Marriage law fic. Hermione and the crew are shocked to hear that are supposed to get married but worse yet is that the Ministry is picking their partners. Harry is happy to get Hermione as his "Match" but why is there a plus one next to her name? Why was Hermione matched to two wizards? And the second one is Malfoy? The Matching magic has a weird effect on a few of newly Matched...EWE! some students are still alive that were killed off in the last book *shrug* deal with it
This certainly was not what any of them had expected when a Ministry letter had been delivered to each person over 17 years of age at Hogwarts asking them to attend a meeting the first day of their winter break.
Hermione had an odd feeling about it but her classmates were excited and gossiped that maybe the Minister wanted to throw a Ball in honor of their first Holiday without the threat of war looming over them and so they had all gathered at the Ministry as instructed but no one had expected this.
Hermione had walked in with her friends close behind. Malfoy of all people held the door for her before quickly stepping in behind her, cutting Ron off as he acted like he hadn't seen the redhead right on her heels. Ron was muttering darkly as Malfoy strode to the back row and claimed a bench to himself. He glared at everyone who walked by but made room for his Slytherin friends.
They were in what looked to be a neglected break room that had been filled with benches to accommodate the 35 students who had been invited. Hermione moved more towards the middle where there was plenty of room for their small group to sit together.
"Why does that git act all nice to you now?" Ron asked, almost too tall to comfortably sit in the narrow rows that had been set up for them.
"Because we're nice to him at school." Harry said before Hermione could even start to respond. He leaned forward to look around her and meet Ron's eye. They had been arguing about Malfoy a lot lately. Ron couldn't get over how the blonde use to treat them and his family's part in the war, "It won't kill you two to try to be more civil. The war is over." Malfoy wasn't exactly playing nice either though. At least not with Ron or Ginny.
"He's an ass." Ginny said from the row behind them.
Ron snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. He had refused from the beginning to even try to make friends with Malfoy. Hermione wasn't sure if any of them would ever truly be friends but it was easier to be nice to him in classes and in the dorms since McGonagall had housed all the returning 7th years together in a new wing.
She had said it was to set an example for the younger student on unity. The first few weeks had been tense but at least now Pansy was the only former Slytherin who still ran her mouth about Blood Status.
Kingsley greeted them warmly. He sounded happy yet nervous, in Hermione's opinion, and as he thanked them all for coming Harry caught her eye and tilted his head slightly.
He had noticed it too.
"In desperate times," Hermione felt her pulse quicken at the Minister's tone. This was not an announcement for a ball, "We must turn to somewhat desperate measures. In the past, after such horrible events the Ministry has stepped in to insure that our world keeps moving forward. We, as a group," He guestured to a dozen members of the Wizengamot behind him Hermione hadn't noticed before. Had they hidden themselves somehow? Kingsley stared at the group of older witches and wizards before clearing his throat, "We have decided to enact a Marriage Law." He said it so quickly that at first Hermione had thought she misheard Kingsley but no, they ( he and an older wizard he had introduced as Waltons) were indeed going on about a process called Binding. The Binding magic itself was rarely used and if Hermione's memory was correct, which it usually was, it hadn't been used in over two hundred years.
The Binding was only pulled out and dusted off when the very Magic that coursed through their veins and the world as they knew it, were in danger of disappearing.
But using Binding Magic... It seemed a little extreme to take away their choices.
Hermione felt sick. Were things really that bad? So bad that the Ministry wanted to pick who they would marry?
Everyone looked back at the Minister in stunned silence. Were the people they were suppose to trust to run their world after such a horrible war really suggesting a Marriage Matching Law?
"...This means spouses have been matched according to both magical and personal compatibility." Hermione frowned as she forced her eyes up from her hands to look at the Minister as he addressed a room full of her peers. "The Binding magic has been known to choose 2 spouses for one witch or wizard-" someone near the back laughed nervously but quickly smothered it and the Minister cleared his throat again, continuing like nothing had happened, "- when the magic compatibility is strong between more than just two persons. Due to our severely depleted population we will be be allowing such unions." a few people whispered or giggled but most looked surprised. Kingsley raised a hand, palm out, and the room quieted, "It has happened in the past that such laws were needed and the ministry feels this is the only way, our only chance, to save the magical community."
"The war just ended 7 months ago!" Hermione found herself suddenly standing, all of her classmates turned their attention to her, "Couldn't this wait another year? We still need time to put our lives back together. This is no time to be discussing arranged marriages!"
