Again, I don't own Harry Potter, or anything associated with it...
She couldn't believe she was here. She stood at the end of what appeared to be a long walkway. There were large posts and many hanging plants, making it almost look like a forest of flowers. It really was quite beautiful. Wait. This is the Malfoy Manner. Alright, I need to find out Malfoy's purpose in petitioning for me. Then I'll make the decision. I have a week. They never said anything about going to Azkaban if you accidentally killed your spouse...
Hermione stood in one spot looking around her when she heard a silky voice behind her.
"I didn't think you would come this quickly."
Hermione spun around. There stood Draco Malfoy smirking at her.
"Which is just as well," he continued, "We would have gotten you here at some point this week anyways. I'm glad the weasel twin didn't get in the way. What? Did he refuse the Ministries choice? Let me guess, he's went running to his petitioner, Alicia, right?"
Malfoy was enjoying this conversation.
"I just came here, Malfoy, to see what your reasons were to petitioning for me." Hermione said through gritted teeth. She never should have come here. How stupid could she be? She wasn't thinking straight.
"My reasons?" Asked Malfoy, "Well, I have a few. I, no doubt, am not interested in marrying a mudblood,, but I think our union would benefit me quite nicely. Not to mention, you've grown up quite nicely, consummating the marriage shouldn't be a problem." Malfoy looked Hermione over, she instantly felt dirty and blushed slightly.
"The Ministry would have no reason to doubt my allegiance to them if I married you, I would hopefully be taken out of that microscope." He took a step forward, "And, what better way to keep Potter on strings like a puppet? When I have his precious best friend in my mercy?"
Hermione couldn't breathe. What had she done? Understandably Malfoy hadn't become any nicer or accepting, but she had thought he had dropped the whole death eater thing after his mom and dad had escaped with him. Fleeing from the battle, fleeing from Voldemort.
Malfoy said something. Then Hermione found she couldn't move, even if she wanted to.
"Now Mudblood," Malfoy said, "Let's see what happens when Potter hears that we've agreed to be married. And don't think you'll get out of this. If you escape, or even try to, I will kill you, and your precious Weasley family. Regardless of what it costs me. We're going back to Hogwarts in a month. And I will have Potter under my finger, so long as you and Potter do what I want you to do."
Hermione found herself moving with Malfoy along the path. This was not good.
"What do you mean she's gone?" George demanded.
"She left right after she saw you took off." Ginny said quietly, "Why did you leave, George? Do you have any idea how that looked to Hermione?"
"I couldn't handle it, I thought I would be paired with someone like Alicia, someone I sort of knew. I couldn't believe that the Ministry would have put Hermione and I together. And how she read the letter, it sounds like she feels the same way I do." George looked at Ginny.
"You are such a git," Ginny stated, "I bet you anything, that like you, Hermione couldn't believe that the two of you were put together, but she probably thought she was ruining the family."
"I didn't think she would look at it like that."
"Of course you didn't, you're a guy, and you don't have complicated feelings."
"Where did she go?" George asked.
"The Malfoy Manor..." Ginny looked at George. "We can't go there. The Malfoys are still dangerous. Dad owled the Ministry and told them that Hermione was there, so there are Aurors on watch, in case something happens, which I'm sure will."
"Why would she go there?"
"Because I think the ferret has petitioned for Hermione. Probably to get back at Harry and Ron, and everyone else. There must not have been more petitioners, otherwise she wouldn't have gone there. Speaking of which, who else do you have as options?"
George looked at Ginny, "Alicia, Katy and Angelina. They petitioned for Fred too. I bet because we all got along, and it would be easier to marry someone you know and trust than someone you don't."
George trailed off. He thought of Hermione, and how much she must care for the family to go to the Malfoy's, the last person in the world she trusted. She didn't want to ruin the family? That made no sense to him.
"I need to go there." George started toward the living room.
Ginny grabbed his arm as there was a flutter from the kitchen. The both ran in and saw several owls dropping letters onto the table.
"Mom! Dad!" Ginny yelled.
She grabbed a letter off the table and ripped it open.
Arthur,
We got your message. An Auror has been sent to the Manor. Miss Granger will be fine. If she consents to staying, we will have no choice but to leave her there. If she wants to leave, we will escort her out and leave an Auror at the residence to keep the Malfoy's under watch.
Kingsley
Ginny grabbed another letter and ripped it open
Potter and the Weasley's, especially George. Hermione's here. We're getting married. Get over it.
