Hi all! Here we are with the next chapter!

As always, anything HP related belongs to JK Rowling. I make no money from this story, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Four

Into the second week since finding out about the new law, Harry noticed his friend was becoming more frazzled and scared. Malfoy had returned and spent the majority of his time tormenting her and making lewd comments that were always just out of earshot of any professors.

In his estimation, Hermione had asked the majority of their peers if they would be willing to enter into a marriage with her to save her from Malfoy. And as much as their friends would be more than willing to come to her aid, none were prepared to go up against Malfoy.

Harry couldn't honestly blame them, not really. Malfoy was a nasty piece of work and his father was worse, especially as he was on the school's Board of Governors and it wouldn't take long for him to find a way to make their lives hell. But there was a small part of him that was resentful their friends weren't willing to help her.

Snape's words rang in his ears and Harry once again thought back to the dream he'd had. He studied her in the morning light streaming through the Great Hall's many windows and took notice of the features he'd never really seen before. The way her eyes lit up when she smiled at him, the light in her hair that did in fact bring up the blonde highlights, the slightest bit of pink in her cheeks.

She wasn't beautiful, he supposed, at least not in the ways many thought counted, but she was attractive. He frowned and tucked some hair behind her ear with a smile. There it was, that little smile and blush when he touched her. Her whole face came alive and Harry realised that she did actually have some beauty in her.

Ron had slowly grown better with them both, after a long chat, or rather, a strong chat and a punch up, Seamus had gotten him to see the truth: that he had become the pig-headed kind of person that everyone had feared he would. His temper often got the better of him, he was always quick to accuse, he would never admit when he was wrong, and he wouldn't ever take responsibility for his actions.

He had apologised profusely to Hermione, and even though she had accepted it, things between them were strained. In time, Harry knew they would improve. Eventually, he hoped, their friendship would be something like what it used to be. Probably never quite the same again, but at least they could actually spend time together without the constant oppressive feeling that was in the air.

The weekend was once again fast approaching, and with that meant Hermione had only two more weeks to find herself a husband or she would be forced to marry a wizard of the Ministry's choice. Harry arranged for them both to go to Hogsmeade again that weekend, some time alone with her would allow him to try and sort through the growing feelings.

Their first lesson of the day was to be with Professor Binns in History of Magic. Harry would usually spend the lesson daydreaming or having a nap. Even Hermione had admitted on more than one occasion that Professor Binns always ended up getting stuck on the Goblin War and none of the students had learned much new in the years he had been teaching.

With the way Malfoy had been behaving of late, he was reluctant to leave her unguarded, and decided to actually pay attention to his surroundings so he could keep her safe. He wouldn't put it past the snivelling little shit to actually slip her a love potion, or some spell that would leave her infatuated with him. He had no interest in her romantically, Harry knew, he just wanted to be the one to break a Muggleborn to his will, but especially Hermione because she always bested him when it came to class scores- with the exception of Potions, of course.

Halfway into the hour lesson, Harry caught Malfoy pointing his wand at Hermione and tipped her chair back quickly before the spell could hit home. It zipped past them both and harmlessly struck the wall. Binns called Malfoy out on his spell use in a lesson that required none, he was given detention with him that night. Harry did his best not to snigger, failed, and had to turn it into a cough quickly.

Hermione smiled at him gratefully and her hand grabbed onto his under their desk. Harry couldn't stop the face-splitting grin that crossed his face and squeezed her hand in comfort. He saw the glare Malfoy shot them, and when Binns wasn't looking, Harry shot him the finger.

-oo0oo-

When the weekend rolled round, Harry dragged Hermione from the dorm early and down for breakfast. "Come on, hurry up. We've got a big day ahead!"

She laughed and allowed herself to be pulled along. They ate breakfast quickly, bade Ron a quiet good morning and politely refused his request to join them to Hogsmeade. He was welcome to walk in with them, but they had plans together and had little desire for anyone to be a third wheel.

He accepted it quite easily but didn't say anything else to them for the remainder of breakfast. When they rose to leave, they asked Ron if he wanted to walk in with them, but he refused and carried on eating. Both Gryffindors shrugged and walked off, signing the book at the entrance hall to state they were in Hogsmeade.

With the war raging on, the headmaster had requested all students to sign out of the castle and back in when they went to Hogsmeade, meaning the school staff were aware of where students were, and if the school had to be vacated in an emergency, there would not be panic when they were counted as missing.

The pair took the long path to Hogsmeade, enjoying the sunshine and talking animatedly about things, anything except the new marriage law. Harry studiously did not bring that up, knowing it would only upset her and put a damper on their day.

Harry had reserved a table at the Three Broomsticks for them to enjoy a Butterbeer and a warm meal, then they were off to Honeydukes for Harry to indulge her in a sugar fix and fill her secret stash he knew she had. And finally, he was taking her to Gladrags to get some new clothes, specifically a dress for two weeks' time whether it was he, or someone else that ended up marrying her.

Their lunch was spectacular and the Butterbeer a welcome treat, Hermione devoured it quickly and thanked Harry profusely when he paid and refused to allow her to foot any of the bill. Once in Honeydukes, Harry grabbed a basket and put in what he wanted: some Sugar Quills, Blood Pops, Ice Mice, Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Liquorice Wands, and Chocolate Frogs.

Hermione eyed several things and only added two items to the basket. Harry eyed her and laughed. "Hermione go wild. Get whatever you want."

