PostWar. It was only a little misunderstanding, right? So, thanks to her best friend, people though she was married to her childhood enemy Draco Malfoy and it was all over the news, so what? it was going to pass, right?... but why was Malfoy saying it was all true!
Obviously I don't own Harry Potter. This is all good faith writing of characters created by J.K.R that I so much love.
XOXO
Seida
.
Understanding the fact that eventually you need to get married or you'll end up "missing the train" was not an idea Hermione was ready to accept.
Ok, so she was 28, ok so she belong to the wizard community where if you were not married by the age of 20, preferably through an arranged married, you were most definitely old meat; but she was not born to this community, right?, so rules should not apply to her.
Come to think about it, it was all really unfair. She loved the wizard world, but the muggles had the perks of being able to stay single for as long as they wanted and not be judged. 30's were the new 20's in the muggle world! Couldn't they at least copy that? They had copied everything else! TV, Computers, Cellphones, you name it. And besides, it wasn't like she didn't date or anything, she dated, sometimes. So what if her last date was 6 months ago, it had been a total waste of time and she was not in the mood to repeat that again.
Truth was she didn't feel comfortable dating. She dated Ron for 5 years and look how that turned out: he cheated on her with blond bimbo Lavender Brown and the worst thing was she only found out because she went to surprise him for his birthday. Guess Lavender was giving him her own present.
She considered herself an independent witch, which in wizard lingo meant she was a workaholic, single, no kids, no social life woman. Again, so what? At least she had a cat, that had to count for something.
And here she was, once again, accompanying Gretchen Lecler, her best friend in the whole world, to one of her catering events.
She really didn't have to do anything; she just had to eat the food, pretend she was a regular guest, which 97% of the time she was, being war hero and all, and comment to the guest how great the food was. She didn't see how that benefited Gretchen, Hermione wasn't even that famous anymore and Gretchen's food spoke for itself. Lately she was beginning to suspect that Gretchen only invited her along to "help" her socialize. And that itself was very sad, even on Hermione's own standards.
She took a bite of the famous Pshrimps (little cups made out of plantain and filled with shrimp salad). She didn't have to say anything about that dish; Gretchen was nearly as famous as Harry Potter because of it.
Savoring the last bite she noticed that the bane of her existence, Mrs. Lavender Weasley, was heading her way accompanied by her gigantic twin's belly. Oh how Merlin hated her.
Not only had the wench married her boyfriend but she had gotten herself pregnant with not one, but two babies. Life was so unfair. And to top that she didn't even look that fat! She just looked pregnant, like pretty pregnant.
"Hermione! look at you! fancy seeing you here! you look so, so you!"
"Lavender, you look so... pregnant" she didn't understand how the woman even spoke to her. She had hexed her ass off when she found them back then.
"oh" sweet maternal hand to her belly "yes, 5 months now. You know? boy and a girl. What are the odds, the little couple in one try? It couldn't be more perfect!".
"uhmm perfect, yes" Hermione was practicing all self-control methods ever taught. She was in a public place, and with her position as head of magical creatures in the ministry she didn't get the luxury of displaying 'non moral behaviors'.
"So, how about you! How's your life? did you finally get a boyfriend?" the woman was pure evil. The spans of the devil were probably growing in her as they spoke.
"Ohh here you are Mione!" a voice from behind her said. A voice that resembled Gretchen, well Gretchen in a 'far beyond wasted' state.
"soooo your Hubby had to leave in a rush. The clients called and they wanted to meet right away" she made a pause to do small quotation marks with her fingers "that as soon as you're done here, head to the restaurant. Let's see, what else?" her face was tomato red from all the drinking "Ohh and that don't worry about the award, they'll send it to the office and make a whole speech on how busy you guys are now, and blah blah, I didn't pay attention to the last part".
"Gretchen, are you drunk? I thought we agreed on the no drinking while catering rule!" Hermione had her back to Lavender now, facing her drunken best friend. Gretchen was the worst drinker ever! She never drank, so obviously whenever she had a little sip of anything she would get pissed drunk in a second.
