Disclaimer: I don't own the world of Harry Potter.


Hermione stared at Professor Snape, appalled. There were many times when Snape annoyed, frustrated, and disgusted her. But this had to take the cake.

Her eyes traveled to Malfoy, who was standing beside Snape. The alliance between the student and teacher had not been kept secret to all of Hogwarts.

"Miss Granger, I know this... situation is far from ideal, but... we must make do with what we have." Professor Snape's wisdom, if that's what you could call it, annoyed Hermione.

He wanted her to marry Draco Malfoy. MALFOY, the son of a well-known Death Eater. Draco was even suspected as being a Death Eater, especially after what Harry had overhead the night of Dumbledore's murder.

"I..." Hermione didn't know what to say.

"Why me?" Hermione asked, looking at Snape with curiosity in her brown eyes.

"You are a witch known throughout the entire Wizarding world. Everyone knows you have the... unfortunate task of being Harry Potter's friend." Professor Snape explained, as if she should have known the answer for herself.

Her brain was shouting at her to turn him down. A smaller part of her was quietly telling her to consider her options.

One, it could help her save Harry, the Weasleys, and everyone who didn't deserve to die.

Two, she could gain alliances in the dark world. If she would ever need them one day, that is.

Three, she could protect her Muggle family. Although she was repeating herself, since this fell under pro number one.

There were other pros to the situation, Hermione was sure. They just weren't coming to her at the moment.

"Granger, please. I don't want to be forced into a marriage with Parkinson, for Merlin's sake." Malfoy said, speaking for the first time since Hermione had entered the room.

"Besides, Draco would be... in debt, if you will, to you. If you should chose to accept our proposal." Hermione wondered if Snape knew he hadn't chosen his words wisely.

"Parkinson's good enough for sex, but not for marriage?" Hermione snaps, glaring at Malfoy. Professor Snape sighed quite loudly.

"If I had to be wed to her my entire life, I would perform an Unforgivable on myself." Malfoy muttered, a disgusted look on his face.

"Draco, we do not speak unkindly of our fellow Slytherins. Miss Granger, I realize this situation is a little unorthodox," Hermione interrupted her least favorite Professor. His subject was the one that gave her trouble, too.

"A little? You're asking me to dump my boyfriend, who also happens to be one of my best friends, to marry my enemy? Or have you forgotten that he's tried to kill my friends more than once?" Hermione snapped, looking at Professor Snape, expecting answers. To her surprise, Draco answered her questions.

"If you would remember important details, you would notice that I never tried to kill you. Just Pothead and his Weseal sidekick."

"Fine. I have another question," Hermione said, glaring at Malfoy. He snorted, which is quite attractive, while Professor Snape rolled his eyes.

"Surprise, surprise. Well, what is it, Granger?" Snape asked, quickly losing his patience with the two teenagers.

"Why does Malfoy have to get married? He's eighteen, well under the usual age for marriage. In both Wizarding and Muggle worlds." Hermione said, curious.

"It would be better if you didn't know, Miss Granger." Professor Snape answered, just as Draco opened his mouth to respond.

"You just expect me to marry a man, who, by the way, I hate. Without a reason?" Hermione asked, appalled once again.

"Voldemort is involved, isn't he?' Hermione asked, clamping her hand over her mouth as she realizes what she just said. She'd say You know Who in her head, but she wasn't afraid of saying his name out loud.

Professor Snape narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"Miss Granger, you never will learn when to keep your mouth shut, will you? Yes, the Dark Lord is involved. It is in your best interests, especially Mr. Malfoy's, to wed. It will cause disruption in how quickly his plans are progressing." Snape said, fury in his eyes. Malfoy stared at his Professor, surprised at his admission. It was true, however...

"We will sit down, right now, and discuss a list of... expectations that are to be held in this marriage. " Snape ordered, gesturing for the two teens to sit. "Maybe that will... please you enough to accept our proposition, Miss Granger." He pulled out a piece of very long parchment, and a quill.

Malfoy walked to the seat beside Hermione, but very reluctantly.