"Ms. Granger, it scares me to announce this fact aloud but there have been only 8 magical births in all of Great Britain in the last 1.5 years." Kingsley looked at her sadly, "I know this is a lot to ask of you after some of you were directly responsible for saving our entire world from the hands of a madman but we would not ask if times were not so desperate."
"And just what are the rules for this new Law?" Harry asked loudly, "I take it there are a lot of them?" He reached up and tugged Hermione's sleeve till she sat back down. She looked at her best friend but he kept his glare on the minister.
"Yes. Of course, Mr Potter." Kingsley stepped back from the small podium. He looked relieved to be out of the spotlight. At his signal a very small man timidly stepped up to address the group. Kingsley and Waltons stepped back.
"All matches have already been made." the small man's voice was as small as he was but it carried without issues around the room, "Not everyone's match or matches are in this room at this moment as a few of them are from other schools or have already graduated from schooling. They will be receiving their letters as we speak."
Jaws were dropping around the room as he straightened his glasses and continued.
Ron and Ginny had both gone an unflattering shade of red by this point.
"First, there will be a one year time limit for matched couples to get married. Those of you in this room will not be expected to marry till after you have finished your time at Hogwarts."
"And if we refuse to marry who you picked for us?" Ron looked ready to explode as he leaned forward on the bench he shared with his friends, eyeing the small man in the grey robes, "What if we run off and marry someone not picked for us?"
"Both parties, in such an event, will be arrested and spend 5 years minimum in Azkaban."
The room erupted and soon everyone were on their feet. Voices were raising to be heard over the others. Hermione sat back and watched the chaos in a haze.
This was just madness.
There was a small explosion from the back of the room and everyone jumped, going silent as Malfoy stepped into the isle beside his bench and addressed Kingsley as the smoke around him cleared, "You expect us to just follow this blindly?" his voice was low and angry, "Last time I was forced to 'follow the rules' I ended up with a maniac in my home and the Wizarding world as we know it almost came to an end."
"There will be no war for power here, Mr Malfoy. We want to save the Wizarding World and this time a new law was the simplest way to do so. We need to grow the population and if that requires a few hurt feelings and angry people then we will live with it. Or would you rather watch as magic fades out of the world?" Kingsely sighed, rubbing his temples, "I would not interfere in your love lives if I had any other choice." He waved his wand suddenly and everyone had a roll of parchment appear in their hands, "Your match's name will be on that paper. You have one year marry and two to produce offspring."
"What?" Ron and Seamus shouted at the same time.
"The whole point of this is to repopulate the Wizarding community." Hermione snapped at them, "What did you think they wanted us to do after getting married to partners of their choice? Honestly." She shook her head, parchment clutched tightly in her hand and looked up to the minister and the small man she was guessing worked in the Dept of Marriage Laws and Documentation, "If we are finished here some of us would like to read their fate in private."
Kingsley could only nod at her. She wasn't trying to sound disrespectful. Not to Kingsley but she was having a hard time processing what was happening. Her hands were sweating and she was starting to feel like she may be sick.
Obviously the Ministry was very scared to force their hand in such a way. Only Eight births in a year and a half... That was far too few.
Hermione marched out of the room, catching an approving, if not very pale and worried looking nod from Malfoy on her way out.
Great, if Malfoy approved of how she had spoken to Kingsley she would no doubt be apologizing to man {and old Order Member} when he swung by Grimmauld Place in a few days for Christmas dinner. He had made a point to reach out to Harry to ask if it was ok to do so. He wanted to check in on the rest of the Order and catch up.
Or at least that's what his letter had said a month ago. Now Hermione had a feeling he wanted to be there to discuss this new Law with them in a less formal setting.
As soon as she stepped out of the meeting room there was a flash and suddenly a dark hair wizard stepped into her path with a bright smile, "Names Albert Barberry, Ms Granger and the Wizarding world is dying to know, just who has the Brains of the Golden Trio been matched with? Why don't you go ahead and give us a peek at the letter in your hand Ms. Granger?"
"Shove off." Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and started quickly walking to the floos. She hadn't even heard him follow her out "Someone must have told the Prophet about the new law." he dragged her along at a quick pace.
"Bloody vultures always trying to latch onto the latest story before anyone involved even knows whats happening." Ginny growled from behind and Hermione turned to see her and Ron tailing them closely. Both still held their letters as they all but ran for the floo.
