoyed adding salt to my wounded pride before. Why should now be any different?"

Snape was taken aback. "Your outbursts are a bit far fetched, don't you think?"

"No, I don't! You've always detested me. Where is the sarcasm now? Look at me! I'm an emotional wreck, I thought that I'd lost someone dear to me, before I realized how much he meant to me. Come on, I know you have an insult for that!"

Draco was gaping. His hold on Hermione tightened as he felt her try to break from his grasp to go over to Snape. Obviously she was a bit defensive. She didn't like being so vulnerable in front of a man who couldn't appreciate emotion.

"Hermione, that's enough. You're all right, and I'm here now. It's over. Let it go, and leave off with Snape. He meant no harm. He got rid of the boggart," Draco spoke calmly soothingly, his lips moving gently against the shell of her ear.

When she began to relax Draco looked up and directed his gaze at Snape. He noticed the man was looking at them with a strange expression on his face, almost like regret. Within a moment Snape's usual impassive expression was back in place and he sneered at them.

"I must admit that I look at the pair of you with envy, but I pity you in what you'll have to face. Youth is always one to follow a fool's path. Goodnight," He spoke sharply and then swept out of their room, his robes billowing angrily behind him.