She shook her head. "No, it's okay. I didn't bring much money with me and my vault key is back at Hogwarts."

Harry clucked his tongue and waggled a finger at her. "I can treat my best friend. Go get whatever you want."

He knew he'd won her over when her eyes lit up in joy and she ended up throwing nearly half of Honeydukes into the basket. Harry paid at the counter and handed over the sixteen Galleons it came to. Hermione balked and tried to take some of her things out and put them back, but Harry waved her off and shrank everything to fit in his pocket, everything covered in a charm that would stop the chocolate melting in his pocket.

"Harry, thank you, really, but it's too much!" She cried.

"Nonsense, Hermione. Let me do this for you, I want to be able to treat you sometimes."

She finally relented and pecked his cheek quickly. "Thank you."

As he led the way to Gladrags, he knew he was going to have a hard time convincing her to get some clothes, but as luck would have it, Hermione agreed easily, knowing her wardrobe needed updating. The subject of the dress came up, and he told Hermione to speak with the shop owner for what she would like.

Harry didn't want to look at it on her in case it swayed his mind, he was already leaning far too close towards wanting to kiss her. He would not lock her in any relationship with him if she had her eye on someone else. They'd made a promise not to discuss anything about the law and so he knew nothing about if she had found someone she wanted to ask as her husband.

On the walk back to Hogwarts, Hermione spontaneously hugged him tightly and buried her face in his neck. "Thank you for today, Harry. It took my mind off everything, and I'm so grateful. It was almost like a date!"

Harry laughed nervously and patted her hair. "It's alright, feels good to spoil my friend on occasion."

The rest of the walk was in silence, but not uncomfortable, neither had the desire nor need to talk. The light of the sun faded in the background, bathing the ground in a pale red light, and the beams dancing off her hair.

She caught him looking and smiled shyly. "What?"

"Nothing, I just…I guess I never really noticed before."

She frowned. "Noticed what?"

He smiled. "How beautiful you are."

Hermione flushed pink and looked away, her lips smiling. "Thank you, Harry."

They reached the castle and Harry unshrank all the things he'd bought for Hermione so she could put them away. "Remember, don't be caught out alone, I don't trust people right now."

Hermione used a disillusionment charm on herself so she couldn't be spotted and stopped. Harry headed for the dungeons for another Occlumency lesson, a spring in his step and a smile on his face.

-oo0o-

"For the love of the Gods, Potter, concentrate!" Snape bellowed.

Harry wiped the grin off his face. "Sorry, sir. Try again."

Snape sighed heavily and lowered his wand. "Really, Potter, I have no desire to once again view images of your growing infatuation with Miss Granger."

He blushed and coughed awkwardly. "It's kind of your fault, you planted the idea in my head."

"Yes, and believe me, I regret it every moment of this time we have been here. Why have you not just asked her to marry you?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I'm worried about taking any potential options off her, so I'm waiting until the deadline."

Snape rolled his eyes in a most un-Snape-like manner. "Potter, really, this is the Ministry, they could change the deadline at any moment. Ask her now while you know she is still available, and safe. As a professor I can only do so much to protect Miss Granger from the Slytherins, but to maintain my place among the Dark Lord's most favoured, I will not be able to stop them without catching them publicly."

He understood the warning, but he would still wait until the deadline. No matter the scruples of the Ministry, they couldn't put the deadline in the past and even if they did, he was prepared to lie and say that he and Hermione we already engaged and hadn't been able to book a date because of everyone rushing.

Snape sent him off for the night knowing that there was no way he was going to get Harry to concentrate. He headed back to Gryffindor Tower to find Hermione in tears, on the sofa with Ginny trying to comfort her. "Hey, look, Harry's back now!" She said brightly.

Harry frowned and knelt in front of Hermione. "What's happened?"

Ginny answered him when Hermione shook her head and another wave of tears fell. "Malfoy," she murmured. "He made a pass at her, grabbed her arse as she walked by and said he'd…well, he'd like to do some rather unspeakable things to it."

He reached out with controlled movements and gently tipped Hermione's head up with a crooked finger. "Are you hurt?" He asked softly.

She shook her head, face reddened in shame. "No," she whispered.

"Where did this happen?"

"I was only coming back to the common room with my things and he grabbed me. But I was Disillusioned, I made sure I wouldn't be seen, I don't know how he managed to know I was there!"

Harry saw red and rose to stand. "I'll be back soon." Without waiting for an answer, Harry left the Gryffindor common room and walked the halls until he finally ran into Malfoy. The blond never saw him coming when Harry grabbed him but the front of jumper and slammed him against a wall.

"If you ever come near Hermione, or even look in her direction the wrong way, I will rip out your throat with my hands. Am I clear?" He hissed.

Malfoy nodded jerkily and whimpered when Harry moved closer, their noses barely an inch apart.

"You are lower than the scum on the bottom of a used cauldron, Malfoy. You're an absolute fucking disgrace. Your father might have taught you that kind of behaviour is okay, but it isn't. I will ensure that you never walk these halls unchecked again," Harry said coldly.

He let Malfoy go and watched him scamper away. "My father will hear about this!" He yelled back.

Harry laughed. "See that he does! It'll be my pleasure to put him in his place again!"

He watched until Malfoy turned the corner before he let himself relax, his hands shaking as the adrenaline wore off. He wasn't overly concerned over any repercussions of his actions, he was sure that he would be backed up even if he did lose them even more points.