"ohh come on! It was only a tiny tiny bit of tequila. Swear!" she indicated the amount with her fingers, bringing them close to her eyes, trying to see that the space between them was as minimal as possible.
"yeah right. Come on, I'll get you home"
"but what about Hubby?"
"I'll figure something out on our way to your house. Don't worry about that" Taking Gretchen from the arm.
"but I don't want to go home!"
Hermione turned briefly to Lavender, still grabbing Gretchen by the arm.
"IT was really NOT nice seeing you Lavender. Hope to NEVER see you soon" sweet sarcastic smile.
Lavender had her mouth slightly open, deer eyes. "hubby?"
But Hermione didn't catch the last question, she was already taking Gretchen to the nearest apparition point. So she also missed the moment Lavender brown directed her big pregnant belly in direction to an olive skin brunette woman that had a flying quill at her side.
.
^&%
Draco's Wiz-Phone ringed in his pocket. He didn't have to pick to know who it was. It wasn't the caller id, or the SPH (Small Personal Hologram) or ring tone that gave him away. He knew that at 12:05 AM, after a function, it could only be one person: his best friend and PR representative Blaise Zabini.
Finally giving up, and figuring out that Blaise would not stop calling, he picked the small elegant device, Draco Corp design obviously, and pressed the float and talk.
"What?"
"please tell me I've just interrupted an excellent shag and that's the reason you missed the Gala?"
"will that make you go away?"
"No."
"Then no. You just interrupted my analysis on the Wiz-6 prototype."
"Oh come on Draco! You missed the Gala, and your award, because you were playing with the Wiz-6!"
"I'm not playing, I'm working. It's not my fault that you don't know the meaning of that word".
"Sad part is that you pay me to work for you"
"Don't remind me. What do you want?"
"you know what I don't get?"
"no, but I'm sure you'll tell me"
"you are already the largest, if not the only, wizard telecommunication company. You've already assured the welfare of not your grandchildren, but the grandchildren of your grandchildren. Can't you just rest for one bit? Or… I don't know… HAVE FUN!"
"Blaise I don't have time for this. Its 12:05, I'm tired."
"Draco, your 28, you need to get a life, apart from work. You already cleaned out your name; you don't need to prove anything"
"I'm not proving anything Blaise. And what's with all the drama? You're starting to sound like my mother, next you'll start saying I need to get married."
"yeah well, that wouldn't be such a bad idea."
"WHAT? This has got to be a joke. I'm hanging up now."
"nooo wait wait Draco, hello? Hello? DRACO!"
"I'm here you idiot, what?"
"It's just, I've been meaning to talk to you about that, marriage I mean."
"bye Blaise."
"DRACO! Hear me out mate! Please!"
"what?"
"they're saying you're gay"
"WHAT?"
"I know that's not true, it's just that you date one girl, and then another and then another. Not even 2 straight months with one girl; and, well, it's just starting to look weird."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I've already stopped as many rumors as I can, but, as close as it might seem, I am not Merlin."
"What does that got to do with marriage Blaise? I'll just go out with some model a couple of times and that's that" Draco had again lots interest in the topic, playing once more with the Wiz-6 in his hand.
"That's not going to cut it. I think that you've mingled yourself so much with the muggle world that you've forgotten how the wizard world works Draco. You are from the oldest purest wizard families, you were expected to get married at 18 and your about 10 years overdue."
"I don't care what people think. Forget it; I'm not getting married just so you and my mother get their nice PR and grandchildren."
"It's not about PR anymore. Well in a way it is about PR. You own 70% of the company, but the other 30% stockholders are starting to get nervous and it's starting to show on the numbers. You know it! You saw the last report!"
"I'll buy them out."
"It's not that simple and you know that too."
Draco put down the Wiz-6 and clicked the SPH of the wiz-5 phone that was floating in front of him, wands free. Instantly a small hologram of Blaise emerged from the phone.
"what do you suggest I do, put a listing on the prophet?"
"I don't know, I didn't even think I would get this far to the conversation. Let me think about it. We'll work something out."
