Chapter 1:
Hermione arrived at the ministry with a sour look on her face. She looked quickly down ah the envelope she held in her hands. It had the ministry seal on and appeared to have been written in the Minister's own hand. She sighed, pushing her hair out of her face, walked over to the lift. She would have to meet with him after all.
When the door opened Hermione stepped into the lobby of the minister's office with a look of exasperation on her face. Her heart pounded and felt her throat closing. She didn't like the minister, and liked it even more when he summoned her to a meeting.
"May I help you?" asked the young secretary sitting at a desk by the French doors that led to what was, presumably, the minister's office. Hermione smiled and walked closer to her.
"Yes. I received this letter," she held it up, "And it said to meet with the minister at ten o'clock today." Hermione glanced around for a clock to check that she had the right time. When she turned back to the secretary she found her grinning like an idiot.
"Of course, you're Ms Granger, correct?"
"Yes…" answered Hermione, cautiously. The woman's smile grew even bigger.
"Wonderful," she said, exaggerating each syllable. She stood up, she was a good head shorter than Hermione, even in her stilettos, and lead her to the door. She gave a few quick raps and a voice came from inside,
"Yes?"
"I've got Ms Granger for you sir." The doors opened a minute later and the sight of Ludo Bagman sitting behind an enormous wooden desk greeted Hermione.
"Ms Granger!" cried Bagman, and he ushered her in. The secretary closed the door, but not before Hermione could hear the snicker she gave.
"Minister," Hermione nodded her head and took a seat at one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. Bagman smiled at her.
"Well, I suppose your wondering why you're here," he said.
"Your letter didn't give any details," she said, looking him in the eye.
"No, I suppose not. But this isn't the information you really want to send in a letter. Could be intercepted you see."
"Hm," murmured Hermione. She could see that point, but she could also see that the reason he had brought her here was not one that would have enticed her to come. Hermione and Bagman continued to sit in silence, until Hermione interrupted it, "Minister, what was the reason you brought me here?"
"Don't worry Ms Granger, we'll get to that soon enough. But, I'm afraid we're waiting for a third party."
"Who would be…" but then the doors opened again and Hermione turned around to see Lucius Malfoy.
"Mr Malfoy," said Bagman, gesturing towards the chair next to Hermione's.
"Minister," said Malfoy, curtly. He took the seat and did not look at Hermione, although she was staring at him. He looked elegant and composed, as he always did whenever Hermione saw him. Which had been remarkably often until the past year, he and Draco had quickly turned to their side after the battle at Hogwarts and had joined the order in accordance.
"Well," Bagman clasped his hands together and Hermione could see the ministerial ring that so evidently did not fit on his finger, "Now that Mr Malfoy has joined us I suppose I can tell you the reason behind this meeting." He grinned ridiculously at them. "I gathered you here to announce that you are to be married. Married to unite the population, purebloods and muggleborns together, you see. Quite brilliant if I say so myself."
Hermione's mouth dropped open. She stared at the minister. He could not be serious and if he was he was an idiot. That maniacal grin was still on his face. Hermione turned to look at Malfoy. He, however, seemed completely untaken aback, but she did notice that he had sat a little straighter in his chair and his eyes had narrowed.
"Excuse, Minister," he said calmly, "I don't think I heard you right."
"I think you did," said Bagman, defensively.
"No, I don't believe I did. Because you cannot force two people to get married against their wills. It is illegal and something that a minister would never choose to do. Unless, of course he wanted someone to go to the papers…" Malfoy's voice was so extremely calm that it unsettled Hermione. She could hear the masked deadly venom.
"No, I don't think you would go to the papers. Because, if you did, I could simply go to them as well. And your accusations," he seemed to choose the word carefully, "Are nothing in comparison to what you have done." Malfoy raised his eyebrows and his face changed, he kept quiet though.
"Minister," said Hermione, in the uncomfortable silence, "While Mr Malfoy may have done things he regrets in the past, I highly doubt that you can threaten me." Bagman now changed his attention to her.
"Oh, but I think I can, Ms Granger." Hermione crossed her legs and looked him straight in the eye. "First of all, and the very least of what I have to offer in the particular situation, I can make it very difficult for you to keep your current job. I can also make it impossible for you to find another one. And," he smiled like it was his birthday, "I know what you did to extract information from a few certain deatheaters." Hermione's eyes narrowed until they were slits and her body put on the defensive. "Which was certainly not legal."
"You're blackmailing me?" she said.
"No, both of you."
"Minister…." Trailed Hermione.
"I'm afraid there's nothing that you can do Ms Granger," came Malfoy's voice next to her. She jumped. "We shall have to comply with the Minister," he sneered. "However, this will be on our terms."
"Your terms?" questioned Bagman. Hermione wondered too, since Bagman had them cornered.
"Indeed."
"Which would be?"
"The marriage will end at some point," said Hermione quickly, her face blushing.
"I suppose that could be established…after the population have forgotten their prejudices." Hermione stared at him, how could he ever think that the purebloods and muggle-borns ever forgive each other?
"I shall not be blackmailed ever again by the ministry, and neither shall Ms Granger," said Malfoy, and Hermione was very grateful.
"I suppose…Is that all," and before giving either of them a chance to reply a document was on his desk. "If you could both sign here," he said, pointing to a line on the bottom of the page.
"You can't seriously expect us to sign this today!" cried Hermione.
"Yes, because the next time we'll be meeting isn't until your wedding."
"And I wonder when that will be," muttered Hermione, sarcastically.
"In a month," said Bagman, cheerfully not noticing Hermione's edge.
"A month," said Malfoy.
"If you could sign."
"Let me read it first," said Hermione. She grabbed it before he could snatch it away from her. She supposed most of the things were reasonable for the situation they were in. She found one thing to pick at though, "We have to be able to tell somebody about the truth."
"Excuse me?" said Bagman.
"We won't tell the press, or anybody outside of our families."
"What do you mean by family?" Bagman asked quickly.
"I suppose for Mr Malfoy it would be his son and if I'm correct Severus Snape. For me, it would be Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Ginny Weasley."
"They cannot spread it either then?"
"No of course not, why would I want people to know what a coward I am?"
"Alright"
Hermione passed the paper over to Malfoy who took while staring intently at her. He conjured up a pair of glasses.
"I agree with Ms Granger," he looked over it, "This looks fine."
Malfoy declined the pen that the Bagman offered and pulled out his own. It was green and had a black snake creeping down the side. As Hermione looked closely at it she noticed that the snake actually moved and had eyes made of actual emeralds. She sighed, she really was signing herself off to Slytherin as she accepted his pen and put her name next to his.
AN:
Please review
New idea
New ship (that I've recently become obsessed with)