[fifty two]

Six weeks have passed since the threat of the note. Since then, Hermione and Draco have established a well-oiled machine made of prefects that patrolled the school on a nightly basis. Hagrid lets loose a dozen of Blast-Ended Skrewts at night, which he gathers just before sunrise, to protect the castle grounds. The Ministry aurors have also teamed up with professor Yanley in teaching DADA and helped the professors facilitate the "team-building" sessions of the newly-paired couples.

The members of the DA have been given packets of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and Instant Swamp for emergency purposes, in case they needed a distraction or a quick escape. The Big Twelve have also been on their toes, scouring the sky and the castle for any signs of birds or intruders, in case the enemy decided to drop a bomb.

It was safe to say that they had been doing everything they could to keep the castle safe.

While Theo still hasn't been honest about where he was when he disappeared before Hermione and Draco's engagement party, the entire common room just reached a silent agreement to trust his plan. None of the Slytherins were worried about Theodore, so everyone else in the common room just decided to trust their judgement.

Besides, the bigger concern was Goyle, who kept on insisting to visit their common room.

"I told him no, ." Blaise shook his head as he tossed Ginny a quaffle "He just won't take no for an answer. Do you know how many Slytherin parties Pansy has had to plan since Draco and Hermione's engagement party just so Goyle would shut up?"

Ginny tied the laces of her shoes tightly as she set the quaffle aside. It was the last week of March and the Gryffindor Quidditch Team was going against Hufflepuff to battle for the last spot in the finals. Whoever wins this match gets play against the Slytherins. "I know, because that's also the number of times we prefects have had to disband your parties." Ginny rolled her eyes "Harry, have you gone and made sure my brother's ready?"

Harry grabbed his Quidditch robes and nodded "We'll meet you downstairs for breakfast." Harry nodded "I'll go over the plays with him as we walk."

"Perfect." Ginny grinned at Harry, giving a him a quick peck before turning to Blaise "Now, why aren't you in Gryffindor colors?"

"I'd rather be caught dead—" Blaise stopped mid-sentence before Ginny's glare caused him to catch fire "I will go ahead and change."

"Perfect." Ginny repeated her words from earlier before strolling out of her room and down the stairs. Blaise muttered something about bossy red-heads under his breath as he knocked on Draco and Hermione's door, hoping they'd have something red to lend him.

"You're wearing " Draco snickered

"Take it up with Ginny Weasley." Blaise rolled his eyes "So, anything?"

"Love, don't you have that dark red shirt? The one with the round-neck?" Hermione leaned against the doorframe of their bath as she tied her hair into a ponytail.

"Oh right, I do." Draco brows raised in recognition. He walked over to their closet and began rummaging through it for the said shirt.

"What are wearing?" Blaise questioned

"Black, what else?" Draco scoffed as if it should be obvious.

"I tried to convince him to wear my house colors, but he said that as Quidditch captain, it would be ." Hermione rolled her eyes "Slytherins have more pride than Gryffindors, if you ask me."

Draco tossed Blaise the shirt and smirked "You're going to look like Christmas."

"It's this or Ginny's Bat-Bogey hex. Pick one." Blaise muttered, walking out their room to change.

Draco chuckled and grabbed a black jumper from his closet, before entering their bath where Hermione was also changing. "At least wear a scarf?" Hermione offered hopefully

Draco looked back at her, his brows raised as if to say . He took his shirt off without answering her, trying to see if Hermione would give it up, but when Draco looked back at her, she was giving him an irresistible pout.

"Fine, because I love you," Draco chuckled as Hermione squealed in delight "I'll wear a scarf at least."

She walked over, motioning for him to wear his jumper so she could wrap the scarf around him. Draco reached for the jumper with right arm, keeping his exposed tattoo stuck to his side. Ever since it's began to move again, he's gone back to wearing long-sleeved shirts and jumpers, and Hermione noticed.

Some nights, he would go to bed with his arm a nasty shade of red, raw from the scrubbing he'd do in the bath. Seeing that always made Hermione's heart ache, which she always had to suppress from their Malfoy bond, knowing Draco didn't want the pity.

"How many times do I have to tell you," Hermione whispered, cupping his cheek "I don't care about that."

"I know, love." Draco sighed, his eyes looking at everything else but hers.

Hermione reached over and took his left forearm, whispering "One day, I will create a spell that'll make this go away, just so you can feel comfortable in your own skin again." She pressed a soft kiss on his arm and looked up to meet his stormy eyes "For now, remembering that I know who you truly are should be good enough, hmm?"

Draco didn't say anything, knowing full well Hermione could tell what he was already feeling through their bond. He pressed a soft kiss on her lips, whispering "I love you more than you know."

Hermione helped him into his jumper, giving him a big smile as she wrapped the Gryffindor scarf around his neck "We match, see?" She pointed at the same one around her neck, smiling with glee.

"If I knew wearing Gryffindor scarves would make you this happy, I'd have done it long ago." Draco chuckled, pressing a tender kiss on her forehead "Let's go have breakfast, yes?"

"Yes, please." Hermione agreed, entwining her fingers with his as they walked out of their room together. Most of their friends had already gone down, even Blaise who they were both sure was already being teased by Celine for wearing red.

When they reached the Gryffindor table, Ginny and Harry were giving Ron a pep talk "First game back, Weasley, you ready?" Draco smirked

Hermione grinned and wrapped her arms around Ron tightly "Of course he is."

Draco rolled his eyes and tugged her hand, pulling her away from Ron "The only man you should be hugging here is , Granger."

Ron just laughed "I'm fine. No doubt will be kicking some Hufflepuff arse today."

"You better. We have to get back at these guys." Ginny shoved a finger directly at Blaise, who was innocently munching on his club sandwich.

"Don't you go saying things like that after I wore for you, missy!" Blaise exclaimed

"You look like Christmas." Pansy scrunched up her nose "Definitely not your color. Malfoy, why do you even have this?"

"It's soft to sleep in." Draco shrugged as he sat next to Harry "You better win today, Potter, so we can kick your arse again in May."

"More like we'll be kicking your arse." Harry rolled his eyes

"Haven't we had the same conversation a couple weeks back?" Astoria rolled her eyes "Next topic please?"