"What!?"Draco was completely baffled on hearing this. No lion, no snake, no dragon, but a Tiger.
"Strange but true." McGonagall replied. They had a few more discussions and then they both left for their dorm.
On the way, they decided to meet everyone in the new couples dorm. They greeted everyone and had a good time chatting and laughing with the mixture of all houses. It was really good to know that the so called superior pureblood Slytherins were mixing well with all the houses. They spent nearly 3 hours with the new couples. Together everyone went to the Great Hall for lunch.
Nobody cared for house tables. They sat wherever they wanted with mutual agreement of partners since they were supposed to know each other well. Pansy and Ron sat next to each other on the Slytherin table along with Draco and and Hermione. Blaise sat with Luna, Neville and Hannah on the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ginny, Theo and Daphne sat on the Slytherin table along with the rest of them.
The professors on the High table were smiling and enjoying the sudden house unity injected by the Marriage Law. The younger years were obviously confused seeing a mixture of houses on their tables but let it pass. They were supposed to sit on their own tables and not anywhere except for the couples.
Draco and Hermione went to their common room after lunch. They spent the whole night talking and laughing.
The next day also passed merrily. Everyone was getting along. People spent their time in their dorms as it was a Saturday and hogsmeade trip for younger years. The next day was Sunday.
Draco and Hermione went to the Quidditch pitch for a stroll after Breakfast.
"Why don't you fly? Don't you like brooms and Quidditch?" Draco asked striking a conversation. He had his arm around her shoulders whereas her arms were draped on his perfectly sculpted torso. She shook her head.
"Nope" She said popping the 'p'.
"Why is that so?"
"I am afraid of heights. I don't like to fly because..." She trailed off as though searching for some reason.
"Come on Hermione. Let's fly. I am there to protect you. Nothing will happen." he said reassuring the love of his life.
"No Draco. I can't risk your life. Please. I don't want to. Please understand." She pleaded. She pulled away and kissed him on the lips gently. "Because you are too precious for me. I can't lose you. You are my life." She said hugging him. He hugged her back. He then accioed his Nimbus 2001. "You trust me, don't you?" Draco asked smirking and pulling her away to look at her soft caramel coloured eyes.
"Of course, you nitwit. I trust you with my life and soul." She answered.
"Then let's take a quick ride on my broom over the hills. Come on. Sit and hold me tight. Please come on." he said making puppy eyes and a pug face. She laughed at him. She pulled both his cheeks and said, "Okaaay, my baby." She said pouting and then giving him a cheeky grin. He laughed at how cheeky could Hermione be.
They both hopped onto the Broom and then in a matter of few seconds they were 200 meters above the ground. Hermione hugged Draco back so tightly that it pained. But he couldn't say anything or else she would climb down. He didn't want that to happen. He ignored her extremely strong grip. They were extremely happy to notice a big brown eagle hovering above them nonstop hearing to their conversation.
After a few minute he slowed down and allowed her to sit down on the stands and watch him fly. Hermione sat down peacefully on the stands and watched her boyfriend fly in the sky and and show off his seeker skills by doing different stunts. She was scared when he did a few stunts because he might have toppled over. She was deep in thought when the Eagle came closer to Draco and purposely annoy him so that he would lose his concentration and fall. The Eagle did succeed in his intentions and Draco fell off his broom and yelled "HERMIONE! AAAAAGHHH!"
She suddenly snapped back into her senses and whipped out her wand, but unfortunately she was too late. Draco fell on the Quidditch pitch with a loud THUD. She yelled on top of her lungs, "DRACO!" She rushed to his side but he was injured and there were numerous cuts on his gorgeous face. She tried waking him up but in vain. Tears blurred her vision. She wiped them off and conjured a stretcher. She slowly levitated his limp body on the stretcher. She them quickly made her way to the Hospital wing and the stretcher followed her. The opened the doors with a bang and rushed to an empty bed. She slowly lowered his body on the bed. She yelled "Madam Pomfrey!"