Picking his phone from the air the conversation was ended. No need for goodbyes. Blaise knew how he worked.
He placed his phone next to the Wiz-6 prototype and then ran his hands through his blonde silky hair. A long breath scape his lips.
"what the hell am I going to do now?"
.
^&%
It was Saturday, chill Saturday, rest Saturday, Hermione's Saturday. To say the least she loved Saturdays. The feeling that you could do anything and still there was no work the day after. It felt great.
She usually woke up early on Saturdays. Make some hot coco, read to paper and parade herself until noon in her pajamas. Today was no exception.
As she placed the hot coco on the table of her favorite couch she picked up the paper. She did a quick glance at her door. Funny, another letter had just gone through it. She'd pick it up after she read the paper and had her coco. It was probably propaganda or maybe her subscription to The Sands.
Sipping slowly, not to burn herself, she opened the paper only to be face to face with a moving picture of herself and next to it another of Draco Malfoy; on top the headlines "From Hate to Love: Secret marriage between old rivals"
She spilled the hot coco allover her PJs, burning herself on the process.
"ouch! Buggers" doing a quick drying spell on herself.
Frantically she put the cup on the coffee table and picked up the paper again.
From Hate to Love: Secret marriage between old rivals
On today's latest news, we bring you the secret marriage of old time enemies
Hermione Granger and, this year recently voted hottest bachelor, Draco Malfoy.
Through a source that's irrefutable and always fateful to Patil's readers,
we have learned that Hermione Granger, brains of the golden trio,
has secretly wed Draco Malfoy.
She skipped some paragraphs "blah blah, childhood, blah blah Voldemort… here it is!"
And how do we know this? you Patil's readers might ask.
Well the informant, whom we shall call "friend" in respect to secrecy of
information, explained that Granger's best friend, Gretchen Lecler, personally
said that the "hubby" was to receive an award at the Annual Wizards Gala,
but he could not make it due to a business meeting.
And who, Patil's readers, were the wizards being awarded yesterday
night? I know that if you read yesterday's column, "Red Carpet to the Gala",
you know the answers: the sweet and always charming, although
still a bit too fat, Miss Hubilda Van and Mister Draco Malfoy.
The column was 2 pages long, showing present pictures of them and at their youth. Pictures of Malfoy's latest conquest, and speculations on the moment of their wedding. There was even a picture of the alleged ring! A Malfoy's heirloom.
"WHAT?"
Same phrase was heard in 5 houses at the same time: Malfoy Manor, Granger, Potter, Weasley and Zabini's residences.
.
^&%
She had woken up on her beautiful Saturday just to have her life sucked out of her with the news that she had "allegedly married Draco Malfoy"!
By 9:30 she had more than 50 letters, either asking for an interview, congratulating her or threating her to oblivion. Talk about fan girls.
She still couldn't believe what the paper said or Parvati Patil for that matter.
At first she hadn't read the whole thing, most of it was just nonsense from their childhood and made up fights. Ok so some of the fights and quarrels were true, but hey, Patil went to school with them, you should at least expect something to be true!
It wasn't even 10 am when Harry, apparently desperate from her lack of response, had appariated at her front door with Ginny.
"what the hell is this? Is it true?" Harry said as soon as she opened the door.
"Calm down Harry, and don't be silly, of course it's not true. Come in" showing them to the living room. She took a seat on an armchair, while Harry and Ginny sat on the sofa.
"so why did Patil say all those things?"
"Cause she's a stupid, nosy, conniving yellow journalist, who has to make up stuff just to have something to write about" Hermione looked stunned at Ginny. She had just said that without even flinching.
"Oh don't look at me like that! You all know it's true"
"well… she really didn't make it all up" said Hermione, her head down. Finding her fingers the most interesting thing in the world.
"WHAT? So you really married Malfoy?"
