Summary: They come from two different worlds and two different pasts of hate. If joined an unimaginable power would be released, and Voldemort is determined to attain that power, by forcing the pair to marry. Can Hermione and some ancient magic save the day and prevent the marriage from taking place? Is Dumbledore hiding an important piece of informantion? What were Blaise and Ginny doing behind the shed over break? Are flashbacks of "Dirty Dancing" and a scene from "Guys and Dolls" appropriate inside the walls of Hogwarts? Is the "Hokey Pokey" really what it's all about? All these questions shall be answered in this tale of love, hate, magic, and a bunch of other things that are absolutely ridiculous.
The Hated Bond of Love
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley all made their way down the long corridor to Dumbledore's office. It was two weeks before the Yule Ball of their seventh year. Hermione was Head Girl that year and she therefore had to spend a lot of time away from her friends. This obstacle only brought the Golden Trio closer together. Besides, since Hermione had her own common room and dorm, that meant that Harry, Ron, and Ginny could come over and talk in privacy. Well, they would have been able to if Draco Malfoy hadn't been chosen as Head Boy. He and Hermione had to share the common room, and their bedrooms were right next door to each other. Therefore, he was constantly around bothering Hermione and making her life positively miserable. However, Hermione fought back, and she had her trusted friends to help her. As the three strolled through the corridor, Draco Malfoy was the conversation topic of choice.
" I cannot believe that he's actually getting away with this!" hissed Hermione, "Marriage has never been allowed between students at Hogwarts since it was founded, It says it in Hogwarts a-"
"History. We know Mione, but Eustacia isn't a student. Maybe that has something to do with it." Said Harry.
"If she was a student I would have been all over her, even if she had been a Slytherin." Muttered Ron.
"God Ron, you really must try to control your hormones." Said Hermione as she shook her head in disgust. Ron shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, at least Malfoy will be occupied with something other than annoying us and torturing our poor Hermione." Said Harry patting his friend on the shoulder.
"I still can't believe it," murmured Hermione, "Malfoy's getting married."
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They stood on the spiral staircase as it moved them in front of a door with the name, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE engraved in gold lettering. Harry opened the door and three students filed in and stood in the back of the room. Dumbledore was standing at his bookcase, running his finger down the spines of various books. His back was to them.
"Please sit down all of you." He said in his comforting old voice. Without even turning around to look at them, or doing anything at all, three chairs appeared in front of his desk. The Golden Trio looked at each other, smiled, and obeyed their Headmaster's orders and took their seats. Dumbledore, having seemed to have found the book he had desired, turned around and smiled warmly at the trio. He sat down at his large desk and looked at the three students sitting across from him through his half-moon shaped glasses.
"Well," He began, placing the book on the desk in front of him, "is there anything going on at the school that any of you would like to address?" He looked at the students expectantly. The trio looked at each other, wondering what Dumbledore was talking about. They turned back to look at him with confused expressions.
"Has anything been, bothering you lately?" he asked staring straight into Hermione's amber eyes, yet addressing all three. Without hesitation Hermione voiced her opinion.
"I cannot understand the logic in giving a student permission to be married while still attending school. It's been in the rules forever and there have never been any exceptions. After hundreds of years, why is the rule being overlooked to favor Draco Malfoy?" she asked calmly, yet obviously frustrated. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he smiled at Hermione and the two boys.
"I actually called you all here to address that specific issue." He said. "Now Miss Granger, I understand that it must be frustrating, after all, a rule is a rule and it must be followed. However, I realize the necessity of this rule to be broken at the present time, yet I never intend for the marriage between Mister Malfoy and Miss Eustacia Lamechante to take place. However, I need your help to prevent it. Particularly one of you." He paused at the expected reaction of surprise from the three students.
"Let me explain, as I must assume you are quite confused at the moment." He said as he looked at the students from across the desk. "Do you know the reason why Mister Malfoy has suddenly decided to be married to a girl he has not known until recently?" The students shook their head, signaling for him to continue.
"He actually had no choice concerning his participation in the forthcoming nuptials. His parents, and the parents of Miss Lamechante were actually the ones to arrange the marriage between the two young people, and even the parents did not really have a choice.