"Let us begin," Professor Snape suggested. He dipped his quill in ink.

"No attacks on my friends or family," Hermione immediately suggested. She knew it wouldn't fly with either of the men, however.

"We cannot promise that. We cannot control the actions of others who wish to do your friends and family harm. Perhaps you wish to rephrase your demand?" Snape said, looking at her as if she should have known that. Well, she did. She just thought it'd be better to take a chance.

"Fine. Either of you must warn me if my family is under attack. It is reasonable to assume that my friends are always under attack, I suppose." Hermione said, supposing that's an acceptable request.

"Accepted. Draco?" Snape asked, expecting Draco to have a few requests.

"Hermione has to have dinner with my mother once a month. And I'm not stupid enough to make Hermione brave Malfoy Manor alone." Draco's request surprised Hermione. Hermione figured Narcissa was the least dangerous out of all the Malfoy clan.

Hermione nodded when Snape looked at her for confirmation.

"Draco should not have... sexual relations of any kind with other women. The same should be expected of me." Hermione said, surprised to see Snape's eyes to widen. It felt weird to Hermione just to say his name, let alone suggest he had no right sleeping around.

"I should hope my wife doesn't want to have sexual relations with women," Malfoy muttered, looking at her with an annoyed expression on his face.

Despite herself, Hermione blushed. That hadn't been what she meant to say.

"I accept her request," Malfoy said, surprising Hermione. Snape also looked surprised, but he copied the statement onto the parchment. She had expected him to fight her on that one.

"Why?" Hermione demanded, positive there was some sort of condition to his request.

"Because I can't have sex if I'm not alive. If you don't marry me, I don't have a life." Malfoy said, simple as that. Snape made a disapproving noise, but didn't say anything.

Hermione didn't say anything in response, and Malfoy moved on with his requests.

She was doing this to save her friends, family, and everything she loved.

"I don't really have any other expectations." Malfoy said, surprising Hermione. He had only really suggested one thing.

"Fine, then, we will put this list on hold. If that works for Granger," Snape suggested, and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Fine, you two need to go to the Ministry. You need to fill out paper work, act like you're in love, and have someone there perform the service." Snape made it sound so simple.

"Don't we need witnesses?" Hermione asked, not quite sure of the Wizarding marriage process.

"The Ministry will provide some, since your situation is unique." Hermione nodded at Snape's answer.

"Are you ready, Granger?" Malfoy asked, standing by the fireplace.

"We're going to Floo? I thought that wasn't allowed in Hogwarts." Hermione said, remembering a certain passage she read in Hogwarts: A History.

"You can Floo from certain chambers, mine being one." Snape replied, annoyed with her question. Hermione stepped into the fireplace, shouting her destination.


The pair stood outside the Ministry of Magic.

"A Weasley cannot see us, Malfoy, do you understand?" Hermione said, pulling on his arm. It was a move to get his attention. He had been focused on this woman's behind as she was walking down the street.

"What did you say? Surely it wasn't anything important," Malfoy said, his attention finally on Hermione.

"You're insufferable." Hermione decided not to repeat herself, simply because it was annoying for her to do so.

Much to Hermione's surprise, she was pushed against the building. Malfoy's body pressed hers against the wall, trapping her. His mouth was on hers in an instant. Before she realized what was happening, she kissed him back. Malfoy ended the kiss, much to Hermione's annoyance. Wait; did she just say she enjoyed kissing Malfoy?

"What was that for?" Hermione asked, once her breathing had returned to normal.

"Someone with very red hair just went into the Ministry. I assumed it was a Weasel." Malfoy explained. That was not at all what she had expected him to say.

"Let's go, Hermione." Malfoy said, his hand in hers. They did have to look like they wanted to get married; otherwise the Ministry wouldn't allow the marriage to go through.

They walked into the building, and Malfoy pressed the elevator button. He seemed to know his way around the Ministry, Hermione observed.

An elderly man, a young woman, and a mother with two children enter the elevator as well.