"Of course not. It's a bit more complicated. Well actually it's not complicated; it was just a big misunderstanding"
She proceeded to tell Harry and Ginny the whole story, how Gretchen had gotten drunk. How they called Hubilda "hubby". How Lavender had looked when Gretchen said the word "hubby". She even scolded herself for not catching the possible gossip. Guess the long time inside an office dulls your senses.
"it's gonna be ok Mione, you'll see. Malfoy's PR will crush Patil, and deny everything" Said Harry with a bright smile on his face.
"I bet he'll even make her quit or something. Oh oh or make her go to jail! Ohh I know, he could have her killed in an "accident", right?" Insert evil smile from Ginny while she nodded her head.
"Oookkkk, no. I think that would be a bit too extreme. She just printed a story she was feed with. The root cause here is Lavender."
At that moment her doorbell rang hysterically. So she excused herself and opened the door.
"OH MY GOD HERMIONE I'M SOOOOO SORRYYY! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" Gretchen was clinging from Hermione's neck. She still had her pajamas on and her hair looked like it hadn't been done properly.
"It's ok Gretchen. It is not your fault" releasing herself from the tight grip.
"Of course it is! If i hadn't called Hubilda hubby this would never had happened! And you told me to never use that nickname in front of anybody, and I did! To tell the truth I was a bit tipsy, and the worst part is that you told me not to drink!"
"a bit?"
"Whatever. Just, I'm sorry! Soo sorry,so so so soooorryyy, please forgive me!"
"It's ok Gretchen, she's not mad. Just a bit stunned" said the redhead from the living room.
"Oh hi Ginny!" Ginny smiled back
"Hi Gretchen" Said Harry.
She hadn't even realized Harry was there until he said hello. She felt a bit self-conscious wearing her pink rabbits pj pants with her cats and dogs t-shirt, but she quickly dismissed the thought and sat down in the remaining armchair.
"So what's the strategy? Kill Patil?"
"No Gretchen! We are only going to wait. Malfoy's people will sort this out. Don't worry."
"Nice to see you so calm Mione. What did you guys give her?" she whispered the last part to Harry and Ginny.
"They didn't give me anything Gretchen. Let's go prepare something to eat, ok? You guys wanna help?" turning to Harry and Ginny
"yeah sure"
.
^&%
As far as Saturday went it wasn't so bad. So now, Sunday may 12, 6:53 am, she had woken up just to wait for the paper. The Prophet usually arrived at 6 am in every wizard household, but since she live in central London, muggle end, it arrived at 7:32 am, on the dot.
She got out of bed, brushed her teeth and made some coffee.
7:18.
14 minutes to go.
She was tired, she looked tired, and she felt tired. To say she slept badly was an understatement. She had not slept this bad since the war. DH years!
What would Malfoy say? Would he be mad at her? She had nothing to do with this, so that was preposterous; although coming from Malfoy she should be expecting a letter from his lawyer any time soon. The git. She bet he used some kind of repulsive adjective to describe their relationship. Maybe relationship was not the best word for it, what could she call it?
Interrupting her line of thinking the paper slipped through her door. She immediately went to retrieve it an opened it right away.
"WHAT?"
Its Love: Draco Malfoy does not deny the Dramione marriage
.
^&%
He didn't know what good he had done in a previous life, but he swore he must have been a monk, priest or illuminated saint, cause no matter what, when things looked a bit gray for him, things usually worked out for themself. No effort at all, just magically fixed.
Yeah so this started happening AFTER he joined the light side on the war, but he was not ready to admit that had anything to do with his luck.
He had woken up on Saturdays in a bad mood, as he usually did on Saturdays.
He hated Saturdays. Saturdays were unproductive days; nothing to do, no work. And to top that, the day after still no work.
He got up at 6:30 am sharp, as he always did since he was 7. Got showered, dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans (yes he wore muggle clothes, so what! They were confortable!), and went to the backyard to have his breakfast, like he always did since he got this house.
Pip, one of the elfs, brought the food tray and the paper. The elf arranged everything on the table and, without a word, disappeared.
Funny, the eggs were facing the right side. He carefully turned the plate so the eggs would face the left side. Much better.