"You first." Harry nudged Hermione forward, looking back at where Albert was now trying to avoid security and question their classmates at the same time.
"All of us together." Ron basically shoved Harry into place on Hermione's right as he took her left with Ginny, "The Burrow." He said, tossing the powder down.
Hermione saw one last flash from Albert's camera just before the green flames shot up around them.
Everyone was standing silently in the kitchen. Charlie and Percy had been the only ones who were brave enough to open their Ministry letters right away. Any one not at the Ministry meeting had received 2 letters. The first explained the law and the second one named their Match. They had opened both before the others had even returned from the morning meeting.
Percy had been matched to a former Ravenclaw named Rachel that was a year ahead of him in Hogwarts. He wasn't upset from the look on his face and he even smiled a little when an owl carrying a letter from his future wife showed up about 20 minutes after Hermione and the others had arrived back at the Burrow.
Hermione was happy for him. Perhaps she had been a friend or even crush during his time there.
Charlie seemed somewhat pleased with his own match to a former girlfriend.
"Why ever did you break up?" Molly had asked her son when he had admitted he wasn't surprised Penny was his match.
"We were young and things were just too easy between us. We never fought for more then 2 minutes in our entire relationship." the second eldest Weasley child shrugged, "Friends said it was weird. 'Real couples argue and disagree.' " he used air quotes but then laughed before excusing himself, "I need to send her a letter."
"I'm just going to open mine." Ginny said quickly as she tore the ribbon off her letter. She unrolled it with a grimace before frowning hard at the parchment, "Seamus?" she sounded unimpressed, "Seriously?"
"Ew. Gin, he's my friend." Ron wrinkled his nose.
"You had no problem when you thought Harry and I were going to end up together." Ginny's hands were on her hips. Hermione almost smiled.
That stance made her look like a small version of her mother but no one was brave enough to say it to her face.
"Yeah well, Harry isn't a creep." Ron explained.
"Thanks man." Harry accepted the compliment (for what it was) with a nod.
"And our friend Seamus is?" Hermione had to ask, eyebrow raised at Harry who only shrugged.
"Hey for all we know we will all be marrying creeps." George said from the kitchen table where he had been sitting quietly with his head in hands and the parchment on the table directly in front of him.
"Screw this." Harry opened his parchment before he could change his mind.
Everyone in the room seemed to freeze as his eyes traveled over the page a few times.
"Who is it?" Ginny finally asked quietly after a minute had passed in tense silence.
"Hermione." Harry looked up from his parchment, "Open your letter, Mione."
"OH! That's wonderful!" Molly happily clapped.
"Me?" Hermione felt her heart jump, "We're paired? Why are you looking at me like that?"
She quickly unrolled her scroll when Harry didn't tell her why he looked worried.
Ms. Hermione J Granger,
Your Ministry Match(es) is named below. We at the ministry wish to thank you for your cooperation in rebuilding the magical community.
Harry Potter Draco Malfoy
There was more to it, an official signature and a reminder that all marriages needed to be completed and legal within the next 12 months but she didn't see any of that.
Draco Malfoy.
"Wait...what?" Hermione, who had been standing out of nerves this whole time, started blindly reaching for a chair. Her heart was pounding far too fast and she was getting dizzy.
Harry caught her hand and helped her sit, "You alright? Who's the other one?"
Words were beyond her. Hermione just held her parchment out to Harry. His green eyes sought out her brown ones as he frowned.
Molly was oblivious to their continued conversation. She was busy gushing over how sweet it was that the best friends had been matched.
Hermione couldn't look away from Harry. Was this really happening? How was she supposed to have two husbands?
Would that mean she would be Hermione Potter-Malfoy? Or Hermione Malfoy- Potter?
"We were the only ones from school who stood at the hearing on his behalf." Harry's eyes returned to the names on Hermione's letter, "But surely that cant be what the match is based off of."
"You were the one who invited him to eat with us at lunch." Hermione muttered, making Harry look at her quickly as Ron shot to Harry's side as he figured out what they were talking about.
"Hermione has to marry that git too?!" he was basically shouting as he reached for her letter and Harry quickly pushed him away, rubbing his ear.
"Geez Ron, I'm not excited about that part either but I would like to keep my hearing." Harry pulled a chair up beside Hermione's before plopping down in and pointing up at Ron, "Who did you get?"
"Wait?! Hermione has to marry Draco too?!" Ginny stomped her foot, "Why does she get the hot quiditch players?"
