Hermione Granger stepped into the conference room precisely on time to see Kingsley, the Minister of Magic, the newly appointed Minister of Population Control, and Draco Malfoy sitting at the conference , she took her seat and listened to the rules of the marriage contract being repeated again as if she hadn't memorized and looked for any loophole to keep her out of the bed of some man she didn't know.
About a month ago all eligible wizards and witches had recieved owls informing them of a new bill they had passed out of desperation to retain the magical population. Those between the ages of 17-35 would be paired to someone anonymously and forced to wed them immediately. There would be no divorces. They would have to live together as the head of house dictated. Their marriage must be consummated within 24 hours.
She felt like she was going to vomit. The ministry official slides the contract over to her and she signed her life away. Malfoy slides the document to sit in front of him and signs before standing. He reaches his hand out to shake their hands before helping Hermione stand. "Shall we go get you a ring then?"
"Why bother if we're already married?"
"I want you to wear my ring. Please. It isn't under the best situation, I know, but the fact remains you are my wife. I would like to take care of my wife...Hermione." He gave her a look as they walked out.
"I don't want some gawky thing just because you're rich." She relents after a few moments.
They walk in silence until they get to the jeweler. He opens the door for her and they drift over to the cases. After getting frustrated looking at the price tags she points to the cheapest ring she sees. "That will be fine."
He didn't acknowledge her for a few moments as he drifts to another case. He requests the jeweler pull out a ring and he places it on her finger. "If you want that awful ring, I'll buy it, but look at the way this ring frames your finger." He admires the pear cut diamond on her small hand. She had to admit the tiny band littered with rubies and diamonds was gorgeous. Seeing her smile he gestures to the man to ring him up.
"Draco...honestly it's too expensive." She pleads as he fills out the Gringotts slip.
He ignores her, choosing instead to wrap his arm around her waist, guiding her out of the store. "We need to stop by so I can grab a few premade potions and then we will get you something to eat. Any preferences?"
At her affirmation that anything would be fine, he quickly selects his potions, pays, and leaves.
He appartates them to the smaller dining room in the manor where his elf, Wilson, appears to pour them some water. At Draco's nod he pours some wine as well. He disappears to finish dinner.
Draco helps her sit down before sitting in the chair directly next to her. As she surveys her surroundings she begins to tense. "Shh, love. This is the least stressful part of your night. Would you like a calming drought? I know this isn't easy Hermione. I'm trying. Just drink a bit of your wine love." He coaxes her soothingly and he reaches for her, just to see her tense further. "What can I do?" He asks after a moment feeling rather useless since she rejected his touch.
Instead of answering she boldly faces him and asks a question of her own. "Do you think I'll just go with whatever you desire because you're the head of my family now?"
He thought of the best way to answer her. "All my life, I was prepared for a pureblood wife who would just follow me. But I know you won't offer me the same blind trust. I haven't done anything to earn your trust. I'm going to try and be as forthcoming as I can. I don't particularly wish to go to Askaban, so I had to marry you. But I take marriage very seriously. I will spend the rest of my life trying to take care of you."
She drank her wine as she processed his admission. "Will you still let me work?"
"I'll be the laughing stock of my friends, allowing my wife to work. I will feel a bit ashamed that you don't feel I can take care of you. But if you desire to work I wouldn't stop you."
"Maybe I could just...work from home or something. I'll look into it."
He transfigures some chairs into a small love seat. "Will you join me? I'd like to just hold you for a moment until our dinner is ready. I'm sure this is the last chance I will get to feel like a gentleman and not some monster." At her nod, he escorts her to the love seat before sitting and arranging the small girl into his arms. "So Hermione, I know we just graduated about a year ago, but what have you accomplished so far?" He leans his head to rest near her forehead.
She shifts uncomfortably in his arms before settling, facing him. "I work at Flourish and Botts." She answered simply.
He nods closing his eyes. It felt good holding her close to him. She was the warmth he desperately craved the last few months. "Will you allow me to sleep on the couch in your room? I would rather like to be close in case you can't handle sleeping in the Manor."
"You don't plan on sharing a bed with your wife?"
"I assumed you wouldn't want to share a bed with me after tonight..." He answers before abruptly changing the subject. "I'm sure you would like me to meet your friends. Perhaps we can arrange a dinner or something soon. Hopefully you would be willing to sit down at a dinner and meet mine as well."
As she agrees, Wilson announces their dinner is ready. Draco helps her to settle into her chair before placing food onto a plate and sitting it in front of her and asking, "Can I get you anything else?"
"I'm just going to get myself a napkin." She smiles before he quickly reaches over and hands her one. "My legs aren't broken you know."
"It's a pureblood tradition," he admits refilling her glass, "to serve my wife. I truly meant it when I said you will not want for nothing. I will provide everything for you. It's so when you carry my child, I'll already be engrained to care for you properly."
She considered him carefully, choosing not to reply. She played around with her fork and salmon, waiting for him to finish serving himself. "And I'm just supposed to give you an heir?" She finally asks resentfully.
"Hermione...I know this sounds strange. I understand. I truly do. But a true gentleman will value his wife. I would die before I let harm fall upon you. I will remain faithful to only you. You are my equal, not just something pretty to give me a child. Now please, eat." He ate his meal in silence, carefully glancing up at her every once in a while.
Eventually, they both finished their meals and she looked at him uncomfortably. "I have bought a few potions, to make this easier. If you would like them. Perhaps a calming draught or a love potion?" He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
She nodded silently, and he led her to their bed chambers. He fed her the potions, before sitting her down on the bed beside him. "Let's just sit a minute while we wait for the potions to kick in." He muses, running his hand to rub down her back. "I'm so sorry Hermione, I'll make this as quick as possible and then I'll never touch you again until you're ready."
She felt her breathing deepen, as the lust from the potion settles in. "Draco," she whimpers as he kisses down her neck soothingly,"please just..."
"Yes love? Just tell me what you need..." His kisses trail to the edges of her shirt as he begins unbuttoning it.
"I need you to not hurt me... I'm a virgin. I was waiting to give myself to my husband..."
He shot straight up to make eye contact with her and groaned. "You're a virgin..." he repeats cursing himself all to hell. He was a monster. Ruining her first time by forcing her to consummate their marriage. "You're giving me such a great gift, and I'm sorry because I know you wish it wasn't me.."