When the Darkness Fades Chapter 1
Draco leaned towards the cracked window that led out into the brilliant night sky above.
The wind was chilly and frigid for a December night.
The winter had been long so far and the coldest that Wizarding London had ever seen.
How he wished that he could just float away into the freedom of the night sky instead of sit in the meeting room of the Malfoy Manor.
Anything would be better than the news he was about to hear.
"Draco, stop day dreaming. This is a serious matter."
His father said as Draco turned back to the table of pureblood witches and wizards.
Shaking his head he leaned forward on the table's edge and gave his father a tired smile.
"Sorry father. It's just been a long day."
A few of the witches and wizards chuckled and shook their heads as even Lucius cracked a smile at his son's antics.
"Yes it has and the meeting will be over soon. We just need to vote on the final decision."
Draco nodded and scooted towards Blaise and Theo who wore anxious expressions much like his own.
The war had ended a few months before and Draco and his family had been on trial and got off fairly easy because of Voldemort using the Imperious Curse on Lucius.
Narcissa and Draco had told the court their story about how they never had wanted to be a follower of the Dark Lord and that they only took the mark out of fear for the safety of their family.
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger had each spoken for them in the trials, as well as other Gryffindor survivors that kept the few innocent surviving Death Eaters alive and out of Azkaban.
Now that they were free to live their lives, the members of the Sacred 28 realized how much they really did lose in the war leading to this very meeting tonight at the Manor.
Lucius sat at the head of the table as he gave his son and his friends a look that could only be described as sympathy.
"As you all know, the population numbers of the Sacred 28 has taken a hard blow since the war and we need a solution to continue the bloodline.
The strongest magical families sitting at this table must make a sacrifice in hope that our bloodlines will grow and prosper once again.
In which I propose that the youngest and strongest of our kin shall form a new union with another solid bloodline in the Wizarding World.
We all have debated back and forth on this issue but the problem still remains.
The laws and times have changed since we were under the Dark Lord's power and not many Pureblood Innocents still exist.
Therefore, it is in our best interest to include Muggleborns into the equation.
After searching long and hard about the origins of several Muggleborn families know to have produced an heir with strong magic equal to ours, we know there is only one witch that has the potential to solve this conundrum.
The witch that we will create a union with will be Hermione Jean Granger.
Not only does she have the strongest magic of our era she is also a hero that has saved all of our lives.
So, I hereby propose that a marriage contract shall be issued between Draco, Blaise Zambini and Theo Nott with Mrs. Granger.
All in favor of this decision please raise your hand."
Draco shot up onto his feet as he watched every witch and wizards hand raise.
"But…We can't! It's Hermione for godsakes! We were the ones who tormented her for years! She'll never the contract!"
He screamed as his voice cracked with anger.
Lucius shook his head and pointed to Draco's chair indicating that he should sit down.
"Sit down, Draco.
I know that this is a less than desirable union based on the fact that we were on opposites of the war, but nonetheless it will happen.
We will be issuing the contract through the Ministry of Magic who will give Mrs. Granger no choice but to accept.
She will not slip through our fingers.
She is far too great a prize for our bloodlines for us to do anything but what we have proposed.
I have a meeting set with Kingsley Shacklebolt who will sign off on the contract.
It is written in the laws that if the bloodlines of the Sacred 28 had gone down that we have the right to choose how we restore our numbers."
Draco's mouth open and closed several times before his body started to sway to and fro.
Everyone gasped when the young Malfoy hit the floor in a dead faint.
Lucius sighed as he gripped Narcissa's hand tightly.
Turning to Blaise and Theo he pointed to his unconscious son and then to the stairs leading upstairs.
"Blaise, Theo, please take Draco upstairs and when he wakes try and make him see reason."
Both boys nodded and proceeded to carry their shocked friend upstairs to his private wing.
"At least she's buggin hot now."
Theo remarked as Blaise nodded in agreement.
"And she'll be all ours come morning."
Blaise said as the two boys exchanged a hopeful look.
Everyone had agreed to the sacred union.
All accept a very, unsuspecting Hermione Granger.