Draco Malfoy
"This is not going to happen." George stated, "we'll figure something out. There is no way Hermione is going to marry him, he'll kill her."
George disappeared just as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley rushed in.
"George left!" Ginny gaped at the spot where George was just moments before, "I think he's gone after Hermione.
Hermione sat in a chair "This isn't gonna work, Malfoy." she mumbled.
She looked around slowly and saw that Malfoy sat on a chair about 5 feet in front of her. She was in a large room. There was a fireplace and a table and several chairs and sofas. Not the room where she had her meeting with Bellatrix. That was okay at least. She felt almost drowsy.
"We're gonna play a game called how to please Draco." Malfoy smirked at her, "I want you to do something for me. If you do it, I won't hurt you, if not, well, things could get rough.
"Piss of ferret," Hermione seethed.
"Really... I expected you to at least wait until I told you what I wanted."
Hermione glared at Malfoy, who continued as if nothing had happened, "I want you to tell that Auror whose camped in my front porch that everything is fine."
"Not happening," Hermione said.
"Too bad."
Hermione shrieked, her body was on fire. Her eyes were tight, she gritted her teeth. Not in front of Malfoy would she cry.
"Enough!"
The fire stopped as quickly as it started. Hermione opened her eyes, slightly blurry with unshed tear.
"How dare you..." Malfoy started.
"No. How dare you. That is my future wife sitting in that chair. How dare you use your evil little death eater spells on her."
Hermione's eyes cleared, she couldn't believe it. George was standing in the room, his wand raised at Malfoy. Behind him a man she didn't recognize was standing slightly behind him, wand raised toward Malfoy as well.
"Well Mr. Malfoy," The unknown man said, "It seems we are in a predicament. You are using illegal magic. This could expel you, or even send you to Azkaban. What do you have to say?"
"Get out of my house." Malfoy demanded.
"You Draco, are coming with me." The man walked to Malfoy and grabbed his arm, they were gone.
"Hermione?" A gentle voice asked. Now that she was free of the presence of Malfoy, she felt the feelings come back into her limbs. George had moved and knelt in front of her.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry. Are you okay? What did he do to you?"
Hermione moved slightly, feeling very stiff.
"It felt like he set me on fire." She said softly, shuddering slightly. This entire house was bad news.
"Do you still hurt?" George asked.
Hermione shook her head, "I'm just really stiff now."
"Hermione, I didn't leave the room because I was upset with you." George rushed, no longer being able to wait to explain himself, "this whole thing just became so overwhelming. I needed air. I never realized you would take it personally. You're always so level headed."
Hermione just continued to stare at George. What was he saying? He didn't even know her.
"Let's go back okay? We'll talk more at the Burrow, this place gives me the creeps."
He took Hermione's hand and she felt the uncomfortable sensation of being sucked into nothingness. Then she stumbled. She was back in the Weasley's kitchen.
"Hermione! What were you thinking!" shrieked Ginny.
Harry, and the rest of the Weasley's stared at her.
"Be gentle." demanded George, "Malfoy set an internal fire curse on her. She probably still hurts like hell right now."
"I guess I wasn't thinking straight," said Hermione said, curious as to why George was still holding her hand, "I just didn't want to cause problems here. I figured I would go see what Malfoy had to say. I didn't realize he was like a mini Voldemort."
Ginny took Hermione's arm and pulled her away from George.
"We're going upstairs to talk and get ready for bed. We've all had a long day. We'll resume this chaos in the morning. Goodnight."
Ginny dragged Hermione upstairs gently to the girl's bedroom. As soon as the door was closed Ginny whirled to look at Hermione.
"What were thinking? Seriously? Going to the Malfoy Manor? I can't wrap my head around this. Honestly, you think Malfoy is a better choice than George?"
"It's not that." Hermione said as she sat on her bed. Her body was still sore from Draco's curse. "I know George has petitions. And I'm sure they are from girl's he likes and would marry and be happy with. I don't want to make his life miserable. It was better that one of the two of us was happy right?"
"Don't play martyr here Hermione." snapped Ginny, "We're a family remember? And potentially that might be made official. Listen to yourself!"
"I know!" Hermione moaned as she flopped onto her back and after a few moments she piped up "I hope Malfoy gets sent to Azkaban."
Ginny grinned at the idea, "So, George then?"