The little girl stared up at Malfoy, as if he was some sort of god. Malfoy smiled down at her. Hermione resisted the urge to giggle. She allowed Malfoy lead her out of the elevator.

"Marriage office, how may I help you?" An elderly witch asked the second they entered the office.

"My name is Draco Malfoy, and this is Hermione Granger. Soon to be Malfoy," Malfoy said, winking at the woman.

"Ah, of course. You need to fill out a marriage license, which is this piece of parchment. Then I will send it in to get approved, and seconds later you will be escorted to the chapel." Hermione was in awe of how fast this process was, considering it was such an important decision in one's life.


Draco couldn't believe Snape had talked him into marrying Granger. The idea was simply ridiculous. He was even surprised that she had even agreed to being tied down to him for the rest of her life.

He was a married man. Draco downed another bottle of Butterbeer, as Hermione casually sipped from her bottle.

Snape had talked to McGonogall while they were off getting married. He had arranged for the couple to have their own quarters. The two were just sitting in their common room, for they had yet to go get their belongings. That meant facing their friends.

"My parents are going to kill me. Ron is going to send an Unforgivable my way. Molly is going to send me a Howler. Harry is going to kill you. Ginny is going to demand to know how big you are, and how good the sex is."

Merlin, wouldn't the girl ever shut up? Still, it was better than listening to Pansy whine at him. Granger's last question had made him laugh. Laughter was rare these days.


"'Mione, love, where were you? We couldn't find you anywhere last night." Ron said, kissing Hermione on the cheek. Hermione had reluctantly entered the Great Hall the next morning.

"Sorry, I didn't feel well..." Hermione explained, pouring herself a cup of tea. She had left Malfoy sleeping in their bed, with his robes still on. They'd have to argue over the rooms later. There was a spare bedroom attached to their common room.

"Ginny checked in your dormitory, and you weren't there, either." Ron said, suspicious. Hermione casually placed her teacup down on its saucer. She was about to yell at Ronald, but Malfoy entering the Hall distracted her.

"Merlin, what happened to Malfoy?" Harry asked, watching Malfoy take his seat at the Slytherin table. His eyes meet Hermione's from across the room, and he grinned at her.

Hermione frowned back at him.

"Why is he grinning in our direction? I should hex him just for looking in our direction." Ron said, glaring in Malfoy's direction.

The students quieted as Headmaster McGonagall stepped up to the podium.

"Good morning, students. Would Draco Malfoy and Hermione... come forward, please?" McGonagall stalled in saying Hermione's last name, and she simply moved on.

Whispers fill the hall.

McGonagall gestured to them, leading them to her place at the Professor's table. She is sitting between Snape and Hagrid, who was thankfully missing this morning. He didn't need to hear the news yet.

"Would you like me to make an announcement regarding your... news?" The woman asked, looking at both Hermione and Malfoy. McGonagall believed that Hermione and Malfoy were in love.

"No, thank you. Draco and I still have yet to tell our friends. They should be told first," Hermione reasoned, and she was pleased when Draco nodded.

"Very well. I shall make the announcement tomorrow?" The woman asked, and Hermione nodded.

"That should give us enough time. Thank you, Headmaster."

"You are very welcome, dear. I can't honestly say I'm not surprised, however." McGonagall said, shaking her head in wonder.

"Was that all, Minerva?" Snape asked, clearly not wanting her to pry into their lives.

"Oh, yes. Enjoy your meals." Hermione and Malfoy both replied with thanks before heading back to their seats.

"I'm there when you tell Weasel." Malfoy said, out of the corner of his mouth.

"Why, so you can be a prat an rub it in his face?" Hermione accused, glaring at Malfoy.

"So I can see his reaction when you tell him you're mine." Malfoy said, a dangerous smirk on his face.

"See you later, muffin." Malfoy whispered, walking back to his table.

"What was that about, 'Mione?" Ron asked, the instant she returned to the table. Didn't the boy ever shut up?

A/N: Edited 05/24/10

TBC. Please review! Thanks. :)