Within seconds, those numerous cuts on his face were healed. Some other cuts were also healed. Madam Pomfrey did a diagnosis charm. She gasped in surprise and shock. Hermione was seeing all this and then she asked, "What is it Madam Pomfrey? Please tell me." She said completely agitated.
"7 of his ribs have fractures. He has broke his right hand and left ankle. There is lot of internal bleeding. It will take a lot of time for him to heal completely. Let me just bring some potions. You send a patrons to Minerva. Quick." Madam Pomfrey said and rushed to her cabin.
Hermione casted her patronus and the beautiful silver otter flew out of the infirmary. A few minutes later Madam Pomfrey handed Hermione a vial and placed the rest of them on the on the table beside the bed. She then performed a few more spells on his body. After doing so she then went and d a few more patients in the infirmary. A few moments later, Professor McGonagall came in followed by Harry, Ginny, Ron, Pansy, Blaise and Theo. Hermione looked pale and was now pouring the contents of the vial down Draco's throat. He was unconscious. The Head Mistress went to Hermione's side where she was sitting. She slowly rubbed her back and patted her head like a mother would do. Hermione turned around and hugged her near her waist. She hugged her back. Everyone was shocked to see this bond between the two most powerful and intelligent witches.
Ginny and Pansy also went to Hermione's side. Hermione pulled back from the elder one and stood up. She then hugged her two friends.
While all this was going on, nobody noticed the big brown eagle on the window who had been watching all the drama for quite some time. It then flew away. Blaise walked over to Draco's other side and took his hand. It was colder but there was pulse. He was very much alive. Blaise couldn't stand the thought of Draco pale, limp and cold. More so Lifeless. They were best mates. He patted the back of Draco's left hand. His other hand was entirely covered in bandages. He didn't want to show his emotions but a lone tear fell down from his eye on Draco's hand. Everyone saw this but didn't comment at the moment. They were too touched by the emotional side of the Slytherin boy. He subtly wiped away the tear from Draco's hand and from his own eye. He just quickly excused himself and ran out.
Everyone then greeted and hugged Hermione before leaving. Harry conjured a bouquet of bright flowers and placed a charm on them to keep changing their colour everyday and to remain fresh. Hermione thanked Harry for his sweet gesture. He hugged her and then left the two love birds alone with the headmistress.
"Try and feel your back. Near the tattoo. Do you want me to see it for you?" asked the old witch. Hermione nodded. She then pulled the curtains around them. Hermione turned and lifted her shirt. McGonagall was seeing a rather unconscious and injured tiger on her back.
She tried and tickled the stomach of the sleeping tiger. It did groan by the movement. Draco also stirred in his sleep. "So this works." McGonagall whispered to herself.
Hermione was shocked by his movement. "How did that happen?"
She asked. "I just tickled the tiger on your back smoothly. I have a feeling that if you soothingly tickle the tiger, occasionally, I think it will help him heal faster. Don't do it many times, just simple caressing. If you want anything, let me know dear. And yes, you will stay by his side till he is completely fine. I will have an elf look after your meals. Don't worry but just make sure his parents know about everything. He might not have written to them. Tell them everything. They must know. And don't worry, they have changed. They don't bite now." the elder witch said the last part with a wink.
She gave Hermione one reassuring smile and Hermione smiled back a little. The Head Mistress then spared one look to Draco and then left.
Hermione stood up and kissed Draco's forehead. Very gently and lovingly. Then accioed her quill, parchment and ink. She started writing two letters.
The first one was to her own parents. She explained everything from top to bottom. Everything. It was almost one full roll of parchment. She then wrote the other one choosing her words extra carefully. She narrated everything that happened and the current situations. She reassured them to not worry for Draco. She is there for Draco.
She then went to the owlery after informing madam Pomfrey. She kissed Draco and told him that she will be back in a few. After going to the owlery and picked two school owls. She gave them the owl treats and charmed the letter so only those people can read the letter to whom it is addressed. She saw the owls fly away in two different directions until they were just a speck in the sky.