Draco grabbed his coffee, damning Blaise once again for getting him addicted to caffeine. His owl flew in through the window and dropped the Daily Prophet onto the table. The front page had a smiling witch with curly hair and eyes that expressed her too kind nature. She had announced the dissolving of her engagement the week before, and was now celebrating her cure for sudden infant death in wizards. "Good for you, Granger," Draco nodded. "Way to go."
His fireplace ignited bright green. "You see the Prophet?" an Italian wizard stepped out of the flames. Draco nodded. "Only Granger, am I right?"
"Mum would've been so happy," Draco shook his head. "She always said Granger would amount to great things."
"Oh yeah, they were close, weren't they?" Blaise realized.
"Yeah, Granger was doing her research at St. Mugno's while Mum was doing her community service. They talked a lot, and I think Mum funded some of her research," Draco shrugged. "Granger spoke at her funeral."
"Oh yeah, and Weasley got pissed off at her for going. Apparently she lied to him, told him she was coming over my place to hang with Gin," Blaise chuckled.
"I can't believe you're shagging a Weasley."
"She's not a Weasley, not really," Blaise shrugged. "Her hair's darker and she's gorgeous. Plus, her manners are impeccable, while her brothers' are less than a troll's."
"Sir!" an elf popped into the room. "Sir, there's a woman in the drawing room, waiting for Master." Draco's eyes narrowed.
"A woman?"
"She Apparated there, Master! Millie doesn't know how! Millie always checks the wards…" the elf looked like she might cry. Draco shook his head.
"Did she give you a name?" Draco asked.
"No, sir!" the elf's eyes caught the paper. "That's her, Master! That's her! It is!" Draco arched an eyebrow at Blaise.
"Thank you, Millie. It's not your fault. Granger just hasn't learned manners." Draco walked into the drawing room and saw the witch observing the things on the shelves with the same curiosity she'd always displayed in class. "Well I hardly believe this is a house call, Granger," Draco announced himself. She turned to him.
"It's not, but let's treat it like it is. How are you, Malfoy?" she asked, sitting down. Draco smirked at her and sat down in his favorite chair.
"I'm alright, congratulations on your discovery, Granger," he nodded. She let out a shakey laugh. She was scared, clearly, and Draco wanted to know why.
"It really wasn't much, just a modified protection charm on the fetus," she shook her head. "Malfoy, do you know why I'm here?" she asked.
"Not a clue," he admitted. "I just woke up, saw the paper, and had a chat with Blaise. Are you in trouble, Granger?"
"Of a sort," she admitted. "Did you read the rest of the paper?"
"No, I just saw the front, why?"
"Mate!" Blaise came running in, the Prophet in hand.
"What's going on, Granger?" Draco asked.
"They're instituting a Marriage Law where a pureblood witch or wizard has to marry a muggleborn witch or wizard unless they are already in a consummated relationship. Any who refuse will have their magic bound and will be sent into the muggle world," she admitted.
"What?" Draco demanded.
"I need you to help me fake my death," she admitted. "I need to keep my magic. I can do good in the world, but I will not be forced into a marriage. Plus, Ron has already petitioned to marry me and I'll be damned if I end up with that asshole again."
"Hold on," Draco shook his head. "I have to marry a muggleborn and you have to marry a pureblood, and instead of choosing the most obvious solution to this problem, you want to fake your own death?"
"I don't follow," she admitted, frowning. Blaise arched his eyebrow at her.
"Granger, Draco's proposing."
Note:
Basically I wrote this a while ago and decided to finally post it because I got stuck. Please review! Constructive criticism is very welcome!
Thanks, you're all wonderful!
~MC