"You know, as well as I that the Malfoy family, regretfully, has connections with Voldemort. The Lamechante family has connections with Voldemort as well. He is the one behind the decision for Mr. Malfoy and Miss Lamechante to marry. Their parents, being loyal servants, gratefully obliged and began to arrange for their children to wed. The Malfoys are a very wealthy and influential family in England, as are the Lamechantes in France. Therefore a marriage between the two pureblood families would be ideal. However, the real reason for the marriage goes back long before then.
"Three hundred years ago, a French soothsayer had a prophecy that two people from two different worlds and two different pasts of hate would be born. He predicted that when and if they joined together, an unimaginable power would be released. The power that the couple would possess would be capable of either great good or great evil.
"Eighteen years ago another prophecy was made by the great-great-granddaughter of the soothsayer. She said the couple that her ancestor had predicted would come into being. The boy would be born a Malfoy, and the girl was going to be born on the 6 of December.
"Eustacia was born on that day, and Draco is obviously the son of his father. They come from two different worlds, meaning France and England. And although France and England are allies now, they have a long history of combat on the muggle and wizarding side. Knowing of these two prophesies, Voldemort wants the two young people to be married and he can use their powers for his cause."
He waited for all of this to sink into the students' brains. They stared at him with amazed looks on their faces. He continued,
"We obviously do not want this to occur, and that is why I need your help, yours in particular Miss Granger. Have you ever heard of a bond binding spell?" Hermione nodded her head.
"Yes sir, but they're very difficult spells to perform, and no one has the true incantation…" Hermione trailed off as Dumbledore opened to a page in the book he had found earlier and pushed it across the desk so that it was in front of her. On the page was a very old and complicated incantation. She looked at it, and then looked at Dumbledore.
"You want me to…" she trailed off again staring up at the old man with I wonderment. "No," she said getting up from her chair and taking an unsteady step backwards, "You can't possibly expect me to bind myself to Draco Malfoy." Dumbledore looked at her and sighed.
"Miss Granger, I realize that you and Mister Malfoy have a long history of hate between you, but we're talking about things more important than you or I." Harry and Ron had absolutely no idea what the other two were talking about. Harry looked over at the book and motioned for Ron to do the same. They both began to read the page.
The Bond Binding Spell.
The bond binding spell is a complicated incantation that binds one person to another. It is not a physical bond, but almost like a betrothal. Certain preparations must be made and certain requirements must be met before the use of the incantation. Once the incantation is read, the people who are to be bound together must kiss sometime in the 6 hours after the spell. If the kiss is not performed, the incantation cannot be used again, and no other binding spell can be used on either person. If the spell is successfully carried out, neither person may marry or have relations with any other person than the one they are bound to. Even previous legal betrothals and engagements can be broken with this spell.
Harry and Ron looked at each other with shocked expressions. Ron shot out of his chair and slammed both hands down on the desk.
"I will not allow my Hermione, who is like a sister to me, marry Draco Malfoy to prevent him from marrying the French chick!" he shouted. Dumbledore chuckled at Ron's outburst, but then became serious again.
"This is exactly why I called all three of you to my office to discuss this now rather than have Hermione have to tell you what I am proposing. I realize that this is a huge sacrifice to make, and very difficult to comprehend, but you must understand that a marriage between Mister Malfoy and Miss Lamechante would result in an unthinkable amount of power, all in the hands of Voldemort. That kind of power in his hand combined with his own would mean almost certain death to all who stand in his way." The three students looked at him realizing that they would be three that Voldemort would deem as "in his way."
"Why me?" asked Hermione. Dumledore sighed sadly and looked at her pleadingly.
"Miss Granger, you are one of the brightest, most powerful witches of your age, nonetheless incredibly trustworthy. You fit all the requirements, and after considering all the choices I had, you were the only one suitable for this kind of mission. You stood out from the rest as being able to handle a situation such as this. This is totally your choice. You may refuse it if you wish, but I will advise you that the consequences that could occur if a marriage between Miss Lamenchante and Mister Malfoy was carried out would be…unfathomable."
Hermione's mind was racing. She knew that although Dumbledore said she had a choice, she really didn't. She knew that if Voldemort was able to obtain that kind of power, the world would be his. She couldn't live with the guilt that she could have prevented it if something like that happened. She could not comprehend living the rest of her life bound to Draco Malfoy, but who said she actually had to marry him? She just couldn't marry anyone else. She sighed to herself.