"Ginny!" George, Ron and Molly all exclaimed at once but Ginny didn't back down.
"What? Have you seen him this year? Not having a house full of maniacs has done that boy some good." Ginny grinned before shrugging, "Hermione always has had all the luck." her attention then fell on her brothers and their unopened Ministry letters, "Might as well get it over with. Hermione is off the market, Ron. So all the best to you."
Ron glared at his sister as he finally started unrolling his parchment but he suddenly stopped and turned to George, "Let's do it at the same time."
"Fine." George sat up straighter and popped his back by twisting one way and then the other before snatching up his letter, "Let's do this."
Arthur appeared in the fireplace and Molly shushed him as everyone watched the two open their letters carefully but quickly.
George cheered as Ron swore.
"Language Ronald." Molly scolded.
"What? Who?" Ginny looked almost gleeful at Ron's outburst, "It's Millicent, isn't it?" she suggested with a laugh.
"No." Ron tossed his paper at Hermione, "It's Cho Chang." he ran his fingers through his hair, "She always tries to be the cool quiditch girl."
"And?" Hermione was dumbfounded, "Ron she will love talking to you about sports for hours. How are you upset about this?"
"What about you, George?" Arthur asked, looking painfully curious. He was still dressed in his work robes with his briefcase in hand.
George hadn't really been himself since Fred passed so seeing his son happy over his Ministry Match had the Weasley patriarch looking hopeful. Hermione couldn't remember the last time George had genuinely seemed happy about anything.
"Angelina." He beamed at everyone in the room, making Ron grumble as he plopped down into the chair beside George and let his head drop to the table with a loud thump. George ignored him and laughed as he added, "Merlin knows no one else could handle being married to me."
"Congrats boys! Sorry I was late everyone." Arthur set his briefcase on the counter top and clapped his hands together, "Lets hear who's paired with who?" he looked nervous but was trying to be cheerful for the kids. Always the supportive father.
"Ginny was paired with Ron and Harry's friend, Seamus Finnegan. Charlie and his ex Penny were paired and Percy was paired with that very nice Ravenclaw girl, Rachel Ractmor. Remember he used to mention her intelligence every now and then?"
Arthur nodded, "That's wonderful." his eyes came to Harry and Hermione, "And you two?"
"They got each other AND Draco Malfoy." Ginny announced as she crossed her arms, looking annoyed, "Hermione will be marrying two of the greatest seekers Hogwarts has ever seen."
"O that's, well, that's great you have each other." his words faltered before adding, "But weren't you lot trying to be nicer to the Malfoy boy this year."
"I wasn't." Ron snatched his letter from the table and glared down at it, "Thank Merlin I didn't go along with that or I would be Hermione's third husband."
"I highly doubt actively trying to be civil to one another was what paired us. Remember Kingsley mentioned something called Binding magic?" Harry asked.
"It's called The Binding." Hermione was about to share what she remembered about it being rarely used and how the magic of the Matching itself would strengthen any feelings already in existance but suddenly lost her train of thought as they all heard a tapping sound at the largest of the kitchen windows.
It was an owl. A large dark owl with a letter addressed to them and he just happened to be tapping at the window next to where Harry had been seated with Hermione. He hurried to take the letter but froze before opening it when he saw everyone was staring at him as he turned away from the bird.
"Uh, Hermione..." he awkwardly held his hand out to her, "I think we should open this together and uh, alone." Harry was slowly turning red. He didn't know what to do, Hermione could see it written across his face. This was all suddenly too real to him. They were going to be getting married to each other. And to Malfoy. Everything from now on was going to be about the three of them. Every life decision was now made with them.
Hermione took his hand.
"No no no no no no" Ginny whined, "This is far more entertaining than my match! Tell me what he wrote! It's from the Snake Prince himself isn't it?"
"That's just rude. We raised you better than that." Molly scolded her only daughter, "Every one of you should start a letter to your future spouse. Plans need to be started and we all need time to adjust." She turned to Hermione and Harry and seemed to have something to say but was chewing her lip as she looked from one to the other to their joined hands.
"Will you be staying with us for now?" she finally asked but Hermione could tell that wasn't exactly what she had wanted to say.
"No but thank you for the offer. We should get back to Grimmauld Place and make plans to meet with Malfoy." Harry nodded to Hermione who quickly agreed. The sooner they spoke with Malfoy the sooner they could lay down the rules. Who was going to live where and when? Was Malfoy going to be ok sharing a house with them or would he insist they all live elsewhere?