When he finished eating he started sipping his coffee. Bad habit he had acquired from the muggle world. Wizards drank coffee, but muggles? Muggles had it in industrial quantities; and when he did his MBA back at the states he picked up the nasty habit.
Sipping a bit then placing the hand painted Chinese porcelain cup back at its plate, he proceeded to open the paper.
"WHAT?"
He got up abruptly. The small cup rolled on the table spilling its content, until it reached the end of the table and smashed into pieces when it hit the floor.
Draco scanned the paper rapidly, reading with fast trained eyes the new gossip the news had made out.
In a very unfamiliar, uncharacteristic and utterly unDracolike fashion he started laughing. Yes, you read correctly, laughing.
He couldn't contain himself and gripped his stomach. A tear was rolling on his cheek from all the laughing and he had to stop himself in the process just to take in some air, only to start laughing out loud all over again.
"Why Merlin, you've gone mad?" said a voice from behind.
He bent so his head was facing his lower extremities, lifting his index finger to Blaise indicating not to talk until he had calm himself completely.
He took another big breath and then straighten up, wiping the tear with the back of his hands.
"Ok now. Hi Blaise. I knew you were good, but this is a bit too much. Why Granger from all people?"
"You think this was me? I do try, but not even I can work this fast! And besides I wouldn't have gone and married you to Granger! I would have married you to someone like Greengrass or Parkinson"
At the mention of the well-known gold diggers Draco's face turned hard.
"not that I would have without your permission, obviously."
"So if it wasn't you, who was it?" said Draco signaling Blaise to an empty chair in front of his.
Immediately a house elf appeared in front of the dark haired man and placed a plate in front of him. Draco notice that this time the eggs were correctly on the left side. It must have been an honest mistake by Pip, maybe the elf was not feeling ok. He should check latter.
"I don't know, but by noon I should know. I'll call you right away"
Draco only nodded.
"Don't worry about this. It will all be cleared by tomorrow. If you want I can have the girl fired, but I don't do "disappearing", so don't even mention it." Blaise was not even looking at Draco.
This was normal routine for them, defusing gossip, that's why Draco hired Blaise in the first place, so he didn't have to handle this kind of things himself.
"just say we don't have anything to comment"
Blaise chocked with a piece of fruit. Coughing, he wiped his mouth with the napkin
"I'm sorry; I suddenly think I'm the one going crazy. I thought I just heard you say that we should not comment" looking at Draco like it was the most absurd thing in the world.
"Yes, that's exactly what I said"
"Are you nuts? No comment is the same as tacit compliance! Everybody would think it's true!"
"Ah ha! Now you get it"
"your nuts!"
"No Blaise, think about it. We will not comment for a day or two and then we'll deny everything, stating that Miss Granger and I are "just" friends. That will build up their curiosity. And voila, there ends your necessity for me to get a wife! This has all been heaven sent"
"Draco, this is crazy. Do you think Granger will be ok with us not commenting? She will go straight to the press and deny everything."
"Not if it was true that the best friend was the one that blabbed everything out. That's were your source comes in."
Blaise opened his mouth to retort.
"Hear me out ok."
"Ok Draco, let's hear this stupid idea of yours."
Draco gave Blaise a fulminating look, but started talking.
"IF it's true that it was the friend, then Granger will come to me first, in fear that I sue the crap out of her or send the friend to Azkaban for slander."
"I still think your nuts."
"That's what you said when I invented the Wiz, and look how it is now. Even the muggles have their own non magical version."
"This is a different kind of nuts Draco. It's way beyond madness. And besides, we have no proof that the Lecler girl started the rumor, so there is really no evidence to support a lawsuit."
"yeah, but Granger doesn't know that, and!" Draco getting up from his chair and walking to stand next to Blaise "you will get the evidence. Just get me the info by noon. IF the Lecler girl was the source, we'll do things my way."
Blaise took a long breath, wiped his mouth with the napkin and got up from the chair, forgetting the breakfast. He wasn't really that hungry anymore.
"You're the boss. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make some calls."
XOXO
Do review please.
Seida