Hermione quickly jumped up from her chair and ran out of her ex-boyfriend's bedroom. She walked into the bathroom, locked the door, and slid down onto the floor, leaning against the wall. There, she knew that she would be able to think.
Draco, Sirius, or Barty Crouch, Jr. What a decision, she thought. Two were Death Eaters, which Hermione assumed was why Kingsley made it known to her that the decision was made before the war was over. Two were much older than her, and the one her age wasn't anything she wanted to touch with a ten foot pole.
Being Hermione, she decided to look at it all logically. She started with Draco, the easiest. He was a coward, a bully, and a racist who despised Mudbloods and gingers. She knew that she wanted nothing to do with him.
Then, came the harder choice. Hermione had never wanted to marry into a Death Eater family, especially one as corrupt as the Crouches. However, Sirius was her best friend's godfather. That would just be too… too…
"Too weird," she spoke aloud. No, she couldn't marry Sirius. That would be a worse fate.
She took her hair out of the ponytail it was currently in and shook her head. That was it, then. She was going to marry Barty Crouch Jr. Her old teacher, the Death Eater, the one who made her best friend's life a living hell.
Well, she supposed, what else could she do? With that mindset, she got up and walked back into Ron's room. Everyone was sitting around talking, and paid no attention to her. The first to notice her arrival was Harry, who trailed off the end of his sentence to Tonks. Slowly, everyone began to notice her.
"I've made my decision," she announced. With that, any quiet murmurings were hushed immediately, as all waited to hear what Hermione had decided.
She took a moment to breathe in then, then began. "Sirius, you're Harry's godfather. I'm sure that you are a fantastic person, but I just can't do that."
Sirius nodded, then began, "I understand. You are a spectacular witch, but ever since I found out, I had been praying that wouldn't happen. You are like my daughter, Hermione." Hermione nodded, then ran into his arms. He had never said anything of the sort before, and probably would never do so again. They both knew this, as an understanding look passed between the two when she pulled away.
Harry smiled at the two of them, but asked, "Sorry to butt in, but does that mean you are choosing Draco?"
Hermione sighed. "Barty is a madman, a Death Eater, and twice my age. Draco bullied me and my friends all throughout our years at Hogwarts- of course until he needed me. Barty would be a terrible husband, but I would rather marry him than Draco. I don't know that Barty will abuse me, but I KNOW that Draco will. This is my thinking here. Please, don't question my choice, just let me live it. I'm sorry." With that, she started to cry softly.
Ron walked over and put an arm around her. "To be honest, that's not the decision I would have made. But I see your reasoning behind it. We're behind you, no matter what you choose, okay?" Hermione sniffled, then hugged Ron tightly. Harry came up next to them and joined the hug. Ginny followed him, and soon enough, the entire group was joined in one big group hug.
As they parted, Hermione asked, "Kingsley, how quickly do things have to go? How soon does the marriage have to be, and so on?"
Kingsley replied, "The wedding has to be within the year. There isn't a rule on the amount of time before you must have children, only that you must eventually have them. As you already know, divorce is not allowed in the wizarding world. Hermione, are you positive?"
Hermione wiped a tear threatening to fall from her eye, then nodded. "It's the only way."
Kingsley blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly. No one seemed to notice his astonishment but Hermione, and she did not show it. Kingsley replied, "Well, then, come with me. No, just Hermione," he clarified, as Harry and Ron began to get up and walk with their friend. "We're heading to Crouch Manor. Miss Granger, it is time to meet your new fiancée."