Oh well she thought it's not like I'll ever get married anyway. She raised her eyes to lock with her Headmaster's.
"I'll do it." She muttered. Dumbledore took her hands into his and looked at her with the utmost gratitude.
"Miss Granger, I promise you it will all work out in the end. Thank you so much. If you succeed at creating the bind, you will have saved our entire world." With that he got up from his chair. The three students followed suit. Just as they were about to turn to go, Dumbledore extended the book to Hermione. It was still opened to the page with the incantation.
"Tonight would be the ideal time to perform the incantation." He said looking at her with his twinkling blue eyes.
"I'll do it tonight sir." She said taking the book from him. Dumbledore nodded his head and smiled at her
"Good luck Miss Granger."
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"Wait, could you please say that again, I don't quite understand." Said Ginny Weasley as she sat with Hermione on the couch in the Head's common room later on that night. Hermione sighed and looked around the room to make sure that they were alone.
"If Malfoy marries this Eustacia girl, Voldemort will get a ton of power. I can prevent that from happening if I bind myself to Malfoy by using the incantation I just said a few moments ago. The incantation will cancel their engagement without them even realizing it. When they try to get married, it won't work because he will already be, well, in a sense, claimed by me." Stated Hermione. Ginny sighed,
"I wish I could claim Draco Malfoy." Hermione shook her head as Ginny giggled at her own dirty joke. "Well, he is THE cutest boy at Hogwarts." She said defensively. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's not about looks Gin. He's a horrible person." Hermione said, contempt shining through her eyes from just thinking about him.
"I bet he's a good kisser though." Chuckled Ginny. Hermione smiled and shook her head.
"I'll be the judge of that." She joked. Ginny laughed and got up from the couch.
"I better be off Hermione, I've got to meet some one in the Gryffindor common
room." Hermione looked at her friend suspiciously.
"You wouldn't be meeting a BOY, would you Gin?" asked Hermione, knowing full well that her friend was probably meeting a boy. Ginny just shrugged her shoulders and smiled innocently. Hermione laughed as her friend skipped out the door and into the corridor just as Eustacia and Draco came down the spiral staircase from upstairs.
"I will meet you at the Great Hall at exactly eight o'clock Saturday morning. Do you understand." Eustacia barked with her incredibly heavy French accent. Draco nodded and rolled his eyes. She glared at him and pointed an accusing, yet perfectly manicured, finger at him.
"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me Monsieur Malfoy! I will not tolerate your insufferable attitude!" Draco looked at her innocently.
"Of course not love." He said, raising a hand to stroke her cheek. She batted it away and gave him her hand instead. Draco looked incredibly disappointed, but kissed her hand like a gentleman should.
"Saturday at eight o'clock sharp. I will not wait for you if you are late. I'll just go shopping for decorations myself." She said turning around and waltzing out the door.
"Right." Muttered Draco as he flopped down on the couch across from Hermione. He placed his head in his hands and began muttering under his breath. Hermione took in a deep breath. She only had six hours to complete the spell. She might as well try now. She took a second to compose herself and get herself ready to play the part. She snorted and began to chuckle. Draco lifted his head and glared at her.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" he asked his stone gray eyes piercing hers. She smiled and looked at him sympathetically.
"You poor thing," she said taking a piece of her curly brunette hair and twirling it between her fingers, "She's already got you on a chain." She laughed and shook her head. "I mean, you're not even married yet." She laughed again, waiting for an angry reaction from Draco. He narrowed his eyes at her, scrunching up his handsome features in a look of disbelief.
"Whatever Mudblood, at least I actually have some one of the opposite sex, unlike so many unfortunate frumpish people, yourself included." He said smirking at her evilly. That remark stung her, but she didn't let it show.
"Keep telling yourself that Malfoy, but I actually think that it is Miss Eustacia that has you. She's obviously the dominant one in your relationship." Hermione sighed, "Poor Malfoy, once a Slytherin Sex God, now a submissive little ferret-face." Malfoy got up from the couch and stood over her.
"That's not true," he retorted, "I still do whatever the hell I want, with who ever the hell I want." Hermione choked on laughter again and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. She looked at the man looming over her. Ginny hadn't been lying when she said that he was the hottest boy at Hogwarts. His platinum blond hair fell to the top of his ears. It was perfectly straight, and a few strands hung in front of his stormy stone gray eyes. He was tall and had very nice muscles. His skin was a flawless alabaster.