"But it will be just the two of you..." Molly looked worried and Ron was suddenly that awful red color again as he spun to look at Harry.
It was true. Hermione had been living there ever since the end of the war. Her parents had thankfully been found safe and sound at the end of the war but the reversal of her Obliviate was taking more time than she had anticipated.
So while her parents were being treated at St Mungos she had been living with Harry. It had never been a problem to Molly before that moment.
"Molly we shared a bed in the tent more than once." The older woman gasped,and Ginny swore at her making Hermione regret admitting to it but she quickly added in all honesty, "But nothing happened. It was more about feeling safe. We're not crazy, hormone driven beasts. We're not going to do anything stupid. You know us better than that."
"Ron stop glaring at me." Harry snapped at his friend before sighing, "She's going to be my wife."
"And Malfoy's wife!" Ginny poked Ron and he turned his glare on her.
"Yes, and Malfoy's wife." Harry sounded like he had a hard time repeating those words, "And that's something we-" he gestured to Hermione and himself, " and Malfoy, need to discuss. In private." that last part was hurriedly added when Ginny opened her mouth. She quickly snapped it shut and Hermione was guessing she had been about to tell them to invite Malfoy to the Burrow.
Ginny had always enjoyed a good drama.
"Let's go." Hermione sighed. She could feel a headache coming on, "We need to figure this out."
Just that morning he had awoken in his own wing of his parents manor wondering what the Ministry was going to ask of him. Not just him of course but there were just too many options/nightmares to choose from and his imagination was running wild. When it came down to it he was rather hoping it would be a dumb ball, like his idiot classmates all hoped for, to celebrate being alive for another miserable year.
He had not even considered this scenario let alone who it would involve.
Draco stared at the Gryffindors seated across from him in what Harry had described as his home. The fire he had stepped out of was in a large stone walled kitchen where he had been met awkwardly by the two people who had appeared on the parchment bearing his Ministry Match. Hermione had tried to greet him but her voice had come out rather high and Harry had cut her off by inviting him to sit somewhere comfortable so they could talk.
They were in a small sitting room and Draco could see was somehow a favorite spot for the bookworm, his soon to be wife. There were stacks of three or four books on every table and a chair near the door had a towering stack that was no doubt held in place by magic or else it would not be standing at all.
"Granger, do you bring books with you everywhere you go or have they started following you around by now?" Malfoy saw Hermione's mouth twitch into a small smile as her cheeks flushed.
Harry shook his head, he wouldn't have been surprised if the books did follow her around begging for attention like a pet.
"Anyways," Harry cleared his throat and sat up straighter, "It seems we've found ourselves in an odd situation to say the least."
He was having trouble meeting Malfoy's eye and it was killing him.
"I will do whatever you two need for the ministry to boot me from this union." Draco looked surprised by his own words but he was on the verge of panicking so he quickly added, "I understand you wanted to become friends but I will not force myself into your lives. You deserve to be happy together without always having to defend your former death eater husband."
Where had his confidence gone? He hadn't meant to say any of that out loud but seeing how uncomfortable they had become with him there the words had just spilled out
"Draco," Hermione snapped his first name, getting his full attention and causing him to straighten his shoulders. It was something in her tone and as she kept talking he felt the old spark coming back "Don't be daft." Yup, there it was. That tone made him want to argue with her. "The Ministry has gone to a lot of trouble for these 'matches' and I highly doubt they would be quick to change their minds on any them."
"Besides," Harry added "If we have to be stuck with someone for the rest of our lives at least we know where you stand and stood during the war. We could have been paired with a total stranger."
Malfoy looked at the Boy Who Lived, suddenly wanting to argue with him too and it showed in his sarcasm "I don't think I follow you, Potter, but I am happy to be the better choice. Old school enemy or potential Potter fan?"
"You know what I mean, Malfoy." Harry leaned forward on the love seat he shared with Hermione, ignoring the last comment about the Potter fan. Harry had no idea what he would have done if he had been matched to a stranger who only loved him for his name, "During your trial you said, while under the truth serum, that had your family not been in danger you would have left it all and helped defend Hogwarts. You wanted to fight on our side but had no choice because anything and everything you did was being reported back to that Madman and your crazy Aunt. You said your mother would have been punished if you stepped out of place."
"I'm well aware of what I said, Potter," Draco drawled slowly, confidence securely back in place now that he had something to be defensive about "but no one else knows about it. Are you truly willing to tie yourself to my reputation and my family's cruelty forever?"
"You're not saying you want to change your match." Hermione suddenly piped up, eyes focused entirely on the blonde, "You're just trying to save us from the judgement of others and the possible harsh reaction from your parents."
"Yes well, my family has been trying to set up an arranged marriage to one of the Greengrass sisters and with nothing finalized they cannot force it to happen." Hermione had to admit he looked rather out of place in the sitting room she so often spent her free time in. Though he did look nice in a pair of black dress pants and a white button up, "Plus, I will admit, although grudgingly, that either of you are far better company than the two of them combined. I've spent most of the day thinking about our match and to be honest it could have gone much much worse for me in the end." Malfoy shrugged. It looked odd and charming at the same time due to him looking somewhat formal in a very non-formal setting, "I'm actually somewhat relieved."
They were silent for a moment.
"We should discuss some basic rules." Hermione felt herself flushing when those silver eyes focused on her again, "This is going to be front page news. Once it's out there that we've been matched there will be a lot of talk, a lot of taunting and more than likely a lot of gruff from our friends and classmates."
"So you two are just going to accept me as a spouse?" Draco interrupted, sounding annoyed, "I really didn't think you would be so mellow about this. I half expected the entire Weasley family to be here with wands drawn! More than ever after the address you gave me disappeared off the paper. This is the headquarters for Dumbledores Order, right?"
"Former headquarters." Harry corrected, "But it's still nice to have a home no one can just come to because they want to. Its a fidelius charm so this is a safe place where even your parents couldn't show up unannounced or at all if we never give them the address"
Draco looked rather pleased with that bit of information but his eyes moved to Hermione who was still a little pink in the face, "As for rules Granger, -"
"Hermione." she said at once, meeting his eye before blushing deeply, "And we will do our best to call you Draco."
Harry nodded, "It only makes sense."
He raised a pale eye brow at that, "Very well, Hermione, Harry." he paused long enough to let it feel awkward before carrying on with a grin, "As for the rules, I feel we should work those out as we go. It's not like this has happened to us or anyone else in the last hundred years or so."
"Two hundred and thirty three years." Hermione said it without thinking and both boys turned to regard her, "What? It was in a book about ancient spells I found at school."
They ended up talking for another few hour before Draco stood to leave. It had started out stinted and difficult but Hermione had insisted they spend time together.
"I guess I should be getting back to let my parents know who I have been matched with."
"You didn't tell them and then left for the entire evening?" Hermione looked surprised, almost shocked.
"I wasn't sure how you two would react since I had seen Hermione was my match before seeing Harry added to the parchment about an hour later. It had just said 'Hermione Granger plus one'. I guess in this situation the bride to be is given the news before the grooms are. Also you are the one who said I should stay for as long as I have." Draco stretched a little as they entered the kitchen, "Besides, once I saw I had you both on my list I figured my best bet was speaking with you before telling my parents anything. I mean, I wasn't in the mood to fight when I wasn't sure where I stood. Hence my letter asking us to meet as soon as possible."
Harry suddenly extended his hand to Draco, making the taller blonde look down at him, "This is your home now as well. You can come back if things get too heated with your parents."
Draco took his hand slowly and shook it. He was touched by Potter's- no, Harry's words.
"If they really want to argue you can always come get me." Hermione grinned, offering her hand, "As we learned in potions a few times this year, we make great debate partners."
"Took us ten minutes to talk Slughorn into cancelling the 'mandatory' part of his student Halloween party." Draco almost winked at her before he remembered the situation they were now in and quickly shook her hand instead. He cleared his throat and nodded to both of them, "I will keep both of your offers in mind...Would it be in bad taste if I ask which room would be mine? You know, just in case I need to sneak out later tonight?" he was only half joking.
"First door on the left at the top of the stairs." Harry and Hermione said at the same time before chuckling, "We discussed it earlier." Harry admitted, ears going red.
"Good to know." Draco did a slow turn as he stepped into the fireplace he almost too tall for, "I hope I will be seeing you both soon."
He felt much more at ease and had been going back and forth from annoyed yet engaging to openly enjoying their discussions and arguments. Maybe things really were turning around for the former Death Eater.
Green flames swallowed him up before either of them could do anything but wave.
*First time posting in years. Let me know what you think.