Well, she thought to herself at least I'll make all the girls jealous when I tell them that I kissed him.
"Right, you do whatever the hell you want. You don't want to be with a different girl every night now? Hmmm, this is an interesting change of behavior." Hermione said in a mocking voice. Draco shook his head and began to walk away. Hermione smiled inwardly, she had finally bothered him enough that he was actually retreating. This would have been a good thing any other night, but she needed him to stick a round for a little bit longer.
"Draco Malfoy, the chained man. Never allowed to sleep with, snog, touch, or kiss another woman again." She said giggling to herself. He kept walking but said something over his shoulder,
"I could do any of those things right now if I wanted to." He snorted. Hermione took a deep breath, this was it.
"Prove it then." She smirked. Draco was about to climb the stairs when he heard that. Instead, he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. He looked at Hermione like she was crazy.
"What was that Granger?" he asked walking back over to her. Hermione's smirk widened.
"I said prove it." She repeated standing up and locking her eyes with his. Draco looked down at her. She definitely was not the frump girl she once had been. She had learned to tame her hair so that it would hang in soft ringlets. Her hair hung about four inches beyond her shoulder. Her eyes were a shocking amber color and her skin was a soft tan. She had filled out nicely. She wasn't a super model, but she was well proportioned. All in all, she was an attractive young woman. Draco shook his head at her and started to turn around.
"Like I would ever kiss you Mudblood…ha! In your dreams." He spat. Hermione smirked horribly at him.
"What a coward." She muttered as he turned his back to her. "Afraid to kiss a Mudblood. What is it ferret? Frightened that I might dirty your blood?" she laughed and continued, her eyes burning with contempt as she stared at the back of his head. "Honestly, Purebloods obviously aren't as strong or durable as they claim to be if one kiss from a mudblood destroys their purity." She paused for a moment and saw that Draco's shoulders were shaking with rage. Good, she thought one more straw to break the camel's back.
"Or is it because Malfoy is already controlled by his bride-to-be, and she would beat his poor little brains out if he ever does anything she doesn't want him to. First, your father and now your future wife. God Malfoy, have you ever done anything that goes against what they say? Well, have fun being restricted by a dainty little French woman for the rest of your life. You are such a wimp, you know that? You don't even have the guts to kiss a filthy little mudbl-" Hermione was cut off by Draco smashing his lips down onto hers.
Draco's POV:
That will put her in her place thought Draco as he snaked his arms around her waist. Just as he did so, he felt warm shivers rush through his blood. He thought it was strange, but that thought was wiped out of his mind by Hermione moving her arms around his neck. What the hell is she doing? He asked himself. He suddenly realized that Hermione wasn't really that bad of a kisser. She wasn't amazing, but at the same time he found that he was actually enjoying the kiss. That's just because I haven't been able to go near a woman other than Eustacia for the past two months. He told himself, which reminded him of what Hermione had said. Stupid Mudblood he muttered in his mind.
Hermione's POV:
Oh God, she thought to herself, it's all over. I'll never get a boyfriend, I'll never get engaged, I'll never get married, I'll never have kids…I always wanted kids. Maybe I can just ask Malfoy to knock me up and…oh God, what am I saying. She suddenly felt a strange tingling sensation run through her veins. She also realized that Draco had wrapped his arms around her waist. She didn't really realize what she was doing, but she slid her arms up around his neck. It was like an involuntary response. Wow, she thought, he really is a good kisser. Too bad the only boy I ever kissed was Victor…Nice boy, but not good at kissing at all. Draco will probably think I'm a horrible kisser. Oh well, what's one more thing he can mock me with. Wait a tick, did I just think of him as "Draco," not as "Malfoy?" Oh God…what is this world coming to.
Suddenly Draco pulled away. He pushed Hermione back onto the couch and smirked down at her.
"Proved ya wrong Mudblood." He hissed. Hermione glared back at him. He just laughed at her and walked up the spiral staircase to his room, leaving Hermione alone in the common room. She sighed and stared at the ceiling. She had just saved the wizarding world from almost certain destruction, but somehow, she didn't feel like celebrating. She looked towards the spiral staircase and mumbled to herself,
"You might be laughing now Draco Malfoy, but just you wait…just you wait."